Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set (9 Novels from Bestselling Authors, plus Bonus Christmas Novella from NY Times Bestselling Author Rebecca York)

by Kaylea Cross

  His sister looked like she wanted to object, but she also had to know that Jordan had been through a pretty traumatic ordeal.

  “We’ll get together soon,” he promised.

  He included Richard and Paula in the invitation, although Hannah was sure he would rather have skipped the pleasantries with his cousin.

  When everyone turned to leave, Jordan addressed Hannah. “Could you stay for a moment? We’ve still got some business to discuss.”

  Her mouth was dry, and she nodded wordlessly.

  “I’m hoping you can extend your job here.”

  “For now,” she said, because at the moment it was hard to say more.

  “Then let’s get things organized,” he answered brusquely, and she could see he was swinging into executive mode. “I want you to hire a physical therapist for me. Get someone you’ve worked with in the past—someone you know is good.”

  “All right.”

  “And talk to Mrs. Estes about hiring a new handyman.”

  “We don’t actually know that Carl Padilla did anything wrong.”

  “That stunt in the hall let Fahrenhold sneak into my room through the back of the closet.”

  “There’s another way in?”

  “Yes, this house is full of secret passages.” He switched back to the handyman, his voice turning hard. “Padilla must have taken orders from June.”

  Hannah watched Jordan make an effort to bring his emotions under control. In a milder tone, he said, “I don’t want to see him around here.”

  “I understand.”

  “And we need to have a serious conversation. But not until I know what kind of recovery I’m going to make.”

  She wanted to assure him that his recovery would be complete but she couldn’t actually guarantee it, and the look in his eye told her he’d have to prove it to himself.

  Instead she asked, “Is that all you need right now?”

  He was silent for several moments, then said, “This is uncharted territory for me. I can’t tell you exactly what I need, except that I’m counting on your seeing me through this.”

  The simple words and the tone of his voice stunned her because she knew he was a man who rarely made requests of anyone.

  “Of course,” she said softly.

  “I’ll pay your usual rate.”

  “For doing nothing?”

  “For being here in case I need you.” He made a rough sound. “And if you don’t mind, you can help Mrs. Estes take down the damn Christmas decorations that I remember are all over the house. I think we’re going to skip Christmas this year.”

  “Yes, okay.” At least that gave her something to do—now that her duties as a nurse were almost over.

  She did check around with physical therapists she knew and arranged for one to come up from San Francisco. His name was Pete Lucas, and he was excellent.

  Since Jordan didn’t want anyone else living on the property, she rented him an apartment for a month in Fort Bragg, the nearest town.

  Then she had one more business call make, to Frank Decorah.

  “You were right. One of Jordan’s relatives was trying to kill him, with the help of the other nurse they hired.”

  “Which relative?”

  “The younger sister, June.”

  “Nice. But it’s all resolved now?”

  “Yes.” She told him how the drama had ended.

  “Good work.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without Jordan’s help.”

  “And he wouldn’t have pulled through without you. Of course, Grandma’s not going to be too happy that it was one of his sisters.”

  “I know.”

  “What are your plans now?”

  “Jordan has asked me to stay on while he finishes his rehab.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Frank answered, and she heard the sincerity in his voice. “I thought that you and Jordan Campbell would be good for each other.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes. Keep me posted. If things don’t work out there, I might have another job for you—if you’re free to take it.”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  She hung up, thinking that working for Frank Decorah would be a good fallback position. To what, exactly? She didn’t know and she was afraid to look too far into the future.

  Instead she ordered herself to relax. If her life was going to be on hold for a while, she might as well think of the month like a paid vacation at a luxury resort. A private resort since there was no one else besides her, Jordan and Mrs. Estes in this mansion.

  Over the next few weeks, she had plenty of time to herself to read, do the yoga routine she loved, walk along the paths through the estate’s beautiful gardens, and try out some recipes in the big kitchen.

  While she was relaxing, Jordan was putting himself through an intensive rehabilitation program. He spent hours in the gym every day, working with Pete Lucas, and she could see the positive results as the days past.

  Mostly, she and Jordan didn’t see each other until the evenings, when they ate in the small, comfortable breakfast room, then sat in the conservatory, which had a stunning view of the ocean, or the den. Sometimes they watched movies or good TV series on his huge plasma-screen television set. Sometimes they sat together and read.

  Often they simply talked—about anything and everything. They agreed on politics, religion, and social issues. They were both 49ers fans, and they both liked classical music—two very different recreational activities. They both read suspense novels and popular science. And they mutually admitted the secret failing that they didn’t know much about wine.

  Both of them loved the outdoors, and he wanted to take her out on his boat—when he felt well enough to manage it.

  He also wanted to know about her family and her childhood.

  She told him about her mom’s volunteering at her grade school, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with her extended family, trips to Disneyland and later to several Presidential Libraries. She related how Mom and Dad had insisted she and her sister, Karen, do household chores and finish their homework every evening.

  “It sounds like a disciplined but loving household,” Jordan said, sounding wistful.

  “Yes.”

  “Where are your parents now?”

  She grinned. “They retired to Florida and are living the upscale senior lifestyle. They deserve it. I see them at least once a year, and I also keep in touch with Karen. She’s on the East Coast too, in Maryland.”

  The subject of sisters was a good opening to talk a little bit about June. With a little gentle prodding, she got Jordan to admit that he was sad about how their relationship had turned out. And he was going to try and get closer to Stephanie.

  “That will make her happy. I thinks she wants to be part of your life,” she said.

  “If I ever have kids, I’m going to be a hell of a lot better father to them than my dad was to us,” he said.

  “I know you will.”

  “How?” he demanded.

  “Because you know how it is to grow up trying to please someone who can’t be pleased.”

  “Yeah.”

  Was he really thinking about children? She couldn’t ask. And she couldn’t say how much she longed to spend her life with him, creating a family together, because she still didn’t know what he wanted from her.

  Not her nursing skills, that was certain—he’d ceased to need those from anyone.

  The most difficult part of living in his house now was that he seemed determined to keep their relationship platonic—even when she felt the sexual tension humming between them. Even when that tension became so hot, just a look from him made her remember the passion of their encounter in his dream. It hadn’t technically been real. Yet she thought of it as real. Maybe he didn’t.

  She had moved to a bedroom farther from his, saying she didn’t want to disturb him. But really, she was the one who was disturbed, lying awake and wanting him, hoping that he’d call her into one of his
dreams. But it seemed that special link was broken—or he didn’t want to use it. Either way, the results were the same. And sometimes she wondered if she’d imagined the wonderful night they’d made love.

  There was one evening they had champagne—to celebrate the capture of killer Nurse Fahrenhold, in Mexico. It was the most excitement they’d had in weeks. But by the end of January, she was starting to think that she should go back to the city and pick up her life where she’d left it off—or take Frank Decorah up on his offer.

  These quiet weeks had made her realize she was too wound up with Jordan. She had fallen in love with him, but it didn’t seem to be the same for him, because if he loved her, wouldn’t he have said something by now?

  One afternoon she was relaxing in the conservatory, watching the ocean, when Mrs. Estes came bustling in, holding a white envelope.

  “Mr. Campbell wanted me to give you a message,” she said.

  “Is he all right?” Hannah asked anxiously.

  “I believe so,” she replied, a little smile playing around her lips.

  “What?”

  “I think he’s been getting a surprise ready for you,” she murmured as she handed over the sealed envelope, then left as quickly as she’d entered.

  Hannah held the message for several moments. A surprise? What kind of surprise? Finally, with hands she couldn’t quite hold steady, she slipped her thumb under the flap and opened the seal.

  Inside was a card with a picture of an angel perched at the top of a tree. A Christmas card. Strange, since the holiday was long over. She opened it, and inside, under “Wishing you all the joy of the holiday season,” was a handwritten message.

  Please come meet me in the summer house. Jordan.

  She knew the place. She had visited it out in the garden. But for the past few days the path to it had been blocked by yellow tape, and she’d seen workmen’s trucks on the garden access road. She’d assumed some of the paving stones needed repair or something. Now they must be fixed.

  Leaving the main house, she headed down a wide flagstone path, then stepped onto a narrower route. Her heart was hammering inside her chest as she reached the small green and white building with its huge open windows. As she approached, she saw that it had been freshly painted. Okay, that must have been the reason for the yellow tape.

  Her gaze went from the exterior to the doorway where she saw Jordan standing, his gaze intently on her as she approached. He was dressed much as he’d been the first time she’d seen him in his coma dream—in a white dress shirt open at the neck and dark slacks. But he hadn’t bothered with the sports coat.

  She stopped a few feet away from him, her chest tight. “Why did you ask me here?” she whispered.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I wanted to be alone with you.”

  Hannah didn’t point out that they’d been alone in a mansion for a month—with only the housekeeper around.

  Jordan stepped aside, and she saw what was behind him. The interior of the little building had been completely transformed. In one corner was a tall Christmas tree with lights and sparkling decorations, and piles of beautifully wrapped presents underneath. In the other corner was a wide couch, topped with a colorful holiday throw.

  “What’s all this?” she breathed.

  “I think neither one of us was in the mood to celebrate Christmas in December. But I wanted to have it with you, so I thought we could do it now. Come in,” he said, and she followed him into Christmas.

  He walked to the tree and picked up a small box. “I’ve had fun buying presents for you. You can get just about anything from the Web. Open this one first.”

  She stared at him, then at the box. With shaking hands, she unwrapped the box and found a diamond pendant inside.

  “Jordan, this is beautiful, but I didn’t get anything for you.”

  “Well, in a way you did. When you mentioned a book you thought I should read or a DVD I’d like, I bought them and had them wrapped.” He picked up one of the boxes and tore off the foil paper to show her a DVD of a British TV mystery series they’d both wanted to watch.

  He put the box down and grinned. “But maybe we can leave the rest of the presents for later.”

  She was suddenly nervous and a little shy.

  He cleared his throat. “You might have noticed that I’ve kept things between us … uncomplicated since the morning everyone left.”

  Maybe it hadn’t been complicated for him, but it had been for her. Instead of pointing that out, she only nodded.

  “I was recovering from being in a coma. I had been lying in bed for three weeks, and I was in … less than prime physical shape. And I didn’t know what kind of a recovery I was going to make.”

  “I never had any doubts.”

  “But I did. So I set a goal for myself. Running a mile on the indoor track without getting winded, and I did it,” he added with a note of triumph.

  “Of course. You had the determination to bring yourself all the way back.”

  “And I was thinking about something else, too.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out. “This is probably going to sound like I’m stuck in the nineteenth century or something. But after the way our relationship started, I wanted some time for us to get to know each other. I wanted to find out what we had in common—without sex getting in the way.”

  “It makes sense, now that I understand what you were doing. I wish…” She stopped and started again. “It was reassuring to find out we had a lot going for us.”

  “Yes.” He laughed. “Not only mutual lust.”

  “I never thought that was all,” she whispered.

  He shook his head. “I’m doing a bad job of this. Because I’m nervous.”

  “You?”

  “Yeah. I’ve known since I first laid eyes on you that you were like no other women I’ve ever met. And I treasure that. But I wanted you to get to know me. I wanted you to see my good qualities.”

  “I always did.”

  He closed the distance between them in two easy strides, folding her into his arms. She clung to him, hardly able to believe this conversation.

  When she raised her face, he lowered his head, and their lips met in a kiss that turned instantly blazing hot.

  She opened herself for him, and his head angled for deeper possession, his tongue playing with hers, then withdrawing and inviting her to follow, which she did, learning the inside of his mouth the way he was learning hers.

  By the time he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard.

  “Our first kiss in the real world,” he said. “Better than in my dream.”

  “Yes,” she answered. “But, Jordan, I wish you’d told me what you were thinking.”

  “I’m sorry.” He looked totally contrite. “I wanted to show you how good things could be between us—for real. And I couldn’t do it until I was well.”

  When she started to speak, he pressed a fingertip against her lips. “This is hard for me to say, and I have to do it fast before I lose my nerve. You’ve saved me once. I need you to do it again. Not because someone’s trying to kill me. I need you to save me from the kind of life I made for myself. I’ve trusted no one, loved no one. I thought I was being smart, but the truth is, I was scared—scared of giving another person the power to hurt me.”

  “Oh Jordan, I didn’t understand.” She kept her gaze on him. “I’d never hurt you,” she whispered.

  “I know. And being with you made me realize I don’t want to go back to the way I was. I want something a whole lot better—with you.”

  She had to struggle to speak past the lump that had formed in her throat. “I’ve wanted to say I love you. I didn’t know if you would want to hear it.”

  “Thank God,” he breathed, folding her back into his arms, rocking her against him. “Hannah, when you walked into my shadow life, I didn’t even know I was in terrible trouble. But you forced me to understand what had happened to me. You gave me the strength to break free.” His gaze burned into hers
. “I knew that if you’d reached me there, you were going to mean something important to me.” He stopped and swallowed hard. “But I couldn’t stop thinking that I didn’t deserve a woman like you.”

  “You deserve every good thing in life.”

  His lips crooked into a grin. “Maybe we can start with this.” As he spoke, his hand slipped between them to cup her right breast.

  She caught her breath. She had wanted him for so long that the light touch was enough to turn the blood in her veins to fire.

  He looked down at what he was doing, watching as his thumb rubbed the hard tip, making it stand out against the thin fabric of her knit top.

  “Does this mean you’ve decided to stop torturing us both?” she managed to ask.

  “Yeah. But don’t you think there could be a method to my madness? I mean, keeping my hands off you for a month is going to make today very, very hot.”

  She grinned at him. “I believe you’re right.”

  Then her breath caught as he slipped his hands under her knit top. Reaching to her back, he unhooked her bra. Then he pulled the top and the bra up, baring her breasts so that he could take them in his hands and bend to suck one descended nipple into his mouth, while he teased the other one with his thumb and finger.

  She swayed on her feet, gripping his shoulders to steady herself. Reality intruded, and her gaze swung to the window. “Oh Lord, I wasn’t thinking. Anyone can see us.”

  He laughed. “I had crews getting this place ready, but you’d better believe nobody is in the garden now but us. I made sure of that.”

  * * *

  He went back to what he was doing, until she gasped, “Jordan… oh, God, I can’t stand up anymore. Please…”

  “Glad to oblige.” He slicked her slacks and panties down her legs, then lifted her up and set her on the chest beside the couch. On his knees, he pulled off the pants, then removed her sandals. And while he was on his knees, he brought her hips to the edge of the chest and opened her legs so that he could press his mouth to the hot core of her.

  I’ve been dreaming of this,” he murmured. “Dreaming of tasting my fill of you.”