Jovi moved onto the floor, and Dell settled into his arms as if it weren’t their first dance. Eyes closed, her lips touched with contentment, she suddenly wasn’t untouchable. Unattainable? The nickname seemed laughable right now. As their bodies slowed and moved with the music, everything faded but the moment. The feeling. The need. The distance fled, and when she leaned more closely against him, his arms tightened slowly.
• • •
Dell sat up in bed, unable to sleep. Careful not to disturb Becky, curled up beside her and prevented from a fall by a barricade of pillows, she slipped out of bed, her ivory nightgown slithering around her. Quietly, she eased out of the room and across the living area, her steps muffled on the deep carpet. She went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water but pushed it away after an experimental sip. Sighing, she retreated back through the silent room and paused only briefly before stepping out on the balcony.
No one was likely to see her at this hour, and the black wrought iron provided a privacy screen of sorts. Going back inside for her robe held absolutely no appeal, she decided. She still peered around carefully, but the balconies adjoining other rooms were all empty. The balmy air washed over her, and she smiled and sank into one of the loungers, stretching out and closing her eyes, listening to the sea sounds down below. Faint laughter drifted up, too, and she sat up again, frowning. Even at this hour, there were obviously revelers coming and going from the beach to the hotel. Lounging around in her nightgown wasn’t a good idea.
Regretfully, she stood back up, stretching, and went back in. The restlessness that had driven her out of bed still bubbled through her. She didn’t want to sleep, didn’t want to stand here alone in a darkened room. She wanted … The realization made her heart pound, and her ears seemed to echo the drumming roar. She wanted Jovi. She didn’t want to be la inalcanzable, unreachable and untouchable. And alone. Aching with need.
True to his word, Jovi hadn’t insisted on spending the night dancing. After another cumbia, he’d folded her into his arms again for one last dance. A slow dance, not the frantic beat of the cumbia. Sensual music. They’d melted into each other, felt desire pulse between them like the music itself. Then they’d walked together to the connecting door separating his room from the open area of the suite. He brushed her lips fleetingly.
“If I asked … ” he whispered, and she held a finger to his lips, silencing him and shaking her head.
“No. We can’t,” she said, firmly and with only slight regret.
He smiled. “I thought I’d ask, though,” he returned as he pushed the door open.
“No harm done,” she’d whispered lightly, and they had each gone their separate ways. But the harm had been done, with that last dance. What had her buddy Karla said so long ago about nothing mattering when you wanted someone?
With sudden conviction, Dell slipped back into her room and plucked up her robe. On silent feet she went to each door and peered in. All the girls slept soundly, Becky still surrounded by her pillow fence. She closed each of the doors quietly then went down the short hall to Jovi’s room. She knocked, but no one answered. She tested the door knob; the door was locked from his side. Not wanting to knock harder and risk waking the girls, she went back and searched the table for the key cards. They each had duplicates — a convenience, she’d thought, for fetching and leaving things. Teenage girls, she knew, never had what they needed or wanted at any given minute. In the empty corridor, she swiped the card and watched the light go green. Tried not to wonder what she’d do if the chain were on. For just a moment, as her hand found the knob and turned it, she wondered what spell she was under, what craziness possessed her. Then she shook the uncertainty aside and gave in to the raging need.
The chain wasn’t on, and she pushed the door open just enough to slip through and turned to close it quietly. With shaking fingers she slipped the lock into place and then turned back and took a few decided steps toward the bed. Halfway there, she froze, staring blankly. The bed was empty, its bedspread unwrinkled and unused. There was no light on in the bathroom, no sounds of use. Still, she walked across, feeling stupid and out of place, and tapped on the door, opening it when no one answered. Jovi was not there, not in the room at all.
Realization of a totally different kind slammed her as hard as desire had minutes earlier. Where was he? Bars must be closed — had he just found someone else’s bed to share? Unable, he thought, to take her to bed, he had simply sneaked out like a college kid to find someone more agreeable. Her fiancé Jeremy all over. Had she learned nothing from trusting too easily?
Shaking with embarrassment and anger, she walked over to check the locks on the outside door. Then she let herself out through the connecting door, her fists clenching and unclenching in the silky softness of her nightgown. What on earth had she been thinking? Jovi was no one, nothing to her — just the man she’d hired to help her take care of her horses. An arrogant devil who’d blithely believed he could seduce her while she was away from her own protective environment — and who’d almost succeeded, she admitted, more furious with herself than with him.
Grimly, she walked to the girls’ bedroom, looking in. All three of the girls slumbered peacefully, uncovered even in the air-conditioned coolness. Selina, alone on one of the beds, was almost falling off one side, but her awkward position obviously didn’t bother her sleep. Dell tiptoed out, closing the door again, then went into her own room. She tossed aside the sheer lace robe and replaced it with thick terry that covered her completely. She repositioned Becky in the middle of the bed, soothing her when she stirred and waiting to be sure that the little girl didn’t wake. Then she slid on her slippers and went back out to the darkened living room and sat down on the sofa. To wait.
• • •
Jovi glanced at his watch and frowned. The luminous dial showed the hour clearly, and he hadn’t expected to be up until four waiting for Hampton to call him. He’d lurked in the shadowy bar for most of the night, downing a glass of scotch and trying to avoid conversation from other patrons while he waited for his call. Bored and impatient, he’d finally gone out and walked along the beach, and it was there Hampton had finally gotten in touch.
As if the hour weren’t bad enough, the news was even worse. Nothing had been accomplished. Hampton used the key to get into the stable with no problem. But while he was going through papers Jovi had left in the desk drawer, easily accessible, the alarm in the house had gone off. Hampton couldn’t explain what had happened, but the alarms brought Pete and Danny running into the barn to grab lights and head up to the house. He’d hardly had time to snatch the folder and conceal himself before they arrived. Minutes later, a sheriff’s patrol car, obviously in the vicinity, had pulled up in front of the house. Hampton had decided to get away before anything else went haywire. No one knew he had been there, but none of the questions had been answered.
And that was frustrating, damn it. Jovi massaged his neck, glanced a final time at the bar, closed now that he actually wanted a drink, and walked over to the elevator. No point in staying out any longer and having someone miss him. The elevator doors opened, then closed quietly behind him. He pushed the button for his floor and leaned back against the wall. How could he have gone to dinner so thoughtlessly with that woman? Even with his eyes squeezed shut, he could see her face laughing at him across the table. She was beautiful and enticing, and he didn’t want to wonder who she really was or what was behind her easy charm or quick, throaty laugh when he amused her.
She hadn’t laughed when he’d suggested they spend the night together, though. He wasn’t sure if that was bad news or good, and it didn’t ease the frustration he felt. He could still feel the touch of her finger silencing him halfway through his proposition, and he couldn’t remember anger or condemnation in those dark, quiet eyes. He felt his body stir just thinking how close they might have come to making love. Maybe, with time … He sighed. There might no
t be time. He knew that, even if she didn’t. And maybe she wasn’t nearly as drawn to him as he thought … as he was to her.
He thought about Becky. She obviously had been very involved with someone. There was undeniable proof of that. But there was no marriage, no mention of the absence of the child’s father. Maybe she wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted commitment. Given her family situation, maybe she didn’t even find the idea of family particularly appealing, though she clearly did adore the child.
Frustrated and annoyed with himself, he pulled out the key he’d pocketed earlier and tried to open his door, startled when he found the chain on from the inside. Apprehension niggled. They’d agreed to lock the door, but — if the chain was on, did that mean — ? He walked the short distance to the main door and unlocked it. He slipped in, sliding the deadbolt home as silently as possible.
“Well, hello, Jovi,” Dell said, behind him, venomously, and he started, but managed to choke back a heartfelt, “Oh, shit,” before it slipped out.
“Hi,” he said, turning to face her. “You’re an early bird.”
For long moments, she didn’t answer, just pinned him with an unwavering stare.
“I didn’t know you planned on going out,” she said eventually, and he shrugged and came across the room, bending over to flip on a lamp on one of the end tables.
“I didn’t know I needed permission,” he countered. “I’m a big boy.” He paused, looking for something sufficiently annoying to ruffle her and make her stop staring at him so intently. “Besides” He shrugged. “I didn’t know I was on duty.”
The taunt worked; he saw faint color come and go in her cheeks, and anger tightened her lips.
“On duty?” she echoed in disbelief, standing, even more agitated. “No, you certainly aren’t on duty — but I didn’t expect you to be gone.”
“Where do you think I went?”
He settled himself on the sofa where she’d been sitting, ignoring her frown, and propped his shoulders comfortably against the corner of the high armrest.
She made a sound close to a snort and paced over to the door then came back toward the sofa.
“In my experience,” she retorted grimly, “men who are gone all night don’t spend it alone. Engaged men, married men — most men wind up in someone’s bed. And with the girls here — ”
“The girls are asleep,” he pointed out gently. He was silent, and outside, the surf rumbled strongly. “Could it be that you’re upset because you think I went from … wanting you to finding someone else so easily?” He stretched and rubbed a hand over his face.
She glared at him, wanting to lie but unable to. “It certainly wasn’t very flattering,” she gritted. “But that’s not the point. Even if the girls are asleep — ”
He stood then, putting a finger to her lips just as she had done earlier and stopping her sputter of indignation.
“Dell, you’re insulting us both,” he said quietly. “How could you think I’d actually walk out that door and go find someone just to shack up with? Wanting you is on a whole different level than just wanting — someone.”
“But … ” She wasn’t convinced. “It’s after four. I’ve been up … for a long time.” She didn’t look away. Didn’t ask him where he’d been. And he didn’t know when she’d first missed him.
Damn her. Couldn’t she just drop it? Again, guilt twisted in his belly. Yeah, he’d wanted her. And no, he’d never have picked up someone on the beach or at the bar for casual sex. Not when he was here with her. But he also couldn’t give her the reassurances she wanted. He couldn’t even give her the truth. He sighed and went back to the couch, sitting and letting his head flop back against the cushions. He stared for a moment at the ceiling before answering her unspoken questions. “I went out … I couldn’t sleep … thinking about you.” He turned his head without lifting it, looking back at her. “You really can’t blame me for being … restless.”
“Out where?” she asked, unmoved by his blame placing.
“I went to the bar — had a drink. A couple, actually. But that didn’t really help.” He smiled at her. “That last dance, damn it. If it hadn’t been for that last dance, a drink or two might have worked.”
Dell blushed, uncomfortable with the memory both of that last dance and her own reaction to it. Unwilling to dwell on their shared time, she waved vaguely at him. “Okay. You had drinks.” She glanced at the clock on the wall across from them.
I walked. Up and down the beach.”
Without me? Dell thought, but subdued the indignant whisper and rubbed her temples, considering his explanation. She wouldn’t have left the girls. He seemed sincere enough. He wasn’t drunk, so he must not have been in the bar the whole time. And he had wanted her. She wouldn’t pretend not to know that. Unbidden, she thought of the expression she’d seen briefly when he saw her with Becky earlier. Almost as if he had reason not to trust her. She bit her lower lip in momentary agitation then decided to drop the issue.
She believed him. He hadn’t slept with somebody else. He wasn’t Jeremy. The thought was much more comforting than she would have liked.
“Well, I’m glad we got that cleared up.” She yawned, finally ready to sleep. “Guess we call it a night — Becky’s up with the sun.”
Jovi stood again, also smothering a yawn, and nodded. He headed toward the hall, then looked back at her.
“I just have one little question about all this.”
“A question?” Dell repeated, disconcerted. “What could you have a question about?”
He stepped close to her, and she could see the glint in his eyes, even in the lamp’s low light.
“Yeah, a question,” he repeated, his voice a husky whisper near her ear. “How did you know I was gone, Dell?” He reached out and caressed her cheek with a feather light touch. She pushed his hand away.
“You won’t ever know,” she retorted, and walked to her own door. With a hand on the doorknob, she turned and smiled at him. “But you’ll always wish you did.”
• • •
Early the next morning, Dell drove back, assuring herself she wasn’t doing it to annoy Jovi or put him in his place. She liked driving, and besides that, she didn’t relish three or four hours of time spent staring idly out a window at mostly barren scenery. Jovi joked with the girls and commented on the trip with them, and he turned frequently to check Becky, who grumbled at being constrained in the carrier, but he rarely spoke to Dell, and only when she directed a remark to him.
“Are you two guys mad at each other?” Amy asked curiously as they pulled into a gas station on the eastern edge of Laredo.
“Should we be?” Dell asked lightly, not answering the question directly.
“Beats me,” Amy said, clambering out and stretching. “But you sure don’t seem as friendly as you did in South Padre.” Shrugging at Dell, she climbed out and followed the others, already on their way to the ladies’ room.
“So how do I answer that?” Dell wondered out loud, asking herself, really. Jovi was pumping gas, and he looked across at her.
“The truth usually works,” he suggested.
“The truth?”
He replaced the gas hose and closed the cap before leaning against the roof of the SUV and regarding her cynically.
“Tell her I’m the hired help, and the excursion is over,” he said. “How hard would that be to understand?”
“You’re ruining what was a really wonderful time — for all of us,” Dell gritted. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself, Jovani Treviño.”
He had the grace to look abashed, if only momentarily. The girls came out of the gas station just then carrying Becky and a bag of drinks and chips, and they all scrambled back into their respective seats.
“Here’s your change, Dell,” Selina said, handing over a handful of coins and dollar bills
.
Jovi wiped his hands on his jeans and gave a final, dark glare before going around to climb into the passenger seat, and Dell buckled herself in with annoyance. Just who did Jovani Treviño think he was, anyway, she asked herself. She pulled out into the heavy traffic on Zapata Highway with care, but she couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch.
Chapter Eleven
Dust puffed up around the horses’ hooves as they cantered through a shallow draw, shoes clicking metallically when they hit loose bits of rock. Dell rode behind the four teenagers, partly to keep an eye on them and partly because she was carefully holding Becky in front of her in the saddle. Sugar was a calm, easygoing sort, but Dell wasn’t about to risk the toddler’s safety if the mare shied at a rattlesnake or stumbled unexpectedly.
Jovi rode ahead, controlling the pace as he reined the big, brightly spotted Appaloosa to a trot and said something to Selina. The other girls gathered around him in a cluster as he pointed off toward the tree line that ran along one edge of the pasture. The girls were shading their eyes and looking, too, and when Dell squinted, she could make out the well-concealed outlines of several white-tailed deer.
The deer weren’t uncommon on the ranch, of course, but seeing them during daylight was unusual. She looked at Jovi consideringly. For someone who denied having much experience on local ranches, he sure did have good eyesight. She bit her lower lip and resisted the urge to sigh. Their relationship had definitely chilled since that fateful trip to South Padre. Annoyance twisted her mouth. Relationship? He was her foreman, for heaven’s sake. Hardly a relationship to worry about there.
She shifted in the saddle and cursed silently at herself. Since when had position mattered? If she wanted to avoid a relationship with Jovi, it wasn’t because he wasn’t good enough. It would just be awkward, with the girls. And if they were involved, she couldn’t very well boss him around, treat him the way her mother had treated her father. No. Jovi could be a man she admired. A man whose honest opinion and knowledge about horses mattered. Nothing more.
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