TANTALIZING

by Lori Foster

  "If that's what you came for, you damn well should have stayed home. Now are you gettin' out to say your hellos and do your introductions, or not?"

  Nick took a deep breath and turned to Josie, who was still wide-eyed with shock. Sending her a twisted smile of apology, he said, "Josie, I'd like you to meet my grandfather, Jeb Harris. Granddad, this is Josie Jackson."

  With sharp eyes the man looked her over from the top of her tousled head to her feet in the strappy sandals. Josie felt mortified at the scrutiny and did her best not to squirm. He shook his head. "You can be the biggest damn fool, Nick." Then he laughed. "Well, get the young lady out of the truck before you forget your poor old granddad is even here."

  And with that, he turned and headed to his front porch, leaning heavily on a cane and favoring one hip. Josie noticed his shoulders were hunched just enough to prove he tolerated a measure of pain with his movements. The caretaker in her kicked in, and she briefly wondered what injury he'd suffered.

  Nick cleared his throat and she slowly brought her narrow-eyed gaze to his face. "This is your surprise?"

  He kept his gaze focused on a spot just beyond her left shoulder. "Yeah. Granddad called, asked if I could visit tonight." He jutted out his chin, as if daring her to comment. "I didn't think it would do any harm to stop here for a bit first."

  She opened her door and climbed out of the truck without his assistance. Nick was such a fraud. He didn't want her to think he was a softy, but the fact that he hadn't been able to refuse his grandfather only made her like him all the more. She glanced at him as he came to her side. "A little warning might have been nice, so I could have dressed appropriately instead of making a fool of myself."

  "Josie, Granddad is getting older. He's not dead. He knows who the fool is, and he's already cast the blame. You he's simply charmed by."

  Josie looked down at her dress, and decided there was no help for it. She sighed. "How do you know?"

  "Because I know my grandfather." As Nick looked up at the house, Josie looked at him. There was a softness in his eyes she'd never seen before. "When I was a kid, I loved the times I spent with him here more than you can know."

  Because he hadn't had anyone else. His mother had used him as a pawn and his stepmother and father had made him a stranger in his own home. She could have asked for better circumstances, but she wanted to meet his grandfather, knowing now that he was the only family Nick was close to.

  Nick saw her frown ease and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You look beautiful. And I think you'll like my grandfather. He's the one who taught me everything I know."

  Josie rolled her eyes. Somehow that didn't reassure her.

  HE WAS LAYING IT ON a bit thick, Nick thought, as his grandfather said, once again, "Eh?" very loudly. Hell, the man's hearing was sharper than a dog's and not a single whisper went by that he didn't pick up on. But for some reason he was playing a poor old soul and Nick had to wonder at his motives.

  At least Josie no longer seemed so flustered. She continued to fuss with that killer dress of hers – she'd almost given him a heart attack when he first saw her in it – but she had mostly relaxed and was simply enjoying his grandfather's embellished tales of life in years gone by.

  The old bird was enjoying Nick's discomfort. The small smile that hovered on his mouth proved he was aware of Nick's predicament, but there wasn't a damn thing Nick could do about it. Not with Josie sitting there on the edge of the sofa, her legs primly pressed together, the bodice of her dress hiked as high as she could get it. She inspired an odd, volatile mixture of raging lust and quiet tenderness. It unnerved him, and at the same time, turned him on.

  Right now he felt as if lava flowed through him, and the volcano was damn close to erupting.

  He shot out of his seat, attracting two pairs of questioning eyes. His grandfather chuckled while Josie frowned.

  "I, ah, I thought I'd go get us something to drink."

  "Would you like me to help you, Nick?" Josie made to rise from her seat.

  Before Nick could answer her, Granddad patted her hand and kept her still. "He can manage, can't you, Nick?"

  "Yes, sir."

  Granddad waved at Nick. "Fine, go on, then. Josie and I have things to chat about."

  Exactly what that meant was anyone's guess. In the kitchen, he filled some glasses with ice tea, then stuck his ear to the door.

  "I'm afraid you have the wrong impression, sir."

  "Just call me Jeb or Granddad. I can't stand all that 'sir' nonsense."

  There was a pause. "Really, Jeb, Nick and I are only friends."

  "Ha!" Granddad made a thumping sound with his cane. "My old eyes might be rheumy, but I can still see what needs to be seen. And I ain't so old as to be dotty. That boy's got himself a bad case goin', and you're the cause. Probably the cure, too."

  Nick groaned. At this rate, his grandfather would run Josie off even before Susan could. Josie didn't want the responsibility of another person, of permanence or commitment. This was her first chance to be free, and she wanted to widen her boundaries, to explore her sexual side.

  Between Susan telling her how irresponsible Nick was and his grandfather trying to corner her, he probably wouldn't last through the week. The thought filled him with unreasonable anger. He didn't want things to end until he was damn good and ready.

  His determination surprised him. He hadn't felt this strongly about anything since his mother had sent him home to live with his father, making it clear his presence was an intrusion. Not even Myra's ruthless attempts to alienate him had stirred so much turmoil inside him. Josie had tied him in so many knots, it was almost painful. But once he got her alone tonight, once he made love to her, everything would be all right.

  "His mother and father are to blame for his wild ways, too caught up in pickin' at each other to remember they had a son. And that witch Myra – she let her jealousy rule her, though I doubt Nick knew that was the cause. But you see, she knew I had cut my son out of my will. After he married her, I left everything to Nick. And it ate Myra up, knowin' it. She couldn't do anything to me, so she took it out on the one person she knew I really cared about."

  Nick groaned. Not only had his grandfather's impeccable speech deteriorated to some façade of what he considered appropriate dotage lingo, but now he'd gotten onto an issue better left unaddressed. Nick still felt foolish over his last bout of personal confession with her. Josie didn't want to get personal, but his grandfather was forcing the issue.

  "I hear you're a home health caretaker? Nick said you run a nice little business called Home and Heart. Could use someone like you around here."

  "Are you having some problems...Jeb?"

  "Broken hip, didn't you know? Busted the damn thing months ago, but it still pains me on occasion. Front porch was slippery from the rain and down I went. Poor Nick near fussed himself to death – reminded me of an old woman with all that squawkin'. Wouldn't leave my side, no matter how I told him to."

  "He did the right thing."

  "There, you see? He knows right from wrong when it matters. It's just the women he's got a problem with."

  Nick closed his eyes to the sound of Josie's disbelieving laughter.

  Granddad ignored her hilarity. "Now to be truthful, I'm pretty much recovered, but I just don't get around the way I used to. I could use someone to check up on me now and then, without me having to go all the way into town."

  Nick used that as his cue to reenter the room. "Excellent idea, Granddad. Maybe Josie could help you out." If he got her involved with his grandfather, it would be difficult for her to dump him and find another man to experiment with. She'd be pretty much stuck with him, at least for the time being, until the excitement wore off.

  Josie didn't look at all enthusiastic about the idea. "But don't you already have someone in place? I should think—"

  Granddad waved her to a halt. "Didn't care for that woman they had coming here. She was too starchy for my taste. I discharged her. Told her to go
and not come back."

  Nick remembered the incident. Of course, Granddad had been officially released from care anyway, and the poor woman whom he'd harassed so badly was more than grateful to be done with her duties.

  "I could find someone better suited to you if you have need of a nurse, Jeb."

  Nick liked how she'd so quickly accustomed herself to speaking familiarly with his grandfather. He knew Granddad would appreciate it, too. It gave him a warm feeling deep inside his chest to see the two of them chatting. No matter how Granddad went on, Josie never lost her patience. She listened to him intently, laughed with him and teased him. Nick felt damn proud of her, and it was one more feeling to add to the confusion of all the others she inspired.

  "Fine. Never mind. I didn't mean to be a burden."

  Nick snorted, recognizing his grandfather's ploy, but Josie was instantly contrite. "You're not!"

  "I know they said I was all recovered, that I didn't need any more help. And I live too far out for people to bother with. Should have sold this old house long ago."

  Josie looked around. When she replied, her voice was filled with melancholy. "But it's such a beautiful house. It has charm, and it feels like a real home, not a temporary one. Like generations could live here and be happy. They don't build them like this anymore."

  Nick wondered if it reminded her of her own home, the one she'd lost after her parent's death. He watched her face and saw the sadness there. He didn't like it.

  Granddad nodded. "It is a sturdy place. But it's getting to be too much for me. And it was made for a family, not one old man."

  "You know," Josie said, setting her glass down with a thunk. "I don't think you need a caregiver, I think you just need to get out more. And I have the perfect idea. Why don't you come to this party my neighbor is having next week? She's a wonderful friend and I have the feeling, being that you're Nick's grandfather, you might like her."

  Oh, hell, his grandfather would kill him. Josie was trying to play matchmaker and that was the one thing Granddad wouldn't tolerate. Since the death of his wife, Granddad was as protective of his freedom as Nick. But to Nick's surprise, he nodded agreement. "I'd love to. Haven't been to a party in a long time."

  Covering his surprise with a cough, Nick watched Josie, wondering if she would invite him to the party, too. But she didn't say a word about it and his temper started a slow boil. Damn her, did she have some reason not to want him there? Had her sister gotten to her already?

  "It's nice to have a young lady in the house again. First time, you know. For Nick to bring a woman here, I mean. 'Course, I wouldn't care to meet most of his dates." He leaned toward Josie, his bushy gray eyebrows bobbing. "Not at all nice, if you get my meaning."

  "Granddad." Nick's tone held a wealth of warning.

  In a stage whisper, Granddad said, "He don't like me telling tales on him, which makes it more fun to do so."

  If his grandfather hadn't recently had a broken hip, Nick would have kicked him under the table.

  When the evening finally wore down, his grandfather was starting to look tired. Concerned, Nick took care of putting their empty tea glasses away and preparing his grandfather's bed in the room downstairs. He used to sleep upstairs, Jeb explained to Josie, before the hip accident. Now he did almost everything on the lower floors while the upstairs merely got cleaned once a week by the housekeeper.

  "It's a waste of a good house, is what it is. I really ought to sell."

  When Josie started to object once again, Nick shook his head. "He's always threatening that. But he won't ever leave this place."

  By the time they walked outside, the sky had turned completely black and the air was turbulent. The storm still hovered, not quite letting go. Leaves from the large oaks lining the driveway blew up on the porch around Jeb's feet.

  Nick watched Josie hug his grandfather and he experienced that damn pain again that didn't really hurt, but wanted to make itself known. Josie stepped a discreet distance away and Nick indulged in his own hug. He couldn't help but chuckle when his grandfather whispered, "Prove to me what a smart lad you are, Nick, and hang on to this one."

  "She can't hear you, Granddad. You can quit with the 'lad' talk."

  "I was pretty good at sounding like a grandpa, wasn't I? I hadn't realized I had so much talent."

  "I hadn't realized you could be so longwinded."

  "Stop worrying, Nick. I know what I'm doing."

  Josie looked toward them, and Nick muttered, "Yeah? Well, I wish I did."

  He took Josie's hand as he led her to the truck. The wind picked up her long hair and whipped it against his chest. "Are you tired?"

  She smiled up at him. "Mmm. But not too tired."

  Her response kick started a low thrumming of excitement in his heart. With his hands on her waist, he hoisted Josie up into the truck, then leaned on the seat toward her, resting one hand beside her, the other on her thigh. "What does that mean, Josie?"

  "It means we made a deal earlier, and now I expect you to pay up."

  He almost crumbled, the lust hit him so hard. It had been too long, much too long, since he'd made love to her. "It'll be my pleasure."

  She shook her head and her fingertips trailed over his jaw. "No, it'll be mine. I want my fair turn, Nick. Tonight I want you to promise you won't move. Not a single muscle, not unless I give you permission."

  He tried to laugh, but it came out sounding more like a groan. "Why, Ms. Jackson. What do you have planned?"

  "I plan to make you every bit as crazy as you make me. This time I want you to be the one begging. Promise me, Nick."

  He had no intention of promising her a damn thing. He wasn't fool enough to let a woman make demands on him. It would start with one request, and then she'd think she could run his life. He wouldn't let that happen.

  Josie smiled a slow sinful smile, smoothed her hand down over his chest. "Promise me, Nick."

  "All right, I promise."

  ~ 8 ~

  "STAND RIGHT THERE."

  Josie surveyed her handiwork and felt immense satisfaction at the picture Nick made. She'd stripped his shirt from his shoulders, unsnapped his jeans. He was almost too appealing to resist. Kneeling in front of him, she'd taken turns tugging his shoes and socks off. He even had beautiful feet. Strong, narrow. Right now those feet were braced apart while his hands clutched, as per her order, the shelving high above the berth where she sat. Her face was on a level with his tight abdomen and she could see the way he labored for breath.

  She liked this game – she liked it very much.

  Nick hadn't said much once he'd agreed to her terms. The storm had broken shortly after they gained the main road, lightning splitting the sky with great bursts of light, the heavy darkness pressing in on them. They'd ridden to the boat in virtual silence, other than the rumble of thunder and her humming, which she hadn't been able to stop. She put it down to a nervous reaction in the face of her plan. Nick's hands had repeatedly clenched the steering wheel, but he hadn't backed out, hadn't asked her about her plans. At one point he'd lowered his window a bit and let the rain breeze in on him. She appreciated his restraint, though now she hoped to help him lose it.

  He stared down at her, his expression dark, his hair still damp from their mad dash to the boat through the rain. For a moment, Josie wondered once again why he'd taken her to see his grandfather. He'd even suggested Jeb hire her, but she couldn't go along with that idea. If she got entangled with the one person Nick was closest to, it would make it so difficult to bear when their affair was over. She needed to keep an emotional arm's length, but with every minute that passed, that became harder to do.

  Determined on her course, she blew lightly on his belly and watched his muscles tighten and strain.

  "I feel I have to get this right, you know." She stroked the hard muscles of his abdomen. "I don't want to disappoint you, or myself."

  He made a rough sound, but otherwise he simply watched her as if daring her to continue. She smiled inside,
more than ready to take up the challenge. She wanted to get everything she could from her time with him.

  Using just the edge of one fingernail, she traced the length of his erection and heard him suck in a breath. Speaking in a mere whisper, she said, "You look uncomfortable, Nick. I suppose I should unzip you. But first, I want to make myself more comfortable, too."

  Leaning back on the berth to make certain he could see her, she watched his face while she hooked her fingers in the top of her dress and tugged it below her breasts, slowly, so that the material rasped over her nipples and tightened them. She inhaled sharply, feeling her own blush but ignoring it. "That's better."

  Nick's biceps bulged, his chest rose and fell. She cupped her breasts, offering them up, being more daring now that she could see how difficult control had become for him. She stroked her palms over her nipples and heard his soft hiss of approval.

  "And back at the apartment, didn't you mention something about wanting me to lift my dress?" She flipped back the edges of the flowered skirt until her panties could be seen. "Is this what you had in mind?"

  Nick's cheekbones were slashed with aroused color, and his eyes were so dark they looked almost black. The boat rocked and jerked with the storm, but he held his balance above her and smiled. "You're so hot."

  "Hmm. Let's see if we can get you in a similar state." She eased the zipper down on his jeans and reveled in his low grunt of relief. "Better? You looked so...constrained."

  His penis was fully erect and the very tip was visible from the waistband of his underwear. Enthralled, Josie ran a delicate fingertip over it and saw Nick jerk back in response, muttering a low curse.

  She peered up at him, loving the sight of him, his reaction. "You didn't like that?"

  He dropped his head forward, a half laugh escaping him. His dark, damp hair hung low over his brow. "That might not be the very best place to start." He looked at her, his face tilted to one side, and he grinned. "You're really pushing it now, aren't you?"