“Maybe, but I don’t think he needs that rumor.” She couldn’t stop the chuckle.
“Don’t be so sure. That stiff demeanor of his is now officially cracked and he’s back down to our level—human. He’s even been getting a lot of back slapping and thumbs up from his male staff members,” Kevin informed with a big smile, then kissed her forehead. “Got to go. Bossman expects me to be in bright and early tomorrow.”
He waved before driving out of sight.
I am so dead.
She turned and rushed around the side and up the balcony steps. With luck, Cole would still be downstairs in his office and she’d avoid the retribution she knew he’d demand.
In her hopes for a reaction, retribution wasn’t one of them.
“Not so fast, Jordan.” The deep steely voice hit her ears just as she reached her door. “I want a word with you. Now!”
Chapter Six
Busted. Damn.
“Look, Cole. Whatever it is, can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Jordan hoped by some miracle he’d postpone his rant. Maybe he’d be calmer by the morning.
“No, Jordan. It can’t wait,” he snapped, coming out of the shadows to glare.
Barefoot and bare-chested, Cole wore nothing but a pair of jeans. Her throat dried. Holy friggin’ torsos.
Water dripped off his loose hair, and ran unchecked down solid pecks, then followed the tight ruts of his abs, sporting a happy trail to jeans slung low on his lean hips. The naked expanse of his chest glistened from the droplets as moonlight caught them in its glow.
She swallowed and searched for her voice. “F-fine.”
He scowled. “No, it’s not fine, Jordan. You had no right to treat me like that in front of my staff today. People I work with day in and day out.” He drew in a hissed breath. “People I demand respect from. I will not tolerate that kind of behavior again.”
Sighing, she stepped toward him and looked into his narrowed eyes. “You’re right, Cole. I shouldn’t have and I’m sorry. But I tried all morning and most of the afternoon to get you to talk to me in private so it’s as much your fault as it is mine,” she finished with a tilt of her chin.
“Ah, hell no! Don’t even try to blame your wild behavior on me, Jordan. Thanks to you, there are all sorts of rumors circulating at my company.”
She bit back a smile and remained silent, letting him vent. He had a point. She should’ve found another way. If she had it to do over again…she wouldn’t change a damn thing. Mrs. McCall’s gleaming face popped into her mind. The results were worth his baby rumors. She bit harder and tasted blood as she swallowed a giggle.
“I’m glad you’re amused by this, Jordan, because if you ever step foot inside McCall Enterprises again, I’ll have you physically removed!”
Okay, now that was really amusing. She smiled outright. Funny, that only made his frown deepen. My God, he was serious. Straightening, she shoved her hands on her hips and tilted her head back to stare him down.
“You and what army?”
Oops, there went her mouth again.
His face darkened. She swallowed and backed away—straight into the railing. One quick stride and he had her trapped with his body. His half naked, wet, mouth-watering body. Damn. Her body immediately rejoiced.
Bad body.
Jaw tight enough to crack, and it did, he glared down at her. “No army. Just me.”
Intending to push free, her hands met the bare flesh of his chest. Solid. Smooth. Deliciously warm. Her knees wanted to buckle. She refused. He’s just a man. A very well-proportioned man. Arousal, unwanted yet strong, rippled through her, instantly stalling her need to flee. Cole stilled. His incredible broad expanse begged her palms to explore. She drew in a breath. Damn man was too friggin’ sexy for her health. Fresh scented soap and shampoo tickled her senses and she eyed his wet torso. Lucky droplets. A tremor of desire slipped past her dwindling control as she slowly lifted her gaze.
Stormy brown eyes widened a fraction before locking on hers. With each heartbeat that passed, breathing became a chore.
“Maybe we should make good on those rumors…nymph.” Thrusting his fingers in her loose hair, he held her head immobile.
Sanity returned with his sudden movement. “No,” she protested through clenched teeth, trying to push out of his arms again. There was no way she could survive. No way.
“Yes, Jordan,” he replied in a rough voice before claiming her mouth.
Hot liquid sensations shot down her spine then back up. Half of her wanted to melt into his magnificent body while the other half wanted to fight. The best compromise to her rebellious libido was to keep her lips closed.
Her good parts tingled and wanted to know where the hell he’d been for the past decade, but she immediately told them to shut the frig up. He made her feel. She did not want to feel. Not yet. Jeez, they needed to straighten him out, and right now, she was so damn mixed up.
Without warning, his kiss changed from savage to soft and seeking and lazy.
Dammit.
Nibbling, teasing, nipping, he didn’t play fair. His tongue glided over the seam of her lips. She couldn’t help it, she moaned, involuntarily giving him access to her mouth. Oops. He tasted of mint and desire. He was so hot. So very, very hot.
Jordan’s control deserted her. Snapped. Left her alone to deal with an unhealthy, wild hunger buried so long ago. Maybe a little taste. What harm was there? She touched her tongue to his.
Mmm…adult Cole tasted better than she’d ever imagined.
He groaned into her mouth, body heating under her touch, and heaven help her, she wanted more. Sliding her hands over his shoulders, she stopped at the back of his neck where her fingers tangled in his thick, wet strands. His hold on her tightened. She took advantage of the better angle and boldly plunged her tongue into his mouth, savoring his intense taste as her eyes drifted closed and she melted into him.
All the longing she’d had for Cole during her youth hit her full force but in a much stronger, womanly form. Completely overcome, coupled with the pent up yearnings of the past few days, Jordan’s common sense joined her control and took a hike. A long hike.
His lips tantalized, kissing, seeking, drinking, drawing a throbbing response from deep inside. Bodies aligned. Mouths aligned. She rediscovered his taste, experienced the mind-drugging stroke of his tongue, basked in his warmth.
Hot damn, the man could kiss. He was so hot. So was she. They were on fire.
Never breaking the kiss, he released her head to skim his hands over her peaked nipples to the curve of her waist before sliding over her ass where he gripped tight as he rocked into her. Oh, yeah…that. Shards of heat shot out in all directions, weakening her knees, forcing a whimper from her throat. He did it again, and oh God, she was in heaven. Of their own accord, her eager hands slid over his muscles, descending lower until they hit the waist of his jeans.
He stiffened, then abruptly pushed away with a curse.
Jordan’s eyes flew opened at the absence of his mouth and warmth of his flesh. Panting, she sucked in air, and common sense returned with a flood of guilt and shame.
Eric.
With a hand on her quaking stomach, she drew in more air and fought a wave of nausea.
If Cole hadn’t stepped away…
She shuddered, refusing to think about what she’d almost allowed to happen.
“I’m sorry, Jordan,” he said unsteadily. “I didn’t mean to let that get so out of control.” Thrusting a hand through his hair, he tugged at the back of his head before dropping his arm to his side with a thump. “But I think you’ve learned your lesson. Good night.”
Before she could respond, Cole retreated to his room, locking the door, effectively shutting her out. If only she could shut out guilt. Her stomach churned.
How could I betray my husband like that?
Okay, so she was technically no longer married. But she’d never been with anyone but Eric. Sure, she’d gone on a few dates and kissed a few men the past six
months. But that had been to please her family and friends; to put on a show of moving on. Those embraces meant nothing and left her cold, keeping her heart true to Eric.
Not this time. God, no. Not this time. This time she was ready to jump up, wrap her legs around the sexy CEO cowboy and take in every hard, delectable inch she felt bulging behind his zipper. All because of one damn, heated kiss.
Mouth souring, she continued to hold her lurching stomach and walked blindly toward her room.
This time, Lord help her, she wanted much more.
Cole couldn’t believe what had just happened. What he’d almost let happen. Jesus, the woman made him nuts. Their exchange just proved he had zero control where Jordan was concerned. Zip. Zilch. Nil.
And he certainly had no business kissing her. What the hell was wrong with him?
She was what was wrong with him. She had him so mad he couldn’t see straight and the next thing he knew he had her soft curves pinned against the railing, his tongue in her luscious mouth wanting to prove, God knows what, when all it proved was he wanted her more than his next breath.
Christ.
He stripped out of his jeans and stepped back into the shower, violently twisting the cold tap. Even thoughts of Bess and his near betrayal hadn’t lessened his arousal.
And that pissed him off.
He did not want to be attracted to Jordan. Did not want this unhealthy need eating him up, making him yearn to kiss her long and slow, to lick her from head to toe…to thrust deep inside her until she clenched tight and called out his name.
Ah hell…
The cold shower wasn’t helping. He was so hard he could crack the Italian marble lining the walls. Damn woman! He was going to have to take matters into his own hands, something he hadn’t done since his teenage years. And yes, that pissed him off, too. What was worse was the fleeting thought that right now, at that moment if he hadn’t stopped Jordan, her sweet heat could’ve brought his release. Son-of-a-bitch, if that wasn’t the very image that flashed in his mind when he let loose.
Now he was good and pissed.
He slumped against the wall. She had to go. Just had to. He wanted her gone. Now. But that wasn’t possible. He expelled a breath and stepped back under the cold spray. He was stuck with her until after the party. Didn’t mean he had to be nice. Hell, he was done being nice, even though he knew he’d pretty much been an ass since she’d arrived.
Well, things were about to get worse. He loved his mother, he really did, but he was done holding back to keep the peace. Right now, he needed to think of himself. He washed up, rinsed, then shut off the water before he towel dried with brisk strokes. If he wasn’t careful, Jordan was going to knock down his wall. The hell if he was going to let that happen. No way was he ready to feel. Especially with that…that…her.
Two minutes later, Cole crawled into bed and forced himself to relax. He could get through the next week and a half. It was just a matter of control. Jordan wasn’t going to be a problem. Truth be to told, he had to admit, she wasn’t even the biggest problem. He was. And the person he was most furious with was himself for not being strong enough to fight their attraction.
Why the hell did his control disappear around that woman? That’s all she was. A woman, for Christ’s sakes.
A sweet, sexy, giving woman who nagged and challenged and wouldn’t let up. Deep down Cole knew Jordan did it because she cared. He didn’t want her concern. She understood his pain. He didn’t want her understanding. She felt the same fierce hunger and need ripping him open from the inside out. Lord help him, her eyes had smoldered. They’d fucking smoldered.
Ah hell…he was hard again.
Sitting atop Ember Friday afternoon, Jordan turned the horse’s canter into a trot. She was in no hurry to reach the ranch or its growing tension. Cole had been an even bigger bear since they’d kissed two nights ago. His family was walking on eggshells around him and the kid-glove treatment was ticking her off.
Big time.
Needing a break after doing her follow-ups on the party arrangements, she’d snuck to her favorite spot, enjoying the sun and sand, until her conscience told her it was time to head back. She took the long way, though, reluctant for her stress-free time to end.
Up ahead, near the road, the brush started to shake. Her back stiffened. Snake? She tugged on the reigns and brought Ember to a halt.
The shaking stopped. She frowned and held her breath, waiting to see if the critter would reveal itself, hesitant to go past if it would put her horse in danger. Sweat gathered on her brow and ran down the side of her face.
Bursting into the road a moment later, a roadrunner shot from the brush and scurried to the other side. Jordan jumped, then laughed. The bird was a common sight around there, dining on insects, spiders, scorpions, small snakes and lizards. Ranchers welcomed them because of their varied menu.
As the roadrunner disappeared once again into the brush, she nudged Ember back into her trotting pace and contemplated her long week so far.
She’d planned, ordered, and arranged all that she could for the party. Spent several days visiting old friends with her mother, sister and Mrs. McCall. Met Cole’s secretary. Crashed a meeting, jump started his reputation as a satisfying sex partner, and avoided him like a California mudslide, ever since their eye-opening adult kiss.
Embarrassed by her lack of control, she’d been reluctant to face him yesterday. She needn’t have worried. He acted like their kiss never happened. The responsive, hot man who’d shuddered with passion two nights ago didn’t exist. Whenever she walked into the room his lips thinned and face darkened, and he’d nearly jumped down Connor’s throat for suggesting he take up Kevin’s offer on this weekend’s barbeque.
Stupid, stubborn jerk.
Cole was just as hard and unfeeling as before, maybe even more so. By responding to their kiss, he’d shown need and that meant weakness. And heaven forbid the mighty Cole McCall should show weakness. Why act human when he could be a mean, ornery bastard?
The leather rein crackled under her clenched fists. If he didn’t snap out of it soon, she’d haul off and pop him one. For the life of her, Jordan couldn’t figure out how come no one had done that yet.
As the ranch came into view, the roar of a powerful engine and dirt-eating sound of a car tearing up the road behind her met Jordan’s ears. She glanced over her shoulder and barely had enough time to close her eyes before a tornado of dust engulfed her and Ember, as a black BMW sped by.
“Son-of-a…” She coughed. “Dammit, Cole!”
When the cloud cleared, she drew in a few clean breaths, and galloped straight to the stable. Bringing Ember to a halt just outside the stable doors, she eyed the building across the drive.
Briefcase in hand, Cole came out of the garage without so much as an apology or inquiry to see if she was all right.
Jumping off the mare, she bit back an unladylike curse and strode to him. No way was he getting away with that stunt. She wasn’t family and not at all intimidated. Not caring if she dirtied his expensive suit, she grabbed his arm and twisted him around. “Not so fast, McCall. Just where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” he had the audacity to ask.
“You son-of-a—”
“Jordan? Is that you?” He cut her off, eyes widening in mock innocence. “I didn’t recognize you under all that dirt.”
White hot steam replaced her blood, evaporating her retort, leaving an instant throbbing in her head. When the heat lessened enough for speech, she shoved a stray strand of hair off her face and spat, “What’s wrong with you, Cole? You were driving like a maniac! Do you want to have an accident?”
Blood drained from his face while his gaze took on a deadly glare. “Try riding in a field next time,” he ground out and ripped his arm free with such force Jordan had to step backward to avoid falling over. “And mind your own damned business!” With a white-knuckled grip on his briefcase, he pivoted around and strode to the house.<
br />
If not for the horse to take care of, she would’ve taken care of him. Jordan unclenched her fists and marched back to Ember. Grumbling, she guided the mare into the stable, removed the saddle and slammed it on the rack as if it were a feather. Tremendously ticked-off, she probably could’ve lifted the horse with one hand. A pinky.
Stupid, no-brain, McCall.
Imagining the reins to be Cole’s neck, Jordan led Ember to the back of the stable with her own white-knuckled grip. Prying her fingers loose, she inhaled and threw her unbridled energy into ridding the horse of the coating of dirt—courtesy of Jerk McCall. That man better not even think of pushing her further tonight because she was done babying him. Done with a capital D-on’t even think about it! Venting her frustration with every brisk movement, she finished up the task just as Connor entered the barn.
He stopped dead, brows disappearing under the brown brim of his well-worn work hat. “What in the world happened to you?”
“Your brother, that’s what.” She motioned with the hose, nearly spraying Connor’s jeans. “He came tearing up the road as I was riding. Didn’t slow down…didn’t swerve…just drove like a bat out of hell. Does he always drive that fast?” She turned off the water and looked up at him.
Connor sighed. “Unfortunately, yes, every once in awhile, the past two years.”
“Two years?” She reeled back, dropping the hose. “Why don’t you all do something about it, for goodness sake? He can get hurt. Or hurt someone else. This has to stop, Connor. I can’t stomach the way he talks to all of you or the way he treats you. He’s the same way with his staff, and I’ll tell you right now,” she said, pointed to the house again. “If someone doesn’t say something soon, then I will.”
Unease emanated from the quiet cowboy. He removed his hat, swiped his forehead with his sleeve, then set the hat back on. “Cole’s been through so much and lost so much, Jordan. We don’t want to add to his burden.”
Her Fated Cowboy (Harland County Series) Page 9
