Kiss Me (Fool's Gold series)

by Susan Mallery

  They all trooped inside, introducing themselves as they passed their host. When it was Phoebe’s turn, Reilly gave her a warm smile.

  “Welcome to my home,” he said.

  “Thank you. You’re very kind to offer us shelter.”

  He shrugged off her words. “Don’t worry about that, little girl. I appreciate the company.”

  When Maya shook his hand, he frowned. “I’ve seen you before.”

  “I used to be Zane’s stepsister.”

  Reilly grinned. “And your mama was that showgirl, right? Whoee, did she have some legs on her.”

  “Yeah, they were terrific,” Maya muttered.

  “Haven’t seen you in town in a while,” Eddie said to Reilly.

  “Got no use for them festivals,” he said. “Tourists make too much traffic.”

  Phoebe suppressed a smile. If he thought Fool’s Gold traffic was bad, what would he think of LA rush hour?

  When they’d all been introduced, Reilly let them into a massive great room. There was a big fireplace at one end, with several large crackling logs. Phoebe joined the group as they headed directly for the smoky warmth. C.J. crouched down with Lucy and Tommy, rubbing their backs and hands to chase away the chill.

  Reilly counted heads. “Hmm, a few of you are going to have to double up. I have a big place, but not that many bedrooms.”

  “We appreciate any hospitality you can offer us,” Zane said stiffly.

  Instinctively, Phoebe moved next to him. She wanted to take his hand, but wasn’t sure if he would appreciate that. Instead she settled on standing close and offering silent moral support.

  “I’m glad for the company, son. Now, who is married to whom? I want to get the bedroom situation right.”

  As Reilly figured out the sleeping arrangements, Phoebe gazed at the soaring ceilings and large windows. Even on such a gray and stormy day, light filtered into the house. There were exposed beams, old hardwood floors that were beautiful enough to belong in a museum and dozens of stunning antiques. From the center of the great room, she could see into a dining room and a library that were just as impressive. A place like this would be at least fifteen million in Beverly Hills. She figured it would have to be well into seven figures even outside a small town in the mountains of Northern California.

  “Isn’t it gorgeous?” Maya said as she moved nearer to Phoebe. “I always heard old man Reilly was loaded. Apparently his grandfather hit it rich in a gold rush or two. He’s only spent his life herding cattle because he likes it. Oh, we’re sharing a room. We’ll each have a real bed. Doesn’t that sound like heaven?”

  Phoebe nodded, but what she was thinking was that however much she liked her friend, she would rather share a room with Zane. Speaking of which...

  “Are you okay?” she asked him, her voice low.

  “Fine.”

  She couldn’t tell from looking at him, nor did she know what he was thinking. Still, this wasn’t exactly the time or place to discuss something so personal and she couldn’t figure out a way to point out that Reilly was being great about the unexpected invasion.

  “Now, you folks probably want to get to your rooms and dry off,” Reilly said. “Let me show you where those are. Danny will bring in your things when he puts up the horses.”

  “I can do that,” Zane said.

  Reilly slapped him on the back. “You’re a guest, son. I’ll take care it.”

  Zane offered a gruff, “Thank you.”

  Reilly led the way upstairs. The kids’ room was first, with C.J. and Thad across the hall. Next up were Eddie and Gladys, then Phoebe and Maya.

  “This is my grandson’s old room,” Reilly told them. “Ryder’s in Kenya now, taking pictures for National Geographic. He’s single, you know. I keep tellin’ him he needs to find a woman and settle down.” He winked as he spoke. “Now, you let me know if you need anything.”

  “He’s charming,” Maya said when they were alone. “I can’t believe he and Zane are fighting.” She plopped down on one of the beds and stared meaningfully at Phoebe. “So? Start talking.”

  Phoebe felt her stomach clench. “I can’t. Zane told me in confidence.”

  Maya raised her eyebrows. “Am I or am I not your best friend?”

  She winced. “We both know you can probably guilt it out of me, but I wish you wouldn’t. I don’t want to betray Zane.”

  Maya studied her. “So things have progressed even further than I thought.”

  “I... We...” Phoebe sank onto the other bed and covered her face with her hands. “Help.”

  Maya surprised her by laughing. “Okay, kid. I’m giving you a break because we are best friends, and I don’t want to snap your moral backbone. But you owe me.”

  “Forever,” Phoebe promised, grateful to be off the hook.

  While Maya dried her hair, Phoebe took a couple of minutes to explore the room. Framed nature photographs covered almost every inch of wall space. The frames looked homemade, and she could imagine Reilly building one every time his grandson sent a new picture.

  There was a close-up of a polar bear, every ice-white hair on its massive body in sharp focus. Next to it, a baby monkey clung to its mother as she leaped between trees. Over the dresser was an oversize print of a daredevil in a skintight platinum-colored bodysuit, riding a surfboard in the sky. The color and the daring combined to make Phoebe catch her breath. And on the nightstand, there was a portrait of Reilly with the man she assumed was his grandson, Ryder. He looked to be about twenty in the picture, though she assumed with all of his world traveling that he was older now.

  A bathroom was attached to the bedroom. After sighing over the thrill of indoor plumbing and coming up with a schedule for the shower and Jacuzzi tub, they headed down to lunch.

  Matilda might have only had forty-five minutes’ notice, but she’d still managed to put together a lunch that rivaled Cookie’s best meal.

  There was stew, and spaghetti and garlic bread, a salad, cut-up fruit and chocolate cake for dessert. Phoebe slid into a high wood chair across from Zane and offered him a smile.

  “This is really nice,” she said.

  He grunted.

  She studied his tight expression and the wariness in his eyes. Obviously his claim to be “fine” was overstated.

  But before she could say anything, the rest of their group entered the room and took seats. Then Reilly joined them.

  There was plenty of food to go around, and lots of conversation. Reilly entertained them with stories about Ryder’s photo adventures around the world. He found out a little about each guest, then turned his attention to Zane.

  “I didn’t know you’d started offering cattle drives,” he said.

  Zane grunted. Phoebe wasn’t surprised he didn’t respond any other way. He didn’t want everyone to know why they were on the cattle drive.

  Reilly looked as if he might probe a little, so Phoebe tried to change the topic.

  “Your house is beautiful,” she said. “The craftsmanship is amazing, and there are so many unique architectural elements.”

  “Well, thank you, Phoebe. A lot of that is my mother’s doing. She had big plans and a real eye for detail. To me this was always the place where I grew up. Now, with my kids and grandson gone, it’s a big, empty house. Ryder insists he’s never going to want to settle down. That boy was born with itchy feet. I’m thinking about selling.” He shrugged. “If the right offer came along, I’d take it.”

  Across from her, Zane stiffened, but Phoebe barely noticed. A picture had flashed in her brain. A picture of a man describing his dream house, including the isolated location, with plenty of land. But something unique.

  She looked around at the carved molding in the dining room and the inlaid flooring. Was this the place Jonny Blaze had been talking about?

  * * *

  ZANE WANDERED RESTLESSLY through the house. He hated being here nearly as much as he hated being indebted to Reilly. No doubt the old bastard was gloating. Once again he’d got
ten the better of him.

  He crossed to a window and stared out at the storm. The afternoon was gray and cold. He knew he didn’t have to worry about Chase. The kid would be fine. Cookie’s wagon was more than enough protection for the two of them. And in this kind of rain, the cattle weren’t likely to do much more than hunker down and endure. But he couldn’t help worrying. And thinking. The past was always close, and in this house, it threatened to overwhelm him.

  Determined not to give in, he went searching for Phoebe. He found her in a back office by the kitchen. She was working on a computer.

  “Hey,” he said as he entered.

  She glanced up and practically beamed. “Oh, Zane, isn’t this place amazing? And you know what? Reilly has Wi-Fi. I’ve already sent off pictures of the inside. I didn’t want to get any of the exterior, what with it raining and all, but Reilly had some and I scanned those in. I even caught Jonny Blaze at home. He’s thrilled by what he’s seen so far. In fact he’s talking about making an offer, sight unseen. Is that just the best? Of course I’d have to get the deal through before I get my license revoked, but still. Reilly will get what he wants, Jonny Blaze will have his private retreat and I’ll get a commission that is...”

  She sucked in a breath. “Well, I can’t do the math in my head, but it’s going to be a lot, which is so cool.”

  He stared at her, unable to believe what she was saying. “Jonny Blaze?”

  “You remember.”

  “I sure as hell do. You can’t sell this place to some movie star.”

  The words came out as a roar. Phoebe’s eyes darkened with confusion, and she slowly rose.

  “What’s wrong? Zane? Are you worried he’s going to throw parties and put up a theme park or something? It won’t be like that. Jonny really respects the environment. He wants the acreage for privacy. In fact he’d probably be delighted to sell you his cattle and let them run on this land. Do cattle run? Is graze a better word?” Her expression softened. “Don’t worry, Zane. I’ve already told Jonny that there’s a strip of land he can’t have. If this deal goes through, you’ll get it back.”

  “Like charity?”

  “No. Of course not. It’s yours. It’s always been yours. I thought...”

  “The hell you did.” He glared at her. “You can’t do this.”

  “Why not?”

  A voice came from behind them. “You gonna tell her, boy? Or am I?”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ZANE SPUN AROUND and saw Reilly standing in the doorway. Figured the old man would show up now.

  “She already knows.”

  Reilly shrugged. “So what’s the big deal? We all get what we want.”

  Zane couldn’t explain. What words would tell either of them that he had to earn back the land? That only through pain and suffering could he make it right. Even then—who knew if the ghosts would be happy at last?

  He tried to tell himself that it didn’t matter. Not after all this time. The thing was, he couldn’t make himself believe it.

  Reilly was going to sell the land to some movie star, and Zane would never get the chance to make things right. Sure, Phoebe would make sure he got his acreage back, but that wasn’t enough. He wouldn’t have proved anything.

  “Crazy,” he muttered to himself as he stared out the window at the rain. “You’re more than crazy.”

  Zane knew it to be true. His father had been dead for years. What was there to prove and make right? Were there any ghosts outside of those he’d created himself? So what did the land really mean after all this time? He’d done fine without it. Better than fine. He’d done the one thing his father had never been able to do—run the ranch at a profit.

  Zane had inherited acres of land and enough debt to sink it, but he’d managed to pull off the impossible. He’d paid off every penny and now had enough in the bank to secure the future of several generations. So why wasn’t that enough? Why did he feel the coldness of his father’s disappointment breathing down his neck?

  Phoebe moved close and wrapped her arms around him. He accepted the embrace for a second, then stepped back. Her dark eyes widened.

  “I need to think this through,” he said. “Alone.”

  He saw the pain in her expression and wished he could make it better. But how? He’d learned over and over that there was no way to fix what had been done and that forgiveness was a gift always withheld.

  She swallowed. “If you change your mind, if you want to talk, you know how to find me.”

  Her acceptance both awed and annoyed him. “Don’t you ever stop giving?”

  She considered the question. “I don’t think I can. It’s a part of who I am.”

  Of course, he thought, seeing the truth for the first time. Phoebe was light. She was bright and good and loving. Whatever the circumstances of her life, she could be proud of who she was and what she brought to this world.

  And what was he? What kind of man had he become?

  * * *

  PHOEBE THOUGHT SHE would sleep, what with having been awake most of the previous night. But instead of drifting off like Maya had done within fifteen seconds of them turning out the lights, she’d lain on her back and stared up at the dark ceiling.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about Zane. Nothing new, she told herself. The man had become an important part of her world. For a while she’d had a simple crush on him. Then she’d started to think the attraction was mutual. Then they’d made love, and she hadn’t needed to think aside from the fact that she was blissfully happy, and now she was confused. Again.

  She knew he was in pain—both about the land and what had happened with his father. She’d recognized the pain in his eyes. She’d wanted to comfort him, but he wasn’t the kind of man who welcomed that sort of intimacy. If only he was.

  With a sigh she rose and pulled on jeans, then replaced her sleep shirt with a long-sleeved T-shirt. Barefoot, she walked to the door and let herself out into the hallway, one of the books she’d purchased in Fool’s Gold tucked under her elbow. If she couldn’t think herself to sleep, maybe she could find a quiet place to read.

  She made it to the top of the stairs before she heard something. A slight creaking made her turn around while a dark shadow loomed in the darkness.

  “Phoebe?”

  Her breath caught as she recognized the voice. “Zane? What are you doing up?”

  “I can’t sleep. I was lurking outside of your room, trying to figure out how to talk to you without waking Maya.”

  He wanted to talk to her? Really?

  She moved toward him. “Here I am.”

  Instead of saying anything, he took her hand and led her down the hall. They entered the bedroom he’d been given, and when he’d closed the door behind them, he hit the light switch.

  One of the bedside lamps came on, illuminating the small room. There was a double bed, a dresser and a door to a bathroom.

  She turned to ask him what he wanted, but before she could speak, he took the book from her and set it aside, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing his cheek against her hair. “I’m such a jackass.”

  She rubbed her hands up and down his back. He was warm and alive and next to her. Nothing else really mattered.

  “Jackass seems strong,” she murmured.

  “How about a first-class screwup?”

  “If you’re going to do a job, then do it the best you can.”

  He chuckled low in his throat. “Gee, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He drew back and took her hand. Tugging her along, he walked to the bed, then pulled her down next to him.

  “You’re a hell of a woman,” he said as he brushed the hair from her face.

  Her? “I’m not all that special.”

  “Sure you are. You’re fearless.”

  “So are you.”

  He shook his head. “Not even close. I’m sorry I pushed you away before. I’m not used to sharing
my troubles. When I was a kid—” He shrugged. “I was a complete screwup. Just like Chase. My old man never understood. Whenever things went bad, he’d give me this look. I think I have it, too. Chase calls it the ‘death-ray look.’”

  Phoebe angled toward him, shifted so she tucked one foot under her. “It’s tough when we disappoint a parent.”

  “Worse than tough,” he said, staring past her.

  Her heart ached for him. Phoebe took his hand and squeezed. “Your father was wrong. He sounds like a difficult, mean man who couldn’t see how he was destroying his son.”

  “This isn’t about me.”

  “Of course it is. There’s a part of you deep inside that still hurts.” She released his hand and cupped his face. “I would do anything to go back in time and hold that little boy and tell him it’s okay.”

  Zane started to pull back. She didn’t want to let him go. Not just yet. Not while he was hurting so much she could feel the pain surrounding him. His wound ate away at him, making him hollow. She wanted to crawl inside and fill that space.

  “Don’t you ever give up?” he asked hoarsely.

  “Not really. It’s a flaw.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  He reached for her and pulled her close. Then they were stretched out on the bed, their arms around each other and nothing in the world mattered but being together.

  She surged forward as he dropped his head, and they met in a kiss that quickly consumed them. Heat, need and desire exploded into an out-of-control fire.

  He touched her everywhere, and she touched him back. Breasts, chest, back, hips, legs. She felt the length of his muscles, the power of his shoulders. Her mouth parted as he plunged inside of her. Tongues met, stroked, danced, as her blood pounded and flowed in a hot, passionate river of wanting.

  His long fingers found her breasts and squeezed them. Her nipples were already hard, and the brush of his thumbs against the tight tips made her whimper. She hadn’t pulled on a bra, and she was desperate to feel his hands on her bare skin.