by Dani Wade
She propped her elbows on the bar. Resting her chin in her hands gave him a distracting view of her cleavage, but he maintained his focus. Barely. KC appeared oblivious as she said, “Better to be effective than to just do something for the sake of doing it.”
Exactly. “I want a hardship fund to provide a variety of things to families and workers in need. But the community as a whole still views me as an outsider, I think. I’m not familiar with the people here nearly enough. And they probably wouldn’t feel comfortable with me, either.”
He smiled as he continued, “We need someone to administer the fund who is familiar with the townspeople on a grassroots level. That’s why I wanted to ask if you would be willing to help me. You know these people. You know this place. Will you do this for them?”
Shock widened her eyes. Her mouth shaped the word me, but no sound escaped. A few heartbeats later, she cleared her throat. “Jacob, I don’t know anything about coordinating a big charity. I mean, I do know a lot of people—”
“And you know about handling them, evaluating what they need with dignity and respect. Sounds perfect to me. I can manage the boring parts of it—the money and paperwork and all.”
She stood quietly for a moment. “What about the saboteur? Do we need to worry about him retaliating against me?”
“For helping the community? I doubt it. He seems more concerned with things that directly affect the mill. The goal has been accomplished—kill the cotton. Helping the people left behind shouldn’t endanger you. Now, Aiden and I bringing in cotton could be a trigger.”
She squirmed, the light in her eyes dimming a little.
“Don’t worry. As long as we’re careful to keep our public interactions nonromantic, you and Carter should be fine.”
“Maybe.” She studied him for a long moment. “You know people will eventually find out you’re living at my house?”
“As I said, we’re being careful.”
“Yes, and they’ve stopped questioning your presence here. And the neighbors don’t notice your car parked in the back shed. And we’re careful not to go anywhere out together. But how long will you be happy with that?”
Her tone told him she wasn’t happy, but she was probably too afraid for Carter to push the issue. He wasn’t sure how he felt about going public, but he couldn’t force himself to leave her—them. One day he might have to, to protect them both. But for now, staying was his only desire. He gave her a short nod, keeping his thoughts to himself. “We’ll deal with that when we get there. For now, what about the charity?”
“Um, okay. I mean, yes,” she said, then laughed as he nodded his approval.
Now they were on track—and seeing her so excited had an incredibly stimulating effect on his libido. “Any ideas for what we could do?”
“Maybe we could raise money for care packages, get donated gift cards for clothes and groceries, or even money to help pay essential bills.”
“Baby, you’ve got some great ideas in that head of yours.”
Resorting to her sexy persona, Miss Mischievous winked at him. “Sure you don’t want a fund-raiser? I could open a kissing booth.”
Unable to stop himself, he grasped her hand. “I don’t think so, woman,” he said, the deeply possessive note betraying him, but he didn’t care. “The only man kissing you will be me.”
“Ooh, territorial.” The heat filling her eyes belied her light tone.
He rubbed his thumb back and forth over the delicate bones in her hand. “You like?”
“Definitely.” Her eyes, green in the dim light, were tentative and fearful as they met his. How could he resist her? As he marched around the bar, her breathing sped up, light and fast.
Jacob used his height to trap her between him and the bar. Need rose like a tsunami, threatening to overwhelm him. “What about this?”
The dilation of her pupils gave him his answer, but he waited for her words. Her permission. “Oh, yeah.”
Then he crowded in close, grateful the doors were closed and locked, the lights low or off. Her body felt incredible—muscled legs against his, soft belly cradling his need, full breasts against his ribs. So delectable. So his.
He brooked no argument as he pulled her Lola’s T-shirt from her jeans and over her head. The low lights glittered off the shimmery satin of the pale pink bra that did a fine job of displaying her womanhood. Unwilling to wait, he lifted her to sit on the counter.
Her squeal of surprise echoed around the empty room, bringing a smile to his lips. That’s right. He had a few tricks up his sleeve, too. Then he lost himself in the plump upper curve of her silky flesh, kissing his way across the hills and nuzzling into the valley between. He lifted her breasts upward for the return journey, squeezing a little as he dipped his tongue beneath the edge of her bra for a lingering taste of her oh-so-sensitive nipples.
She squirmed and a little whimper escaped her. Yes, that’s what you like. The way her body went wild under his mouth confirmed it. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, seemingly desperate to drag his clothes off, too, but he wasn’t giving in that easy. Instead, he released the clasp that held her bra in place. His hands eased it down her arms to encircle her wrists, then inexorably guided her back until her spine met cold, polished wood. She hissed as she arched up, then moaned once more.
But she wasn’t getting away. Control was his. Making her feel him was his only goal.
He palmed his way down her ribs to her waist, then applied his nails to the denim along the inside of her thighs. Her hips lifted, telling him she was willing and ready. Anchoring her hips with his hands, he kissed and nipped lightly, making his way down her body, closer and closer to her core.
“Jake, please,” she pleaded, the sound shooting straight to his groin.
“Please what?”
When she didn’t answer, he opted for more torture. Reaching under her, he squeezed the ass that had tempted him all evening as she worked the bar, then kissed the bare skin right above the waistband of her jeans.
“Please, Jake,” she repeated, her hips lifting for more.
Please what, baby? Jacob waited her out, needing her desperate, aching for him and only him. Sliding his hands up and around, he grasped her waistband and pulled downward as if to remove her jeans.
“Yes,” she cried.
“When I say,” he growled against her skin, deliberately letting go. She was so beautiful, spread out before him, wanting him. Just as he wanted her.
Her breath panted out, ragged and choppy. Turning the tables, KC dug her fingers into his hair before pulling lightly, eliciting a groan from him. He glanced up and caught the smile stretching her lips. If he’d paid attention to history, he’d have known she wouldn’t remain passive for long.
With hands grasping her hips, he pulled her toward him, almost completely shifting her rear off the bar. Her hands slapped against the edge, the sound sharp in the air, as she struggled to keep her balance. He lifted her legs higher, resting them on his shoulders so he could savor the feast before him.
She squeezed, searching for a tighter grip on his shoulders. Her hips lifted higher. Jacob licked his lips, anxious for more, but forced himself to hold back. With sure fingers he unsnapped her jeans. He lingered on the small amount of newly exposed skin for a moment before moving on. This time to the zipper, bringing it down, oh, so slowly.
She moaned her frustration, but he grinned. She was so much fun to play with. His body and mind stilled in surprise for a moment. But yes, he and KC were playing. Not a plan in sight, and it was glorious.
Anxious himself now, he peeled the fabric from her, using her position to keep her helpless and himself in control. Finally, shoes and jeans and panties hit the floor. This time he retraced his journey to her center with sucking kisses and searching tongue.
Before long he couldn’t wait himself. He
knew to be prepared every second with KC, so he dug the condom out of his pocket and readied himself ASAP. He didn’t care that he was almost completely dressed. He needed her now before his body exploded without her.
Together. Always.
Jacob couldn’t linger on the thought. If he did, he might panic. Lifting her again, he turned and pressed her back against the wall. His weight held her steady while he joined them, her greedy flesh and gasping breaths driving him higher than high. He guided her legs around him and supported her with a hand under each thigh. He started slow, aching to savor, but his body wasn’t about to cooperate.
“Jake,” she gasped. “Take me, please.”
There was his girl. His hips moved with steady purpose, until her breath caught in that familiar way. He leaned down, his head resting against the side of hers. They were so close he could almost hear her heart pound. Only then did he let the emotions take him.
So he shouldn’t have been surprised to hear himself whisper the words “I love you” as the world narrowed to the two of them and the ecstasy they found together. KC didn’t give any indication that she’d heard him over her gasping cries, but he’d heard. Now he had to decide what to do about it.
* * *
When KC said she knew whom to call, she wasn’t kidding. Two days after her conversation with Jacob, the cotton agent she had in mind walked into Lola’s for a friendly little drink. She’d convinced Jacob to meet him here in a casual atmosphere, rather than having the formal business meeting he’d suggested.
She knew she was right. Jacob just didn’t know it yet.
“Hey, Toby,” she said, grinning at the agent as he slid onto a stool. “How’s it going?”
“Always better when I can see your pretty face.”
KC laughed at Jacob’s glare; he’d approached in time to hear Toby’s compliment. Jacob smoothed out his expression as he settled himself onto the stool next to Toby.
“Aw, you’re too sweet.” She winked, and then motioned to Jacob. “Toby, this is a friend of mine, Jacob Blackstone.”
Toby turned an impressed face toward Jacob. “One of the infamous Blackstones? Cool to meet ya, man. I may not have grown up in Black Hills, but everyone in this part of South Carolina has heard of your family.”
She could read the minuscule release of tension in Jacob’s shoulders as he shook hands with Toby. Told ya he was cool. But she just grinned and leaned against the bar.
“I appreciate you dropping by, Toby.”
Jacob’s gaze dipped down to her chest, reminding her of his attentions on this very bar just a few nights ago. KC quickly straightened up again with a blush.
“Am I gonna get a cherry cola for my trouble?” Toby asked.
“Of course. Want some nachos with that?”
She busied herself making the drink while the guys yakked and got to know each other. Jacob asked about Toby’s hometown, his family, letting him do the talking...and giving KC a chance to watch.
She often watched Jacob surreptitiously while she was working, but today she ached to just soak in his blond good looks. His thick hair feathered back in perfectly clipped waves. Which only made her want to muss them up. She could watch his mouth all day, that tempting curve that gave away all the emotions he tried to keep hidden. Like now. He might be smiling, but she could see the touch of firmness in his lower lip. He was worried about something—probably how this deal would work out. But he’d never let her know.
It was one of so many things he kept from her, though she knew he was trying to change that.
Being a bartender had honed her timing. She returned during the perfect lull in their conversation, setting the soft drink in front of Toby, who got one every time he came. “You may have heard about the trouble around here,” she said to him.
“Oh, yeah. There’re some pretty crazy rumors floating around.”
Toby wasn’t the type to go for a bunch of half-truths or white lies. So she gave Jacob credit for not pulling any punches. “Well, some of them are probably true,” he said.
“You lost most of your cotton crop?” Toby asked, eyeing him over the rim of his glass.
KC stepped in, wanting to add a human element to the issues. Luckily, Toby was familiar with her family. He came here to eat or hang out just about every time he was in town. “It’s really bad, Toby. Zach was the one who sprayed what he thought was pesticide, so he feels really responsible. You know how he is about that kind of stuff.” Her brother’s history of military service had desensitized him in many ways, but he’d become a quiet crusader for people in need, as his offer to help Jacob find the saboteur had shown.
“Wow,” Toby said, glancing back and forth between them. “How’d that happen?”
KC didn’t think Jacob was ready to be that forthcoming yet. Sure enough, he gave a generic “We still don’t know. The important question is, how do we fix it?”
Toby was already shaking his head. “I’ve promised most of my crop out already. We’re halfway to harvesttime. I’ve got orders to fill.”
KC noted Jacob’s restless shifting on the bar stool but ignored it. Instead, she turned on the charm with a look of feminine pleading. “Come on, Toby. We’re talking about the livelihood of an entire town here. Couldn’t you try to hunt us down something to help?” Hell, she’d even lean against the bar again if she had to.
“How much we talking about?” Toby said with an exaggerated sigh.
Sucker!
At that point, the conversation dissolved into a bunch of logistics that had KC’s eyes glazing over. She was a people person, not a numbers person. And in the end, Toby was frowning.
“Please, Toby,” she begged. Man, did she need to bat some eyelashes? “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
His good ol’ boy smile made an appearance. “Let me make some calls. You know I love ya, doll, but this is a tall order.”
“We realize that,” Jacob said, standing up. “But KC says if anyone can make it happen, you can.”
Toby glanced her way, eliciting a grin of her own. “Did you really? I knew you were sweet on me.”
KC could tell Jacob did not like that at all. “Like a brother, maybe,” he said.
Ooh, possessive male glowering. Interesting. She raised a brow. “You’ll have to overlook him, Toby. He’s too serious for his own good.”
Toby laughed. “Honey, the looks he’s been shooting your way told me the whole story. You could at least give him a chance.”
“Oh, he’s had a chance,” she confirmed, going full tease. “Now he thinks he’s big stuff.”
Jacob stepped closer, the intense look in his eyes speeding up her heartbeat. “I don’t hear you complaining,” he said.
Toby sputtered. “Wow, I never thought I’d see the day somebody tamed this kitty. I’ll definitely see what I can do for ya.”
What? Ignoring her squeal of outrage, Jacob handed over a business card.
Toby was barely on his way before KC was putting out a glare of her own. “What was that?” she demanded.
“You said I needed to have more fun,” he said, but she wasn’t buying that innocent look for a second. “Besides, all that teasing got us some cotton, didn’t it?”
“I’m pretty sure it will,” she said, a small glow of pride lighting inside her. She’d done it. If they could get even half the amount of cotton Toby had mentioned, the mill wouldn’t have to go through layoffs and the town would be more secure. She’d already been in touch with Christina and Avery about the hardship fund.
Boy, it felt good to know she was making a difference.
But Jake wasn’t through with her yet. “Still, we need to have a talk about your methods.” He glanced down at her chest, reminding her of her tight T-shirt and accidental overexposure.
“Really?” Men had astounding audacity.
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“Yes, really,” he said, his voice deepening in that telltale way. He was so easy to read when he was aroused.
This time she deliberately leaned on the counter. Like clockwork, his gaze slid down. She chuckled. “We’ll talk when you can keep your eyes on my face, dear.”
Fifteen
KC struggled through the door to her house lugging Carter’s car carrier—occupied by a crying Carter—his diaper bag, her purse, a grocery sack and box of diapers. She could have made two trips, but walking that many more steps through the pouring rain just wasn’t in her plan for the day.
“Jake?” she called.
His SUV was outside, but the house sounded empty. At least from what she could hear over the wail of her child.
Dropping everything else to land wherever it would, she crossed to the coffee table to set Carter down. Those tearful eyes begging her to get him out while she maneuvered the straps were both pitiful and amusing. Boy, could he get to her. You’d think her leaving him in his car carrier this long was the end of the world.
Lifting him up against her shoulder, she crossed to the kitchen. Empty. Then she walked down the hall to her bedroom. Also empty. It wasn’t until she was about to turn away that she registered the room itself. The drawers she’d emptied out for Jacob to use hadn’t been closed completely, leaving the dresser with a slightly snaggletoothed look.
Moving around the bed, she saw a couple of T-shirts on the floor. The dress clothes Jacob had worn to work this morning were tossed haphazardly over the small chaise occupying one corner. She lay Carter down in the center of the bed. With a trembling hand, she slid one of the drawers open to find clothes shoved about, instead of the neat little rows Jacob usually maintained. It was the same in his pants drawer.
Returning to her son, KC held him close. To other people, clothes on the floor might be an everyday occurrence, but Jacob was as obsessive about his environment as he was his schedule. Her house had never been cleaner. Jacob picked up after himself, and her, and Carter as he went through his day. It was something she thought he actually did unconsciously. He was just that neat of a person.
