Closer to You (A Haven, Montana Novel)

by Jill Sanders

  “I was told to stay.” Her eyes turned downward.

  “Why?”

  “They didn’t say.” He heard the sadness in her voice.

  “Do you always do what they tell you?”

  “He’s my boss.” She crossed her arms over her chest and his eyes followed the move.

  The silence stretched between them.

  “Is that whiskey?” she finally asked.

  “What?”

  “I smell whiskey.”

  “Brandy.” He glanced past her and noticed an opened bottle of wine. “Having some wine?”

  “Yes, would you like—” She didn’t get anything else out because he walked past her, poured himself a glass and refilled her own half-empty glass. She walked over and took it from him.

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, swallowing the wine in a gulp.

  “I’ve been working.”

  “On?”

  She paused to take a sip of her wine as he filled his glass again.

  “Trying to figure things out,” she supplied.

  “What kind of things?” he asked between drinks.

  She moved over and sat down in front of her laptop. “I’m trying to figure out why JB wants your company.”

  “Who cares?” He leaned against the countertop.

  “I care. You cared, until . . .” Her eyes moved back up to his. “There has to be a reason why I’m stuck here until . . .”

  “I sign everything away?” he asked.

  “Or I quit.” Her chin rose slightly.

  “Would you?” Suddenly another possibility was in front of him.

  Kristen’s eyes moved back to the computer screen and she thought about what she’d found out so far. What her boss had asked of her. How she was supposed to get anything she could on Tyler and his family. But it went beyond that. She had to know why her boss was so determined.

  “Not until I know more,” she answered him.

  “What have you found out?” he asked. She could see that his brown eyes were unfocused and set her glass of wine down.

  “Not much, besides the unpaid invoices. I’ve been working on a different angle.”

  “Oh?” He watched her.

  “Does your uncle have access to funds?”

  “Not that I know of.” He laughed. “Unless he persuaded one of my brothers to give him some extra.”

  “What about Rea’s son?”

  “Brian?” He thought for a moment. “When his father died, I believe there was a fund set up for him.”

  “A large amount?”

  He shook his head. “Rea’s husband worked for my father, but I doubt it was anything of significance.”

  She nodded. “I thought as much.”

  “What has this got to do with JB Holding?”

  “Someone’s pulling the strings,” she whispered. “Someone other than my boss.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “Because after my conversation with him the other day, I don’t believe even he knows what’s going to happen to your business if you sell.”

  “What does it matter to you?”

  “You asked me that once before.” She stood up and walked closer to him.

  “And?”

  “My answer hasn’t changed.”

  “Hasn’t it?” She hadn’t seen him move, but suddenly he was in front of her. His hand reached out and took her face. “Hasn’t it?”

  She was transfixed. Locked in place until the touch of his fingers brushed against her lips.

  “I . . .” She shook her head.

  “I shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Why did you?” She felt her breath lock in her lungs, waiting for him to speak.

  “My brother . . .” His hand dropped away. “Told me you were staying and I thought . . .”

  “What?”

  His head shook again. “Would you have left without saying good-bye?” His eyes searched hers.

  “No.” She sighed. “Of course not.” She thought about her well-rehearsed good-bye.

  “Why did you avoid me?”

  “You were angry,” she said.

  “Not at you,” he supplied.

  “Who then?”

  He took a step back. “At myself.”

  “For?”

  “Letting this go too far. Losing sight of what needs to be done.” He turned away and picked up his glass once more.

  “Is life a distraction?” she asked.

  “It can be,” he said, without looking back at her, and he set the glass back down.

  “I doubt your father saw you and your brothers or your mother as such.”

  He turned back to her. “He could control himself.”

  “And you can’t?” She tilted her head and looked at him. “It’s funny. Since I stepped off the plane, you’ve done nothing but control yourself.”

  His eyes narrowed at her. She moved closer to him, feeling stronger and surer of herself.

  “All except one night.” Her arms moved to his shoulders. “Why are you so afraid to lose control?”

  As an answer, his mouth covered hers as he crushed her body against his.

  Her entire body responded, melting against his hardness. Her hands roamed over his shoulders and arms. Trying to pull him closer as his mouth slanted over hers, consuming her. Making her feel whole.

  He was right, she’d been avoiding him. How could she stand to be in the same room with him, without remembering how wonderful his lips felt? What his touch had done to her. What he was doing to her now by just being so close.

  She tugged at his clothes until his chest was bare and her fingernails dug into his skin. She enjoyed the play of muscles under her fingertips. The way they seemed to jump when she ran a finger over him.

  His mouth trailed a pathway down her neck as his hands roamed from her hips, upward. Goosebumps rose everywhere he touched her, causing her skin to ache for his touch.

  She thought he would continue where they had left off last time, but instead, in one quick motion, the flimsy top was torn from her body. Leaving her a little shocked and totally turned on.

  His eyes moved over her, heating as he looked at her skin. She felt her nipples instantly respond to his gaze. Her entire body ached for his touch.

  As he tugged at her yoga pants, she held still, totally transfixed by his dark eyes, until she stood in front of him, completely naked.

  His lips moved back to hers for a brief moment before retreating.

  With his eyes locked on hers, he took a step back and quickly removed his boots. When his hands moved to the buckle of his jeans, she stopped him by placing her hand over his.

  “Let me.” She waited until he nodded, before moving her fingers. She inched his jeans over his hips and sucked in a breath when they fell to the floor.

  His thighs were strong and toned, covered with a light dusting of dark hair. She watched him step out of his jeans, her eyes moving over his entire body slowly.

  He was beautiful. Tall, lean, and full of muscles she dreamed of enjoying.

  When he moved back to her, her eyes closed in the sheer pleasure of feeling his warmth next to her skin. His fingers dug into her soft hips, holding her close to his hardness. She felt her body respond with desire. Her knees actually began to shake as his fingers brushed up her ribs and she watched his head dip as his mouth covered first one, then the other nipple.

  He took his time, enjoying, giving her enjoyment as he used his tongue and teeth on her warm skin. Raising her body temperature until she felt like she’d burst into flames.

  When his mouth moved back over hers, he walked her backward until her knees hit the edge of the bed.

  “Tyler,” she said as they fell together to the mattress.

  “Tell me to stop,” he said, pulling her hair free of the loose braid. She moaned when he sank his face into it and took a deep breath. “God, you smell like heaven. Tell me to go to hell. Push me outside in the snow, lock your door to keep me out.”

  “N
o,” she said, placing her hands on either side of his head and holding him until his eyes focused on hers. “No, you belong here with me tonight.” Because she needed to say it, she added, “This has nothing to do with anything else, other than us.”

  “The hell it does,” he said before taking her mouth again in a kiss that seared her soul. “Everything is connected.”

  His hard body pressed up against hers. She ran her hands over his arms, down his chest, and she quite literally forgot about anything else, other than the feeling of his hands pleasing her.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips and held onto him while he discovered her body slowly. Pleasing her with every touch, every kiss. His mouth trailed behind her ear, down her neck, over her shoulders. She held her breath when his lips crossed over the mound of her breasts. He was talking to her the entire time. Telling her how beautiful she was. How soft, how sweet she tasted.

  When his shoulders sank below her hips and he took her with his mouth, she cried out his name and held on as her body responded faster and harder than it ever had.

  His tongue rolled over her sensitive skin as his fingers dove into her heat. Her shoulders lifted off the mattress as she cried out for more.

  She closed her eyes tightly as she felt herself building fast. Her fingernails dug into his thick hair, holding him, pushing him where she wanted him.

  When brightness exploded behind her eyes, she called out to him and heard him respond by saying her name softly next to her skin.

  She couldn’t believe that she’d lost all control so quickly. Allowing her mind and heart to leap before all caution.

  By the time he crawled back up the bed and looked down at her, a large smile on his face, she’d lost the last strings of her control. The last shred of hope she had of leaving Montana intact.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Tyler couldn’t believe the beauty looking up at him. Or the fact that his body and mind wanted her so much. It gave him pause to see the want in those green eyes of hers. He ripped open the condom package with his teeth and then held still as she helped him roll it on. Her fingers wrapping around him sent a pulse shooting through every inch of his body.

  Their eyes locked once more and he knew he’d passed the point of stopping. Nothing and no man could hold him back from sliding into her, taking her, claiming her.

  He leaned down and took her sweet lips once more. She tasted like heaven, looked like a goddess, and was pure addiction.

  When she moaned with pleasure, he let out a moan to match hers.

  “Hold on to me,” he said softly as his lips returned to her neck. He felt her legs wrap around his hips and squeezed her body closer to his.

  “Tyler.” He could hear her begging him as he plunged into her heat. Slowly, he began taking his pleasure, giving her as much. Her nails bit into his shoulder blades, and he hoped there would be marks so he would never forget how passionate she was.

  He moved above her, faster, frantic, hoisting her legs higher around him as his lips covered hers and he took what he wanted.

  When he felt her teeth sink into his shoulder, his control slipped from him. He drove hard and heard her cry out in pleasure during the heights of his own. Every sense of his had been filled, consumed by her.

  It took too long for him to regain consciousness. When he did, he realized he was crushing her, and rolled so he could tuck her body next to his.

  “Will you stay?” she asked, burying her face in his chest.

  “It beats walking back to my place in the snow.”

  “Is it snowing again?” She sighed and snuggled closer as he nodded and brushed a hand through her hair. “When does it stop?” she asked.

  “Soon,” he said softly. He kept his mind from returning to the fact that with the spring he’d be alone again. He dreaded the warmth.

  He fell asleep holding her and when he woke, her side of the bed was cold. Glancing around, he saw her sitting at the table, engrossed in her computer screen.

  “Come back to bed.” He reached for her.

  She glanced up and smiled, then rolled her shoulders and moved toward him. When she climbed in next to him, he rolled over until she was pinned underneath him.

  “There. Back where you belong.” He smiled down at her. Her fingers dug into his hair, pulling him to her until her lips grazed across his.

  Before he knew it, she was pushing him, using their momentum to roll them again until she ended up on top. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders. Reaching up, he ran the softness through his hands.

  “It’s still damp.” He smiled up at her.

  “Yes, one of the reasons I wash it at night.” She leaned in and placed a kiss on his mouth as her hips settled over his.

  He laid back and enjoyed letting her take control. She pinned his arms above his head as she claimed him. He held there, motionless as her softness moved against him. She’d pulled on the tight yoga pants and a new tank top, since the white one was laying in pieces on the floor.

  He doubted she’d allow him to tear this one off. Instead, he broke his hands free, then slowly inched the silk up until she was freed. Enjoying the feeling of her soft skin under his hands.

  His eyes ran over her and he smiled when her nipples responded to his gaze. She was perfect. Beautiful. More so than any other woman before her.

  He leaned up, placing his mouth over one erect nipple. She gasped, pulling his hair until he continued to the other one. He couldn’t explain how much he wanted her if he tried.

  He dug his fingers into her hair, tugging gently, pulling her closer as his mouth took hers. She made soft, sexy noises as his hands moved downward, covering her soft bottom. Then further, spreading her legs wider over him. He trailed a hand over the waistband of her tight yoga pants, the snug fabric pushing his fingers closer to her damp heat. When he brushed a finger over her clit, she moaned and he enjoyed feeling her body respond to his touch. She gasped and threw her head back when he dipped a finger into her, then added another one. He watched her eyes heat as he played with her, while his own body begged for release.

  Her hips moved gently against his, stirring him even further as his mouth brushed over her skin. He held her hips as she slid down on him, then dug into her hot skin and pulled her closer, their mouths coming together once again.

  The sounds she made in his ear as she moved over him caused his entire body to heat. Before he knew it, he’d rolled and her body was trapped under his own. Pinned to the mattress as his hips jerked on their own. He peeled off her leggings, exposing her to him fully. He rolled on a condom while she waited, her gaze hot and ready.

  Pulling her leg up, he tucked her knee close to his heart as his mouth covered hers, swallowing those sexy noises she was making as he thrust within her.

  Her fingernails were once more digging into his skin, this time, just above his hips. He pulled back, chancing a glance down at her. Her eyes were half closed, her chin raised slightly, and her lips . . . he had to dip his head down and cover them once more.

  He heard her groans of pleasure, then watched her breath hitch as she bit her bottom lip. Her shoulders raised off the bed as she cried out. Just watching her come, feeling her tighten around him, he felt himself going and cried out her name as he followed her.

  Once again, he believed he was crushing her, so he twisted until she was sprawled over him, her hair fanned out across his chest. Automatically his fingers played with the long strands of her hair.

  “What will you do today?” he asked absently.

  “I was thinking of doing some more research,” she began.

  “On a Saturday?” he asked.

  “Why not?”

  “Because the sun is supposed to shine today.” He sighed and tugged her head up slightly until her green eyes met his.

  “And?”

  “And I figured we’d get out and enjoy it while it lasts.”

  “How do you suppose we do that?” she asked.

  “I was thinking about going out for a picnic
.”

  She leaned up until she looked down at him.

  “It just snowed.” She glanced toward the window.

  “But the sun is out now, and by the time we get where we’re going, it should be nice and warm enough to enjoy. Even if we have to cart along a wool blanket to sit over the snow, it will be worth it.”

  She was silent for a moment. “That sounds wonderful.”

  He continued to play with her hair. “You do know how to ride a horse?”

  She stilled, her lips turning down slightly. “I . . . I’ve never tried.”

  He smiled. “Then I’ll have to teach you.” His hand trailed down to her hips. “But first, we both could use a shower.” He took hold of her and rolled until he was standing with her in his arms. He walked to the bathroom and groaned. “That has to be the smallest shower I’ve ever seen.”

  She laughed as he flipped on the water, then she screamed when the cold hit them both. He cringed, then laughed and held steady under the water, knowing he needed it.

  Two hours later, they were leaving his parents’ barn. Tyler was on the back of Hank, his father’s horse. Hank was one of his father’s prized possessions and best friends.

  Tyler laughed when he saw Kristen’s horse, Grace, snicker and shake her head.

  “Hold the reins like this.” He showed her. She took a moment to adjust her hands to match his.

  She was wearing a pair of jeans, his mother’s boots, and one of his old thick flannel shirts. He knew that a sexy silk tank top was underneath it all. And he knew for a fact that she was wearing sexy underwear that matched it.

  Just thinking about it, about her, he realized he was going to have a difficult time riding if he didn’t stop focusing on her. He adjusted his position and glanced over at her as they started to move out of the corral.

  “Stand in the stirrups like this.” He showed her. “Or you’ll be really sore tonight.”

  She followed his lead. “Don’t your legs get tired?” she asked.

  “Only if you stand the entire time. See . . .” He spent the first half hour of their journey showing her the proper way to ride.

  The fields were clear of the snow from last night, so they stuck to them and kept away from the snow-covered hills. Almost an hour later, they pulled to a stop near a large tree.