She stood up and wrapped the oversized towel securely around herself, making sure the ends were tightly tucked. “Okay, I'm decent. Now, if you're sure there's no glass, you should put some pressure on…it…while I look for a first aid kit.”
When Jared turned around again, his eyes widened as he stared at her, but then obeyed by putting one hand on his right buttock.
Suddenly she felt dry-mouthed, and the bathroom felt much smaller. Jared took a step toward the door to give her more room at the medicine cabinet. “Antacids, aspirin, toothpaste, mouthwash…” As she continued her search, a box of condoms fell out of the cabinet into the sink.
Her cheeks flushed with sudden heat as she caught Jared's stare of amusement in the mirror.
“This is the honeymoon cabin, remember,” he said.
Lacey continued to stare it his reflection. His damp hair gave him a impish look, but a devilish expression came into his eyes. “Hush, or I'll start looking for something really painful like rubbing alcohol.” Even so, she couldn't help smiling back.
“Let's check underneath.” When she squatted to open cabinet below the sink, her arm grazed his leg. “Sorry—” This time Jared didn't step backward out of her way.
She looked up for an instant, and his eyes held her still. A sultry moment froze between them. Blinking hard, she turned her attention back to the cupboard. “Eureka—at last.”
She pulled out a familiar-looking blue and white plastic-cased first aid kit and opened its lid. “Gauze, tape, scissors, scalpel—just kidding.”
“Right.” A huskiness lingered in his tone.
She licked her lips. “You're going to have to, uh, move the towel so I can see exactly what I need…uh, how big a…bandage you need.”
“Be gentle,” he teased, obediently turning his back to her. Deftly he undid his towel and flipped it to cover his front.
Lacey occupied herself laying out antiseptic wipes and different sized bandage strips. When she was ready she directed her gaze to Jared's right cheek. The wound was still bleeding a little, but was fairly small.
“Well?” he asked.
“Looks deep, but not that bad. This is going to sting a little.” She watched his muscles tense only slightly as she rubbed the blood off his skin with an antiseptic wipe.
Jared turned his head, stretching his neck to try to see her handiwork. With one eyebrow raised he asked, “Will I have a scar?”
She flashed him a good-natured smile. “Hope so. Just think of it as a souvenir.”
“Not one I can share with too many people.”
She blushed at his remark, the fact that she was staring at his behind becoming just a little too real. “This is just a little antibiotic cream. It shouldn't hurt,” she said, dabbing the cream on the wound. She finished with a waterproof bandage square. “All done.”
“You sound like Jamie.” Jared deftly readjusted his towel as he turned to face her. “Thanks, Lacey. You have a gentle touch.”
She impulsively brought her hand to the front of her towel to secure it. Then she watched as he bent toward her. His dark hair was damp, long tendrils curving around his neck. There was a sexy five-o’clock shadow that she knew men worked hard to achieve. Jared, of course, had it naturally. Naturally sexy. Naturally… Her gaze locked on his full lips as they slowly descended to meet hers.
The butterflies fluttered in her tummy and something wonderful tingled between her thighs.
At the last moment, his head tipped so his lips touched her cheek, just at the corner of her mouth. He lingered there for just a moment longer than necessary, then pulled back.
Shivers of delight followed his gentle touch. She searched his eyes and saw a smile there that contained a sensuous flame.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“What?”
“With your bath. The water's probably cold.”
“Oh. Right.”
“You hungry?”
She nodded.
“How 'bout we both get dressed and I'll check out the snacks in the fridge. We could eat out on the deck.”
“Sounds great.” She watched him turn and quietly close the door behind him.
There was now a tingling in the pit of her stomach and her thoughts spun. Okay, it was just a kiss on the cheek. Nothing more.
The mirror above the sink betrayed her emotions as she stared at herself. Reddened cheeks, dilated pupils, the sheen of nervous perspiration on her upper lip. Her hair piled on the top of her head, she looked like she was ready for…what?
Oh, my.
Grabbing her makeup bag, she decided to forego her usual routine and simply powdered her face and added a touch of lip gloss. Then she brushed her hair until it gleamed, her waves cascading down her back.
She slipped into clean panties and felt a slickness between her legs that confirmed her arousal. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, waiting for her sanity to return.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her meditation.
“Lacey?”
“I'm almost dressed—be out in a second.”
“I put the food out on the deck.” His voice was low and smooth.
“Okay.” She realized that the pounding of her own quickened heartbeat was competing with the fading thud of his footsteps. Irritated, she quickly pulled on jeans and a bright pink sweatshirt, then looked down at the slogan emblazoned on the front.
“Great,” she said, reading the phrase there.
Hairdressers Do It With Style.
Chapter Eleven
Much to Jared's delight, one of the contest sponsors had loaded the cabin's ample refrigerator with gourmet delicacies—jumbo boiled shrimp, artichoke hearts, an assortment of sliced cheese, a small fruit and vegetable platter, caviar, pâté, and hand-dipped strawberries and cocoa-dusted chocolate truffles.
Waiting for Lacey, Jared had rummaged in the cupboards and discovered napkins, paper plates and bowls, a box of crackers, and plastic champagne glasses.
He busied himself putting a little bit of everything on plates, going back and forth to the deck. On his final trip, he brought out one of the three bottles of champagne that were also in the refrigerator, each bore a gift tag from businesses that had sponsored the bachelor auction.
He had changed into faded jeans and a long-sleeved denim shirt. The night was beginning to feel cooler already, so maybe he'd have to build a fire after all.
As he popped the top off the champagne, he wondered if he should have asked Lacey first if she wanted it. Then he looked up to see her stepping onto the deck. The first thing he noticed was her hair, free-flowing and sexy as hell. His gaze roamed over her figure—the curve of her breasts beneath the sweatshirt, her luscious hips, ending at her feet which were bare, with polished toenails, each a different color.
“Wow, was all that in that little fridge? It looks great,” she said.
“I wasn't sure what you liked, so I took a little of everything.”
He stared as she walked to one of the chairs and sat down. Suddenly he felt ravenous.
“I don't know about you, but I'm starved,” she said, dipping one of the shrimp into cocktail sauce.
He watched as she bit into it—staring, really, as the tip of her tongue found a bit of sauce on her upper lip.
“I see you found some champagne.”
He nodded.
“Aren't you going to have anything?”
Jared blinked, trying to clear his head. He sat down and began to fill a plate.
After a few minutes of silence, Lacey poured the champagne and held out a glass to him.
“I hope you're good at toasts,” she said.
Was he imagining her eyes were filled with expectation? He just couldn’t be sure. And he wasn’t used to feeling that way. His gaze dropped to stare at the bubbles in his glass, then returned to once again rest on her luminous eyes.
He cleared his throat. “Well, I guess you're just supposed to say what's on your mind—”
“Or in your heart,” she fini
shed.
“Right. Well, here's to us.” He paused, thinking a moment. “And I'm kind of glad the way things turned out—you're a much better date than my sister.”
He watched as Lacey's eyes widened a little, then crinkled as she smiled. “I'll take that as a compliment, though I wouldn't tell your sister if I were you.” She raised on eyebrow for effect.
He returned her grin and touched the rim of her glass with his. He took a long draw of champagne and watched as she sipped hers.
Both returned their attention to the food, stopping periodically to refill their glasses until the bottle was empty.
Lacey leaned back in her chair, her hands resting on her stomach.
“You warm enough out here?” he asked.
She rubbed her bare feet together. “It's just now starting to feel coolish to me. Why don't you build a fire inside and I'll clean up out here.”
Jared stood, avoiding her gaze.
Lacey by firelight might just be the death of me.
***
Standing in the kitchenette, Lacey sneaked a peek at Jared while he worked at building a fire in the fireplace. Her fingers trembled a little as she tucked clear wrap over the leftovers from their picnic. The champagne had created a delicious buzz. She felt relaxed. Feminine. She felt everything. She could feel that her nipples were tight as they brushed against the soft fabric inside her sweatshirt. Her panties felt damp. She tingled from head to toe.
“You ready?” Jared called.
She smiled at the double meaning of his innocent question. Her intense desire was an unexpected surprise. Looking up, she checked his expression.
Do you feel the same?
Suddenly her mouth went dry. What if he didn't?
Turning away, Lacey gripped the edge of the counter until her knuckles drained of blood. Don't be a fool. A little control right now is what you need—not what was starting to feel like uncontrolled lust. She felt like a teenager, ready to lose her virginity.
Where had that thought come from?
Truth was, the way she felt…if she was being totally honest, the way Jared made her feel was crescendoing into something she didn’t want to stop. Was she prepared to go there? Was he?
Jared sat cross-legged in front of the fire and didn't move when she approached. She joined him on the sheepskin rug. Several minutes passed wordlessly.
“It's a nice fire,” she murmured.
Jared tilted his head toward her, catching her gaze. “How do you feel?”
“Hmm? About what?”
“Us. Being here. Tonight.”
Lacey didn't answer. Instead, she tore her gaze from his and stared at the fire, watching the flames curl around a log…softly, almost…lovingly.
“Should I get us some more champagne?” he asked.
She hesitated a beat before answering. “I'd like that.”
Jared gracefully got to his feet and occupied himself in the tiny kitchen.
She knew more champagne would weaken her resolve. But maybe that's exactly what I need. Just have a little fun. Everyone else does it. A tiny voice inside her head laughed at her feeble attempt at justification.
Jared returned and placed a bottle and delicate, crystal glasses on the floor in front of her. “Look, let's just relax. Talk. I promise to be a gentleman, scout's honor.”
Lacey smiled, relieved at his humor. She glanced at him and saw his three fingers frozen in a scout's pledge.
“Deal.”
***
Jared wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead, then lowered his hand. Returning her smile, he felt immediately more relaxed. He filled their glasses. This time they drank without a toast. Was he just imagining the flare of desire in her eyes?
Their silence was strangely comfortable. He considered his own past—dates before Courtney, after Courtney, other times he'd been alone with women. Most of all, he was surprised at the ease he felt with the silence between him and Lacey.
Maybe she was different. Maybe he needed to rethink his carefully thought-out rules. What did he really know about her? She was successful, but not arrogant about it. She seemed awfully young, but Jo had assured him she wasn’t that young. She was great with Jamie. Remembering Hank, he gathered she didn't appear to have the best judgment in men, but on the other hand, she was willing to admit her mistakes.
He needed to know more about her.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Lacey said softly.
“Truth?”
“Oh, this sounds like the beginning of twenty questions or truth or dare…”
“Afraid?” Her silence implied she might be.
“All right, let's set some ground rules. We get to ask what we want, but we each retain the right to say pass, okay?” She refilled her glass and met his stare.
“Fair enough. Who starts?” he asked.
“I offered the penny…”
He drained his glass and refilled it, then settled back, cross-legged on the floor before turning to her to answer. “Well, actually, I was wondering if you were really different from other women I’ve known, or if I was just imagining it.”
“Please rephrase in the form of a question.” Her silky voice held a slight challenge.
He stared at her profile, raised one eyebrow, and considered asking what he really wanted to know. Might as well cut to the chase, to what he hadn’t even thought to ask Courtney.
“How important is your career to you?”
Lacey shifted her gaze to the curling flames of the fire. “I’d have to say that my career is probably one of the few things I've done right in my life. After trying some other things, I finally figured out what I'm good at and I’m proud of my accomplishments. I can support myself. I really like the company and I'm working towards a pretty big promotion. It's fulfilling to me.”
Jared winced slightly. “So you enjoy working all the long hours a manager typically works?” He knew the commitment of being in charge…and knew it well. Owning the ranch had made him realize his own commitment was twenty-four/seven. Every day, all the time. But, thing was, he was cut out for it, it suited him perfectly.
“Actually,” she began, her voice telling him she was choosing her words carefully, “I'm thinking about slowing down. A little. The girls at the salon call me a workaholic. Which I don’t want to be, I’ve realized lately. At the same time I’m reaching for the stars, career-wise, I think I'm finally also ready for…more…a hobby, maybe. Something besides just working, you know?”
Well, now I'm confused. Jared added his gaze to the flames.
She interrupted his thoughts. “You have something against women with careers?”
Uh-oh. “It depends.”
“On?”
Jared turned his head toward her and caught her gaze. She looked so innocent, so open. Was she?
“Looks like I touched a nerve. You can pass if you want,” she offered.
He took a deep breath and returned his gaze to the fire. “Jamie's mom chose her career over…us. So, yeah, that left a lasting effect on me.”
They sat in thick silence for several moments.
“Do you want to talk about it? About her?”
Jared's mind filled with all the painful memories he'd worked so hard to suppress. Would she understand? Or would she take Courtney's side—that women deserved to have a career as much as men did. And, truthfully, sure, they did.
And some women did seem to be able to balance things. But, Courtney, she was more of an “all in” kind of woman. Unfortunately, he’d learned that too late.
Dazzled by her beauty, he’d been amazed she even paid attention to someone like him. She’d seemed unreachable…forbidden fruit.
He sighed. The trouble had started the minute he’d bought the ranch. He’d satisfied his own dream, assuming if she loved him she’d share it. Or at least learn to. That had been his biggest mistake.
He rotated his shoulders, trying to release the tension that had developed. He wanted to talk about it…needed to.
“First of all, you need to know that I've loved having Jamie to myself. I never thought Courtney—that's Jamie's mom—really wanted a kid. She just kind of…did it, you know? I think mostly she wanted a little her, or something.”
“I know women like that.”
“But I still can't understand how she could just leave us for a career, choosing her job instead of her family.” His jaw clenched tightly as he closed his eyes against the flood of emotion he was experiencing, loosened by the champagne, no doubt, plus Lacey’s comforting voice.
“I do believe some women really shouldn't have children,” she began, “but you need to realize that Jamie's lucky she's got a dad like you. It's just going to be hard, sometimes, to handle the girl-stuff. I’m guessing your sister is a big help.”
“She is,” he agreed, “when she's around. She gets busy, though, and I can't go running to her with every little problem.”
“You know what? It's going to be quite a while before it feels like there are problems you can't handle. I promise you.”
He looked at her. It wasn't the conversation he'd expected. Maybe she was different.
She flashed a smile. “We did pretty well, don't you think?”
“My turn,” he said. “I heard you were engaged, but it didn't work out. What happened?”
***
This time, it was Lacey who turned away. Her cheeks flushed hot and her stomach tied itself into a neat, little knot.
“Need to pass?” he asked.
It almost sounded a little more like a dare to her than an offering. Or was it that he simply wanted to know more about her past?
Why not talk about it? She had to admit that it was starting to feel good to share. When had she felt that way? Not recently. And not with a man. Never with Dirk, if she was totally honest. Talking with the girls at the salon was different. Even then she tended to censor herself, never really revealing everything. Had she always been that way? So guarded?
Jared cleared his throat, then said, “I’m sorry, I—”
“I was engaged to the wrong man,” she interrupted, deciding she might as well go through that door since he’d opened it. He had just shared a piece of his heart with her. Didn’t he deserve the same?
COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance Page 12
