“Maybe I need to rephrase that question and ask is everything okay with you and Kenna?” Clayton said, breaking into Reese’s thoughts. “Seems to me the two of you were avoiding each other most of the night.”
“I’m not sure if everything is okay,” he said truthfully. He paused again, unsure how to proceed. “I need to ask you a question, and your answer might help me figure something out.”
“Okay, what do you want to know?” Clayton said.
“I’ve heard the story a number of times about how you and Syneda were nothing more than friends who decided to go on vacation together to Florida, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. She was stressed at work, and since I had planned to go on vacation alone I figured I’d invite her to go along with me—enjoy the beach and loosen up a bit.”
“So you’re saying that before the trip you never noticed how attractive she was?” Reese asked.
He heard Clayton chuckle. “Hey, we’re talking about Syneda. Of course I noticed how good she looked. I had eyes. I definitely wasn’t blind. But I also knew she was off-limits.”
“Why? Because she was your friend?”
“No, because she was Lorren’s best friend. And at the time everyone knew my reputation. So the last thing Lorren would have wanted was for me to hook up with her best friend.”
Lorren and Syneda had been best friends since childhood. And since Lorren was Justin’s wife, she was family.
“But you got together anyway,” Reese said.
“Yes. While we were on vacation together I began seeing Syneda in a whole new light. Funny what being under the same roof for a while will do. I became more aware of her than ever and felt an attraction that I couldn’t ignore.”
Reese nodded. “Did the two of you talk about it?”
Clayton chuckled. “Talk about it? There was nothing to talk about. Some things you don’t waste time discussing. You act on it. Talking would have gotten us nowhere. Syneda would have tried to convince me that we would be ruining a perfectly good friendship if we got involved. I was determined to show her the benefits of a different kind of relationship.”
Clayton paused. “Women are show me creatures, Reese. They prefer action to words. Talk is cheap. But to a woman, actions mean much more.”
There was no sense in asking Clayton if he was sure of what he was talking about. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Kenna,” Clayton continued. “Although I think I have a pretty good idea. Now you realize that you just might want more than friendship out of your relationship, and you’re not sure how it will affect the two of you.”
“Yes, I’ve started seeing her in a whole new light as well. At first I felt guilty. And then I thought I would be crazy to risk losing her friendship.”
“Hey, chill for a moment. There’s nothing wrong with making the move from friends to lovers, Reese, trust me. But Kenna has to want to make the same move. Women can be difficult. They like to do things their way and in their own good time. Men have to be a step ahead, so you may have to use romantic persuasion to bring her around to your way of thinking.”
Reese lifted a brow. Romantic persuasion? Wasn’t that just another term for seduction? It had been years since he’d had to seduce a woman. Usually women would come on to him.
After Reese ended the call with Clayton he walked over to the window and looked out. Something was urging him to find out if the attraction between him and Kenna was one-sided. For some reason he didn’t think so. In fact, every time he replayed their kiss in his mind and remembered the intensity of it, he was convinced that it wasn’t. But he needed to know for certain. What if she had been fighting her attraction to him the same way he’d been fighting his desire for her all these years?
He was very well aware that finding out the truth was risky. What if she wasn’t attracted to him and was repulsed by his advances? That would put an even bigger strain on their relationship, and possibly end it. He froze at the thought of losing the only woman who meant the world to him—the only woman who knew him better than he knew himself. Kenna was also the only woman he’d truly ever loved.
He leaned back against the windowsill as the alternative gripped him. He and Kenna had shared years of friendship, trust and respect. They knew how to laugh together, talk and even share their pain. He had been the one who’d held her when she’d learned of her grandmother’s death. He was the one to sit beside her at the funeral, the one to stand beside her when the only family she had was lowered into the ground.
Likewise, she had been there waiting with his family at the hospital after Clayton had been struck by a car. She had prayed with his family when Christy’s husband, Alex, had been fighting for his life, and in happier times at many Madaris weddings.
He drew in a deep breath. Mac was right. He didn’t want his best friend back. But there was something else she deserved, and that was to know there was a man who adored her in a way Terrence, Lamont or Curtis never had.
He felt a shudder that coursed through every muscle in his body. He would take things slow. He would be thorough. And LaKenna James wouldn’t know what hit her until it was too late.
He smiled. He was going to enjoy using romantic persuasion to bring her around to his way of thinking. They had an early flight back to Houston, since Kenna had to start work on Monday morning.
It was time for her to realize that their kiss was just the beginning.
“So I would have wasted my time and yours trying to convince you that we would be ruining a perfectly good friendship?” Syneda said, leaning against the doorway of the bathroom in their hotel suite.
Clayton smiled as he turned toward his wife. His breath caught in his throat when he looked at her. She had some of the sexiest poses, especially standing there wearing a very short, seductive sheer negligee that sent heat sizzling through his veins. She gently rubbed her hand across her slightly protruding belly, evidence of his romantic persuasion.
“Oh, yes. I also can’t forget how women can be difficult and like to do things their way and in their own good time,” she added, “and that men have to be a step ahead and use romantic persuasion to sway a woman to your way of thinking.”
He held out his arms. “Come here and let me kiss that pout off your lips.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I’m not sure I want you to do that, Madaris. You know how difficult we women can be, and how we enjoy doing things in our own good time.”
“Is that a hint that I’ll be suffering for a while?” he asked, his gaze roaming over her body before settling on her face, something that still took his breath away.
“What do you think?”
“I think I need to explain,” he said, deciding it would be worth his while to get back in her good graces. “I was merely using us as an example—a very good one—to show how good friends can become lovers.”
She crossed the room and stood in front of him. “And did you also tell him that friends make the best lovers?”
“We didn’t get that far. Besides, there are some things Reese and Kenna will have to figure out on their own.”
“That’s true.”
He reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. “How’s my son doing?”
Syneda smiled. “He’s misbehaving like his old man does every once in a while. It’s after two in the morning and he hasn’t settled down yet. Sound familiar?”
Clayton beamed proudly. “I can see he’s going to be a party animal.”
“Whatever.” A slight frown settled on her face. “I just hope Reese realizes he cares for Kenna. Men can be so slow.”
“I was never slow,” Clayton responded.
Syneda smiled. “No, you were too fast for your own good. But I guess I shouldn’t complain, should I?” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Umm, how about a little of that romantic persuasion you seem to know so much about?”
He pulled her closer into his arms and smiled. “Ready when you are.”
He let himself int
o his apartment, closed the door and locked it behind him. His face split into a huge grin. What a night. He threw the bag he was carrying on the table and a single shoe fell out. It was a nice one—a round-toe black pump with a three-inch heel. He was too tired to pick it up now and would wait until morning to add it to his collection.
He headed for the bathroom to take a shower and to administer first aid. She’d had the nerve to try and fight him once she came to. In a way, he liked that, and had even let her think that she was getting the best of him for a while. When he’d gotten tired of playing games, he’d taught her a lesson. She learned the hard way never to forget the proverbial parental warning: never talk to strangers.
Chapter 14
“Here, let me take care of that,” Reese said, leaning over Kenna after she slid into the leather seat of his truck.
“There’s no need, Reese, I can buckle my own seat belt.” He either didn’t hear her or was pretending he hadn’t. Too late, the friction she felt whenever he was near coursed through her body in reaction to his masculine scent.
They had caught an early-morning flight out of Oklahoma City and now they were back in Houston and it wasn’t eight o’clock yet. Reese had left his SUV at the airport, and it didn’t take long to locate it in the parking lot.
She watched as he walked around the truck to get in on the other side, remembering how difficult it had been to sit beside him on the small plane. He hadn’t had much to say, which had been fine with her. It had given her a chance to close her eyes and catch up on the sleep she hadn’t gotten the night before.
After Reese had walked her to her hotel room, she had gotten ready for bed, but wasn’t sure if he would eventually knock on her door to talk. He never showed up, and since he hadn’t mentioned anything about it this morning, she could only assume he had changed his mind, which was fine with her.
“You want to stop for breakfast somewhere or do you want me to take you straight home?” he asked her, after getting inside the truck and fastening his seat belt.
She smiled thinking how easy it was for him to think of his home as hers. “No, I’m fine. It’s still early. I can make breakfast when we get there.”
“I’ll help,” he said, glancing over at her before putting the key in the ignition.
“Okay.” She’d said okay, but she wasn’t really sure. With both of them in the kitchen, things could get overheated. Still, she was certain she would feel the heat more than he would.
“Did you enjoy the party, Kenna?”
She glanced over at him. “Yes. That’s one of the things I enjoy about your family. They love getting together and having a good time.”
He chuckled. “Yes, the Madarises will find just about any reason to throw a party.”
“This time, it was a special occasion. I think Luke opening up a rodeo school is wonderful. Is he seriously thinking about opening up one here in Houston in another year or two?”
“Yes, he’s serious,” Reese said, reaching to turn on the radio to get a traffic update. Even though it was a Sunday morning, there were sometimes traffic jams with people going to early-morning church service.
He was surfing the channels. “Wait! Hold it,” Kenna said. “I want to listen to the news report.”
“Again, we repeat,” the reporter said, “the body of a twenty-eight-year-old Houston woman was found by joggers in a ditch off Long Weather Road this morning. The body has yet to be identified. However, according to police several items of clothing were missing, including one of her shoes…”
“Oh, no,” Kenna said, groaning.
Reese glanced over at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to get a full news report. I hope it’s just a coincidence that the murdered woman’s shoe is missing.”
“Why?”
“It might be the work of a serial murderer known as the ‘Shoe Killer.’ He rapes, tortures and kills his victims and then takes one of their shoes.”
Reese frowned. “Why would he do that?”
“Probably some kind of souvenir. So far, he’s killed more than a dozen women across the country, mostly in the Midwest. He killed six women in the Minneapolis area last year. I hope he hasn’t resurfaced in Houston.”
“Have there been any leads, any witnesses?”
“No, there haven’t been any survivors.”
It took a little longer than usual for them to get home, since Reese decided to stop at a roadside market and get some fresh fruit. The moment they walked through the door Kenna turned on the television.
“You want me to take this up to your room?” Reese asked, holding her carry-on bag that he had taken out of the trunk.
“Yes, please. And where is everyone? The place looked deserted when we pulled up.”
“Most of the hands usually go to church on Sunday morning or visit with family and friends in town.” He chuckled. “Some of the men stay out late on Saturday nights and sleep in on Sunday mornings to recover.”
Reese came back downstairs moments after putting their bags in their rooms. “I’m going to check things out and then I’ll be back to help you with breakfast.”
“I’ll probably be finished by then,” she said as she began watering several plants in the living room. The plants had been given to her by coworkers and friends as going-away gifts. She intended to keep them alive and move them to her new place once it was completed.
She released a deep sigh when the door closed behind Reese. So much for thinking that things were back to normal between them. Although they weren’t acting as skittish around each other as they had a few days ago, she was more aware of his presence than ever before.
He had knocked on her hotel room around five that morning and she had opened the door to find him standing there, sexier than any man had a right to look at that hour of morning. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a pullover shirt and aviator sunglasses, and was holding a cup of hot coffee in his hand.
He had handed her the cup of coffee before grabbing her overnight bag and then quickly ushered her down the hall to the elevator. By the time they’d made it to the ground floor, she had given him back the cup of coffee to drink. It was only then that she remembered what Alyson had said.
It was hard to believe she’d never paid much attention to how often they drank from the same cup of coffee or bottle of beer. And in all honesty, she wouldn’t have noticed if Alyson hadn’t pointed it out during her tirade. Now that she had, every time Kenna thought about it she felt an intense ache deep down.
The news report grabbed her attention and she turned up the volume on the flat-screen TV.
According to the reporter, the body had been positively identified as Melanie Tate, who had been killed just one month shy of her first wedding anniversary. It was heartbreaking to hear the details, she thought. Such a senseless murder.
Kenna turned off the television and made her way to the kitchen. When she’d worked for the Austin PD, she’d had a few friends in the homicide division. That’s when she’d first heard about the “Shoe Killer” investigation, and knew that law enforcement didn’t have any leads yet. A shudder ran through Kenna’s body. She knew there was a distinct possibility that the Houston PD might be dealing with a copycat, or it could be the real “Shoe Killer.”
She had already put the frozen chicken in the microwave to thaw when the back door opened and Reese walked in. He smiled at her and she immediately felt her nipples harden. “Everything’s okay?” she asked.
“Yes. Joe’s here and so are a few other ranch hands. They were watching the news report about the woman who was murdered.”
Kenna nodded. “My heart goes out to her family.”
Suddenly she felt a pressing need to change the subject. “I thought we would have a light meal today. I’ll make a salad and steam some veggies if you’ll cook the chicken.”
He nodded as he headed over to the sink to wash his hands. “How do you want it?”
She shrugged. “Any way you want.”
&
nbsp; His deep, dark, penetrating gaze lingered on her face for a while.
She noticed how his nostrils flared. It was too late when she realized what she’d said. She tried to ignore the fierce pounding of her heart, and tried convincing herself that she was just imagining things. Her fantasies were just running wild. But if that was the case, how could she explain the look in Reese’s eyes that was holding her hostage and making the air around them sizzle with sexual tension? She nervously licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and watched his gaze track her every move.
He smiled. It was a smile that was so full of carnal desire it nearly took her breath away. It was then that she realized he had wiped his hands on the kitchen towel and was moving toward her. She bit her bottom lip when he stopped and stood in front of her. She swallowed and tried to ignore the pressure she felt building at the juncture of her thighs, making that part of her body feel sensitive and achy. “Reese?” she said quietly, searching his face and admiring the deep, rich, coppery skin. “Is anything wrong?”
His grin was quick. And it made her suddenly feel wet and hot.
“No, there’s nothing wrong. But since I have the option of doing it any way I want, I think I want to do it this way. And this time I won’t apologize.”
He backed her against the kitchen counter, trapped her between his arms—which were on either side of her—and proceeded to meld her body to his masculine length. A shiver of awareness trailed over her skin, and before she could completely exhale, he sucked her breath right off her lips as he leaned in to kiss her.
Incredible, Reese thought. Capturing Kenna’s tongue and mating with it so intensely, he felt his entire body become aroused like never before. This was what he wanted. This was what he needed, and this was definitely the way it should always be. Their first kiss had been good, but this one was even better.
The last time they’d kissed he’d only gotten a sample of her soft lips, a taste of her sweetness. Now he was practically drowning in the flavor of her, savoring her spiciness and eating away at her mouth with a hunger so desperate it erased any misgivings he had about taking their relationship to the next level. His tongue stroked every inch of her mouth so possessively that it had her moaning.
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