by Nicola Marsh
Great. Looked as if her work efforts were in the same state as her resolve.
In tatters.
Dumping his backpack on the rocky shore, Rhys scanned the forest edge for Jade. She should’ve been here by now. Maybe she’d backed out of the supply trip? After their confrontation yesterday, he could live in hope.
One month had passed since they’d slept together.
Four long weeks.
Twenty-eight excruciatingly long days.
He’d tried the polite, cool, distant approach, he’d tried the reserved approach, he’d tried the pushy boss approach, yet Jade acted the same, treating him with respect underlined by wry amusement. As if she was waiting for him to snap and change his mind about their situation.
He should be happy. She was the model employee: dedicated, driven, enthusiastic. When the tourists filled out feedback forms at the end of a day in the wilderness, her name popped up constantly, carving him a regular dose of humble pie.
Initially, he’d expected her to fail spectacularly out here, had half expected to send her back on the first JetCat out of here. But she’d surpassed his wildest expectations.
And his wildest fantasies.
He groaned, swiped a hand over his face. It did little to wipe the constant X-rated flick playing in his head, the one that remembered every torturous detail of their one staggering night together.
Seeing her every day over the last month yet being unable to touch had been pure torture. He’d wanted it this way, didn’t need the complication. But what if trying to hold her at bay made things worse rather than better?
Damn, he needed her. It had moved past wanting a long time ago. If it had been that easy, having sex would’ve scratched that itch and he could’ve moved on. Instead, he couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, without constantly thinking about her, wishing for something he could never risk having.
Then she had to go and push him yesterday, baiting him, teasing him to get a response and, hot damn, he’d given it to her. He’d already been hanging on to his shredded self-control by a thread and after four long, tense weeks her deliberate goading had got to him. He’d snapped.
That kiss shouldn’t have happened. Though he guessed he should be grateful he’d settled for a brief kiss when he’d wanted so much more.
‘Ready to go?’
He blinked as she strode towards him, all long denim-clad legs and tight red jumper highlighting curves that made his palms itch to run all over them.
‘Sure.’
He looked away, out over the water, needing to focus on something else before she read the desperate yearning in his eyes. ‘JetCat should be here in a minute.’
‘No worries.’
She dumped her backpack next to his, bent to pick up a rock, and skipped it across the water.
‘Where’d you learn to do that?’
‘My dad.’
Her wary tone didn’t invite further questions but he’d already damaged their relationship beyond repair. What was one more foot in mouth?
‘Have you spoken to your folks since you got here?’
‘Hell, no!’
She stood, dusted off her hands—of the rock or symbolic of washing her hands of her folks? ‘Besides, I bet they’re too busy traipsing around the world to even notice I’m gone.’
Something in her tone alerted him to a deep, dark hurt and before he could second-guess himself he placed a hand on her shoulder. To his relief, she didn’t shrug him off.
‘You coming here was about them too, wasn’t it?’
She chewed on her bottom lip, worrying it with her teeth, and he clamped down on the urge to trace its fullness with his fingertip.
Squeezing her shoulder, his hand dropped, but he didn’t back away, standing close, there if she needed him.
With a resigned sigh, she glanced up and what he saw in her eyes punched him in the gut: disillusionment.
‘What did they do?’
Apart from her dad pulling strings to get her this job, interfering, when he had a suspicion she’d throw a fit if she ever found out.
As if she was coming to a personal decision, her shoulders sagged, some of the tension draining out of her.
‘I saw my dad with another woman. I told my mum. Know what she said?’
He shook his head, though he could guess. His parents moved in the same circles as hers, would happily shove any scandal under the priceless Aubusson rug rather than taint the perfect image.
‘That I was naïve. Women in our position should expect things like this to happen, should turn a blind eye.’
Her mouth contorted. ‘Men have urges, apparently, it has nothing to do with the family and I’d do well to remember that for my own marriage.’
He swore, guessing what came next.
‘Like I’d ever put up with crap like that.’
Her hands fisted, her defeated posture snapping upright. ‘So I confronted Julian, asked him if he’d ever play away on me, expecting him to say, “no way, honey, you’re my one and only true love”.’
She grimaced, one fisted hand banging against her leg. ‘Know what happened? He looked guilty as sin, tried to bluster his way out of it.’
She swung away, her gaze focused on the incoming JetCat.
‘Turns out dear old Julian had already done the dirty on me and when I turned to my parents for support, those pillars of society who’d always doted on me in the past, they basically said suck it up.’
So that was why Fred had called in the favour, insisting Rhys hire his daughter: sheer, unmitigated guilt.
The truth hovered, ready to spill, but he clamped his lips shut on the words she didn’t need to hear right now. They currently existed in a better place than the last month, their light exchange yesterday paving the way for an easier supply trip. Telling her about Fred’s interference now would only serve to ruin the weekend and he’d be damned if he spent the next few days holed up in his condo with a silent, furious woman.
‘You did the right thing in coming here.’
Swinging back to face him, she raised an eyebrow. ‘Did I? Sometimes I wonder.’
She was referring to him and their relationship and the mess he’d made of it.
Mentally letting rip a string of curses he’d learned through several countries around the world, he searched for the right words to say, something comforting, not trite.
In the end, he settled for, ‘You deserve so much better.’
Her bitter laugh raised his hackles. ‘Julian or my parents?’
Thankfully, she left off, Or you?
‘Both,’ he muttered, hesitating a moment before slinging an arm around her waist, wanting to comfort her, willing his touch to convey the compassion words couldn’t.
They stood there like that, watching the JetCat approach, and when her body finally relaxed and sagged against him, something terrifying twanged his heart.
Hard.
Chapter Fourteen
EXHAUSTED, Jade sank onto the edge of a huge king-size bed.
All her hard work over the last month, maintaining a business relationship, keeping emotional barriers in place, demolished in a few minutes standing on that rocky shore at Glacier Point.
Rhys had been so supportive, so understanding…and she’d blurted all that stuff about her family, initially horrified, until he’d held her.
It had hit her then, the reality of why she’d felt so betrayed by her parents’ and Julian. She’d spent her entire life being cosseted, secure in her parents’ love, their wealth, their lifestyle. Then Julian had come along and she’d coasted into the same life with him: money, prestige, status, safe from the harsher aspects of life, safe from everyday doubts that plagued most people, safe from insecurities. And they’d ripped that away from her when the ugly truths had surfaced.
So how come a guy she’d only known for a few weeks had the power to make her feel better about herself?
His simple words, ‘you deserve better’. After everything that had happened with her fol
ks and Julian, she’d doubted her own judgement.
Had she deliberately seen their world through rose-tinted glasses, happy to only see the good stuff and ignore the bad? Had she missed signs along the way? Had she been so foolishly wrapped up in her cushy life she’d been oblivious to tensions around her?
After she’d initially learned the truth it had felt as if her whole world had crumbled around her, a fake world built on appearances and wealth and deception.
It wasn’t only her judgement that had taken a serious hit: her self-confidence had suffered too. Yet in a brief moment of comfort Rhys had managed to salvage some of that confidence for her, had reinforced what she knew deep down: she did deserve better.
Pity he couldn’t see ‘better’ had been standing right in front of her, hers for the taking if he weren’t so darn righteous and pig-headed.
With a moan she fell back on the comfy bed, a plump hand-woven silk duvet cushioning her fall as she stared up at the steel beams criss-crossing the ceiling.
If Rhys’s house at Glacier Point had impressed, his apartment here in Skagway blew her mind.
Luxury all the way, from the highly polished golden oak floorboards, modular chrome and black furniture, incredible bedrooms, spectacular views over Skagway and surrounding mountain ranges and a hot tub on the balcony that could give a girl with wavering defences some seriously sinful ideas.
‘Settled in?’
She sat bolt upright, her traitorous heart instantly leaping at the imposing figure in the doorway, filling the space, making the bedroom stifling, almost airless, with him standing there staring at her.
She’d worked so hard over the last month, had been proud of her enforced immunity, but now her barriers lay in tatters, all her self-talk of the last twenty-eight days meant jack in the face of this guy and the power he had over her.
‘Yeah, thanks, didn’t have much to unpack.’
‘Want to head into town and grab a bite to eat or are you too tired?’
She’d like nothing better than to take a long, hot bath then slide into bed on high-thread-count sheets, but maybe being surrounded by people in her current mood was better than being holed up here with him?
For there was nothing surer than her wanting to get close to him tonight. After what he’d said at Glacier Point, how he’d held her when she’d needed him to, she knew she couldn’t hold out.
Simply, she’d never felt this way about any guy before. Her love for Julian, more a by-product of their life together and common goals, paled next to the depth of feeling for Rhys. And it terrified her.
She felt raw inside, open and vulnerable and yearning for more than he could give. But she had two options: coast along, not taking chances as she had her entire life, or continue exploring her reawakening self-confidence by opening herself up to the possibility of something wonderful, even if she knew it ultimately had to end.
‘Sounds good. Give me ten minutes to take a shower, then I’m all yours.’
The moment the words tumbled out of her mouth she wished she could shove them right back. But rather than bolt, Rhys gave her a slow, heart-stopping smile.
‘Lucky me,’ he said, lingering for an exquisite moment longer before leaving her to fall back on the bed again, clutching her just-break-me-now heart.
Rhys paced the lounge room, his boots thudding on the floorboards. Good. Perhaps the clomping of his boots would drown out the sounds of Jade taking a shower. He could just imagine her, soaping every inch of that tantalising body: stroking…scrubbing…rinsing…
Unable to stand, he dropped onto the sofa, leaned his head against the back of it. Doing the supply run with Jade and staying at his condo? Bad idea. After the agony of the last month, did he honestly think he could spend a weekend with her and come out unscathed at the other end?
No freaking way! But what else could he do? This weekend had been a way to make amends for his atrocious behaviour. He couldn’t stand one more minute of her bravado, the hidden hurt occasionally visible when she’d glanced his way over the last month. She’d tried to hide it beneath a veneer of bravado, of gutsy professionalism, but it had broken his heart, staring into those chocolate-brown eyes and seeing that wounded expression lurking in the shadows.
Maybe, just maybe, she’d forgive him by the end of this weekend. If he didn’t scare the living daylights out of her by looking at her as if he wanted to gobble her up, that was.
How could he have botched this so badly? He’d give anything to bury his face in her hair, to lavish her lush body with the attention it so richly deserved, to lick every delectable inch of her until she cried his name for more. He could’ve had that, could’ve been enjoying her company over the last month if he weren’t so stubborn and focused on not needing anybody, ever.
‘I’m ready.’
His head snapped forward so fast he got whiplash and he blinked, still lost in the erotic haze of his fantasy. Lucky him—his fantasy had come to life and was standing less than three feet away.
‘Wow, you look great.’
She was nothing short of stunning, wearing a baby-pink cashmere twinset and a long denim skirt with knee-high black boots. The outfit clung to every curve and he swallowed, trying to ease the tightness in his throat, wishing he could do something about the tightness in his pants.
Though he wasn’t a fan of make-up, he liked how she’d enhanced her eyes and lips, the shimmer of gloss making him want to lick every last drop from her lips.
‘Thanks.’
She fidgeted with her hair, loose and mussed around her shoulders, her nerves matching his. They were acting like a couple of teens on their first date.
That was when it hit him.
In a way, this was their first date. They’d jumped from business colleagues to bedmates and back again, without a hint of romance in sight.
Sexual attraction was like that, he got it, but, seeing Jade twisting a strand of hair around her finger and transferring her weight from side to side, he suddenly felt like a heel.
He’d said she deserved better at Glacier Point this morning. The way he’d been behaving, that definitely applied to him too.
He’d initially planned on taking her out for dinner as a way to make up for how he’d been treating her the last month, a small gesture to show her he wasn’t a complete bastard.
But here, now, seeing her dressed up, her expression guarded yet expectant, he knew he was deluding himself.
He’d said she deserved better earlier today and she did. Much better than what she’d put up with from him.
Dinner wouldn’t just be a trite apology. Dinner would be the kind of date she deserved.
‘You hungry?’
Nodding, she patted her tummy. ‘Surprised you didn’t mistake the rumbles for a stray grizzly.’
‘Ah, so that’s what that dull roar is.’
She laughed, the pure, joyful sound making him want to sweep her into his arms, twirl her around, and laugh out loud for the sheer pleasure of it.
Hitching her handbag higher on her shoulder, she said, ‘Come on, then, feed me.’
In that split second, he was instantly transported back to the night he’d done exactly that; hand-feeding her that strawberry…and what followed…
Their gazes locked, her eyes wide, luminous, knowing, the faint blush staining her cheeks telling him she was remembering too.
He had no doubt if he headed down memory lane with her right now they’d end up where he wanted to be: in bed, having mind-blowing sex all night.
So much for romancing the lady.
He wanted to take her on a first date she’d remember. Looked as if his gallantry had fled around the time his libido had shot into the stratosphere.
Clearing his throat, he wrenched his gaze away with effort, feigned nonchalance as he glanced at his watch.
‘We’ve got reservations, let’s go.’
She nodded, but not before her lips curved in a tempting smile that said she knew exactly what he’d been thinking and maybe
she wasn’t averse to joining in the fun.
‘Rhys?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Thanks for this.’
He squirmed under her admiration. ‘For what? Letting you crash here rather than a hotel?’
‘For Glacier Point. For being human. For letting me in again.’
Swivelling on her heel, she headed for the door, but not before he’d seen the depth of emotion shimmering in her eyes.
Damn straight he’d let her in again. At what cost? Could he slam the door on his past, with her help?
Filled with familiar doubt, he followed her.
As Jade slid into the chair Rhys held out for her and glanced around the restaurant he’d chosen she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d do next to surprise her.
When he’d said he’d made reservations she’d expected a fancy upmarket place like the bar they’d visited their first night in Skagway, something fitting with his palatial home and upscale condo carved into a mountain.
Instead, he’d brought her to what could only be the smallest, oldest restaurant in town, a quaint wood-panelled lounge-like place with an open fireplace, mounted moose heads and stuffed salmon over the mantle and a collection of mismatched, dusty wine bottles along the back shelf of a makeshift bar.
There couldn’t have been more than eight tables crammed into the place, yet the artfully arranged dividers provided some privacy for diners. Rather than fancy polished silverware and snowy-white crockery, the tables were covered in faded gingham and massive clay-based serving dishes that resembled platters rather than plates.
As he slid her chair in he leaned down, murmured in her ear, ‘Don’t let appearances fool you. This is the best restaurant in Skagway.’
She’d already been fooled by appearances once; no way would she base the rest of her life on prejudging anything or anyone again.
As he sat opposite she folded her hands on the table, leaned forward. ‘I like it. It’s cosy.’
‘Home away from home.’
Regret fluttered in her chest for a moment before she ignored it. While her parents had hurt her with their attitude, she still missed them. They’d been close, her sharing in their dazzling society life from the time she could walk and, while she preferred the simple, unadorned beauty of Alaska, she couldn’t help but wish she’d arrived here under different circumstances.
