But, of course, it was suggestive.
“With the way that he’s been acting lately, I’m sure that he won’t even notice,” she scoffed, glaring at herself in the mirror. “He’s being a total bummer on the attention factor.”
But, deep down, she hoped that he would really notice her, she realized to her shame.
Giving a final look at her reflection, satisfied with her appearance, she moved away.
A few moments later, she was taking the stairs, and surprisingly, she didn’t meet Rosa along the way. That was odd considering how she liked to start the day early. However, for the past weeks, Rosa had been tolerating and engaging in fun shenanigans with her and Meghan. Undoubtedly, she was worn from all of that excitement, she smiled, reaching the front door. Once, she was standing on the other side of the door on the outside, she waved at the guards before skipping down the steps, and soon, was on her way.
Again, the walk was satisfying, she realized, inhaling a deep breath. Southern country living was definitely agreeing with her. As she ventured further, the stables soon loomed in sight.
Surprisingly, none of the groomsmen or workmen was present yet, she noted, looking around. So, that meant that all of the horses were still inside and hadn’t been worked out yet.
The whinnying neighs met her as she entered the well-kept stables. As she had a week before, she went in pursuit. While she meandered along the aisle, the horses eyed her curiously, some of them even giving welcoming snorts as she passed.
When she reached the small office, she peeked inside only to find it vacant. “Where are you?” she mulled aloud, resuming her trek. “Why are you suddenly becoming a difficult man to find?”
She continued down the narrow aisle before taking the sharp corner. Just as she had weeks ago, she collided into solid muscle.
Slowly, her eyes traveled up the sweat-glistened, muscled chest. Her heart skipped a thousand beats, for didn’t her treacherous body know what it’d find?
She absorbed the sight of him.
If she thought he couldn’t seem more handsomely roguish, she was wrong. The dark stubble shadowed his jaw line, indicating that he hadn’t shaven yet. Once more, his dark hair was dampened with sweat, curling teasingly along his face. Within the shadows, his green eyes glinted with naked promises. A single bead of sweat trailed down the center of his chest on down to his taut abdomen. Rather than ripped jeans, the light gray running pants hang low on his lean hips.
And by gads, didn’t she feel his heated gaze as it roamed over her? He wasn’t even touching her, and she was already aflame.
Heaven help her…
Her startled eyes flew to his. “W-what are you doing,” she stammered nervously, taking a step back.
Jarrod arched a brow. “Working---what else?” he said lazily, picking up the muck bucket and disinfectant from the ground. “Normally, after an early morning run, I start my day off out here, getting things ready before the guys come in. More than that, it invigorates me for the day.” He flicked an interested gaze over her. “I think the question is: why are you here?”
“I was looking for you,” she blurted, reddening.
“Hmmm….is that so?” he inquired, sliding his intense gaze over her. “Why?”
“You’ve been avoiding me for weeks,” she said, raising her chin stubbornly, and met his gaze head on. “And I want to know why.”
“That’s a strange request, especially since it comes from the very woman that said she needed space,” Jarrod said coolly. “I’m simply honoring your wishes.”
Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her arms along her chest. “No, you’re not,” she insisted. “I know you. There’s something going on with you, and it has been for awhile now.” She fought against the hurt. “And you’ve gone out of your way to treat me---”
“How have I been treating you?” he challenged, and a gleam shone in his eyes. “Is it not in the manner that you prefer?” He made a fateful step closer to her one that made her pulse skyrocket out of control. “If that’s the case, I can rectify that right here and right now. Just say the words, sweetheart.”
“Jarrod, stop,” she admonished, holding a hand out, and deterred him. But, still, she fought to ignore the fluttering butterflies in her chest. “Let’s just stick to the real reason why I’m here.”
“A reason that you haven’t been totally clear about,” he muttered, obviously miffed at her small rebuttal. “Or even explained.”
“If you’d give me the opportunity, I would,” she said with the utmost haughtiness. Then, swallowing hard, she stared at the wall of his chest. “I’m here to talk to you about your proposition.”
“My proposition---you mean to tell me that subject is still an option? Your non-reaction made me wonder if it even were.” His green eyes simmered with sensual intent. “No doubt your conscience has been raging war against itself while you’ve mulled it over, hasn’t it?”
She reddened further. “I think that it’s rather preposterous that you’d even propose such an idea---”
“Are you here to discuss the absurdity of my offer, or are you here to give me an answer?” he asked smoothly. “If you’re here to say that you abhor the idea, I’m calling bullshit on that one. You can lie to yourself if you want. But, I know that you’re completely intrigued by it.”
“Don’t dare assume that you know what I feel or want,” she said hotly, although his words were true. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I just want to know the parameters of what this business relationship will entail.”
“Business relationship?” he scoffed, giving a short laugh. “Now, exactly, who is being absurd? We both know there will be nothing ‘businessy’ about the situation at all.” He set her afire with another daring look. “As a matter of fact, it’ll be primal, raw, and risqué in every sense. Deep down, you know those truths.”
With those words, he moved past her.
Against their own accord, her eyes fell to his lean hips, watching them rise and fall in the light gray running pants as he walked. A red sweat rag dangled from his hip pocket, and it swayed along with his movements.
Like the enslaved creature that she was, she followed. But, as he entered the last stall on the right, her bravado began to fade. Taking a collective breath, she paused on the outside. Still, though, she could hear his flurry of activities as he worked.
Unable to resist the pull to him, she moved to the stall’s entrance, and once more, lost her very breath. Mesmerized, going mute, she watched as he worked. The muck bucket and disinfectant now rested in the corner and had been replaced with the pitchfork that he held. In the corner of the stall, there lay two bales of hay, and at the moment, he was working on breaking one of them apart.
With his every movement, she absorbed his manliness, fascinated with the ripples of his muscles as they rose and fell under his labor. The beads of sweat glistened on his tanned skin. And oh, how many days and nights had she tasted and licked away that very moisture from his hard body, she mulled, dazed, biting her lip.
She started when he spoke again.
“Something wrong?” Jarrod asked, propping the pitchfork against the wall, and then, extracted the red rag from his hip pocket. Watching her with a keen eye, he wiped the sweat from his face. Then, with a deliberate slowness, he sponged the moisture from his neck before sliding the rag further down his hard body.
Their eyes met.
Clung…
For how long would they be able to deny their intense and volatile attraction? And didn’t they both sense their mutual desperation?
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said, flustered, tearing her gaze away. “Why would there be?”
Shrugging, he returned the rag to his hip pocket. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me,” he replied, plopping down on the bale of hay, and then, patted the space beside him. “Please, sit down.”
She stared at a space above his head. “I’d rather stand,” she murmured, clearing her throat again.
“Come on, Ol
ivia,” he said smoothly. “Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of being close to me.”
Of course, she was!
Hadn’t her treacherous heart and body betrayed her enough in these last moments!
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she replied, spitting out the small white lie. “What reason would I have to be?”
The devilment twinkled in his eyes. “It’s a well known fact that I’m quite irresistible,” he teased with a wicked grin. “But, of course, you know that already, don’t you?”
“You ego has always been massive,” she uttered, rolling her eyes skyward, but still, crossed the stall. “It’s no wonder as to why you’re full of yourself.”
Before her nerves deserted her, she sat down beside him, and an uncomfortable silence fell.
“It’s obvious that you have questions. What do you want to know first?” Jarrod asked, breaking the tension.
“I---I need to know why,” she stammered, and to her shame, her voice trembled. “The reasons why you’re doing this.”
“You know why in the hell I’m doing this,” he said roughly. “But, if you want me to repeat my reasons a million times, I will, if that’s what it’ll take for you to really hear me.” Reaching out, he grasped her chin, directing her gaze to his. “I want to be with you. Whatever it takes, I’m going to convince you that what we share is real.”
Gulping hard, she watched his lips move. Her eyes fluttered to his, and she found herself drowning in a pool of green.
“You mentioned parameters,” he said thickly, tracing along the edges of her face with a finger, and sent deep shivers running along her spine. “We will spend a considerable amount of time together, and do whatever the day entails whether that is morning walks, lunch dates, dinner, or late night strolls. Whatever happens---happens. There will be no room for regrets.” He paused briefly. “Things will only go as far as you want them. I will not pressure you into anything that you’re not ready for.”
With reluctance, she pushed his hand away. “Then, why are you sleeping in the adjoining bedroom rather than your own?” she probed. “If your intent is not to pressure me?”
“Is it a crime that I want to be close to you?” he rasped, and his words caressed her like a soft whisper. “I can’t bear the thought of being away from you, not even for a minute. So, if that’s my crime, I’m guilty of it.” His soulful gaze stole hers. “Would you be more comfortable if I slept downstairs? If so, that can be arranged---”
“No,” she interrupted quickly, flushing red. “I—I mean, there’s no point in doing that. I’m fine with our living arrangements. It’s your home. You can do whatever you want.”
A speculative gleam shone in his eyes. “It’s good that we have that settled,” he murmured, searching her face. “I meant what I said before. You will only find me there if you give invitation.”
“What do you mean invitation?” she asked, swallowing hard, but still was intrigued with where things were going.
“The locked door is symbolic of our relationship right now. It’s a barrier that separates us in both a figurative and real sense.” As he watched her, it seemed that his eyes probed to the deepest parts of her soul. “Intentionally, the door always stays locked. But, when you’re ready for me to come to you, you are the one who holds the key. Only you can unlock it.”
As she returned his deep stare, a thrill chased through her, one that she couldn’t suppress. “What do you mean I have the key to unlocking it?”
“During our six week trial relationship, at exactly 12:00 midnight, I’ll test the door, and see if you’ve granted me entry. If I find it locked, I’ll know that you’re not ready for our relationship to advance to the physical level. But, if the door opens, I know otherwise.” His eyes gleamed with a challenge. “If you leave the door unlocked, I will take it as an invitation that you want more. Tell me now. Are you in agreement with that or not?”
“When you say more, what do you mean?” she asked, and her words were barely audible.
“A kiss, a caress, silent whispers....whatever you ask of me,” he rasped unsteadily, stealing her gaze. “If you want me to play with you, I’ll play with you. If you want to make love, we’ll make love. The choice is yours.”
“Play with me?” she whispered, inhaling a sharp breath, and again, couldn’t tamper her fascination. “What does that mean? It’s as if you’re speaking in riddles.”
“Play can entail a lot of things,” he said suavely, flashing a wicked grin. “But, I’ve never been a man to give away my sensual secrets. In this case, you’ll just have to take a wait and see approach.” A dangerous gleam shone in his eyes. “Our encounters, they can happen at any time, any place, and anywhere. Again, are you in agreement with this faction of our trial?”
Dear heavens, she breathed inwardly, unable to chase away the forbidden thrills at his words.
Just what would she be getting into?
“Y-yes,” she blushed, clearing her throat uncomfortably before looking away. “I have no issues with that at all.”
“Good, it seems that we both understand things,” he muttered, standing again, and stared down at her. “As I said before, I don’t want you to make a rash decision about this. Regardless of what your choice is, I want you to be 100% certain about it.”
Crossing the stall, he retrieved the pitchfork before resuming his work. At a loss of words, she stayed silent.
For several long minutes, she just watched him work, absorbing both his movements and earlier words. At intermittent times, he’d make small conversation, but never broached the subject of his proposition again.
In that regard, she was disappointed, but too afraid to voice her own reasoning.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked, pausing, and blew a tired breath. “Do you have a full one planned?”
“The first half of the day is strictly Meghan time,” she added, coming to a stand. “After that, I’d planned on reading for a bit, and nothing much besides that. Why?”
“There’s something that I want to show you. It’s an area not too far out from the city, close to an hour drive,” he shrugged, returning the rag to his hip pocket. But, still, it seemed that he was being somewhat evasive. “I thought that maybe you’d like to get out for awhile. You’ve been cooped up here for weeks, and I’m sure that you were practically a prisoner when you were with Addison.”
Her heart leapt against her quiet nod. “You’re right,” she agreed. “It’ll be nice to get out for awhile.” She frowned. “Please don’t tell me that there’ll be any bodyguards with us.”
“It’ll just be me and you. How does 11:30 sound?”
“It sounds great. Meghan and I should be finished with our activities by then,” she said, coloring again.
“Alright,” he nodded. “We’ll meet in the foyer at 11:30 then.”
Then, turning away from her, he began working again, and once more, she was at a loss of words.
“I guess I’ll be going then,” she murmured, staring at his back, and then scurried across the stall.
But, he only gave a noncommittal nod, and didn’t even look at her as she left. A quick moment later, the morning sunshine greeted her as she stepped outside the stables.
Within moments, she fell back on the path again, and her thoughts finally began to clear. No longer could she hide from the inevitable truth, she mulled, spying the lush green gardens ahead.
She wanted him back.
***
As they proposed, they met promptly at 11:30, and without a word, he escorted her to the garage. As they passed the shiny black sports car and the other ten or so vehicles that occupied the large space, she tried not to gawk. A few minutes later, they were ensconced in the dark red Lamborghini and driving along the paved road.
Now, he held the look of a sexy billionaire playboy and no longer resembled the roguish stable hand from earlier, she noted, sliding a quick glance over his smart, crisp white business shirt and tie and black dress pants. His hair was perfect
ly gelled and sculpted, and his musky cologne only finished his manly palette.
Sexy, billionaire playboy…roguish stable hand…both looks were equally impressive, she mulled with a deep blush.
Luckily, too, she was presentable, having changed into an elegant powder blue halter-style jumpsuit. She’d even taken care to spritz on a subtle, floral fragrance, and her dark tresses were upswept in a tight bun.
For some odd reason, the tension from earlier seemed to have dissipated, she thought, relieved, relaxing altogether.
“Widow’s Pointe is really lovely,” she murmured, admiring the scenery while peering out the passenger’s side window. “I’m sure that many would be envious.”
“They were,” he admitted, taking his eyes from the road briefly. “Nearly half the city of Atlanta was there when it was auctioned off. I paid a hefty price to have the highest bid. But, it was worth every penny.”
She stared at him long and hard. “You really are very wealthy, aren’t you?”
“Does that bother you?”
“I could care less how much money you have. I’m not materialistic in the smallest sense. Money can make you comfortable, but it can’t buy the things that people crave most,” she stated honestly. “But, you---you don’t flaunt your wealth like most. At the estate, you’re always helping out with things. If it’s shoveling hay, fixing a broken fence, you’re doing it.”
“A day of hard labor never hurt anyone. As a matter of fact, it builds character, and you don’t take anything for granted,” he muttered. “Besides that, my father always expected more of me. He believed in the value of hard work. He always said that it showed the measure of a true man.”
“Your family,” she probed, staring at the side of his face. “You’ve never really mentioned them before. When you did, it was just briefly.”
“My great-grandparents migrated from Italy years ago, and naturally, the immigration system isn’t as restrictive as it is today. If it were, who really knows how things would’ve turned out,” he said, easily maneuvering the vehicle down the lane. “My great-grandfather worked the shipyards, and he was damned good at it. So, much so, that his labor didn’t go unnoticed by the higher-ups. He moved up the ranks quickly, and before long, he’d learned the ins and outs of the export/import business.”
The Darkest Danger (Shattered Series Book 2) Page 14
