“Although I don’t think Diamond is in any danger, I’m not going to take any chances, Jake. Since you don’t want her to know what’s going on, I promise to be discreet. My men will begin watching her twenty-four hours a day after she leaves to return to California the day after tomorrow. I’ll make sure they remain in the background. At no time will she know she’s under their protection.”
Jake nodded. That was the way he wanted things.
“What about this place, Jake? Is this ranch as airtight as it used to be?”
Jake couldn’t help it when his face broke into a leisurely smile. As kids growing up, his nephews’ friends swore that no one could sneak on or off Whispering Pines without Blaylock or Jake’s father knowing about it.
“Yeah, it’s even more so with all the modern monitoring equipment I use to keep up with things like strays and trespassers,” Jake said. “I feel Whispering Pines is safe. But under no circumstances will I become a prisoner to this ranch.”
Jake stretched his neck and rotated his shoulders. He was exhausted, not particularly from all the work he’d done around the ranch that morning but for lack of sleep. The last few nights since returning home he had tossed and turned, wondering what demented person wanted him out of Diamond’s life. Luckily since she was a sound sleeper, his tossing and turning had not disturbed her. In fact, he doubted that she had even noticed.
“I didn’t think you would let me keep you a prisoner here, Jake, so the same discreet protection I’m setting up for Diamond is being set up for you, too, whenever you’re off the ranch.”
“Do you think that’s necessary?”
“Yes, Jake, as a private detective as well as a friend, I honestly think so. Until we know exactly what we’re up against, I hope you let me handle things my way. No one other than me and you will know about the men I’m posting in the background. I doubt very seriously that you’ll even notice them. They’re just that good.”
Alex glanced down at his watch. “I’ve taken up enough of your time already, Jake. I’ll get back with you as soon as I get anything I think you need to know about. And I’d appreciate it if you’ll prepare a list of any appointments you have away from the ranch.”
Before Jake could say anything against his request, Alex said, “I need you to cooperate with me on this, Jake.”
Reluctantly, Jake nodded.
With the business part of their meeting concluded, Alex walked back over to the wall where he had been earlier when Jake had entered the room. He kept staring at one framed photograph in particular. “When was this photo of Christy taken?”
Jake came to stand next to Alex to see just what photo of his niece that Alex was referring to since he had several of her on his wall. The one Alex was asking him about was one of those glamour-type photos Christy had taken over the Christmas holidays.
“Christy took that one at Christmas. She looks good, doesn’t she? It’s hard to believe she’s all grown-up now and is a junior in college. It seems like it was just yesterday that her brothers and I were teaching her how to ride a horse.”
“Yeah, and I’m the one who taught her how to ride a bicycle,” Alex said, chuckling. He couldn’t get over just how grown-up she looked. Nor could he dismiss just how beautiful she was. “How old is Christy now?”
“She’ll be twenty-one in a few months.”
Alex nodded. “She’s become a very beautiful young woman.”
Jake studied the photograph. “Yes, she has become a beautiful woman,” he agreed. “I expect she’ll get even more beautiful as she gets older. I feel sorry for the man who takes it in his mind to pursue her.”
Alex frowned. “Why?”
“Because that man will have to deal with her brothers.”
Alex nodded. He knew just how overprotective Justin, Dex and Clayton were when it came to their baby sister. A couple of years ago, Clayton had asked him to run a background check on some guy Christy had started dating during her freshman year in college.
Alex shrugged, thinking that how the three Madaris brothers protected their sister wasn’t really his concern. Unlike most men, getting seriously involved with a woman was not in his future plans. He honestly didn’t have the time. He had the career he’d always wanted and was working hard to be a success at it. Instead of dividing his time and energy into doing two things halfway, he wanted to focus and center his energy on one thing and do it well.
“Alex, how would you like to meet Diamond?” Jake asked, interrupting his thoughts.
A huge smile spread across Alex’s mouth. “I was wondering when we were going to get around to that.”
Conrad Ammons tried to appear sympathetic to the photographer who had accompanied him to the press conferences in Texas and California. “Are you saying that some of your film is actually missing? What happened?”
The man’s frown deepened. “I have no idea, but I know for a fact that I took more pictures than this. I took a lot of good shots of Diamond Swain and her husband.”
“Did you keep the negatives?”
“No. Whoever took the originals also took the negatives. I can’t believe it.”
Conrad Ammons thought to himself, Believe it, I had to make sure that you didn’t run those same exact prints in the paper and run the risk of Jacob Madaris recognizing them as the same ones that had been sent to him.
“At least you didn’t lose every single photo that you took.”
Like he knew it would, his comment angered the man. “I didn’t lose any of the others, Ammons. Someone took them.”
Conrad Ammons shook his head. “Who would want to take a few pictures of Diamond Swain and her husband?” he asked, wanting to make sure he squashed the thought from the man’s mind. “Have you thought of the possibility that those shots may not have come out?”
The man frowned as he considered the idea. “Hey, you think that’s what happened?”
“It’s a good possibility. You know how they sometimes screw up things downstairs in the photo lab.”
The man nodded. “You’re probably right.”
Conrad Ammons chuckled. “Of course I am. How about if we leave here for a while and go grab something for lunch?”
“Good idea. Just give me a second to grab my camera.” The man smiled. “A good cameraman never leaves home without it.”
Chapter 22
Jake looked across the table at Diamond. He had not been able to take his eyes off her all through dinner. She had that type of effect on people. He smiled when he remembered introducing her to Alex that day. For the first time ever, Alexander Maxwell had been at a loss for words. He understood. Even after almost two years, she still had a profound effect on him.
Besides her stunning beauty, both inside and out, she was simply irresistible, fascinating and intelligent. There was also a controlled calm about her, one he could always break through once he had her in bed. Then he could turn her into a fiery, passionate being. One that he was intensely in love with.
Even now dressed simply in a celery-colored lounging outfit, she looked gorgeous as always. But there was something else about her tonight. She had some sort of radiant glow. He couldn’t stop the flow of ideas that went rushing through his head. Ideas of undressing her, piece by piece, running his fingers through her short, curly hair. And then he would…
“Jacob, sweetheart, are you listening to me?” Diamond asked softly, lifting her brow.
Jake smiled at her, lifting his. No, he hadn’t been listening to her. His mind had been on an entirely different subject than the one she’d been discussing. “Oh, sure I’m listening.”
Diamond raised a glass of iced tea to her lips and smiled before saying, “Yeah, right.”
Her smile, Jake thought, was sexy as hell. And the look she gave him immediately kicked his hormones into gear—not that they needed much kicking around her. He shook his head, amazed at what the woman could do to him. Over the years, he had done everything possible to safeguard his emotions against women. No other woman, he had
decided after his fiasco with Jessie, would wrap herself round him. No other woman would get her claws into him. Jake inwardly laughed. Not only did Diamond have him wrapped pretty tight, but her claws were in him pretty deep, as well.
The phone rang loudly—repeatedly.
“Aren’t you going to answer that, Jacob?” she asked quietly.
Thinking it was probably just one of his family members, he said, “No. I prefer sitting here and getting turned on looking at you. Whoever it is can call back if it’s important. Tonight is your last night here with me, and I don’t want to be disturbed unnecessarily. Even Blaylock had the good sense to take a hike.”
The phone stopped ringing.
Jake and Diamond stared at each other across the table, saying nothing. A taut, sensuous silence stretched between them, and neither wanted to break it.
The phone began ringing again.
Diamond cleared her throat. “I guess you better answer it this time.”
Thinking it could possibly be Alex with some news for him already, Jake said, “I guess I’d better.”
Standing up, he walked across the room to answer the phone. “Hello?”
Diamond stood and began clearing up the remnants of their meal. As always whenever she was spending her last night at Whispering Pines for a while, she felt sad. Although she felt good this time in knowing that at least when she returned to the ranch within the next couple of weeks, she wouldn’t have to leave again on any extended trips.
She had no regrets with the decision she had made to walk away from her life as a movie actress. The man she had chosen to live the rest of her life with was a man who had demanded little but deserved much. He was a man who lived by a special code of honor. During her thirty-two years she had dedicated her life to pleasing her father and never fully reaching that goal. In the one and a half years she had been with Jacob, first as his lover then his wife, he had taught her all about pleasing herself. During those secret and private rendezvous they had shared, they would meet and love the night away. Afterward he would hold her in his arms while she told him of her insecurities and her fear of failing the people she cared about. He had lovingly told her how much she meant to him and that she didn’t have anything to prove to him or anyone. Somehow Jacob Madaris had convinced her that she was special. And she believed him because he always made her feel that way. She knew in her heart that she would love him forever, and by his side on Whispering Pines was where she wanted to be. She couldn’t wait to see his face when she told him what she’d been dying to tell him since morning.
Jake watched Diamond move around the kitchen. He tried to keep his mind on what the caller was saying, but was having a hard time doing so. His mind preferred concentrating on the way Diamond’s hips swayed beneath her outfit when she moved around the table collecting their plates, and the way her breasts tilted upward when she leaned over and straightened the placemats on the table. The room smelled of her enticing scent, light, feminine and alluring. His body began throbbing with the want of her. His body hardened with the need of her.
“I’m sorry, Cole, come again,” Jake said to the caller, Cole Wells, as he tried to get control of his thoughts and body. Cole was a fellow rancher whose land bordered Whispering Pines. He was also a member of the Texas Cattlemen Association and was calling to remind Jake of their annual banquet in two weeks and to make sure he planned on attending.
Jake shook his head. Cole had never felt the need to phone him with a reminder before. Jake knew Cole was really calling to make sure he brought Diamond with him to the black-tie affair. This was the third call he had received that day making him regret giving a few of his close neighbors his new phone number. He shook off the thought. One thing the neighbors did for one another was to keep an eye out on things and because of the distances between ranches, the telephone was the primary way.
“I’m not sure Diamond will be back from California then, Cole, but if she’s here, I’m sure she would love to come.” Jake’s smile came and went. “Sure, Cole, I’m sure Diamond is looking forward to meeting everyone, as well.”
Jake glanced across the room at Diamond—his mouth literally dropped open. She was bending over, seemingly stretching her body for lack of anything better to do. Her lithe body was extended downward in such a graceful manner, almost like a ballerina but more so like a body ripe for loving, he thought, as his gaze traveled the length of her and zeroed in on her rear end.
He wondered just what the heck she was doing. After a few minutes, she straightened her body and glanced over at him and smiled. That flirty gesture of hers made him forget just what he was about to say to Cole.
“Uh, look, Cole. I’m going to have to catch you later.” Without saying goodbye to his neighbor, Jake hung up the phone. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Diamond, just what the heck were you doing a few minutes ago?”
Diamond’s eyes lit up, and she made a half circle of the room as if she was tidying up things. He watched the seductive sway of her body as she did so. “Do you want to know the truth, Jacob?”
“Yes,” he managed to say. His mouth felt dry. His throat tightened.
“Trying to get your attention.”
His body hardened even more. “You got it, baby. Come here.”
Diamond slowly began walking over to him. He smiled thinking no man should have it this good, no man should be this blessed. He studied her face, saw the love shining there. He also saw her blatant invitation. It was one he definitely planned to accept. Tonight was her last night with him, and he didn’t want to think of the nut who wanted him out of her life; the man who’d been crazy enough to threaten his life.
When she came to a stop in front of him, he reached out and gently placed his arms behind her head and pulled her toward him. Parting her lips with the tip of his tongue, he leisurely and thoroughly mated his mouth with hers. The feel of her breasts pushing against his chest fueled his fire, increased his need. He could make love to her mouth forever, he thought as he continued to plunder it like the hungriest of men.
At the moment he felt like he was.
His hand moved downward to cup her bottom, and to bring her closer to the hard fit of him. He thought of how his next two weeks would be without her and began missing her already. He would miss her scent, her taste, the feel of coming apart in her arms, the feel of entering her body, his body hard and thick inside of her, and then the release, an earth-shattering, rippling explosion.
Tightening his hold he lifted her into his arms. He wanted her now but didn’t want to waste time taking her up the stairs, nor did he want to make out with her in the kitchen in case Blaylock decided to come back to the ranch unexpectedly.
So Jake carried her to the closest room that could give them privacy—his office. They would start there, and sometime before the breaking of dawn, before he had to take her to the airstrip, he would make love to her several times, in several rooms. He wanted the memory of her everywhere, so later after she was gone he would be able to draw on those memories and bring her close.
After locking the office door behind him, he had barely placed her on his desk before he began quickly removing her clothes, and then his own. His breathing was short and aching. The need to mate with her was so strong he instinctively reached out and cupped her hips and opened her thighs.
Her body arched forward to wrap her legs around him and to receive him. Their joining was as fierce as the need that encompassed them. Tomorrow she would be gone away, but tonight she was where he wanted her to be. Tonight he was where he wanted to be—inside of her. He didn’t want to think about what the next course of action would be if they did not capture the person who was threatening him before Diamond returned to the ranch. He didn’t want to place her in danger by being around him even if that meant putting distance between them to keep her safe. Jake didn’t want to think about any of those things now. He wanted to think about and concentrate only on tonight and the woman he was making love to.
His woman. His wi
fe.
Being inside of her, loving her this way, sharing this gift of love with her took him right over the edge as the tempo of their lovemaking increased. And when she became bold and let her mouth become aggressive, his heart pounded three times its normal rate.
“Diamond.” He whispered her name when she released his mouth for a moment—it was only for a moment—then she was weaving her magic on his mouth again, branding him with strokes of her tongue. What she was doing was making him groan.
“I’m going to make sure you miss me, Jacob,” she whispered in a sweet, achy voice. The rhythm of their bodies was hard, silken, fast, slow. It was prolonging what awaited them. It was complete torture that heightened the pleasure and they tried to hold back, neither wanting the moment to end. It was more than either of them could handle or could stand.
But it still wasn’t enough.
Jake closed his eyes as his emotions swamped him, making his thrusts harder, firmer and deeper. Diamond’s head fell back and she lifted her hips off the desk to draw him in further. He gritted her name and felt every shiver of passionate tremors that suddenly ripped through her body. And then that same passion tore through him. He felt himself lose control and not once thought of claiming it back as he pulled her face toward his and clamped his mouth to hers, devouring everything.
When completion shattered them and Jacob spent himself deep within her, they both felt replete and content in the languorous glow of fulfillment.
Somehow after regaining his strength Jake scooped Diamond up in his arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom. Later, they lay quietly in bed for a long time, their bodies still tingling in the aftermath of the passion they had shared downstairs.
“I don’t think anything can get better than this,” Jake said in a voice that was husky and dazed.
“Oh, I think it can,” Diamond said lightly, rising up on her elbow and looking down at him. She reached out and stroked his cheek with loving care. “Try this one on for size. I’m pregnant.”
Secret Love (Arabesque) Page 20
