Her insides quivered.
Dammit.
“Lacey,” he said, gaze still fixed to hers. “I’ll be back to get you in a half-hour.”
“Okay. Take your time.”
The man was good at that, too. Taking his time. Keeping her on the brink. Driving her mad before bringing her release with mind-blowing force.
“What do I owe you?”
She cleared her dried throat. “It’s on the house.”
“Then I guess I owe you.” With one last lap of his ice cream, he turned around and left the shop with a smile on his face and a spring in his step that hadn’t been there when he’d walked in.
Holly did her best to keep calm and cool on the outside, while her insides were a mass of lava overflowing to all her good parts.
If the women had noticed, they were kind enough to keep it to themselves. When she finally rejoined them, with a tall glass of ice water, she answered questions about her pictures, and ignored their knowing grins. Nope. Not going there. She kept the focus on the photos, giving her recommendations for the final album, before having to get up to wait on Connor who stopped in to order two large vanilla cones for his Kerri, while carrying a large jar of pickles.
Some of the crazy things he’d said his wife craved were similar to concoctions she’d witnessed Shayla eating the past few weeks. She was still smiling after the cowboy had gone.
“You have a great eye for photos, Holly,” Lacey said, walking slowly to the counter, as if she had something on her mind. “Would you possibly be interested in photographing me on my horse? I’d be happy to pay you. He’s a beauty. I don’t have anything near as polished as the photos you take, and I’d really love one of me and Beckham.”
“Beckham?” Her brows rose. “Like the soccer player?”
“Yep. They both have great muscle tone.”
Holly laughed. “I’d love to.”
“Super! Thank you so much,” the woman gushed, face lighting with pure joy.
They settled on a time and price, and Lacey had just finished writing down the address when Jace walked in.
“Ready?” he asked his sister, looking even more tired and haggard than before.
Lacey nodded. “Yep.” Then turned to wave good-bye to the sisters still sitting at the corner table.
Jace smiled ruefully at her, his heated gaze lingering on her lips before he followed his sister out the door.
“We’d better get going, too.” Shayla yawned, rising to her feet, suddenly looking as exhausted as the doctor. “Thanks for showing me the photos. Kevin and I will be by tomorrow to officially pick them out.”
“Okay,” she said, coming around the counter to hug both women.
“Enjoy your weekend,” Caitlin said. “Because, judging by that hungry look in Jace’s eyes, the two of you will be enjoying the weekend before it’s over.”
Her body was completely on board, while part of her mind still held out, maintaining it was foolish to get involved with someone from Texas when she would be heading back to Colorado any day now.
That argument was getting old, and even though it was undoubtedly true, at the moment, recalling how wonderful she’d felt last Sunday, she was willing to steal a few more moments with him.
Sunday afternoon, Jace was in his office at the armory, going through periodic health assessments when Jesse strode in and dropped down into a chair. No need to ask the man how he was doing. The scowl pretty much covered it. Bad day.
“Haven’t had the opportunity to thank you for throwing me under the bus the other day,” his friend said, sarcasm so thick his words stuck in the air.
He sat back in his chair and raised a brow. “You’re welcome?”
“Dick,” Jesse muttered. “I’m talking about your sister and having to fetch her damn horse.”
“Oh. That.” His head tipped back, bells finally going off in his head. “Yeah, sorry. I didn’t have anyone else to call. Thanks again. According to Lacey, it went okay, and you weren’t too annoying,” he said, then added, “and that’s a direct quote.”
“It’s a miracle. I’m so relieved, for once, I actually pleased Her Highness.” Jesse snickered.
Jace shrugged. “Why don’t you just ask her out already? The two of you have been circling each other for years.”
“Your sister’s mean, Jace. And she’s gotten worse since the accident. Big control freak.”
He cocked his head and grinned. “So, you admit you’re too much of a pansy-ass to handle her?”
“Fuck, yeah!” The frowning man straightened in his chair. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I value my nuts. Don’t need her handing them to me every time she doesn’t get her way.”
Jace smiled, shaking his head, even though he was in total agreement.
“When’re you going to grow a pair?”
“I can handle my sister just fine.” Most days.
Jesse shook his head. “Not Lacey. You and Holly.”
“What do you mean?”
Jesus, he hoped this wasn’t about her and Tanner.
“When are you going to ask her out?” Arms folded across his chest, the soldier tilted his head and narrowed his dark gaze on him. “Or is sleeping with her enough?”
He shot forward in his chair. “I don’t think that’s any of your damn business.”
Jesse held up his hands. “I’m not asking for a blow by blow. You know me better than that. I’m just saying she’s good for you. Whenever you’re around her, you smile. You should think about being around her more.”
He did think about it. Every damn day. That was the problem.
“And before you try to bring up DWB, that isn’t going to happen for months yet. You can’t resign your commission here until the end of March. No reason you can’t enjoy each other’s company in the meantime. A lot can happen in five months.”
He slumped back in his chair. “It’s complicated.”
“Then un-complicate it.”
Could it really be that simple?
He pinched the bridge of his nose, but the heavy pressure in his temples remained. It was no use. He was too tired to think straight. All he wanted was to relax and not worry about work, family, or drill. All he wanted was Holly.
An hour later, Jace was still contemplating that when he pulled into his driveway and got out, stunned, thinking his thoughts had formed into reality. Holly’s car was parked next to his sister’s in front of the main house. Sunday evenings, his mother played bridge over at Mrs. Avery’s, and sometimes his sister did, too. Apparently, not today.
Curiosity led his combat boots up the drive, but the sound of the women laughing on the side of the barn had him switching directions.
It had been a very long time since he heard Lacey laugh with her whole heart. No sarcasm or bitterness. Just joy. It sounded great, and his own lips curved into a smile. But when he rounded the corner, all the euphoria evaporated as wave of white, hot anger shook through him.
“Lacey! What the hell is wrong with you? Get off the damn horse!” His voice boomed in the air, echoing off the barn, scaring the women who jumped…and startled the horse.
Beckham lurched forward, sending his sister backward.
Chapter Twelve
Jace lunged toward his sister, but was too far away and too late. His heart shot to his throat, while he watched her fall, as if in slow motion, to the hard dirt ground.
“Lacey,” Holly cried, racing forward to kneel beside her. “Are you all right?”
“Don’t move,” he ordered, bending over his sister, pressing his stubborn sibling back as she made to sit up.
She brushed his hands away. “I’m fine. And I have to get Beckham.”
“Let your brother check you out,” Holly said, her voice stern. “I’ll get your horse. You stay put.” She didn’t move away until Lacey reluctantly nodded.
He was too worried to be surprised at how easily his sister complied. His chest was so tight he could barely breathe, but he tuned everything out and began
his examination.
“I’m okay. Honest,” his patient insisted. “My hip is a little sore. Not my back.”
A few minutes later, he concurred, but pulled the phone from his belt and called an ambulance anyway.
“Really, Jace?” Lacey glared at him, still lying flat on her back. “I don’t need a damn ambulance, and I do not want to see the inside of another hospital room.”
“Too damn bad.” He glared right back, his voice low and rough as his anger returned. “You should’ve thought of that before getting on that damn horse.”
“Oh, for goodness sakes, Jace. I was fine until you got here.”
“Fine? You were on the damn horse.”
“Yeah, getting my picture taken. That’s all. I was not riding him.”
He stared at her, his mind replaying the scene in his head. Lacey had been on the horse, smiling at Holly…and the camera in the woman’s hands.
Well…hell.
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Sitting on him is just as dangerous. What the hell were the two of you thinking?”
“Hey, wait a minute. Holly had nothing to do with this. I asked her to come here and take the pictures. She doesn’t know about my back.”
He considered that moment, then nodded. “But you know how dangerous it is, Lacey. Why do you insist on pushing yourself?” Then his heart lurched as a thought occurred. “Who saddled him?”
“No one. I’m not stupid,” she said. “He was bareback…and we really need to go get him.”
“No worries. I got him,” Holly said, rounding the corner, fingers entwined in the horse’s dark mane.
His mouth dropped open as stupor momentarily took over, followed by a bit of admiration. “How the hell…”
No one but Lacey, Jesse, and Kade were able to get near the horse, let alone get the spirited animal to cooperate, especially without a bridle.
She ran her hand up and down the contour of muscles on Beckham’s side. “He’s just a big softie for some sweet-talking, aren’t you boy?”
The horse answered with a snort, and his sister relaxed as Holly led the huge animal into the barn. Despite the circumstances, his body remembered the feel of the woman’s soft, sure touch when she’d stroked him with those gifted hands.
“Your girlfriend has a way with stubborn males.” Lacey laughed, then stiffened at the sound of the approaching ambulance.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her Holly wasn’t his girlfriend, but then the paramedics rushed over, and he was too busy filling them in. Two minutes later, still wearing his ACUs and a week’s worth of exhaustion, he rushed across the driveway so he could follow the ambulance in his truck.
If he survived what was left of the weekend, it would be a miracle.
Ten-thirty that night, Holly had given up trying to find something on television that would hold her attention. It was no use. She was worried about Lacey, especially after she came out of the barn to see the ambulance heading down the drive and the taillights of Jace’s truck as he followed.
She’d rushed to the hospital, but since she wasn’t family, the emergency room staff wouldn’t tell her anything. After hanging around for an hour without even a glimpse of Jace, she left. The ride back to her cottage was a bit of a blur, and somehow she ended up at The Creamery, where Donny, of all people, filled her in about Lacey’s riding accident earlier that year.
If anything happened to the woman to set her back…or worse, Holly would never forgive herself. No wonder Jace was so furious. She hadn’t understood why he was so upset when it was obvious his sister was okay.
Now…God…now, she understood. And if…
A knock on the door stopped her mid-thought, and she rushed to answer.
Her heart lurched at the sight of Jace, still dressed in his army camouflage uniform, face drawn and tight. But, a little light sparked in his eyes when he saw her.
“Hi,” he said. “Sorry to stop in so late, but I saw your light on and thought maybe you’d be up for some company.
“Of course.” She grabbed his arm and tugged him inside, leading him straight to the couch where she pulled him to sit down. “How’s Lacey? I swear, Jace. I had no idea about her back. If I’d have known…” Her voice trailed off as all the emotions of the day hit her at once.
She swiped at the tears that suddenly appeared, but he cupped her face with both hands and used his thumbs to wipe them away.
“It’s all right. She’s fine,” he said softly. “I took her home, then drove back here. She wanted me to call you, but I didn’t want to talk on the phone. I wanted to see you.”
A smile tugged her lips as she reached up to smooth her fingers over the left side of his temple. “I’m glad. I wanted to see you, too. Have you eaten anything?”
“Yeah. I had something that tasted like cardboard at the hospital while we waited for all the scans.”
She chuckled. “Sounds yummy. Want me to make you something? I promise it’ll taste better than cardboard.”
Heat suddenly entered his gaze, and his hands left her face to trail down the sides of her body. “I’m only hungry for one thing.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” he replied, pushing her down into the cushions. “You.”
Her heart skipped a beat, then rocked against her ribs when he lowered his mouth to hers. No need to ask if he was too tired. He seemed to have gotten a second wind, because he had a hand under her shirt, gliding up her side. Her body quivered in anticipation, waiting for more.
He gave her more. Much more. His thumb brushed her nipple through the lace, then suddenly his hand was underneath her, unhooking her bra.
Jace drew back, pushed her loose clothing up and glanced at her bare chest, gaze darkening to a delicious cobalt blue. “So perfect,” he said, before capturing her nipple in his mouth.
She arched up, clutching his head, crying out when his hand covered the other breast, flicking the taut peak back and forth.
This is where Jace had wanted to be all damn week. In Holly’s arms. This was total and utter perfection. He kissed his way to her other nipple, his body tight with need, already nearing his breaking point as she writhed and moaned under him.
“Jace.”
She clawed at the buttons on his jacket, so he released her and lifted up enough to finish, yanking it off, followed by his T-shirt, before going back down on her delicious body. At the contact of skin on skin, she gasped and latched her mouth on his shoulder. Her sexy, breathy sounds zinged right through him, and when her fingers trailed down his abs and snuck between them to unbutton the top of his pants he nearly lost it.
“You’re killing me,” he murmured against her skin as he trailed kisses over her collarbone and throat, while he grabbed her hands to hold them over her head.
“Well, you make me—”
She sucked in a breath when he zeroed in on the peaks beckoning for attention. Licking her nipples, he reached down to unhook her jeans, muttering a curse when her hands were suddenly back between their bodies, brushing his erection as she unzipped his pants. He jerked, and the movement sent them tumbling the short space onto the floor.
Twisting so he’d take the brunt and land on his back, he circled his arms around her and held her to his chest. Air whooshed from his lungs on contact.
“Are you okay?” she asked, pushing off him to stare down, green gaze full of heat and concern.
He shook his head. “No. We have on too many clothes.”
She laughed, smacking his arm before straddling him. “Is this better?” she asked, shrugging out of her opened shirt, followed by her bra.
Ah hell… “Yeah, so much better.”
Her breasts gave a delicious bounce, and he immediately reached up to cup them.
“Mmm…” She closed her eyes as she leaned forward a little, filling his hands with more of her softness.
But just as he was about to flip their positions, she suddenly moved back to kneel between his legs and yanked his pants and boxers to the mid
dle of his thighs. His erection sprang free, and heaven help him, her eyes dilated and gaze grew deliciously wicked before her fingers curled around him, and she took him in her mouth.
“Fuck.” His head thunked the floor and eyes rolled back.
She felt good. So damn good. But if she didn’t stop soon.
Jace reached for her, grabbing her shoulders. “Holly. Stop.” He groaned as she upped her pace. “But I owe you.”
She pushed him back down with her hand. “No,” she murmured against his tip. “You relax. Let me take care of you.”
And before he could respond, her lips descended around him again.
Her mouth was warm and moist, and just watching her go down on him melted his backbone. He let out a husky groan, vowing to make it up to her later. Right now, he did as he was told. Closing his eyes, he relaxed against the floor, and let the incredible woman take care of him.
Within minutes, she shredded his control. His hands were in her hair, holding her head, need, desperate and hot, taking over. “Ah…yeah…Holly,” was all he managed as a warning as he felt everything tighten.
She hummed in response, and that was his undoing.
Gripping the back of her head, he thrust up into her and blew apart, so hard and so fast he saw spots…and his damn eyes were closed. When she finally released him, he was blissfully exhausted, and totally boneless. She crawled up his body, and he mustered enough strength to pull her into his arms and smile when she settled against his chest.
“I hope that helped relieve some of your stress,” she murmured, her breath warm on his skin.
His smile broadened. “And then some,” he replied, and he kissed the top of her head.
And as soon as he grabbed just a little bit of shut eye, he’d return the favor. In spades.
The following Sunday, Holly found herself at the Dalton ranch carving pumpkins and smiling at the enthusiasm lighting Amelia’s face as the little girl chirped about the princess costume her daddy bought her for Halloween.
“And I’m going to be the bestest superhero ever,” the girl’s cousin, Cody, proudly announced.
Her Healing Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 5) Page 12
