“Not until Friday morning. I have some other business to take care of tomorrow.” Gage glanced at Skye. He’d hoped to spend some time with her, preferably alone, but the schedule hadn’t allowed for it. Instead, they’d taken their meals as a group. Which, as he thought on it, might have been for the best.
He didn’t need any entanglements. Instinct warned him nothing about Skye would be temporary or easy, and he certainly didn’t want anything more. After tomorrow, he’d finally escape the last claws his ex-wife had in him. They’d meet, sign documents dealing with their final joint piece of property, and he’d never have to deal with her again.
“Let’s meet for dinner.” Hearing his phone, Kade checked the caller I.D. “Excuse me while I take this.” He laughed at whatever the caller said as he disappeared into the hall.
“Mind if we join you?” Beyond his fine physical attributes, quick mind, and easy smile, Skye didn’t know what drew her to Gage. Distancing herself would be the smart move, but then she’d never learn why her body coiled in knots at his mere presence. For a woman not at all interested in encumbering herself with a man, the feelings he triggered were unsettling and unwanted.
“That’d be great.” Gage glanced at Cassie. “Any suggestions?”
They settled on a restaurant a few miles from the motel where Gage and Skye had rooms, agreeing to meet in two hours as Kade finished his call and walked back into the room.
“Are we set?”
“We are. Cassie and I will meet you and Gage for dinner. He’ll give you the details. If you’ll excuse me, I have some calls to make.” Skye walked out with Cassie, seeing her try to contain a smile. “What?”
“Why don’t you ask him to meet you for drinks before dinner? You know that’s what you want.” Cassie’s eyes crinkled at the corners. From the first time they met in Houston months before, she’d watched the two of them dance around each other. Nothing had changed. If anything, the sparks between them became easier to detect with each encounter.
“He’s a hunk, no question. Too bad I have no interest in him or anyone else.”
“Have you ever been told you’re a bad liar, Skye?”
She choked out a laugh, knowing there’d be no getting away from Cassie’s all too keen observation. “Guess I need to work harder at it,” she grinned, knowing a relationship wasn’t in her future. At least not a future she could see.
******
“Great choice, Cassie.” Kade tossed his napkin, along with his credit card, on the table. “Do you need a ride to your motel, Skye?”
“I’ll take care of it. We’re staying at the same place.” Gage stood, pulling out Skye’s chair, a gesture hammered into him since he was a small boy. Pulling out chairs and opening car doors were as ingrained in him as taking off his hat in a restaurant. Anything less felt out of character. If a woman balked at graciously accepting either gesture, he figured she’d have to learn to deal with it.
“Are you sure? Cassie has to drive right by there.” His offer surprised Skye. In fact, she hadn’t even realized they were staying in the same place. The knowledge put a strange, not unpleasant twist on the end of their evening.
“No sense having her stop.”
Skye glanced at Cassie, who stood to the side, working to control a knowing smile. “Do you mind, Cassie?”
“It’s fine with me. We can talk tomorrow about meeting Janie for dinner.” Grabbing her keys, Cassie stepped into the cool night air. The change allowed her that much more time on the phone with Matt. A call she’d looked forward to all day.
“Good luck with your meeting tomorrow, Gage.” Kade held his gaze for a second before turning toward his car. The two hadn’t discussed the reason for Gage staying an extra day. Somehow, Kade didn’t believe he looked forward to it.
Peering around the lot, Skye shot a questioning look at Gage. “Which one is yours?”
“The black car on the end.”
Her eyes widened at the sight of a brand new Corvette. “That’s some ride.” Her hand traced the contour of the beautiful sports car from the trunk to the passenger door. “Yours?”
He laughed. “Hardly. It’s a rental. My normal ride is a pickup.” Opening the door, he stood as she slid in, unable to stop himself from appreciating the sight of her slim, shapely figure. It hadn’t been the first time he’d let himself enjoy the gorgeous woman who needed to stay at arm’s length. Anything more would be foolish, hazardous to the partnership they’d worked so hard to forge.
“You’ve never said how you came to work for Double Ace.” Skye tried not to stare at his profile as Gage pulled into traffic. Mesmerized by the strong, angular lines of his face with an aquiline nose and full lips, she startled when his gaze turned toward her, his unusually deep green eyes flashing.
“That’s because you never asked.” The smile transformed his face from solemn and contemplative to almost playful.
“Right. Well, I’m asking now.” She shifted in her seat, doing her best to control the flash of heat his attention and closeness caused, hoping he didn’t notice her discomfort.
“It’s no secret. I decided my time competing in rodeos was over and put out word I’d be looking for another job. It didn’t take long before a few companies showed an interest. Most were small, without the resources to grow much beyond being a family operation. Nothing wrong with that, except I wanted more—a chance to show what could be done, maybe a chance at ownership in the future. Double Ace seemed the right choice. It didn’t hurt that I felt a solid connection with Ivan.”
“Kindred spirits?”
He chuckled at the thought. “Perhaps. The oldest son of the oldest brother in the Santiago family, he felt compelled to prove himself, the same as me. We’re about the same age, neither of us married, all our focus on growing the business.” He shrugged, as if his description covered it all.
“You’ve never married?” Skye cringed at the question, even though she wanted the answer.
He glanced at her, his smile dissolving. “I didn’t say that.”
His tight expression, the hardening of his face, signaled her question hit a nerve. When he offered nothing more, Skye clamped her mouth shut, counting the blocks until their motel came into view.
Chapter Twenty
Gage killed the engine, walking around the car to open her door. Holding out his hand to help her out, he felt a tinge of regret at his abrupt answer to her question. Divorce wasn’t a crime or cause for embarrassment. The fact his marriage had been a fiasco dogged him more than any other reaction to the failed union.
They walked in an uneasy silence through the doors and toward the elevator. He could feel the tension radiating from her, wanting to find a way to return the easy banter during their ride from the office.
“What floor?” he asked as the elevator door closed.
“Three…please.”
He leaned against the wall, glad the older machine moved at a slow pace. “It’s been a couple years since my divorce and I’m still dealing with the last complications.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through it. My parents’ divorce dragged on a while. He had a hard time with it, even though the marriage ended years before they both gave up. She, uh…had a long-time boyfriend.”
“Geez,” he breathed out.
“Yeah. He knew about the guy long before the rest of us found out.” She looked up at him, a wistful look on her face. “He’s much happier now. Reuniting with his brothers helped a lot, as well as all the new responsibilities. Maybe it will be the same for you.”
The elevator slowed, the doors opening.
“My floor,” she said, stepping into the hall.
“Mine, too. Which room?”
“The very end.” They walked side by side, brushing arms on the way to her room, her stomach churning at his nearness. She needed to get inside her room, close the door, and end the uneasy feelings of desire undulating through her. “Here we are.”
Neither spoke as he studied her, not wanting to leave
just yet, even though he had no reason to prolong their time together. “I have some things to do tomorrow, but if you don’t have plans, I’d like to take you to dinner when I get back.”
Her eyes widened at the invitation. She had hoped he’d say something to show his interest. Sighing, she fiddled with the strap of her purse. “I’d love to, but I’m meeting Cassie and Janie for dinner.”
“No problem. Another time.” The husky reply held a touch of regret. “I guess I’d better head to my room.”
“Guess so,” she replied, although neither moved.
Lifting a hand, he let his fingers skim down the curve of her cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ears. When she didn’t pull away, he inched closer, his hand moving to the back of her neck, drawing her toward him. Lowering his head, he waited, expecting her to pull back. Instead, her lips parted as her gaze met his.
Touching his lips to hers, he kept the contact light, then settled his mouth on hers. What started as a brief kiss escalated as her hands moved to his shoulders, then circled his neck, drawing him down. Adjusting his stance, Gage wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her tight, aligning their bodies.
She didn’t know how much time passed as the feel of him, the heat raging through her body, swamped her senses. His touch, scent, feel of his silky hair slipping through her fingers escalated her passion to a precarious level, one she held no defenses over. If he’d taken the key to her room, opened the door, and pulled her inside, she’d let him. The realization forced her to pull back.
“This is probably a mistake,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Probably,” he groaned, not easing his hold.
“We should stop before we get carried away.” Although the intensity of her desire and her actions spoke otherwise, Skye knew they had to end this craziness before it went too far.
On a ragged breath, Gage let his arms slip from around her, taking a reluctant step away.
“Wow,” he breathed out, his husky voice signifying the affect she had on him.
“Yeah…”
“It would probably be a mistake to take this any farther.” Gage searched her face, not believing his own words, wanting to ignore the pulsing desire Skye’s touch created.
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.” Skye hated to agree, wanting to continue more than anything, knowing it wouldn’t be wise.
“Am I?”
A throaty laugh answered his question, her mouth quirking into a smile.
“I don’t think we should jump into anything. After all, you live in Texas, and I’m in Montana. To be truthful, I’m not interested in a quick one-night stand. It’s better to let it go before we make a mistake.”
“Who said this would be a quick one-nighter?” Gage leaned a shoulder against the doorframe, crossing his arms, his body adjusting to the loss of contact.
“Are you saying you’re looking for something more?”
Sighing, he thought of his past experience, the ex-wife who wouldn’t let go, the deep regrets he couldn’t ignore. “No, Skye, I’m not.”
Even though she was prepared for the answer he gave, she’d hoped for a different one.
“Then I guess this is best.” Feeling the loss of someone she never had a chance of having, she pulled the key card from her pocket. “Thanks for the ride back.”
“My pleasure.” He waited as she stepped inside, glancing at him once more before closing the door. “Damn,” he ground out, shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked away.
He didn’t know how he’d be able to keep his hands off her after tonight. The sweet, intense reaction he had to their contact had him shaking like a teenager. All the warning signs had been there. He’d ignored them all. Now he knew, without a doubt, Skye MacLaren was dangerous to his peace of mind and determination to steer clear of any kind of relationship. Love and commitment, no matter the woman, had no place in his life. Stopping it here was best for them both, he reasoned, closing the door behind him, tossing his hat on the bed. Yep, no doubt about it. Definitely best for them both.
******
Finishing another chapter of a romantic suspense story, Cassie reread the last line. Guard your heart.
The book’s cautionary warning had her wondering if she might be jumping into a relationship with little chance of success. During their brief phone conversation, Matt’s words were clear, yet the tone of his voice, how he’d hesitated a few times, couldn’t be ignored. If it hadn’t come a few days after their disastrous conversation at the airport, the one that still haunted her, it might not have bothered her so much. She didn’t need or want him to continue seeing her because he felt bad about the way they’d parted. She needed him to be all in, not worried about her leaving her job or breaking her heart.
Setting her book aside, she glanced at the clock next to her bed. Almost eleven and still no word from Matt. His email had indicated he’d call after having dinner with his grandfather and brother, Troy, who’d driven home from college to spend the weekend. Figuring he’d lost track of time, she turned off the light and slid under the covers. Closing her eyes, she thought once more of the book and the last few words. Guard your heart. She felt her own heart surge a moment before sleep claimed her.
******
Fire Mountain
“I’m glad you ignored Seth’s grumbling and brought him here. We’ll keep him overnight, do a few more tests to see if we can figure out what’s causing his dizziness and pain. It doesn’t appear to be his heart, but I’d rather be safe and have it checked.” The doctor made a few more notes, looking over his shoulder to where Seth sat with a disgusted look on his face. Chuckling to himself, he glanced at Matt. “You don’t need to stay. We’ll give him medication to help him sleep. I’ve scheduled an angiogram for seven in the morning.”
Matt rubbed a hand at the back of his neck. It had been a long day with nonstop phone calls, meetings, and proposal reviews before driving home to find Troy had driven up from school to surprise them. As Matt barbequed steaks and Troy fixed a salad, Seth had decided to have his first beer in weeks. It had been a perfect evening…until Seth stood to take his empty plate to the kitchen and fell back in the chair, gripping his side. His breaths came in short gasps, punctuated by his face wincing in pain.
Twenty minutes later, the boys had him at the emergency room entrance, the older man fighting them every step of the way. He’d been wise enough to keep his comments to himself while the doctor examined him and ordered some tests, asking Matt and Troy to wait in the lobby. Two hours later, they’d finally met with the doctor.
“We’ll say goodbye to Pops, then be back in the morning.” Matt stepped past the doctor, Troy following as they entered his room to see their grandfather sitting on the side of the bed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Going home. I’ll come back in the morning for the test.” The message came out as more of a snarl than a statement.
“The hell you will, Pops. You’re staying here and no arguments.” Matt grabbed Seth’s pants, tossing them to Troy.
“You think I care about leaving here in a gown. Well, I don’t. Might give the nurses a little thrill.” He started to stand, then gasped at the pain near his rib cage. “Damn, that hurts.”
“And that’s why you’re staying here tonight. Maybe longer if you don’t behave yourself.” Matt grabbed a chair, pulling it toward the bed. “The doc says he’s not convinced it’s your heart, but wants you to have the angiogram.”
“I know. He told me,” Seth groused. “Can’t stand hospitals. They wake you up to give you a sleeping pill so you can rest. Then wake you up an hour later to take your blood pressure to make sure you’re still alive. Then wake you once more to make sure you can pee. I tell you, it isn’t humane or dignified.”
Troy clamped his mouth shut, then coughed to cover a laugh.
“What you laughing at, boy?” Seth glared at his youngest grandson. They were too young to remember their grandmother’s time in the hospital. The way her b
ody withered away as the cancer ravaged her body. Seth visited twice a day for weeks to hold her hand, read, and do his best to keep her spirits up, even as they both knew her time was limited. She’d refused to go into hospice, begging him to let her die at home. He’d slept with her until the morning he awoke to find her gone, passed away in the middle of the night. A few years later, his son and daughter-in-law died in an accident and he’d been forced to pull himself out of a deep emotional hole to take care of his two grandsons. He’d never regretted a moment of it.
“You know, Pops, your grumbling isn’t going to get you out of here. It may be best if you turned on the television and got lost in one of those fishing shows you’re so fond of.” Troy picked up another chair and set it opposite Matt. “We can stay and hold your hand if you want.”
Matt laughed as Seth shot Troy a wicked look. “For a smart kid, you’ve got a mean mouth.”
“All right, you two. Visiting hours are long over.” A tall, lean nurse stood in the doorway, hands on hips, shifting her gaze from Matt to Troy, then Seth. “And you…I don’t want to hear a peep about how much you don’t want to be here.”
“Now, Geri, you know I can’t promise that.”
“Just as ornery as you were in high school. I thought you would’ve grown out of it by now.” She grabbed his pants from a table near the door. “You may want to take these with you.” She handed them to Troy. “I don’t want him trying to sneak out.”
“Yes, ma’am. We completely agree.”
“Get some sleep, Pops. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow.” Matt squeezed his arm before walking out.
“Love you, Pops. Don’t be giving Geri a hard time.” Troy nodded at the nurse before following Matt to the entrance, then to the parking lot. “At least he’s being watched by someone who won’t take his bull.”
“Helluva way for you to spend your long weekend.”
“Don’t worry about it, Matt. The tests will probably come back clean and we’ll bring him home tomorrow. So, what’s new with you?”
Troy’s question had him halting, then muttering a curse, remembering his promise to call Cassie.
No Getting Over You Page 18
