by Addison Cole
She reached into her car, all those enchanting curves so close he could touch them as she bent over and reached farther. A groan slipped from his lips, and he tried to cover it with a feigned cough.
She came out of the car holding a plate full of brownies and kicked the door shut, hiking her skirt up just a little farther. “You okay?” she asked with an arched brow.
“Fine.” Cough, cough. I can’t even look at her without getting aroused.
“I brought you brownies.”
His body was still in gawking mode.
“To thank you? For yesterday?” She smiled, holding up the plate of brownies.
She’s off-limits. “Brownies? No need. Really. Anyone would have helped you.”
She licked her lips, and he stifled another groan. Time for another trip out of town. He had to get her to leave before he said or did something he’d regret, or rather, he should regret.
“I don’t think they would have.” She pushed the plate toward him. “I know I can’t stick around, with our families feuding and all, but no matter what their issues are, I didn’t want to seem inconsiderate. Here.” She shoved the plate toward him again, and this time, he took it.
“Thank you. That’s mighty kind of you, but really, you should be going.” He opened her car door for her and hoped she’d just jump in and leave.
“Look, I know our families don’t get along, but do we have to be so mean to each other?”
“I’m a Braden; you’re a Johnson. We shouldn’t even be talking.” And I shouldn’t be fantasizing about taking you right here against your car.
Her smile faded to a disappointed frown. She narrowed her eyes. “Are you really as cold as you appear, Rex Braden?”
He couldn’t slow his racing pulse. I’ll show you just how hot I can be. He took a step forward, one hand fisting and opening repeatedly just to keep them from touching her. He’d dreamed about that body of hers, that luscious mouth, those legs wrapped around his waist, and since seeing her at the ravine, he’d taken three cold showers. He barely made it from breakfast to lunch without his body getting so overheated he was sure Treat could smell the testosterone coming off him in waves.
“I think you’d better go,” he said, eyeing the open car door.
She spun on her heels, but before closing her door, she said, “And here I thought there was something more to you than an arrogant, self-centered Braden. Enjoy the brownies.”
He watched her pull out of the driveway and cursed under his breath. Why was he even in this position? Things were fine before he helped her. He should have turned and ridden off the minute he’d seen who it was down at the ravine. He should have never given any Johnson the time of day, much less the beautiful one that made his heart sing.
“Who was that?” Treat called from the front door.
Rex looked down at the plate of brownies and had a complete brain freeze. Treat met him on the front porch and took the plate from his hands.
“Brownies, yum.” He took one off the top and bit into it. “Aw, these are incredible. Who made them?”
Rex went to the sink and ran the water until it was freezing. Then he splashed it on his face. Treat leaned against the counter next to him and laughed.
“What’s her name?”
They’d confided in each other about women their whole lives. Rex knew he couldn’t pull the wool over Treat’s eyes, and besides, he’d watched Treat change over the last few months, and he knew that if any of his siblings would be sympathetic, it would be him. Treat had gone from building a resort empire to building a life, his own family. Once he’d committed to Max, he’d become completely focused on her needs, putting her feelings first, spending time with her, loving her whether she was happy or sad. When they were together, they were always touching, nuzzling against each other, and sharing secret laughs. Rex couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.
He looked at his oldest brother now, and he wanted to share his feelings and his concerns.
“You can’t tell Dad,” Rex said as he dried his face with a towel.
“What are we, twelve?” Treat teased. He ran a hand through his thick dark hair. Treat had taken to forgoing shaving for a day or two each week, and today he sported a thick five-o’clock shadow, giving him a rugged look. At six-foot-six, he reminded Rex of the Marlboro man from the old commercials. “First of all, why would I tell Dad anything about your sex life, and second of all, why would Dad care?”
Rex sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “About yay high.” He held his hand up to his neck. “Long dark hair, gorgeous. Just came back to town a few months ago.”
He watched the lifting of Treat’s eyebrows and the coy smile that crept along his lips as understanding dawned on him.
“No.” Treat shook his head. “No way.”
Rex shrugged. “It’s not like I’m chasing her.”
“Jade Johnson, Rex? What are you thinking?”
“That’s just it. I’m not thinking. Other than every time I see her I can’t stop fantasizing about what it would be like to…”
Treat was still shaking his head. He laughed a hearty, deep laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Rex asked.
“You’re so screwed.” Treat’s phone vibrated and, still laughing, he read the text and responded.
“Don’t you feel like you have a leash around your neck carrying that idiotic thing around all the time?”
“Are you kidding? I love to hear from Max.” His phone vibrated and he read the text, then said to Rex, “The best I can do is help you to get your mind off of her. I’m meeting Max tonight for a few drinks. Come along.”
Chapter Six
“GIRL, YOU ARE smoking hot,” Riley said. “I have the perfect dress for you next time we go out. I whipped up this gorgeous white backless number, and it’ll fit you perfectly.” Riley had a degree in fashion design, but after college, she hadn’t been able to break into the industry and had also returned to her hometown.
“Running from a stalker definitely agrees with you,” Riley said as she drove toward Fingers.
It was just like Riley to make a joke out of her life-altering situation. “He wasn’t a stalker. Besides, it’s more like not having sex for months on end agrees with me,” Jade said with a smirk. She’d thrown on her sexiest black minidress in an effort to lure a man for a quickie. She wasn’t proud of herself, and she’d be mortified if her father ever found out, but darn it, sometimes you just needed to scratch that itch. After the way Rex raked his eyes over her and then acted like a jerk, she deserved a little ego boost.
“Months? Like, plural? Really? Why didn’t I know that?” Riley hadn’t aged a bit since college. She was a curvy woman, and she wore the curves well. She’d never given in to perms or waves, and her straight, shoulder-length brown hair remained the same, with the recent addition of longish bangs, which gave her a playful appearance no matter how she was dressed. Tonight, with her skinny jeans and black blouse with a plunging neckline, she definitely looked playful.
“You knew. Who have I been with since moving here?” Jade asked.
Riley pursed her lips and swished them from side to side. “Hmm.” She held up an index finger, then lowered it. “I think you might be right.”
“I know I’m right.” She laughed.
Riley pulled into the parking lot of Fingers, and Jade’s nerves twinged. It’d been a long time since she’d gone out looking to bed a man. Have I ever?
“Are you sure I look okay?” she asked.
“Yes, woman. Better than okay. What’s with you? You aren’t usually nervous about how you look. You know you’re hot,” Riley said.
Jade blew out a breath. “I can’t tell anymore. I’ve kind of been given conflicting messages lately.”
“From who? Want me to take them down?” She grabbed her purse, and before Jade could reply, she said, “Come on. Let’s get in there and have some fun.”
A neon light read, LADIES NIGHT, MONDAY NIGHTS, 6–10P.M.
Jade tossed a sneer at Riley. “You could have told me.”
“Would you have come if I had?”
Jade weighed her answer. “Maybe. I mean, my whole goal tonight is to get lucky, so…”
Riley was a head taller than Jade. She threw her arm around Jade’s shoulder and rested her cheek on her head. “I’ve got your back, sister. I’m the designated driver, so we’ll liquor you up. I’ll do a sober check of any guy you want—I won’t let you get into a car with anyone drunk, and I’ll personally review their driver’s license and take down name and address in case your body goes missing tomorrow. And if you don’t get lucky, I’ll tuck you in tonight.”
“You’re the best, Ri.”
“Yeah, I know.”
REX SUCKED DOWN his beer, and for the first time in what felt like forever, his body relaxed. He loved music, and his foot bounced to the beat on the hardwood floor. The beat of the music lured the females onto the dance floor, giving him plenty of entertainment.
“So, Rex, Max and I are considering building a house nearby,” Treat said.
Rex enjoyed spending time with Max and Treat. When he’d first met Max, he wasn’t sure she’d be enough for his oldest brother. She was very casual, donning a ponytail and jeans on most days, but once he’d gotten to know her, he realized how smart and warm she really was. Shortly after they’d met, she’d begun to wear more feminine, sexier outfits, and Rex could see the appreciation in Treat’s eyes—the way his eyes drank her in, in the same way Rex knew his eyes drank in Jade. He knew he shouldn’t even look at Jade that way, but no matter how hard he tried not to, his body and eyes had a mind of their own.
“About time,” Rex teased. Treat could afford to buy half of Allure if he wanted to, so it surprised Rex that he’d remained at their father’s house for so long. Treat had been working out the final details with his new staff and redefining his business infrastructure. One thing at a time, he’d told Rex two months ago.
“Not that you’re waiting for me to leave with bated breath or anything,” Treat said with a tilt of his glass.
“Nah, it’s cool. I’m happy for you. Where?”
Treat pulled Max against him and kissed the side of her head. “Wherever Maxy wants.”
“I think we should stay closer to your dad. You guys have so many family functions, and with Treat helping on the ranch and running his business, it makes sense that he should spend less time in the car. Besides, Weston is less than half an hour from Allure, so it’s not a big deal for me, and Chaz will let me work from home when I want to.” Max had worked for Chaz Crew, the owner of the Indie Film Festival, headquartered in Allure, for the past ten years, and she had no intention of leaving, no matter how much money Treat had.
“I’m all for it. The closer the better. I like having you guys around.” Rex took another swig of his drink. Fingers had opened just a few weeks earlier, and although Rex had been there only once before, he had heard that Monday nights pulled the best-looking women from all of the nearest communities. Not that he would go home with anyone while he was with Treat and Max, but a little eye candy never hurt. He scanned the dance floor, trying to find someone who caught his eye enough to take his mind off of Jade, but no matter how pretty the women were, no matter how tight their clothing was or how curvaceous their bodies were, none of them was as appealing as Jade, and it was starting to piss him off. He had to get that woman out of his head.
The song changed to a slow tune, and Max took Treat’s hand. “Dance with me,” she said with a flirty grin.
Treat climbed from his booth. “Duty calls,” he said with a smile.
Max rested her head on Treat’s chest, and Treat’s hands slipped around her waist. The couples next to them shifted, and there, across the dance floor, sitting at a table with Riley Banks, wearing a tight black dress that barely covered her thighs, was Jade. She had two empty glasses before her, and her cheeks had a rosy glow. The muscles in his arms tensed. He set his beer down, not realizing he’d slammed it until droplets flew over the rim and splattered across the table.
What is she doing here?
A tall, blond-haired guy approached Jade, and Rex sat up straighter, narrowing his eyes, assessing him in one quick glance: too friendly looking, all smiles and—look at him, touching her arm, her shoulder, sitting down at the table?
Rex took a slug of his beer, his eyes locked on the trio. Jade was smiling, but her eyes darted around the room. Rex knew women, and any woman whose eyes darted wasn’t interested. Get outta there, buddy.
“Rex, you look like you’re ready to kill someone,” Treat said as he sat down. Max squeezed in beside him.
The guy rose to his feet and reached for Jade’s hand. She followed him to the dance floor, then pressed her hands flat against his chest and rested her face between them, moving her body way too close to his.
Rex fisted his hands beneath the table.
“Rex,” Treat said as he touched his arm, “go cut in.”
“With who?” Max asked.
Treat nodded toward Jade.
“Hey, that’s the girl on the horse, the one who rode up when I smashed your car.” She kissed Treat, then said, “The best day of my life. The day you proposed.” She twisted the engagement ring on her finger.
“Yup,” Rex said. “That’s the one.”
“Rex, she’s so pretty, and the way she looked at you that day, I’d say she really liked you. You should ask her to dance, but maybe after they finish,” Max urged.
“Nope,” he answered.
“Why not? You only live once,” she said.
“Our families have been feuding forever,” Treat explained. “Well, our fathers have, and you know how Rex is about family loyalty.”
Max took a sip of her drink. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, all’s fair in love and war. I vote he makes a move.”
For the next hour, Rex watched Jade and the blond guy, just waiting for the guy to make a wrong move. He didn’t mean to count Jade’s drinks, but he was. She’d had four, and that was a shitload of alcohol for someone her size. She had no business drinking that much.
“We have to go,” Max said. “Rex, I’m really glad you came with us, but I have to work early tomorrow.”
Treat purposely blocked Rex’s view of Jade, and in a firm voice, he said, “Rex, let it go. You missed your chance tonight. There’s always tomorrow.”
Rex gave Treat a harsh glare. “Was there always tomorrow for you and Max?” He shook his head at his admission, then tried to cover his tracks. “I’m just going to make sure she doesn’t get herself into any trouble.”
“You okay to drive?” Treat asked.
“Fine. I’ve only had two beers. I think I can handle it.”
“See you when the sun comes up,” Treat said as he and Max left.
By the time Treat moved out of Rex’s way, Riley was gone and Jade was alone with the guy. What kind of friend would leave her alone? Rex reminded himself that she wasn’t his to take care of, but as she stumbled to the dance floor again, her dress hiked up her thigh and the guy walking behind her ogled her rear, the fact that she wasn’t his didn’t mean squat. He moved to the edge of his seat, ready to step in.
Chapter Seven
THE ROOM WAS spinning, in a good way. Jade hadn’t thought about Rex in at least twenty minutes, and blondie—what was his name? Tom? Tray? Tim? Tim, that was it—seemed really nice. Riley took down his information before she left and he said he’d take Jade home, but she wasn’t ready to go. Now that she was on the dance floor again, she wanted to dance.
Jade wrapped her arms around Tim’s neck and swayed to the music. His hands felt so nice on her lower back. She hadn’t realized how much she missed being touched. He inched his hand down, and something in Jade sobered. She was going home with this guy. That’s not what she did. But oh, his hand felt warm. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend he was Rex just to get through the night—to get past her desire for that sexy, frustrating man. Just one night to lessen her u
rges.
“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered in her ear.
She nodded, but her legs stood still as she focused on his face. He wasn’t that good-looking, but he was nice. Too nice. He was kind of a wimp. I’m going home with a wimp when what I really want is to go back to Weston and figure out how to get Rex to notice me. Rex. One-hundred-percent man. The big jerk. Why do I even want him? She remembered the way he’d turned her away earlier in the day, with all that anger bubbling beneath his skin. What was that all about? Thinking of his skin brought her back to his body, his muscles, the way he smelled, so masculine and…hot.
Tim took her hand and led her toward the door, stopping momentarily to snag her purse from the table. Her legs were moving, but she didn’t want to go. Her brain yelled, No! Stop! But her lips weren’t moving. She was too drunk and too conflicted to speak.
In the parking lot, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. His body was so lean. Too lean.
“I’m gonna kiss you now,” he said, putting his thin lips over hers.
Jade pushed him away, but he had too tight of a grasp on her arms. She was trapped between wimpy guy and the car—and he was far too strong to be pegged as wimpy. She pushed at his chest, the smell of his breath making her gag. Against his lips she eeked, “Stop!”
He came up for air, and Jade gasped a deep breath. She turned to flee, but before she could get away, he pulled her to him again. His eyes darkened and his hands clenched her biceps so hard it brought tears to her eyes.
“You know you want it, you tease.”
“No!” she finally yelled just before he slammed her back against his car and kissed her again.
She closed her eyes against the sight of him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She flailed, trying to get away, and suddenly his arms released her. Her lips were no longer pressed against his. She snapped open her eyes.
“The lady said no.” Rex held Tim up by his collar, several inches off the ground. His teeth clenched, his bulbous muscles straining against Tim’s weight.
