Chapter 5 #2
“Jake…” She rocked against him, just a tiny little movement of her hips, which was all the encouragement he needed to lower his head and kiss her again.
She moaned softly, then hooked an arm around his neck, and just like that, it was that long ago night all over again; so hot, so sweet and wet, sending an unquenchable hunger skittering down his spine to pool in his groin.
He forgot the puppies, his shoulder, his father, everything but the taste and feel of the surprisingly sensual woman in his arms. Her breasts pressed into his chest, and he cupped the sweet curve of her ass in his hand.
A sense of déjà vu filled him at that. They’d done this before, and as it had then, the pleasure of holding in his arms blew him away.
Like then, he wanted a hell of a lot more than a kiss, a hell of a lot more than he could get from her while kneeling on the dirty ground surrounded by puppies and dust.
And still she didn’t pull away. Neither did he.
Needing more, his hand slid beneath the hem of her shirt, seeking warm, sleek, soft skin.
She was slim but not fragile, never fragile.
He’d seen her toss a heavy saddle, lift a pig, and face down a panicky horse.
He knew exactly how strong she was. And he knew something else. He wanted her, so damn much.
It made no sense. Nothing about this made sense.
He didn’t have a place in his heart for the Blue Flame or the woman who ran it, and yet the longer he kissed her, the more he wanted.
He kissed her long and deep. He kissed her until he was dizzy with it, until she was making little sounds in the back of her throat that told him she was as far gone as he was.
He was fantasizing about how much further he could take them both when she pulled back.
Not out of his arms, just away enough that their lips disconnected with a sucking sound that didn’t help any. God, her mouth.
Her eyes fluttered open. “Was that just a kiss too?”
It took him a long moment to get his brain in gear. Slowly he pulled his hand back, lingering for a few seconds to stroke her warm skin one more time.
“I need to get to the barn.” She rose to her feet. Wobbled. She put a hand to her head as if that would help her think. “Tucker’ll be waiting. I’ll figure out what to do with these puppies later.”
“Callie.” He rose, too, and felt just as wobbly. When she would have moved away, he put a hand on her wrist. “You’re not going to be able to blame that on the whiskey.”
Her lips were still wet, and he thought of a thousand things he’d like her to do with those wet lips.
“I never blamed it on the whiskey,” she said.
“What did you blame it on?”
“Having a misguided sense of what’s right for me.”
“So you’re not denying there’s something almost chemically addictive between us.”
“Like I said, I have a misguided sense of what’s right for me.” She stepped away, subject apparently closed. “Tucker might enjoy your company today.”
“So apparently we’re done talking about us.”
“Yes.”
He actually managed to laugh. Now he remembered why he didn’t want a woman in his life. They were unreliable and unpredictable. He should thank her for reminding him. “How do you figure Tucker might enjoy my company?”
“I know he puts up a tough front, but I think it’s been hard for him having no family.”
“He doesn’t consider me his family anymore.”
“Why not?”
From the day Jake and his mother had parted ways, Tucker had stopped loving Jake. It hadn’t helped that his mother had done her best to keep them separated, and with her traveling, she’d succeeded. A habit that had stuck, even when Tucker had gotten older.
Until he’d been in trouble with the law and had needed Jake. “You’d have to ask him.”
“But you consider him your family, right?”
“I got him this job, didn’t I?”
She let out a sound of annoyance
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re as stubborn as he is.”
His mind was still addled by the blood loss to his groin.
“Look, I’m glad he took this job. I’m glad he’s helpful to you, and having a good time while he’s at it.
It’s kept him off the streets and out of more trouble.
I don’t know what else I can do. That’s not stubbornness, that’s just the way it is. ”
“You could take more interest.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“To sell.”
The indignation left him. “I know you guys consider this place home. I’m not going to let anyone get kicked out in the street. I told you, if I sell, I’ll make sure they’ll keep you both on, and I meant it.”
“If you sell? Or when?”
There’d better be a when. “I’ve called a few Realtors to come out this week. After we paint.”
“We?”
“We. You’ve seen the books. You know I can’t afford to get a painter out here.”
That was definitely disappointment on her face now, but he only got a quick glimpse before she started walking toward the barn.
Well, what the hell else could he say? He was good for his word.
He’d do his damnedest to make sure her life didn’t change, or his brother’s.
With one last look at the puppies, he headed back toward the house.
His shoulder throbbed, his head was beginning to match.
He decided to spend the day doing what he’d gotten good at since he’d fallen through a burning roof and had broken his fall with his shoulder—nothing.
Callie would have dwelled on that kiss—kisses—all day if she could have, but she had plenty of things to do to keep her distracted. Feed her new dog for one. The poor thing inhaled her food as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
The serum for the inoculations was indeed missing, a problem made all the more strange because of what had happened to Sierra. Odder still, it didn’t appear as if anyone had broken in, and nothing else was missing, even though the tack room hadn’t been locked and was filled with expensive gear.
Callie would swear she was losing her mind except she’d seen the shipment of serum arrive herself. They searched everywhere: the barn, their storage shed, even around the yard. She had no choice but to accept the fact it was gone.
Before their guests arrived, the sheriff came out and took a report. And through it all, Callie was aware of a humming in her blood that she knew she had Jake to thank for. She’d let him put his hands on her, and at odd moments throughout the day, her face and body went hot at just the thought.
Idiot. When would she remember that he turned her into a blathering, drooling idiot?
The next time he had her naked? And would that be before or after he sold the Blue Flame?
A hundred times today she’d nearly told him she wanted to buy the ranch, and a hundred times she’d held back.
The guy had to sell, sooner than later, so what could telling him possibly get her besides pity? Nothing.
She was standing on the porch when Marge came out, hand extended, aspirin in her palm. “Hey, honey, take these.”
Callie didn’t question how or why Marge was keeping track of when she needed aspirin. Marge took pride in doing such things. Callie dutifully took the pills for her aching head and ribs. “Thanks.”
“You okay?
“Always.”
Marge patted her shoulder, then went back inside.
Callie took a deep breath and put the morning into perspective.
The small-town gossip train would go into effect now.
She knew this. In no time, whichever Realtors Jake had called would hear about the missing serum and what had happened to Sierra.
Terrible as it sounded, it would put a question mark on the property—a definite disadvantage to selling.
Torn between hope and regret, she was still standing on the front porch when the airport vans arrived with their next guests.
Things went fast after that. Checking in the group of Japanese businessmen, seeing them all happy with their accommodations and Amy’s big pot of chili that night for dinner, getting everyone into the spirit of the Wild West was fun but hard work.
Their guests didn’t speak much English, which was a challenge. So was the four-year-old son one of them had brought on the spur of the moment. Keito had run his short little legs all afternoon. The horses and hens had been an unbearable excitement for him, and the puppies had sent him into ecstasy.
At sunset, Eddie lit a bonfire for the guests to sit around, and Amy brought out the makings for s’mores, which was met with such enthusiasm, Callie actually caught the girl almost smiling before she walked off toward her cabin.
Callie had hoped Amy would stay outside, but her duties would begin early every morning now, and they didn’t include having to socialize with the guests.
But still, Callie wished she’d want to. The others always did; it was a huge part of the Blue Flame’s charm.
Stone, obviously feeling better than he had earlier, pulled out his guitar.
With the stars out and the chill of the spring night being beaten back by the warm, crackling fire, he and Eddie taught everyone silly campfire songs.
The guests all fell for their easy appeal.
Marge came out of her cabin and sat next to Tucker, humming along with the songs.
Lou came out a few minutes later. Fifty-something, he was a tall, beefy man with a wild shock of gray hair and chocolate eyes that usually twinkled.
Tonight, he hunched his broad shoulders and jammed his hands into his pockets as he came close.
“Callie.” He nodded his Stetson at her.
“Hey, Lou.” She knew how worried he and Marge were about money ever since he’d been laid off from Roger’s Garage in Three Rocks two weeks ago. That he looked so unhappy tugged at her. “Any luck finding a new job?”
“No, thanks to Roger.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s telling people I stole from him. Tools and money.” He looked at his feet. “There weren’t many other jobs out there to begin with, but now…” Helplessly, he shrugged.
“Why would Roger do that to you?”