CHAPTER 16
Cal
I grip her waist in my hands, her flesh hot and slick to the touch.
I lift her up and down on my dick as the hot tub swirls around us.
She makes the most appealing little moans, clearly loving the feel of me taking her.
Victoria throws her head back, the night sky alive above us.
As she arches her back, her breasts jut out and I lick both nipples, then take one between my teeth and bite softly.
I feel her tight pussy clutching me as she comes all over my dick, the sexiest cry escaping her mouth…
I sit up in bed, my heart pounding like crazy. “What the fuck?”
I reach for my phone. It’s five a.m., way too early for a phone call from my dad or anyone else on the planet. I let it ring a few more times while I throw on a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Well, good morning, sunshine.”
I grunt. I really wanted to sleep in this morning. Last night completely sucked. All the arguing and anger. Shit, that was awful. But at least I got to see Victoria naked, so it wasn’t a total loss.
And then I had the pleasure of spending the night tossing and turning, unable to keep her out of my thoughts and out of my dreams.
I take my phone out to the kitchen, flick on the lights, and start a pot of coffee. “What can I do for you, Dad? I mean, I don’t even hear the roosters yet, so it must be pretty important.”
He laughs. I look across the great room and down the hall in the other wing of the house, seeing that the guest room doors are still closed. She must still be sleeping.
At least I know she didn't take off with my Jeep in the middle of the night. I took the keys to anything that moves—my motorcycle, the Jeep, my electric bike, the fucking riding mower—and locked them in my safe overnight.
“I’m just checking in on our visitor,” Dad says. “How’s it going over there?”
“Peachy. Our visitor is utterly charming. The perfect houseguest.”
“I see.”
I grab a coffee mug and open the refrigerator to get the ingredients for a protein shake, then set some eggs and bacon on the countertop. I’m starving this morning. All the fantasizing must have worked up my appetite. “And how are you, Dad?”
“Great. I’m driving into town in a bit, dropping Phyllis off at her daughter’s place before I head to Carson City. I’ll play a few rounds of golf and stay at the hotel while the house is being treated for termites.”
“Riiiight. Those pesky termites.”
“It’s a dry country, son.”
“So, what’s up? What can I do for you on this fine crack of dawn?”
He laughs again. “Well, I was just thinking about our talk yesterday.”
“Yep, me too.” Sarah and Ripley are under my feet. I fill their water bowls and scoop out kibble for them. “It kept me up most of the night, in fact. And I know I agreed to wait for a week, but we aren’t selling the Sulfur Springs land. We're just not going to do it.”
“I explained to you why I wanted to explore it.”
“And I listened to your explanation. But it just doesn’t make sense. And then you winked at me as I was leaving yesterday, and I gotta ask, what the hell was that about?”
“Well first, just let me say that it’s obvious you haven’t had your coffee yet.”
“How could I? I was sound asleep just moments ago.”
“Well, I apologize for that. And second, I winked at you because I noticed that you noticed how attractive Miss Backlund is, and don’t try to deny it.”
I don’t bother. “Sure, she’s drop-dead gorgeous, but knowing she wants to get her hands on our land is a real buzz kill.”
Dad chuckles. I head back into my bedroom to get dressed, putting him on speaker.
“You've always been my most serious boy, Callum. I know that one day, you will be the leader of this family—the most responsible, capable, and loyal leader we've ever had.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“But I’ve called to ask that you drive Miss Backlund to Sulfur Springs this morning. Can I count on you to do that?”
I roll my eyes as I grab a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, and my hiking boots from the closet. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“That’s great. I appreciate it. Enjoy your day and keep me posted.”
“About?”
“Any offers she brings to the table.”
“Will do. Enjoy golfing.”
Dad hangs up, and I finish getting dressed, then head back to the kitchen. The girls have finished eating, so I pick up their bowls from the floor, then pour myself a big-ass mug of coffee. I’m taking my first sip when I hear the guest room door open.
A still-sleepy Victoria makes her way up the hallway and through the great room, yawning. She rakes the fingers of one hand through her hair. In her other hand swings an empty wine bottle. She must have grabbed it after our little chat by the hot tub.
Victoria reaches the kitchen and walks past me to place the empty bottle in the sink.
I’m not sure I can handle the just-rolled-out-of-bed version of Victoria Backlund, especially since she’s wearing nothing but a thin pair of sleep pants and a tank top.
If the T-shirt and jeans were too much for me, this outfit is going to kill me.
“I smell coffee,” she says, perching on a stool at the kitchen island.
I grab a second mug and pour her one, then hand it to her.
She takes a sip and gives me a thumbs-up, not making eye contact.
I think she’s hungover. I get the heavy cream and almond milk from the fridge and set them on the island, curious which, if either, she’ll choose.
She grabs the almond milk and pours a hearty amount into her mug.
“Sleep well?”
She nods, her hair covering most of her face. When she yawns again and stretches her arms over her head, I try not to stare at her breasts and the hard nipples peeking through the tank top. Those are the nipples I was nibbling when the phone woke me up.
“What can I make you for breakfast? Eggs? Pancakes?”
“I don’t eat sugar,” she says, sipping her coffee.
Interesting. “I don’t either.”
She nods.
“Then how about I make you one of my infamous protein shakes?”
She lifts her head to stare at me. One of those dusky green eyes is half closed, and the other is glaring at me with suspicion. “What makes it infamous? Do you lace it with rat poison or something?”
I laugh as I add a double-batch worth of ingredients to the blender. I was wrong about her yesterday. She actually does have a sense of humor. It's just buried under the mountain of problem-solving bullshit she wears like a suit of armor.
After last night’s hot tub fiasco, I did a little research on Renaissance Empowered.
Dad was right. It’s about the douchy-est company name I’ve ever heard.
And just as I figured, they call themselves a “mergers and acquisitions” company, which is a fancy name for corporate vampires. Scum of the earth.
And now their errand girl is sitting in my kitchen watching me make her a protein shake. I fill a tall glass and place it on the island in front of her. “Forty grams of protein, two grams of sugar, dairy-free, and packed with vitamins and minerals. You’re going to need it.”
“Thanks. Why’s that?” She takes a sip and gives me another thumbs-up.
“Because we’re headed out to Sulfur Springs this morning. Wear layers. The conditions and temperature can vary a lot based on altitude and wind. And put on a pair of good walking shoes.”
“Will do.”
“Want anything else?” I ask her.
She shakes her head.
“Mind if I eat in front of you?”
“Of course not. Have at it.”
So I do. I snarf down three scrambled eggs, six slices of thick-cut bacon, and three pieces of whole-grain toast with butter. I notice she’s perking up a bit, sitting straighter. She brushes the hair away from her face and eyes my last piece of toast. I hand it to her, and she nibbles on it.
As I take my dishes to the sink, I notice that I’ve got more uninvited guests—two of my brothers. They’re outside on the back deck, loitering. That’s the only word I can think of to describe what they’re doing.
“Be right back,” I tell Victoria. “There’re towels in the bathroom. As you already know.”
Declan and Special K are grinning when I come out. Obviously they’re here to give me massive amounts of shit.
“Good morning.” Declan peers past me into the house. “Is that our Gulfstream 550 passenger?”
“Yep.”
“Is that the hot chick I saw riding in your Jeep yesterday?” Special K asks.
“Yes, Kevin.”
“And now she’s in your kitchen looking all cozy in her jammies, sipping her coffee,” Declan says.
“So why is she here?” Special K asks.
“Dad wants me to drive her out to Sulfur Springs. Her company wants to buy it.”
Declan frowns. “There’s no way that will happen.”
“When hell freezes over,” Special K says.
“Exactly, but he’s asked me to take her out there and relay any offers she makes.”
“So let me get this straight.” Declan leans against the railing. “She’s going to offer things to you out at Sulfur Springs?”
“You need a chaperone?” Special K asks.
“Funny.”
“You know that’s where I lost my virginity,” Declan says. “Both times.”
“Me too,” Special K says, snorting with laughter.
I did as well, and years before they did. But I keep that to myself. And while my brothers laugh at their stupid jokes, I tell myself that nothing will happen between Victoria and me out at Sulfur Springs today.
Not a damn thing.