Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Monty flipped back the covers, turned off the bedside lamp and stretched out naked in the middle of his king-sized bed. Flinging his arms wide, he stared up at the rafters faintly visible above him.
His skin was still damp from his second shower of the day. A soft breeze through the open window made him shiver, but he didn’t pull up the sheet. The night was warm. He welcomed the cool caress.
He’d showered and shaved after arriving home this morning. Then he’d worked like a maniac all day to make sure nothing critical would be left hanging during his birthday celebration.
Bridgers did not labor on the anniversary of their birth. It was family law, a law he’d come to appreciate since he’d turned into something of a workaholic.
But he’d pushed himself harder than usual today. Staying busy helped take his mind off Zinnia. No distractions now, though, other than the chirp of crickets in the wild rose bush outside his window.
It had grown above the sill and needed trimming, but that meant cutting off some of the fragrant flowers. Did Zinnia like bouquets? He’d never know.
He sighed and closed his eyes. And there she was in exquisite detail—vivid green eyes, full pink lips, wavy golden hair, luxurious breasts, narrow waist, tempting ass, slender legs.
He didn’t need to see her naked to imagine how she’d look. His cock responded, and for a split second he considered doing something about that condition. But he knew from experience the satisfaction would be short-lived and hollow.
Twenty-four hours ago he’d struggled to fall asleep lying on a wooden barn floor with only a folded blanket under him. His thick, cushy mattress was a hundred times more comfortable, but he’d rather be back on the barn floor, anticipating Zinnia’s arrival in the morning.
That type of interaction was over. He’d see her tomorrow at the party, but only in snatches and never alone. He was the star of the show, which meant no sneaking off into dark corners for a cozy chat. No gazing into those emerald eyes and fighting the urge to kiss her.
At the time he’d cursed the frustration of those moments. Turned out he’d take frustration over absence any day. The occasional visits they’d talked about might be enough for Tex, but not for him. He was gonna miss her like the devil.
That depressing thought took care of his woody. With a big day tomorrow, he needed sleep after lying awake most of last night. Folks called him heroic for pulling those all-nighters while tending to a patient. No problem for a card-carrying insomniac.
Only two remedies worked consistently and he didn’t have access to either one. He’d been trying out a third one and the results were mixed. Still, it was worth a shot.
Starting at the top of his head, he tensed and released muscle groups all the way down to his toes. He imagined himself sinking into the mattress, surrendering control. Gradually the chirp of the crickets and the scent of roses faded.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Awareness returned. He kept his eyes closed. Probably wind blowing a tree branch against the porch.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Damn wind.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.
What the hell? A branch wouldn’t do that unless the wind was howling, which it wasn’t. He sat up.
A woodpecker? They didn’t work at night, did they? The only people who’d summon him at this hour were family members and they’d knock. This rapid tapping thing was the work of a critter.
Oh, well. Wasn’t happening, now. Maybe he’d attracted an insomniac woodpecker but now they’d flown away. Flopping down, he closed his eyes.
He’d have to do the blasted tense-and-release routine all over again. He squeezed and released his eye muscles, clenched and released his jaw, hunched and dropped his shoulders—
Tap-tap-tap.
“Damn it!” Vaulting out of bed, he stormed into the living room. “Whatever’s doing that better hightail it out of here before I—”
“It’s me.”
A person? He covered his crotch and took a step back. “Who’s me?”
“Zinnia.”
“Zinnia?” His brain turned into a pinball machine. “Is something wrong with Speckles? Or Monty?”
“Shhh! They’re fine. Let me in. Quick.”
“Just a sec.” He hotfooted it back to his bedroom and struggled into a pair of sweats. She could have opened the door herself and come in. It wasn’t locked. Why hadn’t he said that?
Because he needed pants first. Why was she out there if her horses were fine? Surely she wasn’t…. But what if she was? What if she—
“Hurry.”
“I am. I just—” He couldn’t seem to tie the drawstring so he just left it. The waistband sagged around his hips as he padded to the door and opened it.
She barreled past him wearing flip-flops judging from the slap of rubber on the wood floor. “Close the door. Quietly.”
He eased it shut, leaving them mostly in the dark. The glow from the porch light seeped into the room, giving him a shadowy view. Her flimsy tank top and shorts looked like nightwear. A purse with a long thin strap hung from her shoulder.
Was she about to proposition him? His cock surged to life.
“I woke you up.” Her voice was a little shaky. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t wake me up. Why are you here?”
Her breath hitched. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Not really. Seductions don’t generally begin with an apology.”
“How are they supposed to start? I’ve never been the one to make the first move.”
He stared at her as all his blood traveled south. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I want…” She gulped. “I mean, I would really like…” Shaking her head, she muttered a curse. “Would you please have sex with me?”
His body answered immediately but his brain was still trying to catch up. “What about Tex? I thought you—”
“He never has to know.”
“Somebody has to know. You can’t just sneak over here without telling—”
“Mari knows. It was her idea.”
He was getting the picture. That’s why she’d told him to stay open to the possibilities. “What if Tex wakes up and goes looking for you?”
“He’s a champion sleeper.” Her words came out in a nervous rush. “But if he wakes up and finds me gone, he’ll go to Mari. She’ll say—” She put a hand to her chest and sucked in air. “She’ll say I’m checking on Monty and I’ll be back soon.”
His eyes had adjusted to the dim light. She was braless and likely panty-less under her outfit. Message received. This was a booty call, and he was going to answer it.
Her cover story for Tex was a riot. “Checking on Monty, are you?”
“It’s not exactly a lie. How was your day?”
He choked out a laugh. “Kind of boring until a gorgeous woman showed up at my door asking for sex.”
“She sounds a little pushy.”
“Fine with me. I like assertive women. By the way, is it a one-night stand? I’d like to know in advance.”
“That depends.”
“Is this an audition? That’s not a game-changer, but—”
“No! I’d never ask for a sexual trial run!” She clapped her hand over her mouth and glanced at the open porch window. “I hope nobody heard that.”
He smiled. “Besides me?”
“You know who I mean. Does everyone keep their windows open?”
“Probably, but they’re all sawing logs by now. I’m the only one in the family who has a problem sleeping.”
“Insomnia?”
“Yep. Ever since I was born, I’m told.”
“Me, too.”
“Is that why you’re here? Sex helps you sleep?” Would he let her use him in place of a pill? Yes, he would.
“You think I’d take this crazy risk simply to get a decent night’s sleep?”
“I guess not. But I gathered you’d closed up shop to focus on Tex. So why me? Why now?” He shouldn’t care. He should quit asking questions and take her to bed. If it was for one night only, so be it.
“I’ve never had such a strong reaction to a man and you’ve said this is a first for you. It seems a shame not to at least….” She took a quick breath. “At least find out.”
He absorbed the significance of her shift in thinking. After several years of celibacy, she was making an exception. He figured she’d wrestled with the idea before driving over here. “Do you have a plan?”
“A potential plan.” She swallowed. “Mari offered to cover for me on her nights off.”
“Then it’s not a one-night stand.” His heart swelled with anticipation and… joy. She wanted to be with him, even if that meant breaking her self-imposed rule and keeping a secret from her son and her uncle.
“That’s up to you. if you’d rather make this short and sweet, just to stay on the safe side, then I—"
“No, ma’am.” There was no safe side when it came to this woman. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give for as long as you’re willing to give it.”