Wild for the Girl Read online

  She raised her eyebrows at the obvious friction between the two men as she picked up Susie’s trailing reins.

  Tad gave her a slow wink as he raised his voice for Reese’s benefit. “I’ll be there. And maybe we can work out a makeup session for yesterday’s lesson, T.J. After hours. I wouldn’t want to interfere with your regular job.”

  She rolled her eyes and followed Reese outside. Tad walked past as they mounted, giving them a cheery wave. Reese watched him go, then let one side of his mouth tick upward as he turned to T.J. “Sorry. That guy’s starting to get under my skin.”

  “It’s all talk, just part of his image as a ladies’ man.”

  “If you believe that, you aren’t as observant as I thought. He’s not hitting on you to pass the time. He’s short term, but he’s serious.”

  She mounted and nudged Susie into a walk. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.”

  Reese kept Whiskey at her side as she led the way to the trail head. “Who are you interested in, T.J.?”

  She sent him a startled glance, then looked away again, determined not to get pulled in by those dark, knowing eyes and the body that tempted hers to melt against it. “No one.”

  And she was trying to keep it that way. He wasn’t making it easy.

  * * *

  She’d been prepared to sneer at his horsemanship and dislike him for blowing off what she considered to be the best scenery in the world. It would have helped to override his compelling physical appeal. But he rode with more skill than she’d expected, and soaked in each view as if he’d missed seeing it. Maybe he had.

  The routes took advantage of both the beautiful vistas and the densely wooded slopes. Two hours into the ride, he pulled Whiskey to a stop where a small cataract tumbled from a gorge, its waters frothing over huge rocks at the bottom before rushing onward. Lost Angel Falls, the locals called it, although it wasn’t on any map she’d seen.

  Dismounting, Reese held the reins and stepped close to the granite boulders at the base of the falls. T.J. watched spray collect in glistening drops on his skin, then joined him, standing beside him for a full two minutes, enveloped by the water’s thunder as they watched its unending fall. It was her favorite spot on the trail ride, and she loved that he was captivated by it, too.

  When he led the way along the stream to a pristine lake, she followed. The roar of the cataract faded quickly in the trees, and was a low background growl as they stood beside the lapping waves.

  Reese bent down, picked up a stone, and lobbed it into the lake, smiling at the splash. “My brothers and I used to ride out here when we were kids. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.”

  “Your dad is using a photo from this spot on the brochures for the two-hour ride.”

  “Good choice. Our guests will love it. They’ll take spectacular pictures, go home and show their friends, and next thing you know their friends will be booking vacations at the Ridge.”

  It probably wasn’t significant that he’d said our guests, since temporarily they were his, too. But it made her think about how nice it would be if they really were his guests, if he stayed and worked with his dad at the resort. Watching his thoughtful expression, she wondered if he was imagining it, too.

  He turned to her, eyes alight with an idea, and she sucked in her breath, half expecting him to say he wanted to stay. “I do a lot of sailing back in Boston,” he told her, shading his eyes as he looked back at the lake. “But I think it would be fun to kayak out here.”

  Her momentary fantasy of him staying in Colorado crashed and died. His life in Boston would always lure him back—she needed to remember that.

  “You ever come up here to kayak, T.J.?”

  Still subdued by the thought of him leaving, she shook her head no.

  He looked appalled. “Why not? You’ve lived here all your life, and you haven’t taken advantage of that?”

  “You ever run in the Boston Marathon?”

  He laughed, a deep, sexy chuckle that started a fire low in her abdomen, a response she hadn’t wanted to feel. “Touché,” he said, seriously fanning the flames with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “But I highly recommend it.”

  “Then I’ll keep it in mind.”

  He studied her with an intense look that left butterflies whirling in her stomach. “No, you won’t. You’ll spend all your free time with your horses, like you always do.”

  “I like my horses,” she said, instantly on the defensive.

  “More than you like people?”

  “Some people.”

  He stepped closer. She made herself hold her ground, even though the purposeful look in his eyes sent shivers down her back. Danger, mixed with temptation—the kind of man she tried to avoid. He lifted his hand, fingering a strand of her hair then tucking it behind her ear. More shivers crossed her shoulders.

  “Who hurt you, T.J.?”

  It was far too perceptive. But since there wasn’t one answer, it was easy to be evasive. “No one. Maybe I just like horses better than people.” They never lied, and they never left you.

  The small lift at the corner of his mouth told her he didn’t buy it. Damn, she didn’t need a man who saw things she chose not to show.

  “You’re good with people, T.J, despite what you say. I’ve watched you work with Tad Prescott. You don’t fawn over his fame and looks, and you don’t hesitate to tell him what he’s doing wrong. It’s exactly what he needs.”

  His nearness made something squirm in her stomach. “So?”

  “Do you like him?”

  “He’s funny. And clever.”

  “He’s interested in you. And persistent.”

  “Too bad. I’m not interested in him.”

  Something flared in his eyes. “Good.”

  She knew before he reached for her that he would, and knew she should stop it. She didn’t—her curiosity was too strong. Still holding his reins in one hand, he wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her close, and despite the careful part of her mind that yelled at her to back away, she allowed her body to curve against him, lifting her mouth to meet his.

  She knew what to expect from a first kiss: a statement of interest, a sampling of what might lie ahead. But not this. His kiss was as possessive as the arm encircling her, firm and demanding as he held her close, thorough as he took what he wanted, then finally soft when he let her go, as if reluctant to let it end. He released her and she blinked at him, heart pounding as she licked her lips, savoring the taste of him. Wanting more, even as common sense took over and made her take a step back. She’d tasted him, felt his body against her own, and her curiosity should be satisfied.

  Should be. Stupid theory.

  That lingering realization made her nervous, raising hairs along the back of her neck. She closed her hand tightly on Susie’s reins, fingernails pressing into her palm as she made herself say the thing she should have said two minutes ago. “We should go.” If she got back in her comfort zone atop a horse, her mind might stop spinning. “That is, if you want to see where the trail cuts upward for the two-day ride. It’s ten minutes from here.”

  Amusement played on his lips and she watched, mesmerized, like prey caught in a predator’s stare. He could take more if he wanted it—she didn’t have the will to resist him, and she watched the knowledge play in his eyes. Then he nodded once. “Fine, let’s go.” She swung into the saddle before he could change his mind. Or before she could.

  She made sure there were no more reasons to get off her horse. Maybe if she resisted the urge to kiss him again she could also resist the urge to take it further. While she’d been plastered against him, the thought of doing more had raced through her like fire. Realizing how much she’d wanted his hands on her body had left her unsettled and wary of her own instincts. Avoiding men who had other lives to lead, with other women, was simple self-protection.

  Unfortunately, her body wasn’t going with the program, and her mind was wavering. Giving in was bad, because she k
new what followed—heartbreak and resentment. Who hurt you? he’d asked. Several men, and something told her that loving and losing Reese would be worse than all of them combined.

  It was late when they got back, the sun already dropping into the purple-red haze behind Two Bears Mountain. Reese helped her untack and stable the horses, and she breathed a sigh of relief when they hung up the bridles. “So what are you going to tell Mike?” she asked.

  “About what?”

  “The trails. You said he wanted to make sure everything was ready to go. That was the reason for our ride.”

  “Oh. They’re great. The trail rides should be a good addition to the resort.”

  Satisfaction warmed her. She knew she’d done a good job, but it was nice to hear someone else say it. Especially Reese, since he’d thought about it so carefully. There was a lot of pondering going on behind that still gaze.

  “I’m glad we were able to get close to the falls. It’s bound to be the favorite spot on the ride,” she said.

  “For some.”

  “Don’t you think it’s impressive?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t my favorite part.”

  He looked confident that something had been better than the spectacular beauty of the surging fall of water. “What was?”

  “This.” Taking her by the shoulders, he pulled her against his chest and kissed her. Heat rushed through her body as he ran his fingers beneath her hair, tilting her head for better access, kissing her until she moaned softly with pleasure and wrapped her arms around his neck. Responding to the signal, his tongue probed her lips and licked into her mouth, while the area between her thighs went soft and wet. When he finally pulled back, he gave her lower lip a light nip and smiled. “That was my favorite part.”

  She bit her lip and waited for the dizzy swirling in her head to stop. “That was extra.”

  “Hmm. If I check out the trail for the all-day ride, would it be included?”

  He wanted more. It was as if the ground under her feet suddenly grew boggy and dangerous, trying to suck her in. She should turn back. But that was ridiculous, it was just kissing. It didn’t mean a thing. “I’m almost certain it would.”

  “Then put me down for that one on Sunday.”

  “Okay,” she said, deceptively cool while her libido overheated at the mere thought.

  A voice in the back of her mind screamed at her to stop playing with fire. She gagged it. Obviously, her rule about not getting involved with men who were bound to leave needed a footnote. Physical attraction happened, and it didn’t have to mean more than that. No crying when it ended, and no broken hearts.

  She refused to believe the other footnote that had popped up, the one that said Reese might be different. He had strong ties to Barringer’s Pass. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t leave.

  Right, and maybe the sun would rise in the west. If she believed either one, she was an idiot.

  7

  T.J. told herself she wasn’t stopping by Michael Barringer’s house in hopes of seeing Reese again. She’d promised to keep him updated, and she hadn’t heard what he’d decided about the trailer. But she couldn’t deny a small twinge of disappointment when the black Porsche wasn’t there. Reese must have stayed late at work. Or gone out to dinner with friends.

  Or had a date.

  She wanted to kick herself for thinking it. She wasn’t going to turn into some obsessed, Fatal Attraction chick just because he’d kissed her a couple of times. That didn’t imply a relationship. He could go out with whomever he wanted.

  Firmly shutting Reese out of her mind, she rang the doorbell.

  Mike was in the living room this time, his leather recliner hemmed in by two end tables. T.J. smiled at the cluttered tabletops—two remotes, a cell phone, two pill bottles, three books, a sandwich plate littered with crumbs, a water bottle, an open bag of chips, nail clippers, and a pair of binoculars.

  “You ever get out of this chair for anything?” she asked him.

  “Just the bathroom. Warden Camille won’t let me pee in a bucket.”

  Camille must have been the lady who’d answered the door and shown her to the living room with the announcement, “Hey, grumpy, you’ve got company. Be nice.” She took it to mean Mike was not handling convalescence well.

  “Pull up a chair,” he told her. “I need some friendly company.” He said the last part loudly, with a meaningful glance over his shoulder in case Camille was within hearing range. “This house feels like a damn prison. Tell me everything you’ve been doing.”

  I’ve been kissing your son, she thought as she moved a chair closer and sat facing him. She’d skip that one.

  “Tad Prescott has progressed to galloping around the corral. And I took Reese on the trails today for the one-hour and two-hour rides.”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “Reese got on a horse?”

  “That’s kind of required for checking out the trails.”

  “Why did he do that?”

  “Because you asked him to.”

  “I did?”

  She drew her eyebrows together. “Didn’t you?”

  “Oh. Yeah, I did. I remember now. Sorry, it’s these damn pain pills, can’t think straight when I take them.” His face brightened with interest. “So what did he think?”

  “He said it was great.” She smiled, but it was because of the distracting thought she didn’t say out loud, that kissing her had been his favorite part.

  “Well, whatdaya know? I mean, I’m glad to hear it. So when are you taking him on the rest of the trails?”

  “Sunday, actually. He wants to do the all-day ride.”

  He grinned. “Really?” When she narrowed her eyes, he added, “I thought he might need a few more days to recover. I don’t think Reese has ridden since he was a kid.”

  “It didn’t seem to bother him. He looked pretty good.” She pictured Reese’s strong legs, his firm butt, and the broad chest she’d pressed against when she kissed him. He looked more than good.

  She glanced at Mike, who had an oddly amused look on his face. “I mean, he didn’t look sore. Or stiff.” She stopped dead as the word stiff conjured up a whole new image. She blinked at Mike. He watched placidly as she did a mental scramble to come up with a phrase that didn’t have a double meaning. “I don’t think it bothered him to be on a horse for a few hours.”

  “Good.” He nodded happily. “That’s good to know, because I meant to ask him to do the overnight ride with you, too.”

  She started to attention. “Overnight?”

  “Absolutely. Have to make sure everything is the way I want it, and I sure as heck can’t get on a horse anytime soon, so Reese is gonna have to do it for me.”

  Her mind stumbled over the idea of spending the night with Reese in a small tent, with no one else around. The images she’d tried to dispel came rushing back, especially the stiff one. She swallowed, trying to ease the dryness in her throat. “You have photos of the trail, and you helped lay it out.”

  “But there’s nothing like riding it yourself, experiencing exactly what our guests will experience. It’s all about them, you know. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get paid extra for your time, and you’ve hired those new stable hands, right? You don’t have to be there for feeding and watering the horses. This will be a good dry run to see if they can handle the work without you before you turn it over to the new stable manager. Have you found one yet?”

  She scrunched her eyebrows and concentrated, trying to catch up. “Uh, maybe. I have a couple of applicants I’d like to talk to before I send them to you for the final decision.”

  “Excellent.” He beamed. “Sounds like you’ve got everything under control.”

  It didn’t feel under control to her. In fact, it felt like she wasn’t even in the driver’s seat.

  “You know,” Mike mused happily, “I’m glad you dropped by. You’ve made my whole day better.”

  Too bad she couldn’t say the same. The thought of the overnight ride made her n
ervous, and already had her blood surging hotly. There had never been any doubt in her mind that the physical attraction between them would be impossible to resist, but she’d hoped to have a little more time to prepare for it. Like three more weeks. By then he’d be getting ready to leave and she wouldn’t have time to fall in love with him. She figured the falling was as inevitable as the sex, it was just a matter of how much of her heart he’d rip out when he left.

  * * *

  “Come on, go to lunch with me, T.J. We’ll do something fun afterward.” Tad stroked his horse’s mane as they stood outside the stall, a soft, sensual fingering of the coarse hair that she was sure Misty didn’t fully appreciate. That didn’t matter, since the sensual part was for her benefit, another exaggerated attempt to tease her into a date.

  She smiled tightly and shook her head, a bit tired of the game. “No thanks, but Misty might be interested if you do that down her back and chest.”

  She realized too late she’d given him a perfect setup. Tad’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’d rather do your back. And chest.” His gaze went there and lingered.

  The line between flirting and harassment might be blurry to Tad, but not to her. She snapped her fingers at his face. “Hey, buddy, eyes up here.”

  He didn’t look the least bit abashed. “What’s the problem? Where I come from, admiring a woman’s body is a compliment.”

  “Let me give you a tip, Tad. That has nothing to do with where you’re from, it’s who you hang out with.”

  “Are you saying I need to hang out with a better class of women?”

  “No, I’m saying you can’t blame them for your lack of manners.”

  “Obviously you need to save me from myself.”

  “I don’t think it’s possible.” If there’d been the tiniest bit of aggression in his approach, she’d be furious, but Tad acted as harmless as a puppy, so she had to conclude that he was merely obnoxious. Still, a leash, a choke chain, and a few pointed corrections were tempting. She handed him Misty’s halter. “Here, cross-tie her and untack before you leave.”