Kentucky provided Emily with a view of more beautiful countryside. If she liked Missouri, she loved Kentucky. The race offered her a front row seat into the wonders of the American countryside. The only downside was the late spring weather of the upper south. Rain had been falling for hours and the weather forecast didn’t call for it to let up for another day.
“Hey Em.” Billy had picked up Reid’s nickname for her much to her chagrin. “Where’re we staying tonight?”
“I have a reservation for a cabin in the park.”
“Really? Are we upscaling tonight?” he asked.
They’d stayed in little more than mom-and-pop places since they had left the hotel where all the balloonists were requested to stay. Her gaze met Reid’s in the rearview mirror. “No, I already had this one planned. All the teams are staying in the park area.”
“Figures.” Billy leaned over the seat so his face was between her and Reid’s.
Reid chuckled. He been giving her a hard time about her reaction to staying at the Palm Canyon Resort the entire trip. “We should start seeing signs.” No sooner than she said that, a brown sign appeared. It stated: Land Between the Lakes.
“Is this a state or national park?”
“National, I think.”
Taking the turn and traveling through forested area, Reid parked the Suburban as close to the lodge front door as possible. Emily held the hood of her windbreaker over her head and dashed up the wide wooden steps to the porch. Still her feet and pants were wetter than she would have liked. Reid joined her, not fairing much better.
“I could have seen about the room without you having to get wet.” Emily took off her jacket and shook it out.
“I know. I wanted to ask if the cabins have a kitchen. I thought we might all like a home cooked meal for a change.” He shook like a dog.
Emily like the idea of having a kitchen. They had been on the road for well over a week and eating out had become stale. They entered the lodge. She took care of the check in. Reid found out the cabin would have a kitchen then asked directions to the nearest grocery.
“Are you a cook?” Emily stepped out of the lodge.
“I can be, but I can always use some help.”
She pursed her lips. “I’m not much of one but I’m willing to chop something up.”
“Then it’s a deal.”
They raced through the rain back to the SUV where Billy waited. They laughed like kids when Reid stomped a puddle splashing him and her.
Less than an hour later they settled into their rustic cabin. It had a wonderful view of a lake that wasn’t easily appreciated because of the deluge of rain. Emily had a room to herself and the men shared another outfitted with bunk beds. Billy had given Reid a hard time about being too old to climb on top. Reid took the statement as a challenge. He promptly pulled himself up without using his legs.
He stared down at her and Billy with a grin. “All that weightlifting pays off.”
Billy walked out of the room shaking his head as he muttered, “I should have known.”
He and Billy left soon after for the grocery store. Emily volunteered to make the run but Reid had insisted he needed to pick out the ingredients.
“You can do the cleanup.” He winked.
While the men were gone, she took advantage of the few minutes alone to call her mom and dad and then take a hot bath. She wanted to be out of the tub and dressed before Reid and Billy returned. She always felt awkward when she opened the door of the bathroom with Reid nearby. They had not shared the same hotel room in a while, but she could well remember what it had done to her nerves.
Emily took special pains to care for her hair and even applied some makeup for the evening. Since she had been doing well in the race, they talked about making this a little celebration. The three of them had managed to become a tight-knit team in the last few days.
At the slam of a car door, she opened the wooden door and stepped out onto the porch. The rain had slowed to a sprinkle. “You guys need my help?”
“No, we’ve got it. Just hold the door open.” Reid pulled plastic bags out of the SUV. Seconds later, he and Billy stomped up the steps with bags in both hands.
“Who did you buy for? An army?” Emily looked at the massive amounts of bags.
“If you keep complaining you can watch us eat.” Reid shouldered passed her through the door.
Billy wore large smile on his face as he went by her. “We’re going to eat good tonight. I can hardly wait.”
“Okay, what do I need to do?” Emily helped placed the groceries on the counter.
“I want you to go out to the porch and put your feet up. We’ll get this.” Reid pulled a meat package out of a plastic bag.
“You’re sure?” She looked from Reid to Billy and back again.
“Yeah, we’re sure.” Billy sounded less enthusiastic than before.
Reid waved her away. “Go on Emily.”
She found a paperback novel on the shelf by the fireplace then gathered her jacket. On the poach she settled into one of the rockers made from natural tree branches. She pulled the rocker close to the rail and propped her feet up. The sound of the water dripping off the cabin eaves and the trees eased her tired mind. Liquid glistened on the pine needles and the lake lay calm before her. For the first time in a long time, she felt good about herself.She’d read a few pages when the screen door closed with a soft clap catching her attention. Reid stood beside her with a steaming mug in his hand. “I thought you might enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.”
“Oh, would I.” After blowing into the cup, she took a sip, closed her eyes, and savored the rich taste.
“I wish you’d react to me with that much pleasure.”
She blinked. The man was such a flirt. Still he did wonders for her battered ego. “Maybe if you tasted like chocolate I would.”
Reid leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “That could be arranged.” His suggestive tone left her with goose bumps.
Emily shivered but not from the breeze that had picked up. Reid made her feel too much. She missed his attention once he returned inside.
A half an hour later, Billy called, “Dinner.”
She went inside to find the table set which included fresh flowers and napkins. “You guys have out done yourselves.”
“Reid told me what to do,” Billy offered, a pleased smile on his face.
“I’ll have to say I’m impressed.” She looked at Reid with admiration.
He shrugged. “My mother drummed table setting and manners into me and my sister and brother. I thought tonight was a good time to show them off.” Reid stood behind a chair and pulled it out for her.
Emily watched as a salad, baked potato and steak found their way to her plate. Reid added a platter of hot rolls to the center of the table.
Minutes later as they all ate, Billy said between bites, “This is great.”
“I agree,” she added.
“You’ll have to show me how to do this sometime. This is a ‘women getter’ too.” Billy put another bite of steak in his mouth.
Emily looked at Reid with hood eyelids and smiled.
He met her gaze which silently asked, “Is it working?”
Reid looked up at the ceiling when the rain picked up again that evening. After supper they’d spent the time in doors playing Monopoly. Billy had found the game in one of the cabinets. Their play was interrupted when Emily’s cell phone rang.
Listening more than talking she soon hung up. “Well, we’re stuck. The weather is so bad we’re not even going to try to fly in the morning. But I do have a pilots’ meeting. They’re hoping it’ll clear by day after tomorrow.”
The three of them finished their game. Emily won. She’d showed no mercy when Reid landed on Park Place and she owned a hotel. Three moves later Billy went bankrupt also.
“Well, I guess we know who the businesswoman is in this group.” She laughed as she started to pack the game back into the box.
“Lucky, I’d say,” Reid quipped.
Emily placed the game back in the cabinet. “And I’d say you’re a sore loser.”
“I’m off to get some sleep.” Billy yawned deeply and headed down the hall.
Reid shook his head. “That boy sleeps more than anyone I know.”
“I agree. But I’m off to bed also. Goodnight.” Emily pulled the ballcap off her head.
“’night, Em.” Soon after Reid climbed into the top bunk.
He listened to Emily as she moved around in the next room. Each sound had him wanting to knock on her door and invite himself in. He resisted the urge. He had no business thinking about Emily in that way. She wasn’t someone he wanted to use for a good time during the race and he had no plans to offer her more. He had a business to get under control. Yet Emily had become hard to resist.
Half an hour later, Reid lay in his bunk, with hands behind his head listening to the combination of the rain drumming on the tin roof and Billy’s horrible snoring. Still unable to sleep, he climbed out of bed and pulled on his jeans and a T-shirt. There was no light coming from the crack under Emily’s door. A lone lamp burned in the living area. He walked barefoot over the slick wooden floor, opened the front door, and stepped out. The sound of the rain was almost deafening. The porch light let off a soft yellow glow muted by the heavy dampness in the air.
“You couldn’t sleep either?” Emily’s gentle voice glided to him.
He jerked to a stop. “You…startled me.”
Emily continued to sit in the swing pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
“Mind if I join you?”
She shook her head.
The swing creaked as he sat. Emily shifted putting an inch more between them. When she settled, he started rocking with a heel toe movement of one foot.
“I love the sound of rain on a tin roof. When I went to my grandmother’s house I always went out and sat on the porch when it rained.” Emily sounded thoughtful.
“I like a storm. There’s energy in it.”
Thunder cracked and an instant later a flash of lightning streaked the sky, brightening the area for a second. Emily jumped and grabbed his arm.
“We’re okay. But that was close.” Reid reassured her.
Emily relaxed then released her hold. She trembled.
He missed her touch. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close. She
accepted his embrace and rested against him. Another roll of thunder shook around them. Reid held her as the lightning put on another show in the sky. “You alright?”
She nodded. Sitting with Emily in his arms gave him a feeling of rightness he wasn’t completely at ease with. She fit. Was warm and comfortable. A couple of weeks ago he’d have never dreamed Emily would even interest him.
“When I was a boy, we used to go to the Lake Tahoe area and rent a cabin much like this one for a week. I always looked forward to going. It was the only time that we ever had Dad to ourselves. He was working all the time building the business. Wasn’t around much.” He forgot about those golden days with his father. There had been some good moments.
“My Dad was always there for me and my brothers. We had no fancy house or new cars but we had what we needed.”
“You have another brother?”
“Yeah. He’s in the army. Stationed in Germany right now.”
Reid inhaled. He’d fired a man with not two children but three. No wonder Emily had detested him so.
A few more minutes went by before Emily straightened. “I guess I’d better go to bed now.”
Instead of releasing her Reid lifted her into his lap. The rain continued to beat down surrounding them making their dry spot a haven. “I can’t let you go to bed without a goodnight kiss, now can I?”
Her lips were cool, yet she didn’t move away. With his hands on her waist, he shifted her, then moved his mouth across her cheek. A sound of pleasure escaped her, and Emily cuddled closer. He tugged the blanket away, skimming his hand along her silky skin up to her sleeping shorts.
Emily curled an arm around his neck lacing her fingers through his hair and pulled his mouth back to hers. She met him kiss for kiss.
His manhood throbbed. He wanted her here, now. His fingers skimmed further up her leg while his mouth teased hers until she opened. His tongue met her moist one and thrusted.
He craved more. His finger slipped beneath the narrow strip of lace trimming her panties. Heaven. With his hand firmly on her hip, he shifted her, bringing her against his thick length. His finger found the heat at her center. She quivered and opened her legs.
Reid’s heart jumped. He released her lips just enough to mutter, “Let’s go to your room.”
Emily offered no resistance as he helped her to her feet then followed her inside. He gave her another deep kiss halfway through the living area. The cloud of pleasure shifted when she stiffened and stopped outside her bedroom door.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered, as he gathered her hair and placed a kiss at the nape of her neck.
Emily moaned then faced him her look having turned serious. “We can’t do this with Billy in the other room. I’m responsible for him. Plus I have no interest in being a one night stand.”
Reid let her hair go and stepped back a pace, meeting her gaze. “You’re right.”
“This is more about us being in close quarters than anything else. I understand that. I’m sorry if I led you on.” She opened her room door, stepped in, closing it between them.
He stood in the dark hallway disappointment washing over him. Why did he suddenly wish there could be more? He had the feeling he’d just lost something beautiful and important that he didn’t realize he had until it was gone. The desire to kick down the door grew. He wanted to tell her nothing would stand between them – ever. But that wasn’t true. He’d already kept a huge secret from her.
Emily woke to the pleasant smell of bacon mixed with wood smoke and the tapping of rain on the roof. A gray haze hung around the room, encouraging her to roll over and go back to sleep. After a quick glanced at her watch, she groaned. It was nine and she had to be at a pilots’ meeting at ten-thirty. Stretching like a cat in the sun, she pulled on her clothes and follow the smells of breakfast.
She stopped short when she saw Reid. His back to her, he turned a strip of bacon in a cast iron pan. He wore no shirt only athletic shorts made of a silky blue material that rode low on his hips. The blue accented the deep tan of his skin. She swallowed hard. The urge to touch him almost overwhelmed her. All she’d have to do was walk up behind him and slip…
Those beautiful muscles rippled as he lifted the pan. The low light above him accented all the stunning contours. This was better than when she’d seen him in the hotel room. Now she could look all she wanted. She pushed down the groan forming in her throat.
He turned. “Hey.”
Emily sucked in an audible breath. Heavens, he made her mouth water. If she thought his back was amazing his chest could only be labeled as indescribable. Every muscle defined. His flat stomach sculptured to look like a Greek god. A dusting of hair covered his pecks and a small line a shade darker than the hair on his head lead into his shorts. Her mouth went dry. She longed to follow that trail with her finger.
“Em? Is something wrong?”
She jerked her eyes upward to meet the twinkle of his knowing look.
“Uh, no,” she stammered. She shook herself mentally trying to remove the sexual fog hanging around her.
“You sure?” His tone held less concern than teasing.
“Yes.” That came out harsher than she intended.
“Why don’t you watch this bacon while I put on a shirt? My mother taught me to wear a shirt to the table.”
She stepped to the stove as Reid moved passed her. His body brushed hers. The swell of heat he caused in her shocked her. Reid had taken over her emotional world. He paused a fraction of an inch from her.
“I dreamed about you last night. You’re the first thing I thought about this morning,” he whispered before he gave her a swift kiss on the cheek and moved down the hall. He called, “Don’t let the bacon burn.”
Emily came out of her Reid-induced trance and stepped to the stove to flip a slice and removed the frying pan from the heat. The man rattled her. She had to find some way to keep him out of her head, away from her body. To make matters worse they were stuck in the cabin for at least one more night.
Reid returned dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with a blurry-eyed Billy stumbling along behind him. Relief washed over her to see Reid clothed, sure she couldn’t make it through the meal otherwise.
“You sit down and I’ll finish this up.” Reid told her taking the spatula out of her hand. Giving no argument, she joined Billy at the table.
Reid placed the food before them. They each ate with little talking outside of how wonderful it tasted.
Billy’s phone rang. He looked at it. “It’s Mom. I better take this.” He ended the call and faced her and Reid. His grave look couldn’t be mistaken.
“What’s wrong?” Emily stood and moved toward Billy. Reid pushed back his chair, his complete attention on Billy as well.
“Dad had a heart attack. Mom says it was a bad one. Emily, I know you need me, but I’ve got to go home. Mom sounds scared.”
She gave him a hug. “Of course, you need to go. We’ll get you on a plane right away. Get your stuff together. I’ll find you a flight.” She headed toward her bedroom to get her phone.
“I’ll take care of the flight,” Reid said. “I’ll call Roger and have him get the person who does our travel to handle it.”
“Thanks, Reid.” She gave him a grateful smile. This time she was glad to have him make the decisions. “Billy, I’ll be ready to go when you are,” Emily called as Billy hurried to the bedroom.
“Hey, don’t you have a pilot’s meeting?” Reid followed Billy.
“Oh, I forgot about that. I’ll have to be there or be disqualified.” She came right behind him.
Over his shoulder he said, “I’ll see about getting Billy on a plane and if you can’t go with us, we’ll drop you off and you can get a ride back here or stay at the Lodge until I can pick you up.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Reid reached for his cell as Emily entered her bedroom. He started back down the hall already talking to someone.
Minutes later Emily slipped her legs into her jeans. Heaven help her. She and Reid were going to be alone tonight. Shaking, she jerked her pants on. She’d get through it somehow. Hopefully by not throwing herself at him and saying take me. She could imagine Reid’s surprise if she did that. It put a smile on her face.
She found Billy and Reid waiting on her in the living area. Billy had his bag ready and she gave him a tight hug. “You’ll let us know how your dad is doing, won’t you?”
“Sure, I’ll call.”
“We need to get going. We have to be in Paducah at eleven.” Reid shrugged into his rain slicker. He looked at her. “We’ll drop you off at the lodge. I’ll stop by on my way back to see if you still need a ride back here.”
Emily hugged Billy. “Don’t worry about trying to get back here. Reid and I can handle it. I appreciate you volunteering and doing what you have done. Go be with your family.”
Billy headed out the door.
Hours later Emily left the pilots meeting. It had lasted longer than she had anticipated. The committee had gone on and on about what the rest of the race would involve. They had even held her back to question her about her envelope. They had received an anonymous report she was using an illegal envelope. They wanted to know where she had bought it. She explained that Engineered Materials had made it. Thankfully one of the men on the committee was familiar with Reid’s company. They requested to look at it before she blew it up for the next flight.
Disgusted with the scrutiny, she gave them a tight smile and agreed.
She had stopped by the restroom and was on her way to the lobby to find a ride when she heard, “Em.”
Reid strolled up the hall toward her.
“You weren’t gone long.”
“The plane was waiting when we got there.” He joined her.
“Waiting?”
“Yes. Lucy, my travel person chartered one. I’ll miss her when she retires next year.”
Emily’s eyes went wide with disbelief as she gaped. “You chartered a plane?”
“It would take all day for Billy to get back to California if I didn’t.”
She had the urge to hug him. “Thank you, Reid. That was really nice of you. I’ve had to say that to you a lot lately.”
“No problem.” He smiled. “I’m just glad I could help. How about some lunch?”
“Sounds good. I have something to tell you.”
Two hours later Reid worked to build a fire while Emily made fun of his mumbling and grumbling over working with wet wood.
He hadn’t been pleased to hear about Emily’s report from the meeting. Apparently, he’d been right about someone opening the balloon box. Still there wasn’t nothing to worry about. His material wasn’t illegal. He would be glad to show it off to all comers. The question that truly bothered him was who tipped off the committee to question Emily?
“How about some appreciation from the peanut gallery?” He fought a good fight and finally succeeded in getting a small flame to appear. Reid looked over his shoulder at Emily from where he crouched on his haunches.
“Will this do?” She applauded and went “Woo Hoo.”
Reid stood and went into a deep dramatic bow. He like her with she let her guard down enough to laugh. Flashing a smile in her direction, he returned to blowing and puffing on the fire while adding small pieces of wood until the flame grew brighter.
“You’re a real pioneer man, aren’t you?” Her tone playful.
An indignant look formed on his face. “You didn’t think I could do it, did you?”
“Sure I did.”
His hands rested on his slim hips. “I saw the look on your face. You thought there was no hope.”
“Reid Martin, you have no idea what I was thinking.”
Remaining in front of the fireplace, he stopped feeding wood into the fire and met her look. “Sometimes it’s very clear what’s on your mind.”
Emily’s gaze met his and held for seconds. Was she thinking about their kisses last night like he was? Emily tried to hide her passion, but it escaped through her eyes. Her cheeks turned pink before she looked away. She pulled her legs under her and straightened in her spot on the sofa.
He didn’t like it when she became defensive. He didn’t want to analyze that revelation. He turned back to tending the flame. With the fire going well, he moved to the sofa. Emily shifted as if she feared he might sit too close. He pursed his lips. “Em, I’m not going to bite or pounce on you.”
She leveled a look at him and squared her shoulders. “I know you’re not.”
“Then why’re you acting like I will?”
She didn’t answer him.
Then it dawned on him. It made Emily nervous not to have Billy running interference between them. Satisfaction filled him. That only meant he affected her as much as she did him. Emily had been governing her feelings, the same as him. She was just as aware of them being alone as he.
“How about playing some cards? I saw some on the shelf,” Reid suggested. Maybe that would help put her at ease.
“Okay.”
Amazed she’d agreed with none of her usual debate, he went to the cabinet, found the deck of cards, and met her at the table. He teased, “How about strip poker?”
Her eyes widened. She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Aw come on Em, you afraid I might beat you?”
She sat taller. “Okay, you can give it a try.”
He stared at her unsure what that meant, with an equal part disbelief that she’d agreed.
Emily smiled sweetly. “You can close your mouth now.”
The look on his face must have seemed comical. The shock of her approval of his suggestion still had him addled.
“You deal.” She pushed the cards toward him.
Reid shuffled and dealt the cards. He’d played his share of poker. This should be fun. His imagination already ran wild with visions of her dropping clothes.
Emily fanned her cards in her hand. She placed two cards on the table face down. He gave her two more cards.
Reid called. He had three of a kind to her pair. He couldn’t help but gloat. “You have to take something off.” He watched with interest as Emily’s breasts thrust out as she worked to pull off her sweatshirt. She dropped it beside her chair. He wiggled his brows and pushed the deck toward her. “I’m going to enjoy this game.”
Emily gave him a smirk before she shuffled and dealt.
Reid laid two cards down.
She slid him two more across the table. Lifting the corners of her cards, she looked at him. “I’ll take three cards.”
Reid pushed them to her. He took two.
Emily checked her card. “I’ll stay and call.”
Heated excitement filled him just thinking about what she’d take off next. Reid flipped his cards face up. “A pair.”
She turned hers over. “Two pair. Aces and threes.”
Reid slipped off a shoe.
As the game went along Emily continued to win almost every hand. She had only taken off her shoes and sweatshirt while Reid stripped down to his jeans and underwear. Emily’s focus had been on his chest several times for far too long, making him shift to release some of the pressure behind his zipper. Standing, he prepared to remove his jeans making no effort to conceal what she did to him.
At the sound of a strangled giggle he jerked his gaze to her. “I’ve been conned, haven’t I?”
Emily erupted in great gulps of laughter.
Reid reached for her. Grabbing her by the wrists, he pulled her out of her chair and over the table bringing her hard against his chest. She smelled of wood smoke, pine and sweetness that belonged to her alone. “Just what’s going on here? Are you a professional poker player or something?”
Emily’s chest heaved against his as she giggled. Reid squeezed her tighter discouraging her mirth.
“I was the champion poker player in college. You should’ve seen your face when I won again.” She chuckled. “My brothers refuse to play with me during holiday get-togethers.”
Reid growled. “I deserve compensation for being the brunt of your joke.”
“But it was your idea to play.” She fluttered her eyelids as a sugary innocence surrounded the words.
“That did it. You owe me for being the best natured sap around.”
“You’re the only sap,” she cooed.
His look held hers. “For that you’ll be punished.” Reid’s mouth closed over hers. She stopped laughing.