Chapter Seventeen

Reese, you’re in deep, now.

She propped up on one elbow and watched James sleep. The first rays of dawn spilled in the windows, highlighting the dips and planes across his torso, the strong lines of his face. He’d loved her well, then drifted off beside her. With most men, she would’ve said “sex,” but something about the experience with him couldn’t be explained with that simple three-letter word. It needed more. It was more. And she was in more trouble than she’d ever dreamed.

A shimmer danced across her skin and warmth filled her chest.

I’m falling in love with James MacLachlan. I’ve created a fairy tale that will probably break my heart.

Later that morning, she stared out the kitchen window while washing breakfast dishes. James was talking to three cowboys near the barn. The panes of glass framed the image of her handsome man. Hands on his hips, he laughed at something one of them said. Her heart rate sped to flutter in her throat, and she wanted to touch him and know he was real and not some wild fantasy man she’d created in her imagination. Finally, Ty and the other cowboys drove away, but she continued to enjoy the show outside the window.

The day was warm, and pieces of hay stuck to his moist skin. He pulled his shirt over his head and turned on the hose. Water sloshed across his extended arm and chest. Rivulets disappeared into the waistband of his jeans, darkening the faded denim. So focused on the enticing show outside, she dropped a heavy pot into the soapy water and drenched the front of her white T-shirt and jean shorts. Without a bra, the fabric became almost transparent. She turned to go change but took one more look out the window and got a lovely idea.

When she made it to the side of the barn, he was bent at the waist running water over his back and head.

“Hey, cowboy.”

He straightened and stood silently, pupils dilating and water splashing on his boots. She took the hose from his frozen grip and let it run down the front of her body, gasping at the shock of cold water.

He licked his lips. “I… Oh… Wow…”

“My breasts have turned you into a one-syllable caveman.” She splashed herself again for good measure, then turned off the water.

He didn’t take his eyes off her wet T-shirt as he yanked her flush against his chest, only thin, wet cotton separating them. His eyes blazed, and he sucked her lower lip into his mouth, teasing it with the tip of his tongue. “You’re so gorgeous.” He scooped her into his arms and headed toward the house at a rapid pace. “Let’s get indoors and away from any curious eyes so I can have you as my second breakfast.”

A breeze blew, and she shivered from the chill and his suggestive words. “Hope I’m not keeping you from anything too pressing.”

“I’ll show you something pressing, sweet Reese. And whatever it was I was about to do, which I can’t remember at the moment, will have to wait.”

“A man with priorities. I like it. I would say sorry for interrupting your work, but it would be a lie.” Her back came to rest against the inside of the kitchen door, their kiss heated and deep. She lifted the hem of her drenched shirt, but his hands gripped hers.

“Leave it.” A sexy smile lit up his whole face. “But we can lose the rest.” He bent his head and sucked water from her T-shirt in two very strategic locations.

Defenseless under his touch, her head fell back to rest against the door. The sudden warmth of his mouth over the cold, wet cotton sparked trails of fire across her body. Her shorts were gone before she had time to form a coherent thought.

James lifted her. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

She eagerly complied, and the wet skin across his abs was a shock of cold, making her gasp.

He didn’t stop until they’d reached the master bedroom.

She loosened her legs at the bedside and reclined on her side while he yanked off his boots and jeans, proving the cold water hadn’t affected him in any negative way.

James fumbled in the bedside drawer and then gripped her hips, sliding her to the edge of the bed, making her wet shirt ride up. Heat shimmered across her body, and they both uttered the same unintelligible sounds as they joined.

She met him touch for touch, kiss for kiss. Her mind caught up to her heart and accepted the final leap into love.

Can he feel my love mixed with the passion?

Later that afternoon, Reese sprang from the chair at the library desk and did her happy dance, her heart racing as her hips rotated, arms punching the air. She rushed back to her open laptop to reassure herself that she’d read the email from National Geographic correctly.

I’m not dreaming.

“Hell, yes. I rock.” When she spun around and caught James smiling from the doorway, she performed one more hip shimmy and grinned with her arms still in the air. “How long have you been standing there?”

He was across the room in a few quick strides and pulled her into his arms. “Long enough to know you’re happy about something.”

Doing her best not to squeal in his ear, she couldn’t help vibrating in his embrace. “I got an email from National Geographic. I made the cut, and I’m one of the final five people left in the running for the job.”

Lifting her from her feet, he spun once. “That’s amazing, sweetheart. I knew you could do it. Congratulations.”

She was one step closer to accomplishing a major career goal. “Even if this is as far as I go, it’s a huge accomplishment.”

“I one hundred percent agree. You should be proud. I sure am.”

“And adding this to my resume could help with getting a job somewhere else if needed. I have another photo assignment. This time it’s totally up to me what I do.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not sure yet.” They swayed together, spreading contentment through every part of her. “I’m too excited. I still can’t believe I made it this far.”

“I liked your happy dance,” he said and chuckled.

“I can’t believe you saw that.”

“Later you can do an encore performance, naked.”

She laughed and kissed the warm, tanned skin above the neck of his shirt. “If you’re a good cowboy, I’ll consider it.”

“Ready to head into town? We’ve got to take a box of dishes to Grams and then stop by my dad’s office.”

“Just let me change my clothes.” After swapping her casual shorts for a flowing tie-dyed skirt and leather flipflops with rhinestones, she grabbed her phone from the bedside charger and realized she’d missed a call from Susie. Her heart gave a little jump. Sitting on the bed, she listened to the message.

“Hey, Reese. Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, but I’ve got some info. Mr. E talked to a Duncan MacLachlan. I don’t know details, but I do know nothing is signed or official. I’ll keep digging and see what else I can discover. Talk soon.”

Reese sucked in a sharp breath, anxiety making her tremble. She jumped to her feet and stared at the wall as if the answers might scroll across it like ticker tape. How was she supposed to tell James that his father was talking to a man he considered an enemy? If she’d only been able to confirm this info sooner, she could’ve pushed harder for them to talk. But now, they’d see Duncan in just a little while, and she really didn’t want to be there for a conversation that was sure to be uncomfortable.

Wait. She shook her head. I’m jumping to conclusions that this is bad news.

It was way more likely Duncan had talked to Mr. Everett to tell him they would not sell. There was no reason to get James worked up about something she didn’t know to be true.

Reese climbed out of James’s truck in front of MacLachlan Realty, located in a restored historic home that reminded her of a gingerbread cottage. An uneasy, edgy feeling hovered over her head. When they climbed the steps, the cloud of dread thickened.

I should’ve warned him about his dad talking to Mr. Everett.

James dropped her hand and tucked her under his arm. “You suddenly seem a million miles away. Are you nervous about seeing my dad?”

“I guess. A little bit.”

His lips brushed her ear. “I know I’ve said some things about him being distant and hard on me, but I promise he won’t bite your head off or anything near that sinister.”

Reese tried to laugh, but it came out choked, and she cleared her throat.

A gray-haired receptionist with red glasses and matching lipstick greeted them as they entered. “Hello, James. What can I do for you today?”

“Afternoon, Mrs. Tracy. I need to talk to my father.”

“He’s in a meeting. Would you like to wait?”

“Yes, thanks.” He led Reese over to a love seat.

A door opened and two male voices drifted out, laughing like old friends.

Her breath caught on a ragged inhale and tendrils of shock sent cold waves along her spine. One of the voices was very distinctive, and familiar. Chet Everett stepped out of the office with Duncan MacLachlan.

Reese shot to her feet, her heart clawing up her throat. No! This can’t be happening!

James jerked his head to look at her. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

Before she could utter a word, Mr. Everett spoke. “Reese? I didn’t expect to see you here. I see you’re still trying to get your hands on that land and house that belonged to your grandparents.”

James dropped his hand from the small of her back and looked at her with confusion etched on his face. “Who’s this man?”

“I…um…” Her voice locked as if in a nightmare, but her eyes darted between the three men watching her like she had all the answers. Panic surged, weakening her muscles and making her heart race. She hadn’t said anything about her suspicions about him talking to Duncan and now this whole thing would look way worse than it was.

“I’m Chet Everett.” He held out a hand.

James flinched like he’d been slapped and ignored the offered handshake. “You’re that developer who’s been sending me letters.” His tone conveyed loathing.

“That’s me.” He turned to Reese. “Did you get your paycheck?”

Just when she’d thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Why wouldn’t this man shut up? She shook her head, wishing her feet would move so she could run, but it was too late. Trying to deal with everything on her own was coming back to bite her in the ass good and hard.

“Paycheck?” James said, steel in his voice, betrayal burning like fire on his face.

She willed her expression to tell James how sorry she was, but a void suddenly opened and stretched immense between them.

Chet continued talking. “Your photos are just what I needed, and I sent a glowing recommendation to National Geographic. And it’s extra helpful to have pictures of the structures that already exist on the MacLachlan Ranch.”

“Structures?” Reese’s world spun. Vision wavered. Heartbeats boomed in her ears and chest. And now, another helping of it can always get worse was heaped on top of her day.

What photo file did I send? What have I done?