Deacon's Touch (3 page)

"How come you're up so early? Aren't you still on Pacific Time?"

Unfortunately, yes. “I wanted to get a jump on things."

He gave her a funny look and followed her back to her table. When he saw her computer, his eyebrows shot up. “You're working?"

Her jaw tensed. What was everyone's problem with that? She took the responsibilities that came with her job very seriously. Aside from taking pride in her work, she had no one else to rely on to help pay her bills. Being single and financially independent demanded certain sacrifices. “Yeah, trading in New York starts any minute now."

He seemed surprised. “God, don't tell Dane what you're doing. He'll talk your damn ear off."

"Why, is he a stock broker, too?"

"Nah, but he's got a business degree and always wanted to work on Wall Street.” He straightened and took a sip of his coffee.

Assuming the polite conversation was over, she sat at her computer, relieved to see she had three bars of reception. And
voila
, the Internet seemed to be working. She opened her e-mail account, eager to get everything buttoned up and ease some of the guilt she felt for taking time away from the office.

In the middle of reading her first e-mail, a big hand planted itself on the table next to her laptop. Strong and long-fingered, the kind that would make a woman purr and sigh when it stroked her bare skin.

"You
are
planning on having some fun while you're here, right?” His voice held a note of amusement.

She swung her gaze up to look at him and got an eyeful of sculpted muscles beneath his skin-tight T-shirt before continuing up to his clean-shaven face. His closeness unnerved her because it awakened feminine interest that had been buried for a long time. Was he doing it on purpose? She couldn't tell, but obviously the man didn't lack confidence with the opposite sex. He smelled deliciously clean, a mix of soap and some sort of woodsy cologne.

She leaned back in her seat, trying to subtly put a few more inches between them. The cowboy was way too handsome for his own good, and something told her he knew it. His self-assurance bordered right on arrogance, but so far he'd balanced it with enough manners that he managed not to come off looking like a jerk. Until he opened his mouth and made her feel defensive, that is.

"I've just got a few things to take care of,” she said, fighting to keep her tone civil. If she had to explain herself one more time to anyone this weekend, she wasn't going to be as polite. “I'll have this wrapped up by the time everyone else gets here for breakfast anyway."

His dark blue eyes swept over her face and down to her cleavage, and the heated desire in them made her breath catch. Men didn't look at her like that. “Suit yourself."

He left her staring after him, a hot blush rising in her cheeks. Had she imagined that interested look in his eyes?

Oh, stop it. Like you'd do anything about it anyhow.

Still, she couldn't help but sneak a peek at his butt as he sauntered away in those snug jeans. Mmm, the man looked as good going as he did coming. In another lifetime, she might have been daring enough to flirt a little and see where things went, but not anymore. She had too much to do and had never been into flings anyway.

And wasn't that a shame.

Decaon didn't mind helping his brothers out with the ranch while their parents were away, but since his task master big brother had ordered him to accompany the group to the bar tomorrow night, this afternoon was pretty much his only free time for the whole weekend.

A run into San Antonio was exactly what he needed to shake off this feeling of restlessness. Besides, he was uncomfortably attracted to a certain little brunette staying at the ranch, and Dillon had given him the okay to take off for the night. Truth be told, he could use a break from the both of them.

With Toby Keith turned up and the AC cranked in the comfy leather cab of his new truck, he got onto the long road that led to the main gate. The sun was already sinking behind the hills, bathing the ranch in a blaze of orange and scarlet. Pretty, but somehow it didn't feel like home anymore. Nowhere did.

About a quarter mile from the gate, he saw someone walking ahead of him on the road. A woman in complete silhouette against the setting sun, and she had one hell of a figure. One of the guests? What the hell was she doing all the way out here by herself, on foot? She carried some kind of bag over her shoulder, and her head was bent so he couldn't see her profile.

He slowed as he pulled up behind her, and she turned when she finally heard the truck. “What the...” Jessica?

Deke rolled down the passenger window and stopped beside her, tipping his sunglasses up onto his head so she could see his face better. Christ, she had her phone in her hand and her damn briefcase with her.

"What are you doing?” he demanded before he could temper his words.

She ignored his curt tone and waved the phone around in frustration. “I couldn't get a signal at the ranch house, and Ashley said she always gets reception near the gate."

Good God, she was serious. She'd walked all the way from the ranch house in ninety degree heat just to get a cell signal. In some sort of flip-flops with a little flower nestled between her pedicured toes. The woman was a piece of work. “Get in,” he said, popping the passenger door open.

Jessica hesitated a moment, then climbed in. “Thanks."

He shot her a sidelong look as he headed for the gate, taking in her snug tank top and jeans. She filled them out real nice, and with her long dark curls framing her flushed cheeks, she made a very sexy picture sitting there in his truck. What kind of lingerie was she wearing today? “I thought you came here for a vacation."

She scowled. “You sound like Bridgette."

"Just sayin'. It's not real common for our guests to spend their weekend here working.” Let alone at the end of the driveway. God knew she'd paid enough to be here, with the flights and all.

Her expression turned almost mutinous. “I tried to get everything done this morning before breakfast, but it didn't happen. I have some important things to finish up, then I'm free for the rest of the weekend."

"Why didn't you just ask someone to drive you instead of walking all this way?"

She shrugged. “I didn't want to bug anyone, and I needed the exercise."

If she wanted exercise, he'd gladly help her out. Orgasms burned up a lot of calories. He'd love to muss her up a little, make her let go of her inhibitions.

Her gaze settled on his face. “What about you? You aren't going to the shooting range with the others?"

He almost laughed. “Not likely."

"How come?"

"I got my fill of shooting in the Air Force."

Her eyes brightened. “You were in the Air Force?"

He nodded. “For twelve years.” And he missed it like hell. Likely always would.

"My favorite uncle's an Air Force vet. A pilot. What did you do?"

"A bit of everything, except flying,” he said evasively, but it was the truth.
A jack of all trades, master of none,
went the Pararescue saying.

She studied him for a long moment. “You seem...harder than the average military guy. There's an edge to you."

Her scrutiny made him uncomfortable because she was dead on. He shrugged. “I did some time in Special Ops."

"Ah. Thought so."

He had to admit her analysis impressed him. But he wasn't going to say as much.

The gate loomed ahead, the black iron slats backlit by the sunset. Someone had yanked the “N” down again, making the sign read “Dume Ranch.”
Do Me Ranch
, as the local kids liked to tease. Dillon was going to shit a brick when he saw it. Deke grinned at the thought and decided to leave it for his hard-ass eldest brother to find in the morning during his daily perimeter check, or maybe later tonight. No doubt he was still out doing chores somewhere on the property.

Pulling up at the gate, he was surprised when Jessica grabbed her door handle and started to push it open. “Thanks for the lift."

Without thinking, he shot out a hand and caught her forearm. Her skin was warm and silky smooth beneath his encircling fingers. She looked over her shoulder at him with startled amber eyes. “What?"

"What are you going to do, sit by the gate while you make some calls and finish up your work?"

"Yeah, why?"

Jesus, the woman was as relentless as Dillon. He put the truck into park. “Get back in here, and shut the door."

Her chin lifted, and a spark of irritation lit her eyes. “No thanks. You carry on to wherever it is you're going."

He firmed his grip on her arm. “I'm not going to drive off and leave you sitting out here in the dust all by yourself. Get back inside."

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you this rude to everyone, or do I just annoy you more than most?"

It took him a moment to shut his open mouth. “No,” he bit out and felt like shit for being so curt. “Sorry. It's not you.” He drew a deep breath. “I meant you can finish up in here where there's air conditioning, then I'll drive you back to the lodge."

Jessica studied him for a moment, as if she were trying to decide whether the offer was genuine, then glanced toward the gate. “I'm fine, really. And I don't want to keep you from your plans."

He bit back a sigh and tried to soften his tone. “I don't have any set plans, so you might as well sit in here where it's comfortable and do what you have to do.” Must have been a hell of an important job she was finishing if it warranted walking almost a mile in this heat.

"All right,” she finally said. “Thanks. It won't take long."

He nodded and left the engine idling so they could take advantage of the AC. Her face brightened when she checked her phone. “It's working."

"I'm glad for you, sugar.” He couldn't help the sardonic edge to his voice.

Tossing him a wry grin, she dialed a number. He eased back into his seat and listened to her chat with someone back in Seattle. He liked the sound of her voice, and the confidence she displayed in her work. She was a dedicated employee, he'd give her that, and obviously smart. With brisk efficiency she got her laptop up and running as she discussed certain trades and files, then dug into her briefcase to run through some paperwork. “Say that last one again. Pete?"

A frown suddenly marred her brow as she reviewed some figures. “Hello?” Her expression became distressed, and she came out of her seat, almost crawling up onto the dash with her phone still attached to her ear. “Hello?” She checked the display and set the phone down. “Damn. Lost him.” She dialed a couple more times, but to no avail. When she finally hung up, she looked at him with such disappointment that he almost laughed.

Well, he wasn't going to drive the damn truck back and forth in the driveway just to keep the signal for her. “Tell you what. Come into town with me, and I'll find you a coffee shop to sit and work.” He'd drive past a Starbucks sooner or later, and there were worse things in life than spending time with a sexy woman, even if she was more interested in her paperwork than talking to him.

Her eyebrows shot up. “You'd do that?"

"Yeah.” He was sitting in his truck at the end of the driveway for her, wasn't he?

She lowered her gaze. “It's just that you don't seem to like me much, so..."

Like her? “Sugar, I like you fine.” She was sweet, and for damn sure he was attracted to her. He'd like to do a lot more than sit in his truck and talk with her, but she'd never go for that. Besides, she was a guest, and company policy dictated he and his brothers had to keep their hands off. Yet the thought of stroking those firm curves made him tempted to break the rules.

Pushing the thought aside, he turned out of the gates and headed for Bandera.

Her quiet statement about him not liking her made him feel like an asshole. He hadn't always been so gruff. At one time, he'd been fun loving and smooth as butter with the ladies. The accident had changed all that. The low grade pain he suffered on a daily basis wore on him, but somewhere along the way he'd developed a habit of growling at people and didn't even realize it. Then his divorce had soured him on the whole idea of a long term relationship. If he wanted a woman, he went after her, but only for a night or two. Not with a woman like Jessica though. Even if company policy allowed that kind of thing, he doubted she'd be into that sort of arrangement.

Though he had to admit, he was damned curious about what she'd be like in bed. Her shy and introverted nature clashed with the interested glint in her eyes when she looked at him. And then there was that lacy push-up bra she'd worn last night that he couldn't stop thinking about. He wondered if she wore something as sexy today. Would she be shy or aggressive during sex? He imagined letting her on top to ride him while her pert breasts bobbed and her dark curls flowed down her back, but that didn't feel right.

He'd much rather pin her to the bed and make her eyes flare with the realization she was trapped beneath him. The faintest hint of uncertainty to mix with the heat as she realized she was helpless and at his mercy. And when her body finally trembled, then melted in acknowledgement of his command over her, he'd give her the pleasure she needed. The thought made his cock swell in his jeans.

With effort, he yanked his mind out of the gutter. “So, Jessica. How come you're not spending more time with the girls this weekend?"

She folded her arms under her delectable breasts in an almost defensive gesture. “I've spent lots of time with them today, and now I need to finish up a few things."

"But you're not really having fun now, are you?"

"I am.” She fidgeted in her seat. “I mean, I'm not exactly a live wire, but I like the ranch and the girls are nice. Your brothers, too."

He hid a grin. “But not me?"

She flushed. “Of course, you too. It's just that I kind of got roped into this whole thing at the last second."

The mention of the word rope made him think of her bound and helpless while he had his wicked way with her. Would she ever relinquish that much control? She didn't seem the submissive type, but it made for an awesome fantasy. He shifted in his seat, cursing his suddenly too-tight jeans. “So what do you like to do for fun then?"