Mustang Sassy (19 page)

But there was something about Sass that had him spiraling out of control. Every time he vowed to stay away, every time he vowed not to make a move, it all went out the freakin’ window the minute he saw her. She was all he could think about. Sass on her back, Sass on her hands and knees, Sass bent over the hood of her sleek, sexy car.

Actually, he didn’t even have to see her for his body to respond to her. Today, all it took was hearing her car pull into the driveway and his pulse began racing. In the few seconds it took to round the cabin, Jordan tossed all of his carefully planned control, giving in to his desire for her. He’d never met another woman like her, so unbelievably passionate but with not one iota of desire for commitment. If all Sass wanted was a physical relationship, well that’s what he’d give her because he was incapable of doing anything else.

Hell, if he had his way, Sass would be at the cabin every day, swimming, taking a turn at the bag, posing for pictures, eating his food. Sleeping in his bed. The bed that was actually her bed. The one she was determined not to share with him. But there was no way he was going to let Sass know how much it bothered him that she could so easily walk away from him.

A cold finger of foreboding ran from the base of his neck down his spine making him shiver despite the warmth of the day.

He glanced at Sass, intent on telling her to stop the car so he could confess everything. But then she peeked over at him and blushed—something Jordan would never have believed possible—and he forgot what he meant to say. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” she answered too quickly.

“Come on. We don’t need to keep secrets.” Jordan clenched his fist at his own hypocrisy.

“I was just thinking about something Libby gave me.”

“Oh?” Then Jordan remembered what Libby did for a living. “Oh.”

Laughing an uneasy laugh, she continued, “Yeah she gave me this kit full of stuff, like oils and balms and feathers and…” She glanced down at Jordan’s hand, which had slipped to her knee and was even now making its way up her thigh. One mention of sex and his body parts began to act of their own volition.

When their eyes met, her hazel eyes were filled with such unreserved lust that Jordan almost ordered her to pull the car over immediately, all thoughts of confessing his sins completely forgotten in favor of committing more. But the sign for Sterling’s first exit flashed past and the mood was broken as Sass slowed the car down to turn onto the exit ramp.

With some effort, Jordan pulled his left hand away from her skin and wrapped it around the fist of his right hand, squeezing hard enough to hear his knuckles pop.

“You hungry” Sass asked, her voice a little shaky. “Because I’m starving.” She pulled into a drive-through burger joint called Galaxy Burgers. The burgers were huge and steeped in grease, but Jordan was so hungry he ate two of them and a bag of onion rings and chased it all with a chocolate shake. Sass ate with even more relish than he’d witnessed at the cabin, licking the grease off her fingers with something akin to orgasmic bliss. The sight had him so turned-on, he had to turn away in order to keep himself under control.

Their next stop was Brawn’s Gym where Sass got completely outfitted with a speed bag, gloves, tape, a chain and hanger. She eyed a couple of the full-size punching bags with reverence but after checking the price tag moved away to make her purchases. Jordan should have felt a little calmer after the trip to the gym, but there was something about riding beside Sass in her powerful car that got his blood boiling the minute he was inside. He was so distracted by her, by images of her taking her ire out on the little punching bag, her face intent, her arms flying, her sweet little body sweating and naked, that he didn’t notice they were once again heading in the wrong direction.

“Where are we going?”

She glanced at him and said, “I need to stop in Chesterville to see someone. I hope you don’t mind.”

Chesterville was about halfway between Denver and Greenview and it felt strange to be so close to home and yet to feel so very far away. As if reading his mind, Sass said, “I could drive you back to Denver if you like. Or, you could take the Camaro. You don’t have to stay in Greenview or at the cabin. The car might not be done for another week or two while we wait for parts. I’d hate to keep you from something.”

Jordan studied Sass, wondering if she was trying to get rid of him or just trying to give him an out. Either way, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going home until he had a car to take home with him. “Nah,” he said. “I’m on vacation. If I go home, I’ll just get caught up in everything and end up working when I don’t want to. I’d much rather stay at the cabin.”

Sass’s face split into a lovely grin she quickly covered up with a fake cough and then she didn’t say another word for the rest of the trip to Chesterville.

…

Turning down the tree-lined drive of the Willow Springs Seniors Lodge, Sass managed to find a parking spot in the shade.

“Do you have a grandparent here?” Jordan asked.

“No. A friend. Today’s my day to visit and I hate missing. I’d invite you in, but…then I’d have to explain who you are and—”

“Who am I?” Jordan’s expression was odd. Defensive.

She forced a laugh. “You’re a guy just passing through.”

“Right.”

“Jordan?”

“Go visit, Sass. I’ll be right here.”

Sass hopped out of the car and walked slowly to the front doors. What was up with City-boy? Why was he acting all weird? As if he wanted to come in and be introduced to Millie. He was going to be gone in a week.

Her tummy roiled at the thought.

When she entered the lodge, the smells of dinner greeted her and Sass turned down the hall toward the dining room. As expected, Millie was seated by the window, laughing and chatting with her tablemates, gabbing more than she was eating.

“Oh, Sass! I was wondering if you were going to show today. Pull up a chair.”

One gruff old fellow that she was sure had a crush on Millie, stood up and said, “She can have my chair. I’m done.” He pushed himself away from the table and then grabbed his walker and ambled down the hall to his room.

“Have you been arguing with Walter again?” Sass asked.

Millie rolled her eyes. “Someone’s got to put him in his place, the old coot.” She dabbed at her lips with her paper napkin and then turned to the woman sitting on her left. “Mrs. Ford, this is my friend, Miss Hogan.” Then she turned to Sass. “Sass, this is Mrs. Ford.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Sass said as she reached across the table and shook the frail hand of Mrs. Ford. She had met Mrs. Ford at least fifty times, but the little lady had Alzheimer’s and didn’t remember her own children let alone Sass. Although Millie hadn’t known her before moving into the home, Mrs. Ford seemed to be less agitated while in Millie’s company.

“Are you hungry? I can see if the kitchen can bring another plate,” Millie said.

She eyed the lump of processed chicken, mushy peas, and canned corn, and shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ve already eaten.”

Millie pushed the food around on her plate but didn’t bring any to her lips. “You’re looking frazzled, what’s going on?”

“Nothing, I’ve just been busy.”

“Busy doing what?”

Sass shrugged. “Work. I’m rebuilding a ’67 Fastback.” She proceeded to tell Millie about all the troubles she had in the shop the other day, everything that went wrong. It was clear Millie had no clue what she was talking about, but that was the great thing about Millie, she always listened to her even when Sass was talking about things she wasn’t remotely interested in.

Finally, Mill placed a quivering hand on Sass’s hand and said, “What is going on? Why do you keep glancing out the window?”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” Millie frowned and studied Sass’s face, forcing her to turn away. She only turned back when she heard Millie back her wheelchair up and away from the table and head toward the window to see for herself.

“What are you doing?”

“Going to see what is so fascinating out there.”

“Nothing. There is nothing out there.”

Though Millie’s limbs weren’t as strong as they once were, her eyesight was still pretty good. The windows overlooked the parking lot and Sass’s Corvette stuck out like a banana in a bowl full of cherries.

“Who’s that sitting in your car?”

“No one.”

“No one?” she turned to Sass and gave her that quizzical teacher’s look that she’d perfected after thirty-five years in the classroom. “I can’t believe you left ‘no one’ out there. Now, go and invite ‘no one’ in for tea. I’ll ask one of the nurses to bring a pot to my room.”

“But—”

Millie was already wheeling her way over to the kitchen to make her request. She turned and pointed at Sass, then at her car.

She groaned. Maybe Jordan would decline her invitation. Except if he did, and she returned without him, Millicent Delacroix would wheel that chair of hers outside and invite him in herself. It was a scene Sass could do without. So she tapped on Jordan’s window and when he rolled it down she said, “C’mon.”

“Huh?”

“There’s someone I guess you should meet.”

He regarded her curiously but didn’t argue as he got out of the car and followed her into the lodge, down the hall to Millie’s room. The nurse was just leaving as they entered and Millie was busy setting her good china—one of the few treasures she had kept besides her books—out on her small coffee table. When she heard them, she turned her chair around and wheeled to the door to greet them.

“Jordan, this is my friend, Millicent Delacroix. Millie, this is Jordan Michaels.”

Jordan took a step closer and leaned down to take Millie’s hand. “Mrs. Delacroix.”

“Ms.,” Millie corrected. “I’ve never been married.” She patted Jordan’s hand and smiled mysteriously. “Yet.”

Jordan grinned. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you. I wish I could say Sass has told me all about you, but I’m afraid that would be a lie.” She glanced at Sass with one of her slim eyebrows raised.

“Don’t look at me like that. There’s nothing to tell,” Sass said quickly. “Jordan’s car is in our shop. That’s it.”

“Oh, the Fastup?”

“Fastback.”

“Right.” Millie was no fool. She saw exactly what was going on. But, to Sass’s relief, she didn’t question any further. She just backed her chair up and indicated the small love seat opposite the coffee table. “Please sit and have some tea with an old lady.”

Jordan sat.

“I’d rather stand, thanks.”

“Sass Hogan, sit your bottom down.”

It was sophomore year all over again. Reluctantly, Sass sat as far away from City-boy as the couch would allow.

“Would you do the honors please, Sass.”

Groaning, she said, “Mill, you know china cups and I don’t mix. I chip them every time.”

“There’s no sense having it if you aren’t going to use it, I always say.” Millie winked conspiratorially at Jordan.

Sass took a deep breath and poured the tea. The delicate china rattled in her hands but she managed to finish the task without any major mishaps.

“So, Mr. Michaels, what do you do?”

Sass was prepared to hear all about his
marketing
career, but he surprised her.

“I’m an artist.”

Her head snapped as she turned to stare at Jordan.

“An artist?” Millie said with an appreciative gleam in her eyes. “What medium?”

“Mostly pencil and paper. Charcoal too and occasionally acrylic.”

“My, my.” Millie took a sip of tea and eyed Sass over the lip of her cup.

The whole time, Sass sat on her hands. She didn’t dare try to pick up the tiny teacup. With the way Millie was scrutinizing her, her hands were sure to give her away.

“Are you any good?”

Jordan chuckled and the deep, rumbling sound sent weird, little quivers down low into Sass’s belly. She answered for him. “I’ve seen a few of his drawings. He’s very talented. You should see his car designs.”

Millie’s little wink told Sass she ought to keep her mouth shut.

“Ever teach classes?” Millie asked.

“Yes. I’ve taught some continuing-education courses. Figure drawing mostly.”

“Nudes.”

“Yes.”

“Fascinating. Cars and nudes.”

“You’d be surprised at the similarity.”

Thank God Sass had refrained from drinking her tea because she was pretty sure she would have spewed it at the mention of “nudes.” She felt like she was a spectator in some bizarre tennis match, one that had nothing to do with her. First there was the unholy gleam in Millie’s eyes and secondly there was City-boy. Apparently Jordan had a whole life outside of Greenview and the cabin. A life far removed from hers and one she would never be a part of.

“I’d love to see some.”

“I have some out at the cabin.”

“The cabin?” Millie’s voice rose with the question.

“Yes. I’m staying at Moyer’s Reservoir while I wait for my car to be fixed.”

“At Sass’s cabin?” Millie’s voice somehow managed to go even higher.

Sass cringed.

“Yes. I—”

“He was on vacation.” She rushed to fill in the gaps before Jordan said something she’d regret. “He needed a place to stay and the cabin is ten times better than the Greenwood Inn.”

“I see.”

Sass had little doubt Millie did “see.” Everything.

“Okay, well…” Sass stood. “I’ve got an early morning at the shop and I still have to drop Jordan off, so we’d better be on our way.”

“So soon? You haven’t even touched your tea.”

“Yep.”

Jordan took one last sip of his tea before he stood and it took all of Sass’s self-control not to tap her toe as she waited.

“Have you had a chance to watch the movie yet?” Millie asked.

“Um, no.” Sass shot Millie her evilest eye.

“What movie?” Jordan asked, looking back and forth between the women.

“
Ten Things I Hate About You
.”

“Ah.
The Taming of the Shrew
. It’s a great remake,” Jordan said.

“I like you,” Millie said, apparently full of glee with her interference. “Sass, you should take the movie out to the cabin and—”