Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 3) (12 page)

Pfft! Sofie was too smart to fall for that shit! The ex didn’t deserve her back.

Jennifer snuggled up close to his side, running her long fingernail down his cheek. “I’m not very hungry, at least not for food. I’ve never been on staff row since I’m staying I the apartment above the offices. Care to give me a tour?”

Jared stiffened, but not behind the zipper. “I have a better idea.”

****

Sofie went back into her office and had a strong urge to kick the sofa leg. But she didn’t. She wore her best heels and couldn’t depart with them.

She growled and dropped down onto the cushion. Jealousy burned its way through her. Sure, it had always been obvious that Jennifer had a huge girl crush on Jared. That’s all the girl talked about, and when he was around, she pulled her neckline down to show off the fake boobs her daddy bought her on her eighteenth birthday.

Sofie, stop!

Judging Jennifer wouldn’t ease the jealousy. She was a sweet, young girl. It wasn’t her fault that Sofie was sexually frustrated and angry. And it wasn’t as if Jared would sleep with Jennifer…no. Of course not!

Doubt pounded at logic’s door with a good dose of distrust.
Would he?

He wouldn’t do that! He wouldn’t sleep with Sofie, then fall into bed with a sweet girl just to spur Sofie into a jealous rage. He’d accused her of basically doing the same thing. Sleeping with him to get over Chase. It infuriated her to the center of her bone marrow.

The familiar beating between her inner thighs reminded her that even though she’d used her vibrator today, she still wasn’t satisfied.

Oh shit! She was becoming an older version of Jennifer. Jared had walked in and her brain froze into medial prefrontal cortex icicles. She was no longer able to make good decisions.

Oh hell no! She was too old to be acting like a college co-ed salivating over the hunky boy. She certainly wouldn’t lose her self-respect over a man who was probably buck naked with Jennifer whispering sweet-talk in her ear, just as he’d done with Sofie.

He’d treated her indifferently this evening. As if she deserved to be treated with such a callous attitude. It wasn’t as if she forced herself on him last night or that he didn’t enjoy himself. Yeah, he’d not only enjoyed himself, but he’d wanted more this morning.

And she’d…oh nooo…shunned him. She’d blown him off when he’d kissed her shoulder, flashed that dazzling smile in her direction. He’d wanted to talk, but she’d been a cold witch!

She got up, pacing her office. A soft knock came. Jared?

No.

She found Chase in the hallway.

Why didn’t her heart pound heavily against her ribcage? Her inner thighs throb or her knees weaken? Not one little, itty-bitty trace of desire. Yes, he was a gorgeous cowboy, and kind to boot. He was understanding, sweet, and had always treated her like—a sister. She gulped air. No woman ever wanted to sleep with a man who was like her brother. She shook her head, chasing the thought out of her mind.

“Sorry to bother you, but I’m leaving for the evening and I saw your light on.”

“What is it? Do you need something?” she asked.

“We didn’t get to finish our conversation earlier, but are we good?” He shifted awkwardly in his boots.

She wanted to slap her inner self, the one that had made things uncomfortable between them. For no reason. She’d acted out of loneliness, but that wasn’t what sent her into Jared’s arms. Sweltering passion had played a huge role. “We’re good, really. I hope you’re considering offering the job to Kaycee. I know you haven’t said what you’ve decided.” The connection between the two had been obvious.

He blinked and scrubbed his jaw. “How’d you know I was thinking of her?”

Sofie shrugged. “Call it intuition. You two seemed, well, matched. Don’t let it pass.” She wanted her boss to be happy. He deserved happiness and love.

And so did Sofie.

“I’m not sure it’s for the best.”

“Chase, you’re placing too many rules on yourself and on your staff. I understand you want to run a tight ship, but it’s time you face the fact that Nirvana is a place where love blooms. It’s not a bad thing. Kaycee fits Nirvana. I think she’ll find herself here, find answers to her questions. Give her the gift of Nirvana, won’t you? Just as you’ve given all of us here the gift.” She winked.

He smiled. “I can’t say I understand everything you’re insinuating, but thank you. We’ll talk soon, okay?”

She opened her mouth, debating if she should add more about Kaycee. Tell him that she knew the other woman was actually K.D. Hart, the journalist who wrote the false article on Nirvana, but something told Sofie to let it go. Time had a way of working the kinks out.

Long after Chase left, Sofie had replayed her own words in her head.

Lust wasn’t wrong. Love was certainly not an evil feeling. What was wrong if she wanted to experience a little joy with Jared? She’d always lived her life doing what was right, being the woman her ex wanted her to be. Truthfully, she wasn’t a perfect wife. She had strived to be as close as she could possibly be, but the effort had drained her. She’d become a miserable woman acting like a robot, a blueprinted version of her old self. Now she was finding the lost girl who loved to laugh and found joy in living.

Jared made her feel. And brought her more emotion than she ever believed possible.

She wouldn’t sit back and watch another woman slip in on her territory.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jared dropped Jennifer off at the kitchen, went back to his cabin, and heated mac and cheese up in the microwave. It didn’t come close to the pork chops he’d been craving, but after telling Jennifer, point blank, that he wasn’t interested, he decided he needed space.

After wolfing down the cold, rubbery pasta, he took a quick shower and washed off the day’s events. His muscles and his mind were tired. He laid down naked on his bed, still crumpled from making love with Sofie, his mind drifting to her soft body lying next to him. Her large dark eyes staring at him, full of desire. Her long ebony hair spread across his pillow and her luscious curves that could make a man forget that he wasn’t the falling-in-love type.

He’d never been affected this way.

Desired raged through him, red-hot and crushing. Usually after he’d slept with a woman he’d be satisfied for a good week or so, but he’d been raging in desire since he pulled himself out of Sofie’s body, ready to go again.

He closed his eyes and an image of her bombarded his brain like a chisel chipping away at his sanity. Her beautiful expressive eyes, radiant skin, kissable pouty lips, and long hair that hung down her back in a silken blanket—he’d imagined, time and time again, how her hair felt brushing across his chest.

Groaning, he rolled to his side, his hard cock rubbing the wrinkled sheet. Tingles shot through his shaft. A familiar scent accosted his nostrils bringing back every feeling and memory of what he shared with Sofie here just twenty-four hours ago. His dick pulsated and the rest of his muscles followed. He wasn’t sure what feeling had crawled into his heart and was making itself right at home. Sure, she was beautiful with a controlled naughtiness that excited him beyond words.

He hadn’t been planning to feel this way—however, even not planning it, his mind and body had a mind of their own. He’d never made love to a woman and had unrelenting desire rushing through him so thick he couldn’t breathe. He was confused. He’d found unbelievable satisfaction with her, and yet he was left completely unsatisfied. The yearning was like a book of matches being lit at every change of the breeze. He was a hopeless case.

He buried his face into his pillow, what little good that did when he got a stronger whiff of Sofie.
Grrrr.

He rolled onto his back and stretched his legs wide. His erection stood straight toward the ceiling and his balls ached. This was quite self-deserving. How many women had he slept with over the years and then walked away to never call them?

Sofie was off limits and a complicated case. He didn’t need the drama that came with her. Once he’d overheard her talking to Chase that morning, Jared realized there was no denying exactly how true this was.

It wasn’t as if he was chasing romance or a relationship. This wasn’t the opportune time. He didn’t need any snags along the way to turn his heart into a beating one. He’d come to Nirvana to find peace and healing in solitude. Sure, they weren’t always alone, but being out here in the middle of nowhere, he never had to worry about anyone stepping on his toes or reminding him of his rough start in life.

His mind drifted again to last night, how Sofie had celebrated in his lovemaking, writhing under him as if she was a tigress needing tamed. He remembered how her touch had been eager, and her body dripping. She’d clawed at his back in silent invitation to put out the fire.

Yet the next morning her façade was in place and she wanted nothing more from him.

No, she’d wanted Chase, but he hadn’t been available. Probably because the boss had a thing for the pretty lady who’d applied for the wedding planner position. Obviously, they’d had something between them.

Why did any of it matter? He couldn’t count the number of times he’d slept with a woman with no intention of seeing her again.

Maybe he should call up an old flame, take her to dinner and irrefutably end up in bed. He could think of one woman in particular who’d always made him hard. Betsy, the waitress at the diner. She was a close resemblance to Marylyn Monroe. He closed his eyes tight, but it wasn’t the voluptuous, platinum blonde with melon-sized tits that came to mind. Damn! The only woman he could conjure was a petite brunette with the eyes and body that made him hard enough that he’d beg for another chance to sink himself deep inside.

No—never. He wasn’t a man who ever dropped to his hands and knees for no one. His drunkard dad had made Jared lower himself in shame plenty of times as the bastard held the leather strap over his son.

He’d never weaken again.

He’d keep thoughts of Sofie right here, tucked away in his mind.

With that last thought, he grabbed his shaft and took matters into his own hands. It didn’t take long before release came. He cleaned himself off, rolled over and closed his eyes. He drifted into sleep, but even in his dreams, he found the warm, willing body of Sofie.

He stirred awake, at first he thought from the wild dream, but then he heard the soft knock at the door. He shifted and looked at the clock. Ten-thirty. Who the hell would be showing up at his door at this time of night?

Maybe if he ignored them they’d go the hell away.

But another knock came, this time more demanding,

“Shit!” He finally slid from the bed, dragged the sheet around his hips and stomped toward the door. He tore it open and the air swooshed from his lungs. Sofie stood on his doorstep. He growled under his breath as he scanned her from the tip of her roots to her bare toes exposed in the flip-flops. The tight T-shirt she wore had the word ‘Bored’ written across the front in heavy lettering. How ironic that she’d show up at his door. He slipped his gaze down her shorts, the frayed hem landed on the widest part of her hips, a place he’d wrapped his fingers around as he pumped in and out of her last night. His mouth salivated.

“What are you doing here?”

This was the last thing he needed—and yet the only thing he wanted.

****

Sofie knew she’d made a mistake. Showing up at Jared’s was unreasonable, but the idea had seemed smarter back when she was alone, in her bed, thinking of him. She’d went against her rational side, something she’d been doing a lot of here lately. She’d pulled on the first clothes she’d come to from her drawer and set off to see the one man who, right now, looked as if he could pull her over his knee and swat her bottom. Why did that trigger a deep urgency between her thighs?

“I-I…were…you…you sleeping?” Damn nerves. She’d wanted to maintain control, pretend she was strong against the tidal wave of need. She looked past him to the empty bed. Memories exploded inside of her head.

“Yep,” he said shortly.

“No invitation to come in?”

His eyes were no longer twinkling as they normally did. His shadowed jaw was hard and his mouth was twisted into an unhappy shape—a ‘screw you’ shape. Just when she thought he was going to tell her to leave, he pushed open the door with his bare foot and motioned with a quick jut of his chin for her to enter. He strolled across the room as she stepped in and shut the door behind her.

“Jared, I—”

He dropped the sheet.

Her thought process fizzled.

She exhaled sharply, but didn’t turn away. Instead, she skimmed her gaze over his broad shoulders and back. Sleek, tanned skin from his neck to the tapering of his waist and tight bottom. Swallowing the thickness in her throat, she turned, giving him some privacy—or rather giving herself the opportunity to clean out the cluttered paths in her mind. Hearing rustling and a long zip, she figured he was decent, but she knew if she turned around too quickly, he’d see the trembling in her hands.

Clasping her hands together, she concentrated on breathing while examining the row of shot glasses lining the top shelf of a bookcase. Each one had a state name or motto written on the side. Picking one up, she smoothed her fingers over the cool glass. “Colorado. Have you visited?”

“Yes,” he said from beside her.

She jerked and tightened her hold on the small tumbler. “Um, it’s pretty there. I visited Denver a few years back,” she squeaked. Putting the glass back in its spot, she brought her hand to her throat, wishing her vocal cords would work properly. She wasn’t quite ready to face him, so she took down another glass, flipping it over in her shaking hands. “Georgia. Did you know that Atlanta is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr and Paula Deen lives in Savannah?”

“Yes and no. Who is Paula Deen?”

She swung around. “Seriously? Celebrity chef. Southern hospitality.”

He took the glass from her, their fingers brushed and heat skittered up her arm, settling in her chest, right alongside her heart. He tossed the tumbler up in the air and caught it, then put it back with the others. “You didn’t come here to chatter or admire my collection. Why, Sofie?”

He said her name with such a gentle tone that ripples of eagerness washed through her. Her body burned and her flesh tingled. She darted her tongue out, moistening her dry lips, wrapping her brain around the reason why she did come.

Turning, she roved his naked upper body, every lean dip, every tight coil. Her fingers ached to touch, to explore. Could one man be any more perfect? She lowered her gaze down his worn jeans that fit him effortlessly, all the way to his bare feet. Even that part of his body was nice.

The cowboy was created to test every woman’s libido, to send her heart racing and tempt her into sampling flawless masculine beauty—and to think that other women felt the same about him needled her like a dull sword. When had she become territorial? She had no right and yet every inch of her trembling body ached to make Jared hers.

How could she have believed one night with Jared would be enough? Some people enjoyed smooth, no-strings-attached sex. If any of those people had a lover as good as Jared they certainly would be rethinking their noncommittal beliefs. She certainly had.

Being here was a step out of her comfort zone, yet she’d gotten a taste of the wild side and wanted more. Her libido was in overdrive and sweating bullets. She’d gone from the standoffish ice queen to the naughty temptress with a bag of sexual tricks and delights. Not hardly, but a pair of handcuffs and a feather could certainly come in hand. She bit back a giggle.

There were things about Jared that she appreciated. The silkiness of his thick hair. The crispness of his goatee. The patch of hair on his chest. The calluses on his fingers and palms that were a bonus to his touch. The way his waist dipped into toned obliques. Everything about him was an opportunity to explore.

Luther and his out-of-the-blue call today came to mind. How dare he bounce into her life, or attempt to convince her that he wanted her back, proving beyond a doubt that he had lost touch with reality. Her bruised ego smarted, but her determined side reared its head.

Jared’s gaze burrowed through her. Could he see her turmoil?

“I don’t do this,” she whispered, not even sure her words were audible.

“You don’t come to a man’s cabin in the middle of the night and comment on his shot glasses?” One thick brow curved. He scratched his jaw and she watched his long fingers move, hearing the raspiness of his shadowed jaw that played her veins like a guitar. She allowed her attention to move over his broad shoulders, moving over his six-pack—or rather his eight pack. She’d had no clue that was possible. She was beginning to realize anything with Jared was possible.

“This is all so new to me.”

“That makes two of us.”

“Logic tells me I should walk away, but I can’t. I won’t.” Where did all of this bravery come from? There was something about this cowboy that unlocked all of her chains, setting her free. She loved the feeling—wanted more freedom.

“Sofie, I don’t think—”

“I’m not thinking either.” She stood on tiptoe and circled her arms around his neck. Could he hear the loud ticking of her heart?

“Yeah, and that’s the real problem.” His hot gaze searched her face and then he stepped back. She dropped her arms, giving him space.

Sofie lowered her gaze to the floor and when she brought her chin back up, she noticed the bulge behind his zipper. Excitement puddled in her loins like liquid lava. “I can agree,” she mumbled.

“Why are you here? Really? Is this some sort of revenge tactic?” His eyes bore into her.

“Revenge?” The word took her by surprise. Then she understood. A white-hot tingle spread through her. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“Could have fooled me,” he ground out through tight lips. “Chase doesn’t want you so you’ll find the next willing warm body to ease the need. You wouldn’t be the first or the last female that used sex as a weapon.” He slipped his pale gaze over her, stalling a second at her inner thighs.

Her mouth fell open, but she quickly closed her lips. Anger coursed through her, making her backbone solid and straight. “Are you finished insulting me?”

“That wasn’t an insult, sweetheart. That’s a fact.” He winked and it ripped through her with the force of a tornado.

“I don’t want Chase,” she snapped.

His eyes widened. “And you figured that out when exactly? The second you realized he has a thing for the new wedding planner?”

His cold words slammed through her. She dropped her hands to her sides, flexing her hands into fists. “The second I told him I had feelings for him, I knew the truth.”