The Buckhorn Brothers Box Set: Sawyer\Morgan\Gabe\Jordan (81 page)

She frowned and cast a suspicious glare at Jordan. Had he been cleaning all night to accomplish so much? And why would he do such a thing anyway? Her father and her ex-husband had considered that women’s work.

“Would you like a pancake?”

Her eyes narrowed at his continued good humor and solicitousness. “No.”

“I can make it in the conventional shape if the fun stuff scares you.”

He knew damn good and well that it was he who scared her, not his ridiculous pancakes. She considered strangling him.

“They’re the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted!” Lisa said with her mouth full, her lips sticky with syrup. Georgia saw the box of pancake mix—the same that they always used—sitting on the cabinet, and raised her brows at Jordan.

“It’s all in the preparation,” he explained. “Any chef can tell you that.”

She drank the rest of her coffee, in desperate need of the caffeine if she was expected to spar with him after just rising. Last night had been the best sleep she’d had in ages, when she’d thought she’d be awake fretting all night.

With that superior gentleness that made her want to smack him, Jordan took her arm and led her to a chair. “Yes, there’s more coffee,” he said, saving her from having to ask.

He refilled her cup and she scowled. “Cooking, cleaning, serving. What are you? My fairy godmother?”

Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “I’m just a man who wants you, sweetheart. And we did make that wonderful agreement last night.”

She straightened so abruptly she bumped his chin with the back of her head. To his credit, he didn’t curse, but he did give her a long look as he rubbed away the ache. Luckily the kids were digging into their food and not paying attention.

“What agreement?” she growled as he moved away, a man without a care in the world.

“We can go over all the details, as per your request,” he said easily, “right after you get cleaned up and dressed.”

“I don’t remember any request!”

“Oh. Well, you were very groggy. Which was why you said it’d be better to finalize our plans—you do remember the plans?—in the morning.” He turned to the stove and put three round pancakes on a plate, buttered them, and set them before her.

She had no recollection of the conversation at all. Certainly not about any plans. But those pancakes…the smells were incredible, making her stomach rumble loudly. Everyone looked at her. Lisa pointed and laughed.

Jordan pulled his own chair up close to hers. “When did you eat last?”

His gaze was too perceptive, too intrusive, demanding an honest reply. The problem was, she couldn’t remember. The days tended to blur together when she worked double shifts.

He shook his head. “If you’re going to burn the candle at both ends, you really need to refuel, you know.”

“That’s mixing your metaphors just a bit, isn’t it?”

“Maybe. But the point is still valid, I swear.” He watched her as she took her first bite, and smiled when she closed her eyes in bliss. “Good?”

“Very.” She gave him a reluctant look, and added, “Thank you.”

He touched her, stroking one long finger over her cheekbone and jaw, the side of her throat. “That wasn’t so painful, now was it?”

Georgia froze for a heartbeat, mesmerized by that seductive tone and achingly tender touch. Then she shook herself and looked pointedly at her children, who were watching the byplay with an absorbed fascination. She supposed having a man at the breakfast table was even more unique for them. She doubted they remembered their father much, and what they would have remembered had nothing to do with peaceful family breakfasts together.

Jordan never missed a beat. “If you little beggars are done, why don’t you go get your teeth brushed and pull on some clothes while your mother and I talk?”

“Talk about what?” Lisa wanted to know.

“Why, about you both visiting Casey again today, this time at our home. I live right near a long skinny lake. Casey can take you fishing while your mother and I visit the hospital and fetch your car back home from where she works.”

Lisa and Adam immediately started jumping up and down, squealing and begging.

“That’s enough,” Georgia said. The kids quieted just a bit, but their eyes were still bright and wide with hope.

She stared at Jordan, her face so frozen it hurt, and murmured, “That’s low, even for you.”

He looked guilty for a flash of an instant, then resolve darkened his eyes. “I’m a desperate man. And we did make that bargain—”

“Kids,” she interrupted, “go ahead and get dressed. And Lisa, remember you wanted to brush your teeth twice, okay?”

“Are we going to see Casey?”

Not if she could help it. “I’ll have to think about it, sweetie. There’s a lot I have to get done today.”

The kids trailed out, dragging their feet, their expressions despondent. Damn Jordan for putting her in this position. Her children had so few outings these days, what with her working all the time. She knew how much they’d love a visit to a lake. But the more time she spent with Jordan, the weaker her stand on independence seemed to feel. She had to make it on her own. She
had
to.

When Georgia heard their footsteps at the top of the creaky stairs, she rounded on Jordan, blasting him with all her fury. “How dare you!”

After one long, silent look, Jordan began carrying dishes to the sink. “You’re just being stubborn, Georgia. Why should the kids be cooped up at the hospital while you’re visiting your mother? They’ll enjoy being in the fresh air, and I already spoke with Casey this morning and he agreed—”

“I didn’t agree.”
She left her chair and faced him with her hands on her hips. “They’re
my
children and I know what’s best for them.”

“True.” Jordan leaned back on the sink and silently studied her. “I’m not questioning your parenting skills, honey. It only took me about two seconds of seeing you with them to know how much you love them, and that they’re crazy about you. But you did agree.” When she stared at him blankly, he added, “Last night? Don’t tell me you don’t remember any of it?”

Her heart lurched at his continued insistence. Last night? So much of it, once he’d touched her feet, was a blur. She’d been so tired, so stressed….

“You told me,” Jordan said calmly, “that taking the kids to Casey would be fine. Sawyer is going to meet me at the hospital, and while you’re visiting, he and I will fetch your car. Afterwards we’ll pick up the kids and I’ll take you all to dinner.”

Georgia felt like a deflated balloon. Surely she hadn’t discussed all that with him? But he looked so positive, so sure of himself. And she
had
been beyond weary, ready to simply cave in under the exhaustion and worry. It was conceivable that she might have said things she now couldn’t remember.

She just didn’t know.

Her head hurt and she rubbed her fingers through her badly tangled hair. She felt Jordan’s large firm hands settle on her shoulders and pull her close. She tried to resist him and the comfort, the security that he offered. She really did. But he brought her up flush against his strong, solid body and began rubbing her back. The man’s voice wasn’t the only thing magical about him. His fingers were pretty amazing, too.

It had been so, so long since anyone stronger, bigger than she had held her. Her muscles turned liquid at the wondrous feel of it.

Jordan’s whiskery jaw brushed her temple as he spoke. “Just stop being so defensive and think about this logically, okay? We’re not bad people, sweetheart. Casey will enjoy keeping your rugrats entertained for a few hours. He adores children. We all do. And Lisa already adores Casey. He’s responsible. He won’t let anything happen to them.”

“But—”

He tipped up her chin. “But you’re still worried? Please don’t be. Not now. When things get straightened out and your mother is back home, then you can give me hell, okay?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t want to give you hell. It’s just that…I don’t understand you.”

“And that worries you?”

With complete honesty, she said, “Yes.”

“Well, I don’t quite understand myself right now, either, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any explanations. I just know I want to help out. Is that so bad?”

She searched his face, looking for answers while confusion swamped her. “We barely know each other, Jordan.”

“But it doesn’t seem to matter, does it?” His gaze warmed and his touch changed. Just like that, he went from comforting to being all male. All interested male. He looked at her mouth and then kept on looking. “I can’t believe how you make me feel.”

“Jordan?” Her lips trembled. Her entire body trembled. Nothing should feel like this, so good and so scary and so…right.

He bent toward her. His breath teased her lips as he whispered, “What you do to me should be illegal.”

Oh, the way he said that! He’d turned the full power of his bewitching voice on her and, combined with the memory of that sensuous foot rub of the night before, she was a goner. “Oh, my…”

He stole her breathy exclamation with his mouth as he kissed her. Knowing that she should resist, and being able to resist, were two entirely different things. His mouth was hot, incredibly hungry, and damp. She kissed him back, unable not to. His taste was indescribable. Hot and feverish. His hands were gentle on her face, a stark contrast to the consuming carnality of the kiss, eating at her, nipping with his teeth, sucking at her tongue as he groaned low in his throat and kissed her again and again.

Her hands curved around his shoulders and the feel of him, of solid muscle, bone and sinew flexing against her palms made her insides curl with raw desire. He arched her into his body and gave her his own tongue, tasting her deeply, pressing the hard planes of his body into her softness. Her breasts throbbed and ached, their galloping heartbeats mingled, and between her thighs….

Somehow she found herself backed up to the cabinets. With no effort at all, Jordan lifted her and the second she was balanced on the edge of the counter, he stepped between her thighs. She could feel the long, hard ridge of his erection, throbbing against her. His hand curved up her side and then over her breast, and it was so wonderful she cried out.

Jordan cursed as he kissed his way to her throat, to the sensitive skin beneath her ear. “I want you.”

She wanted him, too. She held on to him, unable to think beyond the need. He was between her legs, leaving her open and vulnerable and she liked it. She liked the way he moved against her, stroking her with a tantalizing touch that brought her so close to completion even though they were both completely dressed and for the most part standing. She’d never realized that such a thing was possible, but she felt her muscles tightening, felt the spiral of delicious heat curling in her belly and below.

His fingertips brushed over her aching nipple, then pinched lightly and she almost lost it, almost came right there in her kitchen with a man who was hardly more than a stranger, a man who had no compunction about taking over her life. And she simply didn’t care.

The kids started to argue upstairs and Jordan lifted his mouth. He was panting hard, his body shaking. His high cheekbones were slashed with aroused color, his emerald eyes burning. Heat poured off him.

In guttural tones that turned her limbs to butter, he growled, “I’m so damn hard right now, one touch and I’d be in oblivion.” He squeezed her tighter, pressed his erection hard against her.
“One touch, Georgia.”

It appeared he expected a reply to that. But she could barely think clearly enough to stay upright on the countertop, much less know what to say. She stared at his mouth, her own open in mute surprise at all she’d felt, at how incredible a kiss and a few simple touches could be. She’d been married nearly seven years, but she hadn’t known, hadn’t guessed….

He muttered a raw curse. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re killing me.”

She sucked in air and tried to think.

“Say something, damn it.”

Nodding, Georgia looked around her kitchen, at all he’d done, at all he still apparently expected to do. Not just to the house, but to her as well. She knew as soon as her thoughts cleared, she’d be mortified. She’d broken her own rules, she’d breached propriety. She’d shamed herself this time more than ever before.

She met his gaze and swallowed. “I’m supposed to work tonight. I…I can’t go to dinner.”

* * *

H
E SHOULDN’T
have been so angry, but his emotions had been in a whirlwind since the first moment he saw her, and he hadn’t gotten a firm handle on them yet. How could he have done something so stupid as to practically take her in her own damn kitchen, with her kids upstairs? Not only was he disgusted with his own lack of restraint, but he was madder than hell at himself for upsetting her.

Once she’d really had a chance to settle down and get her wits together, she’d looked devastated. Jordan could tell she didn’t blame him. No, Georgia blamed herself, and he couldn’t stand it. He’d wanted to lighten her physical load, and instead, he had added to her emotional one. He could only imagine what she was thinking, but she wouldn’t look at him, and that pretty much told it all.

What was between them was damn powerful, and neither of them were coming to grips with it very well. Rather than discussing it, though, she’d informed him she had to work. Again.

Jordan put up a good front for the kids, trying to shelter them from his black mood, a mood he was afraid was partially caused by jealousy. He’d never felt it before, so he couldn’t be certain, but he did know that he hated it, hated the way his muscles refused to relax, the way his stomach knotted every time he pictured her on that stage. Hiding his rage wasn’t easy, but he’d take a punch on the chin before deliberately upsetting her again, or making her children uncomfortable.

He must have been somewhat successful, because the kids were subdued, but far from silent. Georgia had explained to them about hospitals, so they were wide-eyed with respect for the sick people, and apparently oblivious to his turmoil.

Despite her near stomping, Georgia’s soft-soled shoes made no sound as they walked the length of the long hospital corridor. He could feel her nervousness and he wanted to protect her. He wanted to devour her.