Unexpected (18 page)

Ray growled, “The hell I'm not. I have to get back home.”

“And where is home?”

“None of your damn business.”

“I'm making it my business.”

Jeremy had never heard anyone argue with his brother. Employees at the malls rushed to please him, ranch hands treated him with due respect. And women . . . well, they sure as hell didn't go nose to nose with him.

But then, Ray wasn't an ordinary woman, and she was definitely nose to nose, and furious, too.

“Why?” she demanded, succinct to the point of being rude.

Eli gave a negligent shrug. “I'm not letting you go.”

She fell back a step, no longer so confident. “You're not?”

“No.” Eli turned his hand to entwine her fingers tightly in his own. “You'll have to accept me, little soldier.” Then he grinned. “Whether you like it or not.”

Judging by the sound she made, she didn't like it one little bit.

Neither did Jeremy.

 

 

The plane ride hadn't lasted long enough to suit Ray, but at least Jeremy stayed groggy from the shot, which spared her from his insults and occupied Eli's attention. Buddy had tried to tease her into a better mood, but she wanted only to escape.

Was Eli out of his mind? Buddy didn't think so. The way he carried on, Eli was his new best friend, practically a hero, and already a member of the family.

Ray ignored most of the absurd conversation until after Buddy landed his plane near the rented truck. He helped Eli get Jeremy off the plane, then stood beside Ray while she watched the two brothers head slowly for the truck. Thanks to the drug, Jeremy was practically asleep on his feet, with Eli guiding him.

“Promise you'll invite me to the wedding.”

Wide-eyed, Ray jerked her head toward Buddy to stare. Weddings were formal affairs with fancy white dresses and hordes of people and lots of pageantry. They were between two people in love, not in lust, and they meant . . . a lifetime. “There won't be a
wedding.”
She could barely get the word out without choking.

“That's not the impression I got from Eli.”

“Eli's got jungle fever or something. Ignore him.” She shaded her eyes, saw that Eli was about ready, and headed toward the truck. Buddy kept pace at her side. “He'll forget about wanting to see me two hours after he's home.”

Buddy put his arm around her, drawing her to a halt. “I don't think so, hon, but I'm more curious about how you'll feel.”

“Richer. We're getting well paid for this little caper. And you know, Buddy? I think he could have managed on his own.”

“So he didn't need you after all?”

She shook her head, saddened with the awful truth. As Jeremy had said, Eli would have gotten him, with or without her. “Not for this—and probably not for anything else.”

“No? Why don't I ask him . . . ?”

Before he'd taken two steps toward Eli, she jerked him back around—then threw herself against him in a tight bear hug. “I'd like to just leave with you.”

Buddy's arms tightened until he lifted her right off her feet. “If you really feel that way . . .”

She shook her head and forced herself to step back. God, now she was even being clingy. Eli had changed her, and not for the better. She rubbed her face. “Ignore me. I'm just tired.” And in love and heartsick and . . .“I'll have your cut wired into your account tomorrow.”

Buddy nodded. “Promise me you'll think about things, Ray. Don't just write Eli off, okay?”

All she did was think about him. “Quit worrying, Mom.” Buddy laughed at that and pulled her into another hug before turning her toward the truck and swatting her posterior.

“Be good. And give the man a chance!”

With a wave, Ray jogged toward Eli. She deliberately smothered those weak, tender emotions that made her question herself. She'd face this—
him—
just as she'd faced the rest of her life: with logic and determination.

“Ready to go?” Eli asked.

Ray nodded and got into the truck without a word. She started the engine and made a slow, bumpy path back to the road. In her rearview mirror, she caught Buddy's plane lifting into the sky. It was almost over. She'd done what she set out to do. She'd gotten Eli's brother, no one had gotten seriously hurt, and she'd get paid. Like she'd told Eli, it was a breeze.

Except for the fact that she'd fallen for him.

They rode to the hotel in complete suffocating silence. Ray now wished she hadn't planned to spend the night again, but her flight didn't take off till the next morning. Then she and Eli would head their separate ways. Could she get an earlier flight? It might be worth checking into once she reached the hotel.

She was just pulling into the lot, Jeremy slumped against her shoulder, when Eli said, “Ray?”

After that long silence, the sound of his voice almost made her jump. “Hmmm?”

“Don't you dare try to sneak out on me.”

Had he read her mind? Just in case, she dredged up her most caustic look. “You still have to pay me, so I'm not going anywhere. But,” she added with emphasis, “if I did, I wouldn't sneak.”

“Glad to hear it.” She drove up to the front door where they were met by the valet. “I'll take care of the money in the morning.”

They each climbed out. Over the roof, Ray said, “I thought you could do it tonight.”

Eli reached inside for his dozing brother. “Nope. I'm thinking of that money as insurance.” He winked at her. “I need to talk to you, and this way I know I'll get my chance.”

Or she could say to hell with the money, and leave while she still could. She already knew if a flight was available, she'd take it. She didn't want Eli's money—she disliked herself enough at the moment without taking pay.

Jeremy came awake with a start, staring around himself blankly before giving in to a wide yawn. Thanks to Buddy, he wore clean clothes and shoes, but he still looked like hell. And given the way his gaze sought her out, he still disliked her. But then what brother wouldn't react that way to the likes of her?

With a hefty tip and a brief explanation that his brother was ill, Eli got VIP treatment. He was shuffled to the front of the registration desk, their bags carried in, and before Ray knew it, she was again in a hotel room. This time she had her privacy and she wasted no time in calling the airlines.

There were no earlier flights. She hated to admit it, but she wasn't really disappointed. Regardless of what she knew to be right, her heart hurt when she thought of leaving Eli.

She lingered in the shower, changed into clean clothes, and then for almost an hour stood in front of a window that overlooked the parking lot, her emotions turbulent, waiting. Finally Eli knocked on her door. She knew it was him without looking. “Go away.”

“Open the door, Ray.”

She gave a short laugh. “No, I don't think so.”

“Suit yourself, honey. But it's going to draw a hell of a lot attention when I knock the damn thing down.”

She didn't think he could do that, but he would cause a ruckus trying. Feeling her heart pound heavily in a mix of excitement and foreboding, Ray gave in and turned the lock.

Eli stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind him. Leaning back, his arms crossed at his chest, he said, “You look like a frightened rabbit.”

That was all it took to clear Ray's mind. She drew her brows down and glared. “What do you want?”

“You.”

She had to close her eyes against the husky timbre in his tone. She felt it all the way to her toes, invading her soul, her heart.

Eli moved while she stood there silently before him. Ray opened her eyes when she felt his hand touch her face. “You want me, too, Ray. Admit it.”

She swallowed hard. “Don't you see, it doesn't matter what I want. I'm realistic, Eli. And you should be, too.”

Eli didn't argue with her. Rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip, he whispered, “You are so beautiful.”

Frantic, Ray shook her head. “I knew you would come. I kept waiting. All through my shower, I was listening for the door.”

“I had to get Jeremy settled first or I'd have been here sooner. He's feeling much better now that he's showered and changed. He was actually starving.”

Ray laced her fingers together. “A good sign, right?”

“Yes. He no sooner finished eating than he fell asleep again.”

“That's the medicine and the adrenaline rush, and probably a lot of relief, too. He'll be groggy for a while I bet.”

Eli caught her arms and drew her closer. “You did good today, Ray.” He hesitated, then said, “I'm sorry I yelled at you. It scared the hell of me when Miguel grabbed you and that other guy joined in.”

“They underestimated me.”

Eli nodded. “I can sympathize. I made that same mistake at first, too. But”—Eli bent to kiss her gently—“I can't make that mistake again.”

Warning bells went off in her head. “What do you mean?”

Eli straightened, a little regretful, a lot determined. “I'm spending the night here.”

Ray's mouth fell open. How the hell could she leave if he stayed by her side? Duh. That was probably his intent. “Your brother . . .”

He shook his head. “Jeremy is going to be fine once he gets rested up and has a chance to eat his fill.”

“He doesn't like me, Eli.”

“It doesn't matter.”

“Of course it does,” she almost wailed. “He's your brother. How do you think the rest of your family will react if you drag home a hired soldier?”

Eli chuckled. “You make yourself sound like a hardened criminal. I'm proud of your abilities, Ray. That's all that's important.”

Ray lifted her chin. “What about Jane?”

As if soothing a fractious child, his voice gentled. “I already told you I wasn't marrying her.”

“No, you told me your grandfather was counting on you to unite the families. He'd be damned disappointed with the likes of me.”

“Once he meets you, he'll be pleased. My grandmother, too.”

His grandmother? Ray groaned and covered her face with both hands. This was a nightmare.

Eli pulled her hands down, then laid his finger across her lips. “Hush, now.” Both hands cupped her face, leaving her to stare into his mesmerizing eyes. “God, I missed you, Ray. You've been so silent the past few hours, and I was too busy trying to get things settled to see to you. But I want you to know, I meant what I said. I'm determined to make you mine. Completely. And I don't give up easily once I set my mind on something, so you may as well save your arguments and agree.”

“I won't be forced into anything.”

“Of course not.” He drew her closer and nibbled on her lips. “I just want a chance to convince you, that's all.”

More like coerce her, she thought, as her thighs trembled and her belly curled. “Eli . . . you refuse to see what's right.”

He smiled at her disheartened expression. “What I see, honey, is that you haven't once told me you don't want me.”

Ray blanched over that. Blast it, she hadn't.

“You only claim it won't work. But I can make it work. You wanted me to trust you, right? Well, how about giving a little trust, too?”

This wasn't about trust, damn it. Why wouldn't he see that? Meaning to push him away, Ray put a hand to his chest, and saw that she was shaking. With need? It infuriated her.

But she couldn't bear to turn him away. Not tonight. She did need him. That should have made it easier for her to walk away. She'd been needy as a young child, and again when she was with Kevin. Both times had been miserable disappointments. Needing was bad—but with Eli, it seemed strangely exciting, like a dark lure.

She'd make him need her, too. For tonight, for right now. And then she'd leave.

She stopped trying to push him away and instead ran one hand over his shoulder. “You enjoyed using your teeth the other night, remember? I think you have a thing about biting.”

At her obvious capitulation, Eli's eyes were suddenly blazing. “I wanted to eat you alive. I still do.” His voice dropped even more. “You taste so damned good, sweetheart.”

Stepping closer, Ray whispered, “I love the way you look at me, Eli. You have the most compelling stare. You're doing it now, aren't you? Trying to read me, trying to figure out how to get what you want.”

One corner of his mouth tipped in a crooked smile. “You don't seem particularly concerned about it.”

“I'm not.” She leaned up and gently nipped the warm skin of his throat. He'd shaved and showered and he smelled deliciously of cologne and soap and warm masculinity. “Right now, we want the same thing.”

He tilted her face up with the edge of his fist. His gaze was darkly sensual, hot. “I want to see you. All of you.”

Ray toyed with the neckline of his T-shirt, sliding her fingertips beneath to touch warm skin. “And you, Eli? Will I see you, too?”

For an answer, Eli caught the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. Tossing it aside, he dragged Ray up close to his bare chest and bent to take her mouth.

Ray groaned at the tender assault. Her fingers immediately tangled in his body hair, then moved up and over his shoulders. Before Eli could become the aggressor, Ray licked her tongue over his lips, then thrust hotly into his mouth. Eli's arms tightened on her back.

Dragging her mouth away, Ray said, “I've been thinking about being with you all day.”

Ray wasn't shy, had never been shy a day in her entire life. And right now, she felt especially bold. Eli watched her with a kind of predatory awareness, his erection obvious beneath the material of his jeans. Ray lightly dragged her nails down the length of him, then back up again. He shuddered and his hands fisted.

Going to her knees, she whispered, “I like to bite, too, Eli. But like you, I'm very careful, and very gentle.” That was all the warning he got before she caught his muscled hips between her hands, leaned forward and opened her mouth on the front of his jeans.