Wildcard (3 page)

And the bitch who’d considered it her mission to make Trace’s life miserable all four years of high school, and even on into college. She couldn’t even take satisfaction in the knowledge that Kathy hadn’t recognized her.

No. If Kathy found out who Trace was…
crap.
The woman would no doubt make sure Harold found out Trace had been kissing another man.

The irony in the fact that she’d finally remembered Harold’s name almost made her burst into hysterical laughter.

Her face burned as she blindly rushed through the crowd. She stumbled over Killer, but regained her balance and hurried up the stairs.

She had to get out of here, had to get to the ranch, and
now
.

Jess fisted his hands at his sides, lust raging through his body. He watched Tracilynn as she left, a gentle sway to her hips and a little wobble to her walk, like she wasn’t entirely used to wearing shoes with heels the size of nail heads.

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. He could just picture those ankles around his neck as he slid into her…
damn.

As he started to head to the bar to order their drinks, he noticed Tracilynn had bumped into the brunette with the big tits, the same one who’d been making eyes at Jess earlier—and the brunette looked pissed, like she’d just swallowed an ant hill.

Jess heard Tracilynn say, “Kathy Newman?” in a surprised tone, and he moved his gaze to the brunette.

So that was Kathy Newman, who was on Jess’s short list of people to question in the next few days. Tonight would have been perfect, but not now. At the moment, he had a redhead to deal with, and fast. He cut his gaze back to Tracilynn, but a moment later, she turned and slipped into the crowd, vanishing from his sight.

Right then his gut told him that she didn’t intend to come back.

He’d see about that.

The way she’d kissed him, the way she had trembled in his arms, her passionate purr…all had made it clear as an Arizona sky that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. Problem was she didn’t know how to handle those desires.

He was just the man to teach her.

Several inches taller than most of the folks at the party, Jess searched the crowd for the petite strawberry blonde, and spotted her at the top of the stairs just before she disappeared from view. Damn she was fast. He started after her, only to find Big Tits Newman blocking his path.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said with a nod as he tried to sidestep her.

She placed one hand on his bicep and deliberately moved in his way, her perfume as brazen as she was. “I’m Kathy.”

Even though the woman was keeping Jess from going after Tracilynn, his upbringing and professional instincts kept him from being outright rude. His mama had raised him to always be polite to a lady. Besides, he still needed as much information as he could get on Forrester—later.

“A pleasure.” He nodded and tried to move, but her hand tightened.

“Care to dance, cowboy?” she asked as she brushed her breasts against his chest.

“I’d be obliged if you’d save a dance for me later.” He gave her another slight nod and a tight smile. Before Kathy Newman could respond, he took her by the shoulders and gently removed her from his path.

Well, gently enough.

Jess barely heard Kathy’s gasp of annoyance above the Christmas music as he walked away.

In a few strides he made it to the stairs and took them by threes. When he reached the B & B’s front room that served as the lobby, he saw Nicole standing in front of the registration desk with a slip of paper in her hand.

“What the—” she said as her gaze cut to the desk clerk. “This is it? All she left?”

Jess didn’t stop. He headed straight to the front door and yanked it open.

December’s chill air rushed in, but outside all he could see were cars parked up and down Old Bisbee’s Main Street. The rain-soaked blacktop reflected red, orange, blue, and green Christmas lights strung down the silent street—but nothing else. Not even a pair of taillights.

Ah, hell.

The click of Nicole’s heels against the tile and her powdery perfume alerted Jess to her presence, even before she spoke. “You have something to do with her up and leaving, don’t you?”

He shut the door a little too hard as he clenched his jaw and pivoted to face his cousin. “Where’d she go?”

“Her sister’s.” Nicole shook the note at Jess. “I wanted her to meet you, but I sure as all get out didn’t think you’d go and scare her off like this.”

Jess snatched the note from Nicole’s hand.

Left for Dee’s. I’ll call. T.M.

“Dee…” His gaze shot up to meet Nicole’s furious expression as it finally hit him. Where he’d seen Tracilynn’s eyes before. Eyes that had been hidden behind glasses in pictures taken years ago. Photos he’d seen countless times at the MacLeod Ranch. Eyes that had captured his attention the first time he’d seen them. Had made him wonder about the girl…the woman.

Shit.

“Trace MacLeod.” He shook his head. Some intelligence agent he was. “Dee’s younger sister.”

“What would you want with that heifer?” came a woman’s voice from beside them. “Last I heard she was in England.”

Both Jess’s and Nicole’s attention snapped to Kathy Newman. The woman had one hand on her hip as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder.

Jess narrowed his eyes, but Nicole laid into the woman. “I don’t care if your daddy is running for congress. I wouldn’t give a flying fuck if he was the President of the United States,” Nicole said with fury in her voice. “If you
ever
talk about my best friend like that again, I’ll kick your ass from here to Texas. You hear me?”

“That was Trace MacLeod?” Recognition dawned in Kathy’s eyes, but her tone remained cool as she glanced from Nicole to Jess. “The slut in the red dress?”

“You bitch.” Nicole stepped forward, her fist raised, but Jess caught her by the shoulders and held her back. “Let me at her, damn it!”

“Not worth it,” he responded in a controlled voice, his gaze fixed on Kathy Newman.
Too hell with information.
“She’s definitely not worth it.”

The woman smirked and turned on her heel, heading to the B & B’s front desk. “Get my purse and jacket,” she ordered the pony-tailed hippie behind the counter. “I’ve got better places to be.”

“You’re not welcome here.” Nicole strained to get away from Jess. “If you hadn’t come with Rick McAllister, I’d never have let you through the front door.”

McAllister. Thank God.
Jess let out a short breath. McAllister’d likely be able to get the skinny on Forrester from Big Tits, even though she’d sooner spit than talk to Jess now. Good ol’ Rick sure needed help with his taste in women, though.

“Well, Nicole, you still have the hots for Rick, I see.” Kathy Newman took her belongings from the clerk and walked to the front door, saving a particularly spiteful look for Jess’s cousin. “He’d never go for a fat ass like you, sweetie.”

“Let me punch her now.” Nicole’s face was red, and she struggled like a hellcat against his hold. “Come on, Jess.”

Kathy paused at the front door, her gaze raking Jess from head to toe. “What a waste,” she said before heading out the door in a swirl of too-sweet perfume.

When the door slammed shut behind the bitch, Jess turned Nicole around and said, “Now tell me about Trace MacLeod.”

Chapter Three

Trace gripped the steering wheel of the sleek rented Mustang while she headed into the night and out of Bisbee on the hour drive to the Flying M. Fortunately she’d packed her luggage in the trunk before the party, so all she’d had to do was grab her purse and coat from the desk clerk and scribble a quick note to Nicole before she’d fled.

Blacktop and yellow highway markings scrolled by her headlights, glittering from the recent rains. Her thoughts whorled—she couldn’t believe she’d just kissed another man. Should she be upfront and tell Harold? Or was it better left unsaid? A one time mistake that wouldn’t be repeated.

Yet her stomach flipped and her pussy grew wetter as she remembered every moment in Jess’s presence. The way he’d staked his claim on her, as though he intended to make her his. The way he’d brought his mouth to hers and paused, his breath warm on her lips, just waiting to see if she’d refuse him.

And oh, God. The way he kissed. The way fire had seared every part of her body, like flames burning just beneath her skin. She’d never felt such intensity with any other man. She was so horny now she could almost scream. If she hadn’t slipped away, would she have ended up in bed with him?

Would she have cheated on Harold?

Her face grew hotter, but she couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment at what she’d done…or the heat of desire from imagining what it would be like to make love to Jess.

Trace flipped on the radio in an effort to get her mind on something else. The rich voice of the man singing a popular country western tune only reminded her of Jess’s deep baritone.

She tried to turn her thoughts to the deserted country highway, tried to get the cowboy out of her mind, but it was impossible. Instead, her nipples grew tighter against the silk dress, and her clit felt swollen and raw as her thong panties rubbed against her folds.

Considering the chilly desert night, she was burning hot.

Jeez. She couldn’t get to Dee’s looking like this—decked out in this tiny little outfit, looking like she’d just made out with a guy. What was she thinking?

Trace kept her eyes open for a dirt road and pulled the Mustang onto the first available one she spotted. Good thing this was such a rural area. She could make a quick change and get back on the road.

After she made sure she was well off the highway, Trace parked the car and turned off the ignition, but left the radio on. The blue glow from the dashboard was the only light in the car, but outside the moon slid from behind a scrap of moody clouds and washed the desert with its silvery radiance.

She leaned her head against the cool glass of the side window as she looked up at the incredible display above her, stars glittering in patches where clouds had retreated. She’d forgotten how bright the stars were out here in the country, far from any towns. It was beautiful. What would it be like to make love to Jess under these stars?

No,
Harold.
She meant what would it be like to make love to
Harold.

Yeah, right.

With a groan, Trace reached between the bucket seats to grab her duffle out of the back. >From years of travel experience, she always kept a quick change of casual clothes in a carry-on bag, along with basic necessities, just in case her luggage was lost at the airport or stolen from the trunk of her car.

Her dress pulled against her breasts as she stretched her hand toward where the duffle rested on the floorboard, and one nipple popped free. It felt cool and erotic rubbing over the leather seat of the Mustang as she reached for her bag. Her thong slid into her folds, pressing harder against her clit.

Maybe what she needed was a good orgasm. It had been at least a couple of weeks or longer since she’d had sex with Harold. He’d been tired from work one week, and the next had been an inconvenient time of the month for her, and then she’d left for the States a few days ago.

Trace settled back in her seat, leaving the duffle where it rested. She brought her hands up to her breasts and cupped the bare nipple and the one still covered by the thin material of her dress. Instead of the one man she’d had sex with for the past two years, she could only visualize Jess. Could only imagine his hands caressing her, flicking his thumbs over her nipples.

She eased her breasts free of the plunging neckline, her nipples beading even tighter in the cool air. Her pulse picked up at the thought of Jess’s mouth on her nipples, licking and sucking, and
biting
her the same way he’d kissed her.

Slipping one hand between her thighs, Trace ran her fingertips over the soaked crotch of her thong. She’d never been so wet before. So
hot.

Trace let go of the guilt, let go of everything but the fantasy of fucking that cowboy. She slid her fingers into her panties, into her drenched folds, and gasped when she stroked her clit. She was so close to coming, when it usually took her a while to reach orgasm.

With her free hand she cupped one breast and raised it up while lowering her mouth. Her breasts were big enough that she could flick her tongue against her nipple while she fingered her clit.

She closed her eyes, imagining it was Jess who licked her nipples. Jess rubbing his cock against her clit before sliding into her pussy. And how it would feel to have Jess driving into her. She could still feel that long hard length of his cock as he’d pressed up against her on the dance floor. Oh, God. He’d fuck her deep and hard, rough and wild, and he’d make her scream.

A small cry tore from Trace as her orgasm spiked through her, and her eyes flew open. Her hips rocked against her hand as she drew out her orgasm as long as she possibly could, enjoying every electrifying jolt.

When she finished, she collapsed against the seatback, the Mustang suddenly feeling cold as the perspiration on her skin chilled.

Trace leaned forward and banged her forehead against the steering wheel. And then again.

Damn, damn, damn.

She’d just given herself the most amazing orgasm of her life…while fantasizing about another man.

* * * * *

After Jess interrogated Nicole about Trace MacLeod, he tracked down Rick McAllister and found the Border Patrol agent in the sunroom on the main floor. The room smelled like a mixture of Christmas and chlorine from the hot tub under the sun roof and the decorated tree where McAllister was standing. He was in the process of punching off his cell phone and stuffing it into his back pocket.

“Need a favor,” Jess said, getting straight to the point as his boots thumped across the hardwood floor to where McAllister stood.

The man gave a quick nod. “Name it and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Your date, Kathy Newman.” Jess jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Had a few words with Nicole.”

The corner of McAllister’s mouth quirked. “If I know Nic, I’d say she probably came out on top of any cat fight.”

Jess grinned. “Would’ve laid into the b—, er, woman, if not for a little restraining on my part.”

Raising an eyebrow, McAllister said, “I take it Kathy’s gone.”

“Just left the party.”

“Good thing we came in separate vehicles.” Rick sighed and shook his head. “What’s this favor?”

“I need to find out what Newman knows about Ryan Forrester.” With a wry smile, Jess added, “After this incident, it’s not likely I’ll get anything out of her.”

“I’d intended to question her on the bastard, myself.” The Border Patrol agent folded his arms across his chest. “Which was why I agreed when she asked me to be her date tonight. With all the evidence we have that Forrester and the drug smugglers are getting the cocaine across the line using UDAs as mules,” Rick said, referring to undocumented aliens, or illegal immigrants, “I figured Kathy might know something. Hell, her family owns half the borderland in these parts. Figured I’d see if she might drop a hint, on purpose or by accident.”

Hooking his thumbs in his Wranglers, Jess rocked back on his heels. “Not sure that’s a woman to bed for info.”

“Ah…no.” Rick raked his fingers through his dark hair and grimaced. “Let’s just say I’m not interested in going where most men in the county have gone before.”

Jess snorted back a laugh. “Catch you later in the week and see what you’ve managed to pry out of Big Tits.”