In Bed With The Wrangler

Seven

“Royce?”

Royce’s body reacted to the sound of Amber’s voice. He hefted a hay bale onto the stack, positioning it correctly before acknowledging her presence.

“Yeah?” He didn’t turn to look at her. It was easier for him to cope if only one of his senses was engaged with her at a time. He only hoped she’d keep her sweet scent on the far side of the barn.

Her footsteps echoed. So much for that plan.

“I didn’t find any more information,” she said. “I’m going to have to try again tomorrow.”

He nodded, moving to the truckload of hay bales, keeping his gaze fixed on his objective.

“It’s getting late,” she ventured, and there was a vulnerability in her voice that made his predicament even worse. Though he didn’t look at her now, an image of her this afternoon, in that short denim skirt, a peach tank top, her blond hair cascading softly around her bare shoulders, was stuck deep in the base of his brain. It was going to take dynamite to blast it out.

“I know.” He gave the short answer.

“What are you doing?”

He grabbed the next bale, binder twine pressing against the reinforced palms of his leather work gloves. “Moving hay bales.”

He retraced his steps. Extreme physical work was his only hope of getting any sleep tonight. If he wasn’t dead-dog exhausted, he’d do nothing but lie awake and think about Amber sleeping across the hall.

“Is it that important?” she pressed.

“Horses have to eat.”

“But do you-”

“Is there something you need?” he asked brusquely.

Her silence echoed between them, and he felt like a heel.

“No,” she finally answered in a soft voice. “It’s just…”

He didn’t prompt her, hoping she’d take the hint and leave. He’d never found himself so intensely attracted to a woman, and it was physically painful to fight it.

“I’m surprised is all,” she continued.

He mentally rolled his eyes. Couldn’t the woman take a hint? Did she like that she was making him crazy? Was she one of those teases that got her jollies out of tempting a man then turning up her prissy little nose at his advances?

“When you said you had to babysit the ranch-”

How the hell long was she going to keep this up?

“-I thought you meant in a more managerial sense. I mean, can’t somebody else move the hay?”

He turned to look at her then. Damn it, she was still wearing that sexy outfit. Only it was worse now, because the cool evening air had hardened her nipples, and they were highlighted against the soft cotton where she stood in the pool of overhead light.

The air whooshed right out of his lungs, and he almost dropped the bale.

“I’d rather do it myself,” he finally ground out.

“I see.” She held his gaze. There was something soft in the depths of her eyes, something warm and welcoming.

At this very second, he could swear she was attracted to him. But he’d been down that road before. Down that road was a long night in a very lonely bed.

He went back to work.

“Royce?” Her footsteps echoed again as she moved closer.

He heaved the bale into place, gritted his teeth and turned. “What?” he barked.

“I’m…” She glanced at the scuffed floor. “Uh…sorry.”

He swiped his forearm across his sweaty brow. “Not as sorry as I am.”

She glanced up in confusion. “For what? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Then, what do you have to be sorry about?”

“You want to know why I’m sorry?” He’d reached the breaking point, and he was ready to give it to her with both barrels. “You really want to know why I’m sorry?”

She gave a tentative nod.

“I’m sorry I walked into the Ritz-Carlton lounge.”

Her eyes widened as he stripped off his gloves.

“And I’m sorry I brought you home with me.” He tossed the gloves on the nearest hay bale. “And I’m sorry you’re so beautiful and desirable and sexy. But mostly, mostly I’m sorry my family’s future is falling down around my ears, and all I can think of is how much I want you.”

Their eyes locked.

For a split second, it looked as though she smiled.

“You think this is funny?”

She shook her head. Then she took a step forward. “I think it’s ironic.”

“You might not want to get too close,” he warned, drinking in the sight, sound and scent of her all in one shot, wondering how many seconds he could hold out before he dragged her into his arms.

“Yeah?” She stepped closer still.

“Did you not hear me?”

She placed her flat palm against his chest. “I heard you just fine.” Her defiant blue eyes held one of the most blatant invitations he’d ever seen.

He hoped she knew what she was doing.

Hell, who was he kidding? He couldn’t care less if she knew or not. Just so long as she didn’t back off this time.

His arms went around her and jerked her flush against him, all but daring her to protest.

Then he bent his head; his desire and frustration transmitted themselves into a powerful kiss. He all but devoured her mouth, reveling in the feel of her thighs, belly and breasts, all plastered against his aching flesh.

He encircled her waist, pulling in at the small of her back, bending her backward, kissing deeper as his free hand strummed from hip to waist over her rib cage to capture the soft mound of her breast.

She groaned against his mouth, lips parting farther, her tongue answering the impassioned thrusts of his own. Her nipple swelled under his caress, fueling his desire and obliterating everything else from his brain. He bent his knee, shifting his thigh between hers, pushing up on her short skirt, settling against the silk of her panties.

Her hands gripped his upper arms, nails scraping erotically against his thin shirt, transmitting her passion to the nerves of his skin. He lifted her, spreading her legs, hands cupping her bottom, shoving the skirt out of the way and pressing her heat against him.

Her arms went around his neck, legs tightening, her lips hot on his, her silky hair flowing out in all directions around her shoulders. She braced her arms on his shoulders, fingers delving into his short hair. Her kisses moved from his mouth to his cheek, his chin and his neck. She tugged at the buttons of his shirt, loosening them, before dipping her head and trailing her kisses across his chest.

He tipped back his head, drinking in the heat and moisture of her amazing lips. Then he took a few steps sideways, behind the bale stack, screening them from the rest of the cavernous room. He shrugged out of his loose shirt, dropping it on a bale before settling her on top. He braced his arms on either side of her and pulled back to look.

Her eyes were closed, lips swollen red. Her chest heaved with labored breaths, and his gaze settled on the outline of her breasts against the peach top.

“Royce?”

His name on her lips tightened his chest and sent a fresh wave of desire cascading through his veins. He swiftly stripped her top off over her head, revealing two perfect breasts peeking from a lacy, white bra that dipped low in the center and barely camouflaged her dusky nipples.

“Gorgeous,” he breathed, popping the clasp and letting the wisp of fabric fall away. “Perfection.”

Her lash-fringed lids came up, revealing blue eyes clouded with passion.

They stared at each other for a long suspended breath. Then he reached out, his tanned hand dark against her creamy breast. He stroked the pad of his thumb across her nipple.

She gasped, and he smiled in pure satisfaction.

He repeated the motion, and she grabbed for his waist, tugging him toward her. But he stood his ground, his gaze flicking to the shadow of her sheer, high-cut panties, the skirt pulled high to reveal her hips.

He traced the line of elastic, knuckle grazing the moist silk. She moaned, head tipping back against the golden hay, her arms falling to her sides, clenching her fists tightly.

He could feel his anticipation, his own blood singing insistently through his system, hormones revving up, his passion making demands on his brain. But he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready to let the roar toward completion hijack his senses.

While his fingertips roamed, he leaned forward, taking one plump nipple into his mouth, curling his tongue around the exquisite texture.

A deep sound burbled in Amber’s throat, and her hands went for his belt buckle, the snap of his jeans, his zipper, his boxers, and then he was in her hand, and he knew time was running out.

He hooked his thumbs over the sides of her panties, stripping them down, letting them drop to the floor. Then his body moved unerringly to hers.

Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he raised his head, gazing into her eyes as he flexed his hips, easing slowly as he could to her center and into her core. Her eyes widened with every inch, she clenched her hands on his hips, and her sweet mouth fell open in a pout of awe.

Unable to resist, he bent his head, her features blurred as he grew close. Then her mouth opened against his, and his tongue thrust in, mimicking the motions of his hips as nature took over and he let the primal rhythm throb free between them.

He cupped her face, caressed her hair, kissed her neck, her temple, her eyelids. His hands roamed free, stroking her thighs, her bottom, her belly and breasts. Her panting breaths were music to his ears, her nails crescenting into his back transmitted her fervor.

Then she cried his name, urging him on, playing havoc with his self-control. But she was with him, and the small tremors contracting her body catapulted him over the edge into oblivion.

Amber blinked open her eyes.

She was vaguely aware of hay strands tickling her bare back. But she was much more aware of Royce’s hard, hot body engulfing her own. Her lungs were struggling to get enough oxygen, and every fiber of her muscles danced with the aftershocks of lovemaking.

Royce’s palm stroked over her hair, and he kissed her eyelids. Despite her exhaustion, her lips curled into a smile. But she was a long way from being able to speak.

Her skirt was in a bunch around her waist, her other clothes scattered. Her hair was wild and disheveled, tangled with hay, while her lips tingled with the heat of his kisses.

“I don’t know what to say,” Royce whispered in her ear.

She struggled through a few more breaths. “Well, I’m definitely not sorry,” she managed, and she heard him chuckle.

“Definitely not sorry,” he echoed.

He eased back, taking in her appearance.

“Bad?” she asked.

He pulled some straw from her hair. “Telltale.”

She raked spread fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it while he refastened his jeans.

He bent and picked up her bra from the floor, frowned at the dirt streaks on it and tucked it into his back pocket. He located her tank top, gave her breasts one last, lingering look, then pulled her top back over her head. The peach color was blotted with dust. And Royce’s attempts to brush it off made things worse.

“We’ll probably want to sneak you in the back way,” he joked as she tugged down her skirt. He watched her movements closely.

She slipped his wrinkled shirt from beneath her butt and held it out to him. “You’re not looking so sharp yourself, cowboy.”

“I’ve been working hard.” As he shrugged into his shirt, his gaze strayed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and his tone went soft and intimate. “What’s your excuse?”

“Someone stole my underwear.”

He reached for the wisp of silk caught on the side of a bale and tucked it into his pocket with her bra.

“That’s my only pair.”

“Yeah?” He gave her body another long look. “Lucky me.”

He fastened his buttons then helped her down, tucking her hand in his as they headed across the barn. “I hope you know you’re sleeping in my bed tonight.”

“Only if you give my underwear back.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

He turned to gaze at her. “Talk me into it.”

Her footsteps slowed, and so did his. With their joined hands, he reeled her in, then he smoothed her hair back once more, moving closer still, voice intimate. “You know, you are stunningly gorgeous.”

A smile tickled the corners of her mouth. “Is that why you’re sneaking me in the back way?”

“I’m keeping you all to myself,” he whispered, lips coming down on hers.

The kiss nearly exploded between them. For all that they’d just made love, Amber’s arousal was strong as ever. She wrapped her arms around his neck, came up on her toes, welcomed his tongue and reveled in the feel of his warm hands as they stroked over her back, across her buttocks, down her thighs, then back up beneath her skirt.

She pressed her body against his as the kiss went on and on. A groan slipped from her lips.

“Again?” he asked, voice husky.

She nodded.

“Here or in bed.”

“I don’t care.” She truly didn’t. Royce could make her body sing, and propriety didn’t appear to have a lot to do with it.

He backed off slightly on the kiss and smoothed her skirt back down. “In bed.”

“Really?”

He grinned at the disappointment in her tone. “I want to make love to you for a very, very long time.”

She cocked her head sideways. “And you need a bed for that?”

“I don’t plan to be able to move afterward.”

She breathed a mock, drawn-out sigh. “If you think I’ll wear you out…”

“Is that a challenge?”

She gave a teasing half smile and rapidly blinked her lashes.

In return, he planted a playful swat on her buttocks. “You’re on, sweetheart.”

Amber stifled a yawn in the bright, midday sunshine, stretching her taut thigh muscles as she leaned on the railing of the ranch house deck. The puppies were below, chasing each other and rolling around on the meadow that sloped toward the river. Off the end of the deck, Amber could see the ranch hands putting up five giant tents in preparation for Saturday’s barbecue and barn dance.

She was dividing her time between the Sagittarius Eclipse mystery and the barbecue. She’d never planned an event quite like this before. They’d hired a local band. Hamburgers and hot dogs were making up the main course, while salads, potato chips and condiments seemed to round out the rest. They had plans for a giant cake for dessert, with papers plates, soft drinks and canned beer all around.

Amber wasn’t sure how the Ryder International executives would react to the dinner, though she was sure their kids would love the wagon rides, horseshoes and baseball game Stephanie had planned. When she’d broached the possibility of steaks, wine and real china with Sasha, the woman looked at her as though she’d lost her mind.

Okay, so they did corporate entertaining a little differently here in Montana. Amber could conform. And at least the event wasn’t likely to damage the Ryder International bottom line.

Tucking her windblown hair behind one ear, she pressed the on button of her cell phone, and dialed Katie’s work number.

“Katie Merrick,” came the familiar voice.

“It’s Amber.”

“What? Finally! Have you gone stark raving mad?”

“You’ve been talking to my mom, haven’t you?”

“Of course I’ve been talking to your mom. And your dad. And Hargrove. You’ve got him completely confused.”

“I thought I cleared up the confusion yesterday.”

“By breaking it off over the phone?” The accusation was clear in Katie’s tone.

“I’m a little ways away, Katie.”

“Where?”

Amber scratched her fingernail over a dried flower petal the rain had stuck to the painted railing, deciding she couldn’t keep it a secret forever. “Montana.”

Silence.

“Katie?”

“Did you say Montana?”

“Yes. I’m staying with a…well, friend. I need your help with something.”

“I’d say you need a whole lot more than my help. The dress arrived yesterday.”

“What dress?”

“Your wedding dress.” Katie’s voice was incredulous. “The one from Paris. The one with antique alençon lace and a thousand hand-sewn pearls.”

“Oh.” Right. That dress. Amber supposed they’d have to put it on consignment somewhere. “The thing I wanted to talk to you about at the moment, though, was business.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a problem.”

“What problem?” Katie’s voice immediately turned professional.

“It’s a company called Sagittarius Eclipse. I haven’t been able to trace it, but I think it’s got to be offshore somewhere, maybe hiding behind a numbered company. It could be connected to embezzlement.”

There was another moment’s silence. “Where did you say you were?” asked Katie.

Amber drew a sigh. “You remember that thirty dollars I gave you last week?”

“To pay for the dry cleaning on my dress?”

“You’re on retainer, Katie. I’m a client.”

“What is going on?”

“Lawyer-client confidentiality. Say it.”

“Lawyer-client confidentiality,” Katie parroted with exasperation.

“I think Sagittarius Eclipse is involved in an embezzlement scheme against Ryder International.”

“Montana.” Katie drew out the word in a triumphant voice, obviously making the connection with Amber’s father’s business.

Fine by Amber, she’d rather have Katie connecting her to Jared Ryder than to Royce. Even thinking his name brought up an image of last night, and Amber was forced to shake it away in order to concentrate.

“You going into my line of work?” asked Katie.

Creighton Waverley Security was famous in Chicago for specializing in corporate espionage, and they’d investigated plenty of other corporate crimes along the way.

“Just for the week.” Though Amber could already see the appeal of the profession. The harder she looked for information, the more involved she became in the hunt.

“You looking for anything specific?”

“A bank account. A name. A guy named McQuestin might be involved.”

Although Royce was sure McQuestin was honest, Amber wasn’t prepared to rule anything out. She’d looked back as far as she could in the financial records this morning, and Sagittarius Eclipse had received millions over the years. Maybe McQuestin hadn’t even broken his leg. Maybe he was on his way to some offshore haven even now.

“I’ll see what I can find. And, Amber?”

“Yes?”

“You serious about this breakup?”

Amber didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Why?”

Good question. Hard to put into words. “He’s just not the right guy for me.”

Katie’s accusing tone was back. “When did he become not the right guy for you?”

“Katie.”

“When he made his first million? When he bought you a three-carat diamond? When he received the party nod for the nomination? Or when he planned the honeymoon to Tahiti?”

“Hargrove planned a honeymoon to Tahiti?” It was the first Amber had heard about it.

“Yes! Just last night he was showing me some-”

“You saw Hargrove last night?”

There was a small pause. “He was desperate, Amber. He needed a date for that hospital thing with the Myers.”

“You went on a date with Hargrove?”

“Of course not.” But there was something in Katie’s tone. “He couldn’t show up stag, and I’ve met Belinda Myers before, so…”

Amber rolled the image of Katie and Hargrove around in her head. No problem for her. She really didn’t care. “Did you have a good time?” she asked.

“That’s not the point.”

Royce appeared in Amber’s peripheral vision, on horseback, moving along the river trail between the staff cabins and the barbecue setup. Even at this distance, the sight of him took her breath away.

“Gotta go,” she said to Katie. “Call me as soon as you find something.”

“Uh…Okay, sure.”

“Thanks, Katie. I miss you.” Amber quickly signed off.

Royce spotted her, and the sizzle of his gaze shot right to her toes. He turned his horse toward the house, and she headed for the deck’s staircase.

Glances and brief, public conversations were all Royce had managed to share with Amber throughout the day. So he was disappointed when he finally found her up at the jumping-horse outfit, and she was sitting on the front porch laughing with his sister and another man.

As he exited the pickup truck, Royce’s first thought was that Hargrove had found her. The idea tightened his gut and sped up his stride. She certainly seemed happy to see this guy. She was listening to him with rapt attention, smiling, even laughing.

“Royce,” Stephanie sang out as his boot hit the bottom stair. Amber glanced up, and the stranger twisted his head.

Royce immediately realized the man was too young to be Hargrove. Plus, he was wearing jumping clothes, not a business suit.

“Wesley, this is my brother, Royce. Wesley is our newest student. He was nationally ranked as a junior.”

The young man stood up as Royce trotted up the remaining stairs.

“Good to meet you,” Royce said with a hearty handshake, ignoring how relieved he felt that the guy wasn’t Hargrove. Wesley looked to be about twenty-one. Not much younger than Stephanie and Amber, but no immediate competition.

“You, too.” Wesley nodded. “I’m honored to be working with Stephanie.”

Royce smirked at his sister. “Well, we’ll see how honored you feel a month from now.”

“Hey,” she protested, reaching out to swat his arm.

“Can I grab you a beer?” Wesley offered, nodding to a cooler against the wall. “I picked up a dozen at a microbrewery in San Diego.”

“Thanks,” Royce agreed, and the younger man headed for the far side of the porch.

“I’ve got something for you,” Amber stage-whispered, and Royce’s attention shot immediately to her dancing eyes.

His chest tightened, and he wondered if she was going to proposition him right here in front of Stephanie. Not that it would be a bad thing. They’d seemed to come to a tacit agreement to keep their relationship secret. But there was no real reason to do that. They were both adults. She’d officially broken off her engagement. They were entitled to date each other if they wanted.

“Sagittarius Eclipse,” she said, and he realized his brain had gone completely off on the wrong track. “I have a name.”

“Yeah?” He pushed an empty deck chair into the circle.

“Norman Stanton.”

Royce froze, brain scrambling while Amber kept talking.

“He’s an American, originally from the Pacific North-”

“Later,” Royce barked.

Amber drew back, squinting at his expression.

He moderated his voice, forcing a smile when he realized Stephanie was staring at him in confusion. “I want to hear how things are coming with the barbecue.”

Then he nodded to Wesley as he returned with the beer. “Thanks,” he told him. “So, are you training for any competition in particular?”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Amber was confused, probably hurt, but there was nothing he could do about that at the moment. He pretended to listen to Wesley’s answer, while his mind reeled.

Stanton. Damn it. A name out of his worst nightmare. After all these years, they were being blackmailed by a Stanton?

How much did the bastard know? How long had he known it? And why the hell hadn’t his grandfather or McQuestin told him before now?