TamingTara

Chapter Fourteen

They couldn’t get enough of each other, making love again before they dropped off to sleep and again in the morning. Tara slid out of bed to go make coffee while Joe went back to sleep. Naked, she peeked out through the French doors from the kitchen onto the terrace. Her clothes littered the tiles. Scanning the area, she darted nervously out onto the terrace to retrieve them, then quickly slipped the tank top over her head and stepped into the little boy shorts. She couldn’t help but smile at Joe’s comments about her “shorts”. And the shameless, wanton way she’d behaved last night. God, he’d taken her on the terrace, out in the open, totally naked. She shivered with remembered delight.

She considered leaving. Just getting out while he was asleep, running back to Santa Barbara so she didn’t have to face him again. Except she did have to face him again. And besides…she couldn’t just leave him. Yesterday he’d brought her breakfast in bed. He’d made dinner for her. He’d given her so much pleasure and told her she was beautiful and smart. Her heart swelled, remembering that.

So she made coffee and poured it into a large thermos jug when it was ready. Along with the muffins they’d bought yesterday and two mugs, she carried the thermos into the bedroom.

Joe sprawled on his stomach in her bed, taking up almost the whole damn thing, he was so huge. His bare feet, long and sexy, hung over the bottom of the bed, the duvet twisted crazily over his body. His arms were up around the pillow beneath his head, the morning light shadowing the curves of his muscled arms and shoulders. His dark hair was tousled, his cheeks darkened with whiskers, his beautiful chiseled mouth relaxed. She just stood there and looked at him, coffee and breakfast forgotten, rubbing mindlessly at the ache in her chest. She let out her breath on a soft sigh at the beauty of him.

Fear bubbled up inside her again, fear she’d fought all day yesterday as they’d explored Santa Ynez, holding hands like lovers, cooking dinner like a couple. She was not an emotional person, she was detached and independent. Sure, she cared about people. Obviously she loved her sister and her grandfather. She cared about the people who worked for her. But she could not care about Joe. Because, dammit, he scared her.

Swallowing hard past the tightness in her throat, she sat down on the edge of the bed and gave Joe’s big shoulder a little shake. He stirred, his long dark lashes feathered on his cheekbones, then fluttering open. His eyes, hazy with sleep, immediately fastened on hers. Dark and liquid, like hot coffee. She couldn’t resist reaching out to push his hair back off his forehead, combing her fingers through it gently.

“I brought you breakfast,” she told him. “Coffee and muffins.”

“Mmm.” He reached for her and before she knew it she was tumbled beneath his big, hard body. “I just want you for breakfast.” He rubbed his scratchy face against hers and she hunched her shoulders up as she tried to evade him. And she giggled. Good God, she giggled.

He pushed her tank top up over her breasts. She hadn’t bothered with a bra, just the tank top and panties. He rubbed his face over her breasts, took a nipple between his lips. Oh God, he was doing it to her again. She was helpless to resist him.

She grabbed hold of his hair, intending to pull him away from her sensitive nipple but instead she moaned and held him closer as he sucked harder.

“Joe,” she murmured. “Stop. Enough.”

“You don’t sound very sure of that,” he murmured, switching to her other breast, sending all kinds of shimmery tingles through her, everything inside her going soft and warm.

And he proceeded to have her for breakfast— and then coffee and muffins.

After they’d had a shower and dressed again, she suggested they should get back to Santa Barbara.

“What’s the rush?” Joe asked. “It’s Sunday.” She stared at him with frustration. She needed to get away from him, from his overwhelming sexual presence, from the temptation of his body and most importantly from the way he looked at her and saw inside her and asked her questions about stuff she didn’t even want to think about.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he said. “You can show me more of the ranch.”

She sighed and gave in to the inevitable. What would she do at home, anyway?

So they spent the afternoon wandering the dusky olive groves, then sitting in a grassy field in the sun talking.

“Did you know olives are a powerful aphrodisiac?” she asked.

“Huh?” He grinned. “Uh no. I’ve heard of other foods that are aphrodisiacs….oysters…”

“I think that’s just because they look like female genitalia,” she said.

He choked. “Yeah, that could be it.”

“Anyway, apparently the ancient Greeks ate olives and steamed barley before a night of love. It supposedly made men inexhaustible in bed.”

“Ah.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Worth trying.”

She laughed and pushed at his shoulder. “Like you need it.” They shared an intimate smile.

“You’re beautiful when you laugh,” he told her, brushing her cheek with a long piece of grass.

Oh God, he was doing it again. Telling her she was beautiful. Nobody had ever told her that. Well, she had a vague memory of her parents saying it, but that didn’t count. She knew she was okay looking, but not beautiful, certainly not glamorous like Sasha. But Joe really seemed to think she was beautiful and her heart warmed and softened at that.

He pushed her down and rolled over her. “That will be my new mission in life. Make Tara laugh.”

She couldn’t help but laugh again, but sobered instantly when he kissed her. Oh Lord, she was in so much trouble here.

She had no idea how she was going to handle things Monday morning.

Nick was sitting in his living room watching a movie on DVD when Joe arrived home Sunday evening.

“Wow,” he said as Joe came in. “You finally showed up. Must have been a good weekend.” Joe had left him a message that he was out at the ranch.

“Oh yeah.” Joe dropped into a chair across from Nick. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

“So, you’re doing your boss.”

Joe scowled. “She is not my boss,” he said. “Let me just make that perfectly clear. I do not work for her.”

Nick held up his hands. “Ooookay. Sorry.”

“She is, however, my boss’s granddaughter,” he continued with a groan, dropping his face into his hands. “What the hell was I thinking?”

“Apparently you were thinking with your other head,” Nick said helpfully.

“Yeah, thanks, buddy. Christ. I’ve probably just screwed up the only job I could get, besides maybe waiting tables.” He leaned his head back against the couch, closing his eyes.

“Must have been good,” Nick said. “You look exhausted.”

“Yeah.” He expelled a long breath. “It was better than good.”

“Was it worth it?”

Joe considered that. If it changed the dynamic between them and led her to trust him with business decisions, then yeah, it had been worth it. Christ, a whole weekend of hot sex with a gorgeous woman? Of course it was worth it!

But there was one other small problem. His intention had been to teach her a few submission lessons, for the sole purpose of gaining her cooperation at the office. But somehow the inner vulnerability, the generosity and passion she usually kept hidden, had done some kind of number on him, because he hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Not just in the bedroom. Tasting wine with her, sitting in the olive groves talking, hearing about her parents…it had been fun. And although he’d dominated her, he’d done it without any tricks or toys—no cuffs, no flogger, no ropes. Which was weird for him, the guy who’d gotten so bored and blasé about sex he’d sought out fetish clubs for excitement.

“I hope so,” he finally said.

“She’s not likely going to run home and tell Grandpa she slept with you, is she?”

“Jesus Christ.”

Nick laughed. “So what’s the problem?

“No problem. It’s just a job.” Yeah right.

“You can get a job anywhere,” Nick said, waving a hand.

Joe shook his head. “Nice try, buddy,” he said. “Where were you when I was pounding the pavement in San Francisco a few weeks ago? Nobody wants to hire me. I’m damaged goods, man.” He shook his head in disgust. “If I can just get back on my feet, eventually people will forget what happened, but right now…I’m borderline desperate.”

No borderline about it. Yet somehow his career problems seem to have ducked into the far recesses of his mind, forgotten and unimportant. Somehow Tara had become not just a problem to be solved, but a treasure to be won.

“Her sister is uh…acting kinda weird,” Nick said. “Have you met her?”

Joe focused on his friend. “Yeah. She didn’t seem weird. Kind of slutty princessy, but not weird.”

Nick frowned. “She’s not slutty.”

Joe bit back a grin. “Why’d you say she’s acting weird?”

“She…ah…asked me out.”

Joe laughed. “That’s not weird.”

“Well, in a way it is—she’s on the fundraising committee. Of course I turned her down, and then Friday she stayed after the meeting and hung out with the kids.”

Joe quirked a brow. “The kids in the center? Why would she do that?”

“I have no idea. Like I said—weird. None of the other committee members do that.”

“You know why she did it.” The grin broke free. “She’s hot for you.”

“Fuck.” Nick rubbed his face. “Maybe. But I don’t want anything to do with her.”

“Maybe she’s not like Erin.”

“Oh yeah. She’s exactly like Erin.”

“Well, hell. Don’t piss her off. Remember, I work for her family.”

“I’m not going out with her just to save your sorry ass!”

“I never said that. Just…be nice to her. She can’t be that bad.”

Nick’s grimace made him laugh again. “The thing is, she can’t just do that. She can’t just hang out and work with the kids. We have to make sure anyone who works with the kids is screened properly. Liability issues. She’s actually really good with them and they love her…” He shrugged. “But I can’t let her do that.”

One corner of Joe’s mouth deepened. “Shit.”

Joe was already at the office, standing at Paige’s desk looking at some papers when Tara got there at seven-thirty Monday morning. He glanced up when she walked in and his smile was so warm it melted her. She smiled back uncertainly.

He looked so damn good in his casual pants and shirt, the sleeves rolled up over his strong brown forearms.

“Good morning,” he murmured and moved purposefully toward her. God, he was going to kiss her. She sidestepped him and returned his greeting, ducking into her office. He followed her to the door with a little frown.

“You okay?” he inquired, lifting a brow, leaning against the door frame.

“Yes, of course!” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m fine. But we need to talk.”

A faint smile curved his lips.

“Sure.” He stepped into the office and closed the door.

“We need to be sure we’re on the same page. You know….”

He met her gaze neutrally.

“I’d rather people don’t know about…us,” she said, struggling with the words. “It’s just better, since we work together….”

“Of course,” he said. “Don’t you trust me to be discreet, Tara?”

“Yes, yes, of course I do,” she hurried to assure him. “And I just wanted to make sure you know this doesn’t change anything.”

“What do you mean?” The silkiness in his voice alerted her and she eyed him warily.

“I mean, what happened at the ranch doesn’t make any difference to what happens here. In the office.”

She felt the stillness of his body even though the expression on his face barely changed. She started to shake a little inside.

“That was just sex,” she continued. “It has nothing to do with us…here…this…” She waved a hand between them. “Business.”

He stared down at her for several thudding heartbeats. “Of course not. You’re right.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Just then her grandfather walked into her office and Joe stepped back.

“Tara,” Tyrone said. “I didn’t see you last night. When did you get home?”

“Around six.” She swallowed. “I went to bed early.” Joe had carefully taken a few steps back, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“You must have. How was your weekend?” He was looking at her curiously and her cheeks grew warm again. Handle this, Tara, handle this.

“It was fine,” she shrugged, avoiding Joe’s eyes. “How was yours?”

“Good,” he said. “I had a visit from an old friend.” His eyes slid over to Joe. “Your grandmother.”

Joe’s brows snapped together above his nose. “Grandma was in town?” Tara could see his mind working at a furious pace.

“Yes. She was here on some business, but she stopped in to see you and was told you were out of town for the weekend.”

Shit, shit, shit. Now Tara met Joe’s eyes, communicating silently.

“Yeah, uh….I went to LA for the weekend,” Joe said. “Nick must have forgotten to tell me she came by.”

“Ah. Anyway, she stopped in to see me and stayed for dinner Saturday night. It was quite pleasant. We caught up on some news. She was wondering how you’re doing. I told her you seem to be catching on quickly here. Right in the thick of things after only three weeks.”

Joe smiled at Tyrone. “Thanks. I’m sorry I missed her. I’ll give her a call today.”

Tyrone left and Joe and Tara faced each other again.

“Thank you for covering,” she said.

“I don’t like lying,” he said, his jaw tight. “But I agree it’s better to just keep this between us.”

“Okay. Then…we’re good?”

“There are still things we need to talk about,” he said. “A shitload of things. But this isn’t the place.”

“Oh.”

“So. Let’s talk about the website redesign. After you talk to CoastTech, you’ll need to put that all together into a business case.”

She scowled, but they’d already had this fight once. “Yes,” she muttered. “But I’m still working on the high density planting case. And I haven’t even gotten to the case for using the pomace. I don’t know when I’ll get time to get to that.”

He frowned. “I offered to do that for you.”

“I know, but…”

He leaned forward, eyes intense. “I’ll do it, Tara.”

She studied him for a long moment, nibbling on her bottom lip. She wanted to get the high density planting business case done more than anything—that was her biggest project and the one she needed Grandpa’s approval on to move forward, the one that was going to take the business to the next level. She couldn’t do it all herself.

But it vexed her to hand something over to Joe when all along she’d been trying to keep things away from him. She tried to reconcile that with the man who’d given her so much on the weekend—and couldn’t.

“Okay.” She turned around and picked up a folder from the credenza behind her desk. “Here.” She slid it over to him. “Go for it.” She paused. “But…you won’t rule it out just because it’s…soap, will you? Or just because it’s my idea?”

“Tara.” He gave her a look of censure. “If it’s a viable business opportunity, I’ll say so. I don’t care whose idea it was or what it is.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“And since you’re so busy, I’ll handle the tax audit.”

She pursed her lips. “I hate audits,” she admitted. She sighed. “Okay.”

His lips twitched. “Okay.”

Paige poked her head into the office. “Joe, Cole Sotello is on the phone for you.”

Tara frowned. “For Joe? Doesn’t he want to talk to me?” Cole Sotello was the competition—another olive oil producer a little farther north in the valley.

“He asked for Joe.”

“I’ll take it in my office.”

“Why is he calling you?” She shifted her gaze to Joe. Her stomach tightened and her heart started beating a little faster. This was her worst fear…other people were going to start going to him instead of her.

“I have no idea,” Joe said patiently. “I’ll let you know.”

She stared at him in dismay as he left to take the call. Why wouldn’t Joe speak to her?

Dammit, and she’d just handed over the pomace business case and the tax audit. Shit! She needed to get a grip. She could not be getting all soft just because they’d had sex. Really, supernova hot sex. She had to stay in control. Had to.

Joe returned a short time later with his arms full of files.

“So what did he want?” she demanded.

“Who?”

“Cole Sotello!”

He lifted a brow. “He wants to have lunch tomorrow.”

“Oh.” She pursed her lips. “Why?”

He gave her a long, patient look. She met his gaze defiantly.

“I don’t know, Tara. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Why can’t I come?”

“Because he invited me.”

She wanted to growl with frustration. She was being totally excluded from the meeting and it wasn’t fair, dammit. “But I…”

“Don’t worry,” he told her. “I can handle whatever it is.”

She nodded.

“Have lunch with me today.”

“No.” That was a bad idea.

“Yes. I’ll swing by at noon.” And he disappeared. Damn him.