CHAPTER 12
Her warm fuzzy feelings dissipated by mid-afternoon. Sterling Walker was as stubborn as a mule who lived to make her life impossible. He perched on the edge of her antique farm table, arms bulging as he crossed them. Implacable. Immovable. “I don’t see the problem.”
“Of course you wouldn’t,” she snapped, giving into the frustration coursing through her. “We’re dealing with different groups of people. Beer and poker aren’t going to cut it. Not for a group of donors who are used to naming rights.”
His mouth turned down. “But that’s what guys like.”
“Your guys. Not all guys. I guarantee you the Belger Family Foundation will find that beneath them.”
He side-eyed her as she paced in front of him. “Don’t you think they’re going to hate sitting on hay bales at an outdoor concert?”
She shook her head, turning at the wall and pacing back his direction. “Haven’t you ever been to the Symphony in the Flint Hills?”
He looked mystified.
“This is my point, Sterling. Your thinking and world view are too small.”
His head snapped up, eyes flashing. “You think my world view is too small? Just because I don’t have a set of experiences that mimics yours? Come off it, Em. When you’ve crawled through the mud in enemy territory, or handled a sniper rifle,” his voice grew thick. “When your buddy has died in your arms while you’ve waited for help – then you can talk to me about my world view being too small.”
Emma’s stomach dropped to her toes. Heat raced up her spine and her cheeks flamed. “I-I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had no idea. I didn’t mean to imply…”
Shame sucked the air from her lungs. Sterling’s friend had died in his arms? How could he get through a day carrying that kind of a burden? She couldn’t comprehend the weight of that. Sure, she’d lost both her parents, and at least where her mother had been concerned, the grief had been overwhelming. But having a friend die in her arms? Like Luci? Or one of her sisters-in-law? She’d be wrecked.
She snuck a glance at Sterling, awe filling her. Pain pulled his face taut, and his eyes were lost in a far-off memory. “Sterling?”
He pulled her into a tight embrace, tucking her under his chin. She squeezed back, just as hard. Time slowed. It could have been ten minutes or an hour that they stayed that way. All she knew was that she was grateful for the way Sterling’s heart pounded steady and strong beneath her ear.
“I’m sorry. I never should have said that.”
His hand went to her head, fingers digging into her hair, rubbing in concentric circles. “It’s okay. I overreacted.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s not. My first response is to always get defensive around you.”
“Emma, you don’t have to–”
“No. I do. You always had to point out that you were better than me. Cleverer, smarter. More successful. Never interested in what I had to say. And I, and I… wanted so badly to show you otherwise. Sometimes I forget it’s not like that anymore.”
He tightened his embrace. “Hush. I was a prick at seventeen. Cocky and full of myself.” He leaned back to tilt her chin up. Her insides turned upside down when she met his intense gaze. “And I may have had a crush on you,” he said gruffly.
Her chest tightened. “But you, but you… I don’t understand.”
He tsked, shaking his head. “I thought we went over this a few weeks ago. My opinion hasn’t changed. On both counts.”
Her heart galloped as she stared into his gray eyes. It would be so easy to kiss him. She only had to stand on tiptoe. Heat flooded her, rushing through her body like a wildfire to settle in her clit which throbbed insistently. She let out a shaky breath. She would just have to ignore the tap dancing in her stomach, the tightening of her nipples, the longing to have him stroke her to the point she forgot her name.
He abruptly stepped back, running a hand through his close-cropped hair. “So, tell me about the symphony?”
She fought a wave of disappointment. “Every year the Kansas City Symphony plays a concert at different ranches in the Flint Hills. It’s a huge event. But they also have way more than hay bales. There are VIP tickets for seating and dining, and families bring picnics. It’s too late for this year, but I think any number of the ranches around Prairie would be excellent candidates. They typically have five to seven thousand attendees.”
Sterling let out a low whistle.
“It’s rustic, but dignified. More Jane Austin than Buffalo Bill.”
“Okay, I could get behind that.” He crossed his arms. “But I still want a poker tournament.”
“Enough with the poker tournament, already. Is there anything else you and your buddies are passionate about?”
“Easy. Army-Navy game.”
An idea popped into her head. “That’s it.” She clapped her hands. “That’s what pulls the pieces together. We need to play up the Army-Navy rivalry. Travis and Cash are former SEALs, right?”
He nodded.
“You and Cassie are Army. What if we host an Army-Navy contest? Place your money on your favorite branch, and the winner can be announced at the concert. We can have two tiers of raffles, people who bet on the winning branch are eligible for the grand prize raffle. But there are still good prizes for the losing branch. Everybody wins.”
“You’re brilliant.” Sterling caught her up and swung her around, narrowly missing the couch. “I love it!” he laughed. The sound slithered through her lighting her senses. Sterling let her down slowly but didn’t let her go. Her heart beat erratically as she met his molten gaze. It sizzled her blood.
She licked her lips and dragged her eyes away. “We need to set up an Army-Navy game.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own. It was a breathless, huskier version of herself. “I have an old boyfriend who plays first base for the Kansas City Kings. I can contact him about an exhibition game. Early April is just before the regular season. They may be able to squeeze us in. It would be huge visibility for the ranch.”
“No” He shook his head, mouth turning down. “No way.” Sterling’s voice was hard. Emphatic. And brooked no argument.
“Why not? We could fill the bleachers at the high school and then some. Raffle away that Mustang your friend promised.”
He grunted noncommittally. “Why not get the football team?”
“I don’t have connections on the football team.”
“Find some,” he growled.
“Why are you sticking your heels in the ground? This is a great idea.”
“Not if you’re running around with your ex, it’s not,” he bit out.
“What?” She laughed incredulously. “Are you serious?”
One look at the tight set of his jaw said he was. “Are you jealous?”
A muscle over his jaw ticked.
“Ohmygod you are.” It was so shocking it was funny. Sterling jealous of her? She shook with laughter. Laughed until her sides cramped and her face hurt from grinning.
“It’s not that funny,” he grumbled.
She wiped an eye, still laughing. “I promise you. You have nothing to be jealous of.”
He captured her hand, pulling her close, and cupped her cheeks. “Yes, I do. You’re brilliant. And funny, and beautiful. And I’ve thought about nothing else for the last two weeks than kissing you again.”
She forgot to breathe.
Heat smoldered in his eyes, and when he spoke his voice came out in a rasp. “I know you’ve always felt the chemistry between us.”
She couldn’t deny it. Sterling made her want… things. Hot sweaty dirty-talking naked bodies tangled on the floor things. Her blood sizzled every time he touched her. “I’m just a challenge to you,” she whispered, heart racing. “Another conquest.”
“I would never play you Emma.”
The conviction in his voice surprised her. Weakened her resolve as her heart kicked harder.
“Just give me tonight. One night between two adults who know and like each other.”
Something in his voice cut through her defenses. She flicked a glance at him. Her mouth turned to sawdust and her pussy went slick with desire as she recognized the need in his eyes that mirrored her own. All she could hear was their rapid breathing and her pulse pounding in her ears.
“I…” Her voice died as he kissed her temple. Then her ear, nuzzling down her neck, setting off countless nerve endings. Making her dizzy with desire. “Is this a good idea?”
“We don’t have to make this complicated. Just two friends enjoying each other.”
“Everything about this is complicated.”
He raised his head to study her. “Or tell me to leave and go home, and I’ll never bring it up again.”
Her heart stopped in her throat. If she sent him home, she’d always wonder what it would be like with him. She was tired of wondering, tired of walking around in a state of constant agitation. If Sterling was offering to scratch her itch… why say no? How many nights had she lain awake fantasizing about this very thing? She fisted his shirt and raised on tiptoe pulling him close. “I want you Sterling… stay.”