Blake woke up earlier than usual, and the first thing he thought about was Jill. Kissing her. Holding her. Man, it was torture having her right across the hall. But what killed him was that he’d come to the frustrating conclusion last night that he needed to go back to Dallas today. Not fooling himself for one minute, he knew the only reason he’d even come on this trip was to be contrary and bug Jill while spending as much time with her as he could. But he could no longer ignore all the fires he needed to put out at home.
He hated it though. And he had this feeling that if he gave Jill space, she might start second guessing whatever it was they had started last night. He had no clue what it was or where it was going, but he knew he liked it.
Unable to go back to sleep with so much to do, Blake texted Rick to come talk to him, then started an email to Ivey, telling her he’d be back in the office by noon. When Rick came in, using his key to Blake’s room, he looked around the room, obviously ensuring there weren’t any armed assailants for him to dispatch.
“It’s early, boss.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. I need to get back to Dallas this morning.”
Rick nodded. “I’ll be packed in two minutes.”
“No, you’re staying here with Jill.”
Distress flooded Rick’s countenance. “Does she need to be protected?”
“I hope not. But it would make me feel better and I can do without you for a few days.”
“Pardon the reminder, but you’ve gotten enough threats and blackmail letters from wackos to prove differently.”
“Rick, I appreciate that it’s your job to be concerned about me, but don’t forget that I’m the one making the calls here. And I want you on hand to make sure Trevor Walton keeps the line. Jill is planning to spend one more day at his facility. And I’ll want you to arrange a chartered plane for her and Camden on Friday. Also, call in to have my pilot pick me up in Jackson and get a rental for me.”
“I can get a car service for you,” Rick offered.
“I’d prefer to drive. I need some time to myself.”
“Did all the…chocolate last night mess with your head.”
Blake narrowed his eyes at him. “Trying to turn comedian on me? Look, I’m going to shower and try to meet Jill for breakfast. Can you get on that for me?”
Twenty minutes later, Blake texted Jill, asking if she was awake. Instead of getting a reply from her, he heard a knock on the door, making his heart jump at the thought of seeing her so soon. He opened the door and looked down at her, his insides lighting up like sunrise. She wore leggings again and that t-shirt that slipped off her shoulders. This time, he wasn’t about to miss the chance to kiss the smooth slope of her revealed shoulder.
Taking hold of her arms, he pulled her close and bent to press a couple of kisses on her shoulder, then one at the base of her neck. Afraid he might get lost in her silken skin and delicate floral scent, he straightened and forced himself to remain on track. “I need to talk to you.”
“I figured,” she said, a guarded look on her face. “I promise I brushed my teeth already if you want to try one here.” She pointed to her mouth, and Blake was not one to refuse a lady’s invitation.
But kissing Jill was like a drug. Not only did he suspect her kisses were addictive, they impaired his mental functions. He savored the feel of her lips on his, of her hands curled into his t-shirt, then lifted his head. It took all the will-power he had, but he really couldn’t continue devouring her in the doorway.
“Rick is here,” he murmured, letting her know they weren’t alone.
Jill looked past him then said, “I suppose Rick has seen you with lots of girls. He’s totally chill about it.”
“Not exactly,” Blake said, very sure that now was not the time for a conversation about all their past relationships, even though he was extremely curious about the man who she’d said had broken her heart. He put his arm around her and pulled her further into the room.
“Not exactly to which part?”
“The first part,” Rick said with dry humor.
“Thanks, sonar ears,” Blake said. “Look Jill, I need to head back to Dallas this morning.”
He watched her expression carefully, both hoping for and dreading her disappointment. It definitely flashed across her face, but she controlled it quickly.
“I understand. I’ve honestly been surprised you’ve been able to stay with us so long. And we’ve only got one more day to go here anyway.”
“Yes. I hate to leave, but I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
Jill nodded but her expression looked closed off. “Well, back to reality as they say.”
Blake gripped her arm. “This has always been reality.”
“But Blake, we can’t do this once we’re back in the office.”
Blake felt as if the floor was sliding beneath his feet. “Not in the office, no. But our personal time is our own. And you and I both know that Nate is paying your salary, not me.”
“You and I know that, but does anyone else?”
“What did you think we were doing? Starting some chaste sort of over-night fling?”
To Blake’s amazement, Jill—controlled, mature, professional Jill—flopped backwards onto his unmade bed and covered her face with one of the pillows. “I don’t know what we’re doing.”
He barely understood her muffled words, but it probably didn’t help that his brain had gotten stuck on the fact that she was in his bed, her bare feet tangled in his sheets. He looked across the room at Rick who was also staring at the bed wide-eyed.
“Want me to leave?” Rick asked.
Jill sat up. “No. Sorry. This is crazy.” While Rick shrugged and went to the window, where he put his earbuds in his ears, she crossed her legs, and hugged a pillow across her chest. “Look, we both have work to do. I don’t know about you, but I need to focus on what’s going on here. I need to understand so I can make the right recommendation. I don’t want to let Nate down, but I also want to do what’s best for you.”
Blake sat down on the bed, angled toward her. “Jill, will you please relax. It was just a few kisses.” It almost killed him to say that because it certainly hadn’t been just a few kisses to him. It had gone so much deeper than that. But he didn’t want her to run scared when they were just coming together. “We don’t have to figure everything out right now.” He reached a hand out to her.
She smiled and took his hand. “I’ve never been any good without a plan.”
“Me either, but I think this is one time we should both try it. Unless you can move on like nothing happened between us?”
“No.” Her voice was a whisper.
Blake sat stroking her hand with his thumb, desperately trying to figure out how to handle this, because he knew Jill needed to know the next step. They needed more time like this, together—away from the business world they were both so caught up in. “Want to come out to the ranch with Hayden and me on Saturday? You could stay for the weekend. The ranch house is small, but there are still a couple of guest rooms.”
Her eyes lit up. “That would be…perfect.”
“Okay then, we have a plan. You do your thing here and I’ll go do mine, but this weekend will be—”
“More of this,” she said, looking down to their entwined hands.
Blake leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “Exactly. No pressure, no plans.”
“No expectations?”
“None. Just seeing where this goes.”
“Maybe we should wait till after I finish my contract here. I’ll be delivering my report in a couple of weeks.”
His heart clenched in a swift, negative reaction to that. He knew she had a lot of reservations, things in her past and future that would make this hard for her. So did he. Heck, this was exactly what he’d always said he didn’t want—a relationship with a woman married to her career. But he was too caught up in these emotions, in the lure of her beauty and spunky intelligence. Reaching out, he gripped her hips and pulled her closer to him until she sat facing him, her hip pressed into his, her thigh against his. While she squealed in surprise, he grabbed the pillow she was holding and tossed it to the side.
Slowly, gently, he ran his hands around her waist, splaying his fingers across her back and urging her closer. “Can you really wait two weeks for more of this? I can’t.”
The way her body relaxed into him was answer enough. Her left arm wrapped around him while her right hand ran up his chest and curled around the back of his neck. He’d never experienced anything like the way her touch made him feel. It was a bigger rush than that moment when a gate opened and more satisfying than having a fortune in the bank. He kissed her then like he’d done everything else in his life—giving a hundred percent, holding nothing back.
But as soon as he felt her willing response shifted and she pushed softly against his chest, he relaxed his grip on her and gave her the space she was asking for.
She let out a long breath. “Wow. Cowboys know how to kiss.”
Blake chuckled. “Yeah? Well your kisses are as potent as all blazes.”
“Good thing we aren’t alone, huh?” Her eyes flitted across the room to where Rick had his back to them while he worked.
Blake stood and helped her off the bed. “Probably, but that doesn’t mean I’m enthusiastic about it. By the way, I’m leaving Rick here with you.”
“What? No. Blake, I’ve been taking care of myself my whole life. I’m okay.”
“It would make me feel better.”
“What about you? You must have a good reason for keeping him around.”
“Nothing specific, but when you have as much money as I have, you become a magnet for people with nefarious intentions and poor judgment.”
“I guess so. But since I don’t have that problem, why do I need G.I. Joe for a bodyguard?”
Blake had no intention of telling her that Trevor was the reason—that the man brought out all his caveman instincts. “I just have an itch in my spine that tells me it’s a good idea. Do you mind that much?”
Jill was quiet for a moment as she thought. “No. At least he and I are friends. I need to get ready and pack. It’s getting late. Will I see you again before you leave?”
“No. I’m leaving as soon as my rental car arrives.”
She frowned, then stepped into his arms. She squeezed tightly like she didn’t want to let go and kissed him on the jaw. As she stepped back, a mischievous smile lit her face. “That’s good. You don’t want to keep Ivey waiting.” She walked away laughing, slipping out the door before he could respond appropriately.