Three Little Words

She turned off the water and got out of the shower. After drying off, she wrapped herself in her robe and opened the bathroom door. And screamed.

Ford was standing right there.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart pounded hard against her rib cage.

“I brought you coffee.”

She took the offered mug, then glanced down and realized he was not only na**d but erect. Anticipation sent heat rushing all through her.

She turned, set down the coffee, dropped her robe on the floor and stepped into his arms. He was kissing her and moving her back at the same time.

After he shoved the coffee to the back of the vanity, he lifted her up to the counter and spread her legs. She reached between them and guided him inside.

He filled her in a single stroke.

She wrapped her legs around his h*ps and nibbled at his jaw. “Hard,” she instructed, already halfway to her release. “Don’t hold back.”

“You’re my kind of girl.”

She brought his hands to her br**sts and arched her head back. As he pumped in and out, he squeezed her nipples. Less than a minute later, she was flying, crying out her release. He followed quickly.

When they were done, they stayed where they were, trying to catch their breath.

“You’re going to kill me,” he told her.

“Is that a complaint?”

He grinned and kissed her. “No. It’s a challenge.”

* * *

FORD SPUN SLOWLY in his seat. Justice looked up from his notes.

“Are we keeping you from something?”

“Nope,” Ford said easily, doing his best not to grin. Mostly because he didn’t want questions, but if ever there was a morning to be a happy guy, this was it.

Isabel had been a revelation. Sweet and sexy. When she’d come apart in his arms... He shook his head. There weren’t any words. He just knew it was the best feeling ever.

Consuelo looked at him. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“You’re too happy. It’s annoying.”

Angel grunted. “You were supposed to have dinner with Clyde and his wife last night. He’s a potential client.”

“More than potential now,” Ford told him. “He’s coming in later to sign on the dotted line.”

He reached for a sheet of paper, crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash can. “Score one for me.”

“That was your handout for the meeting,” Justice told him.

“I’ll share with someone else.”

Consuelo continued to glare at him. “I’m going to hurt you later.”

As they had a workout planned at three that afternoon, there was every chance she was telling the truth. Not that he cared. He could still please Isabel with a broken leg or arm.

Once she’d figured out the whole point of sex, she hadn’t been able to get enough. They’d reached for each other again and again in the night. And that morning—talk about hot.

What he couldn’t believe was that no one had bothered to take the time to figure out how to please her. She wasn’t especially difficult; she was just inexperienced. He supposed Eric had something of an excuse, but what about the other guys?

Idiots, he told himself.

He should go online and find her some toys. Nothing that would freak her out, but a few fun things. He had a feeling she would enjoy playing, as would he.

Angel crumpled up his notes and made a basket into the trash can. Justice snapped his laptop shut.

“What about the meeting?” Consuelo asked.

“There’s an assembly at Lillie’s school. I’d rather be there than dealing with these two.” He motioned to Ford and Angel.

“So I’m in charge?” Consuelo asked, sounding pleased.

“No blood, no dead bodies, no broken bones.”

“You’re limiting my fun.”

“We’re still business partners. If you kill them, it’s more work for you.” Justice walked out of the conference room.

Ford heard footsteps in the hallway; then Justice said, “He’s back in there.”

Was Isabel looking for him? He got up and hurried out the door, only to find Leonard walking toward him.

“Hey,” he said, nodding at his friend. “What’s up?”

“Is there a place we can talk?”

“Sure.” He motioned to his office, two doors down. “Everything okay?”

“Fine.”

Leonard followed him inside, then shut the door. He pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat. “I want to start working out.”

Ford leaned against his desk. “Sure. That’s easy. Have you joined a gym?”

“I’m going to, but I thought maybe you could give me some lessons or something. Tell me what I need to be doing.” Leonard’s face crumpled. “Maeve mentioned that you looked good. When I pressed her, she made a comment about...” He swallowed. “Your butt.”

Ford raised his eyebrows and held up his hands. “Look, there’s absolutely nothing going on between Maeve and me. I haven’t seen her since you were in the hospital.”

“I know that,” his friend told him. “I’m not saying there is. But look at you. You’re a SEAL and I’m an accountant. I want her to talk about my butt.”

Ford saw the combination of love and worry in Leonard’s eyes. “Easy enough. You don’t look like you need to lose any weight.”

Leonard slapped his stomach. “I could lose ten. Maybe fifteen, but what I mostly need is to put on some muscle. Can you help with that?”

Ford walked over and patted him on the back. “I sure can. We’ll make a schedule and I’ll get you started. Just remember, it’s not a good workout if you don’t puke.”

Leonard’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re kidding, right?”

“You’re going to have to wait and see.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“YOU HAVE TO LET GO of the door handle,” Ford said.

“Technically, I don’t.”

Isabel hung on to the Jeep with both hands. If she stayed where she was, she didn’t have to go into the house. She didn’t have to see anyone and she didn’t have to lie. If she let go, Ford was going to make her walk into the family dinner. And then what? Denise would take one look at them and know they’d had sex.

Ford stood in front of her. “What’s the problem? You know everyone in the family. We’re all friendly. They like you.”

“I glow.”

He smiled slowly, looking more than a little self-satisfied.

“Stop it!” She glared at him. “Denise is your mother.”

“She thinks we’re together, so why is your glowing a bad thing?”

“It’s tacky. And I don’t want to talk about it.”

He moved close, crowding her. “That’s not what you said this morning.”

Isabel kept her chin up and refused to blush. It wasn’t as though she was exaggerating. Now that she’d discovered what all the fuss was really about, she couldn’t seem to stop wanting Ford. While he hadn’t moved in or anything, he was spending every night in her bed.

“What I said this morning has nothing to do with your family. Especially your mother.” She drew in a breath. “Fine. I can do this. Just don’t look at me that way.”

His gaze turned predatory.

“That way. You know you’re doing it. Just stop.”

He chuckled and pulled her hands free of the handle, then lightly kissed her knuckles. “Just know that in three hours we’ll be able to leave. We’ll head home and you can be on top.”

The image of what happened when she was on top quickened her breathing. “Don’t do that!” she pleaded.

“Kittens,” he told her. “Think about kittens. It really helps.”

They walked up to the front of the house. The door opened before they got there.

“You made it,” Denise said with a smile. “Welcome, Isabel.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” Isabel said as Denise pulled her son close and hugged him. Then she was hugged as well, and they all went into the house.

The spacious living room was empty and quiet, but plenty of noise spilled out from down the hall.

“Brace yourself,” Ford murmured as they followed his mother. “It’s going to be chaos.”

He wasn’t kidding. They stepped into the huge family room and found themselves surrounded by people. Ford was one of six kids. Four of his siblings were married and every one of them had at least one child. Some more. Which meant there were thirteen adults and eight kids, a number of dogs and more noise than a rock concert.

“Ford!” Montana called when she saw her brother. She rushed toward him. His other sisters followed suit.

Isabel stayed close and greeted everyone. As Ford had promised, the family was friendly and welcoming. But as the minutes passed and Ford was hugged and patted on the back and attacked by toddlers who thought he was cool, she felt a subtle tension invading him.

She studied him closely, wondering at the cause. He was still smiling and joking. But she saw the tightness of the muscles in his jaw and the way he kept glancing toward the exit. She felt the extra beat before he responded to questions about settling into town.

She didn’t know if it was the press of people or the fact that he was dealing with his family at close range and all at once, but she realized the situation was difficult for him.

Not sure what to do, she moved next to him and took his hand. “Can we get something to drink?”

Her request caused a flurry of activity. While the family was distracted, she squeezed his fingers. She raised herself on tiptoe.

“Three hours, big guy. Then I get to be on top.”

He flashed her a smile and she felt him relax.

By the time the bottles of wine had been opened, the guys had gone back to watching the game and the women were collecting in the kitchen. The older kids disappeared into the game room, while the babies were passed around.

“Can I help with anything?” Isabel asked Denise.

“I’ve got it under control,” Ford’s mother said, then sighed. “It’s so nice to have the whole family here.”

Montana joined them. “Kent’s by himself.”

“You say that like you’re surprised,” Denise said.

“I am. He’s seeing someone. I thought he’d bring her.”

Denise turned around and stared at her middle son. “Kent is dating?” She raised her voice to be heard across the room and over the game. “Kent, you’re dating?”

Kent looked at her, then stared at Montana. “Really?” he asked. “You couldn’t give me a couple of weeks of privacy?”

Montana winced. “Sorry. It just slipped out.”

Simon, Montana’s husband, was instantly at her side, as if to protect her. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

Montana smiled at him. “I’m fine. If I need you to slice up my brother into tiny pieces, I’ll let you know.”

Simon kissed her. “I would appreciate that.”

He returned to the game.

“Who’s Kent seeing?” Denise asked, lowering her voice. “One of the women I suggested?”

“I don’t think she was on the list.”

Over Fourth of July, Denise had set up a booth at the festival—looking for a wife for Kent and for Ford. She’d had baby pictures of her boys so interested women could get an idea of what their children might look like, and she’d taken applications.

“Do you know Consuelo Ly?” Montana asked.

Denise frowned. “Why is that name familiar?”

“She teaches at the bodyguard academy,” Isabel said, wondering why her friend hadn’t mentioned dating Kent. “Have they been seeing each other long?”

“No,” Montana said. “I don’t think so.”

Isabel figured Montana had been talking to Carter—Reese’s friend. Reese was Kent’s son and would be the person to know if his dad was seeing anyone.

Ah, the thrill of small-town living.

* * *

“HE’S A FLIRT,” Dakota said with a sigh. “I don’t want to think about what he’s going to be like when he’s in high school.”

“It’ll start before high school,” Nevada said with a grin. “Look at those dimples.”

“Speaking of dimples and babies,” Denise said, passing around the sliced roast. “Are you and Tucker ready to have another baby?”

Nevada grimaced. “Mom, get off me. It hasn’t even been six months.”

“I know, but you waited awhile to get started. Grandbabies, people. I can’t have too many.”

“Denise,” Max said gently from the far end of the table. “Don’t torture your children.”

She smiled at him. “You’re right.”

Dakota leaned toward Isabel. “Max is the voice of reason. He keeps Mom in check and for that we’re grateful.”

Isabel knew that Denise had been seeing Max for a few years, but so far they hadn’t decided to marry. He was a great guy, very calm and centered.

The Hendrix family had produced a lot of kids, Isabel thought, feeling a twinge of longing. She and Eric hadn’t discussed having children very often. She’d thought they had plenty of time and he... Well, she didn’t know what he’d been thinking. Either way, it was good they hadn’t started a family, what with the divorce and all. But she’d always seen herself as a mother. Being single was going to complicate that situation.