Fevered Hearts (11 page)

“Crashed at the Mattsons’.”

“Getting too damn friendly with your old friend’s wife, is that it? How’s Liam handling that?”

Ward clasped Juls’ shoulders, holding back against the urge to squeeze. “I am doing nothing with Ivy that Liam doesn’t know about. Now I have to go because she can’t be left alone there for long.”

The image of Ivy standing out on the street, waiting for Ward to pick her up and being snagged by someone meaning her harm flooded his mind. Desperation welled in his chest.

He shot a swift glance at his dad. The gray, lined face still revealed that he was clinging to life, but for how long? Ward would probably walk out and leave his sister to deal with the moment their father’s heart finally stopped. But if he didn’t go, Ivy’s life could be jeopardized.

He tore away from his sister. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be back.”

“Damn you, Ward Bose.”

Turning back at the door, he met Juls’ gaze fully. “Don’t let the door close on your anger, Juls. I did the same thing with Dad, and it was almost too late.”

And who knows what tomorrow will bring for me, for Ivy or for Liam.

At the sight of Ward’s truck, Ivy’s inner thighs grew slick with moisture. Hours ago, he’d fingered her to completion in that truck, then stolen her panties and ran his tongue over the crotch. The erotic sight had nearly made her come a second time.

God, she was wanton. Lusting after a man who was not her husband even as she ached for the stroke of Liam’s tongue on her folds. And sitting in court without panties all day.

Although she’d had a few moments seated beside Tony where she wanted to crawl out of her skin, being bare at work reminded her of the pleasure Ward and Liam were capable of giving.

She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Tony hadn’t followed her out. Somehow he’d known she hadn’t driven to work today. How was beyond her, as she didn’t recall seeing the man when Ward had dropped her off.

Of course, she might chalk that up to sexual haze. When Ward was around, it was hard to see anything but bold, red-hot lust.

A few people straggled up the sidewalk, including Tony. Her stomach cramped.

Ward eased the truck against the curb, and the engine gave a sputter. She jumped.

The passenger’s door popped open, and Ivy climbed in. “Thanks for picking me up, Ward.”

“You’re a little jumpy. You okay?” His face was drawn, pale beneath the bronzed tan from the sun.

“I could ask the same of you.” She studied his eyes, which filled with tears as she spoke. She reached for his hand and entwined their fingers. “What is it?” Panic rose violently. Was it Liam?

“My dad…he’s not good.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her heart cracked a little at the bald pain on Ward’s handsome features. Without a care as to who saw them, she reached across the console and slipped her arms around his neck.

He wrapped her close, crushing her almost. Under the hard muscles, she detected his inner tremor.

She pressed her mouth against his neck, drawing in his scent, so like Liam’s and just as comforting. “It’s the end, then?”

He nodded, chest heaving against hers. “I think so, yeah. I just came from the hospital. I made peace.” His voice shattered.

A horn blast made them leap apart. Ivy plastered a hand to her thumping heart. She cast a wild look at the space around the truck. The sidewalk was still empty, except for one tall figure seated on a bench, the newspaper spread in his lap.

Tony.

“Fuck, Ivy, I’m so sorry. I never meant to compromise you—”

The despair in Ward’s tone sliced through her. “No, not your fault. I was comforting you.”

He gave a snort. “Shit, do you work with that guy on the bench? Will he tell your boss? Will your job be jeopardized?”

“It’s the bailiff, Tony Martinez.” She was sure the county didn’t want a clerk proclaiming to uphold moral standards and the law while making out in front of the courthouse with a man who wasn’t her husband. Good thing she hadn’t comforted Ward with a kiss as she’d wanted to.

She passed a hand over her face, feeling the wetness from Ward’s tears. “Let’s just get moving.” She didn’t want to think about the ramifications of their embrace. If word got out, she could always tell the truth—she’d hugged Ward to comfort him. But she was more worried about Tony thinking that she did in fact dally with other men.

He’d blatantly asked her to do that just this afternoon.

Ward moved the truck into Main Street.

There was a beat of awkward silence she longed to fill. God, had she hurt him? She couldn’t bear for Ward to feel as if he wasn’t good enough. It couldn’t make him feel good to be “the other man” even if she didn’t think of him that way.

“Do you need to go back to the hospital? I feel like such a pain, tearing you from your obligations.”

He gave her a hard look that rippled all through her body, puckering her nipples, curling her toes and wetting her pussy even more. “You are my obligation, Ivy. Don’t say it again.”

His alpha tone speared her with warmth and desire. If she didn’t control herself, she’d beg him to find a back road so she could strip off his clothes and feel his steely body under her hands.

“Have you spoken with Liam?” he asked.

“He texted me at lunch after his meeting. I’m so glad we’re combining the two companies.”

“It feels right, considering…” He looked away.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“He didn’t want you to worry.”

“Ward, if you feel anything for me and my husband, you’d damn well better expand on that.”

He pushed air through his nostrils and tightened his lips.

“What happened? If you don’t answer me right now, I’m going to call Liam and get the details from him.”

He shot her a look. “Don’t do that. He shouldn’t be distracted from…”

“Tell me.” She gave her best don’t-fuck-with-me tone, and he cracked.

“The equipment’s been destroyed.”

Shock zipped down her spine. “What? When? What happened?”

Ward pulled his gaze from the road again to stare into her eyes. “Activists are threatening us, Ivy.”

Was that reluctance she detected in his tone? If so, why would it be there? She had as much of a right to know about these developments as he or Liam. She was entangled with both men and cared about them, which extended to their family operations.

“About what? Still the trouble with the planting? That’s Mattson’s mistake. It has nothing to do with Bose Timber.”

“Somehow people know we’re aligned. I don’t know how, except someone who it affects—a crewman—must have told someone who told another…you know how rumors spread. Actually, I’m glad we’re united. It strengthens us against them. They’ve been plastering our buildings and vehicles with fliers about being tree killers.”

“Damn them! This industry puts food on the tables of so many in our area. Almost everyone in this podunk town benefits from forestry.” She glared at the gray ribbon of road, at the fading sun. Anger washed through her, not only for the activists but for her husband, who hadn’t said a thing about this. Just as he hadn’t told her he’d gone back to work.

Ward’s big hand covered her upper thigh. Warmth permeated through her skirt, heating the flesh underneath that was so dangerously close to her bare pussy. His bright glance stole her anger, replacing it with want.

“It’s only right that they’d have a problem with us cutting and not replanting to honor our contracts. But they’ve taken it too far.”

“And they destroyed equipment? Like what? Saws, tools?”

He swallowed. “Uh, no, sweetheart. They ruined all the tractors and machinery in the yard. Smashed it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Mattson property. A lot of red tape with insurance.”

She almost came off the seat. “Fuck! Are you serious? Who would do that? Oh my God.” She dropped her face into her hands. That was Liam’s life—the family business had nearly destroyed him, but it had the power to rebuild him once more. The days he’d been in the office, she’d sensed a renewed spirit within him—he was healing from the mental wounds he’d suffered.

“Ivy,” Ward said, quiet and low. He stroked her back and squeezed her nape, sending shivers through her. “It’s all right. We’ve got the police working on the case, and we’re going to find out who did it. In the meantime, we’re tightening security with cameras and around our men on the worksites.”

She spread her fingers and peeked at the road through them. If Mattson Hardwoods was hurt by this vandalism, Liam could be too.
I can’t live through it again.
His depression, his lack of caring, his inability to love her. She just couldn’t live that way again.

Ward’s big finger probed the hollow at the base of her skull. “What are you thinking, sweetheart? Talk to me.”

Guilt for her selfishness stopped her from letting out all the frustration she’d owned since Liam’s accident. After all, Ward’s father clung to the edge of life. Ward had been torn from his family duties to see Ivy home.

“It’s nothing,” she said with a shake of her head. She knotted her fingers in her lap. “My troubles are nothing compared to yours. Thank you again for picking me up from work.”

“I needed to get out of there anyway. I needed to see y—” He choked to a halt, flashing her a look of such yearning and desire, she felt as if she’d combust.

Though Liam had pushed them toward each other, had suggested they share living arrangements, her husband hadn’t asked her to share her heart with Ward. Apparently Ward knew this too, which was what stopped him from speaking the telling words.

Silence descended. And when they pulled into the driveway before the ranch house, she had no words for the emotion settling in her chest. She hadn’t meant to do more than enjoy Ward’s company, his body. But after only one day in his care as he drove her to and from work, she’d grown closer to the man. Yes, this went beyond coupling.

Liam might not be the only one to fall for the handsome, rugged Ward Bose.

Liam stared at Ward’s profile. Pain flitted over his lover’s face, disrupting the beautiful brow and creasing the sensuous mouth.

During the night, Ward’s father had passed away. Ward had called Liam and Ivy in the wee hours from the hospital, where he and Juls had kept vigil. Liam had asked if Ward wanted them to come to him, but he’d refused, saying he needed to work things out with his sister.

Ward had arrived in the morning to pick up Ivy for work, but he’d worn a bland mask to cover his hurt. It had finally cracked.

Realizing Liam was staring, Ward turned away, head bowed, facing the wall as he spoke to Juls softly on his cell about funeral arrangements. The line of his shoulders called to Liam’s fingers, but the man obviously didn’t want Liam’s comfort.

Ivy suddenly wound an arm around Liam’s neck and bent to place her face against his neck. He reached up and cupped her jaw. They hadn’t gotten to enjoy a spell of peace and happiness. All they’d had were a mere few stolen moments where the three of them had begun moving toward a better time in their lives.

“He’ll be okay. Give him time,” Ivy whispered into Liam’s ear. The ticklish warmth of her words spread through Liam’s body, low to capture his cock. It stirred, stronger than it had even two days ago.

Liam tugged on a loose curl framing Ivy’s face, drawing her around to his mouth.

With a gasp of want, she opened for his searching tongue. He held her captive, fist locked in her hair, forcing her down, down, bending her to him. Fuck, how he wished he could get on his feet and carry her to their bedroom.

As he stroked the sweet recesses of her mouth, he played through several scenarios—of himself dominating both his wife and the man he’d spent years battling his need for. Of Ivy sandwiched between them as they moved as one. And of Ward taking total control in the bedroom with both of them. Liam had never given the wheel to anyone when it came to sex. Though he’d sat on the sidelines while Ward pleasured his wife, it had been on Liam’s command. Could he give up control?

Dark heat clawed at his insides, more than a hint that he’d like to try it.

The sharp blare of the kitchen’s smoke alarm sounded, tearing Ivy from Liam’s clutches. She giggled.

“Damn sensitive alarm.”

“If you’d quit burning our dinners, woman…”

She smacked him in the shoulder and sashayed out of the room to rescue the stroganoff, which had probably boiled over on the stove.

Ward ended the call in time to join Liam in watching his wife’s ass disappear through the door between rooms. When she was out of earshot, Ward strode to the leather chair and gave Liam a “look”.

“We need to talk.”

Liam nodded agreement, already aware that he wasn’t going to like this talk. Not one bit. He’d been on the receiving end of more than one of Ward’s talks.

He maneuvered his chair close to Ward. “Say it quick before she comes back.”

“A few things. We embraced on the street yesterday and it’s likely the bailiff saw us.”

Whoa.
Liam jerked. He hadn’t expected that. “Shit, are you serious?”

Ward scuffed a hand over his unshaven jaw, causing that rasping sound that stood up every hair on Liam’s body. “Yeah, I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to. She was comforting me about my dad, and…” He choked off.

“She hasn’t said anything happened at work today, so maybe he didn’t really see you.”

Ward raised his gaze, the blue depths piercing. “What the hell
are
we doing, Liam? What is this?” He waved his hands, the agitated swaths slicing the air.

Liam firmed his lips. “This is us taking care of Ivy’s needs—all of them. And maybe more will come of it.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning something permanent. We’ve asked you to stay here with us, and it’s not only so you can drive my wife to work or make her come. I’ve told you how I feel, and I think Ivy will soon see that you fill a void in our lives.”

“A void created by the fact that you can’t walk.”

The words stabbed deep. Sure, they were true, but hearing it from Ward cut Liam to the quick. He hunched his shoulders, folding a little around his ache.

“I hope to remedy that. I want to walk again—I know I can. But since the accident, Ivy and I have both changed. We grew apart a little. While I feel us moving closer again, there’s something there—a hole that you can fill, Ward.” He spoke slowly, gauging his words and struggling to put sense to his thoughts.