Guardian Angel (9 page)

"Afraid the price might be raised too high for even you?" she taunted softly.

His face darkened at her words. "You, of all people, should know better, or didn't you read those notes careful
ly enough?"

Alex had. The description of what the writer wanted to
do to Jared and Rashid were all too clear and the thought of such a thing sickened her.

"Therefore, the meetings were scheduled to be held here," she murmured, now understanding why Jared had been willing to give up the sanctity of his ranch. This location had never been suggested before for any impor
tant negotiations.

"This has always been my refuge from the fast lane, Alex," Jared disclosed quietly, leaning forward to empha
size his point. "For now, it's the same as a hideaway for me.

Alex's eyes were riveted on his face and the play of emotions that crossed the strong features. He really hated bringing them here! She suddenly longed to reach out and erase the lines furrowing his forehead, but now wasn't the time for comfort.

"Do you think they'll find out about the negotiations being held here?" She kept her voice matter-of-fact.

He shrugged. "All I can do is hope not. The company needs the oil from those new wells and Rashid is now ready to bargain." He straightened up and walked around to drop into his desk chair, his voice impersonal. "We'll begin at nine each morning, break for two hours for lunch, and then reconvene until evening. Although we're in a more relaxed atmosphere here, we'll still keep these talks on a formal footing. You and Rashid's men will take turns staying with us or remain nearby."

"I'd like to go over the grounds," she murmured, re
maining just as aloof. "Could a horse be made available for my use?"

"Certainly. I'll let Tim know."

Now there was only uneasy silence surrounding them. Alex racked her brain. This was something new for her—a loss of words around Jared. They never had a problem talking before.

"Hell, isn't it?"

She looked up to find him watching her with a wry expression in his eyes. "For once we can't talk to each other in a natural manner." Jared lit a cheroot and drew on it deeply.

"It's all your fault," she blurted out, then wished she could take back her childish accusation.

"I don't know about that," he drawled. "I suggest you take a good look in the mirror sometime because you're going to find yourself looking at a very sexy lady."

Now Alex did relax and laugh in a natural manner. "You better get your eyes checked, Mr. Templeton. My father said that all that saved me from being homely were my cheekbones."

Jared's eyes roamed over the almond-shaped green eyes, a nose that women consulted a plastic surgeon to possess, the high cheekbones, a we
ll-shaped mouth with the slight
ly fuller lower lip that could so easily curve into a stom
ach-stopping smile. She was too slender for her height, but he knew that was a result of too few regular meals and working nonstop.

"Your father is a fool," he said softly.

Alex resisted the urge to shift in her chair under his close scrutiny. "If there isn't anything more, Mr. Temple
ton, I'd like to prowl around the grounds." She endeav
ored to replace this talk on a formal level.

She thought a bleak expression flickered in his eyes, but it disappeared before she could tell for sure.

"I'll let Tim know you'll be down at the stables within the hour or so." Jared picked up his pen, indicating the conversation was closed.

As promised, a bay mare was waiting for Alex when she found her way to the stables built not too far from the house. Tim greeted her with a ready smile and cheerfully gave her directions for surveying the immediate grounds.

In no time Alex had adjusted her body to the mare's easy walk. The light rain had stopped, leaving silver drop
lets on the winter-bare trees and bushes. She soon forgot her reason for her ride and lost herself in the delight of the desolate, yet beautiful, countryside. She could easily see why Jared preferred this home to his house in Brentwood for rest and solitude. Here he was one with nature. Even as she lost herself in the stark beauty surrounding her, her keen eyes were noting each hill, gauging the distance to the ranch house and accessibility from the outside.

Outside, she laughed softly to herself. If someone had read her thoughts, they would assume the land was hers, already thinking of everywhere else as the outside.

Alex enjoyed her ride so much she didn't return to the house until dusk.

"The boss is all fired up, wondering where you've been," Tim greeted her.

"That's nothing new." She dismounted and handed the reins to the man.

"Mavis said dinner would be at six thirty," he called after her, receiving a nod in reply.

Alex stretched her arms over her head as she entered the house, anticipating a hot bath to soak the aches away. She had forgotten how long it had been since she had ridden.

After discarding her clothes, she ran her bath, adding scented bath oil to the hot water. She pinned her hair on top of her head and stepped into the tub sighing with delight.

Alex soaked in the water and wondered why this switch in Jared's personality. The funny thing was, if she hadn't liked him touching her, why hadn't she handed in her notice? But where else could she find a job with the extra benefits she had now? She also had a reckless streak in her and couldn't help but wonder how far Jared would try to
go with her. All she knew was if he informed her it was either his bed or her job, she'd cheerfully tell him what he could do with the job . . . wouldn't she?

Knowing dinner would be served soon, Alex stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her, patting the moisture from her shoulders.

"Damn," she murmured w
hen she realized she had left her underwear in the bedroom.

She walked into her bedroom and stopped short when she found Jared lounging on the bed. His eyes gleamed at her near-nude form.

"Aren't you lost?" She quickly regained her composure.

"Not now." A scrap of turquoise lace dangled from his fingertips. "Why, Mrs. Page, I hadn't realized you wore such sexy lingerie. A remarkable insight into your person
ality." There was a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Give me that!" Alex hissed, snatching the panties out of his hand.

"I suppose you want this too." His other hand magical
ly produced the matching wispy bra. "You really don't need to wear one, Alex."

"You're disgusting!" she accused him, reaching out for the sheer bra, but Jared held it out of her reach. "Give it to me, Jared!" In her anger she unwittingly used his first name.

A slow smile appeared and his voice turned into silken honey. "I'd certainly like to," he murmured with sensual emphasis.

Alex's face burned at his intimate suggestion and her hand lashed out to wipe his smile from his face. Just before her hand connected with his cheek, her wrist was gripped and she was pulled off-balance only to fall ungracefully across the bed. Jared's eyes glittered with anger as he leaned over her.

"Keep on struggling, Alex," he advised sardonically.
"
The precarious towel is
almost undone any
way."

"Let me go!" she blazed, vainly trying to strike out with her other hand, but Jared easily evaded her blows.

"Some bodyguard you are," he chided. "You're going to
have to practice, darling. Your
timing is just a shade off."

Now incensed, Alex bega
n calling Jared every name in
the book, but it only served to amuse him.

"So that's what they taught you in the navy." Gripping both her wrists in one hand, the other trailed slowly up her leg to her knee then moved over the towel until it reached the tuck, which had come undone during her struggles.

Alex held her breath, waiting for what would come next.

Jared loosened the towel and pushed the ends away to reveal her still-damp body. A sharp hiss escaped his lips as he gazed downward.

"You have a lovely body, Alex," he murmured. "One that should be worshiped—often."

"I didn't realize this was to be part of my duties, Mr. Templeton." Her face was a frozen mask.

"I liked it better when you called me Jared." His lips found the sensitive spot just behind her ear while his fingers explored every inch of her breasts with delicate precision.

Alex swallowed, already feeling a searing heat course through her body at his butterfly touch. She silently cursed him for bringing these sensations to the surface.

"You're thinking again," he accused her mildly as his tongue traced a feathery path along the lines of her throat. Even as he spoke, his voice roughened with the need that pulsated through his body. His hand had traveled down over her waist to her hips and around to the soft inner thigh.

It took a great deal of
concentration
Alex to ke
ep back her gasp at his probing touch
.

"Touch me, Alex," he demanded thickly, releasing one of her hands and bringing it to his chest. "Show me you're capable of passion too." His head lowered and his mouth covered hers in a soul-destroying kiss. She couldn't keep back her moans when his head lowered even farther to fasten his teeth on a sensitive nipple and lightly graze it.

Her fingers busily unbuttoned Jared's shirt and tore it loose from the waistband of his jeans. She undulated under his hard body and arched up, demanding that his need be hers.

"Let's not go in to dinner," Jared suggested raggedly, covering her face with heated kisses even as his fingers teased her moist warmth.

"We can't." She found it hard to form words by now. Her own hands were occupied with fumbling with his belt buckle even as she spoke words she didn't want to believe. At that moment she wanted him badly. "They'll miss us."

His chuckle danced on her nerve endings. "Envy us, perhaps, but not really miss us."

Jared's arrogant assumption was as good as a cold shower on Alex's heated flesh. Holding on to her last threads of sanity, she pushed him away and drew her towel around her.

"If you're trying to make a point about a physical at
traction for each other, forget it," she told him in a cool voice.

"A moment ago you were willing to go along with that so-called point," he reminded her.

"I have a suggestion, Mr. Templeton." Her voice was dangerously soft. "You leave right now and stay away from me and I won't say anything about what just hap
pened. You come near me again and you'll wish you hadn't."

Jared took his time standing up and tucking his shirt into his jeans without bothering to button it. "In the end, spitfire, you'll be the one coming to me." He flashed her a wolfish grin. "It's obviously been a long time since a man has made love to you, and so far I've served you only the appetizer. Soon enough you're going to crave the entire meal."

"Get out!"

Jared walked to the door but turned back to her before he opened it. "Satisfy my curiosity. What was your hus
band like? Was he so navy macho that you felt the need to divorce him?"

He was surprised by the bleak voice that replied. "Den
nis is the kindest, most gentle man you could know. A good man, too good for me, so I did him a favor; I gave him his freedom." She slowly lifted her face. "Are you satisfied now?"

Jared's eyes didn't leave the pain-etched features. With
out saying a word, he turned and opened the door and walked out.

After a few moments Alex slowly pulled her towel clos
er to her chilled body. In the space of a very short time, Jared had done an excellent job of starting to destroy her defenses. If she wasn't careful, she would be thrown into a pit so deep she'd never be able to get out. With slow, fumbling movements, she slid off the bed and began to dress. Her turquoise underwear was stuffed back into a dresser drawer. She doubted she would ever be able to wear them again without recalling the sight of Jared's lean fingers holding them up.

Alex made sure to join the group a few moments before dinner would be announced. When she hesitated under the archway leading into the living room, her eyes
were cap
tured by Jared's hooded gaze. He raised his glass in a silent, mocking salute and drank deeply of the contents.

"Madame Page." Rashid appeared at her side and lifted her hand to his lips. "You look lovely, as always." His dark eyes appreciated her burgundy velvet floor-length skirt and white ruffled blouse. She had coiled her hair on top of her head, emphasizing the delicate features.

"Here." Jared approached her and held out a glass. "I'm sure you need this," he added with a sardonic grin.

Alex's eyes shot sparks as she accepted the glass, not seeing Rashid's amusement at the electric tension between them.

"It wasn't so long ago, my friend, that I would have thought nothing of offering to buy your woman." Rashid turned to Jared.

"The price would have been very high," he replied lightly, ignoring Alex's gasp of outrage. "She's quite a spitfire."