Love Me Like No Other (13 page)

Noelle pulled a cigarette out of her bag and prepared to light up.

“Don’t do that in here,” Jade screeched and grabbed the cigarette from her sister’s hand. “You need to quit this nasty habit anyway.”

“I need to do a lot of things but right now we’re working on you and your needs. Now either show me to the porch or the deck, or since they’re rich, the smoking room, because I can’t wait another minute.”

Jade stood and they walked through the patio door out into the cool night air. Jade inhaled deeply as she took a seat in one of the chairs at the
glass-top table. Noelle instantly lit up and took a long puff.

Blowing smoke into the air she turned to Jade and asked, “So you slept with him and now you’re the one doing the leaving?”

Jade’s head snapped in her direction. “Don’t even put me in the same category as him.”

“It’s all good. Maybe you think it’s your turn to get a little revenge. I can certainly understand that after all that crying you did over him.”

Jade did not cry over Linc, at least not for that long. And she’d already sought her revenge, a fact which was also causing her great distress. “Having sex with Linc and leaving him was never my plan. Having sex with him wasn’t my plan.”

“But you did it anyway. Why?”

“Because I couldn’t help myself.” Then Jade sighed and decided to be real and honest with herself and her sister. “Because I can’t stop loving him.”

That shut Noelle right up.

For about ten seconds.

“Then you need to stop trippin’ and get your man.”

“It’s not that simple, Noelle.” This was the second time in one day that another woman had told her what she needed to do where Linc was concerned. But Jade had never gone to Noelle
about matters of the heart. Her sister had a slightly different idea about relationships and love than Jade did. In short, Noelle didn’t believe in love. She did, however, believe in sexing yourself crazy, so knowing that Jade had always said Linc was the best in bed she’d ever had sort of contributed to Noelle’s rooting for him.

“It’s a simple as you want it to be. Or, in your case, as hard as you make it.” She stamped out her cigarette in the ash tray and scooted her chair closer to Jade’s. Taking her sister’s hand she looked her right in the face. “You’ve been the big sister. You’ve been the granddaughter. You’re the boss at Happy Hands and you’re the best person I know. You deserve some happiness. So if Linc makes you happy I say go for it.”

“But we don’t want the same things.”

“How do you know? Did you ask him what he wanted? Better yet, did you tell him what you wanted?”

Jade sighed. She hadn’t told him. Yesterday, she’d given him stipulations and when he blamed those stipulations on her residual feelings from her breakup with Charles she’d let him go on thinking that was the cause. She hadn’t told him that she was crying for the love he’d never known she had for him. Or for the re
lationship that could never be because he wasn’t that type of man.

“What’s the point? He told me that the reason he left me eight years ago was because he knew that I was a forever kind of girl and that he couldn’t do forever.”

“Jay, that was eight damn years ago. How do you know what he’s willing to do now? And does it have to be all or nothing right at this moment? Damn, does he have to propose to you right now for you to believe he’s worthy?”

Jade’s answer was simple. “Yes. He either loves me or he doesn’t. There’s no middle ground with Linc and I. There can’t be. I can’t take it.”

She’d begun to cry and instead of Noelle continuing with her comments she, for the first time in their lives, held and consoled her big sister.

Friday was the tour arranged by Beverly. Jade had to give it to the woman, she sure knew how to celebrate in style.

Linc returned during breakfast, at which time Jade did not question why he’d left. It didn’t matter anymore. She’d emptied her soul to Noelle last night. And when Noelle had gone home she’d lain in their room, alone, thinking about Beverly’s advice. Maybe she should just tell Linc how she felt. Maybe their social status didn’t matter. And
maybe, just maybe, he did have more feelings for her than she knew.

Even if luck were on her side and all of the above were true there was still one huge obstacle standing in their way—she’d stolen from him.

She’d considered telling him at least a dozen times since they’d made love. But then her feelings had resurfaced and she’d been so preoccupied with her self-preservation she didn’t think of it. That was understandable considering the odds of a woman falling in love with the same man twice were slim to none.

Guilt was a steady companion for Jade these days. In her defense, things were different between her and Linc when she’d decided to do what she did. She was angry about his proposition and even angrier about the fact that she had no choice but to go along with it. And now she was stuck in a web of deceit with a man she’d loved all of her adult life. What was she going to do?

She’d have to figure that out later. Today, they were going on a mini cruise to tour the Hoover Dam. Then they were heading to the Grand Canyon in a fleet of rented Hummers courtesy of the Donovans. About twenty of them were going on the little excursion, so she didn’t have the worry of being alone with Linc and thus wouldn’t
have to deal with the growing conflict between them.

Jade was headed down the steps when Trent joined her.

“All set to go?” he asked.

“Yup. And you?”

“To tell the truth I’m ready for this week to be over. Mom’s running us ragged with all these activities.”

They walked together down the rest of the steps with Jade feeling as if this was her home, that she really belonged here. That was a dangerous feeling she knew and struggled to check it quickly. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s not going to be easy returning to my solitary life.”

“I thought you had a sister.”

“I do. But she has her own life. I’m a solo adult now.” She shrugged trying to brush off the sudden wave of pity she felt for herself.

Trent stopped and looked directly at her. “Not anymore.”

“What?”

“You have Linc now.”

Trent looked at her as if he knew what her response to that would be. That was weird, and she paused to examine him a moment. “I don’t have Linc. We’re dating and that’s all.” That wasn’t totally a lie but still she berated herself. In
this past week she’d become a liar and a thief, the two most hated people in her world.

“You don’t think that’ll turn into something more?”

She smiled and laid a hand on Trent’s shoulder. “Whatever happens between Linc and I is our business.”

“I second that,” Linc spoke, appearing mysteriously in the doorway.

Leaning against the doorjamb, a beige T-shirt molding against his well-defined chest, slacks buttoned at his narrow waist, and even though his eyes flashed with a touch of temper, he looked magnificent. She watched him approach feeling her lungs constrict with each step he took wondering what it would really feel like to be in a relationship with him. But that was a foolish thought. Not only did he not want a relationship, once he found out she’d stolen from him he might follow through with his earlier threat and have her arrested.

“That it is,” Trent said to his brother. “We shall all find out sooner or later.”

Jade suspected that Trent was now baiting Linc the way he’d just attempted to do her. She liked Trent. He was certainly easy enough to look at but he questioned everything relentlessly. She wondered if he ever stopped asking questions long enough to find his own woman.

Linc nodded then took Jade’s hand and headed toward the door. “Maybe so but right now we’re on our way to learn more about the Hoover Dam.”

Jade marveled at the sights she’d seen today. The ride on the Desert Princess had been fun. She and Linc had stood side by side along the deck of the Mississippi-style paddle wheeler as it puttered along Lake Mead which she’d learned was the world’s largest man-made lake. And for two hours they’d visited the Dam.

Linc apparently had taken this tour before as he was her designated guide for the day, reciting historical facts, pointing out the best views and holding her hand. Now while your normal tour guide certainly didn’t go to this extreme, Jade felt very good that he did.

By late afternoon they were boarding the luxury SUVs, which by the way were the ugliest vehicles she had ever seen. Of course, the men were enamored, each one vowing to look into purchasing one as soon as he returned home.

She watched with a swelling heart the way the Donovan brothers interacted. They were without a doubt very close. The Triple Threat Brothers, that’s exactly what they were. A triple dose of
good looks, brains and money designed to break the hearts of millions of women.

A moment of foreboding had Jade finally accepting the fact that she was number one million and one.

On the ride to the Grand Canyon she was silent, wrapped in thoughts of her latest mistake. Why had she thought she could spend an entire week with Linc and escape unscathed? The answer to that question was irrelevant as her only goal now was to make it through tonight and tomorrow without foolishly revealing her feelings to him. No good could come from telling Linc that she’d fallen in love with him all over again.

He traced a finger along her cheek while leaning close to her ear. “What’s on your mind?”

She didn’t pull away, didn’t try to resist his touch. She was too far gone for that. “Nothing, really.”

“You look worried.”

She tried valiantly for a smile. “What could I possibly have to worry about?” A mere glance in his eyes gave her heart a flutter and she had the answer to her question. He was looking at her as if there were no greater view. When he found out she’d stolen from him and fallen in love with him all in the span of a week, that look would turn to pure disgust. And that, she knew, would break her heart more completely than any man ever had.

“Come on, the sun’s about to set. We don’t want to miss this view.”

The vehicle had stopped but she hadn’t noticed. Placing her hand in his she let him lead her out toward the end of the cliff they’d parked on.

The sky was now a fierce compilation of orange and gold, layers upon layers of intense color blending together to frame the sun’s magnificent descent. Sharp peaks of burnt-orange rock jutted upward giving rise to smooth centers and what looked to be a carefully sculpted masterpiece.

Jade was overwhelmed by nature’s performance. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

Linc, who had his arm securely around her waist, turned her to face him at that moment. “Yes. It is.”

Her throat constricted as his eyes focused solely on her. He had her in a full embrace now, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest.

“There is nothing else like it in the world,” he whispered, lowering his head dangerously close to hers. “You are perfect.”

She thought it was the altitude that stole her breath, but something told her it was simply the man. “Linc,” she whispered when his lips were so close she could almost taste him.

“Ask me, Jade. Ask me to kiss you.”

Oh, God, she wanted to. Every nerve in her body stood on end those moments he hovered close to her and she wanted nothing more than to pucker up and accept what he was so graciously offering. But that wouldn’t be enough. She needed much more than he was willing to give.

She turned away. “I can’t.” He still held her and that, too, was a mistake. She backed away from him.

“I’m not what you think I am and I can’t do this with you anymore.” She needed to tell him about the supplies she’d purchased on his credit card. She needed to tell him that she’d repay that amount even though she had no idea how or when. Most importantly she needed to tell him this charade was over and that as soon as she got back to the Donovan estate she was going to pack her bags and head home to Vegas.

“I don’t think either one of us can deny whatever this is between us anymore, Jade.”

He hadn’t moved from where he stood and although her back was to him she could almost see the tortured expression on his face. “There is nothing between us. Nothing but this ridiculous agreement we came up with.”
And the thousands of dollars I now owe you.

He grabbed her by her shoulders spinning her around to face him. “You can’t run away from it.”

“Me? Running? No, Linc, that’s your department. What I’m doing is being realistic. I don’t want to make love with you for the rest of the week and then go on about my business.”

“Stop throwing that up in my face,” he growled as he gave her shoulders a little shake. “I know I left and I know I was wrong. I’ve apologized for that. The mere fact that you’re here means that you’ve either forgiven the mistake or at least forgotten it. So don’t bring it up again.”

“You can’t boss me around! I’m not one of your employees.” The minute the words were out she knew what his response would be.

“You are, in fact, my employee. But that’s not what this is about,” he said quietly.

“It’s not?” She dared to hope.

He let out a deep breath, looking as frustrated as she felt. “Look, we need to talk and we can’t do it here. Let’s just enjoy the view and we’ll deal with the other stuff later.”

She nodded her agreement knowing instinctively that when they did talk later she wasn’t going to feel much better about things than she did now.

Linc wasted no time excusing them from drinks after dinner. Since their encounter on the cliff he’d thought of nothing but being alone with
her. He’d tried to play by her rules, tried to keep from taking her the way he wanted to, the way he knew she wanted him to. But today had just been too much.

She’d looked stunning in all white, her hair tucked back behind her ears, her eyes sparkling with each new sight he’d shown her. She’d laughed, she’d listened, she’d simply been and he wanted her, completely.

She wanted him too. A man could tell these things and he knew without a doubt that she was fighting it but couldn’t understand why. That was all well and good. Tonight she would lose the battle.

Once in their suite Jade slipped off her shoes and fell back on the bed. She was exhausted, every inch of her body hurt and she longed for a nice hot bath and some sleep. She heard his voice and knew instinctively that she would not be getting either anytime soon.