One Night Stand (3 page)

“Well played, brother.” Caleb glanced up to see Alec, the younger of his two brothers, leaning in the doorway.

“Shut up.” Caleb pushed past him into the hallway. He ignored a scowling Caroline as he walked by and continued down the hallway to the elevators that would take him to his own office. Alec fell into step beside him.

“You knew we were tracking her. Why did you even bother going to Sam?” Alec asked.

“Thought it would be faster.” Caleb hit the elevator button.

“Right. Faster.” Alec spit out a laugh. “How’d that work out?”

“Swimmingly.”

Alec snorted. “You two have been dancing around each other for years. When are you gonna admit you’ve got a thing for her?”

Caleb punched the button for the elevator again. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you believe the bullshit you’re spewing. That woman is a menace. I haven’t known a moment’s peace since she and Amanda became friends. Don’t think I don’t remember who’s responsible for that.” Caleb glared at a guilty Alec.

“Hey now.” Alec raised his hands in defense. “I like Sam. She’s been good for Amanda and you know it.”

Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose, biting off his retort. Whether he liked it or not, Samantha had been the only one to get through to Amanda after their parents died. Which was the whole reason he tolerated her in the first place.

“You realize Amanda will have our balls on a platter when she finds out we tracked her.” Alec leaned against the wall next to him. “I, for one, like my balls right where they are.”

“As long as she’s safe, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass how mad she gets.” Another punch of the button. Where the hell was the elevator? “Wait,
tracked
her? As in no longer tracking? You know where she went?”

Alec drew out a sigh. “Of course we found her. She’s not hiding.”

Caleb responded with a hard fist to Alec’s shoulder. A devilish smile crossed Caleb’s face as the elevator doors opened. This day was looking up. He slapped Alec on the back, pushing him into the elevator. “Let’s grab Brandon and go see what our little darling is up to.”

Chapter 3

Joe couldn’t believe his ears. Did Amanda just ask him if he wanted to leave with her? Before he could recover his shock, she was hightailing it out the door. From the moment he’d walked into the bar tonight, he’d been captivated. First by the way she defended herself, next by the vulnerability he felt as he’d held her hand, and then by the way she looked at him as if he were a treat she’d like to eat.

Now he was just plain curious. He’d had women come on to him before. What surprised him was his desire to follow through with this one.

“Hold up, sweetheart.” He snatched her money off the bar. “Jake’s gonna cover your tab tonight, aren’t ya, Jake?” Joe looked at his brother expectantly.

Jake shrugged. “Sure, no problem.”

“Give me one minute.” Joe walked behind the bar and grabbed a full bottle of whiskey. “Don’t leave,” he added as he caught her looking between him and the door.

Jake wagged his eyebrows. “Someone’s finally gonna get laid,” he taunted.

Joe smacked him on the back of the head as he walked by. “Just for that, dickhead, you can pay for this bottle too.” He tried to sound irritated, but he just couldn’t keep the smile from his voice.

It had been a long time since a woman had caught his interest and it felt nice. He’d spent his life avoiding commitments. His former job with the military wasn’t really conducive to the white picket fence kind of lifestyle. He’d been alone most of his life, refusing to get attached to anyone or anything. But this woman…

Damn, she looked good. She dug her hands deep into the pockets of her low-riding jeans as she tapped the sexiest pair of cowgirl boots he’d ever seen against the concrete floor. Her blonde curls tumbled downward, teasing the lower part of her back where her T-shirt had ridden up. Imagining the feel of all that temptingly tanned skin under his tongue made his mouth water. He swore he could already taste her. He grunted as his cock swelled at the thought of licking every inch of her.

He was suddenly very glad he’d stopped in tonight.

Joe held the bottle up as he approached her. “Whiskey okay?”

Her vibrant green eyes latched on to his. “Sure.”

Smiling, he just barely resisted the urge to lean in and kiss her. Instead he trailed his fingers across the exposed skin on her back, resting his palm in the sexy little bend above her belt. The feel of her warm skin had his already engorged erection pressing painfully against his zipper. “Ready?”

“Sure,” she said again.

“Things are gonna go very well for us tonight, Mandy, if you stay so agreeable,” he teased with a wink. He chuckled at her sharp intake of breath as he guided her out the door.

The cool air hit them as they walked outside. Amanda was quiet beside him as he led her across the gravel to the only car left in the parking lot that didn’t belong to Jake. Joe had ridden in on his Harley and there was no way he was putting her on the back of his bike without the proper gear.

He glanced at her apologetically. “While I’d love to take you for a ride on my bike, tonight isn’t that night. Only one helmet,” he said at her puzzled frown. “I can follow you or…” He waited to see if she’d jump in, hoped she’d jump in. Anything to get her talking. “Mandy?”

She shook her head slightly. “No, no. It’s chilly out. Why don’t you ride with me?”

“You okay to drive?” He looked at her with mock sternness and gently raised her abused knuckles to his lips. That earned him a sweet smile.

“I’m sure I can manage.”

Joe sighed and let her hand drop. Maybe she was having second thoughts. He wasn’t sure what had caused her to close off all of a sudden, but one thing was for sure—he was going to play this out. He suddenly wanted to break down her walls and see what was there. He wanted to hear her laugh. He wanted her to cry out his name in pleasure.

He wanted her naked.

Oh yeah, he was going to play this out. “Lead the way, Mandy. I’m all yours.”

*

What the hell am I doing?

She’d just picked up a strange man in a bar and was taking him back to her secluded ranch house.
They make really scary movies about this kind of stuff.

Amanda glanced at the man riding shotgun. She felt a twinge of guilt that she planned to use his body and walk away in the morning, but holy crap! Had this guy hit the mother lode or what? His tall, sinewy frame ate up the space of her compact car.

I’m all yours.
His words drifted through her mind and she bit back a moan.

“Mandy?”

Her gaze shifted back to the road. “You know, you’re the only one who’s ever called me that.”

“You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t used to,” she muttered. She had the feeling she wouldn’t care what this man called her, as long as he was naked and whispering in her ear.

Joe gave her a knowing look and chuckled. “Mandy it is then.” He settled back for the ride. “I like that there’s something of you that’s solely mine.”

“Really?” Amanda couldn’t imagine why he’d want that. Or why the thought of it made her heart race.

“Yeah.” He seemed surprised by his own admission. When he looked at her, there was a playful twinkle in his eye. “So, where are we headed?”

“I have a place not far from here.”

“You live here?”

“No.” She hesitated. “I live outside of Austin.”

“Just on vacation then?”

She shrugged.

He appeared to consider her carefully before he asked, “Are you married?”

“God no!” she said in a burst of laughter. Then she sobered. “Are you?” She hadn’t thought about that. Her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel caused little sparks to ignite in her palms.
Please say no
. No way she was sleeping with a married man. Or any man involved with another woman.

“Not married.”

Whew. “Attached?”

“Attached?” He laughed harshly. “Nope. Not attached.”

“Oh, well, that’s good then.” She turned off the road onto a wide lane. A sign stood in a proud arch above them as she drove through.

“Fawn Glade?”

Her smile was one of genuine pleasure. “My dad used to call this our ‘retreat ranch.’ We used to spend long weekends and holidays here.” As they continued down the drive, the large log home she’d always loved came into view. “He bought the property and had the house built when I was just a baby.”

The house was large and had an inviting porch that surrounded it on all sides. She’d been happy to find that caretakers had done an excellent job in keeping the house clean and ready. Amanda had had to stock the refrigerator, but the pantry shelves were full, the linens fresh.

She gestured toward the corral as she pulled to a stop. “Back then we each had our own horse. I learned to ride out here. My brother sold all of them a few years after our parents died. He said it wasn’t fair to keep them out here when we hardly visited anymore.” A wave of sadness went through her as she looked at the empty area. It seemed an injustice to let the space go to waste.

She jumped as his hand brushed along her thigh, surprising her out of her thoughts.

“Easy, there. I lost you somewhere.”

She was suddenly so nervous she thought she might throw up. “Sorry, I, um, I was just thinking.”

“Second thoughts about inviting me over?” His fingers brushed across her cheek as he gently cupped her face.

“No, it’s just … I know better than to bring a strange man to my house where we will be alone and away from civilization, and now you know where I live and—”

He held up his hand to quiet her rant. “Everything out here is away from civilization,” he drawled. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never been to this house, but I know the area. I was born here. I live here full-time now. I know the sheriff personally.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Jesus, Mandy, I’m going to fuck you, not murder you.”

Her eyes widened in shock at his bluntness. Moisture flooded her panties as she thought about what he’d do to her. “I have to be honest with you.” She hesitated a moment before continuing. “I don’t have the first clue what I’m doing. My last two relationships were alike in that the only thing they were concerned about was their own pleasure. Both ended with them in bed with other women.”

Amanda’s voice rose somewhat and the words tumbled out. “I’m here because my idiot best friend suggested I get laid. The kind of laid where I can take my pleasure and walk away. ‘Find a gorgeous stranger and have wild monkey sex with him,’ she said.” Amanda blushed as she gave him her best Samantha impression, not that he’d know the difference. “I’ve never had sex like that before.”

She choked out a whisper. “What if I’m no good at it? What if that’s why men keep running around on me?” Amanda was horrified that she seemed to have no control of her mouth. “And now you’re here, and I don’t have the first clue what to do with you.” She couldn’t breathe. “I’m not very experienced, and you’re the most amazing-looking—”

“Amanda, stop.” Joe put two fingers over her lips. “I get that you’re nervous. Honestly, I’m a little nervous myself. It’s not every day a gorgeous woman waltzes into my bar and asks me to go home with her.”

He had to be kidding. “I’m sorry. Look, I’ll take you back to the bar. You probably have better—”

He grabbed the back of her neck and crushed his mouth to hers. He didn’t wait for permission, just thrust his tongue against her lips and demanded entrance. She opened slightly, and he dived in. She moaned as his tongue grazed over the edge of her teeth, darting back and forth until he gently sucked her tongue in to play. The heat of his mouth was like warm brandy and honey, causing her body to burn with need. His muscles bunched as she moved her hand along his thigh. She wanted to feel every inch of him.

The contact seemed to break the spell. He tore his mouth away from her, resting his forehead against hers. In the quiet car, the sound of their dual panting was as erotic as the kiss itself. He cleared his throat. “Maybe we should go inside?”

“Inside. Right. Yes.” Her hands were shaking as she reached for the keys.

“Here,” he said easily. “I got it.” He grabbed the keys and the bottle of whiskey and unfolded himself from her car. She got out and met him as he walked around. His arm went around her waist as he lifted her off the ground.

He brought his mouth back to hers, nibbling on her bottom lip. She opened immediately and sucked his tongue into her mouth.

He took hold of her ass and lifted her off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me, Mandy.”

Her arms locked around his neck and she eased her legs around him. Another moan escaped as his hard cock pushed against the seam of her jeans. Her pussy tightened as heat consumed her.

The silky strands of his hair tickled her cheek as she lowered her mouth to his ear. She delighted in the shiver that went through him as she circled the inner curves with her tongue. Feeling bold, she laved him from collarbone to earlobe, causing him to stumble.

“Jesus, Mandy. You’re killing me.” He swatted her ass. “Behave for a second.” He set her on her feet at the front door and waited for her to let them inside.

She fumbled before pushing open the door and leading him through the house to the kitchen. Grabbing the whiskey he still held—how the hell he’d managed to keep that in his hands she’d never know—she went to the cabinet for shot glasses. “I think I need a drink,” she mumbled. “You?”

“We don’t have to do this,” he said, even as he reached out to cup her neck.

She smiled, barely keeping the wonder from her voice as she brushed her fingertips across his jawline. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation.

She glanced pointedly at the erection straining against his jeans.

He gave her a sly smile. “I never said I didn’t want to. But no means no, Amanda. About that, I make no concession. If you want to stop, it stops. Now.” He dropped his hands and stepped back from her.

She moved back into him. He was so warm. She savored the feel of his hard frame pressing against her. “What if I just want to make out for a while?” she teased, her gaze glued to his lips. “You have the most amazing mouth.”
Did I just say that out loud? Sam would be so proud.