Whispers (Argent Springs) (17 page)

The blond stood along with his dark-haired
counterpart. Both men had athletic builds and were roughly her age. The blond
had a look on his face that promised a good-time whether he was inside the bedroom
or out. His friend had an amazing pair of blue eyes, but seemed more reserved.

“Erin, this is Hans,” she said indicating the sexy
blond. “And Joel.”

Erin shook both of their hands, giving them a
welcoming smile.

“They’ll be our guests for the next couple of
days.”

“Great.” The sense of pure masculinity emanating
from both of them was a little overwhelming, reminding her of her first high
school football game when she’d walked in front of the bleachers and a bunch of
guys had whistled at her.

“Where are you from?” she asked, trying to buy
time and regain her composure.

“You should have a drink with us, and we’ll tell
you.” Hans motioned her forward.

Her first thought was to decline, but why wait to
start making new friends? Now was as good a time as any. “I think I will.”

“I’ll get it for you,” Joel said, his eyes
piercing her, making her give him a second look. While Hans was fun and
friendly, it occurred to her that Joel just might have more depth.

“Not too much,” she said as he poured more than a
shot into a glass for her. “I’m a lightweight.”

His hand brushed hers as he passed the drink to
her. “Nothing wrong with that.”

“I’ll leave you boys in the company of my niece
while I check the chili.” Annabelle winked at her before heading out of the
room.

Erin glanced at the two men, feeling a little out
of her league. It seemed as though Annabelle had led her into a jungle full of
predators and then left her there to fend for herself.

“Erin, come here.” Hans sat on the couch and
patted the seat next to him. “We can tell you about our country, and we need to
hear more about what American girls like. This is our first trip to the states,
and we want to impress all of you.”

“Uh, sure. Okay.” She sat on the cushion next to
him, immediately enveloped by a strong, sexy scent.

“Closer.” He put an arm around her and tugged. “We
need to make room for Joel.”

A fast grin hit her lips. Their behavior might be
common in their country, but she had the sneaking suspicion this wasn’t the
first time they’d tried this ploy. She scooted closer until her thigh rested
against his. Joel settled next to her, and her poor hormones shot out of
control, making her heart beat faster and warming her cheeks.

“You look like an Irish lass with that lovely
color of hair.” Hans tugged on one of her curls.

“A sexy Irish lass.” Joel twirled a strand of her
hair around a thick finger.

“My father’s side of the family was from Ireland,”
she said alternating glances between the two of them and wondering how she
could extricate herself. “Annabelle had the same color when she was younger.”

Joel brought her ensnared strand to his nose and
smelled. “It’s very nice. You smell like lavender. It’s my mother’s favorite
scent.”

Rosa. The men must be triggering her. “Thank you.”
She lifted her glass to her lips, somewhat distracted by the men flanking her
and the fact that Rosa’s ghost could possibly be nearby, and she took a bigger
swallow than she’d intended.

She choked as the fiery liquid cascaded through
her.

Hans took the opportunity to lean her forward
across him and pat her back.

“Don’t try to drink it all at once if you’re a
lightweight,” Joel added.

She wanted to respond that she was aware that
wasn’t a good idea, but she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

“Take another little swallow,” Hans offered.

She did as he directed, and though it burned, it
did help clear her throat. “I’m okay,” she said, her voice hoarse.

Hans smiled and hugged her close to him. “Try not
to drink so much next time, little Irish.”

“What else do American girls like?” Joel asked, taking
her free hand in his. “Is this pleasurable?” He caressed the back of her hand
before circling his thumb around the center of her palm.

Her body reacted with an excited chill as the effects
of her unintentionally large shot of whiskey hit the bottom of her empty
stomach. These men were an avalanche of sexuality, and she wasn’t sure she
could stay ahead of them. Their accents alone nearly charmed the pants off her.
“That’s very nice.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her, his
brilliant blue eyes staring into hers.

“We should toast to new friends,” Hans said,
clinking his glass against hers.

“To new friends,” she said and took a much smaller
drink this time around.

“To international relations,” Joel added and
tapped her glass with his.

“To international relations,” she repeated, her
mind taking a side trip to ponder whether or not he’d meant that as a sexual
innuendo. At least the whiskey no longer burned her throat. In fact, it brought
on a warmth that relaxed her, making it easier to be around these two bundles
of dynamite. “You haven’t told me where you’re from?”

“A little town in Switzerland.” Joel took her hand
again, sending sensual shivers racing through her. “We have come to the United
States on a tour with some of our buddies.”

“There’s a snow-boarding competition in Telluride
in a couple of weeks. We are here to train.”

She lifted her brows, taking a turn glancing at
each of the men. “Are you any good?” The moment the question left her lips, she
realized it wasn’t very polite. What if they sucked?

“Joel is a gold-medalist in the half-pipe.”

She nearly choked again on another sip. “As in
Olympic
gold?”

“2010.” Joel shrugged as though it was no big
deal.

“Our country was pretty excited,” Hans added.

Suddenly the couch seemed a whole lot smaller. “I’m
impressed. How did you ever find Argent Springs?”

“Our coach,” Hans said as he picked up another
strand of her hair.

“Excuse me,” Rick said from the doorway, jerking
her gaze away from her new friends to find him watching them with a steely
expression.

Erin blinked, unsure of what to do as inexplicable
guilt sliced through her for being caught cozying up on the couch with the two
athletes. She ached to pull her hand from Joel’s, but she didn’t dare move.

Rick stepped into the room, a smile sliding onto
his lips, but the friendly gesture didn’t come anywhere near reaching his eyes.
“I’m Rick, the caretaker here. If there’s anything I can help you with, please
let me know.” He stopped in front of the couch, extending a hand to shake, more
or less forcing the guys to release her and stand to shake his hand.

They exchanged greetings before Rick focused on
her. “Annabelle’s asking for you, Erin. She needs your help.”

He turned and left the room, and she wished she
could call him back and explain that he’d misinterpreted what he’d seen, and
that it was all just a bit of harmless fun. But then after what had transpired
in the candy shop, she doubted he cared one way or the other.

“I’d better go see what she needs. Make yourselves
at home, and I’ll let you know when dinner is served.”

Hans took her hand and kissed it, his lips warm on
her skin. “We are very glad we volunteered to stay here instead of at the hotel
with the others.”

Joel nodded his agreement.

“Me, too.” She smiled and pulled her hand free.
Even if they were both a little over the top.

Erin found Annabelle in the kitchen with Rick,
Annabelle filling three bowls with chili before Rick placed them on a tray.

“Did you need me?” she asked her aunt.

“No, I think Rick and I have everything under
control.” She added plates of crackers and small containers of onions and
grated cheese.

Erin shot a look at Rick, but he wouldn’t meet her
gaze. “Rick said you needed me.” She wasn’t about to let him off the hook so
easily.

Her aunt piled napkins onto the tray before
looking up. “Actually, I need to talk to you about one thing.”

Rick turned and leaned against the counter,
looking sexy in his tight black t-shirt as he met her gaze with a look that said
he’d been exonerated of his lie. She narrowed her gaze in response.

“Pam overbooked her hotel without realizing it.
The young men in the atrium are with a group of athletes traveling from Europe,
and they were all supposed to stay at the hotel.” She waved a hand through the
air as she continued. “She called this morning in a panic and asked if I could
take two of them. Of course, I couldn’t refuse. Normally, this wouldn’t be a
problem, but Erin’s here.”

“Oh.” The all-too-familiar feeling of being
unwanted slithered over her. She forced a smile. “Aunt Annabelle, I can leave.
It’s no big deal. I know that you count on your room rentals for income, and I
wouldn’t—”

“No,” Rick said before she could finish her
sentence. “She can have my room.”

Something inside Erin twisted into a tight ball,
forcing emotions to surface. During her life, she’d never felt particularly
wanted by her family, and to know Rick would give up his room, touched her
heart. “Where will you go?”

“Absolutely not. Neither of you are going anywhere,”
Annabelle said before Rick could answer. “I just found you, Erin, and I’m not
ready to let you go yet, love. And you belong here, Rick. If you’re both open
to it, I have a solution.”

She stared at them through her thick glasses,
strands of her gray hair falling from her bun, and Erin wanted to reach out and
hug her.

“Rick has two beds in his room. If you both don’t
mind doubling up for a few days, we should be just fine.”

“Wait. What?” Her thoughts of hugging her aunt came
to a complete halt.

“I don’t mind sharing.” Rick turned his attention
to her.

Erin couldn’t believe it. After what had happened
between them, he wanted her back in his bedroom? “You seriously want to share?”

“I’m fine with it.” He shrugged, capturing her
with an unreadable look in his eyes. “If it’s a problem for you, I’ll take the
couch.”

Erin glanced between the two people looking at
her, Annabelle with an expectant look on her face who Erin knew she couldn’t
disappoint, and Rick with a dare that she couldn’t ignore. If he didn’t have a
problem with it, then why should she? “If you’re fine, I’m fine. It’s only a
couple of days. No big deal.”

“Wonderful. Thank you both so much for being so
easy-going. I would have offered to let you sleep in my room if my bed was
bigger, but we won’t fit, and I really need my orthopedic bed if I want to get
up in the morning.”

“It’s fine, Aunt Annabelle. Really.” She gave her
aunt a reassuring smile.

“Thank you, love. I wish Henderson could have met
you. He would have loved you as much as I do.” Annabelle lifted the tray and
headed toward the doorway.

Rick leaned away from the counter and started
after her. “Let me carry that for you, Annabelle.”

“I have it. Have fun tonight.”

Rick turned back to Erin with that damn passive
look on his face.

“Are you headed out?” She’d be able to enjoy their
guests much more if Rick wasn’t in the room with them.

“
We
are. In case you didn’t notice, there
were only three bowls on that tray. Annabelle not only gave away your room,
she’s feeding them our dinner.” He tilted his head, giving her a softer look
that sent her heart reeling. “If you’re agreeable, I’d like to take you to
dinner.”

He’d asked her on a real date, and the effect sent
flutters through her. “Did Annabelle put you up to it?”

“I offered. Is it such a strange thing for a guy to
want to take a friend to dinner?”

Friend
. That word again. Why couldn’t she
get used to that idea and quit looking for something more?

“Of course not.” She sucked in a fortifying
breath. “Give me a minute to freshen up. After working all day, I feel like I
have sugar infused into my skin.”

He raised his brows as his gaze dropped to her
throat, then lower, spiking her pulse. The man could seduce a woman with one
look when he wasn’t trying. “Doesn’t seem like such a horrible thing.”

She laughed, trying to stave the currents of
attraction she shot in his direction. “You’ll have to try it some time. Then
you’ll see.”

He blinked, his dark lashes brushing his cheeks.
“I just might.”

The sexy look in his eye made it hard to breathe.
She needed to change, splash some cold water on her face, and fortify her game
plan so she could make it through an evening without melting into a puddle at
his feet.

She headed for the doorway, expecting Rick to step
back and make room for her. He didn’t, so she was forced to brush past him,
pretending the feel of him so close didn’t take her straight back to their
kiss.

He grabbed her arm before she made it into the
hall, and she stopped, looking up at him as her heart thundered. She froze as
he leaned toward her, stopping when his nose brushed her neck. He sniffed and
pulled away.

“What are you doing?” She hated that her voice
came out breathless.

“Seeing if you were telling the truth.” A
half-grin twisted his lips as mischief sparked in his eyes.

“And?”

He held her gaze for a moment before he answered.
“Sweet.”

She rolled her eyes and walked away. It was that
or kiss him, and she wasn’t about to do that again.

“Your stuff is already in my room,” he called
after her.

She stopped and pivoted. “Annabelle was that
certain?”

“You know as well as I do, she can be pretty
persuasive.”

No doubt about it.

Erin pulled a black silk tank and a black sheer
blouse from the closet and headed for the bathroom. She changed and fixed her
makeup, then added a spritz of perfume. Because
she
liked it. Not for
Rick.

If she’d donned the sexiest thing she’d brought
with her, she’d done it because this was technically her first night on the
town. Except her little adventure in Krog’s, and she wasn’t about to count
that.

When she returned downstairs, she found Rick
waiting for her in the entryway. A loud round of laughter came from the back of
the house, but Rick didn’t glance in that direction. Instead, he watched each
step she took, his gaze full of appreciation. He’d made it no secret that he
was attracted to her, but he’d also been perfectly clear it ended there.

She was left to deal with her corresponding
emotions on her own. And it sucked. Especially when he’d also taken the time to
change into a black buttoned-down shirt that molded to his well-defined chest.
He’d left it untucked, giving him a dressed-up, yet sexy appearance.

He held her coat out as she approached and helped
her into it, his spicy cologne making her senses curl with desire.

“Do you mind walking?” he said from somewhere very
close to her ear. “I know it’s pretty cold out, but I took half a muscle
relaxer earlier, and I probably shouldn’t drive,”

“That sounds good to me.” The fact that everything
was within walking distance was one of the things she found so endearing about
the town. She let him open the front door for her, and they slipped into the
dark, quiet night.

“Hold onto me.” He held out his arm for her before
they descended the steps. “It might be slippery.”

She gripped his bicep, feeling the power that rested
there even through his thick leather jacket. She had to admit she liked it,
liked the feel of him next to her. Even after they were down the stairs, he
kept a hand over hers where it rested on his arm, making sure she didn’t let
go.

The man had something she couldn’t shake. Something
powerful and dangerous. She wanted to pretend that her heart didn’t jump to
attention every time he was near. She really did.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

*        *        *

Rick opened the door to Eleanor’s Restaurant, a
blast of warm air full of delicious smells hitting his face. Despite being in a
small town, Main Street did boast several eateries, a few of them touting menus
that could compete with any of the larger ski towns. Argent Springs might have
a small population, but they knew how to keep the tourists coming back again
and again, and he had every intention of showing Erin the sophisticated side of
their town as well. Besides that, he still harbored some seriously guilty
feelings for taking advantage of her the other day. She’d said she wanted them
both to forget about it, but that wasn’t enough to make him feel better. This
was his chance to make up for it.

He allowed her to precede him inside, his gaze
caught on a perfect twist of auburn hair. He reached out and took it in his
hand while they waited for the host to return to seat them.

Erin turned, her gaze narrowed in a questioning
look.

“You have a curl that is perfectly symmetrical.”
He twirled it around his finger before letting it drop.

She met his gaze, hers wide-eyed, not to mention a
little uncertain. He’d told her he wasn’t interested…but that seemed to have
changed since they’d first met. She’d echoed his earlier sentiments, but he’d
watched her flirt with Allen and with Annabelle’s houseguests. Maybe she was
more ready than she realized, too.

Maybe, just maybe the playing field had changed.