Loving Cara (6 page)

“I’m not interested in cowboys,” she whispers.

“Why?” I breathe.

“Because I don’t think tight Wranglers and cowboy hats are hot.”

I chuckle against her ear and gently tug the lobe with my teeth. “Then it’s a good thing I wear Levi’s.”

God, she smells like heaven. Her hair smells like strawberries and her skin is soft. I want to lose myself in her.

“What about Blondie?”

What the fuck?
“Who?”

“The blond chick I saw leaving your house the first morning I was here.”

“That was Erica. She’s with Fish and Wildlife. I think I have a wolf issue.”

“Oh, I thought she might be your girlfriend or . . . something,” Cara mutters as color rises to her cheeks.

“I don’t have a girlfriend or . . . something.” I grin. “Cara, you live in the same small town I do.” I look her in the eyes and hold her face in my hands. “Rumors are just that: rumors. I haven’t been with a woman in over a year.”

Her gorgeous eyes go round and she blinks up at me, processing this information.

“I didn’t think I was your type,” she murmurs, making me chuckle.

My hands glide down to her perfectly round ass as I pull her against me so she can feel my hard cock against her stomach. “I think it’s pretty obvious that you’re my type, whatever the hell that means.”

But taking her now would be too fast, and she’s had a rough day.

I pull back and tug her hair gently before stepping away. She’s panting, her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright green.

So that’s what color they are when she’s turned on.

CHAPTER

Four

CARA

He freaking kissed me!

And damn if I don’t want him to do it again.

I pace across my colorful living room, cell phone gripped firmly in my right hand, waiting anxiously for Jill to call. I’m all keyed up, still emotional from the outing with Seth and more than a little hot and bothered by Josh’s kiss.

Josh King is just as sexy and sweet as he ever was, and I’m losing the tenuous grip I had on my professionalism.

Today sucked, that’s all there is to it. I hated making Seth feel small, but I think our little field trip today might have done the trick where his attitude is concerned. Time will tell.

And Josh had done exactly what I’d asked of him; he’d let me run the show today and I know how hard that must have been for him.

I stomp past the dining room table, where my uneaten dinner has been resting for the better part of an hour, and into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine. It’s seven fifteen.

Jill’s late.

Just as I turn to stomp back to the living room, wine in one hand and phone in the other, my cell rings.

“You’re late.” I narrow my eyes and take a sip of the cold, sweet wine.

“I’m sorry. I was showing a house and the damn couple kept wanting to hem and haw over the master bathroom.”

I hear road noise in the background. “Are you in the car?”

“Yeah, I’m driving home so you’re on speaker. Can you hear me?”

“I hear you.” I plop my ass into an overstuffed red chair and lean my head back with a sigh.

“So, how’s your day, dear?” Jill asks happily.

“I had the shittiest day of my life.”

“Worse than that time during junior year when we were dissecting frogs and you threw up?” Jill laughs, bringing a smile to my face.

“Worse,” I confirm.

“Worse than when you decided to get your bangs cut and they looked like someone tried to murder you in your sleep with scissors?”

I laugh and take a sip of wine. “A little worse, yes.”

“It definitely can’t be worse than prom.” Her voice is incredulous, and I can’t help but laugh as I remember back to our prom night and my date spilling beer all down my beautiful, perfect dress at the pre-party.

“Okay, it’s a close second,” I concede.

“What’s up?” she asks in her carefree, Jillian way.

I miss her.

“I’m working for Josh King.” I take a sip of wine and then set the glass on the end table so I can rub my eyes.

“Josh needs a tutor?” Jill asks dryly. “Last time I checked, he graduated two years ahead of us.”

“No, smart-ass, Josh doesn’t need a tutor. Kensie dropped Zack’s boy off unexpectedly and ran off with some guy.”

“Damn, I’m missing all the good stuff.” I hear her shut off her car. “I’m home.”

“Good, pour yourself a glass of wine and join me.”

“Sounds perfect. You were saying?”

“So, Seth flunked out of school and has just had a hard time of it, and Josh hired me to tutor him over the summer.” I take another sip and am beginning to feel my lips tingle. I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast, not to mention I’ve always been a lightweight.

I’d better slow down.

“Okay, so why did your day suck?” I hear the pop of a cork and the
glug-glug
of Jill pouring her wine. “Josh is a nice guy.”

“He’s nice. I had to do the tough-love thing with Seth today.” I set my wine back down and trace the seam on the arm of the chair with my fingertip.

“Tough love?”
Jill chuckles. “What does that mean?”

“I took him to Uncle Ed so he could wash dishes, took him to the jail. All the fun stuff.” I swallow another sip of wine and lean my head back. “I’m glad I don’t have to do it often. I hate it.”

“Right. Just like I hate it when people hem and haw over master bathrooms. Jesus, it’s just a bathroom, people!”

I grin and nod. “Exactly. You know, I roped Ty into helping me today. I would not want to go against your brother in a courtroom. His stern face is a little scary.”

“Don’t let him fool you, he’s not that scary. So does Seth come to you every day or are you going out to the ranch?”

“I go to the ranch.”

“How is Josh doing?” Jill sighs. I picture her sitting in her living room, her shoes kicked off, still in her power suit.

“He’s good.” I try to make my voice light as though I were speaking about anyone else in town.

Jillian’s not stupid. “Good, huh? I saw him when I was home at Christmas. Those King boys are as hot as ever. I wouldn’t kick Josh out of bed for eating crackers, unless he wanted to do it on the floor.” She giggles hysterically, so amused with herself, and instead of laughing with her as I normally would, I chew on my lower lip and continue to trace the pattern on the chair.

“Cara?”

“I’m here.”

“Spill.”

“He kissed me.”

“Reeeeeeeally. And?”

“And what?”

“Don’t be a bitch, you know I need details.”

“It was nice.”

“Well, if it was just ‘nice,’ what’s the problem? Move on. Ain’t nobody got time to settle for ‘nice.’ ”

“It was—” Suddenly the doorbell rings. “Hold on, someone’s at the door.”

I walk to the door, the phone pressed to my shoulder, and open it to find Josh standing there, his face hard and serious, hands propped on his lean hips. His eyes search my face, and suddenly he moves inside, grabs the phone from my hand, pushes the
END
button, and tosses it on the key table next to the door.

“What are you—”

Before I can complete the question, he grips my face in his hands and lowers his lips to mine. This is no gentle kiss like this afternoon’s. This is a hard, deep, powerful kiss that rocks me back on my heels. I grip his forearms and hold on as bold lust settles in my belly.

He pushes me back against the wall and pins me with his hips as he buries one hand in my hair, holding my head still for his lips. His other hand grips my waist.

Dear God, I just want to climb him.

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, just as firmly and passionately as he’s delivering. He growls low in his throat and cups my round ass in his hands, boosting me up against the wall so my legs wrap around his hips and I’m eye level with him.

His chocolate-brown eyes stare into mine and he again pins me, his pelvis cradled against mine. He lifts one hand to brush the hair away from my face.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper, my breath coming in pants. I don’t know if I’m light-headed from the wine or Josh’s kisses.

He shakes his head, nuzzles my nose, and I can feel his erection pressed to my center.

I grip his face in my hands and stare him in the eye. “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know.” He closes his eyes and sighs, leaning his forehead against mine. “One taste of you wasn’t enough. I can’t get you out of my head.”

He lowers his lips to mine again, gently this time, and he slowly brushes them back and forth, nibbling at the sides of my mouth, licking my lower lip with just the tip of his tongue. I’m vaguely aware of my cell ringing, but I don’t care.

I roll my hips, just a tiny bit, and grin when he groans against my lips. He pushes more firmly against me, shooting sparks through my clit and up my spine.

I want him. Now.

Both of his hands glide up my hips, my sides, and cup my full breasts. He worries the nipples with his thumbs as he sweeps his amazing lips down my jawline to my neck.

“You’re so sweet,” he whispers. “You’ve been drinking wine.”

I grin and nod. He chuckles softly against my skin, making me tingle even more.

“Can I pour you a glass?” I ask, my voice trembling.

“No, I’m drunk enough on you, sweetheart.” He settles his lips over mine again and boosts me higher against the wall, even tighter against him.

I plunge my hands in his thick, dark brown hair and hang on for dear life as his mouth plunders mine, his tongue dancing and rubbing with my own. Finally he pulls back, panting raggedly. He kisses my cheek softly and brushes his thumb over my lower lip.

“I’d better go before I rip the clothes off your delectable little body and take you against this wall.”

“Go ahead.” I enjoy the way his eyes widen as he swallows thickly.
Holy shit, did I really just say that?

“Not yet.” He shakes his head and slowly lowers me to the floor. “It’s too soon, and as much as I want you right now, I don’t want to rush this.”

“Why not?” I whisper, his words a balm to my ego. I want him. I shouldn’t, and this is nuts, but I so, so want him.

“Because this isn’t a one-night stand for me, Cara. I don’t know where this will go, but it’s not a quick fuck against the wall by your front door.”

“I have a bedroom,” I offer with a smile.

He grins down at me, his eyes happy and warm. “Soon,” he promises, and cups my cheek in his hand once more, gently kisses me, and then sighs. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He opens the front door and looks back at me, almost hesitating as if he wants to say something more, but he turns and shuts the door behind him, and I’m left leaning against my wall, a panty-soaked, gasping-for-breath mess.

So much for maintaining my professionalism.

Taking a deep breath, I reach for my phone and call Jillian back to reassure her that I wasn’t just attacked by a serial killer.

*  *  *

I’m a complete wimp.

I called in sick this morning for the first time in four years.

I shake my head in disgust and pour more beige paint into the pan, run my roller through it, and smooth it over the wall. I couldn’t face Josh today. I need to get a handle on my emotions, and I can’t do that when I’m around him.

He’s too . . .
Josh.

How can he just come into my home, kiss the hell out of me, and then leave as if nothing happened? Okay, so he didn’t leave as if
nothing
happened, but still. Who the hell does that?

And why do I so desperately want him to do it again?

Because he’s hotter than sin and you want in his pants.

“Cara?”

I frown and turn at the sound of Seth’s voice coming from my front door.

“Seth, you’re supposed to knock, for God’s sake!”

And there’s Josh, right behind him.

“I’m back here!” I yell out with a resigned sigh, set the roller in the pan, and wipe my hands on the rag resting on my shoulder.

I turn to find Seth and Josh staring at me from the door. Seth wrinkles his nose and sighs. “I do not want to paint. Tell me you’re not going to make me paint.”

Josh leans casually against the doorframe and smirks at me. “Sick, huh?”

I shrug and turn around, cleaning up my mess.

“Are you feeling better?” Seth asks.

“I’m fine,” I mumble.

“Seth, why don’t you go wait for Cara at the kitchen table.” Josh hasn’t taken his eyes off me, and I squirm as Seth leaves the room. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” I repeat as I place the lid on the can of paint.

“You called in sick this morning.”

I shrug again, not wanting to admit that he’s the reason I didn’t come to work, and pissed that my lust for him is interfering with my job.

“Look at me.” His voice is firm. I close my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.

“Maybe you should find Seth a different tutor. I can make some calls.”

Josh moves into the room, grips my chin between his thumb and finger, and tilts my head back to look him in the face. “No.”

“Josh . . .”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Seth actually smiled at me this morning, Cara. He was respectful to my parents when they told him to feed the dogs and collect the eggs this morning. That’s because of
you.
I’m not hiring someone else.”

“I’m so glad, really, but I think—”

“Stop thinking so hard.” He offers me a half smile, that sexy dimple winking at me, and I feel myself soften. “I’m not going to ravage your body in front of him. I can control myself.” Josh frowns and narrows his eyes. “But when he’s not around, I plan to touch you as much as possible.”

I can’t stop my gasp or the way my eyes go round in surprise. “This is crazy,” I whisper.

“Call in sick again and I’ll come find you, if nothing more than to make sure you’re okay.” He smirks arrogantly and backs away. I immediately miss the warmth of his body so close to mine.

“I’m not helpless.”

“If you don’t want me to pursue you, say the word and I’ll stop. I’m not in the habit of harassing women.” He crosses his arms over his chest, his biceps flex under his white T-shirt, and I am once again a quivering, wet mess.