Nerd Gone Wild (33 page)

He’d guessed it might happen. Kill the messenger.

“I don’t believe it!” Ally scrambled out of bed, her beer bottle still clutched in her hand. “She must have misunderstood. Misinterpreted something.”

“I don’t think so. He would have raped her, except a maid heard her screaming and ran to the rescue. Kurt nearly knocked the maid over as he barreled out the door. He hitched a ride back to his mother’s house.”

Ally continued to shake her head. “It’s impossible. He wouldn’t do something like that.”

“When the maid showed up, he had your grandmother down on the floor. Her clothes were ripped.” He hated the look of betrayal in Ally’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I know it’s tough to hear, but it’s true. I checked the story. The maid’s name is Suzanne.”

“Suzanne.” Ally swallowed. “She still works there. I’ve known her all my life.”

“Your grandmother made her promise never to say a word to anyone. She was petrified to talk to me, but finally she did. She’s been carrying that image around for more than forty years.”

“So nobody knew? Not my dad, or Grandpa Clayton?”

“Your grandmother was humiliated. You have to remember her personality, and the fact that in those days, women were often blamed when something like that happened. Kurt had picked his time well, when her son was off taking tennis lessons and your grandpa was doing business down in L.A.”

“I don’t get how she could have banned him from the house without Grandpa being told why.” Ally put down her beer on the dresser.

“She told your grandfather that Kurt had threatened her and she didn’t feel safe in the house with him. From what I can gather, Clayton doted on your grandmother. He almost disowned Kurt, but she convinced him to continue paying him his trust fund allowance.”

“Uncle Kurt told me he wasn’t allowed at Grandpa’s funeral. I thought he hadn’t bothered to come, but he said Grammy forbid him to show up.”

Mitch nodded. “Not her, personally, but her lawyers warned Kurt that if he wanted to continue getting his monthly allowance, he’d be wise to stay away from Clayton’s funeral, so he did.”

She picked up her sweatpants from the floor and pulled them on.

He thought that was a bad sign. When she put on her sweatshirt, he knew the party was over.

She faced him. “You’re not here because you have a crush on me, are you?”

“No.” But he had one now. And watching her shut down after what they’d shared was killing him.

“And it’s not paperwork to do with the estate, either, is it?”

“No.”

“You’re here because of Kurt, aren’t you?”

“Mostly, yes.”

“He’s not going to try and rape me or anything, Mitch. I can guarantee it.”

“That’s not my big concern, either. I think he wanted revenge against your grandmother for what he perceived was her part in ruining his life. That’s how an eighteen-year-old hothead might react. But he may feel he deserves some of your inheritance. Your grandmother told me to stay close.”

“I see.” She gazed at him. “So was that the reason for all this?” She swept her hand over the scene, from the cards on the floor to Mitch on the bed.

“What do you mean?” He decided to be deliberately obtuse, because in a way she was right. It was technically part of the reason. Not a big part, but it had contributed to his decision. He didn’t think that would play well.

“I’m wondering if you thought having sex with me would make your job easier, that’s all. You know, bond with me so I’d want to hang around you more, stuff like that.”

“Ally, that wasn’t it. I told you, I’ve wanted you from the start. I stopped fighting it, that’s all.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Damned convenient time to stop fighting it, I’d say. And to think I was afraid to get sexually involved for fear I might hurt your feelings when it was over. You’re simply doing what Grammy hired you to do, and sex is turning out to be one of the perks!”

“It wasn’t a perk!”

She braced her hands on her hips. “Oh, so you forced yourself to go through with it? You gave a real convincing performance for a guy who wasn’t enjoying himself!”

“That’s not what I meant.” He should probably quit before he ended up any further in the hole. “I meant that I’d never intended for this to happen. Then this morning I kissed you, and you kissed me back, and—”

“My mistake. I thought you were this sweet and dopey guy with a crush. I thought that was cute. I was touched that you’d fly all the way up here.” Her expression softened. “And… and you’re a good kisser. Dammit.”

“Sorry about that.”

“You should be sorry! You’re supposed to be a nerdy guy who’s great at details and paperwork. You’re not supposed to have a body like
that
.” She blew out a breath and glanced away.

Maybe all was not lost. She still wanted him, or she wouldn’t have made those last comments about his body and his kissing ability. She was upset and taking it out on him. He could understand that.

“What do you want to do, Ally?”

“I don’t know.” Hands still on her hips, she stared up at the ceiling. “I mean, I had this great plan to come up to Alaska and learn wildlife photography. Uncle Kurt promised to help. Now you’ve told me something about him that’s very disturbing.”

“You asked.”

“I know! And I don’t want to believe you, but at dinner he was trying to talk me into shortcuts that don’t feel right, so maybe he isn’t so wonderful. And he brought Tanya Mandell, which sounds perfect on the surface, but she’s turning out to be a sex maniac. Then you and I have some fun, and I discover it’s only part of your job.”

“No, not part of my job. I couldn’t resist you.”

She sniffed and swiped a hand over her eyes. “And I couldn’t seem to resist you, either. That’s the hell of it.”

“Oh, Ally.” He was off the bed and pulling her into his arms before he could consider whether she might deck him for trying it.

She struggled a little, but eventually she collapsed against him and buried her face against his shoulder. “I don’t want you to comfort me!” she wailed, even as she wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.

“I know, but I’m handy.” He rubbed her back and stroked her hair while she cried. He remembered wanting to do this a couple of times before—at the funeral, and again when he’d come upon her weeping while sitting in her grandmother’s bedroom a week later. But they hadn’t had that kind of relationship then, so he’d held himself in check.

Finally she stopped crying and lifted her head from his shoulder. “This is no good.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re naked. I can’t have a decent cry against a naked man’s shoulder. There’s nothing to soak up the tears. You’re getting all slippery.” She stepped back, picked up the hem of her sweatshirt and pulled it up to mop her face. She flashed him in the process.

He wondered if she knew. He decided to test the waters. “Come back to bed,” he murmured.

With the bottom of her sweatshirt still pulled up to show her breasts, she peered at him. “You’re just saying that because you got another look at my boobs, and that makes you crazy.”

“True.”

She sighed and pulled off her sweatshirt. “Who am I kidding? I could get all indignant and send you back to your own room, but I’d only be cutting off my nose to spite my face.”

He wished she sounded a little happier about wanting him.

She tossed the sweatshirt at him. “Better wipe off your shoulder.” Then she shoved her sweatpants down over her hips and stepped out of them.

She was obviously still mad, and she hadn’t performed the most graceful striptease he’d ever seen, but his penis didn’t seem to care. It reacted as if she’d put on one helluva show.

She zeroed right in on that reaction, giving him a saucy once-over. “So in addition to handling Grammy’s estate, you’re supposed to keep me safe and happy. Is that what you’re saying?”

He figured that was a fair evaluation. “I guess you could put it that way.”

She walked over to the bed and hopped in. “Then come on over here, Mitch. Time to earn your keep.”

Yeah, she was furious, both with him and maybe with herself for still being susceptible. But he’d take her any way he could get her.

“I guess I could get all indignant and refuse,” he said, crossing to the bed. She was so angry and yet so beautiful, lying stretched out on the sheets, her nipples hard and her body rosy and ready for him. “But that would be cutting off my nose to spite my face.” He climbed into bed with her. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it.

S
ome time later, as Ally was lying in Mitch’s arms trying to sort out her jumbled thoughts, she heard the lodge’s front door open and close. She’d thought Mitch was sleeping, but he roused himself instantly.

“Must be Tanya,” he muttered.

“Must be. Let’s hope she didn’t bring someone home with her. Listening to Kitty-cat and Poopsie would be one thing, but…”

Mitch gave her an understanding squeeze. “I know. It has to be tough to find out she has feet of clay.”

“Her feet aren’t the part that concerns me. I—Oh, no. Is she coming up the stairs?” Ally listened to the unmistakable sound of someone climbing the wooden steps.

“I think so.”

“This has a definite Stephen King feel to it. Did you lock your door?”

“Yeah. Did you?”

Ally tried to think. “God, I don’t know. I walked in, and you were under the bed. I was so startled I might have forgotten.”

He turned her loose and sat up. “I’ll check.”

“Don’t make noise doing it,” she murmured.

The bed squeaked as he swung his legs over the side. “Too late.”

“M-i-i-itchell, where are you?” Tanya’s voice echoed in the hallway.

Ally shivered. This was one scary woman. Ally had never known anyone who would prowl the corridors calling out for a man. Tanya might be in serious need of medication.

She watched as Mitch crept toward the door. A floorboard squeaked and he froze.

“Are we playing hide-and-seek?” Tanya laughed. “Don’t be shy, Mitchell. Come on out. We’ll go play in that Murphy bed. You know you want to.”

Ally began to wonder if learning valuable tricks of the trade was worth it if she had to work with such a creepy mentor. The entire plan was turning into a fiasco. Well, not counting the sex with Mitch. She’d have to put that in the plus column, no matter what his motives. The guy had moves.

She admired his tight butt as he crept stealthily toward the door.

“Aha!” Tanya’s voice was much closer, now. “I see a light coming from under that door. Is that you, Mitchell, you cute nerd? You probably fell asleep reading and left the light on. I can be more fun than any book in the world.”

Mitch had almost reached the door when the knob turned. As the door started to open, he threw himself against it and twisted the lock.

“Mitchell, was that you?” She rattled the knob. “Mitchell, open up, baby. Let Tanya make you feel good.” Her voice dropped to a sultry murmur. “I have toys. Toys for big boys and girls.”

Ally turned on her stomach and put a pillow over her head. Yuck and double yuck. She wondered if Uncle Kurt knew what Tanya was like. Well, of course he must. He seemed to be friends with her, and they’d driven all the way from Anchorage together.

The mattress sagged, and Mitch tugged at the pillow. “It’s okay, she’s gone.”

Ally flopped to her back and stared up at him. “But not forgotten. She could give a person nightmares.”

“I was hoping she’d latch on to one of those Paul Bunyan types over at the Top Hat.”

“Maybe she did. Maybe you’re next on her schedule.”

Mitch shuddered. “If I have to share another meal with her I’m wearing my cup.”

She gazed at him in amusement. “Your cup? I thought only jocks had those. You know, to protect themselves during a contact sport.”

“Eating at the same table with Tanya is a contact sport.”

“That wasn’t my point.”

He shrugged. “So I bought myself one to make myself feel like a jock. Is that a crime?”

She reached out and felt his biceps. “Naked, you look a lot more like a jock than a nerd.”

“I work out a little. It’s good for your heart, you know. Everyone should have an exercise program. You’ll live longer. And besides that—”