Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (13 page)

“And what is that reason?” Her bottom lip trembled.

“Although you have the love of a family, and y’all are close, I have a feeling that up until now, no one has got you.  Really got you. Everyone needs that person in their life.” His jaw softened.

“Are you saying that you’re my ‘got-me’ person?” She raised a brow.

“I think I am.” He slipped a finger down her cheek. “I also know I wouldn’t want to be here, single, with two couples who can’t keep their hands off one another. No one should have to endure such an uneasiness.”

“I can’t deny that those thoughts didn’t cross my mind a few times.”

“Then let’s make the best of this. I mean, I bet we both could use a mini vacation.”

She nodded. But could she control the feelings surfacing?

CHAPTER TEN

NASH STEPPED OUT of the shower, scrubbed the towel down his wet body then secured it on his hips. The mirror was steamed over and he swiped his hand down the fog, looking at his reflection.

What had he gotten himself into?

He wasn’t sure if Em was glad he was here or not. To make things up to her, he offered to make dinner. He did think far enough ahead to be prepared, hoping to amuse her with his skills in the kitchen. And maybe a few other things before this weekend ended. Yet, he couldn’t hold out in expectation.

He stepped out of the bathroom and into the shadowed hallway. The rain still pelted the slate roof and thunder rolled in the distance. Looked like they were going to get hit again with Mother Nature’s mood. He liked storms. Always had.

He started down the hall toward the last bedroom, the one Em assigned to him until they worked out sleeping arrangements, when he heard music. He stopped and peeked through the open crack of the doorway to his right and his breath swooshed from his lungs. Em stood in front of the mirror, he could see her reflection. The black, satin robe, open in front, exposed lavender bra and panties. She was busy pulling her long hair on top of her head and securing it with pins.

His dick stirred and shot up, tenting the towel. He grabbed the material, making sure it didn’t drop off. Damn! She was a beautiful woman.

In that instant her gaze lifted, and met his in the mirror. Her lips slightly parted and her eyes widened. He urged his feet to move, to get him the hell out of there. He looked like a pervert peeking through the crack in the door. Not a way to present himself to the lady he wanted to prove his worthiness to.

She swiveled on barefoot, her eyes finding his again as she sashayed across the room, not even closing the gap in the robe. She stopped in front of him and he could see the pink tone of her cheeks. This might lead to something…

He wouldn’t complain. Maybe she liked being watched.

And then, with a smirk, she slammed the door shut with her foot.

Or maybe not.

He continued to his room and shut himself in. His body temperature rose to scorching hot.

Tossing the wet towel on the floor, he scooped up his jeans from the chair and slid into them, wincing as he zipped them over his swollen cock.  Yeah, he had a feeling he needed to get used to this.

He grabbed a black T-shirt from his bag and dragged it over his head.

Once his dick went flaccid enough to walk, he opened the bedroom door and peeked out. No sign of Em.

As he headed out of the room, he stopped, hearing splashing sounds from the bathroom. The door was closed, but he could hear muffled sounds of her moving about. Where he thought he’d gotten some relief from a painful hard on, it was back with a vengeance.

A cracking of glass sounded followed by, “Shit!” She dropped something. He’d have to keep in mind the walls were paper thin. He smiled and hurried down the stairs. If she caught him standing outside of the door again she’d probably shoot him or kick his ass out in the rain. He wasn’t much in the mood for either.

Hell, his libido was out of control, but who’d blame him? Seeing a beauty like Em Stone wearing a bathrobe and a sexy bra and panties, who wouldn’t gawk like a teenage boy going through puberty? He wasn’t ashamed to admit that she turned him on, beyond reasoning. Horny men made fools of themselves—the laws of nature.

She’d grown into a beauty, yesiree. She had the kind of curves a man would walk across a desert without water just to get a peek. His mind whirled at how she’d looked the night they’d gone skinny dipping. Whew! Sweat beaded on his forehead and on his back. And his vision blurred. Damn, all of the blood dashed to below his waist.

He remembered every smooth dip and curve of her body. Every sleek line that led to another awe-striking part of her anatomy. Perfect breasts—at least what he could see through the bra—and sweet little body that he was certain would rock his world.

Fuck!

He’d rather not have the impression of his zipper tattooed on his dick for the rest of his vacation.

As he stepped onto the first floor, he shivered and it had nothing to do with the dropping temperature outdoors. He kneeled in front of the fireplace and piled a nice stack of wood in the cove. Using a match and kindling, he lit the fire and stoked it until the flames were raging, much like the fire in his body.

It was best he got this shit taken care of. Yes, he wanted Em—wanted to remove her clothing and explore every sweet inch of her until she clawed his back with her short, neat nails. He wanted to watch her expression as she came.

However, he couldn’t presume she wanted him as badly.

Yeah, he’d seen something in her earlier. A breaking of chains maybe? But Em was a woman who kept her ducks in order. If there were any slips in her protective wall, she quickly got things back in control.

If he never had the chance to touch her again he’d be a very unhappy cowboy.

Her smell lingered in his nostrils—wildflowers in full bloom. The smooth, alabaster color of her skin, flushed with desire. Her lips parted slightly, his name falling from them like sweet honey—shit! This wasn’t helping.

He stood and adjusted his fly. This was getting pretty embarrassing.

In a million years, he didn’t think he’d be here, at a cabin in the middle of bum-fucked-country and contemplating how he could seduce her.

He pushed his hand through his hair and shook his head. He was bound for rejection.

****

Em glanced at herself in the mirror and blinked. Her skin was still flushed and she wanted to blame it on being caught in the rain, but she knew that Nash had placed the color in her cheeks. She’d caught him staring at her through the open bedroom door and her desire had pooled into her stomach.

She wanted to be angry at him, but for the life of her, she was turned on. More than turned on. She was in trouble.

No denying she wanted him—in a very, very bad way. She also got the idea that he wanted her. The man wasn’t good at hiding his feelings—or the part below his waist that made its presence known more than a few times.

Her inner thighs warmed and throbbed.

She’d thought things over carefully. She could have sex with Nash. They were consenting adults with a chemistry that couldn’t be ignored. If they wanted to entertain each other, they could. After all, their family thought they were engaged.

She also believed it would be amazing sex, something she hadn’t had in too long, if ever.

But it was dangerous—point blank.

Nash wanted a relationship. She wanted a good time. That was like mixing oil and water and it never went well.

She wasn’t good at relationships. The few she had ended poorly and she realized it was all her fault. She had a trigger inside of her that when she started to get close,
bang,
the gun went off shooting down any chances of things going to the next level. She’d often wondered why she massacred relationships, but unless she went to a therapist, which she wasn’t, then she’d have to succumb to the idea that she wasn’t marriage, or relationship, material.

So, that meant men like Nash, kind and ready for finding the one, were off her radar.

She saw the relationship her sisters had with their husband and yes, she envied that abiding love they had for each other. Jewels and Spark looked at each other as if no words were needed to communicate. And Pearl and DJ, well, they fought just to make up.

No, she didn’t think a man like that was out there for her.

Unfortunately.

Slipping off the robe, she hooked it on the door, grabbed her shorts from the sink, and slipped into them. Then her favorite T-shirt she’d gotten from a Taylor Swift concert several years ago. The worn cotton material always brought her comfort.

Finally heading downstairs, she instantly smelled steak. Her belly growled and she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She was thankful Nash said he’d make dinner, although she wondered if he had a motive. The way to a woman’s heart could sometimes be through her stomach, especially for her.

She’d give the man an A for effort.

Her cell phone vibrated in her back pocket and she reached for it, reading the screen. Jewels.

“The bridge is washed out. Can’t make it over. We’re heading back home. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend with Nash.”

Em grimaced. Oh no…

If Jewels and Spark couldn’t get across the bridge that meant Pearl and DJ wouldn’t either. And if the bridge was flooded, that meant she and Nash couldn’t get out. They were stuck…together…alone…

Her heart skipped a beat and her palms turned clammy.

Nash’s whistling wafted out from the kitchen and she winced. Would he be so jovial once he realized they wouldn’t have company?

She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and gently nibbled in thought. If she didn’t know any better she’d think Nash had an in with Mother Nature.

The crackles of the fire joined his whistling. Her stomach flip-flopped.

Oh yes, the man had a plan and could she deny him?

She stepped into the kitchen, watching him. He moved about the small space like he owned it. She imagined Nash would be comfortable in any environment. He had confidence out the ying-yang and the sweet charm didn’t hurt, but instead made him dangerous to every woman within a ten-mile radius. And to some extent, she wasn’t immune.

He stood in front of the stove, tossing something. She continued to stare. He had nice broad shoulders, slender hips and a rock hard bottom from spending a lot of time in a saddle. The worn jeans contributed to the effect. And he was bare foot. Her throat constricted and her skin sizzled. Now how sexy was that…?

Clearing her throat, Nash gave her a look over his shoulder.

“There you are. Wow, I’m impressed with this kitchen It’s small, but has everything.” He turned a knob on the stainless steel range.

“Dad had the kitchen remodeled a few years ago, the whole place really.” Red brick housed a state-of-the-art range and the separate wall oven. A matching refrigerator stood along another wall. A cutting board kitchen island stood in the center, covered in salad fixings. This was the most action this space had seen in a long time.

“Does your father spend a lot of time here?”

She shrugged. “Quite a bit, just not in here particularly. I think his intentions are that we will meet here for the holidays.” She pulled out a bar stool from the island and sat. 

“You don’t already? This place is gorgeous. At least a mile between neighbors.”

“Well, we haven’t been here as a family since…” she thought back. “At least five years.” She tugged the hem of her shirt down her hips and realized she and Nash were dressed similar, except his shirt wasn’t from a concert.

“This weekend with your family will be good then.” He winked.

“I’m afraid plans have changed.” His brow lifted. “I just received a message from Jewels. The bridge is flooded and they couldn’t get through, and no one is going out.”

He blinked. “Does it take long for the water to subside?”

“It should be by tomorrow, hopefully.” She sighed. “If we need anything there’s a corner market a few miles from here that keeps a pretty good stock of basic items, although, it appears you were prepared for a flood.” She swept a hand through the air.

“I’m the foreseer of the Walter’s clan. I learned my lesson once when we were kids and were on a camping trip. I had nothing to wear because my things were left in a bag sitting by the door. It happened once and only once.”

She chuckled. “Well, at least you’ll be a good father. You cook and think ahead.” Had she really said that? Oh brother…

He laughed and rubbed his chin. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I sure hope you like steak. That’s what’s for dinner.”