Summer Kisses (136 page)

Kurt checked his watch, wondering when the place would close. He didn’t want to rob Julie of her celebration, but he was filled with a raw urgency to explain. There wasn’t much time either. In less than twenty-four hours, the entire investigation would be exposed.

He stretched his arm over the back of her chair as Gary continued to laud Brenna’s Hitter.

“No need to ride the broncs either, Jules,” Gary added in that familiar drawl Kurt was learning to like. “You can ease up and stop racing like a starving apprentice too. It’s embarrassing for us old guys to get dusted like that.”

“It’ll be wonderful not to ride for Otto any more.” Julie’s face was so radiant, the anxiety gnawing at Kurt’s gut was temporarily soothed. Just seeing her expression gave him a lift.

“Otto won’t be around anyway,” Sandra called from across the table where she was stacking fat piles of bills. “Heard he sold his horse for meat and is pulling out tomorrow.”

Kurt leaned forward. “Was he at the barn tonight?”

“Yeah, ranting to someone about their trailer blocking his, and how it better be gone by tomorrow afternoon or else. Otto’s such a jerk.”

Kurt stretched back in his chair and tried to relax. Sounded like everything would shake down as expected. He’d have all night and morning to be with Julie. She’d have a lot of questions and deserved honest answers. Still…he had the nagging sense he was missing something and peeked at his watch again.

Heavy footsteps sounded behind him.

“Congratulations on the win, Kurt,” Cody said, posing by the table. “Guess you’re buying tonight?”

Julie looked up, her eyes widening with sympathy. “What happened to your face?” she asked.

“Nothing much. Just a little misunderstanding.” Cody sidled around Kurt’s chair, edging closer to Julie. “No shooters tonight? I can get some if you want.”

She shuddered. “No, thanks.”

Cody leaned down, planting a hand on the table between Julie and Kurt. “It didn’t hurt your riding though. Maybe I did you a favor, getting you to relax before the race. Maybe we should do that again?”

“Maybe there’s an empty seat at another table,” Kurt said.

Cody chuckled, unabashed. “Yeah, okay. See you both around. Congratulations on the win. Really,” he added before walking away.

“We want new Directors for the Jockey’s Association,” Gary said. “There’s a bylaw pending. Ten of us are here tonight, and we need to vote for the insurance coverage.”

Kurt sighed as he heard Gary lobbying. Better coverage for riders was a critical issue, and he was a strong supporter. But if they started discussions now, Julie could be here all night.

“Let’s go dancing after this,” Sandra said, jubilantly waving her wad of cash.

Kurt’s head throbbed as the commotion swelled, and he didn’t know what bothered him most. Anticipation about the arrests tomorrow or fear of Julie’s reaction tonight. But he simply couldn’t wait any longer. He shoved his beer to the side and leaned toward her. “I know it’s a sweet night, but I need to talk to you. Alone.”

“Oh, but…” Her smiling protest faded as she studied his face.

“It’s important,” he said softly.

She stared at him for a moment then seemed to sense his urgency because she rose, scooped up her purse and said a firm goodbye to her protesting friends.

Kurt eased his truck in front of the motel door and reached behind the seat to grab his briefcase. Julie was silent although the glow from the lighted walkway outlined her pensive expression. She slid from the truck but looked so reluctant, uncertainty made him nervous.

He unlocked the door, following her into the stiff silence. The bed seemed tauntingly big, the centerpiece of a tawdry room. She jerked her head away, staring instead at the cheap picture above the desk.

Clearly she thought he was dragging her here in hopes of some quick sex.

“We won’t stay long,” he said quickly. “I’ll take you back to celebrate with your friends. I just want to explain some things, things that affect you and me.”

If anything, her expression turned more remote. He propped a nonchalant shoulder against the door and fought to look relaxed. Christ, he’d faced mob bosses with less fear, but she looked so wooden. It didn’t seem the ideal time to admit he was a cop on a case; her entire body language was unreceptive, so different from in the tack room before the race.

Before the race—when she wanted to ride his horse.

Well, maybe she’d been playing him too. He knew how people could pretend. Nothing surprised him anymore. “So you hit the Calgary big times. Guess you’ll be riding ten thousand dollar claimers now, instead of two.” He tried to joke but his gut knotted so tightly, his words sounded mocking.

She flinched but raised her head, facing him, and he knew then he was wrong. She had the heart of a lion but, unlike him, wasn’t a fake.

“I love what I do,” she said with quiet dignity, “and I’ll always be happy to ride a claimer. Those horses are more level than some trainers I know. They’re certainly easier to understand.”

“That’s actually what I wanted to explain,” he said. Her bleak expression scared him and he paused, rubbing a hand over his jaw. It was easier to deal with naked women, easier to show feelings with actions not words, but she didn’t seem like she wanted to get very close. In fact, she was eyeing him as though he were a sex offender.

“Are you that reluctant to be here with me?” He raised an eyebrow, trying to keep the guilt from his voice, trying to pretend her answer wasn’t even very important.

She stared at him, much braver than he, not attempting to hide the vulnerability in her eyes. “Of course I want to be with you,” she said. “That’s why I’m here. But it’s afterwards. You always seem to have regrets. You turn mean. Even now, that nasty crack about claimers—”

He crossed the room in three strides and wrapped his arms around her, his heart beating in double time when she didn’t push him away. “You’re the last person I’d want to hurt,” he said. “But there’s other stuff going on. It makes me cranky. And I have to tell you about it.”

“But the truth is,” she said, her voice wobbling, “I want to be with you, even if it
is
just for sex. And it doesn’t really matter how cranky you get.”

“Julie.” He breathed her name in a shuddering sigh. Found her mouth, unable to talk, unable to do anything but cover her with a grateful kiss. He didn’t intend anything more, but her taste, her feel, her smell, the way she pressed into him...

“It’s definitely not just sex,” he managed, his voice thick. “And we need to talk.” But he was strung too tight, couldn’t bear to let her go, and when she tugged his head back down and slid her hands beneath his shirt, he forgot everything but the quickest way to peel off their clothes.

Soon nothing was between them, and he was able to reacquaint himself with her sweet little body. Couldn’t get enough. He wanted to go slow, had always considered himself a decent lover—a little selfish maybe but who wasn’t. Still, if sex were a drawing card, he’d play it. He lingered over her sensitive spots until sweat beaded his forehead, and she nipped his shoulder in frustration.

He finally eased into her velvety warmth, watching her expression, savoring her complete trust. He intended to linger, make it last, but when she raised her hips and wiggled, he began thrusting, no longer able to pace himself.

The noises in her throat made him quicken, and he drove deeper until her shuddering climax wrapped around him. Oh, Christ. He jerked with a last surge of pleasure and collapsed, rolled to his side and pulled her with him.

“You’re going to kill me,” he muttered, breathless. She snuggled against him, languid as a cat while he massaged her back, finding each ache, moving gentler around the bruises and rubbing each knot until he was certain there was no tightness left.

Her necklace had slipped over her shoulder and he straightened it, then tucked the sheet around them. Drew in a fortifying breath. “I want to tell you why I’m here. Why I brought Lazer. Why we met.” He leaned over, needing to watch her expression, hoping she’d see his sincerity.

Her breathing was relaxed, her soft lips curved and her long eyelashes flattened against her cheeks. Serene, untroubled, asleep. Still smiling too, at least for now.

He brushed back a strand of silky hair and cradled her in his arms, accepting that sleep wouldn’t come to him quite that easily.

“Quit it, Blue,” Julie mumbled. Morning light filtered thought the curtains, along with his insistent nose, nudging her awake. She jammed her face in the pillow and yanked the sheet up. Her legs felt unusually heavy, her entire body lethargic. She needed more sleep, and she definitely needed Blue to stop kissing her neck.

Her eyes jerked open.

“It’s rather disturbing how you always confuse me with your dog, special though he is,” Kurt whispered, his eyes glinting with amusement. His warm mouth drifted down her neck, lingering at her throat, made her skin tingle as it dragged over her sensitive collarbone. Dropped lower.

Her breathing turned ragged as his lips trailed across her stomach to her thighs and then… She bucked in shock but he held her in place with his hand, working on her, scattering her resistance. When he finally thrust inside, she welcomed him, wrapping her legs around his hips. They explored each other again, filling the room with breathy whispers and hot kisses until she gripped his back and arched into him.

He stiffened. One last thrust. She clung to him, wanting him to stay, but he rolled over with a satisfied groan. His chest was warm and safe, and she snuggled into it, loving his feel, his smell, the reassuring thud of his heart and how his damp chest hair tickled her nose.

“Let’s stay here all day,” she said.

His magical hand rubbed her back, so slow, so caring, and she stopped talking and closed her eyes in contentment. No wonder his horses loved him.

“How about I check on the horses and then we’ll go for a quiet breakfast?” He sounded resigned. “Some place away from the track.”

“Sure.” She really wished he’d keep massaging her back, but the chance for more sleep was tempting too. The mattress shifted as he rose, and she cracked open her eyes, admiring him as he padded toward the bathroom. His muscular legs and tight butt looked good in jeans but even better naked.

The bathroom door closed. She adjusted a pillow and burrowed under the covers. Her skin felt tender against the sheets, and it was likely she had whisker burns in several places, but she couldn’t remember ever feeling so damn happy. She rolled to his side of the bed, found the warm spot he’d just left, sighed in contentment and fell asleep.

The sound of a drawer woke her. She caught a whiff of soap and opened her eyes. He stood by the bed, tucking in his shirt, and the tender expression on his face made her heart skip a beat.

“I’m getting up. Soon,” she said. Her voice sounded oddly husky, sexy even, but that probably happened to any girl after spending a night with Kurt.

“You’re not galloping this morning,” he said.

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow. She’d have to work on his bossiness though. Other than that, and his regrettable tendency to moodiness, he was absolutely perfect.

“Please, Julie,” he said. “Don’t gallop for anyone this morning. I’ll be back soon. We really need to talk.”

He asked so sweetly she relented with barely any hesitation. “Okay, no riding. But I have to drop by the barns sometime this morning.” She kept her face perfectly serious. “I haven’t seen everyone yet, and they’ll all want to congratulate me on my magnificent ride.”

He moved like a panther, flipping her over and swatting her rear, chuckling at her indignant squeal. “Don’t let it go to your head, Julie. You’re only as good as your last race. Tomorrow you might be a bum, although you do have a beautiful one.” He pulled the covers back up then covered her mouth with a toe-curling kiss, a wicked glint darkening his eyes. “If you’re still in bed when I get back, we’ll skip breakfast.”

“No way. I’m starving. I’ll be ready.” She stroked the stubble on his chin. “Aren’t you going to shave? You look mean, and we all know you’re actually a very sweet guy.”

“Shush,” he said with an enigmatic smile. “Don’t forget to lock the door.”

She heard his diesel truck roar to a start, the crunch of gravel, and then it blended with early morning traffic. Oh, wow. She yawned and stretched in utter contentment.

There was some soreness in her knee where she’d hit the gate and her left side still ached from the earlier fall, but overall she felt super. It had been a perfect evening from beginning to end. Absolutely perfect.

But a kernel of uneasiness nipped at her, making it impossible to fall back to sleep. He’d made her feel cherished last night. She still tingled, remembering the things he’d whispered, his hard body, his knowing touch. However, just last week he’d only wanted a temporary relationship.

What was temporary anyway? Six weeks, six months?

She tugged at her bottom lip. He must care for her. Every day he seemed a bit softer, more open. He’d even given her that beautiful necklace. And he definitely had been more concerned about her safety than winning the race on Lazer.

Lazer and Kurt—holy shit, what a package. Maybe he wanted to enter the colt in the Alberta Derby. The race was less than a month away. Yes. That’s probably one of the things he was so keen to talk about.

No longer sleepy, she threw back the covers and skipped into the bathroom, determined to be ready when he returned. Happiness always stoked her appetite, and this morning she was starving.

Sandra whistled a jaunty tune, dropped the wheelbarrow with a clang and stared over the stall door, watching Kurt unwrap Lazer’s leg bandages. “Where’s Julie?” she asked. “The way you ditched us last night, we figured you wanted to celebrate alone.”

“We did.”

“I see.” She nodded but leaned over the door, not trying to hide her nosiness. “Is she galloping today? Two trainers already dropped by wanting to talk. One of them has twelve horses.”

“They’ll have to come back tomorrow,” he said, “or talk to her agent.” But his hands stalled over the wrap. Julie probably didn’t have an agent, but there was no doubt she’d want to take advantage of her career-boosting win. “She’ll be over after we eat,” he added, removing the wraps. “She can talk then.”