“It is. His mother is my daughter.”
“Oh God.” She had screwed her client’s grandson. Did Toliver think she was after his account through JD?
He reached out and patted her trembling hand. “It’s all good. You didn’t know and evidently he wasn’t forthright.”
A wave of anger rose.
No shit.
JD had forgotten that one little detail. Anger turned to hurt. Had he been playing her all along? He knew where her clothes had come from. He probably even knew who she was.
Still, she didn’t like the cunning glint in the old man’s eyes. He narrowed them on her. “How much do you want my business?”
“Excuse me?” Now he wanted to talk business?
“I’ll make you a deal.” His tone dropped as he leaned across the table.
Unease skittered across her shoulders. She pushed the bowl aside. This couldn’t be good.
“I’ve been trying to get Jonathan to take over the business, but he keeps refusing.” He glanced at his grandson as he eased back and then pushed to his feet. “Get him to take the reins.”
“But—”
“Clearly the boy is infatuated with you. Get him to agree to run the company and the account is yours.” He tipped his hat. “I’m counting on you.”
In disbelief she watched Toliver move slowly through the crowd, making his way toward the parking lot. The sonofabitch wasn’t staying to watch? Of course, it made sense. How could she seduce his grandson in his presence?
Stella couldn’t win in this situation. She started to tear at the lettuce with a vengeance. If she did nothing, she’d lose the account. If she convinced JD to accept his family obligation, then when he discovered her betrayal she might lose the account and maybe the man too. Either way, it sucked.
“Got something against that lettuce?” Thumbs tucked into his jeans pockets, Clifford tossed his head, sending his black mane out of his eyes. He stared at her with a cocky grin.
She looked down at the bowl and shredded lettuce, and then back at him. “No.” She forced a smile as she pushed the bowl away. “Guess that’s good enough.”
“I’d say it is.” He chuckled. “Hazel said to bring it on over to the food table.”
As Stella stood and reached for the bowl, she turned to see Clifford watching her. “Are you still angry that I crashed your fishing trip?”
Color dotted his cheeks. “Nah. You’re okay,” he paused adding, “for a girl.”
“Thank you.” She walked beside him. “Where’s your mother and father?”
“Dad’s working late and my ma died a couple years ago.” He hung his head and kicked at a stone lying in the grass.
“I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. When he looked up at her again she saw pain swimming in his eyes. She hung her free arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. She was surprised he didn’t move away from her. Instead, he leaned into her.
“I like the way you smell,” he said quietly.
“Uh.” She slowly withdrew her arm, feeling a little awkward as she placed the bowl on the table laden with potato and macaroni salads, breads and cakes, casseroles and an array of other delicious-looking food. “Thank you.”
“You and JD have a thang?” Stella was surprised at the boy’s question.
“Thang?” She couldn’t help laughing. “No. I’m just here on business.” She couldn’t believe the mess she was in. Then there was the fact that JD hadn’t been honest with her. He knew damn well why she was here and didn’t say a thing. Maybe it was just a fling to him. For some reason that hurt more than she wanted to admit. Yet both had known their relationship wasn’t going anywhere when they started.
“You okay?” Clifford asked.
“Yes. I’m peachy.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm or the sad revelation that people were the same no matter what part of the country they lived in. Everyone lied.
“My turn.” Harrison crowded JD out of the way, eager to take over the task of churning the ice cream.
JD tousled the boy’s hair before stepping aside. “Remember, we eat dinner before dessert.”
He scanned the area for Stella, smiling when he found her talking to Clifford. His steps hastened toward the woman and child. Easing up next to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Miss me?” Strangely he had missed her touch, her sweet kiss. He brushed his lips across hers.
Her expression appeared wary or perhaps she was just tired. They hadn’t had much sleep the night before. “Of course.”
He settled his chin atop her head. “Thought I’d better get over here before this young hoodlum stole my girl.”
Color spread across Clifford’s cheeks. “Yeah. Right.” Clearly uncomfortable, he changed the subject. “Hazel says it’s chow time.”
“Good. I’m hungry.” His tone dropped an octave. “For you,” he murmured in her ear.
She shot an uneasy glance toward Clifford, who was busy dishing a big scoop of potato salad on a paper plate. She squirmed out of JD’s arms, staring quietly at him for a moment. The pause between them was uncomfortable.
“Uh. Me too.” Something in her response lacked the excitement he’d been looking for.
Slipping his finger beneath her chin, he raised her gaze to meet his. “Did Clifford say something to upset you?”
Her tongue slid nervously between her lips. “No. He’s a lovely boy.”
JD could detect a lie when he heard one, but if she didn’t want to share what was disturbing her, then he had no right to meddle. “Hungry?”
“A little.”
He grabbed her hand, leading her toward the beginning of the table where the paper plates, napkins and silverware lay. “You’ve got to try Hazel’s hush puppies.” They were his favorite. He loved a woman who could cook. Watching Stella as she began to take small helpings from various plates of food, he wondered if she cooked or if her life was one of parties and dining out. A plate of fried fish pulled his attention to his stomach, which released a rumble.
Plate loaded down with a variety of cold and hot foods, he followed Stella to an empty picnic table. Before he could scoot in beside her, they were bombarded by their little fishing buddies. Clifford sat on her right, while Harrison slipped beneath JD’s arm and sat to the left of her. The cutest grin spread across her face as she looked up at him.
He shook his head and took a seat.
“So what does the Statue of Liberty look like?” Chucky asked.
“Duh.” Harrison rolled his eyes. “The same as it does on TV.”
Stella ignored Harrison. “Did you know the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States? It’s a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.”
Chewing on a piece of bread, Chucky said, “Really?”
As they chattered on, JD watched how comfortable she appeared with the children, answering each of their questions while inserting bits of history and stats. Each boy stared at her, intrigued as she spoke of Ellis Island and the hardships of the immigrants who arrived so many years ago.
What he discovered from listening to her was that she wasn’t a superficial woman. He popped another hush puppy into his mouth, continuing to watch her animated movements. She was passionate, patriotic and so damn sexy he couldn’t wait to get her back to the hotel, strip her naked and have his way with her. When he caught her eye, she paused. The same desire that coursed through him reflected in her eyes, but there was something else he couldn’t identify.
“Enough questions,” she said. “I need to get back to the hotel and get back to work.”
A chorus of groans met her words.
Trevor looked up with a sorrowful expression. “Do you hafta?”
JD pushed away from the table and got to his feet. “Sorry, boys.”
As Stella rose, each of the boys flocked to her for a hug. Even Clifford stepped into her open arms. She whispered something to the child, but JD couldn’t hear it. The boy nodded and stepped aside.
JD took her hand as she joined him. A sense of pride filled him. “You’re amazing.”
“Amazing?” Confusion furrowed her brow, which made her even more desirable to him. She had no idea how special she was.
“You won those boys’ hearts.” He stopped, pulling her into his arms. “You’ve won my heart.” Lowering his head, he kissed her softly.
As their lips parted, moisture filled her eyes. “Please don’t say that.”
She tried to look away, but he placed a finger beneath her chin and forced her to confront him. “Why?” he asked, even though he knew there were tons of reasons pursuing a relationship with her was wrong. Hell. The miles between them were enough of a deterrent. Yet like a moth to a flame, he felt mesmerized by her.
This time she smoothed the back of her hand across his cheek. “We live two completely different lifestyles—two different cities.” She inhaled a heavy breath, and he could have sworn regret flickered in her eyes. “Let’s leave this for what it is, a weekend fling—nothing more.” Her chin rose slightly, even as she nervously bit her bottom lip.
Damned if her words didn’t sting. Something inside his gut twisted with the thought of letting her go. Even though he knew it was ridiculous, he could see himself settling down with her. She was everything he had dreamt of.
The truth was they knew nothing about each other.
She was right.
He took her hand and placed a kiss on it. “Ever made love beneath the stars?” The sun was sinking in the west. In an hour it would be dark.
She shook her head. Together they headed toward her car.
After he opened the passenger door, she slid inside. JD wasted no time moving around the car and getting behind the steering wheel. The thought of taking her beneath the Montana sky made blood rush to his groin, creating an ache that pulsed between his thighs. He wanted this woman. He turned the key and the engine roared. “How ’bout we swing by the Rusty Nail and pick up my truck? I know just the place to strip you naked and have my way with you.”
In fact, it was the perfect place for her to fall in love with Montana and maybe even him.
Chapter Five
As JD walked beside Stella, she curiously eyed the sleeping bag tucked beneath his arm. A smile touched her lips. Her cowboy was a Boy Scout at heart. He had insisted on bringing a lantern and a first-aid kit which he carried in a backpack over a shoulder. Even in the twilight of the remaining day, he moved confidently through the secluded forest. She, on the other hand, watched every step, working hard not to fall flat on her face.
A red-orange sun peeked over the mountaintop. A cool breeze whispered through the treetops, giving off a piney scent, which made her think of a warm fire, naked bodies and a night of hot, passionate love. The delicious image disappeared when a deteriorating tree trunk found the toe of her boot and she stumbled. Releasing his hold on the sleeping bag, JD reached out and caught her around the biceps, pulling her safely to his chest.
Her face flushed as she gazed up at him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” His sexy smile set a hundred pairs of butterfly wings loose in her stomach. Her nipples grew taut. Her jeans felt a little too tight as her body heated with his touch.
What the hell am I doing? I can’t win in this arrangement.
Toliver had seen to that with his proposition.
JD bent and retrieved the bedroll. “I’ll go ahead and clear the path. Make sure there aren’t any bears or fallen trees.” He winked.
Her skin prickled as she jerked her head from side to side looking for big furry things hiding in the shadows. “Bears?” Her voice squeaked.
He chuckled. “Darlin’, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll keep you safe.” His reassurance did little to ease her anxiety. Her disquiet was twofold. Bears and grandfathers. Time was running out.
As JD continued ahead of her, she pinned her sight on his firm, jeans-covered ass. What would it take to convince him to accept responsibility for his family business? Truth was she wanted Toliver’s account and she wanted more time to get to know JD. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance—
A little voice in the back of her mind interrupted her wayward thoughts, reminding her that she was fooling herself thinking there could be anything between them. Her earlier words had said it all. They lived two completely different lifestyles—two different cities.
The sound of rushing water pulled her from her wanderings. A waterfall was near.
When they broke through the trees into a small clearing, the exquisite sight took her breath away. Clear water gushed from a small opening in a wall of stone and flowed into a pool that trickled into a stream. Large stones jutted out of the ground, surrounded by a bed of green grass sprinkled with wildflowers. She could barely make out their colors in the moonlight. “I’ve never seen anything so gorgeous, so serene.”
He laid the lantern and backpack on the ground and began to unroll the sleeping bag. “I stumbled over this place hunting one year.” When the large blanket was spread wide, he turned to her. “I’ve never brought anyone here. It’s been my place to unwind or just think.”
Her chest squeezed at the look in his eyes. Raw affection stared at her. She took the necessary steps to close the distance between them. Leaning her body against him fully, she nudged his lips apart with the tip of her tongue. He willingly gave her access and she swept inside to taste him.