“I think we need to have a little chat with the chef, find out if she really is just a chef or if she’s here for other reasons.”
Wade stood up from the chair he’d occupied since they’d returned from Adrian’s room and joined him in front of the fireplace, his usual frown firmly in place. “Don’t you think your ego is dictating that something must be wrong because she ignored you?”
Was it? He didn’t think so. “There’s only one way to find out. Let’s go talk to her.” He strode from the room, but Wade stayed put. “You coming?”
Wade shook his head and Maverick shrugged. He might be wrong, but his gut told him something wasn’t sitting right with their chef. When he opened the kitchen door and Marie quickly averted her eyes, the feeling intensified.
She mumbled a greeting to mirror his own but kept her gaze on the dish she stirred. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”
Maverick stepped closer to the woman and she angled her back toward him, moving the bowl in front of her.
“I just thought we could get better acquainted. You look familiar. Have we met before?”
She shook her head and continued stirring with more vigor. “Sorry, I don’t fraternize with the guests.”
Maverick took a step back. “Guests? I thought the company sent you here?”
Marie nodded. “They did, but I’m just the help, you’re the guests.” She walked to the sink and rinsed her hands. “You have to excuse me. I still have a lot to do until dinner.”
He regarded her for a few seconds before returning to the lounge. The woman was definitely hiding something. Maybe he should phone his father’s friend. Surely the owner of the company would have information on the chef they’d hired. He voiced his concerns to Wade as soon as he entered the lounge.
“What if she isn’t hiding something? What if your inquiry makes the company think we’re a bunch of incompetent fools?” Wade sighed. “Let it go. We’re having sex with Adrian, not the chef.”
Wade was right, as usual. This was just sex. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling that finding out what Marie was hiding was important to both Adrian and the assignment? Touching Adrian was explosive, but he’d had situations in the past where he couldn’t keep his hands off a woman.
“You’re right. Blame it on the jet lag.” He poured himself another drink and reclined in the chair he’d occupied before.
After a lengthy silence, Wade shifted in his chair and Maverick grinned. “You wish we’d had more time just now, don’t you?”
Wade grumbled something indecipherable and settled in the chair once more. The silence stretched as Maverick stared into the flames. He wanted to make this trip memorable for Adrian. Hell, whom was he kidding? He wanted her to compare all her lovers afterwards to him and find them lacking.
“Let’s plan something special for tomorrow. I saw a couple of saddlebags in the tack room and if we could smuggle out a blanket or two and some wine…”
Wade glanced at him and grinned. “I like it. At least we will be out of the house and have no danger of Marie walking in on us.”
They discussed the finer details until they heard Adrian’s door open. When she walked into the room looking like a lily waiting to be picked, both men stood. To Maverick, tomorrow seemed impossibly far off when all he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and make love to her until she didn’t know her own name.
Bathed and dressed in casual slacks and a bright pink sweater, Adrian joined the men in the lounge. With no lights on, the fire illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows against the walls. Before she could pour herself another drink, Marie announced that dinner was ready and they moved to the dining room. The table was set with three plates next to one another. Wade pulled out the chair in the middle and Adrian sat, trying to ignore the zing of his touch on her shoulder.
Although conversation flowed naturally, by the time they finished dinner, both men were struggling to hide the fatigue plaguing their bodies. She pushed her empty plate forward. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for bed.”
Seeing the twinkle in Maverick’s eyes, Adrian stood and held up her hand. “Not tonight. I need my beauty sleep.”
“Darn, and I thought we could cuddle.” Maverick closed in on her and she sidestepped him.
She chuckled. “I doubt you have a cuddle on your mind, and I’m tired.”
Maverick exaggerated a pout. Adrian fisted her hand in Wade’s shirt and pecked him on the cheek.
“Sleep tight, cowboy. Tomorrow’s going to be another long day.”
He hugged her, but his arms didn’t linger. Maverick stood with his hands stuck on his hips and his head cocked to the side. Mischief danced in his blue eyes as Adrian stepped closer to him. When she stood on tiptoes to kiss him on his cheek, he turned his head and their lips met.
Gathering her in his arms, he buried his fingers in her hair, holding her head in place. She snaked her arms over his shoulders and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth like a treasure hunter on the trail of innumerable riches.
Adrian clung to him as the strength seeped out of her limbs and she trembled with weakness. He dropped his hands to her buttocks and lifted her to him. She hooked her legs over his hips without breaking the kiss.
Maverick strode to the wall, pressed her back to it and captured her hands in one of his big ones. He tilted her head to the side and slid his lips to her chin, exploring the sensitive flesh below her ear.
She gasped for breath as he captured her earlobe in his mouth and suckled. Her limbs liquefied and heat pooled in her pussy. How could she fault the men for the bit of heaven their arms promised her?
“I want to taste every inch of your skin,” Maverick whispered close to her ear.
Gooseflesh erupted on her arms as the effect of his words flashed through her. She tightened her legs and edged her pussy closer to the hard ridge forming in his trousers. He hissed as she pulled him closer, further fueling the fire dancing between them.
“Hell, you’d better apply the brakes right now. Marie’s still in the kitchen.” Wade leaned against the wall next to Adrian. “And I’m not sure I’ll be worth two cents if we don’t get to bed soon.”
Damn, she’d forgotten about Marie—again. All she could think about was finding a bed where she could ride the cowboys to her heart’s content. Adrian tugged her hands from Maverick’s grip. She clung to his shoulders as she captured his mouth for a last searing kiss before she struggled out of his grasp, lowering her legs to the floor.
“Wade’s right. Besides, our first priority must be the photos. It wouldn’t do if the lens depicted two tired and worn out cowboys.” She palmed Wade’s face. “Goodnight, boys.”
Maverick’s chuckle followed her along the passage and when she closed the door behind her, their footsteps thudded to their rooms. Adrian waited for her heartbeat to slow. Playing with fire had never felt so good.
Chapter Six
Adrian woke seconds before the alarm clock shrilled on the bedside table. Sighing, she flung the covers off her and swung her feet to the floor. Although she would have liked to sleep a little longer, she needed the early light to plan her photos and properly scout the locations.
After a quick shower, she snuck to the kitchen to switch on the percolator. Soon the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the room, and she poured herself a cup while the machine still trickled the brew into the jug. Notebook in one hand and coffee in the other, she walked to the porch.
The sky had lightened slightly when Adrian headed to the creek, the frozen grass cracking beneath her boots. As she’d suspected, the first rays of the sun kissed the top of the weeping willow first and she circled the tree twice before she decided on an angle set at ninety degrees toward the rising sun. With the tripod set up, she jammed her hands into her jacket and waited for the sun to perform its magic.
The veld awakened slowly. Birds chirped their joy at the new day from nearby eucalyptus trees while trickles of mist evaporated above the half-frozen water of the creek. A ray of sunshine bathed both the tree and the mist in a soft yellow light, creating miniature rainbows above the water’s surface. She depressed the shutter several times. This was more than what she’d hoped for. Tomorrow she’d recreate the shot and include the cowboys and their saddles.
Satisfied she’d taken all the shots she was going to get from this location, she noted the time, camera settings and the exact placement of the tripod in her notebook. Closing her eyes, she imagined the scene with the two cowboys included and added her thoughts to her notes. Then she collected the tripod and walked toward the stables.
Two horses stood patiently in the corral, their breaths fanning steam in front of their faces, giving them the appearance of dragons. Today the horses wore brand-new saddles with thick blankets draped underneath. The door to the stables opened and Maverick strode outside.
Adrian caught her breath. Dressed in faded jeans covered with leather chaps, a blue checkered shirt, boots with spurs spinning and a Stetson plopped on his head, he made her ache to depress the shutter. She brought the camera to her eye and took some impromptu pictures, trying to ignore the raw sex appeal heating the chilly morning air and tying her insides in a knot. His breath misted in a plume as he approached.
“Morning. You’re up early.”
She returned his greeting and waited for him to join her. He hugged her and a tremor ran down her spine. He smelled of old wood cologne, fresh hay and horses. The combination drowned her senses in pleasure.
He lifted her chin and his blue eyes darkened. “You’re even more beautiful today than yesterday.”
She stood motionless as his lips descended on hers, capturing them in a soft caress. Her eyes closed of their own volition and when he swiped his tongue over her lower lip, she opened her mouth to his invasion. Her insides liquefied as his tongue explored the intimate corners of her mouth.
After he’d let her go, Adrian fought for breath and clung to his arm to keep upright. If a kiss sent her reeling, she couldn’t wait to find out how she’d feel if he was in full seduction mode.
“I can think of better things to do this morning than taking photos.” He started toward the house, dragging her along.
Wade met them at the door and pulled Adrian into his arms. “Work before play, Maverick. Remember we agreed?”
“I know, I know,” Maverick groaned. “But it’s going to be a bloody long day.”
Adrian hugged Wade to her. “Are you guys ready for some more work?”
Both nodded.
He squeezed her shoulder before dropping his arm and pointing in the direction of a clump of trees on the ridge. “We want to explore the ridge this morning, if it suits you?” He glanced at her. “Are you joining us?”
“Not on horseback. I’ll take my car like yesterday. Are you guys willing to get up a little earlier tomorrow so we can get the shots at the creek?”
“Sure,” Maverick answered. “Do you need a lot more photos?”
She wanted to say yes and keep them with her longer, but judging by how productive they’d been the previous day, she couldn’t see it happening.
“No, we should finish tomorrow.” She fiddled with the camera strap and started toward the house. “I’m getting some coffee. Care for some?”
Less than an hour later, and after a hearty breakfast, the silhouettes of the men disappeared over the hill. Adrian steered her vehicle along the dirt track leading up the mountain.
She caught up with the men riding over the ridge. This high up the wind shook the ice off the shrubs and the frost on the ground lay so thick it resembled snow. Adrian pulled the zipper of her thin thermal jacket higher. The men had turned the collars of their thick coats up as they carefully steered the horses down the slope.
On a small clearing, Wade unhooked a leather rope from his saddle and swung it overhead, the circles skimming Maverick’s head. Although they were still too far off for her to hear their conversation, Adrian lowered the window and switched off the ignition. The men hadn’t seen her yet. She placed a sandbag over the window frame, fixed a five hundred millimeter zoom lens and adjusted the window’s height so she could comfortably see the men through the viewfinder.
Against the backdrop of green Protea bushes, dark boulders and yellow grass, the men tested the ropes that hung from the saddles—probably the lassos they’d talked about. They took turns tossing the rope over different-sized boulders. Wade looped the lasso to an incredible length before he let go and the noose slipped over a boulder nearly thirty meters away. Adrian depressed the shutter as the muscles in his thighs bulged when he stood in the stirrups to release the loop from the boulder.
He tipped his hat in Maverick’s direction before he rolled up the lasso and hooked it over his saddle. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but judging by the frown on Maverick’s face, he had a few choice words to spare for his friend. Then he swung his own rope, concentration furrowing his brow. The camera’s motor whined as Adrian snapped several shots in succession. They had to repeat this exercise, but without their shirts and with a tripod handy. Her hand already shook too much with the effect the fully clothed cowboys had on her.
Maverick collapsed over the neck of his horse, clutching his left shoulder and Adrian almost dropped the camera. Wade rushed to his side and within seconds, Maverick was off the horse and Wade was massaging his shoulder. When Maverick slapped Wade’s hands away, Adrian sighed with relief. The pain must have subsided enough for him to allow his ego to take over. An animated discussion followed, after which Maverick threw his hands in the air before digging into the saddlebag and retrieving a bottle of pills.
He popped a pill into his mouth and arched his neck to take a swig from the canteen. His gloved hand contrasted with the shine of the stainless steel bottle while he stood legs apart, Stetson riding low over his eyes and stroking the neck of his horse.
Adrian took her finger off the shutter. He was truly gorgeous. Although too far to see it, she imagined a droplet of water running along his tanned neck and disappearing into the folds of his shirt. Her mouth dried out as her imagination followed the trickle all the way down his chest. She shifted on the seat to accommodate the heat pooling in her pussy.