Rocky Mountain Hideaway (To Love Again Book 2)
Read Rocky Mountain Hideaway (To Love Again Book 2) Online
Authors: Kate Fargo
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY
To Love Again - Book 2
Kate Fargo
Rocky Mountain Hook Up
Copyright
©
2015 by Kate Fargo
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons or organizations, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use”, without the express written permission of the author.
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www.katefargo.com
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~ ~ ~
This book is dedicated to all the Issy’s I have known,
Who were courageous enough to take a leap of faith,
And who - against all odds - were willing to love again.
~ ~ ~
CHAPTER ONE
Isabel’s eyes opened wide and she took Tray in from top to bottom, all six foot four of him, standing in the middle of her kitchen, and said a quick and silent prayer of thanks.
“You want
me
to be your Mrs. Robinson?”
“In a manner of speaking, Isabel,” said Tray, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth. “But frankly, I always found Anne Bancroft’s character more predator than sex object; she seemed like an old lady. You are
not
your mother’s Mrs. Robinson - you’re smokin’ hot.”
Isabel’s joy swept through her, a wave rising from her toes. This was too easy. It was exactly what she needed, exactly what she wanted, and she didn’t even have to ask for it. How great was that? She’d barely heard what he’d been saying earlier while she was trying to compose her own request in her head. Now, she didn’t have to do a thing. Tray was delivering what she needed. Better yet,Tray would think
she
was doing
him
a favor.
She had new admiration for Tray, having the courage to put his request on the table. She wasn’t sure she would have been able to get around to it. Still, it was almost too easy. Here was this beautiful boy - who had rocked her world last night - and he wanted more. Isabel felt the warmth start to pulse between her legs as she considered the possibilities.
Isabel in charge. How great would that be? With Chet, she had never been in charge. With Chet, it was missionary or nothing. Toward the end she had been bored to tears. The final insult, finding out he was having wild monkey sex with someone else, when she had longed to explore, had been too much for her. Her ego had been bruised, battered and left in shreds.
Now this young, beautiful man wanted her. Her! She could almost feel the healing effect on her damaged pride already.
Tray waited expectantly for her answer, the reservation clear in his eyes.
“How would you see this playing out?” she asked.
“I don’t know Isabel. I hoped we could find something that would work for both of us.”
“You’re just looking for sex?”
Tray squirmed under her gaze and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, yes. I just need more experience in the… ways of love.”
Isabel couldn’t believe that. This boy with more experience would be a total heart breaker. If he was new to lovemaking, he was a born natural. He’d known his way around her body like a coal miner knew the way out of a pit. Isabel’s shivered as she remembered Tray’s body pressed against hers.
“Tray, I want to be clear with you that I’m not looking for anything romantic. I was at The Shore for the evening, but I’m not interested in a relationship, or even an affair. I like my life. It’s perfect the way it is.” It’s simple is more like it, she chided herself. She was living a coward’s life, locked behind her protective facade. Pouring her life into her career. Her career - right now, that had to be her priority.
“Tray, I’m a sex therapist. I need to know that you won’t want more if we do get involved.”
“I won’t want more,” began Tray, leaning forward now and looking a little hopeful.
“The thing is, because of my practice, I know that people often get emotionally involved when they’re physically intimate with someone. They mistake the physical closeness for emotional intimacy.” Isabel couldn’t believe herself. Could she sound more clinical? And who was she kidding? Hadn’t she done the same thing herself this morning? One quick romp in the hay and she’d been mooning around the house dreaming of Tray and palm-fringed beaches.
“Isabel.” Tray reached for her hand across the table. “I’m a psychology student, remember? I do know a little bit about it. You’re a beautiful woman, and any man would be a fool not to fall in love with you, but I’m driven by a different goal here.”
As Isabel was driven by hers.
“We’re scientists,” Tray continued. “Let’s look at it as a teaching tool, an experiment. I promise I’ll keep my emotions in check.”
Isabel could not have asked for more if she’d written the script herself. He’d said all the right words. They could have a sexual liaison and they’d both benefit. More importantly, at the end, she could walk away. Back to her practice with newfound knowledge, and back to her life that held no surprises. She liked it that way.
“Okay, let’s try it. But what do we do? Schedule appointments for sex?” She didn’t mean to sound crass, but it came out that way. It was hard to keep this at arm’s length. She should have asked Jenny for more advice.
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the weekend?” Tray nervously pushing his blond locks out of his eyes. Isabel longed to reach across the table and trace the width of his forehead with her fingers.
“This weekend? No, it’s Thanksgiving but the girls are staying at college.”
“I called a friend this morning who has a cabin in the mountains. He said we can use it if we want.”
Away together for the weekend. That was probably known as intensive learning. Cramming, maybe. She almost laughed out loud. Although, it would suit her purposes well. She’d go back fresh to her office and hopefully, stop the flood of patients migrating out of her practice.
“Just you and I? For the whole weekend?”
“If you think it could work.” Tray drummed his fingers nervously on the table top. “It’s a quick drive - a couple of hours. It’s beautiful in the mountains this time of the year. What do you say?”
Isabel wondered if she was crazy, considering a trip to the mountains with a man she barely knew. But her instincts told her he could be trusted. It made sense, and it had been forever since she’d been out of town.
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be packed.”
CHAPTER TWO
I have lost my mind, thought Isabel, as Tray picked his way through the early Saturday afternoon traffic on the way to the highway. She should have called Jenny, or at least left a note. Told someone where she was going. She couldn’t remember the last time she had done anything so rash.
Tray pulled into the grocery story on the outskirts of town and shut off the Jeep.
“We’ll pick up groceries here,” he said, leaping out and moving to Isabel’s side to open her door. “I know a great place we can stop for lunch a bit up the road. It’ll break up the drive for us.”
In the produce section Isabel wandered slightly ahead of Tray, picking up grapefruit and kiwi. Tray caught up to her in the bakery aisle with a basket. He’d already thrown in a baguette, a few croissants, and some strawberries.
“You don’t like croissants?” He was trying to read her look of surprise.
“No, they’re fine,” Isabel said quickly, dropping the fruit into the basket. Shopping with someone else was a new experience. On the few times she’d been able to drag Chet along, he hadn’t had an opinion, let alone a clue.
Shopping with Tray was turning out to be fun. His long, lanky frame leaned into hers as they both reached for a package of muffins and Isabel’s breath caught in her throat with the sheer heat of him. This weekend was going to be something to remember.
Isabel was feeling more than a little naughty. Isabel the bad girl was not a role she was familiar with, but she couldn’t ignore the other women checking her out. First they checked out Tray, then did a double take when they realized she was with him. Isabel felt fabulous, beautiful, desirable, and a more than a little embarrassed. What if one of her colleagues, or worse, one of her patients saw her nuzzling with Tray in the milk aisle?
He was worth nuzzling with. She let her eyes sweep over his broad back leaning into the dairy case and flushed as she remembered her arms wrapped around that back, her face pressed into his chest, the clean musky smell of him. She shook her head and let her breath out slowly through her teeth, trying to cool her rising body temperature.
“Milk, cream, anything else?” Tray asked, placing the items in the basket.
“That should cover it.”
“Do you like it hot?” Tray asked, a twinkle in his eye. “I cook a mean shrimp Creole.”
He cooks, too? This was just getting better and better. Forget patients and colleagues and wasting energy on embarrassment: she leaned into him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“I do like a man who can cook.”
She watched with delight as Tray headed for the seafood counter. Isabel picked up eggs, bacon and enough deli food to hold them for a couple of days. She also realized she would need a few teaching aids if she was going to give instruction in the art of seduction. Feeling ten years younger, Isabel laughed softly as she headed toward the personal care aisle.
CHAPTER THREE
Canmore was just as beautiful as Isabel remembered. To the east the Three Sisters Mountains towered over the small community, and, to the west and south, the Rocky Mountains stretched for miles into Banff and beyond. Tray concentrated on the road, singing along to the Bonnie Raitt that Isabel had popped in the stereo. She had excellent taste in music.
“Hungry? We could stop to get a bite to eat here.” Tray motioned with his head toward Canmore. “There’s a spot on Main Street that makes great soups and salads. Designer pizza to die for.”
“Crazee Seeds?” she asked. Tray nodded. “I love it there, but I’m not too hungry. Maybe we could drive straight through?”
“Works for me.” He was nervous enough about the weekend and getting to the cabin as soon as possible suited him fine. The thought of having to sit in a restaurant in downtown Canmore on a Saturday afternoon and remain a member of polite society when all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around Isabel again was more than he could stand. His plan was to get to the cabin, settle in, and…Well, it wasn’t much of a plan he realized, but he just didn’t think he could handle small talk over designer sandwiches and trendy salads.
He stole a glance at Isabel who was taking in the scenery. She clearly appreciated the natural beauty of the mountains. Who wouldn’t? But for Isabel it seemed like more of a reverence, an understanding of the wonders that had moved through this land so many millions of years ago creating this incredible landscape. Tray had a feeling that Isabel had a deep appreciation for everything good that life had to offer, and the ability to slow down long enough to enjoy it all.