The Taming (The Black Thunder Series) (18 page)

“Hell, I don’t know,” laughed Jack
. “Maybe, like you and Clara.”

“Clara and I have been together for a long time,” said Adam
. “That means tapping one woman, and one woman only, for the rest of your life. Could you do that?”

“If you can do it, so can I.” He laughed in order to hide his nerves.

“I do it because Clara would dissect my balls if I ever considered being with another woman,” said Adam.

“You still want to tap something else?”

“I’m a man, of course I think about it,” laughed Adam. “But in the end, Clara is what I want.”

“She would kill you,” Jack gave a sly smile
. “Then she would rip the woman to shreds.”

“She can be scary sometimes
. And she is protectively scary over Kate. For that matter, so am I.”

Jack nodded and took another sip of his beer
. The moment of male bonding was over as the conversation went back to the light and superficial. Jack talked about the ranch, sports, and anything insignificant in order to keep his mind from Kate as the day turned into evening.

Jack helped Adam light the torches, illuminating the patio with a bright orange glow as the Virginia City hillside stayed shadowed by the black backdrop of Nevada night
. Everyone congregated outside taking their seats and waiting for the show of fireworks.

Adam and Jack
took their seats along the stone wall as Clara, Kate, Felicia and Ethan filed in with an overtired Henry clinging at his mother’s hip. It was the perfect picture with couples pairing, Clara cozying beside her husband while Ethan and Felicia sat holding her son. Jack shimmied over and motioned for Kate to sit beside him. She joined him, but not before Clara leaned over and gave her a cross look.

“The fireworks better be good this year, or I’m gonna want to hit somebody,” said Clara looking straight at Jack.

“Let’s hope this year they don’t set the hill on fire like they did last year,” said Jack trying to diffuse Clara’s wrath to something other than him.

“No way,” laughed Kate as she looked at Jack
. “I don’t believe you. They set the hill on fire?”

“They did,” interjected Adam as he laughed in return
. “It’s one of the hazards out here because it’s so dry.”

“That’s
horrible,” she said shaking her head.

“It’s all part of Nevada living, Barbie doll
.” Jack smiled at her.

“I hate when you call me that,” she frowned and nudged him.

“I know,” he grinned and nudged her back.

Just then they heard a whistling sound and everyone’s eyes darted toward the sky as a small firework burst open shooting green light into the night
. They all made the proverbial
awes,
lingering their enthusiasm until a blue then a red display of fireworks shot into the air.

Kate leaned her hands over the stone wall, stretching her head upward
to watch the light show but Jack preferred watching her, mesmerized by all her wonderful facial expressions. Her eyes glistened when a beam of gold sparkled and sizzled across the sky. Jack viewed its reflection in her eyes, the gold shimmer illuminating the tiny freckles along her nose and cheeks. It took everything inside him not to reach out and kiss her. He settled for placing his hand over hers, covering her soft petite knuckles with his large firm palms. Kate looked over at him and gave a sweet smile, flexing her fingers out so he could mold his own between her folds.

“You’re beautiful,” he leaned over and whispered in her ear then sneaked a kiss on her lobe
. Kate looked over and their eyes met, getting lost in the imprint of shimmering infatuation and blue light. “Quit looking at me like that or I swear I’m going to spank that pretty little mouth of yours with my lips,” said Jack in a tone only Kate could hear.

“What’s stopping you?” asked Kate as she bit her bottom lip as if she were challenging him.

“Clara for one.” He glanced up and saw red hair and hazel eyes scowl at him. He needed to play it cool for now, but when he got her back to the ranch that was a different story. “You’re torturing me, baby.”

“Watch the fireworks, Jack,” said Kate
. “It will take your mind off me and my lips.”

“Nothing could take my mind off you and your lips.” He squeezed her hand.

She smiled then returned her attention back to the show. Jack was not a patient man and he couldn’t wait for the fireworks to be over so they could work on creating their own back at the ranch.

The grand finale erupted and so did Jack
. He sprung to his feet ready to leave. The crowd applauded and Jack inwardly sung his own jubilation now that the fireworks were over and he and Kate could slip from the party unnoticed. Kate stood from the stone wall just as Clara strolled up beside her.

“Can you help me in the kitchen?” asked Clara as she looked at Kate then Jack
.

“Sure,” said Kate seeing her friend didn’t look pleased
. “I’ll be there in a minute.” Clara frowned and walked across the patio, entering the kitchen waiting for Kate to join her. “I’ll be back,” said Kate to Jack. She tried to walk away, but he reached out and took her hand, pulling her back toward him.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Jack
. “Make whatever excuse you need to Clara and meet me out front by my truck.”

“Okay,” said Kate knowing she could no longer resist him
. All those times of fighting and resistance were over. She was ready to take the next step, though she was not sure what the next step meant.

Jack released her hand and Kate headed for the house
. She stepped into the kitchen and saw the look of displeasure on Clara’s face.

“You and Jack are getting way too close,” said Clara as she refilled a bowl full of chips
. “I told you before he isn’t the relationship kind.”

“I know,” said Kate as she grabbed another bowl and filled it with pretzels.

“Then what are you doing with him?” Clara sighed and leaned her hip against the counter.

“I don’t know
,” she said quietly and shrugged.

“Oh sugar, this isn’t good
. Jack’s a one night stand kind of guy and you are a forever kind of girl. The two don’t mix.”

“Why do they always have to mix
?” She looked at Clara. “You’re always telling me to be spontaneous and stop planning everything, so that’s what I’m doing.”

“No, that’s not what you’re doing
. You’re falling for his line of bullshit and that’s dangerous.”

“Maybe I want to fall for his
line of bullshit,” she said watching her finger trace the tile lines on the counter.

“Wake up, Kate
. Don’t you see what he’s doing? He’s using you.”

“
How do you know I’m not using him?” She looked up at her friend.

“Oh, don’t go there,”
she warned and pointed a finger at her. “He’s better at the game than you are sweetheart.”

“
I don’t care anymore,” Kate shook her head.

“Well you should care,” Clara yelled and took Kate by the arms
. “I can’t keep picking you up every time some man stomps on your heart.”

“Well I’m not asking you to
- not this time.” Kate jerked away. “Christ, Clara, I am so tired of feeling like no man would ever want me again.” Tears filled her eyes. “Jack makes me feel like I’m the sexiest woman alive. Can’t you let me just pretend that I really am the sexiest woman in Jack’s eyes for one night...” Her breath hitched in her throat. “Just for one
freaking
night can’t you let me think he’s real?”

The dam burst and Kate raced out of the kitchen and down the hall, slamming the bathroom door closed behind her
.

“Dammit!” 
She slammed her hand down on the counter. She looked up and saw Jack heading for the kitchen.

“Clara, I’m heading out,” he said as he walked through the sliding glass doors into the kitchen
. “Thanks for a great party.”

“You’re an asshole, Jack,”
she said as she grabbed him by his t-shirt.

“What did I do?”

“I swear to God if you hurt her I’ll kick the snot right out of you,” she fumed.

“What are you talking about?” said Jack though he knew.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” she spouted. “Did you forget who you’re talking to? I know all your tricks, and I’m warning you, don’t fuck with Kate.”

“What Kate and I do is none of your business,”
he said as his back prickled and he pulled his shirt free from her grip. “We are both consenting adults, so I thank you to keep your nose out of it.”

“Kate is my friend!”

“I thought I was your friend too,” he said getting a little offended. “But it seems you don’t have such a high opinion of me.”

“Jack, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, but when it comes to women,
you’re right, I don’t have a high opinion of you,” stated Clara. “You’re a womanizer, just like your old man.”

“Don’t be bringing him into this,” said Jack as his temper flared
. “I’m not my old man.”

“Really?” said Clara ready to spill it all
. “Tell me Jack, have you ever had a second date with one of your women?”

“It’s not a crime to like women, sweetheart,”
he fumed. “Besides, they’ve all been consenting, just like your little Kate.”

“Kate isn’t like those
women.”

“Oh, please,” Jack laughed
. “You make Kate out to be a saint. She isn’t. She’s just like any other woman who wants to know what it feels like to be with a real man for a change.”

“And you think you are that man?” Clara shook her head and laughed
. “You’re an arrogant son of a bitch!”

“I never claimed to be anything but,” Jack shouted at her
. “And yeah, I’m the guy who’s going to rock her world between the sheets, just for the spite of pissing you off.”

“Oh, that’s good, Jack, royally good,” Clara spat back with sarcasm
. “But what happens afterwards?”

“I don’t know what happens afterwards,”
he shouted. He wasn’t about to tell her how he really felt about Kate after the way she jumped down his throat. “Hell, maybe we’ll swap memories over a cup of coffee someday.”

Clara looked up and saw Kate standing in the kitchen door
. “Oh, shit!” cried Clara realizing Kate had overheard their conversation.

Jack turned just in time to see the devastation in Kate’s eyes
. “Kate, no,” he called, but it was too late. Kate ran from the room, tears streaking down her face as she headed out the front door to her car. “Oh shit Clara, why did you have to go and piss me off?” Jack ran from the room and went after her.

Kate ran to her car and cursed under her breath when she saw Jack’s truck parked behind hers blocking her in
. She heard the screen door open and Jack’s voice calling to her.

“Kate,” he called as he caught up to her just as she was opening her car door
. “Kate, where are you going?” He took her by the arms and pulled her back on to the lawn.

“Get away from me!” she shouted yanking her arms free.

“I didn’t mean what I said,” he tried to explain.

“You meant every word,” said Kate gulping back the painful sob in her throat
. “You told me before I should stay away from you, but I didn’t listen. Well, I’m listening now.”

“No, I got mad at Clara and I just started spouting old shit,” said Jack
. “You’ve got to believe me.” He grabbed Kate again and held her against him.

“Stop!”
she cried as she pushed him away once more. “I don’t believe anything you say anymore! They’re all just lines…lousy lines…and I fell for them once more from another goddamn lying male.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” said Jack as he saw the pain in her eyes.

“I don’t want you to say anything. I just want to you to go away and leave me alone.”

“Dammit Kate, you make me crazy,”
he said as he ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know who the hell I am anymore when I am around you.”

“Well let me help you with that,” she yelled
. “You’re Jack McBride, number one asshole!”

“You’re right, I am an asshole,” he shouted back
. “But you like this thing between us baby, just as much as I do.”

Jack didn’t know what else to do other than silence her with his lips
. Before Kate could object, Jack slammed his mouth over hers and kissed her hard, but this time she didn’t give in. She would not allow herself to get lost in Jack’s lips, his touch, and his raw sexual energy. Jack stepped back with a satisfied smile. It quickly left when he saw the simmering rage brewing in her eyes as her nostrils flared.

“Damn you,” said Kate as she slapped him hard across the face
.