Warm & Willing

“It just is. I really want to produce this series. And I usually get what I want.”

A long silence grew between them. Maybe she hadn’t played this right, Sarah thought. But she didn’t want him to string her along. If he wasn’t going to take her to Sam, then she’d have to find another way.

“What is it you do back in the big city?” Charlie asked, picking up her hand and toying with her fingers.

“I don’t live in a big city. In fact, I live in a small town. Belfort, South Carolina. It’s not far from the coast between Charleston and Savannah.”

“Answer my question,” he said.

“I’m an independent television producer,” Sarah explained. “My first project was a—”

“No, no,” Charlie interrupted. “I don’t want to know about your job. I want to know about you. What do you do? On a typical Saturday night.”

“I’d probably be out. Dinner and maybe a movie. Sometimes a concert. A few weekends ago, I went to an art gallery opening.” She thought back over the dates she’d had in the last year, noisy parties and crowded theaters. She couldn’t remember enjoying a single occasion as much as she’d enjoyed this dinner. Or remember being with a man as attractive as Charlie.

“You must have your pick of men,” he said.

“And what do you do on a typical Saturday night?” Sarah said, deftly changing the subject.

“Same thing,” he said. “Gallery openings are big in Sutter Gap. Just last week Dub Watley got a new Elvis on velvet and we all stood around at the Lucky Penny and admired it. It’s a masterpiece, I tell you.”

Sarah laughed. “You’re a very charming man, Charlie Wilbury.”

“And you’re a very beautiful woman, Sarah Cantrell,” he replied.

Sarah knew if she just leaned forward slightly he’d kiss her again. It was there, in the soft curl of his smile and the sleepy look in his eyes. She ached to be swept off her feet by a kiss, to be so overwhelmed by a man’s touch she lost all sense of time and place. And since she’d met Charlie, she was certain he was the kind of man who could make her wildest fantasies come true.

But bending Charlie to her will had nothing at all to do with sex, she reminded herself. Though she might be tempted to jump into bed with the first sexy wilderness guide to come along the trail, she had to keep her eye on the real prize—Sam Morgan.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “I should really get back.”

He reached out and smoothed a strand of hair from her face. The simple contact had a devastating effect, instantly melting her very last thought of Sam Morgan.

“Sarah, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Her breath caught and she groaned inwardly. She’d heard those words, that tone of voice, from several men she’d dated. It never signaled good news. “You’re married?” she said.

“No!” Charlie replied, as if insulted.

“Then you’re getting married. Or you have a steady girlfriend. Or you just got out of a relationship.”

He shook his head. “No. No girlfriend.”

“Oh,” she murmured, her cheeks warming with embarrassment. “Well, that’s good to know. So what did you want to tell me?”

Charlie stood, rubbing his palms on his thighs. “It’ll wait.” He held out his hand to help her to her feet. “I’ll just grab our things and we’ll be off.”

Sarah was grateful he couldn’t see her embarrassment in the dark. She watched him by the light of the fire as he packed the remains of their meal into the grocery bag. She’d obviously said or done something that had cooled his desire for her. She hadn’t meant to imply that he was a liar or a cheat. It’s just that her experiences with men had taught her a few things. But then Charlie wasn’t like any other man she’d known.

Maybe his sudden aloofness was for the best. She needed Charlie’s help, not his body. And falling into bed with him simply to satisfy a momentary craving would only make things more complicated between them.

As they drove back to Sutter Gap, Sarah thought about the days ahead. If she was forced to spend more time with Charlie, then she’d have to find a way to control her attraction to him. The problem was she had no idea how to make that happen.

THE YELLOW BULB above the motel-room door cast Sarah’s face in a soft light. As they stood there, saying their good-nights, Sam was now absolutely certain she was the most exquisite woman he had ever met.

Throughout the evening he’d searched for excuses to touch her, longed for opportunities to kiss her. But then he’d remembered the little lie hanging between them and he’d stopped himself. There’d never seemed to be a perfect moment to tell her.

And now that their “date” was over, all he wanted to do was drag her inside to her bed and make love to her. Yet he knew that would mean crossing a line he didn’t want to. He’d always prided himself on being a gentleman. And though he really needed a woman right now, there were limits to how far he’d go to get one.

“I had a wonderful time tonight,” Sarah said, her gaze fixed on the front of his jacket.

“So did I,” he replied. He reached down and tucked a lock of her auburn hair behind her ear.

Sarah looked up at him and his pulse quickened. This was the moment when need usually overpowered common sense, the moment when a simple kiss would lead to a night in bed.

In the end, Sam didn’t have to make the choice—Sarah made it for him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Not a sweet, gentle first-date kiss, but a hot, frantic take-me-to-bed-sailor kiss. At first, Sam wasn’t sure what to do. Though he’d had sex on the brain from the moment he’d set eyes on Sarah, he hadn’t expected her to take the lead.

Her body molded to his and with a low groan, Sam furrowed his fingers through her hair and deepened the kiss. His tongue dipped into her mouth, tasting the wine they’d shared earlier. He’d always enjoyed kissing women, but he’d looked at it as a necessary prelude to sex. Kissing Sarah was pure sex—it was powerful and stimulating and unsettling. The feel of her mouth on his, her hands skimming over his chest, instantly dissolved any indecision he might have had.

“Invite me in,” he whispered.

She fumbled with her purse, refusing to break their kiss, then pressed the key into his hand. Sam reached around to unlock the door and they both stumbled inside. The sound of the door closing was like a starter’s pistol and they immediately began to strip off their clothes.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her, that much was clear. Sam had never been so desperate to feel a woman’s skin beneath his hands, to revel in the soft curves of her body. When their jackets and sweaters lay on the floor around their feet, he slid his palms up to cup her breasts through her lacy bra.

“Take it off,” she whispered against his mouth.

Sam reached around and unhooked her bra. She let it slip along her arms and drop to the floor. Then he quickly tugged his T-shirt over his head and pulled her back into his embrace. When skin touched skin and her breasts brushed against his chest, desire flooded his senses.

“This doesn’t mean I’m going to take you to Sam Morgan,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

Sarah furrowed her fingers through his hair and gently tugged his head back. She met his gaze. “And I’m not doing this because I want you to take me to Sam Morgan,” she countered. “This is just about the sex, pure and simple.”

“Then you expect we’re going to have sex?” Sam asked, grinning.

She returned his smile then let her hands drop to the button on his jeans. “We’re both adults, we both have needs. I didn’t invite you in to play Parcheesi.”

“There’s nothing standing in our way,” he countered. “Nothing except the rest of our clothes.”

“Then take them off.”

He bent down and untied his boots. She watched as he slid his jeans down and stepped out of them, kicking off his boots and socks along the way. “Better?” Sam asked, standing in just his boxers.

Her gaze drifted along his naked chest and she smiled. “Much better.”

“Now you,” he urged.

She unzipped her skirt and a moment later, she was standing in just her panties. Sam drew a deep breath and tried to focus his mind. Even in his dream, it hadn’t been so intense, so consuming.

He pulled her body against his, drawing her leg up along his hip. She wasn’t model thin or surgically enhanced or trainer toned. She was just…real, so soft and beautiful that he ached to touch every part of her.

His shaft strained against the fabric of his boxers, warm against her belly. Slipping his hands beneath her backside, Sam picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to the bed then knelt down on the mattress, carefully lowering her to the pillows.

Why was he so insane to have her? It wasn’t just a physical need with Sarah. He wanted to feel close to her, to connect in a way that was pure and perfect. He barely knew her, yet he was certain that if they shared this moment, he’d find something that had been lost to him long ago.

He’d never really surrendered completely to a woman, not body and soul. He’d always held part of himself back, certain that in doing so, he’d protect himself. He’d been taught early in his life that love could cause as much pain as it did happiness. For once, he wanted to forget his fears and just feel something again—something real.

As he stretched out beside her, she sighed softly and let her hand drift along his torso. Her touch sent a current racing through his body, awakening nerves that had been asleep for months. Slowly, they finished undressing each other, tossing aside what scraps were left between them until they were both naked.

Sam wanted to take her right then, to drag her beneath him and sink into her until he lost himself in her heat and damp. But suddenly a brief night of pleasure didn’t seem so appealing. He wanted to know that this wouldn’t be the only time he would make love to this special woman, that she would find her way into his bed again and again.

He stared down into her eyes, caressing her face with his fingertips. There was still a lie standing between them. But he didn’t care. It didn’t matter what had brought them together, all that mattered was this magic now between them. “All right,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on her lips. “I’ll take you to Sam Morgan.”

Sarah smiled, then crawled on top of him, weaving her fingers through his and pinning his arms above his head. “I’m glad we got that out of the way.” She kissed him lightly, then crawled off the bed.

With a soft groan, Sam sat up. “Where are you going?”

She picked up his jeans from the floor and withdrew his wallet, then held it out, just beyond his reach. Sam felt a sliver of fear shoot through him. All she had to do was open it and she’d find out that the man in her bed wasn’t really Charlie Wilbury. And that would probably be the end of their evening together. Maybe he ought to tell her the truth right now, before it blew up in his face.

He held his breath as she opened the wallet then smiled. “You must have been a Boy Scout,” she said.

“Why is that?” Sam asked warily.

She held up a strip of three condoms then tossed the wallet back on the floor. “Always prepared.” As she slowly crossed back to the bed, she opened one of the foil packages. “Were you thinking you might get lucky tonight?”

He’d hoped for luck. But this wasn’t just luck, having a woman like Sarah, holding her in his arms. This was something much more profound. He felt as if he were standing at a crossroads along the long trail that was his life. He could continue down the path he was on, taking pleasure when it was offered and then walking away without a second thought.

Or he could turn in a different direction, wander down another trail, and allow himself to feel all the emotions that went along with desire and need and passion. For the first time in his life, he wanted more. All this, inspired by the incredible woman before him. But was he really ready to accept the risks?

Sam braced himself for her touch, trying to maintain control as she sheathed him. “It isn’t luck,” he murmured. “I knew we’d end up here. It was fate.” He grabbed her hand to keep her from sending him over the edge right then and there. “Maybe we should take this a little slower,” he suggested, his gaze skimming over her naked body.

“I’ve waited too long already,” she said as she crawled back on top of him.

“So have I.” Days, months, years. For whatever reason, he somehow felt it had all led to this point in his life. But now, it was time to let the past go and surrender to the present.

Sam trailed a finger from her shoulder to her breast, teasing at her nipple. When she closed her eyes, a thrill raced through him. He wanted to learn what made her moan, wanted to memorize every reaction so that he knew her body like no other man had. He grabbed her hips and brought her closer. Her expression gradually shifted from anticipation to sheer bliss as she settled herself above him, the tip of his shaft slipping inside her a tiny bit at a time.

Though they’d begun unhurriedly, passion soon overcame restraint. She moved above him, her eyes closed, her head tipped back. He watched her, sensing the subtleties in her expression as her pleasure mounted. Waves of desire washed over him, and he tried to focus, but the urge to come made it impossible to think rationally anymore.

Though it had been months since he’d had sex, somehow it felt as if he’d never been with a woman before. Every sensation with Sarah was new, extreme, electric, her body a perfect match for his. Sam reached up and drew her toward him, his lips searching for hers, craving the taste of her mouth.

It felt so right, his body one with hers, and everything else between them stripped away. He didn’t want to come yet, but there was nothing he could do to slow her pace. So he reached between them and began to stroke her at the spot where they were joined, teasing her sensitive nub with his fingers, urging her toward her own release.

Sarah sighed softly and began to move faster and he knew she was close. And then she froze, her eyes opening and her breath catching in her throat, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. Their gazes met and in that instant, he felt the connection, an absolute surrender between them.

A moan slipped from her lips and then she tumbled over the edge, convulsing around him, sinking down until he was buried deep inside of her. A moment later, Sam joined her, giving over to the shudders that wracked his body, driving into her one last time.

When the last of their passion had been spent, he gently drew her down beside him, pulling the bedcovers over them both. He closed his eyes as he languidly toyed with her hair, his lips pressed against her forehead.

For so long, he’d been all alone in the world, with no one to trust but himself. First his mother, then his father, and then his best friend, they’d all left him, taking tiny bits of his heart along with them until there was barely enough left to pump blood through his body.

Sam pressed his hand to his chest and felt the beat, sure and strong. He was still alive and he could still feel something. And though he wasn’t sure what it was, he did know that Sarah Cantrell had made it happen.

She curled into his body, her breathing soft and even. Once upon a time, one night of passion might have been enough, but it wasn’t anymore. Not nearly. He had the distinct impression that no matter how many nights he spent in bed with Sarah, no matter how many times they made love, it might never be enough.

SARAH STARED at herself in the bathroom mirror, noticing the dark smudges beneath her eyes. She hadn’t slept more than three or four hours, and most of that had come just after sunrise, after Charlie had left. He’d kissed her goodbye and promised to return at ten to take her shopping for new hiking boots and a proper backpack.

She couldn’t help but wonder if last night had been a mistake. A simple one-night stand could turn very complicated if either person wanted more than just one night. And after last night, she did want more.

It might have been much easier if Charlie Wilbury had been a disaster in the bedroom. But he seemed to sense her every need, to read her desire and satisfy it in the most wonderful way. She’d been entirely unprepared for it to be so…“Phenomenal,” Sarah murmured. Even now, the thought of what they’d shared sent a shiver coursing through her body.

But this trip wasn’t supposed to be about getting laid. Her professional future now rested with a man who’d seen her naked and who probably wanted to see her naked again—a man who’d touched her body in the most intimate ways and who’d brought her to three of the most earth-shattering orgasms she’d ever experienced. Yes, Charlie Wilbury knew exactly how to take her right over the edge of reason and that made him a very dangerous man.

The temptation to experience it all over again would be unbearable. But they’d both gone into this expecting a single night of mutual satisfaction. She couldn’t change the rules now. Which meant she’d have to suck it up. Because she was going to have to spend at least the next few days with Charlie if she wanted to get to Sam Morgan. Sarah closed her eyes and sighed. “Just don’t forget why you came here,” she murmured.

All this passion was very distracting. When it came down to it, she had a life and a job back in Charleston. And Charlie was just an attractive man who lived in Sutter Gap. As long as she reminded herself it had just been great sex, then maybe she’d be able to maintain her perspective.

“He’s just a man,” she muttered. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t any man on the planet who could be completely trusted. Her father had been shining proof of that theory.

Sarah had adored him as any daughter should. From her very first memories of him, she’d been certain he’d hung the moon and the stars. And then one day, when she was ten years old, she’d heard her parents arguing about another woman.

Gradually, she’d come to understand why her mother had called him a philanderer. And she’d also learned her father’s infidelities were common knowledge around Belfort. That’s when Bill Cantrell had fallen from hero status to nothing more than a humiliating embarrassment to his family.

As the eldest of three daughters, Sarah had taken on the responsibility of maintaining the facade of normalcy. And as her mother had shattered into pieces, Sarah had become her only confidante, forced to listen to the sordid details of her father’s ongoing affair with his secretary and obliged to give her mother marital advice.

It might not have been so bad had her mother chosen to divorce her father. But instead, Susan Cantrell had ignored her husband’s behavior, sinking into a deep melancholy that never seemed to lift. She couldn’t bear to lose the man she loved, so she’d settled for what she could get—another woman’s leftovers.

Was it any wonder Sarah didn’t trust men? She turned on the cold water and splashed her face, hoping it might clear her head. When she looked back at her image in the mirror, droplets of water still clung to her lashes. She licked her damp lips, still tender from the night before. “Get a grip. He’s just a man,” she repeated. “Nothing more.”

A knock sounded on the door and Sarah glanced over her shoulder. It was barely nine and he’d said ten. She still hadn’t decided what she was going to say to him. Of course, she could trot out the old “we’re both adults” line and take it from there. Or she could just tell him the sex was great, but it had been a mistake to mix business with pleasure. Or she could simply drag him back to bed and see what else transpired.

As she walked to the door, her mind filled with thoughts of spending the day in bed with Charlie. But it wasn’t just about his prowess between the sheets. She wanted to be with him, to talk to him and to touch him, to learn about the kind of man he was. This wasn’t a fish she was anxious to throw back.

After grabbing a towel, she quickly dried her face as she walked to the door. She’d go with the “we’re both adults” speech and if he insisted on dragging her back to bed, she wouldn’t protest. After all, what harm could just a few more hours with a naked and aroused man possibly do?

But when she opened the motel room door, she found Hattie Wilbury standing outside. Hattie owned the Gap View Motor Lodge and had made Sarah’s introductions into Sutter Gap society—including an introduction to her cousin Carter Wilbury, Sam Morgan’s good friend.

“Mornin’,” Hattie said. “Would you like me to make up the room?”

Sarah shook her head. “Maybe later. I’m going into Asheville this morning. And then I’m probably going to be gone for a few days, but I want to keep some of my things here, so I’ll pay for the room for another week.”

“Where are you going?” Hattie asked.

“To see Sam Morgan. Charlie Wilbury is taking me.”

Hattie’s eyebrow sprang up. “Is that so? Charlie Wilbury?”

Sarah nodded. “I understand he’s related to you. Is he your nephew or your cousin or—”

“Charlie is kind of the black sheep of the family.” Hattie paused. “You say he’s takin’ you to Asheville this morning? Now that’s funny, ’cause I saw Charlie headin’ out of town an hour ago and he looked like he wasn’t comin’ back.”

Sarah gasped. “What?”

“Mmm-hmm. He and Carter were walking toward the old logging road and Charlie was carrying his pack. Looks like they’re headed up to see Sam Morgan.”

“But—but we had a deal. I’m paying him to take me to Sam Morgan!”

“He’s got your money?” Hattie asked.

“No, not yet. But he agreed last night while we were—” She swallowed hard. “Well, he agreed.”

“I guess he changed his mind, then,” Hattie said. “No surprise there. That boy has a way of dancing around the truth if you ask me. You’re better rid of him. He’s trouble.”

“I’m beginning to realize that,” Sarah muttered, fuming. She turned and hurried back into the room, gathering up her clothes and stuffing them into her suitcase. “I’m going up that damn mountain with or without his help. If I move fast enough maybe I can catch him.”

“That would be a might unlikely,” Hattie said. “Unless, of course, you get someone to drive you up Dewey Road. The trail crosses the road about two miles in. You’d beat them there by about an hour.”

Sarah grabbed her purse and yanked out her wallet, then held out all the cash she had. “I’ll pay you to show me the way.”

Hattie frowned. “No need to pay me. I can take you up there and then I’ll bring your car back.” She paused, as if weighing her next words. “Are you sure you want to do this? If Sam Morgan doesn’t want to talk to you, hiking up that mountain isn’t going to change his mind.”

“I’ve been waiting in Sutter Gap for ten days now. If he won’t come to me, I’m going to him. And Mr. Wilbury is going to take me, whether he wants to or not.”

“How are you going to convince him to do something he doesn’t want to do?”

Sarah snatched up her sneakers and tugged them onto her feet. “I can be very persuasive,” she muttered. With that, she zipped up her suitcase and hefted it off the bed. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

They walked out to her car and put the suitcase in the trunk. When she slipped behind the wheel, she threw the car into gear and headed out to the road. She was not about to let Charlie Wilbury get the better of her.

They’d driven about a mile when she glanced over at Hattie. “So, what do you know about him?”

“Sam Morgan is a rascal.”

“I was talking about Charlie Wilbury.”

“Oh, he’s a rascal, too. Can’t trust a thing he says. And if I were you, I’d keep tight hold of my panties when I was around him.”

Sarah gasped, a flush warming her cheeks. “Then he’s a…”

“Casanova,” Hattie finished. “Slick as a button. Loves ’em and leaves ’em. Just watch yourself. I wouldn’t want him breakin’ your heart.”

Sarah watched the road ahead, slowing for a wide curve. Maybe she should have learned a little more about Charlie before she’d actually slept with the man, she mused. But how would she have found out? Everyone in Sutter Gap was so tight-lipped—everyone except Hattie—it made casual conversation impossible. “I will watch myself. And thank you for the advice.”