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He tied his hair and tried to ignore her chattering teeth, but couldn’t. His control dangled from a fraying rope and after that kiss the last thing he needed to do was touch her. Just his luck that his libido would emerge after months of hibernation for a woman he ought to avoid at all cost.
The fact that she was freezing her tail off without complaint got to him. Her silent shivers got to him. Even her damp flowers-and-spice scent got to him. In fact, everything about Juliana Alden knocked him sideways. “Turn around.”
Eyes narrowing, she hesitated and then turned her back. He brushed her hands out of the way and briskly chafed the cool skin of her upper arms. Her quick gasp tugged his groin. The firmness of the muscles beneath his hands surprised him. He’d expected a desk jockey to be soft, but Juliana obviously kept in shape from her tight arms to her tight a—
Don’t go there.
“I thought the weather back home was crazy.” Home. Except for his parents’ funeral, Rex hadn’t been back to the ranch since the day he’d turned eighteen, and even though the property had been sold, he still thought of the ranch as home. But his place was here now. Near Kelly, Mike and the girls.
Juliana tilted her head and looked at him over her shoulder. Her hair glided over his fingers in a soft-as-silk caress. “The storm front sitting off the coast must have backed into the cold front coming from the northwest. Wilmington gets weird weather when that happens. In the winter, we get snow, which—trust me—is odd for the North Carolina coast.”
Her shivers slowed then ceased. Her skin warmed and her muscles relaxed beneath his hands, but he didn’t want to let her go. A jolt of pure hunger hit him low and hard. It had been too damned long since he’d stroked a woman’s smooth, supple skin. Juliana leaned into him, and the desire to wrap his arms around her, bury his face against her neck and cradle her breasts in his palms grabbed him in a stranglehold.
He dropped his hands and stepped away, but there was nowhere to run in the confined space. Saddle racks jutted from the walls, forcing him to stand only inches from temptation. “We’ll stay here until the hail stops and then you need to go home.”
She faced him. “What about you?”
“I came on my bike. I’ll wait until the rain lets up.”
“And if it doesn’t, you’ll spend the night? Where? Here?” She gestured to the narrow four-foot bench.
“If I have to. I’ve slept on worse.”
A stubborn glint entered her blue eyes and her chin lifted. The single, bare lightbulb revealed a reddened patch of beard burn along her jaw. Damn. He hadn’t realized he’d been so rough. “I’m not leaving you here.”
His pulse misfired. “There’s no point in both of us being cold and uncomfortable.”
“That’s exactly why you’ll be reasonable and accept my offer of a ride home. I have a jacket in the car, so once the hail and lightning stop and I can get to it, I won’t be cold.” Her gaze dropped to the points of his nipples clearly outlined by his damp, clingy T-shirt. “And I keep a quilt in my trunk. You can use that.”
His reaction wasn’t caused by cold, but he wouldn’t correct her. If she looked lower, she’d figure it out by herself.
She tapped a finger to her swollen lips, and just like that, the memory of the kiss reignited the fire in his blood. Soft lips. Satiny tongue. He clamped his teeth, fisted his hands and fought to extinguish the blaze.
“Are you worried that someone will steal your motorcycle if you leave it here overnight?”
He should lie and say yes. It beat the hell out of admitting that he needed to put some distance between them before he pulled her back into his arms and put the strength of the bench behind her to the test. The flimsy thing probably wouldn’t hold their combined weight.
Not something you need to be thinking about, bucko.
“No. The owner has a couple of dogs she lets loose after dark. They keep an eye on things.”
“Then I’ll give you a ride.”
“There’s no need—”
“I guess you could call for a pizza delivery and hitch a ride back with the driver if you’re afraid to ride with me.”
Afraid? He straightened at the insult to his pride. “I don’t have a cell phone.”
He’d given it up along with most of the other trappings of success. Besides, he didn’t want his Nashville associates tracking him down. Not that he was hiding. He hadn’t done anything illegal. But he had lost all respect for the man he’d become, so he’d cut those ties. Permanently.
“Mine’s in the car. You can use it—if you insist on being impractical.”
That set his teeth on edge. “I need to see to Jelly Bean. If the rain hasn’t stopped by the time I finish then I’ll take that ride.”
He let himself out of the tack room and headed for the mare’s stall. He hadn’t prayed this hard for the weather to change since his first headlining concert in an outdoor venue. Twenty thousand fans had come to see him in the pouring rain. And they’d stayed despite the weather. He’d done his damnedest not to let them down, and from here on he’d do his best not to let himself down by crossing the line into temptation. But there were no guarantees of success. Juliana Alden had a way of getting around his common sense.
He had to get out of this auction package. He couldn’t afford to repay her the thousands she’d bid on him, since most of his cash was tied up in Renegade, but he could afford the four hundred the local dealership charged for the motorcycle driver-safety course. And the farm owner used to ride the horse-show circuit. He’d bet he could talk her into giving Juliana riding lessons in exchange for him doing a few more chores around here.
Yeah, that’s it. Juliana would get her lessons—just not from him. As soon as he got her back to Renegade, he’d tell her goodbye.
“Let me buy you a drink.”
Juliana’s heart missed a beat at Rex’s low-voiced invitation. She searched his face, but the streetlights didn’t penetrate the shadowy interior of her car. Had she misread his stony silence during the drive back?
Her palms dampened and anticipation danced along her spine. Would he invite her upstairs? She wanted to be corrupted out of her Goody Two-shoes image. Really, she did, and she had a brand new box of condoms in her purse to prove it, but frankly, the idea of getting naked with Rex gave her heart palpitations, because she was starting to like him a little too much for this to be a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kind of encounter.
Last chance.
“Um…sure. I’d love a drink.”
He circled the car, took the umbrella from her and guided her toward Renegade without touching her, but Juliana was highly conscious of his hand hovering at the small of her back.
The bartender looked up as soon as they entered. “Your sister’s upstairs and, man, she’s a mess.”
“Give me a minute,” Rex called to Juliana. He yanked open the door to his apartment and took the steps two at a time. Juliana eyed the crowd of construction workers leering at her from the bar. Unwilling to deal with the kind of attention her skimpy attire drew, she followed Rex upstairs.
As she entered his apartment, Juliana noted the suitcase beside the door and then the woman sobbing in Rex’s arms. Unsure if she was intruding, Juliana hesitated.
“What’s up, Kel?”
The petite brunette drew back. Her face was blotchy and red from crying. Fresh tears streamed from her dark eyes as she drew a ragged breath. “Mike’s been hurt. He’s in critical condition in Landstuhl, Germany.”
“The military hospital?” Rex asked.
“Yes. He might—” Her voice broke. “They said he might not make it.”
He gripped her shoulders. “What do you need me to do? Name it. I’ll do it.”
His tender tone vibrated through Juliana. What would it be like to have a man care that much?
“I need you to keep the girls.”
“Whoa.” He recoiled and then dragged a hand over his jaw. “Where are Becky and Liza now?”
“Asleep.” She pointed toward a closed door. “I can’t take them with me, Rex. I know you have to work, but I have to go. I have to see Mike.”
“Yeah, you do, but Kelly, I’m not set up to watch the girls for more than a few hours. What about one of the other military wives?”
“You know I don’t know them well enough to ask. Please, Rex. I don’t have anybody else. And I have to get there before…before…” A sob choked off her words.
The furrow between Rex’s eyebrows deepened. Frustration and a touch of panic rolled off him in waves. “I can’t close Renegade. I’m barely—” His gaze flashed to Juliana and then back to his sister. “I can’t afford to close my doors and I don’t have the staff to cover for me. The girls can’t stay downstairs, and I can’t leave them up here alone. I want to help, but I don’t know how I can.”
Juliana’s heart squeezed in sympathy. The woman’s husband was critically injured and thousands of miles away. If the situation was as grave as Kelly said, then there wasn’t time to research alternative child care. Besides, from what Juliana’s coworkers had said, good child-care centers had waiting lists.
And then the answer fell into place—an answer that could solve several problems at once. Irma, the lady who’d been more like a mother than a nanny to Juliana, had become increasingly lonely and unhappy since having to retire. Juliana worried about her. Helping Kelly meant helping Irma and there wasn’t anything Juliana wouldn’t do for Irma. And, Juliana admitted, she wouldn’t mind having the opportunity to spend more time with Rex and uncover yet another layer of the complex man she’d bought.
“Perhaps I could help.”
Both heads swiveled toward her.
“No,” Rex barked.
“Who are you?” his sister asked simultaneously.
“I’m Juliana Alden. Rex’s…friend. My evenings and weekends are free, and I suspect the lady who used to be my nanny would love to keep the girls for a few hours a day when either Rex or I can’t be with them.”
Hope flared in the eyes the same dark coffee shade as Rex’s. “You like kids?”
“Yes, although I confess I don’t have loads of experience. But I’m a fast learner and I don’t give up easily.”
“If you could cover the girls in the evenings then Rex could watch them in the mornings, and your nanny could cover midday.”
Rex stepped between them. “We don’t need to bother Juliana. I’ll work something out. I’ll call an employment agency or a local day care—”
Kelly looked horrified. “The girls are upset enough. They don’t need that kind of upheaval.”
“My town-house complex has a pool and a playground,” Juliana added, earning a glare from Rex. “Irma could watch them at my place, and I grew up in Wilmington, so I know where all the parks and yummy ice-cream shops are located. How long do you think you’ll be gone?”
Kelly gestured toward the suitcase. “I packed enough clothing for the girls for a week, but I don’t know. It all depends on M-Mike.”
“We don’t want to inconvenience you.” Rex didn’t say back off, but it came through loud and clear in his clipped words.
Juliana ignored him. “It’s no trouble at all. In fact, I’m sure Irma would love to have something to keep her occupied. She’s recently retired and not enjoying it.”
Kelly threw her arms around Juliana. “Thank you so much. I’m so worried about Mike. What if he—” Her voice cracked and a fresh wave of sobs racked her.
“I’m sure he’s getting the best care possible.” Juliana put an arm around Kelly’s shoulder. “When does your flight leave?”
“Midnight.”
Juliana glanced at her watch. “It’s almost nine now. We need to get you to the airport. I’ll drive you. Rex can stay here with the girls.” She turned to Rex. “I’ll be back as soon as I get Kelly checked in, and we’ll work out the details.”
Juliana’s last glimpse of Rex as she led his sister out the door wasn’t reassuring. His scowl and fisted hands didn’t bode well for their week together.
Gentle, loving brother. Doting uncle. Rebel. And too proud to accept her assistance. The man’s contradictions intrigued her more than a falsified account, and Juliana couldn’t wait to figure him out.
Who’d have suspected the bean counter would be so difficult to shake loose?
Rex had invited Juliana in to buy her a drink and dump her, and here she was back in his apartment long after midnight. Worse, it looked as though he’d be stuck with her until Kelly returned. It wouldn’t be a hardship if his body didn’t hum like a generator when she was around, but that was one engine he couldn’t afford to start.
What really pissed him off was that as much as he resented her help, he really didn’t have a choice since he couldn’t come up with another solution. Damn his sister for refusing to become a part of the support network on base. But Kelly had always been an ostrich who preferred ignoring a problem instead of dealing with it. She couldn’t handle the tragedies of other husbands being killed in action, so she isolated herself from the wives and turned a blind eye to the possibility instead of preparing for it.
Reluctantly, he settled beside Juliana on the sofa. She looked slightly rumpled and incredibly sexy. With her lids at half-mast, she looked tired enough to nod off at any second. The urge to pull her head onto his shoulder wasn’t a welcome one.
She covered a yawn with her hand. “I called Irma on the way to the airport and set everything up. She’s thrilled about watching the girls, and Kelly’s relieved that they’ll be in experienced hands most of the time.
“Kelly, Irma and I worked out a schedule. The girls will spend the nights here with you. You’ll deal with mornings and then drop them off at my town house. On weekdays, Irma will take over until I get home in the evenings. Becky and Liza will have dinner with me, and then I’ll bring them back here for baths and bedtime. I’ll stay until you can take over, and I’ll watch them on the weekends.”
Juliana had made plans, but she’d missed a few critical details. “Hold it. Most nights I don’t get upstairs before two. That’s too late for you to drive home, and I only have two bedrooms—the girls’ and mine.”
She sat up straighter. “Bedrooms aren’t an issue because I’m leaving each night as soon as you get home.” She rose, picked up her purse and took a step toward the door. “I’d like to stop by in the morning on my way to work so the girls can meet me. I think that would make them more comfortable with me tomorrow evening.”
For a lady who was supposedly good with numbers, she wasn’t adding them up very well. He rose and parked his hands on his hips. “How far do you live from here?”
“About twenty or thirty minutes, depending on traffic.”
“And what time do you usually get up in the morning?”
“Six, but I’ll rise earlier to come here.”
“If you drive home, you’ll get about three hours sleep before you have to get up and come back.” As much as Rex hated to admit it, there was only one solution. “Starting tonight, you’ll have to sleep here.”
Juliana’s mouth dropped open. She quickly snapped it shut again and backed toward the door. “That’s not necessary.”
“No way around it unless you can live without sleep. It’s late. You’re exhausted. Take my bed. The sheets are clean. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Her eyes rounded. “But I don’t have clothes or…anything.”
The idea of Juliana sliding naked between his sheets guaranteed he’d have a hard time sleeping—hard being the operative word. “I’ll loan you a T-shirt. We can throw what you’re wearing into the washer. We’ll get the girls ready together in the morning, and then you can go home to dress for work. I’ll follow you. You can show us around and introduce us to Irma.”
A hand fluttered to her throat. Several silent seconds ticked past while she digested the new plan. “I…okay. But we could um…share the bed?”
Flames licked through his veins, singeing the edges of his common sense. He knew he shouldn’t—couldn’t—have her, but that didn’t mean he’d be able to control himself if he had to lie beside her all night. “And then neither of us would sleep.”
Her skin flushed and her lips parted on a ragged breath. “I’m sure we could figure something out.”
Need throbbed insistently in his gut. “No.”
He stalked past her, retrieved the largest T-shirt he owned—the more she covered the better—a new toothbrush and a bath towel. “Soap, shampoo, toothpaste are all in the bathroom. If you need anything else just yell.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she accepted the small stack. “Thank you.”
He hesitated, but then forced himself to say what he had to. “No, thank you, Juliana. I didn’t have a backup plan, and Kelly knew it. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’m not sure what would have happened. I owe you.”
And he wished like hell he didn’t because those kinds of debts always came back to bite you.
Rex had been in the room while she’d slept.
