Rebecca Zanetti - Against the Wall

“We’re not hitting anybody?” Colton grimaced and stomped toward the chestnut stallion tied to a nearby tree.

“Guess not,” Quinn rumbled as he stalked toward his own mount and lifted himself into the saddle. He smiled. “It’s always interesting, Sophie.”

Jake cleared his throat and tightened his grip around Sophie’s bicep. “Thank you.”

Both of his brothers nodded.

Sophie gave a halfhearted wave as Quinn and Colton rode into the nearby trees. “Thanks for the support.”

For now, they needed to get the hell out of there. “Get in your car, and I’ll follow you to Shillers.” Jake gave her a gentle push toward her Jeep.

Sophie escaped into the green vehicle and drove toward the main road and Jake followed, keeping a close eye until they reached Shillers.

He was out of his truck before she’d even closed her door. “What in the hell were you doing meeting with that crazy group all by yourself?” He knew he towered over her, and maybe frightened her, but something in him didn’t give a shit. How dare she put herself in such danger?

She shifted so her back rested against the hard metal of the vehicle and shrugged. “They wanted to meet. I didn’t know they were nuts.”

“They’re nuts,” Jake confirmed. God, he had no right to be so angry with her—she wasn’t his. Yet tension still squeezed up his throat. “The Rockefellers changed their name three years ago. They used to be the Johnsons.”

“No,” Sophie laughed out.

Jake nodded, forcing his shoulders to relax. He had no right to yell at her. Yet.

Sophie grabbed his suit lapels with both hands. “I wasn’t in any real danger, was I?”

Lust clawed through Jake’s gut. If this was her way of appeasing him, it was definitely working. “Probably not. But they’re a bit off.”

“Yeah, I got that.” She lifted smiling eyes to his. “So I guess I owe you a thank-you, huh?”

Oh yeah. A thank you sounded nice. “I guess you do.”

She tugged. He complied by dipping his head. Sophie stretched to her tiptoes and pressed her lips gently against his. “Thank you.” Her voice was husky as she dropped back to her feet.

“You’re welcome,” Jake murmured. If she thought that was the end of it, then she’d misjudged him. He lowered his head and kissed her, going deep. The woman tasted like strawberries, and he wanted to feast for days. Maybe weeks. His hands encircled her waist to pull her against him. Finally, he let her go. “You make up your mind?”

Sophie smoothed out the wrinkles she’d caused. She kept her eyes chest level. “Still mulling it over.”

Jake stepped back and released her waist before placing one knuckle under her chin and lifting it until her eyes met his. “Take your time, Soph.”

He’d learned patience as a lawyer, and knew when to back off—which is why he always won. Sophie’s acquiescence was much more important than any case he’d ever taken, and finesse was necessary. “I need to get to court. I’ll call you later.”

He jumped into his truck, not looking back. If he looked back, no way would he leave. The woman had to make up her own mind to come to him. When she did—then he’d take over.

Saturday night arrived, and again, she’d agreed to dinner with Jake. It was as if she wanted to get her heart smashed.

She’d spent Friday alternating between designing the garden, playing in her sketchbook, and pondering Jake’s proposal. The time would soon come for her to make a decision. She wanted him, without question. But the last thing she needed was a broken heart.

Sophie wore a light pink skirt with deep blue blouse for dinner, and she waited for him on the porch swing. Her new boots finished the outfit perfectly. Tall, broad, yet somehow graceful, he approached from his truck, a sexy predator in civilized clothing.

She smiled from her perch on the swing. “I have something for you.”

“What’s that?” His boots made dull thuds as he crossed the painted wood.

Sophie handed him the charcoal of Leila with her pretty hair in ribboned braids, her eyes sparking with spirit and intelligence as she won a new foal from her uncle. Softly rounded cheeks and delicate features hinted at the lovely woman who would one day emerge from the impish body.

The scents of natural pine and wild berries lifted the air around them as Jake accepted her gift.

“Sophie,” Jake breathed, holding the thick paper at arm’s length. “It’s beautiful. She’s beautiful. Thank you.” His eyes warmed her.

He really liked her work. Delight flashed through her as she accepted his hand and walked to the truck. They drove for a while, both lost in their own thoughts, and Sophie stilled in surprise when he pulled into his long driveway.

“I’m cooking you dinner.” Intimacy and something deeper wove through his words. Sophie took a deep breath. “I won’t push you. Just dinner.” He enfolded her hand with his larger one.

She nodded. The need to see where he lived, where he slept, propelled her from the truck. Thick logs made a three-story home with large wraparound porch and deep green door. A massive three-car garage sat apart from the house to the right.

“That’s a big house, ,” she murmured.

“It was my family’s. Mom moved to Tom’s when they married. I bought out my siblings when I married Emily.”

“Where do your siblings live?” Sophie climbed the burnished oak steps.

“Colton plans to build a house over behind the east ridge with a great view of the lake, and Quinn already built his over on the south side next to the river. It’s closer to town so he can get there in a hurry if they need the sheriff. Dawn still lives at home and hopefully will until she’s forty.” He opened the heavy door and gestured her inside. “We own the ranch equally, so whoever’s working it takes a salary, and then we split the profits or losses.”

“Wow. That’s great that you guys split it so fairly.” Renewed longing for a family washed through her.

“How else would we have done it?” he asked.

Sophie turned and gasped at the amazing view. While Loni’s house overlooked the valley and Mineral Lake on the north side, Jake’s home overlooked it from the south side. The mountains extended well into Canada in the distance.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “I’d love to paint it.”

“You should.” Jake closed the door behind them. “I’ve seen your work. You should paint all the time.”

There he went again, making her feel strong and talented. A girl could get used to such security.

She smiled at the comfortable room laid out similarly to Loni’s. Big stone fireplaces must be required during the cold Montana winters. Thick green couches, Western oils, and floor-to-ceiling windows made the house a home. She followed Jake into a pale yellow and tan kitchen and out a slider onto a huge cherry-wood deck. The glass table was set for two with the candles flickering in the twilight hour; the smell of barbecued steaks filled the air.

“Sit.” Jake pulled a chair out for her, and she sat, her gaze still on the amazing view. The lake and mountains looked too still to be real. Too beautiful with the vibrant pink and orange sunset to exist naturally.

Jake brought side dishes out from the kitchen then flipped open the barbeque lid and speared a steak for her plate. He filled his own and took a seat across from her, pouring the wine.

“This looks great, Jake.”

“So do you.” His gaze roamed her face over his wineglass. Heat and interest combined into an irresistible invitation in his fathomless eyes.

Desire skipped past humming to raging within her in no time. How did he do that?

They ate in silence, comfortable in the warm night. The food was delicious.

“Are you ready for the hearing Monday night?” Jake refilled their wineglasses.

“I think so. My part is just describing the golf course and maybe the clubhouse.” She took a sip of the red wine. “Are you going to be there?”

“Yes.”

Her hand stilled. “Opposing me?”

“No. Opposing the location of the Charleton Group’s development.”

“That’s me.” She set down her wineglass.

“No, it isn’t. I want to make you happy, Sophie. But a golf course does not belong so close to Mineral Lake.”

Her heart hitched. “I don’t like being on opposing sides from you.”

Jake grinned. “Worked for Hepburn and Tracy.”

She reclaimed her wineglass. The thought of sparring with him thrummed awareness through her veins. “Where’s Leila?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Girls’ night at Mom’s.” He continued at her inquisitive look. “Don’t ask me. Mom, Leila, and Dawn all paint nails, do hair, eat popcorn, and who knows what else. Girl stuff.”

“Sounds like fun.” Wistfulness filled her tone, unbidden.

“I’m sure you could join them sometime. Though if you talk about boys, I’d trick a rundown from my daughter. Maybe my mother, too.” Jake grinned.

Sophie rolled her eyes.

“Why don’t you paint more? You’re an amazing artist.”

Pleasure flushed her at the compliment, but then quickly died. “Artists don’t make any money, Jake. I need security and my job provides that.”

Coal-dark eyes surveyed her. “Those words don’t sound like you. They’re not yours, are they?”

“Of course they are.” Sophie tossed her napkin on her plate and pushed back from the table. “I’ll clear these for you.”

One strong hand around her wrist stopped her. Then he tugged, and she lost her balance. Straight into his lap.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.” His mouth was an inch from her ear. Heat and hard masculinity surrounded her, and she repressed a groan. She perched on granite-hard thighs against a too-warm chest as firm arms held her tightly. As if he’d never let go. She turned her face to meet his.

“I’m not upset.” Breathiness quieted her voice.

“Whose words were they, Sophie?” His eyes held hers captive while he shifted her into a more comfortable position.

The need to confide in him swelled. “My mother’s.”

“Do you still believe them?”

Right now, she was finding it difficult to believe anything. To concentrate on anything but the talented lips of the man before her. She had known what would happen when she accepted his dinner invitation. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his, her hands splaying against firm pectoral muscles earned on the ranch.

Jake stiffened, one hand moving to cup her head and ease her back enough for their eyes to meet. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” It came out a breathless dare.

He didn’t ask again.

She met him halfway as his mouth plundered, as his tongue explored. He smoothly shifted her so she faced him, her thighs on either side of his, her core to his. One hand went to her hips and pulled her even tighter into his hardness.

They both groaned at the contact.

Strong hands deftly released the buttons of her blouse. He pressed hard kisses along her jawline and down her neck. Each touch of his lips sizzled against her skin. A wildness filled her—a sense of power she hadn’t expected. He flicked her bra open with a quick movement, and her breasts spilled into the cooling night.

“So pretty,” Jake murmured.

His heated mouth enclosed one nipple in heat. She gasped and gyrated against him. She was already wetter than she’d ever been.

He ran his tongue around her nipple, his teeth scraping.

Her breath caught. Reaching out, she shot both hands through his thick hair. “Let’s go inside.”

Releasing her, he leaned back. “No.”

She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. So much want filled her it was hard to concentrate.

He gripped her waist. Then he easily lifted her until her butt hit the table. His strength sent butterflies winging through her.

He grinned, nimble fingers reaching for her nipples. “We need to get you out of your head, Sunshine.”

She shook her head, her mind spinning, her body on fire. “No, we don’t.” She gasped more than said the words. The chilled glass cooling her thighs contrasted with his heated hands on her breasts.

His smile gleamed with predatory charm. “Spread your legs.”

Her eyes widened. Half naked, exposed on his table, her mind rebelled. They were outside, and while his deck seemed secluded, his family or ranch hands could walk into the backyard at any time. “No.”

He rolled her nipples. Pain and pleasure melded together, shooting electricity straight to her pounding clit. She gasped, her lids lowering to half-mast. Her hands lifted.