Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Heat

They both drew back at the same time, breaths mingling as they remained inches apart. Blake reached deep for the strength to finish the job he’d begun. “I can’t promise I won’t touch you, but let’s try to keep sex out of this. We don’t have any troubles in the physical compatibility department. We need to see if we’ve got everything else it’s going to take to last forever.”

His thumb stroked her lips tenderly, sweetly. She kissed it and nodded acceptance with little jerks of her head.

Their foreheads rested together, and Blake breathed in her scent, storing the sensation of that moment for the days ahead.

A sudden realization struck him and he snorted. “So, Slick, in the kitchen you made me promise I wouldn’t throw any punches tonight. You planning on explaining that right cross to Travis’s jaw?”

The twinkle returned to Jaxi’s eyes, and she shrugged mischievously, one brow rising high. “You never made me promise not to hit anyone, now did you, Blake Coleman?”

He stood and lifted her, swinging her in circles as their laugher rose to the heavens.

Wooing. What the hell did that mean when every time he looked at her his body lit up and his brain shut down?

Blake gave himself a mental smack. That’s exactly why they were doing this. Because it was more than the sexual attraction between them that he wanted to play with.

He pulled to a stop in front of the fanciest restaurant in town and winked at Jaxi. “You stay right there.”

She giggled. Honest to God giggled, and he fought his own amusement. Yeah, this had been plenty of fun—to take the time to build on their attraction and let themselves move one step further. Heading to a lonely bed each night when he wished he was curling up next to her was the rough part. But learning new things about Jaxi had been delightful and intriguing. He didn’t want to just ask her what she’d been doing and learning over the past years, he wanted to find out as they went along.

They’d gone for walks. Sat on the banks of the creek and fished. And now, a week into the wooing, it was time for a little high-class experience.

He tugged open the truck door, and she slipped out before he could catch her. “You’re supposed to let me help you down.”

She lifted her chin, mischief all over her face. “Oops. Okay.”

Before he could say another word, she was back in the cab, sitting forward and blinking expectantly at him. “Oh, my hero. What a big truck you have. I’m so so far up in the air.”

“Stop that.”

She grinned. “Would you assist me, dear sir? I’m afeared that it’s too far a journey for my delicate little self.”

Delicate little self—horse hockey. That from the woman who had helped muck out stalls for three hours the previous day in addition to her house chores? “You’re looking for a spanking, miss.”

“Yeah, but since you said that was out of the question for a while, I figure I’m safe.”

Minx. He offered his hand, and she took it, spinning her legs toward him and delicately lowering herself to his side. He couldn’t stop staring at the long length of skin showing. “You wore that miniskirt on purpose, admit it.”

She blew him a kiss as she tucked in her shirt and smoothed the skirt. The twinkle in her eyes increased as she shimmied closer. The tight shirt emphasized every curve of her body, the deep scoop of the neckline showing off the perfect swells of her breasts.

He opened the restaurant door and led her into the dark elegance. All eyes turned their way, accompanied by some smiles, some frowns. The flurry of attention their direction hadn’t died down yet. One of the joys of small-town living—any new match-up was an attention getter, and Blake had been single for long enough he figured the biddies would have a heyday for a good two to three months, not to mention that it was Jaxi he was squiring around.

They were seated in front of one of the fireplaces, Jaxi’s chair to his right. They picked up their menus even though Blake knew exactly what he wanted. This wasn’t his usual stop for a meal, but the few times he had come in he’d discovered the steaks they served were thick and juicy. His favourite, outside of barbecuing himself.

Jaxi wrinkled her nose. “You sure you want to eat here?”

She stared at the menu as if there was something disgusting on the page. Blake leaned to see if she had something different than him. “You don’t see anything you like?”

“Well, I’m kinda distracted by the rather large numbers down the side of the page screaming at me.”

“Oh no, don’t you even look at that part.” He snagged the menu from her. Damn, it was like taking his parents out. Skinflints, the lot of them. “If you’re going to do that, you’re ruining the whole idea of going out to a fancy place.”

“But I can cook just about everything on that menu. And for a lot cheaper.”

“You can, but then we can’t visit and talk, and there’d be dishes to do afterward. This is supposed to be talkin’ time, not complaining-about-the-cost time.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense—”

Blake leaned back and crossed his arms. Jaxi’s chin lifted in the air as she cut off in mid-sentence.

“I want to take you out for a meal, and I don’t want to hear another word about ‘this costs so much’ or ‘I could cook that’. Then pick something you can’t cook—that would work, right?”

Jaxi nodded slowly. “Do I get to pick for you too?”

Damn. There went the steak he’d been drooling over. The garlic mushrooms—he could almost smell them as they floated away. “Of course. Why don’t you pick something you can’t make, then for our next date I’ll pick something we can cook up together—we’ll set up a restaurant back at the ranch house. You good with that?”

Mischief streaked her face. “You sure about this?”

He hesitated. He’d never looked that close at the menu before, going straight to the steaks and eight-ounce burgers. “What kind of frou-frou stuff you planning on tormenting me with?”

Jaxi straightened her face and held out a hand for the menu. “Oh, I think I can come up with something we can both enjoy, if you’re willing to be a little flexible.”

Blake stared at her as she opened the folder and her gaze raced over the page. Every now and then she smiled, or frowned, and he fought to keep from twitching.

“I don’t think I can listen to this.” Blake stood as the waiter approached. “You order, I’m going to wring out my kidneys.”

Jaxi licked her lips and waved him away. “I changed my mind. This is going to be fun.”

Fun. Yeah, like the time they’d been castrating and the snippers slipped and nearly took off more than he’d intended.

He took his time, then wandered back slowly, wondering if he should nab a menu to peek over and figure out exactly what she was going to torture him with.

“Psst. Blake.”

Off in the corner he spotted a set of frantically waving hands. Two of his brothers stuck their heads from a hidden booth. Joel grinned like a maniac. Travis wore a more sarcastic leer.

“What the heck you two doing?”

They exchanged sheepish gazes. “Chaperoning.”

Blake scratched the bridge of his nose with his middle finger and listened with amusement to their whispered squabbling about whose bright idea it had been in the first place. “Seems more like stalking than anything. I doubt we need much watching, but if your wallets want a kick in the teeth—be my guest.”

Joel groaned. “You bastard. Had to pick the most expensive spot in town…and Jaxi can cook most of this for way cheaper.”

Bloody hell. “I’ve already heard that argument.” Blake stared at Travis. His bruises, courtesy of Jesse, had faded to purple and green. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Matt had some kind of urgent date pop up and cancelled at the last minute. I had nothing else happening tonight and Joel wanted company. I have no objection to eating steak while I watch you make an ass of yourself.” His anger was still there, simmering underneath the surface. Travis jerked and swore at Joel before deliberately changing his expression. Breathing slower, relaxing his shoulders. He grimaced, then glared across the table. “Sorry, Blake. Momentary lapse. Joel, keep your fucking feet to yourself.”

“You said you’d behave. Be thankful I’m not wearing shit-kickers.”

“Ass.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Oh, Jesus. Blake couldn’t believe this. It was as if they were all still in their teens at times. “Well, this has been wonderful, but I’m kind of busy right now.”

“You going to take her dancing later?” Joel leaned forward and stared down the length of the restaurant. Blake followed his gaze to find candlelight reflecting off Jaxi’s face. His heart thumped hard a time or two, just thinking how lucky he was to even have this chance. After all the times he’d pushed her away.

“Why? You boys want to show us how to two-step? Who’s gonna lead?”

Travis snickered. “Can’t be Joel. He lets Jesse do all the leading from what I hear.”

“Oh, that’s a load of bullshit, right there.”

The squabbling started again and Blake gave up. He had better things to do with his time than referee his brothers. “Have a nice night, boys.”

He ignored their continued whispered suggestions as he made his way back to his table. Jaxi had changed her seat and was now in the chair across from him. “You didn’t like the view?”

“Didn’t want to sit next to you. I thought it would be more fun to have a clear shot of your face as the food arrives.”

Oh sweet mercy. Heaven save him from this disaster of a get to know Jaxi better idea. “That’s a marvelous idea.”

She reclined in her chair and crossed her legs. One high-heeled shoe dangled from her toes as her foot bounced lightly. He stared in admiration, considering whatever it was that she’d ordered as a minor penalty to pay for the view he was enjoying.

At least, he thought that until the waiter arrived and placed a single plate between them. The pristine white surface had a tiny mound of twisted tube-like brown lumps in the middle. A thin line of dark sauce had been artistically drizzled over the entire thing in a zigzag pattern.

Jaxi leaned forward to examine the offering more closely at the same time he did. “What’s that?” he asked.

“Not telling.”

Blake grimaced. “Now, that doesn’t seem very fair…”

Jaxi shook her head. “If you know ahead of time what it is, you might be prejudiced to not like it just on principle.”

She picked up her fork, speared a small portion and placed it in her mouth. She chewed slowly, staring at the ceiling, not giving any indication if she liked it…whatever it was…or not.

Damn weird foods. Blake poked himself one and popped the piece in his mouth.

Fire licked over his tongue and shot from his nostrils. The sauce was a twist on a savoury barbecue, but the actual lump was like chomping on strands of combustible fiber. His throat burned as he swallowed, and once his water glass was empty he reached without thinking to drain Jaxi’s as well.

She stared, eyes widening. “What’s wrong?”

Once his throat was no longer an inferno, he lowered the glass with a sigh. “Nothing. Just enjoying our appetizer.”

Her mouth twitched, and she took another piece, lifting her fork in the air in salute before closing her lips around it. She licked the utensil clean and watched him closely.

Blake shuddered and valiantly took another try. There was no way he would admit defeat with Jaxi happily chewing not even two feet away from him. What kind of wimp was he anyway?

This time the chunk wasn’t anywhere near what he’d gotten the first time out. Tender and only a tiny bit spicy, the meat fell apart in his mouth.

“Hey, that’s not bad.” He prodded the food with his fork, leaning in to take a closer look.

“Blake!” Jaxi slapped the back of his hand. “Stop poking at it and eat.”

“But—” She gave him a stern look and that was all the warning he needed. He straightened up right quick, still trying to figure out if there was a way to tell the demon chunks from the angelic ones without sacrificing what was left of his tonsils.

Every bite after that was an exercise in anticipation totally different than he was used to around Jaxi. Her fire burned him all the time. These bastard hunks of meat seemed to have no rhyme or reason.

“Just so you know, I only ordered one thing for each course. I figured we could share.” Jaxi blinked innocently at him.