Desperado: Deep in the Heart, Book 2 (11 page)

“I missed my deadline. I needed a set location by Friday, and I guess I’ve been here that long. I should have called to let them know I was getting close to something on Friday, but it just flew out of my mind when I got ill.”

Hell, yeah. Everything had been flying out of her very rapidly that day. Dismay filled him. “Uh—did you happen to pick up your messages at the desk on Friday?”

“No.” She looked at him curiously. “Have you been going through my messages?”

“No! Why would I do such a thing?”

“I don’t know.” She gestured to her clothes. “You seem to have helped yourself to my room and my stuff.”

“Oh, for crying out loud. Be sure you skip the gratitude and get right to the complaint department.” He glared at her, but he could feel his expression softening at her teasing smile.

“Can we get back to my messages?”

“Annie said she left you one on Friday,” he said begrudgingly.

“Oh? What did it say?”

“I have no idea.”

“I do.” Mary glanced up from the mirror. “Mom’s going to let you film your movie on her land.” Her expression was hopeful. “You still can, can’t you?”

Stormy stared at Cody, her eyes asking for confirmation of Mary’s words. He nodded abruptly.

“Oh, no,” she murmured.

“You can’t?” Mary asked.

“I’m afraid it’s out of my hands.” Stormy looked at the little girl unhappily.

“You mean, I won’t get to audition for the movie?”

“I don’t know what will happen now.” Stormy shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mary.”

The teenager looked down for a few seconds, before putting Stormy’s makeup back in its case. Stormy held Cody’s gaze.

“I’m sorry you lost your job, Stormy,” Mary said softly. “I’m going to miss you.”

Cody watched Stormy’s gaze instantly flick to Mary. “I’m going to miss you, too,” she said, and instantly, he realized that Stormy had gotten attached to his ladybug. In a way, he wasn’t surprised. They both seemed so fragile, so vulnerable. A lump settled in his throat. It didn’t seem right that Stormy would leave Desperado. But if she’d gotten fired, she’d gotten fired. Why did he find her leaving surprisingly hard to look forward to?

“Of course, Annie is welcome to talk to the new location scout. I can give her the phone number of the studio and she can call her.”

Cody blinked as Stormy turned all business. “I’ll pass it on.”

“Fine. Well, I should call that taxi now.”

“I’ll take you to the hotel,” he said gruffly. “At least save you that cab fare.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a slight smile.

“Ladybug, you stay here with Grandma. I’ll be back shortly,” Cody instructed.

“I will.” She got up to hug Stormy. “Thank you for treating me like a grown-up,” she whispered, but Cody heard. Did he not do the same?

Stormy picked up her handbag and walked into the front of the hall, noticing how long it was. Cody had carried her all this way. It seemed like she’d been here a lifetime—and somehow, she hated to leave.

Carmen stood as Stormy walked into the living room. “Thank you for taking care of me, Mrs. Aguillar.”

“Please call me Carmen. I am glad you are feeling better.”

“I do. I’m sure I’d be in the hospital if it wasn’t for you.”

“Bah. They don’t make decent food in the hospital. They don’t let a person sleep. I’m glad Cody brought you here.” The wiry little old lady reached out to take her hand in hers. “You come back anytime.”

Of course she wouldn’t, no matter how right it felt to be here. “Thank you,” she said simply.

“Be back in a bit, Ma.” Cody took Stormy’s things from her and she followed him outside. He opened the door for her and she got in the truck, wincing as the door slammed shut. It sounded so final. Cody started the truck, and sadly, she watched the ranchland go by outside her window.

For just a while, she had belonged somewhere.

“Here we are.” Cody parked the truck and got out. Stormy waited, fully capable of opening the door, but knowing he expected to do it. She decided she appreciated his brand of caring.

“You don’t have to walk me up,” she said hurriedly, when it became obvious he was going to carry her things up to her room for her.

“I’m taking you to the airport.” His face held no indication that he’d give on this matter.

“But I haven’t arranged for my flight back yet.” She reached for the most likely deterring tactic she could think of. “It might take me a while.”

“I can wait.”

She shrugged, leading him into the Stagecoach. Ornery cowboy. His code of honor bordered on machismo. Still, she couldn’t help thinking how nice it was that this handsome man would go out of his way for her. He’d do it for anyone, if he thought it necessary, her conscience reminded her.

Maybe, she argued, but I can enjoy it while it lasts.

He strolled to the window, looking down at the ground. “Take your time.”

“I—okay.” She couldn’t think how to dial the airport, she couldn’t remember what airline she’d flown in to Texas on. All that was in her mind was Cody and how big and strong he looked silhouetted against the sun-filled window. “Wouldn’t you prefer to wait in the lobby?” She honestly couldn’t think with him in the room.

“I’m fine. Unless you’d rather I did.”

“No, no,” she said hastily. Too hastily. “I just can’t find the phone book—”

He reached to grab it from the nightstand. Handing it to her, he said, “Why do you need it?”

“I’m not sure,” she murmured. “I know the 1-800 number for the airline by heart.”

Slowly, he put the phone book away, his eyes never leaving hers. She felt breathless at the sudden purposeful look he wore as he moved close to her. “I’m not making much sense, am I?”

“No. You talk too much, anyway.” He slid his hands along her arms. “I’m getting used to it. Think I’ll miss it when you’re gone.”

“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered, hardly daring to believe it when he lowered his lips to touch hers. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the feel of his firm mouth seeking, exploring. Finding. She moved her hands up his strong back, feeling muscles ripple through the material. And he smelled so good, like man and soap and strength. At this moment, she didn’t feel like saying another word.

All she could do was enjoy what he was doing to her. He traced along her jawline with his thumb, then down over her shoulders with both hands until he reached her waist. She moaned when he circled her waist almost completely. He moved his hands up to her rib cage to just under her breasts. Her breath caught as she waited to see if he would go farther.

She wasn’t disappointed. Gently, he smoothed her breasts into his hands. Her knees went weak; her eyes teared up with desire she had never before felt. “Cody,” she whispered.

“What?” he asked huskily.

“Don’t stop.”

She felt his fingers brush across her nipples, which hardened instantly. Moisture heated between her legs. Daring herself to do it, she moved her hands down into the small of his back, then along the top of his buttocks. Something inside her jumped in amazement at how wonderful a man could feel. She’d known this man was well built, but he felt better than she could have imagined. Wanting to know more, she pulled out his shirttail and ran her hands up his bare back.

He responded by kissing her neck. She leaned her head back so he would give her more of the wonderful sensation. He did, pressing big hands around her bottom and cupping her to him as he kissed her. Hot strength at the center of his legs pressed against her, and Stormy’s eyes flew open. Was a man supposed to feel that way? Big and hot and…dangerous?

Suddenly, she pulled away, worried that she might have gone too far.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. His arms refused to completely release her. Awkwardly, she laid her head against his chest, hearing his heart thunder inside.

“Nothing,” she whispered. “It’s wonderful.”
I wish it weren’t.

He rubbed her back in gentle circles. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m so glad you did.” She drew a deep, shuddering breath. “It’s just that it’s hard to have you kiss me like that and then put me on an airplane.”

He was quiet for a moment. “I hadn’t planned on kissing you. I really had no call to do that, but if you don’t mind, I’m glad you let me.”

She smiled sadly against his chest. “Well. I should call the airline.” Reluctantly, she backed out of his arms, unable to meet his gaze. She reached for the phone, dialed the airline, and made a reservation. That done, she busied herself packing, uncomfortable with Cody watching.

“Guess if I hadn’t been so stubborn about you filming on my land, you wouldn’t have lost your job.”

“Oh.” Stormy barely glanced at him. “Don’t worry about it. This happens sometimes.”

“Not a very secure job.”

“No. It’s not.” Nothing in her life was secure, but having grown up on the edges of the entertainment industry with her traveling parents, it had been the obvious choice for her to turn to. “I’ll get another job.”

“Will you be okay until you do?”

He meant moneywise and Stormy could feel her cheeks pinken. “I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t about to confess her love of shopping, the fact that shopping was the one vice she couldn’t give up now. It comforted her when she was down, and her credit card balances spoke of the fact that she was down more times than up.
I haven’t bought a single thing since I’ve been in Desperado
, she realized, amazed. Not even souvenirs.

The telephone rang, startling both of them. Stormy snatched if off the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Stormy, it’s Jonathan.”

“Jonathan. Hello.”

Cody bit the inside of his mouth at the sound of another man’s name on Stormy’s lips. Of course she had a boyfriend waiting for her return.
I kissed
her, he reminded himself; she had not made the first move. If anything, he’d been poaching. So now he knew to keep his hands and his mouth where they belonged—and his heart firmly encased in steel.

“Oh? I can’t imagine,” he heard Stormy say drily. “It depends on what you have to say, Jonathan.”

Cody stared out the window, opening it to let a dry breeze come in. He hated to hear her playing it cool with another man. On the other hand, it would help him to put her on that airplane and say goodbye without feeling pain.
It wasn’t going to bother me, anyway.

“Well, I’m not a bargain basement movie scout you can just hire and fire because the upper rent ones aren’t available. And I’ve already made my plane reservations. You just caught me as I was going out the door.” She glanced at Cody guiltily and shrugged. He grinned at her fibbing and told himself he was going to give her hell about it on the drive to the airport.

“I don’t like this. It’s hot as hell here, and I’ve been throwing up a bad omelet for two days, and there’s very few folks in this area of Texas that I find agreeable.” She turned away so she wouldn’t have to look at the raised eyebrows Cody sent her way.

“Well, I’ll do it, but only because at one time I considered you a friend. Don’t jerk me around again,” she snapped, slamming down the phone.

Cody clapped his hands together as if he’d just enjoyed a one-act play. “Very well acted.”

“Oh, hush. I have to keep Jonathan on his toes or he thinks he owns me. He considers himself my father most of the time, and sometimes I have to remind him that I like his kind, gentle side better than his parental side.” Stormy shrugged. “I’m staying here another week.”

“You got your job back?” Cody’s stomach tightened; his heart did a strange jump in his chest.

“Well, apparently Rhonda wasn’t available as fast as they wanted her. Because I was on to something in Texas, I’m supposed to see if I can get a deal closed quick. He’s going to make some calls and let the people involved know that they’re getting close to having a location.”

“I see.” He narrowed his gaze on her. “Congratulations.”

“It’s always nice to have a job.” Her eyes widened at him. “You don’t sound very happy.”

He shook his head. He didn’t know what he was.

Hell, yeah, he did. Staring at Stormy’s delicate eyebrows perched over purple-gray eyes, he realized he wouldn’t have kissed her—wouldn’t have gotten near her—if he hadn’t been counting on taking her to the airport and getting her out of his life.

He knew exactly what he was.

Scared.

Chapter Eight

Stormy recognized regret when she saw it—and right now, it was written all over Cody’s face. Swiftly, she tried to sort out what had turned his mood sour so fast. There was only one answer, of course. It was because of the kiss.

He’d thought she was leaving, and had acted on the moment. Now she was staying and he didn’t quite know what he was going to do about it. She supposed he was concerned that she might expect him to continue taking care of her the way he had been.

Well, she knew how to ease his mind. “Thank heavens Shiloh is eager to have us there.” Purposefully, she opened the door. “I’d better call Mayor Higgins and let him know I think we can work a deal due to his very gracious offer. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around, Cody.” She offered him her sweetest smile. “Thank you so much for bringing me back to the hotel.”