“Morning.” She snuggled into his warmth and stilled as parts of him hardened instantly. “What are you, a machine?”
He chuckled. “No. All of me just likes all of you. A lot.”
“Ditto.” She stretched like a lazy cat with a big yawn.
“We have to talk, Sunshine.”
Uh oh. Not exactly what a girl wanted to hear after an incredible night of sweaty sex. “’Bout what?” She masked her yawn this time.
“The condom broke.”
“Which condom?” Her brain was too fuzzy to capture his meaning.
“The third one.” Strong arms tightened around her.
“Oh.” Reality slammed with a
thud
as her eyes focused on the painting of a desert landscape on the opposite wall. Thick rust and orange cascaded in firm swipes illustrating hard rock. “The condom broke.”
“Yes.”
“Inside me.”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
His hand resumed playing in her curls. “How’s the timing on that? You know, cycle wise?”
Her heart pretty much stopped beating. “Ah, the timing.” She calculated in her head. Once and then again. “Um, the timing would be ideal if we were planning to procreate.”
He stiffened behind her. And not in the good way. “Ideal, huh?”
“Yes.” Dread made her limbs heavy. “But, hey. No worries to you. Really. I’ve got this.” Could this be any more awkward?
One smooth motion had her under him. All of him. Amusement warred with intent in his eyes. “You’ve got this?”
“Uh, yeah.” She nodded vigorously against the pillow, her face aching as embarrassment spiraled heat into her cheeks. She bravely met his gaze even as her breasts pebbled in response to his welcome weight.
“Sophie?” He lowered his face. His muscled body pressed her into the mattress. “Do you think you’ve gotten to know me during the time we’ve spent together?”
She groaned. Even with the recent revelation of her possible pregnancy, her body reacted to the feeling of him against her. She fought to keep from moving against him. From stretching up into his heat.
Jake’s jaw firmed. “If you had to guess, how do you think I’d react to your statement?”
“My statement saying that I got this?” Her voice whooshed out in a breathy whisper. She tried to concentrate on the subject at hand. Instead of the hardness caressing her flesh.
“That statement.”
“Um. Not so good?”
“Not so good,” Jake affirmed.
“Ah. Sorry.”
“If you are pregnant,” Jake said, enunciating each word, “we will deal with it together.” He pressed a hard kiss against her lips. “Got it?”
“Yes.” She gave up the fight and moved against his hard erection.
“Sophie?”
“Yes?” She moved again.
“Are you trying to distract me?”
“No. I’m trying to motivate you. Is it working?” She flashed a grin.
“Yes.”
“Thank God. Use a good condom this time.”
Chapter Twelve
Monday morning, she found a third note on her windshield. This one was even more threatening.
Last chance. You don’t wanna ruin the land.
Should she tell Jake? Or the sheriff?
She stuffed the note in her purse and spent the day preparing for the hearing. She’d call Quinn the day after.
The doorbell chimed as night approached and she flew down the stairs to keep from disturbing Mrs. Shiller, who’d gotten sick.
“Preston.” Seeing Dream Bob on her doorstep wouldn’t have shocked her as much.
“I flew in with the Charleton Group’s attorneys, grabbed a car, and came to surprise you. Surprise.” Sunlight glinted off his silver watch as he leaned forward to peck her on the cheek. His beautiful suit with a Burberry tie complemented his deep eyes and wavy blond hair, and he looked as out of place on Mrs. Shiller’s country porch as a scarecrow by the Eiffel Tower.
Relief filled her that she wouldn’t be alone. “I’m surprised.”
“I thought you could use moral support tonight.” He grabbed some of her foam boards she’d stacked by the door and led her to a parked silver Jaguar.
Sophie handed over the remaining exhibits, sank into the front seat, and squirmed. Her uncle’s company must really need the job if Preston left a city for the country.
“You rented a Jag in Maverick, Montana?”
“There was only one, pretty lady.” Preston shut her door then placed the colorful boards into the trunk of his car and climbing into the driver’s seat. “We can celebrate later tonight, Sophia.”
Her mind reeled. She had enough to worry about without hurting Preston’s feelings about the cruise. No way could she go with him now, considering she’d had crazy monkey sex with Jake Lodge last night. “I’m sure I can catch a ride home. I think my friend Loni will be there.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance as Preston maneuvered the sleek vehicle through the windy road past town. “How have you managed this last week? I thought I was kidding when I asked how it was being in the middle of nowhere.” A hard rain began pelting the car, and he flipped on the wipers.
“It’s peaceful here.” How could he not see how quaint and safe the town was?
A jagged arc of lightning lit the forest on either side of the narrow road and belied her words. “So is the moon, but I don’t want to live there,” Preston said tersely. “The casino is on the other side of the reservation?”
“Another twenty miles on the way to North Dakota.” Sophie shivered in her white summer suit as the night grew even darker outside the purring vehicle.
“I did some checking and the tribe wants to build its own golf course on the other side of the land, away from the lake. They’re supposed to break ground in the next few months.”
Her saliva dried up in her mouth. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
If Jake were fighting her for monetary reasons and not “for the land,” she’d kick his ass.
“Why don’t you fly home with me tomorrow? The commissioners might not make a decision for another week.” Preston wrenched the wheel to the left as a branch crashed into the road, scattering green pine needles all around.
“Actually, I thought I’d stay. I was hired to design a memorial garden and should be able to finish it this week.” She’d come up with a great plan and couldn’t wait to share it.
“Hired? By whom?”
“My friend Loni.”
“Is she from Maverick?” Preston asked.
“No. She’s on the tribal council.”
“Sophia. They’re on the opposite side of us on this,” Preston drawled.
Just because the tribe opposed one of her clients didn’t mean the tribe couldn’t also be her client. Plus, she wanted to do that damn garden. “They’re not involved in the golf course design. The tribe is a separate entity, just like any other citizen, and it happens to oppose the proposal. It’s not us against the tribe…”
“Are you sure about that? I heard their lawyer is ruthless.” Preston’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
“Jake Lodge.” Just saying his name skittered heat across her lower belly.
“Yes. Jake Lodge.”
City lights came into view, and Sophie shook her head. “Jake isn’t t like that.” He couldn’t be. He was a good guy.
“You sound like you know him, Sophia.” Preston’s voice lowered to a timbre she’d never heard before.
“For the love of Pete. Would you please stop calling me Sophia?” She shifted uncomfortably in her plush seat.
“That’s your name.”
“I go by Sophie.” She hunched her shoulders, feeling like an idiot for not complaining sooner.
“Why didn’t you ever say something?”
“I don’t know. Sophia sounded right coming from you.” Until Jake Lodge came into her life.
“What is going on with you, Soph…ie?” Preston parked in front of the brick County Justice Building. Fat raindrops plopped onto the windshield and the wind rattled against the glass.
Sophie could only shrug as she jumped out of the car and looked up at the five-story stately brick building presiding over Main Street. Preston retrieved the exhibits from the trunk and they dashed inside the double doors.
She smoothed her white pencil skirt as her tan pumps clacked on the wood floor while she followed signs to the public meeting room. Her stomach dropped at the sheer number of utilitarian blue chairs lined up in rows.
Preston waved to two men seated at a long table and nudged Sophie in their direction. She skirted the rows of chairs and strode toward them.
“Miss Smith.” Oliver Winston stood and smiled. Sophie shook his hand, having met the Charleton Group’s managing partner several times while creating her design. Stateliness defined him in his burnished brown suit with D&G loafers, and his Rolex shot prisms of light around the room. His red tie appeared to be hand-sewn silk.
“This is Niles Jansten, our attorney.” He took her hand in a firm grip—almost too firm. Shrewd brown eyes set in an aristocratic face smiled perfect white caps that matched a silk tie screaming Rodeo Drive. His eyes roamed from her eyes to her breasts and Sophie removed her hand. She gave a silent prayer of thanks she was seated between Preston and Oliver.
Niles said, “First I’ll introduce the development, and then Miss Smith will show her design to the commissioners. They may or may not ask questions at that time. Then the public will testify; most will babble on about how development, any development, is bad. The commissioners have heard it all before.” He gave Sophie a quick once-over and she fought an irritated shiver. “Then I’ll have a few minutes to rebut all of that and we’re off.”
“What about the tribe?” Oliver murmured.
Niles tapped his watch. “Either they’ll all testify with the public or just one representative will testify on behalf of the entire tribe. It could go either way.”
“I think their attorney will be testifying.” Preston turned to watch the public file in and take seats.
“Oh good. A country lawyer to deal with. Can’t wait,” Niles sneered under his breath.
Preston raised an eyebrow at Sophie. “Not so sure Jake Lodge is an ordinary country lawyer, Niles.”
“We’ll see. Please tell me he’ll be wearing cowboy boots,” Niles muttered.
“Actually, I’ve seen him in slate gray Armani.” Sophie kept a smile plastered on her face. “Though I doubt we’ll see that tonight.”
“Why not?”
“The crowd is small town. The commissioners will be as well, I assume.” She crossed her sandaled feet under the table.
Preston nodded next to her. “Good point. We’re overdressed, aren’t we?”
“I’m not.” She nodded toward a group of newcomers. “There’s Jake Lodge.” Chocolate Dockers over buffed brown cowboy boots showed long and lean legs. His crisp white dress shirt with red tie emphasized his tanned face and strong jawline, while his navy sports coat accentuated his muscled torso. His jet-black hair was tied back at the nape, giving him a primitive appearance. His brothers, Hawk, the chief, and his parents filed in behind him with several other members of the tribe.
“He certainly has presence.” Preston settled back in his chair and laid a casual arm along the back of hers.
Coal-black eyes instantly shot their way. Sophie straightened in her seat and her heart dropped to her stomach. Jake said something to his family, his gaze holding hers across the room. The others began to take their seats.
Jake started forward, forging a path directly toward them.
Chapter Thirteen
Several people nodded to Jake, but nobody attempted to stop his forward movement. Sophie couldn’t blame them. The look in his eyes warned of determination, and she had the oddest urge to ask Preston to remove his arm from her chair.
“So that’s how it is,” Preston murmured. “I had a feeling…”
“Did you drive here in that storm, Sunshine?” Energy emanated around Jake when he reached her table.
“No, I drove her.” Preston stood and extended a hand. “Preston Jacoby.”
“Jake Lodge.” The men shook hands. There was no question they were sizing each other up. “I played the Mintwell Island course you designed outside of D.C. It was a great challenge,” Jake said.
“Thanks. You like a challenge, Lodge?” Preston smiled.
“Haven’t lost one yet.” Jake showed his teeth.
“There’s always a first time.” The men released each other.
Jake nodded. “Not now. Stakes are too high, sport.”
Sophie’s stomach dropped. They weren’t talking about the golf course anymore. If they ever had been.
Jake turned to the other men. “You must be Oliver Winston and Niles Jacoby.”
Surprise flashed across Niles’s face. “You do your research, Mr. Lodge.”
“Of course.” Jake dismissed the men with a quick grin at Sophie. “Good luck with your presentation, Sunshine.” He moved away after saying to Preston, “And I’ll make sure she gets home tonight.” He returned to his family and took his seat.
Loni waved at Sophie and mouthed,
Good luck
. Colton gave her a wide grin, Quinn nodded, and the chief winked. Several other people she had met at the branding picnic filed into the room. Ignoring the knotting in her stomach as people filled the room to capacity, Sophie waved back.
Three county commissioners entered through a side door. First came Madge Milston, a pretty white-haired ex-librarian, then Jem McNast, a silver-haired farmer from outside Maverick, and finally Jonny Phillips, the retired high school football coach.
Madge introduced the board and set forth the rules for the hearing. Then she called Niles to the podium.
“He’s good, isn’t he?” Preston whispered about halfway through the presentation. Sophie nodded. Niles’s lengthy PowerPoint presentation illustrated the Group’s other developments as well as the economic advantages it had brought to other areas. He showed beautiful homes, golf courses, and views. Finally, he turned the podium over to Sophie.
Her knees wobbled. Taking a deep breath, she stood and maneuvered around chairs to the front of the room. Squaring her shoulders, she placed exhibits that showed the layout of the golf course, the clubhouse, and some possible home sites on the easels behind the podium. She gave a quick speech, recapping what Niles had said.
She answered the board’s questions regarding setback requirements, golf course maintenance, and preservation of indigenous trees.
“Did you draw those, young lady?” Commissioner Phillips asked, pushing his spectacles up on his nose while pointing to the detailed drawings of the eighteenth hole and clubhouse.
“Yes, I did, Commissioner.”
“They’re just beautiful, dear.” Commissioner Milston smiled. “I heard you’re designing the garden for Willa.”
“Yes, Commissioner,” Sophie said slowly. Her spine prickled.
“You know, we should have a nice garden on the other side of Maverick, don’t you think?” Madge Milston asked the other two members of the board, both of whom nodded instantly.
“Well,” Sophie said, scrambling to stay on topic, “both the golf course development and a community garden would draw tourists to the area, not only for day trips but for longer periods of time.”
“That is so true,” Commissioner Phillips agreed. “We’ll have to get together and see what kind of funds we can obtain.” He coughed. “Do you plan on having those pretty fish ponds at Willa’s garden?”
“Um, yes.” She disliked losing control of the meeting, although being treated like one of the community tickled her. She cleared her throat. “Commissioners, if there are no more questions about this design, I’ll turn the podium over to the public.”
The board nodded, and Sophie escaped back to her seat. She didn’t need to look to know Jake’s amused eyes tracked her progress.
Several members of the public asked for a halt to all development. Some complained the golf course was too far from town, while others argued it was too close and would cause traffic problems. The Concerned Citizens Group sat toward the back, and only Billy Rockefeller testified about the perils of government control and why Montana needed a citizens’ militia. The board looked as if it had heard it all before.
Finally, Jake’s name was called.
He strolled like a lazy panther to the podium, all grace and confidence. An unwelcome hum whispered through Sophie’s blood. The hum pooled in a very private area as memories from her time in his bed flashed through her mind.
“Commissioners, I’m Jake Lodge, and I represent the Kooskia Tribe tonight.” He placed a stack of papers on the podium, but his earnest gaze stayed on the commissioners. “The tribe opposes the development. First, as you know, we own Mineral Lake just below the proposed site.” Several tribal members nodded their heads in the audience. “Now, the last thing we would ever want would be to sue the county for allowing a development to pollute the lake.”
Sophie tensed. Jake’s threats chilled her desire.
“Damn,” Preston breathed next to her. “He did not just threaten to sue the entire county if the development is approved.”
The commissioners straightened to focus on his testimony. “Jake, are you really saying you’d sue the county?” Commissioner Milston looked down her librarian nose at him, and Sophie fought a smile.
“You know we take preservation of Mineral Lake very seriously, Commissioner. You bet we’d sue the county, as well as the developer and every applicable land owner, should the lake be threatened.”
“Young man, I don’t appreciate being threatened,” Commissioner Phillips noted.
“I understand, Commissioner. But I had an excellent football coach who once taught me that hiding your game plan wasted time. It was better to lay it out there, show your strengths, and you’d know right off where you stood in battle. It’s a lesson I took straight to the Supreme Court.”
Commissioner Phillips’s eyes warmed, and he fought a grin.
Jake turned toward Commissioner Milston. “And a savvy librarian once chastised me for tricking a girl into the back stacks. She told me that if I wanted to kiss a girl, I should just say so and not create a story. That way the girl could make up her mind and I’d know the attraction was mutual. I’m just saying what’s what so the county isn’t surprised by future repercussions.”
He turned to Commissioner McNast while Milston smiled at him in exasperation. “And I spent more than one very hot, very tiring summer moving watering pipes to irrigate fields of hay and wheat while learning to listen to the land.” Jake grinned, all charm. “Those pipes didn’t have wheels like they do today. It was unhook, lift, move, and hook again.” A couple of knowing laughs came from the audience.
“But,” Jake said, turning serious, “I learned that if you listen, the land will tell you what she needs. She’ll show you where to place the pipe, where the water needs to spray. And in this case, the land is talking. I know Mineral Lake is as important to Maverick County as it is to the tribe.” Several heads nodded. “Besides the lake, the tribe has serious concerns with this developer.”
Sophie’s stomach dropped. Thank goodness she was sitting.
“What do you mean, Jake?” Commissioner Milston pulled papers closer to her face.
“I mean that the Charleton Group is known for pitching one design and then building another once a permit has been granted.” He punched in a couple of keys on the computer next to him and a golf course design came up on the big screen in the corner. “This design shows a golf course with homes set every acre apart and was approved in Michigan three years ago.” He hit a couple of buttons. “This is the actual development.” It was still a golf course, but four-story condominiums lined the sides. Jake showed three more examples, all with the same result. “All of these were developed by the Charleton Group.” A muted gasp arose from the crowd.
Then Jake turned to Sophie. “Miss Smith’s golf course is beautiful and is designed for homes to be scattered every two acres, right?”
Sophie nodded, fighting the urge to push back from the table. To put distance between herself and the man commanding the podium. Sharp hurt angled through her chest.
“Now, Miss Smith, would your design work if condominiums replaced the homes?” he asked.
All eyes turned to Sophie, but she only saw the black ones pinning her. He was hard and cold. Determined. A slow anger started to build between her shoulder blades and pushed the hurt aside. For now.
“Miss Smith?” he asked again.
How dare he put her on the spot like this? Every muscle tightened in her body, her eyes shooting sparks at his. They’d shared a bed. Hell, the things she’d let him do to her! “My design includes homes every two acres.”
“I understand that.” His voice gentled. “But that wasn’t my question. I asked you whether or not your design would work with condominiums.”
Sophie was silent for a moment as she struggled for the right answer. His look told her he’d wait all night. Her chin lifted. They were so fucking done. “No. My design would not work with condos.”
“Why not?”
The bastard. He was going to get her fired. But the truth was the truth, and she wouldn’t lie to the county. “The setbacks would be off. The golf course is designed to complement the lake, which would be blocked by condominiums.” Strength infused her voice as she met his challenge. No way would she let him see the pain he’d just caused. She’d trusted him.
“Did you know?” His voice lowered even more. They could’ve been the only two people in the entire room.
“Know what?” She didn’t like this Jake. The same mouth that had explored her the other night was set in a firm, uncompromising line. He looked big. And dangerous. Exuding a threatening undertone of anger if she answered wrong.
“Did you know that Charleton usually altered designs?” he asked.
“Of course not.” How could he think that? Hurt made her sway in her chair. She’d looked over many of their finished projects, but not all of them.
Niles jumped to his feet. “We’ve had enough of this slander. I can assure you, Mr. Lodge, you can expect a lawsuit from this.”
Jake’s eyes didn’t leave Sophie’s face as he replied, “Truth is an absolute defense to slander. In other words, bring it on.” Then he gathered his papers, nodded at the commissioners, and retook his seat.
Niles turned toward the commissioners. “The tribe opposes our development because it wants to build a golf course over by the casino.”
Commissioner Milston turned toward Jake. “Is that true, Jake?”
Jake stood. His voice easily reached around the room, even without the microphone at the podium. “I stated why the tribe opposes the project, Commissioner. It’s bad for the land, and a shady developer is bad for the county.”
Preston hissed out breath as Jake continued. “However, as you are well aware, the tribe has made no secret of its plans for the casino, hotel, and golf course. We do plan to put in a golf course.” He flicked a glance their way. “I’m sure you are also aware that two, even three, golf courses in close proximity actually benefit them all. We’d like to be a golf course haven. People could stay at the hotel for several days and play several different courses.”
“Bullshit,” Niles muttered under his breath as he sat.
Sophie clasped her hands together under the table to keep them from shaking. To keep anyone else from seeing them shake.
“Still think he’s a nice guy?” Preston whispered dryly.
“Is he right about the condominiums?” she asked under her breath.
“Not to my knowledge, but we’ll definitely have to follow up on this.”
Madge banged a gavel and said they would issue a decision within a week. They stood, and the crowd began to mill around Jake, everyone talking at once.
“You have to get me out of here,” Sophie whispered to Preston.
“Of course.”
Loni suddenly appeared across the table. “Oh, there you are, Sophie. I drove myself in today. Would you mind driving home with me? I came in earlier to do some shopping and didn’t know the storm was coming. I really can’t see very well at night and the boys all brought their own cars.” Guileless brown eyes beseeched her.
When Preston started to speak, Sophie held up a hand. “Of course I’ll drive with you, Loni. Let me grab my exhibits and we’ll go.” Loni was safe. Sophie needed time to think. Time away from Preston. And Jake.
“I’ll help.” Loni hurried over to the easels.
Sophie turned to Preston. “It’s okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She had to get out of there before Jake escaped from his admirers.
“If you’re certain. Don’t worry, Sophie. It’ll all work out.” Preston dropped a light kiss on her forehead.
The fury leaping into Jake’s dark eyes across the room snared Sophie’s gaze. She instinctively moved away from Preston and toward the exhibits. “Let’s go,” she whispered to the older woman. With a concerned look at her son, Loni let Sophie tug her out a side exit while Jake was stuck in the crowd.
Sophie breathed a sigh of relief when they were finally alone on the road home.
As Loni maneuvered the car onto the freeway, Sophie watched the flicker of lights across her friend’s face.
“I’m not sure what I should say,” Loni said softly, her eyes intent on the wet asphalt.
“There isn’t anything to say,” Sophie returned.
“He was just doing his job.”
“It was more than that.”
“It
was
more than that.” Loni sighed. “Jake, his heritage, it’s so important to him. Mineral Lake and the land, plus the future of the tribe. He’s a fighter, my Jake is.”
“The tribe is everything to him.” Sophie’s nerves jerked until she wanted to puke.
“Not everything. Family is right up there. Of course, the two usually combine.”