AintNoAngel (10 page)

Leaning back on her heels from the flowers she was planting
along the sidewalk, she looked around. The new job was a small one but had
turned out beautifully and with Travis’ help they were ahead of schedule,
another day and they would be done. She was sure the owners of the house would
be pleased with the results.

Travis’ enthusiasm over the last few days had been inspiring
for her. Tasks she had mentioned in passing that needed to be done were done,
just like that. He didn’t ask or make a big deal out of it, he just did it. She
had only ever met one other man like that in her life and that had been her
father. It wasn’t lost on her that it could be the reason she suddenly found
herself head over heels for Travis.

She missed her parents, they had been completely in love
with each other and she wanted that for herself. They had communicated with a
look and they had never gotten too old to hold hands.

She spied Travis headed her way and her thoughts scattered.
He was enough to heat her blood from twenty feet away.

His jeans were riding low on his hips and his t-shirt clung
to his damp chest. He was sweaty, dusty and a little tanner than he had been
that morning and it occurred to her that he was the sexiest man she had ever
seen in her life. She wanted all the time she could get with him, even if it
could only end in pain.

“Come on, guys! Let’s call it a day!” Standing, she brushed
herself off and helped pack up the tools they took with them. Soon they were
all headed back to the house.

Travis was digging himself deeper by getting involved with
her. But the damage was done and his need for her wasn’t something he could
fight. By the time this was over and he wasn’t protecting her anymore, things
would fizzle out between them.

But deep down he wondered if he would ever get enough of her.
She was unlike anyone else he had known. She was tough and rough around the
edges but on the inside she was sweet and responsive.

He couldn’t believe his luck when she said she was into
kinky sex. Just thinking about her tied spread-eagle on her bed had him going
hard. Remembering that, he realized he still needed to order a few things
before they could play a little.

He had trouble sleeping the night before. He was afraid it
was because he had slept on the couch instead of next to Jessie on her little
bed. But he didn’t want to let his guard down and he wouldn’t have been able to
stop himself from touching her.

Jessie had been disappointed when he had told her but she
hadn’t pushed. She knew that he had a job to do. Then she had been quiet at
breakfast. It was a small consolation that she obviously hadn’t slept well
either. But he wasn’t sure if he had anything to do with that or not.

He meant what he said and he knew it would be dangerous to
have that sort of fun with Cyrus on the loose. But he had a feeling they
wouldn’t have to wait much longer.

Thinking about it for a minute, he knew just what he wanted.
He had a lot of downtime on his last job, plenty of time to plan out his
ultimate fantasy with the many online resources available. Finding the websites
he remembered on his phone, he paid the extra to have them overnighted.

Excitement coursing in his veins, he went to take care of
some things that Jessie said she needed to get to. Then maybe if she didn’t
have so much to do he could talk her into leaving for a few days. So he could
do what he promised— keep her safe.

Travis was busy repairing a few of the greenhouse panels from
outside when his phone rang. He knew Jessie was inside, only a few feet away
through the thin wall, so he quickly silenced it and worked steadily for a few
more minutes before entering the greenhouse.

He came up behind Jessie and nuzzled her bare neck. She
shivered and turned in his arms, looping hers around his shoulders. She was so
small compared to him that he felt as if he should be careful of her but he
knew she was tougher than she looked. Before he took another breath she stood
on her toes and planted her mouth on his. A shock went through his body and he
tightened his hold, deepening the kiss.

When they both came up for air he rested his head on hers,
catching his breath.

“I forgot what I came in here for,” he murmured. She
giggled.

“Oh yeah, I’m going to the house for a drink, you want one?”
He couldn’t stop his hands from roaming lower down to cup her ass and pull her
up against him. He knew he had to let her go or he was going to bend her over
the worktable and take her swift and hard from behind.

His jeans tightened painfully and she rotated her hips
against him, then, reaching up, she licked his neck.

Gripping her harder, he groaned out, “You tempt me, woman.”

She laughed. “Maybe I’ll always tempt you.”

Travis should have known that she would want more. He
started to explain that this was all he could offer her but then he stopped.
She already knew that this was all he could give her.

Her brow furrowed and he released her. “Do you want a drink
or not?” he asked.

She looked confused and even a little hurt but he didn’t say
anything. “No, thanks,” she mumbled as she turned back to her work.

Travis was mentally kicking himself as he left the
greenhouse. He was making one mistake after another with her.

Going to the back side of the house, he looked at his phone
and then called Ian back quickly.

“Ian, what’s up?”

“Travis, Parker was spotted moving your way. He will be
there in the next day or so. Did you talk Mrs. Parker into getting out of
there?”

Travis remained silent, his mind whirling with
possibilities.

“Travis?” Ian said and jolted him back to the present.

“I haven’t talked to her about it yet.”

“You better get on it, boy.”

“I know. I’ll do my best and I’ll call you when I can.”

“Wait, there is one more thing.” Travis could hear the
hesitation on the other side. “There is some new evidence on the Marsh case.
Apparently the skin samples from under her nails that were lost have turned
up.”

“All right, thanks.”

Travis disconnected and sat heavily on the steps of the back
porch. He was so close to laying it all to rest. All he had to do now was get
Jessie out of here and then wait for Cyrus Parker to show his ugly face.

Going to the kitchen, he smiled at Betty, who was busy
cooking. Grabbing two lemonades from her, he went to smooth things over between
Jessie and him.

* * * * *

Jessie used more force than necessary to pat the dirt down
around her freshly transplanted seedlings. Damn him and his mood swings anyway.
She had too much on her mind to try to keep up. Something about what he said
nagged at her but her tired brain wasn’t cooperating.

It still bothered her that he had been a cop. She had
promised herself that she wouldn’t ever get involved with one again. He had
also kept it from her and she wondered if he really would have told her if she
hadn’t found out on her own.

Then he wouldn’t tell her what had happened to get him
fired. It was getting harder to make the right decision. If she added it all up
she shouldn’t trust Travis so easily. After all, that was what had gotten her
in trouble with Cyrus in the first place.

But her heart and her body were arguing with her common
sense.

It was funny that in the middle of all this she suddenly
wasn’t that worried about Cyrus anymore. She had no doubt that Travis would do
as he said and protect her. He had a quiet strength that she couldn’t deny.
When Cyrus finally did show his face it would release the caged lion inside
Travis.

Not that she was taking all the credit for that. He
obviously had his own reasons for coming here. He wanted revenge for losing his
career as a police officer.

But she still wanted him. More than she had wanted to admit
until she had slipped today and said she wanted to always tempt him. It was a
hard fact that she had gone and fallen in love with him.

He had told her that he needed her but she wasn’t stupid
enough to think that he had meant forever.

Dusting off her hands, she looked around. She had done as
much as she could for today and she looked at the clock, surprised to find it
was after five. She had worked through lunch, again.

Picking up her tools, she heard the door open and footsteps
behind her. No doubt it was Travis, but she continued to clean up, not turning
to face him.

“Look, Jessie, I’m sorry, you just caught me off guard is
all.”

Taking a breath, she turned to face him, fighting against
the need to reach for him. He was so sexy and confident, leaning against her
workbench with lemonade in each hand. But, meeting his gaze, she could see the
truth there. He was just as wary as she was.

“It’s all right.”

He smiled at her and she went weak in the knees. “Here, I
brought you some lemonade.”

“Thanks.” She took a small sip and watched him over her
glass. “I think I’m headed for the shower.” Working in a greenhouse was hot,
sweaty and dirty.

“Wait.” His voice stopped her. She turned to face him, hoping
he would kiss her.

“I need to talk to you about something. My partner called me
this morning and Cyrus is getting closer. He should be here tonight or
tomorrow.”

Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. She was sick and
tired of his games and wanted it done.

“All right. We should get Betty and the guys to go somewhere
else for a couple days. I don’t want any of them hurt.”

Travis nodded his agreement. “I think you should go with
them.”

Jessie wasn’t sure she had heard him right at first. But he
crossed his arms over his big chest and she realized he was serious.

“I’m not running, Travis.”

He stared intently at her for a second then dropped his arms
and sighed. “Yeah, I figured you would say that. I’ll fill Marc and Brad in
today.”

“Okay. I’m headed for a shower then. You aren’t going
anywhere, are you?”

“No, I’ll be right here, baby.”

She walked past him and if her body brushed against his a
little more than necessary, she was pretty sure he didn’t mind.

Back at the house she had Betty leave her some sandwich
fixings and sent her off home. She told Betty not to come back for a few days
because there was no work and Marc and Brad would be out of town.

Betty didn’t buy it for a minute but she didn’t give her the
third degree. She did give Jessie a pointed look and told her they would be
talking soon.

In her room she stripped her clothes off and left them on
the floor in a heap. Cranking the hot water up, she stepped under the stream
and closed the glass door.

She was washing her hair and didn’t hear her bedroom door
open and close or hear Travis undressing in the bathroom. But she did hear the
glass door slide open.

She rinsed her face quickly and opened her eyes in time to
see Travis step naked into the shower. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her
wet body.

“I thought you might want some company.”

“I was just thinking that I would love some company. I was
feeling lonely in this big shower.” Jessie ran her hands down his chest,
letting her nails trail over his skin. She didn’t know why he had suddenly
changed his mind and wanted her now but she wasn’t going to ask. He was where
she wanted him.

“It is a big shower, with lots of possibilities,” he said as
he glanced around.

Grinning up at him, she sighed, “Well, I do still need to
clean up.”

“I can do that for you.” His hands went to her shoulders and
turned her so he could finish washing her hair. Rinsing it, he added
conditioner and massaged it into her skull. It was heaven. Reaching around her,
he grabbed her soap and instead of her loofah he squirted it directly into his
hand.

He took his time washing her body, starting at her neck and
going down, not missing an inch of skin. He knelt before her when he got to her
belly and rubbed the flower-scented lather around to her back and down, over
her rear and then her thighs. When he got to her calves he lifted one foot and
rubbed her toes, getting between every one before going on to the other.

She was relaxed and leaning on the wall when he finished
washing and rinsing her off. His hands left her and she opened her eyes to
slits. He was busy washing his own body but not taking the time that he had
done for her, going as fast as possible. His gaze was glued to her naked chest.

“Hey, let me return the favor.” She took the soap from him
and gave him the same treatment he had given her, learning his body and
returning to the places that made his muscles quiver and his breath hitch.

When he had reached his limit he turned her around and
pressed her against the cool tile wall. She heard the tear of the condom
wrapper and then he was pressing into her from behind.

He laced his fingers with hers and spread her arms so she
had no choice but to press her breasts into the cool tile.

He started slowly but quickly gained speed as she moaned and
it echoed loudly in the close confines of the shower.

The water turned everything steamy and warm, making their
bodies slippery. Travis’ strong thrusts were hard to brace for with no hands.
He released her and his fingers dug into her hips.

He slammed against her harder and she could hear their
bodies slapping together.

Suddenly he reached between them and pinched her clit. She
tumbled off the edge, screaming as her pussy clamped around him and her back
bowed.

He groaned loudly and thrust once more before leaning on
her.

His soft cock slipped out of her and her legs went weak. But
Travis wrapped an arm around her waist as he shut off the water and then helped
her out of the stall.

Travis left Jessie resting on the couch as he went in search
of Marc and Brad. He knew joining Jessie in the shower had been a risk but he
couldn’t stop himself. Besides, Ian had said that Cyrus was still a day away.
It had made him feel safe enough to take advantage.

As he stood there, glancing around, a delivery truck pulled
up and a man in brown shorts and shirt jumped out. Reaching back in the truck,
he grabbed a package and headed across the yard.

“Morning, sir. I’m looking for Travis Turner?”

“You found him.” Travis quickly signed for his package,
which he had ordered for Jessie yesterday. He hesitated and then left it
sitting on the porch. It was time to let the others in on what was going on.

He caught up with them outside the barn. “Hey guys, hold up
a minute.”

They both turned to look at him questioningly and he figured
he’d better just say it flat-out. “What do you guys know about Cyrus Parker?”

Brad looked taken aback by the question but Marc’s
expression never changed. “Why do you ask?”

“Look, I know you have no reason to trust me but Cyrus is extorting
Jessie and I’m just trying to keep her safe.” Then it was Marc’s turn to look
surprised.

“What do you mean he is extorting her?”

“He wants ten grand from her and she won’t do it. He used
some threats and my sources say he is on his way here to make good on them.”

Marc shook his head. “Holy shit.” Travis watched him waver
back and forth, his loyalty to Jessie holding him back, but her safety came
first and Marc realized that. “I didn’t know Cyrus well and I was only in town
for a few months before he took off.”

Travis had figured that. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“No, like I said, I didn’t know him that well. But answer me
a question?” Travis nodded. “Did you fall for her and that’s why you’re asking
about Cyrus?”

“It’s complicated.” But he wasn’t sure if maybe Marc had hit
the nail on the head with that one.

“I see,” Marc said and Travis suddenly felt as if Marc could
see right through him.

“Cyrus is going to be here today or tomorrow and I think you
two should be as far away as possible when that happens.”

Marc’s fists clenched but Travis stood his ground. “Look,
man, I don’t know where you’re from but we don’t just desert our friends when
they need us. We aren’t leaving her here to face him alone.”

Travis shook his head. This was getting them nowhere. “Listen,
she won’t be alone. I’ll be here and I know Cyrus. I used to work with him.”

Marc’s eyes widened and Travis heard Brad mumble, “Told you
so.”

“All right, Travis, you win. We will go for a couple days
but we aren’t going far, and what do you want us to tell Jessie?”

“Jessie knows that I was going to ask you to leave for a few
days. She already talked to Betty.” He ran his hand over his smooth head. This
was getting real. He had no idea what to expect from Cyrus. But at least Travis
had the advantage that Cyrus didn’t know he was going to be around.

But now that they had evidence that could convict Cyrus for
the murder of Candy Marsh he was more determined than ever to catch him and put
him behind bars where he belonged. Real men didn’t hurt women and he saw Cyrus
Parker somewhere between green pond scum and the mud that caked his boots.

Jessie and Travis spent the rest of the day sticking close
to the house and as soon as the sun started to set they went in.

Travis meticulously went through the house, locking the
windows and the doors. Jessie was jumpy and having a hard time sitting still.
She hated the waiting. She hated that Cyrus put her in this position in the
first place.