Redeemer, p.11
Redeemer, page 11
Jessie cocked his head in confusion, his frown puzzled. “Yes, why?”
Recognizing the futility of his inquiry, he let it go. “No reason. See you in the morning.” With his emotions still getting battered on a wild roller-coaster ride, he thought it best if he called it a night before he did any more damage.
Chapter Eight
Sophie woke from the best night’s sleep she’d gotten in over a year, stunned to see it was almost ten o’clock. She never slept past eight, even on her days off. Stretching under the covers, she sighed at the pleasurable ache between her legs, lingering proof the ecstasy Adrian had driven her to last night had been real, not a dream. Sliding a hand under her nightshirt, she brushed one tender nipple with her thumb, reaffirming the soreness and her response to those painful pinches. Oh yeah. She could definitely get into escaping her emotional heartbreak through physical painful stimulation on a daily basis. Too bad Adrian’s closed look as he left her last night didn’t bode well for that prospect.
She winced, recalling his anger-filled voice carrying down the hall after he’d left her. From what she could gather, Ashe hadn’t backed down under his cousin’s harsh words, whatever they were, and she hadn’t relaxed until she heard Jessie’s calmer voice defusing the situation. Sophie couldn’t fathom any of his friends having a hand in his wife’s death – they all seemed so close and caring of each other as only people who enjoyed a long history of friendship together were. Other than proof of an affair, was there evidence of foul play? It wasn’t her place to get involved or ask, but she couldn’t help her curiosity.
Bright sunlight streamed across the floor from the French doors and brightened both her room and her mood. She felt too good to worry about Adrian’s beef with his friends as she padded into the bathroom. She opted to take advantage of the fair weather and learn how to groom Nightingale after pondering her options on how to spend the day off while taking a shower. Dustin had offered to give her tips if he was around and not busy, and she didn’t want to impose on the plans of the others if they were even still here.
Dressed in jeans and a navy-blue sweatshirt with the University of New Orleans logo, she bent to give Tink some attention as the cat rubbed against her leg. “You’re a sweetie, aren’t you?” As much as she enjoyed the cat’s company and the time she’d spent with Nightingale, she found herself wanting a pet of her own for the first time. Tink still pined for her mistress, and all the horses belonged to the Coultranes. Maybe Adrian wouldn’t mind if she adopted a dog or cat from a shelter.
The upstairs was quiet when she left her room with Tink at her heels, the open doors to the guest rooms revealing their emptiness. As she descended the stairs, an argument between Nora and Jessie reached her ears from the den, and Sophie paused a minute, uncomfortable with walking into it.
“No, and don’t bring it up again,” Nora snapped. “I told you that last time.”
Jessie’s voice was cajoling, affable as he replied, “C’mon, Nora. What’s the big deal? It’s not something we haven’t done before, and you loved it, so don’t pretend otherwise.”
“Once, the first time, but I want more, Jess, and you’ve known that for some time,” Nora argued.
Growing uncomfortable, suspecting they were in disagreement about indulging in another ménage, Sophie decided to skip coffee and something to eat to slip outside as Jessie returned, “I’m open to talking about our future, but in the meantime, let’s have some fun.”
As Sophie reached for the front door knob, Ashe and Wyatt came around the corner of the hallway. Ashe smirked and said, “Don’t let them run you off, Sophie. They go at it all the time.”
Her face grew warm under their amused expressions. “I’d rather not stick around and hear it though. Besides, it doesn’t stay warm enough to be outside for long, and morning is almost gone.”
Wyatt grinned, his eyes reflecting a teasing light she usually saw on Jessie’s face. “Did Adrian keep you up last night. If so – it’s about time.”
“No, I mean, not like you’re thinking.” Sophie burned with embarrassment, not about to explain that poolside scene. These people might be used to sharing their impromptu sexual escapades, but she wasn’t used to having one, let alone talking about it with men she barely knew.
Jessie and Nora’s low voices rose again, with Nora’s anger coming through loud and clear when she ended their argument. “I’m out of here. You can let me know when you’re serious.” She stomped into the foyer, glared at Wyatt and Ashe then sent Sophie an apologetic glance. “I’m heading back home, Sophie. We’ll be at the Mountain Bend shop all week if you want to do lunch again.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know.” Following her out the door, she was compelled to add, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but couldn’t help overhearing you and Jessie.”
Nora grunted and waved an airy hand as they went down the porch steps. “Don’t worry about it. Sorry you were subjected to our dirty laundry. The guy’s a fuckin’ moron.”
Her lips quirked. “But hard to resist? I get that.”
“Clueless bastard.” Nora opened her car door as Rachel came out of the stable with Adrian, her face cloudy with worry, Adrian’s carved in stone. “Hurry up, Rach,” Nora said with impatience. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
Adrian nodded and stalked back inside the stable without sparing Sophie a glance. So much for worrying about the morning-after awkwardness or what she would say to him.
“Coming,” Rachel called out.
“Looks like Jessie isn’t the only jerk this morning. You okay?” Nora squeezed her upper arm.
“I’m fine. We don’t have anything going on.” Sophie couldn’t understand why that truth caused her stomach to tighten.
Nora gave her a skeptical look. “If you say so.”
Ready to change the subject, she said, “Rachel doesn’t look happy either this morning.”
“She worries about Wyatt. We all do. He doesn’t deal with stress well. Catch you later,” she replied when Rachel reached the car.
Rachel greeted her with a smile that erased her worry. “Morning, Sophie. Come for lunch again this week if you can.”
“I’ll try. Thank you.”
Intent on avoiding Adrian, Sophie strolled around the stable, hoping to find Dustin outside. Instead, one of the other hands was turning two horses loose into the corral and met her at the rail with a polite tip of his hat.
“Can I help you with something, ma’am?”
She found the young cowhands’ politeness both refreshing and amusing. Not even her employees had treated her with such deference. “I was looking for Dustin. He was going to give me grooming pointers when he had time.”
“He’s off today but I’ll be happy to get you started. Parker, ma’am. You’re Sophie?”
“Yes, and thanks.”
He pointed to the tan mare with black mane and tail prancing around the padlock. “Bella loves the attention. Let me get her.”
Parker was right, Bella stood in docile friendliness while Sophie ran a brush over her. After Parker left them alone, she spoke softly to the horse, working the tangles out of her long mane and tail and giving her sugar cubes as a reward. She became so engrossed with the task, enjoying the warm sun on her shoulders, the faint lowing of cattle reaching her ears on the slight breeze, and the soft nuzzle of Bella’s nose against her face, she didn’t hear someone coming up behind her until Wyatt spoke.
“Bella is as pretty as her mistress.”
Sophie tried to hide how he’d startled her and forced a small smile. “Who’s her mistress?” she asked, noting the tight pinch around his troubled gaze.
He thumbed his Stetson back, giving her an even clearer glimpse of his face and the lines bracketing his mouth. “Was. Nicole. Didn’t anyone mention that?”
Growing uncomfortable, she shook her head, running a hand down Bella’s soft neck. “No, Parker didn’t mention it, and I haven’t seen anyone else since.” Like Adrian, Ashe, and Jessie, Wyatt was a tall, broad-shouldered man, his size dwarfing her five foot seven.
“I used to love watching her ride,” he murmured, almost to himself as he stroked the mare’s nose when she nudged him.
“You were close, all of you,” she hurried to add when he sent her a sharp look that conveyed a hint of anger and made her nervous.
“Yeah, we were. Now, not so much.” As if sensing her unease, he moved back with a nod. “Enjoy your afternoon, Sophie. It won’t stay this nice for much longer.”
Now, why did she think he was talking about more than the weather? “That was my thought, too. Thanks.” She breathed easier when he rounded the stable and disappeared from her sight, blaming Adrian’s suspicions for putting her on edge around his friends.
After turning Bella loose from the rail, she left the corral and was drawn over to the stunning mare with the sleek mahogany coat that just came out of her indoor stall into the attached padlock. She didn’t notice her rounded belly until Sophie reached her, the mare’s pregnancy a sucker punch to Sophie’s gut as she recalled the joy of carrying her daughter for nine months. Her grief came crashing down on her, ending the brief hiatus she’d gotten, thanks to Adrian’s attention last night.
Adrian struggled to get himself under control as he watched Sophie from the stable. Her laugh had drawn him to the door a short time ago; seeing her smile and hearing her talk to Bella had kept him here. For the first time since she’d arrived, he got a glimpse of her face free of ravaging heartbreak, as soft with pleasure as last night when she had come apart on his lap. Like last night, hot, dark need had rushed through him while watching her, settling in his groin with a tight grip on his balls, fraying the edges of his resistance, hell, maybe even his sanity.
At any other time, he might welcome such a strong attraction, but not now, not until the issue about Nicole’s death was resolved. And now, Rachel and Wyatt had crossed the line from friendship to lovers, and it was already coming back to bite them, to his disgust. It was difficult not to empathize with both Rachel and Nora’s plight in trying to bring Wyatt and Jessie to heel, but damn it, it wasn’t as if they were strangers to each other.
Sophie turned away from Celine with her head down and shoulders slumped, as if the weight of the world lay on them. He figured the mare’s pregnancy had touched a raw nerve, erasing her contentment, and it saddened him he couldn’t feel such grief for his wife. Whatever they had once felt for each other, friendship, love, or a combination of both had long since turned into bitter animosity by the time Nicole died. He’d waited too long to talk to his lawyer and file for divorce. Not because he’d thought there was something to salvage but because he wasn’t interested in another relationship so figured what was the hurry? Then he’d read about the affair he’d suspected for a while in her journal when she’d conveniently left it open on the bedside table.
Adrian hadn’t confronted Nicole until he’d returned from the lawyer’s office, divorce papers in hand, and reminded her of their prenup arrangement. He couldn’t imagine someone like Sophie, who could love so deeply and unconditionally, marrying for money. He straightened as she walked toward him without paying attention until he grabbed her arms to keep her from bumping into him. Given the semi-erection he was still sporting, it wouldn’t do for her to get any closer.
She flustered and drew away. “Oh! Sorry. Didn’t see you.”
“I noticed. Where are you off to now?” Adrian released her arms and put more space between them, making it easier to resist the silent despair in her amethyst eyes.
She looked around, her gaze going toward the woods. “A hike. I haven’t explored the woods yet.”
“You won’t have long before the sun starts to go down and the temperature drops.” Pointing toward a worn path along the forest edge, he said, “Why don’t you walk along that path then double back. That way, you won’t go too far to return before it starts to get dark.”
Sophie frowned. “It will still be light enough to see the buildings in a few hours.”
Dark clouds were hovering on the horizon, the forecasted storm for tonight still a long ways away, yet he couldn’t help worrying, given her inexperience and newness to the area. Used to having his employees obey him without question, not to mention the women he scened with, his annoyance pushed to the surface.
“Do as I say, Sophie, or you might learn the difference between a hand spanking and my belt.” Cursing the flare of interest in her eyes and flush stealing over her face, he snapped, “I take the safety of everyone on my ranch seriously.”
Hurt flashed across her face before she covered it with a bland expression. “Sure, boss, whatever you say.”
Pivoting, she walked off, and he watched until she got on the trail he’d indicated. Flagging down Parker as he came out of the barn, he instructed him to keep an eye out for her then returned to the house, determined not to fret over her. He found Jessie and Wyatt out back at the outdoor kitchen, the grill already smoking with meat. The two had been making themselves at home here on the ranch for over two decades, both Adrian’s and Ashe’s parents welcoming them with open arms. He’d always considered them family, the same as Ashe, and it hurt to hear them joking and laughing together then watch them turn sober when he approached, almost as much as it hurt to believe one might have betrayed him with Nicole.
“Is Sophie joining us for dinner?” Jessie asked, flipping a steak.
“I doubt it. She just took off for a walk.” Adrian opened the small refrigerator, grabbed a beer, and popped the lid.
Wyatt frowned. “There’s weather coming in tonight.”
“She’ll be back before then.” She’d better be, or Adrian would make good on his threat. The thought of her naivete coupled with the perils that escalated after dark sent a chill through him, and he had enough to worry about.
Ashe came out the kitchen side door carrying a tray of vegetable kabobs, a favorite he liked putting together. He flicked Adrian an unreadable look, his mouth tightening when his gaze slid to Adrian’s bruised jaw. Adrian had forgotten about the mark, since it didn’t pain him, and he didn’t want to bring up the incident. For one evening, he’d like to stow his suspicious animosity and enjoy a meal without tension. It wasn’t as if it was their first fight. They’d left bruises on each other growing up, but most of those tussles had been in good-natured fun.
“If you made enough, let’s save one for Sophie,” he said, moving to stand next to Ashe at the grill as he placed the kabobs on the heat.
“There are plenty. The girl doesn’t eat enough. She needs to put meat on her bones before winter,” Ashe replied without inflection.
Adrian found it way too easy to recall her soft breasts and the bounce of her round cheeks as he’d smacked them, and forced the memory aside. Handing Ashe a beer, he said, “The McCrorys will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Will you be around to sign the bill of sale?”
Ashe sent him a rueful gin. “Since we both know only one of us needs to sign off on a sale, is that your way of saying you were an ass last night?”
He lifted a brow. “Only if you’re willing to concede the same.”
Shrugging, Ashe replied without answering. “I can be there.”
The two of them had gotten good at dancing around each other since Nicole’s death. Adrian needed to find her journal and put an end to his questions once and for all.
****
Sophie dragged herself up the front porch steps, too tired and emotionally spent to do anything except get something to eat and go to her room. Adrian had been right; the sun and temperature dipped significantly when the clouds rolled in and ended the pleasant afternoon warmth. She slipped inside the house and heard the clack of pool balls followed by deep male laughter. From the vehicles out front, Jessie and Wyatt were still hanging out, and, for all she knew, would stay another night, this time without Nora and Rachel.
Instead of drawing their unwanted attention by going through the great room to the kitchen, she veered left and padded down the hall to enter through the side door near the pool. She hadn’t counted on Adrian being in the kitchen, or her instant, heated reaction to his assessing, gray-eyed examination of her from head to toe.
Wiping his hands on a towel, he leaned against the counter. “You made it back. There’s a plate for you in the oven.”
“Thank you.” She wasn’t all that hungry but retrieved the covered dish for something to do. The distant rumble of thunder had already put her on edge. “Do you always get so many storms this time of year?”
“It’s the rainiest month. I have work to do.” He straightened, hung up the towel then caught her off guard when he spun around and asked with a note of concern, “Will you be okay tonight during the storm?”
There was no ridicule or derision on his face, even though she often taunted herself about the stupid phobia. “Yes, of course.” The guys grew louder in the other room, along with the music. “Don’t let me keep you. I’ll take my plate upstairs. Thank you.”
Sophie breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t say anything or try to stop her. How could she want him so much when he continued to treat her with either casual indifference or overbearing dominance? Neither trait was desirable, or, at least never used to be, with anyone else. Maybe if he wouldn’t turn around and do something nice, like fix her a dinner plate, after giving her the cold shoulder, she could get over her lust. Like his friends, he confused her. But unlike with them, she was starting to crave more from her employer than was wise, definitely more than he was willing to give her.
She changed into a silk nightshirt that fell to mid-thigh, turned on the television in her room then pushed herself to eat as much as she could, considering the jitters in her stomach. Depression and the return of sorrow that cut so deep she couldn’t focus beyond the pain had encroached upon her enjoyment of the afternoon. As soon as she saw Adrian again, all she could think about was his hard, painful hand taking away the stress and ache of her emotional loss, his fingers and mouth driving her to pleasurable heights she never imagined and giving her something else to focus on for most of today.
