A Calculated Romance (18 page)

"I promise," she said, allowing herself to melt into him.

She felt every muscle in his body tense before he lifted her chin and captured her mouth in another kiss.  Landi lost track of space and time in his arms.  It had taken her months to figure out who she was and what she wanted.  Relief spread through her as James spoke, making her understand that he wanted her too.

Eventually, James led her into the cabin and told her to have a look around while he fixed breakfast.  Over coffee and eggs, he asked her how she found him.  He knew his family would have given him the heads up had she contacted any of them.  They recognized how miserable he'd been.

"I remembered what you said about a bachelor pad in the mountains," she said, glancing around with a critical eye.

"I only called it that to get back at you, Kumquat."  James flashed her a grin that made her knees weak.

"Well, there are only a few mountain resorts within striking distance of Los Angeles.  I figured Big Bear could be the spot and drove around the lake, knowing a bachelor pad would need to be on the water.  I spotted your sports car and knocked on the door.  When you didn’t answer, I came around back and peeked in the windows.  I was worried you might have some girl in here."  She gave the room a quick scan, as if she might still spot one.

Jim, who had positioned himself next to her at the table, tapped her nose with his forefinger.

"There are no other girls, Ireland.  You told me you wanted a brother right in the middle of a romantic moment.  You really know how to crush a guy's ego.  That's why I mentioned my
bachelor pad
.  Katrina's the only girl who's ever been up here."

"Well, even if there had been, I'd determined to see you and have it out."

"Go ahead, then.  Get everything off your chest," he said with a naughty smile.

She ignored his double entendre and sat up straight, stiffening her spine.

"I think your behavior was underhanded and—"

He caught her mouth in a kiss before she could finish her sentence.  Moving his large hand to the nape of her neck, he tucked his thumb under her chin to keep her from pulling away.  He kissed her long and hard until her breath became ragged and matched his.

Ireland felt the rough calluses on his hands scrape over her delicate skin.  She loved the feel of his touch. His fingers about her neck drove her wild.

"And you acted like a—" she continued, not missing a beat when he released her.

He took her lips again, interrupting her complaint.  This time, he moved his mouth over her jaw, dribbling kisses towards her ear, then down her neck.

"Stop it, James.  The air is too thin at this altitude, and I can hardly catch my breath."

"It's not the altitude, Darling," he whispered, allowing his lips to linger on the sensitive spot behind her ear lobe.

A small moan escaped her, and he pulled back, not wanting to lose control of himself.

"I've got something to get off
my
chest," he said sternly.

She arched her eyebrows in disbelief.

"How were you traveling all over the country, and who were you with?"

Ireland laughed out loud.

"I thought you might find out about that.  Actually, I never left Southern California."

James arched his brows in disbelief as she continued.

"I stayed with Doctor Morgan from the Gemology Institute and his wife.  His daughter is a medical sales rep for the southern half of the US.  She mailed my correspondence for me while on business trips.

"Why, you little Minx!"

In one quick move, James grabbed Landi, carried her out to the deck, and pretended he would chuck her into the lake.

"Wait, wait, James.  I've got more to tell you!" she said between laughs, gasping for air.

"I'm not sure I want to hear any of it.  I don't like getting outsmarted by an amateur!"

"Aren't you curious?"

He put her down and gave her another kiss, then a playful whack on the bottom.

"Fess up," he said with a sigh.  "I know you want to brag about it.  Oh, and I hope you didn't park the Filthy Beast out front.  Don't want the neighbors complaining," he teased.

"Right next to your vanity car."  She nodded then continued, "You were the one who generated all those complicated questions and comments on the blog, weren't you?  You even pretended to be Katrina and gave me that long assignment so I'd have to cancel my date with Douglas, didn't you?"

"A man's got to do what a man's got to do, Kumquat."

Pride shone from James's face at the girl's intelligence.  She really was a rare gem.

"Now, I think you're a little too smart for your own good, Minx.  Why don't you put your mental prowess to work figuring out what to cook me for lunch?" he teased.

Landi playfully swatted his chest. 

"Yes, show me where the frying pan is.  I've got multiple uses for one of those," she joked, her tone revealing a mischievous threat.

He led her back inside, knowing he still needed to reveal everything he knew about her.  He didn't want any more secrets to come between them.

"Darling," he said, sitting in a leather club chair and pulling her onto his lap in front of the stone fireplace.  "I found out some things about your birth parents I think you'd like to know."

"Really?"

He saw something akin to worry pass over her face.

"Yes, Minx.  I don't want any secrets coming between us again.  Understand?"

Ireland nodded.

"Your father and mother were geologists.  They moved your family to Nevada so your dad could fill a professorship at UNLV.  The accident happened before the start of his first semester.  You come by your love of rocks and fossils honestly."

Landi's eyes began to fill with tears.  He caught each drop with his lips as they spilled down her cheeks, smothering her in kisses as small sobs wracked her frame.

"Shhh, Precious, don't cry.  I love you so.  I can't bear it."

She wiped her eyes and sniffled.  James focused on the small twitch her nose gave.  Her delicate features truly resembled that of a fairy.

"What else?" she asked.

"I think I've put together how Hatti and Bill came to raise you."

"Oh, that.  Let's not go over it, James.  I recently confronted Hatti and got the truth from her, at least most of it.  I threatened to go to the police and relay the facts about her and the part she played in Rick's attack.  I let her know she'd be considered an accomplice, since she told him where to find me. That scared her enough to force everything into the open.  What it boils down to is that my parents hired her as a babysitter, and she allowed her husband, Bill, to take me across the state line to California for some reason.  They kept me, illegally, after my parents died.  Lucky for Greg, they didn't get their claws into him.  Hatti tried to explain it by saying she couldn’t have children of her own and had grown attached to me.  I've been wondering if they planned to kidnap me all along and just took advantage of the situation when my parents died."

"I'm sorry, Landi.  One good piece of news is that Rick won't see the light of day for decades, if ever.  He's got charges pending in three states and has pled guilty in another.  He'll be up the river until he's an old man."

Ireland shook her head, regret showing on her face.

"Let's not talk about unpleasant things any—"

James captured her lips in another kiss.  As she ran her fingers through his hair, he tightened his grasp on her waist and stood, hoisting her in his arms.  He walked to the kitchen and sat her on the counter, where he could see her, eye to eye.

"One more thing.  Remember when I reacted so violently at my sister's wedding to seeing you dance with Douglas?"

She nodded.

"It was only because of the investigation.  The thought that you were lying to me—about anything—made me think that you might be mixed up in something nefarious.  It drove me crazy.  Greg's story wasn't adding up, and I so wanted to believe him
and
you.  I was out of my mind, thinking my best friend had been lying to me.  I realize now that I was already falling for you, and I didn't handle things well.  Can you forgive me?"

She nodded again.

"Are you going to marry me then, Landi?" he demanded, his gaze fixed on her mesmerizing deep green eyes.

"Hmm," she purred, grazing the scar above his right eye with her thumb.  "Did you get this in Afghanistan?" she asked.

"No.  A cat scratched me in the fifth grade.  Now stop avoiding my question," he commanded.

James ran his hands slowly up her arms and cupped her chin in one, tilting her small face from side to side. The other, he used to wrap a loose tendril around his fingers.

"You are so lovely," he growled.

He gave her a devilish grin before shifting a hand to her back and pulling her against his chest.  She felt his hard muscles ripple against her soft parts as he tugged on her hair, forcing her mouth to his.  James pressed his lips to hers passionately, leaving her breathless.  Her heart pounded in rhythm with his.

"Your answer?"  James held his breath.

"Yes," she whispered, nodding.

Relief and joy flooded his brain, sweeping away the guilt and regret he'd been burdened with for months.  He stood silent, savoring the moment and the idea that she would be his, and his alone.   He let a huge smile engulf his features until the muscles in his face began to ache.

"Do you want a big wedding?  I'll give you whatever you want, Landi," he said, leaning forward.  His deep voice rumbled in her ear.

"Who would come?"

"Lots of people. Your brother and his nurse friend, Katrina and Robert, of course, my dad, Kiki and that cowboy of hers, your accomplices and friends at the Gemology Institute, your museum friends—the list goes on and on, Kumquat."

Ireland beamed more with each person he mentioned.  He loved to see her smile.

"There are a lot of people who care about you, Landi," he added, drawing her into another kiss.

He took his time, gradually increasing his intensity.  Like months before, Ireland felt they were almost one person.  Her small form molded against his large frame, and they moved in unison.  Her diaphragm heaved with ragged breaths as sparks of passion coursed through her. 

"What say you?" he murmured.

She tried to calm herself before she lost all control.

"I say, this thin air is getting the better of my senses.  Let's elope."

James broke away from her and laughed out loud.  He ran his fingers through her hair and allowed his eyes to roam over her features, admiring each one.

"You really are a little Minx."  

Thank you so much for reading A Calculated Romance.  If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a short review.  Also, if you'd like to join my exclusive readers list and receive updates on future books and free offers, head over to my website at
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Other books by Violet Sparks

A Solitary Romance
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A Lone Star Romance
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