Blue Ribbon Summer (The Baltimore Banners Book 3) (15 page)

And then he'd have to explain to her about what Jake had done, had made him agree to. He knew she'd find out sooner or later, knew he'd have to tell her because it wasn't right keeping something so important from her. But he was honest enough with himself to admit that he really wasn't looking forward to that conversation.

So he'd have to make do with the old behemoth and worry about everything else later.

Ian capped the jug and placed it back by his feet, then coaxed the tractor into gear, holding his breath, waiting for the engine to engage before he eased it forward. Every single outlandish and insulting thought he had ever had about having it easy living in the country, about this kind of work being easy, came back to taunt him.

Yeah, the last few weeks had really altered his impression of reality. Never again would he think of simple country living as 'simple'.

He couldn't even begin to imagine how Kayli kept this all up on her own. Yeah, she had some summer help--a few local teenage boys that came in for a few hours each day. But still...it was pretty much her and Lori.

And sometimes Cole.

At least now he somewhat understood her love, her passion, for this place. It had been in her family for generations, and while she didn't really talk about it, Ian knew she worried about its upkeep, worried about what would happen if something happened to Jake.

Except Jake wasn't an owner anymore--it was Ian. And again he fought with himself, knowing he'd have to tell Kayli, sooner or later. His gut screamed at him that he had to tell her. If she found out before he told her...he didn't even want to think of the consequences.

Because she would be right. Whatever she thought, she would be right.

And that was probably the absolute worst part of running this aged tractor--it gave him too much time to think. Training camp started next week, the same time as the State Fair, which meant they wouldn't be able to spend as much time together. He just hoped that he'd be able to figure something out, or at least come up with a way to tell Kayli, before then. Either one, Ian didn't really care which.

He had called his accountant, who just happened to be married to his teammate Nikolai, for advice. He didn't know all the details of her past, just that she used to do some kind of work for the government, forensics or something fancy like that. If anyone could figure a way out of or around this mess he had gotten himself into, surely Bobbi could. Isn't that what the big Russian was always saying? His Bobbi could do anything.

Ian hoped like hell that was true.

A shout from his left pulled Ian from the rambling travels of his thoughts, and he stopped the grumbling rust bucket to look over. Kayli was a few feet away, straddling the ATV, waving her arms at him. Ian cut the engine and watched as she climbed off the four-wheeler and made her way over to him, a small smile on her face.

"Am I screwing anything up?" Ian looked over his shoulder behind him, almost afraid that he had done something wrong. Then again, he doubted if Kayli would be smiling like that if he had.

"Nope. In fact, I'm impressed. We'll make a country boy out of you yet!" She climbed up on the seat next to him and pressed her warm mouth against his for a deep kiss. His arms came up automatically and wrapped around her, pulling her closer until she was nearly in his lap. She broke the kiss with a laugh and pulled away.

"Is it lunch time yet?" Ian didn't care that his voice was hoarse--a condition he had come to accept whenever Kayli kissed him like that. Probably because it meant he was ready to be treated to a creative means of making love. Because even though he pretty much stayed here every night, they did not share the same room.

Or the same bed. Not with Lori in the house. Which Ian understood and respected completely, despite Lori's giggles and eye-rolling that let both adults know they weren't fooling her.

"Mmm, not yet, no. I came up to tell you that you have company down at the house."

"What? Who?"

Kayli shrugged then motioned for Ian to move over. "I think some of your teammates. I recognized that guy, Randy. And the guy with the funny French name."

"Jean-Pierre. French-Canadian."

"Yeah, him. And some big scary guy that I could barely understand. I think he's Russian or something."

"Nikolai." Ian bit back his excitement. The fact that Nikolai was here could be good news. Or not. Especially if Randy and JP were with him. But why else would they bother showing up?

"Go on down and see what they want. I'll finish up here." She nudged him off the seat, settling herself comfortably in the spot he had just occupied. Then she turned toward him, her lower lip pulled between her teeth as she studied him. "So I was thinking. I know you have training camp getting ready to start. And we usually have a bonfire right around then anyway. You know, just a little thing before getting ready for the fair and all that. Anyway...do you think you'd want to invite some of your friends? I mean, I should have said something earlier but I didn't think...I mean, if you think they might like it, you can invite them, too. It would be fun."

Ian smiled at her hesitation with the uncertain invitation, and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. "It would be fun. Thank you, I'll ask them. As soon as I figure out what they're doing here." Ian straightened, then tried to climb over her legs so he could get down from the tractor.

Her hands gripped his hips, holding him in place as he straddled her lap. Ian looked down into her upturned face, unable to move, heat searing his entire body at the lazy look in her hooded eyes. She inched her head forward, just the smallest bit, and pressed her mouth against the zipper of his jeans as she cupped his ass in her hands, holding him steady.

His breath left him in a rush and he clenched his jaw at the instant hard-on even as she pulled away and looked back up at him with a mischievous grin. "Good. Because when you're done, I think I might be ready for lunch."

Ian muttered something incoherent under his breath and scrambled down from the tractor, Kayli's laughter following him as he made it to the four-wheeler. He looked back at her with a smile, making her a promise with his eyes of a lunch to remember, then started the ATV and headed down to the house for what he hoped was a productive--but very quick--meeting with his teammates.

They were in the front room, milling around and generally looking out of place as they waited for him. Ian glanced at Nikolai, but the big guy was too busy studying all of the old pictures of Kayli's family to notice him.

Randy and JP stopped their grumbling and looked up when he finally walked in, and JP actually laughed.

"Holy shit, Donovan. You look like a refugee farm boy."

Ian looked down at himself: worn dusty jeans, scuffed work boots, sweat-stained t-shirt, grungy baseball cap. Yeah, compared to how JP and Randy were dressed, he did look a little worse-for-wear. But he shrugged off their laughter with his own smile, not caring. "I was working."

He moved his gaze to Nikolai, who was still standing in the corner, his expression thoughtful. Ian tried to gauge what was going through the big Russian's mind, hoping he had good news for him, but Nikolai's face was carefully blank.

"So your new girlfriend has cattle, huh? What kind?" The question came from Randy, and actually surprised Ian.

"Um, a mixed bred market something or other. Why?"

"Cross-bred market steers? Beef cattle? Is she looking to sell any?"

"Yeah, I guess. What do you care?"

Randy shrugged, a nonchalant gesture that was so out of character for the brooding player that Ian just continued to stare. "I might be looking to buy some."

That response caused the other three to gape at him. JP was the first to speak. "Why would you want to buy cows?"

"Not cows. Steers. For the restaurant."

Ian snapped his mouth shut. "What restaurant?"

JP shook his head, a grin on his face. "Randy just spent a fortune investing in a stupid restaurant, thinking it will help his love life. He's not thinking clearly."

The two began their usual bickering and Ian quickly tuned them out, turning once more to Nikolai with a questioning look. Nikolai stepped closer and slowly nodded, and Ian pumped his fist in a victory shake.

"Hey Ian." A voice interrupted before he could ask for details, and he turned around as Lori walked into the room. She stopped, her eyes widening the smallest bit as she looked at all four men.

A teenage boy stood by her side, his arm draped casually around her shoulders. Ian narrowed his eyes and glared at the kid, who abruptly moved his arm with an audible gulp. It was the same boy from the bull roast they had gone to a lifetime ago. Dylan, he thought the kids' name was. Ian made a mental note to find out what was going on with the two of them.

And maybe even have a talk with the kid.

Unlike Dylan, whose expression had gone from one of discomfort to one of excited recognition, Lori was obviously unimpressed with the small gathering of testosterone in front of her. She dismissed them with the aloofness only a fourteen-year-old girl could manage and turned back to Ian. "Where's Aunt Kayli?"

"She took over cutting so I could come back here. What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. I just...we were wondering if we could go for snowballs."

"Sure. Give us another hour and we should be finished--"

"Dylan said he could drive us now, so we don't have to bother you guys."

Ian's gaze shifted back to the boy, whose face was now turning a blotchy red. There was no way in hell Ian was going to let this kid take Lori anywhere. No way. He shook his head.

"No, I don't think so. Just wait a bit and we can all go. Together." He pinned the kid in place with a narrowed look and took perverse pleasure in seeing the boy shuffle his feet in discomfort. Ian turned back to Lori and offered her a smile. "Can you do me favor?"

"What?"

"Randy here might be interested in buying some cattle. Why don't you take him and JP up to your aunt so they can talk business?"

The kid looked less than enthused about the idea, but Lori just shrugged and waited as the two men stood and headed toward the door. JP stopped next to Ian on his way out, giving him a frustrated glance.

"You so owe me for this one."

Ian waited for the four of them to leave, holding his breath until the back door slammed shut. He turned back to Nikolai. "What did Bobbi say?"

"I like this new woman of yours. She is strong. She believes in family."

Ian blew out his breath on a huff of impatience. "You got all that just from looking at some pictures? Great. Glad you approve. Now what did Bobbi say?"

Nikolai placed the picture he had been studying back on the shelf then fixed him with a steady gaze for so long that Ian actually became uncomfortable. Just when he was ready to ask the big Russian what was going on, Nikolai sat down in the stuffed chair, motioning for Ian to have a seat on the sofa. He leaned forward, his usually loud voice quiet in the stillness around them.

"Bobbi will call with you the details. She sent me here first, to see what I can find."

"Find? What are you talking about?"

"She believes you are...what did she say? Crazy."

"Crazy? She said I was crazy?" Ian leaned back on the sofa and looked at his friend in confusion. "Why did she say I was crazy?"

Nikolai laughed, a brief hearty bellow, and made a wild motion with his hands. "Because you did this thing first and questioned later. Because you do not know what you got into. Because you did not think. She says she is tired of fixing problems for men who do not think. So yes, you are crazy."

"I'm not crazy. Yeah, okay, so maybe I should have asked her first but...I'm not crazy. I did it to help out, and I'd do it again if I had to." Ian was surprised at the conviction in his words as they fell from his mouth. And he was even more surprised at how much he meant them. He turned to look back at Nikolai, his mouth set in a grim line. "Now, is Bobbi going to help me fix this, or not?"

Nikolai grinned then sat back in his chair. "Tell me. This woman of yours...you love her." It came out as a statement, not a question, and Ian was instantly defensive.

"What? No. Don't be ridiculous. We haven't known each other that long. I mean, we're just...together. Love? No, of course not." But guilt and uncertainty swept over him even as he denied it, leaving a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't love her. He had strong feelings for her, yes, but love? No. He couldn't.

But Nikolai merely laughed at his protests and shook his head. "So foolish. You should not deny what you feel, and you should not deny telling her. You say you do not love her, yet you are willing to do this thing so she is taken care of."

"That doesn't mean I love her," Ian quickly corrected, and immediately wished he hadn't because Nikolai fixed him with a disbelieving look. Yes, he wanted to help Kayli and her family, was willing to go far to make sure nothing would happen to them. That much he was serious about. But to say he loved Kayli?

No. Love had nothing to do with it.

But Nikolai shook his head again, conveying his disbelief and disappointment in that one small movement. He waved his hand between them, dismissing the argument, then got serious again. "I have seen enough. I will tell my Bobbi, if this is what you want?"

"Of course this is what I want."

"Then Bobbi will call you, and make everything right. But I also believe she is right, and that you are crazy."             

#

Soft light flickered from beside the bed, not quite bright enough to chase away the shadows from the corners. Night sounds drifted through the open window with the breeze that fluttered the gauzy curtain. Kayli blinked against the sleep that still held her in its lull, knowing something was different, that something was out of place, but not quite yet sure what it was.

A soft shuffling came from the corner of the room, and Kayli's eyes opened wide as she pushed herself to a sitting position. Her pulse pounded in her ear as her eyes focused on the shadows.

"It's just me." She could barely hear Ian's whisper, even though he was mere feet away. Kayli sat up even straighter and watched as Ian came closer, lowering himself next to her on the bed. He reached out and brushed the hair away from her face, his hand cupping her cheek as he just sat there and watched her, his eyes intent and serious.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had some things you had to get done."

"I just needed to see you. I didn't mean to scare you."

Kayli shook her head, in part denying he had startled her, in part trying to convey her confusion at his mood. He seemed...too serious, worried almost. She reached up and covered his hand, lacing her fingers through his. If she hadn't been watching his eyes so closely, she would have never seen the shadow that passed over his face. "Ian, did something happen? What's wrong?"

But he merely shook his head, his eyes still intent on hers. He pulled his hand from hers and reached up, once again capturing her face, with both hands this time. He dragged his thumb along her lower lip, and her eyes drifted close at the sensual touch.

"Kayli." He said her name on a soft breath just as his lips brushed against hers, soft, warm, inviting. "Kayli, I need you."

Her eyes fluttered open and the breath left her in a rush at the look smoldering in the depths of his eyes as he searched her face. His need was clear; need, and something even more intense.

He continued to search her face, his gaze intense as his hands caressed her cheeks and tangled in her hair. She held her breath, mesmerized by his touch, by the heat in his eyes. He leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers once more, the touch feather light and seeking. Kayli wrapped one hand around his neck and pulled him closer, holding him in place as she fisted her other hand in the soft cotton of his t-shirt.

Ian deepened the kiss, his passion exploding, surrounding her, consuming her. Her skin ignited wherever he touched: her neck, her arms, her chest. She felt the slight tremble in his hands as he dragged them lower and grabbed the hem of her shirt. He slid the material up, slowly, his palms skimming her flesh and leaving flames in their wake.

He pulled his mouth from hers with a soft groan, his lips hot and moist against her neck and jaw. "Kayli, God...I need you. I need to make love to you. Now."

He pulled her shirt over her head and gently lowered her to the bed, following her down, the weight and heat of his body comforting against hers. The fire raged on, consuming her further, and she fought against it despite the need building inside her.

"The door..." She managed to push the barely audible words past her lips as Ian's hands caressed her, touching, igniting, promising.

"Already locked." Ian abruptly pulled away and stood, his eyes intent on hers as he pulled his shirt off in one quick move. He undid his jeans and pushed them off, his moves slower, his gaze smoldering as he watched her watching him. He sheathed himself with a condom then joined her in the bed, stretching the length of his body next to hers. And still he watched her, his gaze dark, his eyes piercing as he trailed the fingers of one hand from her neck down.

Kayli's back arched and her body tightened, instinctively reacting to his touch. With a harsh breath, Ian rolled over on top of her, capturing her hands with his and stretching them above her head. His eyes held hers as he positioned the hard length of his cock at the entrance to her moist heat.

"I can't wait Kayli. I need you. Now. I need to be inside you. Now." He thrust into her with one fast move, filling her, possessing her. Kayli bit down on her lip to keep from screaming, her eyes closing as her head fell back, intent only on feeling, only on being with Ian.

"Look at me Kayli. Please." The harsh whisper echoed in her ear, demanding. She forced her eyes open, forced them to focus on Ian's face only inches away, even as her body responded to his, meeting his demanding thrusts, demanding in return.

He thrust once more, pushing her to the edge, then stilled, so deep inside her. His eyes held hers, refusing to let her look away, demanding even more than his body. She tightened her hands around his, squeezing, searching for a solid anchor in the sudden maelstrom that threatened to sweep her away.

"Kayli." His lips brushed against hers, the soft touch a direct contrast to the hardness of his body against her, inside her. His eyes blazed in the darkness as he watched her.

She shook her head, not knowing what he wanted, knowing only that he kept her at the edge, that he had the power to hold her back...or send her soaring. Kayli rocked her hips against him, needing to fly, only to have Ian press her more deeply into the mattress. A small shudder went through her, a small promise of what was to come, if only Ian would set her free...

"Kayli." He said her name again, his voice softer yet no less demanding. Ian eased himself out of her, slowly, achingly. His eyes held hers for a long minute then, suddenly, he thrust himself deep inside her in one swift move. "Kayli. I love you."

And she exploded into a million fragments, her body coming apart, her heart taking flight. She thought she told him she loved him, in either a whisper or a scream, she didn't know.

She only knew that she was free, that she was soaring, higher than ever before, with Ian by her side.