Double Jeopardy (6 page)

Mrs. Peace gave Chloe an odd look, but she
held her tongue. In all honesty, Chloe didn’t want the housekeeper
to see her meager possessions.

“This way Mrs. McKenzie,” the woman said and
turned to go inside the house.

“Please call me Chloe.”

She nodded. “Chloe, then.”

“Have you lived here long?” Chloe asked.

“Mr. McKenzie hired my husband and me when he
bought the ranch last year. My husband is the foreman. We live in a
little cabin toward the back of the property.”

“I saw another cabin up by the barn. Who
lives there?”

“The hands live there. So they can get to the
animals quickly if need be.”

The wood floors in the house were all
polished to a sheen. The furniture was overstuffed and colorful
rugs were scattered throughout. Paintings of native landscapes hung
on the walls, and fresh flowers decorated the tables, giving the
house a fresh smell.

Mrs. Peace showed Chloe to a large bedroom on
the second floor. The bed was big enough for a family a four and
covered by a patchwork quilt in shades of blue and green.

“It’s a lovely room,” Chloe said.

“If you want to wash up, I’ll get your supper
ready.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Peace.”

She nodded and left the room.

When Chloe entered the kitchen a few minutes
later her stomach was growling painfully. The sinful smells from
the stove were promising and she sat down at the large oak table
with eagerness. Mrs. Peace sat a heaping plate in front of her and
a cold glass of buttermilk within easy reach.

Chloe had just picked up her fork when the
front door opened and the screen door slammed. Heavy footsteps
echoed across the wood, and a deep voice called out.

“Mrs. Peace?” the stranger called.

“In the kitchen, Mr. Bradford.”

Mr. Bradford?
Chloe wondered. He was
obviously comfortable in the McKenzie house whoever he was.

“One of the hands mentioned a strange car had
driven up. I thought maybe…” His sentence tapered off as he caught
sight of Chloe at the table. “I thought maybe Billy had finally
made it back.”

“Not yet,” Mrs. Peace said. “Sit down and
I’ll fix you a plate.”

He moved across the kitchen like a predatory
animal, his eyes never leaving Chloe’s. He sat down across from
her. “Then whose car is out front?”

“Mrs. McKenzie’s,” she said as she put the
plate in front of him.

“You’re Billy’s wife?” he asked, obviously
surprised. It made Chloe wonder if this man knew of Antoine’s
sexual preferences.

“Yes. I’m Chloe. Billy will be here in a few
weeks. Once his business is finished.” She name rolled off her
tongue with difficulty. It didn’t sound natural. He stared at her a
little longer, and she couldn’t help but stare back. His hair was
dark blonde and streaked with the sun. His face was weathered and
tanned, and a darker shade of blonde stubbled across his cheeks and
chin. But it was his eyes that held her captive. They were pure
grey. And she recognized the look in them as she fought the urge to
squirm in her seat to relieve the pressure building in her
loins.

He finally took his fork and began to eat,
and she did the same. Chloe didn’t know how many minutes had
passed, but she realized as she looked around that Mrs. Peace was
nowhere in sight.

“Ranch life is hard,” he said to break the
silence. “You have city hands.”

Chloe lifted her brow at the challenge. “I’m
a fast learner, Mr. Bradford. I know how to work hard.”

“You can call me Jack. I own the neighboring
ranch, and I’ve been helping out here until Billy gets back.”

“So you and Billy are…friends?” she asked
meeting his gaze directly.

“Yes. Good friends.” There was heat in his
gaze, and a vision of Jack and Antoine filled her mind with
explicit clarity.

“He’s lucky to have someone like you.”

“I think I can say the same.” He pushed his
plate back and stood to leave.

Chloe devoured every inch of him with her
eyes. He was tall. Taller than even Lucien had been. His clothes
were dusty with the days work, but they were in good repair. He
turned back at the kitchen door and caught her appraisal. And
obvious approval. He smiled, showing straight white teeth and a
hint of dimples.

“You say you’re a fast learner and not afraid
to work hard. Do you want to learn to ride?”

Chloe’s breath expelled in a gush of air, and
she went lightheaded at the double meaning. She squeezed her thighs
together and knew her nipples stood proudly against the thin cotton
of her dress.

“Yes. I would like to learn to ride.”

He nodded with satisfaction. “I’ll see you in
the morning then.”

Chapter Nine

As good as his word, Jack showed up the next
morning to teach Chloe to ride and show her the workings of the
ranch. Mrs. Peace had dug out a pair of men’s trousers for her and
old boots for her to ride in. They were a little snug through the
hips, but the way Jack followed her every move made her revel in
the attention.

For five weeks he took her out for a morning
ride. She learned how to mend fences and herd the cattle. She went
to her bed at night sore from working and incredibly frustrated.
She had only her fingers to relieve the pressure. Jack’s heated
looks and casual touches were making her crazy. But he never made
his move. And she began to wonder if unlike Antoine, Jack’s
interests didn’t lie in both directions like she’d originally
thought.

When she came back to the house after her
daily rides with Jack, Mrs. Peace always had lunch waiting for her.
But one afternoon there was something else waiting for her instead.
A packet of letters had been delivered from the postman.

Her hands grew damp with anticipation as she
saw the large one on top addressed to her. It had to be from
Antoine. She washed her hands at the sink and left her plate
untouched as she took the mail up to the privacy of her room.

She opened the packet with trembling fingers
and read Antoine’s slanted scrawl. It wasn’t long, but there was a
world of emotion in the short paragraph.

My Dearest Chloe,

I write to you with the taste of your quim
still sweet on my lips and wanting you with a desire that makes me
hard for your touch. The love I have for you makes the days ahead
of me easier. Lucien has extended his stay in Chicago, and I’ve had
to change my plans. Do not fear. He will be stopped. I will give my
life to make sure of it if necessary. And Chloe, I do believe it
might be necessary. A part of me wishes I had gotten you with child
in our short time together so part of me can live on. A man’s
legacy is important. But have no worry of me. If my life shall end
know that we will meet again in the next life. Our love will endure
and I’ll be inside you once again. Don’t feel sorrow for me. Live
your life as you were meant—with joy and passion. I hope these
things find you soon.

Love always,

A

Despite his instructions, Chloe couldn’t help
but shed tears. She dried her eyes and went through the rest of the
packet. There were several legal papers—the deed to the ranch,
Antoine’s bank account numbers so she’d have access to his funds,
and a forged marriage certificate waiting for her signature. There
was also a will inside bequeathing the land to any children they
might have produced and the house to her. There was no hope of
children with Antoine. She’d bought a diaphragm from Sears after
the first time she’d had sex with Lucien. She read on to the end of
the will and saw that all of the breeding horses would go to Jack
Bradford. It was enough to prove to Chloe that Jack had been
something important to Antoine.

If Antoine was dead, then that meant that
Lucien was not. And Lucien wasn’t the kind of man to let someone
get away with betrayal. Not even his lover. Which meant that Lucien
could be looking for her too. She decided to ask Mrs. Peace if
there was an extra pistol in the house. She’d keep it in the drawer
of the table next to her bed and keep a knife under her mattress.
It was better to be safe than sorry. She just hoped she’d have the
courage to use them if the time came.

Chloe put the papers in the bedroom safe—the
combination had been in the papers Antoine had sent. She laid down
on the bed and thought of Antoine. It was his face she saw as she
drifted to sleep.

Dark had fallen by the time Chloe awoke.

She went to the bathroom and washed the sleep
from her eyes and combed her hair. She’d gotten used to wearing
trousers over the last weeks and decided they were much more
comfortable than dresses, so she pulled on a fawn colored pair and
a white man’s shirt and made her way downstairs in search of
food.

The house was empty, but there was a plate of
cold cuts and cheese in the ice box. A load of bread sat in the
cupboard, so she cut off two slices and made herself a sandwich.
She’s just swallowed the last bite when she heard the familiar
sound of boots on the front porch.

“You’re out late,” she said as she opened the
screen door and joined him on the front porch. He held his hat in
his hand and slapped it softly against his thigh.

“Mrs. Peace told me the mail came today. Any
word from Billy?”

“He sent some personal papers to me. And a
letter.”

“Is he coming back?”

“I don’t think so,” Chloe answered softly.
“His…business didn’t go the way he thought it would.”

“It was his chance to take,” Jack said. “He
always knew there were risks involved.”

“You know?”

“Yes. And I know if he sent you here it was
because you were special to him.”

Jack’s calloused hand grasped hers and pulled
her to the porch swing, and she sat down close beside him. He
pushed the swing with his foot and they swayed back and forth in
the dark—in silence.

His hand still held hers and his thumb rubbed
erotic circles on the inside of her wrist. Chloe closed her eyes
and leaned back her head against the back of the swing, savoring
his touch. Her breath hitched as she felt the coolness of his
breath against her neck. She turned her head automatically to meet
his lips.

They were soft against her. Undemanding. He
kissed the corners then moved down the line of her jaw to the lobe
of her ear. She moaned as he caught the flesh between his teeth and
bit gently.

“I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw
you,” he said roughly.

“I know. I’ve waited for you to take me. But
you never did. I thought you only wanted An…Billy.”

“I wanted to see how long you could resist my
touches. I knew I was making you wet with the way you were
squirming in the saddle.”

“Beast,” she said on a laugh. “It was
torture.”

The swing stopped moving and Jack lifted her
so she lay across his body. It didn’t take any more encouragement
for her to find his lips on her own. She ran her fingers through
his hair as their tongues warred for possession. His taste was bold
and a little spicy, and he stroked every inch of her mouth,
savoring it all.

Chloe shifted in his lap until her legs
straddled each side of his legs. The bulge under his trousers was
unlike anything she’d every felt before as she rubbed her clit
against him. He made fast work of unbuttoning her shirts and
pushing it off her shoulders. She dropped it to the floor behind
her and arched backward as his lips trailed down her throat to her
camisole covered breasts.

She moaned as his hot mouth found her nipple
under the thin cloth and began to suckle.

“God, you’re so hot in my arms,” he said.
“You burn me.”

Chloe pulled his shirt up over his taut
stomach and over his head. “Let’s go inside. I want to feel all of
you. The hands sometimes check the grounds after dark.”

“No. Right here.”

The thrill of being discovered shot straight
to Chloe’s core. She kissed him again as she begged him to hurry.
He pulled at her trousers while she did the same to him. His
erection stood tall against his stomach, thicker around than
anything she’d ever had inside her before and slightly curved.

“Mmm, so big.” Chloe took him in her hand,
pleased that she couldn’t touch her thumb and finger around him. “I
can’t wait to taste you.” She moved off of him to kneel down, but
he stopped her.

“Not tonight. I need you too bad.”

He pulled her up and ripped the straps of her
camisole so it slithered to her feet and she was completely naked
before him. He took her nipple in his mouth once again and settled
her over his cock. She felt the tip of him at her entrance, and she
wondered if she’d be able to take him all even though she was wet.
She pushed down and moaned as the bulbous head entered her. She was
already stretched as wide as she could go.

“Fuck,” he moaned and threw his head back.
“You’re so damned tight.”

Chloe pushed down further and then worked her
way back up, spreading her moisture over his shaft, and then taking
him deeper as she pushed down again. She circled her hips as she
worked her way up and down, finally taking him completely inside of
her. He stretched her to capacity. It felt incredible. And then she
began to ride.

He grabbed her hips tightly and moved her up
and down on his shaft, the gentle curve of his cock hitting a place
inside her that had never been touched before. She ground against
him and moaned as he took her nipple between his teeth and bit.

She screamed out her pleasure and she never
felt the orgasm coming. It shattered her from the inside out,
consuming every part of her body. Jack took her mouth in a searing
kiss to stifle her shouts. And his. She felt his cock expand as he
ejaculated inside her, wave after wave of hot come that pulsed
against her inner walls and sent mini-orgasms wracking her
body.