Guardian Angel (13 page)

Once Alex reached her room, she could do nothing more than collapse wearily on her bed. She couldn't re
member ever feeling so dra
ined. The most passionate love-
making with Dennis paled in comparison with the hours spent in Jared's arms. It was as if he took her energy from her and gave it back only to take it from her again. Her body tightened in reaction to her thoughts. Refusing to give in, she pushed herself off the bed and headed for the bathroom for a quick shower.

Chris shot her several puzzled glances when she ap
peared for breakfast. Jared had reverted to the congenial host, treating Alex with courtesy and not as the sensual lover of the night before. Rashid wished her a polite good morning, then turned to Jared to ask him several ques
tions. It was as if the outburst of the day before hadn't happened.

Alex was grateful to spend the morning outside instead of in Jared's study. She didn't think she could spend the next few hours in a businesslike atmosphere while memo
ries of the previous night intruded, and they would cer
tainly intrude. She was positive Jared would make sure of that.

Mavis brought out a tray holding a coffee server and a plate of freshly baked sugar cookies. Alex thanked the housekeeper and bit into the chewy cookie. Guard duty had never been so easy.

As the days passed, Jared still maintained a respectful distance, much to Alex's confusion. She spent a lot of sleepless nights recalling the time spent in the barn and later in Jared's bedroom. At first a strange panic overtook her, insisting that it was her fault he hadn't come near her again. At the same time, she reminded herself that was what she wanted and he was only respecting her wishes. Except Alex now found the nights long and solitary.

Jared had kept his promise. The security cameras had been installed. Alex's revised budget would receive a fair review by Walt St. Clair when she returned to L.A. All of this was relayed to her through Chris.

"I think you got off easy," he confided to her one morn
ing.

"Oh?"

"Anyone else who dared to scream at the boss the way you did would turn up in Outer Mongolia. Instead, for
once, he followed orders. That's why I say you're a very lucky lady."

Alex smiled wryly at his words. Was she all that lucky? She was beginning to wonder. Or had she paid for Jared's promise in the form of one night spent in his bed? She had always been very careful to keep her life in tidy little compartments. In the space of a few hours those compart
ments had been thrown into a jumble. She was looking forward to the day when she could return to L.A. and resume her life.

The surprising part was that not once had she consid
ered giving up her job. No, she had run away once before when she left the navy. This time she wouldn't run away. She'd stay and prove to Jared that night was nothing more than a casual coupling and she would continue to think that until she began to believe her own untruths.

One Monday afternoon Alex sat in the study unaware that Jared was studying her profile outlined in the pale winter light. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that it took a while to realize that Jared was laughing and getting up to shake a smiling Rashid's hand. It then took her a few moments longer to understand that Jared and Rashid had finally agreed on a price for the oil wells in question.

"We must celebrate this evening," Rashid announced, smiling brightly at Alex. "At Jared's expense, of course, since I am allowing him to pay me such a paltry sum for my wells."

"Paltry?" His eyebrows rose. "That 'paltry sum' is going to upset my accounting department a great deal."

Rashid continued smiling as he walked over to Alex and lifted her hand to his lips. "You only fared so well, my friend, because I could not truly concentrate on business when I was able to feast my eyes on this beautiful lady,"
he informed Jared all the while keeping his eyes on Alex's face.

She laughed at his elaborate flattery but stopped when she saw Jared's features darkening with what looked like anger. What could have gotten him so upset?

"I know just the place to celebrate." Rashid turned to Jared. "That charming restaurant overlooking the water at Stearns Wharf. I'm sure Madame Page will enjoy it."

"Perhaps, but I won't be required to accompany you, Mr. Kalim, now that the negotiations are over," she said quietly.

"Yes, you will," Jared snapped. "Be ready at six." He turned away and strode out of the room.

With a thoughtful frown marring his handsome face, Rashid watched Jared's leavetaking. "As you would say, Jared seems to be bent out of shape," he commented.

"No," Alex softly contradicted him. "Mr. Templeton never loses his perspective." She preferred to forget the night when he had appeared past all coherent thought.

Having packed little in the way of dressy clothing, Alex didn't have any problem in deciding what to wear.

After a leisurely bubble bath, she smoothed scented body lotion on her skin and washed her hair, then twisted it up into a smooth coil on top of her head.

She slipped on dark purple silk pants and a matching kimono-style jacket with a pale lilac camisole underneath. Dressy while remaining typically California casual.

Jared had also dressed expensively casual in tailored dark gray slacks and a pale gray shirt left open at the throat.

At the restaurant they were ushered to a side dining' room that catered to a more elite clientele. With Chris making a fourth in their party, Alex was seated next to him with Jared seated directly across from her and Rashid on his right.

After the waiter had taken their orders for drinks, Jared asked Chris to explain a few technical matters to Rashid.

Alex listened to the conversation with half an ear while glancing out the window to the dark water lighted by the pleasure craft moored in the harbor and by the streetlamps on the wharf. Feeling an uneasy prickling sensation along her nape, she slowly turned her head to encounter Jared's smoldering eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the direction of his gaze. It was centered on the rounded curve of her breasts, which immediately swelled under his assessing glance. His mental caress slid up to the clean lines of her throat, then moved up to her mouth and remained there. Alex resisted the urge to slide her tongue over her lips, sensing it would be construed as a provocative gesture under the seductive gaze. The silent communication was more potent than words.

When the waiter returned with their drinks, Alex grate
fully accepted her Scotch and water. When she lifted the glass to her lips, Jared continued to watch her actions, and his lazy study of her movements continued throughout the meal.

With each bite of her lobster, his eyes watched the fork rise to her mouth and taste the succulent meat. Alex found it difficult to concentrate on
her food with her silent senti
nel. When she lifted her wineglass, he did likewise. The expression in his eyes was dark and mysterious, but she felt as if he were silently telling her their moves were perfectly matched, the way their bodies matched in a primitive rhythm. With his eyes, his actions, his thoughts, Jared was making love to Alex. He couldn't have affected her any more deeply than if he had physically touched her. She was never more relieved than when the meal was finished.

During the drive back to the ranch Alex sat in the back
seat with Chris and carried on a quiet conversation. It didn't help that each time she looked up she would see Jared's eyes staring in the rearview mirror and watching her. She longed to know why he
was doing this to her, but she
wasn't sure if she would like his answer.

When they reached the house later that evening Alex quietly bade the men a good night and headed for her room.

She had just placed her hand on the doorknob when her name was softly called out. Turning around, she wasn't surprised to see Jared standing behind her. Smiling crookedly, he leaned over and placed a hand on either side of her to prevent escape.

"You knew what to wear tonight, didn't you?" His warm breath, scented with brandy and the cheroots he smoked, wafted over her face. "Something that would drive me out of my mind."

"Did I?" she asked without coyness.

"Sure, you did." His lips were alarmingly close to the corner of one eye. "You knew those pants would lovingly hug that curved derriere of yours and that nothing of a top just barely covers your breasts while screaming to the world you're not wearing a bra." One hand moved down to lightly rest on the curve of her hip, kneading the slick material. "Hmm, French bikini panties too. Quite a potent combination." The tip of his tongue teased the corner of her eye.

Alex closed her eyes under the moist tip trailing her ski
n. Her breath was coming faster
and she could feel her skin warming under the caress.

"You feel it, too, don't you, Alex?" Jared whispered, a strange intensity in his voice.

"I feel nothing," she lied.

He took her hand and placed it just inside his shirt. The uneven thud of his heart was strongly echoing her own
rapid pulse. He moved even closer to her until the lower part of his body was molded to hers. She shivered at the feel of his arousal, knowing she was the cause.

"Purely a physical reaction," she said huskily.

Jared's teeth flashed white in the darkness. His hand moved from her hip to her breast, easily tracing the turgid nipple. "Like this?" He bent his head and circled the silk-covered tip with his tongue. Alex shut her eyes, barely able to suppress the moan that started in the depths of her throat, but Jared heard enough to know she was deeply affected. He now transferred his attention to the other nipple. Swallowing a gasp, Alex's hands tugged at his hair and pulled his head up to hers. Her parted lips with the tip of her tongue at its center was the only invitation he needed.

His hands slid around her back to keep her tightly against him. There was an urgent hunger to his kiss, as if he couldn't get enough of her. His tongue curled around hers, inviting her love play. He wanted to absorb all of her—her taste, her scent, the feel of her. Alex was a willing participant undulating her hips against him in sensual invitation.

Suddenly Jared dragged his mouth away and rested his damp forehead against hers. For a moment all that could be heard was the sound of his ragged breathing in unison with hers.

"Good night, Alex," he finally said. He straightened up, released her, and began to turn away.

She looked up with dazed eyes at this sudden turn of events.

"We'll be flying out of here at ten," he said in a more normal voice. "I trust you'll be ready by then."

A bitter smile touched her lips, although her insides were tied up in fierce knots. "Don't worry, Mr. Temple
ton." Her voice dripped icicles. "I'll be more than ready
to leave here." She spun around, entered the bathroom, and closed the door firmly behind her.

Even a cold shower couldn't banish the pain racking her body. When she finally went to bed, it was a long time before she drifted into a restless sleep, then only to awaken at dawn with a fierce headache. After that, she lay in bed, feeling a new kind of ache take over her body.

Alex awoke later in the morning feeling as if a tank had driven over her. A brief trip to the bathroom and an even briefer look at her pale features in the mirror was enough to send her back to bed. She had no appetite for breakfast.

She was still in bed when an abrupt knock sounded at her door, then flung open without waiting for an invitation to enter.

"Don't tell me you overslept?" Jared demanded, mov
ing over to stand by the bed.

"Go away," Alex groaned, not having the strength even to turn her head to look at him.

Jared's face creased in a frown as he looked down at her. He bent over and carefully cupped her face with his hands to turn her toward him. The heat radiating from her skin was unmistakable.

"You're sick," he exclaimed.

"No kidding," she croaked, lifting a weak hand to brush him away. "Don't worry, I'll be up in time to leave. I just don't want any breakfast."

"You're not going anywhere." His hands felt cool against her face and forehead. He straightened up and walked into the bathroom. The sound of running water could be heard, then it stopped. A moment later Alex could feel a cool, damp cloth bathing her face. "Feel bet
ter?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Do you have any pain?"

"Just in every bone in my body," Alex admitted weari
ly. "I'm thirty-two years old and I'm falling apart already. I guess my warranty ran out. Please don't tell Chris. He's been predicting my downfall for the past year."

A faint smile flickered across Jared's face. "If you can retain your sense of humor, you're doing all right. I guar
antee the last thing happening to you is your falling apart."

"Please, just go away and let me die in peace," she begged.

"Don't get any ideas of leaving that bed," he ordered, walking toward the door. "I'll send Mavis in with some juice. You're to stay there until I say otherwise." The door closed quietly behind him.