Secret Gifts (Steamy Version) (8 page)

“For this moment.” Megan squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the intensity in her core. “I really…don’t want you to behave.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, one of Gage’s hands left her chest and slid past the waistband of her pants. One finger pushed the elastic of her panties aside. “You are so hot,” he whispered gruffly as his finger pushed inside her. “Now come for me.”

No sooner was the command out of his mouth than Megan felt her body tighten. His lips crushed hers while his fingers continued their dance on her hot spots, until soon she couldn’t control herself. She pulled her mouth away from his, tilted her head back and moaned her release as she shattered around him.

It took her a minute to come back to reality. And in that time, Gage had detangled himself from her. It was a soft kiss to her neck that made her open her eyes again to look at Gage.

“I don’t…” she started. “I mean, I…”

His slow, sexy smile spread across his gorgeous face. “No need to say anything. I didn’t want to behave and you looked like you could use a little misbehaving yourself.”

She did a double take at his words. Confusion and a little anger that surprised her swirled through her. “I did,” she said. “I mean, I…” Megan straightened up and smoothed her blouse down. “I shouldn’t have done that. I have a job to do and—”

“You’re still telling yourself that?” He cocked an eyebrow and stared into her eyes, challenging her. “That this is still
just
a job?”

What an arrogant asshole. Wasn’t he the one who’d just done…well, done what he’d done? Dammit. Megan turned away, unable to look at him. Heat and anger washed through her. But who was she really angry at? It wasn’t a hard question to answer.

“Are you kidding me?” She finally managed to force out the words through clenched teeth. “It’s my job to keep your dumb ass out of trouble. And despite what just happened, what shouldn’t have just happened,” she amended quickly, despite the fact that she didn’t believe it herself, “our relationship is purely professional. Period.” She spat out the last word and turned away from him.

He was so quiet Megan thought he must have left. She couldn’t decide whether that would be a good thing or not. She poured herself a cup of coffee, cursing her hand for shaking the pot and spilling over her hand.

She knew the moment he walked away to retreat back to his stool at the eating bar. The air around her felt empty, missing something. Megan wiped her hand off, and took her time to add cream and sugar to her coffee and waited for him to say something.

Finally he spoke. “How do you know?” His voice was calm, but there was the same hard edge she’d heard in him the night before when she’d interrupted his call.

She turned slowly. “Pardon me? How do I know what?”

He looked her square in the eye and said, “How do you know I didn’t mess up last night? Just because you didn’t find her here doesn’t mean a thing.”

His words, combined with the cold delivery, the meaning loaded behind them and the aftermath of what they’d just done lingering in the air, hit her square in the chest and she took a step back, sloshing more hot coffee on her hand.

“Screw you, Gage Mitchell.” Megan slammed her cup down, ignoring the coffee that splashed across the counter. She wiped her hand on her sweater as she stormed out, only remembering to grab her cell phone at the last minute.

It took her at least thirty minutes to walk off the steam that had built to the exploding point. She’d purposely steered away from the pathways that led to the main buildings and the village with the shops. She didn’t want to run in to anybody. She’d only barely cooled off when she realized she was on her second loop of the wooded path. Megan knew she should go back. It wasn’t professional to blow up at clients. Especially huge, important ones. Of course, it wasn’t professional to have inappropriate feelings about clients, let alone act on them. She never should have done that, or let him do that, or…whatever. It didn’t matter if it felt good. More than good. God, it had been so long since— No. It didn’t matter. Her job was on the line and she’d never crossed that professional line before. And no matter what she was feeling for Gage Mitchell, it wasn’t worth it. Especially considering he clearly didn’t feel anything and was a first-class asshole.

She kicked at a clump of dirt and wished it was Gage or maybe Ryan. Or any man who had somehow managed to screw things up for her in the last seventy-two hours. But it wasn’t their fault. Not if she was really being honest with herself. She knew exactly who Gage was and what he was like, and allowing herself to forget that, even for a moment, was stupid. And she wasn’t going to let Ryan and his hurt feelings ruin her career. It wasn’t a suicide mission. They’d been at the Lodge for almost two full days and Gage hadn’t done anything the tabloids would care about. Not even Lisa would rate much more than a few lines in the gossip column. So far, Megan had managed to steer him away from scandal. And as long as she could hold on for a few more days, everything would be fine. She’d keep her job and she could handle Ryan later.

She turned around and headed back the way she’d come, back to the suite. All she had to do was keep Gage out of trouble, out of her head and far away from her body.

As far as Gage was concerned, there was no way he was going to be there when she got back. He’d been a total asshole. It’s not as if he’d meant to. Well, he’d definitely meant to kiss her and touch her and make her lose control—oh yes, he’d meant to do that. But he really hadn’t meant to be a total jerk afterwards. Dammit. He liked Megan, a lot. And that pissed him off because there was no way that could happen.

Immediately after Megan stormed out, he’d grabbed a jacket and taken off, careful to go in the opposite direction. He had no idea where he’d go; after all, it wasn’t like Castle Mountain Lodge had a ton of options.

He stalked through the trails, heading away from the main building, and when he got to the village with its cute little stores and cafes, he shuddered. He was trapped, and for the first time since he’d arrived, he actually felt that way. Megan had made the Lodge and the mountains seem like an adventure and climbing the day before had been amazing. Maybe if he found Bo, he could convince him to take him out again.

A sign for staff lodging caught his attention. “Perfect.”

He only had to walk for a few more minutes, down a much smaller pathway, clearly designed to keep guests from wandering down it. When Gage arrived at what looked to be a small compound, with low apartment buildings built in a circle around a common courtyard area, he smiled. With the fire pit, the horseshoes, and the basketball net hanging off the front of one of the buildings, it actually looked like a fun place to live and maybe if he was younger, and not Gage Mitchell, he would have liked to live there.

A different lifetime, he thought and headed across the lawn to a small group of people who were perched on a picnic table, enjoying the morning sun.

“Good morning,” Gage said. “Sorry to interrupt.”

He saw the looks of recognition on their faces as they turned around at his voice. One of the girls giggled and a blond man jumped up and stamped out his cigarette as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t.

“Hi,” the guy said. “Good morning, Mr.—“

“Call me Gage.”

“Okay.” The guy glanced around at his friends. “What can I help you with this morning? You’re not lost, are you? This is the staff quarters and—“

Gage laughed. “Seriously, I know. I’m looking for someone.”

“Oh.” The girl who’d giggled spoke up. “Are you looking for Lisa? She has a day off today, so she’s—“

Gage tried not to shudder at what Lisa had likely told her friends about them. Especially after he’d shut down her advances the night before. He’d been angry. At his sister, at Megan, and mostly at his life, and he’d definitely been in a mindset to make stupid decisions. Lisa had been in the right place at the right time but at least he’d been smart enough not to make a stupid decision.

He made sure his emotions didn’t show—he was an actor, after all—and smiled at the girl. “I’m sure I’ll see Lisa later. But right now I’m actually looking for Bo.”

“Bo doesn’t live here, man,” the blond man said. “He and Morgan live in the caretaker’s house.”

“Where’s that?”

“Just down that path.” Gage looked to where he was pointing. “But you won’t find him there now. He was heading out for an expedition trek with a group. He’ll be back tomorrow, I think. Is there anything you need? Maybe I can help.”

Disappointed, Gage kicked at the ground a moment. “No,” he said. “I was just looking for something to do today.”

“Maybe I can help you with that.”

Gage spun around at Lisa’s voice. How she’d heard he was there, he had no idea, and while he definitely wasn’t seeking her out, maybe she could be a distraction.

“I have the day off,” she said. “And I know some fun things to do around here. As long as your…what did you call her again? Yes, your babysitter,” she said the word with a grin that Gage recognized as trouble, “won’t mind.”

Megan’s face flashed through his mind. Yesterday, there was nothing more he’d like than to spend another day with Megan; hell, even after this morning in the kitchen. Oh yes, he’d like to spend a lot more time with her. But that had been a mistake. He couldn’t even say why he’d done it, except seeing her in the kitchen, talking about his career as if she gave a damn, turned him on and he couldn’t stop himself. He’d needed to touch her.

But it wasn’t real. Megan only cared because her career was on the line. It would serve her right if she couldn’t find him for a bit. After all, hadn’t she just been talking with her agency about what a train wreck he was? It might be good to give her something to worry about for a little while.

“You know what?” He reached out and ran a finger down Lisa’s arm, causing her face to light up in expectation. “I think that sounds like a great idea. Where are we headed?”

Lisa glanced at her friends and grinned before looping her arm through Gage’s. She led him away, headed towards the forest, and yet another trail. “It’s a surprise,” she said. “But I think you’re going to like it.”

After a quick stop in the kitchen to grab water bottles and snacks from the head chef, Bruno, Lisa took them on a trail that led away from the main pathways, and after only a few minutes became even less traveled. Gage wasn’t used to hiking, let alone on a rocky path with roots sticking up and he tripped a few times, catching himself before falling on his face. Lisa laughed every time, and after the third time, it started to irritate him.

“You know,” he said to her back as they hiked up. “I’m not used to this type of thing, but I’m glad you find it so funny.”

She stopped, and he almost smacked into her since he was looking down. “I’m sorry,” she said. He scanned her face, and decided her apology was genuine. “I’ve been up here so long, I sometimes forget not everyone gets to hike as much as I do.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay, honestly. I’m just not used to struggling with something.”

She laughed. “Oh, you’re not struggling. You should see some of the people who come up here. You actually look like a pro.” She winked at him, and leaned in for a kiss but at the last minute, Gage bent down.

“Maybe that’s why I keep tripping,” he said. “My lace is untied.” He heard her sigh while he took his time double knotting his laces. When he stood up, he dusted off his hands and said, “Let’s go. I can’t wait to see what the surprise is.”

She gave him a look, but didn’t say anything.

Gage followed behind, taking in the scenery and it wasn’t long before Lisa started chatting again. “This is the most beautiful place on earth, don’t you think?”

“I honestly don’t know,” Gage said. “I haven’t been many places.”

“What?” She flipped her blond hair around and looked at him for a second, but didn’t quit walking. “I can’t believe that a big movie star like you hasn’t traveled. Isn’t that one of the perks of being rich and famous?”

Gage laughed but it came out bitter. “I guess it should be a perk,” he said. Truthfully, he hadn’t stopped to consider the perks of fame, at least, not past the money he’d be able to earn. That was his only focus, and the real reason he accepted the role in
Extinction
. The fact that there might be drawbacks definitely hadn’t been a consideration. Although, in hindsight, it probably should have been. “But there hasn’t been any time to travel. This is my first vacation since Extinction started filming. It’s been pretty wild. I didn’t even go to the UK premiere because
Tumbleweed
started filming that week.”

“That’s crazy. But at least you find some time to have a little fun in the middle of all that working, right?” She tossed the words back over her shoulder, and added an extra sway to her hips that Gage certainly didn’t miss.

He knew exactly the fun she was referring to—hell, the whole world knew. It’d been well chronicled, that was for sure. Gage hadn’t been totally naive; he knew there’d be media attention and reporters. But what he hadn’t counted on was the paparazzi following his every move, reporting on who he was with and what they were doing. Even going so far as to report on what he was eating and drinking. And he certainly gave them a lot to report on. The familiar wave of shame rose up in him, but he pushed it down, unwilling to mar his day with regret.

“I’m not complaining,” he said after awhile, no longer sure what he was responding to. But it was true; he wouldn’t complain. Fame had given him exactly what he’d needed; money to pay for his mom’s treatments. Fame had saved her life, and wrecked his.

“Of course you’re not,” Lisa said, totally oblivious of his internal turmoil. “Except I’m sure there are drawbacks, like that woman who follows you around. That would totally suck.”

He thought of Megan and the fun they’d had the day before, the feel of her hand in his. The taste of her kiss. “It doesn’t totally suck,” he said.

“Whatever.” Lisa snorted. “I can’t see how it wouldn’t, but I guess you get used to things, right?”

Gage was saved from answering, because right then they stepped out of the forest and into a clearing. The smell of rotten eggs was overpowering and he pulled the hem of his t-shirt up and over his face.