Slow Hand (16 page)

Nikki seemed his match in almost every way that mattered. She was smart and sexy as hell but most importantly, she made him laugh. Made him forget. He loved her smile and her Southern sass. Not that he could ever forget her sweet womanly ass or the way she gazed up at him with her beautiful passion-filled eyes, with her silky brown hair splayed out on the pillow as he drove into her. He wanted to go to bed with her and wake up and make love to her all the hours in between. Hell, he was getting hard again just thinking about her. He didn't recall any other woman who'd ever affected him this way.

When he drove into the yard, he saw Allie's Escalade. He was filled with relief that the deal was still on the table but dreaded having to smooth her ruffled feathers after walking out on her. Not wanting to wake anyone, Wade pulled off his boots at the door and crept up the stairs to his room, scowling at the crack of light shining under his door.
She
wouldn't
. He turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Hell
yeah, she would
. Allie was in his bed.

She threw down her copy of
Cosmo
and cocked a brow. “Fun night?”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“You said we'd talk when you got back.” She flashed an overbright smile. “Well, now you're back.”

“It's one a.m.”

“You walked out on me today. I didn't appreciate that, Wade. Are you just eager to score a new piece of ass or is all this just payback because I was pissed and wouldn't let you stay the other night? Either way, you didn't have to take it that far. All you really had to do was ask me nicely.”

“I shouldn't have to beg for favors like a lapdog, Allie.”

“All right, maybe I took a few things for granted,” she conceded. “But now that we've cleared the air, let's just put all this behind us. Come to bed now, baby.” She patted the space beside her. “I'm willing to kiss and make up now. And make-up sex is always the best kind.”

“I don't think so.”

“What do you mean?” Her eyes flickered with disbelief.

“C'mon, Allie. You and I both know this is going nowhere and that's no good for either of us.”

“What do you mean going nowhere? We have an ideal alliance, Wade. Daddy's retiring soon and—”

“If I ever marry again, it'll be for a
wife
, not an
alliance
, and if I take over the firm, it'll be by merit not nepotism.”

She licked her lips with a nervous laugh. “But what is marriage if not the ultimate partnership?”

Wade shook his head. “Look, Allie, you're a beautiful woman. I respect your intelligence and your drive, but those aren't the qualities I want in a long-term relationship.”

She rose naked from the bed, approaching him with a sway of her lithe hips. “You never complained about our kind of relationship before. You're not thinking clearly, Wade. You have your future to consider. Once you've unloaded this money-sucking ranch and move back to Denver—”

“But that's just it, Allie. I
am
thinking about my future now. For the first time in a long while I'm thinking about what I want from life.”

“And you'll have it all. In Denver. With me.”

“I'm not sure that's what I want.”

“But it's all we've talked about for years,” she insisted.

“No,” he said. “It's all
you've
talked about. I was always ambivalent about the idea at best.”

“But Wade. Baby,” she was
almost
pleading. “It only makes
sense
for us to be together. Imagine what you could achieve with Daddy's connections. A few years in Denver and you could even pursue the political career you've talked about.”

Shit. How he hated this
. Although she had her faults, Allie had been a friend when friends were scarce. He took her gently by the shoulders. “Allie, I'm sorry. It was never my intent to hurt you—”

Her green eyes flashed. “Then don't!”

“—but we both just need to move on now.” Even as he apologized, he knew it was only stung pride. She didn't love him any more than he loved her.

“You'll regret this big-time once she's gone and you aren't thinking with your prick anymore.”

“This goes much deeper than just Nikki and you know it.”

“I don't think so,” she said. “Everything was fine before. C'mon, Wade, I've accepted your punitive damages with grace.” She came closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Can't we just start over?”

He gently uncoiled her arms. “No, Allie. We're going in different directions. We don't want the same things.”

“What things? Success? Financial freedom? Tell me who
doesn't
want those things? Especially these days?”

“How about love…affection…family?”

Her gaze wavered. For the first time in their acquaintance she looked unsure of herself.

“Family? You mean
kids
? Is that what this is about? That I don't want kids?” She gave a sigh of capitulation. “If I'd known that was a deal-breaker for you—”

“Deal-breaker? You just don't get it at all.”

“Oh, I get it all right.” She retreated a step, hugging herself. “I just thought you were more intelligent. Three days ago Little Miss Peaches comes along and suddenly you have visions of the stay-at-home wife and one-point-five kids? I had no idea you clung to such ridiculous fantasies of domestic bliss—especially given how things worked out for you the
first
time.”

“You
don't
want to go there,” he growled. “Please just accept that we're done, Allie.”

“Fine,” she answered tightly. “Have it your way.” She snatched up her robe from the foot of the bed, jerked her arms into it, and then stood with her back to him for several minutes. Thank God, no false tears materialized. After a protracted silence she asked, “What about the deal?”

Wade shook his head. This was Allie after all. The woman was hard as nails. “I think we should take the deal and run,” he said. “I don't expect Dirk will change his mind, but I'll talk to the ol' man in the morning.”

“Good.” She made her exit with a tight smile. “I'm glad to know you're still
capable
of thinking with your
brain
.”

Chapter 15

Nikki awoke to a sharp thump on the door. She rolled over to look at the clock and groaned.
Nine
a.m.?
She never slept that late!
Damn.
She should have been up hours ago. FedEx might even have delivered her license by now. She hauled herself out of bed and peered through the peep hole. There was Wade holding two steaming cups of coffee and balancing on one leg as he prepared to thump the door with his boot again.

She raked her hands through her hair, knowing it was a futile effort. At least he'd already seen her at her worst. She pulled the chain, flipped the dead bolt, and opened the door.

“Did I wake you? Sorry about that,” he said with a sheepish look. “My hands were full.” He handed her a coffee and stared disparagingly at her Bulldogs T-shirt. “Sweetheart, that ugly-ass bulldog's gotta go.”

“Doesn't do it for you?” She gave him a coy look. “Should I just take it off?”

“Not if you want to get anything done today.” He set the coffee down to nuzzle her neck.

“Why's that?” she asked already growing breathless with lust. “You'd hold me hostage here?”

“Something like that.” He smirked. “I have rope in the truck.”

Her brows pulled together. “Rope?”

His grin broadened. “Yeah. It comes in handy from time to time. There's all kinds of interesting things I can do with rope, but I guess it'll have to wait till another time. I've got some business to take care of today, and so do you.”

“Lemme just shower. I'll be quick,” she said, and slipped into the bathroom. She opened the door again, just wide enough to toss the T-shirt at him.

He caught it with one hand. “I'll probably burn this, you know.”

“Then what will I sleep in?”

“Nothing's fine with me, but if that doesn't suit I'll get you anything you like from Victoria's Secret. I'll take you when we go back to Bozeman.”

Toothbrush in mouth, she stuck her head out again. “While I appreciate your generosity, when I return to Bozeman, it'll more than likely be to the airport, not to the mall.”

“Speaking of that…” He suddenly stood in the doorway, she caught his gaze in the mirror as it slid down to linger on her ass with a wistful look, before sliding back up to meet her face in the mirror. “Are you sure you want to be in such a hurry to go back to Georgia?”

She stole another look at him and their gazes caught in the mirror. She swallowed hard, almost choking on toothpaste when he flashed that heart-stopping grin. Wade's smile warmed her to the core. His laugh sent ripples to her belly.
Dear
God, the things he did with his mouth
. It was all she could do to keep herself in check every time he looked at her.

I've got it
bad.

This was infatuation of the worst possible kind—the kind that could be so easily mistaken for something deeper, the kind that had the power to devastate her.

He cupped her ass and applied a lingering kiss to her bare shoulder. His warm lips sent a ripple of pleasure through her followed by something more—something that made her chest feel tight. She turned and planted her palms on his chest, pushing him toward the door. “I—I need to get dressed now.”

* * *

Iris handed Nikki an express package from the Georgia Department of Driver's Services the moment she entered Wade's office. She received it with mixed feelings. Now that she had her license she could finally attend to the matter that brought her to Montana to begin with. With Wade's help she should be able to get everything taken care of and be on a plane by the weekend. As much as it hurt to think about leaving, the sooner she returned to Atlanta, the better. Every hour spent with Wade only made leaving him harder. Shaking off these thoughts, she tore the envelope open and scowled at the horrible mug shot.

“You see. It's me, Nicole Marie Powell.” She waved her license under Wade's nose. “Am I now
authenticated
to your satisfaction? Can I
finally
take care of what brought me here?”

“It'll do.” He gave her a grim nod. Nikki noted the shift in demeanor that occurred the moment they'd walked into his office. He continued with no sign of the teasing glint she'd become so accustomed to. “The first order of business is obtaining a death certificate so you can properly dispose of your father's remains. Iris should be able to help expedite that process.”

“Sure, Wade,” his assistant answered. “I'll be glad to help.”

“Thanks.” He turned back to Nikki. “I've got a number of things to take care of at the courthouse and then I'll be back to read you the will.”

“So formal all of a sudden,
Counselor
?” she teased. “Is this because you've exchanged your cowboy hat for your lawyer hat?”

“Something like that,” he replied “Since I'm now working for you,
Miz
Powell
, there is indeed a protocol to follow. I'll be back in an hour or two.”

Puzzled by this abrupt about-face, Nikki watched his departure with a hollow feeling in her chest. Iris pursed her lips with a knowing head shake.

“He knows you're leaving soon and doesn't like it. Not one bit. He hasn't taken any real interest in anyone since—”

“Rachel?” Nikki volunteered.

“So he told you about that, did he?” She didn't look too surprised. “He doesn't like to talk about her, you know.”

“I can't imagine he does, given the circumstances.”

“It says a lot that he told
you
.” She gave Nikki a conspiratorial smile.

Nikki wondered once more if there really could be more to his feelings than she was willing to let herself believe. If only she had more time to find out. But two thousand miles distance was impossible to ignore.

“Iris, do you think we can see about that death certificate now?”

“Sure thing,” Iris replied. “Usually the process takes several days, but Wade has influence with a number of people in Helena. The man has more charm than should be legal. But I guess you know that.” She winked. “If I fax a request with his signature, we should get an official copy for the mortuary in a day or two.”

* * *

Wade left his office in a black mood. What the hell was wrong with him to be in such a funk over a woman he'd known for all of four days? Truth is, he hadn't even realized how empty his life was until she'd come along and burrowed into that hollow spot he didn't know existed. She'd be leaving in a matter of days, and suddenly, how to deal with that was his biggest dilemma.

For the longest time he'd thought much like Allie—that professional and financial success would bring contentment—but it never had. There was always a bigger case or a more lucrative deal to chase. If he let ambition and avarice take hold in his life he'd never have enough. Material possessions and professional achievements offered little more than empty promises of happiness. He had his parents to thank for that bit of clarity. They'd ridden the trail together for almost forty years in a strong and happy marriage. Deep down he wanted the same thing, but had given up hope of ever having it after making such a fuckup of his marriage with Rachel. But they'd never really stood a chance with a relationship built on lies. She'd said her vows to one man while secretly pining for another. A lasting relationship had to be built on truth, honesty, and trust.

Trust. That thought brought him back to Nikki. He'd done his damnedest to earn hers, but sensed she still held back. He understood her guardedness but still wished he could pound the shit out of every one of the assholes who'd made her so wary of men.

“Where's Nikki?” Wade asked Iris when he returned to his office. He felt a surge of irrational panic in discovering her gone. “I told her I'd be reviewing the will with her when I got back.”

“She went over to Wells Fargo,” Iris replied. “Now that she has her ID, she said she was going to get some cash to pay you back, and then see about replacing her credit cards so she can rent a car.”

“There's no need for her to do all that when I'm happy to drive her.”

For some strange reason the idea rankled him. Maybe he'd just gotten used to being needed, or maybe it was the novelty of it after three years of Allie, but he liked taking care of Nikki.

“I don't think she likes depending on you so much, Wade. She strikes me as an independent kinda gal, one used to taking care of herself.”

“Maybe more than she should have to,” Wade remarked almost to himself.

Thinking it better to handle the will outside of the office, he grabbed the documents and a couple of sets of keys, jammed everything in his coat pockets, and made a beeline for the bank.

“Hey, Jane!” He greeted the branch manager with a smile. His mood instantly lightened at the sight of Nikki. “Did you get everything taken care of for Miz Powell?”

“I think so,” Jane replied.

“They've been wonderful,” Nikki gushed. “I've got the cash I need to repay you and a replacement debit card. I don't think I'll need anything else until I get home. Thanks again, Jane,” Nikki finished. She stood and gathered up her things.

“If you do need anything else, all you have to do is ask,” Wade said.

“I appreciate that.” Nikki gave him a rueful look. “But I've taken advantage of you far too much already.”

“It's not like that, sweetheart. I haven't done anything for you I didn't
want
to do.”

“No matter how you want to wrap it, I've still been an imposition on you.”

He grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. “You are not hearing me, Nikki. Your so-called imposition has been the best thing that's happened to me in years.”

“You can't mean that,” she said.

“Yeah.” He grinned. “I do. All work and no play makes Wade a dull boy.”

“Are you finished at your office now?” she asked.

“For a while. I didn't have anything pressing. I also had Iris move a few appointments to next week so I can help you settle your father's estate.”

“Estate?” She laughed. “Is that what they call a pickup truck and travel trailer in Montana? The last I heard that was the sum of his worldly possessions.”

“That so? Well, there may be a bit more than you think,” he answered vaguely.

“What do you mean?”

“While I wish I could, I can't put this off any longer.” He pressed his hand to the small of her back. “C'mon. Let's take a drive. There's something you need to see.”

As they drove north on Highway 287 toward Sheridan, Nikki lost herself again in the majesty of the snowcapped mountains and endless acres of grassy pastures where cattle and horses contentedly grazed. She wondered what it would be like to make a life in such a rugged place. Could she be happy in a place like this? Alone, probably not. But with Wade? That was another question completely.

He'd implied that he'd like her to stay, but how could she even consider ditching her life? Not that there was so very much worth returning to but it was the principle of the thing. They barely knew each other. Maybe it was something the young and stupid Nikki would have done, but she was older and wiser now, right? She tasted the salty tang of blood on her tongue and realized she'd chewed through her lip.

“Are you completely surrounded by mountains here?” she asked, more to distract herself than anything else.

“Yeah,” he replied, “but the winters are surprisingly mild. The Ruby Valley is insulated by seven ranges. That's the Tobacco Root range.” He pointed to the craggy white peaks to the east.

“Where are we going?” she asked when he turned off the main highway and onto what appeared to be a service road.

“You'll see soon enough. We're almost there,” he answered cryptically. “That's the Ruby River, known for some of the best angling in the country.”

“Angling?”

“Fly fishing,” he explained. “People come to this part of the country from all over the world for our prize sport fishing. The Ruby produces rainbows, cutthroats, and graylings in abundance because access is so limited.”

“Limited? Why's that?”

“Most of this section of river is privately owned. Like this prime piece right here.”

They continued driving almost parallel to the river, then lost it for a few miles until the road abruptly ended. Wade turned into a private drive, came to a stop, and then killed the engine. He gestured toward the river and mountains. “This tract stretches north for two miles, along the riverbank, then extends just as far in that direction.”

Nikki gazed over the wide expanse of treeless landscape covered with grass that stretched for miles. The beauty touched her. “Is this someone's farm?” She noted the log cabin and old pickup truck parked out front. “There's no cattle here. Is it abandoned?”

“You might say that. This place used to be a fishing and hunting retreat, but no one's using it anymore.”

“Is it yours?” she asked, wondering why they were here and where this was going.

“No. It's not mine.”

“Then why are we here? Who owns it?”

“You do.”