“I’m a private investigator.”
Understanding dawned in small increments. “So that’s how you tracked down Julia, Jess, and me after all these years.”
He scrubbed his chin. “That’s right.”
She narrowed her eyes, curious about him and his choice of careers. “What’s your area of specialty?” Who knew the Jag from her youth would become a private investigator? She wrapped her brain around that and chalked it up to one more surprise to add to her eventful day.
“I catch cheaters,” he answered, his tone a little too dark, a little too dangerous.
A flurry of emotions moved over his eyes, and a knot tightened her stomach. Had something from his past led him into that kind of work? “It must be hard…you know…confirming someone’s suspicions.”
He fisted his hands, his back stiffening. “Most already know, which is why they seek me out in the first place. But yeah, it’s never easy.”
A frown tugged at his mouth, and her heart pinched. How could she not like a guy who seemed to hate cheaters every bit as much as she did? She exhaled slowly and thought about Nelson. Anger churned in her gut. But deep inside, she knew catching him was a blessing. The discovery sent her straight into the arms of a man who seemed to care about what she wanted, and would, undoubtedly, go to great measures to give it to her.
Katy came back outside. Dressed in a long, loose dress, with her pretty blond hair tied back, she sat down next to them, her glance moving over Alix.
She zeroed in on the camera strung around Alix’s neck. “We don’t allow pictures, sweetheart. You can look all you like, and you can even play, but what happens here stays here.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Alix said, removing the camera. “I didn’t even know about this place.”
“Really?” Katy pursed her lips and went thoughtful for a moment. “Then why did Jag bring you here?” Green eyes studied Alix carefully and then slid to Jag.
“She’s thinking about playing for the other team,” he explained, his eyes never leaving Alix’s as he tapped a finger on the wooden railing. “And I wanted to make sure she was properly cared for during tryouts.” His gaze moved over her face before turning to Katy.
“I see,” Katy said thoughtfully, looking back at Alix.
As if on cue, two girls came out from inside the lodge. Dressed in skimpy bikinis, they bounced across the deck, their eyes lighting on Jag.
“Hey, Jag,” one of the girls said as she hopped on over to plunk herself down on his lap. She wiggled on his thighs, her breasts only inches from his mouth as the other girl came up to stand behind him. Alix shifted and smoothed her hand over her hat. Who were these women, and how did Jag know them so well? Had he played with them? An unexpected pang of jealousy hit out of left field. What the hell? Who Jag slept with was none of her business. He wasn’t hers and she wasn’t his and this week was about exploring fantasies and nothing else.
“Taylor,” he greeted, and then looked over his shoulder. “Amanda.” He smiled at the two, then asked, “What are you ladies up to today?”
“Just relaxing,” Taylor answered. “We’re heading to Wrangler’s later tonight. Maybe we’ll see you there.”
“Probably not tonight.” His grin came slow when he met Alix’s glance. “I’ll be meeting up with Colt and his crew to treat Alix to an authentic Old West adventure. “
What? Alix stared at Jag. He planned to treat her to an authentic adventure? Wait! What exactly did he mean by “authentic”? She wasn’t sure, but given what he’d just introduced her to, who knew what was next. She was anxious to find out.
“So Jag, what brings you out here today?” Taylor asked as Amanda took a seat next to Alix.
While Jag explained the situation to Taylor, Alix smiled at Amanda, her body tense as she took in the other woman’s near nakedness. Looking for a distraction, Alix reached for her lemonade, but with hands that were too shaky, she knocked the glass over.
Alix jumped from her chair as the cold drink spilled onto her lap. “Oh, damn. I’m so sorry.” She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the liquid, but it soaked through her shorts. She pressed it against her zipper. “I need to get cleaned up.”
In the span of a second, Jag stood behind her, his mouth close to her ear. “I’ll take you back.”
“No need to rush away,” Taylor said. “We can rinse your clothes here and I’m sure I have something that will fit you.”
Alix spun to glance at Jag and noted the way his gaze had dropped to the hand rubbing her shorts. Typical male. Honest to God, if he didn’t close his mouth he was going to swallow that fly buzzing around his head. She was about to decline their help and head back to her horse, but a wave of boldness swept through her when she caught the heat in Jag’s eyes. Maybe she’d give him a run for his money as he pushed her to explore her needs.
And maybe this isn’t all about him.
“Okay,” she said. “If it’s not a problem, maybe I should get out of these clothes.”
Air rushed from Jag’s lungs, a telltale sign that he was excited by the prospect. In a teasing manner, she wiggled out of her clothes, keeping on her bra and panties, which could easily pass for a bathing suit.
“Where can I rinse them?” she asked Katy.
“I’ll take care of that for you.”
Amanda captured her hand. “Why don’t we jump in the water and get you rinsed off while Katy washes your clothes?”
Had Jag just groaned?
As she warred with the morals that had been pounded into her head since birth, her instinct was to run the other way, turn from the hedonistic acts, but she couldn’t deny that this situation was exciting. And damned if she didn’t want to challenge and tease Jag a little in return.
“Go on,” Katy said. “I hate to see you ride all the way back in a sticky mess.”
She removed her hat, and despite her mother’s voice in the back of her head, warning her to keep out of the sun, she took a moment to enjoy the warm rays on her face.
Alix stole a quick look at Jag before leaving the deck. What was it about the heat in his eyes that turned her knees to pudding? A quick nod and then she turned her attention to the stairs to negotiate them carefully.
She watched Amanda, the taller cowgirl with the dark hair, bounce down the steps. They all reached the water and the two naked women swam to a nearby wharf. No wonder all the neighboring boys tried to sneak onto the land. Warmth gathered at her core and she adjusted her bikini panties over her groomed sex. Groomed sex. Hmph. What a waste of time that was. Her fiancé never liked to go down on her. Truthfully, sex with him had been fast, dull, and over before she ever reached climax. Sure, the doctor said her tipped uterus reduced her chances of getting pregnant significantly, but she was beginning to believe she couldn’t have kids because Nelson rarely touched her. Abstinence is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
Probably didn’t have the energy after—no. She wasn’t going there. Not today. Today was about freedom.
Putting her ex out of her mind, she dipped her toes into the water to test it, unable to recall the last time she’d let her hair down and played. Taylor enthusiastically rushed past her, going thigh-deep as she splashed water in Alix’s direction.
“Get out here, you two,” Taylor said.
Finding the girl’s energy contagious, Alix couldn’t help but smile as she waded out, Amanda staying close beside her. When they reached Taylor, Amanda dipped low to soak her body, her long dark hair, now wet from the river, cascading down her back.
“It’s so refreshing,” Amanda said, her plump lips curling upward. Alix dipped lower, but when she felt cold water fall over her breasts, she yelped.
Taylor laughed and cupped her hands to pour the cool river water over Alix’s body to rinse it. Amanda joined in, both girls splashing water over her and laughing as Jag watched from the deck. She touched herself, running her hands over her body, not really to rinse it, but because she liked the idea of him watching.