There were three rocking chairs on the wide porch, and she saw Quigley lying on the top step. His head came up, and the old mutt wandered down toward the newcomers.
“Hey, boy,” Rachel said, putting her hand out. The dog looked very happy to see her. He picked up the nearest stick and tried to press it into her hands.
Rye was laughing a little ruefully. “Naturally. He couldn’t stand Nina.”
Rachel didn’t ask who Nina was. She probably didn’t want to know. “Is he in the house?” She could see her Jeep parked next to Max’s truck. She bet the keys weren’t conveniently in the ignition.
Rye nodded toward the front door. He stood with his knees locked and wariness in his eyes. “Yes. Do you want me to wait around and take him into custody?”
There was no mistaking the anxiousness surrounding him. He seemed to be nervous that she was really going to press charges. She wasn’t. Pressing charges wouldn’t solve anything. She’d just leave, and then the problem of Maxwell Harper would be solved. “No, Sheriff, I just want my keys.”
“All right.” Rye let out a relieved breath. He took the stick from Quigley’s drooling mouth and tossed it into the wooded area beside the house. The dog loped off after his prize. “I’ll just take Q here for a walk so we don’t disturb you. Rachel, go easy on him. He’s never been in love before. Now that I really think about it, neither one of us has. It’s hard. If you’re going to leave, please let him down easy.” He nodded and walked off after the happily playing dog.
Rachel’s heart ached, but she was resolute. She didn’t have a place in her life for either of the men. She certainly didn’t want to fall in love. She marched up the stairs and knocked on the door.
“Come on in.” Max’s strong voice rang out.
She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped into the house. She looked down, and there was a trail of wild flowers leading down the hall. Soft music was playing, and she smelled something truly incredible. Wary, she followed the trail of flowers and found herself in a romantically lit dining room. There were two place settings. Max stood opening a bottle of wine.
“I made you lasagna. You told Jen you liked Italian. It was my mother’s recipe. I looked up wines on the Internet. This one is supposed to go with pasta.” Max spoke quickly as though he realized he didn’t have long to convince her to stay.
“I just want my keys, Max.” Her voice was unsteady, as it always was when she blatantly lied. He must have spent all afternoon cooking and getting the house ready for her. She’d been prepared for him to apologize briefly. She’d been ready for him to yell at her. She wasn’t ready to find him standing there looking deliciously masculine in a white dress shirt and slacks, preparing to serve her dinner.
He turned his gorgeous face to her. “Rachel, please have dinner with me. I’m so sorry for acting like a dumbass this afternoon. Let me be up front and honest with you. It won’t be the last time I make an idiot of myself. I’m really good at it, and I can’t seem to help myself. But I promise, every time I do, I’ll come groveling and begging you to forgive me.”
“I thought you would yell at me for making you look like a fool,” Rachel said. He looked anything but a fool to her.
A small smile tugged at his sensual lips. Rachel noted he’d shaved for the occasion. “Darlin’, I’m chasing after a woman. I’m only a fool if that woman isn’t worth it. You are more than worth every bit of laughter I get hurled my way.”
She should leave. She should demand her keys and walk out. The whole scene before her was a romantic trap baited with a hunk of gorgeous man.
He seemed to sense her hesitation. He walked up to her and cupped her shoulders in his strong hands. His blue eyes were kind and very vulnerable as he stared into hers. “I love you, Rachel Swift. I’ve never said that to a woman before. I love you. Whatever is going on in your life, do not doubt that.”
As he leaned down to kiss her, Rachel knew she couldn’t leave him. She wondered if she would ever be able to leave him.
He touched his lips softly to hers, and she was lost. She knew what she needed, and at that moment, it wasn’t pasta.
“Take off your shirt,” she demanded. She wanted his skin against hers.
“Rach?” Max seemed awfully surprised at her commanding tone.
“I said take off your shirt,” Rachel repeated. A deliciously wicked thought crossed her mind. He had promised to grovel. “You owe me, mister. I want sexual servitude.”
He stared for a moment, and then his shirt hit the floor. Rachel admired his perfectly cut chest. Working with horses had been damn good for his physique. She let her hands roam over the glorious expanse of his chest and down to his abs. She loved the feeling of smooth skin over all that powerful muscle. Tonight he was hers to command.
His smile was a radiant thing. “I am more than willing to be your slave. Consider it my pleasure to do your bidding, baby. Do you want me to eat that sweet pussy of yours? I’ll eat until you scream for me to stop.”
“Maybe I want to make you scream.” She trailed her fingertips across his chest and found the sensitive nipples there. She leaned over to lick one. She was more than happy with his surprised gasp.
“You could definitely make me beg, baby.”
She looked up into his clear blue eyes and saw the desire there. It thrilled her that he seemed to want her as much as she wanted him. She pushed herself up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He stayed still, as though he sensed she needed to be in control for a while. Rachel took his face between her hands and enjoyed the sensual feel of his lips molding to hers. Even on her toes, he had to bend over to kiss her. He was so big. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into his body. She licked along the seam of his lips, requesting entry. He immediately acquiesced, letting her tongue rub against his in a sleek dance.
“Let me touch you,” he whispered against her lips.
“All right.” She wanted to feel his hands on her, even through the fabric of her jeans and shirt. Max was having none of that. His big hands slid under the waistband of her jeans and cupped the cheeks of her ass. He hauled her up against his body. She could feel his raging erection. It was big and hard and rubbed against her tantalizingly. She knew exactly what he could do with that big, hungry dick, and her pussy started to get slick just thinking about it.
“Tell me what to do, baby,” Max practically begged. His body was tense beneath her hands. “It’s hard for me to stay still when all I want is to rip these clothes off and sink my cock in.”
“You’re not very submissive for a love slave.” She was surprised he’d lasted this long. He was a very dominant male. It didn’t scare her, though. He was tough, but very tender when he made love to her. It was nothing at all like Tommy’s assault on her. He’d been ridiculously aggressive on their one date. It had put her off. She shivered in Max’s arms.
“Baby?” He pulled her closer, obviously sensing something was wrong.
She shook off the bad memories. She didn’t need them. This was Max, not Tommy. He wouldn’t hurt her. “Why don’t you take these pants off? They seem to be very confining.” She cupped his erection through his slacks, and Max groaned.
“You’re going to kill me tonight, Rachel.” He swore under his breath as his hands went to the zipper of his slacks. He was already sweating as he very carefully lowered the zipper. Rachel practically drooled as he revealed his tapered waist and well-muscled hips. Finally, the full, glorious length of his cock sprung free. It was long and thick, and she could barely get her hand around it. Max gamely kicked off his shoes. He tossed his slacks and boxers to the side. He stood in front of her, naked and thoroughly aroused. Rachel took a seat in one of the dining room chairs and felt a little thrill at her power over this man.