All Jacked Up (Rough Riders #8)(68)

A few minutes later Keely bailed from the car and lashed out at him. “What the f*ck is goin’ on, Jack?”


“You tell me.”


“You’re the one who drove us out here.”


“You’re the one who hasn’t said more than two dozen words to me since we left Milford.”


“You complain when I don’t talk as well as when I talk too much? I guess there really is no pleasin’ you.” Keely started down the road at a good clip.


“Where are you going?”


“Home.”


“It’s a long walk,” he yelled.


No answer.


Jesus. The woman spiked his temper from zero to furious in less than sixty seconds. He took off after her.


Her body language gave no indication she noticed.


When Jack caught her, he immobilized her and widened his stance so she couldn’t knock him off balance when she started to thrash.


And she fought him like a wet cat. She cursed, screamed and flailed against him. To no avail. Jack held his ground. They’d have it out right here, right now.


When Keely stopped struggling, he breathed a sigh of relief, even when he suspected her submission would be short lived at best. “You done fighting me?”


“Let me go, Jack. Right now.”


“Why won’t you talk to me, buttercup?”


“Don’t call me that anymore!”


“Fine. Why won’t you talk to me, Keely?”


“Because there’s no point. It’s over.”


Jack frowned. “What do you mean it’s over?”


“All of this.” She tried in vain to gesture with her trapped hands. “This stupid fake engagement is over. Us bein’ nice to each other is over. Done.”


He spun her around to face him but kept hold of her biceps. “What in the hell ever gave you that idea?”


Keely dropped her chin to her chest.


He shook her a little. “Look at me goddammit.”


When she finally opened her eyes, Jack saw a sheen of tears. “Keely.”


“You got what you wanted, Jack. We both know the trip to Milford was a total success. They’ll award you the contract, guaranteed. And after next week you can sign off on my project, with the exception of the final inspection. There’s no reason for you to stick around Sundance.”


He gaped at her. Keely really believed she wasn’t reason enough for him to stay?


She’s right. You don’t need to stick around.


But he wanted to stay. The thought of leaving her left an ache he couldn’t explain. Or justify. But he sure as hell needed more time to figure it out what the hell it meant.


“See? You can’t argue with my logic.”


“Don’t tempt me to argue with you, cowgirl, because you know how much I get off on it.”


Keely didn’t even crack a smile.


“We’re not done. Far from it. Have you forgotten I demanded a minimum of a month from you for this engagement? We’re at what…three weeks? And don’t you think it would be suspect if we broke off all contact the same week I signed off on your project? Right after we returned from Milford? You ready to deal with the explanations on that?”


“No. But—”


“Listen. Can we just let this…relationship fade away on its own? Spend as much time together as we can this week in Sundance?”



Her entire posture stayed tight. Closed off. Skeptical. “Why?”


“A week from today there’s a job I have to be on site for until it’s finished. I’ll be gone for three full weeks. But this week and especially next weekend, I need you to keep up this pretense.” Inwardly, Jack winced at his word choice. What had developed between them hardly felt like make-believe.


“What’s going on next weekend?”


“Convention in Denver.”


Keely scowled. “First I’ve heard of it. A lot has happened. You can’t expect me to remember all of it.”


I’ll remember all of it. The way you taste first thing in the morning. The sweet scent of lilacs surrounding me last thing before I drift off at night. Your eyes glaring at me with anger. Your eyes devouring me with hunger. Your laugh. Your determination. The unquestioning love you have for your family. The way you make love with your heart and soul as well as your body. I’ll never forget any of that.


“Jack?”


“I swore I told you. This is our annual Professional Preservationist’s Society meeting; it just happens to be in Denver this year. I’ve already booked us a suite at the Adam’s Mark downtown.”


“When would I have to be there?”


“By six o’clock Friday night for a cocktail party and a dinner.”


“Will we have separate hotel rooms?”


Jack got right in her face. “No. Way. You will be in my king-sized bed all weekend.”


Something shifted. Keely reached out and fiddled with his collar. “Did you miss the sex the last two days?