All Jacked Up (Rough Riders #8)(7)

Keely began to clap.


Jack gave her that devil-may-care grin and bestowed a deep bow.


“I have no doubt the story is plausible for the Milford crowd, but you’re forgetting one teensy tiny detail. We can’t be selective about who we tell. We have to tell everyone. Which means we have to convince my entire family that we’re a couple.”


A look of horror crossed his face.


“See what I mean? No one who knows us will ever believe we put our differences aside. Not for an hour, not for a day and certainly not forever. Neither one of us can act that well. So thanks for stopping by personally and ruining my life.” Keely ducked under his arm and started walking away.


“That’s it?”


“Yep. Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. Literally. It might fall and crush you.”


His deep, sexy laugh unfurled an unwanted reaction low in her belly.


“What’s so funny?”


“I thought you said you weren’t all talk. I never imagined wild child Keely McKay was afraid.”


Keely wheeled around. “Excuse me? What am I afraid of?”


“Me.”


“For Christsake! That’s ridiculous. Why would I be afraid of you?”


“Maybe you’re afraid I can make you fall in love with me for real.”


“Make me fall in love with you? Dude. The only thing you make me want to do is punch you in the face.”


“See? Sarcasm is a defense mechanism to mask your fear.” With each word he’d closed the distance between them. “So it’s easier to slink away.”


“Oh. My. God. I knew you had a big ego, but—”


Jack clamped his hands on her butt. Keely shrieked but he held tight, jerking her lower body to his.


“An ego isn’t the only thing that’s big about me, baby. Want to ride on the Jack-hammer? Guaranteed to rev you up all night long.”


Eww. Eww. Eww. “Let go!”


“There’s no shame in admitting you want me.” He nuzzled the skin in front of her ear and a shiver trilled down her neck.


“Is this greasy used car salesman act supposed to be turning me on? Because it ain’t working, bucko.”


He laughed softly. “Not trying to turn you on, just proving I can act. You really believed I’d morphed into a creepy scuzzball, huh?”


Yes, dammit. Jack won that round.


“We can do this, Keely. If you say yes, we’ll both get what we want: you’ll get the building remodel approval, I’ll have a chance at the Milford project and we’ll both have our pride. After it’s over we can go back to hating each other, same as always.”


Keely admitted there was a certain appeal in his off-the-wall proposal. She’d kept her family in the dark about the purchase of the building and her career plans. If she confessed the reason for her secretiveness was also due in part to her intimate relationship with her former nemesis, Jack Donohue…that would make perfect sense.


Jack whispered huskily, “I can tell you’re warming to the idea.”


“How?”


“You’re pressing yourself into me instead of away from me.”


She was? Holy crap! What was wrong with her? Keely put her hands on his firm chest and tried to shove him. The damn solid man didn’t budge. He squeezed her closer. “Now, is that any way to treat your intended?”


“I intend to scour myself with bleach when this is all over.”


“Fair enough. But for now…do we have a deal?”


Say no. Scream no. It’s not worth it.


“Yes. But—”


Jack held up his hand and dug out his cell phone. He dialed. Waited with a smug grin. “Henry? Jack Donohue. I just wanted to thank you for your hospitality last week. Milford is a great town and I appreciate the chance to talk with you and the committee about my ideas. Anyway, the reason I called… Did you perchance find a gold watch in your office? Oh. No, that’s fine. I’m just wondering how to explain the loss of it to my fiancée, since it was a gift from her.”


No going back now.


He locked his gaze to hers. “Really? I thought I’d told you about Keely. No? Well, we’ve kept it under wraps, but the cat is out of the bag now.” Jack’s teeth gleamed a victorious smile. “Of course I’d love to bring her to Milford. Sure. Call me after you talk to the committee and have a firm date.”


He hung up, punching the air with a loud “Yes!” the most juvenile gesture she’d witnessed from stick-up-his-ass Jack Donohue. “It’s on.”


“So I gathered. What now?”


Jack looked at his watch. “As much as I don’t want to drive back to Denver, I’ve got no choice. But I’ll be back tomorrow with my stuff.”


“Stuff? What stuff? Work stuff?”


“And personal stuff. I’ll be working out of the apartment for a while. There’s wireless Internet, right?”


“Whoa whoa whoa. Working out of the apartment? As in my apartment?”