Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(88)

“Is the place we’re staying as upscale as this?”


He kissed her knuckles. “No. Ellen insisted on buying the house before Sierra was born. She kept it in the divorce settlement and we use her address since this area has a much better school district than where I moved. It’s an enormous house for two people, but the property value quadrupled in the last sixteen years. Ellen isn’t allowed to sell it until after Sierra graduates from high school and if she does, she’s forced to use my real estate company as the listing agency. It’s the only way I could ensure my daughter had some stability.” He realized he hadn’t answered the question. “The house we’re staying in is pretty typical for Phoenix. Three bedrooms, three baths, two-car garage.”


“Except it has a pool.”


“Honey, all the houses down here have a pool. This one is heated, however. Not all are. Because heaters definitely aren’t needed in the summer.”


Houses and scenery scrolled by as she looked out the car window. “It’s strange. Just a few hours ago we were brushing the snow off the car. Now the sun is blinding me and I’m actually hot.”


“I’ll say. I cannot wait to see you in that bikini.”


“How much further?”


“Twenty minutes. Thirty if we hit traffic.”


Shopping centers. Medical centers. Office buildings. More strip-malls. Every once in a while she’d see a grove of citrus trees—an oasis in the inner-city sprawl. She lost track of the number of golf courses. The huge swath of green among the dusty hues of the desert was a little surreal.


Gavin turned off the busy highway onto a residential street. With as many twists and turns as they’d taken, she’d never find her way out of this urban maze. He stopped at a gate and punched in a code.


A gated community? So much for his claim it was just a typical Phoenix house.


After more winding streets, he pulled into a driveway and parked in front of a garage. Most of the stucco-covered house was hidden behind a variety of trees.


“Ree?” He turned her face toward him. “You all right? You went from chatty to silent.”


“Just trying to absorb all this, Gavin.”


He kissed her softly. “Let’s go in and get unpacked.” He unloaded the suitcases and dragged them up the front steps.


A cool blast of air and the scent of lemon Pledge greeted her in the cavernous foyer. But the darkness made her claustrophobic, so she immediately crossed the room and opened the blinds and draperies.


The living room was connected to the kitchen through an arched doorway. The décor had southwest flavor, tiled floors, plain white walls, a Navajo influence in the rugs and the couches. The sliding glass door in the dining room opened to a brick-paved patio. Curious, she stepped outside.


Patio furniture was arranged around the large, kidney-shaped pool. Wide steps and a handrail accessed the shallow end. The deep end was marked at nine feet. The ledge surrounding the pool was trimmed with cerulean blue tiles. To her right, beneath a permanent awning, sat a picnic table and chairs. A firepit took up one corner of the yard; citrus trees lined the other side.


Gavin’s arms came around her and he kissed her neck. “So? What do you think?”


“I think I might be dreaming. This is beautiful.”


“Come and see the rest of the house.”


Rielle didn’t pay much attention to the spare bedrooms or bathrooms. The master bedroom was roughly the same size as her old room. The master bath was fancier, boasting a steam shower in addition to the glass-walled shower, a double vanity and built-in cabinetry in every nook and cranny.


She returned to the bedroom to see Gavin putting away his clothes. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact they’d be here for a week. Alone. Just the two of them.


Gavin picked her up and threw her on the bed. Then he was on top of her. Kissing her with ferocity. Grinding his pelvis into hers, his cock already hard. His mouth moved to her ear. “Let me have you.”


Usually she’d jump right on that idea, but not this time.


He sensed her hesitation and pushed up to look into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”


“I don’t know. The timing on this feels off. Like hey, we’re here alone, let’s f*ck first thing and get it out of the way.”


“No pressure. This is supposed to be fun. Relaxing. I saw you bent over that suitcase and well, I’m a guy. I wanted to pull down your jeans and f*ck you just like that.” He grinned. “I thought I was being polite and gentlemanly by throwing you on the bed first.”


Rielle laughed. “Tell you what. Can I take a raincheck on that for now?”


“Sure.” He pressed his lips to hers and rolled off the bed. “On one condition.” His very male, very possessive gaze started at her feet and ended at her chest. “You put on the bikini.”


“Now?”


“Now.”


“Fine. But I’d better see you in a Speedo too, bucko.”


Gavin shuddered. “No Speedo for me ever. But I will put on my swimming trunks if it makes you happy.”