“Hi.” The little girl seemed braver now. She even offered him a smile. “Pri—”
“Sweetpea, go sit on the sofa.” His mystery woman guided her daughter away.
Reece pushed his body to sit up then grinned at his tied legs and hands. “What’s this?”
“Insurance.”
“Against?” He offered her a lazy smile. Damn, the woman was a stunner. With her heart-shaped face, creamy complexion, and those gorgeous almond-shaped gray eyes fringed with long, dark lashes. Her full lips rosy, even with her face clear of make-up. Thick, black hair pulled into a high ponytail finished at the middle of her back. She’d give any runaway model a run for their money. Her pure beauty proved more tempting than the light makeup he’d seen her wear, twice.
“Against an unknown person guilty of housebreaking,” her steely statement pulled him out of his admiration.
“Technically, I didn’t break in. I had keys and—”
“Oh, shut up already.”
DamnHe’d never met another woman like her before. Her expressions from appealing to furious in a matter of seconds fueled his desire. His cock twitched, stiffening as though recalling her tight delicious pussy too. Reece fought the urge to laugh.
“Sorry.” He offered another gentle smile—a wasted effort. Her brow shot up again in annoyance.
“I’m waiting?” her soft words snapped his attention more so the gun she held.
“You don’t need that, you know.” He jerked his chin at the weapon.
She shrugged. “So that you know. I have a permit and won’t hesitate to use it.” Judging by her severe features, he didn’t doubt her for a minute.
Gorgeous woman or not, he wanted to return home with all his body parts intact. He tried changing the direction of the conversation. “Don’t you recognize me?” Reece found it strange she hadn’t.
She took a step back. “Should I?”
He chuckled. “How could you forget a hot man like me?”
Her hands crossed protectively over her breasts—her gaze filled with open suspicion. “Clearly, you’re not hot enough, or I would’ve remembered.”
“Ouch.”Damn.The same feistiness attracted him in the bar. His skin pricked in remembrance.
“Now, back to something more important. What the hell are you doing here?”
Fuck. The woman shoved aside his importance with such disinterest. It hurt. Women never treated him as though he were nothing but a dumpster cockroach. For now, he let it slide but aimed to get even.
“Uncle Buck’s pilot gave me the keys to the old man’s cabin. I’ve no idea how I ended up with your keys.” There was no need to explain the key tango in Billy’s belching plane. Reece gave the rope around his hands a little twist. It didn’t budge. The woman sure knew how to tie up a man. The sudden thought made him smile. Hell, he’d lay back and let her tie him down, anytime. Naked would be better—a whole lot better.
“Uncle Buck? How do you know him?”
Reece looked up. His relation to Uncle Buck would remain a secret. Prolonging the moment, she discovered Reece’s identity, might be the sweet glory he desired. “Buck’s a friend of the family. He offered to help me find a job and, as I said, had his pilot give me the keys to his cabin.”
“This isn’t Uncle Buck’s cabin.” She leaned against the sofa backrest with a groan. “Billy gave you the keys to my cabin instead.”
“I had no idea.”
“Well, how could you. Given Billy drinks more than he works, I’m not surprised. He’s gone back to Jackson. There’s no telling when you’ll get the correct keys. So...” her words trailed off as if contemplating the dilemma.
Thank you, Billy.He’d kiss the man and his rattling tin can when he got a chance. “If you don’t mind.” He lifted his tied hands and offered her his best smile. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“You’re a stranger, and I’m a woman alone with her daughter. Would you trust so easily?”
He shook his head with a placating smile. “I understand. My passport’s in my bag.” Reece glanced around the room for his duffel. It wasn’t there. “Look, I’m tired, cold, and sore in places a fit man shouldn’t be.” He rubbed the back of his neck for emphasis and winced when he touched the tender spot. “If it helps, call Uncle Buck or Billy and check me out?”
She appeared to consider his suggestion. Distracted, she pulled her lower lip between her teeth and chewed. Damn, it was sexy as fuck. He yearned to give the pink wetness a little taste. Suddenly horny, he shifted to prevent her gaze dropping to his now hard cock and winced at the tight confinement of his jeans.
