Breaking Bailey's Rules(22)

“I’m cold.”

“I just finished stoking the fire.”

“Not good enough, Alaskan. I’m sure you can do better than that.”

Oh, yes, he definitely could. He removed his robe and headed for the bed, feeling a deep ache in his groin. The moment he slid in bed and felt her thigh brush against his, the ache intensified. He pulled her into his arms, needing to hold her. He knew there would come a time when he wouldn’t be able to do that. The thought had him drawing in a deep, ragged breath.

She pulled back and ran her gaze over his face. “You okay?”

“Yes.”

“Your leg?”

“Is fine. Back to the way it used to be. Only lasting reminder is that little scar.”

“Trust me, Walker, no woman will care about that scar when you’ve got this to back things up,” she said, reaching her hand beneath the covers to cup him, then stroke him. Walker drew in another ragged breath. Bailey definitely knew how to get to the heart of the matter. And when he saw the way she licked her lips and how the darkness of her eyes shone with desire, his erection expanded in her hand.

She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Okay, Walker, what’s it going to be? You ride me or I ride you? Take your pick.”

He couldn’t stop the smile that curved his lips. It was hard—damn difficult, outright impossible—not to tap into all his sexual fantasies when she was around and being so damn accommodating. And she would be around for eleven more days. He intended to make the most of what he considered the best time of his life.

“Um,” he said, pulling her back into his arms. “How about if we do both?”



Over the next several days Walker and Bailey settled into a gratifying and pleasurable routine. Now that Walker was back at 100 percent, he would get up every morning around five o’clock to work alongside his men. Then at nine, instead of hanging around and eating Willie’s cooking like he normally did, he hightailed it back to the ranch house, where Bailey would have breakfast waiting on him. No matter how often he told her that she didn’t have to go out of her way, she would wave her hand and brush off his words. After placing the most delectable-looking meal in front of him, she would go on and on about what a beautiful kitchen he had. It was one that would entice someone to cook whether they wanted to or not, she claimed.

He began to see his kitchen through her eyes and finally understood. In all the years he had lived here, he’d never thought of his kitchen, or any kitchen, as beautiful. It was a place to cook meals and eat. But she brought his attention to the space, its rustic look. But what she said she liked most was sitting at the table and looking out at the strait. On a clear day the waters looked breathtaking. Just as breathtaking as Gemma Lake, she’d told him. It was during those conversations that he knew she missed her home. Hadn’t one of her rules been to never venture far from Westmoreland Country for too long?

Garth had dropped by twice to check on Walker, and because his best friend had been calling every day to see how he was doing, Garth wasn’t surprised to find Bailey still there. Garth didn’t seem surprised at how comfortable she’d made herself in Walker’s home, either. And Walker had caught Garth staring at them with a silly-looking grin on his face more than once.

Garth had mentioned to Bailey that he’d gotten in touch with her family and had spoken to Dillon and Ramsey, and that he and his brothers would be flying to Denver in a few weeks. Bailey mentioned that she would be back home by then and that she and her family would anxiously await Garth’s visit. Her comment only made Walker realize that he didn’t have a lot of time left with her.

Lola was back on her regular housekeeping schedule and told him more than once how much she liked Bailey. He figured it was because Bailey was chattier with her than he’d ever been. And he figured since Lola had only one bed in the house to make up, the older woman had pretty much figured out that he and Bailey were sharing it. That had suited Lola since she’d hinted more than once that he needed a woman in his life and that being alone on the ranch wasn’t good for him.

Walker took a sip of his coffee while looking out at the strait. He remembered the day Bailey had gone into town with him to pick up supplies. News of her and the bear had spread further than Walker had imagined it would, and she’d become something of a legend. And if that wasn’t enough, Morris had spread the word about what she’d done with the bounty money. Her generous contribution had gone to Kodiak Way, the local orphanage. Walker hadn’t visited the place in years, not since he’d gone there on a field trip with his high school. But he’d decided on that particular day to stop by with Bailey, so she could see where her money had gone.

It had amazed him how taken she’d been with all the children, but he really should not have been surprised. He recalled how much she adored her nieces, nephews and little cousins back in Denver and just how much they’d adored her. He and Bailey had spent longer at the orphanage than he had planned because Bailey couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a group of kids outside to build a snowman.

He then recalled the day he’d taken her up in his single-engine plane, giving her a tour of his land. She had been in awe and had told him how beautiful his property was. When she’d asked him how he’d learned to fly, he’d opened up and told her of his and Garth’s time together in the marines. She’d seemed fascinated by everything he told her and he’d gotten caught up in her interest.

It had been a beautiful day for flying. The sky had been blue and the clouds a winter white. From the air he had pointed out his favorite areas—the lakes, small coves, hidden caves and mountaintops. And he’d heard himself promising to one day cover the land with her in his Jeep.

And then there had been the day when she’d pulled him into his office, shoved him down into the chair at his desk and proceeded to sit in his lap so she could show him what she’d downloaded on his desktop computer. Jillian and Aidan had returned from their three-week honeymoon to France, Italy and Spain, and had uploaded their wedding video. Bailey thought that since he’d missed the wedding, he could watch the video.

As far as weddings went, it had been a nice one. Bailey had pointed out several cousins he hadn’t met and their wives and children. He agreed that Jillian had been a beautiful bride and he’d seen the love in Aidan’s eyes when she’d walked down the aisle on Dillon’s arm.

Watching the video made Walker recall his own wedding. Only thing, his wedding had been nothing more than a circus. His parents and Garth had tried to warn him with no luck. A few nights ago he’d dreamed about Kalyn and Connor. A dream that had turned into a nightmare, with Bailey waking him up.

The next day, even though he’d seen the probing curiosity in her eyes, she hadn’t asked him about it and he hadn’t felt the need to tell her.

Walker took another sip of his coffee and glanced down at his watch. Bailey should be coming down for breakfast any minute. He had finished his chores with the men earlier than usual and had rushed back to the ranch house. More than once he’d been tempted to go upstairs and wake her but he knew if he did they might end up staying in bed the rest of the day. He then thought about the phone call he’d received an hour ago from Charm. It seemed Charm couldn’t wait to meet her look-alike and asked that he fly Bailey to Fairbanks this weekend. He hadn’t made any promises, but he’d told her he would talk to Bailey about it.

Moments later, he heard her upstairs and felt his sex stir in anticipation. Only Bailey could put him in such a state, arousing him so easily and completely. And he would admit that her mere presence in his home brought him a kind of joy he hadn’t thought he would ever feel again.

But then he also knew it was the kind of joy he couldn’t allow himself to get attached to. Just as sure as he knew that when he got up every morning the strait would be filled with water, he knew that when Bailey’s days were up, she would be leaving.

Already he’d detected a longing in her and figured she’d become homesick. It was during those times that he was reminded of the first day they’d met. She’d told him about her rules and her love for Westmoreland Country. She’d said she never intended to leave it. And since he never intended to leave Kodiak, that meant any wishful thinking about them spending their lives together was a waste of his time.

Walker’s grip on the cup tightened. And hadn’t she told him about men getting possessive, becoming territorial and acting crazy sometimes? Sadly, he could now see himself doing all three where she was concerned.

It was nobody’s fault but his own that he was now in this state. He’d known her rules and had allowed her to get under his skin anyway. But he could handle it. He had no choice. He would store up memories of the good times, and those memories would get him through the lonely nights after she left.

He heard her moving around upstairs again and sat his coffee cup down. Temptation was ruling his senses now. Desire unlike anything he’d ever felt before took control of him, had him sliding back from the table and standing.

Walker left the kitchen and moved quickly toward the stairs, seeking the object of his craving.