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He drew in a ragged breath. “Don’t say it. I’m not your type, right?”
His mocking tone told her he didn’t know how wrong he was and how close she’d come to surrender. That was what it’d be like with him, she knew, absolute surrender. At least she had the power to turn on one man. She had his hard-on for proof. But vulnerable as she was, he wasn’t trying to take her. Knowing his state, she thanked her lucky stars. At least he’d maintained some control.
She eased away from him as far as the ladder would allow.
He frowned. “Don’t worry, I don’t take unwilling women, even if they get their jollies dry-humping me.”
All her softened feelings for him vaporized. This wasn’t something she wanted to joke about. He should understand that. “I won’t bother you again.”
“Sunshine, it was no bother. I’m ready to serve any time, any place.” He traced the curve of her bottom lip, brushing it softly with his index finger.
She felt like she’d been poleaxed. She noted the dumbstruck expression on his face.
His brow wrinkled. “Why did you climb the ladder if you were so scared of heights? Was the urge to snoop just too much for you to resist?”
He was angry. Good. Maybe that would keep him from realizing she was putty in his hands. She turned away from his watchful eye and stepped forward on shaky knees.
Now was the time to rebuild the walls between them. If she was this shaken up by an unfulfilled seduction, she knew she couldn’t handle a full-fledged affair. It made her consider running back home, but she’d done enough of that in her twenty-eight years. It was time to stand her ground and get her mixed-up hormones in order. Maybe she’d pick up some ginseng in town. It was supposed to boost one's stamina.
She grabbed her purse and headed for the front door. “As I said earlier, I think it would be better if we kept to ourselves for the two weeks.”
“It isn’t going to be that easy, Sunshine. Not easy at all.”
She ignored his regretful tone. She swept out the door and hopped into her little red sports car. She peeled out of the driveway like the devil himself was at her heels. An apt description of the man she’d left behind.
All her senses were on full alert. Tingling where she had no business was ringing, she felt more vibrantly alive than she had in ages, and it frightened her. She’d sworn off men and marriage last night, and now she ached for Jake Ramsey. On the bright side, she’d learned she wasn’t cold, as she’d heard Grayson refer to her last night. Not where Jacob Ramsey was concerned, anyway.
Reaching the edge of town, she glanced at her watch. It was six-thirty. She pulled in behind a police cruiser in front of the local cafe. It might be Kathy’s cruiser. She wanted to get more information on what Jake was doing up here, all by his lonesome.
The cafe was half-full. Luck was on her side. Kathy was sitting at the counter. Samantha sat on the empty stool beside her and accepted a menu from a passing waitress. What she needed was a nice soothing cup of chamomile tea.
Kathy turned to smile at her. “Hey, girl, what brings you out and about so early in the morning?”
“Don’t you mean who? Jake Ramsey is the most obnoxious man it has ever been my misfortune to meet.”
“Oh, I don’t know, I think he’s kind of cute in a rough-around-the-edges sort of way.”
“Cute? Are you out of your mind? He’s a big Viking barbarian with an ego three sizes too big.” Samantha slanted a speculative gaze Kathy’s way. “Just how chummy are you two, anyway?”
“Don’t worry. You can have him all to yourself. A Viking, huh? That is an intriguing picture. I can see him standing on the deck of his ship, his hair flying in the breeze as he goes off in search of plunder.”
Samantha thought about the clinch she and Jake had just been in, and felt her cheeks turn red. Plunder indeed. He’d practically ravaged her, and she’d loved it.
Striving to downplay her troubled emotions, she rolled her eyes at the vivid description. “Let’s not get carried away. He’s a man like any other, only more macho and objectionable. By the way, you seem to be taking his attack on me in a pretty calm manner.”
“He was the one I found moaning on the floor. I gave you a break last night. I could have arrested you for assault.”
Samantha leaned closer to Kathy and lowered her voice. “I can explain that. I thought he was a crazed rapist.”
“Rapist? My God, what did he do to make you think that?”
“Will you keep your voice down?” Samantha glanced around, hoping they hadn’t drawn too much attention. “I tried to get into the front door with my key.”
“The lock’s been changed.”
“I found that out the hard way.”
“So go on.” Kathy leaned closer. “Tell me the rest.”
