Daredevil's Mistress

Chapter 14

Samantha colored. “It’s not what you think.”

“Hah, the mouth lies, but the face tells a different story.” Deborah’s shoulders quaked.

“There was something in my eye.”

“Somethin’ in your eye? Seriously, girl, is that the best you could come up with?”

Deborah giggled. “Let me guess. Cody was the only one available to help you get it out.”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Hell, Sam, the two of you were at each other’s throats since the day you got here, and you’re now tellin’ me Cody offered his help with somethin’ in your eye. The game, sweetheart, is up so either you confess, or I’ll tell Reece.” Deborah placed a hand over her heart in a solemn promise.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Samantha’s eyes rounded in panic. Reece, definitely the last person she wanted hearing about this, would make her life miserable.

“Trust me, girl, any news about Cody will have Reece in a riotous tizzy. He’ll never let Cody or you rest for a moment. Now speak up or else…” Deborah sat up as if ready to leave the room.

Exasperated, Samantha flung her hands up in the air in defeat. “Oh, all right,” she relented; clearly obvious Deborah meant every word. “You’re impossible.”

“No, my dear friend, where Cody is concerned I want all the juicy details and the juicier the better.”

“Well, it’s not what you think. Cody was breaking in a horse, and fascinated I wanted to see more and…” Her body tingled at the memory of his kiss.

“And?”

Annoyed, Samantha shot her a deadly look. “I complimented his prowess, and like any man clearly pleased with himself until we started talking about Daredevil. He insisted the horse only allowed him to ride it—”

“I agree. Daredevil has thrown a ranch hand or two.”

Samantha sighed. Not Deborah too. “Anyway, I told him I’m sure Daredevil will allow me to ride him and—”

“You did what?”

“I was making conversation.”

“Damn, girl. Conversation is one thing, but challenging Cody? Now that’s a different ballgame altogether.” Deborah apparently admired her courage. “Boy, it must’ve really knocked the boots off his feet. Cody’s an egotist of note.”

“Don’t I know it?” Samantha laughed mirthlessly. “He sure as hell hates anyone telling him what he should and shouldn’t do…you of all people must’ve hit a nerve.”

“I found out the hard way.” Samantha sank into the seat next to Deborah. “Furious with his sexist remarks, I called him an overbearing, egotistical, rude, and self- righteous man to his back.” Samantha relived the minutes after her bold statement and shivered. One freaking kiss and hot flush quavered through her body. She could only imagine what destruction a more intimate touch would prompt.

“Geez, girl you didn’t.” Deborah stood. “Damn. What I wouldn’t give to have seen his reaction. Hey, wait a minute. If you called him those names, how the hell did you end up in his arms instead of on a plane back home?” She sat down again.

“I guess he wanted to teach me a lesson. Done, I walked away, and before I knew what hit me, his lips were on mine.” Samantha swept her hands through her hair. “Oh, Debs, I didn’t realize kissing held such power. I mean I’ve seen movies, but the real thing is…”

“I know, nothing compares, right.”

“Officially, my first kiss. God, your brother is a damn good kisser. Not like I’d know any better.” Samantha let out a soft laugh. If her father got wind of her little misdemeanor, he’d have her on a plane back home right this minute.

Deborah let out a low whistle. “Girl, you have my brother by the balls.”

“Debbie.” Samantha blanched. “Anyway, it’s the other way around. Your brother has me twisted around his little finger. I practically melted in his arms.”

Her friend jumped up and snapped her fingers in front of Samantha. “Oh, no you don’t. Listen up and listen well. Don’t you dare let my brother sweep you off your feet, hear me. I want you to have the last say,” her friend warned. “It’s about time he met his match, and you, my sweet, are the perfect person to put him in his place. So, don’t get mushy on me now, okay?”

“You’re being a sneak.” Samantha giggled. “I don’t have any hold over Cody.”

“You’re so wrong. The heat’s sizzled between you two ever since you met. By the time you leave here, Cody will wish he never set eyes on you. I mean it in the best possible way.” Deborah hauled Samantha to her feet and marched out the door.

****

Two days later, Samantha searched the house for Jace. “Hey, do you have a sec?” Sitting at the kitchen table, his mouth full of cookies, he offered a shy smile and stood.

“Sure thing, Sam.” Jace gestured at a chair then offered her the plate of cookies.

“No, thanks.” Samantha shook her head and slid into the seat. She wanted his help. “How are the studies going?” Hardly believable, this shy muscular cowboy was in his last year of medical school.

“Pretty good actually. I start my residency in a month.”

“Wow. Why a surgeon? I thought ranching’s in your blood.”

“Cody gave us the option to choose. Guess I wanted somethin’ different, but this will always be home.” Jace uttered a husky laugh.

The action lit up his face, and she suddenly grasped the striking resemblance between Jace, Reece, and Cody. The Bentley brothers were unmistakably gorgeous men.

“Well, I guess the world can do with another surgeon.” Samantha laughed. “You know its Debbie and Reece’s birthday next week.” He nodded for her to continue. “What do you say to a party?”

“Hell yeah, it sounds like a grand idea.” Jace slapped his thigh playfully.

“A barbecue by the pool or maybe pitch a marquee out back. What do you think?”

“Let’s make it a surprise. Get Reece for all the darn horse shit he pulls.” He chomped on another cookie. “I’ll go for the barbecue out back. It’s been a while since this ranch’s seen a good shindig.”

“Great, I like the idea of a surprise.”

“Tell me what you need, and I’ll rope in some of the guys to help.”

“Hmm… Do we need Cody’s permission?”

“I reckon not, but I could talk to him if you like.”

Samantha blushed. Cody disappeared since the episode with the kiss, two days ago, and she wasn’t in a particular rush to see him. It gave her time to calm her jangled nerves. The effect of the kiss proved to be worse than she anticipated. Treading on eggshells was an understatement. Maybe he was avoiding her as well. Good.

“I’d appreciate it. For now I need a list of their friends, as soon as possible. Short notice, so the sooner I call them the better. We should decide how we get them out of the house if we wanna make it a surprise.”

He scratched his chin as if giving the idea some thought. “With Reece it’s easy to get him out. Debbie…hmmm…we could ask one of her friends to invite her home for the day. With you here, I don’t think she’d wanna go.”

“Leave Debbie to me. We’ll need to hire a band, marquee, tables, and chairs. Freda will arrange the food and refreshments. I’ve covered pretty much everything,” she said and ran through her list. “Oh, one more thing, I’ll need some money.”

“Sure thing, I’ll get you so—”

“Hell, that didn’t take long now, did it?”

Startled, Samantha and Jace looked up. Cody’s large frame filled the kitchen doorway, his expression furious.

He leveled her with a look of frozen resentment. “What is it with women and hiding their true intentions?”

Samantha gaped at him wide-eyed as he advanced farther into the kitchen. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“You know damn well what I am talkin’ about, Lady.”

Samantha flinched.

“What’s up, Cody?” Jace asked, clearly stunned by Cody’s ferocity.

“Oh, she knows.” Cody glanced at him briefly then directed his gaze at Samantha. “The money?”

Baffled, Samantha stood. “Money? Could you be a little more specific?” The air crackled with the intensity of his anger.

He gave an impatient snigger, his voice flat, cold and hard as steel as he bit out, “Didn’t you ask Jace for money now?”

“Yes,” Samantha said, still confused. “Cody—”

“Stay out of this, Jace.” He spared his brother an intolerant glance before slamming his expressionless gaze on Samantha. “All you women ever want is riches. First you have Reece eating out of your hand then Chance and now you’re asking Jace to empty his pockets. What next? Women have no shame?” He glared holes through her with an unabashed revulsion.

Irritated, Samantha switched a confused gaze from one brother to the other. “Yes, I did ask Jace for money but only—” She broke off. A flash went off in her head. Cody caught the tail end of their conversation. Damn him to hell. Is he really accusing me of chasing his brothers for their money? The hairs on the back of her neck rose as anger rippled through her body.

“You’re just like the women—”

Brazen, Samantha stepped up to him and shoved a finger in his chest. “A piece of advice, Mr. Bentley, you’d do well to get your facts straight before blowing your top,” she cut him off rudely, dropped her hand and clenched her fists in irritation. Nobody irked her as much as this egocentric brute.

Cody’s gaze seemed to waver briefly. “I know exactly what I am talkin’ about, you—”

He got no farther. Samantha cursed and stomped out of the kitchen.

****

Cody swore harshly then darted damning eyes on his brother.

“Dammit, Cody, lay off her, will ya?” Jace stood.

Stumped, Cody flinched at the rage in Jace’s tone…one he didn’t think his brother capable of using, ever.

“Is it so hard to behave like a gentleman for once?” Jace was clearly furious.

“Hell, I’m trying to protect you from—”

“From what exactly? The twin’s party? Man, you’ve lost it.”

“Twin’s party? What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

“Hell, so now you wanna know. Less than a minute ago you chewed off Samantha’s head.”

“Cut the bull and give it to me straight.” Cody neared the table.

“I’m talkin’ about Samantha, you dumb jock. Yes, she did ask me for money. She’s planning a surprise birthday party for Reece and Debbie,” Jace said. “Goddammit, you’ve treated her badly since the day she got here. Now you’ve gone and accused her wrongly. Darn it, Cody, a little respect. Not all women are the same you know, and Samantha’s quite a gal.” He shook his head and stormed out the kitchen.

Cody stared after his brother. He appeared to be getting himself into quite the rut around this woman, first Reece and now Jace. A mental shit storm he could handle. However, dealing with the likes of Samantha’s fiery innocence so far proved undeniably difficult. Birthday party? “Fuck, I’ve really screwed up this time.” Before his stunned mind formed an appropriate response, Jake, a ranch hand, ran in through the kitchen door, breathing hard.

“Hey, boss. It’s Samantha. She’s taken Daredevil, and we don’t know where she’s headin’.”

“What? Daredevil? When? Dammit.”

“She rode out about five minutes ago,” Jake said.

Cody bolted out the kitchen door and raced toward the barn with Jake in tow. He saddled the only other fast horse, Thunder, quickly, and then mounted and sped off in the direction Jake pointed. Thunder maintained a good speed but couldn’t compare with Daredevil’s agility when given rein.

He expected her anger, not to this extent though. Then again what did he expect? A false accusation would sure as hell set her off. Samantha wasn’t one of Deborah’s typical shy friends. Hadn’t he seen her feisty defiance more than once? Damn he’d pay dearly if anything happened. So much for his wise-ass theory that Daredevil allowed no one to ride him except Cody. Their argument two days ago about the very same thing ended with her in his arms.

While he expected the suppleness of her mouth, nothing primed him for the succulent sweetness, her ardent response, or the charismatic innocence belying her tough exterior. Yes, the aim to teach her a lesson backfired. Instead, he became the flabbergasted student. What is the fascination she’s beginning to hold over me?

A mysterious beauty, yet no ordinary woman indeed, more like a fatal poison to his system. Cody had needs and enchantress or not, she slowly took over his every waking thought. An imprint of their kiss stuck solidly at the back of his mind and refused to dissipate. Shaking his head vigorously in a desperate attempt to rid her from his chaotic mind, he gave Thunder an unconscious kick to speed up.

Daredevil needed all of ten minutes to show his rider he owned the plains and once in the open go where he pleased. Cody hoped like hell Samantha rode as well as she claimed. Dear God, please let her be okay.