Daredevil's Mistress

Chapter 8

Deborah raced into the room, jumped on the bed, and jostled Samantha out of a peaceful slumber. “C’mon, rise and shine, sleepy head. I want the low down, now.”

Lifting her head, Samantha moaned sleepily. “The low what?”

“Your date silly.”

Since her arrival, Samantha discerned this to be the first real glimpse of the old energetic Deborah. “Date? You mean the trip with the guys. Nothing happened really. We danced, played pool, and Reece was his usual self, ladies’ man.” Samantha yawned.

“And Chance?”

“What about Chance?”

“Did you guys make out?”

“Seriously?” Samantha laughed. “It’s me we’re talking about. I don’t have a clue how to make out even if it hit me in the face. Last night was the first time I’d come the closest to being kissed, and it was on the cheek.”

“Whatever it is you did or didn’t do, Chance is whistling at the top of lungs with a grin from here to Sunday.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Samantha shrugged. “I’ve never seen a place so busy though.”

“Yep, it’s our only watering hole.”

“I had the best time, ever. Let’s see…hmmm…I tasted beer…for the first time, bitter. There were barmen dressed only in denims and hats, so damn sexy,” she crooned then continued, “and the waitresses, in those short frilly skirts, wow, awesome dancers. I mean they rocked those cowboy boots in a line dance on the bar too. Oh, I danced with Chance, my first official body hugging dance with a man, awesome. When we got back, we said goodnight with a light kiss to my cheek. Does it cover your so called low down?”

“Aww, and I thought I’d meet the bearer of some juicy tales.” Deborah winked.

“Nope. Try next door. Maybe Reece has one or two good ones to share.” Samantha sat up and dropped her legs over the edge of the bed. “And what news do you have for me?”

“Huh?” Deborah slid off the bed and drifted to the window.

“There’s certainly a merry skip in your step this morning.”

“Oh, I’m just happy.” She shrugged and stared out at the distant mountains. “It’s probably the beautiful Sunday brilliance.”

Samantha leaped off the bed, crossed the room and circled her friend’s waist.

“That’s a load of crock and you know it. What are you not telling me, Debs?”

Deborah whipped around and Samantha dropped her hands to her side. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talkin’ about. There’s nothing to tell.” She uttered an uneasy laugh.

“Why didn’t you join me and the guys last night?” “I had an errand I needed to run.”

Samantha raised a brow. “Who runs errands at night? You’re hiding something?”

Deborah laughed. “And you’re being paranoid.” Sensing her reluctance to talk, Samantha shrugged.

“Okay. You win this time, but I have my way of getting things out, you’ll see.”

“Yes, Miss Sherlock. Now let’s leave your sleuthing for later. We’ve planned a barbecue for lunch out by the pool, so get dressed since you slept half the morning away.” Deborah made a hasty retreat.

After a quick shower, Samantha slipped into an emerald green two-piece bikini. She covered it with a white tank top and a pair of hip-hugging white denim cutoffs. Brushing her hair, she left it to hang loose then applied a light cherry lip-gloss. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. Wholly satisfied with her appearance, she left the room after slipping her dainty feet into a pair of low-heeled white sandals.

****

The mid-morning brightness did nothing to allay his pensive mood. Shoving his hands into the back pockets of his denims, Cody paced the living room restlessly. Sleep last night evaded him as easily as a certain green-eyed vixen he faced in one bizarre situation after another. Damn, she threw him for a six with her parting words, yet he harbored no grudges. Her chuckle when she entered the living room the night before set him on a heated arousal he didn’t think possible. Desire so fierce, it gripped his body. The arousal almost burned a hole in the crotch of his pants as his cock yearned for her touch.

It surprised him that Deborah discussed the incident with Steven. Weathering tight spots didn’t faze him, and he worked hard to ensure his family was short of nothing. Yes, people considered him a tyrant, but he ran a tight ship for the simple reason. No one would hurt him or his family, again. Maybe his reaction to Deborah’s relationship with Steven didn’t warrant his harshness, but his reasons held merit. The protection of his family remained a priority. For Samantha to throw it back at him with such intensity meant Deborah was still hurting. Samantha, a total stranger, someone he barely knew and already at war with.

Did yesterday really happen? Any other person would’ve met with his fists or lambasting of the severe kind, the likes of which they might’ve never seen before. However, this black haired beauty manipulated him with such blamelessness he almost believed she didn’t possess a clue as to the effect she unleashed.

Hell, no woman had gotten the better of him, yet. Cody aimed to keep things the way they were, no complications. Either he prepared for their next clash or risk disintegration in her fiery sassiness. Barely a day and she already baffled him with such ease. He could only imagine what the rest of the month had in store.

You may’ve met your match with this one…

“The damn sprinkler system is on the blink again.” Reece loped in and snatched Cody’s attention.

“Call Mike,” Cody said. Mike aptly named the town’s jack-of-all-trades, the few times he stayed sober. “Nah. Jace said he’ll help me take a look at it. That loafer, Mike, is too stinkin’ drunk to see straight.”

Cody sniggered as Jace trudged inside, his brow puckered in irritation. “I need you to take a look at this.” He handed Cody the water pump motor. “Damn thing sticks.”

“Everythin’ magic Mike touches turns to horse shit,” Reece said, punctuating his comment with a snort.

“Let’s have a look.” Cody took the pump and strode to the open plan dining room. He set it down on the table and leaned in for a closer look.

Reece’s whistle, forced Cody’s head up from his inspection. He gulped to propel moisture down his suddenly dry throat. Samantha entered the room. Her stride confident, head up, shoulders back, and tossed her glossy hair. The denim cut offs molded perfectly to her lush hips and dragged the wandering gaze down her shapely legs ending in flawlessly painted pink toenails. She wore a white transparent tank top with I Rock in pink lettering across the front. A green sexy bra peeked beneath the hem of her t-shirt as her raised hands raked her hair. Her lashes, long and thick, framed a pair of iridescent green eyes. An olive complexion amplified by full kissable lips and a magnetic smile completed her features to perfection.

Cody’s skin speckled with goose bumps. Whether it was from the sudden blast of air through the window or the vision in front of him, he couldn’t tell. She appeared enigmatic with a simple sensuality and quite easily the sexiest woman he’d seen in ages. Noting Jace’s raised brow, he focused his attention on the pump again, observing Reece and Samantha out of the corner of his eye.

“Hmm-hmmm, girl, you’re looking mighty fine,” Reece growled and playfully smacked his lips. Unexpectedly, the lurid sound irritated Cody. He shook his head with a grimace.

“You, Reece, are such a flirt.”

“And so I am, ma’am.”

“Stop smacking your lips.” She grinned. “I think you need some beef.”

“Oh, it ain’t this tender.” Reece slid an arm around her waist and nudged her close. “I prefer you anytime darlin’, anytime.”

She stepped quickly out of his embrace. “None of that now. Behave,” she reprimanded softly.

Cody noticed her tense up. Maybe she wasn’t used to the flirty advances of men. Probably a front. Uncertainty hampered his usually banal view. A loose strand of hair fell across her face. She tucked it behind her ear, studded with an emerald earring, the color of her eyes. Her cheeks flushed an adorable pink. The color gave her features a sultry innocence. Straightening, Cody sauntered to the entrance. He raised his hands, gripped the arch rim above, and leaned forward. “Now, ain’t this a romantic sight.”

“Hey, bro I just complimented how awesome Sam looks, almost good enough to eat.” Reece dropped an arm across her shoulders in a friendly hug.

“Depends, Reece,” Cody responded lazily, “On what you wanna eat.” Hell, she sure did look good enough to…eat, didn’t come close to what he had in mind. Damn, if looks could kill, I’ll be six feet under. The idea of that possibility made him grin.

Smiling green eyes transformed into stormy icicles and narrowed on Cody. “If you’ll excuse me, Reece, the atmosphere has suddenly frozen over.” With a quick smile to his brother, she left the room without a backward glance.

“Aww hell, Cody, now see what you’ve done,” Reece groaned and scurried out the door.

“What a spitfire,” Jace mumbled behind Cody. Chuckling, Cody returned to the table. “She sure is, boy.”

As he examined the pump, images of her smooth skin flittered into his head. The warm sensation stirred deep inside his body and attested to his current state of sexual mischievousness. A sense of reckless hunger swept over him as images of her naked, beautiful body surging beneath him seized his imagination with savage speed. He hardened involuntarily…

Dammit, get a grip on your fucking thoughts. He found his abrupt behavior repulsive. Like a freakin’ adolescent about to conquer his first score. Reason reasserted itself. It was simply voracious lust. While Cody did have his fair share of women, the combination of her olive complexion, black hair, and clear green eyes unsettled him. Maybe his immoral reaction stemmed from his lack of sexual action. A while since a woman shared his bed, more than a year to be precise. He shook his head in disgust and focused his attention on the pump.