Christine Feehan - Conspiracy Game

“It looks like a log cabin, but it’s huge.”

“Over three thousand square feet. Ken has one wing of the house and I have the other. We share the kitchen, dining, and great rooms. The garage nearly doubles the space, so we have the room to expand into offices if we ever want to.”

“Why offices?”

“Ken thinks we’re going to run a high-priced camp for bored businessmen to practice survival skills.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“It requires actually talking to them.”

Briony laughed. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh since he’d left her months earlier, and the sound played down his spine like caressing fingers. “I see. What did you make the house out of? I love the fact that it looks like a log cabin.”

“The logs are Western white pine. We fitted them together with Swedish cope and used oil for the finish. The original mine is still on the property, as well as the first cabin built.”

“You really have a gold mine?”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering against her skin. “There’s gold up here, although Ken and I have never bothered to pursue it. We have all the wildlife and trout in the streams we need and are completely independent when we’re here. No telephones, so no one can bother us.”

“Jebediah said you’re still in the service. How do they get in touch with you if they need you?”

“Radio. We have a helicopter if we need it and a small plane at the airport.”

“Well, your house is absolutely beautiful and unexpected. I think you’re a secret artisan.”

He waved her toward the porch, inexplicably pleased that she liked his home. It was a sanctuary, plain and simple, a place few would ever find and fewer would dare to enter. “The road goes out in the winter, but we have snowmobiles.”

“What do you use for heat?”

“Wood. There’s plenty of it.”

“I especially love the verandah. I’ve always loved covered wraparound decks, and yours is perfect.” Briony touched the railing and stepped up onto the porch. She did love the house, but now that she was about to enter, her heart was beating too wildly. It took all of her courage to flash a tentative smile and act as if she entered strange men’s homes in nothing but a shirt every day of the week. “Funny, with all the warnings about you, Jack, you have more of a home than most people do. And it surprises me. This is beautiful.”

“It’s very isolated. Most women wouldn’t like it up here.”

Briony shrugged. “Most women can be around people without any problems. Me, I like solitude. And I’ve never had the chance to be in the mountains like this. It’s especially beautiful at night.”

“Tomorrow, I’m going to show you any alarms or booby traps on the property so if you’re out walking, you won’t get in trouble.”

She rolled her eyes. “Can we just say paranoia?”

“I prefer to use the term prepared .”

He led her through the kitchen. She glimpsed a stove and refrigerator, but little else as he hurried her through the house, down a wide hall to push a door open and step back for her to enter.

His scent was everywhere. She glanced back at him, hesitating. Her womb clenched, and she could feel the slow heat moving through her body. “Your bedroom?”

Jack drew in his breath. This was going to be a hell of a lot harder on both of them than he’d first thought. “Where else? I’ll get you something to sleep in and something to wear tomorrow morning.” He crossed to the dresser and pulled out a pair of drawstring pants. He’d never worn them. Ken had been trying to dress him for years, but so far Jack had resisted, preferring his jeans and camouflage clothes. “Are you hungry? I can whip something up for you.”

“I’m just really tired, Jack. I’d like to take a shower if you don’t mind, and just go to bed.” Because she couldn’t face him anymore. Looking at him hurt. And her body was out of control. She was ashamed of her lack of control. More than anything, she wanted to be alone where she could pull the covers over her head and cry her eyes out where no one could see-or hear.

Jack opened the door to his private bathroom. Her scent was already mingling with his. Once she was in his bathroom, he would have no respite from her-and he didn’t care. She had her plan to keep him at a distance. He wasn’t going to let that happen. Briony Jenkins was going to have to learn to live with him. It wouldn’t be easy for her, but there was no alternative, and he wasn’t going to allow her to back away from what was so obviously between them.

Brionycurled up into a tight little ball in Jack’s big bed. She could smell his masculine scent everywhere. The hot shower had taken some of the stiffness from her body, but the dread inside of her grew until her heart seemed to be in her throat choking her. She couldn’t get away from him. She drew him into her body with every breath she took. It might have been okay if it had just been her body betraying her, but her emotions felt raw and she couldn’t stop thinking about how gentle his hands were when he touched her.

She would not get caught in that trap again. It wasn’t real-it would never be real. Jack had made his feelings clear and she had to respect that. He was a man who, in spite of his roughness, treated women gently, and she was simply more susceptible because her hormones were running wild. Emotional and sexual at the same time. It was a difficult combination to cope with.

If you came to challenge me to a duel because I fucked your sister, Jebediah, you’re a hell of a lot stupider than I gave you credit for . Briony felt her cheeks grow hot remembering Jack’s accusation. Damn it all. She’d already fallen into his seductive trap. He just looked at her, touched her, and she practically threw herself into his arms. What was wrong with her? Didn’t she have any pride? How was she ever going to be able to stay in his home-his bedroom-with the scent of him driving her into some kind of mindless heat?

She sighed, flung off the covers, and padded barefoot to the window to shove it open and lean out to inhale the night, trying to clear her head. The air was far cooler than she was used to, but it felt good on her hot skin. She sat on the windowsill and watched the trees dancing in the wind, ignored the tears that streamed down her face. She was so emotional lately someone should just put her out of her misery. She blinked until she brought the landscape back into focus. The branches swayed and bowed, leaves glittering silver in the moonlight. Sitting quietly, she saw several deer wander into the yard, and something larger, almost horse-size, much farther off.

Curious, Briony climbed out the window and padded barefoot across the porch to the railing, leaning out to get a better view. She didn’t dare go wandering around the property until she knew where any alarms or traps were hidden, but she was intrigued with the large animal foraging in the forest so close to the house. She’d never seen an elk wandering free before, and she was fairly certain she was looking at a herd of them. For the first time in what seemed like weeks, she could breathe again, not have her mind in a whirling chaos of emotions. Out in the night air, there was no scent of Jack and no reminders that she was so susceptible to him.

Hand to her throat, she walked softly along the wraparound porch, keeping pace with the herd, following them around the large house, determined to think of something other than Jack-other than her situation. The covered porch was wide and the railing high enough that, holding on to one of the support columns, she was certain she could push off, swing up to the roof, and get an even better view, without disturbing anyone. She climbed up on the railing, keeping one eye on the huge animals, afraid they’d retreat farther into the forest before she could get a good look at them.