Page 35 of Score to Settle (Oakwood Ranch #1)

TWENTY-FOUR

HARPER

MIA: Should I take it as a good sign that you didn’t come back to my place last night?

HARPER: Did you know Jake was going to be there?

MIA: I might have made sure his name was on the list.

HARPER: And you didn’t tell me?

MIA: Where’s the surprise in that? Are you walking like a fifty-year-old bull rider this morning?

HARPER: Pleading the fifth!

MIA: Fifth or filth? Tell me everything.

HARPER: I don’t kiss and tell.

MIA: OMG! You gotta give me something. Was it good? It was, right!

HARPER: BDE.

MIA: I knew it!!

DAD: Something’s come up and I’m leaving for New York this morning. Rain check on lunch?

HARPER: Sure.

Notes for article: Jake Sullivan is the best wingman anyone could ask for.

When I woke up earlier, I found myself in Jake’s bedroom.

In Jake’s bed. Wrapped in Jake’s warm embrace.

Bright morning daylight pushed in through the window.

If I was expecting another bedroom like Chase’s—football memorabilia and something teen-like—I was wrong.

Jake’s room, like him, is all man. The walls are a deep navy.

The furniture dark wood, solid and sturdy.

The hardwood floor is covered by a thick gray rug, and on the wall is a striking black-and-white photograph of the mountains.

The room is dominated by a large bed with white sheets I was tangled in.

Memories from last night flooded my body.

It was an effort to keep my breathing even.

The last thing I wanted was to wake Jake.

I needed a moment to collect my thoughts, and I couldn’t do that while resting in the crook of Jake’s arm, breathing in that woodsy masculine scent as my body tingled with desire.

And so slowly, silently, I slipped out of Jake’s embrace.

Now, in the familiar surrounds of Chase’s bedroom, I breathe a little easier.

It’s still early. Jake isn’t due at Stormhawks Park until this afternoon.

There’s time for me to escape. For a little while, anyway.

I throw on my running clothes and pull my hair into a high ponytail before heading downstairs.

In the hall, I see my dress—a puddle of red silk on the floor.

I scoop it up along with my underwear and heels.

My gaze strays to the living room as I pass the doorway, to the couch Jake laid me down on.

The heat of the memories burns my skin and I hurry to the safety of the kitchen.

It feels strange to find it empty. Last night I was grateful we had the ranch to ourselves, but this morning I miss Mama’s calming presence.

She always seems to know the right thing to say, the right time for the coffee to be ready and something tasty just out of the stove.

I drop last night’s clothes on the table and grab a glass of water.

From the corner of the room paws clatter on the floor and I turn to find Buck’s floppy ears and wagging tail moving toward me. “Hey,” I coo, running my hands over his soft fur. “You wanna come for a run with me?” I take a step and Buck dances around my legs, beating me to the back door.

Outside, the day is bright, the sky a pale blue.

Last night’s snow covers the ground like a dusting of powdered sugar.

Buck bounds ahead, his paws leaving prints in the shallow snow.

Cold bites my face and hands as I bounce on my toes, tighten my ponytail, and heave in a breath of fresh mountain air before following after Buck in the direction of the lake.

As blood pumps through my veins, the cold gradually loses its edge and my mind takes me straight back to last night.

The sex was… I don’t have the words. Heat pulses through me and it has nothing to do with how fast I’m running.

It was the best sex of my life. Amazing, perfect, mind-blowing.

The kind of sex I didn’t think existed. Even thinking about it makes my body ache for Jake’s touch.

Ahead of me, the spruce trees stretch toward the sky, casting long shadows over the untouched snow.

Tiny mountains of white sit on the branches and I turn my gaze to the horizon and the real snowcapped peaks of the Rockies, painted shades of orange and pink by the rising sun.

The view is breathtaking but it’s not enough to stop the next rush of memories hitting me.

Obviously this is just sex.

My words from last night twist in my gut.

I knew Jake would be thinking the same—letting me down gently by starting to tell me how incredible I was—and so I said it before he could.

Self-preservation, maybe. He’s Jake Sullivan—a star football player at the height of his career.

He could have any woman he wanted and even if his reputation is no longer deserved, it doesn’t mean he’s suddenly the type to settle down. He has the world at his fingertips.

And then there’s me. I’m a junior sports journalist, still trying to find my place in that same world.

Following in my father’s footsteps, but not really sure if journalism is truly my calling.

I feel like I’m so far out of my depth, I’m drowning.

I keep waiting for the feeling to pass, but so far it hasn’t.

Then something else occurs to me and a fresh wave of horror floods my body.

My heart pounds for an entirely different reason.

I feel sick. Light-headed. I’m in so much trouble.

I’ve done the one thing Tim told me not to do—I slept with the assignment.

Oh, God. How could I have been so unprofessional?

Top of the list for why we shouldn’t cross that line, and last night I ignored it.

If Tim finds out about this, I’m gone. Fired twice in six months for inappropriate behavior.

Even if the first time was all a lie, no one will believe it because last night was definitely all me.

I can’t lose another job!

The cold air burns in my lungs as Buck lopes easily beside me, his nose to the ground. As I run around the lake, the weak winter sun glints off the ice-crusted surface, fracturing into a million diamond pinpricks of light.

Jake and I come from completely different worlds.

Last night was incredible, but it can’t happen again.

If there’s any chance of me salvaging my career, I have to start acting like the professional I’m always trying to be.

If only Jake hadn’t come to the dinner last night, calling himself my wingman.

It’s easily the most thoughtful thing a man has ever done for me.

He made the night not just bearable, but actually fun.

Seeing the look of disbelief and annoyance on Scott’s face when I was dancing in Jake’s arms was pretty good, too.

Suddenly my mind is filled with thoughts of Scott and my dad.

Last night, for the first time, I told my dad what I really thought of Scott.

I wonder if Dad remembers, if he was even listening.

For an award-winning journalist known for his investigative skills and attention to detail, he’s turned a blind eye to his own daughter for most of her life.

I wonder if he canceled our lunch in favor of spending time with Scott.

I shove the thought aside and push my legs faster, reminding myself of all I have.

A best friend like Mia. And her mom, Gloria, who’s always welcomed me like a second daughter.

Even Dad is still my dad. I remember what Lori told me last night about how he took my stories with him on his trips away when I was a child.

He might not show it, but a part of him must care.

I round the corner and the ranch comes back into view, bathed in the morning sunlight.

The thought of spending five weeks here felt like a lifetime at the start, but with only eleven days left of the assignment, I know I’m going to miss staying here.

Last night I asked Jake to take me home.

It was only when he raised a quizzical eyebrow that I realized I meant here—this ranch, a place that in just a few short weeks feels more like home than anywhere I’ve ever lived.

The thought of a time when this assignment is over fills me with an emptiness I can’t wrap my head around.

Five weeks no longer feels enough. In eleven days the Stormhawks play their penultimate game of the season, marking the end of my time with Jake.

The truth is, we’ve spent so much time together, talked endlessly about his childhood and his dreams, his life playing football, I have almost everything I need to write the profile on him, and I can tell already it’s going to be good.

It’s going to be everything Mama wants it to be. Everything Jake needs it to be.

The only thing left for Jake to talk about is what happened with the cheerleaders in the parking lot last year.

Whatever it was, it was bad enough to nearly destroy his career and completely change his lifestyle, and I want him to tell me about it in his own words.

According to Jake, he moved home to the ranch after what happened and gave up the wild parties and the women. Until last night anyway. Until me.

At the start of all this, I thought getting to the truth about who Jake really is would be his downfall.

Even two weeks ago, Jake sleeping with me would’ve been all the proof I needed that he’s the womanizer his reputation says he is.

But when I look back at last night, I think of Jake walking away.

I think of me being the one to call him back.

How he asked me if I was sure I wanted it.

All last night proved is how fucking amazing Jake is in bed.

I force the thought away and think again of what’s left for us to talk about. I’m not sure how much longer I can avoid asking him about what happened last year, but considering how awkward today is going to be for us, surely a few more days won’t hurt.

Buck scampers up the porch, pushing through the back door, me at his heels.

I need coffee and a shower and to write up my notes in a way that won’t sound like they were written by the sixteen-year-old version of me with a huge crush on Jake Sullivan.

The readers of Sports Magazine don’t want to hear about Jake’s dance moves or the mini fireworks display that goes on in my stomach every time he looks into my eyes.

The earthy smell of coffee hits me as I kick off my sneakers and pad into the kitchen.

The first thing I see is Jake. He’s by the coffee machine fussing over Buck.

My heart skips a beat, and I wish I could blame it on my run and not on how gorgeous this man is.

His dark hair is mussed from sleep and from my fingers raking through it last night.

His stubble is thick and his gaze as he looks at me is intense and searching.

“Hey,” I say, aiming for breezy but it comes out a breathy gasp.

“Morning, Cassidy,” he says, sounding as cool and collected as I was aiming for.

He hands me a mug of coffee and I take it gratefully, ignoring the pang of want that hits my gut when our fingers touch.

His gaze rakes over my body, one eyebrow raised in question. “So, clearly I didn’t wear you out enough last night?”

I huff a laugh of surprise at his remark, my face aflame. Of course he doesn’t skirt around what happened. I search for a retort, but my mind is stuck on the images his comment unleashes.

“Something like that,” I mumble, taking a grateful sip of hot bitter coffee.

And even though I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole, I grit my teeth and push on.

“About last night…” I start, wanting to say again that it was just sex and reinforce that boundary I know we should have between us.

But staring into the dark pools of Jake’s eyes, the words ring hollow, even in my thoughts.

Despite what I said last night, it didn’t feel like just sex. It felt like… like more.

Jake gives a small shake of his head, his smile easy. “You want to keep things professional,” he finishes, looking at me over the rim of his mug.

I nod, grateful for the rescue. The silence stretches between us, filled only by the soft sounds of Buck’s tail thumping against the floor as Jake absently rubs his ears.

I wish again that I could read Jake better.

Beneath the easy smile and nonchalant words, I sense an undercurrent of something else.

Disappointment, maybe. Or regret? Does he wish last night hadn’t happened?

I make for the door before I can ask the question. “I’d better grab a shower and work on my notes before we leave for practice.”

“Harper,” he says, voice low, making me think of last night and his hands on my body, his lips pressing against my skin.

I spin toward him, the air between us electric again.

He sighs, raking his hands through his hair. “I don’t regret what happened last night.”

“Me neither,” I answer honestly. However awkward this is, whatever mess it’s landed us in, I don’t regret it.

His eyes bore into mine. “I don’t want a one-night stand with you.”

My heart lurches. The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh.

The want in Jake’s eyes makes my legs weak.

For a split second, I think about inviting him to join me in the shower.

But then what? We have eleven days together, and however fun last night was, it’s already going to be hard enough to walk away from the ranch and from Jake.

I roll my eyes playfully, hoping Jake can’t hear the pounding of my heart in my chest. “I think we’ve mixed business and pleasure enough.

My job is on the line too. If Tim finds out about this…

” I make a face. So much for a playful comment.

“But don’t worry, I get how much your rep is just rumors and gossip.

You didn’t ruin that last night. So far, this feature is going to be everything you want it to be.

Let’s just forget last night ever happened. ” I back into the hall.

“Harper, that’s?—”

“It’s fine,” I call, taking the stairs two at a time, only drawing in breath when I’m in the bathroom with the door locked. I strip off my clothes and step under the hot spray of the shower, trying not to think about what Jake wanted to say when he called my name.

I don’t know if there’s a chance in hell I can claw my way back to any level of professionalism with Jake, but I’m going to try.

What happened last night can’t happen again.

There’s too much riding on this feature for both of us.

And now it’s not just my job I’m worried about.

It’s my heart, too. When this is over, we both have to go back to our normal lives, and I can’t risk having my heart broken by the same man twice.