Wilde Fire (The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 2)

Well, being pampered and pleasured by four men sent her to the stratosphere, and she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. The Wilde brothers’ apparent openness to sharing her in bed also seemed odd to Jessie. They were rough-and-tumble cowboys, but their actions in the bedroom had pleased and puzzled her. After those first couple of days with the brothers, she and Jackson spent time alone in and out of the bed. But when he’d left for Colorado, he’d been clear that he was okay with her spending time with Phoenix.

Likely, jealousy would soon rear its ugly head, and the adoration of four men she’d enjoyed would soon be reduced to one. That was how it should be. Much more appropriate, especially after she finished her job here. But which one of the Wilde brothers? Jackson, of course. But sitting next to Phoenix had her toying with sinful thoughts.

“Ridiculous.” She wouldn’t allow herself to come between the brothers.

“What’s ridiculous, Jessie?”

“I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m just...overloaded.”

He looked over at her with troubled eyes. “The music doesn’t seem to be working as I’d hoped.”

“It’s really nice. Please keep it on. Any chance of us hearing from Jackson?”

“He might call tonight, but for sure in the morning.”

Jessie felt something amazing for Phoenix’s younger brother. And with Jackson’s agreement to keep things hush-hush about their intimate nights together, she thought he might have feelings for her, too. Or was she just being foolish? The phone call a few hours ago that had Jackson leaping from the bed, dressing in a flash, and kissing her good-bye had birthed a mishmash of emotions inside her. Doubt being the most prominent. The best thing to do while Jackson was away was to focus on the investigation and to not entertain a schoolgirl crush on his brother Phoenix. Easier said than done.

“What else is troubling you, angel?”

“Just thinking about the driver that caused that last accident. Any news?”

“Aunt Maude told me this morning that Paul is doing great. His wife hasn’t left his bedside at the hospital.”

“Did they run a blood test?”

Phoenix frowned. “You think he was drinking on the job? That doesn’t sound like him.”

“What about drug use?”

“Paul’s a stand-up guy. No way.”

“Maybe not, but I have to rule out every possible scenario.” Time was ticking away. Her boss’s last e-mail gave her three weeks to get her initial report to his desk.

“I want to make a stop before we head up to the mine.” Phoenix shot her a wide grin, causing her to smile back at him. “It won’t take long.”

“Make sure it doesn’t. Remember, you promised to help me get a meeting with your brother.”

Thinking about Austin Wilde made her blood boil. She’d only seen his assistant Selby, a gorgeous young woman who must’ve been hired for skills other than behind the desk. It was clear to Jessie that the eldest Wilde brother was avoiding her. Who the hell did he think he was to treat her like that? She was here by mandate of MSHA. If the man kept up his shenanigans, she would lower the boom on him and issue a noncompliance form. See how much Austin Wilde liked that.

“Sweetheart, I won’t break my promise. You’ll see him today.” Phoenix’s voice was sexy and low. He looked from the road to her. “I never believed a woman like you really existed.”

“Like me?”

“Smart, sexy, gorgeous, open, and determined.”

Jessie stared into his hazel eyes and saw that he meant what he said. Hot, masculine, and honest. What’s a girl to do?

His gaze went back to the road, and he drove them down a winding country route for twenty minutes. When they came to a gate, he hopped out and opened it up. Then they continued on a dirt trail for another fifteen minutes. This was far from civilization.

Her nerves started jumping. “What’s this detour about, Phoenix?”

“You’ll see, angel.”

When they got to the top of a hill, Jessie looked down into a little glen. In the center was a small, ultramodern house. At first, with its clean lines, utilitarian styling, and stark white color, it looked to Jessie to be out of place in the valley of trees, wildflowers, and lazy creeks. But the more she studied it, the more it seemed to fit there, as if some architect-and-artist duo had labored on finding the perfect place for their masterpiece.

Phoenix parked in front of the house. At this close proximity, it didn’t look stark at all. It was warm and inviting but with an edge. A shallow square pool with koi and lily pads sat to the side of the

path to the metal front door. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed anyone in the valley to see into the space, but as remote as the house was, Jessie doubted privacy was an issue except for the grazing deer she spotted on the slope behind the building.