Shattered Trust (Colorado Trust 4)

She stared at his tight expression, all the darker for the faint shadow of a beard that had grown throughout the day. Anger resonated in his tone, and she noticed his hand clenched around his chopsticks. Her chest constricted at his obvious pain.

“You’re speaking from experience?”

He blinked at her soft question, but whatever it was, he put it aside and his face cleared. “Everyone has things in life they wish they could’ve done differently. It’s no big deal. So my dad’s met Nate, too?”

She hesitated at the quick change of subject, then answered, “No, but we’ve talked about him. You know, when we were getting cozy over coffee at six-fifteen in the morning.”

His gaze met hers. The question in his eyes did not need to be spoken out loud. She resented the fact that he’d even think she would knowingly have an affair with a married man and at the same time wanted to erase the possibility from his mind. Pride kept her mouth shut as she glanced at her watch to see the hour hand after nine. “I’d better get back in there.”

Justin silently gathered the leftovers and headed to the fridge in the corner.

Marley stood in front of the model table, considering where to continue while rubbing the back of her neck with one hand. Pressing her fingers into her muscles, she rotated her head in a circle to ease the soreness.

At the sound of Justin’s footsteps, she dropped her arm and waited for him to step up to the table alongside her. Instead, his warm hands settled on her shoulders. She stiffened.

“Relax,” he coaxed. “You must be tired.”

His fingers kneaded her aching muscles. She didn’t speak as he continued to rub along her shoulders, her neck, and the base of her scalp. She knew she should stop him, but it felt too good.

The only massage she’d ever gotten was the occasional knuckle rub from Nate, and judging by Justin’s performance, her brother didn’t know what the hell he was doing.

****

Justin knew exactly what he was doing. Problem was, he couldn’t seem to stop himself. It didn’t matter about the arguments, he was her boss. He didn’t know the extent of her involvement with his father, she still might be the key to the mystery surrounding his grandfather’s death…and a couple others he could come up with if he tried.

But he didn’t want to try. He wanted to touch—even if only for a back rub.

Unintentionally, he’d let his emotions show a moment ago. She’d given him understanding and compassion. The brief physical relief he could offer paled by comparison.

Another soft sound vibrated in the air. She swayed and leaned back against his chest. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation of her hair against his cheek intertwine with the scent of her. He wanted nothing more than to turn her into his arms and kiss the mouth he’d been taking orders from all day.

She turned to face him of her own accord, her hair catching on the stubble covering his chin. The silky strands dragged across his lips in a sensual caress. He raised his hand to her forehead and pulled the silken strands free by running his fingers down the side of her face before brushing them behind her ear.

Desire combined with a hint of caution in her green eyes. He longed to crush her close. Instead, he slid his hand to the back of her neck and gently urged her forward. Her gaze searched his for a moment before she complied, her hands rising to his shoulders as her eyelids drifted shut.

The first touch of her warm lips strained his control. When he slid his tongue along her bottom lip and she opened to him, it simply vaporized. He pulled her against him with his free arm, connecting their bodies from hips to lips as his tongue swept inside to explore her mouth.

Her response was slow at first, as if she were savoring the experience. Justin had no patience for savoring as passion swirled inside him, boiling his blood and urging him deeper.

She pulled back, but he followed and moments later she returned his kiss with equal enthusiasm. She was so much more than he’d imagined, giving as much as he took. He’d almost expected to battle her for command, had anticipated the fight, but this thrilled him more.

He began to walk her backward toward her desk when the distant ding of the ele

vator pierced his conscious. Reality set in when he heard his brother’s voice echo in the executive lobby.

“Justin? You still here?”

Marley tore away. Justin swore under his breath as he took in her mussed hair, glistening lips and increased breathing. Without looking away from the beautiful sight, he raised his voice to carry to his brother. “What do you want?”

“A little help would be nice,” came the irritated reply.

Justin ran his hands through his hair and abruptly left the room. Jordan piled box after box off the elevator, and Justin stopped at the doors.

“What the hell is all this?”

Jordan shoved a box into his arms. “Financial records from the past two years.” He held on even after Justin had secured the cardboard. “Marley’s still here?”

Justin didn’t bat an eye as he replied, “We’re working.”