Thorn's Challenge Part 3

Four.

"T here's only one word to describe your brother, Laney, and that's stubborn." here's only one word to describe your brother, Laney, and that's stubborn."

The two women were sitting at a table on the terrace of the restaurant. They had enjoyed lunch and were now enjoying a gla.s.s of wine. A smile tilted the corners of Delaney's lips and her eyes sparkled as she glanced over at her friend. "Let me guess. You must be referring to brother number two, none other than Thorn Westmoreland."

Tara couldn't help but return Delaney's smile. "Yes. Who else? Your other brothers are simply adorable and don't have a grumpy bone in their bodies. But that Thorn..."

Delaney chuckled. "I don't know why you continue to let him get next to you, Tara," she said, taking another sip of her wine, although she had a pretty good idea. She had been keeping a close eye on Thorn and Tara since they'd met and knew better than anyone that the spark of annoyance flying between two individuals was a sure sign of attraction. She and her husband Jamal could certainly attest to that. When they'd first met there had been sparks, too, but then the sparks had turned into fiery embers that had fed another kind of fire. Delaney hated that she hadn't been around more to prod Thorn and Tara in the right direction. She and Jamal had spent more time in his homeland during their son Ari's first year of life. They had returned to the States a few months ago so that she could complete the rest of her residency at a hospital in Kentucky. They would be remaining in the States for at least another year.

"I know I shouldn't let him get under my skin, Laney, but I can't help it. For instance, last night, when the others left my house after the card game, Thorn hung back just to rattle me."

Delaney lifted a brow. "Thorn hung back? I'm surprised he wasn't the first to leave."

Tara had been surprised, too. Usually, he avoided her like the plague. "Well, for once he decided to stick around."

"And?"

"And he said we needed to talk."

Delaney shook her head. "About Mrs. Chadwick wanting him to do that calendar?"

"No, I never got around to mentioning that."

"Oh. Then what did the two of you have to talk about?"

A rush of color suffused Tara's mahogany skin when she thought of just what they had done in addition to talking. Aftereffects of their kiss still had her feeling warm and tingly in certain places.

"Tara?"

Tara met Delaney's gaze. "Ahh...he wants to take me bike-riding today and we talked about that," she said, not telling Delaney everything because she figured she really didn't have to. No doubt there was a telltale sign all over her face that Thorn had kissed her.

"Are you?"

Tara blinked as Delaney's question broke into her thoughts. "Am I what?"

"Are you going bike-riding with Thorn?"

Tara shrugged. "I told him I wouldn't, but that didn't mean a thing to him since he indicated he would drop by today anyway. At first I had planned to make sure I wasn't home when he arrived, but then I remembered Mrs. Chadwick and that darned calendar."

"So, you're going?"

Tara breathed in a deep sigh. "I guess so, I'm only going so that I can ask him about the charity calendar."

Delaney smiled. It seemed things were finally beginning to happen between Thorn and Tara; after two years it was definitely about time. But still she decided she needed to leave her friend with a warning. "Look, Tara, I know my brothers probably better than anyone and Thorn is the one I can read the best. He was involved in an affair a few years back that left him with a bad taste in his mouth, and heaven knows that was the last thing Thorn needed, since he was moody enough. He's an ace when it comes to doing whatever it takes to get whatever it is he wants. He'll pull out all stops and take any risks necessary if the final result suits him. There's only one way I know to get the best of him."

"And what way is that?"

Delaney smiled, her eyes crinkling attractively as she thought of the brother who loved being a thorn in everyone's side most of the time. "Don't try beating Thorn at his game, since he's a pro. What you should do is to come up with a game plan of your own."

Tara lifted an arch eyebrow. "A game plan of my own?"

Delaney nodded. "Yes. One that will get you what you want, while making him think he has accomplished his goal-getting whatever it is he wants from you."

Tara frowned. For the past two years Thorn had avoided her s.p.a.ce and now suddenly he was determined to invade it. She didn't have to think twice as to what he wanted from her since he had pretty much spelled things out last night. He wanted her! "A game plan of my own. Umm, I think that's a wonderful idea."

Thorn sat astride his motorcycle and gazed at Tara's house, wondering if she was home. He had heard from Stone that she had had lunch with Laney earlier that day.

He should have called first but he hadn't wanted to give her the chance to refuse his invitation. He'd figured that the best thing to do was to catch her with her guard down since chances were she probably thought she had made herself clear and he wouldn't show up today.

Shutting off the engine he began walking toward her door with two helmets in his hands. He was determined that they would go today. He hadn't slept most of the night for thinking of how it would feel when she leaned into his back with her arms wrapped around him, while the vibrations of the motorcycle's powerful engine hummed through her.

He rang the doorbell and heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. Moments later Tara opened the door. And she was smiling.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up, Thorn. I've been ready for over an hour."

He blinked and a look of indecision filled his eyes. The woman certainly looked like Tara but the one standing before him didn't appear surprised to see him. In fact, from her statement it seemed she had been expecting him. His gaze darkened dangerously as he wondered just what the h.e.l.l she was up to.

"I thought you weren't going riding with me," he said, meeting her gaze and holding it with an intensity that should have made her nervous. Instead she waved her hand, dismissing his words and stood aside to let him enter.

"If you really thought that then why are you here?" she asked, closing the door behind him and leaning against it to look at him. The suspicious look on his face, his pensive and forever brooding expression had Tara wanting to go up to him and wrap her arms around his neck and a.s.sure him that he wasn't imagining things, and that she had thrown him a curve. She had a feeling that few people did that to him. And she had another feeling that she should savor this rare moment of having the upper hand with Thorn.

Then, to her astonishment and complete surprise, the corner of his mouth quirked into a seductive grin. "Because I've learned when most women say one thing they really mean another."

She frowned. "When I say I won't do something, usually I won't. The only reason I changed my mind is because I remembered I needed to talk to you about something."

Thorn continued to meet her gaze. He knew just what she wanted to talk to him about-that charity calendar. He quickly decided he would prefer turning her down after their bike ride rather than before it. "All right. I plan for us to have dinner at a restaurant I think you'll like. We'll be able to talk then."

She raised a brow. "Dinner? You didn't mention anything about dinner."

He shrugged. "Didn't I? It must have slipped my mind."

He then studied her outfit, a pair of jeans, a lightweight pullover sweater and a pair of short leather boots. It was the perfect riding attire and the outfit looked perfect on her. "It may get chilly later so you might want to grab a jacket," he suggested.

Tara sighed. He had intentionally not mentioned dinner to her last night. A part of her thought of resisting, but she quickly decided not to start fighting him just yet. There would be plenty of time for that later. There was no doubt in her mind that after telling him what she needed from him, he would prove to be difficult. "Okay, I'll be right back."

Thorn went completely still and held his breath when Tara pa.s.sed him to go up the stairs. He'd seen her in jeans a number of times before and always thought she knew how to wear them well, but today he couldn't help but pay close attention to how the jeans fit her, especially the way the denim cupped her curvy backside.

And she was wearing her hair down and he liked that. He wanted to know how the silken strands would feel blowing in the wind as he tore up the road with her clinging to him.

"All right, I'm ready."

He glanced back to the stairs and watched her come down. He looked at her intently before saying. "So am I."

"Here, let me help you with that," Thorn said, easing the helmet on Tara's head and adjusting the straps to keep it firmly in place. "Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle before?" he asked as he tried to ignore how his body was responding to her closeness. As usual, whenever he was around her, a deep, s.e.xual hunger stirred to life in his midsection. It was only at times like these that he remembered just how long he had been celibate, which didn't help matters.

"No, I've never ridden on one before."

He swallowed deeply. The low, seductive tone of her voice was only adding to his misery.

"But I have ridden on a moped. Does that count?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, that doesn't count, so consider this your first experience," he said as he a.s.sisted her in straddling the seat behind him. He tried not to think of how good she looked with her legs spread wide across the padded seat or how well her body fit onto it. Today he was riding the Thorn-Byrd 1725, a huge bike that had a pa.s.senger armrest and backrest to give a second rider added comfort.

"You, okay?" he asked as he placed his own helmet on his head and strapped it on.

"Yes, I'm fine, just a little nervous. This bike is huge."

He chuckled. "Yeah, and I prefer building them that way."

"I'm truly amazed."

"About what?"

"The skill and craftsmans.h.i.+p that went into building this bike. You truly have gifted hands."

A pleased smile curved the corners of his lips. He was glad she thought so and intended that she find out real soon just how gifted his hands were. But at the moment his main thoughts were on her her hands. "Place your arms around me and hold on tight with your hands. And don't hesitate to lean into me for an easier ride. Okay?" hands. "Place your arms around me and hold on tight with your hands. And don't hesitate to lean into me for an easier ride. Okay?"

"Why would leaning into you provide an easier ride?" she asked, in a confused tone of voice.

"You'll see."

Tara nodded, preferring to try and sit up straight with her arms around Thorn's waist. But when he turned on the engine to a low, rumbling purr that escalated to a much louder growl, she automatically leaned forward, tightened her grip around him and pressed her body against the wide expanse of his back. His leather bomber jacket felt warm, cus.h.i.+ony, and so much a part of him. Pressing her face against his solid back, she breathed in the scent of leather and the scent of man. It was masculine and a mixture of shaving cream and a real nice-smelling cologne. This wasn't the first time she had been aware of his scent. That first time he had kissed her at Dare's wedding she had gone to bed later that night with his scent embedded in her nostrils. It had been both alluring and arousing.

It still was.

"Ready?" she heard him ask her over his shoulder.

She sighed deeply and closed her eyes. "Yes, I'm ready." The next thing she knew he s.h.i.+fted gears and the two of them went flying into the wind.

Tara opened her eyes as her nervousness began easing away. It was plain to see that in addition to being a gifted craftsman, Thorn was also a skilled biker. He took the sharp curves with ease as he expertly controlled the large and powerful machine.

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s felt tight and achy, so she leaned forward and pressed her body even more to his. He'd been right. This was the best position. She wondered if, with her sitting so close, he could feel the frantic pounding of her heart. But that question and others were suddenly zapped from her mind when she took a look at the countryside they pa.s.sed. Instead of traveling on the busy interstate, Thorn had maneuvered the bike onto a scenic two-lane road that had very few cars. She liked the view. And she liked the feel of the man she was clutching for dear life.

"Am I holding you too tight?" she decided to ask. She wondered if he heard her question or if the sound of her voice had been swept away with the wind.

"No."

She smiled. He had had heard her, and she was glad she hadn't caused him any discomfort. heard her, and she was glad she hadn't caused him any discomfort.

Thorn tried to keep his concentration on the road ahead of him and not on the woman behind him, but her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pressing against his back and arousing him no end. Everything about her was arousing. He had ridden other women on his bike but never had he felt such excitement and exhilaration before. Riding with Tara was seduction at its best, temptation at its finest.

He pulled his concentration back in as he maneuvered the bike around a curvy mountain road. This was the part of Atlanta that he loved seeing on his bike and he wanted to share the view with Tara. It was a part of the city that had escaped the developer's bulldozer. The Westmoreland family intended to keep it that way.

He slowed the bike as he left the highway and steered to a single-lane gravel road that led to a huge lake in a wooded area surrounded by large overhanging trees. Moments later, he brought the motorcycle to a stop and shut off the engine. Before she could ask, he said. "I think this is one of the most beautiful spots in Atlanta and thought you might enjoy seeing it."

Tara glanced around and her breath caught. He was right. It was was breathtaking. She gazed back at him. She would never have guessed that he was a man in sync with nature, but from the look in his eyes as he glanced around, she could tell that he was. breathtaking. She gazed back at him. She would never have guessed that he was a man in sync with nature, but from the look in his eyes as he glanced around, she could tell that he was.

"You come here often," she said. It wasn't a question but a statement. She could detect deep appreciation in his gaze as he viewed his surroundings.

"Yes. This is Westmoreland land. The ruins of my grandparents' house isn't far from here and we visited this place a lot while growing up. My father's youngest brother, the one who has never been married, Corey Westmoreland, spent a lot of his time teaching us to appreciate the natural world and its environment here. I believe you've met my uncle."

Tara nodded. "Yes, twice-at both Laney's and Dare's weddings. He's the one who's a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. Right?"

Thorn nodded. "Yes, and so is my cousin Durango. In fact when Durango finished high school he decided to move to Montana to attend college to be near our uncle. Now I doubt you could get either of them to return here to live. They're Montana men through and through."

He kicked down the motorcycle stand and removed his helmet. "Come on, let's take a walk."

Tara slowly slid off the bike and had to steady herself so she wouldn't lose her balance. Thorn appeared at her side to a.s.sist and to help her take off her helmet. He stared down at her when he held her helmet in his hand.

"What?" she asked, wondering if she had something on her face since he was looking at her so intently.

"Nothing. I'd been wondering why your hair hadn't been blowing in the wind. I had forgotten that the helmet would hold it in place."

She lifted a brow. He had been thinking of her hair blowing in the wind? Before she could think about that further, he took her hand in his. "Come on, let me show you around."

Tara knew she was seeing another side of Thorn Westmoreland. For some reason he wasn't his usual grumpy self, and she decided to take full advantage of his current kinder and gentler disposition. She knew it would probably be best for the both of them if they were to continue to avoid each other, but then she thought of Mrs. Chadwick's request. Somehow and someway she had to get Thorn to agree to pose for that calendar.

Together they silently walked the surrounding land. She saw more wild animals than she had ever seen before. There was a family of deer, numerous rabbits and wild turkeys. There was even a fox skirting across the overbrush. In soft tones Thorn pointed out to her the spot where he had learned to ride his first motorcycle. His grandparents had bought it for him when he was twelve years old. It had been a dirt bike, one not meant for the road.

"Ready to go?" he finally asked her.

Tara glanced up at him. "Yes, I'm ready."

Thorn leaned toward her to place her helmet back on her head and suddenly he stopped. He traced her jawline with the tip of his finger and met her gaze. She took a slow, deep breath to calm the erratic beating of her heart when it became crystal-clear what he was about to do. He was going to kiss her and she couldn't form the words to tell him not to.

Instead, a need, a hunger, flared to life inside her when her gaze settled on his lips as his gaze had settled on hers. Memories filled her mind of the last two kisses they had shared. Hot. Mind-boggling kisses.

She quickly decided that she would question the sensibility of her actions later, but for now she needed this kiss as much as she needed her next breath.