Page 13 of The Forbidden Texan
“Yes. She has galleries and she’s a good artist.”
As she talked to him, Emily’s eyes sparkled and she sounded enthusiastic and her bubbly cheer made him want to reach out for her.
When he realized the drift of his thoughts, he changed the conversation. “I left a message for my contractor to go out and look at the house. I hope it’s in good shape so I can keep it. It’s entirely different from the house on my Hill Country ranch, the JR Ranch, which is one story and Western style.”
“Today, I asked you if I could see your Dallas condo so I’d know what style of furniture you like. That really isn’t necessary. Just send me a couple of pictures—and I’ll know what you like.”
Amused, he smiled. “Scared to go home with me?” he asked. Before she could answer, his smile vanished and he shook his head.
“See how easily I slip away from the business arrangement we have? Forget what I just asked. I was teasing you, anyway. I’ll send the pictures.”
“Good,” she said, looking down at her drink, but he saw her cheeks turn pink and he wondered whether she was thinking about their kiss today or that she had revealed she was still reacting to that kiss. Regardless, she was right—they were better off avoiding going to either home. Keep everything businesslike between them. How many times would he have to remind himself?
Their waiter appeared and placed a basket of hot wheat rolls on the table and took their dinner orders.
As soon as they were alone, Jake sipped the champagne. “Whenever you want to go to the ranch, tell me. We can fly because driving back and forth will eat up the time.”
“The first thing is to get the cleaning done. I told you the cleaning is scheduled for Wednesday and the paint crews will start on the outside of the house on Wednesday. I’ll see about buying furniture as soon as possible and get it delivered when the cleaning is over. The cleaning crews will stay at the motel in Flat Hill, so they’ll be close and it won’t take a lot of time to go back and forth. Three crews working long hours should get the job done quickly.”
“That’s excellent. I want to do this and get through with it.”
Their dinners were served and as he ate his steak and she ate wild Alaskan salmon, they talked about the ranch house and kept the conversation centered on business, which she seemed just as happy to do as he was.
After dinner, when he turned up her drive and stopped near the house, she unbuckled her seat belt. “We’re not on a date. It was a business meeting, so you don’t have to walk me to the door. I can get in just fine and I have an alarm.” She twisted in the seat to face him. “Thank you for dinner and I’m looking forward to this job.”
“I’m glad you’re willing to do it, although Thane’s gift would convince nearly anyone to say yes. But I’m still walking you to the door.” He got out before she could protest and as he went around the car, she stepped out.
They walked together to the porch and he crossed to the door to see that she got inside. She unlocked the door but didn’t open it as she turned to Jake. “Again, thanks for hiring me, for this opportunity. I look forward to it. As for Thane Warner’s gift—I’m still in a daze. It’s the same as winning the lottery. Just amazing.”
The porch light caused deep shadows, but soft light fell on her face, her prominent cheekbones, her full lips. His gaze lingered on her mouth and then he looked into her eyes that were filled with longing.
His pulse raced and he wanted to reach for her, to wrap his arms around her and put his mouth on hers and have one more earth-shattering kiss.
She was an employee. A Kincaid, he silently reminded himself. He repeated the litany to try to cool down, to back off when every inch of him wanted to reach for her.
He stepped back and smiled. “I’ll call you,” he said in a hoarse voice. He turned and left in long strides as if something was after him. Once behind the wheel in his car, he wiped his brow. He was hot, sweaty and he wanted her. He lowered the window and let the breeze blow on his heated body as he drove back to the street. But it did little to cool him off. They’d been together for one day and they had already had a first kiss—a stunning, unforgettable, life-changing first kiss. What was going to happen when they’d be living all alone out there on that ranch?
Four
On Friday, Emily was getting ready for an appointment at Jake’s office at Ralston Investments, his family’s investment firm, to give him an update on the situation at the ranch. She glanced at the pictures he had sent of his condo that took up the entire upper floor of a downtown office building he owned and she had to smile. The pictures didn’t indicate his preference of style for the Long L Ranch because he had two entirely different styles—the condo had a kitchen and breakfast area that was sleek and contemporary with sparse lines and pale neutral colors. In contrast a great room had ornate French Louis XV fruitwood furniture. The furnishings were elegant with a spectacular crystal chandelier in the entryway and another in the dining room. So which did he want for the Long L? Or did he want another style entirely? When she sent him a text, he wrote back, Surprise me.
Annoyed at first, she had to laugh and shake her head. She suspected that was his way of saying he didn’t want to be bothered. It was her choice to make, cost be damned.
She looked into her closet and dressed in comfortable jeans, a pale yellow sweatshirt and walking shoes. She braided her hair in one long braid behind her head and didn’t wear makeup. She didn’t know what stirred the fiery attraction between them—although she suspected that happened to him most of the time, but in this case, she was certain it was as unwanted by him as it was by her.
Jake had promised Thane he would do what he could to try to end the Ralston-Kincaid feud, but that was an impossible promise to keep. She couldn’t keep from being aware all the time she was with a Ralston. His dad was a Ralston, his mother’s first husband was a Ralston. She also reminded herself that he had a mixed-up family and she had nothing in common with Jake except that they were Texans. And they were both attracted to each other.
Last Friday night at her door, for an instant, she had thought he was going to kiss her. Worse, she had wanted him to. What had happened to her common sense? Any attraction she yielded to with Jake Ralston would mean heartache ahead. Why was she attracted to him? That was a no-brainer. The man was to-die-for handsome. He was fun to be with, practical and coolheaded. Just look at the way he’d behaved with her brother. Jake had been calm, collected and amused by Lucas, who was seething with anger and ready for a fight.
In addition to handsome and levelheaded, Jake was sexy. Incredibly sexy. And she suspected he might be the best kisser this side of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Shaking her head, she realized she was lost in thought about him when she was due at his office soon. She grabbed her purse and slung it on her shoulder. Thirty minutes later, she walked into Jake’s office and her heart skipped a beat.
In navy slacks, a white shirt and black boots, he came around his desk to greet her. A lock of his wavy black hair had fallen on his forehead. He flashed an inviting smile. “Have a seat,” he said, motioning toward one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. His voice was a notch lower than normal. He stopped far enough away that she knew there would be no handshake between them. She sat in one of the brown leather chairs and noticed they were much farther apart than they had been in her office.
He sat in the other chair and faced her, stretching out his long legs and crossing them at the ankles. “What’s the report?”
“I’ve bought the furniture and it’s to be delivered tomorrow at about two. You said you didn’t want to be consulted before I went ahead and bought the furniture. You can return it if you don’t like it. I need to be out there, just for the day tomorrow when they deliver it. In fact, I’d like to get there early enough to check out the rooms.”
