Page 14 of The Forbidden Texan
“Good idea.”
“By the way, the cleaning crew put aside papers they found for you to go through. I’ll look at them if you’d like and try to weed out what I think you don’t need to see.”
“That would be excellent. Use your judgment because I don’t give a damn about those old rascal grandfathers and their stuff.”
“The cleaning crews will finish this morning, so when I get to your ranch, the place will be clean and ready for the furniture. Now, when I go tomorrow, I’m taking assistants with me. We can direct where the furniture will go as they unload it. I’ve already gone over it with them.”
“Tell them they can fly out with us. And the cleaning was fast work.”
“You paid extra,” she said, smiling at him, and he laughed with a flash of even white teeth that made him even more appealing.
“Why don’t we fly to Flat Hill in the morning? Would you like to leave at seven o’clock?”
“That’s perfect,” she said. “I’ll let the others know.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up.”
“You don’t need to taxi me around. I’ll meet you at the airport. I know where you go now and I’ll be there at seven o’clock.”
He looked amused as he nodded. “Very well. I’ll meet you there. I’m looking forward to seeing the house and getting started on clearing things out. I want to do this and be through with it and I know you do, too, especially since you can make the change to a full-time artist now.”
“Oh, yes,” she said, with more feeling than she should have—only because he’d smiled.
“We’ll manage working out there together. Thanks for all you’re doing,” he said, standing as she did. “Just in case I forget to tell you tomorrow, good luck with your family Sunday evening when you break the news. I imagine your brother has already informed your family about our encounter.”
“I’m sure he has and they’ll all be curious, especially since I missed dinner this past Sunday. I’m ready for them.”
“Just give me warning if I need to be on guard.”
“Oh, no. My brothers won’t get physical.”
“I had a different impression with Lucas.”
She smiled and shrugged. “Maybe. He probably knew I would stop him.”
“Sure,” Jake said and walked around the desk to go open the door for her. He kept space between them and held the door, stepping back. Even so, she felt a prickling awareness when she walked past him.
“See you in the morning.”
“Thanks.” She left, her back tingling because she suspected he was standing there watching her walk away, although she couldn’t imagine why she would still interest him, especially in her old jeans and sweatshirt. She let out her breath. She had a smoldering awareness of him and all the time they had talked, she had tried to avoid looking at his mouth or thinking about his kiss, but that had been impossible. Next time with him should be easier because instead of a confined office, they’d be in a house big enough that they could avoid each other easily.
Now if only she believed that.
* * *
Glancing at his watch, Jake saw it was time for his lunch meeting with his ranger buddies. He made a few notes that were reminders for the afternoon and then left his office to drive to a popular lunch place near his office. It was a sunny September day in Dallas and he had reservations for a patio table.
In minutes, Mike Moretti appeared and Jake shook hands with him, his gaze running over Mike’s thick black hair. He wore a blue cotton long-sleeve Western shirt, jeans, with a big silver belt buckle he had won in a rodeo, and boots.
“You made the transformation from ranger to rancher well, I see.”
“You bet. I’m living a good life out on the Tumbling T and I hope you feel the same about coming back.”
“This beats getting ambushed any day,” he said and they both smiled.
“Here comes Noah,” Jake said, watching his friend walking toward them. Wind blew Noah’s black curls and as he reached their table, his blue eyes sparkled and he had a big smile when he shook hands with his friends.
“It’s good to see you guys. We thought you were never coming home,” he told Jake.
