Page 16 of The Forbidden Texan
“They wanted to stay in Flat Hill last night and get an early start. Actually, I think they wanted to go out, have some fun and meet cowboys and cowgirls.”
“Well, on most nights in Flat Hill, they can find some fun. So we’ll meet them at the ranch. Let’s board.”
He took her arm, which surprised her because he hadn’t come near her since their last kiss. He held her arm lightly and then let her go ahead of him on the steps into the plane. She had dressed for work in jeans, a blue T-shirt and sneakers. She had her hair in a braid and a blue ball cap.
When they stepped into the plane, he touched her arm and she turned to him.
“I’m your pilot and I have a very good, experienced copilot, so sit back and enjoy the ride,” Jake said.
“I will,” she said, smiling at him as she put her things in the overhead and sat to buckle her seat belt.
She watched Jake in the cockpit. His shoulders were broad and she remembered exactly how it felt to be held in his embrace, the solid muscles in his arms. He was a former US Army Ranger, strong and sexy. Maybe she should have left her brother alone and not interfered that night at the club. It would have served Lucas right if he’d tangled with Jake. But she was glad they hadn’t fought because she wouldn’t have wanted either one of them hurt.
Sunday night she would have to tell her family about her new job. They weren’t going to like it. Could she convince them that what she was doing was a good thing for all of them?
It was Monday that she thought about the most—moving to the ranch with Jake and working with him constantly. Just the idea made her recall their fiery kiss. When they were under the same roof every night, how was she going to resist him? And would he even try to kiss her again? From the way he looked at her sometimes, she had a feeling he remembered their kiss as well as she did. And looked as if he wanted to repeat it.
She felt her pulse beat faster at the thought. She had to stop focusing on Jake’s kiss, but she couldn’t forget it or overlook it or even just stop thinking about it.
They taxied down the runway and soon were smoothly airborne, and she got out a notebook she carried to look at her schedule for the week. She couldn’t wait to see the improvements on the house.
Sometime later when they drove up the road to the ranch, she saw them. The front first floor already had a fresh coat of white paint on the outside. Windows were clean, screens replaced. Fresh pots of palms were on the porch, and hanging baskets held various blooming flowers.
“The house looks good,” he said. “Your crews are doing a bang-up job, and I heard back from my contractor just yesterday. He said the house is sound, so all this work won’t be for nothing.”
“That’s great! And I think so, too.” Four rocking chairs were on the porch and a porch swing had been hung, giving a charming appeal. “I’m glad you like it. I think it looks inviting and comfortable,” she said.
Rum had been waiting and got out of his pickup to come meet them. As he shook hands with Jake and tipped his hat to Emily, he said, “The place is beginning to look mighty good.”
“I’d like to go in and look at the house,” Jake told him. “Come with us if you want, Rum.”
“Thanks but I’ll watch for the guys delivering furniture and try out one of the new rockers. These look first-rate. Nothing like a rocking chair.”
Jake held a screen door for Emily and as she entered, she had that prickly awareness of passing so close to him. Too easily, she could recall their kiss and being pressed against him. Why couldn’t she forget their kiss? She knew the answer and didn’t want to think about it.
She tried to focus on the house that smelled of cleaning solutions and paint. “Oh, my, they have the fountain going.” She looked at the splashing fountain and a pale aqua-and-gold marble pool. “Look at the marble. You couldn’t see any colors when we were here before because of the dust. It’s beautiful. And look at the hall,” she said, turning.
The walls had fresh white paint, and the hall was now light and welcoming. The antique bench with new dark blue brocade upholstery that she’d had sent out from her Dallas shop would look beautiful here.
“I think this is all they have painted inside so far,” she told him, “but you can see the interior is going to look inviting, too.”
“Yes, it is. This floor is like new,” Jake said, indicating the wide oak planks that had been cleaned, polished and buffed.
“It looks like an entirely different place already.”
“It does,” he said and she looked up to see him staring at her. She felt a flutter dance up her spine and she forgot the house and the workers. For a moment, memories of his kiss consumed her and she felt hot with longing. She needed to move away from him, get away and leave him in a different room.
“We agree about the house. We agree about other things. We’re each thinking about the same thing right now,” he said in a husky voice that went over her like a caress.
“Jake, quit while you’re ahead. Stick with business,” she whispered, stepping back, her heart pounding because she felt he was about to reach for her and she wanted him to, but she knew better.
He blinked and turned away.
“You hired a good crew,” he said after a moment.
“Thanks. They’ve concentrated on getting this first floor in shape because they knew we’d be staying here and the furniture’s coming for these rooms. They’ll get to the other floors this week. Even with three crews, it’s going to take longer than we estimated.”
“That’s all right if it all turns out like this,” he said and she wondered if he really would ever live on this ranch.
