Page 42 of The Forbidden Texan
When they arrived at her home, the driver carried her things inside and left, and silence filled the empty house. Missing Jake, knowing it was going to be difficult without him, she stopped trying to stave off the tears and gave herself over to them. She cried like she’d never cried before, and she didn’t stop.
She didn’t want to join the family tonight; she suspected her brothers would guess right away what was bothering her and she didn’t think she could hide it from them. She called her mother and said she was worn-out and was staying home tonight.
It was about nine o’clock when she got a text from Lucas. Sorry you’re not feeling well. Can I come by? Mom sent dinner.
She wanted to text back saying no thanks, but she didn’t. Instead, she sent him a text telling him to come by, that dinner sounded good, though in actual fact, she hadn’t eaten and couldn’t bear the thought of food. But she figured the bigger the fuss she made about being unable to join the family, the more Lucas would want to know what had really happened and then he would blame Jake. She didn’t need her brother’s interference in her life. So she combed her hair, wiped her eyes with a cold cloth and put on makeup, hoping it would conceal her red puffy eyes.
She heard his car and went to the door as Lucas rang the bell. She opened the inside door and then the storm door and held it.
“Come in and thank you for bringing dinner.”
He came in and looked intently at her. “I’ll put this in the kitchen. Sorry you’re under the weather.”
“I’m okay, just tired. The job is finished and we worked fast. Now I have a lot to catch up on tomorrow.”
He set the dish in the kitchen and came back to face her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m very okay.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t ask you to move in with him.”
“It’s none of your business, but he did and I said no.”
Lucas studied her. “That’s good. Women are trophies to him.”
“Lucas, don’t. I—”
He put up his hands, palms out. “Okay. I’m going, I’m going.” He stopped at the door and turned to her. “Want me to punch him out?”
“No, Lucas—” She realized he was teasing when he started laughing and she shook her head and forced a laugh. “By now, I should know when you’re being ornery.”
“At least you laughed. Seriously, I hope you’re okay. Not many women walk away from Jake Ralston with their heart intact.”
“Stop worrying. I’m fine.”
“Sure,” he said and left.
She closed the door behind him. “I love him,” she whispered, wondering when it would stop hurting so badly. She missed him. How would she sleep tonight? She wanted his arms around her. She wanted him holding her close and kissing her. “I hope you miss me, Jake Ralston,” she whispered. “Even half as much as I miss you.”
She went to the studio she had set up in one of the spare rooms of her house, hoping that maybe drawing might assuage the pain. But all she managed to draw was his picture, even getting out her phone and selecting one of the photos of him that she could copy. The drawing pencil scratched across the pad furiously, until suddenly she stopped it. She missed Jake with all her being. She wanted his loving, his laughter. She could call him and move in with him and take life on his terms and maybe he would never want her to leave him.
The thoughts came out of nowhere but once she processed them, she knew she couldn’t do any of that.
“Jake,” she whispered and put her head in her hands to cry.
Through the sobs, a voice echoed in her head. How long would it take before she stopped loving him?
* * *
October in Dallas, and the weather was still balmy. Jake had been on his JR Ranch for two weeks, working hard outside, trying to forget Emily. Now he was back in Dallas temporarily. The Long L Ranch was as finished as he was going to get it unless he decided to live there part of the time. But he didn’t like staying on that ranch because it held too many memories of Emily. It was the same at his condo in Dallas and even in his office. He tried to work, but too much of the time, he would realize he was staring into space, remembering when she was with him.
He couldn’t get her out of his thoughts and that was a first. He had never had that reaction to any woman who had been in his life.
Causing him more worries today, at lunch he had run into Lucas Kincaid at a downtown restaurant. As Jake had approached the door, Lucas had come out and turned in the opposite direction.
“Hey, Lucas,” Jake had called out, catching up with the man before he started to cross the street. “How’s Emily?”
“She’s great,” Lucas had said, smiling and sounding friendlier than usual. “She’s into her art and taking some time off just to have fun. She said she worked hard at the Long L and she’s turning some of the store work over to one of the women who works for her. She’s great, Jake. I think soon she’ll have a location for her art gallery. She’s very happy about her art. How’s the Long L?”
