Part 4 (2/2)

Couldnat leave her.

Wind chimes dangling from the porchas exposed beams made a musical tinkling sound as a light wind kicked up. The breeze teased loose strands of Deeas hair and cooled her b.r.e.a.s.t.s where water had splashed, causing her nipples to harden like diamonds. Smells of rich soil and of fall just around the corner filled the air.

Dust churned on the dirt road leading to the Flying M Ranch, and she heard the rumble of a vehicle. She narrowed her eyes, wondering who could be coming over now. Blue barked from inside the house.

The moment Dee recognized Jakeas truck, her heart started pounding.

Dammit, she wasnat ready to see him so soon. When head brought her home yesterday afternoon, theyad barely spoken. Head gently settled her into the rocker, kissed her brow and left, with no more discussion about the future.

She gripped the edge of the low wall, clinging to it to keep her hand from going to her throat. Her hold tightened after Jake parked and climbed out of his truck. Why did he have to look so darn good? Why did he have to come back to Douglas and stir up her memories as well as her pa.s.sion?

Jake strode toward the porch, his walk fluid and purposeful. He hadnat noticed her yet, and she took the opportunity to study the movement of his muscles beneath his white T-s.h.i.+rt and his snug Wranglers. Stubble shadowed his set jaw, his eyes hidden by his Stetson.

l.u.s.t. Pure l.u.s.t was what she felt whenever she saw the man.

As though head sensed her, he turned his gaze to Dee and frowned. He jogged up the porch steps and reached her before she had a chance to form a coherent thought.

Her fingers ached from clenching the wall so tight. Otherwise she might just launch herself at him and beg him to f.u.c.k her. aWhy are you here, Jake?a she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

He glanced at her bandaged ankle, then back to her face. aYou shouldnat be on it.a aIam fine.a aLike h.e.l.l.a He leaned close and placed his hands on either side of her hips, trapping her. He smelled of sun-warmed flesh and mint, a heady combination that sent her senses reeling. aDo I have to tie you to your bed to keep you off that d.a.m.n ankle?a Now there was a thought that made her blood boil. Jake tying her to the bedpost. Naked.

Heat flushed through her and she raised her chin. aYou didnat answer my question, Jake Reynolds. Why are you here?a His face was so close she wanted him to kiss her.

aSatan. That devil-calf.a Jakeas voice was low and his eyes were on her mouth, but then his gaze met hers. aFigured you might need some help taming him.a aHis nameas Imp.a Dee swallowed, ready to pounce on him. aAnd I can manage.a aUh-huh.a He pushed away and stood, and air rushed back into her lungs. aWhen are you going to figure out itas all right to ask for help when you need it?a She flipped her braid over her shoulder. aI donat need your help.a aOne thing hasnat changed.a The corner of his mouth quirked. aYouare still a stubborn woman.a aSays the jacka.s.s.a Jake shook his head and laughed, but then his expression went serious. aIam concerned about whatas going on around here.a He jerked his thumb to the mountains behind the ranch. aDo you have any idea how much drug traffic goes through that range? How many undoc.u.mented aliens are smuggled across all the ranches here?a He raked a hand through his black hair. aAnd a good chunk of your herd has been rustled.a Dee frowned. aWhat do you want me to do? Pack my bags and just leave everything?a She waved a hand toward the bunkhouse and corrals. aThis is my livelihood. This is the way those cowboys make their living. You canat just expect me to turn my back on it.a His jaw visibly tightened. aYou donat seem too concerned about your safety.a aIam plenty concerned.a A sigh left her in a rush. aAnd not just for myselfa”for all the other ranchers and folks who live in these parts. But all I can do is take it a day at a time and hope the law handles the problem.a He nodded, but he didnat look happy. aAll right, sweetheart. Want me to carry you to bed to rest that ankle, or to the barn to keep me company?a Bed. But not to resta”to f.u.c.k the h.e.l.l out of me.

Jeez, all she could think about was s.e.x around the man.

Dee sighed, trying to ignore the tingling of her p.u.s.s.y. aBarn.a She knew perfectly well that head never leave until head accomplished what he came for. aBut I can walk.a He bent and rested his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from standing. Heat from his palms burned through her thin blouse and her nipples hardened. Jake gave her that slow, s.e.xy grin that sent every sane thought out of her mind.

His gaze swept over her water-splattered blouse, and he moved his hand across one swell and then met her eyes. aMmmm, black lace. Do your panties match?a Those matching black panties were positively soaked. aWouldnat you like to know?a aUh-huh.a Jake grinned and placed his large hands at her waist. aShall I carry you over the shoulder, like your desperado?a Warmth crept from her neck to her face. Partly from embarra.s.sment that shead told him her fantasy and that head remembered. And partly because she was so incredibly turned on that she wanted to jump him.

A possessive feeling gripped Jake as he slid his arms around Dee. He hooked his arms beneath her knees and she gasped when he swooped her into his arms. h.e.l.l, maybe she didnat need to be carried, but right now head take any excuse to hold her.

He brushed his nose over her hair as he cradled her. G.o.d, but she smelled good. Felt so soft. Her prominent nipples, along with the show of black lace bra through her damp s.h.i.+rt, were almost more than he could take.

d.a.m.n if his c.o.c.k wasnat as hard as a post.

While he carried her down the porch steps and toward the barn, she clung to him. aJake, youave got to stop this he-man stuff. Itas a new century and Iam not some helpless little woman.a Smiling, he s.h.i.+fted her weight as they neared the barn. aHow about when your ankleas better, I let you carry me?a aNow thereas an image.a She giggled, the sound seeping into his blood like parched desert soaking up rain.

aWatch your step,a she said when they entered the barn. aOne of the ranch hands did everything but rake the manure in the aisle and muck out the stalls.a The black gelding stuck his head over his gate and whinnied as Jake carefully deposited Dee on a hay bale. Her hands slid away from his neck and along his arms, the light brush of her fingers making him hotter than Arizona in July.

She looked away from him, toward the stall where the calf glared through the slats. aThe brat only lets me get close.a aCanat say that I blame him,a Jake murmured.

Dee acted like she hadnat heard. aImp goes berserk if Jess or one of the ranch hands gets near him.a aWhat do you call what I walked in on the other day?a She raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on her lips. aGonna try to handcuff him again?a aOnly as a last resort.a Jake went to the rusted and scarred fifty-gallon drum where theyad kept the sweet oats back when head dated Dee. When he lifted the lid, the scent of mola.s.ses and oats rose up to mingle with the dust, straw and manure smells of the barn. Using the tin can inside, he scooped out some of the feed, closed the barrel and returned to Impas stall. The calf was the same color of black as the stones called Apache tears, his coat smooth and sleek.

aHeas a beaut.a Avoiding fresh horse droppings scattered in front of the stall, Jake crouched and set the can of oats down. He eyed the calf, then glanced back at Dee. aHow long have you had him?a aLittle over a week ago I bought him from a rancher up north. Heas champion stock.a She shook her head and smiled. aRight now heas a champion pain-in-the-a.s.s.a aIf this guy gets much bigger before you gentle him, heas gonna do more than knock you on your b.u.t.t.a Dee leaned back, bracing her hands on the hay bale at either side of her hips. The movement caused her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to rise and her blouse to gape, exposing more black lace.

A vivid fantasy came to Jake. Of him sitting on the bale with Dee on his lap, wearing nothing but that black lace bra and a pair of garters. Her head tilted, eyes closed, auburn hair falling over her shoulders. Of him thrusting into her core and her riding him hard and fast.

aI just need to spend more time with him,a Dee was saying, her husky voice breaking into the erotic video running through Jakeas mind.

aAh, yeah.a He barely reined in a groan as he turned his attention back to the calf. Jake s.h.i.+fted so that one knee was on the dirt floor, trying to relieve some of the pressure around his zipper. He had to get his mind off Deeas s.e.xy body and onto helping her tame Imp.

The thought of the calf hurting Dee was enough to sober his l.u.s.t. Head known she wouldnat readily agree to his help, but he was sure shead try to work with Imp on her own. With her sprained ankle, she wouldnat be able to move fast enough to avoid getting seriously injured.

Stubborn woman.

He spoke to Imp in a low, soothing tone, trying to get the calf used to him and the sound of his voice. Imp b.u.t.ted the stall door, his eyes blazing. He snorted, splattering snot on the back of Jakeas hand, and Dee snickered.

Jake wiped the snot on his jeans while he continued to talk nonsense. When the little devil had calmed a bit, Jake stood and located the calfas halter. After he tied the end to the stall, he lowered the halter onto Impas head.

The calfas eyes bulged. He fought and tugged, throwing his weight from side to side. It was a good ten minutes before he finally settled down. His sides rose and fell like a pair of bellows stoking a fire, a wild glint still in his eyes.

aYou and I are gonna be more than good friends,a Jake said to the calf and then glanced over his shoulder at Dee. aNo matter what you might think.a She frowned at the calf, her hand moving to her throat. aYouare asking the impossible.a aNah.a He turned and unlatched the gate, then eased it open. aIf thereas one thing Iave learned since I met you, sweetheart, itas that nothingas impossible.a aYou always did have a large dose of overconfidence,a Dee muttered.

Smiling, he picked up the can of feed and entered the stall, moving slow and easy. He reached into the can for a handful of oats and held his palm under the calfas nose. Impas eyes glittered and he lowered his head. As Jake started to step back, his boot slipped on a pile of manure. At the same time, Imp rammed his thigh.

The oat can flew out of Jakeas hand as he lost his balance. He fell back, landing hard on his a.s.s. Oats scattered, the tin can rattling across the ground, and he heard laughter behind him.

aSo much for friends,a Dee said.

Jake glanced over his shoulder and saw that she wasnat even trying to keep a straight face. He grinned. aIam not done by a long shot.a aSpoken like a man who doesnat know when to quit.a aGot that right.a He went to brace his hand on the ground, only to have his palm land in something cold and squishy with an unpleasant smell. aAh, s.h.i.+t.a aUm, are you all right?a Dee asked between more giggles.

He looked up and gave her a wry smile. aNothing a shower wonat cure.a She jerked her thumb south. aJust past Danceras stall thereas a sink and a bar of soap.a After Jake washed his hands, he spent another hour with the devil calf, determined to make some headway in their relations.h.i.+p. Every so often head glance at Dee and catch her watching him with expressions ranging from amus.e.m.e.nt to concern to frustration. And perhaps longing?

Ah, h.e.l.l. He hurt her bad all those years ago, but he had no intention of hurting her again. Somehow head make her see that, and get her to trust him.

For now he was concerned shead try to tame the calf on her own and end up with more than an injured ankle.

When he finished working with Imp, Jake mucked out the stalls and raked manure out of the aisle, despite Deeas protests. Shead started to get up to help him, and head threatened to turn her over his knee.

That shut her up.

This time when he went to Dee to carry her to the house, she rolled her eyes. aAll right, Tarzan. If it makes you happy.a He scooped her up, watching out for her ankle. aI thought it was desperado.a She groaned, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. aYouare not going to forget that, are you?a aNope.a ad.a.m.n.a Jake strode from the barn to the house, holding Dee tight. He climbed the steps to the front door and s.h.i.+fted her in his arms to grab the k.n.o.b. aI want you to promise me something.a A wary look came into her green eyes. aDepends.a He twisted the k.n.o.b and stepped back to let Blue out. The dog barked and danced around their feet for a few moments before bounding off.

aDonat mess with Imp until your ankleas better. Give it a good two weeks,a he said as he carried her across the enormous living room to the rocker shead been sitting in yesterday.

aYouare kidding, right?a After he eased her down, he sat on the couch near her.

aDead serious.a He leaned forward, holding her stubborn gaze with his. aThat calf is a strong b.u.g.g.e.r, and heas liable to hurt you.a aButa”a aNo buts. If I have to play desperado and tie you to your bed, I will.a Dee blushed and Jake had to grin. By the expression on her face, she was visualizing more than what head meant by that remark.

h.e.l.l, theyad have to give it a try some day. The thought gave him an instant erection and he shook his head. Whenever he was around Dee, he was like a teenager with a permanent hard-on.

She raised her chin. aI canat ignore Imp for two weeks.a He scrubbed his hand over his stubbled cheeks. aIall come over every day after I get off work.a Dee blinked. aIa”thatas not necessary.a aI usually get off around three.a Jake got to his feet and stood beside the rocker. aI may not make it until later, depending on how things go. But Iall be here.a Another look of protest flashed across her face. Before she could say another word, Jake put his hand over her mouth. Her lips felt soft against his fingers, and he couldnat help a low groan from rising in his throat.

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