Emma laughed. “Now you’re teasing me, too.”
Jake joined in the laughter and tweaked Emma’s pert little nose. “Sweet Pea, where are your folks? They seem to have disappeared.”
“They ran into town to pick up more ice, but they should be back soon. Gramps said they better hurry because he didn’t want Daddy to lose his place at the grill.”
The meal was a lot of fun and Jake was right – it seemed like half the county was there, celebrating, laughing and enjoying each other’s company and the variety of delicious food. Anna noticed Jake eating a second slice of the coconut cake she made. When she raised an eyebrow his direction, he sauntered over and leaned near her ear.
“I can’t believe my tractor-operating, snake-killing, race-car driving librarian is such an amazing cook. This is delicious, Anna.”
Anna tried not to blush. “I’m glad you are enjoying it. I like to bake and cook.”
Jake took another bite and swallowed before he leaned close to her ear again, “That is great to hear because I have an insatiable sweet tooth, especially for my Sugar.”
“Oh,” Anna said, looking at her feet, trying not to blush at Jake’s statement.
Everyone started leaving to give those participating in the parade time to get their entries lined up before it started.
Anna was helping clear tables, feeling like she’d been made welcome into one big happy family. Her folks left a few minutes earlier and Anna knew Jake wanted to stick around to help clean up.
Turning to Callan, who was wiping down tables, she smiled.
“What a nice bunch of people. I’m so glad Jake invited us to come today. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I was hoping to see Josh and Jenna and the twins. I had a lot of fun with the boys at the zoo last week.”
“I’m so happy to hear that, Anna. They couldn’t stop talking about going to the zoo with you and Jake. Josh and Jenna went to Seattle to spend the holiday with her family. It’s wonderful you and your folks came today, though. We enjoy spending time with you and it was lovely to meet your mom and dad,” Callan said. Grinning, she added, “And I’m especially glad to see you and Jake together. You are so good for him.”
Anna didn’t know what to say to that and ducked her head.
While the women finished cleaning up the food and kitchen, the men put away tables and chairs and set things back to rights outside.
Jake stepped into the kitchen, followed by Audrey and Emma. Looking around, he spied Anna helping dry dishes.
“Anna, are you about ready to go? If you want to go to the park before the parade, we need to get moving,” he said, not brave enough to venture too far into this room full of women.
They all looked at him and smiled. He suddenly knew what a lamb must feel like when faced down by a pack of wolves.
“Sure, Jake,” Anna said, finishing the dish she was drying. She turned to Bobbi and asked quietly if there was a room she could change in then picked up the duffle bag her dad placed inside the door for her before he and her mom left. Canvas sneakers and rodeos just don’t mix, so she’d brought along jeans and her boots.
While Anna was changing, Jake stood ready to make an escape. His mom took a step toward him and by the look in her eye he decided it was safer to wait outside. Hurrying out the door, he wandered over to where Clay was scrubbing the grill.
“Hey, Clay, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, Jake. What’s on your mind, other than the usual and the obvious,” Clay teased.
“Well, when you met Callan, how did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That she was, you know… that she was the one?” Jake asked, looking out across the backyard, unable to make eye contact with his cousin and friend.
Clay stopped scrubbing the grill and studied Jake for a moment before answering with a smile. “I was right. You do have it bad, don’t you?” After slapping Jake on the back, he returned to scrubbing the grill. “I knew Callan was the one for me the first time I saw her. Every time I was with her I felt like I was going to die but the thought of not being with her nearly drove me insane. I was a mess, I tell you. A certifiable mess.”
Taking another look at Jake, Clay grinned. “I’d guess I was probably in about as bad a shape as you are right now.”
Jake turned to look at his cousin and let out a long sigh. “That apparent, is it?”
Clay laughed out loud, a deep, hearty laugh that made a group of men hanging out by the corral fence turn to look at them before they resumed their conversation.
“Jake ol’ boy, since you’ve met Anna your dear sweet mother has not heard one report of your running amuck with girls of questionable reputation. You are polite beyond reason. You seem to have found a gentler, kinder side of your personality. You are calmer and more settled. Your personal grooming has reached an all new pinnacle and you, my friend, have the look of someone who has finally and completely fallen in love. Welcome to the club.”
Before Jake could form a response, Anna came out the door and looked around for him. He thought she looked so cute and wholesome today in her red, white and blue outfit. He wasn’t quite prepared for her five-minute transformation to full-fledged cowgirl temptress.
Her hair was now down and bouncing around her shoulders. A white peasant blouse topped tight blue jeans and freshly polished boots while a silver belt buckle caught the sun at her waist. If she put on a cowboy hat, Jake thought he might pass out from the pleasure of it all. Fortunately, Anna left the hat at home.
Clay looked at Jake looking at Anna and started chuckling, shaking his head. “Bad, Jake. You have got it bad.”
Seeing Jake with Clay, Anna started their direction and was trailed by Audrey and Emma, who immediately ran up to Jake, each one tugging on a hand. “Jake, can we please go with you and Anna to the park. Please? We won’t be any trouble and we’ll meet up with Mama and Daddy at the parade. Please? Pretty please?
“Girls, I think the last thing Jake needs is you two tagging along today so the answer is no,” Clay said, looking at them firmly but kindly. The girls let go of Jake’s hands and nodded knowing when their daddy laid down the law there was no arguing.
Jake looked at the girls, then at Anna. “What do you think, Anna?”
“I think it would be fun to take them,” Anna said, knowing she’d have the rest of the evening after the parade to spend with Jake. The girls were lively and full of energy. It would be an adventure to spend some time with them. “Could we return them to you at the parade, Clay?”
“Are you sure you want them along, in the middle of everything?” Clay asked, looking pointedly at Jake.
Jake didn’t know why, but he thought a little distraction from his all-consuming attraction to Anna might not be a bad thing. Audrey and Emma were sure to keep him occupied for an hour or two.
“They’ll be good, won’t you girls?” Jake asked the twosome, who set the curls on their heads into a frenzy of bouncing with their vigorous nodding. “All right, it’s settled then. Go jump in the truck.”
He didn’t have to tell the girls twice as they climbed into the backseat of his pickup. Jake hoped this wasn’t a mistake, but he’d taken the girls out many times before and they always had a good time together.
“We’ll meet you at the usual spot then Jake,” Clay said, digging in his wallet for two $20 bills, handing them to Anna. “They’ll beg for everything at the park, tell them they are on a budget and stick to it.”
Anna couldn’t help but smile at Clay. “Absolutely. Thanks for letting us take the girls and thank you for today.”
<><><>
As Jake and Anna headed down the drive with the girls, Callan came out the door to talk to Clay.
“I knew those two were going to talk you into letting them go,” Callan said as she gave Clay a hug. “You should have told them no.”
“I did, but Jake wanted to take them along for some reason. I think Anna about knocked him out of his boots,” Clay chuckled, thinking of the lo
ok on Jake’s face when Anna came out of the house.
Callan joined in his laughter. “Did you hear about her killing the snake?”
“Jake told that story to anyone who would listen,” Clay commented. “For all her quiet ways, I think Jake has finally met the perfect girl for him. I just hope he realizes it.”
<><><>
Anna couldn’t remember when she’d had such a wonderful day. They wandered around the park with the girls, buying ice cream cones followed by cotton candy and then icy cups of strawberry lemonade. Audrey and Emma each had their faces painted, played a few carnival-style games and then bought hand-held flags to wave at the parade.
Jake and Anna, with the girls in tow, arrived at the Christian Church parking lot where Callan and Clay, along with the rest of the family, were gathered to watch the parade. Anna knew this was where all their family attended worship services and wondered if Jake joined them in attendance. She somehow doubted it.
Following the parade, she and Jake grabbed burgers and fries and went to the rodeo. Anna and her family attended most years, but she didn’t expect to see her folks or Sam and Lisa. Jake introduced Anna to so many people she lost hope of ever keeping them straight. She assumed some were friends and some mere acquaintances.
When he left her to go in search of refills for their sodas, it didn’t take any time for two of the cowboys he’d introduced earlier to come sit beside her.
“So, Anna, how long have you known the Jakester?” asked the blond-headed one, she thought his name was Sunny. He smelled of sweat, beer and cigarettes.
“Oh, for a while,” Anna answered, trying to breathe through her mouth. It was true what they said about when one sense is weak another makes up for it. Anna knew her sense of smell more than made up for her lack of hearing. She could smell things no one else had a clue about. And right now the smell on these two was overpowering.
“You new to the area?” the darker-haired and less attractive one inquired. Was his name was Gary? Anna tried to remember then decided she didn’t really care.
“No, I grew up here,” Anna said, trying to focus her attention on the action in the arena and ignore them, hoping they would get bored and go away.
“Well, how come we’ve never seen you around before?” Sunny asked. “It’s not like anyone could forget a face or body like yours.”
Anna was starting to feel somewhat defiled by their leering looks and wasn’t entirely sure where the conversation was headed. She looked down and saw Jake headed their direction and sighed with relief.
Gary followed her look and motioned to Sunny it was time to get going. “Well, if you ever get tired of Jakester, look us up.”
Jake glared at them both as they passed him on the stadium steps, then sat down next to Anna, handing her a cold soda.
“What did those two want?” Jake asked darkly. Gary and Sunny were no-good, one-night-stand types and the last thing he wanted was them anywhere near Anna. He regretted ever introducing them, but it seemed like he knew half the people attending and they all wanted to say hello as they walked into the stands. “Did they bother you?”
Anna was inwardly amused at Jake’s protective streak. She could almost see his hackles rise.
“It was fine, Jake. Nothing to worry about.” She took a long deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of his aftershave.
“Well, if they ever bother you again, let me know and I’ll take care of it,” Jake stated with a hard look that Anna had not seen before. He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his side. Jake was making it clear to anyone who cared to look that Anna belonged with him.
“Just forget about it, fancy boy,” Anna said, leaning into him, secretly pleased by his protectiveness.
The rodeo finished up with about thirty minutes before the fireworks show would begin. Many people chose to stay in their grandstand seats where they could watch the display shooting off in the park. Some hauled blankets and lawn chairs out onto the grass. Jake had other plans.
Grabbing Anna’s hand, he hurried her out of the stands and through the crowds to his truck. Driving impatiently through the masses, he crossed the bridge adjacent to the park and drove out to what seemed like the middle of nowhere to Anna. Turning onto a little-used dirt road, he stopped the truck and tied a bandana over Anna’s eyes with instructions of “no peeking.” They drove for another five minutes before he came to a stop. Anna felt the truck pull forward then back around before Jake turned off the ignition.
Getting out of the truck, he hurried around and opened Anna’s door for her. Giving her a hand out of the cab, he pecked a kiss on her cheek, instructing her not to move. She could hear him open and shut the pickup door, and banging sounds coming from the back of the pickup. Anna had tried prying information out of him on the drive up here, but all he would say is “wait and see.” Well, it was hard to see with a blindfold on, that was for sure.
“Jake?” Anna laughed “Jake! What in the world are you…” Her words were swallowed up in a gasp as she felt herself swept up in his arms and gently deposited in the back of the pickup, her feet hanging over the tailgate. She was shocked beyond words. No one had picked her up since she was a little girl. Anna wasn’t a tiny slip of a thing. She was five feet ten inches in her sock feet and set on a solid frame, but Jake picked her up as easily as he had swooped up Emma earlier in the day.
Anna could feel something soft beneath her. She perceived a dip in the pickup as Jake stepped into the back, felt his warmth as he sat beside her. His fingers brushed her neck as he untied the bandana and pulled it away. Anna caught her breath.
They were on top of the butte that faced the town with a magnificent view of the park below them. Jake lined the bed of his truck with a thick comforter, including two fluffy pillows. Country music played in the background and a bag of peanut M&Ms sat between them, Anna’s favorite candy.
“Happy 4th of July, Anna,” Jake said, kissing her cheek with a warm smile.
“Oh, Jake,” she sighed. “You planned this all by yourself?” When he nodded, she said, “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
They sat looking up at the stars, enjoying the companionable silence when a loud pop shot up from below followed by the beginning of the fireworks show. Munching M&Ms, they were content to enjoy the display and comment on which ones they liked the best.
When it ended, Jake tugged her back on the pillows and they rested side by side watching the stars against the inky night sky. It wasn’t long before Anna’s head found its way onto Jake’s shoulder, his arm around her, holding her close. He lightly stroked circles on her arm, reveling in the feel of Anna so close. This was exactly how he’d envisioned ending the evening, the two of them cuddling under the stars. The exotic, floral scent of her perfume combined with the warmth of her body next to his, however, became intoxicating. Jake was sure every single nerve ending was on fire and Anna was the only thing that could quench the flames.
Removing her glasses and setting them aside, Jake lowered his lips to hers and gave her the softest of kisses. As her arms slid around his neck, he turned on his side and pulled her closer, holding her tight. One kiss led to another and soon what had started out so innocent turned into something wild and passionate as they melted into the embrace.
“Jake,” Anna moaned. “Oh, Jake.” She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to stop or never let her go. Thinking was impossible when he was this close to her, kissing her until every thought but her need for him flew right out of her head.
Jake mumbled something against her neck she couldn’t hear before he rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. The heat between them sizzled as he gave her another breath-stealing kiss. Dragging his hand down her back, he felt her blouse come with it. Looking up he realized the elastic along the top of her peasant blouse gave enough that one shoulder was completely exposed. Not one to miss an opportunity, Jake started pressing his lips along her neck, trailing down her shoulder and slowly nibbling lower. Her skin was like warm velvet
beneath his touch.
He felt Anna stiffen. “Jake,” she whispered, rolling off him and sitting up. “Jake, I don’t think…”
Jake sat up as well, silencing her with another kiss. While Anna was distracted, he tugged the other side of her blouse off her shoulder, leaving them both exposed. Never one to do things by half-measures, Jake also gently pulled down the satiny straps of her bra, leaving a trail of hot kisses all over both bare shoulders.
As low as he had pulled her blouse, he caught a glimpse of lacy white trim along her full and inviting bustline. He brushed his lips along that edge while his hands roamed where he knew they were forbidden to go. Anna sucked in a huge gulp of air. Her hands flew to his and he couldn’t tell if she was trying to push him away or pull him closer.
“Jake, please,” Anna whispered brokenly, struggling with her emotions. Looking into her eyes was a reflection of his own, where desire battled against compunction. Jake felt desire winning and knew he was about to take things too far but felt powerless to stop himself. He wanted Anna. Desperately. He had never, ever felt like this about any woman before. It was beyond something physical, something he could not at this moment define.
What would have happened next, Jake couldn’t say. Just as he lowered his head to kiss her again he saw headlights coming up the hill. Coming to his knees, he tugged Anna’s clothing back into place, ran a smoothing hand down each side of her hair and set her glasses on her nose. Jumping over the side of the truck, he opened the pickup door, scooped up Anna and set her back inside the cab, then hurriedly gathered the blankets, pillows and radio, tossing them in the backseat. Slamming the tailgate closed, he ran to the driver’s side, climbed in and slapped his black Stetson back on his head. The last thing he wanted was for her to be embarrassed or feel that she had been caught doing something she shouldn’t. He was the one who should be conscience-stricken if anyone was going to be.
Anna had not quite regained her composure. Her chest was heaving, her eyes were wild and dark, and she definitely had the look of a woman who had just been thoroughly and completely kissed. Swallowing, she tried to gather her wits and pull herself together.
Not His Type Page 10