Heart of Love

by Shanna Hatfield

  “They’ll be good, won’t you girls?” Jake asked the twosome. They 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 he wasn’t making a mistake, but he’d taken the girls with him many times before and they always had a good time together. If Anna didn’t want them along, she wouldn’t have sounded so sincere in agreeing to take them.

  “We’ll meet you at the usual spot, Jake.” Clay dug in his wallet for two twenty-dollar bills, handing them to Anna. “They’ll beg for everything at the park, but tell them they’re on a budget and stick to it.”

  Anna smiled at Clay with genuine warmth. “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 walked outside and made her way over to Clay.

  “I knew those two would talk you into letting them go,” she said as she put her arms around his waist and gave him 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, recalling the shocked expression on Jake’s face when Anna strolled 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. For all her quiet ways, I think Jake has finally met the perfect girl for him. I just hope he realizes it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  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 icy cups of strawberry lemonade. Audrey and Emma each had their faces painted, played a few carnival-style games, then bought hand-held flags to wave at the parade.

  Jake and Anna, with the girls in tow, arrived at the church parking lot where Callan and Clay, along with the rest of the family, 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.

  Immediately following the parade, she and Jake hurried 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 her to so many people she lost hope of 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 long for two of the cowboys he’d introduced earlier to slide onto the bench beside her.

  “So, Anna, how long have you known the Jakester?” The blond-headed man she thought Jake referred to as Sunny stared at her. He smelled of sweat, beer, and cigarettes.

  “Oh, for a while,” she answered, trying to breathe through her mouth. It was true what people said about a strong sense compensating for a weak one. Anna knew her sense of smell more than made up for her lack of hearing. She could smell things no one else noticed. Right now, the smell on these two was overpowering and a little nauseating.

  “You new to the area?” The darker-haired man inquired while staring at her in a way that left her unsettled.

  She thought his name was Gary then decided she didn’t really care. “No, I grew up here.” By focusing her attention on the action in the arena and ignoring them, she hoped they’d grow bored and go away.

  “How come we’ve never seen you around before?” Sunny asked, leaning closer. “It’s not like anyone could forget a face or body like yours.”

  Disturbed by their leering looks, fear slithered up her spine at the direction the conversation headed. Unobtrusively glancing around, she saw Jake headed their direction and sighed with relief.

  Gary noticed Jake’s approach and motioned to Sunny that it was time to leave. “If you ever get tired of Jakester, look us up.”

  Jake glared at both men as they passed him on the bleacher steps then sat down next to Anna, handing her a cold soda.

  “What did those two want?” Jake’s tone was harsh as he watched the two guys hurry out of the stands. Gary and Sunny were no-good, one-night-stand types and the last thing he wanted was them around Anna. He regretted ever introducing them, but it seemed like he knew half the people attending the rodeo and they all wanted to say hello when they’d arrived. “Did they bother you?”

  Inwardly amused by Jake’s protective streak, Anna shook her head. She could almost see his hackles rise.

  “It’s fine, Jake. Nothing to worry about.” She took a long, deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of his aftershave.

  “If they ever bother you again, let me know and I’ll take care of it,” Jake stated with a dark look Anna hadn’t seen before. Possessively, he slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his side, making it clear to everyone that Anna belonged with him.

  “Just forget about it, fancy boy.” Anna leaned into him, secretly pleased by his protective streak.

  The rodeo ended 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.

  He grabbed Anna’s hand in his and hurried out of the stands through the crowds to his pickup. Impatiently driving through the masses, he crossed the bridge adjacent to the park and drove out to what seemed like the middle of nowhere.

  After 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.

  Jake rushed around and opened her door. As he gave her a hand out of the cab, he pecked her cheek, instructing her not to move. She heard him open and shut the pickup door followed by banging sounds coming from the back of the pickup.

  Anna tried prying information out of him on the drive there, but all he would say is, “wait and see.” It was hard to see with a blindfold on, that was for sure.

  “Jake?” Anna laughed. “Jake! What in the world are you…?” A startled gasp swallowed her words when Jake swept her into his arms and deposited her in the back of the pickup with her feet hanging over the tailgate.

  Shocked speechless, she sat unmoving. No one had picked her up since she was a little girl. Although she wasn’t a tiny slip of a thing, standing five-ten in her sock feet and set on a solid frame, Jake had picked her up as easily as he had swooped up Emma earlier in the day.

  The tailgate dipped as Jake stepped into the back of the pickup. She felt his warmth as he sat beside her. His fingers skimmed 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 Anna’s favorite candy, peanut M&Ms, sat between them.

  “Happy Fourth of July, Sugar.” Jake kissed her cheek.

  “Oh, Jake,” she sighed with pleasure. “You planned this all by yourself?” When he nodded, she squeezed his hand. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

  They gazed at the lights below them, enjoying the companionable silence, until a loud pop signaled the beginning of the fireworks show. Contentedly munching M&Ms, they observed the pyrotechnic display and commented on which explosions they liked the best.

  When it ended, Jake tugged her back on the pillows and they rested side by side, watching the stars twinkle against the inky night sky.

  It wasn’t long before Anna’s head found its way onto Jake’s shoulder. His arm slid around her, holding her close. He lightly stroked circles on her arm, reveling in the feel of Anna beside him. The two of them
cuddling under the stars was exactly how he’d planned to end the evening.

  Despite his plans, the exotic, floral scent of Anna’s perfume combined with the warmth of her body next to his became intoxicating. Every nerve ending in his body burned with a blazing fire and Anna was the only thing that could quench the flames.

  After removing her glasses and setting them aside, Jake lowered his lips to hers in the softest of kisses. As her arms slid around his neck, he turned on his side and tugged her close, holding her tight.

  One kiss led to another.

  What started as an innocent exchange transformed into something wild and passionate as they melted into the embrace, into each other.

  “Jake,” Anna moaned. “Oh, Jake.” She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to stop or never let her go. Rational thought was impossible when he held her flush against him, 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.

  When he dragged his hand down her back, he felt her blouse come with it. He glanced up and 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 pressed his lips along her neck, trailing down her shoulder and slowly nibbling lower. Her skin felt like warm velvet beneath his touch.

  Anna stiffened in his arms. “Jake,” she whispered, rolling off him and sitting up. “I don’t think…”

  He sat up and silenced 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 left a trail of scorching kisses across both bare shoulders.

  Jake teetered on the edge of his control when he caught a glimpse of lacy white trim along her full and inviting bustline. He brushed his lips across the smooth skin above the lace, losing the fragile clasp he had on his restraint.

  Anna sucked in a 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,” she whispered brokenly, struggling with her emotions.

  The look in her eyes was a reflection of his own, where desire battled against compunction.

  Desire won.

  Jake knew he was about to take things too far but felt powerless to stop himself.

  He wanted Anna.

  Desperately. Urgently. Wholly.

  He’d never experienced such deep-seated, indescribable feelings. It was beyond something physical, beyond his ability to define.

  As he lowered his head to kiss her again, he glimpsed headlights driving up the hill. Swiftly getting to his knees, he tugged Anna’s clothing into place, ran a smoothing hand down each side of her hair, and set her glasses on her nose. He jumped over the side of the pickup, opened the passenger door, scooped her up and set her back inside the cab. He hurriedly gathered the blankets, pillows, and radio, tossing them into the backseat. After slamming the tailgate closed, he ran to the driver’s side, climbed in, and slapped his Stetson on his head.

  The last thing he wanted was for Anna to be embarrassed or think she’d been doing something wrong. If anyone was going to be conscience-stricken, it should be him.

  While she scrambled to find her composure, Anna’s chest heaved while her eyes were wild and dark. Without a doubt, she bore the look of a woman who’d just been thoroughly and repeatedly kissed.

  She inhaled a calming breath, determined to gather her wits and pull herself together.

  Jake started the pickup, turned on his headlights, and prayed the interior lights dim before the approaching vehicle topped the butte. The road was only wide enough for one car at a time and he didn’t plan to stay there any longer than necessary. He didn’t know whether to curse or bless the car driving up the hill that put a sudden halt to his romantic interlude.

  If temptation took on human form, tonight it was Anna.

  One of the sheriff’s deputies topped the hill and pulled alongside his truck. Jake decided the evening was about to get much, much worse. The officer got out of his car and approached him.

  Jake rolled down his window. “Happy Fourth of July, officer.”

  The officer shined a flashlight into the cab. “What are you kids doing up here?”

  “Just watching the fireworks, sir. We’re ready to leave.” Jake hadn’t lied, exactly. They had watched the fireworks and Anna looked more than ready to go home.

  The officer asked a few more questions – did they have any open containers, had they been drinking, doing anything of a suspicious manner.

  Jake almost choked on the last question. Depending who you asked, there was something altogether suspicious that passed between him and the girl sitting on the other side of the pickup with the flaming-red face.

  The deputy asked if they’d seen a group of kids in a small yellow car. When Jake said they hadn’t, the officer bid them good night and returned to his car.

  Jake put the truck in gear, driving down the hill. By the time they reached town, Anna calmed down enough Jake no longer feared she’d hyperventilate. He drove her home in silence, at a loss as to what he could say to set her mind at ease.

  Anna curled against the door on her side of the truck, staring out the window. Jake didn’t think she’d answer him even if he untangled his thoughts enough to speak.

  When he pulled up by the back door, he noticed the house was dark except for the porch light.

  He turned off his lights and the ignition. Quietly, Jake waited, hoping Anna would give him some sign that she didn’t hate him.

  Since his passion had plenty of time to cool, he acknowledged that he’d pushed Anna too far, taken things too fast. Ashamed that he’d nearly lost control, he feared his carelessness might cost him Anna’s friendship.

  Finally getting out of the pickup, he walked around to her door and opened it. She sat unmoving with her head down, looking remorseful.

  “Anna, I’m sorry” he whispered, but got no response. It dawned on him she couldn’t hear him. Frustrated and apprehensive, he gently touched her chin. Tears pooled in her eyes when she turned to look at him.

  Not tears.

  He could handle shouting, threats, even the slap in the face he knew he deserved, but not tears.

  There’d be no mumbled apologies or staring at his feet with this girl. Gently taking her hand in his, he looked her square in the face so she could hear him.

  “Anna, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for... I didn’t plan to… I wasn’t trying...” Jake sighed. “I just wanted to hold you and watch the fireworks. Honest. I didn’t plan on anything else. I’m so sorry.”

  In the time it took for Anna to speak, Jake thought he would die. She stared at him with those deep violet eyes, tears trailing down her cheeks, and not making a sound.

  It was the saddest thing he’d ever seen and nearly broke his heart. For the first time in his adult life, he felt like crying right along with her.

  Anna trusted him and he’d let her down. He’d cast aside her trust when his own selfish desires swept over him. He was the one who had given passion free rein. Well aware of Anna’s inexperience in such matters, he’d done what he could to stir her desire.

  Her innocent, heartfelt response drove him beyond the edge of his control.

  Jake sighed. Her innocence was one of the reasons he loved her so much. Dang it all, he’d finally admit he was in love with her, at least to himself.

  He took a step closer and Anna shook her head. “Jake, I...” She took a deep breath before she could continue speaking. “Jake, you weren’t the only one who got carried away. Thank you for stopping things when you did. I appreciate it.”

  She was thanking him? He felt like a complete heel and she was thanking him? A lump settled in his throat but he managed to swallow it down.

  “I betrayed
your trust. I behaved reprehensibly and I’m deeply and truly sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  Anna nodded her head and accepted his hand as he helped her out of the truck. She grabbed her purse and Jake carried her duffle bag, walking in silence with her to the door. He opened the screen door and kissed her cheek, handing her the duffle.

  Jake wanted to hold her, to comfort her. Instead, he offered her an apologetic grin. “I can’t think when I’ve had a better Fourth of July, Anna. Thank you for spending it with me.”

  She placed her hand on his cheek and offered him a watery smile. “Thank you for today, Jake. I won’t ever forget it.” She walked inside the house and shut the door.

  Anna made it to her bedroom before she fell apart. Collapsing on her bed, she grabbed a pillow and curled around it.

  Her dad warned her as a child if she played with fire, she’d burn her fingers. Tonight, she felt thoroughly singed.

  What if the deputy hadn’t come up the hill? Would she and Jake have done something they’d both deeply regret tomorrow? Although she’d wanted to say no, she thought the answer probably would have been yes.

  What if Jake hadn’t noticed the headlights? The deputy would have caught them in the back of the pickup in a very compromising situation. Anna would have died of embarrassment.

  Despite all that, she’d enjoyed every single thing Jake had done and wanted him to do more. What kind of person was she? What would Jake think of her now? She behaved like a… like a wanton strumpet. Maybe she’d read one too many romance novels, but she couldn’t think of a better description.

  She possessed more sense than to be swept up in the moment and carried away by emotion. She’d certainly never done that before. Then again, she’d never been in love before.

  Anna sat up and wiped her cheeks.

  Love?

  Rolling the idea around in her mind, she came to the startling conclusion she was completely, totally, deeply, and irrevocably in love with Jake Chandler.

  Teasing Jake.

  Jake, the good-time guy.

  Jake, who didn’t know how to be serious to save his life.