by Lori Foster
There was no need to say the words aloud. They both knew Allison saw herself in that little girl’s eyes. Allison saw the child she’d wanted to be, but fate had had different plans for her. As if saying goodbye to the horse weren’t hard enough.
After several minutes, Allison eased back with a pink nose and red-rimmed eyes. Tear tracks streaked down her creamy skin, and he wished like hell he could make her life so happy she’d never have to cry again.
“I’m sorry,” she told him, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “I’m an ugly crier, but I couldn’t help it. You just happened along at the wrong time.”
He lifted her chin with his index finger and thumb, staring straight into those beautiful eyes. “Actually, I think I came along at the right time.”
Her swift intake of breath told him she knew he wasn’t referring only to seeing her cry over the adoption.
“You can’t mean that, Jake.” She stepped back, avoiding his grasp. “Don’t say things just because we slept together.”
“Do I strike you as someone who would speak in niceties just because I slept with you? Allison, quit putting up this wall so you won’t get hurt.” Anger coursed through him, fueling his words before he could really think. “You’re missing out on life because you’re moving away from people who care for you. You’re deliberately pushing me away by avoiding me.”
She rolled her eyes and stalked by him. “I’m not avoiding you.”
Jake started to reach for her when Tucker walked in. “Hey, Jake.”
“Tuck, could you leave us for a bit?”
Tucker looked from Allison to Jake, as if he wasn’t sure what he should do or who he should take orders from.
“Uh, sure,” the elderly man answered. “I’ve got to run into town to the feed store anyway. I’ll be a while.”
Once they were alone again, Jake marched over to the tack room, where Allison had disappeared. She was squatting down feeding the puppies.
“Damn it, will you stand up and look at me?”
Allison came to her feet, turned and laced her fingers together in front of her. “What? Do you want me to argue? I know I put up walls, Jake. You’re not telling me anything new. I have to. Don’t you see? Everyone I’ve ever loved has left me in some form or another. I can’t afford to get close to people. You don’t know what it’s like.”
Jake moved forward, taking her by the shoulders and giving her a gentle shake. “Don’t I? You aren’t the only one who’s lost people they loved, Allison. My mother died, I had an uncle I didn’t know and my wife walked out on me. You’re not the only one who’s known loss, but building this bubble around yourself won’t keep hurt from seeping in. So you might as well take down this defense and knock this chip off your shoulder and let people into your life. People who want to care for you, comfort you. Love you.”
Allison’s heart stopped. She literally held her breath for fear that she’d throw off the intensity of the conversation if she so much as exhaled. What if she hadn’t heard right? What if she’d just mistaken what he meant?
Jake dropped his hands and stepped back. “Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. I need to get back to work.”
He stalked off, leaving her standing in utter shock in the tack room while five little fur babies jumped at her legs. As if her whole life hadn’t just taken a major turn, she bent back down and finished feeding the dogs. She needed to come to grips with what had just happened.
Jake…loved her? No, impossible. He couldn’t love her. He pitied her, which was the dead last thing she wanted from anybody.
Damn, why did she have to get involved with him? She’d known this would happen. She’d known once he heard her history he’d want to play the white knight. Well, that was another fairy tale she’d never believed in.
But she couldn’t stand the thought of hurting Jake’s feelings, so she found herself stalking toward the house after him.
When she entered the back door, he was standing over the sawhorses measuring another piece of laminate flooring.
“Go back outside,” Jake told her without turning around. “I’m not in the mood for an argument.”
Heart beating hard against her chest, Allison moved closer. She stood on the other side of the sawhorses and waited until he looked up at her.
“Did you mean it?” she whispered, scared to hope, but finding it impossible not to.
His eyes searched her face, the muscle ticking in his jaw. “Yes.”
Closing her eyes on an exhale, Allison smiled. “How do you know?” she asked, looking at him again.
Jake rested his hands on the piece of flooring and leaned forward. “How do I know I love you? It should be simple, but since I came here, that word has stopped being part of my vocabulary. I thought I could do some repairs, sell the house to my potential buyer and be back in Florida within a couple months.”
He shoved off the wood and raked both hands through his hair. “But the second I saw your compassion for these horses and learned all you had overcome, I was amazed. Your determination, your passion, the way you throw every fiber of your being into all you do, made me realize I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ve never met someone who makes me want to be a better person, who makes me think of her every waking second.”
Allison came around the work area and gazed up into his eyes. “You almost sound upset by the fact.”
“I am,” he admitted, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I’m upset because I want to beat down that damn wall you’ve put around your heart. I want you to give me a chance, give us a chance.”
Allison brought her hands up to hold on to his wrists. “That wall has been crumbling since you kissed me.”
Jake stared for only a moment before easing down to capture her lips. “Tell me you’ll give this a chance.”
Fear gripped her at the same time emotions overtook her, and tears pricked her eyes. “Where? You’re going back to Florida and I don’t know where I’ll be.”
“Stay right here,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.”
What? They were in the middle of a life-altering conversation and he needed…what? An intermission?
He dug into his toolbox, produced a small sack and went out the back door.
O-kay.
She watched out the window above the kitchen sink. Before long, Jake, along with all five of her fur babies, came out of the stables. When Jake stepped back into the house, the dogs came with him.
“Jake—” she started, but he cut her off with his hand.
“I know you don’t want to get them used to being in the house, but trust me.”
She looked at the puppies, who were growing into their fat paws more each day.
Jake turned to the dogs. “Stay. Sit.”
Much to her surprise, each dog obeyed.
“How did you do that?” she asked.
Jake threw a charming smile over his shoulder. “I’ve been working with them a little.”
A little? She glanced down to the dogs and noticed something flashing on their necks.
“Are they wearing collars?” she asked.
Jake picked up one puppy, examined the collar and dog tag, and held it out to her. “Read it.”
Intrigued, she fingered the gold, bone-shaped tag. “Will,” she read aloud.
He put the dog down and picked up another, examining its tag before thrusting it at her.
“You,” she read.
Another dog was in her face just as fast.
She eyed the tag, saw the word and whispered, “Marry.”
Another white bundle of fur appeared in her blurry vision.
“Me,” she croaked.
He lifted the last puppy to her and she lifted its tag.
“Allison.”
With a hiccup, cry, laugh combo—God, she was a hot mess—she looked down at the obedient dogs and back to Jake, who stood with hope in his eyes.
“I don’t have a ring,” he said apologetically. “I only had the tags made yesterday
and wanted to keep them until I thought you were ready for the question. I guess I couldn’t wait.”
Allison swiped at her damp cheeks. “What about your buyer?”
Jake shrugged. “I already told him the house was off the market.”
Shock had Allison taking a step back. “You’re kidding. When did you tell him?”
“A few days ago. I knew I couldn’t sell this farm. These horses need this land, need you. I need you.”
“Are you sure you’ll be content with living on a farm?” she asked. “This couldn’t be further from what you’re used to, and I’m pretty set in my ways.”
Jake stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground. “I better be included in those set ways, Allison, because I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to teach me all about these horses, because I want to help rescue them and care for them with you.”
Allison wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheeks, his forehead, his lips. “I love you, Jake. You’ll be awesome with the horses.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
Allison kissed him again, squeezing him tight. “Definitely.”
“I do have one condition,” he told her, face void of all laughter.
“What?”
“Swear to me right now you won’t fling manure at me again.”
Allison laughed, squeezing him tighter still. “I can’t guarantee that. What if you make me mad?”
He kissed her hard, deep. “I have better ways to blow off steam.”
National bestselling author JULES BENNETT is no stranger to going after her dreams. Before fulfilling her goal of becoming a published author, Jules became a salon owner at the age of 21 and published her first novel at 27. She lives in the Midwest with her high school sweetheart husband and their two young girls.
When Jules isn’t writing or spending time with her family, she enjoys working out and talking to the fictitious people in her head. She loves to hear from readers and can be found on Twitter or through her Facebook Fan Page. You can also stay up to date on new releases, sign up for her newsletter or contact her through her website www.julesbennett.com. And look for Jules’ most recent book, Caught in the Spotlight, available now from Harlequin Desire!
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-4127-9
Love Bites
Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
Love Unleashed
Copyright © 2012 by Lori Foster
Smookie and the Bandit
Copyright © 2012 by Brenda Streater Jackson
Molly Wants a Hero
Copyright © 2012 by Virna DePaul
Dog Tags
Copyright © 2012 by Catherine Mann
Mane Haven
Copyright © 2012 by Jules Bennett
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