by Unknown
“How do you like your job, Kate?” Maggie Whitewolf asked, interrupting Kate’s thoughts.
“I like it very much,” she replied, taking a sip of water. “I’m busy trying to learn all the clients the agency has and get familiar with projects I’ve been assigned to take care of.”
“When you get settled, and Henry knows us better, I hope you’ll let him come visit us if he wants to,” Maggie said.
“I’m sure the time will come when he’d like to visit, but it may take a little while. Because of my parents’ illnesses, he’s been very close to me. He’s shy and unaccustomed to being away from me for long. But I know he’ll want to visit you after a while.”
“We can wait. He’s an adorable little boy and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.”
“Thanks, Maggie, for just being you. You’re a wonderful grandmother and mother-in-law.”
“Thank you, too, Kate. I hope things work out for you and Jonah.”
Kate smiled, hoping she hid the sadness that Maggie’s remark brought. “Speaking of Henry, I don’t see him, Trent or Julian.” She eyed the children who had finished eating and were chasing each other across the lawn, but didn’t spot the trio.
“They were up in Henry’s room when I left them a little while ago. I can go check on them,” Maggie said.
“Enjoy the party, Maggie,” Kate replied quickly. “I’ll go.” Inside, she found the boys in Henry’s room, where he was showing Trent and Julian his toys. They had a game spread on the floor between them.
“Are you boys okay?” Kate asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Henry answered without looking up.
When she saw they were engrossed in the game, she left to return to the party. As she reached an open door to the terrace, she heard Jonah speaking.
“Thanks, Boone, but I’m not ready to date.”
“It’s been what—five years, Jonah? You’ve turned into a monk.”
“No, I haven’t, and your offer to introduce me to someone must have a basis of good intentions.”
“Oh, hell. It’s none of my business, but I hate to see you fall in love with Kate for the second time—as if you were ever out of love with her,” Boone added dryly in a voice laced with cynicism.
“Don’t worry,” Jonah replied, and Kate grimaced when she heard his bitterness. “I won’t ever trust Kate again. And she’s not interested in getting back together, because she sees me as the same danger-loving man she always did.”
“Take care of yourself. The sparks still fly when you two get together, man. You may think you’re over her, but—”
Wanting to cover her ears with her hands so she wouldn’t hear another word, Kate turned and fled from the room, going to the dining room and entering the terrace from there, avoiding even glancing in the direction of Boone and Jonah.
I won’t ever trust Kate again. Even though she didn’t want to fall in love with Jonah, and fought the possibility of having a relationship with him, the words hurt. Jonah’s anger ran deep, so deep the rift between them would likely never mend. But that couldn’t stop what she felt when she was around him.
And away from him. If he was so angry with her, why didn’t he go ahead and date other women?
She saw Maggie talking to Savannah and Laurie, and she crossed the terrace to join them.
Jonah stood with a cold bottle of beer in his hand while he talked to Boone, but he watched Kate walk across the terrace to join others at a table. He had meant what he said to Boone—that he couldn’t trust Kate. He didn’t want to love her again, but he damn well wanted her. She looked beautiful tonight, different from the other women at the party. There were a lot of good-looking women here, but Kate stood out in her own special way. Her features were striking with her big, thickly lashed eyes and wide mouth. Her hair was worn in a dramatic do, swept up on one side of her head. Most of the women were in slacks, but Kate was in a dress with a wild splash of color across the front of the skirt. With every move, her jewelry clinked. Whether it was conscious on her part or not, Kate dressed to be noticed.
And he was noticing her, all right. It was hard to look anywhere else. Kate laughed at something someone said, and his insides clutched and heated. He desired her with a longing that was growing daily. And she was forbidden, off-limits. He wouldn’t go back into a relationship with her. He didn’t care to have that emotional commitment again, and she didn’t want one with him. Yet he ached to take her to bed, to kiss her all night long, to stir her to complete abandon, as he knew he could. Memories set him ablaze and he had to stop thinking about her. With an effort, he tried to focus on the conversation of the group of guests who were standing beside him.
It wasn’t thirty minutes before he was in a group that included Kate.
She was friendly and fit in with people, being the gracious hostess tonight, welcoming everyone, spending some of her time with each of the children, as well. If he didn’t know better, he would guess her profession was teaching, because she was interested in children and knew how to make friends with them.
And Henry was blossoming, changing from the quiet child he had been that first day. He had been so excited to get his new boots today that he couldn’t sit still on the ride into town and back. Jonah was totally fascinated with his son, and he’d already taken dozens of rolls of film of Henry. He had asked his dad to take pictures tonight. It still thrilled him to hear Henry call him “Daddy.” Jonah wondered when the awe would leave him, or if it ever would. Henry was a treasure, and Jonah would be thankful every day of his life to know him.
Late in the party, he stood in a circle of men and the conversation switched to the stolen cattle. Dakota Gallen was in the group. “How far north have they had cattle stolen?” Josh Kellogg asked the sheriff.
“They’ve had rustlers this past year in West Texas and down through the area between there and here, but no cattle have ever been slaughtered except here.”
“Must have a grudge against you or this ranch or someone on this ranch,” said Wyatt Sawyer, another new friend and neighbor, echoing the sheriff’s and Jonah’s thoughts.
“We all need to keep up our guard,” Gabe Brant remarked. “It has to be a random crime, though, because Jonah hasn’t lived here long enough to make enemies.”
“We don’t know who we’re dealing with here,” Dakota answered.
The men nodded solemnly, and Jonah knew each one was lost in thought about his own place. And he realized it could be someone in the area with a grudge or a hidden purpose. For that matter, it could be someone at the party tonight.
He looked at the men surrounding him and wondered about them. Then he gazed across the terrace and saw Kate laughing, standing with a group that included several of the wives and two ranchers. Kirk Rivas was older, divorced and had a ranch in a neighboring county. Near him stood Duane Talmadge, neighbors and other men who had been cronies with John Frates. As Jonah watched, everyone laughed again and Kirk Rivas put his hand on Kate’s shoulder.
Jonah hoped he remained impassive, but he felt a streak of dislike, and he wanted to cross the terrace and step between Kate and Rivas. He knew it was ridiculous. They had severed their ties five years ago, and she was free to date whenever she chose. He tried to look away and pay attention to the conversation around him, which had shifted to the next rodeo, but he couldn’t resist glancing back at Kate and seeing Rivas still had his hand on her shoulder.
When she turned to walk away, Rivas dropped his hand to her arm, detaining her and saying something to her. Smiling at him, she answered and then walked away. Rivas stood, sipping his drink and watching her, and Jonah’s urge to cross the terrace and put his arm around Kate grew stronger.
He knew his reaction was ridiculous. After not seeing her for five years, he had no reason for jealousy. It was just because they were back in the same house, spending hours together every day, that old feelings were surfacing, but he had to let go. He turned his back, trying to pay attention to the conversation of the men around
him and failing completely. When he finally gave up and walked away, Kate was nowhere to be seen, nor was Henry. Jonah suspected she was somewhere with the boy.
The party ran late. Henry and Trent were playing so well together that Kate let them stay up an hour past their regular bedtime, but then Maggie said she would read to them and put them to bed. At eleven o’clock, Boone and his friend Lissa left, saying they would be back to pick up Jonah’s parents on Sunday.
It was midnight when the last guests left, and as soon as they had gone, Maggie and Neighbor told Kate and Jonah good-night and headed upstairs.
The caterers had cleaned everything they’d brought, and the only evidence left of the party was the tables and centerpieces.
“It was a super party, Kate. I got to know some of my neighbors better,” Jonah said, feeling relaxed and happy.
“It was a delightful party, and now Henry has all sorts of new friends in this area to play with.” She started to walk away.
Without thinking about it, Jonah reached out to hold her wrist. “Wait a minute, Kate. We can keep a distance, but I’m not sleepy and I doubt if you are.”
“Jonah…” she said, aware of his warm fingers lightly circling her wrist.
“Aw, let’s sit out on the terrace for a little while.”
“Against my better judgment, I’ll join you,” she said, unable to resist his invitation.
“Great.” He led her through the house. When they stepped outside, music came softly over the intercom—the song they had considered special when they met. Kate still loved the song, and the moment she heard it, she remembered the first night she had heard it with Jonah. They had danced to it, wrapped in each other’s arms and falling in love.
He must have remembered, too, because he turned to look at her. “Think we should risk a dance?” he asked sardonically.
“You can check your anger when you want, can’t you?”
“Sometimes. I know I need to get over it. Anger isn’t productive, Kate. Come on. Dance with me,” he said, reaching for her.
“Then keep a distance between us,” she said, knowing she should say no, remembering the moments in the pool, yet longing to dance with him more than anything on earth.
He held out his arms, standing back with space between them, but that way there was nowhere to look except into his eyes, and that was as enticing as being in his embrace and pressed tightly against him.
“Jonah, we both desire each other, yet we don’t want each other. A lot of it is because of old times, but if we don’t keep our distance, it will lead to more hurt.”
“Just dance, Kate, and enjoy the night. It’s been a great evening,” he said, and she wondered if he was even affected by their dancing.
They moved together easily, as if they had been dancing together for years. She remembered slow dancing with him, then passion and lovemaking. She tried to tear her gaze from his, but couldn’t. His warm brown eyes were mesmerizing, holding her totally, stirring up feelings and needs she didn’t want to acknowledge.
Why did he have such power over her? She was aware of his arm around her waist, his hand holding hers, and she suspected it was the most circumspect dancing he had done since the first time he had ever danced with a female.
Suddenly he turned her around, spinning her with one hand and then catching her close. She was pressed against him, her arm slipping around his neck while their bodies melded together. Banding his arm tightly around her waist, he danced with her, pressing his hips and thighs against her.
Her breath was gone, and her heart pounded. Their song was playing, the night was romantic and she was in Jonah’s arms.
She was aware of the wonderful feel of his strong, lean body. His warmth in the cool night was inviting. She wound her fingers in his hair, knowing he was forbidden, yet relishing every inch of contact between them.
“Oh, Jonah!” she gasped, intending to tell him to stop, yet unable to. “I haven’t danced in five years,” she whispered, more to herself than to him. It was sheer heaven to sway with him, but with every brush of his hips against hers, she yearned to kiss and love him.
When the music ended, she stepped back, gasping for breath and looking at him. He was aroused, his manhood pressing tightly against his slacks, and her breasts tingled while her pulse raced.
“I should go—”
“No, don’t. Come sit. We won’t dance again. I think it was the song that got to both of us,” he said easily.
She wanted to refuse him, because that was what she should do. At the same time, she didn’t care to go sit alone in her room, so she nodded and followed him across the terrace.
In silence, he pulled two chairs around, leaving them yards apart. She watched muscles flex in his arms as he worked, her gaze running the length of him. What would he do if she walked over and wrapped her arms around him?
The question shocked her. It must be the night, the music and the hours they had cooperated and worked together. Then she remembered overhearing him talk with Boone, and she stiffened, hoping she could keep a wall between herself and Jonah. Whatever they did, he wouldn’t ever trust her and he wouldn’t ever change.
He turned and motioned to her. “Come sit with me, Kate,” he repeated.
“For a brief time,” she replied coolly. She sat down facing the turquoise pool, but her senses were focused on the man by her side.
Jonah sat in a chair and placed one foot on his other knee. He looked relaxed, as if he was feeling none of the turmoil and frustration that she was. And he probably wasn’t, she thought.
“I enjoyed getting to know my neighbors tonight. You looked like you were enjoying yourself, too.”
“It was a great party. Henry had a wonderful time, and there are a lot of children around here for him to be friends with. Although you live so far from everyone, I don’t know how he’ll ever see them.”
“He will when he gets into school.”
“We’re going to have to talk about that, Jonah.”
“Stallion Pass has a school and a bus comes by here. I can take him to the bus stop and put him on the bus, but since he’s so young and this is his first year, I’d rather take him into town myself.”
“You’ll do that if we continue living here?”
“Yes. I can arrange my time,” Jonah said easily, looking at her. “You look pretty tonight,” he added quietly.
“Thank you,” she answered, longing to reach over and touch his hand. Her pulse had skipped at his compliment.
The phone rang and he got up to answer the extension on the terrace.
Kate enjoyed the cool evening and paid no attention to Jonah, who talked in a low voice. In a few minutes, he replaced the receiver. “Kate, I’m leaving. Gabriel Brant’s barn is on fire and they can use all the help they can get.”
Chapter 7
K ate walked with Jonah as he entered the house. As she tried to keep up with his long stride, he told her about his phone conversation. “Gabe may have had cattle stolen—he isn’t certain yet. Sheriff Gallen called me.”
“Why would the sheriff call you?”
“He’s calling all the ranchers who live in the vicinity of the Brant place.”
“I’ll bet he called you because he knows about your background and training in Special Forces,” Kate said coolly.
“In the country, when there’s a fire, everyone pitches in to help. It’s not like a blaze in the city, where there are hydrants and plenty of water and fire departments to handle it.”
“Sure,” she replied, still certain it was because of his special training that the sheriff had called him. She looked at the grim set to his jaw and knew her questions were bothering him. “So the rustlers struck again, and this time not only took cattle, but set fire to the place. They’re growing more dangerous, aren’t they?”
“If it’s rustlers, it looks as if they are,” he replied.
“So once again, how safe is Henry?”
“I told you, he’s completely safe here. I promise yo
u. You know I’m not going to let anyone harm him.”
She sighed and nodded. “I know you won’t. I know I can count on you one hundred percent to protect him.”
“There are some things I need to take with me, and I have to change clothes,” he said, pausing at the foot of the staircase.
“Can I help? Your family is here with Henry, so I can go with you if they need more hands to put out the fire.”
He gave her a faint smile. “Thanks anyway, but you stay here.”
“You forgot to pat me on the head when you said that,” she said, annoyed by his attitude.
He touched her cheek. “No, I had no intention of patting you on the head. You’re plenty capable, Kate. I’ve never thought you couldn’t rise to the occasion, and the last few years have shown that I was right. You took care of your parents and Henry without any help from others. I just think you should stay here with Henry.”
“All right,” she said, mollified slightly and wondering what he really thought.
He took the stairs two at a time, and she rubbed her forehead. There was someone in the area who was stealing cattle, burning barns, growing more dangerous. She shivered and looked at the windows and the lighted terrace outside. The house was a haven that made her forget there could be hurtful things in the world. Jonah wasn’t invincible. Would Henry be safe?
As swiftly as the question came, she shoved it aside. Jonah would go to any lengths to protect their son. If he was around. Right now he was leaving them to go help someone else—so typical of him. Yet his parents were here and she was here, and Jonah had assured her about lights and alarms and his men. Even so, doubts nagged at her. Jonah had just inherited this place. He couldn’t really know the men who worked for him, and which ones he could trust.