Jesse

by C. H. Admirand

  His brother leaned against his pitchfork and nodded. “I heard Mike Baker’s taken to having breakfast at Sullivan’s Diner.”

  The cold chill stole around to his heart. He might not have gotten around to romancing Danielle, but in his mind he’d already staked his claim when they’d made love.

  “Sadie told Mavis that Mike’s been singing Danielle’s praises, hinting he’s finally found a woman worth changing his workaholic ways for.”

  “That’s poaching,” Jesse ground out.

  “Only if you’re dating Danielle,” Tyler said watching him closely. “And I know you haven’t had the time.”

  “I’m making the time now.” Jesse spun on his heel and walked out of the barn.

  “Hey, we’re not finished!”

  Jesse heard his brother and paused in the doorway. “I lost a woman I cared about once before because I didn’t move fast enough. I’ll always wonder if things would have been different if I’d told her how I felt instead of thinking she knew. I’ll be damned if I’m making that same mistake with Danielle.”

  Instead of arguing, his brother grinned. “Good luck.”

  Jesse just might need that luck. He had a woman to claim before that damned banker could sweet-talk her into forgetting about the slow-burning fire they’d started the other day.

  He didn’t want to talk to Emily or Ronnie, so he walked around to the front of the house. Listening, he could hear the women chattering in the kitchen amidst the sounds of dinner being made. His stomach growled—he was starving—but he ignored his empty belly and went upstairs to get cleaned up.

  While the hot water beat down on his tired muscles, he tried to think of an approach to use; he had hoped to take his time getting to know Danielle, to woo her, so she’d be putty in his hands and fire in his bed. But now he’d have to revise his strategy. It was like what Slim had to do last Saturday night; instead of waving Jesse in for a splash of gasoline, he went on faith in Jesse’s driving talent and let him finish the race on fumes. It had been risky, but had worked.

  Driving over to her uncle’s house right now would be the same… risky… but he was afraid if he waited, he’d lose the chance to tell her how he felt. Searching his heart, he knew this time, something was off… weird… different. Was it love?

  Damned if I know. And he probably would be for thinking that he could just show up and expect her to fall on her knees and declare her undying love for him.

  “Damned banker. Can’t trust a man who wears a suit.” A few months ago, Jesse’d promised retribution for the bank’s threat of foreclosure and had walked into the bank, thrown the first punch, and had drawn first blood. But Baker had surprised him and retaliated by giving Jesse a fat lip and tossing him out of the bank. They’d been wary of one another since then.

  Drying off, a nasty thought had his stomach turning. “What if she likes him better? What do I have to offer Danielle?”

  One hundred and fifty years of Irish pride, blood, sweat, and tears tilled into the soil. They might not be on the verge of losing the Circle G anymore, but they were a long way from being in the black. But she seemed to like the ranch and, more, had fit in, as if she and Lacy had always been here. Having her here, smiling and laughing in the kitchen, had felt like the missing pieces of his life had finally fit into place. It hadn’t felt that way since his mom died.

  Too tired to run a razor over his face without slicing off something important, he forced himself to think about something other than what life had been like when he was ten. It took some doing, but finally worked when he turned his thoughts toward a certain little cowgirl and her tiny pink boots.

  Staring at his reflection, he dug deep for the resolve to see this through. “Only one way to find out.”

  Danielle was sitting on the back porch when Jesse drove up; she got to her feet and had a hand to her heart. He didn’t think he surprised her; she had to have heard the truck driving up. Holding his irritation with the rumors he’d heard about Danielle and Baker in check, he strode over to the porch and was suddenly at a loss for words.

  Feeling like the world’s biggest fool, he stared up at her, so damned glad to see her—alone—that he grinned.

  She smiled. “What a surprise.”

  “Should I have called first?”

  She waited for him to come up the steps. “No, I’m glad you came by.”

  Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and the overwhelming urge to set it free and bury his hands in it had him moving in close. He wanted to ask how she felt about him, if the rumors about Mike Baker were true, and if she’d thought about him as often as he had about her since they’d burned up his sheets and she’d etched her name on his heart.

  Giving in to need, he watched her blue eyes widen as he reached to pull the band from her hair. She drew in a breath as it tumbled free and glorious tawny waves fell past her shoulders. Standing in front of him, all he could think of was tangled sheets and tasting her sweetly parted lips.

  The hell with asking; he yanked her arm, and she tumbled against him. Her heart was pounding hard, like she’d just crossed the finish line and won a race. Was she worried that Lacy would come outside when he was kissing her, or was it something a lot more fun… the desire they’d barely scratched the surface of? He had to know before he lost what was left of his sanity.

  Their lips touched and the frustrated desire he’d been keeping in check since he’d seen her in that damned silky underwear burst free. He drank from her lips, like she was cool, life-giving water, and he’d been wandering on foot out on the range without it.

  The sweetness of her mouth broke through the haze of passion gripping him. “Berries,” he rasped, deepening the kiss by banding his arm around her lower back and forcing her hips flush against him.

  Her soft moan of pleasure shot through him, like crossing that finish line and seeing the checkered flag waving. Wanting more, needing it, he traced the rim of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. She shifted closer, slipping her arms up and around his neck, and offered him more.

  Close to the edge of sanity, ready to jump off, he shifted and bent her over his arm. She tightened her grip and he plundered, soothing his need to take, to taste, and to fill the empty well inside of him.

  “I’m ready, Mommy!”

  Jesse crashed and burned at the sound of Lacy’s voice. Digging deep, he fought for control and won. Easing her up, he looked over his shoulder, expecting to see Lacy standing in the doorway, but her little girl must have been calling from somewhere inside the house.

  ***

  Danielle’s legs threatened to give out on her. She reached out to steady herself and ended up grabbing a hold of something warm, solid, and lethal to her heart—Jesse Garahan. He’d been in her every waking thought since they’d made love at the Circle G.

  But she had no choice; it was hang on or fall down. “Be right there, sweet pea.”

  Staring up at the man who’d destroyed her resolve not to get involved so soon, let alone with another cowboy, she knew she wouldn’t be able to forget the taste of his lips, the strength of his arms wrapped around her, or the heavenly sensation of being cradled against the warmth of his broad chest.

  “I have to tuck Lacy in,” she said. “Would you like to help?”

  Before he could answer, her uncle walked outside and said, “I need to talk to Jesse.”

  “I’ll see her tomorrow. Give her a kiss for me.”

  His expression had her wondering what kind of man would put a child before himself or his own needs. Her ex-husband certainly hadn’t. Looking over her shoulder, she realized that Jesse wasn’t like other men… he was unique, special. “I will,” she promised, slipping past her uncle.

  Normally, the nightly routine soothed her frayed nerves, but tonight the whisper of a dream haunted her—a strong man by her side to ease the burden of raising her daughter… one that would love Lacy as much as she did… someone who would stay because he loved her more.

  “Night, Mommy.” L
acy hugged her tight and sighed as she settled down under the covers.

  Danielle pressed her lips to her daughter’s forehead and smoothed the baby-soft hair out of her eyes. “That’s from Jesse.”

  “He’s here?” Lacy was trying to scoot out of bed when Danielle stopped her.

  “Yes, but Uncle Jimmy’s talking to him. Jesse said he’d see you tomorrow, OK?”

  Lacy lay back down and crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess so.”

  “Sweet dreams, sweet pea.” The sound of Lacy’s even breathing had her smiling. As soon as her daughter’s head hit the pillow, she was down for the count.

  Making her way downstairs, she heard the rumble of male voices coming from out on the porch. There was no sense in worrying about whatever her uncle would say to Jesse when he had him alone. She’d talked to her uncle last night and he’d seemed resigned to the fact that she wanted Jesse Garahan in her life. Uncle Jimmy had had plenty of time to unload with both barrels… she just hoped that he hadn’t had a change of heart and tried to chase Jesse away before she could say good night.

  She opened the screen door and both men turned to face her; neither one smiled.

  “Didn’t hear you come back down, June bug.” Her uncle shot one meaning-filled glance at Jesse. “I think I’ll go watch the news.” He paused in the doorway and said, “Don’t forget what I said.”

  “No, sir.”

  “And just what did you say, Uncle Jimmy?”

  “Nothing that you need to worry about. Is Lacy asleep?”

  She crossed her arms and stared at her uncle, waiting for him to tell her what the two men had been discussing, but he didn’t budge. Whatever he’d said to Jesse, he wasn’t about to share with her. Obviously, it had to do with her or her and Lacy. “Like a log.”

  “Did you take her boots off?”

  “She wears boots to bed?”

  Jesse’s question had her smiling. “Every night.”

  “And you let her?”

  “Until I go to bed, then I take them off her and put them by her hat, so she can put them both back on in the morning when she gets up.”

  He chuckled. “Must be quite a sight first thing in the morning.”

  Uncle Jimmy shook his head. “Took me by surprise the first morning I saw little June bug standing in the kitchen with her little ruffled night gown, tiny pink boots, and cowgirl hat.” His eyes misted. “If I hadn’t already loved her to pieces, I would have fallen right then and there.”

  Danielle hugged her uncle. “She loves you back… we both do.”

  He hugged her close and nodded to Jesse before going inside.

  “Your uncle is a good man.”

  Surprised by his comment, she turned to make certain he wasn’t being sarcastic, although he had sounded sincere. “Yes, he is.”

  “You’re lucky.” Jesse watched her from where he stood on the bottom step.

  When he made no move to join her on the porch, she invited him to do so. He surprised her by shaking his head. “You should turn in. Don’t you have to be up early?”

  “I’m always up early.” What was going on here? Ten minutes ago, he’d been ready to devour her whole.

  “Just another work day for me,” he said with a grin. “Why don’t you and Lacy come and visit tomorrow afternoon? I’d like to start those riding lessons.”

  Testing a theory, she walked toward him until they were face-to-face and eye-to-eye, with her on the top step and he on the bottom with their lips lined up just right for kissing. His eyes darkened to that delectable shade that reminded her of chocolate at the melting point, but he didn’t move.

  Licking her lips, she watched his jaw clench and the muscle beneath his left eye start to twitch, but he kept his hands locked at his sides and his lips to himself. “What did my uncle have to say while I was gone?”

  His gaze flicked to the screen door and back. “He’s worried about you and Lacy.”

  “We’re doing all right,” she said. “All I need is a job. I have to help pay my uncle back for feeding us and giving us a place to stay until I get on my feet.”

  “He probably won’t take the money.”

  It must be a man thing because she couldn’t even begin to reason out how Jesse had come to that conclusion. She frowned at Jesse. “How do you know?”

  “I wouldn’t if I were him.”

  “What if I insisted?”

  “There’s some things a man’s got to do; taking care of the women in his life is just one of them.”

  “He’s my uncle, not my father.”

  Jesse looked like he was trying to find the right words. Instead of interrupting and blasting him with her opinion of his last statement, she found the patience to hold her tongue.

  “All the more reason to do whatever he can while you and Lacy are living under his roof.”

  “But that’s—”

  The sweep of his fingertips on her cheek was tentative, when earlier his mouth had been possessive. She wanted to tell him what she thought of interfering males, but he brushed his knuckles against her face and his touch distracted her.

  “Your father is three hours away.”

  “How do you know that?” She had a sneaking suspicion that her uncle had warned him off; she didn’t figure much would scare Jesse away. Eyes narrowed, hands on her hips, she asked, “Did he tell you to leave?”

  Jesse’s hands clenched and unclenched. “He’s smarter than that.” Her confusion must have showed on her face because Jesse added, “He asked me.”

  “So you’ll just leave even if I don’t want you to?”

  He shook his head and turned to go. “Not a lot of choices here, Dani darlin’. We don’t want the gossips to start talking about what we have that’s special and twisting it around until it’s tawdry. Lacy wouldn’t understand.”

  His determined strides ate up the ground between where she stood and where his truck was parked. Launching herself off the top step, she nearly did a face plant but managed to find her footing without eating dirt. “Jesse—wait!”

  Hand on the top of the driver’s door, he paused but didn’t turn around. “I’ve got to go.”

  Going with what was in her heart, she touched his shoulder and whispered, “Don’t I get to say good-bye?”

  He vibrated beneath her hand. Was he angry or was it something else? A man like Jesse Garahan wouldn’t tremble at a woman’s touch, would he? “I’m hanging on to my control by a thread here, Dani, please don’t make it harder for me.”

  She dropped her hand and he got into the cab. But before he could reach for the door handle, she slipped under his arm, cupped his face in her hands, and pressed her lips to his. He didn’t have time to react as she stepped back and closed his door. “We’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. I hope you’re ready for one excited little girl.”

  The heat in his gaze seared her. “I’m always ready.” He gunned the engine, backed up, and spun his tires while she stood there trying to figure out why he would leave when it was so obvious he wanted to stay.

  And then it occurred to her—the Code.

  Her mother was right to wean her on silver screen legends; the men of the West were strong, hardheaded, and loyal to the bone. They loved the land, the animals, and the way of life they’d chosen, and although life out west was a testament to those strengths, there were times when only the love of a good woman would keep a man going.

  She’d found the cowboy she’d always dreamed of… and damned if she was going to let him walk away because of some misplaced sense of duty. She wanted to be the woman Jesse depended on to keep him going when his back was to the wall. Because she knew in her heart that Jesse Garahan was the man who would ride straight into hell for her… and damn the consequences.

  She turned around and saw her uncle standing on the top steps. His slow smile pushed her over the edge. “What did you say to him?” she demanded, stalking over to the porch. “Why did he leave?”

  His smile slipped a little, but he was definitely s
till pleased by the fact that Jesse hadn’t stayed. Danielle asked, “Do you really still hold that pie theft against him?”

  “Is that what you think?” Her uncle shook his head. “I was wrong then, but I’m not wrong now. That man has a good head on his shoulders and the brains to do what’s right, no matter the cost to himself.”

  He hadn’t admitted to telling Jesse to leave yet, so she asked, “And how would I ever find that out if you keep scaring him away?”

  “June bug, if you weren’t so tied up in knots over that man right now, you’d see that he just proved how much he cares about you and Lacy by leaving!”

  “But he wanted to stay… I wanted him to stay.”

  Her uncle ground out, “Exactly!”

  “Buddy wouldn’t have left,” she rasped as tears filled her eyes. “That’s what you wanted to find out, wasn’t it, Uncle Jimmy?” She brushed her tears away and her anger fizzled out. “You wanted to see if he was the type of man who would grab whatever he could and to hell with everyone else—”

  “Like that good-for-nothing rodeo cowboy,” he ground out.

  “Like Lacy’s father,” Danielle said softly.

  “And that’s the only good thing Buddy Brockway did in his whole sorry existence,” her uncle growled. “Fathered the most beautiful little girl on God’s green Earth.”

  “Well,” Danielle said with a smile. “On that at least we agree.”

  Watching the way her uncle’s throat worked, she could tell he was holding back things best left unsaid. Glad that he had a handle on his anger, she closed the distance and hugged him tight. “I love you, Uncle Jimmy.”

  “I promised your daddy I’d watch your back,” he said rubbing his hand on her back, as he had when she was a little girl. It soothed her then; it did the same now. “And I mean to honor that promise.”

  She had no doubt that her uncle would keep his word. She depended on it. The realization that Jesse was a lot like her uncle and her father made Jesse’s leaving just now a little easier to take.

  “Do you think he’ll be happy to see us tomorrow?”