by Celya Bowers
“Will do.” She ended the call.
Great, Kyle, thought, can we have one time where no one falls asleep on a date?
Jemma ended the call. Maybe he was tired? He could have called and said so, she thought. Kassie was setting the table and technically he wasn’t late. She hoped that wasn’t a bad omen for the evening.
It was bad enough she fell asleep on him last night. She shook away all those negative thoughts. “I’m as bad as Mom,” she told herself. “Stop it.”
The doorbell rang. “Kassie, Kyle is here,” she called to the dining room.
“Okay.”
She walked to the door and opened it. She inhaled his sexy cologne. It was just enough, not too heavy, it smelled wonderful. He was dressed in a shirt, much like the one he’d given her that morning, and jeans, just tight enough. What was it about a cowboy? “Hello, Kyle, come in.” She noticed he had a bag as well. “I take it that’s for Kassie.”
He leaned and kissed her on the cheek. “How’d you guess?”
“Well, I’m a little old for Toys R Us.” She welcomed him inside her home. “You scared Mrs. Taylor.” She closed the front door and motioned him to the living room.
They took a seat on the couch. “Sorry. You look great. I really like those jeans,” he said glancing around the room.
Now that he was inside her house, she noticed his complexion. “Kyle, are you sure you’re all right? Dinner’s ready, but you can lie down for awhile until you feel better.”
“Thanks for the concern, but I’m fine.”
Just like a man. “You don’t look fine.” She immediately pressed the back of her hand on his cheeks and forehead. “You have a little bit of a fever. Would you like some aspirin? How about some water or juice?”
“How about you calm down?” He groaned and rubbed his stomach. He leaned back and closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.
Kassie walked into the room and stood next to her mother. She didn’t say a word as she watched Kyle. “Mommy, Mr. Kyle has a tummy ache.”
“How do you know that?” Jemma asked her daughter.
“That’s how Grandpa looked when he ate all the hot wings last night. Granny was really mad at him.”
Jemma laughed. “No wonder Dad was looking for seltzer tablets this morning. Kyle, you want something for your stomach?”
He opened his eyes and stared at them. “Ladies, I appreciate all the concern, but it’s an ulcer, not a stomach ache.”
“Kyle, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what you need.” She hated seeing anyone in pain, especially him.
He turned his head slightly toward her. “Just let me rest a minute, the pain will go away. It’s just really intense right now,” he said in a low voice.
Jemma wanted to help him, but knew better than to press the issue. He reminded her very much of Jared. The man wouldn’t have admitted he was sick to save his life, she mused. “You rest, and join us when you feel like it. Come on, Kass, let’s eat.”
“What about Mr. Kyle?”
“He’s going to rest for a little while,” Jemma said, leading her daughter to the table. She really wished she could do something for Kyle. He’d done so much for Kassie. Jemma sat next to Kassie at the table. She’d prepared baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Mother and daughter ate in silence. Jemma thoughts kept straying to man on her couch. So much had happen between them so quickly, she hoped Kyle felt better soon if not she’d have to call Janna to see what could be done.
Kassie was on her second piece of chicken and her third helping of mashed potatoes when Kyle made his appearance. “I hope I didn’t miss dinner?” He asked sitting in the nearest chair.
Jemma appreciated his effort but knew this was really costing him. He had little droplets of perspiration dotted his forehead. She also knew how stubborn men could be, so she would have to wait until he cried uncle. “You didn’t miss a thing.”
“Great.” He reached for a plate and quickly filled it. “Now that my stomach has calmed down, I’m starving.”
Jemma smiled. “We’re glad you’re feeling better.” She poured him a glass of tea.
Kyle took a bite of the chicken. “This is really good. I hardly ever get food that’s not fried.”
“Well, I try to bake most things I cook. It’s healthier for us. My mom is much like yours. She fries most things.”
“When did you start healthy eating?”
“As you can tell, I don’t practice healthy eating all the time. I’m trying to incorporate more of it into our lives, but sometimes, I just can’t say no to fried foods.”
“That’s why I run. When I first came home I was overweight, taking loads of medications, and I couldn’t even walk the ranch without giving out of breath.”
“Krista told me that. I can’t imagine you being that out of shape.”
“I was. Part of it was my job, part was my marriage, and part of it was I just unhappy.” He took a bite of the veggies. “Funny part, I didn’t really realize any of that until I was back here.”
“Hindsight is everything,” Jemma said, thinking back on her life. She turned to her daughter. “Honey, go put your plate away and get the movies ready. I’ll bring the cupcakes.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Kassie slid out of her chair, and took her plate into kitchen. She then went to the living room.
Jemma watched him as he ate. “When I was married, I worked crazy hours, Jared did too. Our life here is a lot slower, and I have time to spend with Kassie. I hate to say this, but I didn’t realize how far apart Jared and I had become until he was gone. So much of Kassie’s life we missed.”
“I know what you mean. When Ava dropped the pregnancy bomb on me, I knew it wasn’t mine. We hadn’t had relations in years. Funny thing was that I didn’t even miss it. That’s partly what triggered my ulcer.”
Jemma hadn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”
He took a sip of tea. “Ava showed up on my doorstep tonight wanting me to sign some paper. I didn’t even look at it. She kept trying to get inside the house, but I sent her on her way.”
“What about the paper?”
“I’ll look at tomorrow. I didn’t want to be late for movie night,” he said. “I know Ava. She’ll only do something that would benefit her. When we divorced, she kept trying to claim she was the wronged party.”
Jemma hadn’t like the sound of that woman. “What made you fall in love in with her?”
“Stupidity and liquor.”
“Oh.”
“I know what you’re thinking. Why stay married all that time? Truth is, I don’t really know. Probably like most people, complacent. At first, I was so happy to have someone like Ava, then I woke up.”
“I understand. I always thought Jared and I were happy. In a way, we were. But it wasn’t what we initially had planned. I didn’t realize that until two months after he died. It’s crazy how life can turn on a dime.”
“Amen.”
Later that night, Jemma and Kyle sat on the couch. Kassie sat between them. Jemma had worried for nothing. Kassie was happy that her mother and Kyle were dating.
“Do you like Mommy?” Kassie asked as the first movie ended.
“Yes, I do. I think she’s beautiful. What do you think?” He winked at Jemma.
Kassie looked at her mother, studying her as if this was their first meeting. “She’s very pretty. She can’t ride a horse.”
Kyle grinned. “We’ll have to fix that, huh?”
Kassie clapped her hand. “Fun!”
“How about it, Jemma? Want to learn to ride?”
Somehow she didn’t think he was talking about a horse.
TWELVE
“You’re late,” his mother scolded him as he walked inside his ancestral home early Monday morning. “I was getting ready to send Bruno to find you. Are the horses okay?” She was standing at the stove, pouring a cup of coffee.
Kyle kissed his mother on the cheek. “Yes, everything is good. I woke up late
.” Man was that the understatement of the year. Between memories of the night with Jemma and fighting an erection that wouldn’t die, he barely got any sleep at all.
“Oh, how was movie night?”
“It was nice.” He walked over to the counter and lifted the lid on one of the steaming trays. “Is there anything left?” He looked at the empty tray in front of him.
“Yes, I saved your breakfast.” His mother reached inside the oven and took out a plate. “It’s hot.” She set it on the table. “Why are we late this morning?”
He knew what she wanted to hear. “Well Ava showed up last night.”
“What? The evil woman was on my property? Did you call the police?”
“Mom, calm down.” He poured a cup of coffee. “She had some kind of paper for me to sign, but I didn’t want to be late for Jemma’s, I told her I’d look at it later. She left after that.” He wanted to spare his mother the horrid details of the visit.
“I didn’t think she knew where this place was. I don’t think she visited twice in the ten years you were married to her. Did she have the child with her?”
“I didn’t see anyone.” He started eating breakfast. “Good food, Mom.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” his mother said, sitting down next to him. “Now tell me about movie night.”
He laughed. This woman would never change and he hope she never would. “Well, since Ava did the pop up, my stomach was a little upset, but finally calm down. We talked about the past. Kassie asked me if I liked her mom.”
“Finally, somebody is getting somewhere. What did you say?”
“I told her that I did.” He continued his breakfast. “I also told Jemma about Ava. I know she’ll be back.”
His mother nodded. “Yes, that woman is a piece of work. She’d better hope I don’t see her first.”
“Me too,” Kyle said. His mother didn’t get angry often, but when she did, it meant trouble. “I haven’t even looked at the paper yet.”
“Really? That’s not like you.”
“I got home late last night,” he explained. “And reading some legalese paper was not high on my list last night.” His memories of the night with Jemma were burned into his brain. After they put Kassie to bed, he and Jemma made out like teenagers in heat. He left her place in the wee hours of the morning with an erection that gave him the blues. It had been way too long since he’d been in the company of a woman. He didn’t want to rush Jemma into intimacy, but he didn’t know how much longer he could last.
His cell phone rang, bringing him back to reality. “Kyle Cosgrove,” He said into the phone.
“Hi, Kyle,” Jemma said. “I just dropped off Kassie for school. I wanted you to know we had a wonderful time with you last night.”
He smiled, as she bumbled her way through what she was saying. “I had a good time too. I have to come to Mansfield for some errands today. How about lunch?” He glanced at his mother as she shook her head. There was nothing he needed, that he couldn’t send someone else to get. But he had wanted, no, had to, see her.
“Lunch sounds good. Where would you like me to meet you?”
“Why don’t I swing by your place about 11:30?” He mentally checked his calendar. Bruno could handle anything that came up in his absence.
“Great. I’ll be waiting.” She ended the call.
Kyle place the phone back in its holder before he looked at his mother. “I know I shouldn’t have done that, but I wanted to see her.”
His mother was actually smiling at him. “I’m so happy that you’re finally realizing that you can do both. I’m just hate Ava has reared her ugly head. It’s a good thing you didn’t start writing those books until after you were divorced.”
Kyle nodded, rising from the table. “I better get going. I got a lot to do, if I’m going to get to Jemma’s by lunchtime.” He headed toward the back door of the house. “Thanks for breakfast, Mom.”
His mother was gathering the breakfast dishes. “You’re welcome, honey. If you’re really running errands, I would take one of the trucks, instead of that spiffy car.”
Kyle shook his head. “Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll get the guys to clean up one of the trucks.”
His mother nodded. “I’d better get to the office.” She glanced at the clock. “Almost time to open.”
“I’ll be there in a while,” he said walking out of the house. For him, mornings was the best part of the day. Things were still kind of quiet. The ranch hands were getting the horses ready for the day’s lessons. It gave him time to think. Not that he needed more time to think of Jemma. He’d never been this bad for a woman. Maybe it was just an itch.
He hoped.
“What were you thinking?” Jemma chastised herself as she returned home. In an act of reckless abandon, she called Kyle to thank him for Sunday night and to see how he was feeling. Too bad, the conversation never got that far. Now she had to find something to wear for lunch.
Her cell phone rang as she turned into her garage. Once she parked the car, she answered the call. “Hello, Janna. Why aren’t you working today?”
“Oh, I have to work this Saturday. Remember, I told you this on the weekend. Are you super busy today, I thought we could have lunch?”
“Sorry, I’m having lunch with Kyle today. He’s coming into town to run some errands.” Jemma closed the garage and walked into the house.
“What?” Janna yelled into the phone.
“Yes, I called him to thank him for last night and then he asked me for lunch today.”
“Why are you thanking him?”
Jemma blushed at the things her and Kyle had done once Kassie went to bed. “I-I you know,” Jemma stammered. Her mouth wasn’t cooperating with her this morning. She was an adult with a child, surely she could tell her sister. “We were making out last night and things got a little out of hand.”
“Oh my! You had sex with him?” Janna shrieked. “I’m surprised. I thought you’d make him wait forever.”
“I didn’t have sex with him. I just didn’t feel right with Kassie in the house. I felt bad for letting things go so far and then telling him no. That was the main reason for my call.”
“Honey, he’s a gentleman. I’m sure he understands. Especially if he ask you to lunch today.”
“Oh you think so? You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Jem, I loved Jared like a brother, but he’s gone. It’s been almost two years, you’re allowed some romance in your life. You’re spending all your time making sure Kassie is doing okay, but you’re forgetting all about yourself. Kyle is a nice looking. Hell, he’s fine, and has wonderful manners.”
“Okay, I get it. I just feel like I’m cheating on Jared.”
Janna sighed. “Look at it this way. Were you thinking about Jared when Kyle had his tongue down your throat?”
“No,” Jemma admitted. “He was the last thing on my mind. I was more worried about Kassie coming down the stairs looking for me.”
“That girl sleeps like a log, or at least she did Saturday night. She likes Kyle, so it’s going to be okay. Quit worrying, Jemma.”
“Maybe you’re right. I’m just borrowing trouble when I don’t need to.” She took a deep breath. “Do you know anything about his ex-wife?”
“I know the entire family hated her. Krista said she really messed him up, by the end of the marriage he was so unhappy he was taking anti-depressants. He’s fine now, but it was a rough road.”
“Wow,” Jemma whispered. “That’s awful. She’s in town or at least she was yesterday. He sounded so cold when he talked about her.” She felt sorry for him for all the pain he’d endured.
“Now, Jemma, that’s all over, and he’s obviously moved on. I want you to put on your sexiest blouse and some tight jeans with those stilettos you love so much. Kyle won’t know what hit him.” Her sister laughed as she ended the call.
Jemma shook her head as she headed upstairs. Janna could always cheer her up. She was not only her sister, she w
as her best friend.
A few hours later, Jemma checked her outfit out one last time. October in Texas was like the summer most other states. The weather was warm, warm enough for her favorite blouse. The silk short-sleeve blouse showed just enough cleavage. Janna would be proud. She was pulling on her jeans when the doorbell sounded. She slipped her feet into her wedge sandals and headed downstairs.
She opened the door and Kyle stood in front of her looking like an ad for a very sexy magazine. He had a starched button-down shirt, starched jeans, and boots. The one thing that did her in was his Stetson hat. She’d never seen him in one. He just earned ten cool points. “Hi, Kyle,” she breathed. “Come in,” she said. “I just need to get my purse.”
He took off his hat when he stepped inside the house. “You look very pretty, Jemma.” He leaned down and kissed her. “You taste good too.” His lips touch hers.
Jemma felt herself drowning and she was about go down for the third time. She wrapped her arms around her narrow waist and pulled him closer to her. He teased her mouth open then slipped his tongue inside as his hands traveled her body.
She inhaled his scent. That man smell like temptation. Her temptation. She felt like holding up a white flag in surrender. She didn’t have a flag, but she did have a white shirt. His.
She slowly started unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time. He stepped away from her, his breath ragged. “Jemma?” His asked in a cracked voice. “I’m not trying to rush you.”
“I know you’re not.” She moved closer to him and resume her task of unbuttoning his shirt. “This is all me.” She looked up at him. “Are you in or not?”
“Oh, definitely in.” He pulled her closer to him. “Let the game begins.” He kissed her with all the pent up frustration Jemma had been feeling. His pushed his tongue in her mouth and moved his body against hers.
Jemma thought she’d lost her mind or at least her body. It wasn’t listening to her. Kyle’s erection was very noticeable and her body was responding like she was a teenager. What was wrong with her?
Kyle lifted her shirt above her head and toss it on the floor. The man had hands that never stopped moving. Jemma squirmed in his arms wanting to feel that hard body. She eased his shirt off and motioned for him to get rid of the t-shirt. He took it off and Jemma stood transfixed at the sculpting of his body. He was ripped, she thought. Not an ounce of fat on that upper body. Her hand ran across his very developed chest, down his flat stomach, to his narrow waist. This man was beautiful. “Wow, Kyle.”