Heart of a Texan

by Charlene Sands

  Ten minutes later the air filled with a sugary aroma. Jared lifted his nose in the air. “Something smells awfully good.”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “A surprise breakfast? Does it have tofu?”

  She shook her head. “I promise it doesn’t.”

  “Then I’ll be sure to love it.” His blue eyes twinkled and her heart sort of melted.

  “Prize, Mommy?”

  Sometimes she forgot how astute Sienna was. She soaked up knowledge quickly. Her daughter was learning in leaps and bounds. Every day she understood more and more. “Yes, there’s a surprise for you, too, Sienna.”

  When the timer dinged, Bella rose from her spot on the floor. “I’d better get that.”

  Jared rose, too, and picked up little Sienna. As he held her, Sienna’s arm circled his neck and Bella stared at the two of them as if...as if...

  “Sienna wants to see the surprise, too. Right, Sienna?” Jared asked.

  Her daughter bobbed her head up and down.

  Scary joy bubbled inside her at the sight of the two of them. She sighed. “Well, okay then.” She grabbed two thick pot holders and opened the oven. Gratified to see how well the surprise had turned out, she lifted the pan from the oven and turned to her audience. “Ta-da!”

  “Blueberry pie,” Jared said, a big, wide grin on his face.

  “Pie, Mommy. I have some?”

  “Yes, we’re all going to have some. With ice cream, too.”

  Jared’s dark blond brows rose.

  “Why not?” She could be adventurous, too, and Sienna deserved a treat after all she’d put her through lately. “We can have dessert for breakfast once in a while, right?”

  “Absolutely. It looks delicious.”

  “I...I hope so. Blueberries aren’t in season, so I had to use canned fruit.” She set the pie down on the counter to cool.

  “I would never know,” he said. “Can’t wait to dig in.”

  He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  Immediately she glanced at Sienna to see if she had any reaction to Jared kissing her. She did. She leaned forward and, with Jared’s guidance, kissed her other cheek. “Tank you.”

  Sienna grinned. “You’re both welcome.”

  As it turned out, Sienna ate her piece of blueberry pie with French vanilla ice cream while sitting on Jared’s lap. He spoon-fed her small bites like a pro.

  “I can’t remember having a better breakfast,” Jared said when they were all finished. “And I’m certain little Sienna here hasn’t, either. Pie was delicious.”

  “I’m glad you both liked it. The thing is, Sienna might be bouncing off the walls soon. Sugar tends to fuel her up.”

  “Does it now? I might have a solution for that.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  He grinned. “Do you trust me?”

  She nibbled on her lip. She was having a hard time trusting people lately, other than Amy, who knew all of her secrets. She really had to delve deep to answer him. “What are you planning?”

  “Can’t tell you. This time, I’m gonna surprise you.”

  “Me?”

  “You and Sienna.”

  “Well?” He was waiting, his brow furrowing. He seemed to think his question was a simple one. One she’d be able to answer without hesitation. Last night she’d trusted him with her body and he hadn’t hurt or disappointed her. Just the opposite: it had been thrilling and crazy-good. But Sienna was a different story. Sienna was the most precious thing in her universe.

  Yet she had to admit, Jared had been nothing but gentle, caring and kind to Sienna. She’d be safe with him. “Okay, yes. I trust you.”

  “Great, meet us outside in ten minutes.”

  She blinked. “Outside?”

  “Yep, and no peeking.”

  * * *

  “Jared, what are you doing? Get Sienna down from there this instant.” Bella’s heart raced, thumping against her chest. She bit down hard on her lower lip as she approached the fence.

  Jared sat tall in the saddle on a chestnut mare inside the corral, holding Sienna with one hand wrapped around her body, the other hand on the reins.

  “Bella, just look at her. Sienna loves it up here on Sundae.”

  Her daughter was smiling and, with Jared’s encouragement, was stroking the horse’s thick mane. “Come on over here, Bella.”

  Her heart in her throat, Bella stepped up to the fence, noting the joy on Sienna’s face and Jared’s big, strong hand locked around her. A war battled inside her head. Was she too protective of Sienna? As if there was such a thing as being too protective for a first-time mom. Or was she projecting all of her fears and anxiety on her baby girl?

  “Breathe,” Jared said to her.

  “I am breathing. Hard.”

  Sienna giggled when the horse twitched and fluttered her mane. Jared’s eyes met with Bella’s. “Are we good here?”

  She nodded, biting her lip once again.

  “I’m gonna circle the corral with her. Okay?”

  “Be extra careful,” she warned.

  He tipped his hat, Sienna waving to her as they moseyed off at a slow pace. Bella lifted her hand and wiggled a finger or two, keeping her gaze locked on Sienna, her trembling beginning to disappear as she noted Jared’s obvious expertise on the horse.

  By the time they reached the far end of the oval corral, Bella was breathing normally. But just as she let down her guard, a gigantic hawk flew out of the trees and swooped down, winging its way just over Sundae’s head. The startled horse reared up, her front legs circling the air as she balanced on her hind legs. Jared and Sienna were thrown back on the horse and Sienna’s panicked screams pierced the air. Bella shot over the fence and raced toward Sienna. By the time she reached the two of them, she was out of breath. Jared held her crying daughter in his arms, trying to sooth her.

  “Give me my baby now,” she demanded. She was spitting mad, but didn’t want to frighten Sienna so she held her anger inside. “She’s scared to death.”

  Bella reached up and the second Sienna saw her, she nearly flew out of Jared’s arms to be comforted by her mother. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” She kissed the top of Sienna’s head over and over, holding her close.

  “I can’t even talk to you right now,” Bella said to Jared, unable to look at him.

  Jared climbed down off the horse and followed her as she began walking away.

  “We were never in any real danger. I would’ve never let anything happen to her, Bella.”

  “Jared,” she said through clenched teeth. “Please shut up and let me take my baby inside. I don’t want to cause a scene and frighten Sienna any more than she already is.”

  She heard Jared let out a big sigh but, thankfully, he stopped following her. The darn man hadn’t even thought about his own injuries and the damage he could’ve sustained.

  She’d been a fool to trust Jared Stone. What the heck had she been thinking?

  * * *

  Jared paced in his study, unable to keep his anger in check, unable to get any work done this morning. Did Bella really think he’d put Sienna in danger? The horse had been spooked, but Jared had never lost control. He’d clamped onto Sienna like a vise until Sundae settled down. It was all over in a split second. He was sorry Sienna got frightened, but she’d stopped crying the instant she was back in her mother’s arms.

  Yet he’d never wanted to cause Bella any more grief. He’d never wanted to hurt her. She was becoming important to him and this little rift between them wasn’t setting well.

  His cell phone rang and he grabbed it off his desk to look at the screen. It was his mom. Veronica Stone Kensey wasn’t one you could put off. She’d been calling every day or so to check on his recovery while on a trip to the Mediterranean.

  P
inching his nose, he let the phone ring one more time before answering. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey. We’re finally back from our vacation. I’m in love with the Italian Riviera. And I think I’ve gained ten pounds. But more about that later. How are you today?”

  His mom was sleek and pretty and she never really put on any weight. Her Floridian friends said it was a blessing how she could eat and eat and never gain an ounce. “I’m doing well, Mom. Every day is easier and easier.”

  “So, you’re up and about?”

  “Pretty much. I’m working, and today I took Sundae out for a ride.” He wouldn’t go into details but his mother deserved to hear his progress. He and Cooper had insisted she not come home from her trip when the accident happened. Things could’ve been a lot worse, but Jared had been lucky and there wasn’t much she could have done to help his broken ribs. So as a compromise, they’d agreed to give her updates every day or two. Cooper and Lauren’s pregnancy was also a subject of these conversations.

  “You’re not overdoing it, are you?”

  “No, Mom. I know my limitations.”

  His mother seemed skeptical. She’d never approved of his daredevil streak.

  “Okay.” She sighed. “I guess I’ll be able to see that for myself. I’m coming home for the holiday party at the end of the week.” Even though his mom lived in a ritzy retirement village in Florida, she always referred to Stone Ridge Ranch as home. “I’ll spend a few days with you, if that’s all right?”

  His eyes slammed shut. He loved his mother a lot, but her timing wasn’t good. “Sure, Mom. I’d love to see you. You’re welcome here anytime.”

  “Thanks, honey. Gosh, it’s always so good to hear your voice.”

  “Same here, Mom. I’m glad you had a good time on your trip.”

  Jared ended the conversation and ran a hand down his face. With Bella angry at him, he felt at odds with everything, and now he’d have his mother to contend with. She was astute in matters of the heart; one look at him with Bella and his mom would figure out that something was going on between them.

  Around lunchtime, he heard Bella being unusually quiet tinkering in the kitchen and he knew what that meant. She didn’t want him popping in to watch her cook. That was too damn bad. He needed to iron this out with her or this uneasy feeling in his gut would never go away.

  He took a few calming breaths and then marched to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, he found her at the island chopping onions with a vengeance. “I bet you wish that was my head.”

  She glanced up and eyed him. “No. Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “Where’s Sienna?” he asked, walking into the room.

  “Napping. She had quite a morning.”

  “Blueberry pie and a wild horse ride.”

  Bella put the knife down. They stood with the granite island between them. “It’s not a joke. She was really scared...and so was I.”

  “I’m not making a joke. I’m sorry, Bella. I never meant for you to be frightened.”

  “You have no idea what it’s like being a single mother. I’m all Sienna has. And she’s all I have. I love her beyond belief. And it’s my job to protect her.”

  “Protect her, Bella. Not stifle her.”

  “Jared, for heaven’s sake. She’s not even two years old.”

  “I know that. But I also want you to know that I’d never put her in danger. She was safe the entire time. I’d die rather than have anything happen to her. I can protect her, too.”

  “You almost did die not too long ago. You can’t protect her, not the way I need. You don’t see the danger in things. You drive fast, race motorcycles, take too many chances. Almost dying in that accident didn’t change you.”

  Jared put his hands on his hips and stared at her. This conversation was going nowhere.

  “Listen, I’m really sorry for making you worry. For scaring Sienna. It won’t happen again. I can’t take us being angry at each other, Bella. Not after last night. Not with the way I feel about you.”

  Bella put her head down and her arms braced on the counter began to tremble. Tears dripped from her eyes.

  “Ah, Bella.” He came around the counter and turned her into his arms. “Don’t cry.”

  “It’s the...o-onions,” she whimpered.

  “It’s not the onions,” he said softly, brushing away the soft strands of hair falling into her face. “I’m sorry, sweet angel. So sorry. I promise to be more cautious with you and Sienna. Just don’t cry anymore.”

  His plea had the opposite effect and she broke down completely, sobbing into his chest. It was as if all of her troubles had come crashing down on her and all he could do was hold on to her tight, absorb some of her pain. Make her feel safe again.

  “Let it out, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m here.”

  A nibble of curiosity about Bella’s background was beginning to grow in his mind. She seemed to be hiding more than her grief, but he wasn’t entirely sure about it and now was not the time to question her. Or maybe Jared really didn’t understand what she was going through. Maybe, unintentionally, he was making things worse for her.

  Finally after a minute, she quieted to a sniffle. “I’m...sorry. I messed up your shirt.”

  She patted his chest and lifted her soft, sad eyes to his. His heart squeezed tight. “Anytime, Bella. Ruin all my clothes, I don’t mind.”

  The tiniest smile graced her face. She was so pretty, red-nose, swollen eyes and all. Or maybe he was such a goner when it came to her.

  “You always say the right thing,” she whispered.

  Her voice was sweet, touching him in a dozen amazing ways. “I think we had our first fight.”

  She nodded. “I think we did.”

  “Kiss and make up?” he asked. He had Bella in his arms and she was soft and pliant and, unless he’d missed something, ready.

  She gazed at his mouth, deep longing in her eyes, and he let out a quiet groan. She was vulnerable right now, and he wouldn’t take advantage of that, but everything about her seemed to need the exact same thing he needed. To touch, to kiss, to forgive.

  “Bella,” he whispered right before he claimed her mouth. Both sucked in a breath at the joining of their lips. His heart raced and his body pinged. This woman made him ache. He deepened the kiss, unable to stop, unable to release his hold on her.

  She kissed him back gently and then, as if something snapped inside her, desperation seemed to take hold. She gripped his shirt, nearly climbing up his body, demanding more of his kisses, more of him. There was a spark, a connecting energy that couldn’t be ignored. It demanded. It crusaded. It conspired to bring them together.

  “Forget lunch,” he said between fiery hot kisses. “Come with me, Bella.” If his ribs had been slightly more recovered, he’d have lifted her into his arms. Instead he put his arm over her shoulder. Her head automatically rested against his chest as they strode to his bedroom.

  This time there was no hesitation. No quiet, intimate words. Once inside the bedroom, they climbed upon the bed fully clothed. The clothes were a minor nuisance, something that could be taken care of later. All that mattered right now was touching each other, kissing, bringing their need and desire to be together, to make up, to give in, to ease the pain that seemed to scar them both.

  He touched every part of her through her clothes, kissed her lips, cheeks and chin. The need inside him was strong and potent and so very real, it half scared the life out of him. Nothing much did, but this...this thing between him and Bella was driven and wild and blissfully uncontrollable.

  Soon kissing wasn’t enough and their clothes were off quickly. He couldn’t describe what it was like being skin-to-skin with Bella. It was off-the-charts good. She tasted like sugar all the time, her body so sweet and delicious. He cupped her perfect pert breasts, not large by any standard, but luscious, and suckled one then the o
ther. The little cooing sounds she made were so damn enticing he was halfway to oblivion already.

  She nearly finished him off when she circled her hand around his shaft. His hips jolted upward. Surprised and pleased, he leaned back, absorbing the feel of her hand on him, the way she moved, the beautiful vision she made in the minimal light coming into the room as her long black hair streamed down her body.

  She was his angel, because he was surely in heaven.

  “Bella,” he breathed. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her what he was feeling inside, but he held back. It wasn’t the time to claim her as his. She deserved better than a bedroom declaration, but he knew in his heart where this was heading.

  “Jared, please. I need you.”

  Oh, man, he needed her, too. It took only a few seconds to sheath himself with protection, and then Bella was straddling him, her olive-skinned body glowing above him. The sight of this woman straddling him, ready to make love to him, would be forever embedded in his mind.

  “I’m ready, sweetheart,” he said, placing his hands on her hips and guiding her onto him. Their joining stole all his breath. He couldn’t utter a sound. She was breathtaking and he was about as turned on as he’d ever been in his life.

  They moved in unison, giving and taking. Her pulse-pounding erotic movements spurred his endurance. He never wanted this to end.

  But when they’d finally reached the pinnacle of their desire, Jared wasn’t sorry. They splintered apart at the same time, drawing out the last fragments of pleasure for each other. Unselfishly giving whatever they had left to please each other.

  For Jared, it had been the best, most satisfying, sex in his life.

  It was also something else, as well. Bella was systematically erasing Helene’s betrayal from his mind and perhaps giving him a second chance at hope and faith and trust.

  * * *

  A little later, Bella lay in Jared’s arms. The baby monitor he’d so thoughtfully brought into his bedroom showed Sienna napping soundly. Jared stroked Bella’s hair, absently weaving his fingers in and out of the strands.

  She cuddled up closer to him, breathing in the scent of his skin, feeling the steady, solid beat of his heart under her palm. She was in a different world when she was with Jared. He made her forget the bad things. It amazed her how quickly she’d become attracted to him, how quickly his presence in the room brightened her day.