She’d never been touched and held exactly the way Lance had done it.
A bounce snuck into her step as she made her way down the narrow wooden staircase. She found Luis in the kitchen.
“Good morning.” She greeted the older man with a happy wave. She couldn’t help it. Everything felt lighter. It was so freeing not worrying about things with Lance. Not devising a strategy for how to avoid him or overanalyze what last night meant. It had felt so natural and easy. They’d had fun. He’d been good to her. And that was all that mattered. Instead of lying awake agonizing over what might come from it all, she’d slept deeply and restfully. Such a contrast to pretty much every other man she’d ever kissed.
“Morning.” Luis nodded with a small smile. He had to have known there was more going on than they cared to admit last night, but she knew him well enough to know he’d never bring it up. He was a live and let live type of person.
Jessa sashayed past him and filled a glass of water. She liked to down eight ounces first thing every morning. “Can I make breakfast?” she asked, after she’d finished the glass. Nothing said Sunday morning like her father’s sweet potato and egg hash.
“Nah, you don’t have to cook for me, Jessa.” Luis slipped on a heavy flannel coat. “Besides, Sundays we all go up to Lance’s place for breakfast. Me and Naomi and Gracie.”
“Oh.” Her heart thumped a bit harder. One kiss and she’d been conditioned. She heard the man’s name and instantly her lady parts warmed right up.
“Better get your coat,” Luis added. “Cold out this morning. The dew’s as thick as icing out there.”
“Um.” She sneaked a quick glance at herself in the microwave’s spotted glass. So yeah. She definitely wasn’t looking her best. She hadn’t showered, hadn’t even officially gotten dressed.
She reached up and patted the straggler hairs into place. “You know, I can stay here. I’m sure he doesn’t need one more person to feed.”
“Unless I miss my guess, he’ll want you there.” Luis looked her over, those kind eyes crinkled and wise. And…omniscient. That was the word. Though they were watered down with age, Luis’s eyes were so focused and intent they seemed to see everything. “He’ll be glad to see you. Trust me. I know my son.”
Would he? The thought baited a smile. Would he be as happy to see her as she would be to see him? Already her heart was twirling like she had when her mother would dress her in a frilly skirt.
“Let’s get a move on. Luis waved her over to the front door. “We don’t want the grub to get cold.”
Her hesitation melted away. Luis knew his son. And things didn’t have to be awkward. They’d kissed, that’s all. Okay, made out. But only for about three minutes. He’d probably made out with a lot of women for much longer than that.
She pulled her coat off the rack and slipped it on, then bent to jam her feet into her shoes. “Should we bring anything?” She’d seen some fruit lying around. She could cut it up and make a salad…
“Nah. Lance cooks for everyone on Sundays.” He held open the door for her. “Not sure where he learned. I never could do much in the kitchen.”
She paused on her way out to the porch, nerves boiling with the anticipation of seeing him. “You’re sure he won’t mind if I come?”
Luis looked at her, his face serious and sincere. “You’re practically part of the family. I always promised your dad we’d watch out for you if anything ever happened to him. He’d want you to be part of our family.”
Unexpected tears pricked at her eyes. Luis had said things like that before, but she’d never felt it hit so close to her heart. In a way, she did feel like she fit. She’d agreed to stay only to do Lance a favor, but truthfully she loved it at the ranch—the surrounding peaks, the old creaking floors, the acres of open space surrounding them. The people. “Thank you.” She squeezed his shoulder and followed him down the steps to the driveway.
It was chilly, but beautiful, too. The early morning sunlight gleamed so bright it almost hurt to look. Thick morning dew made the ground sparkle. They crunched over the dirt in a sort of awed silence, taking in the pure air, the warm sun, the shimmering blue sky. The closer they got to Lance’s house, the more her insides warmed, the more her heart beat with eagerness. Even though she couldn’t wait to see him again, it wasn’t because she wanted something out of him. For once in her life, she had no expectations. She simply wanted to be around him. To know him better. To see him smile like he had last night.
The thought made her smile as she followed Luis up the porch steps.
She’d heard Lance had built his own house a few years ago, and it was gorgeous, all log and stone. A wraparound porch wound around the entire thing, making it cozy and welcoming. She passed a wicker swing, which looked like the perfect spot to sit out with a glass of wine on a cool autumn night…
“Here we go.” Luis opened the front door, not bothering to knock.
The inside of Lance’s house was as impressive as the outside. Jessa crept across the slate-tiled entryway, trying to take in everything at once. The comforting smell of black coffee, the warm tones on the walls, the framed scenes she recognized from around the ranch. The main floor was a completely open concept, a living room with leather furniture clustered near a large stone fireplace on one wall. Beyond that, the space opened into the masculine gourmet kitchen with dark wood cabinets and grayish concrete countertops.
A large dining table sat in front of a beautiful bay window, and it was already laden with dishes and food—some sort of decadent-looking coffee cake, a pan of eggs, a plate of crisp bacon.
God, it smelled heavenly.
A set of French doors near the kitchen busted open. Gracie came skipping through, followed by Naomi and Lance.
Oh, Lance. A faint humming purred inside her. If it was possible he looked even better than he had last night. Fitted faded Levi’s and an unbuttoned flannel with a tattered henley underneath.
Heat flashed the way it had when he’d first pressed his lips into hers.
“We saw some deers!” Gracie cried, skipping over. “A mama and two little ones.”
“Wow.” Jessa knelt down to her level and folded her into a hug. “I’d love to see them,” she said, as though she didn’t see deer walking down the street every day in Topaz Falls.
Naomi ruffled her daughter’s red curls. “You could’ve seen them if this little princess hadn’t scared them away.”
“I was trying to be quiet but they were so cute.” Gracie grinned up at her, those jewel-like eyes shining. “One of the babies got this close!” She held her hands about six inches apart while her mother laughed.
Jessa laughed, too. The little girl had some mad skills in the art of exaggeration.
As soon as the laughter faded, an awkward silence settled. Awkward because Lance still stood by the doors, his arms crossed, staring at her.
“Come on, sweet girl,” Naomi said, steering her daughter away. “Let’s get those grubby hands washed up before breakfast.”
As she passed, Naomi gave Jessa a small smile. A tad sympathetic?
Unease spread through her, taming the elation she’d felt since she’d woken up. Why was Naomi looking at her as if she felt sorry for her?
“Grub ready yet?” Luis asked his son, heading for the table without waiting for an answer. “I’m starvin’.”
“Uh. Yeah.” Lance seemed to shake himself out of whatever held him in a trance. “Just about. You can have a seat if you want.”
Luis didn’t have to be told twice. He crossed to the far end of the room and sat himself at the head of the dining table.
Lance approached Jessa, but he didn’t look at her. Not really. His eyes shifted. “You came.” The words weren’t happy. They weren’t even welcoming. And for someone who’d been so adamant about kissing her last night, he sure was keeping a chilly distance intact.
“Um, yeah.” She tried to make eye contact with him, but he looked away. “Luis insisted. I hope that’s okay.”
Gracie skipped back into the great room. “Papa!” Since Naomi’s parents had moved to Florida a few years ago, Luis was the closest thing Gracie had to a local grandpa.
He rose from his chair and lifted her into the air while she squealed. Then he set her down in the chair next to his, and their heads bent together as she chattered about the deer.
Jessa watched Lance move stonily in the kitchen, her feet rooted to the floor. Suddenly she felt like she shouldn’t be there. Like she didn’t belong after all.
Naomi came to stand by her. A little too close. “So how was your night?” she whispered.
“Oh. Fine. Good.” She squirmed out of her coat and walked over to hang it on the rack near the front door so they were out of earshot.
“Anything unusual happen?” Naomi asked too innocently. She obviously knew something had happened, and why should that surprise her? The woman lived right across the driveway from Luis.
“How did you know?” Jessa sighed.
“I saw Lance leaving.” Naomi glanced toward the other side of the room, where everyone was still otherwise occupied.
“It was nothing,” she insisted feebly. Obviously. Lance was completely ignoring her.
“Nothing? Really? Because your face is beet red.”
“It’s warm in here.” She tugged her shirt out a few times to let in some air.
Her friend yanked on her elbow and pulled her closer to the front door. “Have you changed your mind? About banning relationships from your life for a while?”
“No.” But she had to admit she could. She could change her mind pretty easily with the right motivation. “We kissed. It’s not like I’m hearing wedding bells or anything.”
“Good.” Naomi let her go. “Because we’ve already talked about this. He’s not commitment material.”
“Maybe that’s because he hasn’t met the right woman.” She was just thinking out loud here, but that would make sense. Lance didn’t have much time to date. The women she’d heard he’d been with weren’t exactly commitment material, either. Besides… “I’m not in a hurry for anything to happen. I liked kissing him.” She wouldn’t even try to deny it. “But I don’t need some big commitment right now anyway.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “Sure, you say that now. But what about in a month when you’re more invested? What happens then?”
For once, she didn’t know. And she didn’t have to. “I’ll work that out then.”
“And get hurt again,” her friend said gently. “Trust me. Lance has baggage. You don’t want to be the one to have to deal with his mommy issues. That’s exactly why I—”
“Hey, Jessa.”
Her head snapped so fast she felt a pull in her neck. Lance was looking at her now. He was even talking to her.
“Can you help me get the drinks ready?” he asked, still hanging out by the coffeepot.
Naomi rolled her eyes, but Jessa simply bumped past her. “Sure. I’d be happy to.”
Chapter Ten
Jessa drifted to the other side of the counter and glanced at him as though waiting for instructions. Which was good. Distance would be key for this conversation. When he’d walked in and seen her standing there it hit like a shockwave. He noticed her lips first. The lips that were so smooth and giving against his last night. Then her eyes. Friendly and open, smiling in a way that made him want to smile, too. She had on yoga pants that showcased her tight ass. The tight ass his hands had held just last night. It pretty much looked like she’d rolled right out of bed and come on over. Seeing her disheveled in that sexy carefree way made his brain give out and the little speech he’d rehearsed last night faded into the desire to touch her again.
But he couldn’t. So she’d stay over there and he’d stay over here and then maybe he could remember what it was he was supposed to say to her. He checked on the others, who were seated at the table, already piling food onto their plates while Gracie informed them of every fact she knew about deer.
“Sooo…should I pour coffee for everyone?” Jessa asked, stepping into his line of vision.
Their eyes connected and he forced himself not to look away again. “In a second.” He shuffled a few steps closer. “Actually, we need to talk first.”
Something changed on her face. Her smile fell away, and the bright, wide eyes that kept demanding his attention narrowed. “Okay. So talk.” She folded her arms and leaned against the counter, glaring as though she already knew what he was going to say.
Damn it. How had he planned to start this again? “Well…” He cleared his throat. The noise level over at the table rose as Gracie giggled about something his dad had said. Jessa didn’t seem to notice. Her glare was relentless.
He blew out a breath. If anyone wondered why he didn’t do relationships, this would be a good example. He sucked at having honest, hard conversations. Since there was no easy way to put it, he’d best just get it out there. “I shouldn’t have kissed you,” he said, quietly enough that the others wouldn’t hear.
Jessa’s unreadable expression didn’t change but her jaw twitched. “And why is that?”
Why was that again? Staring at her made it hard to remember. He glanced down at his plain, uncomplicated boots. “I’m pretty sure we want different things.”
When silence thrummed into his ears, he looked up at her.
Her facial expression hadn’t budged an inch. “What is it you want, Lance?” The words came out solid and hard. She didn’t seem to care much if anyone else heard.
He shoved his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t flip off Naomi from across the room. What the hell did she know? Talking had been a bad idea. “I want simplicity.”
Jessa shocked him with a smirk. Where had all this attitude and sass come from? He’d always heard she was a softie. He must’ve heard wrong.
“And what is it you think I want?” Her tone came within an inch of mocking him.
“Uh.” Was this a trap? He’d learned early in his dating career never to answer a question that could have potentially catastrophic consequences. Truth was, he didn’t know what she wanted. Not exactly. He knew what Naomi thought Jessa wanted. But Jessa was waiting.
He blew out the frustration in a hefty sigh. “Look. This isn’t about you. I don’t do relationships. I’m not interested in that.” Life was so much easier without those ties. “I shouldn’t have taken those shots last night.” Not that he could blame his body’s reaction to her on the whiskey. “You’re great, but—”
“Did I do something that led you to believe I wanted a relationship with you?” she interrupted in that same bold, screw you tone.
“No.” Wow. This was the last time he’d follow Naomi’s advice on anything. Talk about a crash and burn. “But Naomi seemed to think—”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I wanted a fling?” Jessa marched closer. “That maybe I’m sick of relationships and just want to have fun with no strings attached for once in my life?”
“No.” Somehow he managed to get the word out even with his jaw hanging open. That had definitely never occurred to him.
“Would it be so hard to believe that I’m not out searching for a husband?” she demanded, hands positioned on the rounded curve of her sexy hips.
“Well…” What could he say to that without risking her foot in his balls? She’d built quite the reputation for herself. Wasn’t his fault word got around. “Isn’t that what you want?”
She laughed. The woman laughed at him. “You kissed me.” Her pointer finger slashed the air between them. “You said you were attracted to me.”
“I am.” Damn was he attracted to her. Her shoulders were straight and tight, her perky breasts begging for some attention. And her face had flushed with the same passion he’d seen last night.
“Then what the hell is your problem, Lance, huh?” she demanded.
&nb
sp; When she put it that way…he glanced over at the table again.
Gracie and his father were still chatting while they ate, but Naomi was glaring at him. Oh, right. That kicked his memory into gear. He was supposed to be putting boundaries between them to save Jessa some heartache. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” He felt like he was reading a damn script. What he really wanted to tell her was that he’d never been more turned on than he was right now and would she like a tour of his bedroom?
“Maybe I’m the one who’ll hurt you.” Her head tilted in a flippant gesture. “Did you ever think about that?”
“Noooo,” he admitted. But he could be down with some pain…
“Screw you, Lance. I don’t need your pity or your protection.” She marched over to him, and he felt his heart lift at the prospect of her body being against his again.
“You know what I do want?” she asked, her voice lowered into an alluring growl.
He could only shake his head. Shock and intrigue surged through him in a way he’d never felt.
“I want some fucking coffee.” She bumped past him to the coffeepot. Without a glance back, she filled herself a mug and sashayed over to the table, leaving him staring after her, his body as primed and ready as it’d been last night.
* * *
She was so done. And not just with breakfast, either. Jessa blotted her mouth with a napkin and tossed it onto her empty plate. Lance might be a complete jerk-wad, but he knew how to make breakfast. Normally, she would be a polite guest and offer to help clean up the dishes, but she had to get out of there. Now.
All through breakfast she’d felt Lance’s eyes searching her out. But she had studiously avoided him, gushing over Gracie instead. Thank God there was an adorable ten-year-old at the table to distract everyone from the fat-ass purple polka-dotted elephant in the room. Because Naomi had obviously discussed last night’s kiss with Lance in great detail, and Luis might be nearing seventy, but he wasn’t blind. He had to have witnessed something of what had transpired between her and Lance in the kitchen—an encounter that still had her knees quaking, by the way.
Luckiest Cowboy of All--Two full books for the price of one Page 38