Vibrant Heart: Book 1 in the Great Plains Romance Series

by Corrissa James

  Jake leaned closer to her, until his face was just inches from hers. “After all, your swooning over a married man meant I got to kiss you.”

  “Ha!” Melanie rolled her eyes. “As if that were a kiss.”

  Before she could walk away, Jake reached out and pulled her to him until their lips were pressed together. It was a gamble, and he knew it. She could very well pull away, causing quite the scene. But she didn’t. Instead, her lips parted as her hands slid up his arms to his chest, leaving a trail of fiery desire. His tongue teased at her lips. When she pressed closer to him, he groaned and pulled back, ending a kiss that he wanted to spend the rest of the day exploring. He told himself to step away, that he was playing with fire with this woman, but he couldn’t bring himself to remove his arms that still encircled her waist.

  Stan cleared his throat loudly. Melanie turned to see the entire crowd staring at her and Jake. Her face burned red, and she hid it in Jake’s chest, his arms coming up to hold her protectively. He chuckled at her embarrassment, trying to distract his body from the fact that he could smell the peach-scented shampoo from her hair and feel the curves of her body fitting so precisely into his. She tried to pull back, but his arms kept her firmly in place.

  “Sorry, folks,” he said to the guests. “Guess we got swept up by the romance of the day.”

  The guests laughed, and some applauded. As the couple turned back to the altar, Jake’s hold on her eased. Melanie pulled herself away from him and stepped back, raising a hand to slap him. Stan’s words stopped her in mid-swing.

  “Son, you’ll have to save it for your own wedding. For now, get my daughter up here so we can get this ceremony over before your mother hog ties us both.”

  Daughter? Understanding hit Jake like a fist to the gut, and suddenly he was wishing he had just left her by the side of the road. He had created a mess of it all now, and it would only be getting messier because he would be sharing another kiss with Melanie Olson. Of that he was certain.

  Chapter Seven

  Melanie reeled with the realization that Evelyn, her new step-mother, was Jake’s mother. She had just made out with the bride’s son at her father’s wedding while all the guests watched. Including Raymond and his pregnant wife. She swallowed, trying to push down the embarrassment that she was sure was evident on her face.

  Jake placed his hand just above her elbow to lead her to the altar, but she jerked her arm away, her face burning even brighter. She stormed up to the two steps to the dais, refusing to look at anyone as she moved to stand next to her father.

  “Over here, sweetie,” Evelyn said in a hushed voice, waving Melanie to her side.

  Melanie glanced first at Evelyn, then Jake, who was standing just next to the dais, smirking at her. How dare he laugh at her when this was all his doing. If he had just left her alone when she’d made her distaste known the first thousand times, she would not be standing up in front of more than a hundred people anxious for the ceremony to finish so they could call their friends with the latest gossip. She ground her teeth, threw back her head, and took her place next to the bride.

  “All right, preacher,” Evelyn said. “No more stalling. Let’s make this official.”

  Melanie could barely keep her attention focused on the preacher’s words. When the ceremony ended and the newlyweds were making the rounds with their guests once again, Melanie tried to make her way toward the door to sneak out unnoticed. Unfortunately, Evelyn had eagle eyes. Each time Melanie moved a bit closer to the exit, Evelyn was suddenly by her side, ushering her back into the crowd to meet a friend or cousin of hers, saying, “And this is my beautiful new daughter,” followed by a wink and a smile. Melanie was mortified by what people must be thinking in light of her recent public display with Jake, but she didn’t want to ruin Evelyn’s fun. It was her wedding day after all. Besides, her father would read her the riot act if she offended his new bride.

  The one good consequence of being ushered around by Evelyn was that she shooed Jake away every time he got too close to them, although usually by making a comment that made the guests laugh and Melanie’s face burn in embarrassment. Jake seemed completely unfazed by his mother’s reminders that he’d already welcomed Melanie to their family. He would move away, but never too far, so Melanie was constantly aware of his presence and his deep emerald eyes following her.

  Soon Evelyn was introducing Melanie as a big city writer, patting the younger woman’s hand with pride as she asked Melanie to share her latest projects. Melanie didn’t have the heart to correct her and explain that she had abandoned writing to work full time as an acquisitions editor, but she was able to name drop a few of her bigger-named clients, which led to oohs and ahs and questions about what they were really like. Before Melanie realized it, she had forgotten all about her pre-wedding embarrassment and was enjoying herself. It helped that Evelyn’s family and friends were certainly entertaining.

  Melanie was introduced to a group of three little old ladies all dressed in varying shades of pastels, each with blue-tinted hair that matched their polyester dresses. “These are my aunts: Rose, Lily, and Daisy,” Evelyn said. “Spinsters the lot of them.” She winked at the women, who cackled in response.

  “Oh, you are incorrigible, Evie,” Lily said. “Spinsters my tiny wrinkled patootie.”

  “Spinsters who have married more men than you bothered to invite to this shindig,” Daisy said.

  “Married and buried,” Rose corrected.

  Daisy shushed her sister, then turned back to Evelyn. “Where are all the single men you promised, anyway?”

  “I never promised you anything, auntie.” Evelyn laughed and rolled her eyes at Melanie.

  “Bull puckey,” Lily said. “I heard it myself. You told us to come and enjoy the meat market.”

  Melanie bit her lip to keep from laughing too hard.

  “What about Jake?” Rose said.

  “What about him?” Evelyn said.

  “Maybe he’s got some single friends and can hook an auntie up,” Rose said.

  Lily waved Jake over to join them. He kissed each aunt on the cheek, and they in turn batted their eyes at him.

  “So where are all the single men, Jake?” Lily asked. “We’re looking for the real action.”

  Jake affected a sheepish expression as he smiled at his great-aunts. “I invited some friends, but they were all afraid they wouldn’t be man enough for you.”

  Rose and Daisy laughed, but Lily harrumphed loudly.

  “You’re no help,” Lily said. “Especially now that you’re all googly-eyed over this one.” She pointed at Melanie, who tried to laugh and brush the comment off.

  “Be nice, Lily,” Daisy said. “Don’t embarrass the young lovers.”

  “Oh, we’re not—”

  Before Melanie could finish, her father interrupted them to inform Evelyn that they were running low on ice.

  “Shoot, I was afraid of that. The rainy day meant even the farmers showed up today, and they are a celebratory bunch.” She looked at Melanie and shrugged, then turned to Jake. “Sweetie, will you make a run into town for more supplies? Oh, and Melanie, can you go with and get some more drinks? Last time I asked Jake to get sodas, he came back with four cases of generic cream soda.” She stuck her tongue out in disgust.

  Melanie opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. Driving into town would give her the perfect opportunity to talk to Jake. She didn’t want him to think that he could go around kissing her whenever he felt like it. And if he was driving, he wouldn’t be able to sneak up on her again and do something unexpected, no matter how good it felt.

  Chapter Eight

  The walk to his truck was cloaked in a strained silence punctuated by their footsteps in the gravel. Finally Jake couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “So, what do you think of these crazy kids getting married?” He flashed Melanie a goofy smile, hoping that his attempt at humor wasn’t failing as badly as he thought it was.

  To his surprise,
she smiled back. “Kids these days, right? You try and tell them not to rush into anything, they’ve got their whole lives ahead of them, but do they listen? Of course not.”

  They glanced at each other before laughing. Jake hurried the last few steps to open the door for Melanie, bowing low in mock servitude as she slid into the truck.

  “You’re not leaving, are you, Mel?”

  Jake scowled at Raymond, who was hurrying down the lane after them.

  Melanie shook her head. “Ice run. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

  Jake slammed the door, gave Raymond a withering glare, and headed for the driver’s side. Sliding in behind the wheel, he said, “He’s married.” He started the truck. “And soon to be a father.”

  Melanie didn’t look at him, instead rolling down the window and waving at Raymond as they drove away.

  They traveled down the country roads for several miles in tense silence, passing fields full of corn and soybeans. The earlier storm had moved on, leaving behind vibrant green corn stalks contrasted with the grayish-green of the soybeans and the yellow-greens of the mighty cottonwoods crowding around invisible creeks. The smell of the rich dirt in the fields wove through the truck. Melanie stuck her arm out the window, letting the wind caress her hand as they drove.

  Jake interrupted the silence. “You can do better than Raymond Turner.”

  Melanie rolled her eyes, her light-hearted laugh sounding more like choking. “You don’t know anything about him, the demons he’s overcome.”

  Raymond’s demons were public knowledge, especially at the local hotel bar, where everyone could watch his escapades with the women who passed through town. Unfortunately, not enough women stayed overnight in Bender on a regular basis, which left Raymond to hit on the wait staff. Jake frowned, completely at a loss as to why Melanie would tolerate Raymond’s antics. She clearly wasn’t afraid to give someone a piece of her mind, and he’d seen how she’d reacted when introduced to Raymond’s wife. Was Melanie one of Raymond’s extramarital pastimes? The idea didn’t sit well with him. He just couldn’t picture Melanie agreeing to be the other woman for anyone. He recalled their kiss, how passionate she’d been. Had that all been a show for Raymond?

  Jake shook his head. He didn’t like where his thoughts were taking him. He didn’t know what kind of relationship she had with Raymond and didn’t care. He was just looking for a good time. If that good time happened to be with one of Raymond’s playthings, well, that could be an added bonus. He didn’t think Raymond would be all that appreciative of someone, especially Jake, showing one of his women a better time. The thought caused a satisfied grin that Jake couldn’t hide.

  As they pulled into town, he slowed the truck but continued past the store.

  “Aren’t we going to stop?”

  He shrugged, but said nothing else. She went back to looking out the window.

  She pointed to the new building on the corner of the town’s main street. “Is that the new hotel?”

  “Yup.”

  “Nicer than I expected.”

  “What’s the matter? You think everything in a small town has to be run down?”

  “No, of course not.” Melanie frowned. “It’s just, it’s changed since I left. This hotel wasn’t here before, so when I made reservations, well, honestly, I expected a drive-up motel. That would be more befitting of a town with only a few thousand people. That place looks...”

  “Modern?”

  She nodded. “Modern and inviting. Almost like an upscale spa.”

  Jake glanced at her. “It’s amazing what a little investment can do for a small town.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Plus the taxes the city gets from the hotel have enabled them to update the old, pothole-filled road here with a wider two-lane road, complete with stately street lamps reminiscent of a bygone era.”

  “I’m surprised they get much business, though. Bender isn’t exactly a center of tourism.”

  Jake nodded. It was a comment he’d heard hundreds of time. “Yes, but tourists aren’t the only people who use hotels. Bender’s at the crossroads for two major highways, and the nearest hotels along either of those highways are an hour away. For anyone driving through—”

  “It’s like an oasis!” She chuckled. “Smart investors.”

  He noted the ease in her voice as she took in the familiar sights. She swiveled around, looking for the places she knew. Her curiosity was mesmerizing for him. She touched his arm to draw attention to her childhood friend’s home and the corner where she helped plant daisies as a city beautification project. She clapped in excitement at the tall white flowers welcoming her home. He nodded to each of her comments, but he couldn’t take his eyes from her excited expression. The intensity of her anger had driven him mad with desire, but the sincerity in her animated movements now stirred something much deeper than his passion, something he had never experienced before.

  He headed toward the business district—all two blocks of it—and pulled up alongside the curb at the end of the street. He turned off the truck, pointing to a large brick building with giant tinted windows. “The hotel investors also contributed to the new library.”

  “Seriously?”

  “You like it?” The building looked like it had stepped out of the pages of a fancy architecture magazine.

  “It’s beautiful. When I lived here, the library was a tiny one-room building that was barely bigger than my bedroom.”

  Jake put his arm along the back of the seat and ducked his head to look out the passenger-side window, wishing she hadn’t mentioned her bedroom. “Yeah, the owners of the new hotel offered some matching funds, and the townspeople really rose to the challenge. It was just supposed to be updates to the old building—a new roof, an air-conditioning system, some new computers—but they raised the money for this.”

  “I just can’t imagine.” Melanie’s voice trailed off for a moment. “Is it open? Can we go inside?”

  He chuckled at her excitement. “Sorry. Not many people visit it on Saturday afternoons.”

  “No, of course not. Although they always had to kick me out at closing time.” She giggled and leaned back against the window. “I used to drive my parents crazy just so they would want me out of the house. On more than one occasion my mom was all too happy to drive me into town and drop me off.”

  “You led quite the rebellious life. Although that explains why you got the writing bug.”

  Melanie shrugged. “I suppose.”

  “Strange.”

  Melanie raised an eyebrow in a silent question.

  Jake smiled. “Most authors are all too eager to point to reading as the spark that set them on their lifelong path.”

  “For me it was more about escapism.” She leaned against the door, closing her eyes as the sun washed over her face. “Reading told me what the big wide world out there was like, and all I wanted was to be out in it, away from here. But of course, if I hadn’t been so quick to run to the library all the time, I might have seen how much trouble my parents were in.”

  “Was it all you thought it would be?”

  She opened her eyes halfway and looked at Jake, who was now looking out the driver’s side window. “What do you mean?”

  “The big wide world.”

  “Oh.” She gave him a half smile and a shrug. “There is so much I love about the city—the energy and vitality of all those people coming together in one huge mass of intensity—just like I love the freedom of driving down country roads in the summer, the windows down and the wind running through my hair. But is anything ever as perfect as you expect it to be?”

  He laughed. “No, not really.” He smiled as Melanie relaxed again, letting her eyes close. “Then again, some things are better than I could have ever imagined.” He slid across the seat to kiss her lightly on the lips. Before she could put up her hands to push him away, he returned to his place behind the wheel. “Wasn’t my imagination. You do taste like raspberry.” He started the truck
and winked at her as he licked his lips.

  Chapter Nine

  They made the drive back to the house in silence, although for different reasons. Melanie was pretty sure that Jake was proud of himself for putting her back on edge. When he started humming as he drove, she became even more convinced of his gloating. Meanwhile, she was stewing at his ability to make her insides flutter with a quick peck on the lips.

  She couldn’t really be surprised that the unexpected attention from Jake was causing her body to react in such powerful ways. It had been so long since her last date. She’d been saving herself for Raymond, convinced that once he saw how she had succeeded in Chicago, he would beg to be part of her life again. He’d been so worried that life in the big city would change her that he’d refused to risk it. But she hadn’t changed. She’d thrived—and waited patiently for the chance to step back into his life.

  Yet now he had Anna and Melanie had no one.

  She tried to remember when she’d last gone out with someone, but her thoughts were continually interrupted by the memory of Jake’s kiss in the barn. It really had been a delicious kiss, and if they had met in Chicago, she’d have been thrilled to see where it went with him. But she would not go through this again, a long-distance relationship with someone from the country, not after Raymond. And she certainly wasn’t going to move back and become a farm wife.

  No, now she just needed to focus on surviving until she could return to Chicago, where she would go out with every guy she could until she found someone who could kiss just as well as—no, better than!—Jake. Maybe she’d sign up with one of those dating services. Finding someone in Chicago would allow her to make a complete and clean break with Nebraska.

  As soon as Jake pulled the truck to a stop in front of her father’s garage, Melanie had her door open and was heading into the house.

  “Oh heavens, sweetie,” Evelyn said when Melanie stepped into the kitchen. “You look as white as a sheet. Are you feeling okay?”