by Elle James
Again, she knew the steps, and based on what Jake had just said, he did, too. But did he know how to dance them now that he was working with a prosthetic leg?
“Could you show me?” RJ asked. “Sounds simple, but I’m sure it’s not as easy to music. We have a sound system in the great room.”
“I’m sure you’ll remember as soon as you’re at the Sadie Hawkins dance. You can watch others before we have to get out there.”
“I’d rather not experiment in public, if you don’t mind,” RJ insisted. “Again, we don’t have to dance if you don’t want to.”
“We’re dancing,” Jake said, his tone firm.
“Okay.” RJ stopped halfway to the lodge and stood in the moonlight. “Wanna start here? In the dark, where no one can see us?”
She’d picked a level spot on the ground to make it easier on Jake since he could only feel one of his feet.
RJ held up her hands.
Jake took her in his arms.
She rested one palm on his shoulder and the other in his hand. Their closeness set off all kinds of fireworks inside her. She chalked it up to nerves. Nothing else.
“Remember,” he said. “Quick, quick, slow, slow.” He leaned into her and stepped forward on his prosthetic foot, crushing her toes beneath his.
RJ bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out. But she did hop a little. “My fault. I wasn’t ready.”
He stopped, his brow furrowing. “You’re right. Maybe we should show up and not dance.”
When he tried to release her hand, she held firm.
“No,” RJ said. “I’m committed to dancing. JoJo will never let me live it down if I don’t.”
“Then maybe you should ask someone else. It is a Sadie Hawkins dance. You get to choose your partner.”
“You asked me,” RJ reminded him.
“Exactly. You didn’t ask me, as is the custom.”
“Is that all I have to do?” RJ smiled up at him. “I don’t guarantee to be the prettiest girl at the ball, but will you go with me to the Sadie Hawkins Dance?”
For a long moment, Jake stared downward.
RJ met his gaze, falling into the darkness of his eyes. For a moment, she thought he’d refuse her offer.
Jake sighed. “I can’t guarantee I’ll get the dancing right, but I’ll do my best not to cripple you by stepping on your feet.”
RJ grinned. “Deal. Now, let’s try this again. I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of all the people I know in the county.”
“I hope I won’t embarrass you.” Jake held her hand and cupped her back with the other. “Ready this time?”
She nodded.
When he stepped out this time, she moved her foot back at the same time. Soon, they were moving around the yard together.
When Jake finally brought her to a stop, they were close to the lodge. “We’d better go in. It’s getting late.”
“Yeah. It is.” She dropped her hand from his shoulder, but when she started to let go of his hand, he held on.
RJ turned and fell in step beside him, holding his hand all the way up the front porch steps. “Could we practice with music tomorrow night?”
Jake stopped in front of the door. “That’s a good idea.”
“Maybe if we practice every night until Friday, we’ll have it down.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “I know what you’re doing.”
She stared at his lips on her hand, willing him to kiss her skin. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to be anyone’s pity date,” he said, his lips thinning.
RJ’s gaze shot to his. “Oh, believe me. If anyone is a pity date, it’s me. I don’t have a clue how to date. I’m more comfortable in jeans and boots than a dress. And Lord help me if I have to wear heels. I’m likely to break an ankle. So, if there’s any pitying to be had, it’s on me.”
He shook his head slowly. “You have no idea how desirable you are, do you?”
“Me?” she squeaked.
Jake kissed the backs of her knuckles then pulled her into his arms. “Yes, you. I’ve wanted to kiss you since I stepped on your toe and you made it sound like it was your fault. You have a big heart, and you care about people. That’s sexier than any fancy dress or hairdo.”
RJ raised a hand to her ponytail. “I don’t even know how to do my hair.”
“Don’t change a thing about you. You’re perfect the way you are.” Then he kissed her.
RJ leaned into him, her hands resting on his chest, her lips forming to his, opening to accept his tongue. She wanted the kiss to go on forever. Being close to him wasn’t nearly close enough. She wanted to feel his body against hers, to touch him skin to skin.
Heat coiled low in her belly and spread outward to the very tips of her fingers.
And then the kiss was over.
Jake stepped back, his chest rising and falling as if he’d been running.
RJ finally remembered how to breathe and drew in a deep, shaky breath. “Wow.”
“Go to bed, Rucker Juliet Tate.”
She blinked up at him, trying to focus on his words. “What?”
“Go now,” he said, his voice harsh. “Before I do something else I might regret.”
She moved forward. “What if I want you to do that something?”
He pushed his hand through his hair, standing it on end. “Go. To. Bed.”
His face was set in firm lines. His jaw so tight it twitched.
“Okay. But just so you know…there were two people participating in that kiss. And I, for one, liked it.” She turned and rushed into the lodge, afraid she’d throw herself at him if she stood in front of him much longer.
“RJ?” Jake called out after her.
She stopped. Had he changed his mind?
“Are you forgetting someone?” Jake held the door open and Striker trotted in.
“Oh, baby.” She bent to scratch him behind his ears, then straightened, her gaze meeting Jake’s. “Thanks.”
Then she turned and walked away, Striker following.
From all indications, Jake had enjoyed the kiss as much as RJ had. Why had he gone cold so quickly?
When she heard the door to the lodge close behind her, RJ glanced over her shoulder.
Jake must have gone back out.
She took that opportunity to run up the stairs and into her bedroom, closing the door softly behind her and Striker. Once in the sanctuary of her room, she pressed her fingers to her swollen lips, the tingling continuing long after the kiss had ended.
What was wrong with her? She’d never felt so close to throwing herself at a man. A man she barely knew.
Striker whined beside her.
RJ rested her hand on his head. “It’s okay, boy.” She wasn’t so sure it was okay, but Striker needed the comfort. Hell, she could have used some reassurance herself.
Was it possible to fall for someone so quickly after meeting him? Was that it? Was she falling in love with the Navy SEAL?
Lord help her if she was.
Chapter 10
Jake went to bed that night confused.
Confused.
Just like RJ had stated the first time he’d kissed her.
He laid awake for a good portion of the night, trying to make sense of what he was feeling. Every time he kissed RJ, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.
Why? Was he wishing he was his old self and trying to make up for the fact he wasn’t? Was he really falling for the rancher’s daughter, who was such a good shot she’d nailed a rattlesnake with a handgun?
For the rest of the week he made a promise to himself to take a step back. To stop kissing RJ. He’d focus on finding the guy who’d killed the realtor and tried to choke the life out of the amazing Tate woman. That would be a better use of his time than throwing himself at the female rancher whose lips melted him all the way to his core.
The next morning, after he helped RJ with the chores in the barn, Jake met with Kujo.
RJ was busy makin
g breakfast with Gunny in the kitchen.
“Has Hank learned anything more about Robert Henderson or the mining company he represented?”
“As a matter of fact, he did.” Kujo opened his laptop on a table in the dining room, brought up an internet browser then keyed in “Omega Mining Corporation.”
“This is the mining company that wanted Mr. Henderson to make an offer for the Elk Horn Ranch. The CEO is a Frank Barnes,” Kujo said. “I’ve left a message with his secretary, hoping to schedule a meeting with him today. Do you want to come?”
“Yes, we do,” RJ answered from behind them. She carried a tray of danishes and biscuits to the buffet against the wall. “I’d like to know what their plans were.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out as soon as I hear something from Barnes,” Kujo said.
“Anything else?” Jake asked.
Kujo shook his head. “No.” His frown lightened. “But Molly said the baby’s kicking like a linebacker.” Kujo grinned.
“I bet you’re anxious to get back to her,” Jake said. He couldn’t imagine being that far away from his pregnant wife. The sooner they got things rolling on the new office of the Brotherhood Protectors, the sooner Kujo could get back to Montana.
“She’s doing well, and Swede’s wife, Allie is looking out for her.” Kujo brought up another screen with a spreadsheet on it. “These are the tasks we need to accomplish to get things rolling on the new office. I’ve already contacted a contractor to get the renovations started in the basement. He’ll start next Monday. He projected four weeks to make the changes.”
“That’s fast,” Jake said, impressed.
“He’s an old friend of Hank’s from their military days. They’ll throw everything at it to get it done on time.” Kujo pointed to the next item on the list. “Our communications team will arrive later today to install the internet and security systems.”
“It’ll be good to have the security system in place,” Jake said. “Hopefully, that will deter anyone from attacking the Tates or their guests.”
Kujo nodded. “Until the renovations in the basement are complete, we’ll set up the monitors in Gunny’s office, here in the lodge.”
Kujo’s cellphone buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID. “Good. It’s from Barnes’s office.” He answered. “Yes, this is Joseph Kuntz. One o’clock? Yes, ma’am. We’ll be there. Thank you for getting us in so quickly.” After he ended the call, he glanced across at Jake. “One o’clock.”
“Did you hear that?” Jake called out to RJ as she carried a tray full of dirty coffee mugs through the kitchen’s swinging door.
“One o’clock. I’m going with you.” The door swung closed behind her, and then opened again for Gunny, who carried in a bucket of water. He primed the coffee maker with a fresh filter and grounds, poured in the water and switched it on.
“In the meantime, we might want to pay a visit to Marty Langley at the Elk Horn Ranch,” Jake said.
Gunny set the urn on the bar. “I’ll give him a call before we go, and then go with you. He’s a cantankerous son of a bitch, more prone to shoot first and ask questions later.”
“Good to know,” Kujo said.
“One of us needs to stay at the ranch to take care of our guests,” RJ said. She didn’t add, but Jake could guess, that she wanted someone there to look out for their safety.
“I’ll go with Kujo to speak to Marty,” Gunny said. “You can go with them to Colorado Springs later to meet with the mining company CEO.”
“Surely, the sheriff’s department or state police are investigating both,” RJ said. “Perhaps we should ask the sheriff.”
“If the state police have taken over the case, the sheriff won’t necessarily be conducting the investigation,” Kujo said.
“If Marty knows something, he’ll let me in on it,” Gunny said. “I can do that this morning. At the very least, you’ll know if Marty got that offer and what he planned to tell the mining company.”
“I’ve got a few things I need to do this morning around the barn,” RJ said. “I’ll be ready at noon to go to Colorado Springs.”
After the guests were fed and the dishes done, Kujo and Gunny set off for a meeting with Marty Lange.
Jake followed RJ and Striker out to the barn, schooling himself to be vigilant and hands-off with RJ.
Inside the barn, RJ picked up a hay rake and went to work mucking the first stall, shoveling soiled straw into a wheelbarrow.
Jake grabbed another rake and wheelbarrow and mucked the second stall, smiling as he went. Nothing said sexy like a woman up to her elbows in horse shit. Under those conditions, keeping his hands off her would be easier than he’d thought.
They worked through one side of the barn and then the other, emptying their wheelbarrows in a pile behind the barn. When they were finished, they spread fresh straw on the floors of the stalls, cleaned the wheelbarrows and rakes and filled the water troughs in the pastures.
Striker stood guard throughout from his perch on a short stack of hay bales.
By the time they hung the rakes on the wall, Jake had worked up a sweat and smelled like horse dung. The work had been hard, but it felt good to see the results in clean stalls ready for horses to occupy.
He glanced at his watch. “We have enough time to shower and grab a bite to eat. Kujo and Gunny should be back soon.”
“Definitely need the shower.” She gave him a brief chin lift. “Good job on mucking stalls. Thanks for helping, even though you didn’t have to.”
“Strangely, it felt good to work hard. I recognize some of the muscles I haven’t used in a while.” He flexed his arms and stretched his back. “Yup. I’ll feel them tomorrow as well.”
“It’s not the most glamorous work, but it has to be done.” RJ wiped her hands on her dirty jeans and led the way up to the lodge.
Once inside, Striker headed for his bed in front of the fireplace, plopping down for a much deserved morning nap.
RJ chuckled. “It’s hard work sleeping on haystacks, isn’t it?”
The sound of her laughter warmed Jake’s insides. “You have a great smile. Did you know that?”
She frowned, her cheeks turning pink. “Whatever.”
“Seriously, hasn’t anyone ever told you that?” Jake shook his head. “If not, then you aren’t smiling enough.”
Her frown deepened. “I smile.”
His lips twitched. “Like now?”
Her frown softened and spread into a little grin. “Okay. Maybe I could work on that. I do find a lot to be happy about. I should express that happiness more often.”
“Only if you really feel it,” Jake said.
“Now look who’s being all philosophical.” She headed for the stairs. “I’ll only be a few minutes in the shower.”
“I’m in right after you.” He pulled his shirt out and sniffed. “Yeah. I definitely need it.”
RJ sniffed. “You and me both.” She headed up the stairs.
Jake gave her a few minutes head start, and then climbed the stairs to his room where he grabbed what he needed in the way of clean clothes and his shaving kit.
Crossing the hallway to the bathroom, he turned the knob. When it opened, he was surprised the shower was still going and the room was filled with steam.
“You said to leave the door unlocked if I wanted you to join me,” RJ’s voice echoed against the ceramic tiles.
Jake’s groin tightened.
RJ’s naked body was silhouetted against the shower curtain, outlining her slim build, the swell of her hips and the soft curve of her breasts.
He wanted her more than anything or anyone he’d ever wanted in his life. Jake stepped forward, his prosthesis catching on the bathmat, reminding him what it would be like if he stepped into the shower with her. He’d have to remove his fake leg and struggle to get over the edge of the tub and into the water.
No, he couldn’t. Not in front of this strong woman who could run circles around him now that he’d lost his leg.
“What? Are you afraid to show me what you’ve got?” She yanked the curtain back and stood before him naked. “I don’t care if you only have one leg. I care that you’re willing to help me do tasks most men would walk away from. I care that you don’t complain when you do them. And I think you’re sexy as hell when you’re covered in horse manure.” She planted a hand on her hip. “Now, if you’re leaving because you don’t find me the least bit attractive, I’ll understand. But don’t leave because you’re afraid to show me any kind of weakness.”
For a long moment, Jake stood in front of her, torn between his promise to remain hands-off and his desire to hold this amazing woman and make passionate love to her.
“You don’t have any idea of how much I want to touch you,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Then do it.” She lifted her chin. “But hurry because I’m losing my nerve. It isn’t every day, or every decade, that I make an offer like this to a man. If you take too long to make up your mind, I might lose my nerve.”
“Sweet Jesus,” he said, ripping the hem of his T-shirt out of the waistband of his jeans. “I’ve got to be out of my mind.”
“If that’s the case, then so am I.” She stepped out onto the bathmat and helped him drag the shirt up over his head, tossing it into the laundry basket in the corner. Then her hands went to the button on his jeans, flicked it open and then slowly lowered his zipper.
His cock sprang free, and she cupped it in her hands.
She grinned. “I’m glad it’s not just me.”
“Not just you?” he said, barely able to push air past his vocal cords. He was so tight and hard he found it hard to breathe.
“As soon as I heard the door open and knew it was you, my pulse went ballistic, and my body seemed to be on fire. Is that how you feel?”
“Oh, baby, that and more.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips.
When she opened to him, he thrust his tongue past her teeth and swept it along the length of hers, loving how warm and wet she was.