Maureen McKade (17 page)

She hurried away like hell’s hounds were nipping at her heels.

“Well, Jake, you went and did it this time,” he muttered, raking his fingers through his tousled hair. “Good thing she’s got more sense than you.”

He joined Johnny in the front room. The boy motioned him over, and Jake settled gingerly on the rug beside him, grateful his trousers were too large. He studied the layout of the stick corrals and assorted wooden horses. “This looks like Ki—your ma’s ranch.”

Johnny nodded. “It’s going to be mine someday. Ma said so.”

Guilt punched Jake in the gut. He hadn’t considered Johnny in his scheme to regain his father’s ranch. Getting the place from Kit was bad enough, but robbing a boy of his future didn’t set well on Jake’s mind.

Since Johnny wasn’t actually Kit’s flesh and blood, though, it wasn’t like he was stealing the boy’s heritage. If Jake’s father hadn’t thought so little of him, he would’ve left it to his own son, and the land would’ve remained in the Cordell family. The ranch rightfully belonged to Jake.

“Don’t you want to leave Chaney and see the rest of the world?” Jake asked.

Johnny picked up a black toy horse and trotted it into a corral. “I wouldn’t want to leave Ma alone. She needs me.”

“She’d have Charlie and Ethan and Two Ponies.”

The boy planted his elbow on his knee and propped his chin in his hand. “Yeah, but I think she’d miss me. I wouldn’t want her to be sad.”

Jake figured that was an understatement. Johnny meant the world to Kit. “Would you miss her?”

Johnny rearranged a toy corral. “Maybe a little.”

Johnny was trying so hard to act grown up. “I know what you mean. So, what are the names of your horses?”

Kit moved about the kitchen in a daze, her body still tingling in all the spots Jake had caressed. And some he hadn’t. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms below her breasts, which ached with a wanting
she’d never experienced. However, it was more than her physical reaction to Jake’s masterful caresses that bothered her. Something much more devastating.

She thought she’d overcome her girlhood infatuation with him, but her racing heartbeat as he’d nearly seduced her belied that notion. This time, however, she saw him as he was, instead of as the shining knight she’d seen him as since she’d been a child. He was right. He wasn’t the perfect man she’d portrayed in the dime novels, but neither was he the prodigal he believed himself to be. He thought he was incapable of loving or being loved, but she’d watched him with Johnny and she knew otherwise.

And therein lay the danger. Now she was an adult, with the desires of a woman. She’d thought loving Johnny would be enough. Now she knew it wasn’t.

Although naive, Kit recognized her own awakening passions in Jake’s arms. Yet, understanding why Maggie had taken what he’d given without asking for more, she couldn’t give herself without his love.

And even if Jake found this love he swore he didn’t possess, there also lay the truth of Johnny’s parentage between them. Jake would be angry at first, but she suspected he would be able to forgive her.

The last and largest stumbling block was her identity as T. K. Thorne. If she confessed to being the infamous author, she feared she’d lose his friendship.

Burying her face in her hands, Kit gave in to her self-pity. Her attraction to Jake couldn’t be allowed to flourish. The insurmountable obstacles between them couldn’t be overcome.

She tried to forget how Jake’s muscles had felt beneath her hands, and the burning trail his sensuous lips had forged across her jaw and neck. She tried to forget how his masculinity had been plainly outlined when she’d seen him standing in the tub.

She tried to forget her body’s traitorous reaction to his long-dreamed-of kisses.

Straightening, she squared her shoulders and placed the meal on the table, then walked to the front room.

In the doorway, she paused to watch Jake and Johnny bent over the toy animals, overcome with melancholy.

Jake Cordell had never missed one before, and he wasn’t about to miss one now. He leaned low over Zeus’s neck, urging the powerful stallion into a ground-eating gait. Laying a hand on the saddlebags, Jake was reassured that the precious package still lay inside. He’d taken an extra day to find the famed carver, but the man’s work had been well worth it
.

The ranch came into view, and Jake slowed his trusty steed. Drinking in the familiar picture, Jake wished he could hang his gun up for good. All he ever needed or wanted was found here behind the sturdy log walls of the Cordell home
.

Despite his impatience, Jake cared for Zeus’s needs first with a rubdown and an extra helping of fresh hay. His tasks completed, Jake threw his saddlebags over his shoulder and strode to the house. He opened the door and breathed deeply of the comforting smells of meat frying on the stove and cedar crackling in the fireplace
.

“
Pa!
”

Jake caught his young son in his arms, tossed him in the air, and caught him as the boy laughed with glee
.

“
Jake, you made it.” His beautiful wife’s melodic voice washed across him and made him glad he’d pushed himself to exhaustion to return home in time
.

He shifted his boy to one arm and gathered his wife close in the other. He’d missed them more than he’d thought possible
.

“
It’s my birthday, Pa,” the boy exclaimed, his cheeks rosy. “And Ma made me a cake!
”

“
I was afraid you’d miss it,” his wife said softly
.

Jake shook his head. “Not as long as I have a breath of life in me
.”

He set the boy down and hunkered down beside him to open his saddlebags. Jake drew out a package tied with string, and handed it to him. “Happy birthday, son
.”

Jake stood and wrapped his arm around his wife’s tiny waist, drawing her flush against his lean-angled body. Together they watched as the boy tugged on the string to open the present
.

He held the horse carving up to them. “It’s Zeus
.”

“
That’s right,” Jake said. “Do you like it?
”

“
I love it, Pa. Thank you.” He threw his arms around Jake’s waist and hugged him
.

Jake’s throat ached with raw emotion. The joy in his son’s face erased all the aches and pains of five days of hard riding. He swore he wouldn’t leave them again
.

He wouldn’t chance missing his son’s birthday ever again
.

Misty eyed, Kit shook herself free of her fantasy.

“Supper’s ready,” she announced,

Identical pairs of brown eyes looked up, and Jake and Johnny got to their feet.

She led the way to the dining room. “Would you like to say the blessing, Johnny?”

He nodded and clasped his hands. “Thank you for getting all the skunk smell off me and Mr. Cordell. And thanks for the food. Amen.”

“I like your style, Johnny—short and to the point,” Jake said.

Kit smiled. “God listens to everyone.”

Jake forked a few pieces of ham onto his plate. “You really believe that?”

“Of course. Don’t you?”

He shrugged. “I used to, until I grew up.”

Whether Jake knew it or not, there was a part of him
that still believed. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have returned to Chaney.

Toward the end of the meal, Johnny’s eyelids began to close.

“It looks like you’re ready for bed, young man,” Kit said.

“But me and Mr. Cordell haven’t gone riding yet,” he protested in a sleepy voice.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Jake said. “I’ll tuck you in, and next time I come, we’ll take twice as long a ride.”

“Promise?”

“Jake Cordell’s word is as good as gold, kid.” He stood and came around to steer Johnny up the stairs. Kit remained seated, feeling guilty for enjoying watching father and son together.

Upstairs, Jake tugged Johnny’s nightshirt on the boy.

“There you go. Now, hop into bed,” Jake said.

Johnny plopped onto the mattress, his eyes closing before Jake had the blankets tucked in around him. He rested a light hand on Johnny’s hair. The vulnerability in the boy’s serene face brought a stab of self-contempt. When Johnny looked at him with idolizing eyes, he saw someone who didn’t exist. For the first time, Jake wished he was the hero Johnny thought he was.

How could he take the ranch from Kit, knowing he’d also be taking away the only home Johnny had ever known? If she didn’t make the last payment, Jake could legally seize the place, but Johnny wouldn’t understand that was his right.

Jake was a lawyer, not a minister. So why did he feel lower than a flat frog in an empty well?

“Good night, kid,” he said softly.

Stomach churning, he quickly retreated from the moonlit room.

Kit met him at the bottom of the stairs. “Here’s your clothes. They’re still a little damp, but I’m sure you’d
rather go back to town in these than in what you have on.”

Jake glanced down at the ridiculously short trousers and snug shirt. Taking the pile of clothing from her arms, he looked around for a place to change. Kit pointed to the kitchen. “Go ahead and change in there. I’ll wait in the front room.”

“How do I know I can trust you? You seem to like seeing me in my unmentionables.”

“That wasn’t the first time I’d seen you in your unmentionables.” She crossed her arms, her eyes twinkling impishly. “Do you remember how you and Harvey Olson used to go skinny dipping?”

Incredulous, Jake said, “You watched us?”

Kit shrugged. “Let’s just say, that summer I learned what made boys and girls different.”

“Miss Thornton, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

“You’re probably right, but I’m not.”

“Don’t ever stop surprising me, Kit.”

He hurried into the kitchen, humming “Buffalo Gal” as he went After changing into his clammy clothes, he rejoined Kit in the parlor. She rose from a spindle-legged chair.

“I’d best get back to town,” he said.

She nodded, averting her gaze. “Yes, I suppose you’d better.”

Temptation urged him closer. “I’d prefer to stay.”

“No. That wouldn’t be a good idea.” Boldly, she met his eyes. “I’m not like the people in town think I am. I don’t give my favors freely or otherwise.”

“I know.”

She shuffled her feet. “Well, I suppose this is good night, then.”

“Actually,
this
is good night.”

Cupping her face between his palms, he tilted her
head upward. Her wide, luminous eyes followed his descent, and he drew his tongue along her sweet lips, coaxing her to open them. She complied, allowing his tender invasion, and he explored her satiny softness. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she twined her fingers through his hair to draw him closer.

Jake tried to tell himself this was a continuation of her lesson, a delicious game. His body, however, had other plans, and his mind filled with Kit’s intoxicating innocence. He had to stop before he got carried away.

But her slender curves fit against his jagged planes as if made to complement him, and with one hand he followed the indentation of her waist and skimmed down her hip, which was camouflaged by the dress’s gathers.

As his breath grew ragged, he drew away from her. A gasp escaped Kit’s parted lips, and Jake wanted more than a kiss. He wanted to remove her clothing one article at a time. He wanted to see her quiver below him in the throes of ecstasy, her golden hair fanned about her head. He wanted his name to be on her lips when he buried himself in her welcoming heat.

Taking a step back, he managed to say, “I’d better go.”

Kit cleared her throat. “I’ll get your coat.”

She returned with his jacket draped over her arm and his hat in her hand. “Here you are.”

He nodded, uncertain he could voice a coherent sentence, and slipped on his coat. Taking his Stetson, he held it between his hands, spinning it around. “Goodnight, Kit.”

“I liked the other goodnight better,” she said softly.

“Me, too, but they’re a helluva lot more dangerous.”

Saucy impertinence lit her face. “It’s a good thing Jake Cordell lives for danger.”

Shy, yet brash. Another contradiction.

“Thanks for dinner, Kit.” Jake lifted a hand in farewell,
then slipped into the cool night air. Toby greeted him with a wet tongue, but Jake enjoyed the company as he strolled to the barn where Zeus awaited him.

“Well, fellah, I almost did it this time,” he said, as he saddled his palomino. “But even I’m not low enough to bed her, then take her ranch.”

Zeus snorted and swished his tail.

Jake tightened the cinch. “Okay. Maybe I could’ve done something like that when I was younger, but not now. And sure as hell not to Kit.”

Jake led Zeus outside and swung into the saddle. He took a last lingering look at the house. Yellow light spilled out of two windows, then only one.

“Think she’s watching?” he asked in a low voice.

Zeus pawed at the ground and tossed his head.

“No one’s ever worried about me before,” Jake said thoughtfully.

Shaking aside the unfamiliar emotion, he urged Zeus out of the yard and down the long, dark road. His thoughts centered on the day, from Johnny’s skunk incident to his near-seduction of Kit. His lesson in trust had backfired. Kit’s willingness had scattered his wits and sharpened his hunger for her. Drawn to her tenderheartedness, yet not understanding her belief in him, Jake was torn. He wasn’t capable of caring for a woman like her. He belonged with saloon gals who didn’t ask for anything more than a good time in bed and a few well-earned dollars.

Then why didn’t he just relieve the frustration in his groin with one of those women?

Because he didn’t want them. He wanted Kit.

Shaking aside his disturbing thoughts, he pondered his decision to take the ranch. Imagining the adoration in Johnny’s dark eyes changing to anger and disappointment, Jake wasn’t sure he could live with that on his
conscience. He didn’t know anymore if the ranch was worth a little boy’s trust.

An idea sifted into Jake’s mind. If he married Kit, Johnny would be able to grow up in the only home he’d known. And Jake could satisfy his body’s cravings for Kit. Even though she was inexperienced, her response to his caresses told him she’d be a passionate bed partner.