Saved by the Rancher (16 page)

“You’ve earned it. And if you pull this off, you’ll make me, and a few others, very happy.”

“Okay, send the email. It’s getting late in the day and whatever you want done might take some time.”

“Give me five minutes.”

She hung up with Ben. Still in Jack’s arms, he’d watched and listened to her every word.

“What’s all that about? What kind of business do you have with Ben?”

“Just some personal things I asked him to take care of for me.”

“What things?”

“A few surprises for tomorrow, that’s all. How about we ask Summer, Lily, and Caleb over for dinner tomorrow night after the girls and I get back from shopping? Would that be all right? I know it’s your house and all, but I’d like to spend the evening with everyone. It’s time we had that talk. Since they’re involved with me, with you, I want to make sure they know about my past. I need to warn them. Well, all of you.”

“Dinner’s fine. I’ll have Beth whip something up. Caleb and I can barbeque. I’ve been waiting for this talk. Are you going to tell me who your ex is?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll tell you everything. I need to send Ben an email. Will I see you soon?”

“I have some work. I’ll be up for dinner, then maybe we’ll crash on the couch and catch a movie.”

“That sounds like heaven.”

“Jenna, the house may be mine, but I want you to feel at home. And I don’t mean with you in the guest room.” He pulled her hips snuggly between his legs and let her feel exactly what he meant.

“I got the hint.” She put her hand to his face. “We’ll get there. With everything that’s happened—”

Jack laid his finger over her lips to silence her. “Let’s stick with, ‘We’ll get there.’” She nodded and kissed his finger, making his eyes narrow and smolder. “I’ll see you at dinner.” He set her away gently and softly slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. He clasped her hands in his and just held them for a moment while he studied her upturned face. He didn’t want to let her go, but knew he had to in order to get anything done.

“Go. You’re distracting me.”

Jenna withdrew reluctantly and went back to the house and sent the email off to Ben and took care of her last customer. She finished her design work before the incident had put her on the run, but she hadn’t sent off the finished product to her client. She emailed everything to them, including her hefty bill. She spent some time pouring over her other emails and checking inquiries for new business. Might be a good time to take a break. After all, being your own boss had its advantages, and she didn’t need the money.

Chapter Twenty-Four

J
ENNA AND
J
ACK
had a cozy dinner in the Great Room next to the fire. They watched a couple of movies curled up together on the couch. Jack sat in the corner, his feet propped on the coffee table, with Jenna resting her head on his leg to keep off her thigh and back. He stroked his fingers through her hair and even held her hand. They watched movies like they had done it every night of their lives, content just being in each other’s company.

He saw her to her door and kissed her goodnight like the end of a date. Sally curled up on the bed waiting for her. Jack glared at Sally and grumbled, “Lucky dog,” before leaving her with a mumbled goodnight. As she got ready for bed, she listened to Jack moving around his rooms, taking a shower before he settled into his bed. The quiet enveloped the house and night, but didn’t bring her any comfort.

Restless and plagued by nightmares, she woke from the last dream, sweating, a thunderstorm disrupting the quiet night. Wind and rain battered the roof and windows. The noise and swirling shadows frightened her. Her mind conjured her ex lurking in the murky corners and every creak was his footsteps, him sneaking up on her. Usually she’d have gotten up, told the little girl inside her to suck it up, lost herself in work at her laptop or in a book, and waited desperately for the sun to rise. Tonight, she thought of Jack—gentle, kind, safe, and good—only a room away.

She went back and forth in her mind, trying to decide how much she should allow herself to rely on him. In the end, she talked herself into the indulgence. Feeling stupid for letting her imagination get the better of her, she mustered her courage and climbed out of bed. Sally right behind her, she made her way to Jack’s room. The door stood open a crack, and Jack’s soft breathing pulled her forward. She snuck in. Sally jumped on the bed and lay at Jack’s feet. Jack didn’t stir, giving Jenna courage to climb up on the empty side of the bed and curl up next to him on top of the blankets. A clap of thunder made her jump, but the soft sound of Jack’s breathing relaxed her. She watched him sleep, comforted just having him near. Drowsy, the rain subsiding outside the windows, she slept.

Jack woke up, barely, when the alarm radio went off at six. He didn’t open his eyes, but lay still, slowly coming awake to the Eagles’
Hotel California
. His awareness stretched. Sally must have come in during the night and curled up in her usual spot at his feet. Recognition bloomed again, and he turned to the now familiar pull of the woman curled up next to him, burrowed in at his rib cage. Not even covered with a blanket, wearing nothing but the t-shirt he’d given her last night, goose bumps broke out on her bare arms and legs. He stroked her hair away from her cheek with his fingertip. Touching her silky skin was quickly becoming an addiction.

Hands pressed under her chin, she lay curled in a tight ball, trying to stay warm. Without jarring or hurting her injuries, he drew the blankets out from under her and settled her under the covers with him.

He nuzzled his nose into her neck and hair at her ear and whispered, “Jenna, honey. Wake up.”

“Uh, uh.”

“Wake up, honey, you’re freezing.”

“I had a bad dream, the storm woke me, and I snuck in here in the middle of the night.” Her voice groggy with sleep, she wiggled and snuggled closer to him. He held her close and let his body heat seep into her.

“Why didn’t you get under the covers?”

“Because I didn’t know if you’d mind.”

“Mind having a beautiful woman sneak into my bed. I thought we discussed this, I’m not crazy or stupid,” he said on a laugh. The tension in her built, but he hoped his light tone settled her nerves. Relieved, she stirred awake and settled her head on his chest, draped an arm across him, and threw her bandaged leg over his thigh and between his legs. Every part of her cool skin pressed to his warm body. She snuggled closer, eliminating any space left between them, and he held her close. Content, he settled into the moment and her and the undeniable connection between them.

“You’re naked.”

“You’re overdressed,” he teased.

“We have to get up.”

“I already am.” He tried to keep things light and make her laugh despite his rising ardor.

“The messenger is coming with my papers. Caleb, Summer, and Lily will arrive soon, so we can go shopping. You have a surprise today.”

“I’d say the nicest surprise is waking up with you in my bed. Though it would have been better if you woke me in the night.” He kissed her on the head and held her close, loving the feel of her body pressed down the length of his. He inhaled her flowery scent and thought this is where she belonged.

“We’ll have plenty of time for that later. Behave yourself. Now, don’t you want to kiss me good morning?”

“You just said to behave.” He kissed her anyway. Long and slow. Their lips met again and again. Warm, sweet, soft, she responded to every caress of his lips to hers. Drugged beyond reason, Jack’s endurance snapped and he took her mouth in a demanding sweep of his tongue, branding her as his.

Opening her mouth to accept his invasion, Jenna relished every taste and kiss. He rolled toward her and pressed her into the mattress. His erection pressed against her belly, her nerves tingled with awareness and apprehension. She hadn’t had sex in a long time and Jack was a big man, in every way.

The heat between them built. Jack cupped her breast and kissed his way down her neck. He pulled up her shirt and his thumb made slow circles over her aching breast, finding his way to her taught nipple. His rough palm against her sensitive skin made her breasts grow heavy. Jack groaned with pleasure and she arched into his touch, responding to the heat and need rolling off him and sweeping her away. Her heart beat so fast, her head spun. His weight settled into her, pressing her into the mattress, trapping her. Unwarranted fear raced through her mind, stealing away the pleasure of the moment. She pressed her palms to Jack’s chest and gave a half-hearted push. A voice inside yelled pull him back. Fear won out, and she hated her ex for doing this to her, taking one more thing from her.

“Jack, stop. Stop.”

Jack pulled back, pressed up onto his hands, and shook off his blinding desire. “Are you okay?”

“It’s just that, um, I haven’t done this in an extremely long time, and we have to get up, and you’re making me really nervous, and I don’t think I’m ready for this,” she rambled on.

He tried to lighten things without moving from where he needed to be. The thick head of his cock pressed to her entrance. He shifted and pressed harder. Her thin panties adding to the friction of the caress. Her eyes went soft and drooped closed as she sighed.

“You’re not ready yet, but give me a few minutes and you will be,” he said, his voice husky with pent-up desire. He buried his face in her neck and kissed a trail to the soft spot behind her ear. God, she tasted better than she smelled.

She gave out a giggle. “Jack, I’m serious. Get up. People are coming over.”

“You’re killing me, you know that.” He rose above her on his hands, the lower half of his body keeping her trapped. He narrowed his eyes, deadly serious, he said, “We will finish this later.”

“We will,” she assured him, cupping his beard-roughened jaw in her hand to soothe him. As always, he leaned into her touch. “Seriously, I haven’t been with anyone since, well, a long time. I’d like us to take our time. Learn how to enjoy each other. You’re, uh, a really big guy, and you’re scaring me a little bit,” she admitted.

The last thing he wanted to do was make her pull away. Then he thought about what she was telling him. She hadn’t been with anyone since her ex. Jack couldn’t believe a beautiful, wonderful woman like Jenna hadn’t been with another man in so long. It amazed him she’d chosen him. His size and strength had frightened her more than once already. As much as he wanted her, he wanted to take his time. He didn’t want her nervous, or anxious, the first time they made love. As much as it hurt, and he was hurting, he’d wait and know she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Next time, he’d make sure she didn’t feel anything but pure pleasure, no nerves, no fear.

“We’ll wait until the timing’s better. About the other, I’d never hurt you, Jenna. Never.”

“Thank you for understanding. It means the world to me you’re willing to give me the time and courtesy I need right now.”

He could seduce her. She wanted to be seduced. That much he knew for sure. Making love was a natural expression of what they were feeling for each other. Each passing hour the need they shared grew between them until it was palpable. With the amount of heat between them, it was only a matter of time before they came together in a blaze. Right now, he had to put her needs above his own.

He let loose the pent-up groan in the back of his throat and settled beside her, missing the feel of her skin against his. He allowed her time to get up first and head back to her room to shower. He didn’t want to make her any more nervous by getting out of bed naked and aroused. His t-shirt looked great on her, the hem skimming the middle of her thighs, teasing his senses, heating his blood even more. He’d like to spend the rest of his life waking up with her in his arms and her wearing his clothes. Actually, nothing at all. He’d be thinking about her firm round breasts, her supple body, and long legs wrapped around him for the rest of the day.

He showered, shaved, and dressed before Jenna came walking down the hall wearing nothing but a towel.

“See, I knew you couldn’t hold out. Come here, darlin’.” He held out his hand to her.

She swatted it away. “Very funny. I need you to put medicine on the cuts on my back.”

“Now see, you’re just no fun.”

“Come on, baby, play doctor with me,” she said with a throaty, whiskey smooth voice that could have seduced any man. It worked. She seductively brushed the hair back from her face and lowered her lashes demurely. He lost his breath.

“Definitely killing me.” He barely got the words out after she spoke to him with that voice.

“Yeah, well, I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Promise?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Easy enough for her to tease and play with words. The way she held herself ready to bolt at any sudden move he made toward her and the tinge of embarrassment pinking her cheeks as she stood before him in nothing but a towel told him just how uneasy and nervous he made her. The last thing he wanted her to feel when they made love the first time was hesitant. More, he needed her to feel safe enough to let her guard down and be herself, knowing he wasn’t a threat in any way.

With that in mind, he tamped down the sexual energy radiating off him and put the medicine on her back. The cuts were almost healed thanks to the ointment, and most of the redness had disappeared or turned to bruises. The stitches looked good, they’d need another five days before he could take them out. In all, he couldn’t believe how fast she was healing.

As he finished his task, the house exploded with activity. Caleb, Summer, and Lily arrived through the kitchen and someone rang the doorbell.

“I’ll answer the front door while you get dressed.” He kissed her on the forehead and headed downstairs.

“Jenna,” he called back up. “It’s the messenger.” He escorted the man to the dining room table and headed for the kitchen to see his family.

E
VERYONE WALKED OUT
of the kitchen as Jenna finished signing the last of the papers. She handed them to the messenger, who assured her they would be delivered to Ben the next morning. He handed her several marked envelopes containing all her copies and left.