Tangled Hearts (8 page)

“Yes, I want coffee.” So saying, he straightened and walked into the living room.

Brianna chanced a glance toward him as she poured the ground coffee into the filter. He added wood to the fire until it blazed. She felt the heat clear across the space. Her eyes moved to the bedroom. Was the fire in there as warm?

“I need to change the sheets,” Jake said, standing and heading for the bedroom.

With a glance at the coffeemaker, Brianna headed for the bedroom, as well. It would be several minutes before the coffee finished brewing.

“I’ll help.”

The bedroom was almost as large as the living room. The windows reflected back their images of the night. It definitely required curtains.

Brianna didn’t like feeling so exposed after all that had happened recently. The sooner he got curtains, at least for this room, the better, as far as she was concerned. Funny, before the incidents with the break-ins she hadn’t minded an open window. Would she feel more comfortable once they’d caught the man?

Together they made the large bed. The headboard held reading lamps. She hoped he had some books. The journals she'd brought weren't the kind of reading she'd like if she slipped beneath the thick pile of covers, to read for a while, before going to sleep.

“The bathroom's through there. I should have told you earlier,” Jake said, interrupting her thoughts and nodding toward the open door. “The hot water heater is propane. As you know from doing the dishes, we have plenty of hot water. You can take a bath or shower, if you wish.”

“I’ll wait until morning, if that’s okay with you.” Patting the pillow one last time, she skirted the bed and headed for the kitchen. Safety in distance right now, she thought, hoping she could resist the urge to throw herself into his arms and hold on tight until morning.

The delicious aroma of fresh coffee filled the cabin. Brianna poured their cups, added cream to hers and sugar to Jake’s. Carrying the cups carefully to the sofa, she placed them within easy reach and sat down. It was cozy before the fire.

Drowsily she settled back and gazed into the dancing flames. She always liked staring into fires, watching the different images the flames suggested.

Jake came in and dumped a pile of bedding on one of the chairs. Sitting down beside her, he reached for his cup.

“This is nice. I don’t have a fireplace in my house. That’s one thing I really regret about it,” she murmured, sipping from her cup.

“Cutting enough wood to last the winter can be a pain, but I think it’s worth it every time I come,” he said.

They sat quietly for a while, sipping coffee, watching the fire.

When Brianna finished hers, she placed the empty cup down on the floor. When she sat back up, Jake reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers, resting their linked hands on his thigh. He continued to sip his coffee silently.

Brianna leaned back on the sofa, her only anchor to reality was her touch with Jake. Idly she daydreamed. She was full, warm, happy. For the first time in a long long time, she felt totally content.

“Tell me about your house.” Jake broke the silence. “When did you buy it?”

“I bought it about eighteen months ago. As I said, I signed up for the part-time job at the air base and had enough money. I can use the tax break.”

“I used to see you riding your bike sometimes if I was near the campus,” he said lazily.

Turning her head on the back of the cushion, she looked at him. “When?” She hadn’t seen him in two years. Yet he’d seen her?

“In the spring. One time during the summer.”

“That’s one advantage of the town house, its location. I can ride my bike to the college in nice weather. Even walk if I want to. I didn’t see you.”

“Unmarked car. I thought you’d be married by now.”

Startled, she sat up and shook her head.

“Why would you think such a thing?” She pulled her hand away from his and sat on the edge of the sofa, looking at him.

Had her feelings for him been so nebulous to him that he thought she’d gone on to another man as soon as he was out of the picture? Had she seemed too intent for marriage? Was that the reason he’d pulled back?

He shrugged. “Just did.”

Brianna tried to remember if she’d ever done anything to give him the feeling she was desperate for marriage. Two years ago, she’d only been twenty-four. Granted, she'd talked a lot about some of her friends who were getting married. Surely Jake hadn’t thought she was trying to pin him down to popping the question.

Although if he’d asked her, she’d have accepted in a New York minute.

“I have no plans to marry,” she said.

He put his cup on the floor, and turned to face her.

“That’s not the way I heard it.” Even now he could feel the anger rise. Josh had been blunt and frank. Jake had known even then that Josh was right. But it still hurt.

“I might marry one day. But I have no plans at the present. No prospects. I'm building my career.” She didn’t want to talk about marriage when the only one she had ever considered marrying didn’t want her.

“You had plans two years ago,” he persisted.

Now she thought she'd die of embarrassment. How had he learned of her foolish daydreams? Had she given herself away? For weeks she had dreamed of making a life with Jake. Had he known all along?

Rising, she scooped up the two cups and headed for the kitchen. “A lot of things have changed since then. I don’t think my future plans concern you. Don’t worry that I’ll pester you once you find whoever's breaking into my place. I’ve managed fine on my own and will continue to do so.”

She stormed into the kitchen, placing the cups in the sink with exaggerated care, afraid she might turn and smash them against the wall, so great was her embarrassment and frustration.

She should have called Sandy and insisted on staying with her. She knew she was playing with fire in coming with Jake, but she hadn’t been able to resist. She hadn't expected him to bring up her foolish daydreams about marriage. She thought she had been the only one to know.

“Brie…” He followed her into the kitchen.

Glancing over her shoulder, she stepped to one side, giving him as wide a berth as she could.

“My name is Brianna. Only my family and close friends call me Brie,” she lashed out, hurt and humiliated.

“Friends is what I thought we were. Until…”

Until you wanted more.
If he had shouted the words, she could not have heard them more plainly.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed. I’ll be finished in the bathroom in a few minutes if you want to use it then,” she said stiffly, heading for the bedroom.

She went straight into the bathroom, gritting her teeth to keep from crying. Be careful what you asked for, she repeated silently. You might get it and have it totally backfire. She couldn't wait to leave and return home—even if some crook was trying to break into her house. At the moment it seemed a better solution than staying here.

Jake leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes still on the closed bedroom door. What had happened? Obviously she was still hurting from the man who had deserted her.

He smiled mirthlessly. Hadn’t her brother Josh been able to salvage the relationship once Jake had stepped out of the picture? That must have been frustrating for Josh. Josh had nothing on him in the frustration department!

She was as pretty as he remembered, maybe even prettier. He loved listening to her voice. How many nights had he laid in bed thinking about her? Even now, two years later, if he let himself, he'd storm in there and demand they try again.

Except, it wouldn't work any more now than before.

He turned and clicked off the lights. Sprawling out on the sofa, he watched the fire as it dwindled. He'd add some logs to last through the night before he went to sleep. But for now he listened to the quiet sounds from the bedroom and wished things had been different.

By the time Brianna was ready to face Jake the next morning, she had herself firmly in hand. She hadn't slept well, but that was becoming a habit since she’d started seeing Jake again. Trying to live down her behavior of the previous day would prove a challenge. She decided as soon as she awoke that she wouldn't let herself forget for a single moment that she was here only because the police thought it safer than staying home.

There would be no more tossing a towel around Jake’s neck and pulling his face down for a kiss. No more suggestive remarks leading to comments about her fingers being sweet as sugar. If he wanted coffee, he could get it himself. She'd focus on the real reason for her presence in his house and behave accordingly.

Brianna believed all the admonitions she’d given herself until she walked into the kitchen and saw Jake. Instantly, every thought flew from her head.

He wore only jeans.

She swallowed hard.

It wasn’t fair. She'd had the best intentions in the world when she left the bedroom, but that was before she saw all that expanse of bare skin. His shoulders had always been broad. They gleamed, muscular and enticing, in the early sunlight that shone through the uncovered windows. The light dusting of dark hair on his chest looked silky. She longed to brush her fingers through it to ascertain exactly how soft it really was. The sleek muscles in his back bunched and flexed beneath his taut skin as he scooped coffee into the filter, stretched to fill the carafe with water.

She swallowed hard again, her eyes tracing over every mouth-watering inch, her fingertips tingling, heat rising.

“Aren’t you cold?” she asked abruptly.

He needed to put on a shirt before she lost what tenuous control she held. When he turned, she knew she was done for.

He was gorgeous in the only way a perfect man can be. His hair was tousled, sexy as could be. His cheeks and chin bristled with day-old beard.

When had she developed this longing to rub against that stubborn jaw, to feel the scratchiness that covered the hard cheekbones? Such a compelling urge proved almost impossible to resist. She actually took a step closer before she caught herself.

“I’m not cold. I thought the fire had warmed the place up,” he returned. “Are you cold?”

She was hotter than billy blue blazes, but it had nothing to do with the fire in the fireplace. The blame could be squarely laid at his feet. She glanced down. Even his feet were bare.

Closing her eyes, Brianna took a deep breath. Opening them again, she forced her gaze to meet his. Ignoring the tempting expanse of male flesh only a few feet away was nothing short of miraculous. She was proud of herself.

“I’m not hot, but I am wearing more clothes than you.” Blast! She had not meant for her voice to crack.

He looked at her oddly. “I was waiting my turn in the bathroom. I’ll take a quick shower. There’s not much for breakfast. Oatmeal, maybe?”

“That’s fine.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, why?” She couldn’t breathe. How long could a person live without breathing?

“You look as if you’re in a trance or something.”

“I’m just looking you in the eye.”

He frowned.

Sighing in defeat, Brianna let her gaze roam over the decidedly masculine body that stood before her. Slowly she licked her lips and stepped closer.

“You know, Jake, you probably should go get that shower now,” she said, reaching out to touch his biceps. His skin was warm and taut. Lightly she skimmed her fingertip down his arm, feeling its silky texture change to the light roughness where darker hair covered his forearm.

“Yeah.” But he didn’t move. Then he did. Only to step closer, draw her up against that wide, enticing chest and lower his mouth to hers.

His scratchy beard abraded her softer cheeks, but she didn’t care. She welcomed him, reaching for him. Her heart rate increased a hundredfold.

Brianna encircled his shoulders, her fingers, palms, arms, rubbing against the bare flesh that tantalized her so. Relishing in the sensations, she wanted the embrace to never end.

His mouth made love to hers as never before. He demanded and offered, took and returned. His hands cupped her head, holding her where he wanted her as he sipped from her lips, plunged again and again into the sweetness that waited for him.

When he lifted his head, Brianna wanted to rush outside and plunge into the nearest snow bank to cool the blazing heat that threatened to consume her. Her lips were warm—the air cooled them. Her body was hot—nothing cooled it. Locking her gaze with his, she refused to release him. Her arms had a mind of their own.

“I’ve got to take a shower,” he said, his hands brushing through her soft hair. His eyes were distracted as he watched the silken locks drift over and over between his fingers as he continued to comb through.

“I’ll make breakfast.”

He smiled down at her, his eyes dark and shadowy. Nodding slowly, he lowered his head again. This time the kisses were feathery light. Just a touch of his lips against hers. Not nearly enough to assuage the burning need that threatened to overwhelm her.

Brianna stood on tiptoes to increase contact. He smiled against her, his lips moving over hers, yet denying her the full satisfaction she sought.

Remembering too late her own admonitions of only a few minutes ago, she pulled away. Clearing her throat, she tried for a reasonable tone. Shimmering waves of excitement tingled through her. Reasonable was not at all how she felt.

“Go.” She stepped around him and stared at the coffee, trying to drag her raging emotions under some semblance of control. She'd never make it through the weekend if she didn’t maintain some decorum.

Though who wanted decorum when they could have Jake served up practically naked first thing in the morning?

It was like playing house, she decided a little later as the sound of the shower ended.

They had never even spent the night together before this weekend. Now they were living together. Not in the full sense of the word, but close enough to know how it would be.

And as far as she was concerned, it would be great. They got along. They had some interests in common, and some different. But in the past, and during the last two days, they'd spent endless hours together without any cross words. And she had never been bored around him.