Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (15 page)

She should end it, a little voice echoed.
Here and now, before it went any further. But a longing as old as
time quivered through her, making her head spin, her heart pound.
It felt natural somehow, being in this cowboy's arms. As though she
might belong there. The thought that he cared what happened to her
made her heart swell. But her mind must be deluding her if she
thought he could care this quickly, this deeply for her. It was too
soon for real feelings, Emma cautioned her heart. After all, it had
taken years to come to love Charlie. Love him? Had she ever loved
Charlie?

As Deke's kiss deepened a sweet tinge of
longing from deep within took control. A strange heat flushed over
her. Her breast tightened against his chest. Her head fell back
against his arms and his lips began to mingle against the softened
flesh of her cheek, her neck, her ear. Goosebumps! The goosebumps
sent tremors of delight swirling through her.

His lips tingled against hers once more like
a feather. His big hands moved all along her back, burning a trail
of fire within her, making her dress swish in the night air.

He was the good cowboy in the white hat who
had ridden up to protect her, and she was the helpless maiden in
distress. He made her swoon. He made her senseless. He made her
long for something she knew she could not have.

Groaning aloud he crushed her into his
embrace with announced urgency. Her lips were no longer bashful.
She kissed him on his lower lip, his jaw, his eyelids, the tip of
his nose, and back to the liquid warmth of his mating tongue. She
needed to meld, to mesh with this big wonderful man.

It would probably never happen again, her
mind reminded her, and she wasn't going to miss a moment of the
pleasure. When he pulled away, she saw the longing in his brilliant
eyes. She'd never seen that look before in a man's eyes. Not for
her! Oh she'd read about it, dreamed about it, but never witnessed
it. It gave her a heady, powerful feeling. To have a man want her
was a new experience, to want him back even newer.

What was it about Deke Travers that made her
heart pop, and sing, and bounce against her chest like a ping pong
ball gone haywire? She was the cook for heaven's sake, and he was
the boss, but none of that mattered as he guided her into a world
of feelings and emotions, unexplored before.

"I have no right, Emma. But you taste so
sweet, look so beautiful, smell so wonderful." Was that what this
was, the senses overloading? Yes,–it had to be.

He pulled her slowly, unerringly back into
the circle of his arms, gently cradling her. His lips grazed softly
against her ear lobe and his warm breath fanned her.

"Oh Deke," she cried as her lips met his once
more finding a strange and wonderful fulfillment there. Maybe
that's all it was, but for a little while she was going to enjoy
it.

Lost and mindless, they were heedless of
approaching footsteps and when Jake rounded the truck, he cleared
his throat and began an apology that was only half heard, half
appreciated.

"Sor–ry Deke." Jake started backing his
tracks.

Deke pulled away first, leaving Emma shaken.
He couldn't possibly know that she could barely stand alone.
Couldn't know the helplessness of new awareness surrounding her.
Perhaps he thought she'd done this many times. At twenty four she
should have been pretty experienced in necking with a man, but she
felt inexperienced. Charlie's kisses never affected this way. No
man's had.

Emma managed to open her eyes somehow, and
her glance landed on Deke's chest. The quick rise and fall of his
chest warned her that Deke's reactions met her own. But his
expression was unreadable.

She remembered something Frank had told her
once. "A man can want a woman whether it's advisable or not. Just
remember that. You have all the controls."

Drifting slowly back to earth, Emma let the
truck support her, for she knew she couldn't stand on her own. She
wanted to bask in this new and wonderful feeling, to absorb it, and
cherish it and remember it always.

She wouldn't make more of it than it was, but
she'd always remember it.

"Something wrong Jake?" Deke asked his voice
barely belying his control.

"Uh-well, yeah, you were right about the
water," Jake said, his eyes going first over his brother, then
Emma. "I thought I'd better tell you, I've already spoken with the
authorities, they'll be out tomorrow."

"Damn, that's not good. Have you tested any
of the other springs?"

"No, didn't have time."

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us
on this one."

"Yeah, looks like." Jake glanced at Emma
again. It was obvious Jake wasn't comfortable with his intrusion
and needed to escape.

"Well hell brother, don't let me interrupt
your evening. There's nothing we can do tonight. Sorry Emma."

Emma mustered her control, willed her legs to
move and began to walk past them to the house. "Nonsense, it was a
lovely evening, thanks Deke."

Jake nodded to his brother and began moving
off.

"Emma, I'll see you to the house. You need to
get some rest. If you need anything just let us know," Deke was
saying, his eyes darting questioningly to her as his hand glided
about her gently. Deke seemed as honestly confused about kissing
her as she did. As though it took him by storm too.

"Something wrong, Emma. Didn't you have a
good time at the dance?" Jake asked from the distance.

"No–no everything is fine, Jake. It was a
lovely dance," Emma managed to say not daring to meet Deke or
Jake's glance.

"Yeah, only she managed to get between me and
a bad mannered guest." Deke affirmed.

As Deke retold the story quickly, Emma moved
away from his warm arms putting distance between them. She needed
to get her head on straight again. What had she been thinking?
Kissing the boss so shamelessly. After all, it had merely been a
dance, and he had been a perfect gentleman. There was no need to
exaggerate her importance to this man. He had kissed her goodnight,
and sweet as it had been, she needed to put it away from her. Gain
some distance.

"I wonder how long it will be before they
bring Sammie Jo home?" Emma asked as Deke joined her on the
porch.

Deke stopped, his eyes going over her
thoroughly. "Don't you fret about that. You just get some rest.
I'll see to Sammie Jo, tonight. I'll put the playpen in my room.
You may need a doctor. If you want I'll have a look at those ribs,
later. If they need setting we'll call the doc out. You let me
know. You just turn in now, Emma."

"Oh that won't be necessary. I'll be fine. He
really just knocked the wind out of me. And Sammie Jo is my
responsibility."

Jake shook his head. "No use arguing with the
man Emma. When he decides he's taking over, he just does." He
quickly disappeared around the back of the house.

"Are you sure?" Emma gaze held question.

"I'm sure." Deke's eyes finally connected
with hers and there was no question he still wanted her as much as
he had a few moments ago. Emma flushed. Perhaps he was right. The
way she was feeling she needed to sort her thoughts and feelings
and get away from this powerful man.

"All right, maybe your right. But I think
I'll have a nice soak in the tub if you don't mind. And Deke–"

"Yeah," Deke stared at her.

"I had a nice time, thanks."

"Goodnight Emma." A ring of frustration seem
to haunt his voice and Emma wished she could erase that frown from
his handsome face once more

***

As Emma prepared for her bath she heard Deke
and Jake talking in the living room. She should be scolding herself
for acting so wantonly with the boss man but the feelings surging
through her had nothing to do with guilt. Besides, it was just a
kiss. Yet, he'd awakened a part of her that needed awakening. It
was long overdue. She couldn't be ashamed of that, it was only
natural. But of course falling for the boss man would be a mistake,
she quickly realized. Deke had enough problems, and she certainly
wouldn't complicate them for him. She'd take his kiss in stride and
remember it always, even though she knew forgetting her own
feelings would take some time. It always did with women, Kate had
once told her. God, she had to forget somehow. He'd been a regular
John Wayne tonight. And she loved John Wayne.

It was an hour or so later, Emma had been
drifting off to sleep in the tub when she heard everyone come in
and voices up and down the hallway. Quickly she pulled the plug and
stepped out of the cool tub.

Her heart fluttered wildly at the sound of
Deke's deep voice. Honestly, she was reacting like some silly
schoolgirl. So Deke had kissed her. No need to make anything of it.
He had taken her to a dance. He had kissed her goodnight. She was
the one making a fool of herself, letting it go to her head.

She heard Rusty and Jennifer laughing and
talking to Sammie Jo. She heard the baby giggle and bubble. A sad
thought hit her. Sammie Jo seemed so happy here. What would happen
when they had to leave? Because they would have to leave
eventually.

Minutes later it grew quiet again. She'd
heard the front door slam, heard Cal's bedroom door close, and
Deke's boots crunching against the floor all the way down the
hall.

She remembered his arms around her and her
heart fluttered wildly. She scoffed at herself.

Drying and dressing in her terry robe, she
crept down the hallway on tiptoe. It was dark and the only thing
lighting her way was a light from Deke's doorway.

She hadn't heard a whimper out of Sammie Jo
since everyone retired. Obviously Sammie Jo had quite a night of
it.

She saw the door to Deke's bedroom ajar. She
heard his voice, soft and lulling, and felt drawn by it. But he
wasn't alone, she soon realized as she tiptoed up to the door.
Sammie Jo was with him. And Deke was talking to her as though she
understood every word. He pulled out an old book from a drawer and
settled them both back into the rocking chair.

Then he began reading to Sammie Jo. He paused
and glanced down at her. "This is the same story my Mama used to
read to me every night. I remember it so well, I almost don't have
to read it."

A story about some pig with a curly tail.
Emma's heart gave a lurch.

She never imagined a big, busy cowboy like
Deke Travers sitting in a rocking chair holding a baby, reading a
story, and sounding as though he enjoyed every moment of it.

"What? You don't think I had a Mama?" He
slanted the baby a weird expression. "Well I did. And she was
almost as pretty as yours."

Emma's heart lurched again. What a strange
and wonderful combination this man was. The kind of combination a
woman could get her heart tangled up with. But of course not hers.
No, she wasn't here for a man. She wasn't looking for a
husband.

Still it didn't stop her lingering gaze. She
silently feasted on him and Sammie Jo.

"You've had yourself quite a night, haven't
you young lady. I remember my first dance. I hated it. Some little
gal kept stepping on my toes and I hated it," he was saying.

Oh Lord, she'd stepped on his toes a million
times tonight it seemed. Perhaps after all, he was just being kind
to her and Sammie Jo.

Sammie Jo smiled at Deke, and laid her head
against his flat, half-naked chest. His shirt was unsnapped, as
though he were in the process of getting ready for bed. Emma's
breath stopped when she realized she was staring through the
doorway at her boss. Something slithered through her body jolting
her awareness. Guilty as charged, she kept on staring. Her hungry
eyes traveled the length of him lazily. After all, he'd never know
she was there and this way she could gaze till her heart's desire
and no one would be the wiser. She'd never thought of men as
beautiful, but Deke's body was so long, and lean and all man, it
took her breath away. He wasn't Mr. Universe, but every piece of
flesh was hard, sinewed man. She envied Sammie Jo cuddling against
him.

She had to force herself to go to her room,
and forget the entire evening, if she could. She was nearly at her
door when she heard the sweetest of music coming from Deke's
room.

Her head twisted in that direction again. She
shouldn't, she really shouldn't, but the music was lovely, and her
curiosity was unleashed.

It sounded like a–harmonica. How she loved
music. Her brother had played the guitar. She'd enjoyed the live
band at the dance, but this was such a sweet and lovely sound it
drew her.

Emma edged towards Deke's doorway for a
second time. It was a harmonica, she smiled as she peered through
the half closed door. And Deke was playing it. A lovely ballad.

Emma's breath caught in her throat when she
spotted Sammie Jo half asleep, snuggling against him, as he played,
"When Irish eyes are Smiling".

"So, did you have a goodtime at the dance,
sweetheart?" Deke was asking as he finished the tune and looked
down at the baby, his hand smoothing the hair from the sweet little
face that was nearly asleep.

Sammie Jo sighed.

Deke chuckled softly, "God, you are a sweet
little thing. No wonder Dad is so taken with you. You're like a
real medicine for him. Just what the doctor ordered. You're going
to be a man-killer when you grow up. How could a man leave such a
beautiful little thing like you, I wonder. He couldn't begin to
imagine how lucky he could have been."

Sammie Jo slept so soundly Emma knew she was
down for the night. She watched as Deke lowered her into the
playpen, and spread a blanket over her. Then he leaned the distance
over the crib and kissed Sammie Jo on the forehead. "Goodnight
Sweet Pea."

Any thoughts of Deke not being able to handle
Sammie Jo for the night disappeared as Emma crept back to her
bedroom. She knew sleep was going to evade her though. Too many
things had happened to get a good night's sleep.