Jesse (16 page)

***

When she walked back into the kitchen, his eyes swept from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and he reached for her. “You are so beautiful, Danielle,” he rasped, moving to stand beside her. “When I walked in and saw you standing there—my head went light and my knees went weak.”

Fighting the emotions bubbling up inside of her, she struggled not to be moved by his words. “This is hard for me,” she confessed. “You're the first man to tempt me in a really long time,” she whispered. “I can't seem to help myself when you look at me like that.”

His eyes glazed over and deepened to dark chocolate. “Darlin', you knocked me flat the first time I saw you. I don't mean to push you, but seeing you standing here, all peaches and cream with your tawny blonde hair tumbling free, gets to me. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to stand here and keep my hands off you, when I want so badly to slide them across your shoulders and around to your back, so I can draw you closer to me? I want to feel your curves against me to see if we fit as good together front to front.”

His eyes darkened with unquenched desire. “I already know how perfectly we fit back to front.” The deep rumbling of his voice untied invisible knots that had bound her since the moment she realized her husband wasn't ever coming back.

Could she take a chance?
Yes.

Was it the smart thing to do?
Hell
no!

Did she care?

Tamping down her inner conscience, taking a chance to feel alive again, not knowing how long it would last, she met his gaze and took a step toward him. “It's been a long time… I don't know where to start.”

“I can help with that.” He yanked on her arm and she tumbled against him.

***

Her mouth rounded in a perfect little O that he just had to trace with the tip of his tongue.

The shocked sound she made stroked his ego, so he slid his arms lower, bringing her hips flat against him. Need for this woman nearly swallowed him whole. “Kiss me back, Dani.”

He would later swear he heard the sound of something snapping as her hands stole around his neck and she lifted her lips to his. Sweet but savory, tender yet firm, her mouth destroyed him as her tentative exploration flared into a full-bodied, mind-blowing, hellacious kiss.

He didn't remember backing her into the counter or lifting her up, but he reveled in the feel of his hands on the silky fabric and then—oh God—the supple length of her thighs. She tensed, but he soothed. She opened her mouth to speak, and he took full advantage and tangled her tongue with his.

Her moans of pleasure fueled his need to touch, to taste, to take… but he didn't want to scare her off, so he dug deep for control. Instead of gobbling her whole, he brushed the tips of his fingers from her knee to her curvy little backside, and he just had to dig his fingers in to hang on, because once he had her in his hands, his mind blanked of all but one thought—Danielle naked in his bed… He strained against his zipper. Need to be inside of her was tearing a hole in his gut.

The woman in his arms was incandescent, burning with a purity of spirit that added fuel to the sensual fire they'd lit. He had to have more… he had to have it all. “Danielle, come upstairs with me.”

She tilted her head back and smiled up at him—all the answer he needed. He swept her into his arms and strode through the kitchen toward the stairs.
Now!
was all he could think.

He took the stairs two at a time and strode down the hallway. His door was partially open; he put his shoulder to it with enough force to have it swing open and then bang shut behind him.

If he didn't slow down, he wouldn't last five minutes. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. When he opened them, she was watching him, her eyes no longer soft blue but a deep sapphire. He recognized the passion simmering in the depths of her gaze.

“I've been wanting to get my hands on you for days. I can't wait.”

Her lips lifted in a half smile. “Then don't.” She whispered kisses along his jaw and worked her way to the tendon in his neck. He sucked in a breath and knelt on the bed and placed her in the middle before his legs gave out.

He slipped the straps off her shoulders and pressed his lips where the silky strands had been. She shifted beneath him, softening beneath his touch. When her hips lifted toward him, he stared down at her, mesmerized by her beauty.

She grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him on top of her. “In a hurry?” he rumbled.

“How long do you think we have?” she rasped, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.

He eased back and yanked on his shirt; buttons pinged against the walls as the worn fabric gave. She worked his belt free and had him in her hands before the remnants of his shirt drifted to the floor.

“God, Danielle.” Her hands were magic. The air sucked out of his lungs as her fingers wrapped tight around him.

“I want you,” she rasped, helping him shimmy out of his jeans, but they got stuck on his boots. “I can't wait,” she whimpered, kissing his chest and licking a path from his breastbone to his navel.

“Drawer,” he ground out, shifting so he could pull his boots off. When she stared at him, he grit his teeth and said, “Condom.”

The dazed expression in her eyes changed to determination as she opened the drawer and pulled out a foil packet. Before he could take it from her, she had it open and was slipping it over him from tip to base. The erotic slide of cool latex over his engorged flesh nearly pushed him over the edge, but he pulled back, refusing to come before she did.

***

Danielle didn't think; she simply shifted on the bed, grabbed him by his amazingly taut backside, and lifted her hips. He balked, and for a moment, she thought he'd changed his mind until he rasped, “I'll take the lead now, Dani darlin'.”

She wanted to tell him that it didn't matter, but his lips found hers and his kiss had every last thought evaporating.

His hands swept the gown up and over her head a heartbeat before his mouth latched onto her left breast and he destroyed her with lips and tongue. Aroused to the point of pain, she grabbed his hair and tried to make him stop, but he only paused long enough to grin up at her and latch onto her other breast.

Her eyes rolled back in her head as her orgasm ripped through her.

“Dani?”

She somehow found the strength to open her eyes; when she did, he was smiling down at her.

“Hang on, darlin',” he warned, a heartbeat before gripping her hips and filling her to the hilt.

Her breath snagged in her chest as he drew back and thrust home again. But this time she was ready for him, meeting him thrust for thrust. Her hands stroked his back, his shoulders, his amazing backside, all the while whispering words of encouragement.

***

His head was going to explode. He drove into Danielle with a mindless determination to drive her up and over the edge. Desperate to hear her sweet cry of release as he wrung yet another orgasm from her delectable body, he braced one hand beside her head and slid the other beneath her sweet little backside. He lifted her up off the bed and drove home.

He felt her muscles tighten around him as she came undone in his arms. Reveling in the madness that still held him by the throat, he followed her up and over the edge into oblivion.

***

“Can we do that again?”

Jesse propped himself up on his elbow, stared down at the rapt expression on Danielle's face, and stifled a chuckle. “Well now, darlin',” he drawled. “I think we'll have to fit some time into our busy schedules, because there is no way in hell I'm gonna wait another few days to make love to you.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. He pressed his lips to the middle of her forehead. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but wasn't sure he could put what was in his heart into words. One thing he could do was to let her know she mattered.

“Danielle,” he rasped. “I want more… not just this,” he said, brushing the tips of his fingers along the line of her collarbone, following the path with his lips. “But you, being here at the Circle G.”

She cupped his cheek in her hand and lifted her lips to his. “It's not just me—”

“I know,” he interrupted. “I want Lacy here too. I don't know how to work it out just yet so your uncle doesn't come after me with a shotgun, but there's no going back now that I've tasted paradise.”

Her cheeks flushed a lovely pink. Enchanted, he hugged her close and knew he'd have to let her go now, so that she and Lacy could come back. “We'd better get dressed before someone comes looking for us.”

***

“What'll everyone think?” she said as she slipped the periwinkle gown over her head. Smoothing it into place, she scooted off the bed and started to wring her hands.

“What happened to the woman who wanted to know if we could make love again?” He pulled her into his arms and waited for her to answer him.

She laid her head against his broad chest and sighed. She could get used to having someone strong and solid to lean on… making love with Jesse was definitely going to be a plus. But how would they explain things to her daughter?

“I'm still here, just confused. I don't know how I'll explain things to Lacy if we were to get involved.”

“Darlin',” he drawled, “I'd say we are beyond involved. Committed's the word I'd use.”

He was frowning down at her and she really loved that about him. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Definitely a plus. “What will your brothers say?”

“To you and in front of Lacy?” He shrugged. “Nothing. We weren't raised in a barn, despite the fact that we spent a good part of our childhood in one. Did you and your ex talk to Lacy about your sex life?”

Shocked to the core, she gasped. “Of course not.”

“Then why would you have to explain ours to her?”

A tingle of awareness shot from her core to her heart. “Ours?”

Yanking her close, he grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. “Are you listening?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good, because I'm only saying this once more. We aren't done here, Dani; we're just beginning. You got that?” he demanded, setting her free.

“Yes, sir,” she giggled watching him bend over to grab his jeans off the floor.

“You think this is funny?” he asked as he pulled them on and bent back down to find his boots.

“Uh, no,” she said softly, as love for this man filled her heart to bursting and overflowed.

“This is going to work,” he said as he stood up.

She threw her arms around him and sighed. “Work is a four-letter word you know.”

“Come on,” he said, pulling her along behind him. “Let's go find your clothes. I'm not sure I want my brothers seeing what I'm seeing right now.”

“Jealous?” she asked, reveling in the possibility of having someone care enough to be jealous.

His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. “I don't share,” he grumbled.

Her head felt light as she told him, “I don't either.”

He took her hand and led her downstairs. Fortunately, no one was around when they collected her clothes and Jesse helped her out of the silky nightgown and into her clothes.

She was wrapped around him when the back door opened and a deep voice called out, “Thought you had somewhere to be, little brother.”

“Damn,” Jesse said, easing out of her hold and taking her hands in his. “Can you stay over?” Her heart tumbled in her breast at the unasked question shimmering in his dark and yummy gaze. She wanted to say yes, but it wasn't just her to consider.

“Maybe next time. Lacy has to get used to seeing us together… besides, I'll have to explain things to my uncle too.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “Stay for dinner at least.”

“All right.”

“Emily said Ronnie's cooking burgers on the grill!”

Lacy's smile had her smiling. “Your favorite.”

“Uh-huh, and know what?” she asked tugging on Danielle's skirt until she bent down to Lacy's level.

“What?”

“Cowboy Jesse's gonna eat dinner with us before he gots to go.” Lacy looked up at Jesse and nodded. “He gave his word to go somewheres tonight, so he can't stay long.”

“I did,” he rumbled, coming to stand next to Lacy and Danielle. “But I'll be back really late, so your momma said you had to go home.”

“But we can come back, right, Mommy?”

Danielle smiled. “Yes, ma'am.”

“Cowgirls follow the Code,” Lacy said, grabbing a hold of Danielle's hand and then Jesse's.

“Yes, ma'am.” Jesse's deep voice did funny things to Danielle's insides. “Cowboys and cowgirls should always do their best to uphold the Code.”

Danielle let her gaze slide up the long, strong length of his jean-clad legs to his worn cotton shirt—a replacement for the one he'd ripped in his hurry to make love to her. Her sigh was long and low. She'd have to talk to her uncle soon; she didn't think she could stand to be away from the man who'd turned her world upside down in one afternoon.

She lifted her gaze to meet his and the power of his passion hit her hard and had her struggling to remember to breathe. His eyes darkened to molten chocolate and he swept his Stetson from his head, holding on to the brim with both hands.

“I'd like it if you'd come visit me again tomorrow.”

“But I don't want to leave,” Lacy told him.

He squatted down next to her and touched the tip of his finger to the end of her nose. “I've got to go help a friend, but you're welcome to stay and visit with everybody.”

“You really have to go?”

Danielle's heart hurt for the little one who had her daddy leave her, and it looked like cowboy Jesse was going to be leaving them too. “He just said he did, sweet pea. Now stop pestering Jesse.”

“Yes, Mommy.” Lacy spun around and clamored up onto the swing and leaned against her mother. “Bye, cowboy Jesse!”

He put his hat on his head and tipped it in their direction, and was gone.

Dylan walked back outside, and asked, “Where's he off to?”

Emily got up and looked Dylan in the eye. “I don't know.”

Lacy was watching everything with interest, but Danielle didn't want her daughter to get sucked into life out at the Circle G until she and Jesse figured out how they'd make their relationship work “Are you sure it's OK that we stay? I could call my uncle.”

Tyler leaned out the back door, and said, “Dinner'll be ready in five minutes. You want to help me set the table, Lacy?”

“Sure!” She flew over to the door and ducked inside before Danielle could remind her to wash her hands and watch her manners.

“She'll be fine,” Emily reassured her. “Now, why don't you tell me what happened?”

Danielle sighed and moved over so Emily could sit beside her. “What do you think happened?”

Emily tilted her head to one side and seemed to be carefully considering the options. “Well,” she said at last, “knowing those wild-eyed Garahan brothers, anything from stealing a quick kiss to backing you into a corner and scrambling your brains with a kiss that would curl your toes—or the heart-stopping possibility of making love with the dark-eyed cowboy of your dreams.”

Danielle couldn't keep from laughing. “I guess they are more alike than I figured.”

Emily nodded. “So, which was it: the sweet peck on the cheek, the full-bodied
I
can't get enough of you
brain scrambler, or a little afternoon delight?”

Danielle sighed and confessed, “All of the above. I hadn't intended to,” she said slowly, “but one thing led to another after he saw me in one of Ronnie's satin and lace getups.”

Emily scooted closer and whispered, “Which one?”

Danielle closed her eyes and whispered back, “The turquoise set.”

“Oh, the sexy tap pants and bra?”

When she opened her eyes, Emily was eagerly waiting for Danielle to tell her more. She nodded.

“And?”

“What makes you think there's an ‘and'?”

Emily shrugged. “He's a Garahan. There's always an ‘and.'” As if that explained it all, she sat back and waited for Danielle to continue.

With a worried glance at the back door, Danielle asked, “Can we talk about it later?”

“OK,” Emily agreed, getting to her feet. “We should probably help with dinner.”

Danielle followed behind and wished she didn't have the feeling that Tyler's fiancée would try to extract every last detail from her.

But to her surprise, no one mentioned Jesse or the fact that he'd left in a rush to go somewhere. Odd that neither of his brothers spoke about where he was going.

Danielle's head was starting to pound from trying to figure out what was going on and whether or not it would affect their newly forming relationship. Finally, she let all thoughts of the tempting man go, and focused on the meal and the way she and Lacy had been accepted with open arms.

The kitchen in the Circle G was filled with warmth and good-natured teasing. Jesse's brothers seemed relaxed and at ease in their company. Although neither brother had any children, they had no problem including Lacy in their conversation or trying to draw her out when she fell silent.

That's when Danielle realized that, although their parents died when they were younger, they had a solid role model in their grandfather. She smiled and tried to catch up on the conversation.

“So then what did Trigger do?” Tyler's question must have had something to do with her daughter because he was waiting expectantly for Lacy's answer.

“He snuffled my hand and then nudged my elbow.” Her daughter's eyes were shining.

“Trigger's smart,” Dylan said. “He knows if you had one piece of apple, you were bound to have more.”

“Dylan's right,” Tyler added. “Our grandfather used to keep apple quarters in his pockets. Trigger remembers and was looking for some.”

Ronnie and Emily were quietly watching their men interact with Lacy and smiling. Danielle had a good idea of what was going on in their minds. Tyler and Dylan had the makings of wonderful fathers. They were kind and paid attention to her daughter, showing that they had patience as well as intelligence.

She'd seen the same qualities in Jesse, but hadn't wanted to think of him in that particular role. But after the way they'd nearly burned each alive with the passion they both fought to restrain, she might have to reevaluate the situation.

Emily finally spoke up. “So, when do your cousins arrive?”

Tyler and Dylan shared a conspiratorial glance and grin. “At the end of next week. They're going to be helping us move the herd.”

Ronnie looked confused. “I thought you were doing that this week with Timmy and his friends.”

Dylan stroked his fingers along the side of her cheek. “We were, but when Jesse told us that Tom and Mike were coming in a week or so early, we decided that the herd could last another week where they are.”

“There's still plenty of pastureland where they are,” Tyler said. “We just didn't want them to overgraze it.” Looking at Danielle, he explained, “Pastureland needs to be rotated and replanted in order to ensure that our longhorns are getting the proper diet and not some of the weeds that could be dangerous to their health.”

“Are your cousins really firemen?” Lacy wanted to know.

Danielle was surprised that her daughter knew about them. Before she could ask Lacy how she knew so much, her daughter added, “And the ones from Colorado are really lawmen, just like Marshal Dillon?”

Tyler and Dylan started to laugh, and Lacy's little chin jutted out. Before Lacy could say something inappropriate, Danielle said, “We're both big fans of TV marshals and cowboys. My mom actually encouraged my fascination, and Lacy sort of carries on the tradition.”

“Somebody's been talking about us,” Dylan said with a smile.

Danielle laughed. “I don't know who or how, because I only just heard about them coming today.”

Lacy leaned closer to Dylan and confided, “Ms. Beeton stopped by the diner today and told us all about it.”

“Did she now?” Emily asked. “Well, it must be true if Mavis knows about it. That woman is hardwired to the gossip chain in town.”

Ronnie's gaze met Danielle's. “Well, one thing's for sure—we can definitely use your help organizing the All-Male Revue for the celebration.”

Danielle's eyes widened, but no words came out. “You don't really mean what I think you mean, do you?”

Dylan and Tyler started to chuckle. The deep rumbling sound was identical to Jesse's. She wished Jesse were here to the point that she actually ached for him.

“This is strictly G-rated entertainment,” Emily said. “The ladies over at the Lucky Star wanted to contribute to the celebration but didn't think the former mayor—”

“He hasn't been indicted yet,” Tyler reminded her.

“Well,” Emily pursed her lips and continued, “he should be behind bars for what he tried to do to Jolene and me.”

Tyler reached over, grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips. “The truth will come out and he will pay for trying to railroad you and Jolene out of your business and out of town.”

“This sounds like the plot to an old-time Western!” Danielle couldn't believe stuff like this was still happening today. “Are you making this up?”

Dylan frowned at her. “No, ma'am. The real crime is that Emerson thought he could get away with it, that he was above the law.”

She shook her head. “No one is above the law… well, they shouldn't be.”

“Exactly,” Dylan agreed. “But it's out of our hands.”

“Too bad the sheriff hasn't arrested anyone in the shooting yet.”

“Did somebody get shot?” Lacy was riveted to the conversation, and Danielle was worried that her little girl was going to have nightmares. She wanted to change the subject but needed to hear the answer first, so she asked, “Did they?”

Ronnie sighed. “No, but unfortunately, it was the sign hanging outside of the Lucky Star and my shop.”

Danielle liked the way the brothers were actually trying to soothe their women. It showed that they were worried about them, that they cared. And then it hit her—they were in love… truly. Ronnie and Emily had the good fortune to have men such as the Garahan brothers in love with them… but then again, now Danielle might too. From what she'd witnessed the few times she'd been out at the ranch, the men worked hard, fought hard, and loved their land, their women, and their animals… and not necessarily in that order.

“So that's why your shop looked so new.” She'd wondered about that. “At first I thought your shop was historic, but then parts of the front looked so new, and when I walked inside—”

“With the exception of the very front downstairs, my building is over one hundred years old, and part of the reason I was targeted.”

Danielle didn't know what to say to that, but figured there was definitely more to the story than the little bit her uncle had told her the other day. With a glance in Lacy's direction, she turned back to Ronnie, and said, “I'd love to hear more… later.”

Everyone seemed to realize that the conversation was headed in the wrong direction, given Lacy's age. In silent agreement, Ronnie changed the topic back to the celebration. “We're also going to have a barrel riding demonstration, and Dylan is going to let me ride Wildfire.”

“But that's his horse.” Lacy had been sucked in by Ronnie announcement. “Won't Dylan mind?”

He pressed his lips to his wife's cheek. “She wouldn't marry me unless I promised she could ride Wildfire.”

Danielle smiled. The Garahans were a constant surprise to her. They seemed so tough on the outside, but inside was a soft center where their women were concerned. Jesse had proven that earlier. “What about your cousins?” she asked. “You don't have enough horses for them to ride, do you?”

Tyler grinned. “Noticed that did you? Most of the ranchers out here have spare horses that don't get ridden every day. It's hard work, but Quarter Horses are up to the challenge and the best breed for ranching.”

“We've already lined up four horses for them to use,” Dylan said. “Two from the Double M and two from the Bar N.”

Tyler nodded. “In exchange, while our cousins are here, we'll be helping both ranchers move their herds as well.”

“It sounds as if you live in a very tight community.” Danielle was surprised. “I would have thought that ranchers preferred to do things themselves.”

“It's true,” Tyler said. “We do, but times are tough, and we all need to work together to keep our way of life moving forward and our ranches from going under.”

Ronnie and Emily shared a glance, but whatever they were thinking was a mystery to Danielle. Finally, Emily said, “The idea behind Take Pride in Pleasure Day is to draw the community together… ranchers and town folk… and raise enough money to help pay down a few of the ranchers' feed bills and mortgages.”

“The town folk depend on the ranchers to purchase their goods from them, and the ranchers depend on the town folk to keep them supplied.” Ronnie added, “This was the perfect solution for everyone.”

“What else will be happening aside from the barrel riding?” Danielle hoped there would be something else for Lacy to do, because she wasn't going to let her attend the revue.

“We've got food lined up: the BBQ Pitt is supplying ribs and barbecue beef sandwiches; there will be cotton candy, homemade lemonade, and iced tea… isn't your uncle donating pies?”

“I don't know.” Danielle wondered why he hadn't said anything, then realized why. “He hasn't mentioned it, but we've been really busy.”