Wild: Wildfire (7 page)

When he went around to his side of the truck and got in, Dee said quietly, “I always figured you were embarrassed for her to meet me.”

Jake stopped in the motion of starting his truck and stared at her. “How could you think that? Damn, woman. I was proud as hell to have you. Smart, sexy—warm as a summer night—what guy wouldn’t kill to bring you home to his mother?”

Heat crept up her neck, her hand following. “I only felt that way when we were together.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Jake brought Dee to him and crushed her against his chest. “I never meant to hurt you like I did. And I sure never meant for you to think you were anything short of near-perfect.”

She let herself enjoy his embrace, let herself pretend for one moment that they could go back in time and start over.

But history had a way of repeating itself, and Dee wasn’t going to let that happen.

Chapter Six

Dee frowned as she watered the houseplants on her front porch, taking care not to bump her ankle as she tried to shove thoughts of Jake Reynolds to the back of her mind. And failed. It was Sunday, the afternoon following the
incident
with Jake.

Her body burned at the memory of his hands and mouth on her, and how she’d begged him for more. She could almost feel his tongue flicking her nipples and his fingers coaxing her clit to that spectacular orgasm.

The memory caused her hand to tremble as she tipped the watering can, and water splashed off the spiked leaves of the spider plant and onto her blouse. She lowered the can and brushed the droplets off her breasts with her free hand, and lightly caressed her wet nipples. The material went transparent, showing her black lace bra and skin.

Dee smiled at the thought of what Jake would think if he saw her damp shirt. She limped on down the line of houseplants and showered the philodendron, the last plant at the farthest edge of the porch. Its green heart-shaped leaves reminded her of the gift Jake had given her their first and only Christmas together. The peridot heart pendant she’d tucked away all those years ago.

With a sigh, she set the watering can down on one of the plant-filled tables. She found a spot on the low porch wall that wasn’t taken by a houseplant, and eased onto it, taking care not to bump her ankle. Leaning against a pillar, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the beauty around her for a few moments.

She had surrounded herself by beautiful living things that she could give love to and nurture. Things that couldn’t reject her.

Couldn’t leave her.

Wind chimes dangling from the porch’s exposed beams made a musical tinkling sound as a light wind kicked up. The breeze teased loose strands of Dee’s hair and cooled her breasts where water had splashed, causing her nipples to harden like diamonds. Smells of rich soil and of fall just around the corner filled the air.

Dust churned on the dirt road leading to the Flying M Ranch, and she heard the rumble of a vehicle. She narrowed her eyes, wondering who could be coming over now. Blue barked from inside the house.

The moment Dee recognized Jake’s truck, her heart started pounding.

Dammit, she wasn’t ready to see him so soon. When he’d brought her home yesterday afternoon, they’d barely spoken. He’d gently settled her into the rocker, kissed her brow and left, with no more discussion about the future.

She gripped the edge of the low wall, clinging to it to keep her hand from going to her throat. Her hold tightened after Jake parked and climbed out of his truck. Why did he have to look so darn good? Why did he have to come back to Douglas and stir up her memories as well as her passion?

Jake strode toward the porch, his walk fluid and purposeful. He hadn’t noticed her yet, and she took the opportunity to study the movement of his muscles beneath his white T-shirt and his snug Wranglers. Stubble shadowed his set jaw, his eyes hidden by his Stetson.

Lust
. Pure lust was what she felt whenever she saw the man.

As though he’d sensed her, he turned his gaze to Dee and frowned. He jogged up the porch steps and reached her before she had a chance to form a coherent thought.

Her fingers ached from clenching the wall so tight. Otherwise she might just launch herself at him and beg him to fuck her. “Why are you here, Jake?” she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

He glanced at her bandaged ankle, then back to her face. “You shouldn’t be on it.”

“I’m fine.”

“Like hell.” He leaned close and placed his hands on either side of her hips, trapping her. He smelled of sun-warmed flesh and mint, a heady combination that sent her senses reeling. “Do I have to tie you to your bed to keep you off that damn ankle?”

Now there was a thought that made her blood boil. Jake tying her to the bedpost. Naked.

Heat flushed through her and she raised her chin. “You didn’t answer my question, Jake Reynolds. Why are you here?”

His face was so close she wanted him to kiss her.

“Satan. That devil-calf.” Jake’s voice was low and his eyes were on her mouth, but then his gaze met hers. “Figured you might need some help taming him.”

“His name’s Imp.” Dee swallowed, ready to pounce on him. “And I can manage.”

“Uh-huh.” He pushed away and stood, and air rushed back into her lungs. “When are you going to figure out it’s all right to ask for help when you need it?”

She flipped her braid over her shoulder. “I don’t need your help.”

“One thing hasn’t changed.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “You’re still a stubborn woman.”

“Says the jackass.”

Jake shook his head and laughed, but then his expression went serious. “I’m concerned about what’s going on around here.” He jerked his thumb to the mountains behind the ranch. “Do you have any idea how much drug traffic goes through that range? How many undocumented aliens are smuggled across all the ranches here?” He raked a hand through his black hair. “And a good chunk of your herd has been rustled.”

Dee frowned. “What do you want me to do? Pack my bags and just leave everything?” She waved a hand toward the bunkhouse and corrals. “This is my livelihood. This is the way those cowboys make their living. You can’t just expect me to turn my back on it.”

His jaw visibly tightened. “You don’t seem too concerned about your safety.”

“I’m plenty concerned.” A sigh left her in a rush. “And not just for myself—for all the other ranchers and folks who live in these parts. But all I can do is take it a day at a time and hope the law handles the problem.”

He nodded, but he didn’t look happy. “All right, sweetheart. Want me to carry you to bed to rest that ankle, or to the barn to keep me company?”

Bed. But not to rest—to fuck the hell out of me.

Jeez, all she could think about was sex around the man.

Dee sighed, trying to ignore the tingling of her pussy. “Barn.” She knew perfectly well that he’d never leave until he’d accomplished what he came for. “But I can walk.”

He bent and rested his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from standing. Heat from his palms burned through her thin blouse and her nipples hardened. Jake gave her that slow, sexy grin that sent every sane thought out of her mind.

His gaze swept over her water-splattered blouse, and he moved his hand across one swell and then met her eyes. “Mmmm, black lace. Do your panties match?”

Those matching black panties were positively soaked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Uh-huh.” Jake grinned and placed his large hands at her waist. “Shall I carry you over the shoulder, like your desperado?”

Warmth crept from her neck to her face. Partly from embarrassment that she’d told him her fantasy and that he’d remembered. And partly because she was so incredibly turned on that she wanted to jump him.

A possessive feeling gripped Jake as he slid his arms around Dee. He hooked his arms beneath her knees and she gasped when he swooped her into his arms. Hell, maybe she didn’t need to be carried, but right now he’d take any excuse to hold her.

He brushed his nose over her hair as he cradled her. God, but she smelled good. Felt so soft. Her prominent nipples, along with the show of black lace bra through her damp shirt, were almost more than he could take.

Damn if his cock wasn’t as hard as a post.

While he carried her down the porch steps and toward the barn, she clung to him. “Jake, you’ve got to stop this he-man stuff. It’s a new century and I’m not some helpless little woman.”

Smiling, he shifted her weight as they neared the barn. “How about when your ankle’s better, I let you carry me?”

“Now there’s an image.” She giggled, the sound seeping into his blood like parched desert soaking up rain.

“Watch your step,” she said when they entered the barn. “One of the ranch hands did everything but rake the manure in the aisle and muck out the stalls.”

The black gelding stuck his head over his gate and whinnied as Jake carefully deposited Dee on a hay bale. Her hands slid away from his neck and along his arms, the light brush of her fingers making him hotter than Arizona in July.

She looked away from him, toward the stall where the calf glared through the slats. “The brat only lets me get close.”

“Can’t say that I blame him,” Jake murmured.

Dee acted like she hadn’t heard. “Imp goes berserk if Jess or one of the ranch hands gets near him.”

“What do you call what I walked in on the other day?”

She raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on her lips. “Gonna try to handcuff him again?”

“Only as a last resort.” Jake went to the rusted and scarred fifty-gallon drum where they’d kept the sweet oats back when he’d dated Dee. When he lifted the lid, the scent of molasses and oats rose up to mingle with the dust, straw and manure smells of the barn. Using the tin can inside, he scooped out some of the feed, closed the barrel and returned to Imp’s stall. The calf was the same color of black as the stones called Apache tears, his coat smooth and sleek.

“He’s a beaut.” Avoiding fresh horse droppings scattered in front of the stall, Jake crouched and set the can of oats down. He eyed the calf, then glanced back at Dee. “How long have you had him?”

“Little over a week ago I bought him from a rancher up north. He’s champion stock.” She shook her head and smiled. “Right now he’s a champion pain-in-the-ass.”

“If this guy gets much bigger before you gentle him, he’s gonna do more than knock you on your butt.”

Dee leaned back, bracing her hands on the hay bale at either side of her hips. The movement caused her breasts to rise and her blouse to gape, exposing more black lace.

A vivid fantasy came to Jake. Of him sitting on the bale with Dee on his lap, wearing nothing but that black lace bra and a pair of garters. Her head tilted, eyes closed, auburn hair falling over her shoulders. Of him thrusting into her core and her riding him hard and fast.

“I just need to spend more time with him,” Dee was saying, her husky voice breaking into the erotic video running through Jake’s mind.

“Ah, yeah.” He barely reined in a groan as he turned his attention back to the calf. Jake shifted so that one knee was on the dirt floor, trying to relieve some of the pressure around his zipper. He had to get his mind off Dee’s sexy body and onto helping her tame Imp.

The thought of the calf hurting Dee was enough to sober his lust. He’d known she wouldn’t readily agree to his help, but he was sure she’d try to work with Imp on her own. With her sprained ankle, she wouldn’t be able to move fast enough to avoid getting seriously injured.

Stubborn woman.

He spoke to Imp in a low, soothing tone, trying to get the calf used to him and the sound of his voice. Imp butted the stall door, his eyes blazing. He snorted, splattering snot on the back of Jake’s hand, and Dee snickered.

Jake wiped the snot on his jeans while he continued to talk nonsense. When the little devil had calmed a bit, Jake stood and located the calf’s halter. After he tied the end to the stall, he lowered the halter onto Imp’s head.

The calf’s eyes bulged. He fought and tugged, throwing his weight from side to side. It was a good ten minutes before he finally settled down. His sides rose and fell like a pair of bellows stoking a fire, a wild glint still in his eyes.

“You and I are gonna be more than good friends,” Jake said to the calf and then glanced over his shoulder at Dee. “No matter what you might think.”

She frowned at the calf, her hand moving to her throat. “You’re asking the impossible.”

“Nah.” He turned and unlatched the gate, then eased it open. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned since I met you, sweetheart, it’s that nothing’s impossible.”

“You always did have a large dose of overconfidence,” Dee muttered.

Smiling, he picked up the can of feed and entered the stall, moving slow and easy. He reached into the can for a handful of oats and held his palm under the calf’s nose. Imp’s eyes glittered and he lowered his head. As Jake started to step back, his boot slipped on a pile of manure. At the same time, Imp rammed his thigh.

The oat can flew out of Jake’s hand as he lost his balance. He fell back, landing hard on his ass. Oats scattered, the tin can rattling across the ground, and he heard laughter behind him.

“So much for friends,” Dee said.

Jake glanced over his shoulder and saw that she wasn’t even trying to keep a straight face. He grinned. “I’m not done by a long shot.”

“Spoken like a man who doesn’t know when to quit.”

“Got that right.” He went to brace his hand on the ground, only to have his palm land in something cold and squishy with an unpleasant smell. “Ah, shit.”

“Um, are you all right?” Dee asked between more giggles.

He looked up and gave her a wry smile. “Nothing a shower won’t cure.”

She jerked her thumb south. “Just past Dancer’s stall there’s a sink and a bar of soap.”

After Jake washed his hands, he spent another hour with the devil calf, determined to make some headway in their relationship. Every so often he’d glance at Dee and catch her watching him with expressions ranging from amusement to concern to frustration. And perhaps longing?

Ah, hell.
He hurt her bad all those years ago, but he had no intention of hurting her again. Somehow he’d make her see that, and get her to trust him.

For now he was concerned she’d try to tame the calf on her own and end up with more than an injured ankle.

When he finished working with Imp, Jake mucked out the stalls and raked manure out of the aisle, despite Dee’s protests. She’d started to get up to help him, and he’d threatened to turn her over his knee.