Читать книгу Texas Heat - Barbara McCauley - Страница 7

It was her worst nightmare come true. The very thing she’d dreaded since the day she’d received the phone call from the private investigator. Savannah felt her skin go cold and her heart stop for one terrifying split second.

Nobody was taking Emma away from her. Nobody.

She stared at Jake, letting the shock wave travel through her, and felt relief at the anger that followed in its wake. She knew better than to show weakness to a man like Jake Stone. Lifting her chin, she faced him and locked his intense gaze with her own. “I don’t know you from Adam, Mr. Stone. I wouldn’t let you take my niece around the block, let alone to Texas. Emma is in my charge and she stays with me.”

Jake shrugged. “I don’t have a problem with that. There’s plenty of room for both of you.”

Go to Texas? He couldn’t be serious. He couldn’t. But he was, Savannah realized. Dead serious. “That’s ridiculous.”

He walked to her, stopping so close she felt the heat of his body and smelled the pure masculine scent that radiated from him. She desperately wanted to step away, but refused to give in to his obvious attempt at intimidation.

“Why?” he asked.

Why? There were at least a dozen logical reasons she could easily throw at him—two dozen—but she was having a difficult time thinking with him so close. “Because...because we can’t, that’s why.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Is school out for you and Emma?”

“We finished three days ago, but—”

“Fine. Then you can get someone to watch this place for you for a couple of months.”

“A couple of months!” Savannah’s mouth dropped open. “That’s out of the question.”

“All right, then,” Jake conceded. “A month.”

How had this gotten so out of hand? A month with this man to— Where was it he lived? Stone Creek? She’d be crazy to even consider it. Shaking her head, Savannah turned away and stared out the glass door. “I’m sorry, but it’s just not possible.”

“I’ll petition the courts if necessary,” he said dryly. “As Emma’s brother, I have a right, legally and morally, to visitation. You can come with her or not. Either way, it’s your choice.”

Cold fear gripped Savannah. He was making it perfectly clear that if she forced him to petition the court and he won, she would be excluded from the visit. If she agreed to the visit, then she could come. She turned stiffly. “I believe that’s blackmail, Mr. Stone. You’ll win the game at any cost, won’t you?”

His mouth tightened at her accusation. “I’m not looking to win the game, Miss Roberts. I’m only asking that you deal me—and my sister and brother—a fair hand.”

“Fair?” She whirled away, then turned back around, her hands on her hips. “I never heard of Stone Creek or your family until two weeks ago. And now, suddenly, here you are, demanding that I let Emma visit you, and you have the nerve to talk to me about fair? For all I know, you just got out of prison.”

“You’ll have to trust me on that one.”

She nearly laughed at the absurdity of his comment. “Mister, right now I wouldn’t trust you with an old pair of socks, let alone my niece. Emma is all I have, and I’m all she has. If the situation were reversed, what would you do?”

He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze hard and cold. Then unexpectedly he looked away, removing his hat and running a work-roughened hand through his hair. “Look, Miss Roberts...Savannah,” he said more softly, “I realize how difficult this must be for you. And you’re right, if the situation were reversed, I’d do exactly the same.” He sighed heavily. “But answer me this—what plans have you made for Emma if anything happens to you?”

An image of her hand locked with Emma’s as they stood beside Angela’s coffin intruded into Savannah’s mind. Who would hold her niece’s hand if tragedy struck again? She nearly shivered at the thought. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“But if something does, where will Emma go? You already said you have no family. But Emma does. She has me and Jessica and Jared. Give us a chance. At least come and meet us, and you’ll know we’ll always be there for her if she needs us.”

The reality of Jake’s words swept through Savannah with the chill of an arctic wind. He was right. No one knew what tomorrow might bring, and if anything did happen to her, at least Emma wouldn’t be with strangers, with people who didn’t care about her.

She’d be with family.

Savannah realized that, regardless of whether she wanted to go or not, she needed to. She needed the peace of mind that, if it became necessary, the Stone family would care for Emma as their own. That they would love her and protect her.

Forcing herself not to tremble, Savannah faced Jake. “Your wife won’t mind?”

Jake frowned. “It’s just me and Jared and Jessica.”

Savannah drew in a deep shaky breath, then slowly released it. “One month.” She leveled her gaze on his. “But if I think, even for a second, that you or your family might hurt Emma, then we’ll be gone so quick your head’ll spin faster than one of your Texas tornadoes.” And you’ll never find us again.

Relief softened the corners of Jake’s eyes, and he smiled for the first time, extending his hand. “I’ll send the tickets right away.”

“I’ll make the arrangements myself, thank you.”

Hesitantly she took his hand. His warm, rough fingers closed over hers and something passed between them. Something that made Savannah catch her breath and Jake’s eyes sharpen. It was softer than a whisper and lighter than the brush of a feather.

And it, whatever it was, packed the punch of a twenty-ton press.

She pulled her hand abruptly away and folded her arms, praying she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.

* * *

Savannah had no trouble finding Jake when she and Emma got off the plane six days later. After all, spotting a six-foot-four cowboy wearing a black hat in the middle of a crowded airport was hardly a difficult task.

But what was difficult for her was the way her heart slammed against her ribs and her pulse shifted into double time at the sight of him.

He stood off to the side, leaning casually against a ticket counter, his face shielded by the brim of his hat. His white workshirt was clean and pressed, and he’d hooked his thumbs into the front loops of his jeans. A silver buckle gleamed at his narrow waist, and though she tried, it was impossible to stop her gaze from drifting downward, over his lean hips to the masculine bulge at the juncture of his long legs. She tore her gaze quickly away, but not before the heat of a blush warmed her cheeks.

“Aunt Savannah!” Emma tugged on her hand and pointed. “There’s Jake!”

He caught sight of them and straightened, then reached down to pick up a shopping bag at his feet.

“Jake!” Emma called to him and waved. “Here we are!”

Emma had been a bundle of energy and excitement all week. She’d asked endless questions about the Stone family that Savannah couldn’t answer and had packed and repacked her bags countless times. Savannah, on the other hand, had been a bundle of nerves. As she’d prepared her own suitcases, the temptation to take her niece and run had been overwhelming.

But she hadn’t, of course. And now, as Jake Stone strolled determinedly toward her and Emma, Savannah once again wished she had.

He stopped in front of them, his gaze intense as it slid slowly over Savannah. She’d tried to convince herself that she’d imagined that feeling she’d had the last time he’d looked at her this way, but she hadn’t. It was there again between them. Unspoken, but every bit as powerful as before, and Savannah nearly shivered with the force of it. There was a taut moment of silence before he looked over at Emma and reached into the bag he carried.

“I thought you might like this,” he said to Emma, and pulled out a fluffy white stuffed animal.

“A kitty! Thanks, Jake.” Emma hugged the present to her. “Did you bring anything for Savannah?”

“Not this time,” he said, and when he turned his gaze back to Savannah the predatory look that flashed through his blue eyes made her pulse skip. “Maybe next time.”

“There’s nothing I need, thank you,” Savannah said, meeting Jake’s dark gaze, though her throat was so dry she hardly knew how she got the words out. “You just concentrate on Emma.”

Jake knew that Savannah was right, of course. He’d brought his sister to Stone Creek for a family gathering, not to get her beautiful aunt into his bed. But when he’d looked at her after she’d stepped off the plane, that had been his first thought. That pink slip of a dress she was wearing might be cool for her, but it had him so hot it was damn near embarrassing. What red-blooded male wouldn’t look at those long smooth legs and imagine them wrapped around his waist?

Jake nearly sighed aloud at the thought. With all the problems he’d been having since he’d had to fire his only ranch hand a month ago, there’d been no time to even consider female companionship, let alone do anything about it. To Jake, lust and sex were as natural a part of life as breathing. But since his ex-wife, he’d taught himself to control those urges with women. Savannah Roberts would be no different, he told himself.

Still, he’d seen the interest flare in her green eyes, too, whether she was willing to admit it or not. Maybe, just maybe, if the time and place were right and the lady was willing...

The midmorning air was cool, so they drove with the windows down. Jake had borrowed Jessica’s station wagon, and the car, though certainly not new, was comfortable and clean, two things Jake’s truck was not. Emma was stretched out in the back seat, firing questions at Jake about his ranch and Jared and Jessica and what kind of animals he had. He patiently answered them all, until finally, as the drive wore on, she fell asleep.

Savannah looked behind her at the exhausted child and smiled. “She’s been up since five. I’m surprised she lasted this long.”

“You look tired yourself.” Jake adjusted the rearview mirror. “Why don’t you go ahead and take a nap? It’s still another two hours to the ranch.”

“Two hours?” Savannah looked at the expanse of land in front of her. As far as the eye could see were mesquite and sagebrush, cacti with yellow blooms and tall porcupine-looking plants with white flowering spikes. Low-lying mountains hovered at the horizon, and dark clouds prowled the outer ridges. There were no signs of people, no buildings. Just land, and more land.

“Isolated” was the word that came to mind. She’d been nervous about coming here, but never actually afraid. Until now. “You didn’t mention your place was so far away from the airport.”

From people.

The radio was more static than music. Jake fiddled with the dial for a moment, then shut it off. “Does that bother you, being far away?”

“Well, no, of course not, it’s just that, well, I might need some things. A month is a long time.”

“Cactus Flat is about forty-five minutes from the ranch. You can get most anything you need there, except for fast food or sushi,” he added.

With a place that sounded as warm and welcoming as Cactus Flat, Savannah could hardly wait. “No fast food?” She opened her eyes wide in feigned disbelief. “I had no idea we’d be roughing it like this.”

Her sarcasm brought a frown to his face. “People from the city think life out here is a stroll in the park, Savannah. Pretty little horses and cute little cows.” His frown deepened. “Ranching is hard, dangerous work. Long hours, no medical pay, no sick leave.”

He was angry, Savannah realized. His words were bitter, and she almost felt as if he was intentionally painting a bleak picture for her. That hardly made sense, since he’d pushed so hard to get her and Emma out here.

“So why do you do it if you feel that way?” she asked.

His frown softened and he stared out the windshield, his gaze briefly following the dive of a hawk overhead. “I could no more explain it than you could ever understand it. It’s just what I do, that’s all.”

Savannah pressed her lips tightly together. “I might understand more than you think, Jake. Why don’t you get to know me a little better before you pass judgment on me?”

He turned to her then and a smile lifted one corner of his mouth. His deep blue eyes darkened and narrowed with a look of intense masculine interest. She nearly shivered at the response that rose unwillingly in her.

“I’ll do that,” he said huskily.

Heat shimmered over her skin and she looked quickly away before he could see the blush she knew was working its way up her cheeks. It was suddenly stifling in the car, but she refused to ask him to turn on the air. She’d show Jake Stone she was tough as any Texas rancher.

* * *

“Savannah?”

She heard someone calling her name, but just couldn’t quite pull herself from the leaden mist wrapped around her. She turned her head slightly, but a soft “Hmm?” was all she could manage.

The voice came again, “Savannah.”

It was a nice voice, she decided. Deep, with a rough, gravelly texture that sent warm tingles over her skin. It sounded just like—

Jake!

She opened her eyes then, startled to realize she’d fallen asleep. He was leaning close to her, so close she felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” he whispered. “We’re here.”

His words, along with the intimate tone of his voice, made Savannah’s pulse race. Embarrassed, she sat upright and leaned away from him. “I—I’m sorry. I must have been more tired than I realized.”

“Emma, too,” he said quietly, pointing to the back seat. “She’s been out the whole time.”

Savannah glanced at her sleeping niece. Though still buckled in, she lay sprawled across the seat, her ponytail gone and in its place a tousled mass of shining black hair.

Jake shut off the engine. The sudden stillness had Emma sitting up. Her eyes shot open and she looked out the car window. “Are we here? Is that your house?”

Savannah glanced at the one-story rambling home. It was a practical house of sturdy brick and rock. No flowers, no frills. Built rugged to survive the elements. Like the man himself, she thought.

Distant windmills dotted the land beyond the house, and a huge barn several hundred yards away caught Emma’s attention.

“Do you have horses in there?” Emma asked excitedly. “Can I see them?”

“A little later.” Jake reached over and unbuckled Emma’s seat belt. “Right now there’re some people who’ve been waiting to meet you.”

While Jake got the luggage, Savannah quickly pulled a brush through Emma’s tangled hair, then her own. Her hand shook slightly as she hurriedly applied lipstick. Jared and Jessica were waiting inside. And while Savannah knew that they certainly would like Emma, she couldn’t help but wonder what they would think of her. Would they consider her an outsider? An intruder?

Inside the house there were pink and white balloons and streamers everywhere. They seemed strongly out of place in the masculine interior of dark wood and leather furniture. Jake, with one bag under each arm and another in each hand, kicked the door shut behind him.

A man stood just inside the door, his hands in the back pockets of his faded jeans. He was nearly as tall as Jake, with the same muscular build, but his hair was a shade lighter, and his blue eyes, though smiling, held a strange sadness. The kind of sadness a woman could easily find herself drawn to, Savannah thought.

A young woman wearing a sleeveless white denim shirt and black jeans came out of the kitchen drying her hands on a towel. Jessica. The minute Savannah saw her she felt her breath catch. She was beautiful. And if the resemblance between Emma and Jessica’s photograph had been strong, in real life it was amazing.

Jessica tossed the towel aside and moved in front of Emma. There was silence for a moment as Jessica and Jared looked at Emma, then Jessica bent down and held out her hand. “Hello, Emma.”

Still clutching the stuffed animal Jake had given her, Emma suddenly turned shy and leaned close to Savannah. “It’s all right, Pecan.” Savannah nudged her niece. “Say hello to your sister.”

Emma took a cautious step forward. “Are you really my sister?”

Jessica nodded.

Hesitantly Emma took Jessica’s hand. “Are you having a party?” she asked, looking around the room.

Jessica smiled. “It’s a welcome party for you.”

“For me?” Emma’s eyes widened. “Thank you!”

As Jake watched Emma move into Jessica’s arms and give her a hug, he felt his throat tighten. He knew that if his mother hadn’t nearly died giving birth to Jessica there would have been a dozen more Stone children. But Jake’s father had loved his wife too much to chance losing her and so had made sure no more children were conceived. Something told Jake that if his mother were alive, she would have welcomed this child. His stepmother, on the other hand, was an entirely different matter.

When Emma gave Jared a hug, too, Jake cleared his throat loudly and set the bags down. “Hey, what about me? I brought you here, didn’t I?”

Emma ran to Jake and nearly jumped into his arms. Savannah stood by, feeling completely out of place as she watched the family unite. It seemed so natural, she thought, watching Emma wrap her arms around Jake’s neck. As if they’d known each other forever.

Jessica, her eyes glistening with tears, stepped forward and took hold of Savannah’s hands. “How can we ever thank you?”

Savannah shook her head. “It’s not necessary.” And when she glanced at Jake and saw him smiling down at Emma, she knew in that second she’d done the right thing by coming. She knew that no matter what happened to her, Emma would always be loved and cared for.

And as comforting as that realization was, a cold shiver of fear went through Savannah. For she knew in her heart that the love that would protect Emma might also take her away.

Jessica, still holding on to Savannah, took Emma’s hand, as well, and pulled them both toward the kitchen. “You two must be starving. I have a pizza almost ready to come out of the oven, cold cuts and potato salad and beans and franks. Oh, and chocolate cake for dessert.”

“So what’s Jake going to eat?” Jared teased.

“His boots if he doesn’t hurry up,” Jessica called back.

Jake tossed his hat onto a hook in the entry and made his way to the kitchen. “Couldn’t tell the difference between my boots and that steak Jared made last week. What was in that marinade, Bro? Boot wax?”

The banter continued through lunch. Emma giggled at the silliness and even Savannah felt herself relaxing. The kitchen was large and sunny, but once again, there was no woman’s touch here, she noted. No curtains, no basket of dried flowers or wooden cows hanging on the wall. Simple and utilitarian in appearance, but complete with what appeared to be most of the necessary modern appliances.

Savannah found herself wondering why Jake hadn’t married and why this kitchen wasn’t filled with his own children. Had it become comfortable living with Jessica and Jared, or was he just too busy to look for a wife?

As if this man would have to look far, she told herself, glancing sideways at him. If word got out he was looking for a wife, the three-hour drive to Midland would be bumper to bumper with eager females.

“Would you like a roll?”

Startled from her thoughts, Savannah realized Jake was talking to her. “Excuse me?”

“A roll.” He offered her a basket of bread. “You want one?”

Jake had no idea what had brought the sudden flush to Savannah’s cheeks, but he couldn’t stop his own thought, which was wondering if her face flushed with passion as easily as it did with embarrassment. He had a swift and fervent desire to find out, and if Jessica hadn’t announced it was time for everyone to have cake, he might have let his imagination wander a bit.

Emma giggled when Jared got chocolate frosting on his chin and the sound flowed through Jake like warm honey. Emma had brought something into his house he hadn’t realized he’d missed. People and laughter. She hadn’t been here two hours and already he was wondering how he could let her leave. A month was too short.

But that was something he’d deal with later. He looked at Savannah, watching as she licked a spot of frosting from her upper lip. The innocent, but sensuous gesture had his groin tightening painfully, and he began to realize that a month might, in fact, be a very long time.

“Hello? Anybody home?”

Jake went still at the sound of the voice, as did everyone else in the kitchen. Jake frowned at Jessica, then Jared, but they both shook their heads.

He counted to three, struggling to control his temper, furious that this special party was being interrupted.

Myrna had just walked in his front door.