The Rancher and the Event Planner

Chapter Four



Why did he say that?

But he sure would like a nibble or two. Jennifer’s delicate scent of wildflowers reached out, tickled his skin and muddled his brain. The music flowed lazily around them and he pulled her in closer, he couldn’t help himself. Her lips curved in a slight smile, her golden gaze glanced at his then away and back again. “So, do you bite all the women you dance with?”

“Only the cute ones.”

She laughed. The sound made his heart shake. Couples crowded them and Jennifer moved in closer, one breast brushed against his hand, her stomach lightly touched his and arrows of sensual heat shot straight to his groin. She looked up at him and she was so close her breath blew over his lips making him want to take a long, slow taste. “Am I one of the cute ones?”

He swallowed. Hard. Oh, sweet Jesus. He shifted to try to dim the sensations but the desire to kiss her only grew stronger. She was the first woman he’d had any interest in getting up close and personal with in a long time and he had an undeniable hankering to feel her lips under his. “Are you flirting with me?”

“I think I am, yeah. Is that a problem?”

Damn straight it was a problem. She was Cade’s little sister and he’d known her since she was a kid, but he couldn’t yank on the reins and bring his lust to a hoof grinding halt. Need moved restlessly through him like a horse being cooped up too long and desperate for a good gallop. He shook his head, his gaze still on hers, longing glittering in her eyes. He wanted to answer that longing more than he’d wanted anything in forever. “Not if you’re okay with paying the consequences.”

“Good consequences or bad?”

“Let’s find out.” The music swelled around them but he hardly noticed. Suddenly his hands were holding her face, her mouth a fraction of an inch away from his, her gaze filled with anticipation. He lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were soft, full and giving. Oh, how they gave. He heard her sigh and felt her relax into him, her hands and arms moving upward over his back. He’d only meant for the kiss to be a gentle sampling, a brief taste just to take the edge off his lust, but when her lips parted inviting him in, he couldn’t fight the temptation.

She tasted like strawberries still warm from the sun. He forgot for a moment where they were, in the middle of a dance floor surrounded by people and gave himself over to the kiss. The heady sensation of holding and kissing Jennifer nearly overwhelmed him. He swept his tongue over hers while electricity sparked between them. He drank the sweet flavor of her kiss and let it seep into his bones.

A distant hum started up in his brain then sprinted closer until the raucous sound of hoots and hollers filled the air shattering his blissful retreat from reality. He pulled from her arms and they stared at each other for half a second before glancing around them. His heart hammered so fast he was certain everyone in the bar could hear it knocking against his ribs. A blush grew over Jennifer’s cheeks and he felt embarrassment prickle his skin. He grabbed Jennifer’s hand and led her back to their table. What he thinking? How could he kiss his best friend’s little sister in front of everyone as if his life depended on it? When Cade found out, he was a dead man.

He picked up his beer and took a sip unable to meet Jennifer’s eyes. The band took a break and he forced himself to look at her. Her eyes were fixed on him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It’s just that I haven’t—what I mean is that it’s been a long time since I’ve—”

She laid a hand over his. “Rafe, it’s okay. It was just a kiss between old friends, nothing more.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ll be right back.”

***

JC slipped out the back door of the Roundup and leaned against one of the adobe walls still radiant from the day’s heat. She closed her eyes, letting the heat sink into her skin and lifted her fingers to her still burning lips. She’d kissed Rafe, she’d actually kissed him. Or he’d kissed her. Well, they’d kissed each other. She’d often wondered what it would be like and the reality had far surpassed her fantasies. She opened her eyes and stared at the wide Texas sky crammed with a billion stars. And then he’d started making all sorts of excuses about why he’d kissed her. He regretted the kiss. Of course he did. Why wouldn’t he?

A gibbous moon made for romance had risen and sat just over the horizon. The moon seemed to be mocking her. There had never been anything even remotely romantic between them growing up and then suddenly she’s back in town and in less than twenty-four hours she was living in his house and they were sharing a kiss. Stupid, JC, stupid. She had to end this thing between them whatever it was before it went any further because if she didn’t she’d end up getting her heart stomped into something unrecognizable and then where would she be.

Romantic happiness didn’t exist, she knew that but she’d had a taste of it in those few moments she’d been in Rafe’s arms, his mouth on hers. She’d experienced it and inside she knew she’d never be able to wipe it from her memory. But his reaction was exactly as it should have been. There was nothing between them and there never would be. It was just one moment out of time encouraged by the music and the low lighting and two old friends reconnecting. Nothing more. And the sooner she accepted that, the better off she’d be. Besides she could never be the kind of woman that Rafe McCord would want. She straightened from the wall and headed back inside.

***

Rafe watched Jennifer disappear into the crowd. He’d seen the glimmer of hurt in her eyes when he started making all those lame excuses. And they were lame. Who was he kidding? He’d enjoyed every minute of having her in his arms and he’d do it again given half the chance. But he couldn’t. He had to keep things in perspective or her brother would hang his nuts from the nearest flag pole and he’d deserve it. Cade had watched him turn his marriage into a hopeless mess. He took a sip of beer and slumped back in his chair. And of all people, why Jennifer Barrett? He already knew the answer before he asked the question. Because she was genuine and strong, a woman who didn’t know the meaning of the word whine and could stand on her own.

“Glad you changed your mind.”

Shit.

Rona rested her hand along the back of his chair and touched his neck with one finger. He shifted away from her touch and turned. She was an attractive woman in her own right but did nothing for Rafe. “Hi, Rona.”

“Mind if I sit down?” she asked as she plopped into Jennifer’s chair before he could object. “Just got here. Band must be taking a break. Are they any good?” She stopped a passing waitress and asked for a glass of white wine.

“Yeah, they aren’t bad but—”

“Great. Hope you saved a dance for me. I’m just itchin’ to try out these new snake skin heels.”

Rafe glanced over Rona’s shoulder and saw Jennifer walking toward them. She was beautiful and natural, such a contrast to bright and shiny Rona. Her jeans hugged her figure and her lavender shirt enhanced her skin tone and bust line without drawing undue attention. Jennifer smirked when she saw Rona in her seat. He smiled at her and Rona turned just as Jennifer stepped up to the table. “Hi, Rona. Sorry, but you’re in my seat.”

“Didn’t realize you two were together.”

“We aren’t,” Rafe and Jennifer said the words at the same time.

“Oh, they’re together all right,” the waitress said as she placed Rona’s glass of wine in front of her. “Should’ve seen them earlier. Couldn’t have gotten a blade of buffalo grass between ‘em.” She tossed Rafe and Jennifer a smile before walking away.

Rona pressed her mouth into a thin-lipped smile, stood and shouldered her purse. “Hate to rush off but see some friends I need to speak to.” She wiggled her fingers in a wave. “Bye.” In a moment, she was gone.

Jennifer laughed and Rafe joined in. Something eased inside him. Thank God, they were back on friends-only ground again which is exactly where they should be.

“It’s been a long day,” Jennifer said. “Would you mind if we called it a night?”

***

Rafe’d been up since five after a long night of tossing and turning like a horse fighting colic. Girlish laughter caught his attention as he headed in the back door. And not just any laughter, JC’s laughter. His pulse ratcheted up a notch. He couldn’t get the thought of Jennifer sleeping across the hall out of his mind. Just a few measly feet. Did she wear silk or cotton to bed? Was it long or short? Did it cover her from head to foot or just the important parts? Or did she sleep au naturale?

Damn it, he had to stop thinking about her that way. If he didn’t, he was going to get his ass royally stomped by Cade. He had to rein it in because Cade was real savvy when it came to people. He could read a person no matter how many walls they threw up. He was hoping a couple of hours of hard work before breakfast would help him stop feeling so churned up over Jennifer and he thought it had until he’d set foot in the house and heard her laughing along with Molly. So what if he’d kissed her last night? It was just a kiss and like she said, they were old friends, nothing more. Besides he wasn’t interested in women, any woman, particularly not his best friend’s sister. He was a grown man not some infantile teenager with no sense.

Stepping inside the cool interior of the kitchen, he smiled at Molly who had just forked in another mouthful of pancakes. His daughter said hi around a mouthful of food.

He shook his head. “Keep your mouth closed when you’re eating.”

Rafe glanced over at the stove where Jennifer stood with an apron around her waist and a spatula in one hand. Jeans hugged her hips and thighs, a blue shirt molded to her upper body like a pair of new boots. A rope of pure male appreciation coiled inside him.

She turned her head and smiled at him over her shoulder. “Good morning. I made breakfast.” She nodded toward the coffee maker. “Coffee’s hot. Help yourself.”

He laid his hat on the table. “Thanks.” He poured himself a cup and leaned against the counter. “You didn’t have to make breakfast.”

She looked at him, gave him a saucy half-smile that affected his blood pressure. “No worries. I enjoy cooking. Besides, I need to earn my keep while I’m here.”

He took a sip. “This is damn good coffee. Even better than Linc’s but don’t tell him that.” He looked at the clock then over at Molly. “Better hurry up, Chickapen. Almost time for us to leave for school and you still need to brush your teeth.” Thank goodness. That would give him some time away from Jennifer so he could get his bearings and shake off these foolish feelings toward her.

Molly got up from the table. Rafe gave her a playful swat as she passed.

“Oh, Daddy,” Molly giggled and disappeared through the door.

“Linc’s driving her in,” Jennifer said. “He’s got an early hearing.”

Damnation. Did his brother really have to be in early or was it a ruse to get him and Jennifer alone together? He was going to pay Linc back if it was the last thing he ever did.

Jennifer finished up the pancakes and set the platter on the table along with some bacon and eggs. “Have a seat and start eating while the food’s still hot.”

In a moment, she joined him at the table. A punch of awareness hit him solidly in the gut. Jennifer in all her goddess glory, seemed to bask in the ray of sunshine beaming in through the wide windows, turning her hair to gold and highlighting her damn-I’m-pretty creamy complexion.

She appeared bright-eyed and rested. At least one of them slept last night. She took a sip of coffee, sweeping the tip of her tongue over a tiny drop remaining on her lower lip. His heart jolted in his chest, before settling back to its normal rhythm. “I need to leave in a bit for the meeting I missed yesterday in Dallas, but my car is in the shop. Do you have a vehicle I could borrow?”

She blotted her lips with a napkin and the memory of holding her in his arms and kissing her last night came back in every mind-blowing detail. Every sigh, every flick of her tongue, the pillow softness of her lips and her taste of pure strawberry, a taste he needed to experience again. Right here. Right now. His blood turned to a syrupy glide through his veins.

There was only one thing to do.

Before he could stop himself he cupped his hand around her neck. Her eyes widened slightly and her lips parted. He zeroed in on her mouth, leaned over and laid his mouth over hers.

***

The last thing JC expected was for Rafe to kiss her again. Especially after last night. She thought he had regretted their kiss but maybe he hadn’t if the pressure of his lips was any indication. She kissed him back unable to resist the feel of his firm, masculine mouth, the sweep of his tongue. He drew her into his arms and she didn’t hesitate. He was a fantasy, a flesh and blood living dream but right now the dream had her in his arms and she wanted to stay there. Forever.

Somewhere in the back of JC’s sensual flooded mind she heard the back door fly open.

“What the hell?”

JC and Rafe pulled out of each other’s arms, their breathing heavy. JC looked at her brother, Cade standing in the still open door way. An expression of astonishment covered his face. His skin was tanned from the sun, his gray-blue eyes burning with fury and his normally mobile mouth which most always sported a smile was pressed into a thin, hard line.

JC swallowed, her heart still pounding from Rafe’s unexpected kiss and now her brother’s sudden appearance. She smoothed her hair back and felt a flush move over her face and neck. “Cade, what are you doing here?”

He slammed the door at his back. “I might ask you the same thing.”

“Long story,” she said unable to come up with a better explanation.

He planted his feet and folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve got all day.” His face held a stubborn expression she knew well.

“Actually I have to leave in a few minutes for a meeting in Dallas. We’ll talk after I get home, okay?” She headed for the door of the kitchen.

“We’ll talk now,” Cade ground out.

She turned and saw him glaring at Rafe who mirrored Cade’s stance of feet apart and arms crossed.

“Cade,” Rafe began, “I can explain—”

“Good, because I can’t wait to hear why I came back home to find my little sister in my best friend’s house swapping spit.” His voice rang with anger and an edge of sarcasm.

Linc and Molly walked into the kitchen. Molly’s face lit up when she saw Cade. She dropped her backpack and hustled to his side. “Uncle Cade, you’re back.”

Cade’s face softened. He knelt to give her a hug but over Molly’s shoulder he drilled Rafe with a piercing gaze. If his eyes were lasers they would have burned two holes right through him.

The tension in the kitchen was as thick as a three tiered wedding cake.

Linc studied the three of them. “Did I miss something?”

“I’ll see you later,” Rafe said ignoring his statement.

Linc shrugged. “Come on, Molly, let’s get you to school.”

In a moment they were gone and JC was left alone with Rafe and Cade.

“Jennifer,” Rafe said without taking his gaze from Cade. “Go ahead and get dressed. You can use my truck when you’re ready to go.” He dug his keys out of his pocket and laid them on the breakfast table.

She didn’t want to go anywhere now with Rafe and Cade snorting and pawing the ground, but she had no choice. “Promise you won’t kill each other while I’m gone?”

When neither of them spoke she said, “Cade? Rafe? For crying out loud we shared a kiss, that’s all.”

“I won’t promise anything,” Cade snapped.

“Me either,” Rafe replied.

“In that case, Cade, you’re coming with me. I’ll dress in the bathroom. We can talk through the door.”

“No,” Cade said. “Go ahead and get dressed. He’ll still be alive when you come back downstairs.”

JC looked at Rafe and her brother and having no other choice, she left the kitchen and ran up the stairs hoping no blood would be shed.