Texas Heat

by Barbara Mccauley

  She went to him.

  “Give me your hand,” he said roughly.

  She stood beside him, just barely able to see the features of his face. Her throat was too dry to speak and her fingers shook as she did what he asked.

  He dragged his leg from the desk, leaning forward as he took her hand. The coarse texture of his fingers on hers made her pulse skip. He turned her palm to the light and examined the blister between her thumb and forefinger.

  “Have you put something on this?”

  “It’s all right,” she whispered.

  “You never know,” Jake said huskily. “Once something gets under your skin, there’s no telling what can happen.”

  He traced the lines on her palm with his thumb and Savannah felt her breasts tighten with anticipation. Heat coiled low in her stomach and settled between her thighs. She didn’t stop him when he brought her hand to his mouth. When he pressed his lips to her palm, she closed her eyes.

  “Savannah,” he murmured, and his hot breath sent waves of desire coursing through her. “Do you know what you do to me? Do you know how much I want you?”

  Yes, she wanted to scream. As much as I want you. But she couldn’t speak. It would break the spell. She’d wake up and the dream would be gone. The mistrust would be back, the uncertainty. If she never spoke, then later she could pretend this had never happened.

  His tongue caressed the sensitive skin on her palm and she bit the inside of her mouth to hold back the moan. When he moved upward, tracing the inside of her wrist, she did moan. An urgency grew between them and he circled her waist with his free hand, pulling her to him.

  He drew her hand to his chest and slipped her fingers under the open fabric of his shirt. His skin burned where she touched him. “I’ve wanted to feel your hands on my skin since the first time I met you.”

  Savannah felt as if they were two wild animals, alone in the dark, driven by forces beyond their control. She withdrew her hand from Jake and their gazes locked while she untied the belt of her light cotton robe. He cupped her bottom with his hands and buried his face in her stomach. Murmuring his name, she raked her hands through his thick hair.

  Never had she given herself so completely, so mindlessly to physical desire. Doubt and distrust melted away. Need consumed her, so sweet and so intense, she thought she might cry.

  His hands slipped under her robe and pushed her short gown upward, exposing her to him. She arched toward him, gasping now as he slid both hands up her bare stomach and cupped her breasts. She moaned again as he took one swollen breast into his mouth and sucked the hardened nipple.

  The light scratching of Jake’s beard against her sensitive skin sent sensation after sensation rippling through her. She held tightly to him, digging her fingernails into the skin of his shoulders.

  “Jake...Jake...” she whispered over and over.

  “What, Savannah?” he murmured. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I...” She caught her lower lip between her teeth as he circled the peaks of her breasts with his thumbs. “I want...”

  Those two words had her hesitating. What did she want? A one-night stand with a man who’d openly admitted he wasn’t interested in anything but the physical side of love? A man who stood to gain a great deal by one simple conquest?

  Her body said yes—screamed it—but her head said no. She couldn’t do this. One sister falling for the Stone charm was enough. She remembered the pain Angela had gone through. Savannah was determined not to make the same mistake.

  She stepped away, breaking contact between them and pulling her robe back together. “I shouldn’t have come in here, Jake. What I want is something entirely different from what you want. I’m sorry.”

  He sat there for a moment in the shadows, unmoving. When he spoke at last, his voice was as weary as it was heavy. “I’m sorry, too.”

  Savannah knew if she stood there one more second she’d throw herself into his arms again. Without looking back, she turned and nearly ran from the room.

  * * *

  The Circle B Fourth of July barbecue was the event of the year for the town of Cactus Flat and all the neighboring ranches. Red-and-white-checkered tablecloths covered long buffet tables heaped with mounds of traditional holiday food: corn on the cob, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued ribs and enough potato salad to feed a hungry platoon of marines. The smell of the barbecuing food flavored the air, and a country western band played an assortment of favorite songs, ranging from Hank Williams to Garth Brooks. Red, white and blue banners and balloons decorated Sam McCant’s landscaped patio area, and an ice-cream station was set up by the pool.

  Stone Creek had once been as successful a ranch as the Circle B, but after Jake’s mother had died, J.T. had seemed to lose interest in expanding. After he married Myrna, what money there was had been slowly eaten away by the woman’s extravagant tastes.

  Jake knew if he could hold on, it would only take a few short years before Stone Creek would be operating at full potential again. He could make the ranch what he and his father had always dreamed of.

  If he could hold on. That was the problem.

  The sound of laughter and talking brought Jake back to the present. It had been a long time since he’d been to a party. The collar of his black dress shirt felt too tight, his jeans too stiff. But determined to make the best of the day for Emma’s sake, he drew a deep breath and placed a hand on Savannah’s elbow as he guided her and Emma under an archway of paper streamers and balloons.

  It was the first time he’d touched her since that night in his office almost a week before. He’d put in extra hours the past few days, not only to work off the frustration, but to keep his distance. He knew she’d been right to put an end to things before they’d gotten out of hand, but he also knew that if they were alone again, if even once he smelled the scent of peaches that always lingered on her skin, then he’d end up making a fool of himself. Again.

  He looked at her now, dressed in a white ruffled blouse and short Western skirt that showed off her long legs. Legs that every man here would be looking at. His hand tightened on her elbow.

  “Where’d you get those clothes?” he asked, suddenly irritated.

  “Your sister loaned them to me. I didn’t have anything appropriate for a party.” She glanced down at what she’d worn. “Don’t you like them?”

  Like them? They showed every damn curve she had. He liked them so much all he could think about was taking them off. Jake made a mental note to have a chat with Jessica. “Jeans would have been fine.”

  Savannah frowned at Jake. Her pulse had skipped at his unexpected touch. She was well aware it was the first time he’d come within six feet of her in the past week. Since Jared and Jessica had spent a lot of time visiting, she hadn’t been at a loss for company, but still, she’d been out of sorts all week. Wanting something she couldn’t put a name to.

  “Get ready for the onslaught,” he warned, nodding to several people who were now looking their way.

  Suddenly Savannah found herself surrounded by a group of men in Stetsons, clean jeans and a rainbow of Western shirts.

  “Hey, Jake,” one man said as he slipped a long-necked bottle of beer into Jake’s hand. Another man slapped him on the back, then smiled and stared openly at Savannah. “Now we know why you been hiding out, Jake.”

  “I think Jessica is looking for you, Jake.” A third, gap-toothed man had squeezed between the other two men. “How ‘bout I show your lady around while you go see?”

  “How ‘bout we ask Mary if that’s okay?” Jake returned, taking a pull from his bottle.

  At the mention of his wife, the man looked sheepishly behind him.

  Savannah’s cheeks flamed at all the attention. Jake had kept his hand on her back, and though he laughed and joked with the other men, she felt the tension coiled inside him. With his fingers splayed possessively on her back, it was difficult for her to concentrate on the introductions, but she smiled and nodded, trying to ignore the response he
elicited from her with the simplest touch.

  Emma suddenly had a circle of children her own age surrounding her, as well. Several women joined in, eager to meet Jake’s new sister and her aunt. When Emma ran off to play, Savannah finally allowed herself to relax. She realized she’d been worried about meeting these people and how they would treat her niece. But not one person had looked at Emma with anything other than a welcome smile. She’d been completely accepted.

  “Savannah!”

  Jessica waved from across the pool and hurried over. She gave Savannah a hug, then reached up and gave Jake a kiss on the cheek. He said something to her under his breath that made her laugh.

  “Come on, Savannah.” Jessica took Savannah’s hand. “Let’s get you away from my brother, the grouch. Maybe if he watches closely, he might learn how to have some fun.”

  Jake scowled at his sister, but said nothing as she hauled Savannah away. From then on, Savannah felt as if she was in a whirlwind. Jessica introduced her to nearly every man and woman there, careful to keep her away from Myrna, then loaded a plate of food, explaining every dish and whatever history might be attached to it. They drank beer, ate barbecued ribs and played several games of bingo, where Savannah won a handwoven basket filled with dried flowers and Emma won a game of jacks.

  Dancing started when the sky turned a hazy shade of gray and orange. As the couples paired off, Savannah glanced at Jake and saw him break away from the group of men he was standing with. She felt her heart lurch as he made his way toward her, his eyes focused and intent.

  She couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked in his black dress shirt and shiny boots. Dark and dangerous. The way he moved emanated a masculinity few men could match, and his appeal radiated from a level that even chemists couldn’t explain. Her own chemistry responded at that same level, and as their gazes met, her heart was pounding against her chest.

  “Savannah?”

  She jumped at the sudden voice so close to her ear. Beer splashed out of the glass she’d been sipping for the past hour. “Mr. McCants. You startled me.”

  “Sam.” He smiled and took the glass from her hand. “We’ll get you another one of these after we have that dance you promised me.”

  Hesitant, Savannah glanced at Jake again and saw the frown on his face. He was still moving toward her, but stopped when a woman stepped up and touched his arm. It was the redhead she’d seen in town that day.

  Sam had already slipped an arm around her waist and was leading her toward the other dancers. Why now? she groaned to herself, trying to get a look at Jake. She couldn’t possibly be rude to the host. Helpless, she forced a smile and moved onto the dance floor, managing to follow along with the fast two-step. She tried to break away when the music stopped, but he pulled her close as a waltz started.

  “You move nice,” Sam said, sliding his gaze over her.

  “Thank you.” Jake! Where are you?

  Sam’s hand tightened on her waist and subtly nudged their bodies closer. There was no doubt in Savannah’s mind that Sam McCants had a stable full of women. He was handsome, obviously successful and extremely charming. But for some reason, he just didn’t quite ring her bell, she thought, remembering their meeting in the feed store.

  And that reason was Jake, she realized. She scanned the crowd for him again, but he was nowhere in sight.

  “I thought you might like to come over one day this week and I’ll show you around the ranch,” Sam offered.

  His expression told her the only place he’d like to show her was his bedroom. What could she say? It was pretty difficult to have a busy social schedule in the middle of nowhere. “Well, I—”

  “My turn, Sam,” a deep voice interrupted.

  Grateful, Savannah turned. It wasn’t Jake, but it was the next best thing. Jared. Reluctantly Sam released her, tipping his hat as he thanked her. His gaze stayed on them both as she stepped into Jared’s arms and they danced away.

  “You saved me,” she whispered.

  A half smile tilted one corner of Jared’s mouth. “Actually it was Sam I was saving. I think Jake went looking for a gun when you started dancing with him.”

  “What’s the problem between those two?” Savannah asked, remembering Jake’s hostility toward Sam.

  Jared shrugged. “Can’t really say. Some things a man keeps to himself.”

  Something told Savannah that Jared had things he also kept to himself. Things that made his eyes lonely and his smile sad.

  “Don’t look now,” he said, grinning as he twirled her, “but Jake’s giving me the evil eye.”

  Savannah tried to see around Jared’s wide chest, but he pulled her back. “What say we slip another burr under Jake’s saddle?” he teased, whispering in her ear as if they were lovers. “Can’t think of anything more fun than gettin’ my big brother’s goat.”

  She wanted desperately to see where Jake was, but Jared was moving around too much. “What makes you think it matters to Jake who I dance with?” she asked carefully.

  Jared laughed out loud. “Lady, I’m tempted to call the fire department every time you two get within shoutin’ distance of each other. You might be foolin’ each other, but you’re not foolin’ anyone else.”

  Savannah felt her cheeks flame. Was it really that obvious? Could anyone just look at her and know how she felt about Jake? With a small groan, she laid her forehead against Jared’s chest. “We’re not even fooling ourselves, Jared. It just won’t work.”

  “Don’t make it more complicated than it is,” Jared said, then dragged her against him. She actually saw a smile in his eyes. “He’s watching. Look at me like you’re madly in love. That will set his pot to boiling fast.”

  Jared dipped her suddenly and she held on tight, laughing at his outrageousness. She might be miserable inside, she thought with a sigh, but at least she was having fun on the outside.

  Jake, on the other hand, wasn’t having any fun at all. He leaned back against a patio column, arms folded, a bottle of beer in his hand, and tried to decide who he was going to kill first—Sam or Jared. Sam probably. He’d danced with Savannah first. Jake supposed he really shouldn’t kill his own brother, though. It might not set well with Jessica or Emma. Okay, he decided, taking a pull from his bottle, he’d just maim him.

  Dammit, anyway. He felt his neck heat up. Why was she looking at Jared like that? Like she wanted to be kissed. And why were they dancing so damn close and laughing like that? His hand tightened on the neck of the bottle he was holding.

  Jared whispered in Savannah’s ear and Jake could see her blush from here. That did it! He slammed the bottle down on the patio table. He would kill him. After he maimed him. He started to make his way to them, then swore again and stopped himself short.

  What was he going to do? Play the wounded husband? He wasn’t her husband. He wasn’t even her lover. He had no claim on Savannah. She’d said it herself—they wanted different things. Beating up every man who looked at her wasn’t going to change that. He could punch out twenty guys and it wouldn’t ease the ache he felt for her.

  So what was the use? He’d only make a bigger fool out of himself, and Emma probably wouldn’t even speak to him. Jaw set tight, Jake did the only other thing he could do.

  He headed for the bar.

  Seven

  “Simon says, touch your nose.” Savannah touched her finger to her nose, and all the children, now gathered around her under a tree a short distance from the party, followed suit.

  “Simon says, wiggle your ears without using your hands.”

  The children screwed up their faces and worked furiously to wiggle their ears. Emma, sitting cross-legged on the ground, squinted her eyes and wrinkled her nose. Her new friend, a little blond girl named Amy, furrowed her brow and pursed her lips.

  Savannah stood back and laughed, thankful she’d finally managed to escape from the dance floor. After an hour of nonstop two-stepping and twirling, her feet were killing her. She must have danced with every man at the
party at least twice, some even three times.

  Every man except Jake.

  She hadn’t even seen him since her dance with Jared, though she’d watched for him. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen that redhead, either, the one who’d stopped him when he’d been walking toward her.

  The mellow strain of slow music drifted on the cool evening air, and Savannah glanced at the dance-and-pool area. A full moon shimmered in the water, and the couples held each other close in the flickering lights of patio torches.

  As Savannah stared at the dancers, she had a sudden yearning to be in Jake’s arms, her body moving with his to the rhythm of the music. If she laid her cheek on his chest, would she hear his heartbeat? If she touched his skin, would it be as hot as it had been when he’d kissed her?

  And was he out there now, she wondered, holding that redhead?

  A burst of giggles from the little girls brought Savannah out of her wandering thoughts. One of the boys had actually managed to wiggle his ears and the other boys were gathered around him in admiration.

  “Spread your arms wide,” Savannah said loudly, stretching her arms out from her sides, forcing her attention back to the game. Most of the children copied her, then realized quickly she hadn’t said, “Simon says.”

  Amid the groans and complaints, someone yelled it was time for ice-cream sundaes. Game forgotten, the children ran off, leaving Savannah alone. With a sigh, she leaned back against the tree and listened to the slow country ballad. An ache spread through her as she watched the dancers. Unwillingly she scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of one tall cowboy with a black Stetson, praying she wouldn’t find him in another woman’s arms.

  Foolish thoughts, she told herself, but that didn’t stop her. Every time he came close, every time he looked at her, she felt the energy pulsate between them. Her heart beat faster and her stomach twisted into a knot. She either needed a doctor or a lover, she thought with a wry smile. But did she dare let her guard down and give in to the attraction she felt for Jake? It would be so easy. So very easy—