Jeff finally coming up for air, asked with a smile, “Did I warm you up?”
“Was I cold? I can’t seem to remember.” She snuggled closer into his chest savoring the moment.
“Me either.” Jeff said giving her a sweet kiss on the forehead, while hugging her so tightly she thought her ribs might crack. Like he never wanted to let her go. But he did, slowly, with a sigh.
“Well, June Meyers, from Ohio, thanks for an enjoyable evening. We need to get to bed and get some rest. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, and you need to be awake for your drive. Are you ready to head upstairs?”
The spell of the moment broken, June reluctantly stretched and stood up wobbly on her feet. “You’re right; I really do need to get some sleep. Don’t want to drive off some mountain road tomorrow.”
“You go ahead and head up to the guest room. I’m going to make sure everything is locked up, and then I’m going to hit the hay, too. Holler if you need anything.”
Her brain screamed I need you! But she merely handed back his shirt, “Thanks for the loan.”
“Anytime. Goodnight.” Jeff said as he headed off the porch and down toward the barns.
* * *
Once alone in her room and after packing the last of her things for a quick departure in the morning, she crawling into the big comfy guest bed and found sleep would not come. She lay awake with a smile on her face and a warmth in her body, reliving over and over in her mind what it felt like to be held and kissed by a man, and not just any man, but Jeff Walker, who may be the sexiest man she had ever known. Just her luck to meet someone she was so very attracted to but would never see again. So many emotions surged through her body, and she had no idea what to do with them. It crossed her mind—more than once—to walk down the long wide hall, find his room, and climb into bed with him. What a wonderful night it could be, but no she definitely was not going to sleep with a man she had just met, even if that man happened to be the world’s greatest kisser.
June couldn’t remember ever kissing anyone the way she had just kissed Jeff. Had it ever been like that with Ed? June tried to think back to their first date—they had been so young. They met at a fraternity party, with lots of beer. The kissing she couldn’t recall. She’d always believed they had a decent sex life, although she had to admit, she had nothing to compare it to. As the years went on, so overshadowed by kids and everyday life, what was there had seemed to fizzle. Obviously it had for Ed too, since he had gone looking elsewhere. Even after all this time, his betrayal still stung. Maybe she wasn’t ever good in bed. The whole subject brought out her deepest insecurities. Why wasn’t she enough for him? Was there something else she could have done to hold their marriage, and their life together? She shuddered as she remembered how unattractive she had felt during the divorce. Maybe it was a good thing she was leaving tomorrow. She didn’t want to fail again. After much tossing and turning, she finally fell into a restless slumber.
* * *
Just down the hall, Jeff also lay awake staring at the beamed ceiling of his rustic bedroom. The one he had shared with his wife. He didn’t know what had come over him. He hadn’t kissed another woman since Susan died eight years ago. In fact, since he and Susan had been high school sweethearts, he’d never kissed anyone else, unless you counted Linda Jones at the eighth grade dance. Somehow he’d always thought it would feel like a betrayal to Susan if he kissed anyone else—ever. Even after all these years of her being gone. But tonight, for a short time, he’d forgotten about all that. Instead it just felt good, so damn good, to hold June in his arms and feel wanted again—not just as a dad—but as a man. Darn, she had smelled so good and responded so sweetly to his embrace. He could get used to that feeling. He shook his head. This was silly. He simply wasn’t ready to be “involved” with anyone, and June was leaving in the morning. Just as well. Until sleep finally came, however, his thoughts were on June and her petite little body and amazing lips, lying in a bed just down the hall. He could feel his body react. He would relive this evening in his dreams for a long time.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Beep, beep, beep sounded the alarm on the nightstand. Morning had come too quickly. June rubbed her sleep filled eyes and for a moment wondered where she was. She felt heat rise in her cheeks as she remembered the events of last evening. Another glorious, sunny morning greeted her through the window. She hummed as she got dressed and ready to head to California. Her heart a tingled as the memory of last evening filled her thoughts. Surely, Jeff felt it too. She imagined him sweeping her off her feet as she walked into the kitchen, saying how much he enjoyed their intimate moments together. He would tell her he wanted to keep in touch. She could visit Colorado. He could visit Ohio. Who knew? Maybe this was the start of something fabulous. She couldn’t wait to get downstairs and wish him good morning.
Calling Laddie to follow, she walked down the big staircase, smelling the inviting aroma of fresh coffee. She hurried her steps in anticipation, only to find an empty kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee, and a note that read, “June, have some coffee for the road, and have a safe trip. It was nice meeting you–Jeff.”
June’s heart sank clear down to her feet. This was not what she’d expected. Sadly, she guessed that was it. No use prolonging this now. She hastily poured some coffee in her to-go cup and dragged her suitcases out to her car. She loaded her stuff in the trunk, glancing around hopefully, but she saw no one.
In a last attempt, she called Laddie and they walked down to the horse barn, hoping desperately that Jeff would be there to say goodbye. She peered inside and was devastated to find the dim interior deserted except for the new little horses who ran over to sniff her and Laddie. “Goodbye, nameless horses,” she said. “It was great meeting you. Enjoy your lives on this wonderful ranch.”
With that, she trudged back to her car. Laddie eagerly jumped into the back seat. She started the engine and was about to put the Subaru in gear, when Laddie let out his welcoming bark. Her spirits soared at the sight of a rider and horse galloping down the road to where she was parked. Jeff looked extremely handsome this morning in his cowboy hat, boots and work clothes.
June stepped back out of her car, shaking with excitement. She couldn’t help but notice how his muscles rippled under his thin denim shirt as he reined his horse to a stop. He jumped down and walked toward her.
“Glad I caught you. I wanted to say goodbye in person before you left, not just in that lame note.”
June felt her heart pounding in her chest, overwhelmed again by the fierce attraction that she felt for this cowboy. She knew that he was going to pull her into his arms and give her the biggest kiss ever, just like in the movies.
Instead, Jeff stuck out his hand to shake hers. The mere touch of his warm calloused palm sent shivers of excitement up her spine.
Hesitantly he said, “I also wanted to apologize for last night. I’m sorry that I got carried away. I hope I didn’t offend you. I’m not in the habit of attacking female company.”
June’s heart sank again—even further this time. She felt her shoulders slump. “No apology needed. I got carried away, too. No harm done. It was nice meeting you.” Reluctantly she let go of his hand and quickly got into her car before he could see the tears that were starting to form in the corner of her eyes.
“Drive safe,” he said with a wave as she pulled forward. She willed him to try and stop her, but he didn’t move..
June watched for as long as possible in the rearview mirror as he stood there in the driveway his gaze following her car. When she crested a hill, he was no longer in view. She turned onto the highway that would take her back to I-70 and the real world, as bitter tears stung her eyes.
“For heaven’s sakes, it was just a few stolen kisses. June, you need to develop a lot tougher skin, if you’re going to start dating again.” Hearing the melancholy tone of her voice, Laddie put his nose up on her shoulder and whimpered softly. “It’s okay boy. You’re the only man I need,” she added without feeling.
Right then and there she vowed to herself to not even think about kissing any other man until she decided where she was going to settle and live for the rest of her life. Not that men were likely to be lining up to kiss her. This has been a fluke. She sighed deeply. What had she been thinking last night? That was the problem—she hadn’t been thinking at all. For once in her life, she simply went with her feelings. She was smarter than that. Well, she wouldn’t let herself get out of control again.
* * *
Jeff stood motionless and stared down the lane long after the trail of dust from June’s car had settled. What had just happened? Less than twenty-four hours ago, he had returned to his beloved ranch—his safe place—where all was predictable and normal. He had been minding his own business, routinely fixing the corral, when his world had been turned upside down as soon as June rode up on Blaze. What was it about this woman? Eight years since Susan’s death and he had never even come close to kissing another woman. Didn’t want to. Didn’t need that drama in his life.
Then suddenly last night, all rational thought had deserted him like a panicked cattle herd. Sitting on the swing next to June, he had breathed in her scent and was lost. How wonderful she had felt in his arms and how soft her lips had been as they opened to meet his own. His all consuming passion and desire was returned in equal part to him with every inch of her amazing body. He could have kissed her all night and into the next day.
He turned and walked toward the barn, feeling adrift on his own ranch. Now what? Everything went back to normal when she drove away. Except that it didn’t feel normal any more.
* * *
An hour of navigating winding mountain roads brought June back to I-70. As she turned onto the Interstate and left Peak County behind, the drive became monotonous. She restlessly flipped through radio channels for distraction, but every song seemed to conjure up images of Jeff. The trouble with driving alone was that it gave one too much time to think.
June’s mind skipped back six years. That fall, it had seemed like Ed had been staying at school later and later each evening. She had attributed it to the fact that their cross country team was favored to win state and she knew there was a lot of strategizing and planning required of the coaches. One particular Friday night in October, when there was not much going on in Haywood, she had gotten off early from her job at the library. By then, Paul was already away at Ohio State and their daughters, in middle school and high school, were off with friends for the evening. She had walked out of the library and decided—on a whim—to walk the two doors down to Jaime’s and see if Ed had stopped in to play a game of pool and have a beer with his friends. In the early days of their marriage, before kids, they had often gone there together to relax after a long week. She couldn’t remember the last time she had actually set foot inside of Jaime’s.
What happened next was still a blur. She had walked into the dimly lit bar, as several people looked up from their drinks and gasped. There was Ed, with his arm around the new, twenty-two year old English teacher, Courtney, looking like he was way more into her than the game of pool they were supposedly playing. Too stunned to speak, she had simply turned around and ran the three blocks home, tears forming in her eyes, and had fallen sobbing to the floor, burying her head in the fur of the then puppy, Laddie.
Of course, Ed had come in a few minutes later and assured her it was all a big misunderstanding. However, 10 months later, she found herself walking down the courthouse steps in Mound City, the county seat, a divorced woman. Eight months after that, Ed and Courtney’s first child was born, supposedly a month early. The new Meyers couple wasted no time in building a fancy new house on an acreage outside of Hayville, and by all accounts were living happily ever after. Currently, Courtney was pregnant with their second child. June shook her head. How could she have been so wrong about Ed and their relationship? The betrayal still stung after all these years. She did not need another man in her life to let her down.
* * *
Still, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, her thoughts kept returning to Jeff Walker. After checking into the Hampton Inn in St. George, Utah, and taking a nice long walk around town with Laddie, she spent another restless night, tossing and turning and dreaming of Jeff and the Walker Ranch.
June awoke the next morning and reached over to hug her furry friend. She vowed to be in a better mood today. After all, she was about to get to San Diego and her adorable granddaughters. “Only a little over six hours and we’ll be there,” she said to Laddie as he wagged his tail and looked excited.
Back in the car, she headed west on I-15 toward Las Vegas. Her obsession with Jeff Walker dissipated somewhat, pushed aside by thoughts of Paul’s family and the fun they were going to have together. She bet the girls had grown since they were home for Alexis’s high school graduation in May. Only three months ago, but boy had she missed them. The miles flew by and before she knew it, she was pulling into the driveway of Paul’s San Diego home. She hadn’t even gotten the car into park, when Laddie started barking joyously as 3-year-old Emma and 5-year-old Elizabeth ran out the front door.
“Grandma, grandma!” they exclaimed in unison. “Mommy, come quick, Grandma is here.”
June climbed out of her little car, immediately engulfed in pint size hugs. “Wow, look how much you’ve grown.”
“I’m five now. Five is big.”
Cindy came out of the house smiling warmly. “We’re so glad you finally made it. The girls have been so excited. That sounded just awful getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in Colorado. Paul wishes he had insisted on you flying.”
“It wasn’t bad. I enjoyed my time there. Everyone I met was very helpful.” Visions of Jeff caressing her in the fading evening light leaped back into her brain. She could still feel his warm lips pressing against hers and smell his cologne. She smiled inwardly. It hadn’t been bad at all.
“Well, we’re glad you’re here. Come on inside and relax. Paul should be home from work soon.”
June walked into the cozy home laughing as two little sets of hands tugged Laddie along with them. “Can Laddie sleep with us, Grandma? I think he wants to. We don’t have a dog of our own.” Laddie wagged his tail and appeared to relish all of the attention showered on him after the long car trip.
* * *
On Friday morning, Jeff headed into town for breakfast after working extra hard for the three days since June drove out of his life. Dang, that woman. Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? All he could think about was how soft her lips were and how she made him feel things he didn’t know were still inside of him. Should he have asked for her address or her phone number? Tried to keep in touch? No, that would be ridiculous. He sure wasn’t moving to Ohio, and long distance relationships never worked. He was better off now that she was gone. Gone physically, but not from his mind. He shook his head to clear his brain, climbed out of his truck, and walked into Violet’s for a strong cup of morning coffee.
“Mornin’ JW. Coffee?”
“You bet! I’ve been up since, dawn. I could use a couple of your biscuits too.”
“Coming right up. What’s new out at your ranch?”
“Not much. My new yearling horses are keeping me busy.”
“How’s June? Did she get back on her way once her car was repaired?”
Why did just the mention of her name create an ache clear down in his gut? “Yep, she left bright and early Tuesday morning. She was anxious to get to California and her grandkids.”
“I really enjoyed her. Hope she comes back this way again.”
Jeff frowned into his coffee. “I doubt that will happen. She lives in Ohio, and we aren’t really on the way to anywhere. Probably her one and only trip to the excitement of Peakview.”
“Well, you never know.” Violet smiled.
Violet had observed the looks that had passed between Jeff and June in the cafe, even if they were both too stubborn to notice. The attraction between the two of them was hard to miss. Work
ing around people the way she did, she had become fairly skilled at picking up on unspoken signals. It was one of the many ways she kept her customers happy. She was the little town’s unofficial mom. If she wasn’t mistaken, she had witnessed two people on the brink of falling hard for each other. It sure would be nice for JW to find love again. She hated watching him alone all these years. He deserved a good woman in his life.
“I have this feeling we may see her again one of these days.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that.” Jeff grumbled, digging into his biscuits.
Yep, avoiding the subject. It was a sure sign that June had gotten to him. It was about time someone did!
CHAPTER TWELVE
In San Diego, June was having a fantastic time playing with Emma and Lizzy, who were chock full of endless amounts of high energy. They seemed to go one hundred miles an hour at all times. She smiled. Paul had turned into such a great husband and father. He was so patient and gentle with his little girls. Cindy had revealed that she was pregnant again, and he was hoping for a boy this time, but another daughter would be fine also. She spent two marvelous weeks going to SeaWorld, the beach, the zoo, the wild animal park, and anything else she could come up with that would entertain and wear out two active little girls. She and Paul hadn’t had a spare moment to really talk.
Colorado Sunset (Peakview Series Book 1) Page 7
