Saved by the Rancher

by Jennifer Ryan

  She broke his heart when she talked like this. The simplest things were missing from her life.

  “I’d never hurt you. Never.”

  “I know that. Please don’t mistake my skittishness with thinking I’m afraid of you.”

  For the first time since he entered her room, he reached out to touch her, resting his hand over hers on the back of the chaise. She jumped when his warm skin touched hers, but immediately relaxed.

  “I don’t think you’re afraid of anything, or anyone.”

  “I am scared of him and what he wants to do to me.”

  “You face him with courage despite that fear, like a soldier facing a battle.”

  Sensing her need to change the subject, he asked, “Tell me something about you?”

  Giddy, nervous, expectant . . . this felt like a first date and he wanted to know about her. She wanted to know everything about him, greedy and anxious to learn everything. “Well, I’m twenty-six. How old are you, by the way?”

  “Thirty-four.”

  “You don’t look it,” she said.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yeah. All the sun-streaked blond hair, those blue eyes, the tan skin from being outside all the time. Nice.”

  The cocky grin spread over his face, brightened his eyes, made him look mischievous.

  “God, you’re cute. You’re flirting with me. You must be feeling better.”

  Ignoring his wide smile and teasing, she changed the subject completely and hoped the butterflies in her stomach settled. Though if he kept brushing his fingers over the back of her hand like that, she’d melt into a puddle.

  “I run my own business. I’m a computer graphics artist, and I do a lot of programming. I have a website, and I take jobs through the Internet and email. Obviously, it would be difficult to have an office with the way I move around. I like it, and I work when I want.”

  “You must do well for yourself.”

  All for the truth, sometimes she found it best to skirt full disclosure. “I do it because I like it. I don’t have to interact with a lot of people. So long as I have a laptop, I can run the business. Ben takes care of all my legal and money matters.”

  “How did you meet Ben?”

  “I never have in the normal sense. I’ve never seen him in person.”

  “What do you mean? I thought you guys are really good friends.”

  “After the divorce, well, there began the first of many incidents. That was the first time I went into hiding. It isn’t an easy thing. You leave a trail of records wherever you go. I needed help, so I went on the Internet and did my research. I found Ben. He had all the qualifications I needed.”

  “What qualifications were those? How to hide someone 101?”

  “No.” She smiled, but it died when thoughts of her past intruded. “As a lawyer, he had to keep my situation confidential. He runs his own private firm. While he has other lawyers working for him who specialize in a great many things, he also has people who are investment specialists and CPAs. All of which I needed, and Ben oversees everything. The clincher, though, I found a bunch of human-interest stories about, ‘Small town boy makes good and gives back,’ about him. Did you know he provides free legal services to women staying at battered women’s shelters in San Francisco?”

  “I didn’t know. But he told me once that his father abused his mother.”

  “That’s right, you guys went to college together.”

  “Yeah. We were dorm mates freshman year. I dropped out and went into the military. Ben went on to law school and look at him now.”

  “You haven’t done so bad for yourself. After all, women are chasing after you and your bank account.”

  He couldn’t help laughing. “Now you’re making fun of me.” He shrugged his massive shoulders and added, “Looking back, I guess it is kind of funny. I wasn’t interested in marrying any of them,” he admitted. Their eyes locked, time spun out, stalled in the quiet room. “So, what else?”

  “Well, Ben never worked for my ex-husband, nor have they ever met.”

  “Tell me who he is?”

  “Not tonight,” she said wearily. “I don’t want to speak his name. Once you find out, well, let’s just say you’ll be astounded.”

  “Will you tell me soon? I can help you.”

  “I’m tired, and it’s too much to get into tonight.”

  “For now, I’ll accept that. But we will have this conversation soon. I can’t protect you and my family if I don’t know who I’m up against.”

  “I didn’t lie when I said this is one of the longest conversations I’ve had with someone. I haven’t let anyone into my life. I haven’t even spoken to my mother in two years. Not directly, anyway. I need some time.”

  “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not letting you go anywhere either. You know what I need—food. Let’s have dinner.”

  Jack glanced at his watch, his fingers brushing against her skin as he turned his hand. “I can’t believe we’ve been talking for so long. It’s almost eight. I’ll go down and get dinner and bring it up. We’ll eat, we’ll talk, and after you can rest.”

  “I’m starving,” she admitted.

  “Back in a minute.”

  Sally and Jack went down to the kitchen. Jenna managed to get herself to the bathroom and freshen up. About to sit in the chair again, Jack carried in a huge tray of food.

  “Are you ever going to bring me my clothes from the cabin? I can’t wear a sheet the rest of my life, you know.”

  “Now, what would possess me to bring you clothes?” His eyes roamed over her body with lazy satisfaction, and a flush rose from her breasts to her cheeks. “I like you in only a sheet. Besides, honey, I’ve seen you naked. Every beautiful inch of you. Two days of pure torture touching you, but not touching you.” He paused, his blue eyes smoldering, he swept his gaze from her face, down her body to her bare feet. Her breasts tingled, she squeezed her thighs to stop the jolt of heat. It didn’t work, and his eyes moved up her legs, stopped on her squirming hips, slid up to her peaked breasts. His eyes met hers, she felt singed by the heat in his. “I really want to touch you.” He gave her his now-familiar wicked grin, enjoying her discomfort and diffusing the intense moment.

  She clamped on to the lightness in his smile, unable to push past her fear that, despite his kindness, she’d read something wrong in him. Ridiculous, a voice scolded. He’s harmless.

  “Payback’s a bitch, Jack. I’ll get you for this. I want my clothes.”

  “Later. Maybe.” He cocked up one side of his mouth in an adorable grin. “Eat.”

  She tucked the sheet closer around her aching breasts and looked at the plates of food Jack had brought up. A huge bowl of soup for her with fresh bread and melted butter. Jack’s plate disappeared under a huge steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

  “You’re a real meat and potatoes man, huh?”

  “Beth cooks, I eat. She makes all kinds of things. Besides, I’m a rancher. Tonight happens to be steak. She made the soup especially for you. How’s your stomach, any queasiness?”

  “Not really. The soup is excellent. Now, give me a bite of that steak.”

  “Bossy. You must be feeling better.” He handed over a forkful of succulent steak.

  She closed her eyes and savored. “That’s good.”

  His eyes on her mouth, he stared, shook himself out of his lusty thoughts about her mouth on him and ordered, “Eat your soup. It’s good for you and easy on your stomach.”

  “Now who’s bossy?”

  They ate and talked about their lives. They’d been talking for three hours, and Jack couldn’t remember any other time when he’d sat talking to a woman. Well read, she could talk about anything. She even liked sports. They shared a lot of the same interests. Best of all, she was a good listener. She asked him question after question, interested in everything about him. He couldn’t learn enough about her either and time got away from them. The heavy darkness outside the windows and th
e quiet of the house surrounded them.

  They sat inches apart, yet Jack never touched her. Relaxed with him, he didn’t want to push. He enjoyed just being that near to her and knew with every passing minute of shared conversation—and a few intense, heat-filled moments—he gained her trust little by little. He wanted more than anything to touch her, but she asked for time. He’d give her what she needed and gain what he wanted most. Her complete trust and understanding that he’d never hurt her, no matter what.

  Her eyes drooped and she yawned several times, completely worn out. He helped her walk to the bed and settled her in.

  “You’re getting your strength back. Maybe tomorrow I’ll take you for a walk outside, get some fresh air. It’ll be good to work your muscles again.”

  “I can’t wait to see the ranch. I didn’t really see anything when we drove in. Too sleepy. Like now.”

  Jack prepared another needle with the antibiotics.

  “You’re not sticking me with that.”

  “Come on. It’ll only hurt for a second, and I’ll get to look under that sheet again.”

  “Jack, I’m not kidding. I don’t like shots. Enough already.”

  “You need the medicine. Now gimme your cheek.”

  “Ha. Ha. Very funny.”

  She let him give her the shot and stuck her tongue out when he finished. He loved how easily she made him laugh.

  “Smart ass.”

  “Sore ass is more like it.”

  He chuckled again. Even in her condition, she showed her playful side. Quite something, she trusted him enough to joke, play, and show him glimpses beneath the guard she kept up and reinforced when it slipped and she forgot and caught herself.

  Sally lay curled next to Jenna sound asleep. “Looks like you aren’t the only sleepy one. Lucky dog. Good night, honey.”

  “I like it when you do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Call me sweet names.”

  “I was talking to the dog.” He gazed down at her, trying his damndest not to smile or laugh.

  She cracked up. “Ha. Ha.”

  He leaned down and planted a smacking kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight, baby.”

  “Night, Jack.”

  He trailed his fingers all the way down her uninjured leg as he walked the length of the bed toward the door. He’d slept in his bed alone for too long now. Having Jenna this close and not tucked beside him sent him through his dark, lonely room and straight into a cold shower.

  Chapter Seventeen

  * * *

  DAVID HID HIS disappointment and annoyance with the woman beside him as the party continued around them. A nice substitute, but the woman he really wanted remained out of reach. He inhaled and imagined the musky scent beside him was softer, tinged with sweet floral notes and Jenna’s elusive scent. He missed the way Jenna smelled, the way her hair flamed red in the sunlight and deepened to rich chocolate in the dark spread over a pristine white pillow, her skin soft and supple beneath his hands. He ached to spread his hand over her creamy stomach, slide it up to cup her rosy pink tipped breast, higher to her elegant throat . . . and squeeze, until she begged him for mercy.

  “I see the mayor. Let’s say hello. My family helped get him elected,” she bragged.

  “Go ahead, darling. My grandfather is headed this way, something’s on his mind.”

  “Patricia, you look lovely this evening, my dear,” his grandfather said, kissing her cheek.

  “Thank you, Charles. It’s nice to see you again. Excuse me.” With a pretty smile for his grandfather, she excused herself.

  “She’s perfect, David. Beautiful, educated, wealthy, connected. You could do worse.”

  “You mean Jenna.”

  “You changed when you married her . . . And not for the better. Forget the past. Focus on your future.” His grandfather raised his glass, indicating Patricia across the room. His future, according to his family.

  Not according to him. He would get what he wanted. He always did.

  Chapter Eighteen

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING Jack sat at the breakfast bar drinking coffee, desperate for the caffeine to jolt his system after another long, restless night, dreaming about Jenna and talking himself out of walking down the hall to her room and crawling into her bed. That argument lasted deep into the night and early morning.

  Caleb and Lily came in through the kitchen door. “Uncle Jack. I got to see my pony. She’s brown and white, and she ate a carrot out of my hands.”

  “I know your pony is brown and white. I bought her for you, goofy.”

  “Where’s the lady?”

  “She’s upstairs sleeping with Sally. Stay down here. She’s not feeling well, and she needs to sleep. Morning, Caleb.”

  “Morning, Jack. All the crews are working. No problems this morning, except for Blue. He wants to go out for a ride. You’ve had him cooped up for too long. Stubborn horse.”

  While they sat in the kitchen discussing the ranch, Lily snuck upstairs. Jack and Caleb realized, too late, Lily escaped. They bolted from the kitchen and reached to top of the stairs in time to see Jenna’s back to the door and Lily next to her. They paused outside the door on the landing, enthralled by the innocent scene in the bedroom.

  REST, FOOD, AND the medicine worked wonders in making Jenna feel better. She lay in bed listening to Sally snore and stared across the room to the windows and the trees outside. The beautiful morning bloomed with bright sunlight. Lying on her left side, a little blond head popped up next to the side of the bed.

  “I snuck in here. Daddy and Uncle don’t know.”

  “I see.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m Jenna. Who are you?” Had to be Lily, but she loved the lyrical sound of this tiny nymph’s voice. She couldn’t help smiling at this bright angel of a child.

  “I’m Lily Bowden, like the flower. I’m three.”

  “Stargazer lilies are my favorite.”

  “Like Uncle’s ranch. Stargazer Ranch.”

  “So it is. I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Can I come up there with you?”

  “May I come up there. And yes, you may.”

  Lily climbed up and lay down facing Jenna. She put her hands together and tucked them under her cheek. Angel baby, smelling of spring and strawberry shampoo.

  “Daddy calls me sunshine sometimes. Mommy’s name is Summer. He says I’m Summer’s sunshine. That’s funny,” she giggled. “Daddy brings mommy flowers he picks in the fields. He puts them in a vase on the table. Then he kisses her.”

  “Very romantic. People should always do nice things for others, especially the ones they love.”

  “No one brings me flowers. What does the Stargazer look like? Maybe I can find one in the field.”

  “I don’t think you’ll find one. Stargazers are a really big lily. They start out closed like this.” Jenna held up her hand, palm up, with her fingertips touching. “Then, they open like a star and inside they are dark pink and they smell really, really good.” She spread her fingers to show Lily how the flower opens.

  “Is there a flower shop in town?” Jenna remembered several stores on the main street by the diner, but couldn’t remember what kind. Her arrival in town had become nothing but a blur, except meeting Jack. Him sitting in the booth at the diner showed crystal clear in her mind.

  “Yes. Next to mommy’s work. It always smells really good.”

  “When I feel better, I’ll go into town and see if they have any Stargazers. If they do, I’ll buy you some, so you can see. Maybe mommy will let you keep them in your room.”

  “Really? I can have flowers?”

  “Yes. You have your Uncle’s and Mommy’s blue eyes.” Lily’s were very close to Jack’s, but his had deep blue flecks.

  “Daddy has muddy brown eyes. I like blue ones better. Yours are pretty. They’re the same color as grass.”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s Sally behind you. I named her when I
was one. Uncle said it wasn’t fair Mommy got a baby and he didn’t, so he got a puppy. She used to lick my face and I would call her silly, but Uncle Jack thought I called her Sally, so that’s what he called her, Silly Sally. Isn’t that funny? Silly Sally.”

  Lily burst into laughter over her own joke. Jenna couldn’t help but smile and giggle with her.

  Lily turned very serious. “Do you have a big owie?”

  The sheet covered her, but one bandage high on her right shoulder wasn’t hidden. Just a white bandage, no blood, she didn’t think it would frighten Lily.

  “I got a bad sore and your Uncle Jack put the bandage on to help it get better.”

  “That’s a big owie.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Did you go to the doctor? I don’t like the doctor. They give you pokey shots. I get a lollipop, so it’s not so bad. Mommy kisses it better.”

  “I didn’t go to the doctor, but your Uncle Jack gave me lots of pokey shots right in the butt. I didn’t get even one lollipop from him. Can you believe that?”

  “You should at least get a lollipop.”

  “Yeah. Well, he’s coming back in here later and try to give me another shot. I’m not letting him if I don’t get a lollipop this time.”

  “Yeah. That’s not nice that you didn’t get one.”

  “It’s okay. I bet your Uncle doesn’t have lollipops anyway,” Jenna giggled.

  “He might. He hides candy in a special jar for me in the pantry.”

  “You know what I like to have for breakfast sometimes? Chocolate covered peanut butter cups. They’re really good with a cup of coffee.”

  “You get to eat candy for breakfast. Mommy won’t let me. She says I have to have cereal or fruit or something.”

  “That’s the good thing about growing up. You can have anything you want. Sometimes I eat rocky road ice cream for breakfast.”

  “I can’t wait to grow up,” Lily said with an exasperated sigh.