“Oh, Jared,” she moaned, “why didn’t you wake me up?”
She heard him chuckle. “I doubt a herd of horses would have woken you up. And besides, disturbing a peaceful sleep ranks somewhere with kicking puppies and pulling the wings off butterflies.”
She pulled the blanket tighter over her head, resisting Jared’s tug. She wished the couch would swallow her. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get out of your hair as soon as—”
He tugged harder, yanking the blanket off. “Don’t worry about it, Annie. It’s no big deal.”
She peeked up at him, suddenly terribly conscious of what she must look like. But Jared wasn’t looking so hot himself, she thought, taking in his tousled hair, dark lines under his eyes and the morning beard. And yet, even though he looked rumpled, he also looked incredibly sexy. He was pure masculinity with his bare broad chest and sleepy eyes. Her pulse responded with a resounding high-speed skip.
Stop it, she told herself. Don’t set yourself up for another fall.
She sat stiffly, combing the hair away from her face as she struggled to gain some semblance of control. “Are you going to just torture me with that coffee,” she said, staring at the cup in his hand, “or are you going to share?”
After the night he’d had, a little torture would be fair measure, Jared thought as he extended the cup toward her. His bed had looked like a war zone this morning. The image of her soft slender body so close, with only a wall separating them, had driven him crazy. He’d lost count of the times he’d sat on the edge of his mattress, arguing with himself about dragging Annie into his bedroom with him. One time he’d even made it to the door before he came to his senses.
Needless to say, he hadn’t exactly woken up cheerful.
Her fingers closed over his as she reached for the coffee, and he felt that same wild need, that same jolt of electricity that shot through him every time she touched him. His hand tightened on the cup, and he slowly lifted his gaze to hers.
Her eyes were smoky, heavy with a passion he’d only dreamed about. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips moist and inviting. He knew they’d be warm and soft under his own.
There was no past at this moment, no future. Just a man and a woman where time had ceased to intrude.
“Annie.”
His voice was no more than a ragged whisper, a plea. He set down the coffee cup and started to reach for her—
Someone knocked at the front door. Loudly.
“Jared! Wake up, you lazy bum. Your baby sister’s here!”
He closed his eyes and swore heatedly. Of all the lousy timing! An expression of sheer panic flashed across Annie’s face. She grabbed for the blanket in a knee-jerk reaction.
Jessica Stone burst through the front door, her arms filled with department-store bags. She stopped abruptly as she took in Annie and Jared.
“Oops.” She started to turn, mumbling an apology, then quickly spun back around, her eyes widening. “Annie?” she whispered. “Annie Bailey?”
Annie couldn’t help but smile at Jessica. They hadn’t seen each other in almost four years, but Jared’s sister looked the same, although maybe more beautiful. With her dark shining hair and blue eyes, she was a Stone sibling through and through.
What must she think! Annie thought as she bit back a groan. The last time Jessica had seen her, Annie was engaged to Jonathan. Now here she was, with Jared, after obviously spending the night in his trailer.
What else could she think?
Jared jumped up and stepped away, shoving his hands into his pockets. Good Lord, the way both she and Jared were acting, who wouldn’t think something was going on?
With a laugh, Jessica dropped her bags, then bounced on the couch beside Annie and threw her arms around her. “Annie! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? When did you get here? How long are you staying?” Before she could even answer, Jessica hugged her again. “Oh, it’s so good to see you!”
Warmed by Jessica’s welcome but speechless, Annie sent an imploring look to Jared.
“Arloco Oil has agreed to back me,” Jared said. “Annie is their geologist.”
Jessica stared at Annie. “I’d almost forgotten. You were studying to be a geologist. Jonathan graduated a year before you.”
Annie nodded.
Jessica shook her head in disbelief. “And now you’re back here. Incredible.”
“Incredible” didn’t begin to describe it, Jared thought. “Why did you come back early? I thought you were in San Antonio with Jake and Savannah and Emma.”
“We all got home last night, Jared. Like we were supposed to.” Jessica frowned at him. “You never were very good at dates, big brother. I suppose you’ve also forgotten that Emma’s tenth-birthday party is this afternoon, too.”
“It is not.” Jared grabbed the black T-shirt he’d set on the coffee table earlier and pulled it on. “It’s next Saturday.”
Jessica looked at Annie and sighed. “He’s cute, but hopeless. I’ll expect you both at the ranch this afternoon. Four o’clock.”
“Oh, no.” Annie shook her head. “I can’t. I...well, I’m staying in town, and—”
“Great!” Jessica said brightly as she stood. “You can ride in from town with me then. We’ll have lots of time to catch up.”
Jessica gathered up the bags she’d dropped and deposited them in Jared’s arms. “I know how much you love to shop,” she said sarcastically, “so I picked up a few things for you in San Antonio. I’ll send you the bill.” She winked at him, then reached up and kissed his cheek. “Wear the shirt in the white bag this afternoon.”
Jared frowned down at his sister. She had a mischievous look in her eyes, and he knew it meant trouble.
But there was no escaping whatever it was she was up to, he thought with a sigh. And so what if Annie was at the party? What harm was there in that? There’d be enough other people around to keep a safe distance from her, and it wasn’t as if they were going home together.
He stared after his sister as she sashayed out the door with a wave, thinking there were tornadoes that caused less damage.
* * *
The last time Annie had been to Stone Creek Ranch there hadn’t been pink balloons or streamers decorating the inside of the one-story brick house. There’d been no real laughter, as she heard now, no smiling faces. No brightly colored cake with huge pink roses. The people hadn’t been dressed in party clothes. They’d worn black, and they’d come to say goodbye to friend and neighbor, Jonathan Stone.
For Annie, that day had been a blur. She’d sat with the family, talked with everyone there, but even now, she couldn’t recall one conversation she’d had or the name of one person she’d met. All she remembered was the cocoon of pain, and the horrible overwhelming feeling that she’d forgotten something and couldn’t remember what it was.
But today, when she’d stepped through the front door in a sheer floral-print dress, it was as if she’d moved from one time zone into another, from a dark place into a bright place, and though she’d felt a moment of panic, she also felt as if she belonged here. And when Jessica dragged her through all the other guests to Jake, the minute he wrapped his arms around her, whatever anxiety she’d been feeling was gone.
She felt as if she’d come home.
She hugged Jake back, then gasped when he lifted her off the floor, not a difficult feat for him, considering the fact that he was six foot four.
Jake set her down, then held her away from him and smiled the Stone smile that drove women crazy. “Annie Bailey. Tell me you’re single, you gorgeous creature.”
It was at that moment that Annie’s gaze caught Jared’s. He was leaning against the fireplace a few feet away, a bottle of beer in his hand, watching her intently. Black jeans hugged his narrow hips, and a deep blue Western-style shirt emphasized the blue of his eyes and dark hair. She felt her pulse race as he nodded at her, but made no move to join them.
Shaken, she turned her attention back to Jake and forced herself to grin at him. “I am
single, but I hear you’re not.”
“Can’t take my eyes off this man or he’s into trouble.” A slender blonde moved beside Jake and slid her arm through his. Her soft Southern accent was honey-smooth. “Watch out, Annie, or he’ll break your heart like he did mine.”
“I seem to recall it was the other way around,” Jake said indignantly. “I’m the one who had to beg you to marry me in front of twenty little giggling girls.”
“A fitting punishment for letting me get away in the first place,” she reminded him coolly, but there was laughter and love in her eyes when she kissed him on the cheek. She turned back to Annie, her hand outstretched. “I’m Savannah.”
Jessica, who had been standing beside Annie looking extremely amused, handed Annie a can of soda as she leaned close and whispered loudly, “I’ll give you all the juicy details about these two later.”
Jake frowned at Jessica, then looked at his wife. “What have you been telling her?”
Savannah smiled innocently. “Why, nothing, dear.”
A little girl who was a young version of Jessica peeked curiously from behind Jake’s back. Jake slipped an arm around the child and pulled her in front of him. “Annie, this is my sister, Emma. Emma, this is Annie Bailey, a good friend.”
Annie held out her hand. “Happy birthday, Emma.”
Emma shyly took Annie’s hand, then studied her for a long moment. “You were in Jessica’s movie.”
Annie furrowed her brow. “Jessica’s movie?”
Emma nodded. “From her video camera. You were kissing my brother Jonathan, who went to heaven.”
Annie felt her throat thicken at Emma’s innocent comment. Jessica had also been home from college the summer Annie had come to Stone Creek with Jonathan, and she’d brought a new video recorder with her. Every time Annie and Jonathan had turned around, Jessica was pointing the camera. Annie had forgotten all about that tape.
“Were you going to marry him?” Emma asked.
There was an awkward moment, a hesitation in the space between heartbeats where Annie wasn’t sure what to say. Savannah touched Emma’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, why don’t we—”
“It’s all right.” Annie looked at Emma and smiled softly. “Yes, honey, I was going to marry him.”
She glanced at Jared. His expression was blank, but still she noticed the subtle tightening of his shoulders and slight narrowing of his eyes, and she knew he’d heard their conversation.
“My mommy went to heaven, too,” Emma said with understanding, then glanced up at Savannah. “But I live with my Aunt Savannah and Jake now. They love me, too.”
It was easy to see the truth in Emma’s statement as Jake and Savannah smiled down at the child. Through all the problems Annie knew they’d had, they were still a family. A family who loved one another beyond anything else. A family that stayed together, no matter what.
Jonathan had wanted children, and so had she. He’d teased her that, because he was a twin, they’d have two sets in three years.
And now nearly four years had passed. Jonathan was gone, and there were no children. A dull ache settled in Annie’s stomach.
She glanced at Jared again, and a sudden wave of uneasiness washed over her. Is that why she was so attracted to Jared? Was it possible that subconsciously she was trying to replace what she’d had with Jonathan? That on some level she’d realized how quickly time was moving on, realized that she might never have the family she so desperately wanted?
“Well, hello, again.”
Annie turned at the sound of her name and nearly winced. It was Myrna. The circle of Stone siblings immediately tensed. Even Jared had pushed away from the fireplace and made his way toward them, a frown on his face.
“Mrs. Stone.” Annie nodded at the woman.
Purple-and-green cloisonné earrings dangled from Myrna’s ears, matching her green silk jumpsuit. “So lovely to see you again, dear.”
Annie forced a smile, but did not respond. She felt torn between wishing she had an aspirin or a stiff drink, instead of the can of soda her fingers were tightly wrapped around.
Myrna gestured with her nearly empty wineglass. “So what does everyone think about Annie working for Jared?”
“Annie doesn’t work for me.” Jared moved beside Annie. “She already explained that to you.”
“Well, not technically, but—”
“We think it’s wonderful.” A hard glint shone in Jake’s eyes as he cut his stepmother off. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“Annie is brilliant,” Jessica chimed in. “Jared is lucky to have her working with him.”
They were all protecting her, Annie realized. It didn’t matter that all that time had passed. They still treated her now as they had then—as a member of the family. A warmth that even Myrna couldn’t destroy spread through her.
“Well,” Myrna said, lifting her chin, “I certainly never meant to imply that it wasn’t a good thing. I just don’t understand why Jared wants to risk everything for this project. Especially after I’ve offered him such a generous amount for the land. Daddy says—”
“What do I say, Myrna?”
Annie glanced at the silver-haired distinguished-looking man who had moved beside Myrna. His intense brown eyes settled on Annie and he smiled broadly.
“You must be Annie,” he said and offered a hand. “I’m Myrna’s father, Carlton Hewitt.”
Annie took his hand. It was cool to the touch, and she felt a strength that surprised her for a man his age. “How do you do.”
“I was just saying that Jared would be better off selling the land now,” Myrna went on. “Everyone knows that oil drilling is risky. Hardly a sound investment.”
“And I suppose that building a six-thousand-square-foot mansion in the middle of nowhere is your idea of a sound investment,” Jared said tightly.
“It was, until J.T. left me with no land,” she complained. “And if you—”
“Leave the boy be,” Carlton said good-naturedly to his daughter. “A man has to do what he has to do. And Annie here must have thought the project a good one, or she wouldn’t have allowed her company to back it. Would you, Annie?”
Annie felt an uneasiness as Carlton looked at her. “It’s a viable project, Mr. Hewitt. The figures are extremely promising.”
Carlton smiled. “Well, then, Jared, all my best to you. And as much as my daughter wants this, I’m afraid she’ll just have to find herself land somewhere else.”
“I don’t want land somewhere else.” Myrna pouted. “I have a beautiful home I love and I have no intention of leaving. Jake and Jared won’t even part with a few hundred acres. Not to mention Jessica. I’ve offered her a fair sum for her parcel, and she insists on converting that old town into a children’s camp, for heaven’s sake. It’s simply not safe for a young woman to move out there by herself with all those construction workers.”
Two sets of deep blue male eyes turned toward Jessica.
“What’s she talking about?” both Jake and Jared said at the same time.
Savannah took Emma’s hand. “Time to go check on the ice cream,” she said, slipping away.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed with irritation as she stared at Myrna. “And how did you come across that information?”
“Your landlady, Mrs. Wimple, told me that you’d given one months’ notice, and Mr. Barret at the building department mentioned you’d applied for a permit. Oh, dear.” Myrna’s expression of concern was almost comical. “Was this a secret, dear?”
“God forbid there’d be a secret in this town,” Jessica muttered, then turned to smile weakly at her brothers. They scowled fiercely. “I was going to tell you,” she insisted.
Annie watched as the three of them began to argue in earnest over Jessica going out to her ghost town by herself. Myrna had certainly done it again, Annie thought with disgust.
When someone yelled that there was a phone call for Jessica, she mumbled something about being saved by the bell and quickly disappeared. Carlton slip
ped an arm around his daughter and suggested they both freshen their drinks before Myrna could start in again.
“Jessie’s not going out there by herself,” Jake said flatly when Myrna and her father were gone.
“No way in hell,” Jared agreed.
Annie smiled to herself. Something told her that no matter how determined the two men were, Jessica was equally determined. It would be interesting to see who won, she thought with amusement.
Except I won’t be here to see it, she reminded herself, and she felt a heaviness in her chest so profound she had to take a few deep breaths.
Jake was pulled away then by three little girls begging to start the piñata. She and Jared were left alone. They stood there for a long moment, both of them glancing around the room, feeling strangely awkward. She took a sip of her soda, but the liquid felt dry as it slid down her throat.
A man bumped her from behind, and she turned as he apologized. When she turned back, she caught Jared’s gaze skimming over her. Her pulse skipped at the look of pure male hunger she saw in his eyes. He looked quickly away.
Dammit, Jared, don’t look at me like that, then turn away!
She heard a loud whack, then the shrieks of little girls. She wondered if they’d accept a live male, instead of a piñata.
“Did you get Slater settled in town?” she asked, groping for conversation.
Yeah, Jared thought irritably. And he talked about you all night. Jared had already decided he was going to have to keep a close eye on his foreman and Miss Annie Bailey. Not that he didn’t trust Slater completely, he just thought it would be a good idea if the man didn’t get sidetracked.
And now, as he looked at Annie, he realized he was the one getting sidetracked. The dress she had on was pure femininity: long and swirling around her shapely legs, quite sheer but concealing enough to hide what was necessary. She’d tucked the sides of her hair up with gold clips, and the glossy rose-colored lipstick she wore kept whispering at him to stare at her mouth.
“What about you?” he said, tearing his gaze away from her. “How’re you doing with the map?”
Texas Temptation Page 6
