A few minutes later, Tye led the horse back to the pasture gate and released him.
"One last thing," Jake said. "Anytime you want to use the pool, feel free to do so."
"I'm glad you brought that up, Jake. I'd like to make arrangements with you to use the pool. It's ― swimming is one of the best exercises for my rehabilitation." She drew a deep breath and rushed on. "But I'll need some privacy."
Jake walked toward her. Pushing a hand through his hair, hoping he could keep to his promise, he assured her it wasn’t a problem. "Just tell me the times and I'll stay out of your way," he told her easily. He’d like to join her in the pool. A long ago memory flashed into Jake’s mind. They had gone swimming. It had been a family picnic, before everything turned upside down. Tye running from the water toward him, her face laughing, eyes lit with what he had thought was love.
She spread her hands in front of her, then dropped them. "I feel really awkward about this. This is your home ―"
"Tye, if it helps your leg, I'm all for it. If you want privacy while you're swimming, that’s fine, too. Don't apologize or feel like you're being unreasonable."
Tye nodded. "I'd appreciate the pool from eight until nine most nights, unless you have something going on."
"Settled." He grinned at her. "See? That wasn't so hard."
"Here," she said, pulling the hose away from him as he began to coil it up. "I can do that."
Jake saw it coming, but the import of her actions didn’t register until he felt the icy-cold water shoot across his neck and down the front of his shirt.
"Tye!"
She began to laugh. Jake stood stock-still. It was the first time he’d heard her really laugh again, like old times. He wanted to hear it again, but she was backing away, the hose now on the ground, water pooling around his boots. Tye ducked into the barn and turned the hose off. Jake still felt the aftershocks of seeing her laugh, just as he remembered. A sinking feeling started in his stomach, but he didn’t understand it.
Tye smiled at him as she came back outside. "You look like you’re in shock. Honest, that wasn’t on purpose."
"Yeah, right, like I believe you." She had a devilish gleam in her eye. Jake pulled the wet shirt away from his chest. "It’ll be great unloading the hay I’m expecting with a wet shirt."
"Oh, don’t be such a wet blanket." She made a face at him.
Jake swore he heard her snort.
"I’ll turn the hose back on, Jake, and you can get me wet. Then you’ll feel better."
Jake eyed her, noticing the thin T-shirt she wore, which was wet from the water still dripping from her hair. The blond strands hanging around her eyes made her look even more sexy. He stifled a groan. Tye might be up to a wet T-shirt contest, but he sure as hell wasn’t. God knows what would happen.
"I owe you one, Tye," he muttered, knowing it was better for his sanity if he left the barn. He did so, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off in the process.
Tye hurried to catch up with him, and he slowed his steps.
"Jake, I’d really like to see some more of your carvings sometime, if that’s all right."
He hesitated, wondering if he wanted to let her into that part of his life. His carvings were a part of him that even he didn’t understand sometimes. The ideas came from deep within. He worked at them until his thoughts took shape.
"How about right now?" he heard himself say. He saw the instant delight on her face.
"I would love to."
Jake cursed himself for letting his body’s reaction to her override his common sense. He jerked a thumb toward the barn interior. "Come on, then, I have a few minutes." He would give her five or ten minutes of his time. She could look and then leave.
Jake led the way to the makeshift work area he had set up in a double box stall. He had moved everything he needed out here: all his tools were close at hand. He slid open the stall door and stood back to allow Tye entrance. Reaching up, he hung his wet shirt on a hook to dry.
Tye halted in the doorway, her mouth opening on a small sigh, then she stared up at him. She was so close Jake could see the dark flecks in those blue irises. He breathed deeply of the lemony scent that clung to her hair.
"This is your private sanctuary. This is where you work on your carvings." A simple statement. Jake had a feeling he was letting himself in for a load of trouble by showing Tye his work area, but it was too late now. Her fingertips lightly touched his bare chest. Jake held himself very still, glad when she finally stepped back.
He released his breath. "This is it, until I rig up something else."
Tye moved toward a long table where several elk and moose antlers lay, partially carved. Jake didn’t move from the doorway. It was all he could do to stand still as Tye picked up a small set of horns, turning it this way and that, her fingers lovingly caressing the lines he had chiseled. Jake’s gaze was transfixed as she continued to caress the horn where several horse heads had begun to emerge. She turned sideways and looked at him, the antler pressed to her chest.
"Jake, this is extraordinary. What an expression of art you’ve created. I’ve never seen anything like it."
He pushed himself away from the door. "Luckily, others share your sentiment. The orders come in so fast I have to turn a lot of them away."
"I imagine you could ask premium price for these." Carefully, she put the antlers back on the table. "You’ve really made a success of your life, Jake." Those blue eyes met his again. "I envy you."
Jake frowned. "We all follow the path we choose, Tye. You’ve had your own measure of success."
"You’re right Jake. I just seem to stumble more often than not." She shrugged. "When I’m old I’ll be able to say I tried everything I set out to do, win or lose." Her voice dropped to a thready whisper. "I’m so glad you’ve decided to do these carvings. I always loved the wooden animals you made for me."
Jake felt a tightness in his throat. "You still have them?"
"Of course. I love that little hedgehog you made. But I had no idea you were so serious about this."
"I needed something to fill in the nights I sat with my father." As soon as the words were out, Jake wished he could recall them. They felt too private to be sharing them.
Tye wore a frown. Hesitantly, she said, "Was it so bad, Jake?"
He drew his shoulders back. "My dad lost the will to live, to care. You knew what he was like before, how vibrant. You can guess what a hell it was, seeing him so apathetic. My mom needed a break, so I stepped in."
"I’m so sorry, Jake."
"Actually, my dad was the one who encouraged me to expand my carving. He mentioned idly one time someone had carved a set of moose antlers that he had seen. I decided to try it myself. I found some antlers in a box in the barn when I bought this place. I didn’t even know what I was going to carve, until the head of a bear took shape."
"The one I saw that first night in your house?"
"Yes."
"You’ve really developed your talent."
Jake stared at Tye, but she had turned away and was studying another carving. He tried to slow his breathing, but memories hit him broadside. Tye laughing up at him, a small wooden figure he had carved held tightly in one of her hands. She held it to her breast, tears glistening….yet not falling. The small hedgehog had fit easily in her palm. It had been his first gift to her. Jake closed his eyes, willing the memories away. He had moved on with his life. Tye had moved on. They were different people.
"I’ve got to lock up," Jake told her abruptly. He felt a confusing mix of anger and want. His guts felt tied up in knots. Tye was doing this to him.
Immediately, she placed the carving she held back on the table and walked out the door. "Sorry, Jake. I know you have other things to do. I appreciate you letting me see these. I wish you every success."
The soft words made Jake feel like a heel, but he had to get away from her. The damned memories were bombarding him. He needed some space. This whole thing was getting too comfortable, and it
was only temporary. Tye would be gone when she was well, and that was that.
§ Chapter Ten §
As they left the barn, Tye averted her gaze from Jake’s chest. Jake’s business might be manufacturing, but he kept himself in superb physical shape. Watching him play football had told her he was still an athlete. He put his whole heart into the game. In all her life, Tye had never been attracted to another man the way she was to Jake. He had ruined her for other men. As a teenager, she might have been too young to know what real love was about, but she was feeling the pain of it now. . .regretting the lack of it in her life.
Tye closed a mental door on that thought. Despite their mutual desire, she knew Jake had no real interest in her.
She pulled herself out of her foolish daydreams. She and Jake had agreed to be friends.
Man, she must be loco to be thinking of Jake in romantic terms. She was the one who had put an end to their relationship. If only Jake weren’t so attractive.
Unfortunately, Tye hadn’t been able to get their kisses, the closeness that had felt so very real, out of her mind. His mouth, the touch of his hard body, had felt so right against hers. Last night was a fluke. She might have had the same reaction to any man, given the same set of circumstances. She couldn’t get sidetracked. She had to get well, not fall in love.
Restlessly, Tye turned away. "I guess I'll head back to the house. I'm working on an article."
"Ben told me you take freelance jobs sometimes. What's the article about?"
"It's one I started before I got hurt. I'm researching women in rodeo. It covers the financial aspects of rodeo, the affect on family life, that kind of thing."
"I imagine rodeo life must play havoc with a woman who's got a husband and kids."
"A woman has no business dragging kids on the rodeo circuit," Tye said flatly.
"So you’re really dead set against marriage?"
Tye threw back her head, wary of the question. "As long as I’m rodeoing, I know there'll be no husband or kids. You know how I grew up, Jake. Daddy was hardly ever around. I'd never want my kids to think rodeo meant more to me than they did." After the words left her mouth, Tye felt appalled. Quickly, she added, "Daddy loved us. We knew that."
"It must have been hell on your mother."
Tye looked at him quickly, then nodded. "It was tough on Mama, making a go of it alone." To get past the emotion in her throat, Tye blurted, "You must wish things were different. You had a great football career lined up, Jake. You were really good. How much it must have hurt you to give it up."
He pulled on a pair of leather gloves and slowly turned to face her. His face looked emotionless. Tye felt as if she was up against that wall he sometimes put up.
"That was a long time ago. I was a kid."
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, "Maybe I shouldn't bring it up, but everything went so wrong, didn’t it, Jake?"
A frown hung between Jake’s dark brows and his eyes didn’t meet hers. "Let it go, Tye. It’s old history. It doesn’t hurt anymore."
"It wasn’t that long ago," Tye protested. He was wrong ― it still hurt.
"It’s almost eleven years." Jake slid his gaze to her. "It seems like another life. I’ve made a success of my business. I really like being my own boss."
Tye couldn’t let it go. "You were ready to go professional."
"Yeah, but real life gets in the way. My parents needed help, my sisters were dependent, I couldn't let them down."
"You gave it all up and worked to support your family." Tye’s throat felt dry. She didn't think she had ever known someone so unselfish. How could she have been so blind back then?
"Something like that."
"I wish . . ." Tye let her voice trail off. She couldn’t put her wishes into words. She wanted Jake’s love again.
"What, Tye?" There seemed to be an urgency in his voice.
"Nothing, Jake," she said softly, feeling like a coward. "There’s no sense in rehashing the past. I guess I’m just missing rodeo." At least she had been out there doing it all these years.
"I missed the football in the beginning," Jake admitted in a low voice. "I'm too old to play professionally now, but I've always tried to keep up with the game."
"Is that why you have Sunday games here?"
"Partly. It's also a good way to keep in touch with friends."
"What are you going to do with this place?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's big enough that you could do just about anything. The barn alone would hold twenty horses."
"Actually, I've got plans to raise horses."
Tye's eyes sparkled. "Really? I've always wanted a barnful of horses. I've settled for four because I was on the road so much. It seemed foolish to have more than that and have them sit idle at Mama's ranch."
"Well, that's the major plan."
"How come you haven't done it before now?"
"Time. When I took over from my dad, the industry was undergoing a major change. Luckily, my dad’s manager was really great, otherwise I’d have sunk the business. We had to figure out a way to go with the changes and come out on top. He retired about a year ago. I've hired a new manager and it frees up some time for me now. I’ve also been doing a lot more carving these last few years."
"Have you had any shows?"
"Right now I’m looking for a place to hold a regular, ongoing show."
"You're lucky, Jake, that you've found something that will satisfy you." She looked around. "This will make a wonderful horse farm."
Jake moved closer and Tye sensed a new intensity in his gaze. "What about you, Tye? Have you found something that will satisfy you?"
You. The answer popped instantly into her mind. She could feel the heat from his body, the magnetic aura that attracted her to him against her better judgment.
She moved closer, touched a finger to the skin of his neck, traced the line of his collarbone. His warm chest was an expanse of muscle. The tanned flesh seemed to beckon to her, making her want to touch him. "I'm still looking." She swallowed hard and attempted to make her voice flip, knowing she had to protect herself and keep her defenses up. "There's so much out there."
His eyes slitted and his jaw clenched as if he were displeased with her answer, maybe even angry. Tye saw him draw off the gloves, and then his hand came up to curve behind her neck. He urged their bodies closer, his grip almost rough. Where they touched, fire ignited and burned.
"Why look any farther than here, Tye?" His murmur seemed to indicate impatience. His scent swirled around her. Tye closed her eyes as his mouth touched hers. She needed to concentrate on each unique sensation: the scent of Jake, the touch of his big hands, the sound of their mingled breaths, the taste of lips against lips. Some of it felt so wonderfully familiar. A groan let loose from her throat, startling her with its connotations of intimacy.
Tye felt as if her legs were wobbling, and the notion was reinforced as Jake's arm settled on her waist and pulled her close, steadying her. She angled her head so she could feather a kiss across his jaw. There was no denying it, Jake made her feel special. Being close to him gave rise to emotions she had all but buried.
Jake leaned down and lifted her off her feet. Tye murmured in soft protest as she clutched his shoulders, feeling the bunching of muscles. He nuzzled his face in her neck a moment, carrying her a short distance. Then he let her feet touch the floor and followed her down to a bed of loose straw.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Tye murmured, knowing she had to say the words. Her own protest seemed to mean nothing as she sought his mouth once more, winding her arms around his neck, then pressing them down his long back to the base of his spine. He felt so good! She liked the weight of his body along hers. It had been so long.
"Yeah, we should." Those huskily uttered words tore through Tye like jags of lightning. Her desire turned her body warm and boneless. Jake touched his tongue to her lips, then sought her inner warmth.
Heat such as she'd never known uncoiled inside Tye
, snaking to the very core of her. God, they fit so well together.
Vaguely, she realized Jake's legs were wound around hers, one hand gently cupping the seat of her jeans. Tye became even more aware of his strength, the hardness of his body. She splayed her fingers along his ribs, traced the contours and hollows.
Suddenly, Jake shifted his weight away from her, but Tye pulled him back. He looked down at her, his cheekbones touched by a faint flush, his eyes steady with purpose.
"You're a beautiful woman, Tye. To this day I’ve never seen hair like yours, the color of deep gold straw." He picked up a handful of loose straw, then let it slip from his fingers. He leaned forward to kiss her eyelids, gently trailing kisses across her jaw and down her neck into the warm, heated opening of her blouse. He pulled two buttons through the holes, and Tye quivered beneath him.
She was tongue-tied. She wanted to tell Jake how she felt, but she couldn't. She pressed herself to him instead, reveling in the feel of him against her, though his hands on either side of her in the straw held some of his weight off of her.
She would sort out the sensations later she decided. Meanwhile, she felt bombarded by his every touch, and breathing became more difficult. Jake’s body moved heavily against her, and she felt protected, but so hot. She wanted to say the hell with everything and damn the consequences. Wild thoughts raced through her mind. She wanted more than Jake’s chest naked against her, she craved the weight of his body against her own. Now.
His hands moved up under her rib cage, the long fingers stopping just short of touching her breasts. Tye caught her breath, waiting for them to move upward, sensation piercing her to the core when those hands gently cupped the sensitive flesh. A deep, shuddery breath escaped her lips. She swallowed quickly, watched him lower his head and kiss her pale flesh above the V of her blouse.
Tye pushed her fingers through the fine silkiness of his hair, needing to touch him. She pressed his head to her, fingers frantically tracing the back of his skull. The tremor that coursed through his body urged her to move closer still.
"This feels so good, it should be illegal," Tye murmured, opening her eyes to stare up at him. She knew her hair probably lay in a wild, tangled mess, but she didn’t care.
Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) Page 10
