When they entered the garage, she grabbed his arm, pulling him up short. Harm looked purposefully at her hand and then met her gaze with an impassive one.
“Hey, it’s not personal, Harm.”
He turned to her, his expression shuttered. “That land should belong to me. I’m offering a fair price for it, and you’re standing in my way.”
She let go of his arm. “For some reason I can’t fathom, Sally left the ranch to Ty and me. The least one of us can do is go see it one last time. Can you understand that?”
He considered her for a moment, and then gave a curt nod before he walked toward his red Ford truck. Unlocking her side, he helped her into the cab and shut the door before climbing into the truck himself. Removing his hat and cell phone, he placed them on the seat between them then met her gaze. “It’ll take us about thirty minutes to get to Sally’s place. I’m hoping we’ll beat the storm.”
While Harm drove, Jena surreptitiously studied his strong profile. The man was just too good-looking for words. Why in the world wasn’t he wearing a ring on his finger? Well, he was already pissed at her. No better time than the present to find out. “So, why aren’t you married?”
He gripped the wheel tighter. “That’s none of your damned business.”
His rough tone didn’t intimidate her. “Considering that we’ve been somewhat intimate, I think that gives me the right.”
“That hardly counts.”
“Oh, so fly-by-the-elevator encounters are a common occurrence for you?”
He shot her a hard look. “No, I’ve never—”
“See, I am special.” She flashed a quick smile and raised her eyebrow, waiting.
Harm set his jaw and stared at the road. For a minute she wondered if he was going to ignore her, but then he finally spoke, “I don’t believe in happy-ever-after.”
“Really? That’s pretty cynical for a man who knows how to fantasize.”
Harm cut his eyes to her, a smartass smirk on his lips. “I didn’t say I don’t know about pleasure.” He shrugged, looking back at the road. “Finding the perfect person to settle down with is a childish fantasy.”
Jena snorted and shook her head. “Oh, Harm. If you don’t have something to look forward to, what’s the point?”
He didn’t really know the answer to that, but before he had a chance to ask Jena about her single status, rain started falling in heavy sheets. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, concentrating on the road. Lightning slashed across the dark sky, illuminating the road ahead of them. Loud claps of thunder immediately followed. Wind whistled and buffeted the truck, rocking it back and forth.
He cast a glance at Jena as he turned onto the dirt road leading to Sally’s ranch. She had a firm hold on the molded door handle, her bottom lip clutched in her teeth.
Damn, it was raining like a sonofabitch. He couldn’t see more than two feet ahead of him. Good thing they were almost to Sally’s place. Another flash of lightning splintered the sky, and Harm looked up in time to see a huge tree falling right in their path. He slammed on brakes and swerved to avoid the mass of limbs and leaves. The dirt road underneath the tires had turned to slippery muck, allowing no traction when the brakes locked the wheels.
The truck began to fishtail and slide toward the side of the road. As they suddenly pitched into a ditch, Harm’s head slammed against the steering wheel with brutal force. Immediate pain followed, then blissful blackness.
* * *
“Harm? Harm!” He heard a woman’s frantic voice calling to him, felt her warm hands on his face, his head, the back of his neck. Torrential rain pinged on something metal—was that the roof of his truck?—and thunder rolled in the background. All the loud sounds jackhammered on his aching head.
He opened his eyes and tried to lift his head from the seat. “Sonofabitch,” he hissed out as pain lanced across his forehead.
The woman touched him again, concern written on her face. “Oh, God, Harm. You were out for about a minute. I was so worried. You’re going to have a massive knot on your head.” She held up two fingers. “How many fingers do you see?”
“Two.”
She put up two more. “Now how many?”
“Forty.” She frowned and he tried to grin, but grimaced instead. “Just Joshing. Four.”
She swatted at his shoulder. “Don’t scare me like that. You could have a concussion.”
Who was this gorgeous woman? She talked as if she was very familiar with him. Where was she from? Her accent told him she wasn’t originally from Texas.
He rubbed his forehead and frowned. “There is one thing. Who are you?”
Chapter Three
Jena frowned. “That’s not funny. Now is not the time to be joking while we’re sitting in a ditch.”
He shook his head, his expression truly puzzled. Touching a strand of her hair, he tried to smile but winced instead. “Not to say I don’t mind sharing close quarters with you and all. Beats sitting in this rainstorm by myself. But I’m drawing a blank, darlin’.”
Jena decided to avoid the subject for the time being. If he really did have amnesia, she didn’t need to freak him out about that until after they’d reached Sally’s house. If she remembered correctly, her ranch was just up the road.
She held up his smashed cell phone. “The crash made sure you won’t be using this to call for help, but I believe the house is just up the road. Why don’t we make a run for it, since the truck doesn’t seem to be an option?”
He grabbed her arm before she could unbuckle herself and get out of the cab. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“How about we talk about it once we’re under a roof, okay?” she said, trying to pull away.
“No. I know we’re not far from Sally’s ranch. Though I’m not sure why we’re on this road. I know my name is Harmon Steele and that Sally’s my neighbor, but I’m drawing a blank as to how you fit in the picture. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who you are.”
He looked at her in bemusement; not an ounce of his earlier anger showed on his face.
God, how long does temporary amnesia last? Jena’s heart thumped hard. Maybe giving him some hints would help. “We were on our way to your neighbor’s house—”
“Are we on a date?” he offered, an expectant smile tilting his lips.
“We made plans to go to dinner,” she hedged, “but then we had to run an errand.”
His brow furrowed. “Why can’t I remember you? I think I’d have a hard time forgetting your beautiful face.”
“And yet it feels like I’ve known you forever,” Jena murmured as she glanced away, trying to think how much deeper a hole she should dig. Avoidance was always a good option. Reaching for the handle, she opened the door. Gravity pulled the heavy panel out of her hand toward the ditch. “Let’s go,” she said as she climbed out of the truck, only to ever-so-gracefully crumple to the ground.
Cold, driving rain soaked through her linen dress in two seconds flat. Harm leaned over her seat and poked his head out. “You okay?”
She grimaced and tried to stand, then collapsed again, yelping as pain shot up her ankle. Before she could respond to his question, his arms were around her, lifting her against his strong chest.
“Come on, sweetheart, we need to get out of this rain.”
Sweetheart. That sounded nice, especially with that southern drawl. Jena settled her arms around his neck, enjoying the play of muscles surrounding her body, the heat of his skin a wonderful contrast to the cool rain beating on her. It was a good thing he’d put his Stetson back on; the brim provided some shelter from the relentless downpour. She looked up into his face at the same time he looked down at her. God, he took her breath away. The man exuded sheer confidence in every movement he made. He was simply—magnetic.
Harm set her down on the porch, seemingly unaffected by carrying her hundred and twenty-five pound body the quarter mile hike up the driveway and across Sally’s front lawn. Yep, hard-working man, no doubt, and a con
siderate one, too, she thought as he handed her the oversized purse she usually carried around. When he unlocked the door, she was surprised. “You have a key?”
“Yeah. I take care of Sally’s horses and such. Now that she’s passed on, I keep an eye on her place, too.” He lifted her again and walked inside.
When he set her down and stepped away, Jena began to shiver uncontrollably. The closed up house felt colder than outside. She set her purse on the table and hugged herself as her teeth began to chatter. “Why is it so cold? Texas isn’t supposed to be c-c-c-cold.”
He met her gaze, completely perplexed. “We’re dating, but you don’t live in Texas?”
He thinks we’re dating? Oh, boy. Now I know where the expression “snowballing” came from. How do I get out of this without freaking him out? “Um, our relationship is a little complicated.”
Harm’s eyebrow shot up right before lightning lit up the room. He glanced outside, then back to her, white teeth flashing in the darkness. “There’s an old saying in Texas: “’If you don’t like the weather, wait around. It’ll change.’”
Harm flipped the light switch. Nothing. “The storm must’ve knocked out the power,” he said as he lifted the phone receiver. “Phone’s dead, too.” He walked over to the kitchen cabinets, then pulled down a lantern and some matches. Once it was lit, the lantern cast a warm glow throughout Sally’s ranch house. Carrying the lantern, he set it down on an end table next to the couch.
Jena looked around as Harm squatted in front of the fireplace to build a fire. The place was just as she remembered it: a stone fireplace, a soft brown leather couch, matching side chairs, and a throw rug in woven earth tones spread out in front of the fireplace. The kitchen and dining area melted right into the living room, a bathroom and a bedroom exited to the right. It was a very small, very cozy house.
Harm tossed the cushions off the couch, then pulled open the foldout bed. As he straightened the white sheets and burgundy insulated covers that were still on it, she asked, “What are you doing?”
He approached her and quickly turned her away from him. “I’m trying to get us dry and warm,” he said, yanking her dress’s zipper down.
He moved faster than she could think to stay one step ahead. Jena clung to the material plastered to her skin when he tried to pull it off her body. “Can’t we just use towels or something?”
He peeled the sodden dress all the way off. “Nope. Sally requested all her clothes, towels, and sheets be donated to charity when she died. All that’s left is what’s on this bed and the one in her bedroom.” He paused for a second. “It surprises me that I can remember that, but I can’t remember us.”
Unsnapping her bra, his fingers lingering on her skin before he slipped the straps down her shoulders. “Nice panties,” he commented, sliding his hands down her waist toward her underwear.
Jena quickly kicked off her shoes, then slipped her panties off herself. As she dove under the covers and heard him chuckle, she ground her teeth.
I can handle this. He’s just trying to keep me from freezing to death. She snuggled into the warmth of the covers and watched Harm pull the chairs from the kitchen table closer to the fire, then hang her clothes over them to dry.
Her breath caught as he began to strip out of his own clothes. Strong, muscular arms surfaced along with broad shoulders and an equally impressive chest. Sure she’d seen it before, but now…in this new situation where they weren’t on even ground, she felt like a voyeur. Light brown hair clung to his chest as it veed down to his sculpted abs and narrow hips. Her heart raced as he pulled off his boots and socks, then reached for the button on his jeans. As he released the first button, her entire body tensed in suspense. Was it so wrong to admire such a beautifully built body?
Jena looked up and saw his heated gaze on her. He wanted her to watch him. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his long, thick shaft that emerged as he pulled off his wet pants and underwear. He wanted her. She clenched her legs together and tried to think pure thoughts. She needed to stay focused. Taking several deep breaths helped.
When he turned to put his clothes on the chairs, she loved that his backside consisted of two perfectly sculpted balls of muscle. Jena closed her eyes, cutting off the appealing, yet distracting picture.
A few seconds passed and then the bed dipped as Harm climbed into it. She kept her eyes shut, facing the fire. Maybe he’ll just take a nap. No, he can’t take a nap. He might have a concussion. She needed to keep him awake. That’s it…she’ll get him talking about himself.
Jena jumped when he cupped her breast and used his hold to pull her back against his chest. “Mmmm, now this is my idea of getting warm,” he purred into her ear before placing a kiss on her neck. “Sit up for a second, sweetheart.”
Keep this platonic, Jena. It’s different now that you two have a history, even if it is a short one. Pulling the covers around her naked breasts, she sat up, facing the fire. When Harm began to rub her wet hair with a towel, she turned back to him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Could he be faking this whole amnesia thing? “I thought you said all the towels were donated.”
Harm lifted the kitchen towel. “I remembered these. Your hair is soaking wet. Turn around so I can dry it.”
Jena saw sincerity in his gaze. Either he was the best actor she’d ever seen, or he wasn’t faking. He’d obviously taken the towel to his own hair because it stood up on his head, going in a zillion crazy directions. As she turned around, she wondered how the man could look even sexier with his hair tousled. It just wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to think how she looked in comparison.
As his strong fingers massaged her scalp through the thin towel, she leaned back into his hands and moaned. The surety of his touch, the warmth of the fire soaking into her skin; the stirring combination made her feel safe and cared for. Too bad none of it was real.
When Harm traced a finger down her spine, goose bumps appeared on her arms, making her shiver. “You have a beautiful body,” he whispered at the same time he turned her around, his handsome face close. “Tell me about us.” His brow creased. “Starting with your last name. It really bothers me that I can’t remember.”
She placed her hands on his hard chest, loving the feel of muscles underneath her fingers. “It’s Jena Lee.” Lee is my second name. Keep him talking, Jena. “We’ve had a kind of long-distance thing.” Very long distance. “I live in Maryland, so we get together when circumstances allow.” Twice so far. She tilted her head and smiled. “That’s probably why you can’t remember me. I’m not in-your-face every day of your life.” That couldn’t be a truer statement.
He shook his head, frowning. “I’d never settle for a getting-together-when-we-can relationship. I’m not into casual sex.”
She snorted, but caught herself before she blurted out, “Elevator ring any bells?”
Harm’s brown eyes narrowed. “I don’t share. Ever, Jena.”
The protective possessiveness that flashed through his eyes felt as if he was giving her fair warning. Jena couldn’t help the pleased shiver that passed through her. If only they’d met under different circumstances. She touched his jaw. “Do you find it so hard to believe you’d think I was worth waiting for?” Because you are exactly the kind of man I’d be willing to wait for. I want a man who loves one woman with his heart and soul and expects the same in return. My gut tells me those qualities exist behind the shield you hold up to the world. Who created all that cynicism you carry around?
Harm glanced away and as his jaw tightened under her fingers, as if he were struggling with conflicting emotions, she realized he wasn’t going to tell her. Why can’t I show him that there’s at least one woman out there who’s worthy? She gulped over the lie she was about to tell, but now was an opportunity to give him the fantasy he seemed determined not to believe in. “You asked me to move to Texas. I told you I’d come for a while and we’d decide from there.”
Harm’s gaze jerked back to hers and several seconds of silence passe
d between them. While his expression quickly shifted from suspicion to surprise before slipping into an inscrutable mask, Jena’s stomach did several somersaults. Had she totally ruined it?
Finally, Harm traced a finger down her cheek, a self-deprecating half smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. “My head hurts from trying to figure out why the hell I’d let you leave Texas in the first place. I must’ve been a horse’s ass in certain areas or you’d have said yes as soon as I asked you to stay.”
She chuckled at his arrogance. How could he manage to be both infuriating and irresistible? “Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
He ran his fingers along her jaw line, and the roughened feel of his hand stroking her so tenderly made her want to weep. He was being her very own fantasy man.
“This pull I feel when I’m with you is indescribable. If I asked you to move to Texas, then it was because I’d planned to ask you to marry me. Kicks me in the gut just thinking I’d go down that path, but I don’t do anything in half measures. I’m an all-or-nothing man.”
At that moment, thunder boomed as if punctuating his words and backing up his sincerity. Her heart contracted. Marry him? How did this get out of hand so fast? And why would it kick him in the gut to think about marrying? He seemed to truly believe what he said. But if she told him the truth now, he’d be beyond furious. That’s the last thing he needed with a head injury. But damn if her heart didn’t swell at his blunt honesty. The man had a way of turning her to mush and he wasn’t even trying. Was it so wrong that for a little while at least she wanted to believe the fantasy that he really did feel that deeply for her?
Her lips trembled a little but she managed to speak. “How about for now we just focus on keeping you awake to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”
Harm scowled. “That’s not an answer.”
Her eyebrows shot up and a smirk tilted her lips. “Oh, was that you asking?”
Harm's Hunger Page 3
