Jack slid his hand into her hair and brought her closer for a kiss. His lips were warm and firm against hers.
Dara sighed as he drew away. His kiss chased every bit of shadow that had dulled her happiness.
Was this how it felt to be in love?
She had to stop thinking this way.
It was much too soon to have these thoughts.
“Go on now.” She smiled. “I need to put on something that doesn’t have flour inside and out.”
He leaned down and put his forehead to hers before stepping back. He left her with a smile as he walked down the hallway to the guest room.
After brushing off as much flour as she could so that she wouldn’t get gummy from the mixture of flour and water, Dara took a quick shower. Her hair did get sticky and it took a little longer to wash it out, but in the end, she figured she did a pretty good job.
She dressed in a pair of soft, well-worn jeans and a forest green polo shirt with the Special Dreams Ranch embroidered logo. She slipped on socks and athletic shoes, braided her hair into a single plait, and headed out to meet Jack in the kitchen.
He’d done a good job of getting most of the flour off his clothing. She walked up to him brushed her fingers along his jaw line. “You missed some.”
He captured her hand in his, and kissed her knuckles. The butterfly softness of the kiss sent a thrill through her.
They enjoyed dinner with the kids. When the table was cleared and Emily was managing the kids on kitchen duty, Dara turned to Jack. “Ready to see the place?” she asked.
“Yep.”
She took his hand and drew him into the living room where the teens were engaged in quiet activities before the meeting started.
One of the other members of the staff, Jeanette, was with them. Like Emily, Jeanette had to be one of the most patient, sweetest people Dara had ever known. Janette’s daughter, Sadie, had graduated from the ranch and now worked in a bakery.
Dara and Jack walked out of the house through the French doors and onto the patio.
Jack looked around the flagstone patio enclosed by a low rock wall. The patio had tables with closed umbrellas and fire pit with stone benches around it.
“Nice place,” he said.
“The investors are very generous.” She walked beside Jack, across the flagstone to the path leading out into the flower garden. “Sylvia’s daughter and Warren’s son each have Down syndrome. Sylvia and Warren are advocates for providing a safe, loving environment for young adults with the syndrome to flourish and grow, and eventually find their place in society.”
They walked past the flower beds. “Unfortunately, you’re missing the lushness of the flowers since it’s now fall.” She gestured to the beds. “They’re gorgeous in the spring and summer.”
She went on to show him the vegetable gardens. “We still have some vegetables that are hardy until the first frost, which is usually mid-October in this part of Arizona.”
The chicken pen was next, and they had about fifteen hens and roosters. They continued on to the barn with horses, milk cows, goats, and sheep.
Out past the barn was a pine-sheltered pond with a good dozen mallard ducks.
“The kids love the animals.” Dara smiled as they walked away from the pond. “They’re such hard workers and handle the day-to-day tasks well with guidance. They milk the cows, feed the chickens and ducks and collect eggs. They care for the livestock, too.”
She went on, “In the spring and summer they tend to the flowers, and care for and harvest vegetables. They also bake, cook, and perform other chores.”
“Great place for these kids to mature and learn how to enter the world as young adults,” Jack said. “I’m impressed with your entire operation.”
“So am I.” Dara looked out at the expanse that was her second home. “I can’t tell you how blessed I am by having the opportunity to work with these kids at such an extraordinary place to learn and grow.”
* * *
Jack watched Dara as she spoke. Her love for the kids and the role she played seemed to fill her with a light that made her shine even more from within.
They talked as they made their way back into the ranch house.
“The 4-H meetings are held in the recreation room.” Dara gestured to an arched doorway, and they passed through it.
They came to a large room filled with furniture, along with game tables and a wall of books.
“The kids’ IQs vary from mild to moderate at this facility,” Dara said. “The books and games you see in here are appropriate for their reading and social skills.”
Leslie was at the front of the room helping a man set up for the meeting.
Dara took Jack up to the front of the room and introduced him to the man who looked like he was nearing seventy, if a day.
“Jack,” Dara said when they reached the man. “This is our 4-H leader, Sam Greenfield, who comes from Flagstaff once a month for the meeting.”
In turn she said to the man, “Sam, this is Jack McBride, a cattle rancher from Prescott who is considering taking your place when you move to Wyoming.”
“A pleasure.” Sam shook Jack’s hand with a strong grip. “I’ve been hoping these kids could have a strong role model to take over the club’s leadership.”
“Good to meet you, Sam.” Jack looked at the teens as they came into the room. “Looks like you have a fine group of members.”
Sam nodded. “They’re a good bunch.”
During the meeting, Jack watched Sam’s interaction with the teens and how they responded to him. The kids liked Sam, and Jack could see why. The man had a warm personality and he took his time with each kid, making them feel welcome and a part of the group.
Leslie assisted the 4-H leader, and she appeared to have had an attitude change—or at least she seemed fine during the meeting. Jack would still be having a long talk with her after the meeting.
The group had a President, Vice President, Secretary, and two flag bearers. All officers changed each meeting. The kids rotated through the positions, unlike traditional 4-H clubs where the officers were elected and kept that position for the year.
“What do you say, Jack?” Sam said at the end of the meeting when the kids were putting the room back to rights.
“I’d say you’re a hard act to follow.” Jack looked around the room and smiled at the teens’ interactions with each other. “And this is a good group of kids.”
“They sure are.” Sam went on to fill Jack in on what he did to lead this club. “It’s not a traditional club because the needs of the kids are different in this group.”
Jack nodded. “Tell you what. After watching you and the group, I’d be happy to do my best to take your place.”
“Good to hear.” Sam slapped Jack on the shoulder. “I know I’m leaving these kids in good hands.”
By the time Sam and Jack had finished talking, the kids had left the room for dessert at the big dinner table.
“Come on in and have some Jell-O with whipped cream.” Dara walked into the room and inclined her head toward the archway. “The kids are just about to dig in.”
Sam had to leave for Flagstaff, but Jack stayed and enjoyed dessert with the group.
Dara, Emily, Jeanette, and the kids really were like a big family. Jack got to know the teens by name, which would help when he took over as the club’s 4-H leader.
Leslie fit right in, too. She chatted and laughed with the teens, and he could tell she enjoyed working with them.
She did refuse to look at Dara, however. Jack hoped that wouldn’t take too long to change. Regardless, she’d have to learn to accept Dara and appreciate her again, like she always had over the years. Just because Jack and Dara were dating, didn’t mean Leslie’s relationship with Dara should change.
Tell that to the daughter who missed her mom and didn’t want her dad to date anyone. He didn’t blame her—it had been hard for the kids after their mother had died in the accident. But it had been five years and they all
needed to grow and change in their own ways.
And Jack needed Dara. He knew that down deep in his soul. He didn’t just want her, he needed her.
“I’m going home.” Leslie looked upset again as she reached Dara and Jack. She didn’t even look at Dara. “I have homework to do.”
“I’ll see you when I get home.” Jack caught her arm as she whirled to go. “We’re having that talk then.” He released her arm. “Even if you think you can crawl into bed and pretend you’re asleep to get out of it, not going to happen. We will have that talk.”
Leslie didn’t say anything.
“Leslie,” he said calmly. “Answer me.”
“Yes, Dad.” She sounded civil, but that wasn’t the feeling in the air.
“Get on home,” he said. “I’ll see you there.”
“Yeah. Okay.” She turned and jogged out of the dining room, her braid swinging back and forth against her back as she went.
Dara sighed. She looked sad as she turned her gaze on Jack. “It was hard being so young when my mom died. I can’t imagine going through it as a teenager.”
Jack gave a slow nod. “It hasn’t been easy. She’s a daddy’s girl, but she’s also her mother’s daughter. She has a lot of her mother in her.” He thought about Lucy before she died. “She’s stubborn as hell and has the sass to match sometimes.”
Dara didn’t say anything.
“Can you walk outside with me?” he asked.
She smiled. “I’m leaving for home, too. I’ll grab my jacket.”
After they said goodbye to Emily, Jeanette, and the kids, Jack slid his arm around Dara’s waist and held her close as they headed through the house and out the front door.
He liked the way it felt with his arm around her waist, just below her bomber jacket, and holding her close to him. It felt comfortable and natural being with her.
They reached her bright yellow Jeep and she opened the door before tossing her purse on the passenger seat.
Dara turned, the moonlight caressing her face as she tipped her head back to look up at him. She grasped his jacket lapels. “What now, Mr. McBride?”
He settled his hands on her hips. “How about dinner and a good ol’ barn dance Saturday, Ms. Winters?”
“I’d love to.” Her smile made his whole damn night. “What time?”
“I’ll give you a call.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms from her shoulders to her elbows. “In the meantime, I’d like a kiss to get me through until then.”
She laughed. “I’ll give you more than one kiss.”
Jack lowered his head until his lips met hers. The kiss started out slow, but somewhere, somehow, everything became far more intense than he’d planned.
The heat between them grew as he kissed her harder and she matched him. He had to touch her, had to feel every part of her. He leaned back against her Jeep and brought her up against his body. He groaned as her belly pressed against his growing erection.
Soft moans came from Dara as she slid her palms beneath his T-shirt. She explored his chest and moved her hands to his shoulders and down his biceps.
Dara’s touch burned him, as if flames danced over his skin.
Jack cupped her breasts and she caught her breath as he rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. He broke the kiss and she tilted her head back and moaned.
He ached so badly for her that he could hardly stand it.
“Jack, please.” Her words came out broken as her breathing quickened.
He skimmed her neck with his lips. “What are you asking for, honey?”
“You.” She gripped his shoulders. “I want you.”
“You have me.” He moved his mouth over hers. “I’ve fallen for you, Dara. Hook, line, and sinker.”
She closed the gap and kissed him hard. When she drew away, she said through uneven breaths, “You’d better head to your place or I’m dragging you home with me.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh, although it was a pained laugh, as badly as he wanted her. “As much as I’d like to go home with you, that would push things faster than we want to.”
Dara looked like an angel in the moonlight until she gave a wicked smile. “Who says I don’t want to go fast?”
He groaned and brought her body flush with his. “Believe me, if I had you alone right now, I don’t know that I’d be taking it slow at all.”
She kissed him hard. “I’ll see you Saturday, Jack.”
He brought her into his arms and held her close. “But I’ll call you before then.”
“Good.” She looked a little unsteady as she stepped away from. She climbed into her vehicle, shut the door, and lowered the window. “Promise me we’ll continue from where we left off?”
Jack leaned through the open window and kissed her again. “I promise you that I’m going to be dreaming about you tonight.”
“Me, too.” She smiled. “I’ll talk with you tomorrow, Mr. McBride.”
He watched her put the Jeep into gear. The tires crunched on the gravel as she waved through the open window. She buzzed the window up and he waited until he couldn’t see the red glow of her taillights any longer.
Jack climbed into his truck and let the heater run until the cab reached a comfortable temperature. Dara had warmed him, but the night’s chill seeped into his bones without her there.
He put the truck into gear, and started down the drive to the highway, his thoughts staying on Dara the entire way home. He had it so damned bad for her. It seemed impossible that he’d known her for so long, yet it felt like they’d only just met.
In some ways they had, because it was the first time they’d met on this level.
He’d only seen her as his kid sister’s friend. Dara had been a part of the McBrides’ lives for around fifteen years or so. A lot had happened throughout that time—a lot.
It felt like all the years had fallen away and the two of them had met on a level they weren’t meant to reach until now.
Yeah, truth was, they weren’t meant to feel this way, to see each other this way, until this moment in time. It would never have worked before.
He’d been dealing with raising his kids without their mother, and coping with the loss of the woman he’d known most of his life. Things hadn’t been perfect, and in a lot of ways damned hard, but Lucy had been a good woman and a good mother.
Five years later, and Jack knew he’d found a woman he could move on with.
The perfect woman to share the rest of his life with.
Chapter Eight
Jack drove along the ranch’s dirt road until he reached his home and parked.
Time to deal with Leslie. It was kinda like going to face the firing squad, when it really should be his daughter feeling that way, instead of him.
Demon greeted Jack, who rubbed his head. “How are you, boy?”
The dog looked up at him and wiggled his whole rear end since he didn’t have a tail to wag.
Demon barked.
“Glad you feel that way,” Jack said and his thoughts settled on Dara. “I’ve had a pretty good day myself.”
His daughter’s sullen expression and bad attitude came to mind. “In most ways.”
Demon barked again and trotted at Jack’s side as he headed into the house, then put his keys on the hook. Neither Leslie or Max were in the kitchen. Demon headed straight to the water bowl and started lapping the water.
Jack went to the kids’ side of the house and paused at Max’s door to say hello. Jack raised his hand to knock, but changed his mind. He needed to have a conversation with his daughter before talking with his son.
Surprisingly, when he reached her room, her door was open. He stopped in the doorway. Leslie lay on her stomach on her bed with a textbook open while she made notes by hand on a piece of ruled paper.
She had earbuds in, which were connected to her cell phone. She had her knees bent, her feet in the air, and bobbed one foot to whatever music she listened to.
It struck him then how truly beautiful his
daughter was, and how much she reminded him of her mother. Same pert nose, same facial structure, same poise and presence. About all she had from him were the McBride blue eyes.
Jack walked into the room and Leslie glanced up. She looked like a defiant little girl as she took out her earbuds and tossed them aside before she scooted up to sit on the edge of her bed.
He took the chair at her desk and turned it around so that he could sit on it and face her. He braced his arms on his thighs and laced his fingers together. He nodded in the direction of the text book. “Algebra?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He leaned over to get a closer look. “Chemistry.” He looked at Leslie. “Damned if I could ever get into that subject.”
“Mom was the one good at it,” Leslie said. “I remember her telling me about how you beat her at math, but she smoked you in the sciences.”
“Yep.” He nodded. “She sure did.”
Leslie darted her gaze away from his. “I don’t want you dating Dara, Dad.”
“Look at me.” He focused on her, waiting for her to meet his gaze. When she did, he said, “I understand how you feel.”
“Do you?” Her eyes flashed. “Did you lose your mom?”
“Leslie.” He spoke calmly, “I lost my wife, my best friend for twenty-four years. You don’t think I can understand how you feel?”
Leslie looked at her lap. “Maybe.”
“There’s no maybe, Leslie.” He leaned forward. “I loved your mother, still do. She will always be in my heart.”
“But.” Leslie folded her arms tightly over her chest. “Now comes the but.”
Jack closed his eyes and had to count to ten. When he opened them, he said. “There’s no ‘but’ here. What is here is that our lives move on. We don’t always want to, but that’s the best and healthiest thing we can do.”
He blew out his breath. “Do you really think your mom would not want us to move on?”
Leslie was quiet a moment, then her voice came out low and small. “No. I can’t see mom thinking that way.”
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