“Did Rusty call in some of the Callahans?”
“Yes. They’re all nice guys.”
“They are wonderful men. They always help out on other ranches.” She looked everywhere but at Jesse. Anna was terrified to bring up that raincheck.
****
Jesse didn’t tell her that Roark Callahan almost blew his cover. He knew Roark from the rodeo circuit. Actually, he knew most of the Callahans by name but never met any of them except for Roark. When he had come walking toward him, Jesse turned his back but Roark had seen him. He was lucky that Wes and Rusty weren’t close by. Roark slapped him on the back.
“JD? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m just working here to help Anna out. Look, Roark, they don’t know who I am and I want to keep it that way. I’m just helping out.”
Roark had frowned at him. “Did your dad send you here to look at this ranch?”
Anyone who knew Jesse and his family knew what his dad did for a living. Jesse sighed.
“He did, but he thought Anna had already lost the ranch so I came here to check it out for him. It shocked the hell out of me when Rusty came walking out of the barn then I met Anna.”
“I’m surprised Rusty didn’t recognize you. He’s a big rodeo fan. Listen, I’m not going to say anything to anyone but I am telling you this, you hurt Anna and you and I are going to go at it. You understand?”
“I won’t hurt her, Roark. I’m hoping to help her turn this into a dude ranch to save it.”
“Not a good idea for her, really. Not with Devin and Jaxon’s place just a few miles from here. You know their guest ranch Bur Oak is thriving big time.”
“Jesse?”
Mentally shaking his thoughts away, he looked at Anna. “Yes?”
“You zoned out on me for a minute.” She smiled at him.
“Sorry. I need to get to the cabin and clean up.” He glanced down at himself. His T-shirt had sweat stains and dust covered his jeans and boots.
“All right,” she said quietly then moved back when he stood.
“Do I make you nervous for some reason?”
“No…yes.”
“Why?” he asked, moving closer toward her.
“I’m not sure, Jesse.” She stepped back making him stop in his tracks.
Taking a deep breath, he then blew it out. This wanting her was going to drive him insane.
“I’ll go then. Have a good evening.” He walked to the door and opened it, but her words stopped him in his tracks.
“Did you change your mind?” she whispered.
Turning, he looked at her. “About what?”
Clearing her throat, Anna raised her eyes and looked at him. “About the…raincheck.”
He reached her in two strides and cupped her face in his hands. He stared into her eyes. “No. I thought maybe you had.”
“No—”
His lips captured hers, cutting her off. When she moaned, it shot right to his dick. He moved his hands down her shoulders to her waist then around to her ass where he grabbed her and pulled her against him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she plastered her body to his. She pulled back from him and pushed against his shoulders. Jesse stepped back.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be. I wanted it as much as you did but, Jesse, you do need a shower.” She smiled at him.
Jesse widened his eyes then laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure I do.”
“Go shower,” she said with her hand over her nose, but he could see her smile.
“Yes, ma’am.” He laughed when she glared at him.
“Will you come back for dinner?”
“I’d love to.” He stepped closer to her and leaned down to kiss her. “As long as you’re dessert.”
“I think that can be arranged,” she whispered against his lips.
He kissed her quickly then turned and walked away from her. He opened the back door and glanced back.
“I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes. Oh, and Anna? I plan on staying for breakfast too.”
Closing the door behind him, Jesse couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he stepped off the porch and walked across the yard, climbed into his truck then drove to the cabin.
****
Anna placed her hands over her face wondering where she’d gotten the courage to ask him about the raincheck. Pulling out a chair from the kitchen table, she flopped down onto it. Was she really going to do this? Twisting her hands in her lap, she nodded. Yes, she was going to do this. She needed this. Needed Jesse. Although, she was terrified to be with him. Only ever being with one man was making her doubt she’d be up to par for Jesse. He was a young man and probably had been with many women already.
Sighing, she stood and walked to the fridge and yanked on the door to open it. She’d made a meatloaf last night but never ate it. All she needed to do was heat it up. She’d make mashed potatoes along with it. Did he like meatloaf?
“A little late now, Anna,” she muttered as she put the meatloaf in the oven then got potatoes out to peel.
Pushing the sleeves up on her robe, she wondered if she should change. Shaking her head, she knew she wouldn’t. The only way these clothes were coming off was when Jesse removed them. She shivered thinking of finally giving into her desires and going to bed with him.
Looking up at the clock, she was surprised to see only ten minutes had passed. It had felt like an eternity already. She laughed when she thought of telling him he needed a shower. He had the smell of hay, sweat, leather, and man coming off him and although she’d teased him about needing a shower, the scents had appealed to her. After setting the pan of potatoes on the stove, she walked to the living room to watch the news and try to pass the time before Jesse returned.
Ten minutes later, she heard a truck pull up by the back of the house and her heart hit her stomach. Getting up, she made her way to the kitchen just as the door opened and he stepped inside. He stopped and stared at her. She could smell his aftershave from where she stood. His hair was still damp on the ends and although he’d shaved, a faint shadow still covered his lower face, strong jaw, and neck. He was so masculine, and she hated comparing him to Jamie but in all honesty, there was no comparison. Her eyes traveled down his black T-shirt to his jeans and she had to bite her lip to hold back a groan. She’d never seen a man fill out a pair of jeans like Jesse Dalton did. When she raised her eyes to his face, he was still looking at her. He pushed the door closed behind him but didn’t move.
“Something smells good,” he murmured.
“Yeah, it’s you,” she said, not taking her eyes from his.
He removed his hat and hung it on a peg next to the door then slowly sauntered toward her and stopped in front of her. He reached out, took a strand of her hair, and tucked it behind her ear.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
“Jesse,” she whispered.
“I love hearing you say my name. I want to hear you whisper it in my ear while I’m buried deep inside you.”
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. No man had ever talked to her in this way. She snapped her eyes open when he untied her robe and spread it open. His hands moved inside and wrapped around her back then he pulled her against him. He leaned forward and put his face against her neck then moved his lips up to her ear.
“Do you feel how much I want you?”
“Yes.”
“Anna…”
She pulled back from him when she heard the water from the pot on the stove hiss as it hit the top of the hot surface.
“I need to mash the potatoes,” she murmured, then felt like an idiot for saying such a thing.
Jesse grinned at her. “Okay.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” she said as she walked to the stove and picked up a potholder to grab the pot.
“You have no idea,” he said from behind her.
Anna’s hand started shaking as she tried to pour the water into the colander. When Jesse placed his
hand on hers, she sucked in a deep breath.
“Relax,” he murmured next to her ear. “We’ll sit down and eat then watch a movie. I’m not going to ravish you.”
Setting the pot in the sink, she turned to face him. “You’re not?”
A grin lifted his sexy lips. “Not yet.”
She smiled. “I’m not used to this, Jesse. I haven’t been with a man in a long time and to be honest, I’m scared to death.”
“It doesn’t have to happen unless you want it to, Anna.”
“I do want it. You. I want you, but my nerves need to calm down.”
“And we’ll let them. I am hungry, so let’s enjoy dinner and get to know each other.”
Nodding her head, she turned back to the sink then went on to make the mashed potatoes. She heard Jesse pull a chair out and take a seat. Once she finished, she turned and carried the potatoes and meatloaf to the table. Jesse stood when she walked toward him. Mamas raised their cowboy sons right. He smiled at her as he took the plate holding the meatloaf from her and set it on the table then pulled a chair out for her. This was all so new to her. Having a man be this courteous. Jamie had been polite, but he never helped her with dinner and he never pulled a chair out for her.
“Thank you,” she said as she slowly sank down onto the chair.
“You’re welcome,” he whispered next to her ear making her shiver. He moved over to his chair and sat.
Anna pushed the meatloaf toward him and watched as he took a few slices then piled mashed potatoes onto his plate then pushed them toward her. Smiling her thanks, she took a slice of meatloaf and some potatoes. Before eating, she watched as Jesse took a bite of the meatloaf and groaned.
“This is great, Anna.”
“Thank you.” She could feel the heat in her cheeks and wished there was something she could do to stop it. Damn fair skin!
“Tell me about you,” Jesse said.
“What do you want to know?”
Shrugging, he looked at her. “Everything.”
He reached over and covered her hand. “Tell me about your husband.”
She inhaled then blew it out. “I met Jamie when I was twenty-two. I was substituting at the same school where he was teaching. I was in the teacher’s lounge when he came in. We talked a little but then he shocked me by asking me out for coffee.” She laughed. “He was so shy, but I turned him down and he looked crestfallen. I turned to leave the room and heard him mutter, ‘I get it’ and I felt so bad for him so I told him I’d meet him for coffee after school. He got the biggest grin on his face. I was glad I’d changed my mind.”
“What did he mean, he got it?” Jesse asked before shoving a fork full of mashed potatoes in his mouth.
“Jamie was not the best-looking man. He was tall, about six foot, but thin as a rail. His hair was such a light blond, it was almost white, and he wore glasses. But when we had coffee, his sense of humor came out and he made me laugh. I really liked him. We began to date, and I fell in love with him and we married just six months later. He smoked constantly though and I hated it. Once we were married, he told me he didn’t want children and I was devastated.”
“Didn’t you talk about it before you got married?”
“Yes, tried to anyway but he always said we’d talk about it once we got settled.” Shaking her head, she knew she should have pressured him more. “He told me he dealt with children all day, he sure didn’t want to come home and deal with them more.”
“I’m sorry, Anna.”
Smiling sadly, she looked at him. “It’s all right. I’m not sure he would have made a very good father so it’s better we didn’t have children.”
“Why wouldn’t he be a good father? He was a good teacher. You’d mentioned his students loved him.”
“They did but he didn’t have to show them affection, just teach them. Jamie was not an affectionate man. He rarely showed any feelings, even to me. His parents are like robots.” She glanced down at her plate. “They raised him the same way. Even though he had a wonderful sense of humor, he was about as romantic as a fence post.” She looked up at Jesse. “That’s why I don’t know how to act around you. When you touch me, I’m not sure how to act—”
“He didn’t touch you?”
“Not really. I thought for the longest time I was happy until I’d see my sister with her husband. They’ve been married for years and still act like they’re on their honeymoon. I was so jealous that my marriage wasn’t like that. I told her how Jamie treated me and she told me it was wrong. I…I was at the point where I was thinking of leaving him, but I loved him. I really did. I just wasn’t happy. It was as if I was living with a roommate, not a husband, but then he was diagnosed with cancer and I couldn’t leave him. I couldn’t do that to him.”
“What about in bed, Anna? How did he treat you in bed?” Jesse asked her quietly.
She looked at him and she could feel a tear rolling down her cheek. Jesse reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. She blew out a humorless laugh.
“He’d never do foreplay. Oh, he’d…touch me a little but then just try to have sex. I was always glad when it was over.”
“Did he kiss you?”
“Rarely and never during sex.” God! This is so embarrassing.
“Did he, at least, make sure you had orgasms?”
The question startled Anna so much, she looked at him. She knew her cheeks had to be beet red but she shook her head.
“Never?” he asked her.
“No.”
“You lived like that for sixteen years?”
She could hear the anger in his voice. “Yes, but I did love him.”
“Yeah, like a roommate. Jesus, Anna. He was wrong to treat you that way.”
“Jesse, it was the way he was raised. He never saw his parents show affection in any way. Not to him, or each other. He loved me though.”
“Sixteen years of that, Anna. I don’t get it. A woman needs to be happy, be satisfied too. Sex isn’t just about the man. You need to enjoy it. He did. He got off, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “It wasn’t for that long though, Jesse. We rarely had sex after five years of marriage. He just didn’t seem to want it. I wonder now if he’d been sick back then.”
“Even five years is too long,” he growled out.
“I’m sorry—”
Jesse jumped up, moved to squat down in front of her chair, and took her hands in his.
“Just what are you apologizing for? You did nothing wrong except love a man who didn’t love you properly or know enough to make you happy.” He wiped another tear away from her cheek then stood. “I’m done eating. If you are, go sit in the living room, find us a movie, and I’ll clean up.”
“You’ll clean up?”
“Wait. Don’t tell me he never did that either.”
She noticed his hands clench into fists. She stood and touched his chest then rose to her toes and kissed his cheek.
“I won’t tell you then. Thank you,” Anna said then turned and walked to the living room.
Chapter Four
Jesse took in a few deep breaths. How in the hell did she live like that for so long? Glancing toward the living room, he cleared off the table and found containers in which to store the leftovers. Once he loaded the dishwasher and wiped up the table and counters, he joined her in the living room. She sat on the sofa with her legs curled under her, staring at the TV.
Sitting in the recliner, he removed his boots then stood and walked to the sofa. He sat down beside her then pulled her back against his chest. She stiffened up at first then relaxed. Her husband probably never sat with her like this either.
“What did you find for us to watch?” he asked.
“Die Hard is on. Do you like that one?”
“Yep, sounds good.”
He rested his chin on the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. It felt so right holding her this way
. Shit! He was getting in way over his head. She smelled so good and it had nothing to do with any perfume. She still smelled of soap from her bath earlier. Jesse couldn’t stop himself from kissing the top of her head. She pushed against him, sat up, and looked at him.
“What? He didn’t do that either?”
“Don’t be a smartass, Jesse,” she said, glaring at him.
He grinned. “Truth hurt?”
“Shut up.”
Sitting up, he cupped her face in his hands, leaned forward, and hovered his lips above hers.
“Why don’t you shut me up?” he whispered and waited.
Anna leaned forward and kissed him. Jesse moaned and pulled her to him when she started to pull back, and deepened the kiss. He nibbled at her bottom lip then took it between his teeth. She gasped against his mouth. Settling his lips on hers, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Anna moved her tongue against his and his dick strained against his fly.
“I want you so much, Anna. You have no idea,” he murmured against her lips.
“I want you too…”
“But?”
“I’m scared. I’m not real experienced even though I was married for a long time. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“I don’t think that’s possible but I’m not going to do anything you’re not ready for.” He moved to stand, but she took his hand.
“Jesse, I want you to stay with me.”
Still holding her hand, he stood, turned to look at her then pulled her to her feet. When he lifted her into his arms, she let out a loud gasp then he headed down the hallway to her bedroom. He wanted to seriously kick her husband’s ass for not treating this woman like a queen. She deserved it and more.
Striding into the bedroom, he kicked the door closed behind them and carried her to the bed. Placing her feet on the floor, he untied her robe, pushed it off her shoulders, and removed it. He picked her up again then placed her in the center of the bed. He straightened and pulled his T-shirt off over his head, tossed it to the floor then lay down beside her and touched her cheek.
“All you have to do is tell me no, Anna.”
“I know. Kiss me, please. You kiss so good,” she whispered.
Jesse: A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 3 (The Beckett Brothers) Page 7
