Lost in her fantasies of what her new life in Shotgun Ridge would be like, Carly Hudson turned with a start as the screen door squeaked on its hinges then slapped closed. She smiled as her daughter, Jewel, trotted out on the porch, nearly strangling the young tabby she held in her chubby little arms. Her daughter’ s blond pigtails sprouted out of the side of her head like puppy ears and her cherub face was wreathed in a happy smile. And no wonder; Jewel had been comically chasing after that poor cat half the morning.
Carly laughed and admonished, "Careful, sweetie. You don’ t want to squish the kitty."
"He’s not squished! He likes it!"
"Of course he does, darlin’," Mildred Bagley said, coming out on the porch balancing a tray laden with tea cups. Her sister, Opal , co-owner of the boarding house, followed with a pretty ceramic tea pot that she set on the glass top table that sat among a grouping of wicker chairs.
"And isn’t she just the smartest baby for catching that old cat," Opal said. "I do believe she’s charmed him. What do you think, sister?"
"Looks like a perfect match to me," Mildred agreed.
Carly had an urge to fling out her arms and twirl like a ballerina atop a jewelry box. For that’s how she felt — as though this wonderfully quaint town with it’s fabulously friendly people was like a gilt box filled with precious gems.
She’d made the right decision, she told herself. She’d nearly changed her mind a dozen times, but that butterfly feeling had nagged at her, drawn her, urged her to pack up her three-year-old daughter and their belongings and relocate to Shotgun Ridge, Montana, the home of many bachelors, not quite as many women, and a friendly welcoming spirit she’d yearned for all her life.
Growing up in foster care, she’d never experienced that feeling.
The summer air was sweet with the smell of green grass and open ranges, the breeze carrying the scent of animals and earth, and the fragrant roses and daffodils that grew by the porch of the Bagley widows’boarding house.
The traffic on Main Street — if you could even call it traffic — was mostly pickup trucks driven by hunky guys wearing Stetsons.
She told herself she wasn’t hoping for a glimpse of one man in particular. She’d missed her chance there. Although she had some trouble letting go of the regret, something good had come out of that crazy notion to attend the bachelor auction several weeks back. She’d fallen in love with this town. So she’d gone back to Idaho, collected Jewel, and now here she was.
This would be a new start. It would be fine. Wonderful, in fact.
"Come and have your tea, love," Mildred said to Carly. Then her face creased in a smile and her eyes twinkled. "Sister, get another cup. We’ve company."
"Mornin’Miz Mildred. Miz Opal."
That voice, deep and whiskey-soft with the barest hint of amusement had Carly whipping around. For a moment, the man standing at the bottom of the porch steps looked about as stunned as she felt.
He recovered much faster than she did.
With a slow, devastatingly sensual smile, he tipped his brown Stetson back on his head. "It’s you."
Carly couldn't remember when she'd felt so flustered. Her heart was pounding and her knees were weak. She'd dreamed of this man. And here he was, standing in front of her looking virile and sexy, and most likely off limits, darn it all.
"Yes, it's me." Since her mind had gone absolutely blank for several moments, she found her manners and held out her hand. "Carly Hudson."
He took her hand in both of his, lifted her knuckles to his lips, lingered there for a moment, his brown eyes hinting at things that made Carly feel totally out of her depth.
"Charmed," he said softly, a word packed with emotions that suggested they were the only two people on the porch... which they weren't. "I'm Jake McCall ."
Unsure if her voice would work, she gave it a try anyway. "I know."
His brow lifted.
"At the bachelor auction. Lloyd Brewer introduced you. You're a general contractor here in town."
"So I am. What made you run off so quick after the auction?"
She shrugged, and finally found her footing. She didn't normally go stupid around men. "I hadn't counted on the bidding to go quite so high." Or her emotions to waylay her like a lightning bolt straight from heaven. "You were too rich for my pocketbook."
"I'm sorry about that."
"You are?" The advertisement for the bachelor auction had inferred that a date would likely end in marriage. She wondered if wedding plans were already in full swing between Jake McCall and the pretty brunette who'd purchased a date with him.
"Ozzie Peyton sent me over here to check out some plumbing that's leaking," he said, dragging his gaze away from Carly to focus on Mildred and Opal. He was surprised the widows hadn' t said something to him themselves. "Driving you to drink with its incessant dripping is the way he put it."
Mildred frowned. "The old goat's goin' senile. Sister fixed it already. I told him so, though sister and me went a couple of rounds over the project." She sniffed, crossing her arms over ample bosoms. "She fancies herself a bit of a handy-person."
"Well, I fixed it didn't I?" Opal snapped. "At least I paid attention when my William worked around the house. Unlike a certain person we both know who worried over breaking a fingernail."
Mildred rolled her eyes and clasped her hands at her waist, proudly showing off her vermilion-colored nails ... her own, thank you very much. "You're just jealous, you old hag. If you'd quit picking at yours they'd grow just fine."
Carly sucked in a breath, looking a little perplexed when Mildred called Opal a hag. Jake just smiled. He hadn't been in town all that long, but he was well acquainted with the Bagley widows' harmless bickering. He suspected they did it more for show than anything else, often to diffuse tension or distract.
And he had to admit, some powerful vibes were sizzling between Carly and him... and wild horses stampeding through town probably wouldn't distract him from that fact.
Man alive, she was a heck of a package... full lips, great bone structure, endearingly fly-away blond hair. She was an intriguing mix of sophistication and shy sensuality, with a flash of yearning in her big green eyes that normally would have sent him running.
For some reason, his feet were like cement blocks, rooting him right where he stood, and he wanted to waste the whole day just looking at her.
She made him think of kisses in the moonlight and walks in the rain.
Hell of an imagination, McCall.
A little girl Jake hadn't noticed, happy pigtails bouncing, charged across the porch and did a pint-size body blow against Carly's leg, latching on with twig-like arms that still managed to sport baby fat.
"Hi!" she chirped. "I finded a kitty and Mommy said I mustn't squish him, but I didn't squish him. He likes me. Do you got a kitty?"
Mommy. She had a kid. A family package.
Jake's heart sank. Despite the catch in his chest at the big green eyes of the child staring up at him, and the dynamite package of the mother making his libido sing, he didn't do families.
"This is my daughter, Jewel," Carly said.
Jake knelt in front of the little girl with the pigtails. The position also put him eye level with Carly Hudson’s incredibly long legs and he felt sweat bead at his hairline under his Stetson.
"Hello, Jewel. I’m Jake."
Surprising him, the tot let go of her mother’ s leg, hopped over to him like a jumping bean, and stuck her face right in his. "Do you got kitty-cats?"
He shook his head and grinned when she got distracted by his hat, nearly knocking it off his head and losing her balance in her exuberance. He caught her before she tumbled off the porch. The kid was a bundle of energy. And so soft. Now he understood the meaning of baby-soft skin.
He wasn’t sure if he’ d ever actually touched a baby... or pint-size child. Her little arms were like twigs. She had chipmunk cheeks in a round face and a cupid’s bow mouth curved in a perpetual smile that showed incredibly tiny teeth.
Jake actually felt his heart squeeze. "Nope. No kitties, but I do have a dog."
Her green eyes went impossibly wide and round. "Doggie." She breathed the word with reverence and did an odd wiggly dance as she looked up at her mother.
Carly smiled. "Jewel’ s a little fixated on animals. I promised her when we got settled here we’ d get her a puppy or kitten."
"I could play with your puppy."
"Jewel... "
"He’ s not really a puppy," Jake said, winking at Carly to let her know he didn’ t mind Jewel’ s chatter. "He’ s about this tall." He held his hand up about the height of Jewel’ s head.
"I could ride him!" She looked behind him as though he was hiding the dog somewhere.
"Well, uh, no. But you can play with him tonight. He’ s over at the vet’ s right now."
Jewel squealed in glee, then whirled around when Opal called to her.
" Mildred’s made snowman pancakes. Come, doll. Let’ s us girls go have a breakfast tea party in the kitchen and leave your mama to entertain her gentleman on the porch."
Jewel streaked across the porch to slip her hand in the older woman’s. Carly felt her face heat at the less than subtle maneuvering of her landladies.
She’d fantasized about entertaining this man on the porch — and other places, too. But he wasn’t her gentleman. She truly didn’t know if he was available.
He stood slowly, his hat still tipped back on his head, his brown-eyed gaze holding hers with an intensity that made her giddy.
"Cute kid," he commented.
"Thank you. She’s a handful at times. And regardless of my best intentions to teach caution, she talks to every stranger she sees."
"Then you’ve come to the right town. The folks here are pretty friendly — and safe." He shifted, leaned one broad shoulder against the wood support post of the porch. "Will your daughter’s father be joining you here?"
Carly’s heart jumped. He was fishing for information. Like a man who was interested and not sure if he was treading on someone else’s territory. "He’s not in the picture. He never wanted to be."
The flare of interest in his eyes intensified. "The man’s a fool, then," he said softly. "His loss."
And your gain? The forward words flashed in her brain, but she thankfully held them silent. The image of the pretty brunette who’d left the bachelor auction on Jake McCall’s arm kept intruding.
"Well, since there doesn’t appear to be an emergency plumbing problem, I should get back to work."
Carly didn’t want to see him leave, but couldn’t think of anything to keep him. Besides, she had a ton of things to take care of. She was barely settled in, in fact hadn’t even unpacked all of their suitcases.
"It was nice to meet you. And it was sweet of you to offer to bring the dog over for a visit. But don’t feel obligated." They’d only gotten in town a couple of hours ago. With so many new and exciting experiences, Jewel was likely to forget the conversation the minute an ant crawled by to snag her attention.
He looked down at her, his smile slow and pleased.
"Didn’t Mildred and Opal tell you? I’ m renting a room here at the boarding house, too."
Carly was on pins and needles for the rest of the day. Jake was actually living under the same roof as her. Terribly convenient. Scary. And potentially heartbreaking.
Would she be forced to watch him romancing a fiancée? She’d had the perfect opening to ask about the woman he’ d dated, but the moment had passed.
My lord, he was so handsome she was in danger of becoming obsessed by him. Hadn’t she learned her lesson about handsome men? A mistake in judgment four years ago should have made her more cautious. And it had.
Until she’d laid eyes on Jake McCall.
She felt like a teenager all over again, instead of a 26-year-old, responsible mother of a three-year-old.
Get a grip, Carly! Unwilling to waste any more time, Carly made her way over to Brewer’s Saloon. Iris Brewer, who owned the restaurant and bar along with her husband, Lloyd, spotted her and waved.
"Carly Hudson, right?" Iris asked. "We’re so glad you decided to come back to town."
"Oh, well, thank you." The unconditional welcome still took her by surprise.
"And where’s that little lamb of a daughter I’ve heard so much about?"
Carly laughed. "Mildred and Opal Bagley are minding her. But, I’ve barely gotten into town. How did you hear about Jewel?"
"Oh, nothing stays secret here. We’re family. And so very pleased when young people come to live. My husband and his buddies are determined to meddle in everyone’s business and single-handedly grow this town."
Carly looked around the diner where the lunch crowd was starting to come in. "Looks like they’re doing a good job."
Iris chuckled. "Too good. We’re busier than wranglers in branding season."
"Could you use some help, then?" Carly asked. "I’ve waitressed before. It’s been a while, but I imagine I can manage to balance the trays without dumping the contents. And I could really use the work."
"We’d love to have you come work for us! Maedean will be thrilled. She’s our number one server and I’m afraid we’re running the poor woman ragged." Iris reached behind the counter for an apron. "When can you start?"
"Actually, I can start now, if you need me." The Bagley widows had assured her Jewel would be fine with them, but Carly didn’t want to impose or assume. She’d have to check into daycare. It was tough being a single mom, but she’d never regretted a single day of Jewel’s life.
"Why don’t you just start with the lunch crowd today, ease into the flow," Iris said.
"Thank you. I really appreciate this."
"Nonsense. We need the help. So what type of work is it you’ve been used to doing?"
"Clothing designs."
"Ah, now, there’s where this town could use some sprucing up. As it is, if we need anything other than blue jeans we have to go into Billings to shop."
Without knowing it, Iris had just validated Carly’s fragile dream. Gifted with an eye for design and a whiz on a sewing machine, she wanted to open her own store.
"Perhaps I can remedy that." Slipping the bib apron over her head, she tied it at the waist. "Thanks to you, I’ve got a job now, but I’ve still got to look for a place to live. I’d love to find one of those shops with the living quarters over the top. Do you know if there’s anything like that here in town?"
"Now that I think about it, there's a vacant building just off Main Street, a few doors down from Tillis’ General Store. The upstairs apartment has plenty of space, although it needs a bit of work. But we’ve a wonderfully talented contractor in town who’d give your a fair price for renovation, I’ m sure. In fact, he’s just walked in. Why don't we go ask him about it?"
Carly’s heart leapt in her throat. Sure enough, Jake McCall had just come through the saloon doors.
"No!" she whispered, stopping Iris before the woman could call Jake over. She was flustered, nervous, and stunned by the uncharacteristic emotions. She didn’t normally react to men this way — even the ones she found attractive.
What was it about him? What was this lightning chemistry? It had been the same when she’d seen him at the bachelor auction. One look and she’d been rendered speechless, certain he was the guy for her.
He spotted her, paused right where he was. A dimple creased his cheek as his sexy smile kicked up slowly. Holding her gaze, he started across the room toward her.
When Jake McCall strode toward her with his killer smile and loose-limbed walk, Carly suddenly felt like a big chicken. She snatched the apron Iris had been holding, put it on and grabbed a tray.
"I’ll just get to work," she said and nearly ran in the opposite direction to take orders from customers. She needed a few moments to gather her composure, she told herself, a few moments so she wouldn’t stammer like a besotted idiot when Jake spoke to her.
In a matter of minutes, she was handling the lunch crowd like a seasoned pro, taking orders for burgers, fries, sodas, and beer on tap. Every single person in the saloon welcomed her like a friend, as though she was one of their own.
Carly knew without a doubt she’d made the right decision coming to Shotgun Ridge. This was a new start. Here, she could at last find a family.
And maybe, if the good Lord was looking down on her favorably, Jake McCall might want to be part of that family.
She could feel his gaze following her, noticed every time he smiled or laughed or spoke to someone. Maedean, the other waitress, had taken his order.
A half-hour later, with the lunch crowd under control, Carly found herself with nothing to do. Unbidden, her eyes shifted back to Jake McCall’s booth.
He was watching her. His brow raised in challenge... or perhaps a dare. Carly accepted it and made her way over to him.
"You avoiding me, sugar?"
Her smile spread slowly. "You make me nervous."
He grinned. "Sit for a minute and let me remedy that."
She set her tray on the table and sat down across from him. "Somehow you don’t strike me as a man a woman can totally relax around."
He snagged her hand, ran his thumb over her knuckles, his brown-eyed gaze intense and entirely too sensual for her peace of mind.
"You just need to get to know me better."
She glanced pointedly at their hands and gently pulled hers away. "That’s not exactly helping."
He chuckled but let her keep her distance. Sitting back in the booth, he said, "So, you’ve gotten yourself a job here?"
"Yes. Temporarily."
His brows lifted. "You’re not staying?"
"Oh, yes. But I’ve got a small inheritance and I’ m hoping to rent a building here in town and open my own shop." No one had been more stunned than Carly when an eccentric aunt in one of the foster families she’d lived with had taken a shine to her and left her a little nest egg in her will.
"What kind of shop?"
"Fabric and notions — buttons, lacy trim, and stuff. I’ d like to offer a line of custom-made clothing."
"You sew."
"And design."
He glanced at the cotton sundress she wore beneath her apron. A simple design with tiny blue peonies on a yellow background, it fell from adjustable spaghetti straps to skim her body, ending with a ruffled hem just above her knees. "That one of your designs?"
"Yes."
"Very nice."
She was pleased with the compliment, and the appreciation in his eyes. "Iris said there’s a building in town that might work for what I want, but the living quarters above it might need some work. If I can swing a deal with the owner, do you think you could take a look and give me a bid on any renovating it needs?"
"Just say the word. My time is yours."
My gosh, when he looked at her just that way, spoke to her in that sexy voice, she wanted to melt... or reach right across the table and kiss him senseless. "Thank you."
"Now, how about you do a favor for me?"
"What’s that?"
"Have dinner with me."
Oh, she wanted to. But before she got too carried away, she had to know something. "What about your fiancée?"
Jake frowned, certain he must have missed a very vital part of the conversation. "Fiancée?"
"The woman from the bachelor auction," Carly clarified.
"What makes you think she’s my fiancée?" And why in the world would he be asking her to dinner if he was engaged?
Carly shrugged. "The ad said the date would likely end in a marriage proposal. I assumed all the men participating in the auction were looking for wives."
He shook his head, understanding at last. "I wasn’t aware of that particular deal, although I’ve heard that Ozzie Peyton and his cohorts are quite the matchmakers. Shelly and I just had the one date. It was nice, but afterward, she went her way and I went mine."
Carly was so relieved she felt dizzy. "Oh."
"So, how about that dinner?"
Jake McCall was a free agent. Maybe, just maybe, he could be hers. Surely this wildly incendiary attraction between them was an omen — destiny. When their eyes had connected at the bachelor auction, she’d experienced what felt like love at first sight.
The feeling hadn’t gone away.
"I’d love to have dinner with you. But I’ll have to see about a baby-sitter for Jewel." She paused, frowned. "Maybe we should make it for another night, though. I hate to leave her in the evenings when I’ve been away during the day."
"So we’ll make it something simple, take her with us."
"You wouldn’t mind?" Most men didn’t want a child tagging along on a first date.
He shrugged. "This is a family-friendly town. I haven’t run into a place yet where kids weren’t welcome." He grinned. "Or encouraged, for that matter."
"We could always have supper with Mildred and Opal at the boarding house. Meals are included in the price."
"I had something more private in mind."
The look he gave her made her palms sweat. How private could they be with a child in tow?
"Um, Jewel goes to bed pretty early." She fidgeted with the serving tray in front of her. "That would leave us with privacy."
"Not with the widows around. Believe me, I’ve been there longer than you have. The ladies love to entertain. How about we check out that shop you’re interested in? I’ll have Mildred pack us a picnic supper."
Oh, the man was a romantic. "I’d like that." She stood, realizing she shouldn’t be taking such a long break on her first day of work. "I’ll see you at home, then — I mean at the boarding house," she hastily corrected.
He winked at her. "I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who blushes as easily as you do."
Carly sighed and laughed at herself. "I’ve been a single mother for so long, I’m a little rusty at this particular dance."
The look he gave her was very direct and frankly sensual. "Well, then, I’ll look forward to refreshing your memory on the intimate steps."
It was a nice evening for a walk. The summer sky was a kaleidoscope of color as the sun made its slow descent toward the horizon, bringing a slight chill to the air.
The businesses on Main Street were closed except for the Sheriff’s office and Brewer’s Saloon. The smell of burgers and the sound of music wafted on the breeze as they walked down the sidewalk and turned the corner.
Jake carried the picnic basket Mildred had packed for them, and Carly held Jewel’s hand, laughingly frustrated when her daughter kept trying to loop her little arm around the dog who trotted obediently at their side.
Since they were making this a family date, Duke, Jake’ s black Labrador, had been invited along, also. Much to Jewel’ s excited, exuberant delight.
"Jewel, no-no. Let Duke walk by himself."
The little girl sighed. "My feet is tired."
"Do you want Mommy to carry you?"
"No. Want Duke to."
Jake laughed. "Here, now, we can’t have ladies with tired feet." He scooped Jewel up and perched her on his shoulders. "How’s that?"
She giggled and shrieked in glee, clasping her pudgy hands at the sides of his neck, her feet clad in miniature pink tennis shoes resting against his chest.
Carly felt her heart skip at the sight of the tall man holding her daughter. Lord have mercy, he was handsome.
His dark hair was short on the sides and in back and spiky on top. He had the kind of lean, muscular body that suggested power and capability rather than bulk. A dark gray T-shirt hugged his torso as though shrink-wrapped to his flat, six-pack stomach.
"You’re good with kids," she said.
He grinned down at her. "I think it’s a case of your kid being good with me. This is a new experience for me."
His large palm was wrapped around Jewel’s tiny ankle. He felt the baby rest her cheek against the top of his head, her hands still cupping his jaw. The oddest sensation shot through him. This was a first for him — going on a picnic date with a child and dog as chaperones.
"Are there no children in your family?" Carly asked.
"You mean like nieces and nephews?"
She nodded.
"No. I’ve got a brother, but neither one of us has thought of settling down."
"Oh."
She’d gone quiet on him and Jake wasn’t sure how to break the silence. The breeze teased the ends of her hair and sent the fruity scent of her perfume swirling around him. Apples and cinnamon. Man alive, the woman made his mouth water.
They turned the corner and she suddenly skipped ahead like a young, excited girl. Jewel even got into the act, raising her head and kicking her feet. "Go!"
"I’m going," he said, tightening his hand around her ankle to steady her.
"This is it," Carly said, stopping in front of a two-story wood structure. "I went ahead and signed the papers this afternoon and Ozzie Peyton gave me the key." She unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Jake eased Jewel down from his shoulders, grinning when she raced inside the building. Duke, obviously sensing the potential for a fun game, barked and followed hot on her heels.
"Isn’t it wonderful?" Carly asked, turning in a wide circle in the middle of the room. "The display cases and shelves are already here just waiting to be stocked with colorful fabrics and merchandise. I thought you could section off a space in the back for my sewing room, add some mirrors and a dressing area. But we’ ll get to that later. Come on, I’ll show you upstairs." She hooked an arm around Jewel’s belly, lifted her, then grabbed Jake’s hand and tugged him toward the stairs.
She was like an excited kid at Christmas.
And Jake got caught up in the excitement, more interested in watching her than in their surroundings.
She set Jewel down to explore.
"The furniture comes with it. There’re some wonderful antique pieces. And just look at that balcony. It’s simply begging for pots of flowers, a little table, and chairs set for afternoon tea or morning coffee. Oh, Jake, can’t you just picture it?"
She twirled and collided with him. Laughing, she put her palms on his chest to steady, looked up at him, her green eyes shining with the kind of joy he’d forgotten existed.
In a reflex that felt as easy and right as taking his next breath, Jake lowered his head and kissed her.
At the first, unexpected touch of his lips, Carly gasped.
Jake paused, slid his thumb beneath her chin, his chocolate eyes simmering with passion, and something more.
"May I?" he whispered, asking permission this time.
She licked her lips, must have nodded. He framed her face with his hands, and slowly, reverently, lowered his mouth to hers.
The thrill that shot through her was powerful and staggering. Her hands slid up his shirt front, her right palm resting right over his heart. She was surrounded by his taste, his scent, the incredibly soft touch that held her spellbound and immobile with little or no pressure.
Very gently, as though afraid she’d bolt, he skimmed the seam of her lips with his tongue, teasing, arousing, yet never really asking for entrance. He took his time, savoring, making her feel exquisitely cherished. He kissed her with a reverence that shouted "gentleman," yet there was no doubting his expertise.
Jake McCall was a man who knew exactly how to please a woman.
And if Carly had flirted with the idea of being in love with him before, she fell all the way into the blissful abyss in the stolen moments it took for him to worship her mouth.
She wanted more. Much, much more.
"Mommy, why are you kissing Jake?"
Carly jumped back, took a breath. My goodness, she’d forgotten everything the moment Jake’s lips had touched hers. Her heart was racing and images of the future and plans they could make together were nearly overwhelming her.
She was definitely getting ahead of herself here. They were on a first date, for crying out loud. But oh, it felt so right. And never, ever had she felt such powerful emotions. She was absolutely giddy with them.
With love.
She looked down at her daughter, scooped her up in her arms — arms that were trembling — and placed a loud smacking kiss to Jewel’s baby soft cheek. "I’m happy. And you know Mommy kisses when she’s happy."
Jewel giggled, apparently satisfied. Of course, the three-year-old rarely held a thought for more than a few seconds at a time.
Setting Jewel down once more to continue her exuberant game of chase with Jake’s dog, Carly found herself suddenly shy. She looked everywhere but at Jake, then sighed and met his mesmerizing gaze.
He looked about as shell-shocked as she felt.
"Well..." She gave a little laugh. "That was... " She waved her hand, unable to come up with a word to do the kiss justice.
"A first."
He said it so softly, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. She wanted to ask what he meant, but he turned, removing a sheet that draped the rosewood coffee table and began laying out their picnic supper.
Their feast consisted of fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, biscuits, and thick wedges of chocolate cake. Along with a little box of juice for Jewel, there were candles, a bottle of blush wine and two fluted glasses. Evidently the widows believed in setting a mood.
Carly and Jake sat on the floor in front of the coffee table. There would be plenty of time yet to undrape the rest of the furniture.
All that remained of their picnic supper were cake crumbs and chicken bones picked clean. Jewel had curled up on the rug beside Duke, child and dog fast asleep after wearing themselves out chasing through every corner of the two bedroom apartment that would soon be Carly and Jewel’s home.
Jake refilled her wine glass, then pulled her closer to him, settling her between his wide-spread thighs. She leaned her back against his chest, feeling safe and peaceful and filled up. Not with just good food, but with love.
They fit together, she decided. Just like destiny ought to.
"What do you think?" she asked. "Will it take much to get this place spruced up so I can order fabric and supplies for the shop and move in up here?"
"Piece of cake. I can do most of the work myself, probably won’t even have to pull my crew off the other projects we’ ve got going."
"What do you have going?"
"A small hotel just outside of town, as well as a residential development. According to the mayor, the town’s growing and he expects it to keep right on going."
She smiled. Mayor Ozzie Peyton, with his vivid blue eyes and friendly manner made no bones about the fact that he and his buddies were in the matchmaking business, determined to bring plenty of women and children into town. If it warranted a new hotel and homes, it seemed he was succeeding.
"Are Mildred and Opal upset with you for agreeing to build a hotel? Don’t they see it as competition?"
"No. I have their blessings. They’re happy to offer a different service, more personal and intimate."
Jake’s hand was making slow sweeps along her thigh, over the soft material of her sundress, causing her to want to turn in his arms and initiate another one of those mind-numbing kisses.
She had an idea things were going to get plenty intimate with her and Jake both living under the same roof for the next week or so.
"So what happened to the woman who bought a date with you? Shelly, you said her name was?"
"I think she’s seeing one of the cowboys out at the Callahan’s ranch."
"I can’t believe she didn’t snap you up — at least fight for you beyond just the one date." Although she was heartily glad. That left the field clear. And Carly certainly knew how to go after what or who she wanted.
Jake shrugged. "It was pointless, actually. Now that I know the stipulation in the ad, I understand her a little better. Shelly was looking for permanence. I’m a rover. My company’s based in Seattle, but we’ve got satellite offices in Billings and Los Angeles, too. I go where the jobs are, stay long enough to see them through."
Carly felt her heart sink in her chest. The wine that had made her pleasantly mellow turned sour in her stomach. She ought to have known better than to assume, to let her emotions sweep her along on a fairy tale journey of plans and dreams.
Dreams that centered around Jake McCall.
"What about your family? Your parents?"
He looked at her as though she’ d asked about Martians. "What about them?"
"Don’ t they miss you? Want you to settle down?"
"No. Why should they? As long as I keep the company afloat, give them semi-annual stockholder reports, they’ re satisfied."
Carly couldn’t imagine such a relationship. He had a family. The one thing above all else that she coveted.
She owed him honesty. "Looks like you’re destined to get mixed up with the wrong type of women."
He raised a brow. "How’s that?"
"I’m looking for the same thing Shelly was, Jake. I want the whole package."
"Marriage." He said the word flatly, his hand pausing at her hip, tightening.
Jake carried Jewel into the Bagley’s boarding house and up the stairs to the room Carly and her daughter shared. The little girl was sound asleep, her warm breath puffing softly against his neck.
These two females were sending his world into an absolute tailspin.
He was reluctant to let go of either one of them, but it would be the right thing to do.
Carly Hudson wanted permanence. Jake was a man who didn’t let grass grow under his feet.
Always before, when he’d come to a new town, he’d met women, had relationships with a few. He’d made it a point to choose women who understood the rules, wanted the same thing he did. Companionship, with no strings or regrets when the job was over and it was time to pull up stakes and head for home or different pastures.
With Carly, it was different. She would be a hard woman to say good-bye to.
And she had a heart that could easily break.
Damn it!
He laid Jewel in the bed, and stepped back as Carly undressed her daughter, pulling off those cute, miniature pink tennis shoes. Jewel groaned, whimpered a bit, then held out her arms for a hug, which Carly immediately obliged. The bond between mother and daughter was a strong one.
Jake couldn’t picture his own mother doing this for a child. Candice McCall had relied on nannies and boarding school instructors to take care of emotional needs like hugging and bedtime rituals.
Surprising him, Jewel blinked her round green eyes, glanced toward him, and then held out her arms, opening and closing her little hands. "Kiss, kiss."
He glanced at Carly, unable to read the expression on her face, then awkwardly bent down, accepting the stubby arms that wrapped around his neck like a baby boa constrictor, felt his heart flip over as she pressed a juice-scented kiss to his cheek.
"Nigh’-night," she whispered and closed her eyes, falling asleep in an instant.
"Amazing," Jake said. "I wish I could fall asleep that easily."
"The blessings of youth," Carly said. "They have nothing more pressing on their minds than the next adventure."
"I don’t think I was ever that carefree." Jake looked down at Carly, his blood simmering when she put a gentle hand on his arm as if to soothe or apologize for any lack he might have suffered in childhood.
Although he was feeling a bit uncomfortable with the cozy family scene he was smack in the center of, he didn’t want to see the evening end. Her cinnamon-apple perfume teased his senses, made him yearn. For what, he wasn’t sure.
He knew it was dangerous, though. This yearning.
If he were a gentleman, he’d shake her hand, tell her goodnight, and take himself off to his own room.
He had nothing to offer Carly Hudson and her cute kid. He wasn’t a family man.
And evidently he wasn’t a gentleman either, because he heard himself say, "Come out on the porch with me."
The porch swing creaked when they sat down. The smell of animals drifted on the breeze and fireflies flashed in the bushes.
"This is so nice," Carly said. She glanced at Jake, shifted, and their thighs brushed. Knowing she ought to put some distance between them, she just couldn’t work up the gumption. She’d be strong tomorrow.
Tonight, though, she would pretend. Take an evening just for herself. Even if nothing could come of it.
"What happened with Jewel’s father?"
She hadn’t expected that question. It took some of the glow off the evening. She shrugged, lifted her feet when Jake sent the porch swing into gentle back and forth motion.
"He was a guy I met through work. Back in Idaho, I was a clothing buyer for the small boutique I managed, predicting which trends would be popular in a given season and making sure we had the latest stock. Doug was a designer and we hit it off right away, seemed to have so much in common."
"He encouraged your goal to design your own styles?"
She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I guess you could say that. I thought we were a team. When I told him about Jewel, he said `thanks, but, no thanks’. He wanted fame and fortune, not kids and minivans. He basically said, ‘it’s been nice knowing you, kid’ then split, taking my designs with him."
"He stole your work?"
"He had the funds to put them into production. I didn’t. I’d counted on us doing it together."
"Couldn’t you sue him?"
"It wasn’t worth the hassle."
"You don’t sound bitter."
"I’m not. Doug was a mistake, but I got something really precious out of the relationship. I got Jewel. And she’ s worth much more than any design." Her lips turned up in an impish grin. "I’ve heard that he was merely a flash in the industry. He came out strong with my designs, but had no talent on his own. The next venture he tried flopped big time." She shrugged. "There’s justice after all."
"Do you hear from him?"
"Once. After his embarrassing flop. He had the nerve to ask if we could collaborate again." She shook her head. "He stood right there in my front room and never even looked at Jewel, never even asked to hold her."
"The guy was a jerk. You’re better off without him."
"Oh, believe me, I agree."
"Have there been others in your life?" He couldn’t imagine why some man hadn’t snapped this woman up. For that matter, he couldn’t imagine how this Doug person had so blithely left her high and dry, stealing her dreams and leaving her with a child to raise alone.
"Most men don’t want the added baggage of a ready-made family. And I definitely come as a team."
She looked up at him with her clear green eyes and he wanted to kiss her. The desire was so strong he ached with it. By damn, she made him want to be part of her ‘team.’
What was it that made her so irresistible? Made him want to throw caution to the wind, wrap her up in his arms, and to hell with the rest of the world?
"What is it about us?" he whispered, combing his fingers through the hair at her temple, cupping her cheek in his palm."Tell me you feel it, too."
"I feel it." Like his, her voice was hushed.
He lowered his head, his lips hovering over hers. "This is so wrong."
"But it feels right."
"I can’t be the man you need."
She sighed, her breath mingling with his. "I’m a big girl, Jake."
"I don’t want to hurt you. God, Carly, the last thing I want to do is hurt you."
"I know." She pressed a hand to the back of his neck, urged him closer. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
"Carly — "
"Kiss me, Jake. For tonight, let’s pretend." Her lips were a sigh away from his. "Just... kiss me."
Jake angled his mouth over hers, his hands spanning her back, pulling her right into his lap and Carly’s mind went blank.
This was exactly where she wanted to be. With the exact man she wanted to be with.
His tongue traced her lips, asked for and received entrance, and Carly felt any control she might have had slid away like silk skimming over smooth skin.
She leaned into him, tasted the banked passion on his lips... and the reluctance. It was the passion she focused on, the flame she fanned. She wanted this man more than she’d ever wanted anyone else.
And she was certain she could be content to just sit here for the rest of her life, just like this, with his arms wrapped around her and her body nestled in his lap, the evidence of his desire rigid beneath her.
"What are you doing to me?" His voice was a husky rasp between kisses to her neck, her cheek, then back to her lips.
"I don’t know. I just know I want more." Could that have really been her voice? Her bold words? With Jake, she felt like a different person. And maybe that was the key. Maybe she could change his mind about being a rover, convince him with the promise of her lips what settling down in one place could offer.
The porch light blinked on and a second later the screen door slapped shut.
A gasp. Then, "Good gracious sakes alive!" Opal came to a halt halfway to the swing and Mildred, only steps behind her, slammed into her sister’s back.
"What the devil is wrong with you?" Mildred demanded, peering around her sister’s shoulder, her gaze alighting on Carly still wrapped in his arms. "Oh! Oh, my."
Carly scrambled off Jake’s lap, her face burning.
"No, you just stay there, dear," Mildred said. "Why this is lovely. Just lovely. Isn’t it a beautiful night for sitting in the swing, Sister?"
"It is indeed," Opal answered, backing up and sweeping Mildred along with her — tripping over her actually. "Well, then, we’ll just run right back inside and leave you two kids to enjoy the stars and... Mildred, would you get out of the way! Can’t you see there’s sparkin’ going on out here?"
"I have eyes," Mildred snapped. "Turn on your blasted hearing-aids!"
The widows bustled back inside, bickering the whole time. Carly could see them give a last quick peek out the drapes. They both wore twin expressions of satisfaction.
Carly smoothed her hands over the hiked-up hem of her dress, trying like mad to get her heartrate under control. Good grief, they’d been sitting on the front porch in front of God and everybody on Main Street, wrapped in a kiss that had made her toes numb. Not that they’d drawn a crowd or anything. It was dark and few people wandered down to this end of town so late, but Carly imagined tongues would wag now.
Jake sighed, leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "That was unfortunate."
She frowned at him. "The kiss?"
"Getting caught. I could see it in Mildred and Opal’s faces. They’re itching to get into the matchmaking game along with the old fellows in town. I can see this turning into a one-upping contest between the over-60 crowd. We’re in for it now."
Sundays were meant for church and in Shotgun Ridge, Montana, the whole town showed up for service and a potluck meal afterward. The ladies would use any excuse to lay out a huge spread of food. Today the meal was being held outdoors.
Jake stood off to the side, telling himself to keep his distance from temptation — from Carly. He watched as Jewel frolicked in the grass behind the church, pouncing on butterflies and unsuspecting bugs, her gleeful laugh causing more than one person to pause and smile.
Duke had turned traitor and left Jake’s side to play with the kids. So much for loyalty, Jake thought. He felt like an outsider here, a loner.
The same couldn’t be said for Carly. She’d been here barely a week, yet she’d thrown herself into the very fabric of this town with verve and spirit, working at Brewer’s Saloon and sliding right into the hearts and lives of everyone she touched. She was happily building a family out of these strangers.
And it was awesome to watch her. If he didn’t know better, Jake might think the emotions battering his heart were steeped in envy.
A frantic bark alerted Jake that Duke was concerned about something. And in an instant, Jake saw what it was.
Jewel was heading toward the gently flowing creek — and nobody was watching save for the dog and Jake. The creek wasn’t deep, but for a baby it was definitely hazardous.
From across the grass, Carly looked up and spotted Jewel at the same time Jake did. Her heart leaped with a mother’s fear and then filled with gratitude when she saw Jake race across the few yards toward her daughter. Carly was only two seconds behind him as he scooped Jewel up in his arms and perched her on his shoulder.
For an instant, Jewel was startled into silence, then giggled and kicked her feet, boinking Jake on the top of his head and knocking his hat off.
"No swimming for you, squirt," he said.
"No-no" Jewel parroted, shaking her head vigorously from side to side.
Carly laughed, bent down to retrieve Jake’s hat and held it, running her fingers over the soft felt of the brim. No sense in him putting it back on. Jewel would just knock it off again. "Thanks," she said.
He winked. "Have to keep an eye on this one for the Olympics. She’s fast."
"I know. It just scares me to death, sometimes, thinking of all the things that could go wrong, the many ways she could get hurt. Honestly, it’s a wonder children make it past age five."
"Curiosity. I imagine it can turn a parent’s hair gray."
"That’s for sure. What about you? Were you a curious child, running your folks ragged?"
He grinned. "My brother and I got in our share of mischief. Although it was the nannies who were driven to drink."
"You were precocious enough that your mother needed help raising you?"
"Oh, she didn’t need help for that reason. She worked with Dad in the business. They were determined to climb to the top so they could retire before they were too old to enjoy it."
"And that left you alone a lot."
He shrugged, lifted Jewel from his shoulders, and set her down to play with Duke, keeping a close eye on her and blocking her view of the creek with his body. "We knew the importance of their career. And we did our part."
"By staying out of the way."
Put that way, it sounded really bad. He’ d accepted his parents’ inability to show emotions, convinced himself that families who ignored their children were fairly normal. Who was he to complain? He’d had a roof over his head, the best private education money could buy, and anything he’ d wanted just for the asking.
Except for love.
For the next couple of days, Jake tried his best to stay away from Carly, to do the right thing, the honorable thing, by leaving the romantic pathway clear for her to pursue a relationship that could actually go somewhere.
And it seemed the whole town was conspiring against him.
He hadn’t counted on the jealousy that reared its head when the local ranchers all seemed to vie for her attention. Hell, every time he turned around some randy cowboy was flirting with her, looking at her like she was the sun and the moon all rolled into one incredibly delectable package.
He wanted that package for himself. And by damn it was wrong.
Her kisses were too potent. He had work to do. He was going to keep his distance and schedule her remodeling project for late night hours when Carly wouldn’t be there, tempting him with her full lips and expressive green eyes and her mouth-watering apples and cinnamon scent.
And after that bolstering, decisive talk with himself, damned if he didn’t drop everything and go charging to the rescue when Ozzie Peyton called on the cell phone and told him Carly needed help.
He pulled his truck up in front of the little shop she’d rented, swearing when he saw her lugging heavy boxes through the open doorway.
"Woman, what the hell do you think you’re doing?" He plucked the box out of her hands.
"Jake!" She glanced at her watch. "I didn’t expect you here for another couple of hours."
He strode into the center of the room, glanced around. She’d been busy. Shelves were moved and dusted, boxes of merchandise stacked neatly in the corner waiting to be unpacked. "You shouldn’t be moving this stuff by yourself."
Carly raised her brow. "You know, the last time I checked, I didn’t have or need a keeper."
He snorted, muttered something she didn’t catch. "Where do you want this box?"
"Right over here, where I was just about to set it down before you turned he-man on me."
He strode toward her, making her take a step back. Her heart pounded. Mercy, the man was a walking fantasy. His boots were scuffed, his jeans dusty from work. Hooked to his wide leather belt were a cell phone and pager. His signature skin-tight T-shirt hugged his belly, making her ache to run her hands over that washboard muscle tone.
He set the box down, put his hands on his hips. "Where’s Jewel?"
"Huh?" For the life of her, she couldn’t seem to grasp a coherent thought.
"Your daughter?"
"Oh. Of course." Criminy, Carly, get a grip." Mildred and Opal insisted on keeping her at the boarding house." She took a breath, steadier now. She’d be a lot steadier if he’d move back a step. "A bubble bath and chocolate cake won out over unpacking boxes. I think they even threw in the lure of a video. 101 Dalmatians."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "You’re in trouble now. She’ll want dogs. A room full of them."
Carly sighed, shared his smile. "I know. But how can you sidetrack Mildred and Opal once they get their minds set? It’ s as though they were determined to push me out of the house. Alone."
His gaze grew thoughtful. "We’ve been maneuvered."
She raised her brows. "Did we need maneuvering?"
"Evidently the meddlers think so. They’ve deliberately and conveniently fixed it so we’ll be alone together."
Jake’s will power was deserting him faster than a rat could jump ship. He was determined not to think about the fact that they were alone, that the matchmakers in town had planned just that.
He was going to have a talk with Ozzie Peyton, insist that the old folks call a halt to this latest mission. Their hearts were in the right place, but they’d chosen the wrong man. And because of that, Carly stood a good chance of getting hurt. He’d do anything to see that didn’t happen.
He looked around, desperately trying to redirect his attention, anything to keep from creating erotic images of Carly Hudson’s glossy, mauve-tinted lips — and how they felt pressed to his.
Anything to take his mind off the big, empty bed upstairs.
"I should have the drywall up by tonight," he said, indicating the wood-framed room he’d already erected. "Think this’ll work for your sewing area?" He’d enclosed a section at the far end of the shop, leaving an inside window opening so she could sit at her sewing machine and still see the customers who came in.
"Yes."
"And the dressing room’s over here." He bent over and picked up the tool pouch he’d left there.
Carly made an honest, earnest attempt to speak.
She failed miserably, rendered mute by the cowboy contractor several feet away from her.
Spellbound, she watched him strap on a tool belt like a gunslinger might don a holster and six-shooter. The leather pouch rode low on his hips inspiring all kinds of immediate and sensual images. He could have graced any one of those sexy male calendars — although the flesh and blood man was a hundred times better than a paper photo.
Carly nearly had to pick her tongue up off the floor.
He turned, and caught her staring. His brown eyes flared. "Don’t be looking at me like that, sugar. Around you, I’m a weak man."
"You look, um... pretty strong to me." The sleeves of his skin-tight T-shirt were rolled up at the shoulders, accentuating the veins that stood out on his lean, muscular arms.
He shook his head and she could have sworn he blushed.
"Make yourself useful and hand me that box of drywall screws, will you?"
Yes. That would be the wisest thing to do. Carly swallowed hard and picked up a box of black screws. "These?" she asked, handing them over.
He nodded. "Thanks."
"Can I help?"
His hand jerked on the cordless screw gun he’d been reaching for. Taking a deep breath, he hung his head, abandoning his half-hearted attempt to work. When he looked at her at last, he knew she was thinking the same thoughts as he was.
"That should have been a perfectly innocent question. My mind’s determined to receive different messages."
"Would that be so bad?"
"I’m thinking of your reputation, Carly." When he was gone, she’d still be living here.
"I’m not worried about my reputation." Her voice was soft and sultry, an invitation that coiled around his gut and squeezed.
Well, hell. How much could a man take?
With his insides on fire, he stepped up to her, crowding her, backing her against the wall. Planting his palms flat on the wall on either side of her head, he insinuated his knee between her legs, pressed upward, gaining her immediate, wide-eyed attention.
He’d just reached his limit.
"Worry, sugar," he warned softly.
Carly barely had a chance to draw a breath before Jake’s mouth dropped to cover hers. She was straddling his thigh, felt her body pulse with urgent need as he pressed harder.
A delicious shudder rippled through her. She was a little shocked, stunned... and terribly thrilled. No man had ever taken charge of her body in quite this manner, with such single-minded intent. She hadn’t known she could inspire this type of aggression and spontaneity.
He lifted his head, breathing hard, pinning her with the strength of his gaze. Her palms were flat against the wall behind her. His arms were still bracketing her. The only place they touched was the press of his knee between her thighs.
If he removed that support, she was certain she’d dissolve into a boneless heap on the floor.
There was a dangerous slant to his eyes, a predatory, seductive glint that might have frightened her had it not been for the gentleness she saw there, too.
He sighed and rested his forehead against hers. She could tell he was clawing for a measure of control, and incredibly, his struggle and hint of vulnerability gave her confidence.
"Tell me to stop." His voice was a tortured rasp.
She shook her head. If he stopped, she didn’t think she’d survive. The emotions and sensations racing through her body were bigger and stronger than any she’d ever known.
She and Jake might not have a future, but they had tonight.
"My eyes are wide open, Jake. I want you." She held her breath in anticipation, watching the war clearly taking place behind his simmering brown eyes.
"Be sure," he warned in an unbearably quiet voice. "Be very sure. Because if we start this, I won’t be able to stop. I don’t want — "
She touched him then, put her fingers over his lips to stop his words. "You won’t hurt me, Jake. I’m not asking for promises. I just need... I need for you to put out this fire."
He groaned and hauled her against him, his hands spanning her ribcage, nearly lifting her off her feet. His lips were warm and carnal and clever. He kissed her as though she were his most coveted, cherished dream.
And for all her bravado of telling him he couldn’t hurt her — that she didn’t need the promises — Carly began to dream. Oh, yes, she dreamed. And she planned. And she tried like mad to gather the bursting emotions of love that swelled in her, to hold them in check lest she scare him off.
Without breaking the incredible kiss, Jake lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs. This was right, Carly thought. Oh, so right.
She’d come back to Shotgun Ridge thinking she’d lost Jake to the highest bidder. Now she had a second chance.
He laid her on the bed, and when she looked into his handsome features, doubts tried to intrude. Her emotions were too strong. Her eyes stung and her throat ached. Could her heart take another man leaving her for his career?
She had to take a chance, set aside her fears. She had an open door and she was going to walk through it.
Jake pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor beside the bed, excruciatingly aware of Carly’s eyes on him, studying him. He was comfortable with his body, rarely thought twice about it.
Tonight, everything seemed more important somehow. Different. He was different, and he didn’t understand it.
"It’s been a while for me." He wanted her to know that even though they weren’t — couldn't — exchange promises, this was special. She was special.
"For me, too."
He nodded and eased down on the bed, running his hands over her body, tracing the soft curves from her neck to her knees. "I’ll try to go slow, but just the sight of you makes me crazy. Makes me want to rush."
Carly sucked in a breath when his hand slid under her dress, skimming the hem up her body. She shifted, allowed him to take it all the way off. "Um, rushing is good."
His smile was slow and sensual. "Not in this case. I don’t want to miss a thing, not an inch of you."
With mere words, he nearly sent her over the top. Indulging in her own fantasy, she ran her hand over the washboard muscles of his abdomen and chest, the heat of him nearly scorching her.
He caught her hand in his, shook his head. "I’m tough, but not that tough. Just let me... " His words trailed off as he used his mouth to pleasure her. Hours might have passed as he simply kissed her, caressed her, worshipped her, arousing her with the mere tips of his fingertips, so slowly, so reverently.
It was an exquisite gift he gave her, the gift of patience and pleasure, the gift of — for once in her life — being made to feel valued, needed, wanted. He focused on her needs, ignoring his own, bringing her to fulfillment, then starting all over again.
She couldn’t take it. She needed... more.
"Jake..." In a frenzy of need, she reached for him, heard him swear when she ran her hands and lips over his body, determined to pay him back in kind, to offer him the same pleasure he was giving her.
"Carly — "
"Hush. It’s my turn." She reveled in the masculine contours of his body, was surprised how her arousal grew even stronger when she heard him groan, knew that she was giving him pleasure. The air around them shimmered as she returned his touch, his kisses, hoarding the sensations, recording memories. Faint tremors whispered along sensitized skin as the exquisite hum of desire buzzed in her head.
"You taste even better than you smell," he said, his lips closing over her breast, his hand sweeping a path of fire up the inside of her thigh. "Sweet."
Without knowing quite how it happened, he’d taken charge again. Desperate need coiled in her belly, making her dizzy. She thought she might scream. Each new sensation rolled over her, snatching her breath.
"Jake..."
On an oath, he pulled her beneath him, corralled her hands in his. "I need to be inside you."
"Yes."
With eyes locked and hearts pounding, he entered her. She moaned as he filled her, rocked her, sent her spiraling into a stunning climax before she could even think. Colors exploded in her mind, vibrant and erotic, and she came apart, inch by glorious inch.
It was Carly’s uninhibited, honest response that pushed Jake over the edge. He’d never experienced anything like the white-hot pleasure pounding through him. This woman sneaked right past his defenses, and for endless moments, he felt as though they’ d touched the edge of heaven.
When he at last rolled off her and tucked her against his side, Jake realized he was actually trembling.
Trembling scared.
She’d touched the deepest part of his emotions, clear down to his soul. If asked, he’d have sworn he didn’t even possess those emotions.
God have mercy, what was he going to do? He had a three-million-dollar project scheduled to start in Los Angeles in two months’ time. He’d planned to fly back and forth between Shotgun Ridge and L.A.
But how was he going to justify casually breezing in and out of Carly Hudson’s life after what had just happened between them?
Friday night was dance night at Brewers Saloon, and Jake was in a bad mood. He knew what was causing the tension, he just didn’t understand it.
Damn, but he’d never known a woman like Carly .
Most women, after mind-blowing sex, would have at least asked if he intended to call. Not Carly. Oh, no. She’d kissed him goodnight, thanked him — thanked him, for crying out loud! And gone happily about her life.
Okay, so he’d told her no strings.
He wouldn’t mind a thread or two.
And he’d like it a whole lot better if every man in Brewer’s Saloon wasn’t looking at her like they were half in love and had marriage proposals on the tips of their tongues.
She wore a sexy camisole made out of some kind of shimmering, sequined fabric that poured over her curves like liquid silver, exposing enough skin to make him sweat. She glittered like a diamond among the conservatively dressed men and women present, yet in no way did she look out of place.
He watched her dance. Everyone she looked at, spoke to, touched, benefited from the experience. She was like a delicate butterfly, gracefully lighting here, flitting there. Laughing, inviting joy and fun.
And he sat here brooding.
He raised the beer bottle to his lips, set it back down when he saw the spiffed-up cowboy heading in her direction.
He couldn’t take it. Good intentions be damned.
Striding toward her, he swept her right into a two-step dance, smooth as silk, feeling a masculine glow when the cowboy stood there scratching his head over being outmaneuvered.
"That was bad of you," she said, her green eyes sparkling.
A smile tugged at his mouth. "Yeah, well I am bad."
"Mmm. I’d say you’re pretty good."
His hand tightened at her hip as his boots scuffed the floor in a two-step rhythm. She was referring to their lovemaking. He hadn’ t intended to go there tonight, had promised himself he’ d keep his distance. So much for willpower. Her soft curves fit him perfectly... too perfectly.
"Woman, we need a chaperone." He saw Jewel, pigtails bouncing, doing her own baby jig in the middle of the floor, and scooped her up, never missing a step.
As the three of them danced across the floor, Ozzie Peyton and his three cohorts gathered in the corner of the room, beaming. Jake wanted to tell them not to go counting their chickens before they hatched.
He sighed and set Jewel down when she began to squirm.
Carly glanced down to make sure her daughter was in sight. Jewel had found a cat on the outskirts of the dance floor and was trying to entice it into a dance. She looked back at Jake.
"You don’t have to dance with me," she whispered.
"I want to."
"Really?" She laid her palm against the side of his face. "You look like a man facing a firing squad."
"You’re a hard woman to resist. I always thought I had a strong sense of honor. With you, I don’t seem to have any." Driven by a force too strong to battle, Jake lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. Just that. He told himself it would be enough. He knew it wasn’t.
When he lifted his head, he noticed that people were watching. Great. He was wrecking her reputation.
When he realized they were the center of attention, he looked around, deciding they needed their little chaperone again. In a split second, his mind did a fast rewind. Suddenly his gut tightened and his heart thudded in his chest.
His feet stopped moving and his gaze swept the room, once, twice.
"Carly, where’s Jewel?"
"What?"
"The baby. I don’t see her."
Carly spun around. "She was right there at the edge of the dance floor just a second ago."
Jake ran toward the door, slapped it open.
Carly was right behind him. "Jake?"
"She’s not out here."
"Oh, no, Jake . I only took my eyes off her for a minute."
"I know. It’s my fault." He’d given into desire and kissed her.
"No. I should have..." Carly clutched his shirt. "Maybe she’s inside and we missed her."
They raced back in. Someone had stopped the juke box. Everyone was gathered in a group. Ozzie Peyton pushed to the front. "What’s wrong?"
"Has anyone seen Jewel?" Carly told herself she wasn’t going to panic, but she could hear the edge of hysteria in the trembling of her voice.
Voices called out Jewel’s name. Iris announced the bathroom was empty, Lloyd confirmed the baby wasn’t hiding behind the bar.
"Who saw her last?" Ozzie asked.
"I did. She was right there playing with a cat." Carly pointed to a spot by the front door.
Jake put his arm around Carly. "We’ll fan out. She couldn’t have gotten far. We’ll find her."
"You don’t suppose somebody took her, do you? I should have never taken my eyes off her. She’s just a baby."
Iris came up to Carly. "Now you just stop that. Children tend to put us through the worse trials when we’re right there on top of them. Land sakes, there was a room full of people minding the child and she gave us all the slip. Let’s go."
The entire town poured out of Brewer’s Saloon. Concern and love shimmered on the air as the community banded together, calling Jewel’s name, checking under and around the cars, rattling locked doors of the businesses along Main Street.
Jake’s stride allowed him to outdistance the others. He was driven by a fear he’d never known, testing doors, moving on. A sound behind the veterinarian’s office had him between the buildings.
His eyes burned and his throat ached as he saw the little girl sitting smack in the middle of a litter of kittens.
Jewel glanced up at him, her tiny white teeth gleaming in the dark, her stubby blond pigtails sprouting happily at the sides of her little head. "Kitty-cats."
He scooped her up, his heart pounding, and buried his face in her sweet skin. "Yeah, kitty-cats," he whispered. "You’re tough on a guy’s heart, squirt."
Carly came around the side of the building and cried out. He passed the baby into her arms and she sat right down on the ground, her back against the wall, tears on her cheeks. "Oh, Jewel, you scared Mommy to death."
"I sorry. Kitty-cats."
"Yes." Carly laughed through her tears. "Thank you," she said to Jake, then looked up at the crowd of town folks who’d gathered around. "Thank you all."
"Well, then," Ozzie said. "This is what we like to see. Happy endings. You bet."
The crowd dispersed, but Carly wasn’t ready to stand up yet. She didn’t know if her legs would hold her. She’d never been so scared in her life.
Jake knelt next to her, brushed his palm over Jewel’s cheek, then Carly’s. Jewel tucked her head in the crook of Carly’s neck, subdued, seeming to realize she’d caused a stir.
"Come on. Let’s get you two home." He helped her stand, guided her back toward the saloon.
"I never had a family," Carly said softly as they walked. "My mom gave me up when I was six. She was single, had off-and-on problems with addiction and no family to fall back on. So when she found out she was dying, she did what she thought was best."
Jake put his arm around her in comfort and matched his steps to hers.
"It’s easy to place babies in adoption, but a bit more difficult for older kids."
"You were only six."
"Yes, but not a baby. I bounced from foster home to foster home, each year wishing and hoping that I’d at last be accepted, be a part of the family instead of just a temporary visitor. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Family," she said softly. "I never had anyone to call my own until I had Jewel. The thought of losing her is almost too much to bear."
Jake was swimming through his own emotions, shaken to the core over what could have happened tonight. And in that moment, it all crystallized for him. He knew exactly what he wanted.
It was raining when Jake got back to the boarding house the next day. The place was crowded with town folk, all still clucking over Jewel and Carly even though the crisis had passed. The sight touched him beyond compare.
This is what he’d been missing in his emotionally crippled family, Jake realized. These people in Shotgun Ridge, Montana, this sense of community, was what he’d been searching for and didn’t know it. Family.
And the family he wanted was Carly and little Jewel.
He’d left this morning without telling Carly what he was doing. She hadn’t asked. Somehow, he’d known she wouldn’t. Because she’d learned not to hope. Because of her upbringing, she was so undemanding, so accepting. Her eyes asked for love, but her independence and self-assurance kept her from pushing.
She was a woman who would wait patiently. But she was smart. She wouldn’t wait forever. He intended that she not wait another day.
He didn’t bother with privacy. He wanted the world to know what he had to say — to ask. "Carly Hudson?"
Carly, sheltered from the gentle summer rain by the overhang of the porch, glanced up, her heart stuttering when she saw Jake standing at the bottom of the steps, rain dripping from the brim of his Stetson, soaking his shirt and jeans. He didn’t seem to notice the weather.
His smile was tender and filled with joy. What in the world? "Yes?" she responded, feeling silly and excited and scared. Mostly scared.
"Land sakes," Opal said. "That there’s a man on a mission. Let’s give these two kids some privacy."
"No," Jake said. "Stay. You’re all part of this, and I’d like you to hear what I have to say." He turned his attention back to Carly, still standing there with rain cascading off him. "I love you, Carly Hudson."
She drew in a sharp breath. So did everyone else on the porch.
"I know I told you I didn’t want promises or strings, but I take it all back. I do want promises. I want it all. You and Jewel. Marriage. Family."
She took a hesitant step forward, emotions swimming, unsure if she was hearing him right. Hope blossomed, but she was so cautious. "Jake...?"
"Do you love me?" he asked.
She could only nod.
His smile grew, and his eyes became incredibly soft. He took off his hat, held it at his side. "Will you marry me, Carly? Will you be my family? You and Jewel?"
She didn’t realize she’d stepped off the porch until the rain fell on her shoulders, wetting her hair. Her heart was pounding like a drum.
He closed the distance between them, looked down at her. "I love you, sweetheart. I need you in my life. You and Jewel. I want her to be my daughter, have my name, call me daddy and let me watch her grow. I want to wake up to your sweet face every morning, watch your body grow round with more babies. Please say you want the same thing. Please say yes."
"Yes. Oh, yes." She laughed with sheer joy as he caught her up in his arms, claimed her lips in a kiss that made her forget about the rain and the clapping audience on the porch.
When they needed air, he sighed and rested his forehead against hers, chuckled. "We’re getting wet."
"I hadn’t noticed. " She kissed him again. "Jake, what about your business?"
"My days as a rover are over. I called my brother and he’ s going to do the traveling from now on."
He looked up, raised his voice so all the meddlers could hear him and celebrate their latest matchmaking victory. "At the rate this town’s growing, I figure Shotgun Ridge could use a full-time contractor." Then to Carly, he said softly, "I spoke to Wyatt Malone this morning and he agreed to sell us a piece of his land. What do you say? Will you let me build us a home? Help me fill it with love?"
"I say yes. Absolutely yes. I love you, Jake McCall."
His heart squeezed. This is what he’d been searching for all his life. Just this.
Jewel streaked off the porch and Jake laughed and lifted her in his arm, holding the little girl between them. "My family," he said softly. "I’m a lucky man."
The End