Page 12 of Savage Rancher
What’s up with guys and their weird nicknames? “Do you have a nickname?”
“From the Unit?” He nods. “Warden. Because I keep what’s mine locked down.”
Intense. Also hot. “Mason and Luke are the guys you bought Blackthorn Ranch with?”
“Yeah.” The corner of his mouth quirks the way it does when he’s amused. “So the Iron Ridge gossip mill is still active.”
I flush, thinking about the titillated whispers I’ve heard from other women all week. Apparently, Jake’s two friends are as hot as he is. There have been more than one woman who’s said she wants to take on all three. I only want Jake.
And I don't want him to leave. I want him here, in my house, in my space. Close enough to touch. I look into his blue eyes, so familiar and so foreign, and I grip his sleeve. “We need to talk.”
His fingers graze my cheek. "Yes. But not tonight.”
I search his eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation, any doubt. There is none. Only absolute certainty. I won’t be able to budge him, so I nod. "Okay."
"Okay," he echoes, and then he kisses me.
It's not gentle. It's not soft. It’s claiming and possessive and desperate, and I kiss him back with everything I have. My hands fist in his shirt, pulling him closer, and he groans against my mouth. My head starts to spin, and I never want it to stop.
He breaks the kiss, breathing hard, his forehead resting against mine. "Get some sleep," he says roughly. "Lock your doors. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I sigh. “I wish you’d stay.”
"No." He steps back, putting distance between us. "When I take you again, Emma, I’m never letting you go. I made that mistake before, and I won’t make it again. You need to decide that’s what you want. You need time to process what happened. I can’t change who I am, and you need to accept what that means."
He's right. I hate that he's right, but he is.
“Tomorrow, we’ll discuss getting you a security system.” He steps back, putting distance between us.
“I need to give you my cell number.” I look around for my purse. Did I leave it in the car?
“I have it.”
Frowning, I return my attention to him. “How did you get my number? Not that many people have it.”
"Lock the door behind me," he says as he moves toward the door.
Then he's gone.
Locking the door after him, I go to my room, close the door, and lock it too for good measure. Then I lean against it, my breath coming in shallow gasps.
Jake Callahaneliminated a threat—forme.
Jake Callahan still wants me.
Damn it all, I more than want him. I close my eyes, still feeling the imprint of his mouth on mine—from a second ago and from eighteen years ago. I feel the imprint of him on my heart, emerging from where I’d tucked it away.
Do I still love him?
Did I ever stop?
14
JAKE
And now I know what grown-up Emma tastes like—sweet and already mine.
15
