The Texas Rancher's Vow. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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СКАЧАТЬ wasn’t a guy who’d ever really been in touch with his emotional side. Probably had something to do with the toughness required of him as a kid, when he’d been dealing with his mom’s illness. All he knew for certain was that when it came time to feel something, he usually shut down, dealt with the practical aspect, and then moved on.

      That attitude had served him well. Kept him from getting entangled. Until now. Jen made him want to stick around. At least long enough to kiss her again, find out if the chemistry was as potent as the first time they’d locked lips. To see if she felt as good pressed up against him.

      Because if she did—if it hadn’t been his imagination—then they were both in a whole heck of a lot of trouble. The kind that could make their lives damn complicated….

      Jen knew Matt was going to kiss her. Knew that if she had a lick of sense she would put a hand against his chest; shove him away. After all, it was imperative that she stick every barrier she could find between them.

      Instead, she splayed her fingers across his hard pecs and sighed as he came even closer. Head tilted, eyes at half-mast, lips parting, she was already giving in.

      And then it was too late. His mouth was on hers, and her fingers were curling into the fabric of his shirt as he took her to her own little corner of heaven and kept her there.

      With a low murmur of acquiescence, she slid across the bench seat. Arms clasped around her, he tugged her closer, anchoring her hard against him. Together, they deepened the kiss, tongues tangling, thighs bumping, breaths meshing. He slanted his mouth over hers and took everything she had to give, and she demanded everything he had in return. He was more than happy to comply. One hand in her hair, the other brushing the swell of her breast, he kissed her deep and slow. Bringing forth all the emotions she never knew existed, the emotions that told her it wasn’t too late, for her to be wanted, loved, needed. Just like this. She could be so turned on that nothing mattered but this instant in time…. And that was when the cell phone rang.

      Jarring them right back to reality.

      The fantasy of the moment broken, Matt swore under his breath.

      Knowing this was crazy, that they were way too different…and no good would come of it, Jen tensed and pulled away.

      Feeling flustered, she shoved her hands through her hair then pressed a palm to her trembling lips. What was she thinking?

      They were parked in front of the Triple B ranch house! The home of one of her patrons. They’d been kissing and groping and on the verge of recklessly doing more for heaven only knew how long!

      It had felt like too short a time. And yet, judging by the thudding of her heart and the way the truck windows were steamed up, that kiss they had just shared had gone on for way, way too long.

      She was jarred from her thoughts by the sound of his incessantly ringing phone.

      Grimacing, Matt unhooked the device from his belt, punched a button on the lit screen and lifted it to his ear. “Yeah, Dad. No. Everything is fine. I found her. We were just waiting until the rain died down a minute before coming in.” He winced. “Yeah, I can see that it has. Be right there.”

      Matt ended the call.

      Jen hadn’t felt this embarrassed since she was a teenager. She summed up their predicament with one word. “Busted.” Then bit down on an oath.

      Matt shrugged off her concern. “He’s not going to know.”

      “Really.” Jen felt herself blushing to the roots of her hair. She slid her gaze from the implacable expression on his face to the front of his jeans.

      This time Matt flushed, too.

      Suddenly looking as sheepish as she felt, he adjusted his jeans. “Give me a minute.”

      The front door opened. Emmett stepped out on the front porch. It was all Jen could do not to groan out loud.

      “We don’t have a minute!” Jen muttered.

      Emmett Briscoe might be Matt’s dad, but he was her client, so she took the lead.

      She grabbed her handbag and the things she’d picked up in town, and vaulted from the truck. Fortunately, the rain had started to let up. “Sorry if you were worried about me.”

      Matt rounded the front of the pickup and mounted the steps beside her.

      To cover her embarrassment, Jen kept right on babbling. “My radiator quit working. I had to pull off the road…. There was no cell phone reception. Then the storm came, and there was lightning all over the field I was parked in….”

      Matt stood beside her, hands braced on his waist. His expression as implacable as ever, he picked up where she left off, in an enviably calm tone. “Luckily, I found her and got her out of there.”

      “We drove back here,” Jen continued, modestly holding her damp blouse away from her breasts. “And here we are.” Fighting to cover up what we just felt. Which was all-out passion and lust, and a compelling need to be closer, that had stunned both of them.

      Emmett was studying her face. Then Matt’s. Then hers again.

      “No need to pretend with me,” he said finally. “I don’t mind if you two feel a few sparks. In fact—” he grinned “—I’d like nothing more than to see my son get involved with a woman I know his mother would approve of.”

      Matt cleared his throat and slanted Jen a protective look that was oddly thrilling. “Dad!”

      “It’s true, son. Your mother—who I firmly believe is looking down at us from heaven—would love it if you were to marry an artist.”

      Jen was so startled by the suggestion that she dropped everything in her hands. The bag from the drugstore split, and the necessary toiletries went all over the porch, along with most of the items in her handbag. “Marry!” she rasped. She knelt down to collect everything.

      Matt waved off his father’s aid and hunkered down, too, his denim-clad knee brushing her bare one.

      His glance slid to the hem of her skirt, which, thanks to the way she was positioned, hovered at midthigh.

      Lazily, he picked up lipstick, perfume, van keys and her cell phone. Jen collected the hand cream and sunscreen.

      “Obviously, Dad’s been hitting the whiskey,” Matt drawled.

      Still in matchmaking mode, Emmett chuckled. “You only wish.”

      “Then you should.” Finished, Matt stood and offered Jen a hand up. “Because you’re talking crazy,” he told his father.

      Emmett shrugged off the observation, then turned and walked inside the house, his gait unusually slow. But he looked, Jen thought, absolutely sober.

      He tossed a look at them over his shoulder as he headed through the living room to the bar. “Anyone care to join me?”

      Jen shivered in the air-conditioning as she entered.

      Matt looked at her, saw what she’d been trying to hide earlier. His manner matter-of-fact, he grabbed a soft cashmere throw off the leather sofa and draped СКАЧАТЬ