He laughed. “Well, I like the hard work, believe it or not. There’s a certain dignity to getting your hands dirty and putting your back into a task for the good of everyone, not just myself. I learned that I love the horses. Their beauty and intelligence speak to something in me.” His voice gentled and became serious. “And I met you and your family. That alone was worth the trip.”
She hadn’t expected such a response and her throat constricted. “Are you happy here?”
“I am. Very. More so than I thought I would ever be. You are right about this place. There is a freedom here, and a chance to be the best person I can be. Thank you for letting me stay.”
She cleared her throat. “I’m glad you did.” She tore her gaze away from him and looked out at the sunlight playing upon the river’s surface. “We should pick those berries if we want pie for dessert tonight. Are you ready?”
“Sure.” He handed her the empty glass and rose to his feet. Evie brought the glasses in the house and washed them, leaving them on the drain board to dry. Outside, she grabbed the basket and slipped the handle over her arm.
He gave an exaggerated bow. “After you.”
They spent the next half hour picking blackberries…well, she picked. He grinned as he put one berry in his big hand and one in his mouth, repeating the process until he had a handful.
“You’re supposed to be putting them in the basket, not eating them.”
“But they’re delicious.” He laughed. He dumped his handful into the basket, then plucked another berry from the bush and ate it. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, drawing her attention, and she wanted to place a kiss right there.
He dumped another handful into the basket, but his gaze was on her. She could feel the heat of it all the way to her toes.
He looked in the basket. “What do you think? Do we have enough?”
“I think we have enough for two pies.”
He switched his gaze to her. “So that means we have to head back.”
“We should.”
A look of disappointment passed over his face.
“It has been a lovely afternoon...but there are chores to do. Pies to make.”
His expression said he didn’t want the afternoon to end. “I suppose if we must.” He popped a last blackberry in his mouth, took the basket from her, then extended an arm to her. Evie placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, feeling the warmth of his flesh through his thin shirt and the muscles tightening beneath her fingers. They walked without speaking, though the silence was comfortable. The homestead was just ahead. She didn’t want to step through the gate and go back to the chores that awaited her on the other side. She stopped in the middle of the path and blurted out, “You haven’t tried to kiss me.”
He stopped as well and faced her, warmth making his amber eyes glow. “Well, I can fix that.”
Anticipation rushed through her, making every nerve in her body zing. Her heartbeat increased in speed until she could hear it as he slowly placed the basket on the ground then drew her close, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight.
Evie pressed her hands to his hard, muscled chest as his head dipped and his mouth captured hers. His lips were warm and firm as they pressed against hers, provoking a response, promising so much more. She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue entry, unable and unwilling to resist giving into that promise.
If a kiss could make one burst into flames, she’d be incinerated on the spot.
“I’ll thank you to take your hands off my aunt!”
Evie jumped, startled, and stepped out of Jake’s arms. Blood rushed to her face as she turned and faced Teddy. Her entire body felt flushed.
Teddy sat atop his horse on the other side of the fence, the expression on his face a mixture of anger…and something else, something she couldn’t identify. She turned to Jake, who stood beside her, his body tense, his hands balled into fists.
The last thing she wanted was a fight between them.
She’d seen Teddy go after a former ranch hand who had been inappropriate toward Ana, and there were the normal scrapes between him and his brothers, but she’d also watched Jake when he was boxing his shadowy opponent. The way he moved, the way he maintained complete control, she had no doubts who would come out the victor should they resort to blows.. “I should go.”
“Should you?” Jake asked, his voice close to her ear, low and seductive.
“Yes, I should.” But she didn’t want to. It was time Teddy stopped this ridiculous notion that he was her protector. She thought she had already made that clear.
“Why?”
“I don’t want any trouble between you,”
