The vision in his head was so clear, so vibrant, it shocked him. That’s the image he wanted—no, needed—to draw of her. He headed into the bunkhouse, quiet and still at this time in the afternoon, although Grub would be returning shortly to start supper. He reached under his pillow to pull out the sketchbook. As he did so, a small envelope came with it. His name was written on the front. He looked around the empty room then ripped the envelope open.
‘Meet me at Pequeña Casa at midnight.’ It was signed with a big ‘E’ in light, feminine script. His heart, the one that was beating so normally in his chest just a moment before, started pounding hard, and he sank to his bunk, just staring at the words, reading them over and over.
Anticipation sang through his veins.
How was he supposed to wait until midnight when all he could imagine was Evie sprawled out on the bed, her eyes half closed in pleasure? Unless, of course, he mistook the note. What if it wasn’t an invitation at all?
He read the note again to calm the doubts slamming his brain. Evie was a straight-forward woman. She didn’t mince words. She didn’t say one thing but mean another.
Yes, this was exactly what he thought it was. Excitement and a little anxiety rushed through him. He wanted to run out toPequeña Casaright now, but he couldn’t. There were still chores to be done, still so many hours until midnight. How in heaven was he supposed to wait when he felt like this? Like he could jump the moon on Clementine’s back?
He tucked the note in his pocket and rose from his bunk, unsure what to do with himself.
In the end, he did what he had to do, though the anticipation was killing him. Slowly. Heartbeat by heartbeat. He performed the rest of his chores, ate supper with his bunkmates, washed up, and tried to read, though he couldn’t seem to focus on the words on the page. He participated in a brief although stupid conversation regarding the merits of shaving or not shaving with Cesar, but couldn’t concentrate on any of it. His mind was in a constant state of excitement—his body, too—and hope, with a little bit of anxiety thrown in for good measure, made waiting that much harder.
But wait he did…until he didn’t think he could stand it any longer.
Cesar blew out the last lamp, casting the bunkhouse in darkness except for the moonlight shining in through the windows. Jake lay in his bunk and listened to the noises he’d grown used to…the snoring so loud, it could peel the paint from the walls, Grub’s constant mumbling, other less savory sounds one hears when one shares close quarters, and when he couldn’t wait any longer, when the prospect of holding Evie in his arms became more than he could bear, he rose from his bunk, grabbed his boots and crept out of the bunkhouse, closing the door softly behind him. He sat on the wooden stump and pulled his bootson, then looked at Flower, who had followed him outside. The cat rubbed up against his legs, her purrs seeming very loud in the silence of the night. The dog was there as well, but barely lifted his head from the rug he slept on.
“You can’t come with me,” he whispered to the cat, though he was certain Flower wouldn’t listen. She rarely ever did. He said nothing to the dog, whose snores once again rumbled from his chest.
Surprisingly, Flower did listen this time, and stretched out on the porch in front of the door where anyone could trip over her if they weren’t careful. Was she helping him? Keeping anyone who might want to follow from doing so? Or at least slowing them down because they’d tripped over her?
Jake grinned at the silly idea, then rose from the stump, and started walking. The full moon shed a bright light, much brighter than usual, to guide him on the path to the little house, but maybe it wasn’t the moon at all and just his desire to be with Evie. A soft glow emanated from the little house as he drew closer, and he quickened his pace.
He stepped up on the porch and knocked lightly then opened the door slowly. It creaked on its hinges. Stopping in the doorway, he drank in the sight before his eyes, his heart thundering in his chest. Evie stood beside the table, her eyes shimmering, reflecting the light radiating from the candles scattered throughout the room, that smile he adored lifting the corners of her mouth. She looked so beautiful it took his breath away.
Her voice, when she finally spoke, shook. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
Jake stepped inside the little house and closed the door behind him. “Why wouldn’t I?”
She shook her head and shrugged, the movement making the candlelight glimmer on her hair, which she left free to curlover her shoulders. She gave a rueful little laugh. “I’m not in the habit of inviting men to a…a…” Her voice was huskier than usual as she let the words die, but her stare was intense until color flooded her cheeks and she looked down at the floor. He noticed her feet were bare, her boots pushed against the wall. “I’m not even sure what I should do.”
“You can start by coming a little closer.”
She did as he asked and took several hesitant steps in his direction until she was standing in front of him, her eyes wide in her face as she looked up at him, her smile tremulous and unsure. He gathered her in his arms, exactly where he wanted her to be. Her entire body quivered as he tightened his embrace.
“You’re shaking. Are you afraid?”
“And nervous. It’s been a long time.” She gave a short burst of tense laughter.
The anxiety in the depths of her eyes, the color more gray than blue now and as light as he’d ever seen them, were a reflection of her statement. “Ah, darlin’, I’m nervous too,” he admitted as he looked down at her, hoping to ease her fears. “We’ll go as slow as you like. Or not at all. We can just hold each other.”
His words had the desired effect. Some of her trembling ceased and the lightness of her eyes changed, though it was subtle. If he hadn’t been standing so close, he never would have noticed.
“We can’t stay long,” she whispered before she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. She kissed him with heat and longing, filling the empty place in his soul he never knew was there. He pulled her tighter against his body, deepening the kiss, his tongue sweeping into the warm recesses of her mouth to tangle with hers. She tasted of mint and sweetness and hope all rolled into one and he couldn’t get enough. Not now. Not ever.
That she should want him as much as he wanted her thrilled him beyond belief. It was there in her kiss, in the way her fingers curled in his hair, in her indrawn breath. His heart pounded, not only in his chest, but in his ears, as his lips slid over hers, drinking in everything she offered, wanting more.
He nuzzled her neck, then licked at the spot where her pulse beat strong. Her breath quickened as she tilted her head back, allowing him greater access, and he complied, pressing tiny kisses along the long column of her throat, then coming back to the place where her pulse thumped the hardest, just beneath her ear. The subtle fragrance of roses met his nose as he burrowed his lips in her hair.
Evie tightened her embrace, her body pressing into his. “More,” she murmured, her voice thick with desire and once again, he fulfilled her command, brushing his lips lightly along her jawline until he captured her mouth in a kiss that left them both gasping. Her arms tightened around his neck, as if she didn’t trust herself to stay on her own two feet, her body pressing into his so tightly he could feel her breasts against his chest.
Blood surged through his veins like a fire out of control and all he wanted to do was carry her to the bed and lay her down, but he forced himself to go slow, to savor every moment, every touch, every emotion coursing through him. For the both of them.
All his good intentions fled as she pulled away slightly and looked up at him, her eyes heavy lidded but holding a mischievous gleam. A delightfully wicked smile lifted the corners of her mouth as her hands trailed over his shoulders and downward. Jake sucked in his breath, caught up in the touch of her hand and the expression on her face, forcing himself to stand still, curious to see what she planned.
Her smile widened just a bit as she fingered the buttons on his shirt, then began unfastening the garment, slowly, onebutton at a time. She pushed the fabric apart from his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor with a soft whoosh. Her hands splayed across his bare chest, but she never took her straight-forward gaze from him, desire smoldering in her eyes. The heat of her touch nearly singed him, and his longing for her flamed even more, if that was possible.
