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“When I was a boy, I dreamed of growing up and raising cattle, running a ranch. At the time, I thought it might be fun to breed horses.”
“Every little Texas boy’s dream,” she teased. “What happened?”
He stiffened. “Dreams change.”
“I have a feeling it’s more than that.”
“Wishful thinking of a woman with too much imagination.”
She didn’t appear to be offended, but chuckled. He wondered if there was anything in life that could keep her down long and doubted it. Maybe her joyful disposition was where she found her strength.
“Come on, Miguel. Don’t be shy.” Her small hand brushed his chest in a playful smack. He captured it before she could move it away, and he dipped his head closer to hers. She gasped, and by the pale rays of the moonlight, he saw that she parted her full lips. One kiss couldn’t hurt, could it? He hadn’t been there but a few days or known her long, but oh how he desired to taste her lips. It wasn’t like he was going to ask her to be his lover, not when he planned to leave.
“W-what are you doing?” She tugged at her captured hand, but he held on. Her fingertips grazed his skin as she curled her fingers. He tightened his grip and leaned in farther. Warmth from her mouth stirred his senses until he knew he wouldn’t resist wherever this led. She could have turned her head or moved away. She could tell him no. If she did, he would back off. Like a frightened but intrigued little doe, she froze in place.
Miguel lowered his head even more, and just when their lips were millimeters apart, sound exploded in the stillness of the night. He stopped cold and looked up. A moment or two passed while he tried to identify the sound.
“I think that came from near the barn,” Jasmeka said.
He released her and stood. His weapon was back in the bedroom, and he considered going to get it but changed his mind. “Might be just an animal.”
“Probably.” Her tone came across as more relieved than fearful, and he figured she was glad for the disruption.
“Stay here while I look around,” he ordered.
She didn’t answer, but she remained where he left her. He searched the perimeter of the house, starting with the direction where the sound seemed to originate. The moon cooperated by coming out from behind a few clouds and shining extra brightly. At the barn entrance, a good-sized rock lay on the ground. He picked it up and looked it over. Someone must have thrown it, a prank, he decided and relaxed.
He tossed it amid the trees and returned to where he had left Jasmeka. She clutched her mug of tea in front of her. He saw it as a small barrier and got the message. If he decided to pursue her a little more, the mug wouldn’t stop him. She was interested. That was for sure,
even if she did hesitate. Maybe she did so because she was an employee of the house. Well, he didn’t see himself as her employer, so it was fine.
She yawned and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m going to get to bed. I’ve got to be up early.”
He made a small noise in response.
“I enjoyed talking to you. I hope you’ll open up next time.”
He resisted telling her not to hold her breath because he had been close to doing just that. “See you in the morning,” he grumbled.
She put a hand on her hip. “Is that all?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Was there something else?”
She chuckled. “Never mind. Goodnight, Marshall.”
In a few minutes, she was gone, and Miguel examined his mood and level of tiredness to see if he also wanted to turn in. A little longer in the warm night air, and he would return to his bed. He stretched out on the hammock and shut his eyes. For a moment, he enjoyed the whistling of the crickets and the rustle in the trees as a breeze stirred them. Tomorrow, he would tell Thiago he was going. Right after he stole a kiss from Jasmeka. It would be enough.
Chapter 4
“Que es esto?” Miguel appeared at his bedroom door with the shadow of a beard growing on his jaw. His hair was all over his head, and his eyes were only half open. Jasmeka nearly chewed her bottom lip off, especially considering he wasn’t wearing a shirt. The man couldn’t possibly know how good he looked all sleepy like he was and speaking in Spanish.
She felt kind of guilty being attracted to him, but there was no doubting she was. Especially when he acted like he would kiss her the night before. She was going to let him too. How stupid could she be? Did she have no shame? He’d just arrived. The only consolation was she felt like she wasn’t totally in her right mind with everything that had happened, and Miguel was the one that came on to her, not the other way around.
Oh, yeah, blame him. So mature.
She jerked herself from her thoughts. “It’s a phone call for you. Mr. Hernandez.”
Miguel became more alert. “I don’t know anyone by that name.”
