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That day in the old school house was as vivid now as it was all those years ago. The kiss still as fresh as if he’d just done it. The instant his lips touched hers, her heart had raced so fast she thought she’d die. She’d been light headed and dizzy and her stomach twisted into a knot so tight she’d felt sure she would lose her lunch.
She licked her lips, then looked away, hoping he hadn’t seen her do it. She still remembered that kiss, as brief as it was. She remembered the feel of his arms around her, too. It had been the first time any boy had touched her in such a way.
She glanced at him. The moon was casting shadows across his face and as much as she hated to admit it, he was everything she hoped he wouldn’t be when she saw him again. Just as it did the day he knocked her from the sidewalk in town, the sight of him still made her stomach twist and turn as her breath caught in her throat.
“Well, did they?”
Alex focused her gaze on him and tried to remember what he’d asked her.
“Did someone come in?”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head. She met his gaze and smirked. “I just remembered who you were and couldn’t get away fast enough.”
He stared at her for long moments then laughed. “Liar.” He shifted in his saddle. “Why doesn’t your pa want you working the ranch?”
“Because proper young ladies don’t muck out horse stalls for a living.”
He snorted. “There’s nothing proper about you, Alex.”
“Maybe you should tell him that.”
He grinned. “Maybe I will.”
“Does that mean I can stay?”
He laughed. “Hell no. You’re going home whether you like it or not.”
She ground her teeth together to keep from begging. She’d swallow a whole mess of bugs before she stooped that low.
It was hard telling how far they were from the next town but she’d think of something to get him to let her stay. She’d play dirty and seduce him if she had to. One way or another, he wouldn’t be sending her home.
She was tryingto kill him.
They were a day’s ride away from the nearest town and Jesse forced himself to not pay any attention to her. It was the only way to not get caught up in the web he knew she was weaving.
He’d been around enough women to know when one was trying to get his attention and Alex was all but screaming his name. She was never more than a few feet away from him and if she didn’t stop unbraiding her hair and running her fingers through those glossy curls he was going to cut those strands at the root just so he didn’t have to imagine what it would feel like running through his own fingers.
He stayed with the herd longer than he needed to, taking half of Owens shift in hopes Alex would be asleep by the time he made it in to eat his supper. He stayed in the shadows trying to spot her and released a pent up breath when he saw her lying under the wagon on her bedroll.
A pot of beans was simmering over the fire, the smell of them filling the air and making his stomach rumble. Isaac saw him and filled a bowl as he made his way to the fire and sat down on one of the cut logs they used for seats.
He’d just tucked into his food good when Alex rolled his way, her unbound hair spilling over her blanket. She moaned as her hand came to rest on her stomach just under her breasts. Her eyes were closed but if he didn’t know any better, he’d think she were deliberately trying to draw his attention.
Putting her out of his mind, he turned to Isaac. “How are we on food? Still good?”
“For the most part. Could use a few things we’re getting low on.” He stood, arched his back and placed both hands on his hips as he stretched. “I don’t know if Holden intends this to be a yearly venture or not but I think this is my last trip. I’m getting too old for sleeping on the ground and driving a wagon all day.”
Jesse nodded. “It’s not for everyone.”
“Holden said you rode with an outfit down in Texas.”
“Yeah. I didn’t think I’d be doing it the minute I got back into Willow Creek, though.”
“Why did you then?”
He glanced at Alex. She was looking at him, those too-blue eyes locked on his. “I didn’t have anything else to do at the time.”
Isaac laughed. “Well, you have plenty to do now.” He pointed to Lewis and his friends. “If those four don’t drive you crazy,” he said before turning and looking at Alex, “that one will.”
