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Jessica snorted. “You mean besides the anxiety over the fact that my life is in danger? Or that my boyfriend is dead? Or maybe that I’ve practically been kidnapped?” She clapped a hand over her mouth. The words had escaped before she’d had a chance to rein them in.
“Kidnapped?” Ian chuckled. “Is that what you think?”
“No. I’m sorry. I mean, in my dreams I may have compared this whole situation to something like that.” A searing heat crept across her skin, sending waves of fire to her cheeks. “Of course I don’t think that. You helped me. Saved me. I owe you my life.”
“And yet you demand a job.”
Could she just crawl back to her room and hide beneath that blanket now?
“Ian, I—”
He let out a wry chuckle. “Don’t worry about it, Jessica. I think we’re both a little off this morning.” They made it to the end of the hall where they’d turn toward the kitchen. She stopped and grabbed his wrist.
Ian glanced down at where she touched him. Another spike of something ran up her arm at the contact, causing her to withdraw her touch and stare at her hand. She gave it a little shake and met his curious gaze.
“Anyway—”
“I’m sure we can find you something to do while you’re here. We have a few ranch hands who help out with the animals. I don’t think it would be that difficult to add you to the crew.”
She shook her head. “No, I wanted to ask you something else.”
“Okay.”
“Why did you do it? Risk your life… to get me out of there?”
His brow lifted and his eyes narrowed. The way his mouth scrunched with confusion lifted his cheekbones slightly. “Are you asking why Isavedyou?”
That was part of it. But there was more. He’d stepped in when Tucker was embarrassing her. He’d followed her out to the alley when she was upset. He’d dodged flying bullets for her. Jessica cleared her throat. “Yes,” she muttered lamely.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch sent an instant sense of security straight through her. “If you have to ask that question, you must not know many good people.”
Ian probably didn’t mean anything by it, but the statement stung. It sliced through her like a deep papercut. She’d been in a serious relationship with Tucker. Who exactly did Ian think ran in her social circles?
Just one more bit of proof that they came from two very different walks of life. If she had to bet her life on whether Tucker would help a stranger or save his own skin, she’d put all her money on him pushing down a toddler to get out of a sticky situation. It wasn’t his fault. Some people were just bred that way.
Ian peered at her, a slight frown on his lips. He opened his mouth just as Cal brushed past them.
“You guys coming? I think Mom said she’d make pancakes this morning. Hi Jessica. Glad to see you survived.” He chuckled as he turned the corner.
Ian met her gaze again.
She flashed him a smile. “I guess you’re right. Good guys are hard to come by.” She ducked out from under his hand and hurried after Cal, feeling very unsettled. Why were things so strange between them? She felt more at ease being in a room with his family than in the hall with him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to judge her at every turn. Or maybe it was that she couldn’t read him, and yet felt like he could see straight down to where everything ticked in her.
Then again, it could be the strange sensations his touch elicited from her. She shook off the idea and strode into the kitchen. A little distance wouldn’t be a bad thing.
