He glanced around, but the inky darkness prevented him from seeing much of anything but large, black shapes he assumed were trees. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the coolness of the fresh air, and squinted up at the sky.
White dots sprinkled across an expanse unbroken by any tall buildings. Jake hadn’t seen stars in years, and instead of trudging up the steps to check in, he stood a moment, taking in the vast space. Something shifted inside him, and he’d never felt more alone and insignificant in his life. He leaned against the railing, and savoring the moment, closed his eyes.
“Excuse me, are you feelin’ okay?” a soft voice sounded above him, and Jake opened his eyes to see the figure of a man on the porch, his face shadowed by the night. “I saw you get outta the car, and then when you stopped, I thought you might be sick or somethin’.” He descended the steps to stand by Jake.
Over six feet, the man projected an easy sense of power. A blue work shirt fit neatly over wide shoulders and muscled arms. Well-worn jeans hugged strong thighs Jake assumed came from hours spent on horseback.
Damn.
Jake shook himself out of his dirty thoughts.
You’re in the middle of a small town in Texas. You’re more likely to get beaten up than fucked for staring at him.
“Oh, uh, thanks, no, I’m okay. Just tired from the long flight and needed a second to orient myself. It’s very pretty here.” From beyond the house, a chorus of crickets began chirping.
The man leaned on the opposite side of the stairs and crossed his arms. “It is. Most days we’re too busy to ’preciate it, but I like it here at night when everythin’s quiet.”
“It’s like that at home too. I don’t get a chance to relax and enjoy what’s around me. Too busy at work.”
“You’re with the New York group?”
“Yeah, how’d you guess?”
A wide, beautiful smile lit up the man’s face, and Jake’s breath caught, yet something niggled in the corner of his mind. Why did this Texan cowboy look so familiar to him?
“Let’s just say we don’t get many people who look like you ’round these parts.”
While Jake had never been a fan of the outdoorsy type before, let him be the first to admit what a fool he’d been. There was something so appealing about this man’s open, easy friendliness. Jake envied it. He couldn’t imagine being so free, but he wouldn’t give up Stacey for anything.
“Well, I’d better check in and let you get back to what you were doing.”
“Not doin’ a damn thing, ’cept going out to get a beer.” The man tipped his cowboy hat up, giving Jake a view of eyes as blue as a summer sky.
Damn, a drink sounded good right now. “Well, still…I don’t want to keep you.”
Jake reached for his suitcase, but surprising him with how quickly he moved, the man swiped it out of his grasp.
“C’mon ’n follow me. Guests never carry their own luggage at Forget Me Not.”
Not usually so complacent, Jake remained silent and followed him up the stairs and inside the house, holding close to the vest his admiration for the beauty of the man’s ass. Never had he appreciated a pair of jeans more.
They stopped in front of a small registration desk tucked into a corner of the airy great room. It did little to distract from the overall beauty of the space, with its large picture windows front and back and a beautiful stone fireplace.
The man set his cowboy hat on the desk, his thick dark hair curling around the base of a strong, tanned neck. It all contrasted beautifully with the bright blue of his eyes and the dusting of stubble over a finely chiseled jaw. Jake swallowed hard. It was going to be a long three days.
“Let’s get you checked in. Normally Patty would do it, but since it’s late, she’s already gone to bed. But don’t fret. I’ll get you taken care of.”
Jake gave him a faint smile.
I wouldn’t mind being taken care of by someone like you.
He pulled his mind out of the gutter to listen.
“All I need is to see some identification, and then I’ll check you in and get you to your room.”
Jake dug out his wallet and pulled out his driver’s license. He caught the man giving the eye to a picture of him and Stacey, and a million thoughts popped into his head, first and foremost being: was she okay? Early that morning they’d sat and he told her that Daddy was going somewhere for work, but he’d call her every morning and night. And he’d be home in a few days. He’d kissed her and hugged her tight. Did she think he was like Brian, who left one day and never came home?
“Right pretty little girl. Your daughter?”
