“You want another?” I asked, gesturing to his empty plate. Not even a crumb remained.
"Oh, no thank you," he said. "I'm stuffed."
C'mon, Frederick, don't give me that mental image...
I shoved the dirty thought from my mind.
“You’ve done enough already. Just allowing me to stay here, a stranger in your home, it’s enough kindness to last a lifetime.”
I smiled. “Happy to help. But I gotta make one small correction. We know each other's names and you had a meal at my place. Around these parts, that makes us friends."
His face washed with amusement, and he leaned back in his chair, finally relaxing and looking comfortable. "I guess it does."
When I found myself staring at him for longer than normal, I turned around and cleared my throat.
“You make yourself at home now,” I said. “I'll be in the garage fixin' your car."
“Oh, right. Thanks. Actually, I wouldn’t mind a hot shower... Is there one I could use?"
“Course there is.” I pointed down the hallway adjacent to the kitchen. “The bathroom’s the first door on the left. Fresh towels are on the rack.”
“Thank you, Jake.”
Gods, I loved the way he said my name.
Frederick got up, then paused. "Er, do you need help cleaning up?"
"You'remyguest, you little busybody," I said, shooting him a grin over my shoulder. "Go take that shower. I'll prepare your room while you're in there, so you can sleep right away if you're tired."
"Okay. If you're sure."
"I'm sure, Frederick. Go on, now."
As he walked down the hall, I couldn't resist glancing at his ass. It was going to be hard to resist him. Every inch of him was tempting.
Once he was gone and I heard the sound of the shower, I blew out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A knot of longing ached in my stomach, uncoiling until it throbbed between my legs.
Shit. I didn’t know how I was gonna fall asleep tonight knowing Frederick was sleeping in the next room. I swallowed down my desire, finished the dishes, then trekked outside to take a look at his car. I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on fixing it tonight, but I needed to do something,anythingto occupy my lust-rattled brain.
5
Frederick
The early morningsun gleamed across my car, making me squint against it. I stifled another yawn as I rubbed the leftover sleep from my eyes.
“Do you always wake up this early?” I asked.
Unlike me, Jake was wide awake. He pushed up his hat as he bent his head over the open hood of my car.
“The early bird gets the worm. Ranchers can't sleep in much." He met my gaze with those gorgeous hazel eyes. "Wanna learn a thing or two, Frederick?"
Something about the way he offered tickled me. I shuffled closer to the car.
“So that the next time I’m stranded in the desert I won’t have to be rescued by a cute cowboy?” I asked.
The words blurted from my mouth with a mind of their own before I could stop them. Jake paused, a wrench in one hand and a grease rag in the other.
“Um,” I stammered before clamping my mouth shut.
