Dianne stretchedher neck to ease the muscles as they played game after game. In each one, she beat him. It crossed her mind to let him win, but he must have guessed her intent.
“I’ll know if you play poorly. I’m not smug, and I’m not a poor loser. But I mean to beat you, fair and square.” His voice hardened. “Sooner or later.”
Her eyes watered with the yawn she could no longer hide. “Maybe we can continue this another time.”
“Now who’s smug?”
“No. I’m tired. You must be, too.”
He tried to hold back a yawn but gave up. “I might be”—he pinched two fingers together and held them up—“a little.”
When he left, she’d be alone in the house with Eddie sleeping in his bed. What if Al came back?
“I’ll show you how to bar the doors.” Jace led her to the front entry and lifted a heavy length of wood from the corner and dropped it into slots on either side of the frame. “No one will be coming in here.”
Her lip hurt from her gnawing on it. “What about the side entrance?”
“I’m going to check the cloakroom for the bar.” He took thelamp to the area off the side entrance that held an assortment of boots and coats.
She didn’t let him out of her sight.
“I found it.” He carried out the length of wood. “As soon as I leave the house, drop this into place and leave it there until you hear me on the other side.”
“I’ll do so.” She shivered. “I don’t like this feeling. As if danger lingers outside the door.” What if—“You’ll be safe, won’t you? If something happens to you—” She couldn’t finish. Instead, she grabbed his arm and clung to him.
“Dianne.” He encircled her in his arms, and she burrowed into his embrace like a kitten seeking attention.
Here, she felt safe. But she couldn’t stay in his embrace. She must be brave. Brave enough to push herself away. However, she failed to force herself from the security of his arms.
“Dianne.” The word rumbled from his throat. “I can stay here if you want.”
His offer tempted her. No one would ever know and judge her. He could sleep on the sofa though it wasn’t long enough to accommodate him adequately. Or in his room upstairs. After all, his bed was still there.
But what if Eddie discovered him? Her son would blurt out the news to others. Besides that, he asked questions. One would be why couldn’t Jace stay in the house with them every night?
And what if those young cowboys returned and found him asleep in the house?
She forced herself to let him go. “I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t release her. “I hope you enjoyed the day. I certainly did.”
Those words reminded her of the pleasures they’d enjoyed. Not the least of which was—She tipped her face up to thank him. He didn’t give her a chance to say the words but claimed a kiss, one she didn’t mind returning. A protest niggled at the back of her mind. Should she be accepting—welcoming, even—kisses from a man who had not given any indication of a commitment?
It was a question to deal with at another time when she wasn’t so needy and vulnerable.
And then he stepped away and opened the door. “Remember, drop the bar into place when I leave.”
“I will.” But she watched his shadow cross the yard before she did so.
That night, to her surprise, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow and didn’t waken until Eddie patted her cheeks.
She was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when hoofbeats warned her of an approaching rider or riders. She crossed to the window, on her way patting the bar still in place over the door.
Cal and Lee returned. What news did they bring? Jace hadn’t mentioned it, but had he expected them to be gone so long?
Their arrival meant two more for breakfast, and she mixed up another batch of biscuits. They’d be going through more bread, too. But she loved baking and cooking and especially enjoyed it when her meals were appreciated.
Eddie banged on the door to be let out.
