Emily sighed, and he tasted lemonade... and something sweet.
Strawberries?
She tasted like strawberries and lemonade. The combination of tart and sweet was intoxicating. He wasn’t sure which of them deepened the kiss, but another sigh escaped her lips, or maybe he was the one who sighed.
Emily’s right hand released his shirt and crept up to the back of his neck. The gentle pressure she exerted prevented him from pulling away. Not that he had any desire to do so.
As his lips melded with Emily’s, he was vaguely aware of Debbie calling his name followed by a cry of exclamation. Still the kiss continued. Jake felt powerless to break contact with Emily.
Electricity shot through his veins, and he had a momentary thought that kissing Emily might have been a mistake. Something told him he’d never be the same after kissing her strawberry-flavored lips.
She loosened her hold on the back of his neck but made no move to pull away.
The sound of Debbie’s Porsche roaring to life brought him back to his senses, and he broke off the kiss but kept his face close to hers. He studied Emily’s face as he tried to catch his breath.
Her eyes shone with a light he’d never seen there before, and her face was flushed. Was she feeling the effect of the kiss as much as he did?
He wanted to kiss her again, but he didn’t dare. That kiss had rocked him. There had been something about the feel and taste of her mouth against his that superseded anything he’d experienced with any other woman.
Debbie’s tires squealed as she turned onto the highway and gunned it. Jake let out a breathy chuckle, and Emily joined him. He pulled a little farther away but remained on the edge of her chair.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he whispered, short of breath.
“You didn’t like it?” A mixture of hurt and embarrassment shadowed her eyes, but her voice held the same breathless quality as his.
“Are you kidding? I meant kissing me wasn’t necessary.”
Emily shrugged. “It was effective.”
“It was, but...”
The kiss they’d shared felt like a lot more than just a public display of affection. He’d felt an emotional connection to this beautiful woman who had shown up at his ranch a few days ago, bloody and broken.
But he hardly knew her. She didn’t even know herself right now. He couldn’t take advantage of that.
She must have seen the doubt in his eyes. “Please don’t think I’m a tease. I’ve never done anything like that before.” Her brow wrinkled. “At least I don’t think I have.”
“Then why did you insist we kiss?”
Her cheeks grew rosy and she lowered her eyes. “I don’t know. I guess, I was trying to do you a favor. It’s the least I could do, considering all you’ve done for me.”
Jake shot to his feet, heat coursing through him. “You don’t have to repay my generosity with physical favors. I’m notthatkind of man either.”
He grabbed his hat and shoved it on his head. Emily hadn’t felt the same connection he did. The thought disappointed Jake more than it should have.
“I know you’re not that kind of—”
“No offense Emily, but there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”
Feeling the need to put some distance between them before he said or did something he would regret, he stepped to the edge of the porch.
“I need to get back to work. Do you need me to help you back inside?”
Emily stared at her hands. “No. I’m perfectly capable of getting around on my own.”
Taking long strides, Jake walked to the stables where the tool room door stood open. He stepped inside and planted his hands on his hips.Why did I come in here?
He felt bad walking away from Emily like that, but it was a good thing he had, because if he’d carried her into the house, he probably would have kissed her again.
