Donna Alward - Her Rancher Rescuer

It seemed the most obvious thing for a kiss to be the next step. They slid into it naturally, like they’d done it a thousand times before. Her head tilted slightly to the left, there was a first meeting of lips, then they opened a little wider as they tasted and explored. It felt strangely familiar and yet somehow brand-new. They kept it light, kept their hands where they belonged, especially considering they were in public. But it was a hell of a kiss all the same—the kind of kiss that made her toes curl in her platform pumps and goose bumps shiver over her skin. And when it was over her breath was coming a little bit faster than before. Wow.

“If there were ever any doubt...” he said, putting the final bow on the top by touching his lips to her temple in a tender and intimate gesture.

But his words made Amy go suddenly cold, like she was splashed with icy water. This wasn’t real. It was an act, a performance. A charity service. It was all about perception. Showing the town that she didn’t give a damn about Rhys Bullock and his insults.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

But Jack was smart. Especially for a guy. He squeezed her hand to get her attention. “You think because we let them see what we wanted them to see that it wasn’t real.”

“What a charming way you have with words,” she replied drily, her gaze sliding away.

“You think it was an act.”

“Wasn’t it? A lovely stage for me to save face for a few minutes. What’s in it for you, Jack? Something to keep you from being bored?”

His jaw tightened. Had she struck a nerve?

“Would that be so bad?”

She hated that the immediate answer that came back to her was no. The problem was there was no excitement in Cadence Creek. No adventure or challenge. It was always the same, day in and day out. She longed to get out, but every time she thought of escaping she thought of leaving her mother alone and couldn’t quite do it. As much as she got frustrated with her mom, she worried about her. Amy was sure Mary was depressed. And she hardly ever went out.... How could Amy possibly leave her to fend for herself?

“Well, it’s humiliation of a different sort.”

“News flash,” he said in a low voice. “Being with you is a great distraction. There are far worse things than holding a beautiful woman in your arms.”

“That might be nice if I thought you meant it.”

A wrinkle formed between his eyebrows as he frowned. “Amy, we danced twice tonight already. It was fun. There was eye contact and we flirted. Did it occur to you that maybe I didn’t like the thought of someone like you being in that bathroom crying over some guy who’s not worth it?”

“No.”

“No what?”

“No, it didn’t occur to me.”

“Why?”

“Because in my experience most guys don’t give a good damn about my feelings.”

“Then you’ve been hanging around the wrong men.”

“No,” she corrected, suddenly feeling like telling the absolute truth. “It’s me. I’m messed up and guys try to stay away from that kind of crazy.”

She was surprised when he burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?” she asked.

He looked down at her warmly. With—she would swear—affection. “Amy, I used to hurl myself down the side of a mountain at over eighty miles an hour. I like crazy. Besides, I don’t think you’re crazy at all. Misunderstood, maybe. But not crazy.”

That he could be so astute momentarily silenced her. The music faded and he moved his hand at her back, letting her go but still holding tightly to her right hand. “Are you ready to go now, or would you like to stay a little longer?”

She looked around. A few faces were staring in their direction, but not all. Some were at the bar, some were in groups talking, others were taking to the dance floor. The truth was she was tired of them all. All the familiar faces, all people who knew—or thought they knew—far too much about her. She couldn’t wait to get out of here. “I’m ready. My coat’s at the check.”

“You get it and I’ll join you in a moment. I’m just going to say goodbye to Callum and Avery.”

Of course. The bride and groom. His brother and new sister-in-law. Ignoring anyone who might want to speak to her, she made straight for the coat check. She was just tying the belt of her coat when Jack came up beside her, holding a bottle of champagne in his hand. “What are you...?”

He got his coat, tipped the coat-check girl and put a hand on her elbow. “I got the impression you liked the champagne.”

She couldn’t lie. “I did.”

“And that you might just happen to like me a little bit.”

“You’re not exactly a troll.”

He chuckled and opened the door to the outside. The frigid wind blasted against her, eating through the thin material of her stockings. He put his free arm around her and bundled her close as he led her across the parking lot to his rented car. “So leaving the dance doesn’t mean having to say good-night. I swiped a bottle from the bar. Come back to the B and B with me.”

Chapter Two

The B and B. Amy wasn’t exactly sure how much privacy they’d have there. And then there was the matter of what Jack expected out of tonight. She was tempted. Oh, so tempted. But she wasn’t the kind to spend a night in a man’s hotel room. Especially one she barely knew. She was more on the fairy-tale end of the spectrum when it came to romance, and not the fast and loose.

He opened her door and helped her inside, then jogged around the hood and got in, turned on the engine and let it warm up. It was better out of the wind but still cold, and she wished the heater would kick in.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said, regretting having to say the words but determined to make a smart decision for once in her life.

“Why not?”

“For exactly the same reason nothing happened in the ladies’ room.”

“You’re not the casual-sex type.”

“You’re a risk taker. I’m not.” Even if at times she rather wished she was.... Maybe she would have let Cadence Creek see the back of her long before now. Some days she worried she was turning out more and more like her mother. Afraid. Stuck in a rut and never strong enough to get out. God, she hoped she wasn’t that person.

Heat began to surround her feet. Jack rubbed his hands together. “No sex,” he said. “I’ll make a solemn promise that this is not a hookup type of proposition.”

She tilted her head as she looked at him. “Then why? I mean...what’s in it for you?”

Their gazes locked for a few seconds and then he looked away. “Honestly? I’m looking forward to taking off this jacket and tie and just hanging out for a while. Not being ‘Jack, the Groom’s Brother,’ who says and does all the right things.”

Surprise rippled through her. Maybe Perfect Jack was just an act? Or at least covering the real Jack.... And boy, oh, boy, could she understand that.

“Look,” he said, “just come back, have a glass of champagne with me. I was on chauffeur duty today and abstained all night. We can just chill and then I’ll walk you home.” He gazed at her sharply. “You do live within walking distance, right?”

“Just off of Main, on Maple.”

“Scout’s honor, Amy. We won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

That was just the problem. She didn’t know what she wanted. And if she had some of that champagne, she wasn’t sure how much willpower she’d have to turn away a man like Jack Shepard. The kiss on the dance floor was still front and center in her mind.

“An hour,” she finally said. “That’s all. An hour and a glass of champagne and then I go home and you go back to...”

Gosh, she didn’t even really know where he called home, did she?