07 It Had to Be You Read online

  “Nothing to tell.” She shrugged and began to search for the fertilizer. “My mother isn’t exactly maternal.”

  “And your dad?”

  “Not into kids. I landed here like Amy. Eighteen and pretty much on my own.”

  “Richard took you under his wing.” He scratched his jaw as he studied her. “But you said he wasn’t exactly the warm, loving, parental type, either.”

  “He cared enough.”

  “Then your ex came along, right? Just another in a string of people who were around but not really around. Not attached to you.”

  She set her teeth. “I’m not a pity case.”

  “I didn’t think you were. Tell me more about Matt.”

  Her frown deepened. “I was young and stupid. Nineteen,” she admitted when he just looked at her, his eyes warm and patient. “I kept forgiving him, thinking he could change.”

  “Forgiving him for what?”

  “You name it.” She turned to the door.

  With surprisingly gentle hands, he turned her back. Then stroked a strand of hair off her face, running his finger down her jaw. “Other women?”

  “Well, I did say we were young and stupid.”

  “Sounds like he was the only stupid one.”

  “Funny, coming from a man who’s never had a serious relationship in the two years I’ve known him.”

  “And have you?”

  She closed her mouth.

  “See, you say you follow your heart, Callie, but it seems to me like you’ve burned it out.” He smiled. “I have a suggestion.”

  “I’m afraid to hear it.”

  “A good, long, hot spring fling. No strings.”

  “Gee, wherever would I find a man up for that job?”

  He grinned at her wry tone as he lifted a hand. “I readily volunteer.”

  “How noble of you.” Despite everything, she was more tempted than he could ever imagine. Desperately needing a distraction, she continued to search the shed and finally found the two bags of fertilizer. She tossed him the first, then bent for the second when she heard his low grunt of pain. She whipped around.

  Eyes closed, face tight, he dropped the bag and leaned back against the wall, holding his shoulder.

  “Oh my God, Jake, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think—”

  “Not your fault.” This came out through his clenched teeth. Sweat had broken out on his brow as he sank to the ground. “I shouldn’t have reached out to catch it.”

  She went to her knees beside him. “Let me—”

  “No. I’m fine.” He shifted away. “Just give me a sec.”

  The man had probably never shied away from a woman’s touch in his life, but that was when the touching was on his own terms. Clearly he was humiliated at not being able to even catch something, and she felt like slime for putting him through it. “I’m so sorry—”

  “Car,” he said tightly.

  “What?”

  “Car just drove up.”

  She heard it now, coming up the driveway. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and rose to her feet. “It must be Michael. He was going to come out for a ride. Wait here a sec, and I’ll be right back—”

  Jake grabbed her wrist. “He wants you.”

  “Jake.”

  “Just remember one thing if you’re going off with him.”

  “I’m not going—”

  “One thing.”

  She sighed. “What?”

  “This.” Tugging her back down, he cupped her face and kissed her, hard and wet and deep, making her moan low in her throat.

  “Your shoulder,” she gasped.

  “Fuck my shoulder.” And he slid his tongue to hers in a motion that melted her bones. Sliding her arms around his neck, she held on for dear life because when he kissed her like this, like she was better than sliced bread, she couldn’t remember why it was a bad idea to fall for him.

  He raised his head a fraction, looking at her with heavy-lidded eyes before coming at her again, with a roughness that shouldn’t have excited her but did, beyond belief. There in the damp, small shed, she clung to him, tangling her tongue with his, pressing as close as she could get. She’d have climbed up his body if she could.

  “More,” he muttered, and changed the angle of his kiss, settling his mouth firmly over hers again, gripping her head as if he thought she might pull away. Not a chance. In fact, she struggled to get even closer, so that they fell, her spine pressing into the ground, Jake towering over her. His hands slid beneath her shirt, covering her breasts while his erection pressed hard at the juncture of her legs, his hips moving in a slow, tight, rocking motion that threatened to drive her right off the edge. She wanted to make the leap, nearly did—

  But suddenly, he ripped his mouth free. Sliding his hands out of her shirt, he sat back on his heels. With a murmur of protest, she tried to draw him back but he shook his head, his breath coming out in pants. “Someone’s here.”

  From outside came a honk, and she realized she’d forgotten Michael. “Oh my God.”

  He helped her up, her eyes dark and hot. “Can he do that to you?” he murmured, the pad of his thumb brushing over the pulse racing at the base of her throat. “Can he?”

  “N-no.”

  “Good.” Eyes lit with a fierce desire that made her weak, he kissed her one last time, his hand skimming down her throat, over her pumping heart, his fingers rasping over a hardened nipple. “Remember that.”

  She doubted she could forget.

  Together they stepped back out into the bright sunshine, and looked at the red convertible Mustang. A gorgeous blond woman leapt out of it. Callie’s first thought was that one of the cheerleaders was arriving late, but then the woman saw Jake and bounced up and down, waving wildly. “Jake! Jake, I can’t believe it, I found you!”

  Shocked, though not sure why, Callie looked at Jake. “That’s not Michael.”

  He sighed. “No.”

  “Jake! Over here, over here!”

  “She appears to know you well,” Callie said dryly, while her heart took a dive. Her mouth was still wet from his, for God’s sake, and she swiped the back of her hand over it.

  “Yeah.” He turned to her. “Callie—”

  “Your blonde finally arrived.” Good timing, too, she told herself. Because she hadn’t fallen for him, at least not yet.

  13

  A piece of Jake’s world had found him. A hot little piece he’d been with twice named Cici. He hadn’t intended to ever see her again, but she was hugging up to him as he showed her around the ranch at her insistence. She wore a denim miniskirt and vest, complete with calf-high boots, matching hat, and glitter on her lips. Her idea of roughing it in the country, no doubt.

  “Oh, Jake.” She threw her arms around him, making him see stars when she jarred his shoulder. “I’ve been haunting the fire station since you vanished.” They passed the pig pen, and several piglets raced to the gate hopefully. Cici scooted close to Jake, an alarmed expression on her face. “Oh, ugh. Anyway, finally one of the guys told me I’d find you on your own dude ranch, with the word Blue in the name, somewhere in Arizona.” She laughed, and for the third time in as many minutes, set her head down on his bad shoulder. “You weren’t hard to find after that.”

  Grimacing, he pulled free, even as he had to admire her tenacity at finding him. “Watch the shoulder, okay?”

  “Oops, sorry. So…” She waggled her eyebrows at him. “How’s the rest of you doing?”

  Only a month and a half ago he’d have acted on that unmistakable invitation in her gaze. But seeing her out here on the ranch, so far out of her element and away from his, was far more disturbing than arousing.

  They passed the hen coop. Cici squealed when she nearly stepped on a questionable looking lump of something that was definitely not dirt. The hens squawked and ran off.

  Finally they came to the big house. Callie stood on the porch, shading her eyes from the sun as she watched them head toward her.

  “Not exactly