“Thank you, I appreciate that,” Emma said.
She watched him walk away and rubbed at her arm again. Along with the bruises there was a long scratch, as if his nail had caught her when he’d pulled her upright. She sighed, realizing the latest addition was just like everyone else on the ranch. Drake with his bum leg; Joshua with his pretend smile and the pain in his eyes; Evan with his speech problem; Conner with his scars; and of course, Jake’s biggest rescue—Emma, with her lost husband and difficult pregnancy. Jake collected strays whether he knew it or not. She’d met several of the people who worked for him. One was an older couple, intensely loyal to him, and she’d heard Jake on the phone with them on several occasions, sorting out some fund for them and getting back a house that had been repossessed.
Jake had so many personalities. He could be difficult and at times even cruel, yet he was so generous. She spent far too much time thinking about him. As hard as she tried not to, throughout the rest of day she found herself daydreaming about Jake, puzzling, worried, annoyed, frustrated—so many emotions. At least her body wasn’t going up in flames at his mere scent as she cleaned the house and played with the children. There was some relief in that.
Susan was a big help, although she talked a lot, mostly about Jake and Evan. At the end of the day, after Emma had listened to Susan for hours and put the children to bed, she really wanted to just sit back with her feet up, but she made herself take a shower and do her hair. She wore it down her back, the way Jake liked it most. She’d always had great hair, the one attribute she loved about herself. Most of the time she wore it up out of the way, but Jake often took her hair out of the clip so that the silky strands would cascade down her back to her waist. She found a long-forgotten short silk blouse that dressed up her favorite swingy skirt and walked down the stairs.
“You look beautiful,” Susan greeted her in the hallway. “Where are you going tonight?”
“Just to a movie, but I go out so rarely”—make that never—“that I thought I’d make the most of it.” Was a part of her angry at Jake for making it so impossible to be with him? She paused, afraid she was more upset with him than she’d realized. She’d been honest with Greg, telling him she wanted to go out only as a friend, but maybe even that wasn’t the truth.
“That’s so cool that Jake is taking you to a movie.”
Emma stiffened. “I’m not going with Jake. He’s at a business meeting tonight.”
Susan frowned. “Are you going by yourself? I thought you said it was a date.”
“Sort of a date. He’s a friend.”
Susan’s eyebrow shot up. “He? Does Jake know?”
Emma’s stomach knotted. Fear curled inside her, making her more annoyed and determined than ever. “It isn’t Jake’s business what I do.”
Susan looked shocked. “Okay, Emma. You’re teasing the tiger.”
“I’ve told you, Jake and I are not like that.”
“Maybe you’re not like that, but I’ve seen him with you. He definitely has the hots for you. No joke, Emma. If you don’t know it, you’re the only person on this ranch that doesn’t.”
Emma closed her eyes, briefly wishing there was more to it than that. “He has the hots for all women, Susan.” She pulled on a short black cardigan and caught up her purse. It was quite cold, but she figured the theater would be warm enough. “Don’t wait up.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I don’t want to be up when Jake comes home and finds you gone,” Susan said. “He’s the type that might kill the messenger, and I was on my way to bed anyway.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You’re so dramatic. Jake doesn’t care what I do off this ranch.” She started down the hall.
“You keep believing that,” Susan said.
Emma hurried into the kitchen, glancing at her watch. “One of the men will stay in the house, so if you need help, just call out.” She picked up the phone and punched the intercom button to the main cabin. “Joshua, send one of the bodyguards up to the house for the rest of the evening. I’m heading out.”
There was a stunned silence and then Joshua gave a croak. “Out?”
She wasn’t going to explain herself. Just that tone had irritated her. It was obvious she’d waited far too long to assert herself. “Just send someone now.”
She hurried out to the Jeep that was kept parked near the house for her use on the property.
“Wait!” A figure came flying toward the Jeep, out of the darkness. Joshua leaned into the vehicle through the open window and actually took the keys right out of the ignition. “Where are you going? It’s eight thirty.” He stared at her.
“You’re dressed up. What are you doing, Emma?” He sounded shocked.
“I’m going on a date, Joshua,” she answered quietly, fighting the mixture of indignation and amusement.
“A date?” he echoed, his voice hitting a high note. “With a man?”
She smiled at him sweetly. “That is fairly standard, isn’t it, or have I gotten it wrong after all this time?”
“Nobody told me.” Joshua’s mind raced frantically. Emma never went anywhere off the ranch without an escort. Who would dare ask her out? Who would be so crazy as to take his life in his hands? Who was off that evening? He tried to remain calm.
“I wasn’t aware I had to tell you,” Emma replied mildly. She held out her hand for the keys. “I’m late. Hand them over.”