Rugged Cowboy - Elana Johnson Page 0,41

same motion, his heartbeat booming in his throat, his ears, and his skull. “Sure,” he said, his voice far too high to be normal. Had his son seen them kissing? They’d been standing right there in plain sight.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked as he strode away from Jess still standing in the kitchen.

“I can’t get it closed,” Thomas said. “I thought I wanted it open, but it’s still too hot.”

Dallas followed his son into the bedroom and got the window closed. He tucked his son into bed and kissed his forehead. “See you in the morning, bud.”

When he returned to the living room, Jess stood near the door, her purse over her shoulder. “You’re going?” he asked.

“I think so,” Jess said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Dallas wanted to do that, but he approached with caution. “Tomorrow night is still good? We can just go straight from the ranch if that works for you. Whenever we’re all ready.”

“Sure.” She looked up at him, something vulnerable and beautiful in her expression. “And you can use that label.” A smile touched that pretty mouth, and all Dallas could think about was kissing her again.

Instead, he employed his Texas gentleman genes and reached to open the door behind her. “Great,” he said. “I’ll talk to the kids on the way to school in the morning.” How he would do that, and what he would say, he had no idea. He’d never had to do anything like this before, and he felt like he’d just boarded a boat with no bottom.

“Great, see you tomorrow.” Jess stretched up and pressed her lips to his again, and Dallas growled deep in his throat, one hand sweeping around her and keeping her right where he wanted her.

Chapter Twelve

Jess could kiss a man like Dallas all day and all night. He knew how to make a woman feel sexy and strong all at the same time. His body was warm against hers, and he tasted like the brownies he’d eaten as an appetizer and as a dessert.

“You should definitely go,” he said, his voice ragged and hoarse.

“Mm.” Jess drifted out the front door and down the steps. When she got to her car, her good sense returned, and she turned back to wave to Dallas. He stood in the doorway and watched her, lifting his own hand to say goodnight.

Jess had known him for a week and a month, and while she wouldn’t classify their relationship as being that old, she felt like she knew him really well. He worked hard on the ranch, and everyone in the equipment shed respected him. He didn’t say anything that didn’t need to be said, and she’d never seen anyone as dedicated to their kids as he was.

He really had a way with them, whether he knew it or not, and Jess loved working with them on their riding lessons and eating with them when they stayed for dinner in the West Wing.

Remmy had warmed to her instantly and easily, but Thomas still hung back. She wasn’t sure what she expected from the ten-year-old, and she told herself that they didn’t have to be best friends instantly. He was a quiet, reserved boy who liked horses and dogs, being outside, and math and science. She’d listened to him talk about the genetics unit they were doing in school with excitement. So much excitement that she’d found herself smiling and wanting to be involved with the unit on cross-pollinating plants.

She got up the next day and worked with her horses. She checked in with the kids after their horseback riding lessons, and Remmy didn’t come skipping over to her like usual. She did do that to her father, and Dallas scooped his daughter up into his arms, smiling as he said something to her.

Remmy giggled and responded, then they both looked at Jess. Dallas kept his daughter on his hip as he came closer. “See? She’s not going to bite.”

Remmy looked at Jess, and Jess just looked back. “Daddy says you’re his girlfriend now,” the little girl drawled.

“Is that what he says?” Jess asked, grinning at her. “What do you think of that?”

Remmy shrugged, and Dallas did the same. He set the girl down, and she ran toward Nate, who’d just arrived back with another group, including Thomas.

“I told them this morning,” he said. “Remmy didn’t know what to think. She asked if she couldn’t hug you anymore or if you only liked me and not her now.”

Jess didn’t know what