The Cowboy's Temptation Page 0,36

look of amusement he was trying to suppress, she knew she’d made a fool of herself again. Dan tipped his hat back and rubbed his hand over his mouth. Elissa could see that laughter in his eyes and knew he was trying to be polite.

Dan reached for a shovel and headed back into the stall. A moment later, he came back out. On the end of the shovel was a very small, very brown animal that looked to be terrified of all the commotion.

Elissa watched as the man carried the baby beaver out of the barn. At the door, he lowered the shovel and the small brown ball of fur scurried off in the direction of the trees.

The other ranch hands who had come running at her scream slowly moved off, some of them chuckling, others just politely tipping their hats at Elissa, nodding to Jake. One or two of them patted Jake on the shoulder as they left Elissa alone in the barn with Jake.

Elissa couldn’t deal with the looks so she kept her gaze on the ground, crossing her arms over her chest and shuffling some hay on the floor with the toe of her boot.

Behind her Jake laughed softly. “Are you okay?”

Elissa smiled, knowing she had made a fool of herself and grateful Jake wasn’t going to point out that fact. “Yes. I think so. Jemima might not let me ride her again though.”

Jake went into the stall and patted the horse’s flanks. “Oh, I don’t know. I think she understands you were pretty concerned about her. Even though you got rid of her companion.

Elissa laughed with him this time. “Okay, you can say it. I’m an idiot.”

Jake turned back to see her face flushed with red. “You’re beautiful.”

Elissa’s head snapped up at that comment, her eyes meeting his in the dim light of the barn. “Don’t say things like that,” she said and started turning away.

He only let her get one stall away before he grabbed her from behind and hauled her into the empty stall filled only with loose hay.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m stopping you from running away from me. I want to talk to you but whenever I’m free, you’re no where to be found.”

“Jake, I really need to get back to the house. I need to help Ronny”

“Why? Rick says the babies sleep at this time. And if the babies are sleeping, Ronny is probably also sleeping since you do everything else for her. You’re a good friend.”

“Thank you,” she said, embarrassed by his praise.

“So if Ronny is sleeping, the babies are sleeping, why don’t you stay here and tell me why you are running away from me?”

Elissa turned and walked towards the gate. “I’m not running away from you.” He put a strong arm over her shoulder, holding the stall door closed. “Yes you are. So let me suggest a reason,” he said softly in her ear.

“Jake, please, let me go.”

“You are terrified of what I can make you feel and you avoid me because when we’re close, we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other. How’s that? Pretty accurate?”

Elissa wouldn’t answer and she wouldn’t face him. She kept her gaze down on the floor of the barn, refusing to acknowledge him or his words.

“Why Elissa? We could be so good together.”

“No!”

Jake spun her around and anchored an arm on either side of her head, his body pinning hers to the stall door. “Yes!” he countered a moment before his mouth swooped down onto hers.

Elissa couldn’t reply even if she wanted to. At his first touch, her mind stopped functioning and all she could think about was Jake’s mouth, his hands as they held her waist, pulling her closer so her whole body was flush against his.

When he felt her arms go around his neck, pulling him close, Jake swung her up in his arms and carried her over to the pile of hay. His hands immediately moved up from her waist, his hands resting just below her breast. When her body arched towards him, his hand moved higher and he was rewarded with her gasp as his fingers found her hardened nipple.

Elissa wanted more. She put her hands on both sides of his head and held him there for their kiss, desperately needing something but not knowing what. Her body seemed to come alive each time he touched hers and when she ran away from him, she ached to finish whatever it was he could offer.

Somehow Jake had undone