The Cowboy's Temptation Page 0,38

you knew where your query was when you started the search, you’d be able to stay with her to work out whatever it is you two need to work out.”

Jake was amazed by his friend’s perceptiveness. And he appreciated the offer of dinner so he could make sure to have a chance to talk with Elissa tonight. He’d make sure they talked too. He would stay several feet away from her so he could get some answers to the questions brewing in his head.

He punched Rick on the arm, indicating without words both an apology and a thanks for the offer. “What time?”

“Seven o’clock.. Michael gets pretty cranky until that time and we take turns walking him while the others eat. It gets a little nuts but there’s always the possibility that he’ll be good tonight.”

Jake laughed. “I’ll be there.”

Instead of taking the truck and driving to the south border, he slammed the door shut and headed in the direction of the helicopter. He’d have the task done in half the time. He wouldn’t be able to see some of the problems Rick mentioned earlier, but he’d be able to assess the situation and still get back in time for dinner tonight.

Elissa looked out the window of Ronny’s house and saw the helicopter take off. Jake was in the pilot’s seat, sunglasses shading his eyes. She knew she should feel some relief knowing that he was probably going to be gone for several hours, possibly overnight if he had to go somewhere that required the helicopter.

But she admitted that she was disappointed. There was something about being with Jake that made the air crackle with energy. He dominated the room he was in and there was an air of authority that surrounded him. The combination was quite an aphrodisiac. Add in his broad shoulders and all those muscles and Elissa knew that she was doomed.

“What are you thinking about?” Ronny asked, coming up behind Elissa, her arms laden with Maxine.

Elissa turned to face her friend and picked up Michael who was waving his arms in front of his face. Holding the tiny baby close to her chest, she sat down in the arm chair and smiled, making faces while she considered how much to tell Ronny.

“Why hasn’t Jake ever married?”

“I don’t know,” Ronny shifted Maxine and took a seat on the couch facing Elissa. “I guess he’s just never found the right woman.”

“Is he dating anyone?”

“Besides you?”

Elissa’s eyes snapped up to look at Ronny. “Jake and I aren’t dating.”

“Not in the traditional sense. But you’d have to be an idiot not to feel the electricity between the two of you.”

Elissa didn’t like the fact that she couldn’t hide her feelings. “Is it that obvious?”

Ronny laughed. “Are you kidding? Neither one of you can stop looking at the other one, although you both try to hide it. I think Jake’s finished with that phase though.”

“What do you mean?”

Ronny shrugged and stood up to walk with her daughter who was getting fidgety. “Well, when you were coming back from the barn, Jake watched you the whole time. And he didn’t seem to care that his ranch hands noticed his interest this time.”

Elissa blushed, remembering how she had run across the well tended drive between the barn and the other ranch buildings. “Well, I’m done with this. So it doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m determined to avoid him. If it means slipping out of the house earlier in the morning or going to town after you go to bed, that’s what I’m going to have to do. I can’t be in the same room with him without things…” Elissa didn’t finish the sentence.

“Getting out of hand?” Ronny finished for her.

“Something like that.”

“And you expect Jake to just accept that?”

“Yes. I expect him to be a gentleman and respect my wishes.”

“Except that you don’t really wish that.”

“Ronny, I’m not going to fall for it. I don’t know what I want right now. I know I don’t want my old life back but I also know that I don’t want to be treated like most men treat women.”

“Most men aren’t pigs like the ones you worked with.”

“I didn’t just work with them, I dated them as well. Three relationships in a row down the drain because they couldn’t be faithful. And I don’t buy the excuse that they did it because I wouldn’t have sex with them. If they can’t keep their pants zipped, then I don’t need the aggravation.”

“Jake’s not like those

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