The Cowboy's Temptation Page 0,53

morning, she again woke in Jake’s arms as were the following four days. Elissa was thrilled with the way her days were going. She spent most of the day helping Ronny, then the afternoon making scrumptious dinners for the four of them, loving the way everyone raved about her cooking. Each evening, Jake took her to a special place. Sometimes it was just riding along the fences where he would show her special plants that were indigenous to Texas. One night, he took her for a ride in the helicopter and they flew over the ranch. Elissa saw only half of the ranch that night. They only had time for a part of it since it was so sprawling. Friday night, he took her to the dance at the barn again and he danced every dance with her, only stopping to chat with his friends and acquaintances during the breaks. Even then, he kept his arm around her waist and included her in all his conversations.

The following Monday, he looked serious. “Elissa, I need to go away for a few days but when I get back, I’d like to talk to you.”

Elissa looked at him and smiled. “That would be fine,” she said, loving the worried look in his eyes. “I’ll be here,” she promised. It worried her only slightly that he might need to end their relationship, but the sweet, gentle kiss he left her with eliminated those doubts.

Elissa sat up in bed that morning and made a final decision. She looked around Jake’s room and felt more at home than she had since she’d left her parent’s house for college. She knew what she had to do. Throwing off the covers, she pulled on one of Jake’s shirts and padded down the hallway to her room. Most of her clothes were now in Jake’s room but she’d left her computer there. It had been a month since she’d communicated with her office. She knew that she was fired. weeks off with the possibility that it might extend to three. weeks with absolutely no communication with anyone, much less her boss, there was not much her firm could do but let her go.

She’d only asked for two

But being gone for four

Two months ago, that news would have sent her into a panic. Now, she was excited about the possibility that she wouldn’t have to go through the awkward activity of submitting her resignation and clean out her office. Hopefully, they had already done that and shipped her personal items from her office to her house. Good riddance, she thought. If she never stepped back into that office, she would be forever grateful.

Elissa logged into her e-mail and started reading from the bottom. There were over five hundred messages, mostly from her clients demanding resolution to some issues. By the time she’d reached the middle, the messages were pretty hostile. But oddly enough, once she reached the most recent messages, they were kinder, as if her clients were pleading with her to get in touch with them so they could continue to work with her.

One of the last few messages was from Jim Tillman. Two weeks ago, he had sent an angry message threatening to fire her if she didn’t contact someone immediately. But just as recently as two days ago, he had sent a friendly message asking if everything was going well and when she planned on coming back to the office.

Elissa made several phone calls and made the necessary arrangements. She wanted to do everything in New York and be back in Texas before Jake came back home. She had no idea what he was going to discuss with her, but she was going to face him with courage and love. Whatever decision he was going to make, she would stand by it. She wouldn’t beg him for a few more days of his time. He’d already been generous enough as it is. He’d taught her so much over the past month. She owed it to him to make a graceful exit from his life if that’s what he wanted.

After she’d made all the necessary arrangements, she packed up a small bag with just enough clothes to last her for the two, possibly three days she’d be gone. She then went to Veronica’s house.

“Good morning,” she said to Veronica whose eyes widened at Elissa’s crisp business suit and perfectly groomed hair.

“I don’t think it will be,” Veronica said, hugging a hungry Michael to her chest. “What do you