A Touch in Time

A Touch in Time by McKenna Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: A Touch in Time by McKenna Chase Read Free Book Online
Authors: McKenna Chase
purchased for her on his last trip into town for supplies – shoes, underthings, and ribbon for her hair.
    Jake frowned, hating the thought of sending her away, of returning to the life of simply existing that he’d led for the past year since leaving the Texas Rangers. She made him laugh. Made him welcome each new sunrise, knowing he’d awaken with her in his arms.
    He’d kept his feelings for Brianna to himself. Telling her that he had fallen in love with her would only make her leaving harder – for the both of them. Lord, how she’d grown on him in the two weeks she’d been there. She was the sassiest female he’d ever known. Independent as all get out and too damn sexy for her own good.
    “Jake?”
    He looked up as the woman in his thoughts stepped into the barn, her smile lighting the dusty room. “Over here, darlin’,” he called out.
    She walked up to him, her arms sliding around his waist with such ease it tore at his heart. She belonged there damn it. His hatred for Deke deepened. Not only had the bastard taken his profession away, he was taking the woman he loved away as well.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked looking up at him with those big, beautiful amber eyes of hers.
    He forced a smile as he reached up to stroke her cheek. “Nothing a kiss from you won’t fix.”
    Her smile returned. “As if you’d settle for just a kiss.”
    She knew him well. Capturing her face between his hands, he lowered his mouth to hers, tasting her fully. His fingers worked open the front of her new blouse, needing to touch her.
    “Mmmm...” she murmured. Her hands skimmed down the back of his shirt to latch onto his ass, drawing him to her as she rubbed against his thickening cock.
    “Brianna,” he murmured against her mouth. “Keep that up and I’m gonna fuck you right here on this straw-littered barn floor.”
    Her hands went to his belt buckle, working it free. “Maybe I’ll fuck you on this straw-littered floor instead.”
    He groaned. If she were on top, she’d ride him without mercy until his self-control shattered and he came far too quickly. Before he could reply, could tell her that he was damn well gonna take his time making love to her, the sound of an approaching rider cut through the silence.
    His head snapped around. “Shit.”
    Her hands froze. “What’s wrong?”
    He withdrew his hand from the warmth of her breast and set her aside. “Someone’s coming.”
    “The women?” she asked as he moved past her.
    “Single rider.”
    Her face paled. “Deke?”
    “I don’t know,” he said as he drew his gun from its holster. He reached for the barn door and paused to look back at her, pinning her with his gaze. “Stay in the barn, Brianna, and don’t come out until I tell you it’s safe to.”
    “But...”
    “Stay.” He didn’t wait for any more argument from her. There wasn’t time. The rider was coming towards the ranch at more than a casual pace.
    Jake stepped outside, his gaze shifting to the approaching rider and the cloud of dust left rising in his wake.
     
    Brianna stared at the barn door, her heart pounding. A lone rider. What if it were Deke? What if the outlaw succeeded in his quest for revenge and she lost Jake forever?
    No. She wouldn’t lose him. Couldn’t. Not when she’d finally found true love. It wasn’t having a man take you to dinner in some fancy restaurant or having the best seats at a concert. It was laughing together by the fire. It was watching the man you love eat burnt eggs and have him tell you how good they are just to see you smile. More simply, it was Jake.
    Why hadn’t she told him how she felt before he left? What if something happened? She leaned back against the door with a shudder. She wanted so badly to follow him out. To make sure that Jake was safe.
    Her gaze fell on the rifle Jake kept mounted on the barn wall. The same one he’d let her use that week when teaching her how to shoot. Lifting her skirts, she ran for it. Jake would not face

Similar Books

The Gentleman's Quest

Deborah Simmons

My Kingdom for a Corner

Melinda Barron

Sinnerman

Cheryl Bradshaw

The Shaman: And other shadows

Alessandro Manzetti

Bearly A Squeak

Ariana McGregor

Songbird

Sydney Logan