Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2) by Verna Clay Read Free Book Online

help but say that.
Maybe I'll use that line in my latest story. Anyway, back to your question.
Sissy, my publisher, wants a rough draft at the beginning of fall and I think
I'll have it for her. You know, it'll be my first book after Baby
Kisses."
    "I just loved the Kisses Series. Do
you think you'll add more books to it?"
    "I'm not really sure. I've wanted to branch
out into romantic suspense and that's what I'm working on now. Of course, you
already know that because I can't keep anything from you, my dear friend."
    A noise in the doorway captured their attention.
"Toby took my car," Preston wailed.
    "Did not. It's my car," Toby defended
himself.
    Sarah lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "Now
you see why it's taking forever to get this new book launched."
    Ann nodded sympathetically and the friends
grinned at each other.
    Late that night, Ann reclined against her
pillows in bed and reread a passage from Honey Kisses, her favorite book
by Sarah. She always thought of Jackson when she read the words.
     
    The tall, lanky cowboy leaning against the barn siding
looked dangerous and mysterious to Fannie. Being a city slicker, she had no
experience with cowboys or hoe-downs. The community had come together to
celebrate the raising of yet another barn. Fiddlers livened the atmosphere while
country folk danced a jig. "Yee ha," yelled one of the dancers when
the song came to a close. Another musician tapped one-two-three, and the music
started again before anyone could leave the dance floor.
    Fannie lowered her head and surreptitiously
glanced toward the cowboy. He was gone. Before she looked back up, however,
well-worn boots came into her line of sight.
    "May I have this dance," said a voice
of deep timbre. Fannie slowly lifted her eyes to the pale gray ones of the
cowboy. She forgot to breathe. Never had she seen such a handsome man. His dark
coloring, in contrast to his honey hair, stole rational thought from her.
Unbidden images of placing her lips on his and stroking his chest and arms,
danced in front of her eyes. Inadvertently, she said, "No." But her
words were not to the cowboy, they were to the visions in her mind.
    He smiled slightly, tipped his hat, and started
to turn away.
    "No. I didn't mean no. I meant yes."
Fannie felt utterly insipid and expected the cowboy to walk away laughing.
Instead, he stretched his hand toward hers.
    When she slipped her fingers into his, flames of
desire threatened to consume her. Never had she experienced such emotion. The
kiss Chester Littlefield had stolen when she was sixteen, and which she had
thrilled over for months, paled to nothingness in light of the cowboy's work
roughened hand holding hers. On the dance floor he said, "My name is
Johnson Mendoza. What's yours?"
    "Fannie Harper."
    It wasn't until he placed his hand on her waist
that she remembered she didn't know how to dance.
     
    Ann sighed and set the book on her nightstand.
    * * *
    Sarah lay in Sage's arms and rubbed her hand
across his chest. "Do you still think we're doing the right thing in
trying to get Jackson and Ann together?"
    "Uh huh."
    She drew circles with her finger on his collar
bone. "I hope my introducing Ann to Dixie, with the intent of making her
jealous, doesn't backfire. Ann's so sweet it would be just like her to actually
try getting them together if she thinks Dixie's a good match for him."
    "Uh huh."
    Sarah slid her hand to her husband's abs and
absentmindedly tapped them while she spoke.
    "Do you really think we're doing the
right thing?"
    "Honestly, Sarah, right now I can't think.
You're driving me crazy."
    Sarah stilled her hand. She rose on one elbow
and looked into flaming eyes. A slow smile lit her countenance and she moved
her hand lower.
     

Chapter 8:  Someone for Jackson
     
    Ann entered Dixie's Cuppa Joe with Sarah and
stood in line waiting to order. A large glass case showcased luscious pastries.
    Sarah sighed, "I adore bear claws and they
adore my thighs. But what the hell, I'm forever