The Bridal Path: Sara by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online

brought on a bunch of fool questions like that?”
    Sara swallowed all of the pent up resentment that had been guiding her actions the past couple of days. Arguing wouldn’t accomplish a thing anyway. She slid her chair back from the table.
    “Never mind. I’ve got to be going. I have an appointment.”
    Her father seemed as eager as she was to let the subject of sons and babies rest. “Getting your hair done?” he asked.
    The question was so typical of her father’s thought processes that Sara cringed. Naturally he didn’t anticipate that she might have an actual business appointment or even chores around the ranch.
    “No,” she said, then added truthfully, albeit with an edge of sarcasm, “I’m going to take a bronc-riding lesson.”
    He laughed heartily at that. “Okay, so don’t tell me what you’re up to. I suppose you’re entitled to your secrets, same as the rest of us.”
    “That’s right, Daddy, and you’re just full of them, aren’t you?”
    She walked away, ignoring his shouted demand to know what she meant by that. Fuming, she slammed open the kitchen door and ran smack into a grinning Jake.
    “Careful, sweetheart.”
    “Oh, just stay out of my way,” she snapped.
    “Actually, I was referring to your tendency to mouth off without thinking. Unless, of course, you’re hoping your father will figure out that you really are preparing to ride a bronco and that he’ll put a stop to it. That would save your pretty little tush, wouldn’t it?”
    “You were eavesdropping,” she accused.
    “The cows in the west forty probably heard your conversation. Neither one of you has a volume control when you’re arguing.” He grinned. “Did you really tell your sister to just go out and get pregnant?”
    “I did.” She regarded him speculatively. “Are you interested in volunteering?”
    “Not likely.” A dangerous gleam flickered in his eyes. “I’ve got my hands full with you.”
    “What you and I have going boils down to an eight-second contest,” she countered. “That should leave you plenty of time for chasing any other women who interest you.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    That glint in his eyes intensified, startling her. An intensity that hot could have singed brick. Sara swallowed hard. “Eight seconds,” she repeated adamantly.
    “Not nearly long enough for what I have in mind,” he said in a low, provocative voice.
    Sara stared. What the devil was he up to?
    He reached out and deliberately trailed a callused finger along the curve of her lips. A shiver of pure delight shimmied down her spine. She reached up to remove his hand, but he caught her hand in midair and brought it to his mouth. The kiss he grazed across her knuckles was soft and warm and sweet. Sara simply stared at him, bemused by the unexpected tenderness.
    Trying to gather her wits, she backed away a step and found herself pinned against the counter. Jake followed, bracing an arm on either side of her, his thighs and hips so close she could feel his heat. The warm, male scent of him surrounded her.
    “This isn’t part of our deal,” she whispered, her voice choked.
    “Sure, it is,” he claimed. “If I’m going to marry a woman, I surely should know what I’m getting, don’t you think?”
    “This isn’t some ice-cream store, where they’ll give you a spoonful before you commit to a pint,” she retorted, trying to wriggle away from him. Her frantic movements only seemed to amuse him.
    Then the sparks of laughter in his eyes suddenly turned serious as he bent forward very, very slowly and touched his mouth to hers.
    Sara could have sworn lightning split the sky and thunder boomed at precisely that moment. Certainly fireworks went off. The reaction was devastating, setting off ten years of pent up lust. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to keep from flinging her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and taking him right there on the kitchen floor. This reaction