Saving Her (Her Protector Book 2) Read online

  There was the sound of chimes, and then a voice announced over the crackling speaker that the best pie contest was about to begin.

  “Gird your loins, we’re going into battle.”

  “Can it really be that bad?”

  “Oh, you have no idea. But you’re about to.”

  7

  Jake

  I watched Zoe from the back of the fair grounds tent. How could I not? She was so god damned beautiful, the most beautiful woman I think I’d ever seen. And she was up there, tasting those awful pies and somehow still managing to smile encouragingly at the entrants. She’d somehow even managed to charm old Agnus, and that woman didn’t like anyone.

  I could still remember her chasing after me with her big wooden rolling pin when I had stopped to look at the gnomes in her garden as a kid. She hadn’t let up for three blocks and she hadn’t exactly been a spring chicken when I’d been a child.

  Still, I felt sympathy for Zoe. Beth had wrangled me into judging with her last year and I’d vowed, never again. I would never do it again. It had been hard enough just to get through it once but now that Beth agreed to judge she’d never be able to get out of it. Everyone else was too smart to volunteer for that particular pleasure.

  But Zoe was handling it like a trooper. Still smiling even though her face had gone a peculiar shade of red and then slightly green. As sweet as pie herself. Well, not Agnus’s pie. That was sour as hell and smelled perpetually of vinegar. I still didn’t know why. But good pie. Peach pie. As sweet as peach pie. And my mouth was watering for a taste.

  I tried to stop the thought as soon as it popped into my mind but now that it was there, it was impossible. The whole thing was impossible. It was a bad idea. A dumb idea.

  For a moment there, when she had come down the stairs in that dress, her lips stained a bright red that made it impossible for me to think of anything else, and asked me if I had wanted to go to the May Day picnic with her. For a moment I’d actually thought…But no. It was ridiculous. It was impossible.

  Still, it hadn’t stopped the heard of butterflies from erupting inside my gut. Damned inconvenient things. They were still there, fluttering around, flapping their wings a little harder every time I looked at Zoe.

  It really was the cruelest torture, watching her taste and judge. Watching her lift a bite of pie to those red, red lips and slip the fork into her mouth. Suddenly, my own mouth went dry and I had to shift my stance where I was standing. I had to look away to banish the thoughts that were conjured in my mind.

  I couldn’t stop thinking about what Beth had said, about asking Zoe out. Just one date. One silly date. How bad could it be? Bad. My inner voice answered for me and I knew it was right even thought I wanted it to be wrong. I knew it was against the rules. I was her boss, after all. I knew I shouldn’t. But I wanted to, damn it. I wanted her.

  More than I had wanted anything in such a long time that I’d forgotten the feeling of it. How bitter sweet it could be. That fluttery feeling of panic and the tang of possibility.

  I wanted her so bad that when Zoe walked towards me after the contest, laughing and more carefree than I’d seen her in all of the last month that she’d worked at the ranch, the question just came falling out of my mouth in a rush I couldn’t stop.

  “Would you want to go out with me? I’d like to take you to dinner.”

  She froze for a moment at my words and I couldn’t breathe for a moment but then she smiled at me, radiant, her forest green eyes sparkling in the warm summer sun and my world righted itself again.

  “I would love to go out to dinner with you. On a date.” She tilted her head, looking up at me, “I want to go on a date with you.”

  “Well, good. Because that’s what I’m asking you for.” I said on a soft, questioning laugh but she just shook her head, her smile growing into a grin.

  “Just so we are on the same page.”

  “I need to run back to the ranch, finish up a few things for the day and then we can go grab a bite. I know a nice place not too far that I can make reservations at.”

  She made a face.

  “Nothing fancy, okay? I’m done with fancy, expensive restaurants.”

  “Whatever you want.” I said, grinning back at her. “Shall we?”

  “After you.”

  Giddy, we headed back to the ranch. I was already planning the perfect date in my mind. I couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  “Look, I don’t care. You promised to get me a hundred pounds of horse feed this weekend and you haven’t delivered it. I don’t want to hear the excuses, I need that feed and I need it by tomorrow.”

  I hung up the phone, barely waiting until I ended the call to let out the string of curses I had been holding back. We’d gotten back to the ranch an hour ago and I was slammed with work. It seemed like things had come to a screeching halt while I’d been gone and I was scrambling to catch back up before my date with Zoe.

  Date. With Zoe. I tasted the words, testing them out, still a little disbelieving and more than a little excited. That giddy feeling still filled me, despite the mess I had walked back into at the ranch, making me feel like a teenager all over again. It wasn’t a particularly comfortable feeling.

  It had been three years since my ex Valerie had cheated on me, and bitterness had filled me ever since, especially when it came to the fairer sex. It was hard for me to trust. Hard for me to believe much of anything anymore, especially coming from a woman. I knew it wasn’t fair but it was like a gut reaction that had been ingrained into me since that night that I’d discovered the truth about Val and her many, many other relationships. And there I had been, about to propose to her, so head over heels that I had been blind to the truth in front of me.

  Well, that wasn’t going to happen again. Like I’d told Beth, I wasn’t interested in getting into another relationship. Nothing serious. Just keep it light. Have fun. That’s all it was. Just a little fun.

  And besides, I had a good feeling about Zoe. Not that it matters. Because I wasn’t looking for anything more than just a date. A nice dinner between two people. Some conversation. Maybe dessert.

  My mouth went dry at the thought of that. Of Zoe’s red painted lips that I hadn’t been able to get out of my head since earlier this morning. I couldn’t wait to get her alone. And I had a desperate need to make her laugh again, to see those green eyes sparkle with something other than the fear and worry I sometimes saw in their depths.

  There was a grunt from behind me and I turned to see Westley, the ranch manager, standing there with a frown marring his leathery features. Westley had worked for my father since I was just a boy and knew more about the ranch than anyone else. He was also deaf. He could read lips just as well as reading words on a page.

  As far as I knew, he’d been born deaf but that never stopped him from doing what he loved, working with horses. And the man could communicate with the animals better than anyone I’d ever seen.

  “What is it, Westley?” I asked, noting the way his frown deepened with raw concern. The older man nodded his head towards the stables and then gave it a shake and dread spread through me.

  “One of the horses?”

  He nodded.

  “Minnie?”

  Another shake.

  “Josie?”

  Westley nodded emphatically, gesturing for me to follow after him and I did, my heart pounded harder with every step. I knew the daft old horse was still shaking off the bout of pneumonia that had her hacking and coughing for days but I’d been giving her the medicine from Beth every day as prescribed.

  I rushed out to the stables, trailing behind the silent Westley. His expression spoke volumes, though.

  I didn’t see the horse at first and it wasn’t until I got closer that I saw her. Josie was laying on her side in the stall, her big chest billowing in and out with every panting, rapid breath.

  “Hey, there girl. You’re not feeling too good, are you?” I spoke in a soft, soothing voice as I knelt down next t
o her, running my hands gently over her nose. I knew she must have been feeling really bad, actually, because she not only let me pet her but nuzzled her soft snout into my palm. Not at all like her usual response, which would have been a sassy snort, maybe a little nip at my fingers just to show me who was still in charge around there.

  My first instinct was to call Beth but she just told me to make her comfortable and keep her well hydrated. It was probably just a reaction to the medication and fighting off the last of the pneumonia. She said to call her again in the morning if Josie didn’t improve and to call her right away if she worsened.

  I was so caught up in tending to Josie that I forgot all about my date until I looked up a few hours later to see Zoe standing beside me.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” I said, staring up at her. I’d been kneeling on the stall floor for so long my legs had started to fall asleep. “I completely lost track of time. Josie’s sick.”

  “I know. Westley told me.” She said with a shrug, looking at concern at the poor horse.

  “He…told you?” I’d never heard Westley speak a word in the whole time that I’ve known him, and that was practically my entire life.

  “I know a little sign language. My grandmother lost her hearing so it was the only way I could talk to her.”

  “Oh.” A flash of guilt cut through me. I’d never even thought to learn. “Wait, your dress. It’s going to get all dirty.”

  But she was already kneeling in the straw on the other side of Josie.

  “Oh, poor baby.” I knew she was talking to the horse, but the husky sound of her whisper had goosebumps erupting on my arms. “It’s your sister’s dress, actually. She lent it to me.”

  “Well, in that case, don’t worry about it.”

  “That’s not very nice.”

  “She has more clothes than she could ever wear. I’ve never even seen her wear that dress before.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll wash it.”

  “Please, you don’t worry about it, I’m serious.” I leaned over and grasped her hand in mine over Josie’s’ mane. I could feel the jolt shudder through her arm and wondered at it but a moment later her eye’s met mine and forgot everything. Everything but her. “I’m sorry about our date.”

  Her lips, still painted red, quirked into a small smile.

  “As someone I knew once said, don’t worry about it.”

  I met her smile with one of my own. God she was beautiful, but even more than that, I was captivated by the compassion she showed the sick horse. The gentleness in her hands as she slowly brushed them down the poor animal’s side.

  “Will she be alright.”

  “Yes, I think so. The fevers already down, I called Beth and she said just to make sure that Josie is comfortable and drinks plenty of water.” I couldn’t keep the worry out of my voice though and Zoe picked up on it, surprising me by giving my hand a squeeze before going back to petting the horse who was obviously loving the attentions.

  I was surprised to find myself jealous. Of a horse! I shook the thought away, trying to stay focused on the task at hand but there wasn’t much more I could do except sit there and monitor her vitals.

  As we sat there, talking and taking care of the horse, the hours past. I didn’t even notice until Zoe said something.

  “It’s dawn.”

  I looked over my shoulder at the stable door and could just make out the sun starting to lighten the sky. I couldn’t believe we had spent the whole night together, tending to a sick horse of all things. Not exactly the night I had anticipated.

  “Come on. Let’s head inside and get cleaned up. Westley will be in soon. She’s already doing better, aren’t you old girl?”

  Josie snorted at me, rolling her eyes in what I swore was sarcasm.

  “I don’t think she likes you calling her old,” Zoe said with a laugh, scratching the horse’s ears and practically purring in contentment. “You’re beautiful and in your prime, aren’t you, sweetheart.”

  Josie gazed lovingly in Zoe’s direction and I had to bite back a snort of my own. Daft old horse. But I didn’t say it out loud this time.

  Zoe gave the horse one more goodbye pet before I helped her to her feet and we both made our way out of the stable and up the slight hill towards the old farmhouse.

  The sky overhead was just starting to turn a blue-ish gray tinged with gold along the horizon and I couldn’t believe the night had already come and gone. I slid a sidelong glance at Zoe. It had felt so strange, sitting there with her sharing bits and pieces of our lives, our past. Me, more than her. I’d noticed she rarely talked about her history. Never, actually. But I had learned that she was from the West coast, but that was about it.

  She was a mystery. A mystery that made my stomach do summersaults and my heart beat faster and my mind go to all sorts of dark and dangerous places. Zoe had sat there all night with me, nursing Josie, not complaining once. She’d surprised the hell out of me.

  “I’m sorry, again. Our first date didn’t exactly go as I had planned it.” I said softly and she surprised me again by pulling me to a stop in the front yard. I looked down at her, with soft rays of dawn spreading behind her like a golden halo.

  “It was the best date I’ve ever been on.”

  Then, she stood up on the tips of her toes and dragged me down until our lips met. She kissed me, and my body, my soul, my whole world, went up in flames.

  8

  Zoe

  I didn’t know what I was doing. As soon as our lips met, my mind switched off and my body took over. All I could was feel.

  A rush of sensations washed over me, filling me up, drawing me. But Jake was there to catch me, his strong arms wrapped around and carrying me to safety.

  His fingers teased up across my back, one hand diving south until it landed on my hip, drawing me even closer to his larger body. He was so rough, so hard and muscular. All angles beneath my questing hands. The total opposite of Elliot.

  In fact, everything about Jake was the opposite of Elliot.

  Elliot was soft, smooth. Gentle. Never demanding. Domesticated. Luke-warm. He was comfortable.

  Nothing about Jake was comfortable. Nothing tame. He didn’t gently ask, he took, and I wanted him to. Oh god, did I want him to take everything I had to give, and then even more.

  His other hand moved north, skimming along my side, holding the back of my neck before spearing into hair. He tilted my head so he could angle the kiss even deeper.

  His teeth scraped against my lower lip and I gasped in shock at the delicious pleasure-pain of it. He took instant advantage, his tongue sweeping inside my mouth. Plundering. Demanding. Unforgiving as he took it all.

  My mouth watered at the taste of him and I could feel desire, thick and hot and heavy, pool between my thighs. God, it had been so long. And even then, with Elliot, it had never been like this. Not even close to this.

  I felt wild and out of control. I felt like I was tumbling through the dark and I didn’t care. I wanted more. So much more.

  Suddenly, I was just as greedy and demanding as Jake was, asking for all that he could give me, ready for every single thing. Every feeling. Every sensation. Every ounce of pleasure and ecstasy.

  I pulled back with a gasp. “Jake, I–.”

  “Oh god. I went too far. I kissed you and I just…I lost control. I’m sorry, I should never have–.”

  I kissed him again just to shut him up and to prove to him that he absolutely, definitely should have. And definitely should again. And again. All that and more I put into the kiss. Feeding all of my pent up passion to him in gasps and moans.

  Finally, after an eternity and not nearly long enough, I let him go again, putting just enough space in between us so that I could look up and see his face. The sun was just starting to rise in the sky, making his tanned skin look even more bronzed and his dark hair glint with the light. It turned his gray eyes to silver and they swirled with a fire so hot I was surprised I couldn’t feel the heat from his gaze. He
looked like a wild animal, his expression taut, caught between acting civilized and picking me up and throwing me over his shoulders like a caveman.

  “I was going to say,” I finally spoke after I was able to catch my breath, “I was going to say, I think we should probably go inside.”

  I met his gaze just as dawn was spreading across the sky and the grin he gave me stole my breath all over again.

  “You’re right. We should definitely take this inside.”

  He held out his hand, and I knew he was waiting for me to take it. Waiting for me to give my consent. Waiting for me to make the first move. To let him know that I wanted him as much as he wanted me.

  The evidence of his desire was more than visible, straining the fabric of his jeans and I felt it pressed hard and hot again me.

  My own thighs were slick with lust and desire and need. Oh yes. I wanted him. I wanted to strip his clothes off and lick every inch of him. I wanted to see all of his glorious, naked body spread out and waiting for me like a feast. I wanted to take him deep inside me and fill the emptiness that made me ache for him more than I ever had for anyone else, more than even knew was possible.

  I reached out and grasped his hand in mind, not waiting for another word before turning and rushing through the front door.

  * * *

  Jake

  Zoe dragged me inside and I had to focus not to trip over my own god damned feet. I was trembling so hard from her kiss that I could hardly take a step my legs were so unsteady. I was shaking like a teenager, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was getting another taste of her, another feel. Preferably with a lot less clothes in the way.

  I was on fire for her. My whole body was raging heat and need, an inferno that was out of control. Desire like nothing I had ever felt before clawed at me from the inside, scratching to get out. We barely made it all the way inside before I stopped her, pulled her close and backed her against the nearest wall.