"But why? Why would he want me to leave?"

  Jake shook his head. "There is no why. He's not right honey and he doesn't even need a reason. I went over there today to report this and Mr. Turner was astounded, so I know he doesn't know anything about this. However, Mike tried to hide from me. That's because he's like a child, when he does something wrong he hides. I can pretty well prove my theory too, they have this old boot that belonged to Mike, but Mike wore a hole in it last year, so they made a flowerpot out of it. I asked to borrow it."

  "Did Mr. Turner get suspicions?" Tara asked.

  "He was curious, so I made up a story that I wanted to show you these flowers. He seemed okay with it."

  "Are the flowers special?" she asked looking that the old boot with beautiful wild flowers in it.

  "Not really, but don't tell Mike that."

  "But I got it so we can match the footprint," Jake was saying

  "Oh… but I mopped them up."

  "Yeah, I know, but there are more by the side of the road, come on, let's check it out. I scouted the area before I came here."

  Tara followed Jake to the roadside and saw the same prints by the side of the road where someone had walked. It rained the day before or hey might not have been there.

  Sure enough, the shoe size was the same, and Jake smiled up at Tara. "That's it."

  "So now what do we do?"

  "Nothing. I go back to Mr. Turner and tell him what Mike has been up to and he'll handle it from there. Mike is harmless. He thinks like a child. It's best to let Mr. Turner handle him. He's been doing it for years."

  "Mr. Turner said he'd never rented this house to anyone before….I wonder why?"

  Jake firmed his lips, and pulled Tara closer, as they walked back to the house. "Because his wife ;lived in it with them until she got sick. Hadn't been for her relatives, she might have died here…That's what I think bothers Mike."

  "Oh my, he didn't tell me that…" Tara stopped and stared at Jake. "I wish he had…."

  "There was no reason to bother you with it. This was some time ago. But if he had you wouldn't have taken the house, called 911 and got me…and that would have been even a bigger disaster."

  She smiled shyly, "You do work fast…."

  "Mmm hmmm," he turned her into his arms and gave her a quick but firm kiss that said there would be more to follow. Tara didn't mind at all, in fact she almost tiptoed to reach him.

  Pulling away he smiled, "Let's see what's on at the movies…"

  Tara nodded, her face flushed after such a fast hard kiss. She liked the taste of the man, and wished there was more.

  "We could always order pizza and watch a movie on TV." She suggested.

  He looked at her seriously now, "No….I don't think that's a good idea."

  "Why not…?"

  "Because I saw way too much of you the first time I laid eyes on you. And what I saw I liked. Very much in fact. It wouldn't take much to get me to carry you up the stairs and make mad passionate love to you. But that's not what I'm after." Jake announced. "At least not toally."

  Taken by surprise Tara started to object, but his hand went to her lips, which he circled with a finger and smiled. "Look, I'm a simple man Tara. I like you…maybe there could be more, but I don't want some shallow romp in a bed with you. I play for keeps and I made up my mind a long time ago, that the woman I settle down with, is going to waltz down the aisle in white. I'm saving everything for that first night and I won't be cheated of it, by a pretty smile and beautiful body."

  Tara didn't know whether to be mad or glad. That kiss in the driveway was hot and branding. However, his words were cool and aloof as though his control hadn't slipped one bit. He didn't even know if she was a virgin and he was talking about marriage…as though it were a possibility.

  She gulped not knowing how to respond to him at this point.

  He smiled, "It doesn't matter whether you're a virgin or not. What matters is that I won't have compromised you…"

  "But…we're not getting married…." She finally found her voice.

  "That's not decided yet…" he smiled. "Come here…I'll show you…"

  Tara didn't understand him…but she came closer, and his head bent again to claim her lips, this time in a slow drugging kiss that lasted forever and promised her the moon. She'd been kissed before, but never like this.

  When he gently pulled away he stared into her eyes and smiled, "You could tempt the devil, honey."

  Rather than kiss her again, he walked toward the kitchen to get his coffee and spread her newspaper on the table to check the movie schedule.

  "Here's one…Bounty Hunter…" he smiled back at her.

  Tara quickly got a grip and followed him into the kitchen, "Oh I've wanted to see that one." She cried. "Let's do that one."

  She was shocked at how steady her voice was after his proclamations. Her whole body was on fire and actually trembling from his touch, and he acted as though nothing had happened.

  She didn't understand Jake a bit. However, if his kisses were always that good, she wanted more of them.

  An hour later they were sitting inside the local theater with a house full of people. He took her hand in his and held it all during the movie, even through popcorn and cokes. She didn't object.

  The movie was hilarious and had them both laughing and cutting up on the way home.

  As he dropped her off, he lent over and kissed her thoroughly on the lips again. This time he lingered longer, playing with her bottom lip, until she opened her mouth to him and gave him complete control. He sucked on her lip and moaned. Or was that her? She couldn't be sure.

  His hand held her neck and he let go long enough to trail inviting kisses, up and down slowly, all the way down to the cleavage of her dress, where he blew warm air and came up to stare into her eyes. "I'd like to suckle your breast, and kiss you everywhere, but I guess that'll have to wait…I gotta get up early in the morning. You are one piece of temptation lady." He said and kissed her hard on the lips. This kiss was fire and ice, letting her know where she belonged.

  She sighed when he finally let her go.

  "I'll talk to Mr. Turner tomorrow and things should settle down. If they don't, here's my number, call me…" He handed her his business card. It had all his numbers on it. "I'll see you tomorrow night…" he smiled warmly into her face.

  "It was a lovely evening…" she began, but he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again, this time soft sweet kisses that melted her heart and made her want to pull him into her house and take advantage of him.

  "Goodnight," she barely murmured when he let her go again.

  "Night honey, see you tomorrow…" he said and once she closed the door, he sped off.

  She sighed heavily not knowing what to expect next. Jake was like no one she'd ever known.

  Chapter Four

  The next evening Jake was in a quandary. He paced the living room till she came downstairs in her jeans and half t-shirt. His eyes traveled her wildly. Why couldn't women just wear clothes like men? Why did they always have to look so good? He couldn't keep his mind on what he needed to tonight. That was a given. He wanted under that t-shirt so bad, he could almost taste the tips of her breast.

  "I didn't expect you so early," she began, but he grabbed her and kissed her hard on the lips. This kiss was hot and she seemed to understand every moment of it. He wasn't hiding how much he wanted her.

  "I can't think when I look at you…," he mumbled.

  "Sorry…" she colored and turned away. "Want me to change…"

  "Do you mind?" he asked clearing his throat.

  She twisted her head as though she wasn't sure he was serious. The look on his face spelled it out as his eyes went to her hardening nipples peeking through the thin t-shirt. This time she took a deep breath and almost dared him to take her.

  However, he planted his feet wide and stood his ground.

  "Okay, okay, I'll go change…" she muttered, flying up the stairs, her anger apparent.

  Minutes later she came down in a button down chambray shirt, only she had loosened the top two buttons and her cleavage still offered a good eyes view.

  "Can you button that?" he asked his voice serious and his eyes blazing.

  Angrily she buttoned it to her neck. "Satisfied?"

  He looked at her again, this time he nodded, "Yeah, that's better…."

  "I don't get you….most men like a woman to look nice but you…"

  "Look, let's don't go there. I've got to concentrate on my work right now and you are a complete distraction. I'd like nothing better than to take you up those stairs and make love to you all night long, but….we need to talk…." He began turning away from her.

  "Okay…what's wrong?" she finally seemed to realize that Jake was upset and not at her. She bent her knee and sat on the couch, waiting for him to join her. However, he didn't. He stood, and paced.

  "So what's going on?" she finally asked.

  "I went to Mr. Turner's house today. Mr. Turner wasn't home, so I looked for Mike. I found him; he was cowering down in the garage, trying to hide. I asked him why."

  "What did he say?" she began to listen with interest now.

  "He said his daddy was gone…and that you needed to get off his property." Jake answered.

  "Was that some sort of threat?" her eyes widened.

  "I don't know. I really don't. I'm a little worried right now…."

  "Why…tell me everything…." She begged.

  "Mr. Turner never leaves that house. He has groceries delivered. He has everything he wants delivered actually. And he wasn't home today. I'm worried…"

  "About what, maybe he needed to get away, for his own sanity." She quipped.

  "No…he's never left Mike, since his mother died." Jake informed her.

  "You don't think he…?" She began.

  "I don't know. I don't know what to think. I've known them all my life and things just don't change over night. I've never taken Mike to be a harmful kind of guy. I've always thought of him as a little simple minded, but not deranged. But Mr. Turner never leaves the place."

  "And now he's gone."

  "And now he's gone," he repeated. He cast her a glance, he shouldn't have. He was on fire for her right now and one move might do him in. He wanted her, plain and simple. However, he wanted more than just her body, and he wanted her to understand that. He was falling in love with her. Maybe he'd fell in love with her that first day when he'd killed the rattlesnake. Nevertheless, he didn't want to think that seeing her naked had caused him to think he loved her. He wanted more than a shallow relationship, and he wasn't at all sure she did.

  "Did Mike say where his father was?"

  "Said he went into town…."

  "Do you believe him?"

  "I don't know…" Mike paced again. "I thought I knew them both well enough, but now, I'm not so sure. Mike was upset because his father went into town. Very upset. He was hiding in the garage. He only hides when he's done something wrong or something that upsets his father."

  "If he's crazy, isn't he dangerous?"

  "Hell yes, he's dangerous. And I'm not even sure how dangerous."

  "What are we going to do?"

  "You can't stay here any longer. Call your sister and tell her you'll make other arrangements soon, but not to come out here with the dogs. I'm taking you into town. Lori said you could stay with her. She's widowed and loves company." Jake was saying.

  "But I don't even know her…couldn't I….stay with you…" she asked standing up and right behind him.

  He smelled her light perfume. He closed his eyes. "No honey. I’m sorry. You can't."

  "Why..?" she cried out.

  "Because…dammit…." Then he reached for her and she was in his arms, soft, warm, and inviting. He kissed her to distraction. Made her limp in his arms. Suddenly his hands reached to undo the buttons she fastened. His mouth followed. He dipped his head against the ample cleavage she offered. She moaned.

  He couldn't stop himself, he pulled the shirt out of her pants, and unbuttoned every button, then he took one hand, while he kissed her silly, and unfastened the bra. Her breast spilled into his waiting hands. He kneaded them, caressed them, and then he bent and kissed them until they were raw, hard, and lifting toward him.

  He groaned, his hands went to her jeans and thrust them open, and then they went to cup her hips.

  His mouth was everywhere, on fire for her; he needed her at this moment. Then he stopped.

  Good sense took hold and he took a deep breath and pushed her to the couch.

  She looked up, stunned.

  His eyes blazed into hers. His breathing was ragged. He was on fire for her.

  She gazed at his jeans how they bulged and then he was sure she knew.

  He shook his head, not daring to look at her, as her heart was in her eyes, "Honey, I want you so bad right this minute, I could take you on the floor, here and now. I'm on fire for you. Surely you can see that. I have been since I walked into that damned bathroom. It's all I can think about, having you…"

  "So why are you putting on the brakes…?" she murmured breathlessly.

  "Me…and this job. Right now, I've got to have my wits about me. Something is going down here and it isn't good. You could be in danger. And all I can think about is having you…."

  "Is that so bad…?"

  "Yes…right now, it is very bad. Trust me. I think I'm falling in love with you."

  "You think…?" She questioned.

  "Yeah, you are the first and only lady I've ever been around that I have wanted this badly. I lay awake at night thinking about us making love, what I want to do with you; how I want to show you so much…it's insane. I don't know if it's your body or you I love…." He muttered thickly.

  "Well….thank you…I think…but…Jake…I think about you too…" she stood again, discarding the shirt and bra, and coming to stand in front of him.

  He looked at her, his eyes fastening on her beautiful pink breasts. His mouth watered. He wanted to taste them again, to savor the sweetness of her again. He knew she'd taste good. He knew she'd be a perfect fit in his hands.

  "Put your shirt back on." He murmured.

  "Why…"

  "Just do it…"

  "Okay," she agreed and reached for her bra, but he grabbed the bra, fingering it, and lifted it to his nose to take in the scent of her. "No bra, just the shirt."

  "But this shirt is too thin…"

  "It doesn't matter. At least I can look at you…" he smiled at her now, tossing the bra on the couch.

  "Okay…" she breathed heavily. "You sure know how to heat a girl up, Jake…"

  "At least you can still walk…" he smiled.

  She glanced lower and smiled at the huge bulge in his jeans.

  "Put the shirt on, and then come here and kiss me…before we get down to business."

  She smiled, and did as he requested.

  She took her time pulling the shirt together, and she left a gap so he could really see her. He seemed to like it, because he smiled sexily at her.

  "Now kiss me," he demanded.

  "Yes sir…" she cleared her throat and came up close, her hand covering the bulge in his jeans for a moment. She practically purred in his ear. When her lips touched his it was like fire meeting fire. Her breast burned into him like two perfect diamonds, needling his chest. Her lips caressed his with slow thrusts of her tongue against his. He twirled her in his arms, and bent to touch his lips against the fabric at her breast.

  When she moved her lips to his jaw and ear and blew slightly, he bolted against her hard.

  His words were a whisper of love, "I want to pull you down on the floor, tear your clothes off, and make love all night till you scream my name in the throws of passion. I want to see, touch, and taste all of you. I feel cheated that I haven't. I want to climb inside you so hard you'll never forget my name or who claimed you. That's how bad I want you. However, this isn't the right time….and I love you enough to wait. Wait until I get to know you. Wait until you say yes to marrying me…wait till you walk down the aisle toward me….That's how bad I want you."

  "Jake…take me…" she encouraged.

  "No, honey, not here, not now…but soon. Marry me when this is over…," he asked staring into her eyes.

  "Oh Jake…are you sure…?" She asked twisting her head strangely.

  "I'm sure I'm serious. I'm sure I want you. I’m sure I can't think of anything but you. I'm sure if you don't say yes, I might curl up and die. Yes, I'm sure….how about you…how do you feel?"

  She stared at him now, standing very close, her breast almost grazing his chest again, "I'm sure I've never had a man make love to me like this before. I love it. You're handsome with that full head of black hair that feathers down the back. I'm sure those beautiful blue eyes see the real me, all of me, and wants me so bad. I'm sure we're bound to have some things in common, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to matter to me. Ever since you walked into the bathroom that day, I haven't been able to put you out of my mind for more than ten minutes. That sexy way you walk, the way you wear your jeans low on your hips, your hat to one side a little. The way you worry over me, want to protect me. Oh yes…I want you just as bad, and it isn't all physical, but then…some of it is…"

  He nodded, "Put the bra back on now. It'd be pure torture to look at you and know I couldn't touch and kiss you…everywhere."

  "If I marry you…do you promise to kiss and touch me everywhere?" she teased.

  "Honey, you'll beg me to go to work…," he laughed throwing back his head.

  She giggled. "Then…yes…I'll marry you."

  He sighed, "Then kiss me again…," he said with a smile

  "Jake…" she smiled too, when he drug her against him and planted a kiss along her jaw and up to her ear, where he blew gently, and then to her waiting lips. This time was different. This time the kiss was full of promises, hopes, and dreams.

  Then he let her go and pulled her to the couch. He looked into her eyes and smiled.

 

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