Read BROKEN for Free Online Page B

heat had spiked considerably the moment she’d stepped into his arms.   Still, the idea of climbing up into the hayloft and spending the next hour giving into the carnal desires he aroused in her was more than a little enticing.   The sudden appearance of Hank, however, put a huge damper on the moment.   Hastily pulling away from Kincaid , she greeted her favorite ranch hand with an embarrassed smile.  
    Hank eyed the possessive arm wound around Jessie’s waist , quirking one brow .   “Don’t recall you being so publically demonstrative of your affections before, Kincaid.”
    Another faux pas, Mitch thought, though he made no move to disengage his hold on Jessie.   “Demonstrative?   That’s a mighty big word for an old coot like you.   I’m impressed .  Y ou’ve managed to build your vocabulary past the grunts and three letter words that usually come flying out of that trap of yours.”
    A slow grin spread across Hank’s face.   “Charming as ever, I see.   I hate to it admit it, but I miss that questionable wit of yours.   How long are you planning on sticking around this time?”
    Jessie tensed, her soft body instantly growing rigid against his.   He hadn’t been prepared for the old man’s bluntness and even less prepared to put a limitation on his time with Jessie.   Looking down and seeing the sudden change in demeanor, the almost desperate attempt to keep her face expressionless, Mitch knew she expected him to say two or three weeks, maybe a month.   The longest Adam had ever stayed was six weeks, but that wasn’t nearly enough time as far as Mitch was concerned.   Maybe it was a mistake to keep up the masquerade, but if it meant being with Jessie , then he would be whoever she wanted him to be.
    “Well , Hank,” he said slowly, “I’ve been giving that a lot of thought .  A t the risk of being publically demonstrative of my affections…”   Mitch whipped Jessie around, pulling her up hard against his chest.   “I’ll stay for as long as Jess will have me.”
    Blue eyes met brown and it was like watching the sun rise the way Jessie’s face lit up.
    In a shaky voice she asked, “Y ou…y ou’re serious?”
    “Baby, you have no idea how serious I am.   I’m tired of trying to save the world, Jess, and I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life saving me.   I want this time to be different.   This time, I want to take care of you.”
    Jessie’s heart hammered against her ribs.   Was he really going to stay for good?   “Are you listening to this,” s he spoke to Hank, though her eyes never left Kincaid ’s , “ because I may need a witness when I sue Mr. Kincaid for breach of promise.”
    Hank chuckled.   “I’m listening .  J udging by that sappy look on his face, I’d say he intends to hang on to you, Jess.”
    Somewhere between Kincaid’ s murmured vow to never let her go again and the passionate kiss that followed, Hank discreetly slipped away.   In truth, he could have tied tin cans to his legs and danced out of the barn singing The Star Spangled Banner and Jessie wouldn’t have noticed.   Nothing existed but this man and this moment.   Swept away by emotions that were much too turbulent to describe, Jessie could do little more than stare into his handsome face in a daze.   She’d always had strong feelings for him, but what stirred in her heart right now went far beyond that.
    “Say something,” Kincaid pleaded.   “I know I kind of sprang this on you , so if you need some time to think about it I’ll understand.”
    “No, it’s not that .  I want you to stay.”
    “But…?”
    Jessie ran her fingertips over the crease in his forehead.   “Don’t look so worried.   I want you here, Kincaid.  I’m just afraid that you didn’t really think this out.   You always love being here for the first three or four weeks , but after that…well, you get restless.   I know how important being a Special Ops agent is to you and I’ve