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I’m saying is that you’ll find a man
who loves you like that—a man who loves and respects you because of
your courage, not despite your injury and the physical challenges
you face.”
    She liked what he’d said, sweet words she
wished she could believe, but she had to be honest. “I’m not as
brave as you think I am. I haven’t been able to pick up a firearm
since the day I was shot.”
    “Anyone who tells you you’re not brave
because you won’t pick up a gun hasn’t experienced a fire-fight
first hand.” There was understanding in his eyes.
    She’d needed to hear that so very badly, but
his compassion didn’t change the rest of it. “The kind of men I’m
attracted to—athletic, outdoorsy guys—want women who can keep up
with them. Besides, I’m forty-five.”
    “You don’t look a day over thirty-eight.” He
gave her a devastatingly sexy smile. “And, hey, if an old codger
like me can’t play the age card, then neither can you.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s different
for men. You know that.”
    “You’re a beautiful woman.” The way he said
it made her breath catch.
    Warmth rushed into her cheeks. “Is that you
talking—or the Côte de Brouilly?”
    “It takes more than a few glasses of wine to
make me say things I don’t mean—scotch if you want poetry.” He
moved closer, took their wine glasses, and set them down on the
coffee table. “Janet…”
    His words trailed into silence. Then he
leaned in and kissed her. His lips were soft and warm as they
brushed lightly over hers, their caress an invitation.
    Her pulse skipped. “ Jack. ”
    Heat that had nothing to do with the wine
slid into her blood . She rested her palms
against the hard wall of his chest and kissed him back, brushing
her lips over his, nipping his upper lip, then tracing the fullness
of his lower lip with her tongue, her senses aroused by the taste
of him, by the scent of his skin, by the hardness of his body.
    He caught the tip of her tongue between his
teeth, the intensity in his dark eyes making her belly flutter.
Then his eyes drifted shut. One strong arm encircled her waist,
drawing her against him, while his other hand slid into her hair to
angle her head. Then his mouth closed over hers in a deep, slow
kiss.
    Oh, yes.
    Her eyes closed, too, both of them going by
feel now. She parted her lips, let him take the lead. The man knew
how to kiss, his fingers tracing her spine, sending shivers through
her, his tongue teasing hers, his lips firm and insistent.
    This is how she’d always wanted to be
kissed, and, God, he’d better not stop anytime soon because she
wanted more.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    Jack drew Janet closer, the physical contact
making his heart pound, his very blood seeming to come alive. It
had been so long since he’d touched a woman, so long since he’d
kissed a woman. At first, he was afraid he might have forgotten
how, but then her arms locked behind his neck, pulling him closer,
and he figured he must be doing something right.
    God, she tasted sweet, her body soft and
pliant in his arms. He raised the stakes, let his tongue have its
way with hers. She gave a little whimper, arching so that her
breasts pressed against his chest.
    And damned if his jeans didn’t feel
uncomfortably tight.
    They ought to stop.
    Then again, why the hell should they? They
were both adults. She seemed to know what she wanted, and so did
he.
    There came a knock at the mudroom door,
Chuck’s voice calling to him. “Hey, boss, there’s a problem with
Chinook.”
    Damn it to hell!
    “I’m sorry. That’s Chuck, my foreman. He
wouldn’t bother me at this hour unless it was serious.” Jack ran a
thumb down Janet’s cheek, then called out to Chuck. “I’ll be right
there, damn it!”
    “Can I come?” Janet’s cheeks were flushed,
her lips swollen and wet.
    God, how he wished Nate were here to handle
the horses. Then again, if his son