out, leaving the door standing open.
Only when the car spun out of the driveway did Jakob breathe fully. He despised men like that, and not killing him had been difficult.
Kate closed the door and stood with her back against it, biting her lip. "I'm sorry. I had no idea he would show up like that."
"His idiocy isn't your fault. I doubt we've seen the last of him." Jakob closed in on her and bent to taste her lip, still swollen from his kisses. "I will never get tired of tasting you. Now, go get changed. I owe you a dinner, remember?"
***
Vanquished to her room to change, Kate stood naked in front of her closet for the first time in years, debating what to wear. It had been a long time since she cared much what she looked like, but now she found herself torn. Everyday common sense Kate insisted on clean jeans and work shirt. Frivolous Kate, who was more than half in love with Jakob, wanted to look the part.
In the interest of quieting any romantic tendencies, she pushed the jeans and shirts aside to reveal clothing from another lifetime, things she'd never expected to wear again. Only practicality had prevented her from throwing them out long ago. Dresses, blouses, skirts and slacks, the kinds of things a young woman might wear for fun or work.
A lifetime ago, Kate actually thought she might have a life away from the ranch, in the city. College had been the start of that life, and with it, she'd learned to party and keep up with everyone else. Work at a small ad agency had seemed like a dream come true, until it turned sour. Coming home wounded, tail between her legs, had been one of the hardest things she'd ever done. Harder than the endless surgeries of her childhood. Harder than the hurtful words of other kids. But she immersed herself in the ranch and work, and healed, slowly but surely.
And now it seemed she found herself with another chance at loving someone. Could she trust him? Or would he be the same as Will—truly only interested in her land and what he could do with it after he had a legal claim? On the heels of Trace's visit, the concern haunted her. Would any man ever want her for herself?
Going forward seemed the only way to find out. Her gaze landed on a blue dress she'd bought on a whim and never worn. It had looked nice on her way back when, and should still fit. She slid it off the hanger and over her head. The silky fabric shimmered as it fell into place, hugging her curves. At her dresser, a light application of makeup and a simple twist to get her hair off her neck made her feel more feminine than she had in years.
She really should wear heels to complete the look, but she preferred to remain upright. She settled for barefoot, since she no longer owned shoes suitable for the dress. Hopefully Jakob wouldn't think her a fool. With one last look at the strange woman in the mirror, she turned the light off and headed for the kitchen.
At the door, she hesitated. What was she doing? Jakob would think her a fool the instant he saw her in that getup. She had to go change.
Except her damn feet refused to turn, and instead carried her on into the kitchen. She froze, captivated by the sight before her.
Jakob stood over her stove, a steaming pot before him. After a quick stir, he lifted the cutting board to scrape diced onions into the sizzling sauté pan. Tantalizing aromas filled the room. She must have made a sound, because he looked over his shoulder.
His eyes darkened as he turned, wiping his hands on the kitchen towel he'd tossed across his shoulder. "Kate." He approached as his gaze swept over her.
She tried to move, but was powerless. He held her as still with his gaze as he could have with his hands.
"Come sit. Talk with me while I fix your dinner." He took her hand and led her to the table.
Sitting, she found her voice. "How did you do this? I specifically remember there was nearly nothing in the house to cook."
The smile he gave her sent her pulse soaring. "I had a little help. I gave the
Only when the car spun out of the driveway did Jakob breathe fully. He despised men like that, and not killing him had been difficult.
Kate closed the door and stood with her back against it, biting her lip. "I'm sorry. I had no idea he would show up like that."
"His idiocy isn't your fault. I doubt we've seen the last of him." Jakob closed in on her and bent to taste her lip, still swollen from his kisses. "I will never get tired of tasting you. Now, go get changed. I owe you a dinner, remember?"
***
Vanquished to her room to change, Kate stood naked in front of her closet for the first time in years, debating what to wear. It had been a long time since she cared much what she looked like, but now she found herself torn. Everyday common sense Kate insisted on clean jeans and work shirt. Frivolous Kate, who was more than half in love with Jakob, wanted to look the part.
In the interest of quieting any romantic tendencies, she pushed the jeans and shirts aside to reveal clothing from another lifetime, things she'd never expected to wear again. Only practicality had prevented her from throwing them out long ago. Dresses, blouses, skirts and slacks, the kinds of things a young woman might wear for fun or work.
A lifetime ago, Kate actually thought she might have a life away from the ranch, in the city. College had been the start of that life, and with it, she'd learned to party and keep up with everyone else. Work at a small ad agency had seemed like a dream come true, until it turned sour. Coming home wounded, tail between her legs, had been one of the hardest things she'd ever done. Harder than the endless surgeries of her childhood. Harder than the hurtful words of other kids. But she immersed herself in the ranch and work, and healed, slowly but surely.
And now it seemed she found herself with another chance at loving someone. Could she trust him? Or would he be the same as Will—truly only interested in her land and what he could do with it after he had a legal claim? On the heels of Trace's visit, the concern haunted her. Would any man ever want her for herself?
Going forward seemed the only way to find out. Her gaze landed on a blue dress she'd bought on a whim and never worn. It had looked nice on her way back when, and should still fit. She slid it off the hanger and over her head. The silky fabric shimmered as it fell into place, hugging her curves. At her dresser, a light application of makeup and a simple twist to get her hair off her neck made her feel more feminine than she had in years.
She really should wear heels to complete the look, but she preferred to remain upright. She settled for barefoot, since she no longer owned shoes suitable for the dress. Hopefully Jakob wouldn't think her a fool. With one last look at the strange woman in the mirror, she turned the light off and headed for the kitchen.
At the door, she hesitated. What was she doing? Jakob would think her a fool the instant he saw her in that getup. She had to go change.
Except her damn feet refused to turn, and instead carried her on into the kitchen. She froze, captivated by the sight before her.
Jakob stood over her stove, a steaming pot before him. After a quick stir, he lifted the cutting board to scrape diced onions into the sizzling sauté pan. Tantalizing aromas filled the room. She must have made a sound, because he looked over his shoulder.
His eyes darkened as he turned, wiping his hands on the kitchen towel he'd tossed across his shoulder. "Kate." He approached as his gaze swept over her.
She tried to move, but was powerless. He held her as still with his gaze as he could have with his hands.
"Come sit. Talk with me while I fix your dinner." He took her hand and led her to the table.
Sitting, she found her voice. "How did you do this? I specifically remember there was nearly nothing in the house to cook."
The smile he gave her sent her pulse soaring. "I had a little help. I gave the
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