The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) by J.D. Faver

to her. He pocketed the keys and came around to open the passenger door. “C’mon down, honey. It’s been a hard day.”
    She eased down into his arms and he escorted her inside. He helped her remove her jacket and hung it on the peg by the door. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll listen. Just remember that old bastard has been conning people for decades and I won’t stand by while he takes another piece of your heart.”
    “I—I just need to think.”
    “That’s fine. Just don’t act until you talk it over with me.”
    “Thanks, Breck.” She leaned heavily against him, burying her face against his chest. “I love you so much.”
    He blew out a deep breath. “I love you too. Just please don’t get yourself entangled in anything Kincaid.”
    ~*~
    When E.J. picked her up, Jenna was ready. Apparently she hadn’t heard from her city sisters that she should keep her beaus wait ing...Just a little power play.
    She greeted him at the door with a big grin. Oh, God! He loved to see that grin. He gave her a hug and brushed his hand over her hair. And she didn’t spray stuff on her hair, so it was soft and smelled great. Not bad for a girl who spent much of her day wading through horse shit. “Ready?”
    She lifted her face for a kiss and he leaned down to capture her soft lips. But as soon as his mouth touched hers, he wanted more. The first kiss led to another and another after that.
    She pulled away, laughing. “Wow! I see where this evening is going.”
    He felt a twinge of guilt, knowing that he had led her to believe they had been intimate. He wondered if she would be so agreeable if she knew the truth. Now their relationship had leapfrogged to another place, a place built on false assumptions. Okay, built on a lie . Tonight. I’ll tell her the truth tonight and then whatever happens will happen. She may dump me.
    That thought hit him like a Greyhound bus. I don’t want her to dump me. I can’t tell her…But I have to tell her.
    She gazed up at him, a perplexed look on her face. “What are you thinking about?”
    “About how much I like you,” he answered truthfully. His voice was thick, revealing too much emotion.
    “Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”
    He pulled her into an embrace. “It sure feels right to me.”
    He stood for a moment with his arms around her, trying to get hold of his feelings before he made a complete idiot of himself. “Let’s go get something to eat,” he said gruffly. When he looked down at her, the expression on her face clutched at his heart. She appeared to be content; even happy in their pseudo-relationship.
    Well, why the hell not? If she wants a relationship , I’m sure as hell going to give her one.
    He ushered her to his car and waited until she was tucked safely inside before closing the door and circling around to the driver’s side. Taking a break from those big green eyes gave him a chance to clear his head. I can’t settle down here. This is not what I want. I want a life back in Dallas. I need to shake this hick town dust off my boots and beat it back to the city. He opened the door and slid onto the low-slung seat. Sticking the key in the ignition gave him another second to ignore the beautiful vortex pulling him into this small town miasma.
    He turned over the engine, listening to it purr. Sweet baby!
    He managed to drive the five blocks to the Mexican restaurant. “Is this okay, or would you prefer something else?”
    Jenna laughed, soft and sexy, forcing him to turn her way. “Since we only have three choices, this is fine.”
    He liked seeing her laugh. Liked the way her mouth looked when she was happy. Aw, shit! He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer, kissing her lips like a starving man pouncing on a pork chop. He kissed her hard. He kissed her deep. “Damn!” he said pulling away.
    “Damn?”
    “Yeah, I just like you too damned much. Come on!” He got out of the car and rounded to her side to open the door. He pulled her from