Page 136 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

In spite of herself, Cat felt her heart soften toward him. He cared about her. Since when was that a bad thing?

“Well, all right,” she conceded. “But don’t get any ideas about trying to protect me. I can take care of myself, and I intend to prove it.”

“I know, honey,” Jared said as he hauled her off the bed and began to thread her arms back into her shirt. “I’ll give you time.”

Cat wasn’t sure if that was a threat or a promise. Jared ignored her while he finished dressing her sans underwear. He remained naked, and Cat tried not to notice how utterly perfect he was. Her throat tightened, and she had to force herself to leave the room, afraid that if she didn’t, she’d wind up in bed with him again.

She escaped the room with Jared’s chuckle ringing in her ears. She found Lucy in the kitchen chewing on a dish towel. Retrieving the soggy rag from her with a halfhearted reprimand, she let her gaze roam over the kitchen.

White cabinets covered two walls and the floor was done in large square Saltillo tile. A breakfast bar stood like an island in the center of the room, and Cat delighted in the copper cookware that hung from the ceiling over it. A note sat in the center of the table and she scooped it up.

Dear Cat,

Welcome home! I hope you love my place as much as I know I’m going to love yours. There is a pizza in the freezer and a bottle of pop in the fridge. I’ll call you as soon as I get to your place. I can’t believe we really pulled this off.

Enjoy your adventure!

Love, Sally

Cat smiled as she put the note back. If she told Sally how her trip had turned out, Sally would never believe her. She could hardly believe it herself.

A screened porch led off the kitchen, and looking beyond it, Cat was thrilled to see the beautiful kidney-shaped pool and patio in the side yard. Turning back, she followed the steps from the kitchen to the large sunken living room that took up the rest of the house. Like the bedroom, it was decorated in blond woods and rich Southwestern patterns.

Sliding glass doors at the end of the room led to a backyard with a lush lawn surrounded by citrus trees. Lucy sat beside the door, her tail thumping as she gazed at her new yard.

“All right,” Cat muttered and unlatched the door. “But don’t get into any trouble.”

Jared’s hands slipped around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. She wasn’t startled, for even though she hadn’t seen him, she’d sensed he was there.

She shouldn’t let herself feel this way, she thought. She wasn’t ready. She had yet to prove that she could be alone, and she had to do that before she could find contentment anywhere else. Reluctantly, she tried to pull out of his embrace. His arms tightened reflexively about her as if sensing her desire to escape. He placed a soft kiss in her curls and then let her go.

“Do you want me to drive you out to your ranch now?” she asked.

“No, it’s late,” he answered as he followed her through the open glass doors and out into the yard. “We can do that tomorrow.”

“All right,” she agreed, annoyed by the relief that swept through her. The sun was just beginning to set and the air was still scorchingly hot. She walked to the center of the small yard and glanced out across the neighborhood. Over the red tiles roofs, a range of purple-hued mountains were visible in the distance. Cat marveled at their sculpted features. This was certainly different from anything she’d ever known.

Her gaze strayed back to Jared. Wearing only jeans, he was on his knees, wrestling with Lucy. Though his hand was bigger than her head, he was incredibly gentle with the little dog. Cat felt her throat tighten. Oh brother, she was lost again. Lost in love with this wickedly handsome cowboy.

And what would her brother say about that? She knew Cameron considered Jared one of his closest friends, but would he approve of their...whatever this was? Not in this lifetime or any other. Well, too bad. If he didn’t approve, he shouldn’t have thrown them together in the first place. So there!

With new determination, she strode over to the two rascals rolling on the grass. Lucy was standing on Jared’s chest, looking very much like the big conqueror, until Jared grabbed the puppy around the middle and leapt to his feet. Dangling from Jared’s arm, Lucy looked about as chagrined as Cat felt.

Laughing with empathy, she rescued her puppy and led the way back into the house. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”

Dinner was eaten swiftly and with gusto. When Jared scooped Cat up and hauled her to bed, she put up a half-hearted protest about having to unload the van. He kissed her silent and spent the rest of the night making love to her. It was well into morning before Cat finally got some rest.

Cat awoke to find the other half of the bed empty. The pillow still bore the imprint of his head. Cat placed her hand there, seeking his warmth. It was cold. Loneliness filled her. So this was what it was like to be without him. She felt lost. Alone. Miserable.

She pulled her hand back. She would miss him. The sight of his dimpled grin, the scent of him, the feel of his rough hands on her skin, the sound of his deep reluctant voice, and the taste of his kiss – he filled every one of her senses until she was overflowing with him. How had he captured her heart so swiftly and so thoroughly? And how would she keep it from breaking when they said goodbye?

She started when a thump sounded down the hall. The bedroom door eased open, and she snatched the sheet up to cover herself as Jared strode into the room, carrying her suitcase.

Her heart pounded triple time, and a ridiculous grin lit up her face. Just the sight of him brought her an unequaled rush of joy.

“What are you smiling at, sleepyhead?” He returned her grin.

“You,” she whispered.

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