Wild for You Page 5

  The black cat bolted around Jack’s shoulders, straight for the hair tie. He batted it around in the air and dropped it before he grabbed it in his mouth and scampered toward the hall.

  “I know you like Lord of the Rings.” He shifted and slid his fingers through her loose hair. “So you clearly have good taste.”

  “How did you know?” She looked at her mug and his on the coffee table. “Oh. Duh.” She smiled. “Yes, I love the books and the movies.”

  “Same here. Grew up reading the books and enjoyed all three movies when they came out on the big screen.” He kissed the top of her head. “So what’s on tonight?”

  She retrieved a remote from a cloth basket on the end table. “Let’s find out.”

  They picked an action-adventure flick that had just left the theaters a couple of months ago.

  “Your cookies are almost as amazing as you are,” he said after finishing his fifth. “You do have more, don’t you?” he said in a teasing voice.

  “Lots.” She leaned her head against his chest. “You can have all the cookies you want.”

  Her closeness set his body on fire and made it hard to focus on the movie. But he enjoyed watching it with her and how tense she became during every action scene.

  Once, she’d rested her palm on his thigh, only to clench her hand and grip his jeans until the scene was over and she relaxed again.

  The intense sex scene had not helped his constant desire for Dara. He had to grit his teeth and hope she didn’t look at his lap.

  He didn’t need the sex scene to make him hard. Dara did a pretty good job of that without even trying.

  * * *

  The fact that she could focus on the movie at all surprised Dara. She and Jack might have done this a hundred times as comfortable as she felt with him.

  She rested her head on his shoulder, his arm around her. He hadn’t left any room for her to move away from him, and she liked that just fine.

  The movie was tense and exciting. In particular, the scene with the hero hanging from the side of a sleek glass building with only an ice axe to punch holes into the glass. Shards floated past him as he put his hands into the breaks created by the axe, holes that he could hold onto with his gloved hands, as he slowly made his way up the building.

  The whole scene, which progressed as things seemed to get worse and worse for the hero, had been enough to keep her holding onto Jack tightly. Not that he seemed to mind.

  The intense sex scene made her mildly uncomfortable due to the fact it also made her as hot as hell.

  When the movie ended, the tension in her body faded and she was back inside the room and reality. Although, she’d never actually felt like she’d gone anywhere away from Jack or the way he made her feel.

  “The movie was a great choice,” Jack said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing his others.”

  “Definitely. If you enjoyed this one, you’ve got to see them.” She nodded. “His movies always keep me on the edge of my seat.”

  Jack helped her up from the couch to her feet. “Why don’t you show me your art?”

  “Sure.” She took his hand and guided him to the left side of the room. One of her cowboy and horse paintings hung on the wall. “I did this one three years ago.”

  “The detail is incredible.” He turned to her, an amazed look on his face. “It looks like a photograph.”

  “If an artist can truly have a favorite, it’s one of mine.” She studied her painting of the cowboy frozen in time, riding bareback on a bucking horse.

  Cowboys didn’t seem to have changed a whole lot over time. Dara hadn’t grown up around them in the same way Bailey had, but she sure appreciated the breed.

  Rugged, dedicated, loyal, grounded, polite, and built like a dream—a lot of them fit the bill. The McBride men she’d met sure did.

  Like Jack.

  Dara showed Jack around her small house, her heart filled with pride as he examined the painting she showed him.

  “I have more in the closet,” she said. “Originally I was going to sell them through a Scottsdale gallery, but I changed direction with my art and set them aside.”

  “Mind if I see them?”

  A nervous flutter went through her belly. The paintings were in her bedroom closet. “This way.”

  He followed her down a short hall, past a guest room and to the master. She ignored the bed and didn’t look at him as she headed straight for her closet.

  “I don’t have much room in the house, so this is where I store them.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Give me a sec.”

  She pushed her clothes aside and leaned into the closet that wasn’t very deep.

  “I have five paintings in here.” Dara carefully brought out the first one. “These haven’t seen the light of day for over two years.”

  “That is a damned shame.” Jack looked thoughtful as he gazed at the painting of a cowboy and horse in motion, the cowboy roping a steer. “These should be hanging in the homes of people who would appreciate them.”

  She slid out the other four and let him take his time to study each one with the same intensity he’d looked at all the rest of her pieces.

  He finally met her gaze. “Are you willing to sell these?”

  “If you’re offering to buy one,” Dara said, “It’s no. I only give them to friends and people I care about.”

  She held up the one he’d looked at the most, a painting of a horse drinking from a stream. Beside the horse, the cowboy scooped water with his cupped hands, his face lowered.

  “I want to give this to you.” She raised the large painting and smiled. “Doesn’t mean you have to put it up anywhere, I just want you to have it.”

  Jack looked at her like he was going to argue about wanting to pay her, but then he took the painting from her. He smiled like there was no one else on the planet but her.

  “Thank you.” He gazed at the painting then her. “This means a lot, Dara.”

  She smiled, the warmth coming from him, from what felt like the depths of his heart washed over her. She started to gather the other four.

  “People should be able to enjoy your work, Dara.”

  “I’ll give them to family or friends,” she said. “I give my work away when it feels right, like it did just now.”

  He set down the painting she had given him, and brought her into his arms. “You are an incredible woman.”

  She looped her arms around his neck. “I feel the same way about you.”

  Jack slowly brought his face to hers as he searched her gaze. “You make me believe in miracles again. Don’t know why, except the fact that you’re right here in my arms.”

  He kissed her long and slow, and rested his hands on her hips again. At this moment she wished he wasn’t such a gentleman. She wanted his mouth on her breasts, sucking each nipple, and wanted him to slide his palms over her bare skin.

  She placed her hands over his and moved them up to cup her breasts.

  He groaned and placed his forehead to hers as he traced her nipples with his thumbs. His breathing came harder than normal, his chest rising and falling. She moved her hands to his heart and felt it racing beneath her palm.

  “Damn, but you’re driving me out of my mind.” He paused, as if trying to pull himself together. “You’re going to drive every good intention right out the window if you’re not careful.”

  “I don’t want to be careful,” she whispered. “I want you.”

  Jack groaned louder this time. He raised his head and cupped her face in his hands. “You are beautiful, talented, and you have a heart filled with love and caring. I know this about you, Dara.”

  He slid his fingers into her hair, burying them in the mass. “I wouldn’t feel right about taking this too far tonight.” He studied her features as he stroked hair from her face. “I don’t think we should rush things. You need more than one night to decide I’m the right man for you.”

  She could have felt embarrassed, but she didn’t.

  Instead, she smil
ed up at him. “You’re pretty amazing yourself. Thank you for thinking clearly for both of us.”

  He slid his hands from her face to her shoulders. “I will always think clearly about you.” He gave her a little grin. “At least that’s the sum of my good intentions.”

  She pressed her lips to his and kissed him lightly before drawing back. “Jack McBride, you are incredible.”

  He grinned. “I’m now the proud owner of a Dara Winters original, and I’m going to take my treasure home.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. His return hug was tight and made her feel so good.

  They parted and he picked up the painting. “After you.”

  Jack followed her out of her bedroom and to the front door. They paused in the small entrance. “I’d ask what you’re doing tomorrow, but I promised the kids we’d spend the day together. We plan an outing at least once a month. I’m a lucky man that neither of them has tried to get out of it—yet.”

  “You are a lucky man to have such great kids.”

  “I’ll see you Thursday at the meeting,” he said. “Why don’t we plan on getting together Saturday. We’ll figure out the what, where, and when between now and then.”

  A thrill of pleasure tickled her belly and warmed her. “Perfect.”

  He leaned the painting against the wall before giving her one more kiss.

  God, could that man kiss.

  She handed him his jacket, which he shrugged on before heading out into the cool night with the painting she’d given him.

  And maybe even her heart.

  Chapter Five

  Jack carefully stashed the painting in between the driver’s seat and the back seat of his king cab truck.

  Before he put the truck into gear, he glanced at Dara’s front door and saw she no longer stood in the doorway. He missed her already.

  Damn.

  He had it bad for Dara. Just how bad he hadn’t known until tonight.

  Jack guided his truck onto the road leading out to the ranch, so many things running through his mind that he needed to organize and work out.

  Dara was right, until now he hadn’t been ready to consider a relationship, so he hadn’t allowed himself to look at women in that way.

  Jack had been trying to be both dad and mom to his kids, who’d lost their mother too young. Hell, no kid should have to go through that. But they had, and he figured they’d made it this far okay.

  It had been hard losing Lucy. Things had been far from perfect, but he’d loved her, and a part of him always would. But like he’d told his daughter, everyone has plenty of room in their hearts to love.

  Leslie.

  Ah, hell. He’d have to sit down with her tomorrow, and tell her he was seeing Dara. He should have already, but that ship had sailed. He wanted more from Dara than one date. He had a lot to think about, but a lifetime might be on the menu.

  Jack dragged his hand down this face as he stepped on the gas and headed home.

  He’d considered asking Dara to join him and the kids tomorrow, but he needed to get them used to the idea of their dad dating her. He wanted to make sure they had processed her being a part of their lives.

  And that, of course, could be a long time as far as Leslie was concerned. He might just have to figure it all out down the road.

  After he parked in the driveway of the ranch house, he was greeted by Demon.

  “Hey, boy.” He knelt and rubbed the cattle dog behind his ears. “I just met a cat named Satan tonight. You just might get to meet him, and have a time of it being evil together.”

  He could picture the destruction now.

  Demon licked his hand and Jack rubbed the dogs head before straightening. “Let’s get inside, boy.”

  The dog trotted at Jack’s side to the front door, and followed him inside the house. He hung his jacket on the coatrack before heading to the kitchen. He hung his keys on the key holder. Demon curled up on a dog bed near the kitchen table.

  Dara had bewitched him, all right. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  “How could you, Dad?” Leslie’s voice rose high and angry from behind him.

  Frowning, he turned and faced his daughter. Her eyes were red and her cheeks flushed.

  “What’s wrong?” He wanted to hug his little girl, but she clearly would not appreciate that right now.

  “I can’t believe you.” Leslie looked like she was going to lose complete control of her emotions. “You lied to me.”

  His frown deepened. “What—”

  Then it dawned on him why she was so angry. How could she know about his date with Dara?

  Leslie cried harder. “How could you, Dad?”

  “Let’s sit down, sweetheart,” he said.

  Tears rolled down Leslie’s cheeks. “I don’t want to sit down.”

  He pointed to the kitchen table. “Sit at the table and we’ll talk.”

  “Don’t tell me to sit,” Leslie shouted. “I’m not a dog.”

  He gave her a stern look. “Do what I told you and sit at the table.”

  She looked like she was going to shout something else, but she turned and marched to the table and threw herself into a chair.

  “Where’s your brother?” he asked.

  She folded her arms across her chest. “In his room.”

  “Stay right there.” Jack went to the hallway leading to the kids’ bedrooms and shouted, “Max.”

  A moment later, and his son poked out his head. “What, Dad?”

  “Come into the kitchen.” Jack turned before Max could respond.

  Jack peered into the freezer and Max showed up a moment later. Jack looked over his shoulder. “Family meeting. What flavor?”

  “I don’t want anything.” Leslie slumped in her seat.

  Jack said calmly, “I asked you what flavor, Les.”

  “Cake batter,” Max said.

  “Chocolate fudge,” Leslie muttered.

  Jack grabbed pints of both flavors of ice cream, along with butter pecan for himself. He grabbed three spoons, then passed out everything before he took his seat at the table.

  “What’s going on?” Max asked as he popped the lid off his pint. “Why are you crying, Les?”

  She glared at Jack and didn’t say anything.

  “Your brother asked you a question.” Jack took the lid off the pint of chocolate fudge. “Tell him and me what’s upsetting you.”

  He knew, but he wanted her to say it.

  Leslie turned her glare on Max. “Dad is dating Dara.”

  Max had just shoved a spoonful of cake batter ice cream into his mouth. His eyes widened and he gulped down the ice cream.

  “No way.” Max brightened. “Dara’s great, Dad.”

  “What?” Leslie nearly screamed the word.

  “Leslie.” Jack gave her a stern look. “You will not scream in this house, and you won’t talk to me or your brother like that.”

  Leslie stared at her ice cream pint. She didn’t look at Jack as she said in a lower voice, “How could you forget about Mom like this?”

  “I told you I will never forget your mother. She will always be with us.” He paused. “I also told you there’s room in our hearts for others.”

  Leslie’s tear-streaked face made his chest ache.

  “Mom wouldn’t like it,” Leslie said.

  Max shoved ice cream in his mouth as he looked from his sister to Jack.

  “Have a bite of your ice cream,” Jack said.

  “No.” Leslie kept her arms across her chest.

  “You know family meeting rules.” Jack pointed to her pint with his spoon. “Take a bite.”

  When the kids were still young, after their mother died, he’d started family meetings, which always included ice cream. Something about ice cream calmed the kids down. Its coolness diffused some of the heat of anger, and its texture and taste gave something for each of them to consider before they got into what was happening that was important enough to call a meeting for.

&nbs
p; Leslie ripped the lid off her pint. He half expected her to throw it on the floor like a child, but she set it on the table and picked up her spoon. She glared at the container before she stabbed the ice cream with her spoon, then shoved the bite of chocolate fudge into her mouth in a hard, angry motion.

  Jack waited until she’d had a chance to finish the bite and continued to watch her until she’d had a second. He could see the heat in her expression dissipate some.

  Maybe feeding his kids ice cream when they were upset wasn’t the best method, but it had worked for him as a dad on his own with two young kids.

  Now he’d swear to the method.

  “Les, if you’ve calmed down enough, explain what’s bothering you,” Jack said.

  Leslie gripped her spoon in her hand. “Michelle told me she saw you with Dara at Nectars.”

  Jack hadn’t even seen Lucy’s friend earlier.

  He concentrated on the bite of butter pecan in his own mouth. When it had melted away, he looked from Leslie to Max and back.

  “I would have liked to tell you myself,” Jack said. “I probably should have told you before I left, but I didn’t.”

  “Why not?” Leslie demanded, then seemed to catch herself and shoved her spoon into her ice cream again. She said much quieter. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  Jack sighed. “Dara and I haven’t been dating and just decided to go out for drinks.” He slid his spoon into the butter pecan. “But after tonight, yeah, I want to see her again.”

  Tears rolled down Leslie’s cheeks. “You’re forgetting Mom.”

  Jack put his hand over his daughter’s. “I will never forget your mother.”

  “I think it’s cool, Dad.” Max scooped out more cake batter ice cream. “I like Dara.” Leslie glared at him but he turned his calm expression onto her. “Les, it’s been a long time. Dad deserves to be happy.”

  “Aren’t you happy with us?” Leslie sobbed.

  Jack squeezed Leslie’s hand. “I am the most fortunate dad in the world having the two of you.”

  “Why do you need to date anyone?” she said, then hiccupped.

  Jack wanted to rub his eyes, but didn’t want to make it look like he was exasperated or tired of her questions. This was important to Leslie, and he needed to let her know he understood.