smiled. “I never minded.”
“Not even when she kept telling everybody that she planned to marry you when she grew up?”
“Aw, c’mon. She was—what, six or seven years old? Kid stuff, Jared. She outgrew it.”
Jason, who was two years older than Ashley, said, “I wonder if she’d go out with me now? She always laughed before whenever I asked her. Maybe I should try again now that she’s older.”
Jake frowned. “Considering the reputation you’ve worked so hard to acquire, I seriously doubt that Ken will let you anywhere near his daughter.”
Jason’s cheeks turned red. “C’mon, Jake. You know I wouldn’t try anything with her. Ken would tear me to bits.”
“And when he got through with you, I’d be waiting my turn,” Jake replied.
Jude gave Jake a level look. “Why don’t you date her?”
Jake looked at him, wondering if Jude had lost his mind. “You’re kidding, right? I’m much too old for her. Besides, she’s always been like a little sister to me.” His eyes followed her as she changed partners. “I have to admit, though, that she doesn’t look like anybody’s little sister in that dress.”
“Like I said, she’s all grown up. So when are you going to ask her to dance?” Jude teased.
“She prizes her toes too much to want to dance with me,” Jake drawled with a slow grin. “She looks to be doing just fine without me. Look at the line of guys waiting to dance with her.”
“So, Jake,” Jared said. “How do you feel about Dad talking retirement now that you’re back home for good?”
“I think he and Mom deserve to take it a little easier,” Jake replied. “Mom’s already looking at house plans for a smaller place she wants to build down the road a piece. I haven’t seen her this excited in a long time. She said she hopes to get Dad to do more traveling. I told ’em to go for it.”
He took a drink from his beer before he said to Jared, “I’d be glad to share some of the workload with you, if you’d decide to stay in one place for longer than it takes to drill a well.”
“Tending animals 24/7 isn’t my idea of fun, bro. I’m happy doing what I do.”
“What about you, Jude?” Jake asked. “You want to try your hand at ranching?”
“I don’t mind helping out whenever you need me, Jake, you know that, but I sure don’t want to make a career of it. Who knows what I’ll end up doing. Right now I’m just enjoying life.”
Jake’s eyebrow raised. “According to Sheriff Boynton, you’ve been enjoying life a little too much these days. It wouldn’t hurt you to work a little harder at staying out of trouble. You could take on more responsibility around here, you know.”
“So Dad keeps saying,” he replied defensively. “I have to listen to his lectures. I sure don’t have to listen to yours.”
Someone touched Jake’s sleeve and he turned to find Ashley standing at his elbow, smiling at him. She wore her dark hair pulled back from her face, tumbling onto her shoulders in natural waves. Her green eyes sparkled up at him as she said, “May I talk to you, Jake?” she asked.
“Sure.” He was surprised when she turned and walked away from his brothers.
She waited until they were several yards from his brothers to speak. “Dance with me,” she said wistfully. “I’ve danced with practically everybody here…except you.”
He was already shaking his head before she finished speaking. “Not me, honey. There’s a bunch of guys over there mooning over you. Get one of them to dance. You don’t want to dance with an old guy like me.”
“Old! Twenty-four isn’t old.”
“It is where you’re concerned,” he replied without smiling.
She dropped her gaze and looked back at the party. “The party’s great, isn’t it?” she said, without looking at him. “Your mom and dad have been wonderful, getting this all set up.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The folks enjoy throwing parties and Mom had fun planning this one.”
“Well, I guess I’ll go back and…” Her voice trailed off. She turned back to Jake and said, “If you won’t dance, at least give me a birthday kiss.”
Jake nodded. He’d kissed her on her nose when she was a kid, causing her to giggle. Now that she was so grown up, he would kiss her cheek, he decided. At least, that was his plan. Only it didn’t turn out that way.
She slid her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe, pressed closely against him. He placed his hands at her waist and when he bent to kiss her, she quickly turned her head and caught his mouth with hers.
He stiffened and attempted to pull away, but she clung to him so tenaciously he didn’t want to hurt her. Her soft, moist lips pressed firmly against his, her tongue playfully darting at the seam of his lips. Caught off guard, Jake attempted to say something and when he opened his mouth, her tongue danced lightly across his lips and touched his tongue.
The kiss was erotic and explicit and Jake felt a surge of lust shoot through him that shocked him with its intensity.
This was Ashley! he reminded himself, wondering who had taught her to kiss like that. He grabbed her wrists and shoved her away from him, breathing hard and irritated with himself for not stopping the kiss sooner.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing!”
She blinked slowly, as though only now becoming aware of their surroundings. Her mouth was moist from his and her eyes, when she opened them, reflected that she had also been strongly stirred by their kiss.
He was furious with both of them. She had no business kissing any man—especially him—like that. It was indecent, it was—
“Damn it, Ashley. Don’t play your teenage games with me. Go find someone your own age to flirt with.”
He saw the glint of tears in her eyes as she turned away. How the hell was he supposed to handle this? She’d been practicing her wiles on him, that’s all. Maybe she felt safe with him, but if she did she was wrong. She was far from safe when she could turn him on so quickly.
He reached for her wrist and she stopped without turning around.
“I’m sorry, honey, it’s just that—”
She tugged her arm loose and continued on her way. He heard her say, “No need to explain further, Jake. You’ve made yourself quite clear.”
Jake turned and slowly walked back to where his brothers stood. It was obvious they had seen and heard what had happened, which didn’t help his mood any.
The four of them stood there silently while Jake wrestled with his libido.
“Why are you so shocked, Jake?” Jared finally asked. “You know how she feels about you—you’ve been her idol all her
