CHAPTER ONE
“Hey, Easy, I’m stopping at Mike’s to pick up lunch and I ordered you something to go. Are you going to be at home in about a half an hour?” Daniel Blackhawk held his phone to his ear, speaking to his brother as he pulled his white pickup and gooseneck trailer into the parking lot of Rev. Mike’s Dam Pub.
“I’m home now and hungry as hell. Did you get me a burger all the way and onion rings?”
“Yep.”
“Good, you read my mind.”
“Are Benjen and Sam back from Austin?”
“No, they won’t be home until later. They got tied up in the lawyer’s office. Zane thinks he’s worked out a deal for the land near Comanche.”
“Great news! I want to drive up and take another look at the property.” Expanding their holdings was a wise idea, especially since they’d decided to split the acreage so each brother could have land of their own. Daniel was fighting mixed feelings about the decision, Blackhawks had lived on the ranch near Packsaddle Mountain since before Texas became a state. As the oldest, the others figured he’d be the one to claim the old rock house, but no one knew better than he did how his brothers felt about Packsaddle. No, if one of them moved off the original home place, it would be him. Putting his family first was just the way Daniel did things. “What else is going on?”
“I bet you’ll never guess who stopped by to see you this morning.”
“Who?” Daniel unbuckled his seat belt and picked up the tan Stetson from the passenger seat and placed it square on his head. “Did Perry come over to borrow the tractor again?”
“No, not Perry.” Ezekiel chuckled softly. “Fiona was here. Bold as brass and asking for you.”
Daniel grimaced, rubbing his eyes. This rising before the crack of dawn every day to bale hay was catching up with him. “Oh, really? How’d she look?”
Ezekiel whistled. “Hot, as usual. She said to tell you she was back in town and would be expecting your call.”
“Really? She must be in the mood for some slumming.”
“Don’t say that.”
Daniel could hear the hurt in Easy’s voice. “I’m sorry, buddy. I didn’t mean it.” Ezekiel wanted to pretend nothing bad had ever happened to them. He wanted to think people didn’t remember. Easy wanted to live in a world where prejudice and racism didn’t exist.
Well, Daniel did too. But such a world didn’t exist.
Nevertheless, for his brother’s sake, he could pretend. “Hey, I’m a Blackhawk. Fiona can’t help that she has the hots for me. Can she?”
“No. She seemed pretty determined to hook up with you.”
“Well, we’ll see. Maybe, an evening with Fiona is just what I need.” As Daniel opened the truck door to climb out, he heard a commotion behind him by the road. People were screaming and shouting to the tops of their lungs. Whirling around, he saw a tiny boy standing in the middle of the highway with an eighteen-wheeler bearing down on him with brakes screaming heinously. His feet started to move, but before he could cover the distance, a young woman darted out into the street and grasped the child, jumping out of the way just before the massive diesel truck came barreling down on top of them. “Oh, my God.” The horror of what almost happened made him weak. He could see the mother sink to her knees in front of the toddler, grasping him to her breast. Various customers and waitresses from the pub were all gathered around, each as blown away and disturbed as he felt. Daniel was about to raise the cell phone to his ear again when his gaze focused on the angel who’d flown to the little boy’s rescue. “Holy Merciful Hell…” he breathed reverently.
He felt as if he’d been struck by a bolt of lightning from the blue.
“Daniel? What’s all that noise? Is there a bar fight going on at this hour?”
He brought the phone closer to his ear and spoke as if mesmerized. “We’ve had some excitement. A youngster wandered out into the road and this lady ran out and rescued him just before he was hit by a big truck.” As he watched the woman stand up from where she’d been kneeling by the child, she brushed off her jeans, pushed her hair over her shoulder and smiled. The grateful mother gave her a hug and various folks stepped forward to shake her hand or pat her arm. Daniel’s heart sped up, his cock turned to stone, and thoughts of any other woman fled his mind as if they’d never existed. “Well…I don’t think I’ll be seeing Fiona, not after this.”
He moved away from his truck slowly, his eyes never leaving the beauty. She was perfect. Fuckin’ perfect. Daniel forgot to breathe as she picked up an empty tray from the ground and began to walk toward a food truck parked beneath a big spreading oak. Dressed in tight jeans and a red plaid shirt, which was tied in an intriguing knot at her waist, he could see she was slender, yet with exquisite curves in all the right places. And her hair! God, her hair was right out of his fantasies – thick, dark, wavy, and long enough to brush the delectable cheeks of her ass.
“Why won’t you be seeing Fiona? What’s going on, Daniel?” Ezekiel’s voice sounded impatient and curious.
He answered his inquisitive brother as he gravitated toward the woman, like the tide being pulled to the shore. “Nothing’s wrong, everything is suddenly very right.” A smile creased his face. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go and introduce myself to the future Mrs. Daniel Blackhawk.”
“What? Your future what?” Ezekiel’s voice was cut off as Daniel abruptly ended the call. He might be jumping the gun about the wife part, but he sure intended for the two of them to get better acquainted. By the time he moved through the lot, there was a dozen people standing around the silver food truck with a sign on the side that read Sweet Treats. “She sure is that and I have a weakness for sugar,” he whispered under his breath. Seeing the crowd surrounding the object of his desire, he knew he wouldn’t get within speaking distance anytime soon. With reluctance, Daniel headed into the pub to claim his to-go order. However, one thing was for sure…he had no intention of leaving without dessert.
Over at the food truck, Sara gave each customer her undivided attention. The adrenaline rushing through her veins was dissipating and now she felt lightheaded and weak. Still, she was super aware of the handsome cowboy as he sauntered toward the pub. She could feel his eyes on her – warm and interested and she found it hard to get sufficient air in her lungs.
When he disappeared from view, she exhaled sharply and continued to fill orders as people requested slices of the pies she’d made the night before. No use to get all excited, she’d given up on romance. Sara was down on love. This wasn’t the time to be vulnerable, this was the time to get tough.
“Peach, please,” a little girl piped up, reaching high to put her money on the counter.
“Coming right up,” Sara promised. “This was made with fresh peaches, I picked them myself.”
“Yum,” another lady remarked. “Did they come from nearby Fredericksburg?”
“Close, I found them at an orchard in Stonewall,” Sara answered as she made sure the small girl held her carry-out container securely.
“You sure were brave, young lady. You saved that little boy’s life.” A pleasant looking elderly woman adjusted her glasses as she peered over the counter at Sara.
“Oh, I wasn’t brave. I was scared to death,” Sara confessed sincerely.
“Well, you were the only one with the presence of mind to react in time.” An older gentleman added, stepping up next to the bespectacled lady that Sara presumed was his wife. “Is that blackberry?” He pointed to one of her pies.
“Dewberry,” Sara informed him. “I prefer their tart flavor.”
“Oh, I do too.” The woman elbowed her husband and rubbed her tummy. “Give us four slices. One each for now and two for later.”
“Sure thing. Coming right up.”
During the next ten minutes, she fended off more compliments for her actions and filled a dozen more orders, until there were only two customers left. A skinny man who looked to be in his forties and the hunky cowboy.
“Hey, you’re new around here,” the first man said, leaning a little too far over the counter. “I’m Oscar Robinson.”
“Hello. Yes, I am. What can I get you?”
“A hunk of that chocolate meringue and a date tonight. I bet we could have a hot ole time, Miss Sweetie-pie.”
“Well…” Sara began, feeling uneasy. “Actually…”
“Actually, she already has a date. With me.”
Sara swallowed, but didn’t contradict her self-appointed rescuer.
The thin guy wheeled to see who was challenging him. When his eyes fell on the powerful man behind him, he immediately calmed. “Well, Daniel Blackhawk, I should’ve known you’d already have your sticky red hand in the cookie jar.”
“Don’t talk that way about the lady, Oscar,” Daniel good-naturedly admonished the fellow, ignoring the joking racial slur. Instead, he kept his eye on the woman who’d captured his complete and utter attention.
“I didn’t mean no harm. I wasn’t trying to insult her.” The local hayseed snickered. “I was trying to insult you.”
“Better luck next time, old man.” After seeing he wasn’t making any headway getting a rise out of Daniel, Mr. Robinson paid for his pie and moved on.
Sara folded her hands on the counter and licked her lips nervously. “Thank you, I appreciate what you did.”
“No problem. You’re welcome. The lady was right, how you saved that child was amazing.” He pretended to study the menu, but Daniel already knew exactly what he wanted.
He wanted her.
“Thanks, anybody would’ve done the same thing.” Sara avoided looking at him straight in the face for as long as she could. The sun was right behind him and the rays were hitting her right in the eye, but the main reason she avoided his gaze was because he was so magnetic and intense. Just being near him made her heart rate accelerate and chill bumps rise on her arms and chest.
“Yea, but nobody else did, did they? I was too far away, but there were others nearer than you who didn’t put their life on the line.”
“Right place. Right time.” She shrugged. When she did hazard a glance at him, Sara had to admit he was an incredibly hot man. Tall. Broad. What she could see of his hair on either side of his cowboy hat was dark and a little on the shaggy side. His face was masculine perfection with vibrant amber eyes and thick dark lashes, some would say far too lush to be wasted on a man – but they weren’t wasted on him – far from it. All in all, the cowboy was rugged and tempting, with a sexy five o’clock shadow and a flirty smirk on his kissable lips. “See anything you like?” she asked, breathlessly.
Daniel chuckled. “Now, that’s a leading question if I’ve ever heard one.”
“I didn’t mean it to be.” Sara flushed. “I meant pie.”
“You’ve got some great looking pies here.” He took a whiff. She smelled good too, fresh and sweet, like a summer rain. “I don’t think I can choose. What do you recommend?”
“What’s your favorite flavor?”
“Anything I could taste on your lips.” Daniel knew he was being forward, but once you find what you’ve been looking for, waiting to stake a claim seemed foolhardy.
“You’re a tease.”
When she looked up at him and smiled, her face went from pretty to heart-stopping and Daniel almost went to his knees. Her big eyes were an amazing sapphire blue and even though there was a mischievous tilt to her soft pink mouth, he could sense a sadness in her gaze. “Well, Sara… Is that your name?”
“Yes. Sara. Sara…Riley.” She refused to call herself anything else.
“Sara.” He repeated. “I love it, it feels good on my lips.” She was even more beautiful up close, where he could see the emotions flit across her face and her eyes twinkle at him as she spoke. When she offered her hand, Daniel lifted his to take it. The moment expanded, seeming to grow beyond the bounds of time and space. And when his fingers closed over hers, he felt a rush of energy flowing between them – electric, heated, sensual. “I’m Daniel Blackhawk and I love…” He gave her a dazzling smile. “Coconut.”
“Coconut.” She repeated inanely, hesitant to reclaim her hand. “I have an Almond Joy pie I bet you’d enjoy.” With his lips curled into a smile, he transformed from a knight in cowboy boots to an angel, one of the fallen variety who spent their time being naughty because they’d turned their back on Heaven for the privilege. She blushed at her own thoughts, knowing she was staring, almost hypnotized by his presence. Tingles of guilt began to make their way up her spine. If he knew her better, he wouldn’t want her. “Would you like to try it?”
“Yes, I would and give me a piece of that lemon for my brother.” He thought better. “In fact, give me the whole pie, if you can spare it.” If he took a piece to Easy, he’d better take plenty for Ben and Sam.
Sara busied herself while Daniel watched her like a hawk. When he saw another customer approaching, he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. “About the date, I was serious. I’d love to take you out. I think you’re as beautiful as you are brave. I really want to spend some time with you, get to know you better.”
Sara’s hand shook. “Thank you. I’m very flattered.” She wanted to accept, there was no doubt about it – but she couldn’t, not until she figured out how to solve the mess she’d made of her life. “I’m afraid I can’t, I already have plans.”
“Another date?” The question slipped out of Daniel’s mouth before he could call it back. Jealousy needled his soul. “Break it.”
“No, not a date.” She shook her head. “I’ll be busy most nights. I have to bake, this is the way I make my living.” The code she’d been living by was to do her best, never rest, and she’d go far – or at least lift herself from the miry clay she’d been stuck in for so long.
Daniel was disappointed, but he refused to give up. “I bet I’d make a good baker’s assistant, if you’d give me a chance.”
Sara chewed on her lower lip, presenting him with the pie. “Take this, try them, on the house.” She wanted to give him something and this was all she was free to give. Hiding her scars was all she knew how to do.
Daniel accepted them, but he put a ten and a twenty in the tip jar labeled Children’s Miracle Network. “In your honor.” He held up the to-go box. “I’ll relish every bite and I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m almost certain my…hankering for pie is not going to be satisfied anytime soon.”
He kept his eyes locked to hers until she broke the spell, turning to wait on another customer.
Daniel moved to his truck, then watched her from a distance as he set the pies on the passenger seat next to the bags of carry-out. She was gorgeous, pure poetry in motion. He grinned, amused at his sentimentality – so unlike him. Yea, he was smitten, he had it bad. And one little rejection wasn’t about to dissuade him – hell no.
His heart was set on getting to know Sara Riley a whole lot better.
* * *
Daniel made his way west from the Dam Pub, named such by cool Reverend Mike because of its proximity to Lake Buchanan Dam. He’d hauled a trailer full of round bales to the McCoy’s Highland Ranch, then stopped to get some lunch on the way back. And to think, he’d almost opted for a bologna sandwich at home. He didn’t get over this way very often and the idea that he would’ve missed meeting Sara was unthinkable.
As he drove, Daniel kept an eye on the traffic, but he wasn’t aware of much more. Instead, he remembered how Sara rushed to the tiny child’s aid, while his mother was frozen on the side of the road in abject disbelief. What courage it had taken for her to risk her life to save another. She hadn’t hesitated for even a second. While grown men stood by, she’d acted with no thought to her own safety. What an amazing person she must be.
When it came time to turn south toward Kingsland, his thoughts gravitated to how attracted to her he found himself to be. Just one look, that was all it took, as the old song used to say. Normally, his mind would be on the chores awaiting him, but not today. Daniel found himself wondering what she might think of him. What if she didn’t feel the same pull toward him that he felt for her? Had he imagined their connection? Thinking back to her smile, the blush of rose on her cheeks, and the quickening of her breath as they’d spoken, Daniel dismissed that concern. No, she’d felt the same drawing, the same longing, the excitement at the prospect of what they could share together. He smiled with relief. She was probably just shy. Needed to get to know him better. Yes, that was it. He’d see her again and this time Daniel would convince her to spend time with him.
At least for a little while – or until she heard the talk.
As he drew nearer home, Daniel slowed down a bit. He was about to pass his favorite place in the whole world and he never grew tired of the view. He and his brothers were lucky enough to own a prime piece of Hill Country real estate. Their ranch was nestled in the shadow of Packsaddle Mountain on the banks of the Llano River, just before it flowed into LBJ Lake. This portion of the ranch road passed over the river and on either side, huge slabs of natural pink granite had pushed their way up from the earth. The river flowed over the granite, creating a wonder the locals called ‘the Slab’, a waterway shallow enough to wade in places, deep enough to tube in others. The Blackhawk boys had spent many idyllic days floating down the river in this very spot.
When he passed beneath the arched gate of Blackhawk Ranch, Daniel was anxious to get his day’s work completed. He might just head back to Rev. Mike’s for supper if there was nothing pressing to be done at home. Pulling to a stop in front of the old farmhouse, he saw Easy waiting for him on the porch.
“About time you got here, I’m starving.” He stood and opened the screen door so Daniel could go in ahead of him.
Every time he stepped through this door, Daniel expected to hear his mother’s voice. She’d been gone for eight years, yet it still seemed like yesterday that they’d come home to smells of her home cooking and a welcome hug. “Man, we need to take a day and give this place a good cleaning. Mom would be walloping us with her broom if she saw her house in this condition.” The pine floors were clutter free, but they deserved a good mopping. There was a layer of dust on the end tables and the comfortable couch and recliners needed recovering. As they moved into the kitchen, Daniel could see the sink was full of dishes and the counters were piled high with items that begged to be put away.
Ezekiel grabbed a couple of sodas from the fridge and joined his brother at the round oak table where they’d shared many a meal with their folks. “Well, when you bring home the future Mrs. Blackhawk you met today, I expect she’ll straighten all of this right up.”
The mention of Sara made him smile. “If I’m lucky enough to get Sara through this door, housekeeping won’t be my first priority.” He unpacked the bags, setting out burgers, fries, onion rings, and the pies. “You can have a slice of the lemon – the coconut is mine.”
Tearing into their burgers, the brothers began to eat. Once Ezekiel had appeased his initial hunger, he eyed his older brother. “So, what’s she like and when are we going to meet her?”
Daniel wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, stopping to take a sip of cola before answering. “She’s gorgeous. Long, dark hair. Blue eyes. Sweet.” He shook his head. “I told you how she saved the little kid, just ran out in front of that eighteen-wheeler and snatched him from the jaws of death.”
Unable to resist trying the pie, Ezekiel took a big bite. “Oh, Lord. Pretty and talented. Damn, this is good. When’s the wedding?”
Daniel shifted in his chair. “Well, there’s a hitch in my get-a-long.” He looked at his brother sheepishly. “She turned me down.”
“You really proposed?” Ezekiel hit the table with a fist as he laughed.
“No, Easy, I didn’t propose. I asked her out on a date.”
“And she turned you down?” He continued to chuckle. “What’s the world coming to? The Casanova Cowboy is cut off at the knees.”
“I’m not a Casanova,” Daniel protested. “I haven’t dated that many women.” Not lately, anyway. Most of his romantic encounters couldn’t be considered dates, liaisons maybe. There were plenty of women who enjoyed having a Blackhawk for their dirty little secret.
“Only about half of the ones chasing after you, I’ll grant you that. You attract women like clover attracts bees.” Ezekiel finished his pie and reached for Daniel’s
“Don’t touch my pie.” He snatched it out of harm’s way. “Right now, I’m only interested in attracting one particular bee.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this. You’re usually the love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy.” Ezekiel watched Daniel savor every bite of the chocolate covered coconut pie. “Good?”
“Amazing.” Daniel sighed. “I’ve just got to figure out how to make Sara want to go out with me.”
Ezekiel sobered. “You’re serious.”
Daniel frowned. “Hell, yes, I’m serious.” He gathered up their trash. With a faraway look in his eye, he spoke softly. “I’ve never felt like this. Ever. I took one look at her and it was like I’d never seen a woman before. There was just something about her, Easy.” Daniel met his brother’s gaze. “It was like I’d known her before and I was just waiting to find her again.”
“Wow.” This time Ezekiel didn’t laugh. “I wish I could find someone who made me feel that way.”
“Well, let’s wait and see if it works out. She might break my heart, you never know.” Daniel’s tone made his pronouncement seem like a joke, but he was dead serious. What he’d said was true, this feeling was new to him. He’d been attracted to women before – obviously. But he’d never felt this overwhelming, desperate need – not for sex, necessarily, but for a person. One single, solitary individual that seemed to be his other half. His soulmate. “Whoa.” He shook his head. “I’m heading out to the barn and work off some of this energy. The stalls need mucking and I’ll check on Elsie and see how near she is to calving.”
“Just as soon as Ben and Sam get here, Ben and I are going to ride the north fence line. Our next-door neighbor corralled one of our horses and I don’t think it jumped out, I’m afraid there’s a gap in the fence somewhere.”
“What about Samuel? How’s he feeling?” Daniel held the empty carry-out container that had held the pie in his hand, reluctant to throw it away. After staring at it for a good thirty seconds, he placed it on the counter next to the refrigerator.
Ezekiel had the presence of mind not to tease his brother. In fact, he was a bit jealous. “Sam’s healing up fine. I hope this near-miss cures his penchant for bull riding, but somehow, I doubt it. He’s supposed to go over the ranch books tonight and make a call on whether we can afford to buy that breed bull from Jaxson McCoy. Did you happen to spot it when you delivered the hay?”
“Nope. Hopefully we can swing it. See ya.” Daniel picked up his hat and let himself out the back door and made a beeline for the barn. The faster he moved, the sooner he could head back to town. The summer sweet scent of fresh mown hay hit him like a welcome wave as he let himself into the dim interior of the barn. Sounds of nickering horses, lowing cows, and even the plaintive mew of a cat made him feel right at home. Finding a pitchfork, he went to work, his thoughts centered on one blue-eyed beauty and what he’d say to her the next time they met.
* * *
Sara stopped to lift her hair from her neck. Even at this late hour, the heat was almost overwhelming. She rested for a few seconds, gauging how much further she had to go, before picking up the handle of the small wagon and setting out once more. “I shouldn’t have bought so much flour.” The supplies needed to make her pies just didn’t last long enough. Thank goodness. Sara didn’t know what she would’ve done if Rev. Mike hadn’t suggested she take over his food truck. She’d wondered why he didn’t just serve the pies exclusively in the pub, but he’d explained that a lot of the residents and people passing by might hesitate to come into a biker bar, but the sight of the gaily painted food truck welcomed all with a sweet tooth. It had been over a month since she’d walked up to the Dam Pub and asked for a job, any kind of job. The old biker had felt sorry for her and let her wait tables that night. Her quick smile and natural rapport with almost anyone who came through the door prompted the reverend to offer Sara a full-time position. And when she’d filled in for one of the cooks during an emergency, her talent for baking had not gone unnoticed or unrewarded. In the short time she’d been here, Sara already had garnered quite a loyal following.
Besides the opportunity to run the food truck, she had another, more important reason to be grateful to Rev. Mike. With no home of her own and only the money she made from the pies to live on, Sara literally had no roof over her head. Until she could save up, he allowed her to sleep in the storeroom of the pub on a narrow camp cot.
As she tugged the unwieldy cart over a rough patch, Sara lost her focus and thoughts of Daniel Blackhawk slipped into her mind. She couldn’t stop the smile from blooming on her lips. He seemed so nice and he’d liked her, she could tell. “Stop it, you’ve no right to think those thoughts.” When the realization of her circumstances settled on her anew, Sara vowed to get to the bottom of her predicament – one way or the other. She hadn’t heard from Doug in months, she’d given up on him coming home a long time ago.
…Meanwhile, back at the Dam Pub, Daniel stood by the food truck, glaring at the Closed sign. He’d stormed in to ask Mike where Sara lived, but the answer he’d received was a very unsatisfying ‘none of your damn business, Blackhawk’. Who knew Mike had a fatherly bone in his old biker body?
Stomping to his truck, he didn’t even try to hide his disappointment. Grabbing the door handle, he took one last look around the parking lot. Expecting the food truck to be open this late was just wishful thinking. Having lost his appetite, he pulled out into the road with no particular destination in mind. He’d just drive for a bit and try to imagine where the lovely young woman called home. He could picture her in a white gingerbread cottage with a picket fence or in a neat craftsman style house with window boxes and a rocker on the porch. As he pulled out onto the highway, Daniel absently rubbed his chin, he hadn’t even taken time to shave. He’d been so all-fired anxious to see Sara, he’d just rushed off half-cocked. Daniel chuckled and adjusted his package in his jeans. No, half-cocked wasn’t accurate, his manhood was fully engaged and ready for action.
Blowing out a sigh, he flipped on the radio, finding a country western station. Brad Paisley’s She’s Everything was playing and Daniel found himself humming along. “Everything I wanted, everything I need.” As he sang, his eyes roved until they collided with a sight that made him slam on the brakes and pull over to the side of the road. Sara was walking next to a rustic pasture fence, sunflowers peeking through the strands of wire, pulling a wooden cart filled with groceries behind her. “What in Sam Hill?”
Sara put one foot ahead of the other, it wouldn’t be long now. Surely. She’d made this trek before, one would think it’d get easier. So far, that wasn’t the case.
“Need some help?”
The male voice coming out of nowhere made her jump. She jerked, turning to see if her mind was playing a trick on her. “Daniel? Where did you come from? I didn’t hear you drive up.” God, here she was in a plain checkered dress, her hair a mess. Sara placed a hand over heart, afraid it might beat right out of her chest.
“What are you doing, girl? It’s too hot for you to be exerting yourself like this. Why didn’t you drive to the store?”
His questions were coming fast and furious, but he was even faster, coming to her and taking the handle of the wagon from her hand.
Even in the sultry temperatures of an August evening, she was aware of the heat this man generated. A heat that would burn her in an entirely different way than the sun. “There’s no need, Mr. Blackhawk. I’m almost back to the pub.”
“There’s every need. And it’s Mr. Blackhawk, now, is it?” Daniel picked up the cart and placed it on the bed of his truck, pushing it inside, and raising the tailgate. “A moment ago, it was Daniel.”
“Daniel, please…” Sara laid a hand on his arm and they both froze at the touch. Sara looked up into his face and was amazed at what she saw there. Tenderness. Hunger. Need.
“I just want to help you,” he said softly. “Let me do this for you. Do you think I could drive away and leave you here?”
The tone of his voice made her chest ache. “All right.” He moved to open the passenger door for her and she climbed in, with him hovering right behind her, a steadying hand on her arm. “Thank you.”
When he came around and crawled in beside her, she rubbed her palms on the skirt of her dress, wincing as she did so.
“What’s wrong?”
“Blisters.” Sara glanced at him as he picked up her hand in his, cradling it gently.
“Dammit, baby.”
He released her hand, but bent over, his big body curving to reach beneath the seat. His shoulder and head were almost in her lap and she could feel the strength in his upper body. Her breath caught in her throat. “What are you doing?”
“First-aid kit.” Daniel’s hand shook as he tended to her, cleaning the raw spots with great care, then placing a small bandage over them. He’d never been more aware of a woman in his life. Her hand quivered in his like a small bird preparing to take flight. “I can’t believe you hurt yourself like this. Why didn’t you tell me today that you needed help with your groceries?”
His gruff, almost chastising words struck a chord within her, he almost sounded as if he were in pain himself. “I don’t like asking and it didn’t seem right to assume…” Her voice trailed off when he lifted her hand to bring it to his lips. She was hypnotized by the sight of him placing his lips to her palm. The moment she felt his touch, Sara gasped, the heat and energy traveling from his lips to her skin was so powerful, she couldn’t catch her breath. “Daniel…”
Slowly, he released her. Unwillingly, he released her. “That’s right, call me Daniel. There is no room for formality between us.”
She sat still as he started the engine and drove her the remaining short distance to the food truck. “Are you sure you want to go here? Is it because it’s more convenient for you to cook here than cart the pies from your house in the morning?”
Sara didn’t want him to know her circumstances. She was ashamed. “Yea, it’s more convenient.”
Once he parked on the side nearest the door, he placed a hand on her knee. “Sit still.”
She obeyed, not sure what he intended. When he came around to help her down from the high seat, she went into his arms as naturally as water flowing downhill.
He was reluctant to let her go so soon, holding her felt too right. He gave himself a good ten seconds of joy, his body becoming acquainted with hers. The closer he drew her, the more aware he became of her fragility. Seeing her selfless act of valor and knowing how heavy was the burden she’d tackled in the fully loaded wagon; these things gave the illusion of great strength. Instead, she was small and soft, only her spirit was of great dimensions. “Sara,” he whispered, loving how her breasts pressed to his chest like they belonged and how the top of her head fit so perfectly under his chin.
“I should go,” she muttered, needing to push away, yet wanting to remain where she stood. “I have much to do.”
Her sweet voice was so captivating, he would’ve agreed to most anything – except leaving her. When she looked up, she sucker-punched him with the eloquence of those big blue eyes. An almost imperceptible shiver racked her slight frame. “I’ll help you,” Daniel offered, because he could conceive of nothing else. “I told you I’d make a great assistant, you just give me a task and I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”
This wasn’t right, she shouldn’t agree to it. Yet, Sara found herself nodding, then standing back while he removed the wagon from the back of his truck.
“Hey, Blackhawk! Come have a drink!” a man’s voice called and Daniel whirled around, quite surprised to find there were people milling in and out of the pub just a few dozen yards away. He’d forgotten where they were, this thing between them felt so big that it blocked out the whole world.
“No, thanks! Some other time!” He waved, noting the crowd of people, mostly men, lounging around on their bikes, many with drinks in hand. “You know, this isn’t the safest place for you to be this time of night.”
Sara unlocked the door of the silver food truck and climbed in first. “Just hand the things to me and I’ll see to them.” She’d rather do this on her own, having this beautiful man so close to her was almost more than she could bear.
As he passed her sacks of flour and sugar, gallons of milk, and cartons of eggs, he covertly studied the gentle sway of her walk and the delicate lines of her face, completely devoid of makeup. And Lord knew, she needed no artifice to be exquisitely beautiful. His pulse quickened as he observed the thrust and jiggle of her breasts, the elegant line of her neck and back. His desire for her was growing like a wild thing with a will of its own.
“That’s all of it,” he announced as he placed a tin of chocolate and a bag of flaked coconut in her hand. “I think I see the makings of another Almond Joy pie here, don’t I?”
“Possibly.” She gave him a shy smile. “Thanks for the help, it would’ve been much more difficult without you.”
“I’m more than glad to do it.” Daniel stepped up inside the food truck with her. “Now, I’m ready to help. How many pies do you need to make tonight?”
Sara knew the best thing would be to turn him away, but she was too weak. The truth was, she wanted him here. With her. Near to her. She felt energized when he was by her side. Not so alone. “A dozen, if there’s time.”
“Well, let’s get to it.”
His smile was contagious and she gave one back to him. “You’ll have to follow my lead.”
Daniel didn’t argue. “I think I’d follow you anywhere, Miss Riley.”
For the next three hours, they worked side by side. Sara made the pie crusts, while Daniel sliced peaches and apples. She made cream fillings, chocolate and coconut, while he dusted blackberries and blueberries with sugar. Soon the air was filled with marvelous smells. And while they worked, they talked. Not about anything serious, more of a sharing, an introduction, a familiarizing. “So, you have three brothers?”
“Yea, three. I’m the oldest, then Benjamin, next comes Easy, and last Samuel.”
“Easy?” She laughed.
He brushed a speck of flour from her nose. “Ezekiel, Easy is just a nickname. We shortened the other two to Benjen and plain Sam. Sometimes I’m called Danny, but Ezekiel never liked to be called Zeke.”
“So, he became Easy. I like it.”
“Is Sara short for anything, like Sara Lee?” Daniel teased as she removed four pies from the oven and put four more in.
His nonsensical suggestion made her laugh. “No. Sara, plain Sara.”
Daniel caught her hand, causing her to go motionless by him. “There’s nothing plain about you, Sara. You’re gorgeous.”
Sara shivered and pulled away. “Tell me about where you live.”
He allowed her to move unimpeded. “Our ranch was a great place to grow up. We have several thousand acres, a beautiful view, and river frontage. The four of us have split the land and split the profits. We’ll never be rich, but we’re happy and comfortable.”
“There’s more important things in life than money.” She stated what she thought was obvious, her musings straying away from pie and conversation to linger on the vain imaginings of how his work-roughened hands would feel petting and stroking her body. Exploring her. Learning her. Sara quivered, knowing her fantasies were just that. Her only experience with sex had been a disaster, one she wasn’t anxious to repeat. She had no desire to see disappointment in another man’s eyes.
“Where did you grow up?”
Daniel’s question shook her from her reverie. “North of Llano. My father owned a small quarry. He drowned in the lake after losing control of a loader he was driving, it was a terrible accident.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
His sympathy did little to erase the memory of the mistakes she made in the aftermath of her father’s death. She was the one who was sorry. “Don’t be, I survived. I’m here.” Who she was, was so much more than she liked to talk about.
A wave of relief swept over him. “Yes, you’re here.” Surrounded by the sweet treats she’d made, he wanted to celebrate the good fortune that had brought her to him. “And I couldn’t be happier.”
“Daniel.” Sara hung her head. “I appreciate what you did so much, all the help – but we can’t…I can’t.” He had her insides sizzling, her nipples were tenting her bodice, and her femininity was flexing and pulsing, aching for something she didn’t even fully understand.
“Oh, yes, we can.” He reached for her and brushed his lips over hers. Softly. “Oh, you’re so sweet, baby. So hot.” She wasn’t pushing him away. “God, I’ve been dying to do that from the moment I laid eyes on you.” He joined their mouths again and nibbled her lower lip.
“Oh, Daniel, I’m not worth the trouble.”
“I beg to differ.” He lifted his hand and traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. His imagination was running away with him. He could picture this pretty mouth stretched around his cock, her tongue swirling sweetly around the crown. “I think you’re worth anything a man possessed.” Daniel tried to control himself. He wanted her so much.
“Really?” Her eyes locked with his, her tongue darting out to lick the corner of her mouth, glancing against his thumb. “Fuck, baby.” His dick jerked in his jeans. “I have to have a kiss. Just a taste. Don’t turn me away. Please,” he begged. When she didn’t move, he cupped the back of her head and crashed his mouth to hers. The very second she parted hers, he claimed the kiss, devouring her mouth as if there was no tomorrow. Her delicate hands crept around his neck, her fingers kneading his flesh, and the kiss escalated, taking them both by surprise.
“Stop. Stop.”
She turned her head to one side breaking the kiss, but she didn’t move out of his arms and he held onto that – holding on to her. “Why? Don’t you feel what I feel? This is different than anything I’ve ever known before. More. This is meant to be.” Daniel knew he was behaving out of character, waxing eloquent, saying things he never thought to say to a woman. “I want to see you again and again. I want to kiss you over and over.” He pressed his mouth to her neck, loving the beating of her heart beneath his lips. “I want you so much.”
Sara tore from his arms and turned her back to him. “I can’t, Daniel. I can’t.”
“Why?” He could think of no conceivable reason. Unless…
“Is it because of who I am? What I am?”
“No! Of course not!”
“Why, then, why?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“I’m not free, Daniel,” she said with anguish. “I’m not free.”