Once in Every Life by Kristin Hannah

Author:Kristin Hannah [Hannah, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780449148389
Google: j_YbRpwlhKcC
Amazon: 0449148386
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 1992-12-23T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Tess sat back on her heels and studied the supplies laid out on the grass in front of her. There were two pound-sized bags of paint powder, two empty extralarge glass jars, and a can of linseed oil. Sunlight spilled through the leaves of the oak tree and turned the tired old burlap sacks a pale golden hue. Beside her, sprawled in the middle of a huge plaid blanket, Caleb lay quietly.

She shot a quick sideways glance at the small building behind her. Jack was still there, watching her. The knowledge sent a tiny jet of warmth shooting through her—a feeling she studiously tried to ignore. She had a job to do.

Scooting forward, Tess grabbed the largest jar and began pouring in linseed oil with a scientist’s precision.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing or not?”

She didn’t take her gaze off the oil splashing in the jar. “Or not.”

“Well, I gotta get back to the herd.”

She waved over her shoulder. “I will, thanks.”

“Will what?”

Tess turned and tossed him a bright smile. “Have fun. I always do. Nice talking to you.”

A slow, cautious smile tugged at his lips.

Tess felt the impact of that smile all the way to her toes. She had to force herself not to get up and go to him.

“I better go,” he said, indicating the barn. 202

203

She nodded. “By all means.”

He didn’t move, just stood there, arms crossed, hat pulled low, studying her from beneath the brim of his dark hat. Tess felt the heat of his gaze like a caress along her flesh.

Finally he spoke. His words were so quiet, she could barely hear. “Really, you don’t have to do that. But it does look good.”

Tess’s eyebrows drew together in a small frown. “What looks good?”

This time he grinned. “That apple cider you’ve got there.”

Tess couldn’t believe it. She smiled. “Why, Jack Rafferty, you do have a sense of humor.”

His smile faded. Tess felt its loss as acutely as if a cloud had covered the sun. She got quickly to her feet and poured him a glass of cider from the pitcher. “I liked the smile,” she said softly, holding the glass toward him.

His fingers curled around the sun-warmed glass just above hers. There was a brush of flesh on flesh, and then slowly he eased the glass from her hands and took a sip. “Thanks.”

Tess looked up at him. For a split second she saw him not as he looked at this instant, sipping cider, but as he’d looked ten seconds ago, with a carefree smile transforming his face.

She started to lean toward him. When she realized what she was doing, she froze. Her heart thumped in her chest and her breathing sped up. She’d been going to kiss him again.

Steeling herself, she eased backward. A shaky laugh escaped her.

“What is it?” he asked, but his voice was husky, and she knew that he’d felt it, too, that sudden, unexpected rush of desire.

204

“I was going to kiss you,” she answered simply.

He flinched, swallowed hard.

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