Rancher to the Rescue by Arlene James

Author:Arlene James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-11-22T19:30:40+00:00

Chapter Nine

Looking at her reflection in the mirror the next morning, Kathryn wished once again that she had not agreed to attend church with the Smith family.

The kiss had kept her awake all night. As a girl, she’d dreamed and dreamed of her first kiss, but she’d never come close to imagining the sensations or emotions that Jake’s kiss had evoked in her. She’d felt cherished and beautiful, as if she’d been made for that exact moment, that one man. To him it had undoubtedly been nothing more than a good-night gesture. To her, it was nothing less than a wonder.

Now, in the light of day, she didn’t know how she was going to face him. He’d been frank about the fact that they had no future, but that didn’t keep her from wishing it could be otherwise. Would he be able to read her foolish sentiment in her eyes? After all, he was a mature, experienced man. He’d been married, for pity’s sake. A spinster’s first kiss couldn’t mean to him what it meant to her. Even if he didn’t see how she felt, Tina surely would.

She and Tina had quickly become good friends. Kathryn was glad for that, but she worried Tina would take one look at her now and know. Not that she had anything to be ashamed of. A woman her age could reasonably be expected to have been kissed.

But no woman could be expected to have had a first kiss like that.

Oh, how she wished she hadn’t agreed to attend church with the Smiths this morning.

She thought briefly of feigning illness, but she didn’t want to lie, so she was ready and waiting at the appointed time. To her relief—and disappointment—it wasn’t Jake at her door. Instead, Tina, smiling and lovely in a summery print dress, looked approvingly at Kathryn’s, the same one she’d worn last night with Jake. She hadn’t had time to refashion anything else, but she was already planning her next project, if only to have something different to wear to church in the future.

When she got to the SUV, Kathryn found that the boys occupied the third-row seat. With Tina and Wyatt in the front, that left the second row for Kathryn alone. Frankie greeted her enthusiastically.

“KKay pretty!”

She smiled at him. “Thank you.” She hoped his father would be of the same opinion, instead of wondering why she’d chosen this particular dress again. Then she silently scolded herself for even thinking about Jake. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t interested in romance at this point in his life. She couldn’t let herself think of anything more than friendship with Jake. And she dared not allow thoughts of the kiss to enter her mind.

That proved even more difficult than expected when they arrived at the church. Jake and Ryder stood outside, waiting for them. Wyatt stopped the SUV right in front of them. Ryder opened Tina’s door while Jake did the same for Kathryn. He smiled impersonally as she exited the

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