Texas Heat. Barbara McCauley

lifted her face to his. “When Angela died I made a vow that nothing was ever going to hurt Emma again. Nothing—” she pressed a finger to Jake’s chest “—and no one.”

      Frustration had Jake wrapping his hand tightly around Savannah’s. “Dammit, Savannah, I care about Emma. We all do. I admit I made a mistake and I can’t promise I won’t make more. But I can promise I’ll try my damnedest.” He loosened his hold on her and his voice softened. “Give me a chance.”

      Could she take that kind of risk when it came to Emma? Savannah asked herself as she stared into Jake’s eyes. She’d sworn that her niece would never feel pain again, but in reality, she knew that some pain was inevitable. There were times when people would be cruel. And a loving supportive family would be the only safe haven. Jake and Jared and Jessica had already proved they could supply that haven by the way they’d banded together to handle their stepmother. In her heart she knew it would be wrong to take Emma away so soon.

      But Savannah’s heart was telling her something else. Something she did not want to listen to. Something was happening here between her and Jake. Something that would only complicate matters. She stared at Jake’s hand still covering her own and suddenly realized how close she was standing to him. Her fingers rested against his rock-hard chest and she felt the steady beat of his heart.

      “She’s just a little girl, Jake,” Savannah said quietly. “Angela and I have always done our best to shelter her. She doesn’t understand how cruel some people can be.”

      He stroked the soft skin of her palm, and it was impossible for Savannah to stop the shiver that coursed up her arm and through her body.

      “I’ll horse-drag anyone who even looks at her cross-eyed, myself included,” he said. “You can ride the horse.”

      “I suppose Emma would be upset if we left so soon,” she murmured, and found that her throat was as dry as the Texas dust swirling around her feet. She felt the heat of his skin radiate through his cotton shirt.

      “So would I.”

      Without her realizing when, he’d pulled her against him. They stood there at the base of the porch, their bodies touching, his hand stroking hers. It seemed to Savannah that her bones were softening and she felt a yearning she’d never experienced before. She leaned against Jake, felt the heat of the sun on her back and his muscled body pressed against her thighs and breasts. Desire spilled through her, making her ache to be closer, to—

      “Aunt Savannah!”

      Savannah jerked her hand away from Jake’s at the sound of Emma’s call. Her niece was running back from the barn with Jessica several feet behind.

      “Aunt Savannah! Come see the baby cow! My sister, Jessica, says I can feed it a bottle.”

      Savannah hadn’t seen that big a smile on Emma’s face since before Angela had died. It was worth all the gold in the world to Savannah. She waved to her niece with a shaky hand. “I’ll be right there, Pecan.”

      She looked back at Jake and nodded slowly. “Okay, Mr. Stone, I’ll give you another chance.” She turned to follow Emma, wondering how she could walk on knees that felt like warm rubber.

      Jake watched Savannah walk away and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The first day and already he’d nearly blown it. Myrna hadn’t been expected until next week. He’d planned on telling Savannah about his stepmother then. How the hell could he have known that she’d show up today of all days?

      “Jake?”

      He turned. Billy stood behind him, his hat in his hand, his gaze cast downward. Myrna’s white luxury sedan was parked a few feet away.

      “Hello, Billy.”

      “I know you’re probably still sore at me, but I just wanna say I’m sorry for any trouble I caused ya. I oughtn’t not been drinking like that on your time.”

      Jake frowned at the man. He looked as if he’d tied one on the night before. Jake sighed inwardly. Only his stepmother would hire a drunk to drive for her. “You go to any AA meetings yet?”

      “One.”

      “Get yourself straightened out, then come see me in the fall.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      Jake turned and went back into the house. Billy was Myrna’s problem. And right now, he and his stepmother were going to have to get a few things straight about Savannah and Emma.

      Because now that he had them here, he intended to make sure they stayed.