Read Online Tangled Hearts by Barbara McMahon - Free Book Online Page B

her hands gripping the towel, resting against his solid chest. Held in his arms, she felt the tug of love as before.
    He towered over her, an uncommon event in her life. Except for her brothers and one of the ranch hands on the family spread, Brianna usually met most men eye to eye.
    “Do you still like sugar in it?” she asked, slowly releasing one end of the towel and pulling it from around his neck.
    He nodded, releasing her. Taking one hand, he separated her fingers and held one up. “Just dip this in the cup and it’ll sweeten it enough.” Then he kissed the tip.
    Brianna leaned against the counter, thankful for its support. Her legs felt like jelly, her heart thudded and heat engulfed her. It made the fire in the fireplace superfluous. Tears stung her eyes.
    He’d said that so many times before. She’d forgotten. How could she have forgotten? It had been such a special joke between them.
    “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, one thumb rubbing just beneath her lashes, capturing a tear.
    “Nothing, I just was remembering.” She tried a wobbly smile. “You used to say that a lot.”
    “You were always the sweetest thing I ever knew,” he said so softly she almost didn’t hear him.
    When Jake planted a damp kiss in the center of her palm, she instinctively closed her fingers over the spot, sheltering it. Turning on shaky legs, she reached for the coffee. His mouth grazed against her hair. He gently pushed it aside and she felt his lips brush her neck.
    “You’re making it somewhat difficult to concentrate,” she said, her voice shaky. “Do you want coffee or not?”
    For an endless moment, he didn’t answer. She longed to turn and see his expression, but too afraid of what her own might reveal, she refrained.
    “Yes, I want coffee.” So saying, he straightened and walked into the living room.
    Brianna chanced a glance toward him as she poured the ground coffee into the filter. He added wood to the fire until it blazed. She felt the heat clear across the space. Her eyes moved to the bedroom. Was the fire in there as warm?
    “I need to change the sheets,” Jake said, standing and heading for the bedroom.
    With a glance at the coffeemaker, Brianna headed for the bedroom, as well. It would be several minutes before the coffee finished brewing.
    “I’ll help.”
    The bedroom was almost as large as the living room. The windows reflected back their images of the night. It definitely required curtains.
    Brianna didn’t like feeling so exposed after all that had happened recently. The sooner he got curtains, at least for this room, the better, as far as she was concerned. Funny, before the incidents with the break-ins she hadn’t minded an open window. Would she feel more comfortable once they’d caught the man?
    Together they made the large bed. The headboard held reading lamps. She hoped he had some books. The journals she'd brought weren't the kind of reading she'd like if she slipped beneath the thick pile of covers, to read for a while, before going to sleep.
    “The bathroom's through there. I should have told you earlier,” Jake said, interrupting her thoughts and nodding toward the open door. “The hot water heater is propane. As you know from doing the dishes, we have plenty of hot water. You can take a bath or shower, if you wish.”
    “I’ll wait until morning, if that’s okay with you.” Patting the pillow one last time, she skirted the bed and headed for the kitchen. Safety in distance right now, she thought, hoping she could resist the urge to throw herself into his arms and hold on tight until morning.
    The delicious aroma of fresh coffee filled the cabin. Brianna poured their cups, added cream to hers and sugar to Jake’s. Carrying the cups carefully to the sofa, she placed them within easy reach and sat down. It was cozy before the fire.
    Drowsily she settled back and gazed into the dancing flames. She always liked staring into fires, watching the different images the flames