Heart of Love Page 14

  “Will you please kiss me?” Anna’s lips moved temptingly close to his.

  “Yes, ma'am.” Jake grinned, more than happy to oblige. Gently enfolding Anna in his arms, he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss full of hope and promises.

  When the kiss ended, Jake stroked her cheek with his thumb before he took that stubborn chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing Anna to look at him. “For the record, though, what I said last night was that I knew you weren’t my type from the start. That you were shy and timid and a librarian. What you didn’t stick around for was to watch me tell them despite all that, I knew right away you were the perfect girl for me.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” he stated flatly, still smarting that she hadn’t trusted him, believed in him. All she had to do was ask him at the party and they could have avoided the drama and pain of the misunderstanding. Then again, he admitted the party was a mistake and if he hadn’t been so intent on showing her off like a prized trophy, he would have realized how miserable she’d been.

  Tears gathered in her eyes and threatened to spill. “I’m sorry, Jake. It was wrong to jump to conclusions and run off. I should have waited and talked with you about it last night.” Anna swiped at the tears trickling down her cheeks. “I should have known, after all this time, that you care about me. It’s just that I felt so out of place and uncomfortable at the party.”

  Not more tears. He didn’t think he could handle them today.

  Jake took her hand again and held it in his own. “I owe you an apology, too. I should never have taken you to that party. As soon as we got there, I knew you wouldn’t enjoy it and truth be told, I wasn’t either. I guess I just wanted to show you off to my old party crowd. You looked so beautiful last night, Anna. You were absolutely gorgeous, and I wanted to punch every guy that talked to you in the nose.”

  “Oh, Jake.” Contrite, Anna shook her head. “I stuck out like a sore thumb. The girls were rude, and I had the strangest feeling someone was staring at me.”

  Jake knew who had been staring at her — nearly every single guy there and a few that were attached. Anna didn’t understand that she was a novelty to a group of people who had enjoyed life so completely they had no innocence left. That’s exactly why she wouldn’t know, because she was so untouched and sweet.

  “Before you try something completely unreasonable like this again…” Jake pointed to her feet for emphasis, “maybe you can try talking to me first.”

  “Yes, sir.” Anna didn’t have any fight left in her. How could there be? Jake loved her!

  Sue decided it wouldn’t do for the two of them to spend the afternoon alone in Anna’s bedroom, so Jake carried Anna out to the family room where she propped her feet on an ottoman and they watched old movies and ate popcorn mixed with M&Ms.

  Jake stayed for dinner and spent the evening with the family. Ken brought in a card table and set it up in front of Anna. They played board games until the sun set and Jake knew he needed to go home.

  Carefully picking up Anna, he carried her back to her room and placed her on the bed, adjusting her feet on the pillows.

  After leaning over and giving her a quick kiss, he stood and smiled wryly. “Remind me not to rile your temper very often or I’ll have to change your name to Spice.”

  Anna blushed as he bent down for another kiss. While he was close, she whispered in his ear. “I love you, Jake Chandler, so much.”

  “I love you, too, Sugar.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jake hadn’t seen Anna in what seemed like half of forever. The two times he went to see her at the library on his lunch break that week, Mrs. Baxter said she was at a dress fitting and then at a bridal luncheon.

  The only time they spent together had been running errands for Sam and Lisa’s upcoming wedding or helping the couple remodel the apartment above the barn where they planned to live.

  Jake discovered talking on cell phones while they both operated farm equipment wasn’t conducive to a great conversation or staying focused on their work. He had to abandon the calls altogether when he nearly drove the combine through Uncle Steve’s fence.

  Frustrated, he raked a hand through his hair and looked out his office window across the street.

  “Do you think if you stare long enough, she’ll magically appear?” Dave glanced up from the work on his desk and noticed Jake’s intent gaze focused across the street on the library.

  “No,” Jake growled. “No, I don’t, but dang it all, I need to see her. Right now.”

  Jake jumped up from his desk, rushed out the door, and ran across the street. When he entered the library, he looked around and spotted Anna sitting in the middle of the children’s section, surrounded by a group of youngsters. She held a large storybook in her hand and the kids sat in a half-circle around her on tiny chairs and the floor.

  Anna perched on one of the little chairs. Instead of looking silly, it emphasized the length of her legs and the grace of her carriage. Jake had every intention of stomping through the kids, dragging Anna outside, and stealing a kiss. However, seeing her there with the little ones enraptured by the story, he couldn’t interrupt.

  Determined not to leave until he at least spoke with her, he walked to the front desk and asked Mrs. Baxter if he could look at a book in the special collection room. Mindlessly flipping through the old book, he impatiently waited for Anna to find him.

  It wasn’t long before she slipped inside the room and kissed him on the cheek. The room had a large glass window, making it visible to the front desk and a good part of the library. There would be no opportunity for long, rapturous kisses, that was certain.

  Anna sat down across from him and touched his hand. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to see you.” Jake looked pained as he rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “I think it’s been years since I’ve smelled your perfume, or seen your smile, or got lost in your eyes.”

  She smiled, enjoying a few stolen minutes alone with him. “Things have been a little busy, haven’t they?” Slyly removing one of her shoes, Anna snaked her foot up Jake’s pant leg. Annoyed when she encountered the leather of his boot instead of his shin, she inched her foot up higher. When she finally touched skin with her foot, she rubbed her toes up and down his leg.

  “Anna…” Jake deep voice was husky and held a note of warning. The sound of it made her stomach flutter anxiously. “You best not start something you can’t even hope to finish, Sugar.”

  Anna sighed and put her shoe back on. “I know, but I miss you. I miss your teasing, and your kisses, and running my fingers through your hair.”

  Jake groaned and grabbed Anna’s hand. Hurriedly leading her out of the room, he locked the door behind them and slid the key onto the front desk. Without breaking his stride, he tugged Anna outside and around the side of the building into the cool shadows.

  He pulled her so close against him, she felt his heart pound in double time against her own.

  Jake lowered his head and lost himself in an ardent, hungry kiss that left them both off-kilter.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for days.” Jake’s tantalizing lips nuzzled her neck.

  “I’ve been wishing you would,” Anna whispered in the throaty voice that made Jake’s insides turn to mush.

  After burying his hands in her hair, he released his pent-up passion in a long, involved kiss that left them gasping for breath. He kissed her on the tip of her nose then took a step back.

  Carefully smoothing her mussed hair, he tugged on her blouse to straighten it and aligned her crooked glassed back on her nose. Satisfied she looked, once again, like a proper librarian, he gave her a cocky grin and escorted her to the library door.

  Jake tried calling Anna multiple times Saturday morning but she didn’t answer her cell phone. Her home phone continually beeped with a busy signal. Perturbed, he finally jumped in his truck and drove out to the farm.

  As he pulled into the driveway, he was surprised to se
e extra cars parked around. He walked to the back door and rapped quietly, then stuck his head inside the kitchen. Voices and girlish laughter drifted to him from the living room.

  Sue walked into the kitchen and greeted him with welcoming smile. “Jake, what are you doing here?”

  “I couldn’t get anyone on the phone so I decided to drive over.” An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. Bits and pieces of a conversation with Anna trickled back to him. She’d said something about plans with Lisa. Obviously, he should have paid more attention.

  “We’re having a bridal shower for Lisa this afternoon. Her mom and sisters came early to help get food ready and hang decorations.” Sue took fruit out of the fridge and started to cut it up for a salad. “Go on in, Jake. Anna will be glad to see you.”

  Jake removed his hat and left it on a hook by the back door then walked into the living room where Anna, Lisa’s mother, and two sisters worked to hang streamers, bridal bells, and frilly whatnots around the room.

  Anna glanced up and smiled when she saw him standing just inside the doorway.

  “Hey.” She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you about Lisa’s shower.”

  Jake forced himself to look her in the face. “You did and I forgot. I’ll head out and see you later.”

  Before he could get away, she grabbed his hand and tugged him into the middle of the room. “As long as you’re here anyway…”

  Later, Jake realized he should have turned and ran out the door before Anna dragged him into the midst of party preparations. Used for his height and strength, they had him tack ribbons to the ceiling, scoot furniture, and tote chairs and tables. He even lugged a punch bowl that weighed half a ton out of the storage shed. Coerced into assisting the women, he’d not minded it nearly as much as he emphatically stated to the contrary.

  When Lisa’s mother suggested he be the door greeter and possibly provide some entertainment, Jake hastily excused himself and grabbed his hat. He hollered, “have fun,” and rushed out the door. Anna caught up with him, laughing hysterically, before he got to his pickup.

  “Jake,” she gasped, trying to talk around her fit of giggles as she grabbed his hand. “Don’t go. We’re just teasing.”

  He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her behind his open truck door, where they had a little privacy from the view of the women in the house.

  “I know, Sugar, but I’ve had about all the girly party bedecking I can handle. You go on inside and enjoy yourself. I’ll catch up with you later.” He gave her a parting kiss that caused her to take a stumbling step back and blush prettily before she returned to the house. When she reached the door, she looked over her shoulder and blew him a kiss. He winked and waved.

  Jake slid behind the wheel of his pickup then noticed Sam coming toward him from his apartment above the barn. He worked to finish last-minute renovations before Lisa moved in with him after the wedding.

  Although he hadn’t known Sam long, he was someone Jake admired. Sam had done whatever he needed to do to recover from his accident. He was, in Jake’s opinion, a walking miracle.

  “Hey, Jake.” Sam shook his hand. “You get roped into helping with the shower?”

  Jake grinned. “Something like that. I forgot Lisa’s party was today and I didn’t make an escape from the house fast enough. I should have noticed you stayed hidden and out of the line of fire.”

  Sam chuckled, then studied Jake for a long moment. “I was wondering, if you have nothing better to do, would you help me with something I’d like to take care of today.”

  “Sure. What have you got in mind?”

  Jake couldn’t stop grinning as he followed Sam back to the farm that evening.

  Sam took his hand-controlled car, wheelchairs, and all the paraphernalia he’d used during his recovery to a young man he’d learned about from his physical therapist. Injured in the line of duty while serving overseas, the soldier couldn’t walk. Although he suffered from temporary partial paralysis, his prognosis was that he’d walk again with continued therapy.

  Driving two hours one-way to deliver the car and see the look of hope it brought into the young man’s eyes deeply touched Jake. Not that many months ago, Sam had been exactly where the young soldier was now.

  Sam gave him everything, no strings attached, but asked that when he no longer needed the car and equipment, that he’d find someone else to pass them on to who did.

  “Wow, Sam.” Pleasure spread through Jake at having witnessed the wonderful gift Sam shared. “That was incredible. You’re really going to make a difference in his life.”

  “It kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it?” Sam asked, smiling cheerfully.

  “What now?” Jake asked, as they headed toward the freeway and home.

  “I’ve got one more stop I’d like to make if you’re game for it.” Sam gave him a jaunty grin.

  “Just name it.”

  An hour and a half later, they sat in a car salesman’s office at a huge auto dealership in Portland. Sam needed something to drive. With funds left from his accident settlement, he decided to purchase a new pickup. He was ready to get behind the wheel of something that involved pedals on the floor and knew a pickup was the most practical choice for him. He and Jake looked over every new pickup on the lot and test drove three. After deliberating on which one to get, Sam finally settled on a silver crew cab pickup with a short box and four-wheel drive.

  “I can’t wait to show Lisa.” Unable to stop grinning from ear to ear, Sam ran his hand over the smooth seat of the truck. “She’s going to be so surprised.”

  “No doubt about it,” Jake agreed. Sam had been driving the little car with the hand controls for months. It barely had enough room for two people to fit inside. It certainly wasn’t ideal for a busy farmer or a young man in his prime with a new bride.

  When he finished the paperwork, Sam floated out to his pickup on cloud nine. He called home and told them he’d bring pizza and a surprise for dinner, then invited Jake to join them.

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  After stopping at a pizza parlor on the way home, Jake volunteered to carry the pizzas in his truck so the spicy aromas wouldn’t mess up the new smell in Sam’s.

  As he pulled into the driveway, Sam tooted the horn. Lisa, his parents, and Anna ran out of the house, looking surprised. Jake parked behind him, waiting a minute to join them to give the family plenty of time to admire Sam’s truck.

  “Sam, what did you do?” Lisa asked, giving him a hug and practically dancing around. “Oh, this is awesome.”

  “It just wouldn’t do to take my bride anywhere in my toy car.” Sam grinned as Lisa gave him a kiss then climbed inside and checked out all the features.

  Ken did his share in offering praise and admiration. “I have to hand it to you kids. You both sure know how to pick nice wheels.”

  Anna gave Sam a hug. “Congrats, Sam. This is fabulous.”

  Sam hugged her back and nodded toward the pickup behind him. “Thank Jake for me for bringing home the pizza so my truck didn’t stink like pepperoni.”

  Anna noticed Jake lifting pizza boxes out of his pickup and ran over to help, kissing him on the cheek.

  “I hear you’re the hero of the day, rescuing my brother’s sweet ride from the stench of pizza,” Anna teased taking one of the pizza boxes from him.

  “Yep, that’s me. Hero, hanger of wedding decorations, assistant test driver, and chauffeur of pizza,” Jake said with a big grin. He sighed, feigning exhaustion. “I think I’m about worn out. It’s been a busy day.”

  “Maybe I can find a way to make it up to you.” Anna’s sassy smile and flirty wink made Jake’s temperature rise as they walked inside the house with the pizza.

  After dinner, Sam took Lisa, Sue, and Ken for a ride in his pickup, leaving the house quiet and empty. Anna sat next to Jake on the couch, holding hands as they slouched into the cushions and watched television. Neither one o
f them could have said what they were watching. They simply enjoyed being together.

  Jake rolled his head Anna’s direction and gave her an imploring look. “You said earlier you’d find some way to make up for this extremely taxing day. What’d you have in mind?”

  Anna knew she should learn to stop throwing out teasing promises that Jake would later expect her to keep. She leaned over and pecked his cheek. “How about that?”

  “Not even close.” Jake grumbled, frowning.

  Anna brushed his mouth with hers in a chaste kiss.

  “You aren’t even trying,” he growled. Heat flickered in his blue eyes.

  Anna’s insides began to warm and flutter. She sat up and studied Jake then slid over onto his lap. Slowly, she massaged his shoulders then gently tugged on his earlobe with her teeth. He groaned and tightened his hands around her waist. She lowered her head until her lips hovered above his ear. “Close your eyes.”

  Obediently, Jake closed his eyes, unmoving. He had no idea what to expect from Anna. Uncertain he possessed enough self-control to stop anything she might start, he was willing to try.

  When she blew a big, wet sloppy kiss on his neck and started to jump up, he held her tight and tickled her sides unmercifully.

  “After all that back-breaking, perfectly rotten wedding stuff you made me do this morning, running all over the countryside with your brother this afternoon, and then driving home tormented by the smells of pizza, all I get from you is a raspberry?” Jake hollered, indignant. “That’s just not acceptable, Sugar. Not at all.”

  She struggled, between giggles and gasps for air, to get away but Jake’s strong arms held her fast. He grabbed a flailing foot and tickled her toes, nearly throwing her into spasms of laughter.

  “Stop, Jake! Please stop!” she begged, trying to wiggle free. Desperate to escape, she raised her voice, pleading with him. “Please stop. You have to stop. Please, Jake! Please!”

  The kitchen door banged open and her dad rushed inside. Jake and Anna simultaneously glanced over the back of the family room couch into the kitchen. Her parents, Lisa and Sam stared at them wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Jake started to rise, nearly dumping Anna on the floor before grasping her waist and helping her stand upright.