The Texas Kisses Collection Page 9

  He crouched, wiped clean the scratches on her knees and smeared antibiotic cream on them. It was an intimate task: a man caring for his woman. Still kneeling on one knee, he looked up at her. “How set are you on leaving town?”

  Chapter 5

  “Leaving town?” Tessa echoed, bewildered. “Who said I was leaving town?”

  Her skin tingled and she flushed hot and cold, as if she had the flu. She knew it wasn’t a physical ailment though. It was Caleb Gascoyne crouched in front of her and gently tending her scratches that had her in turmoil. The care he displayed had her tempted to dream again.

  Letting him bring her out here, to his home, was a mistake. She knew the kind of man he was. If she’d protested at any point on the drive, he’d have turned around and taken her home. She’d stayed silent.

  “Do you want me to leave town?” she asked cautiously.

  “Heck, no.”

  They stared at one another. He was a big man, but lean with it, so his size didn’t overpower a person. The impression he gave was a true one of controlled power. His brown eyes were nearly as dark as his black hair, and his tanned face had laughter lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth. His mouth was tense.

  Having him so close was playing havoc with her ability to think. She waited.

  He stood, stepped back, and leaned against the porch railing. “You said that this was your summer of freedom.”

  “Yes.” She had said something like that. She’d confided her life and dreams, down by the river.

  He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I promised myself I wouldn’t do this. I’ll take you home.” He bent to close the first aid kit.

  “Wait.” She stood. “I know I’m not sophisticated like the women you’re used to dating.” She flushed, but she steadied her breathing and forced herself to go on.

  He watched her closely, the first aid kit abandoned at his feet.

  “I know I want to experience more of the world,” she said. “The ballet was just an example. I want to travel and see thing, taste things, create memories—”

  “I understand, and you deserve your chance. Forget I ever said anything.”

  “No.” She caught his arm. “I want to experience other things, but I’m always going to be a small town girl. Gascoyne Junction is home. My family is here. My friends. I love my job at the school. I’m never going to be sophisticated and…” She put her chin up. “I’m okay with that. You were kind to suggest that I could work and travel, but that’s not my dream. I’m sorry that’s not good enough for you.”

  A ferocious scowl drew his eyebrows together. “What?”

  She jumped because his voice had a bark to it.

  Even Doofus woke up, briefly. The boxer snorted, shook his head, and went back to dozing.

  It took all Tessa’s courage to finish her speech. “If you were thinking that I might change enough to match your sophistication, you’re wrong.”

  “I think I’m more wrong than you can guess,” he said as his scowl slowly eased. He stepped over the first aid kit and put a hand on her waist.

  The gesture was one for sweethearts. Tessa inhaled sharply. “You don’t need to be kind.”

  “That’s the last thing I’m being.” Caleb smiled down at her. “Do you think you could kick me?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Someone needs to kick me.” Now both his hands were on her waist and his smile could only be described as tender.

  “Did you hit your head when I fell on you?”

  “No.” His teeth flashed in a grin.

  “Then why?”

  “You want to stay in Gascoyne Junction.”

  “Yes.” She was baffled.

  “So do I.”

  She rolled her eyes. It was juvenile of her, but she gave herself permission. This was too much. “Standing for sheriff was a big hint that you were here to stay.”

  “True.” He still smiled. “But I’ve already seen the world. I thought I owed you the chance to do the same.” He paused.

  Light slowly dawned on her. She pulled back. “You thought…you decided…you made me think—oh!”

  “Kick me,” he advised.

  “I’m tempted.” She drew a deep breath. “Let’s be clear. Down at the river, we were flirting?”

  “Yes.” He closed the distance between them, again.

  She let him. She liked the feel of his hands at her waist. She put her hands lightly on his chest. “And I told you about my plans for the summer, my plans for small adventures.”

  “For freedom,” he corrected. “And I misunderstood. I thought you were looking to outgrow Gascoyne Junction. You’re a loving woman, Tessa, and I knew you had to have your chance to follow your dreams, not sacrifice them.”

  “But it’s my life! I get to choose.”

  He winced.

  She continued. “You could have indicated that you were interested instead of suddenly giving me the cold shoulder.”

  “I didn’t want to be the reason you put off your dreams, and later regretted it.” He touched her face briefly. “I never thought that you’d think it was you who didn’t measure up. It’s me who couldn’t offer you freedom. I made a commitment to be sheriff here and I can’t—won’t—break it.”

  “I’d never ask you to.” She stopped, her attention snagged by the wry twist to his mouth. She stopped and thought about her instinctive protest. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I would give up my dreams for someone I loved.” Oops! that had just slipped out—and now look at his smile! “But I’d like that to be my decision.”

  “I’ll remember,” he vowed. For a long moment, they stared at one another. “There’s the town picnic tomorrow night. It’s where a man shares a picnic blanket with his girl.”

  She began smiling; joy, piercingly sweet, flooding through her.

  “But I’ll be on duty.”

  Her smile froze.

  “Tessa, will you share my blanket even though I might be called away? Even though the whole town will be talking about the sheriff courting the prettiest schoolteacher?”

  “Yes!”

  He hugged her close.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  The first touch of his lips on hers sent a shiver down her spine. Light, teasing them both, almost innocent, and then, he got serious. She stretched on tiptoes, completely caught up in the magic of kissing Caleb. She loved being held by him and feeling his strength support her. She loved that when he broke their kiss he ran his hand along her spine and kissed her cheek, easing them both slowly down from the intensity of the moment.

  When she looked at him in wonder, he touched a finger to her bottom lip. “Sweeter than cotton candy.”

  “Caleb?” She was shaken. She hadn’t known she could feel so passionately.

  He nodded, serious, as if he shared her emotions. “You’ll share my blanket, tomorrow.”

  “Yes.”

  Chapter 6

  Tessa spent the morning baking, lunch-time making a salad, and the afternoon indulging in a long bath, a manicure, a pedicure and dressing in her prettiest summer midi-skirt in emerald green with a white shirt and a soft pink cardigan for if it got cool. She tied her hair up with a green ribbon.

  Her heart beat fast and she sang, smiling at nothing—at tomatoes, for heaven’s sake—laughing, teasing Doofus and simply enjoying the moment. Falling in love was the most delicious freedom. She reminded herself to tell Caleb that: it would reassure him.

  She shook her head. How could he possibly think that seeing the world could be more important than him—for the chance to explore if the attraction between them ran strong and real and would last forever?

  And it wasn’t as if choosing him meant that she would never travel. That was the thing about dreams: they were infinitely re-arrangable.

  Caleb knocked at the screen door at five o’clock.

  Tessa made no pretense of not being ready. She hurried out, basket in hand.

  He took it from her, put an arm around her, and swept
her up into an exuberant kiss. He smelled of freshly showered man, and tasted of mint toothpaste. He looked absolutely gorgeous in his sheriff’s uniform. And he seemed to think that she looked and tasted pretty nice, too.

  Thank goodness she’d gone for lip gloss and not a smeary lipstick!

  They smiled at one another. Then Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Doofus?”

  “Safe in the backyard with a bone. He’s had his dinner.”

  He took her keys from her and locked the door, then offered her his arm.

  She laughed from sheer happiness. “I feel like I’m in a musical.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Handsome sheriff, off to a picnic, me in a 1950s style skirt—”

  “And very pretty you look.”

  “Thank you.”

  He opened the passenger door of his vehicle and helped her in. “Can you sing?”

  “Not in tune.”

  He grinned. “Me, neither. I sound like a crow singing. But I can play the guitar.”

  She loved these little exchanges, these small discoveries about one another. “I’d like to hear you.”

  “One day.”

  The picnic spot by the river was already filling with people. Children ran between blankets and a teenage band played current favorites, not too badly. Later in the evening, a locally famous country band would take over, and there’d be dancing on the grass.

  Tessa shivered, thinking of dancing with Caleb.

  People watched them walk through the picnic area, watched the fact that Caleb held her hand. Eyes were bright with speculation, and Tessa would swear, with happiness for them. Greetings were called and Caleb answered them easily, but he didn’t stop.

  When he did, she sucked in a hard breath and for the first time that day, had to force a smile.

  Why hadn’t she considered this? Just because her family was safely away on a dude ranch and cruise, didn’t mean that his family was.

  “Y’all know Tessa?” was Caleb’s introduction.

  She stared at his mom, dad, brother, sister, in-laws, and nieces and nephews.

  They all stared back. And then they sprang up and surrounded her. “Of course we know Tessa.” There was no doubting their enthusiasm or welcome. While Caleb spread out his blanket near his brother’s, the family gathered around to make their approval obvious.

  Caleb winked at her.

  Tessa relaxed and laughed. Everyone joined in, and things settled into something that promised future gatherings of equal joy. Family was everything, and these people knew it.

  The evening was magic. The air retained the warmth of the day, but smelled of barbequing meat and party foods. Laughter and happy voices built a buzz that blended with the music rather than competed. Caleb was called away from the blanket a few times to deal with a couple of teenagers who got into a scuffle, and one older, recently-made-redundant man who’d drunk too much, as well as to do a couple of walk-throughs.

  Tessa had her own friends who she visited with, and who giggled and commented on her partner and gave her small hugs that said “we’re happy for you”, but it felt good to return to Caleb’s blanket and be welcomed with a candy-apple sticky kiss by his toddler niece. Even better to have Caleb walk up to her and lead her into the dancing area.

  He kissed her cheek. “Candy apple.”

  “And that’s why they made you sheriff.” She smiled into his eyes. “You have amazing detective skills.”

  “Mmhmm.” He gathered her close as the band swung into a waltz. They slow danced, although circumspectly, aware of their audience.

  And then, Tessa forgot everyone but Caleb.

  He guided her head to his shoulder and they swayed together.

  The air was cool enough now that she was glad of his warmth and his arms around her. She loved the sense of security and the slow-build of anticipation between them. When the song ended, other couples parted to clap. She looked up at Caleb and his arms tightened. He bent his head and kissed her.

  Fireworks exploded over the river, and in Tessa’s heart.

  The crowd’s polite clapping turned to cheers and laughter. “Go, Caleb. Woohoo, Sheriff! Kiss him, Tessa.”

  Caleb smiled down at her. “Embarrassed?”

  “For kissing you?” She pulled him back down for a second, longer kiss. “Never. Besides, haven’t you heard? This summer, I’m a free spirit.”

  His joyous laughter was lost in their kiss.

  Note From The Author

  I hope you enjoyed Tessa and Caleb’s summer romance. I had a great time writing it and hope to visit the Texas Hills Country one summer. Even without a gorgeous cowboy-sheriff, I’m sure I’ll love it.

  Jenny

  Joy House

  Jenny Schwartz

  Bree Esperance dreams of opening a bed and breakfast that caters for disabled guests. An unexpected legacy gives her the chance to do so, but it means a move from Los Angeles to small town Texas, and a new neighbor.

  Josh Moore is home after years away in the army. In the fall, he’s to start as the college’s new political science lecturer, but until then, he has time to help out a neighbor, especially one who is as lovely as she is determined.

  But for Bree, too many years of bad luck, heartbreak and being alone make it hard for her to trust anyone and let Josh into her life. Can Joy House work its magic and teach Bree that dreams are stronger for being shared?

  Chapter 1

  “Get down from there, Professor.”

  Josh Moore grinned at the frustration in Bree’s voice. His cute new neighbor was over-estimating his academic qualifications. He was only a lecturer at the town’s university. But now that he was out of the army, he had plans. Plans that had been significantly updated since he met Bree Esperance.

  He kept hammering, determined to ensure that the flapping siding on her old garage was safe.

  Bree gripped the bottom of the ladder he stood on, and grumbled. “I was going to get to the garage. It was just that other things had priority.”

  He could believe it. She was a whirlwind of energy and determination, but she was just one woman. Albeit a curvy gorgeous one, with curly black hair that he wanted to wind around his fingers. He felt like a seven year old boy, wanting “his girl’s” attention. He wanted to tug at her curls.

  He finished hammering and hooked his hammer in his tool belt. “Safe.” He thumped the siding to demonstrate, and flakes of paint drifted down.

  Bree spluttered.

  “Sorry.” He hurried down the ladder. “Here, hold still.” He had a clean bandana tucked in the back pocket of his jeans, and he pulled it out and wiped the paint flakes from her face, tilting her chin this way and that, and taking a lot longer than he should have.

  Her skin was soft and warm, lightly tanned from the summer sun. Her lips were smooth, free of lipstick, natural and inviting. Her hair was, sadly, tied up in a prim little bun.

  Bree opened one blue eye. “That’s enough.”

  “If you’re sure.” He released her reluctantly. There was something about a woman in uniform…and Bree’s nurse’s outfit worked for him.

  She looked tired, though. Exhausted at the end of her shift at the hospital.

  He grabbed the ladder. If he didn’t keep his hands occupied, he’d reach for her. He juggled the ladder, swinging it sideways and tucking it under his arm. The scent of pine was strong in the air; pine needles lay dry and splintering under their feet from the tall old tree at the corner of the house. He put the ladder inside the garage, leaning it against the now solid wall.

  Bree waited at the entrance, tugging pins out of her hair and letting it fall free. She ran a hand through it and sighed.

  “Hard day?” he asked.

  She glanced at him, head tilted. It was as if she was surprised to be asked about her day.

  He couldn’t imagine being as alone as she seemed. While he had family scattered all over the county, no one had dropped in to visit with Bree in the nearly three months he’d lived across the road from he
r. All her callers were tradespeople.

  “There was an accident on the highway.”

  He walked back to her. “Bad?”

  “Yeah. Not fatal, but…” She rubbed her forehead.

  “Bad,” he said, comprehending. Apprehension gripped him. The town wasn’t that big. “Who?”

  “Strangers.” She picked up on his concern. “Tourists from England. The sheriff thinks they drifted. Maybe forgot what side of the road they should be driving on.”

  “Rough end to their holiday.”

  She nodded.

  Drowsy bees hummed in the neglected garden and crickets chirruped among the dried grass and weeds. In the distance, someone was mowing a lawn. A car drove past.

  Bree rolled her shoulders, stretching tiredly.

  Watching her, wanting to offer a neck rub, and knowing he couldn’t, Josh made a decision. “You need a break. Can you ride?”

  He’d wasted enough time, treading carefully and respecting her obvious reserve. She wasn’t a shy woman, but she was private. What she needed to learn was that private didn’t mean she had to be alone.

  “A bit,” she answered cautiously. “I can sit on a quiet horse.”

  “Good enough. Are you working tomorrow?”

  “Afternoon shift.”

  He’d love to know what thoughts were hidden behind her impossibly blue eyes and their shadowing long, black lashes. He pushed on. “I’ll take you out to the family ranch tomorrow morning. An early start. Seven o’clock.”

  Bree stared at Josh, unable to focus her thoughts as her heart jumped around in her chest. Too many years of bad luck, heartbreak and being alone made it hard for her to trust anyone, to hope.

  Josh was the town’s hero, the high school fullback who’d served in the army, got his degree, and was now back, starting as a lecturer at the local university. Calling him “Professor” was her way of remembering the differences between them. He was gorgeous, good-natured, confident and capable.