Eternal Brand Read Free Page A

do?” Jet asked, bringing Emily back to the present.
    â€œI insisted he stay for dinner.” Emily smiled ruefully. “He never left.”
    â€œAh. He stayed for the horses, I’m sure.”
    Emily raised a brow. “Obviously.”
    Jet laughed. “Brand always loved horses. Mum had an old gray mare named Mule, of all things. She was as moody as she was stubborn. That horse and Brand had a special relationship though. Brand was the only one who could ride Mule.”
    â€œYou couldn’t ride her?”
    â€œMe?” Jet scoffed. “I don’t do horses.”
    Emily stared at him in surprise. “You skulk around in the night with bears and lions and alligators, but you’re afraid of horses?”
    â€œI didn’t say I was afraid.” He showed her an affronted expression. “But the four-hoofed beasts and I tend to stay out of each other’s way.”
    Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “You should meet my sister. The two of you would get along great.”
    Jet eyed her over the rim of his coffee mug, and something about the steadiness of his gaze made Emily’s skin tingle. “Does she look anything like you?”
    The subtle flirtatiousness of the question made Emily’s face heat again. It had done far too much of that since Jet arrived. “She keeps her hair short and her body very decoratively tattooed. But it looks good on Hope. She’s tanned and toned. Much thinner than I am.”
    â€œShe doesn’t sound like my type. I prefer curves on a woman.”
    He didn’t look at her as he said it, didn’t give her own curves a meaningful once-over. Yet Emily’s body simmered as though he’d caressed her rounded hips with those long-fingered, artistic hands of his. Enough, Emily, she chastised herself, picking up her now-empty mug and taking it to the kitchen. She and Brand might not have actually discussed being exclusive, but she figured it was assumed. Brand wouldn’t flirt with some strange woman while Emily was away.
    Not that she was flirting. Ogling, maybe, but not flirting. Jet was the one making the vaguely complimentary remarks.
    Or had she imagined the undercurrent entirely? Probably. Stop making a big deal out of nothing.
    Jet stood too and brought his own mug to the sink, where he very thoughtfully rinsed it out. Emily stepped back, careful not to bump into him. Emily sensed he was about to leave, and while she knew she ought to simply let him, she found herself asking, “Feel like desensitizing yourself? I have to go check on the horses, get them ready to bed down for the night. You’re welcome to tag along.”
    If Jet was as surprised as she by her impulsive invitation, it didn’t show. He sent her a knowing look. “You’re after a helper, right?”
    Emily smiled. “It does go quicker if there’s two people doing it.”
    â€œQuicker is not always better, Emily,” Jet drawled, sending her a wink.
    She was definitely not imagining the sexual undertones of that comment. But he said it with such humor that she couldn’t take it as a serious come-on. It was simply Jet’s manner, she realized. He was an innately sensual person, and he couldn’t help but have an effect on women.
    It didn’t stop her body from responding with a rush of carnal heat. Just as Jet couldn’t help flirting, she couldn’t help reacting. It was nothing personal. Nothing to feel guilty about. There was no harm in him staying a little longer. Besides, he might let some more tidbits of information about Brand slip, and Emily was keen to get a clear picture in her mind of how Jet’s and Brand’s lives fit together.
    She rested a hand on her hip in a challenging pose. “Are you going to help me or not, smart aleck?”
    His hesitation was noticeable, but brief. He wiped his wet hands on a tea towel and said, “Lead the way, pretty lady.”
    An hour later,