Vibrant Heart: Book 1 in the Great Plains Romance Series Read Free Page A

affected him as quickly or intensely as the woman on the other side of the bathroom door.
    She was probably embarrassed by how the afternoon storm had ruined her outfit. He turned around and pressed his hands against each side of the door frame, leaning forward until his face was just inches from the closed door. If he said something to her now, told her how beautiful she looked despite the makeup running down her face, she’d hear him. But he bit his tongue and sat down on the top stair instead. Women didn’t always appreciate such compliments, especially when they were upset about something. He imagined her without all the heavy eyeliner and bright red lipstick. A more natural look would let her violet eyes shine through. He wondered what she would look like first thing in the morning, her face clean, her hair mussed just enough that he would feel compelled to push a stray lock from her eyes.
    “Aw, hell.” He whipped off his cowboy hat and gripped it tightly until the brim was crushed. Those were the kinds of visions that he could not dwell on or he’d never make it to the ceremony. Instead of trying to compliment her, he’d bust through the bathroom door and turn on all his charm. He knew there were several bedrooms to take advantage of up here, and with everyone else at the ceremony...
    She threw open the door, startling Jake. They stared at each other a moment, before she finally spoke. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
    Jake stood, his eyes traveling the length of her body. “Maybe not a babysitter, but certainly a bodyguard.” He nodded in approval.
    She rolled her eyes and pushed past him. He fought the urge to reach out and touch her flowing auburn locks, especially as what he really wanted to do was grab her shoulders and pull her into an electrifying kiss. Scowling, he shoved his hat on his head and followed her down the stairs to the kitchen, where she was immediately cornered by the friendly blond. Jake groaned. His mother, God love her, was too much of a busybody by far.
    “Oh sweetie, you look so much better. I thought we were gonna have to hose you off at first.” His mother laughed, winking at the woman as Jake entered the kitchen. “Now you take this tray.” She handed a tray filled with fresh strawberries, bananas, and oranges as well as various cookies to Melanie. “They just love my chocolate fountain! Can’t get enough of it. And Jakey, make yourself useful and bring some more sodas.” She glanced at Melanie. “I’m so glad you decided to come today. Jake’s just as bad—I can never get him to come visit anymore. He’s always too busy working.”
    Violet eyes glanced back at him, a hint of bewilderment evident. And something else. Did he see amusement spark in those violet enticing eyes? He bristled.
    She didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who used her looks to her advantage. Quite the opposite, in fact. He was pretty sure that she didn’t know the power she could wield over men. So why would she be amused by his mother’s chattering? Jake hefted up several cases of soda, more determined than ever to find out just who this woman was.

Chapter Five
    Melanie let the blond woman rattle on as they walked outside and around the house. She was too busy trying to focus on her goal at hand to contribute much to the conversation. Having the cowboy walking several paces behind them was more distracting than the woman’s chatter. Melanie turned her head back and forth, trying to release some of the uncomfortable tension. She wished Jake would go back to the kitchen or perhaps run an errand. He didn’t need to be nearby when she ran into Raymond.
    They rounded a corner and saw the barn, her father’s pride. He had designed and built it himself. It didn’t actually hold any farm animals or machinery; rather, it was her father’s refuge. The main floor had moving walls that could partition off as little or as much space as needed for whatever project he was tinkering on. The upstairs