Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) Read Free Page B

she could. He had scared her, maybe brought back the bad
memories of that night, not that she would admit to it. Tye had never been one
to admit to anything she felt was a weakness. She covered it up with bravado
and brash nerve. Once she set her mind on a course, there was no persuading her
otherwise. But now, Jake knew he had to persuade her to stay, for her own sake.
    He
stepped forward, noting the soft curve of her cheek, the swing of her naturally
blond hair spilling past her blue, blue eyes. She was the kind of woman a man
could lose himself in and not care if he ever surfaced. Once, Jake had almost
let himself get lost in her. His gaze dropped to the empty space where her
right leg should be. He swallowed hard. Pain lanced through him, and he
didn’t want to feel it. He didn’t want to feel connected to a woman
who had thrown his love in his face.
    In his
mind, Jake replayed the night of the rodeo accident. Once again he saw the bull
falling on her. The bull had been old and just died. It was a scene he would
never forget. He’d gone to see her once in the hospital, though she
didn’t know that. He hadn’t gone back. Somehow, he didn’t
think she’d want to see him and be reminded of that terrible night.
    He felt
anger well in him. Her lifestyle had finally caught up with her ― the
wild living, the parties. Jake read the papers. He shook his head in disgust.
The bottom line was he’d wanted forever with Tye, but all she’d
wanted was new excitement down the road. It seemed she had gotten what she
wanted, in spades.
    Returning
to the present, Jake watched Tye’s eyes, saw the overwhelming pain, the
sad defeat. His gut clenched. Despite his bitterness he knew he could not let
her leave. Something told him she needed this place. He had promised Ben he
would help her, and dammit, he wouldn’t go back on that promise. Before
long it would be dark, and it was an hour’s drive to the center, not
counting how long it would take to get a driver back out here. No matter where
she was going, it would take time.
    Tye held
her shoulders straight, but she looked exhausted. Violet shadows emphasized her
eyes and hollows lay in her cheeks. Jake figured she needed a good night's rest
and then some. As his thoughts rambled on, he heard her mutter something about
voice mail into the phone. Going for broke, Jake said, "I never thought
I’d see the day you’d give up at the first obstacle. I guess
you’ve changed over the years, Tye. But then, ten years is a long
time."

§ Chapter Three §
    As if
he’d touched her with a live wire, Tye’s head jerked around, her
eyes narrowing and shooting fire.
    "What
did you say?" she demanded. She dropped the phone back on its cradle with
a loud clatter. She hoped she’d broken it, she was so mad, but she
glanced at it quickly and saw it was still in one piece.
    Jake had
the nerve to turn away and saunter toward the kitchen. She stared after him,
for the moment speechless. Hurriedly, she jerked her eyes from his long back
and legs. She wondered why he wore perfectly creased dress pants. He’d
look great in tight, faded jeans. Years ago he’d worn jeans all the time.
Tye made an exasperated sound, irritated with her thoughts. With a jerky
movement, she propelled her chair across a short-napped grey carpet.
    "What
the hell are you implying? I've never given up on anything in my life. You
don't know what you're talking, about Jake Miller. I suppose this is some kind
of reverse psychology?" Her entire body felt ready to snap from the
tension riding her. She gripped the arms of her chair, feeling an ache shoot up
into her neck. "Well, it’s not going to work. I’m not
seventeen anymore. You don’t know a damn thing about me."
    Jake
reached into the refrigerator and calmly took out two cans of soda. He handed
one to Tye, then popped the top on his. Taking a deep gulp, he lowered the can
and looked her straight in the eye. "You’re right, I don’t
know a thing about you. You seemed