River to Cross, A (16 page)

Jake’s bite of roll went down the wrong way and he started to cough. He scooped up his glass of water to wash it down, his mind racing, trying to come up with something that wouldn’t turn the ladylike Elizabeth’s stomach, something not exactly the truth, but not exactly a lie, either.

“It’s the civilized habits we have to get over. When a man is starving to death, he
will
eat anything,” he said.

He’d taught every one of his Rangers how to stay alive in Texas. On one miserable desert operation, they’d eaten everything they had with them and gone three days with only what they could find to eat—roots and berries. On the third morning, light-headed with hunger, he’d seized the tail of a six-foot rattlesnake and yanked it from under a log. Five half-starved young men with knives fell on it. Twenty minutes later, that snake was skinned and sizzling over a cook fire.

He covered his mouth, struggling to keep a straight face, and looked across at Elizabeth.

Laughing, Elizabeth said, “So you
do
eat snakes!” The skin wrinkled on the bridge of her nose. “That’s disgusting.”

Jake nodded, wiped at his eyes. “Some people think it tastes a lot like chicken.”

“Does it?”

He shook his head. “Tastes like snake to me.”

With a smile, she leaned back in her chair and asked, “Can I quote you on that?”

Over dessert, he listened to her with only one ear. The other listened to the music coming from the bar in the other room—guitars, piano, flute, the soft brush of drums, and the breathy groan of a new horn called a sax-o-phone. For two more songs he debated about asking her to dance.

A picture flashed in his head of her, warm and resting in his arms at the Gypsy camp. The image was too powerful. He rose to his feet. Ignoring her startled expression, he pulled her out of her chair.

“Let’s dance.”

“I haven’t danced in years,” she said.

Gripping her hand, he led her onto the dance floor.

The pianist lowered his hands over the keyboard, and the music started again. Hand around her waist, Jake swung her against him in time with the music. He glided her backward, acutely aware of the woman in his arms.

They made a handsome couple, he thought, as they danced by a wall mirror. He was struck by how pretty she was with her head tipped back looking up at him. He couldn’t stop smiling.

When the song ended, they stood on the dance floor with the other couples, clapping politely. The subtle fragrance she wore wafted around him. He took a deep breath and filled his lungs with the essence of her. It distracted him.
She
distracted him with that intriguing blend of brains and beauty.

Drums rolled and the band began to play a sentimental old song. He slid his arm around her waist again and pulled her against him. This time she rested her cheek against his chest. He wasn’t imagining it. With each dance she was melting a little more into him.

Then came the guilt. He felt as if he was taking advantage of her, and he didn’t mean to. When the music stopped, he led her toward the stairway that led down to the promenade. “Let’s go outside,” he said.

A breeze fluttered the hem of Elizabeth’s dress as they strolled together along the promenade. Jake’s hand felt warm and solid, his fingers curved around hers. She glanced over at him. It had been so long since she’d truly enjoyed being with a man. In spite of what he did for a living, she liked this man.

The only ones on the promenade, they walked to the far end and leaned on the railing, gazing out over the river. Light from the restaurant spilled onto the water. Luminous and reflective, the river’s mirrored surface lapped against the boardwalk.

Neither spoke, listening to the quiet shushing of water around them. Music floated out from the bar.

Jake turned her hand over in both of his. “Glad you came?”

“Very.” The corners of her mouth curved.

His hand slipped to her waist, turned her toward him. He crooked her chin up and made her look at him.

When his gaze slipped to her mouth, she knew with absolute certainty she was about to be kissed.

Jake drew her up onto her toes. She clutched his shoulders in surprise at finding herself in his arms this way. Thoughts tumbled in her head. One part of her wanted to run away. Another part rooted her to the boardwalk. Don’t be ridiculous, she thought, as his face lowered. One kiss wouldn’t matter. In fact, she’d liked the other. . . .

A warm mouth covered hers. Even as she told herself not to, she closed her eyes. For just an instant, Carl’s face blurred across her mind, then faded, obliterated by this man’s lips.

Cradling the back of her head, he made a thick, pleased sound in his throat. He had a wonderful mouth, taking and giving at the same time, totally sure of himself. At that moment she felt the first small splinter in the hard shell she’d built around her emotions. Time slowed to a crawl as his lips moved over hers.

When he raised his face, she rested her forehead against his necktie. This man can
kiss
.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t kiss you tonight,” he said.

Twice she swallowed before she trusted herself to speak. “When did you mean to kiss me?”

“I don’t know. I wanted to give you time to get used to me. I didn’t want to rush you, but I guess I did.”

His lips found hers again. Never breaking the kiss, he took a step backward into the shadows. This time there was a dreamy closeness to their kiss. He was sweet and affectionate, things she’d never suspected he could be. With a small, quiet moan, she closed her eyes and kissed him back.

When he lifted his mouth and looked down at her, his eyes were full of questions.

“Who are you afraid of—yourself or me?” he asked.

“Myself, I guess. You see, I don’t know how to deal with you.”

Shaking his head, he said, “There must be some kind of protocol for this. It’s just not civilized to tell you I wanted to kiss you before I even knew your name. That’s a first for me.”

“Uncivilized, but honest.”

She caught a quick white smile in the dark as he ran the ball of his thumb over her lower lip. “I’m attracted to you, Elizabeth Evans, and I think it’s mutual—something neither of us expected. Or wanted. Especially you. So, say yes to tomorrow and let’s start to learn about each other.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “Suppose I pick you up for breakfast, and then we’ll go to . . . I don’t know, how about the train station?”

Her eyebrows flew up. “The train station?”

“Someplace in broad daylight with people around. Maybe then you’ll relax with me. Maybe I’ll even relax with you.” Though he said it casually, his Texas drawl came out thicker than usual, revealing that he was more bothered than he let on.

One corner of his mouth kicked up. “You see, I don’t know how to deal with you, either.”

That unexpected admission surprised her. For a man like Jake Nelson, that must have cost him. She steeled herself to say no, but deep inside, her resolve was weakening. He’d done so much for her.

“But not the train station,” she said.

“Where, then?”

She nibbled at her lower lip, thinking. “How about something outside? I overheard Gus telling one of the soldiers from maintenance that he saw beavers building a dam on that creek behind the fort. He said that can mean flooding. Let’s take a canoe and go check it out.”

He laughed. “How about we walk the creek instead?”

“Canoeing is more fun, and maybe I can get a story out of it.”

“You’re already writing a story about cooks and army food; now you want to take on the Corps of Engineers. What’s next?”

“The hospital.”

He shook his head.

She tugged at his necktie and smiled. “Breakfast at my house, but not too early, and then we can go sailing. Or something close to it.”

After he dropped her off at her father’s house in the Distinguished Guests section of Fort Bliss, Jake drove over to Camp Annex and his own place in the Officers’ Quarters. Knowing he was too preoccupied to sleep, he took his time in the stable, unhitching the horse and rubbing him down.

Later, sitting at the table in his kitchen, Jake slammed his palm down and pushed to his feet. When he took Elizabeth home earlier, he’d walked her up the outside steps to the door and kissed her good night.

On the forehead.

Staring glumly into the wooden icebox, he grabbed a bottle of milk, poured himself a glass and drank it. He filled the glass again, took it back to the table, and sprawled into a chair.

His life had been as hard as Elizabeth’s had been easy. He’d had to work for everything he got—even in the Army. But she grew up cradled in luxury and security, clubs and fancy schools.

And because of that, you’re going to push her aside?

Idly he turned the glass around and around, making small, wet circles on the tabletop.

Behind him, he heard the front door open.

A minute later, Gus filled the doorway, pulling both Colts from their holsters. He slid them onto the counter by the wash-up sink. Loosening his tie, he came over to the table, pulled out a chair and sat, then said, “Quiet night in El Paso. A purse snatching and a couple of gang kids spoiling for a fight. I chased them back across the river. How come you’re still up?”

“I’m not sleepy,” Jake said, rising as soon as Gus sat down.

“Don’t want to talk to me, huh?”

“I’m not fit company for anybody tonight.” Jake propped his foot on his chair and retied his boot.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t know. Maybe I’ll walk awhile.”

“Stay away from the fort, then,” Gus said. “At this time of night, you’ll get picked up in ten minutes.” He reached a hand over and took Jake’s arm. “Come on, sit back down. Who is she?”

Jake shot him a hard look. “What makes you think it’s a girl?”

“I ran into Gino from the hotel’s kitchen. He said you had a beautiful woman hanging all over you tonight. I figured that had to be our Elizabeth.”

“It was. We danced, that’s all, and she most certainly was not hanging all over me.”

Of all the Annex Rangers, because he was the one in charge, he was the even-tempered one, the thoughtful, quiet one who never lost control. But just then, his tone had definitely become edgy.