Shaking her head, Debbie smoothed her hand over the quilt, a reminiscent smile curving her mouth. “J.T. went a little crazy when he found out Mrs. Hamilton was going to sell the place, since this property adjoins Rafferty land. J.T. said he didn’t want strangers living in
Amanda’s
house. He was only twenty-one at the time, but he worked out a deal with Mrs. Hamilton, and my father co-signed a loan for him. J.T. bought the place.
“Funny thing is, J.T. couldn’t bring himself to live here. Even when he married Stacey he still stayed at the main house. When Kirk and I got married he let us take over the payments, and he signed the deed over to us as a wedding gift.”
The depth of J.T.’s love for Amanda astounded Caitlan. “It doesn’t seem to bother J.T. to come here.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Debbie agreed. “I think he just wanted the house to stay in the family, because Amanda was like a part of our family. We were neighbors all our lives. She was J.T.’s girlfriend for years, and my best friend since we were toddlers.” Debbie’s gaze skimmed over the clothes she’d just given Caitlan, then lifted back up to Caitlan’s face, “We used to wear each other’s clothes all the time, except Amanda was a little shorter and had a cuter shape, much like yourself,” she reflected thoughtfully.
Caitlan fingered the soft chambray material in her arms. “Well, I appreciate you lending me your clothes.”
“I’m happy to do it.” Hesitating briefly, Debbie glanced covertly at Caitlan, as if sizing her up. Her speculative smile reached her eyes. “I think you’re good for J.T., Caitlan. I know this is presumptuous of me, considering you’ve only been here a few days, but have you and J.T. ... I mean, are you and J.T. ...” She flushed and pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, never mind!”
Caitlan laughed softly at Debbie’s apparent embarrassment. “Are you trying to ask if J.T. and I are involved?”
“I know it’s none of my business,” Debbie rushed on, the color from her cheeks fading. “And you don’t have to answer, but J.T. has changed in the short time you’ve been here.”
Caitlan couldn’t help wondering about that, even though she had to admit she’d seen a softening in him the last day or so, since the incident at the creek. “In what way?”
“I noticed the biggest change today.” Debbie shrugged and picked at a piece of lint on the quilt. “It’s the way he watches you. He seems so relaxed and at ease.” She struggled for the right words. “There isn’t that loneliness in his eyes that always makes me ache for him, an emptiness like he’s lost a part of himself he can’t find. Today, his eyes are clear and his smiles are genuine. You’re good for him, Caitlan,” she said softly, earnestly. “I knew that the first time I saw you and him together.”
Caitlan lifted a brow at Debbie. What was it with his family conspiring to matchmake her and J.T.? “I care for your brother, but I’ll be leaving Idaho soon.” Why did the thought make her feel so forlorn?
“You can always visit, and you might find you like it here.”
Not two days ago she’d heard the same lecture from J.T.’s daughter. “Have you been talking to Laura?” she teased.
Debbie smiled. “No. I just know it takes a special kind of woman to adapt to life in the country, and you fit in well. You seem happy here.”
“I am happy here.” And content. Caitlan sensed she belonged here in a way she couldn’t fully define. She only knew J.T. was the reason. Then reality put things back into perspective. “But that doesn’t mean I belong here.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Debbie shook her head, an apologetic look crossing her features. Standing, she grabbed Caitlan’s hand and squeezed it affectionately. “I’m sorry, this is really none of my business, but I know J.T. better than anyone, and it’s good to see him so carefree and happy.”
Caitlan backed away subtly, knowing it was best if they let the subject drop. “Well, I guess I’d better change.”
“Yeah.” Debbie grinned ruefully. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on and on. You’re very easy to talk to, just like Amanda was. She’s been gone sixteen years, but I still miss her friendship.”
Caitlan managed a smile for Debbie’s compliment, but couldn’t shake off the sensation of being suffocated. Disturbing impressions of Amanda crowded in on her until she wanted to run from this room and out of this house. She needed to change and get outside so she could breathe in fresh air and clear her head. “Where can I change?” she asked, startled by the strangled sound of her voice.
“Go ahead and use my bathroom.” Debbie waved a hand toward a connecting door. “I’ll meet you outside. I’m sure the guys are wondering what happened to us. Maybe if we’re real lucky they cleaned up the kitchen, but I won’t pin my hopes on that too much.”
Caitlan forced a light laugh and agreed, even though everything in her coiled up as tight as a spring, ready to snap at any given moment. Once Caitlan stepped inside the bathroom, she closed the door and leaned against it, willing her taut body to relax and the images taunting her mind to cease. Gradually, with each slow breath she drew, her throbbing head began to ease.
Pushing off her damp jeans, Caitlan slipped on first the petticoat, and then the matching chambray skirt, vowing that this niggling feeling of hers wouldn’t ruin her day.
* * *
For the tenth time in the past twenty minutes J.T. glanced toward the slider leading into the house, looking for a sign of Caitlan. Shifting in his plastic lawn chair, he spared a brief look at his watch, then glanced back at the door. He perked up when Debbie passed the window, waved, and mouthed, “I’ll be out in a sec,” then moved on to the kitchen. J.T. waited for a glimpse of Caitlan ... and waited and waited. Had he missed her when she’d walked by?
“You lookin’ for someone?” Kirk asked from the chair beside him, his tone filled with goading humor.
J.T. pinned him with a quelling look, then turned his attention to the girls playing jump rope over on the slab of pavement. “Just wondering where the women are.”
Kirk grinned. “ ‘Fraid they’re talking about you?”
“I’m sure Debbie is. We all know how she loves to gab about my lack of a love life. It’s her favorite pastime for anyone who’ll listen.”
Kirk stretched lazily and clasped his hands behind his head. “Well, I do believe they’ve spent enough time together for Debbie to convince Caitlan she’s the perfect woman for you. They should be planning a wedding right about now.”
J.T. scowled, declining to comment.
“So, what
is
going on between you and Caitlan?”
J.T. wanted to ask his brother-in-law to define “going on.” Physically, nothing was happening between him and Caitlan—at least not what he’d like to be doing. Making slow, deep love to her, losing himself in her gentleness and warmth. Emotionally? Well, that was something he’d rather not discuss. Even
he
didn’t understand the feelings Caitlan evoked in him. He wrote off the chaotic emotions to lust, because wanting Caitlan, naked and in his bed, was becoming a consuming need, blending in with passion and desire.
“Nothing’s going on,” J.T. replied, slouching in his chair and squaring an ankle over the opposite knee. “She’ll be going back to Parson’s soon. From what I hear, the bridge should be fully repaired by the end of the week.”
Kirk slanted a look J.T.’s way. You know, you could always drive her to the airport and put her on the first flight back to Chicago. She’d be out of your hair within three hours.”
“And ruin her lovely vacation in paradise?” J.T. said dryly.
Kirk laughed, a deep masculine chuckle. Standing, he slapped J.T. on the back. “Man, you’ve got it bad for her.”
Watching Kirk walk toward the slider, J.T. searched for a retort to his comment but couldn’t come up with anything appropriate. What could he say to something that held too much truth? Caitlan was becoming a fever in his blood.
J.T. mused over Kirk’s comment about taking Caitlan to the airport. He’d thought about doing exactly that the first night she’d stayed at the ranch, but something had held him back. He’d told himself this was her vacation, and as long as she stayed out of his way he’d let her remain. Thinking back, he realized she hadn’t been any trouble, but everywhere he turned she’d been there, with her violet eyes and soft smiles. Hell, he’d even spent the day with her yesterday, pouring out all his secrets and heartaches—to a woman he barely knew.
Maybe he should’ve given Caitlan the option of flying back to Chicago. Maybe she would have wanted to go home rather than wait at his ranch for the bridge to be repaired. He hadn’t asked, and she hadn’t mentioned it. For the most part she seemed perfectly satisfied at the Circle R.
“Maybe she hasn’t asked you to take her to the airport because you were such a bastard about the whole situation her first day at the ranch,” he mumbled to himself, remembering how abrupt and harsh he’d been with her, how he’d wanted nothing more than to send her on her way to wherever she belonged.
Now he wasn’t sure he wanted her to go, which was ridiculous considering the havoc she played with his body, and the delicate way she threatened the barriers he’d built around his heart. But eventually she’d go back to Chicago, and ultimately that thought kept his emotions locked up, safe and secure.
J.T. glanced toward the slider again and did a double take. He hadn’t known what to expect when he saw Caitlan again, but the sight that greeted him tied his insides in knots. Desire surfaced, hot and swift, nearly overwhelming him.
His gaze slid over Caitlan’s shirt, the long sleeves rolled to just below her elbow. The first three buttons down the front were undone, the tails tied into a knot around her tiny waist. The skirt she wore aroused more than just his interest. She had nice legs—he remembered that from the night he’d nearly seduced her in his bed—long, graceful limbs that conjured up images of them wrapped around his hips, hugging him tight as he made love to her.
She smiled shyly and started his way. The muscles in his belly tightened as she neared, and he briefly wondered how much longer he’d be able to keep his hands off her. She tempted him to the brink of insanity.
“Caitlan!” Laura grabbed Caitlan’s hand and tugged her toward where her and Brittany and Alisha were playing. “I need a partner for double jump rope.”
Caitlan glanced doubtfully at the two lines of rope arching in a large loop, engineered by Laura’s cousins. “Are you looking to lose?”
Laura laughed. “It’s not that hard, really. It’ll take you a few times to get the hang of it, but you’ll have fun. Aunt Debbie loves to do this.”
Caitlan shrugged, pulling off her beige boots and socks and tossing them aside. “I’m game.”
J.T. wasn’t sure if he should have been annoyed or relieved with Laura’s interruption, then decided he’d just sit back and enjoy Caitlan from a
safe
distance, where touching her wouldn’t be such a temptation.
Caitlan attempted to jump in cadence with the two ropes, but only succeeded in tangling up the line. Chuckling at her clumsiness, J.T. teased her, watching in delight as sparks of determination lit up her incredible eyes. After a few more botched attempts she finally got the rhythm of the rope coordinated with the flow of her jumping and managed to execute the game beautifully, like a pro.
Caitlan shot him a triumphant look over her shoulder as she kept up the rhythm. J.T. grinned. Despite her accomplishment, he couldn’t help but feel like the victor, because at his vantage point she presented him with a winning view.
Holding her skirt to her thighs, she clutched the material tightly in her fists so it wouldn’t get tangled in the rope, giving him an unobstructed view of her endlessly long, shapely legs and bare feet. Ruffles from her slip spilled from beneath her skirt, a soft, feminine contrast that served to give her a countenance of childlike innocence. She even had cute knees, he mused, enjoying himself thoroughly.
She laughed breathlessly, tilting her head back as the sweet sound escaped her. The setting sun sparkled threads of gold off her dark bouncing hair and kissed her cheeks with a natural blush.
She looked wild and radiant. Incredibly beautiful. Vibrant and warm. The slow burn of desire for her ignited into a scorching flame of pure need.
Twilight settled in, bringing with it a slight evening chill. The group moved indoors for peach cobbler and to watch a Sunday evening program. J.T. deliberately kept his distance from Caitlan, not trusting himself to give in to the urge to touch her in ways that went beyond a friendly manner. However, sitting a couch away didn’t stop him from watching her every move, listening to her every word. The wanting and hunger in him grew with each passing look between them.
At ten-thirty they said their good-byes and headed home. Except for Caitlan thanking him for a nice day, the short drive was made in silence.
Laura yawned as they walked in the front door. “I’m going to bed.” She turned to J.T. and gave him a hug, then embraced Caitlan, “Good night, Dad, Caitlan.”
“Good night, Smidget,” J.T. replied.
“Sweet dreams,” Caitlan added as Laura bounded up the stairs.
Caitlan was the type of woman who would say sweet dreams, J.T. thought with a smile. Gentle. Caring. She glanced up at him, her eyes luminous pools of violet that reached deep inside him and gripped him in unrelenting desire. He’d turned on the hallway light, and the soft glow illuminated the nervousness in her gaze now that they were totally alone. He found her anxiousness endearing.