Free She Can Run by Melinda Leigh

lower lip between her teeth, and Jack went hard as stone in one heartbeat. Need began to pulse deep inside him, thrumming through his veins, each beat of his heart urging him closer. To touch. To taste. To take.
    With his eyes locked on hers, he leaned toward her. Her scent enveloped him, fueling the primitive longing that flooded through him. His hand slid across her collarbone to encircle the delicate column of her throat, where her skin was like warm satin and her pulse throbbed under his thumb. His gaze dropped to her mouth.
    The instant he broke eye contact, Beth blinked. Her jaw tightened and she backed away from the physical contact almost before he could register the undeniable surge of heat in her eyes.
    Almost—but not quite. Her body wanted him, even if her brain wasn’t on board. Jack’s hand itched to touch that smooth, bare skin again.
    “Beth.” He took a half step forward. Beth backed up double that distance, and he let his hand fall to his side. Shit . He’d pushed her too far. She dropped her gaze to the floor, her retreat and refusal to look at him clear signs she regretted the moment that had just passed between them.
    Moment? Hell, it’d barely been a few seconds. Damned good seconds, though.
    “I’m going down to the barn to feed the horses. Ben’s already down there.” Beth turned away from him and toward the door, pausing at the threshold. “I wish things were different. If you want us to leave, say the word. I understand how we could make you uncomfortable. We’re not exactly the Cleavers. You had no idea what you were getting yourself into.”
    “Beth, I don’t want you to leave. I’m not the one that’s uncomfortable. This is a good place for kids.”
    Without turning to face him, she nodded. “You’re right. This is a good place. Thank you.” She went out the door and onto the patio.
    Jack watched her stride down the path toward the barn. Katie and Henry raced to meet her. Beth swung Katie up and hugged her tightly before setting her down and continuing to walk. Beth held her daughter’s hand on one side and reached down to scratch Henry’s head with the other. The big dog pranced neatly at her side as if he hadn’t failed obedience school twice. They entered the grove of trees that separated the barn from the house and disappeared from view.
    Jack threw the towel across the kitchen. He wished he knew how to help them. Without information, however, he was power-less. It had taken nearly a week before he could touch her without sending her through the roof, and this latest move had only made things worse. One step forward, twenty steps back. Christ, at this rate, it’d be years before she’d trust him.
    His gut told him she didn’t have years. She needed help now.

     
    “Are you OK?” Beth squeezed her daughter’s hand as they entered the patch of trees between the house and barn. This early in the morning, the shaded copse was cool, even in midsummer. She inhaled the scent of fresh pine and felt her jagged nerves smooth over—and let the breeze chill her out-of-control libido.
    Jack asked far too many questions. And every time he looked at her, she could see the suspicion swimming in his eyes. But there’d been much more than just suspicion in those deep brown eyes this morning. A heated look that sent a quiver through her belly even now. Her skin still tingled where he’d touched her. His hand had been warm and solid, and it had taken all of her resolve to move away from it when she’d really wanted to get closer. He’d been about to kiss her, and God help her, she’d wanted to let him do that and more. She could practically feel his mouth claiming hers, his strong fingers roaming the rest of her body. Her nipples tightened and damp heat pooled between her legs as she pictured the unmistakable desire in Jack’s eyes. The impressive torso she’d seen this morning at the pool wasn’t helping matters. Jack had a runner’s body, broad shoulders, long and lean