Free Heartstealer (Women of Character3 by Grace Brannigan

blurted, unable to contain her tongue.
    "That's probably all it
is," he said in a hard voice. "Opposites attracting. It happens. God
knows we're totally different."
    She nodded quickly in agreement.
"A fluke. You're a good-looking guy, Sloan, a great kisser, it's only
natural we'd be attracted to each other. It doesn't mean anything more than
that."
    He looked for a moment like he was
going to argue the point. Abruptly, he pulled her into him and dropped his
mouth to hers. It was over in five seconds or less, too quickly for Jacie.
    Sloan stepped back and moved
quickly toward the other tractor. "Stand back from the wagon while I load
the hay," he said brusquely. "These bales weigh about eight hundred
pounds."
    She shivered as clouds scuttled
across the sky, stealing the sun. She was really at a loss. She pulled her
sweat-dampened shirt away from her skin, yet his scent lingered in her
nostrils. She saw again his face coming close, felt the touch of those lips.
They had tasted slightly of licorice. She touched her lips and smiled. Licorice
of all things.
    She sobered, thinking she was a
fool for being attracted to him, a fool to let him kiss her, no matter how good
it felt. She stiffened her shoulders, reminding herself of one important fact.
Her track record with men stunk. Hadn't she learned anything? In the past she
had always been optimistic, thinking maybe this time it would work out; but it
never had. Brad had stung her in the worst way. Could she risk going through
that kind of rejection again?
    While she wrestled with her
thoughts, Sloan started the other tractor and moved forward to push the prong
into a bale. She stepped well away from the wagon. As he drew abreast of her he
looked at her for a brief, moment, and his blue eyes seared her with heat.
    He tipped the bucket and the bale
dropped. The wagon's wheels squatted under the weight. He prodded at the hay
with the tractor bucket and the hay rolled over on its flat side. When he cut
the engine it suddenly seemed very quiet in the field.
    She moved to sit on the flatbed.
    "You'd better move up
here." He indicated a small seat behind him on the tractor.
    She stared at the small space.
"It's a short ride. I'll ride back here."
    "It's not safe, the bale could
shift." His voice brooked no refusal.
    Surprised by his sudden sharpness,
she moved to the front of the wagon.
    "Sit behind me. I don’t
want to take a chance. If the bale should move that heavy metal bar will
protect you," he said, his voice once more a normal, even tone.
    Between her and the heat of his back
there was nothing. She wasn't sure which was more dangerous. Deriding her own
naiveté, she knew touching him was definitely more dangerous. "Will
it move?" she asked.
    "It shouldn’t. Hang
on." The tractor lurched forward, bringing her shoulder into close contact
with his. She studied the back of his head. His hair was fine with a slight
wave, the dark strands against his collar. The trace of gold from the sun was a
natural look many women paid money to achieve. The back of his head narrowed
smoothly to a strong neck, then the width of his shoulders blocked her view.
    Absorbed in her sensory
contemplation of Sloan, she didn't realize the tractor had stopped until his
head turned. They were a hair's breadth apart. She could feel his heat, see the
tiny fan of lines beside his eyes. She swallowed with difficulty, her mouth dry
as she felt again their kiss, recalled his scent. What did he expect of her?
What did she expect of him?
    "Are you riding all the way
with me?" he asked huskily.
    Yes! Watching the slight curve of
his lips, her mind screamed the answer.
    "I'm going to the barn,"
he explained patiently. "Are you riding that far?"
    She looked around and her eyes
widened. They were outside her cabin. Quickly, she stood up. "I'll help
you unload my things at the lodge."
    "I'll have Donny take care of
that, if you don't mind him handling the gear."
    "Oh―that would be
okay."
    She put her feet over the side