Free Chapter1 by Ribbon of Rain Page B

can do that.”   Even as the words left her mouth, she wondered if she spoke the truth.  
    The man sitting next to her stirred feelings she hadn’t been aware of until today.   Feelings she had no control over.   “How about you?   Think you can manage it?”   She threw his question back at him.
    “I’ll give it my best shot,” he mumbled in the middle of a yawn.   “Right now I need some shut eye.   It’s been a long, tiring two days.   I hope it’s a quiet night.   I’ve had enough excitement.”
    “I’ll go upstairs and get your bag.   You can sleep on the couch, or, if you prefer, you can have the cabin next to the lodge.”   Kat’s foot touched on the first stair when Jude spoke.
    “I’m sleeping upstairs with you.”
    She turned to face him.   “Excuse me?”  
    “You heard me.”   Kat recognized the look on his face as his stubborn look.  
    “I don’t think so,” she said in a deceptively soft voice.   “The couch or the cabin.   Those are your choices.”
    “Be sensible, Kat.   It’s important we stay together.   I’m not suggesting we share the same bed, as exciting as I know that would be.   I saw two beds in that room.   I’m sure you have enough self-control to stay in your own bed.”
    “Why you—” Kat started towards him ready to do battle.
    “Keep your distance.”   Hands held as if to fend her off, he backed away, his eyes full of mischief.   “Or we’ll end up on the floor tearing off each other’s clothes.”

Chapter 5
     
     
     
     
    Jude braced himself for a fight.   One he was determined to win.  
    “Fine.   Sleep upstairs.   I’m too tired to argue with you.”   With a toss of her head, she ran up the stairs.
    Brave but reckless.   Stubborn, yet yielding when he least expected it.   Beautiful, but no self-esteem.   If she were any other woman, he’d doubt her sincerity, but he didn’t think Kat had a clue how to play those types of games.   Had she lived in her sister’s shadow for so many years that she had no idea of her own self-worth?
    The sooner he resolved this gem theft, the better.   This woman was under his skin like chiggers making him itch, and a relationship between them wouldn’t work.   They might as well jump in a car and drive eighty miles an hour down a dead end road.  
Loon
Lake
was her home and his nightmare.  
    The chemistry between them set sparks flying if they came within two feet of each other.   It was only a matter of time before there was spontaneous combustion.   His mouth went dry at the thought of making love to her.   
    He walked to the front door, fingering the heavy oak, curious why no one had ever installed an inside lock.   Constructing a barricade should be a top priority.   The thought of coming downstairs in the morning and finding someone else sitting at the table gave him the creeps.     
    He reached down and patted Red on the head.   “Let us know if someone’s out there, boy.”   The dog lifted his head and groaned, then thumped his tail.  
    Jude took the stairs two at a time, thinking Kat should be in bed by now.   The bathroom door was still closed, so he dropped on one of the twin beds.   He didn’t have long to wait.   His heart skipped several beats when she emerged from the bathroom.   The contrast of her dusky skin against the thin white cotton nightgown mesmerized him.   She moved through the moonlit shadows, reminding him of Natalie Wood in her classic movie role.   He wouldn’t have been surprised if Kat broke into song.   In an attempt to get his body under control, he flipped over, putting his back to the bed she climbed into.  
    “Goodnight, G.I. Jane,” he whispered.
    “Humphh.”  
    Jude smiled into his pillow.   Good girl.   Stay mad.   It’s safer that way .   Thirty minutes later, sleep still eluded him.   His eyes wouldn’t stay closed, so he listened to frogs, owls, loons, and God only knew what other animal noises.