Free A Family to Come Home To (Saddle Falls) by Sharon De Vita

back of his neck to ease a spot of tension that had settled there.
    “What are you talking about, Jesse?” Ignoring her own inner warning signals, she took a step closer to him, close enough that she could almost feel his body heat reach out and engulf her. She ignored it and focused on their conversation. “What do you mean time is the one thing you don’t have?”
    “Well, darlin’, I’ve got my own ranch to run back in Texas. And if you know anything about ranching, you gotta know that I can’t be away from it for too long.”
    “You’re not staying? ” Her words edged upward in shock and bewilderment.
    Jesse stared back at her with equal shock and bewilderment. “Stay?” He shook his head. “Now, darlin’, why on earth would you ever think I was staying?”
    Temper and frustration had her fists clenching again. “Because this is your home, Jesse!”
    He shook his head. “You know, darlin’, I do believe I’m growing to detest that little word.”
    “What word?” She glared at him, annoyed beyond belief. “What are you talking about?”
    “Home, darlin’. Home.” Rubbing his neck again because the tension had increased, Jesse shook his head. “I thought I explained all this to you this morning. Texas is my home. Has been for as long as I can remember.”
    “But what about Tommy?” she fairly cried. “What about your family?”
    Jesse looked at her long and hard. “Well, darlin’, I’m here now, aren’t I? And for the moment that’s all I can promise.”
    Her eyes slid closed and Hannah prayed her famous Irish temper wouldn’t boil over. “Jesse,” she began, choosing and spacing her words carefully. “How on earth can you simply turn your back on your family?” She shook her head, emotions spilling over. “My God, do you have any idea how lucky you are to even have a family? Let alone a family that is so welcoming and accepting, not to mention wonderful?”
    He said nothing, he simply watched her, realizing that she was talking about a lot more than his family.
    Something far more than her love and affection for Tommy and the Ryans was fueling this passionate display. Of that he was certain.
    Watching her eyes light with fire and her cheeks flush with emotion, he felt two distinctly different emotions: the first was concern. Obviously someone had hurt her. The kind of hurt that remained deep in your heart and memories for a long time, coloring your emotions and your views. He suddenly wondered about Hannah’s own family, and Riley’s father as well.
    The second emotion that caught him was pure unadulterated lust. And Jesse felt a hint of guilt for it, knowing that she was hurting. But any woman who was as obviously passionate as she was, was bound to be just as passionate in all areas of his life. And dang if it didn’t just raise up all the wonderful possibilities a passionate woman like her would bring to an encounter.
    It was truly a shame he wasn’t going to be here long enough to find out.
    “How can you simply walk away from them?” Hannah demanded, unable to even comprehend such a thing. In her entire life, the only thing she’d ever truly wanted was a family; a real family that would love and accept her. Jesse had one and he was simply turning his back on them. “Don’t you have any feelings?” Biting back tears, she refused to allow him to see how upset she was. Refused to let him see that his mere words, his intended actions, had wounded her on a level she didn’t feel comfortable or capable of dealing with at the moment.
    Jesse pulled himself upright. “Hannah, darlin’, listen to me.” Gently, he took her by the shoulders, felt her trembling, then instinctively gathered her close, slipping his arms around her to press her against him. “Good Lord, darlin’, you’re so upset you’re trembling.” Concerned, Jesse gently caressed her back the way he might an injured foal. “It’s not good for you to get yourself so riled up like this.” He drew back to