Free Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston

chewed her lower lip, wondering whether she ought to ask a question that had been on her mind lately. She saw the two-story ranch house come into sight and realized she would lose the opportunity to speak if she didn’t do it now.
    â€œWere you ever married?” she asked.
    Jesse’s brow rose at the personal nature of the question. “No.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    His dark eyes glittered in the light from the dashboard as he turned to her and said, “Never found the right woman.”
    Honey shivered at the intensity of the look he gave her. On a subconscious level she was aware they had arrived at the house, that he had turned off the car engine, and that this time he had parked the truck in the shadows away from the front porch light.
    â€œHoney?”
    His voice rasped over her like a rough caress. She felt his need but wasn’t sure what to do. She leaned toward him only a fraction of an inch. It was all the invitation he needed.
    Jesse’s hand threaded into her hair and tugged her closer. Their mouths were a breath apart but he didn’t close the distance.
    â€œHoney?”
    He was forcing her to make a choice.
    Honey drew back abruptly at a loud tapping on the window.
    â€œHey, Mom! You guys coming inside or what?” Jack shouted through the glass.
    Honey closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Oh Lord. She had forgotten about her overprotective teenage son. He hadn’t done anything quite this blatant with Adam, but apparently he recognized Jesse as a greater threat. He wasn’t far wrong. She didn’t understand the strength of her attraction to the hired hand, but she realized now she would be a fool to underestimate it.
    She glanced at Jesse to see how he was handling the interruption and was surprised to see a smile on his face.
    â€œI’m glad you’re finding this so amusing,” she said.
    â€œIf what I suspect is true, Jack hasn’t allowed you much privacy with Philips. I have to be eternally grateful to him for that.”
    â€œYou don’t seem too worried that he’s going to get in your way.”
    Jesse grinned. “Nope.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I don’t intend to let him.”
    Right there, with Jack staring aghast through the window, Jesse took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. Then he reached across her and opened the truck door on her side, gently nudging Jack out of the way.
    â€œWhy don’t you escort your mom inside, Jack. I’ve got some things I have to do.”
    Honey stepped out of the truck without thinking and stood with Jack as Jesse backed the truck and headed down the road that led off Flying Diamond property.
    When the truck was gone, Jack confronted his mother in the faint light from the porch.
    â€œWhy’d you let him kiss you, Mom?”
    â€œJack, I—” Honey didn’t know what to say.
    â€œYou’re not gonna marry him or anything, are you?”
    That she could answer more easily. “No, I’m not going to marry him.” He wasn’t going to be around long enough for that.
    â€œThen why’d you kiss him?” Jack persisted.
    â€œI like Jesse a lot, Jack. When two adults like each other, kissing is a way of expressing that feeling. When you’re a little older, you’ll understand.”
    â€œWell, I don’t like it,” Jack said. “And I don’t like him, either.”
    Honey thought of how hard it was for her son to accept another man in Cale’s place, and to share his mother, whom he’d had to himself for the past year. “You know, Jack, just because I kissed another man doesn’t mean I’ll ever love your father any less. Or you and Jonathan, either.”
    â€œOh, yeah? Well, Dad wouldn’t like it.”
    â€œDad would understand,” Honey said quietly. “He wouldn’t want us to stop living because he’s not here with us. You’re going to keep growing, Jack, and