Free The Cowboy's Temptation by Elizabeth Lennox Page B

gently into a chair. “Relax.”
     
Elissa put Veronica’s feet up on the chair next to her. “Your feet are all swollen. You know better than to push yourself this hard,” she said.
     
Elissa turned and started pulling sandwich food out of the refrigerator. “How many sandwiches should I make?”
    “Six or seven for me, darlin’” Rick said from immediately walked over to his wife and kissed her cheek. had a pretty rough night last night.”
the kitchen doorway. He
“You taking it easy? You
     
Veronica nodded but didn’t let go of his hand. “I’m okay.”
     
“You need help with those sandwiches?” Jake said from behind her.
    Elissa had seen him come through the door right behind Rick but had turned away, frightened by the feelings he stirred within her. She’d only seen him out at the barn in his dusty jeans and cowboy hat. She could barely breathe with him standing there so sexy, his leather gloves in one hand as he leaned against a cabinet, his arms crossed over his broad, muscular chest.
    Elissa blushed, realizing that she was staring at him. She quickly looked down at the counter. “No, no. I can handle it. I’m sorry I’ve taken over your kitchen,” she said, “but Ronny and I were cleaning and she didn’t want to get her kitchen messy and since I’d been in here already so much, I didn’t think you’d mind and I didn’t think I’d be in your way…” she said, her voice trailing off. She was rambling and didn’t know how to stop. If he would just stop staring at her with those dark, blue eyes of his. Good grief he was sexy, she thought.
“You’re not in my way,” he said, his deep voice was quiet and seemed to be a few inches closer than he was a moment ago.
     
“Oh,” Elissa said breathily. “Well, I guess I’d better make lunch then.”
     
Jake didn’t reply, but his lips formed a soft smile.
    Elissa grabbed the loaf of bread and made several sandwiches, piling on the meat and cheese for the men. They all sat down at the large kitchen table that looked out over the pool shimmering in the afternoon sunlight. Rick and Jake talked about the plans for the afternoon while Elissa and Veronica just munched on their food. Well, Elissa munched. Veronica gorged. She ate two sandwiches before she declared that she needed a nap.
Rick took one look at her face and rushed around the table to lift her up into his arms. “Why don’t you just rest on the couch in here, Ronny?”
    Veronica was almost asleep as soon as he picked her up so she nodded sleepily in response. Rick deposited his wife on Jake’s extra large sectional sofa, then pulled a blanket over her already sleeping form.
When he walked back into the kitchen, he smiled at Elissa. “Want your riding lesson today?” he offered.
     
Elissa curled her blistered hands up, then hid them under the table so the men wouldn’t see them. “No, I think I’ll pass today.”
     
“What’s wrong with your hands?” Jake asked, already standing up to come around the table to take a look.
    Elissa quickly stood up and grabbed the plates. “Nothing, I just think you two have better things to do than to teach me how to ride Jemima. The horse might need a break as well,” she explained. A moment later the plates were taken out of her hands and Jake’s large, callused hands were gently turning hers over so he could see the effects of the past week on her soft skin.
“Why didn’t you tell me that your hands were like this?” he demanded, his eyes staring into hers.
    Elissa tried to close her fingers over her palms but Jake wasn’t having any of that. He pulled her fingers out again, examining the blisters in the middle of her palms. “Come on,” he said and pulled her behind him out of the house.
“Where are we going?” she asked, almost running to keep up with him.
    He didn’t answer her but pulled her along all the way to the barn. There, he pulled a jar out of a cabinet at one end. He put a thick cream all over her hands,