Free Ten Acres and Twins by Kaitlyn Rice Page A

divorce was long gone, but the hurt about her ex-husband’s infidelities would remain in her heart forever.
    It wasn’t about missing Tim, either. She’d realized that a long time ago. Her deepest wound festered because of her complete failure to choose a husband who could even be considered decent. She felt so inadequate in that regard that she didn’t think she’d ever regain her confidence.
    So she stayed away from men.
    She felt Jack’s hand slide along her neck and stop just under her chin. He lifted her face with his index finger, until her gaze met his again. “He played around?”
    â€œHe played around.”
    She couldn’t keep the humiliation out of her voice, or off her face. And she felt silly. These days, how many people let a five-year-old mistake affect them so acutely?
    Jack didn’t say a word, but he took a step closer.
    Amazing, she thought, how powerful that man-woman magnetism could be—especially when you hadn’t been around it for a while. Just having Jack’s blue eyes skim across her face often felt as seductive as a caress. It made her want to relax and enjoy it, for just a moment.
    And now, when his thumb rubbed along the hollow in her neck, she couldn’t find the will to pull away.
    Those charmer’s eyes were gazing straight into hers, and were offering much more than a simple glance. They looked so very, very attentive.
    She bit her bottom lip, scarcely daring to breathe.
    As much as she wanted to avoid getting closer to him, rightnow she just wanted to kiss him. And she wanted him to kiss her back.
    Wasn’t that what he was offering with those eyes? She ached for a real, on-the-lips kiss.
    The bachelor-repelling plan could start later, when they were out of this enchanted orchard. When this moment had passed. She sighed, wishing she could allow herself just one, single respite. Then she could get back to her lonely resolve.
    He took another step closer, bent his head down.
    And granted her wish.

CHAPTER FOUR
    E XCEPT HE MISSED .
    The short, soft peck on the side of her mouth was too short, too soft and ever so disappointing. Afterward, he moved his face back and kept his eyes closed. He licked his bottom lip, as if he was assessing the taste. Then he popped his eyes open and backed up a few steps. “You shouldn’t take it personally,” he said. “Men aren’t built for long-term relationships.”
    She felt cheated of her kiss, and suspected that he’d just stifled his own desire. Scowling up at him, she asked, “You don’t think so?”
    â€œHey, I’ve been a man for a long time. I know so.”
    He started to walk again, but was still headed out toward the edge of the acreage. Abby was ready to go back to the house, so she stood her ground and hollered, “They can be if they love the woman.”
    He turned around and yelled, “Old men, not young and virile ones.”
    Abby’s mouth dropped open. “How old is that? Seventy? Human populations would die out.”
    â€œMaybe not that old, and maybe not every man,” he said as he headed back in her direction. “But a woman shouldn’t expect a commitment from a man until he’s past the reckless stage.”
    When he reached her, she started walking alongside him. “My parents were about twenty when they married,” she pointed out.
    â€œSo were mine,” he said. “My feeble excuse for a dad leftwhen Brian was three. My mother was crushed. She spent the next ten years falling for every man who looked at her.”
    â€œThat’s too bad, but it isn’t always that way,” she said. “Brian and Paige were married at eighteen.”
    Abby stopped to put her hands on her hips and glare at Jack. She couldn’t fathom a reason for this argument. She certainly had no desire to marry again. She just hated his jaded views, regardless of the fact that hers were worse.
    â€œBut you said