Nate might be innocent when it came to sex, but he was definitely an old soul. He wore the traits of a caring protector, compassionate defender, and benevolent warrior like a badge of honor.
Suddenly, the puzzle pieces began snapping into place.
Nate hadn’t captured her heart because he was handsome. He’d stolen her heart because he was a good man. The kind of man she dreamed would sweep her off her feet when she was young and foolish enough to believe in fairy tales. She’d naïvely given her heart to a monster pretending to be a knight in shining armor. To a bastard who used ugly words, heavy fists, and the intimidation of a police badge to try and break her will.
It was no wonder Nate charmed her to the bone. He was everything the devil wasn’t.
Gina pushed thoughts of her nasty past away, then gazed back at the stars letting the sounds of rippling water, crickets, and tree frogs lull her into a soothing Zen.
Long minutes later, a shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of orange, blue, and silver in its wake.
“Oh, wow,” she whispered. “Did you see that?”
When Nate didn’t respond, Gina turned to find him staring at her. Instead of looking away, like she did each night at the bar, she drank in the brutally sharp lines of his handsome, sculpted face. Her fingers burned to trace the outline of his rugged jaw, narrow nose, and sculpted cheeks as he held her prisoner with his hypnotic green eyes. Her whole body ached to feel his sensual lips pressed against her heated flesh.
But the heart-breaking fact that she could never have Nate crushed her lofty fantasies. Still, Gina couldn’t look away. Couldn’t stop herself from dragging her stare over the corded muscles of Nate’s thick, tanned arms, narrow waist, and sturdy thighs.
She was torturing herself, but at the same time, Gina was struggling to dissect her feelings. Was she enamored, obsessed, and captivated by Nate simply because he was a good man? No. The young virgin had awakened more than the desires she’d walled off years ago. But letting her longings override common sense was insanely dangerous. Gina had enough danger in her life.
“See what?”
“The shooting star.”
“No. I was looking at something much more beautiful.”
When Nate leaned her way ever so slowly, Gina panicked and sat up. “I think we should head back to town.”
Rejection crawled across his face but Nate quickly banked it. “Yeah, we probably should before I fall asleep and lose my bodyguard privileges.”
Gina chuckled as she stood and brushed the grass off her butt. “If you’re tired, I can drive us back.”
“No. No. I-I’m wide awake.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m a bad driver?”
“I never said that,” he replied, holding the passenger-side door open for her.
“You didn’t have to,” she playfully groused. “Is it a testosterone thing, or an insurance thing?”
“It’s a… a…”
“That’s what I thought. A testosterone thing.” She laughed, absently splaying her hand on his firm chest. “It’s all right. I wasn’t trying to steal your man card, I swear.”
The playful expression fell from his face as Nate glanced down at her hand. His body tensed. So did hers. Especially, when he lifted his lashes and held her with a hungry stare.
“Gina, I—”
“It’s really late. We should go.” The words rushed off her tongue as she dashed inside the truck. Heart pounding, she yanked the door closed and bit back a groan.
Dammit! Why did I have to go and touch him? I’m letting my stupid fantasies screw with my head. Shit!
While Nate steered the truck toward town, an awkward silence hung in the air. Though Gina spent each prickly second mentally kicking her ass for letting her lonely libido paint impossible pictures in her mind, she couldn’t keep from stealing glances at Nate’s rugged profile.
Stop staring and say something, the voice in her head implored.
“Thanks for taking me to your stargazing spot. It’s the most peaceful place on earth.”
Nate briefly took his eyes off the road and smiled softly. “You’re more than welcome to hang out there any time you want.”
“I won’t be trespassing or anything?”
“We’re friends, remember?”
Yeah, friends without benefits, dammit!
“Friends don’t trespass,” he continued. “If anyone asks what you’re doing there simply tell them I invited you.”
“I appreciate that.”
Before another deafening silence had the chance to fill the cab of the truck, Nate pulled to a stop in front of the bar and climbed out. Gina watched him scan a deserted Main Street before opening her door. The instant she stepped out, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Tensing, she narrowed her eyes and glanced at the darkened recessed doorways of Budding Memories, the floral/taxidermy shop, Bart’s Bait and Bible store, and Marshall’s Dry Goods on the other side of the street. Though Gina didn’t see anyone, she still felt as if they were being watched.
“I feel it too, sunshine,” Nate murmured. “Let’s get inside.”
Gina doesn’t know it, but her world is about to turn upside down.
COWBOYS OF HAVEN SERIES
The Cowboy’s Second Chance at Love
The Cowboy’s Thirty-Day Fling
The Cowboy’s Cougar
The Cowboy’s Surprise Vegas Baby
About The Author
USA Today Bestselling author Jenna Jacob paints a canvas of passion, romance, and humor as her alpha men and the feisty women who love them unravel their souls, heal their scars, and find a happy-ever-after kind of love. Heart-tugging, captivating, and steamy, her words will leave you breathless and craving more.
A mom of four grown children, Jenna, her husband Sean, and their furry babies reside in Kansas. Though she spent over thirty years in accounting, Jenna isn’t your typical bean counter. She’s brassy, sassy, and loves to laugh, but is humbly thrilled to be living her dream as a full-time author. When she’s not slamming coffee while pounding out emotional stories, you can find her reading, listening to music, cooking, camping, or enjoying the open road on the back of a Harley.
CONNECT WITH JENNA:
Website: www.jennajacob.com
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Other Titles By Jenna Jacob
COWBOYS OF HAVEN SERIES
The Cowboy’s Second Chance at Love
The Cowboy’s Thirty-Day Fling
The Cowboy’s Cougar
The Cowboy’s Surprise Vegas Baby
THE DOMS OF GENESIS SERIES
Embracing My Submission
Masters of My Desire
Master of My Mind
Saving My Submission
Seduced By My Doms
Lured By My Master
Sin City Submission
Bound to Surrender
Resisting My Submission
Craving His Command
Seeking My Destiny
BAD BOYS OF ROCK SERIES
Rock Me
Rock Me Longer
Rock Me Harder
Rock Me Slower
Rock Me Faster
Rock Me Deeper
PASSIONATE HEARTS SERIES
Small Town Second Chance
STAND ALONES
Innocent Uncaged
THE UNBROKEN SERIES – RAINE FALLING
The Broken (Prequel)
The Betrayal, Book One
The Break, Book Two
The Brink, Book Three
The Bond, Book Four
THE UNBROKEN SERIES – HEAVENLY RISING
The Choice
The Chase
The Commitment