The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles #1)(18)

Holly returned Luisa’s smile. She couldn’t help but like the younger woman. Beneath her dark beauty shone kindness and what Holly sensed was true caring for Jack and his son.

"Do you have children, Luisa?"

"No. Carlos and I have tried for years, but it hasn’t happened for us yet. I have Sam. Carlos and I love him like he’s our own. And we have lots of nieces and nephews who we dote on. Most of Carlos’s family is still in Mexico, but I have seven brothers, and they all have kids." Luisa’s black eyes filmed over—only a bit, but Holly noticed.

And she understood.

She reached across the table and patted Luisa’s hand. "It may happen yet, Luisa. You’re young."

"Yes, I am only twenty-seven. I pray every night for a baby of my own. Until it happens, I take care of Sam for Jack."

"How long have you been taking care of Sam?"

"Since he came." Luisa’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. "Carlos and I have been on the ranch since we got married. I was only nineteen at the time. Carlos didn’t speak much English, so I came with him to speak to Jack about working here on the ranch. My mother works for his mother and she sent us over here."

"Does his mother live nearby?"

"Si, on a neighboring ranch. His father passed away last year."

"I’m sorry."

"He was very ill with cancer. It was for the best."

The C-word. Chills crept up Holly’s spine. Would she ever be able to say it out loud? There was so much she didn’t know about Jack, and so much she wanted to learn, but wouldn’t be able to.

"Sam’s all tucked in." Jack’s voice boomed as he entered the kitchen.

"I’ll get home, then," Luisa said, rising. "It was great talking to you, Holly."

"You too," Holly said and meant it. "I’m looking forward to our cooking lesson on Sunday."

"I thought you said you could cook," Jack said to Holly, his gorgeous full lips curved into that lazy half smile she adored.

"I can. American, French, a little Japanese even, but not Mexican. I want to learn."

"Luisa’s the best, then. I’ll stay out of your way on Sunday."

They laughed as Luisa left.

"I took your bag upstairs for you," Jack said, pulling Holly to her feet.

"I suppose you have a guest room?"

"I do. But I was hoping you’d stay with me."

Her tummy fluttered. "You know I’d love to, but Sam...."

"I’m a grown man, sugar. Sam doesn’t have any say about who I sleep with."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, I could put you up in the guestroom, but I’d be sneakin’ in there with you. And if Sam woke up in the middle of the night lookin’ for me and I wasn’t there, that’d sure be more traumatic for him then finding a hot woman in my bed."

Holly couldn’t help but laugh. Why was he so damned wonderful?

"What do you want to do tonight? We can watch a movie. I have a great DVD collection."

"How about a walk? I’d love to see more of your ranch."

"I do like the sound of that, sugar, but I sent Luisa home. I can’t leave Sam."

"Oh." The warmth of embarrassment coated Holly’s cheeks. "I’m sorry. I’m not used to being around kids. I don’t know what I was thinking."

"It’s okay. I hope you’ll get used to Sam, though. I want you to get to know him. He’s a wonderful kid."

"I know that already." She cupped his cheek tenderly, let her fingers scrape over the rugged stubble of his night beard. "And he has a great dad."

Was that a blush on his neck and cheeks? He was so handsome and his humility made him more adorable. "I promise you a great tour of the place tomorrow, with Sam and me as guides." He covered her hand, still on his cheek, with his own. Its warmth radiated through Holly’s skin all the way to her core. "Tonight, though, I can give you a bird’s eye view of the big dipper from my deck, if you’d like. You can see stars out here that you just can’t see in the city, sugar. It’s amazing."

"I’d love that." She leaned upward and brushed her lips gently over his.

He deepened the kiss, but only for a moment. "We can make love under the stars, Holly." His low voice hummed against her lips.

"How is it that you do this, Jack?"

"Do what?"

"Make me want you so much? It’s like I’m not myself anymore. I can’t see, I can’t hear, I can’t even breathe."

His lips moved against hers in a smile and he nipped her chin. "I’m so glad this isn’t all one-sided. You’re so beautiful. I can’t get enough of looking at you. And right now, I want to look at you under the Big Dipper."





Chapter Nine


Jack’s redwood deck wrapped around the back and both sides of the ranch house. They sat together on an old-fashioned porch swing holding hands, not saying much, until the sun set and the stars shone in the black night sky. Holly’s breath caught at the beauty of it all. Jack had been right. The country sky held secrets she’d never seen. The Big Dipper was vibrant in its luminescence and lesser stars she hadn’t known existed twinkled all around it.