Hawk's Way Grooms by Joan Johnston Page A

lilacs. It reminded him of warm, lazy summer days they had spent lying on the banks of the pond that bordered the Stonecreek Ranch. He resisted the urge to thread his fingers through her hair. It might comfort her, but it would drive him damn near crazy.
    â€œJust know I’m here if you need me,” he said. “You’d better get to bed, too, because I’m expecting you to walk with me tomorrow.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s a good idea. It would be better if you go alone.”
    He stared at her, wishing he could see the expression on her face. Moonlight filtered in through the kitchen window but left her mostly in shadow. “What’s going on, Jewel? Why are you shutting me out?”
    â€œI got along fine without you for six years, Mac. What makes you think I need you now?”
    Mac was stunned as much by the virulence in her voice as by what she had said. “If you want me out of here, I’m gone.”
    She clutched his forearm as he rose, rubbing at her eyes with the knuckles of her other hand. “Don’t leave. Don’t leave.”
    He pulled her up and into his arms, and she grabbed him tight around his neck and sobbed against his shoulder. He rubbed her back with his open palms, aware suddenly that she was wearing a thin, sleeveless cotton nightgown and nothing else.
    His body turned hard as a rock in two seconds flat.
    His equipment worked all right. At the wrong time. With the wrong woman.
    â€œDamn it all to hell,” he muttered.
    Jewel needed his comfort, not some male animal lusting after her. He kept their hips apart, not wanting his physical response to frighten or distress her. “Tell me what’s wrong, Jewel. Let me help,” he crooned in her ear.
    â€œIt’s too embarrassing,” she said, her face pressed tight against the curve of his shoulder.
    â€œNothing’s too embarrassing for us to talk about, my little carbuncle.”
    She hiccuped a laugh. “Carbuncle? Isn’t that an ugly inflammation—”
    â€œIt’s a red precious stone. I swear.”
    She relaxed, chuckling, and it took all the willpower he had to keep from pulling her tight against him.
    â€œYou always could make me laugh,” she said. “Oh, Mac, I wish you’d come back a long time ago. I missed you.”
    â€œAnd I missed you. Now tell me what’s so embarrassing that you don’t want to talk about it?”
    She sighed, and her breasts swelled against his chest, soft and warm. His heartbeat picked up. Lord, she was dangerous. Why couldn’t this have happened with Eve? Why did it have to be Jewel?
    Her fingers began to play in the hair at his nape. He wondered if she knew what she was doing to him and decided she couldn’t possibly. She wouldn’t purposely turn him on. What she wanted was comfort from a friend. And he intended to give it to her.
    But he wasn’t any more able to stop his body from responding than he had been capable of making it respond. All he could do was try to ignore the part of him that was insisting he do something. He focused his attention on Jewel. She needed his help.
    â€œTell me what’s wrong,” he urged.
    â€œI wish things were different, that’s all.”
    â€œDon’t we all?” he said, thinking of his own situation. “But frankly, that doesn’t sound embarrassing enough to keep to yourself. What is it? Got bucked off your horse? Happens to the best of us. Broke a dish? Do it all the time. If you broke a heart I might worry, but you can always buy another dish.”
    She laughed. The bubbly, effervescent sound he hadn’t heard for six years. He pulled her close and rocked her in his arms in the old, familiar, brotherly way.
    She stiffened, and he realized what he had done. His hips, with the hard bulge in front, were pressed tight against hers. There was no way she could mistake his condition.
    â€œDamn, Jewel,” he said, backing