With Family In Mind (Saddle Falls Book 1) by Sharon de Vita Page A

She glanced at him, unable to stop staring at his incredible face. The dark stubble of beard he wore only added to his masculine attractiveness. She had an unbearable urge to run her fingers over his cheek to see how the stubble felt. The thought shocked her silly, and she primly laced her fingers together to prevent herself from touching him.
    Making herself glance away from him, she decided she needed to keep her mind on their conversation.
    “Do you know why I became a reporter?” she asked, pushing a few strands of windblown hair off her face. The windows were open, and the warm breezed rushed in, ruffling her hair.
    “Is this a multiple choice question?” he asked with a frown, looking at her briefly. “Okay, it is,” he continued, without giving her a chance to respond. “Let’s see, it’s either because you’re nosy, you like prying into other people’s private lives or because you like making up lies, right?”
    She laughed, surprising him. He thought for certain she’d get annoyed or offended, that a cool look would fill her eyes or that icy detachment would blanket her face.
    “None of the above,” she said, glancing out the window and trying not to take offense at his words. Sheer pride had her holding her tongue.
    On some level she could understand his venom. After what he’d been through, what his family had beenthrough, the publicity must have been unbearable, so his animosity was understandable. Perhaps she, better than anyone, could understand his feelings, for she, too, had shared similar feelings and experiences. “I’m actually a very private person myself.”
    He snorted, making her frown.
    “You find that funny?” she asked with a lift of her brow.
    “Not funny—exactly,” he said with a grin. Her voice was chilly enough to drop the temperature ten degrees. The ice princess was back. Apparently whenever he ruffled her feathers or got too close, she turned into an ice queen. He couldn’t help but find it intriguing.
    Clearly, this was a woman who protected herself in the clinches, and liked to keep people at bay. She did it so easily, so effortlessly, it had obviously been a long-time habit, and that made him wonder why. What was she hiding that she didn’t want anyone to see?
    “So you’re a private person, huh?” There was no hint of amusement in his tone. Jake glanced at her for a long moment, grateful he was stopped at a red light. “You’re in a rather strange profession for someone who considers herself a private person, don’t you think? I mean, considering that what you do for a living is pry into other people’s lives and violate their privacy.” He stared at Rebecca long enough to make her look away, but not before he saw the female interest, the attraction, as well as the confusion, as if she didn’t know what the heck was happening between them.
    Impossible. Every woman alive knew how to recognize the mating game; hell, women had invented the moves, and usually led the dance. It pleased him on some level to know that she, too, seemed a bit off balance by the currents of electricity that seemed to be sparking between them. Unable to resist, he reached out and touched her arm. Through the silk of her blouse he could feel the warm, silky skin beneath. It almost made his breath hitch as his imagination immediately conjured up that smooth skin naked, that firm body aching and under him. “I’m sorry, I just find that hard to believe.”
    “Well, believe it,” Rebecca said firmly, startled by his touch, and by the way her pulse seemed to skid and then scamper every time he touched her. “I happen to think privacy is a very important commodity. I expect people to respect and value my privacy just as I respect and value theirs.” She couldn’t look at him right now, not when her heart was still thudding because she feared he might touch her again, or worse, that he wouldn’t.
    “Well, I’m glad to hear you think privacy is an important commodity to be valued