A Family to Come Home To (Saddle Falls) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she could only categorize as pure, blind lust. It had been so long, she was surprised she recognized it, she thought in amusement. “I guess you could say…uh…playing with your mama just might be one of the things I came back for.” Tucking his tongue in his cheek, he rocked back on the heels of his boots as Hannah’s face flamed.
    With a laugh, she shook her head. Jesse was as charming as the rest of his brothers, but unlike Jake, Jared and Josh, she found herself responding to Jesse, something she knew she couldn’t do. She’d simply pretend to ignore whatever electricity was arcing between them. If she ignored it, she wouldn’t have to deal with it or worry about it.
    “Well, Jesse, it’s nice to know some things haven’t changed,” she said with a smile. “You still have a wicked sense of humor.”
    “Hannah,” he said carefully, not wanting there to be any confusion. “Make no mistake. Everything has changed.” His face slowly sobered as he took in his surroundings with an uneasy glance. “I’ve changed.” He brought his eyes back to hers. “I’m not Jesse Ryan,” he said quietly but firmly, sending a chill over her, dashing all the warm feelings. “At least not the Jesse Ryan you remember.” Frustrated, he dragged a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “Hell, at the moment, I don’t know who I am.”
    “Mama, Uncle Jesse said a bad word.”
    “Uh, yes, honey, I know,” Hannah said, banking a smile.
    Riley turned to Jesse. “You’re not supposed to say bad words, Uncle Jesse. They’re not pul-lite.”
    “You’re absolutely right, Miss Riley,” Jesse said, struggling to smother a smile as well. He gave Hannah a quick, amused glance before bringing his gaze, somber now, back to the indignant imp. “I’m not supposed to use bad words. My mama taught me better than that, and I sure do apologize.”
    With a frown, Riley continued to study him before turning to her mother, her eyes clouded in confusion. “Mama, are you sure he’s not Uncle Jake?” Riley shook her head, setting her pigtails waving to and fro. “’Cuz Uncle Jake says bad words sometimes, too. And he really looks like Uncle Jake.”
    Hannah laughed at her daughter’s logic, completely understanding her confusion. “Well, honey, that’s because Uncle Jesse is Uncle Jake’s brother.”
    Riley’s face brightened. “So if we get a new baby sister or brother for me, will it look like me?”
    “That’s right, sweetheart,” Hannah said with a laugh, realizing Jesse was still studying her. Knowing those glorious, gorgeous blue eyes were appraising, measuring her, made her incredibly nervous. She shrugged to hide it. “Well, Jesse, I’m sorry, but you do look just like Jake.”
    He nodded, struggling to digest that information. “That’s what I’ve gathered.”
    She studied him for a moment, a flicker of something close to apprehension settling in. “You don’t remember?” she asked quietly. “You don’t remember your brothers?” she asked, trying to hide her horror at the mere thought.
    Jesse blew out a frustrated breath and shook his head slowly. “No, ma’am, I reckon I don’t.”
    A thousand questions suddenly sprang to Hannah’s mind. None of which had any answers. Where had he been?
    Where had he lived?
    Who’d raised him?
    What had his life been like?
    Why hadn’t he come home?
    Struggling to hide her concern, Hannah searched for a safer topic, something that would give her a moment to regain her footing. Realizing she’d introduced Jesse to Riley, but not vice versa, she forced a smile past her nerves as she continued the introductions. “Jesse, this is my daughter, Riley.”
    “Well, Miss Riley,” Jesse said. “I’m always happy to meet such a pretty little lady.”
    “I’m five,” Riley offered, holding up one sticky hand and spreading her fingers. “And I get to go to kindergarten in a few weeks.”
    “You do? Kindergarten?” Jesse drew back, pretending to be surprised.