Chance McCall Read Online Free PDF Page B

grinned and then the smile faded. “Don’t know how special it’ll be when she comes home to a damned empty house again. I know you’ll be here, but you know what I mean.”
    Juana nodded. “ Es verdad ,” she said softly, and then looked in the direction that Chance had gone. “But Jenny won’t mind…not as long as that one is here.”
    She and Henry stared at each other, absorbing the truth of her words. They’d long been aware of the affection Jenny had for Chance. And they’d watched it grow from a child’s dependence to a woman’s love. Henry, more than anyone else, knew how much Jenny meant to Chance. But he didn’t understand the man. There was a line in the big man’s mind that he couldn’t seem to cross.
    Only Chance knew what made him keep Jenny at arm’s length.
    “The man’s on his way,” Chance said, as he walked back into the kitchen. “Come on, Henry. I told him we’d meet him at the west pasture.”
    Henry nodded and grabbed one last cookie on his way out the door.
    Juana frowned as she watched them leave. But she wasn’t frowning at the fact that the old cowboy had sneaked another cookie. She was worried about the silence that had enveloped Chance when Jenny’s name had been mentioned.

    It was spitting snow. Tiny flakes mixed with minute pellets of ice that bit into Chance’s already frozen cheeks as he parked the ranch’s four-by-four truck and made a run for his quarters. Having a house to himself, however small, was going to be a welcome respite tonight. It had been rough spending holidays alone in the bed-lined bunkhouse when he’d first signed on at the Triple T. Then he’d had to face the fact that everyone on the ranch had someone…somewhere…except him. Now, because he was always alone, tonight would be like any other.
    He pushed the door open, and it slammed itself shut as he made a beeline for the fire burning in his stove.
    “Merry Christmas,” Jenny said softly, letting her eyes feast on the tall cowboy who’d just come in from the cold.
    He spun around in surprise. She stepped out of the shadows and walked toward him. He forgot to speak. My God, how she’d changed! Too much! He didn’t know what to say to this Jenny. The girl who’d gone away to college had come back a woman.
    “Here, let me help you out of that coat,” she said, and began unfastening the heavy sheepskin jacket, brushing away ice and snow as her fingers journeyed from button to button.
    Her blue eyes burned as clear and hot as a summer day. His hands caught her fingers as the last button came open just below his belt buckle.
    She looked up, trying to get her gaze past his mouth but failing. Those lips, usually so hard and unyielding, had softened and curved into a smile of welcome.
    “Merry Christmas, yourself, Jennifer Ann,” Chance whispered as he slid her arms around his waist and wrapped her inside his coat. Her cheek lay against the steady rhythm of his heart as his arms enfolded her. She inhaled sharply and blinked back tears. She was home!
    “I missed you,” he said softly.
    Jenny swallowed hard, twice, before she trusted herself to speak. “Don’t tell me that,” she teased, her eyes flashing a warning he didn’t want to interpret. She leaned back, bracing herself against his arms. “I know all about those women in town, mister. You don’t have time to miss anyone.”
    His heartbeat doubled as the blood hammered against his chest. “You’re too well informed for my peace of mind,” Chance muttered, and tightened his hold on her waist. It felt wonderful to be holding her, touching her.
    “You have no secrets from me,” she teased.
    Oh, but I do , Chance thought.
    Chance knew he shouldn’t. He knew it would be a mistake. But he couldn’t help himself, or stop Jenny. He stared at her face, inhaled sharply, and lowered his head.
    His mouth was cold on her lips, moving gently, tentatively and, for Jenny, too achingly slow. She sighed, shifted in his arms, and stepped