The Rancher's Hand-Picked Bride. Elizabeth August

don’t I understand?”

      “Look, I’m hungry. I’m going to see if Lilly has lunch ready.” Her tone let him know she considered their conversation over.

      Jess shook his head. “I’ve never met a woman as closemouthed as you.”

      “Most men would be grateful for that. Isn’t ‘women talking too much’ one of your major complaints?” He was still blocking the doorway. Normally she would have pushed past, but recalling the effect of contact with him, she chose not to get too close. “Would you mind moving out of my way?”

      Jess took a couple of paces back into the hall.

      Passing him, she headed toward the kitchen, only to hear his footfalls behind her. She glanced impatiently over her shoulder, then stopped and turned back. “Do you have some reason for dogging my tracks?”

      “I came to tell you that Lilly has lunch ready,” he replied in an easy drawl.

      As usual, in Jess Logan’s presence, she’d overreacted. She handled being around other men just fine…always remaining in cool control. But he seemed to bring out the worst in her, causing her to suddenly be terse and impolite. It’s not him; it’s me, she admitted grudgingly. Something about him threatened her control. He was so darn…virile. This thought shook her and she shoved it from her mind. “Thanks,” she said in a level tone. Wanting to put distance between them, she again started down the hall.

      Jess fell into step beside her. “Didn’t you get bored sitting in that room all morning? You could have said you wanted to do some visual surveillance and run into town.”

      “I was doing my preliminary workups.”

      He frowned. “What for? This is just a game to pacify Morning Hawk.”

      “She’ll expect to see some paperwork.”

      “She may, but I don’t. I figure if I’m interested enough in a person, I’ll find out what I need to know myself, in my own way.”

      “That’s exactly what a lot of the women I end up working for said the first, second and third times around before they finally realized how devious some people can be and came to me.”

      “I’m not the victim type.”

      Gwen had to admit that was her feeling, too. Still, a cautionary cord in her caused her to say, “Anyone can be a victim when it comes to love.”

      “I suppose. But I’m willing to take my chances.”

      She told herself to drop the subject, but heard herself countering with, “Don’t forget the old adage, The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

      “So, I’ll just have to make sure that when I fall, the woman I choose will be the kind who won’t let me get hurt.”

      Gwen found herself hoping that same thing. What startled her was the strength of that hope. It came very close to feeling actually protective of him.

      “You got hurt? A fence barb get you?” Morning Hawk questioned sharply, catching the last three words as Gwen and Jess entered the kitchen. “Let me see.”

      “We were talking about women.” Jess’s gaze leveled on his great-grandmother. “I don’t intend to get hurt by one. And especially not because I let someone push me into something I’m not ready for.”

      “I’m just giving you a little nudge. I’m not shoving you off a cliff.”

      Lilly eyed the group, her hands on her hips. “If you ask me, I think Jess should be left alone and allowed to get married when he’s ready and not before.”

      Jess gave Lilly an approving look. “Thanks.”

      Lilly’s gaze focused on Morning Hawk. “Meddling in other people’s business, especially their love life, can bring results you least expect,” she warned. Then clamping her lips shut to indicate she’d said all she felt she needed to say on this subject, she returned to putting food on the table.

      Morning Hawk regarded the housekeeper indulgently, then turned to Gwen. “You should go out with Jess this afternoon. You need to know as much about him as possible to find the right match.”

      “I really don’t think tagging along after him is necessary,” Gwen protested, silently cursing the elderly woman for what she considered pushing this charade much further than was necessary. “Besides, I don’t know how to ride.”

      Morning Hawk regarded her patronizingly. “Then it’s time you did.”

      “I really…”

      “You might as well give up now,” Jess interrupted. “She’s not going to stop until she has her way.”

      “But I’m sure you’re much too busy to teach me how to handle a horse.”

      “I feel certain you of all people will pick it up very quickly,” Jess returned. “All you need to do to make a horse behave is let him know that you’re not scared of him and consider yourself in command. You’re too tough to be afraid or to give an inch in your authority.”

      He made her sound hard as nails. And the truth was that she prided herself on being just that. But for some reason, hearing him say it made her feel subhuman. “Some people don’t have it as easy as others. They have to learn to be tough to survive.” Immediately she clamped her mouth shut. Why was she always blurting out things in front of him that she’d never said aloud to anyone else before? Beetles, she cursed mentally.

      “I didn’t mean to sound critical,” Jess apologized. Then he added, “Well, maybe I did a little. I’m used to women showing at least a semblance of a soft side.”

      Back in control, Gwen managed a shrug of indifference. “Well, just consider me one of the guys.”

      “That’s an excellent idea.” Morning Hawk broke in, smiling broadly at Gwen and then turning her grin on Jess. “Men always tell each other things they wouldn’t tell a female and Gwen needs to know as much about you as possible to find the perfect match.”

      Both Gwen and Jess frowned at her delight, then turned their attention to their food.