[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

it was the trim color of his parents paddocks, since he d wanted consistency throughout
all the ranches. His warm tone illustrated a closeness with his parents.
She had looked around for his home, but several mature blue spruce trees down the
private driveway hid it.
Suddenly, the lake sparkled as the trail broke into a clearing of trampled wheat and
sagebrush holding large rocks baking in the sun. Thick trees surrounded the vista on three
sides while a steep incline led down to the water far below. The landscape was oddly
similar to her dream the previous night, but not enough to cause alarm.
Jake jumped lithely off his stallion near the edge of the trees, turned, and reached to
lift Sophie from Mertyl. His hands remained warm and strong around her waist as she
regained her balance and stretched already protesting muscles. He waited until she met
his gaze.
 That wasn t so bad, was it? Amusement wove through his tone.
Her heart accelerated as his midnight eyes ran over her face in an almost physical
caress. Sophie shook her head. She d agreed to the trip so she could see her client s land
from a different perspective, not to flirt with the sexy lawyer. So she stepped back, and
he released her.
Sophie turned toward the lake, letting its placidness calm her nerves while Jake tied
reins to trees before grabbing two backpacks slung over his horse. He deftly shook out a
tightly woven blanket with white, red, and brown-stitched patterns and spread it on the
ground before adding plates, containers of food, and a bottle of wine.
 You really come prepared. Sophie sat gingerly on the beautiful blanket.
A dimple flirted in his left cheek as Jake opened the containers.  My daughter helped
pack the essentials.
 You have a daughter?
 Yeah. Pride shone in his deep eyes.  Leila. She just turned six.
 Pretty name, Sophie murmured. Caution stiffened her spine.  You re not, I mean,
you re not married, are you? The heated kiss from the previous afternoon flashed
through her mind.
 No. My wife died when Leila was only two. Pain stamped down hard on the sharp
angles of his face.
 I m sorry. It wasn t enough.
 Me, too. He handed her a plate before opening the wine.
An orange-breasted robin hopped closer to the blanket, its beady eyes on the feast.
 How did she die, Jake?
He handed her a glass of Chardonnay.  She died running away from me. He effectively
ended the conversation by passing her a container filled with fried chicken.
They ate in silence. Sophie wondered about his deceased wife but didn t want to spoil
the afternoon with sadness. She d ask later.
 It s so peaceful here, Sophie mused as two more robins joined the first.
 Yes. Without a golf course, Jake said dryly.
 Golf courses are peaceful places. Sophie tossed her empty plate into a garbage sack.
 At least if they re designed correctly.
 Not the same, Soph. Jake gestured at the deep green lake below them.  The risk isn t
worth it.
Irritation jangled her nerves.  The golf course won t pollute your lake.
 The science doesn t confirm that. Again, it s not worth the risk. Besides, you don t own
any of the land, do you?
She exhaled slowly, holding on to her temper.  No. A private company owns the land.
They just hired us to design the golf course. The sun beat down, and Sophie inhaled the
crisp air.
 Well then, maybe we re on the same side here.
Sophie rolled her eyes.  Is this when the land starts speaking to me?
Jake reached out one broad arm and yanked Sophie down beside him to face the
clouds.  The land has been whispering since you arrived. You just need to listen.
Sophie quieted with her head on Jake s muscled shoulder, her face turned to the sky,
her back comfortable against the blanket. She really should get up. Or move away. But he
was so warm, so solid. She ignored her inner voice and shut her eyes to listen.
A breeze scattered pine needles to the hard earth. Honeysuckle layered the wind with
sweetness. Birds twittered to each other in song, and Jake breathed deep and sure next
to her. She opened her eyes. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • alwayshope.keep.pl

    •