The Cowboy Lassos a Bride(2)

As her body came alive under his touch, Hannah realized just how bad  things between her and Cody had become. He never made her feel like  this-her heart thrumming, her pulse racing, her breath caught in her  throat. Jake, on the other hand, made her senses reel. She tingled all  over from his proximity.

"Enjoying the wedding?" he murmured. If he wanted, she knew he could  easily rest his chin on top of her head. He held her carefully but  firmly, and she felt safe in his arms. Protected. Valued in a way she  wanted to be valued. She could tell by the way he moved with her that he  was very aware of her too. Knowing his thoughts were on her-not just  his hands-was as intoxicating as any glass of champagne. The play of his  muscles under his shirt delighted her. She wished she could touch him.  Run a hand over his chest. She tilted her head down so he wouldn't be  able to read her thoughts in her face. This was a man who could warm her  through any long, cold Montana night.                       
       
           



       

She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. The testosterone leaking  out of this handsome cowboy must be playing havoc with her hormones.  Jake wasn't interested in her that way. He was dancing with her out of  pity, just like the rest of them.

"It's nice," she managed to say finally.

"Where's Cody tonight?"

Hannah leaned back to peer up at him. She was surprised he even  remembered Cody. Had the two men even crossed paths? She wasn't sure.  "He didn't feel like coming. He's not much for weddings." She suppressed  a sigh.

"He ought to know better than to leave a pretty girl like you alone in a situation like this."

"Why? What could possibly happen to me?" She smiled up at him as he  smiled down. Flirting with Jake was the last thing she'd expected to  happen when she arrived here tonight, but it felt as comfortable to do  so as if she'd had years of practice. If only this dance could last more  than a few minutes. She wanted it to go on forever.

"Who knows what kind of unsavory elements might get a hold of you."

His fingers pressed into her skin and she leaned into his embrace,  realized what she was doing and tried to pull back. He didn't let her.  His hands settled more tightly at her waist and kept her pressed up  against the length of him. Suddenly Hannah could hardly breathe.

"I'm impervious to unsavory elements," she made herself say, but her voice sounded weak. Unsure.

He stopped dancing for a moment. Started again. "Impervious?" He dipped  his head lower so that his lips were near her ear. "Are you sure?"

Not when his breath tickled her neck like that. "Absolutely."

One of his hands slipped down just a fraction of an inch on her waist,  but it was enough to make its position almost indecorous. His other arm  wrapped around her to make it entirely clear who was in charge here.  Hannah was aware of every inch of his body that pressed against hers.  Her heart was beating strong and fast. She clung to him, so off-balance  as to be dizzy.

Jake swayed with her to the music and Hannah wondered if everyone could  see the way desire was setting her nerves alight. She now knew just how  intimate a simple dance could become when one partner was determined to  seduce the other.

Because that's what Jake was doing. Seducing her. Reeling her in until  he was the only thing she could think about. It was working, too.

"Let's test that theory, shall we?" Suddenly he was pulling her back  through the tables, across the reception hall and out into a corridor.  He traced its length, trying the handles of the doors they passed to  storage rooms, smaller meeting rooms and the like. Hannah stumbled after  him, not caring who saw them or what they thought. She just wanted to  be with Jake. Anywhere he wanted to be.

Finally one opened. Hardly bigger than a closet, it appeared to be a  break room for the staff. Jake spun her back into his arms, backed her  up against a counter and kissed the daylights out of her.

Hannah only had a fleeting thought of Cody at home on his rundown couch,  in his boxers and a T-shirt, a six-pack and a bag of chips on the  coffee table, television remote in his hand. Then she could think of  nothing else but Jake. The man's mouth on hers, devouring her, kissing  her until she had to gasp for breath, his hands smoothing over her  waist, almost dipping down over her ass, but hesitating, not crossing  that threshold.

Not yet.

Hannah knew this could go as far as she wanted to take it. Knew too that  Jake was too much a gentleman to push for more than she was willing to  give. How much was she willing to give? She wasn't sure. Except with  each passing moment she felt closer to wanting to give him everything.  The champagne she had drunk lent a warm glow to the workaday room.  Jake's arms around her, his mouth on hers made her forget everything  else.

She wondered briefly who this wanton woman was. It couldn't be her-safe,  quiet Hannah who'd supported herself since she was barely eighteen.  She'd never done something so reckless, so out of character. But she  couldn't stop. She didn't want to.

As she twined her arms around Jake's neck, he lifted her suddenly and  placed her on the counter. Never breaking off the kiss that was searing  her straight down to her soul, he pulled her tight against him and she  reflexively wrapped her legs around his waist, her gown riding up over  her thighs.

"Hannah," he groaned as he trailed kisses down her neck. "Hannah, you drive me wild."

Hannah blinked, but surrendered to his ongoing sensual attacks. This was  news to her. She would have bet he'd never noticed her in his life.

Sure, they'd been thrown together last week at one of Ethan and Autumn's  poker nights. She'd asked him some questions about an article she'd  read-something about sustainable ranching. Apparently she'd hit on one  of his favorite topics and they'd discussed it at length-as  acquaintances at a get-together. Then the poker game had started and  that had been that. She hadn't given it another thought. Having a crush  on Jake would be like lusting after your older brother's best  friend-completely safe because its outcome was completely predictable.                       
       
           



       

Except now Jake was kissing her. As if he couldn't get enough. And she  was kissing him back just as passionately because she'd never liked  kissing a man this much. Was it the champagne? Or the unexpectedness of  it? Whatever the reason, the more they made out, the more she wanted  him.

Jake kept one hand at her waist to hold her firmly against him. He slid  the other one higher until he almost cupped her breast, but hesitated.  Hannah knew he was asking for permission. She didn't think about the  consequences. She leaned forward until her breast pressed into his hand.  She caught her breath as he ran his thumb over her sensitive nipple.  Heat throbbed between her legs. Jake groaned and pulled her even closer.  She could feel his hardness through their clothes.

How far would they take this? Would she stop him? Could she?

A sudden tumult in the distance had them both stiffening. There was a  clamor of voices. "The bride and groom are leaving," someone called to  someone else.

Hannah looked at Jake. Saw regret in his eyes. Knew he'd see the same in hers. "I have to go-I'm the maid of honor!"

Jake backed away. She hopped off the counter and straightened her dress.

"Do I look okay?" she asked as they approached the door.

"You look …  amazing." Jake bent down and kissed her again. "Hannah … "

"We'd better hurry."

"All right."

Jake went first. She waited a minute, then followed, joining the crowd  that had erupted from the main reception hall to escort the bride and  groom to the waiting limousine. She joined her voice to the ones wishing  Bella and Evan well. Got a quick hug from both bride and groom. Waved  until the limo was out of sight. Then she turned to search the crowd.

And saw Jake bending down to talk to Tracey Richards, a waitress at  Linda's Diner who helped Autumn with her guest ranch business from time  to time, too. As she watched, Jake tugged a lock of Tracey's hair.  Tracey blushed and laughed.

Hannah flushed hot, then cold as realization overtook her. No miracle  had taken place here tonight. The hottest, sexiest cowboy around hadn't  fallen head over heels for her. He hadn't acted on a long-standing  desire. She had no future with him, either. They'd probably never even  kiss again. Jake was drunk, horny and out for a good time. That was all.  The fact that she'd nearly lost her head with him told her she had  drunk too much herself. She wasn't even single. Which Jake knew all too  well.

He obviously wanted a one night stand tonight. He'd picked her because  he'd counted on her running back to Cody as soon as their tryst was  over. One hand pressed to her mouth, Hannah hurried to the ladies' room  where she locked herself into a stall and blinked back tears. The night  was ruined. She'd never be able to look Jake in the eye again.