A Daring Proposal by Sandra S. Kerns Page A

worry about a love life. On the rare times she had gone out, she compared every kiss to Jed’s kisses. That had been a good enough reason to give up.
    Now, twelve years since he left, she had been proud of herself for resisting this morning. He definitely hadn’t made it easy sleeping with his arm and a leg draped over her. Just the thought of his body so close had her temperature rising. She pulled off her hat and wiped her forehead. “Get a grip,” she said, guiding her horse into the corral.
    After leaving her mount in the capable charge of one of her ranch hands, she started toward the house. Chaney’s feet changed course of their own accord, walking to the old barn instead. There was an intermittent tapping coming from inside.
    The early sun shining off the old wood caused quite a glare. When Chaney opened the door and stepped inside, the sudden darkness temporarily blinded her .
    “Jed,” she called, her arms held out to keep her from bumping into anything. They used the barn to store old equipment until someone had time to work on it. She really didn’t feel like piercing herself with an old sickle blade or something.
    “Be right there, darlin’.”
    His deep voice sent a shiver up her spine. The sound of his footsteps in the darkness gave her another quiver of anticipation.
    No, not anticipation, she told herself. Unease, that was it. She was uneasy because she didn’t know what to expect. Chaney had never liked being surprised.
    Suddenly he was in front of her. There was no denying that it had been anticipation. The broad chest she had so enjoyed gliding her hands over last night, lost none of its appeal encased in a well-fitting T-shirt. There was a travel mug in one of his hands, the other reached up and took the hat she’d put on off her head.
    “I always hated that thing,” he told her tossing it onto an old hay bale nearby. “It hides your eyes. I like your eyes.”
    Before she could even tell him he had no right to throw her hat away, he’d cupped her head and took her mouth in a very tempting kiss.
    Chaney decided maybe some surprises weren’t bad after all. Her arms wrapped around his middle as s he pulled them closer together.
    ***
    Jed dropped his mug. His hand cupped her bottom lifting her to fit him more snuggly. He deepened the kiss unable to get enough of her sweetness. The next thing he knew he had her against the barn wall and his hands were working the buttons of her shirt.
    She’d wrapped her legs around his waist. Her body rubbed against his in a wonderful mix of pain and ecstasy. Releasing her mouth, he trailed kisses down her arched neck until he reached her breasts straining against her thin bra. He suckled her nipple through the shear fabric then pulled back to see the results of his attention.
    “I want you, Chaney,” he told her before bending to take her other breast in his mouth. After bringing it to hard tautness, he trailed back up to her mouth. “Now,” he whispered brusquely as his lips took hers again.
    Her reply was to wind her arms around his neck gi ving as much as he in the kiss.
    Jed unhooked her legs from his waist. “Chaney,” he whispered her name while his hands worked the buckle at her waist. An arrow of pure pleasure ripped through him when he felt her hands tugging at his t-shirt and then unbuttoning his jeans.
    When she reached inside his jockey shorts and stroked her hand over him, he couldn’t stop the groan that came from deep inside. He quickened his efforts to free her of her clothing.
    As he pushed her jeans down, he encountered the top of her boots and knew he’d never get the jeans off her in time. Leaving them gathered below her knees he pulled her to him and kissed the soft tangle of curls covering her womanhood. Chaney’s fingers dug into his shoulders and soft whimpers of desire escaped from her lips. Sensing she was nearly at the brink, he stood, lifted her and laid her on the floor then entered her swiftly. He silenced her groan by