A Family to Come Home To (Saddle Falls) by Sharon De Vita Page A

for yourself.”
    “I’m looking forward to it,” he said, lifting the tray and heading toward the door.
    “Jesse?”
    “Yes, darlin’, I know,” he said with a chuckle. “Mind my step or you’ll be measuring my head with one of your frying pans.”
    “Count on it,” she said firmly, trying not to grin.
    He stopped before going out the door. “And darlin’, you remember I said we would drop the subject. For the moment. ” He hesitated. “That doesn’t mean we’re not gonna pick it up again sometime soon.”
    The moment the back door closed behind him, Hannah gripped the counter tightly and pressed a hand to her heart, trying to gather her composure.
    So many thoughts, feelings and emotions were rampaging through her, jumbling together in a confusing mix that had her more off base than she’d been in years.
    She simply couldn’t understand her physical or emotional reaction to Jesse. Granted, she knew now he wasn’t the same Jesse she’d known as a child. He was a man now. A grown man. The kind of man that would make any woman’s head spin.
    She shouldn’t allow herself to react to him like some silly, besotted schoolgirl. It was annoying and…exhilarating, she had to admit with a secret smile. It had been so long since she’d felt so alive simply because of a man’s touch, his look, his smile, or even his kiss. So it was hard not to let caution go by the wayside and allow herself to just enjoy the feelings.
    Hannah frowned, pushing another loose pin back in her hair. On the other hand, she knew better than to allow herself to be guided by her emotions. She knew better than anyone the consequences of letting them overrule her intellect and common sense.
    And there was a lot more at stake here than just her own feelings. She was flirting with disaster, and she knew it. Jesse wasn’t staying. He couldn’t have been more clear about that. So why on earth would she allow herself to let her feelings get involved?
    She couldn’t and wouldn’t, she told herself firmly, resolving to get a grip on herself.
    Hannah lifted her head and glanced out the window. She couldn’t help but smile at the joy on Tommy’s face. She couldn’t ever remember seeing that look in his eyes, and she knew Jesse was the reason.
    But how was Tommy going to feel when he learned he’d found his grandson only to lose him again? Not by someone else’s hand this time, but by Jesse’s own rejection of his grandfather and his family.
    Tommy was going to be devastated and she simply couldn’t bear to see him hurt. She knew firsthand what it felt like to have your own family reject you, and she would do anything in her power to save Tommy or any of the Ryans from such a fate. It was a devastation that etched deep scars in your heart, scars that never fully healed.
    Tommy had done so much for her and Riley, surely she could think of something to help repay him.
    Her gaze shifted to Jesse and her heart tumbled over in spite of her own cautions. A thought began bubbling in her mind and she felt her spirits slowly lift.
    She didn’t have much time, but maybe, just maybe, she could show Jesse—teach Jesse—the importance of family. His family. She frowned suddenly, remembering another man she’d tried to teach the importance and value of family.
    Hannah sighed, realizing regretfully that her own wounds still hadn’t healed. Riley’s father’s deception and betrayal had left her so deeply wounded, so deeply disillusioned, that she wasn’t certain she could ever trust another man who didn’t or couldn’t see the value and importance of family. Nor could she ever allow herself to fall in love with a man like that.
    Like Jesse, she thought sadly.
    But maybe it wasn’t that Jesse didn’t value family, maybe it was just that since he’s never really had a family—at least not one he could remember—he didn’t fully realize how wonderful being a part of a large, loving family could be.
    Excited at the thought, Hannah’s mind