Unfinished Dreams by Amanda McIntyre

in his eye.
    “The chimney’s ready anytime you are.” He rubbed his hand over his chin, pinning her with his dark gaze.
    Oh, hell yes. Tess forced her thoughts elsewhere, but felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
    They stood in a core of awkward silence as the early fall storm raged around them.
    “Maybe this a good time for lunch?” She tugged at her flannel shirt, pulling it from away from her wet body. “Just as soon as I make a quick change.”
    “Fine. I can just come back in an hour or—”
    “Don’t be silly,” she interrupted. “I have enough to feed an army. Come on.” She held open the door surprising herself at her bold behavior.
    “You’re sure?” He asked as he brushed by her through the door.
    Rain mingled with his manly scent caused a pleasant shiver to skitter to her core. “Well,” she shivered with a laugh, “I suppose that largely depends on your appetite.” She followed him through the door and he suddenly faced her, capturing her with a gaze she knew she should pull away from, but couldn’t.
    “Oh, I’m hungry, believe me.” His gaze lowered to her mouth and traveled slowly back to her gaze.
    She felt lightheaded. For an instant, she held her breath, as she envisioned his lips crushing down on hers, satisfying his hunger—and hers. Tess swallowed in hope of retrieving her voice. She forced her gaze from his hypnotic stare. Images of other scenes in front of the fireplace danced in her head. “You can clean up in the bathroom. It’s just past the cookies—”
    “Yeah, I remember.” He grinned and backed against the wall as she walked past.
    “I’ll just get lunch ready.” She backed down the hallway, holding his amused gaze, trying to ignore the charged air between them. “Oh!” She startled herself as she bumped into the doorframe.
    He walked past her, their bodies passing so close she could feel the heat of the space between them. Don’t stop. Please just keep walking. She held her hands behind her and stared at the floor on purpose, breathing only when he disappeared around the corner.
    Tess closed her eyes and sighed when she heard the bathroom door click shut.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Gabe was going to have to keep his wits about him when it came to her. He realized that it was getting more difficult to do each time he was around her. Her soft smell and infuriating stubborn streak was about as much as one man could handle.
    The man whose goal, by the way, was getting back the very farm that the woman in question lived on, he reprimanded himself mentally.
    He scrubbed his forearms, and scanned the bathroom, noticing how she’d re-wallpapered and added frilly hand towels and potpourri. Lathering the soap over his face and neck, he wondered if this meal was part of her effort to impress him. Every morning he’d been here, she’d had fresh coffee and a cheerful attitude.
    He splashed his face with tepid water. Okay, he reasoned with himself, he’d only been here two days tops, but what about the dance at the bar? Hadn’t he felt something there as well? Then she runs out, risking life and limb to help him put his electrical tools away? How many women would do that? Though the sight of that lightning bolt hitting the field near her, scared him half to death, he had to admit, the woman had grit—which might make his situation a little more complicated.
    He dried his face, the petite blonde in the next room notwithstanding, it felt good to be back out here, working to fix up the place, being where he belonged on the land that rightfully was his.
    Gabe flipped the peach towel over the wood towel rack, promising that one of these days, he’d have his life together and be able to take back his property. With any luck, he’d do accomplish that without hurting Tess in the process.
    Tess. She was feisty and headstrong, sensual in an innocent sort of way. Had she come along at a better time in his life, he might have toyed with thoughts of expanding their relationship