In a moment, Tess pulled back once again, barely breathing as Claire looked up into the crystal blue eyes filled with want.

“I’m sorry.” Tess groaned and leaned against the opposite wall. “Since last night, I’ve tried, but I can’t think of anything else but kissing you and holding you. I couldn’t sleep at all,” she mumbled and ran her fingers through her hair.

Claire smiled and walked up, gently cupping Tess’s face.

Tess groaned and closed her eyes. “Don’t touch me, Claire. I am not responsible for my actions right now. I’m on fire.”

“So am I. You made me this way,” she said in a low voice.

“I know I shouldn’t have done that. I—”

Claire grinned and kissed her deeply. Tess swayed, then pulled Claire into her arms and kissed her again. Her tongue slightly begging for entrance, Claire shivered and parted her lips in submission.

“God, I need you so badly,” she growled and kissed her neck.

Claire gasped as she threw her head back and buried her fingers in her blond hair. “Tess, so do I,” she cried out softly. Realizing what she was doing, Claire then pushed Tess back. “We can’t do this in a barn.This is a little much. We have to be careful. Jack.”

Tess nodded quickly. “I know, I understand. We take this slow. I’m sorry, that was a selfish thing to do.”

Claire laughed and tried to regain her composure. “It was not. It was extremely erotic, and my legs are shaking right now. Don’t apologize, please.”

Tess nodded and laughed nervously. “Does this mean Jack can have the stallion?”

Claire laughed along. “Yes, Miss Rawlins. Once again, you get your way.”

Jack nearly swallowed his tongue when Tess handed the reins to him. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. A good ranch hand needs a good dependable horse. I think this stallion will suit you. He’s even-tempered and has already been broken in. Just take care of him.”

“I will. Thanks, Tess.” Jack looked at Claire. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome. Just be careful, please.”

Jack swung up in the saddle, grinning like a kid as he petted the horse’s neck. “Hey, I need a name for him. How about Zeus?”

“That’s a great name, Jack.” Tess slapped at the horse’s flank. “Have a good ride, get acquainted with him. Why don’t you go out to the south pasture and show him off to the boys?”

“Okay. Thanks again, Tess.” Jack beamed with pride as he rode out of the corral.

Tess watched him as he rode out of sight. She glanced at Claire, who had tears in her eyes. She put her arm around Claire’s shoulders. “He’s a good young man. He’ll be fine.”

Claire sniffed and looked up into Tess’s eyes. “You’re a good woman. Thank you.”

“I have an ulterior motive.”

In a very natural move, Claire put her arm around Tess’s waist as they walked back to the house. “And what is that?”

“Best way to the mother’s heart is through the son.”

Claire laughed as she mounted the back porch steps. “You think you’re so smart.” She turned back to Tess, who was standing on the first step. Claire pulled the old black hat off her head and ran her fingers through Tess’s blond hair. “That’s not the best way…”

“It’s not?” Tess asked playfully as Claire tossed her hat back to her. She watched as Claire opened the screen door. “What is the best way to your heart?”

Claire laughed. “You’re a college graduate, Professor Rawlins. You’ll have to figure it out.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” Tess said as she followed Claire into the kitchen.

Tess was contemplating Claire’s words as she shoveled the hay into the stall. “So what’s the way to your heart, Claire?” She laughed. “I will find out. This could be fun.”

It occurred to Tess she hadn’t felt this alive in years. Though her passion was teaching, she loved being outdoors on the ranch. Wiping her brow, she stopped shoveling the stall and looked out the window at the landscape. It was amazing to her that she hadn’t thought of Mel at all. It was the end of May; Tess knew Mel was in Hawaii. The thought was once extremely appealing to Tess—long warm days on the beach, romantic nights under a palm tree, sipping an exotic drink—just not with Mel. Tess suddenly had a vision of Claire Redmond clad only in a skimpy Hawaiian dress with a flower nicely tucked behind her ear. Tess closed her eyes and leaned on the pitchfork. Claire Redmond in a sexy dress, her long brown hair blowing in the summer wind, her blue eyes sparkling, her—

She fell forward, and her eyes flew open when she heard her father laughing as he kicked the pitchfork from underneath her. She stumbled into the stall door. “Damn it, Dad.”

“What the hell were you thinking about? I called you twice,” he asked, still laughing.

“None of your business,” Tess said angrily and picked up the pitchfork. “You nearly gave me a heart attack and ruined a great daydream.”

“Ahh, dreaming about Claire?” He sat on a bale of hay. “Well?”

Tess leaned against the stall. “I guess, yeah.”

“Do you know now if she feels the same?”

Tess heard the compassionate tone mixed with concern. “I think so. It’s just that it’s been so long for her. Because she has Jack and I think she’s been trying to protect him.”

“It has to be hard with a child and to do it all alone. Your mother and I were very lucky to find a love that lasted. You never know what can happen. You two need some time alone to find out.” He grinned and grabbed Tess by the hand.

“Dad, what are you doing? You’re scaring me.”

Tess followed him outside and around the back of the stable. “There,” he said.

Tess looked at the dilapidated buckboard wagon. “There what?”

“It just needs a little fixing up.” He walked over and shook the wagon, as if testing its sturdiness.

“Fixing up for what?” Tess watched him with a wary eye. “Dad?”

“This is what I took to pick up your mother when I proposed to her.”

“So?”

Jed rolled his eyes. “You have no romance in your soul. You’re a Rawlins, and we have romance.”

“Okay, I still don’t...” Tess scratched her head. “You want me to propose to Claire? Geez, Dad, we just kissed…”

“You kissed her?”

Tess blushed at hearing the incredulous tone. “Yes, and it doesn’t mean marriage—”

“Not yet.”

Tess took a deep breath and shook her head. “Okay, let’s get back to your original idea, which scares me.”

Jed laughed. “Fix up this wagon and take Claire for a ride. Have some time alone. Pack a picnic lunch.”

Tess thought about it and smiled.