Burning Wild
Page 66

Emma didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Surely he could see the impression he was giving her date. Talking about the children, who was watching them, for heaven’s sake. Kissing her very publicly, practically shoving his tongue down her throat. No wonder people talked about them. Greg already looked as if he might faint. She barely had time to whisper a quick good night before Jake drew her across the room.
“Slow down. Jake, it’s a little undignified running after you in high heels. Your step makes three of mine.”
“You shouldn’t be wearing the damned things,” he snapped, but he did slow a fraction. He glanced down at the top of her silky head, his rough features etched in granite. “You can ride home with me. Joshua will drive the Jeep.”
“They probably left,” she pointed out logically.
“They damn well better not have.”
She put a small, placating hand on his arm. “Are you angry with me?”
“Angry? What the hell would I have to be angry about?” He nodded curtly to several of his business associates. Most of them stared at Emma in open curiosity.
She glanced back to see Greg Patterson standing by their table, looking as if he’d been run over by a truck.
Jake jerked her around when he caught her looking back. “Finding my woman out with another man, dressed the way you are? Why the hell would I be angry about that? I hope you weren’t expecting him to kiss you good night.” There was an audible snap of Jake’s white teeth.
“What is wrong with you?” Emma’s temper began to rise. Something alive ran under her skin, creating a wave of heat that itched as it spread through her body. “I’m not your woman.”
“Like hell, you’re not.” His fingers were an iron band around her arm as he dragged her out to the parking lot.
Jake spotted her two bodyguards immediately. They were lounging against their truck, waiting just as he knew they’d be. Jake held out his hand for the keys to the Jeep, and scowled at Emma when she hesitated.
“I’m perfectly capable of driving myself home,” she protested.
“Don’t,” he hissed. “Just give me the fucking keys.”
Emma dropped the keys into his hand. Jake tossed them to Joshua. “I heard you enjoyed the movie.”
“I don’t appreciate you two following me,” Emma felt compelled to point out.
“You’d better appreciate it,” Jake snarled. “They’re the only reason I haven’t strangled you.” His hands caught her shoulders in a firm grip, gave her a little shake. “You never, ever, leave the ranch without a bodyguard. Not ever. Do you have any idea the kind of danger you put yourself in?”
“I refuse to argue with you over it,” Emma said. “It’s cold out here. And I’m not riding home with you, Jake. Give me back the keys, Joshua.”
“Do you really want to make a scene here in the parking lot, Emma? Because I can throw your ass over my shoulder and toss you in the car, if that’s the way you want it. You’re going home with me.”
She stood toe-to-toe with him, but the anger coming off him in waves changed her mind. He was quite capable of a public scene and he wouldn’t mind in the least. Jake shrugged out of his coat, bundled her in it and stalked to the Ferrari, taking her with him, waiting at her door until she got in. Emma nervously swept a hand through her hair as Jake slid in beside her. He reached across her to lock the seat belt around her. For some inexplicable reason she felt trapped. “Jake?” She said his name softly, gently, wanting reassurance.
“Don’t say anything, Emma.” He didn’t look at her. With controlled violence, he spun the wheel and fell in behind Drake’s truck, with Joshua directly following them in the Jeep.
Emma closed her eyes and lay back in the seat. The tension in the interior of the car could be cut with a knife. He was actually trembling with rage. Seething with it. She could feel it swirling inside of him, dark and ugly and violent. She sighed, wishing she could share the humor of the evening with him, the way Joshua and Drake had acted in the show, the look on Greg’s face when Jake had come over and sat between them. If Jake had been the least bit like Andrew, they would be laughing together.
Once they arrived at the ranch, Jake’s fingers bit into her upper arm and he hauled her right out of the car. Emma went with him into the house just for the sake of peace. But he didn’t release her. He continued on down the hall toward his office.
Emma struggled. “Let go of me, Jake. You’re hurting me.” He wasn’t, but she was suddenly tired, the beginnings of a headache coming on. He was in a foul mood and she didn’t particularly feel like dealing with it.
“I want to talk to you,” he bit out between clenched teeth, thrusting her into the room. “I think it’s been a long time coming.”
Emma stumbled and had to catch at the back of a chair to keep from falling. She kicked off her high heels. “What is it, Jake? I’m really very tired and I don’t particularly care for your mood.”
“My mood?” An eyebrow went up, his fist clenched. “You don’t care for my mood?” His eyes burned with fury.
“No, not really. You’re angry and I can’t understand why.” She hung on to her patience; one of them had to show good sense.
“All the way home I told myself I wouldn’t lose my temper, I’d be perfectly reasonable when we talked. You don’t even know why I’m angry?” His eyes were glittering, a golden menace.