The Ranger's Passionate Love by Nicole Jordan

me.”
     
    Jason nodded.
     
    “That said, I might have let that push me into overreacting," she allowed.
     
    She saw his shoulders begin to unclench, but she continued, not prepared to give him a break,
     
    "I'm still not sure about forgiving you, though." She allowed the faintest hint of a smile to cross her face. "After all, trying to buy your way out of the doghouse with greens you know I haven't found elsewhere is just dirty."
     
    Jason matched her wisp of a smile with one of his own.
     
    "Me?" he said, mock-indignation filling his voice. "You're the one filling this whole county with talk about how good your food is when I'm afraid to come back here."
     
    "Afraid?" Kyara asked.
     
    "Sure," he said. "I wouldn't dare show my face while there are people here eating. They'd chase me out of the room for demeaning their favorite restaurant. I've had to have people smuggle me food at home!"
     
    "Well, then you're guilty of another lie," countered Kyara.
     
    Jason's eyes grew wide as he cast about for what else he could have done in a panic. She quickly took pity on him.
     
    "You promised that you'd ride naked down the street on a tricycle for my food," she reminded him. "Where's your tricycle?"
     
    His laugh filled the restaurant, and broke her down into giggles with him. It left both of them flushed and warm in the cool autumn air, each basking in the warm glow of the other.

 
    The trail project closed down for the season a weeks later. It was just getting too cold. The restaurant, now rechristened 'Main Street Soul,' was holding a celebration. Kyara and her crew had been working for days. The teens were in school today, but Kyara's trail friends had all agreed to come in and help out during the morning.
     
    People had drifted in and out as the day progressed, offering to help get things ready in little ways. Kyara's employees came in just as the big rush was just starting. They jabbered excitedly, knowing that tips would be good tonight, as would the company.
     
    Kyara glowed.
     
    Not only was the restaurant doing well, but it was becoming part of the town. No one had questioned having the celebration here. If anything, it had just been assumed.
     
    Then there was Jason. He hadn't pushed. He hadn't asked her out again. He hadn't shown up with any more unexpected presents. Yet he was always there.
     
    On the trail, she found herself working with him more often than not. He always had a pleasant little story to share, or, more often, a question about her day or how her life was going. Then he'd share a little piece of his past, or a single fact about himself.
     
    When there was woodscraft to teach, he'd show her, always asking if she was interested first.
     
    He was, in every way, being the perfect gentleman.
     
    It was driving Kyara crazy. You don't want a relationship , she'd remind herself. You need to keep him at a distance. But then he'd pause in a pale autumn sunbeam to stretch, or he'd absentmindedly run his hands through his tousled hair, and she'd want him. As much as she tried, he kept intruding on her thoughts. She pictured him pushing her up against a tree and kissing her, or leaning down to cup her cheek, or, on a few occasions, to run his hands along the length of her aching, eager body.
     
    But he never did, and she never encouraged him.
     
    It's better this way.
     
    Tonight will be too busy for any of that nonsense anyway , Kyara told herself. Before long, the rush proved her right. Even with everything possible made up ahead of time, Kyara was still pushed to her limit rushing from pan to pan, oven to oven. The crush of voices reached even into the kitchen, adding to the frantic energy of the evening.
     
    Kyara was so caught up in her work that she jumped when someone tapped her on a shoulder, letting out a little squeak.
     
    It was Jason, looking somewhat startled himself.
     
    "Jason Nicole Hardison, don't you ever scare a woman while she's cooking," scolded Kyara.
     
    Jason