Love At First Sight

By Rebecca Goings

Love At First Sight

Rebecca Goings

Released 2006

Copyright © 2006, Rebecca Goings. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of

the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual

events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

Plateau, TX, 1880

The gun cleared leather and fired, the bullet striking the masked bandit right between the eyes, shocking everyone present—even the hostage—yet no one was more shocked than that masked bandit who fell over dead with a look of disbelief in his eyes. The woman he’d been holding in his bid for freedom stared at her handsome savior with fright in her eyes, and silently cursed herself for coming to the bank.

It had been rumored Preston Gibbs was in the area, a man notorious for knocking over many a bank. Amanda Turner hadn’t paid any heed to the warnings, and decided to venture out to the bank regardless, to make a deposit for her father who was too infirm with his rheumatism to journey to the bank himself.

Now Amanda stood there, her eyes wider than the Texas sky, her hair spattered with the blood of the bank robber who lay lifeless at her feet.

The gunslinger holstered his still-smoking gun and stepped toward her, gently grabbing her hand to pull her away from the carnage that he’d created. She supposed she should be thankful to him for saving her, thankful the bandit got a bullet in the head instead of her, but no words came as she gazed into the gunslinger’s bright blue eyes.

Amanda couldn’t help but stare at him. Now that she was looking at him up close, he was even more handsome than she had given him credit for. Sandy blond hair curled around his ears and under his hat, reaching a little below his collar. His nose was straight and his were lips full and sensual, drawing her eyes more than once.

“You all right, ma’am?” he asked in a tender voice, and she wondered to herself how he could be so caring when he had just been so ruthless a moment before.

“Yes,” she lied, still staring at him.

The patrons of the bank had long since fled the scene, some hightailing it out of town, others fixing to fetch the sheriff. But Amanda wasn’t worried about that. What she was worried about was the extraordinarily handsome man she held hands with. She feigned a bravado she didn’t feel, yet she wasn’t afraid of him, regardless of the fact he’d just shot and killed a man right in front of her.

“Come with me,” he told her. He led her outside to a horse that was hitched on a nearby rail. Amanda’s world tilted as the shock wore off. Her head spun in circles. The man made her sit on the edge of the wooden sidewalk. She was thankful—she might fall over otherwise.

Grabbing an old rag from his saddlebags and the canteen off his saddle, the man wiped the blood off her face and neck. When he was satisfied, he sat back on his haunches and smiled at her. This man was gorgeous when he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners making her stomach do flip flops inside.

Amanda knew the gunslinger was dangerous, but he was downright sexy with his shirt buttoned halfway up his chest and his gun belt hugging his lean hips. She couldn't help but smile in admiration as he knelt before her, and she couldn't help but blush furiously as he pushed his hat back on his head and smiled in return, perusing her body just as she had perused his.

“My name’s Jack, ma’am,” he told her, holding his hand out to her. “Jack Dalton.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dalton,” Amanda said, her voice trembling as she shook his hand. His grip was firm and the warmth of it crept up her arm. He held on to her a little longer than was proper. She couldn’t help but blush.

“My name is Amanda Turner. Thank you for what you did in there,” she told him, averting her eyes.

“For killing a man?”

“No!” she yelped. “For helping me. I’ve never had a gun pointed at me, much less one digging into my neck.” Her hands shook at the memory and tears pooled in her eyes as the last of the shock wore off.

She sobbed right there next to his horse, feeling silly for doing so, but unable to stop. Without warning, she was pulled into his arms as Jack held her close, stroking her hair and soothing her with his deep voice.

Amanda didn’t think about where she was at the moment, she just needed comfort, and this man was giving it to her. He smelled so good, like dust and leather, and she clung to him.

“Where do you live, sweetheart?” he asked.

Wiping away her tears, Amanda pulled back, but only slightly. He refused to let her go completely.

“I . . . I live on the Shootin’ Star, my Daddy’s ranch.”

Jack smiled. “Your daddy Mr. Benjamin Turner, ma’am?”

“Why yes! Do you know my father?” she asked, her own smile lighting up her face.

“Only by reputation,” Jack confessed. “I know his brand. Seen his cattle out on the range.”

“Yes, well, he needs a lot of men to run his ranch now. He’s not well enough to come to town any longer, which is why I was at the bank.”

Nodding, Jack stood and untied his horse. “You have a wagon ‘round abouts, ma’am?”

Amanda pointed to a small carriage parked on the other side of the road hitched to only one horse.

“Come on. I’ll take you home, Mandy,” he said, leading her over to her carriage and tied his horse to the back.

“Mandy?” she asked as she gave him a shy smile.

“You don’t mind if I call you that, do you, ma’am?” he asked politely with another heart stopping grin. Amanda knew if he grinned like that every time he asked her for something, she would deny him nothing.

“Not at all, Mr. Dalton.”

“Please, it’s Jack,” he said as he swept her off her feet only to place her in the seat of the carriage. Climbing up next to her, he grabbed the reins. Without another word, he set off toward the Shootin’ Star Ranch.

CHAPTER TWO

Amanda cast many glances his way, each Jack pretended not to notice. Ever since he strolled innocently into that bank and saw her in the bandit’s clutches, something primitive came over him. He was overwhelmed with the sudden urge to protect her, something that had never happened to him before. Killing the bandit hadn’t even been a second thought. The woman had been in peril and he saved her.

He didn’t consider missing the bank robber with his aim. He was skilled with a gun. Heck, some even called him the fastest gun in the West, but he hadn’t missed a single thing he aimed at ever since he was old enough to point and shoot.

He noticed Amanda’s hands were still shaking in her lap. He covered them with one of his large hands.

“You’re safe now,” he told her. “There’s no need to be afraid any more.”

“That’s not why I’m shaking,” she told him quietly, looking into his eyes and clutching onto his hand.

Jack was just about to ask why she was shaking, but they’d already passed through the front gates of her father’s ranch. It didn’t take long at all before they pulled up to the porch.

“Come inside and meet my father,” Amanda urged, trying to think of a way for Jack to stay with her a little while longer. She knew it was crazy; a man like Jack would drift out of her life as fast as he drifted in. She should say goodbye to him. But she pushed that thought aside as she held the door open for him.

Jack took off his hat and followed her into the parlor, a large room with a desk, a few overstuffed chairs and a sofa facing the fireplace.

“Daddy,” Amanda said hesitantly, “This is Mr. Jack Dalton.”

Jack looked at Amanda’s father sitting behind his desk and saw the same brown eyes as hers scrutinizing him. Holding out his hand, Jack said, “How do you do, sir?”

Nodding, Mr. Turner returned the pleasantries. Within a few minutes, Amanda told him the entire tale of the would-be bank robbery.

“Well, well, dear boy, do you have any place to stay?” her father asked.

“No sir,” Jack confessed. “I was riding through town when I thought I would make a withdrawal at the bank. It’s a good thing too. Met your lovely daughter here.”

Amanda’s heart leapt at his words, and she could barely breathe when the heat of his gaze rested on her. He might as well have reached out and caressed her.

“Good!” her father bellowed with delight. “Amanda, show Mr. Dalton to the room at the top of the stairs. He’ll be staying with us.”

“But Daddy, that’s right next to my room!”

“This man saved your life. He’ll be an honored guest in our home. Your mother would’ve had it no other way.” When put that way, there would be no arguing with him. Her mother had passed away five years ago and her father cherished her memory. Mary Turner was a beautiful, giving woman, and Amanda knew she would have invited Jack to stay as well.

“Are you sure, sir?” Jack asked, looking back and forth between them.

“Of course. Don’t you fret about a thing. We’ll take good care of you.”

“Thank you, sir, that’s very generous, but it will only be for one night. I’m moving on in the morning.”

Benjamin smiled and nodded, gesturing for his daughter to show Jack to his room. Jack ran outside for a moment to collect his saddlebags. Once he came back into the house, he followed Amanda up the stairs.

His words hit her like a runaway locomotive. He was moving on. She knew he wouldn’t stay forever, but the reality of it ripped through her heart.

Opening a door in the hallway, Amanda walked in and pulled the heavy curtains on the window. Bright sunlight poured into the room. A small dresser and bed were the only furniture aside from a bedside table with a lamp sitting on it.

“Well here you are, Jack,” she said, wringing her hands in front of her, trying not to let her disdain show. “It’s not much but…”

“It’s perfect,” he said, but he wasn’t looking at the room. He was looking straight at her. She hadn’t noticed he’d closed the door behind him until she turned to go.

“I’ll let you get settled, then,” she said nervously, trying to walk around him. Grabbing her arm, he stopped her and stepped close. She closed her eyes with a silent groan.

“I haven’t thanked you yet, Mandy” he whispered, cupping her cheek in his palm.

Amanda’s mouth was bone dry. She opened her eyes only to see his face hovering above hers.

“Not properly, anyway, for allowing me to stay here at your home.”

“It was my father’s idea.”

Jack smiled at her, once again turning her insides to jelly. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

“I guess I haven’t thanked you properly either,” she told him, her voice wavering.

“For what?”

“For saving my life,” she whispered. Her eyes locked with his and her hand rested on his chest.

“You did thank me,” he reminded her.

“Not properly,” she said, blushing.

Jack dropped his head a little lower, his breath mingling with hers.

“Thank me, then.”

Standing on her toes, she gave him a small peck on the lips. “Thank you,” she whispered, her palm lightly skimming his cheek.

“You can do better than that,” he said with a grin right before he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were soft and gentle, moving on hers in the most delicious way. Amanda only had a moment to be shocked before she felt his tongue dart into her mouth, but she found it to be glorious. She’d never felt the like. When she decided to answer him with her own tongue, he groaned and crushed her closer to him.

Jack finally pulled away after long moments and looked at her, a fire alight in his blue eyes.

“Now that was a proper thank you, honey,” he said huskily.

Amanda stood in his arms, making no move to leave their shelter. “That was my first kiss,” she confessed.

Jack smiled at her. “Pretty thing like you? Never been kissed?”

“Never wanted to.”

“Until now?”

“Until now,” she agreed, running her hand up into his thick sandy hair, wondering how she would ever get over him once he was gone.

Closing his eyes, he groaned and said, “If you know what’s good for you, Mandy, you’ll leave right now.”

“Why?”

Jack let out a low chuckle and kissed the tip of her nose. “Because I’m half a step away from dropping you on the bed and ripping off your clothes.”

Amanda gasped but managed to smile wickedly at him. “Who says I don’t want you to, Mr. Dalton?”

She left him staring dumbfounded at the door as she closed it softly behind her. Jack was at a loss for words for the first time in his life and chuckled at her brazenness. Perhaps leaving first thing in the morning wasn’t such a good idea. Not when he wanted to take Amanda into his arms and show her the pleasure of his touch.

CHAPTER THREE

Amanda felt the cold metal against her neck and panicked. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Her heart raced, her breathing rapid, and she realized she was back at the bank. The robber clutched her hard and demanded his freedom—or he would kill her.

She couldn’t move. Every muscle in her body had frozen in place and she could smell the bandit’s putrid breath. Everything about the man revolted her, even his hard erection she felt digging into her back. He groped her, fondling her breasts right there in the bank for all to see. Tears of hopelessness streamed down her cheeks as he ripped open the front of her dress, striving hard to free her breasts from her corset.

And then—there was Jack. Hard, unforgiving, and too damn sexy for his own good. He pulled his gun but he was too late. The bandit fired first, and Amanda felt her own warm blood trickling down her neck as she fell to the ground.

At that moment, she jerked awake with a shriek, covering her mouth and crying into her hands. Her heart still raced from the horrible dream. Her body trembled and she couldn’t stop the tears that poured into her palms.

The house was quiet and dark, yet Amanda sat there weeping, alone on her bed. She also cried for Jack. He would be gone in the morning and she would likely never see him again. Would she be able to survive? Would she be able to live without him? Even though she had only known him for a day, she was in love with the man. How could anyone else ever compare?

Wiping her tears, she silently wondered if she should get up and go to him—spend one night of passion with him before he left. She desperately wanted to taste him, and her reasons for staying in her own bed were dwindling.

But without warning, Jack suddenly burst into her room with his gun drawn. Amanda cried out at his unexpected entry. He glanced around the room and his gaze softened when he looked at her.

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” he asked, slipping his gun expertly back into its holster. “I heard screaming.”

Amanda didn’t trust her voice. She shook her head as she stared at Jack standing a few feet away from her bed. The moonlight poured into her room and allowed her to see him in his state of undress. No shirt and no boots; he merely wore his jeans and his gun belt. He hadn’t even bothered buttoning his jeans. They sagged on his hips, threatening to fall to the floor at any moment.

Desire shot through her. Would she be able to keep him here with her—in her own bed? Could Amanda convince him she wanted to feel his mouth on her naked skin?

She should be ashamed of such thoughts. She was no wanton hussy. But when it came to Jack Dalton, her insides jumbled and she couldn’t make sense of her feelings any longer.

“I heard you scream,” he said again, taking a step closer. His hair was tousled and his eyes were tired; Amanda knew she’d woken him. Her hands itched to reach out and touch his bare skin.

“I…I had a bad dream,” she confessed, the last of her tears falling down her face. She sat up, moving to stand on her knees to face him on the mattress. He was so handsome and she fought the urge to tell him so.

“Are you all right?” Jack closed the gap between them. His warmth radiated from him and she shivered in spite of it.

“I am now,” she whispered, brazenly sliding her hands up his arms and around his neck. She marveled at how soft his skin was and smiled when his arms embraced her. Giving him a hug, Amanda’s face pressed into the soft hair of his chest. She breathed him in. It was wonderful being this close to him—to this man—who was determined to protect her come hell or high water.

She almost smiled at the idea of seducing him into her bed. Would he scoff? Would he stay? Caressing his shoulders, she heard his breath in her ear and she wanted nothing more than to feel him moving inside of her, to be possessed by him—if only for tonight.

“Jack?” she asked, pulling him closer.

“Yes, Mandy?” he answered, his voice sounding strained. She knew he was aroused, she could feel him pressing into her belly, even through the fabric of their clothing.

“Stay with me,” she implored. “Stay. Don’t leave.”

He didn’t answer, but she could hear his breathing and knew he wasn’t as calm as he appeared. Arching up, Amanda couldn’t believe how bold she had become when she placed feather soft kisses on his neck.

“Stay,” she whispered again as she worked her way under his jaw and up his cheek, letting her tongue taste his skin.

“Are you sure, baby?” he asked her, pulling back to hold her face in his big hands. “If I stay, I won’t ever leave. You sure you want a gun-slinging cowboy in your life?”

Tears sprang into her eyes at the thought of him leaving. “Please Jack,” she begged as her breath caught, “please stay.”

Amanda’s heart broke when he set her away from him, thinking he’d leave anyway. But he unbuckled his gun belt and hung it from her bedpost. Then he stepped out of his jeans and she gasped at the sight of him bathed in the pale light of the moon. He’d never once looked away from her, and continued to gaze into her eyes while he fumbled with the buttons on her nightgown. He was so big, so beautiful as he stood before her, and it was all she could do not to reach out and wrap her hands around him.

Right before he lifted her nightgown over her head, he asked her one more time, “Are you sure?”

In answer to his question, Amanda ripped off the garment herself and dropped it on the floor next to his jeans.

She heard Jack suck in his breath. It surprised her she didn’t feel any shame in being naked in front him. But as his eyes roamed her body, he might as well have been caressing her with his hands. She closed her eyes and dropped her head back at the thought.

“Aw, Mandy, you’re so damn beautiful!” he moaned, pushing her back on the bed. He covered her body with his. Amanda closed her eyes and marveled in the feel of every inch of him pressing against every inch of her. She was very much aware of the hardness of his body and opened her legs to let his weight rest there.

He kissed her everywhere, or he sure was trying to as he sucked on her neck, teased her ear, and claimed her mouth with his passion.

“Do you believe in love at first sight, honey?” he asked through his kisses. Amanda smiled as she weaved her fingers through his hair.

“Definitely,” she answered him, giving him a kiss that even she felt clear to her toes. Somewhere deep inside of her, she had a connection to Jack Dalton. Perhaps it was because he’d saved her at the bank, or because he’d looked at her with such raw passion. Whatever it was, she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life, as crazy as it seemed.

Jack pressed hard against her and she arched herself into his arms, asking for more of his tender touch. Her body burned for him, for full contact, and an unfamiliar ache settled between her legs.

“If we do this, Mandy,” he panted, trailing more kisses down her bare chest to her breasts, “we’ll have to get married. I won’t be able to keep my hands off of you, and you’ll likely get pregnant.”

“All right,” she readily agreed, gasping and holding his head down as he swirled his tongue around her nipples. She should have been aghast at how quickly she’d made that decision with a man she barely knew, but truth be told, she was giddy at the thought of being his wife.

“You’ll be mine,” he whispered feverishly.

“I am already,” she replied when he looked into her eyes. She stroked his face and reached up to feel the softness of his hair. She did indeed believe in love at first sight. Amanda knew no other man would hold her heart as Jack did.

Would he ever know how much he affected her? How much she wanted him? Just looking into his eyes made the fires burn in her belly. Pulling his head down to hers, she sucked on his earlobe and smiled when she heard him growl.

“Make love to me, Jack,” she whispered in his ear.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jack kissed her possessively. His tongue explored her mouth, bringing forth whimpers of pleasure. Suddenly his mouth was gone, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake as he lowered himself between her breasts. He tugged at her nipples once again, raking his teeth across them, making them more sensitive than they ever had been before.

She gasped as she opened her legs further. Rubbing her nipples with his palms, he continued his downward path, tasting the skin of her belly with his tongue.

When he finally stopped at the juncture of her thighs, Amanda’s thoughts whirled. Did he mean to kiss her…there?

His warm breath tickled her legs as he caressed her skin, and she bucked her hips in silent invitation.

The first contact of his tongue made her half soar off the bed. “Oh my…”

“It’s all right, Mandy,” he cooed. Amanda trusted him and lay back down only to groan her pleasure in the back of her throat. He plunged a finger inside her wet warmth and Amanda couldn’t find her breath. Clutching the bed sheets, she moaned in response, wanting him to continue. It felt so good, so right.

“Don’t stop, Jack. Don’t stop!” she urged, not in the least bit embarrassed for making such a demand.

But he indulged her. Again and again he swirled his tongue on her swollen flesh until at long last the world burst into a kaleidoscope of colors. Amanda couldn’t contain the cry of satisfaction that escaped her as she held his head down to continue the rapture.

After long moments, when her body finally calmed itself, Jack once again kissed her belly, soothing her with his big hands. His expert tongue laved her belly button as he made his way back up to her breasts.

Amanda felt as if her bones were made of water as she reached up to embrace him. She’d never felt such unstoppable bliss and burned to feel it again with him. The ache between her legs was still there. She wanted him inside of her.

But Jack was in no hurry. He seemed to be on a mission to become intimately familiar with every inch of her body, and she was content to let him. His mouth bit and sucked her neck right behind her ear, making her shiver at the sensation. Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled his head up to bring his lips back to hers.

Kissing him fully on the mouth made her arch into him once again. She wanted to be filled by him, to feel the ecstasy of lovemaking, to feel him buried deep inside of her.

“Mandy,” he groaned as he gathered her in his arms. “Wrap your legs around me, sweetheart.”

She did without any hesitation, her body trembling with need. Pulling him down to her, she once again kissed him, sucking on his bottom lip.

Suddenly a strong, sharp jab brought her to her senses as he plunged deeply into her, her startled cry swallowed by his mouth. He made no other move than to kiss her again and again, as if apologizing for the pain he had just caused her.

“It gets better, honey.” He finally moved, making Amanda’s eyes widen. He was right, it didn’t hurt any more. It was one of the most exquisite feelings in all the world. He pulled back only to push forward once more, slowly, gently. She wanted to beg him to go faster.

“Oh Jack!” she whispered in her passion, meeting him stroke for stroke. She felt him inside, felt him touch the very center of her being and tears escaped her eyes at how beautiful it truly was. Again and again he plunged, making her cry out in pleasure.

“You’re mine now, Mandy,” he murmured against her neck as his tongue tasted her salty skin. “There’s no turning back.”

“No turning back,” she answered him, agreeing wholeheartedly.

“You’ve got your work cut out for you,” he said with a grin, his skin slick with sweat.

“What?” Amanda asked, her concentration scattered to the winds.

“I’m a hardened man, sweetheart. It’ll take a lot to make an honest man of me.”

“I don’t care,” Amanda said, lifting her hips to him. Jack sucked in his breath. “You’re the perfect man. Perfect for me.”

“God, Mandy, I’m so glad I found you.”

Jack stopped talking, giving Amanda his full attention as he made love to her, slowly and passionately. It wasn’t long before they were both hurling upwards toward the heavens, blazing across the sky like two bright shooting stars.

The End