“Ma, I hope you’re feeling better,” Phoenix said from the end of the table.
Beatrice nodded. “Much better.”
“That’s because we’ve made her rest each day.” Thick brows lifted over Bo’s round, blue eyes…matching those of his children.
As if on purpose, Beatrice switched subjects. “Kiersten, why didn’t you tell me you were already home, and with company? This is a welcome surprise.”
Kiersten felt Deegan’s gaze on her. She knew she had to be careful because her mother could sense a rat in the barn from where she sat at the table. “We wanted to get away from the city for a few days.”
“Is there trouble that your father and I need to know about?” Her round cheeks creased with concern.
“Of course not.” Kiersten shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes into her mouth. She felt a kick at her ankle and she narrowed her gaze on Kace, daring him to say one word.
“What do you think of the ranch, Deegan?” Bo asked, his eyes held a bit of suspicion.
“I haven’t seen a lot, but I hope I can change that before I leave.” He raised his eyes to meet Kiersten’s and she almost choked on her food. She reached for the sweet tea and drained it.
Cull wiped his hand across his mouth and reached for a roll. “We might be seeing more of Deegan.”
Kiersten looked at Cull. Where did that come from? “Why is that?”
A big smile curved her brother’s lips. “I’ve invited him to come out during inoculation season and help with the livestock.”
“Why would he want to do that?” she mumbled.
“I’d enjoy helping work the land. Although I don’t know a lot about ranching, I do enjoy riding horses,” Deegan said easily.
“So, you and Kiersten work together?” Sally asked.
Kiersten let Deegan handle this one. “Yeah, but I’m in the field most of the time so we don’t see each other that often.”
“Are you two—”
“No!” Kiersten blurted out which made Sally jump.
“Going to eat some of Ma’s blackberry pie,” Sally finished her sentence with a confused expression.
“Someone’s a little shaken up,” Cull said with laughter.
“Sorry. I guess I’m just tired.” Oh sheesh. She wouldn’t even dare look at Deegan to see if he found her jumpiness humorous.
Thankfully, conversation drifted to something other than Deegan because Kiersten wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep from sweating.
When dinner was finished, they all gathered outside to enjoy the last remnants of the evening while Kiersten helped her mother in the kitchen gathering the dessert, a hummingbird cake that was to die for.
“Why so secretive?”
At her mother’s question, Kiersten looked up from where she was placing the glasses on a tray. “Secretive? What about?”
“Coming home without telling me.” Beatrice’s eyes narrowed.
“Am I not allowed to come home unless I ask for permission?” Although it may sidetrack her mother for a moment, nothing could get past the woman. Maybe Kiersten should just tell her the truth, that they were working a case and she was beat up, but she didn’t want to worry her ma.
“Of course not, but I know you,” Beatrice stirred the tea and placed it on the platter next to the glasses. “Deegan is quite the looker.”
“Ma don’t do that. Don’t play cupid with my love life. I know it might seem like we’re romantically involved because we’re staying in the apartment, but we’re only friends. That’s all. Please don’t make us uncomfortable.”
“If you say so, but I’m pretty good with matchmaking. After all, I did fix Cull and Sally up, didn’t I?” she stated proudly.
“No, you didn’t. They met and were hooked instantly.” Kiersten laughed.
Beatrice patted her daughter’s cheek. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Let’s take this to the clan before they start chewing on wood,” Kiersten teased.
They stepped outside, and she almost dropped the tray. After the glasses finally stopped tilting against each other, she sat them down on the table before she really lost it. Across the porch sat Deegan, holding Kace and Tyler’s baby. Those big, strong arms holding that tiny, defenseless human. Her ovaries screamed and her inner thighs trembled. There was something about him holding the baby that surrounded him in a different light. He was smiling and looked so…what? Daddy-like? Tender. Nurturing.
Her knees wobbled and she held onto the edge of the table to keep from passing out.
“You okay?” Tyler asked.
Kiersten nodded, attempting to gather her thoughts. “How long did it take you to talk him into holding her?”
“He volunteered. He’s pretty good at calming her. He might be a keeper, that one.” She winked.
“Oh, there’s nothing between us. We’re just…friends.”
Her sister-in-law’s smile spoke volumes. “Well, if that scene doesn’t melt your heart, I don’t know what will.” She patted Kiersten’s hand and joined Kace on the wicker loveseat. He wrapped his arms around Tyler and kissed her forehead.
Kiersten would never get over how her brawny, bad-ass brothers could lose themselves so preciously to their loved ones.
Feeling a warmth spread over her, she looked at Deegan who was staring at her in that amazing way that curled her toes. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he knew how much she wanted a baby, but there was no way he’d know.
Unless…
She scanned the yard looking for Cull. He wouldn’t have said anything. It wasn’t possible.
*
Deegan couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was magnificently beautiful. Kiersten was playing toss with Zander’s dog. She picked up the chew toy and threw it. The Retriever took off at a run, catching the plastic football before it hit ground. Her hair caught in the breeze and her cornflower blue eyes caught the sun’s rays.
The fluffy dog lopped from front paws to back, his ears flopping and his tail wagging excitedly when he kneeled at Kiersten’s feet. He dropped the toy at her feet and she rewarded him with scratch on his head, then tossed the ball again.
Picking up one of the extra balls in the bucket, Deegan gave it a throw. Kiersten turned around, eyes round, and then she smiled. “Did you have enough of the baby?” she teased.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever held one. I thought I was going to break her. How do parents do it?” When he’d offered, he thought he must have been out of his mind, but he thought he could prove to Kiersten that he could take care of another human. “I wondered where you’d taken off to.”
“Hanging out with the fur baby. Have you met Susie-Q?”
Deegan knelt and whistled. The dog raced over, begging for a rub behind the ears. Deegan patted her. “Good girl.”
“Since your schedule is as crazy as mine, I’m guessing you have no animals?”
“No, but I’ve always wanted one. We had a couple of dogs growing up. Bone and Chops. Black Labs.”
“Did you name them?”
“I did and was very proud of that fact.”
She sat down close to a tree and he joined her. “I love animals, but I haven’t had one since I had lived here. A dog or cat deserves lots of attention, nurturing. My fish didn’t mind that I was gone for days at a time. That’s kind of sad. They didn’t care.”
“You don’t have them any longer?”
“I thought it was easier to give them away than move them here. My neighbors had a little boy who would hang out in the hallway playing and I thought he looked like he’d take good care of them. He was excited.”
He wanted to ask about a baby, what her plans were, but how does one go about doing that? “What do you think about the future? Have you ever thought that you’d want someone who did care when you’d be home?” Would she open up to him?
She leaned back and propped her head on her hand, looking at him. “Don’t we all?”
“Some more than others I suppose.”
“One day last year, I was doing some window shopping and I stopped to admire a set of nice china. It reminded me of my mom’s that was handed down from her mom and how she takes it out only on special occasions. That’s what grandma did too. You felt important if you visited and she took out the china. Anyway, as I stood staring at the dishes, it struck me that I understood why dishes can mean something. They are a sign of home, love, and connection. I loved everything about those plates. The flowered pattern. The bright colors. The fluted edges. I didn’t own a set of dishes, at least a matching set that didn’t have chips. Never had. Paper plates had become my friend. I’m not saying they’re not the bomb because hey, easy cleaning, but there should be times when we take out the best china. I decided that I wanted a set of dishes. And wine glasses. One of those pretty, delicate tea pots. I might never use it, but I want one still the same. I want a home of my own, filled with love. Like this house.” She pointed at the farmhouse. “I needed it more than I ever wanted anything. That’s when I made plans to build a house. It’s only in the very beginning stages and I’ll be here for a while, but it should be done by the time the—” She stopped suddenly.
Was she about to mention a baby?
“You can have anything you want, Kiersten. You’re a smart, beautiful, amazing woman. I’m sure there are at least a dozen men who would love to have more with you—would love to share a dish set with you. And gets the idea of china and a tea pot. Understands you.”
Plucking a piece of grass, she rolled it between her fingers. “You’re wrong.”
He reached over, lifted a piece of her hair and twirled it around his knuckle. “No, I’m not,” he said softly.
“You shouldn’t do that.” She dropped the piece of grass and sat up, lifting her hair and dragging it over one shoulder. Susie-Q laid down beside her and she smoothed her hand down her back.
“Do what?”
“Look at me like you do.” She brought her gaze up for a mere second, cornflower blue windows to her soul.
“Let’s get this out there. I’m attracted to you and I don’t plan on hiding that any longer. So, if I look at you in a certain way remember this is what a man looks like when he sees something he likes.”
Her bottom lip trembled, but she didn’t look away. “Is that what that is?” Her soft voice penetrated every barrier he’d had in place.
“Come on, you know I want you. I’m still wondering why we didn’t repeat what we did two years ago. In my book, it was amazing and worth doing over and over and over again.” He saw a hint of a smile. “Isn’t it time we talked about that night? Cleared the air?”
“We have. A little but allowing things to get carried away puts my career, and yours, at risk.”
“Then you’ve thought about it too?”
She looked up at the sky, then brought her gaze back to him. “I won’t lie. Yes.”
“Is that the only reason why? Our careers?”
Her brows tilted over amazingly clear eyes. “I do wonder…you know, what it’d be like to let things happen, but that would only be a mess.”
He nodded. “Yes, or it could be the best time of your life. I’m not a bad guy, Kiersten. I bet we want similar things. Think about that.”
14
His words were a sorcerer’s potion to her blood stream.
Her voice came out in a whisper, “It’s not that easy.”
“Didn’t you hear my answer to that?”
She cupped his cheek, the warmth of his skin seeped into her soul. His whiskers scraped her palm. What she wanted, what she’d been searching for, was someone who could love her just the way she was. Offer her a home, family, eternal desire. Respect that she was tough. A man who would love her unconditionally with all his heart.
Deegan’s words still stuck in Kiersten’s head later inside the apartment as she watched him spread the blanket on the couch.
“I’ll be in the bedroom.”
“Okay.” He gave her that dashing smile.
Oh Lord. She was in trouble.
Inside the room, with the door closed, she felt caged, full of restless energy, until she opened the window. She sucked in fresh air, trying to clear her head of all the cobwebs.
After their conversation earlier, she was full of confusion. How could something so wrong, be so right? How could she want someone so badly that she’d talked herself into denying? She was tired of repudiating her body the release that she knew Deegan could offer.
He was a good guy. Just as he said he was.
Trying to think of all the consequences of giving in to her body’s requests were within the logical valleys of her brain, but her mind refused to consider anything but the pulsating, overwhelming need at her inner thighs.
Maybe a good night’s sleep would zap those emotions gone. Stripping out of her clothes, she dragged on an old T-shirt that had more holes than a slice of swiss cheese, but it was her favorite.
Crawling in between the sheets, she laid there staring through the window at the glowing moon. A lover’s moon. She giggled. When had she ever looked at the moon with stars in her eyes?
Her senses were on high alert. Each roll, every toss and turn wreaked havoc on her skin, her hard nipples and the bittersweet pain between her legs. She wouldn’t allow her need to control her drive her down a path where she didn’t belong.
Please, sleep. Come to me fast before I give in.
*
Deegan woke with a startle, unsure of what had brought him out of the best damn dream he’d had in a long while. Kiersten was naked, writhing under him, crying out his name. Although it had only been a dream, he was as hard as a rock and as hot as a desert afternoon. The feel of the cool breeze coming in through the window didn’t even take the edge off. He inhaled deeply and caught a different scent in his nostrils. Kiersten’s scent.
His body burned from inside out and he shifted on the lumpy couch that was too short for a man his size. His hard cock didn’t make this any easier. He opened his eyes and the nightlight’s glow from the hallway illuminated a silhouette in the doorway. He lifted his head and blinked rapidly, trying to get a better look. Could he be imagining things? The shadowy figure moved, caught by the brighter light of the moonlight. His chest tightened and he sucked in a breath. He could see her clearly now, her slender figure with the light as a backdrop. He roved his gaze down her slight shoulders to the hem of the shirt that brushed her rounded thighs. Keep coming closer, sweetheart. He wished—more like a prayer.
As if she could hear him, or his thoughts were a silent lure, she took a few more steps and her smell, honey and coconut, filled his parched lungs. Her dark hair hung around her shoulders, making him harder, if that was possible. Everything about her, and he did mean everything, even her stubborn streak, caught him in a trap.
He took another deep breath, this time to gain some control as he sat up.
Too afraid to read more into this than just her coming to get a glass of water from the kitchen, he didn’t say a word, but when she didn’t move in that direction and instead came his way, he swallowed hard.
No longer worried that she could be an illusion of his fantasy, he stood and met her several feet away. Her chest was moving up and down, her breasts pressing the fabric. The T-shirt she wore laid across her body, her erect nipples evident in the cotton. Was she turned on? Hell, he certainly was. Thank God the moonlight offered enough illumination so he could feast on her beauty. Her long, shapely legs, slender ankles, to her painted toenails. Her skin was a natural tan color and her pale blue eyes caught the dim light like plucking stars from the sky and planting them in her irises.
Realizing she had come to him, chose him, he didn’t waste one second or miss one look—one delicate curve of her magnificently toned body.
He bent and switched on the lamp and the golden light fed his desire to see her.
Deegan found himself mesmerized by her eyes, the moist, plump pout of her lips and her high cheekbones that were the palest of pink.
“Kiersten…” Her name slipped from his lips.
“I-I couldn’t sleep,” her soft voice was so low he wondered if he’d imagined it. Then she said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Couldn’t deny this magnet any longer.”
He inhaled sharply and this time he couldn’t focus on her hypnotic scent because the overwhelming need lodged in all his masculine parts demanded his attention. Deegan took a step toward her and dragged her into his arms, holding her, nuzzling his nose in her silken hair and breathing her deep into his lungs. This was where he belonged and always wanted to be. Home. She was his china.
She brought her arms up around his neck and pressed her chest against his, leaving no space between their bodies. He could feel her breasts through the cotton and his mouth salivated. Her tits were beautiful and her nipples were thick, perfect for sucking. He’d stared like a starving man. If luck was on his side, he’d have them in his mouth soon and show her how much he desired her body.
Easing his grip, he dipped his mouth to her neck, kissing the slender chord and making a moist trail with his tongue. He breathed in, taking her in, tightening his arms around her waist again. There was strong emotion so deep within him, one that he attempted to wrap his head around. Possessiveness. Ownership. Love. Yes, even that one. Not that he wanted to own her. She was her own person, and he liked that about her. Found her independence sexy as hell, but he wanted to plant himself inside her heart, have her belong to him for life and he wanted to belong to her.
“I wish it could be easy,” she whispered.
Was doubt filling her mind? Would she pull away? He didn’t want her doing anything she wasn’t prepared for. “Anything worth having is worth the work, but I won’t pressure you. I’ll never push you, and I’ll be patient.”
“How is this possible? How are you everything I’ve ever wanted?”
He smiled. “Sometimes we find what we’re looking for when we least expect it. Tell me what you want, baby.”
“You. Please. Just you.”
Taken by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 6) Page 12