by Em Petrova
He waggled his brows, urging another laugh from her. The sound was just as good as her cries of pleasure. “You’ve always been able to read me.”
Her gaze ticked over his face, as if trying to determine if he was serious or not. He was.
“Don’t you remember?” he asked.
“Remember what?”
“That day Johnny and I came back from covering that shootout down on Fifth? You kissed him, but you looked right at me and said, ‘What happened?’”
She nodded slowly. “I do remember now. You had to make some hard choices that day, and I could see it wore on you.”
“Yes.” It was never easy. “Maybe I’ve always been left wondering if I made the right decision.”
“You do,” she said at once.
Drawing her hand into his, he looked into her eyes. “How do you know?”
“You’re a good man, and you’re level-headed, not rash. You only act when necessary. But Shaw—”
She broke off, just staring at him.
“What is it?”
“Have you ever thought about the toll this profession takes on you?”
Sure he had—plenty. But what was she getting at?
She directed her gaze to her lap. “I just wondered if…”
“Just say it.” Damn, that came out harsher than he wanted. He softened his tone. “Please.”
She met his gaze. “As a therapist, I would be remiss in my training if I didn’t recommend that you continue to consider how your work affects you and explore the consequences of staying… or leaving it behind. What I hope for you as a former patient—or as someone I care more about more than a patient—is that you find peace of mind.”
His mind blanked. “I have no idea what I’d do if I left Ranger Ops. What else is there for me? Would I take over the family ranch that already couldn’t make a go of it?”
“I don’t know. Just something that makes you happy.”
He heard the worry in her voice and knew, deep down she was concerned about the dangers he faced though she would never say so. The notion warmed him, but he needed her to understand what kind of man he was. If they were going to be together, she had to know up front so she didn’t make the same mistake as she had with Johnny.
After a long minute of silence, Shaw couldn’t find a way to say what he felt. He cleared his throat and squeezed her hand. “Let’s head out to the ranch for that date.”
“It’s barely eight in the morning.”
“We’ll get an early start. Maybe grill some steaks for lunch.”
“That sounds good. I’ll call my mom and let her know that she’s off the hook on finishing that room today.”
“You had plans? Don’t break them.”
She waved a hand. “Nothing set in stone. I only mentioned I might drop by. Believe me, she’d rather be going to one of her art exhibits or taking in a matinee than finish that room. Actually, I think she’d rather face a firing squad than finish it.” She giggled.
“What if we invited her along?”
Her eyes widened. “To the ranch?”
“Yeah. My father could keep her company, show her around. He’s got a good bottle of brandy he’s been dying to crack open, and what better reason than on a woman?”
She gave him a sidelong look. “Are you matchmaking, Shaw Woodward?”
“Not at all. Just suggesting that they might enjoy each other’s company while I enjoy yours.” He couldn’t hold back another minute and drew her across the sofa, plunking her into his lap. Her round bottom nestled over his groin, and his cock stirred.
Leaning in, he captured her lips. The kiss turned from heated to slow and thorough and back again before they pulled away.
He thumbed her lips. “God, I love kissin’ you,” he drawled.
The private smile he considered something she saved just for him—he’d never seen her give anybody else that smile—spread over her beautiful face. Easing his fingers under her thick hair, he gave her a crooked grin. “Let’s get a move on.”
After stopping off at her place for a change of clothes, they were on the road to his ranch and Atalee agreed to call her mother to invite her for lunch later.
“When was the last time you were here?” Atalee was fresh and bright in worn jeans, a plaid top knotted at the waist and boots for riding. She had her hair pulled into a ponytail and sunglasses perched on her head that made him think of those sexy glasses she drove him crazy with.
She clapped her hands, and he looked at her. Her mouth dropped open. “You weren’t even listening to me, were you? What were you thinking about?”
“Peeling your skirt off you and taking you with your glasses on.”
Her jaw dropped farther. “With my… Oh my.” A flush coated her cheekbones, and she crossed her legs. But not before he slipped his hand between them and gave her pussy a seductive rub through her jeans.
Her head dropped against the seat. “You get me so worked up,” she managed with a wavering voice.
“You do the same to me.” He took his hand off the wheel long enough to adjust himself.
She gave him a teasing look and purposely ran her tongue over her lower lip, trapping him in a desire so strong that he nearly pulled over to ravish her. But somehow, he controlled himself long enough to reach the ranch.
Driving through the gates fed him a nostalgia so strong he almost tasted the biscuits and gravy his momma used to make before she’d passed on a while back.
“Fields need cut,” he said as they rolled past the wood and iron gates bearing what used to be an upstanding brand in these parts. The W of Woodward extended out on each side to curl into longhorns like the cattle they used to raise.
His mind went to Atalee’s earlier comment about giving up special forces and finding something else to make him happy and find peace. If anything could, it would be this place.
As they navigated the gravel drive, he swung his head right and left, mentally noting improvements to be made—fence repairs, a tree that needed cut down after being struck by lightning.
Atalee was looking around with avid curiosity. “I’ve never been here. You have a sister, don’t you? How is she?”
“Cammy. She’s well, working as an ICU nurse out in Austin.”
“That’s fabulous. And your father—what does he do all day now without the cattle?”
“Mostly tinkers in his garage. He buys up old lawn mowers, ATVs and motorcycles and rebuilds them to sell. With land and house paid for, he doesn’t need a whole lot to live on. Besides, he knows I’d help him any time he needs it.”
“You’re such a good son, Shaw.” She touched his leg.
Sobering more than he already was, he stared at her. “I hope to be a good husband one day.”
Speaking the words shouldn’t feel as fine as whiskey slipping down his throat or sweet tea on a hot day, and damn if it wasn’t even better. He savored the feel of them in his mouth and smiled at the woman he planned to make his wife.
He continued driving up to the house and parked the vehicle. They sat looking at the front of the home for a moment. Long and low with white siding and gray accents, another W on the front of the garage.
“A ways down, there’s the barn.” He pointed, and she followed his gesture.
He cut the engine and got out. As they converged in the yard and made their way to the front door, they clasped hands.
“What will your father think of this?” She swung their joined hands lightly.
He gazed down at her. “He’s the one who urged me to tell you I loved you the day of your wedding.”
Her lips parted on a gasp, and he continued up to the door. Without bothering to knock, he pushed it inward and called out, “Dad?”
“Shaw?” The voice came from what sounded like the depths of a closet.
“Yeah.”
Keeping hold of Atalee’s hand, he led her through the open front rooms to the kitchen. There was his father with his backside projecting from under the kitchen cabinet and p
lumbing tools scattered around him.
“Sprung a leak?” Shaw drawled.
One blue eye peered at him from the darkness of the cabinet as his father turned his head in the small space. “Hand me that fitting, would ya?”
Shaw grunted and let go of Atalee’s hand to squat in front of the sink. He placed the fitting in his father’s palm. His dad grunted in return. Behind him, Shaw heard a giggle from Atalee.
“Who ya got with ya, son?” came his father’s muffled words along with some clinking of metal on metal.
“Atalee Franklin.”
The noises from under the sink quieted. “That so?”
“Yeah.” He twisted to look at Atalee. She had one arm folded over her middle and the other hand plastered to her mouth. Above her hand, her eyes twinkled with amusement.
After a second, the rattling came from within again as his father employed a wrench on a pipe and sealed the gap. Then he pushed out of the cabinet and onto his haunches. His hair was mussed, and he pushed it back as he settled his gaze on Atalee.
“Good to see ya, darlin’.”
She dropped her hand and grinned. “You as well.”
“I see my son finally got around to makin’ things right.”
Shaw stood and offered his dad a hand up. Feeling the old man’s dry clasp in his own gave him warm feelings of home and family. He brought his dad in for a hug, and Atalee let out a happy sigh.
The men turned to her with a chuckle. “Women,” his father said with a shake of his head. “Always makin’ us soft. Come and give me a hug too, darlin’.” He walked toward Atalee with his arms extended, and they embraced. Seeing his girl in the arms of his family member made Shaw’s throat close off.
Maybe I should marry her right now. As soon as we can get a license.
When his father stepped back, she gave them each a happy look. “Did you fix the sink, Mr. Woodward?”
“Now, I haven’t seen you in a while, but you should know by now to call me Woody. Everyone and his uncle does in these parts. And yeah, I fixed it. I think. Give it a try, darlin.” He waved toward the sink, and Atalee stepped up with much ceremony and turned on the faucet. All three of them peered under the sink for leaks, but there wasn’t as much as a drip hitting the wood below.
“Well, that’s a wrap.” His old man crouched again and began placing all the junk he kept under the sink back in.
Shaw caught Atalee’s horror at the way he stuffed it all haphazardly, with bottles of cleaning supplies tipping over and in no order whatsoever.
“Uh oh, Dad. You just sparked Atalee’s organizational tendencies.”
His father turned with a cocked brow and grinned when he saw her mouth open and her shaking her head.
“Seems you have a lot in common with my momma,” she said.
“Oh, how is your momma?”
“Disorganized, possibly a hoarder.”
They all laughed. Shaw’s dad shoved in the last of the products and shut the cabinet door. “There, out of sight, out of mind.”
“Oh God.” Atalee groaned.
“Speaking of Atalee’s mother, we thought we’d invite her over and grill some steaks if that’s okay with you.”
His father found his battered Stetson and plopped it on his head, nodding as he did. “Could go for a steak. There’s some potato salad in the fridge.”
“You made potato salad?” Shaw was dumbfounded.
He snorted. “You know me better’n that, boy. It’s farm fresh. Bought it from the market down the road.”
“So it’s set. We’ll go buy some steaks there later. Now, we thought we’d take the horses out to the creek. Exercise ’em.”
His father bobbed his head. “They could use it. I got a mower to finish up before the guy picks it up for the weekend.”
“We’ll meet up in a few hours.” Shaw sliced a look at Atalee. Damn, he was already burning for her and couldn’t get her alone fast enough.
* * * * *
A fresh breeze washed over Atalee’s bare skin, raising pleasing shivers in its wake. The perspiration from their lovemaking cooled all over her body, making her hyperaware of the man next to her.
She trailed her fingertips over the scar on Shaw’s chest, down to the light fur leading to his groin. His stomach muscles twitched under her touch.
The man had thought of everything, even bringing along a clean quilt and a couple root beers in glass bottles which lay near the shore of the creek for the moment when they roused enough to drink them.
“Tell me about the guys you work with,” she said out of the blue.
His chest rumbled. “What do you want to know?”
She thought on it. She only wanted to be brought into that part of his life—it was such a vital part of who Shaw was. “Well… are you friends with them?”
“Yeah. Some of us knew each other from the Texas Rangers. Now in many ways I feel like they’re my brothers.”
“That’s fantastic. Do you see each other outside of missions?”
“We have a hangout. The Pins ’n Sins.”
“The bowling joint?” She smiled against his shoulder, imagining these huge, bad-ass men slamming some balls and beers.
“Yeah, it’s a good way to blow off steam.”
“When can I come along?”
He tilted his head to see her where she lay sprawled across his chest.
“I mean…” She felt heat rise in her cheeks at her assumption. “Are girlfriends invited?”
“Nevaeh comes along all the time with Nash. You’ll like her.”
Atalee pushed upward to look at him. “Does that mean I can come next time?”
His blue eyes, his smile, the rugged angle of his jaw… all combined to thrill her as much as the warmth in his response. “I wouldn’t leave you behind, baby doll. Now c’mere.”
He hitched his arm around her. Before she understood his intention, he swept her up and leaped to his feet simultaneously. The world flashed by as he took three fast steps and then she was submerged in water.
Her head went under the surface and she didn’t have time to sputter upward, because Shaw’s hard lips crushed over hers. As she pressed closer into the kiss, he drew them both up and out of the depths. Her nose filled with air and the scent of her man.
Bringing her legs up around his waist, she rubbed against his erection. The length was slippery as he brought the head to her needy entrance. Holding her breath, she anticipated the rush of sensation as he filled her. A gasp broke from her lips.
She clung to his neck as he dragged his cock in and out between her clenching walls. Ecstasy felt like a thousand flames licking at her insides. She angled her head and deepened the kiss, feeding him her tongue and gaining those delicious growls she knew so well now.
Ripples floated from around them in concentric circles. The sky overhead was so blue it almost hurt to look at.
And she was totally, utterly happy and in love.
Shaw yanked her up higher on his body, sinking deeper. Then he gently lowered her spine to the surface. “Can you float while I fuck you?”
“I can fly while you fuck me.”
His grin flashed in his handsome face. She relaxed her torso to float on the surface as he grasped her hips and pulled her into him again and again until she felt too unsettled to remain still.
When he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her, she sank over his rigid cock, taking him to the hilt. He groaned, and she knew that sound coming from his lips by now—he was close to the edge.
Her pussy flooded. She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the rhythm of Shaw moving inside of her.
He pressed his thumb over her clit, and she cried out. The throbbing amplified, singing through her veins. Her grip on his wet shoulders slipped, but he had her, anchored tightly to him, bound to him.
“Shaw!”
His low groan sent her shooting in an arc through the sky. Every pulsation that hit grew stronger until she lost herself completely in the man she loved. He pumpe
d hot cum into her, letting loose and roaring his release in a way he never had before.
He went still, holding her as he emptied the last of his seed into her. When their gazes collided, they shared a grin. Then she giggled. “I’ve never heard you be so loud.”
“Nobody can hear us out here. I guess all that holding back caught up to me.”
“I liked it.” She smiled wider. “We’ll have to come out here more often.”
His crooked grin cut a path through his rugged features, and somehow, her heart filled with even more love for him.
* * * * *
In front of him, Atalee navigated her horse down the narrow part of the trail, and Shaw watched her luscious ass rise and fall in the saddle. Damn, he couldn’t get enough of her—had waited years for her. After believing she was lost to him forever, she was here with him.
Exploring her out in the open had been one of the highlights of his life, forever branded on his memory. Now they were headed back and then out to buy some rib-eyes for the grill.
Atalee drew her phone out and looked down at it, giving the horse his head for a moment.
“Everything all right?” Shaw asked.
“Just my mom verifying that she’s just leaving home.”
“I haven’t seen your mother for a long time. Your brother either.”
“We’ll have to invite everyone ’round for dinner sometime.” She pocketed her phone and took up the reins again.
Shaw watched the lines of her back, the artful way her hair waved over one shoulder. Damn, she really had no clue what she did to him, did she? That her offhand remark about having them around for dinner affected Shaw right to down to the tips of his boots.
They were doing this—together. She was making plans for them as a couple, even inviting herself along to nights at the Pins ’n Sins.
And he couldn’t be happier.
She deserved a man who was home in her bed every night. A man who could be there to raise kids with her and love and support her each step of the way.
But fact was, in his line of work, he couldn’t predict events.
Hell, he could go out tomorrow and never return.
Maybe she was right—he should return to the Texas Rangers, drop the special forces. It was still challenging and dangerous enough to give him a bit of the adrenaline rush he craved with better chances at staying alive long enough to grow old with the woman he loved and cherished.