“In the shoulder. You’ll be fine,” Penn said. “Bullet went straight through.”
The fuzziness was finally starting to lift from his mind. “Where’s Adira? Is she okay?” He tried sitting up but was held down by a number of hands.
“Hold your horses, bro.” Roman shook his head. “You’re hooked up to a lot of machines. No moving for you.”
“Where is she?” He needed to see her.
“Let’s leave them alone,” Pippa said, corralling everyone toward the door.
He felt a soft touch on his arm and turned his cheek, finding Adira standing at his bandaged shoulder. “I would have elbowed my way through them to see you, but it wasn’t happening.”
“I know. They’re a lot to contend with.”
“They love you. I’ve never seen so many concerned people in one spot in all my life. Your brothers were ready to wring Joe Peterson’s neck while your sisters-in-law made sure the nurses treated you like a king.”
He started to open his mouth, but then it came to him…a dead man can’t have his neck wrung. “Joe? He’s alive?”
She tugged a tendril of hair behind her ear and nodded. “You shot him in the stomach, but it didn’t hit anything vital. The doctor let us know he made it through surgery all right.”
“I didn’t want to kill him.”
“I don’t think he wanted to kill you either. While he and I were alone in the house, he told me he wasn’t the prison kind of man and he’d force your hand.”
She grasped his hands and he lightly squeezed. “How about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now that you’re awake.”
“Sandra?”
“She’s okay too. She’s down the hall with Joe. Carol is sitting outside watching his room.”
“I don’t know what I would have done if that bastard would have hurt you,” Hugh grumbled.
“I’m not defending him, but in those last few minutes, when he thought he wouldn’t be leaving his farm alive, he decided to empty his heart, and past, onto the table. His dad ruled like a tyrant and was abusive, not only to Joe’s mom, but to him as well. A man doesn’t carry those demons unless he had them placed there by something or someone. I hope he can get the help he needs. I learned something though. Nothing that I’ve been through is worth missing happiness. Sometimes a person must walk through hell to get to heaven.”
“Are you saying…?”
“I love you.”
“You’re not just saying this because you thought I was dying, are you?”
“I knew how I felt before today. I can’t say that I won’t have to face my demons, because I will, but I must forgive myself. I didn’t make anyone mistreat me.”
“I will help you. You can trust me.”
She swiped at the wetness on her cheek. “Guess who stopped by?”
“The reaper,” he joked.
“That’s not funny. Judge Marley. He told me you’d spoke to him about my sentence. He lifted my community service and told me I was free to go.”
Hugh’s heart hammered against his ribcage. He didn’t want her to go, but he also couldn’t force her to stay. She had to be happy, wherever that took her, or what part of the world she landed. “Are you leaving?” Although she said she loved him, he needed to hear the words.
“That all depends on what one man has to say.” Her blue eyes glistened.
“What man is that? And what does he need to say?” He lifted a brow.
“I’ve fallen in love and if he feels the same way, and feels he’s up to dealing with my baggage, then I think my stay will be permanent. I think a man who can gets shot and lives to tell about it can certainly take me on.”
“Speaking for this guy, he will gladly take you on. He has fallen head over heels and promises to love, cherish, and protect you until his last dying breath. You see, this man you’re referring to has baggage also. He’s never allowed anyone close, therefore he might need guidance in communication and picking up his dirty socks from the floor. And I have word that he wants to give you his heart, tell you each day how special you are and procreate—lots and lots of procreation. Can you handle that, babe?”
She bent and kissed him on the lips. “Tell him that I’m all in. Forever.”
A clearing of throat made both look around to the door. The nurse was smiling. “I need to check vitals.”
Adira scooted back. “Sorry.”
“No apology needed. I wish every person who had been shot looked this good after.”
Hugh laughed. “Nurse Jane, when can I go home?”
“That’s up to the doc, but I’m sure he won’t keep you too long.”
“Good thing. I plan to take a few days off and I don’t want to spend them in here.”
Epilogue
Adira opened a can of food and emptied it into the dog dish for Frank. She placed it on the floor and he raced into the kitchen. Only having three legs didn’t slow him down one bit. The badly broken leg had been amputated, but he’d come far since she and Hugh had rescued him from the road seven months ago.
She gave Frank a scratch behind the ear, the diamond in her wedding ring glistening a colorful rainbow in the sunlight flowing in through the window. She still couldn’t believe she was married.
“Where’s my shirt? I can’t find it,” Hugh said from the bedroom.
“When will he learn that I’m not the shirt police?” she whispered to Frank who was chowing down. Going to stand in the doorway of their bedroom, she found him looking everywhere for his uniform shirt. “You’re not looking very well.”
He lifted his chin and their gazes met. “It’s like my shirt grew legs and it wandered off. I remember placing it right here on the chair.”
She smiled and loosened the belt around her waist and the front of the robe parted, revealing his shirt that she was wearing underneath. His growl bounced off the walls. “Remember that game of hide and seek we played once upon a time? I thought it would be fun to play again.”
He was across the room in the time it took her to exhale. “My God, I’m so lucky to have you.” He snaked an arm around her waist and drew her close, nuzzling his freshly-shaven chin against her neck. “Promise me we can still “play” long after the baby is born.”
“I sure hope you change diapers better than you wash dishes. You said you’d do them last night.” She tried her best to give him a firm expression, but it was impossible. She had the inclination to melt under him when he looked at her the way he did.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. After you laid down, I curled up next to you and fell asleep too. My uniform shirt looks better on you than it does me.” He pushed the robe off her shoulders and it dropped to the floor at their feet. “I could use you at the station. Bad guys would take one look at you and freeze.”
“I forgive you for falling asleep with me. From what I’ve heard from my sisters-in-law, we should sleep as much as we can now because once our baby is born, we can kiss rest goodbye.” She palmed her stomach which was now rounded.
“My brothers have told me that we should catch up on hanky panky because once our precious son is born, we can kiss sex goodbye. I say we take their advice and start catching up now.”
“You don’t know if we’re having a son.” She laughed. “And, they’re only teasing you, darling. Sure, we won’t have as much ‘us’ time, but from what I know, your brothers are very cared for in the way of lovemaking. However, I like your way of thinking. You still haven’t found your surprise.”
He smiled widely, reached between her legs, and rubbed a finger along her panties. “I don’t feel any vibration.” His eyes narrowed.
“And you won’t. I retired the toy, for now, but what you missed is I placed something where your shirt was. For a Sheriff, you’re certainly not very observant.”
“In my defense, once you lost the robe I was a goner.”
“Good excuse, but before we take this a step further, you have to find your gift.”
He kissed her on the che
ek, then went to the chair. She watched him open the envelope and stare at the ultrasound picture she’d placed in there. “It was a good day. I remember when we heard the heartbeat and saw the little Jericho for the first time.”
“Turn it over.”
She heard his breath come out in a hiss and then he spun, a look of shock on his face. “Twins?”
Taking the necessary steps that brought her to him, she cupped his cheeks. “Remember I told you that I had a doctor’s visit yesterday but it was nothing?” He nodded. “Well, I didn’t want to scare you, but I was having some cramping and that’s why I saw my obstetrician.”
He blinked. “You didn’t tell me? That’s not right.”
“I agree, it’s not, but you were at Joe Peterson’s trial and that was important too. I didn’t know the doctor would give me another ultrasound just to be sure all is okay.”
“Is it?” He tore a hand through his thick hair.
“Yes, just as you can see, we’re having twins. A boy and a girl.” Tears moistened her eyes.
He lowered his gaze and subtly swiped at his face. She’d never seen him cry, but he had gotten darn close on their wedding day. When he lifted his chin, there was no longer any sign of tears, but he was smiling ear to ear. “You got me, baby. Come here.” He took her into his arms and led her to the bed, helping her to the center of the thick comforter. “If I haven’t told you lately, I love you. You’re an amazing woman and I could never say thank you enough for coming into my life and saving me.”
“I know you can do better than that. Show me, hubby.”
And he did…
Not the end, but only the beginning…
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit: www.rhondaleecarver.com.
Find me on Facebook, too! www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Diamond in a Rose
Double Dare
Delaney’s Sunrise
Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)
Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)
Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)
Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)
Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)
Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)
Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8, Second Chance Cowboy Series)
Castle’s Fortress
Dreaming Ivy
Friends With Benefits
Sin With Cuffs
With Honor
Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)
Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)
Fighting Flames
UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE RISING (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE POINT (Book 3, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
SECRET PRESSURE (Book 4, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
RESISTING PRESSURE (Book 5, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
Under the Mistletoe
Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana)
Ropin’ Trouble (Book 2, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Book 3, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Kissed, Spurred, & Valentined (Book 4, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Cowboy is Mine (Book 5, Cowboys of Nirvana)
The Discreet Cowboy (Book 6, Cowboy of Nirvana)
Leather for Two, Wings of Steel MC
An Unexpected Hero (Buttermilk Valley)
The Lawman’s Promise (Book 2, Buttermilk Valley)
A New Year’s Cowboy (Ring In A Cowboy Boxed Set)
Pride & Pleasure (Book 1, The KNIGHT Brothers)
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Have you read Resisting Pressure (#5, Rhinestone Cowgirls)...?
CHAPTER ONE
“It’s stuck in the hole!”
“Wait! Stop squirming! I’ll pull it out,” Keefer Lane mumbled.
Violet Stone eyed him. “Can you manage?”
“Would be easier if the hole wasn’t dry. Hold on…it’s coming now.” He tugged and pop!
She almost lost her balance as her heel came free from the dirt. He caught her by the elbow, his touch scorching her skin. Jerking away, she refused to make eye contact with him. His eyes—blue, mesmerizing pools—would only make her heart pound faster. “You’re unbelievable!” Violet slid off her heels, eyeing the damage to one stiletto. “It’s a hundred degrees out here and you’re making this hell.”
He pushed his white cowboy hat back on his forehead, looked up into the sky, squinting. “Could be worse.”
“And how could it get any worse?” She forced the words through pinched lips.
He brought his chin down, his dimpled smile making her inner thighs tingle. “Could be storming. Could be a zombie apocalypse. Could be a lot of things.”
Was he serious? “And we could be back in San Antonio, having a nice dinner, maybe a glass of wine. Not stranded in the middle of nowhere.”
“I hadn’t planned on running out of gas or hoofing it a mile on this dirt road either, but shit happens.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she counted to ten, then met his gaze—couldn’t help herself. “Hmm…shit happens? It was your truck and your idea to go on this road trip clear across the state of Texas to see the stars from a different view! We could have seen the stars just fine back in the city. In fact, I have a whole ranch with front row seats to the sky!”
His gaze narrowed. “So this is all my fault? I didn’t force you to get into the truck.”
“No, but it doesn’t take a genius to read the gas gauge. E stands for empty!”
“I’ve told you, the gauge isn’t working properly. It gets stuck sometimes.”
“Are you really going to use that as an excuse? Do you think it’s your responsibility to monitor how many miles you’ve driven on a tank of gas?” She tugged a long tendril of hair behind her ear before nailing him with what she hoped was an annoyed glare. She was hot, tired, and her feet were killing her after walking on the gravel road. She wasn’t normally this pissed and wasn’t even sure why she was so angry with him, but she couldn’t seem to control any part of her body around him. From a fast beating heart to dizziness to clammy hands, she was having symptoms of something horrible—an attraction to an infuriating cowboy.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything but a granola bar since that morning. The emergency department had been pounded with patients and by the time she ended her shift, she’d been in a rush to make her date with Keefer. .
She couldn’t believe she’d chosen the stilettos for tonight. They were sexy, but nothing about the heels were made for walking except across the room looking sexy. Very seldom did she get all dressed up and had been looking forward to wearing something different than her scrubs and tennis shoes. Nothing had gone as planned this evening. Especially pulling off sexy for her date, the first she’d had in over six months. She was certain her hair that she’d curled over top of the staff bathroom sink was now hanging straight. The makeup she’d applied was worn off and the expensive red dress she’d bought specifically for tonight clung to her body, and not in a good way. She’d even had a Brazilian wax because a girl should always be prepared. Those parts of her body were now sweating. ‘Sexy’ was the last thing she felt like at this moment.
She smoothed her gaze over the cowboy and hated that not one part of him appeared unraveled. In fact, he looked so good she could eat him on a cracker. Her stomach growled and every nerve ending sparked alive—at least the junction of her thighs still wo
rked. No surprise. He was easy on the eyes and his hypnotic grin could make a woman feel special. Remind her of things she was missing, and oh brother, did Violet miss the things this cowboy, no doubt, could do well. She’d bank on it.
A week ago she’d met him after he’d won a date with her at a charity auction and she’d anticipated the moment when she’d see him again. It was pretty obvious the only action she’d be getting tonight was a long foot-soak and sinking into bed alone. That was whenever she finally made it home. She grabbed her cell from her handbag and checked the screen. Still dead. What was she expecting? Dropping the phone back into her purse, she continued beside Keefer along the narrow road.
“Hey, by the way, I’m sorry about this,” he said.
“An apology? We’re getting somewhere.” She kept her gaze steady on the road in front of them. The sun glinted off the gravel appearing as though they were walking off the edge of the earth. The weather forecast warned people to stay hydrated today and her body agreed. What she wouldn’t give for a sip of water.
“I’ll take full credit for not being the most responsible, but I was preoccupied.” He slid his gaze over her, spending a good second on her breasts. She hated that her knees weakened and the apex of her thighs throbbed with an urgency for a cowboy—and not just any cowboy would do.
“Are you saying that because I—well—‘preoccupied’ you, that I’m at fault for our situation?”
“Were you thinking clearly yourself?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “I wasn’t the one behind the wheel.”
“You were tucked up real nice and tight at my side, your fingers tugging at my belt buckle and I sort of lost touch with reality.” He shifted in his dusty boots, then kicked up a rock with his toe.
“Oh, in that case, you’re completely forgiven.”
“Am I?”
“No, not in the slightest! However, I do appreciate that you can be honest. It’s no secret that a man can’t think with his brain when he has a—” she slipped her gaze to his zipper, rolling her tongue along her bottom lip, “problem.”
“I wasn’t the only one with a 'problem', sweetheart.” His deliberate grin drove through her like a pitchfork.
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