The Buckhorn Legacy

by Lori Foster

  She couldn’t hold back her grin. “Since the closest I got to a college was driving past in my car, and the idea of crunching numbers makes my brain throb, yeah. But I take it you’re already qualified?”

  He laughed. “For the most part. And I do enjoy crunching numbers, especially if I can help people plan better. You know, a lot of folks around here are selling land and not getting what they should. Some of the older people are retiring without enough to live on.” He shook his head. “As I said, I’m still thinking on it. And thinking right now, with you sitting there looking like that, isn’t easy.”

  Emma grinned, and hiked the sheet a little higher. “Better?”

  “Hey now, I didn’t mean you should…”

  Emma swatted at him when he reached for the sheet and they both laughed. “Okay,” she said when he retreated again, albeit with a big grin, “so that’s one mistake you’ve made. And not even really a mistake because it sounds to me like you’ve already got it figured out. You know what you want to do—you’re just dragging your heels about doing it. I say go for it. What have you got to lose?”

  “A great job? Financial security?”

  She snorted. “You’ll be an overnight success.”

  He stared at her intently, then suddenly sounding too serious again, he said, “You know your faith in me is downright scary. Always has been.”

  Her faith was well deserved, but he didn’t look open to hearing that.

  He put his hand on her thigh and squeezed. “I’m not perfect, honey, and I don’t even want to be. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count.” His hand slid higher, under the sheet and up to the inside of her thigh. “But losing you was the worst of the lot.”

  He kept saying things like that, confusing her so much.

  “The night you left me—you and your mother had been fighting?”

  “I didn’t leave you.” Good God, where did he get these notions? “I left Buckhorn.”

  Casey just waited.

  Her calm now shot to hell, Emma said, “Yes.” But then she shook her head, trying to pick and choose her words. “Not really fighting, but she was drunk and Dad couldn’t reason with her and things just got out of control…” Boy, was that an understatement. “I didn’t want to stay for that anymore. I decided it was past time to go.”

  “If your dad hadn’t had the stroke, you wouldn’t have come back.” He made it a statement rather than a question.

  “No.” This was the hard part, where she had to be really careful. “I’d talked to them a few times, but nothing had changed. They knew how to reach me, and though Dad called every so often, like on my birthday and holidays, Mom only called four times, and two of those times she was drunk.”

  Casey lowered them both to lie on the mattress. His hands held her face still for the soft press of his mouth to her forehead, chin and cheeks. “Don’t let them continue to influence your life.”

  “I don’t!”

  “When you avoid Buckhorn because of them?” Put that way, she had no more denials to offer. “You’re here now, and who knows for how long? Your dad may need you for months, maybe longer. He might never fully recover. Is your mother capable of taking care of him, considering she has a drinking problem?”

  Surely that wouldn’t be the case. She hadn’t even had the opportunity to consider such an eventuality. Things were happening too fast…

  “Give us a chance, Emma. That’s all I’m asking. Quit shutting me out and let’s see how it goes.” He moved against her and added, “Do you think you can do that?”

  From breasts to thighs, his hard, naked body covered her. She could feel his erection against her belly, his warm, fast breath. Pushing all probable consequences aside, she reached for him. “Yes.”

  * * *

  THEY’D FALLEN ASLEEP. Exhausted, Emma slept like the dead and woke with Casey propped on an elbow beside her, smiling. B.B. was splayed over their legs.

  “He snuck in about a half hour ago.”

  Emma stretched up to peer at the dog. As if he felt her awareness, he rolled to his back and looked at her upside down. Casey chuckled and reached down to scratch his throat.

  “I can see this might turn tricky. Maybe I should get another cot and set it up at the other end of the porch.”

  “Wouldn’t work,” Emma informed him. “He’d still crawl up here. He’s too used to sleeping with me.”

  “He got dirt and leaves in the bed, but at least he’s dry. And he didn’t complain at having me here.”

  “He likes you.” Emma stroked Casey’s shoulder. “I like you, too.”

  “Yeah?” His slow smile warmed her heart. “Well, I’ll have to remember this combination, huh?”

  “What combination?”

  “Great sex and a little rest.”

  Laughing, Emma stretched and said, “The sex was incredible, and I did need the rest.” She peeked at him. “But do you think you can add food in there somewhere?”

  “Whatever it takes to keep you happy.”

  If this was a dream, Emma thought, she didn’t want to wake up. Casey was so attentive, constantly touching her, kissing her. Sharing details of her mother’s sickness hadn’t been nearly as painful as she’d feared, because Casey had shared some of himself in return. And best of all, he had no complaints about her dog. Every other man she’d dated had resented B.B.’s interference—which had made them very dispensable. But not Casey. Rather than scold the dog, he’d made room for him and even given him affectionate pats. But then when had Casey ever been like other guys?

  After they got dressed, she finally got a tour of the little run-down cabin. It needed some repairs, no doubt about that, but it was still quaint, boasting a stone fireplace currently blackened from use, a minuscule bathroom—which she made use of—and a tiny kitchenette that even had running water. Other than the bathroom being sectioned off, it was all one open room.

  Casey showed her where he’d like to erect a gazebo, where he’d clear an area for a picnic table and perhaps a shelter. The charm of the cabin would definitely be the seclusion and the surrounding nature. Casey promised to bring her there often, and Emma already looked forward to the return.

  A few minutes later, after Casey insisted on covering her in sunscreen with excruciating, and exciting, attention to detail, they took the boat out again in search of food. First, Casey pulled in to the boat dock with the intention of getting hot dogs and chips. He changed his mind when, seconds after they’d docked, Lois and Kristin, along with a contingent of friends, converged on him. They’d docked their own boat and had been in the process of restocking their drinks and snacks.

  It wasn’t unusual to run into people on the lake. As Casey had told Damon, people used their boats almost as much as their cars. But to see the two women together…well, that boggled Emma’s mind. Her luck couldn’t be that bad. She caught Casey’s apologetic shrug, prompting her to ask, “They’re friends?”

  “Everyone knows everyone else around here, babe, you know that.”

  “But…they both want you!”

  That made him laugh, and shake his head at her. “I told you I work with Kristin, and Lois is—or rather was—a friend.”

  Apparently, he was still annoyed with Lois for her sniping remarks at the hospital. Emma tried to ignore both women as they sent her baleful looks while moving in on Casey. It wasn’t easy. They wore tiny bikinis, gorgeous tans, and they were all too ready to play touchy-feely with Casey.

  Because of th
e men who’d accompanied Lois and Kristin, Emma was grateful that she’d put her cover-up back on. They were being nice enough about it, only barely looking, but judging by their curious attention, she assumed Lois had already clued them in to her identity.

  Casually polite, Casey spoke with the women while gassing up the boat. Two of the men, dressed only in snug trunks, walked around the dock to Emma’s side. B.B. gave a low growl of warning, alerting Casey to their approach.

  One of the young men knelt down, which brought him closer to eye level with Emma. He grinned at her with what looked to be real pleasure. “Emma, I’d heard you were back. It’s good to see you again.”

  Her dark glasses shielded her eyes and gave her a false sense of privacy. “Thanks. I’m sorry…do I know you?”

  Chagrin added color to his already tanned face. “You don’t remember me?”

  “Should I?”

  He ribbed his friend and they both laughed. “Naw, I guess not. It was a long time ago.”

  His friend added, “And you have lost some hair.”

  They laughed, and the first man held out his hand. “Gary Wilham.”

  The name jogged her memory, causing Emma to look closer. True, he had a bit of a receding hairline, but he was still quite handsome. And still built like a linebacker… “I remember now. You played football for the school.”

  “That’d be me.”

  “Sorry about that. I’m not real good with faces anymore.” She and Gary had had a short-lived…thing. She wouldn’t call him a boyfriend, and they hadn’t officially dated. But if he expected her to be embarrassed, he’d be disappointed.

  He kept the handshake brief and merely polite, surprising her. “So.” He gave her the once-over. “You look terrific. How’ve you been?”

  Relaxing, Emma said, “Good. And yourself?”

  “Real good. You in town for long?”

  “A few weeks maybe.” Or months. She just didn’t know yet.

  “That’s great.” He glanced at Casey, then back to her with casual interest. “Catching up with old friends?” At her nod, he said, “Perfect. We’re all going waterskiing. Want to join us? It’ll give you a chance to get reacquainted with everyone.”

  Emma barely had her mouth open to make her excuses when Casey started the boat’s powerful motor, making conversation more difficult. The men backed up. Emma turned and saw that Casey, too, wore his glasses—and a very false smile.

  “Sorry, Gary. We’ve already got plans. Maybe some other time?” And he put the boat in Reverse before Gary could offer any alternatives.

  A little stunned at their hasty retreat, Emma waved to the men bidding her a fast farewell. Once they were several yards out in the lake, she said, “That was rather abrupt.”

  “He was about to ask you out. As to that, if he finds out where you’re staying, he’ll probably call.”

  Suffering faint disappointment at Casey’s attitude, Emma raised an eyebrow. “You mean he’ll expect to jump back into…old times.”

  Though his glasses hid his eyes, there was no mistaking Casey’s annoyance. “No, damn it. I meant he and every other guy who looks at you will notice what an attractive woman you are and hope to get closer. Reacquainting himself is just an excuse.”

  “Oh.” Emma felt small for projecting her own thoughts onto him. “Sorry.”

  “As to that, I’d appreciate it if you’d quit putting words into my mouth, okay?”

  To give him his due, she winced theatrically. “Okay, I’ll try.”

  “And while we’re on the subject, I’d like us to come to an understanding.”

  That he was heading back toward Morgan’s dock didn’t escape her notice. “Two questions. One, is our day at the lake over?”

  He stared straight ahead. “You’re starting to look a little pink, despite the sunscreen. I think you’ve had enough sun, but I thought we’d head back to the house to eat. If Honey doesn’t have anything ready, then we’ll grab a bite at Ceily’s.”

  Just hearing Ceily’s name made her stomach clench. She swallowed hard, prayed Honey had dinner going, and nodded. “Question two, what understanding?”

  His mouth flattened before he huffed out a long breath. In rapid order, he slowed the boat and reached for her hand, then pulled her up and into his side. Still looking severe, he drew her close for a brief kiss. “I have to get back to work tomorrow, but I’ll cut my hours short and be home by five all week. That’ll give us most of the evening to be together.”

  Amazed at the plans he made, at the way he wanted to adjust his routine to suit her, Emma could only stare at him.

  “I have no right to ask you this,” he went on, “but I was hoping you’d spend all your free time with me—and only me.”

  “My free time?”

  He glanced ahead as another boat going at breakneck speed came around the bend. “Yeah. I realize you’ll need to be with your father a lot, and I’m willing to do that with you too, whenever I’m around. But I…damn it, Em, I don’t want you going out with other guys.” He’d sounded belligerent, but just as quickly went tender with a self-conscious laugh. “I swear, it’d make me nuts.”

  It would take her time to get used to Casey wanting her. “I’d like that.”

  “Making me nuts?”

  She laughed. “No, spending more time with you. But you’re right that I need to see my dad often. It’s why I’m here, after all. And since it looks like I’ll be here awhile, I might need to drive back home to get more clothes…”

  “We’ll get it all worked out.”

  We. She really liked the sound of that. But would Casey still feel the same when he found out the truth of why she’d left? He’d asked her to tell him the whole truth, but through lies of omission, she’d denied him that. He’d also asked her to trust him, yet how could she? She knew Casey, knew what a good person he was. He’d been very understanding so far, but he wouldn’t be able to understand everything she’d done.

  When she’d only planned to be in town for a week or so, she’d thought she might be able to avoid confronting past transgressions. If she needed to stay a month or more, the chances of being haunted by her past increased.

  Yet what else could she do?

  She’d start by simply enjoying what time she could have with him. And she’d face demons as they arose, not a second before. If it all fell apart in the end…well, it was no more than she’d ever expected.

  Probably no more than she deserved.

  In the meantime, she’d take what she could—and wait for it all to come crashing down.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BY THE TIME Casey walked her to the motel-room door, it was past midnight. Exhaustion pulled at him, but he hated for the day to end. It had been a unique pleasure, watching Emma interact with his family. She’d helped Honey with dinner, fallen naturally into the routine of serving the kids, and when Gabe showed up with Elizabeth, she’d spent over an hour discussing car motors with him.

  Casey knew everyone was curious about her, but they’d also enjoyed her company. Emma was very easy to be with, in a hundred different ways. Maybe if he brought her around them more often, she’d realize what he already knew—that she fit into his life with ease.

  Emma turned at the door to smile at him, and Casey had to kiss her again. And once he kissed her, he wanted so much more. Making love to her this afternoon had been deeply satisfying…but not nearly enough. He wanted her again, right now. If she hadn’t looked so weary,
he might have invited himself in.

  He consoled himself with the fact that she’d agreed to see him every day. He had no doubt that at least part of their time together would be spent in bed.

  After a full day in the sun and water, and after the rambunctious attention from all the kids, B.B. was tired as well. While Casey feasted on Emma’s sweet mouth, the dog collapsed in a heap at their feet.

  Though he told himself merely to kiss her good-night, Casey couldn’t resist taking a little more. He flattened his hands on the door at either side of her head, angled his hips in, and relished the feel of her soft, accommodating body flush against his. Emma clung to his neck, taking his tongue, giving him her own. They both groaned at about the same time.

  “You’re hard again,” she whispered against his mouth with what sounded like awe.

  “And you’re so damn soft,” he growled, rubbing his nose against her cheek, her throat, her chin.

  She stared into his eyes, slowly licked her lips, then offered, “If you’d like to—”

  The door opened behind her.

  With a yelp, Emma, who’d been leaning on the door with Casey’s full weight against her, lost her balance and fell inward. Because his hands had been flat on the door, Casey couldn’t stop himself from falling in too. He tried to brace himself, but his feet got tangled over the dog.

  Damon said, “What the hell!” just before the three of them landed hard on the floor in a welter of arms and legs. Damon cursed again, Emma gave an umph as she got squashed, and Casey quickly tried to lever himself off her. But B.B. had been jerked awake with a start and found it all great fun. He jumped on Casey’s back and knocked him flat against Emma again.

  Everyone froze.

  Into the silence, Damon, who was on the bottom of the heap, murmured dryly, “Well. My first ménage à trois, but somehow I never figured I’d be on the bottom.”