Renegade Cowboy

by Sara Richardson

  In case he had any lingering hesitations, she kissed her way over to his ear. “Make love to me, Levi,” she whispered. “Right. Now.”

  “I’m on it.” Still holding her body firmly against his, he moved her away from the water. When they reached a soft, grassy spot near the fire, he eased her to the ground, the thick blanket cushioning her back.

  Levi hovered over her, the early twilight and faint stars stretching as far as she could see behind him. “I want to give you everything, Cass. I want to make all of your dreams come true.” He kissed her lips, then her chin, then her collarbone.

  “I can’t believe I shut you out.” She smoothed her hands over his broad shoulders. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. But I want you to be sure this time.” He gazed into her eyes as though searching.

  “I’m sure.” She’d never been more sure about anything. “I’m really sure.” Grinning, she shifted to a sitting position and pushed his shoulders to the ground. “Let me show you how sure I am.” Starting at his mouth, she kissed her way down his body, flicking her tongue over his skin. His head fell back as she went lower, slowly working her way down his hips until she took him in her mouth. She wanted to make him feel good, to bring him outside of himself like he’d done to her all of those weeks ago. She wanted him to belong to her—completely captivated and defenseless.

  “Your mouth,” he uttered between rough breaths. “Damn, Cass, your mouth.”

  The utter ecstasy in his voice made certain parts of her tingle. She licked and sucked until he roughly pulled her up, bringing her body over his. “I’m gonna make you feel so good.”

  “I’m already feeling pretty good,” she teased. “You’re one fine cowboy, Levi Cortez.” She settled next to him on the blanket, her body turned to his, her hands admiring his sculpted abs.

  “And you, Cassidy Greer, are sexy and brilliant and tenderhearted and strong and so fucking hot.” Levi slid his hand down the back of her thigh and brought her knee up to his hip. He brushed his erection between her legs as though he wanted to tease her. Every touch zipped an electrical current through her body, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She held his hips in place and wriggled against him until he pushed into her.

  “This is so right,” she breathed. She belonged to him. Why had she fought him for so long?

  Levi captivated her with a slow kiss, his eyes closed as he ground his hips into hers, bringing their connection deeper. “You’re more than I deserve,” he said, easing his hands to her backside. “But I’ll do my best to earn you.” Kissing her lips, he thrust into her, guiding her hips up to meet his.

  She moaned as their bodies moved together in a powerful rhythm. He obviously knew what he was doing, how he was positioning her to feel him everywhere, grazing the most sensitive spots, teasing her with long deep thrusts and then going shallow.

  “More, Levi. Please,” she begged. “Harder.” Cassidy arched her back, digging her fingertips into his muscular shoulders until that was all she felt—his wet skin moving against hers, the heat and energy they generated together.

  “Oh, Cass. My god, I love you,” he panted, holding her tight.

  Her body clenched around him, pulling him deeper, tightening everything until she broke apart in a surge of blinding ecstasy.

  Levi’s body tensed, his release pulsing inside her, which took her over again, electrifying her body with explosive aftershocks.

  Their heavy breaths interrupted the stillness of the evening. Levi was draped over her, his body dead weight, and she’d never felt more content. “Thank you for bringing me here,” she whispered, brushing a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for reminding me to let myself feel something.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  There was nothing sexier than a beautiful woman eating a gooey roasted marshmallow, her full lips moving slowly as she chewed and savored the sugary sweetness.

  Levi fed Cassidy another one and then cleaned a smear of white off her chin with his tongue.

  “Mmmmmm,” she purred. That little seductive noise was enough to rekindle his arousal, but unfortunately, they’d finally gotten dressed. As soon as the sun had gone down, the temperature dropped about twenty degrees, which might have been chilly if they weren’t huddled together under the blanket. They sat on the ground next to the fire, which had dwindled to a red-hot glow.

  “I wish we could stay out here all night,” Cass murmured, snuggling up against him and laying her head on his chest.

  “Me too.” Hell, he’d stay right here in this spot with her forever if he could. “But I’m thinking we should head back and check on your mom.” Lulu had seemed nervous about the prospect of going out with Gunner, and he didn’t want her to come home to an empty house. “After we check on your mom, maybe we should head over to Lance and Jessa’s.” They’d asked him to keep an eye on things while they went to Denver for more tests. “The guest room has a king-sized bed.”

  “I’ve slept in that bed before.” Cass teased him with those soft lips of hers. “It’s very comfortable.”

  “It is,” he agreed. “But I’m not sure how much sleep we’ll get…”

  Cassidy turned and straddled his lap. “Over the next week, I’ll have to finish packing.” Sadness glistened in her blue eyes. “And then I’ll have to leave…”

  Yeah, that wasn’t his favorite thought right now either. “This is what you’ve always wanted,” he reminded her. “It’s everything you’ve worked for, and you’re gonna kick ass in that program.” He wouldn’t stand in the way. He’d never hold her back from doing what she loved the most.

  Cass wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’ll come and stay with me in Denver sometimes?”

  He snuck a shameless peek down the V-neck of her shirt, making sure she noticed. “As often as you’ll let me.”

  “After your performance this evening, you’re welcome to stay every night.” She worked her lips down his neck.

  “Now see, that’s just going to get us into trouble again.” Red-hot lust prickled down his body, sending a rush of blood south. “You keep doing that, we’ll never leave this blanket.”

  “I know.” She sighed, scooting off his lap. “It’s just…you’re a very tempting man.”

  “And you’re downright mouthwatering.” He forced himself to stand and then pulled her up to meet him. “Which I will enjoy proving to you again and again later tonight. But for now…” He wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and gave her ass a pat. “Why don’t you go keep warm in the truck while I load everything up?”

  “Fine.” Her playful pout tempted him to storm after her and kiss her until he had her moaning again. Instead, he dumped a bucket of water on the fire, stacked up the box of unused firewood with the cooler, and hauled everything to the truck in record time. He slid into the driver’s seat next to Cass, who had belted herself into the middle of the bench seat.

  “I can’t believe you made me hot dogs.” Her girlish laugh made him grin.

  “Organic chicken sausage,” he corrected. “And it worked, didn’t it?”

  “Oh, it worked.” She slipped her delicate hand onto his thigh, caressing dangerously close to his hip. Automatically, his foot pressed into the gas pedal.

  “You’re going awfully fast,” she teased.

  “Yeah, well, I just remembered that Lance and Jessa also happen to have a bearskin rug right next to the fireplace…” Which would be much hotter than the bed.

  “That sounds interesting,” she mused, inching her hand closer to the crotch of his jeans.

  Aw hell, he was already busting to be free. “Maybe we should talk about something else,” he suggested. “Why don’t you tell me more about the residency program?”

  She smiled as though the request amused her, but she did give him a rundown of the program as they drove to her house. “So I’ll basically have a chance to experience all the different floors at Children’s,” she said, just as he turned onto her street.

  “Which area are you most in
terested—”

  A dark shape in Cassidy’s driveway snagged his attention. A car. Dev’s patrol car. That couldn’t be good.

  Cass hadn’t noticed. She was focused on him, waiting for him to finish the question.

  He couldn’t. Tapping the brake, he slowed the truck.

  “What were you saying?” she asked, still looking at his face.

  He turned to her, wishing he could drive right by her house to protect her, to pretend something wasn’t wrong. “Dev’s here,” he said instead.

  “What?” The word whooshed out of her. She turned her head to the driveway. “Oh no.” He pulled up to the curb, and her hands fumbled with the seat belt. Levi released it for her and then undid his own.

  Dev got out of car at the same time they climbed out of the truck.

  Cassidy raced over to him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  The deputy glanced at Levi first, as if to warn him she might need his support. He slipped his arm around Cassidy’s waist, bracing himself for the worst.

  “Your mom was in an accident,” Dev said gently.

  Jesus. Levi tightened his hold on her.

  “She sustained serious injuries,” the deputy went on. “But she’s stable. They transported her by ambulance to Vail Valley Medical Center.”

  “What are the injuries?” Fear ran wild in her eyes.

  Levi squeezed her hand, helplessness weighting him down. How the hell had this happened? Was she with Gunner?

  “I don’t know specifics,” Dev said before Levi could ask. “I’m sorry, Cass. They got her out of there pretty quick, and I came right over here so I could tell you before you heard it from someone else.”

  “When?” she wheezed. “Where did it happen?”

  “About an hour ago on the highway. She was headed into town. Said she was supposed to meet someone.”

  So she’d been alone. Regret slammed into Levi. They should’ve been here for Lulu…

  “She lost control of the car and rolled it into a ditch just before Main Street.” Dev glanced at Levi again, but he couldn’t say one damn thing. A few hours ago, Cass told him this was the most beautiful, perfect night. Now it was turning into a nightmare…

  “The thing is…” The deputy shifted as though he was uncomfortable. “Her blood alcohol was over the legal limit.”

  “No.” Cass shook her head and pushed away from Levi. He let her go. “She hasn’t been drinking. She hasn’t had a drink for so long. Not since we had to get her out of that treehouse…”

  Wait…

  He’d caught Lulu drinking after that. Shit. “She has, actually.” He should’ve told Cassidy. He should’ve known Lulu wouldn’t stop after he’d told her about the job. “The night I came here to tell her about the job. When I got here, I could tell she’d been drinking.”

  “What?” Cass backed away, tears spilling down her cheeks. “That night you made me dinner? That night you kissed me?”

  “Yes.” He couldn’t stand to look in her eyes. “I thought the job would make a difference. I thought it would help. We agreed that she wouldn’t drink anymore.”

  “You agreed?” Cass raised her voice. “What the hell, Levi? You thought a job would fix an alcoholic?”

  “I’m sorry.” He went to her and held her shoulders in his hands, forcing her to stay, to hear him out. “I should’ve told you. But I didn’t want you to worry. You already had so much to worry about…”

  Cassidy wrenched herself away from him and turned to Dev. “Can you take me to the hospital?”

  “I’ll take you.” Levi reached for her hand, but she bolted away from him.

  “Please, Dev. I don’t think I can drive myself.”

  “Uh…” Dev eyed Levi as though he didn’t know what to say. “Sure. I can drive you over there, if you want…”

  “I’d appreciate it.” Cassidy started in the direction of the cruiser, but Levi wasn’t about to let her escape that easily. She’d just opened herself up to him, and they couldn’t go back now. He should be the one to help her through this.

  “Talk to me.” He blocked her path to the car.

  “I can’t. I can’t even look at you right now.” She shoved past him and climbed into the passenger seat before slamming the door.

  “You want me to tell her I won’t drive her?” Dev asked, still standing awkwardly in the middle of the driveway.

  “No. That’s okay.” He studied her through the window. She stared straight ahead, her jaw set as though the fear and pain had given way to anger. But it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t. Not after what had happened between them tonight.

  “I’ll meet her at the hospital,” he said, already heading to his truck. They would talk this out, and she would understand. He’d sit with her at the hospital, and he’d do everything he could to help her and Lulu get past this.

  But first, he had to go find Gunner.

  * * *

  Cassidy had spent her fair share of time walking through hospitals, dealing with nurses and doctors. But it had been years since she’d walked in as a member of a victim’s family.

  After his accident, Cash had been airlifted to Denver, and by the time they’d made it there, he was already gone. That hospital had been much larger than this one—cold and fancy—almost like a museum. At least her mother’s injuries must not have been severe enough for a Flight for Life, she thought as she hurried through the doors and into the emergency room.

  Over the past couple of years, she’d watched so many people rush into the ER to search for their loved one, and it felt surreal to be one of them. A cloud of confusion hemmed her in, refusing to let her eyes focus on anything. Her legs churned in a clumsy jog that left Dev lagging far behind. The room became a blur of faces, white floors, fluorescent lights, chairs. She charged to the large check-in desk, where a woman sat typing on a computer.

  “LuEllen Greer?” she choked out. “I’m her daughter.”

  The woman glanced at a chart. “She’s in Room Three, honey. Right back through those double doors.”

  Cassidy headed in that direction, the heavy emotions weighing her down, making her feel like she couldn’t move fast enough.

  “I’ll wait out here,” Dev called behind her. She didn’t turn. Didn’t acknowledge him.

  Everything she’d feared was chasing her through those doors, and she couldn’t stop moving or the nightmare would claim her.

  She pushed through, her breaths echoing back in her ears. Frantically she searched for a 3, finally finding it on a door around the corner.

  “Mom?” she half-whispered, peering into the room. Her heart buckled. Lulu was lying on the bed, her head bandaged, her face badly bruised. “Oh my god.” Cassidy slogged over to her, touching the bandage lightly.

  Her mom’s eyes fluttered open. “Cass?” Tears spilled over, carving a jagged path over the purplish marks that mottled her skin. “Oh, honey,” she rasped. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Cass…”

  “It’s okay.” It wasn’t. Nothing about this was okay, but she didn’t want her to worry right now. “What did the doctor say?” A quick visual assessment didn’t tell her much—other than Lulu had multiple lacerations and contusions on her face.

  “Please don’t worry.” Her mother shifted and tried to push herself up on the pillows. She winced, easing out a long, slow breath. “It looks worse than it is.”

  Judging from her guarded movements, Cassidy didn’t believe her.

  “I have a concussion. A few broken ribs.” Lulu’s eyes—the eyes that had been so energetic and full of life earlier that day—refused to meet Cassidy’s. “They said I was lucky.”

  The first hint of relief she’d had in an hour and a half settled her erratic heartbeat. “You were lucky.” She pulled a chair over to the bed. “You were very lucky.” And so was she. How would she have ever lived with herself if her mother had been killed in a car accident while she was messing around with Levi? She couldn’t even think about it.

  “What happened, Mom?” De
v had told Cassidy what he could, but she wanted to hear it from her.

  Lulu closed her eyes. A few more tears slipped out. “I had a couple of drinks before I left the house.” She opened her eyes and looked at her daughter. “I was so nervous. But I wasn’t drunk, Cass. I promise.”

  Cassidy didn’t say anything. They would have to deal with that issue later. “How did you roll the car?”

  “It was so stupid. I was running late, so I tried to put my earrings in as I drove. I dropped one and looked down.” Her hands shook, and Cassidy grabbed them, holding them tightly, willing the fear to subside. She would fix this. She would do whatever it took to be the person her mother needed her to be so nothing like this would ever happen again.

  Lulu eased out another pained breath. “The next thing I knew, Dev was there telling me an ambulance was on its way.”

  Now that she’d seen her, that she knew she’d be okay, anger started to filter past the relief. “Your blood alcohol was over the legal limit, Mom.” She’d conveniently left out that important detail.

  “But I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t feel like I’d had too much.” Her mother scooted herself higher on the pillows, her breaths likely shallow from the rib pain. “I’m sorry. I never would’ve gotten in the car if I’d known…”

  Of course she hadn’t known. She was an alcoholic. Alcoholics didn’t have limits. They didn’t have one drink and call it good. She’d said “a couple of drinks.” That could mean five…

  “I’m sorry you were worried,” her mother whimpered, and Cassidy couldn’t stay mad. She couldn’t stay mad when her mother’s face was broken and bruised. When her spirit was crushed.

  “Don’t cry,” she murmured, reaching for a Kleenex. Carefully, she blotted Lulu’s tears the same way she had for Cassidy all those years. “Everything will be okay. I promise.” She would take care of this. She would take care of her mother. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  “They gave me something to manage it.” Her mother sighed and closed her eyes. “Now I’m just so tired.”