BB Dalton
Page 4
She breathed deeply in and then out at his words. “Let me tell you what I think. One day you are going to want to marry, settle down and have kids. I’m almost forty, BB. In ten years, I’ll be fifty. Which means I can’t be that woman for you. And as much as I understand your ‘live for the moment’ philosophy, I can’t warm your bed until you leave me for a younger woman who can have your babies.”
She looked away. He saw tears shining in her eyes, and his anger grew.
“That was not fair, Katie. I would never use you then dump you. And I’m not interested in any younger woman. If that was what I wanted, don’t you think I’d be with one right now? I’m not here with you because you were convenient. I’m with you because I respect you professionally, I care about you personally, and I absolutely crave you physically. And as for kids, I grew up with eight brothers and sisters. Everything I owned was a hand-me-down. And now I have more nieces and nephews than I can keep track of, and although I love them all, what makes you think I want kids of my own? For your information, when I became special ops, I decided I probably wouldn’t start a family, ever.”
The tears were falling freely on her cheeks now. “I know you believe what you’re saying. But I also think I’m right. You just don’t know it yet.”
He shook his head. “You’re wrong. You know, I would have understood if you couldn’t be with me because of the nature of my job. But not because you’re assuming I’m going to trade you in for someone younger. If you really think that of me, then maybe you’re right. We shouldn’t be together.”
He got up and threw on his clothes as quickly as he could while trying to ignore the tears streaming silently down her face. He paused at the door. “I’ll pick you up at five-thirty.”
Katie watched the door close behind him and then burst out into huge sobs. All she could think was, thank god she’d held them in until he was gone.
And he was gone. Totally. She’d managed to push him away. But better now then later. It would only hurt worse then.
Her cell phone rang in her purse. She leapt from the bed, chastising herself for hoping it was BB. She couldn’t hope. Having hope would only devastate her further.
She saw Emily’s name on the read out. She answered on a sob. “Oh, Emily.”
“Katie? What happened?”
She cried her way through the entire thing, knowing it wasn’t professional to lay this on her assistant, but unable to help herself. She worked so damn much, she didn’t have any actual friends.
“Katie. You do realize you pushed him away because you’re afraid,” Emily observed patiently when the tale was complete.
“Yes.”
“So call him right now and tell him that. He’ll forgive you.”
There was that damn hope again. “You think so?”
“Yes, and if he doesn’t, you don’t want him anyway.”
Such sage words from one so young. She’d really have to stop being such an age-ist. Katie vowed that if BB would forgive her, she’d never make age-based generalizations again.
And then there was a knock on the door and she heard BB’s voice. “Katie?”
“Oh, my god. He’s at the door.” Katie’s heart pounded and she thought about how badly she must look at the moment.
“See. I told you he’d forgive you. What the hell are you doing? Hang up the phone and go answer the door.”
“Okay, bye.” She flipped the phone shut, pulled on her underwear and ran for the door. She only hoped he would still want her once he saw her at her worst. But as Emily had said, if he didn’t, then she wouldn’t want him anyway.
She opened the door. The cold night air felt good against her hot, tear-streaked face as she forced herself to look up at BB.
Stepping inside, he grabbed her face in his hands.
When he spoke, it was with such conviction it was almost frightening. “I won’t let you push me away because you are afraid.”
She felt her eyes fill again. “I don’t want to push you away. And I don’t want to be afraid any more. Will you help me stop being afraid?”
He smiled. “Yeah. That I can do, if you do something for me. Call and cancel your flight. Stay and spend the holiday with me and my family.”
She felt her heart swell. “That I can do.”
Then he kissed her in a way that told her she was his, and she had better get used to it.
And she decided that was fine with her.
The End
FOR MORE ABOUT THE RED, HOT, & BLUE SERIES VISIT
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Samhain Publishing
The Red, Hot, & Blue Series
Trey
Jack
Jimmy
Jared
Cole
Bobby
A Few Good Men
Model Soldier
A Prince Among Men
About the Author
Cat Johnson is the author of contemporary erotic romance in genres including western, military, romantic comedy, multiple partner and paranormal.
She is known for her creative research and marketing techniques. Consequently some of her closest friends/book consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living and she owns an entire collection of camouflage and western footwear for book signings. She’s also the proud sponsor for real live, pro bull riding cowboys.
Cat is contracted with Kensington Brava, Samhain Publishing and others, and has been published in both full-length novels and shorter romances. If you enjoyed this story, check out Cat’s other works, including the rest of the Red, Hot, & Blue series in both paperback and eBook. For more information about the author and all of her available titles visit www.catjohnson.net .
Email Cat@CatJohnson.net
Also from Cat Johnson:
Red Blooded
What’s hotter than a man in uniform? Getting him out of his uniform. Meet the red-blooded, true-blue men of Special Task Force Zeta!
Red, Hot & Blue Series
TREY
The woman who’s posing as Trey’s wife on a special assignment is exactly the kind of distraction he can’t afford. Carly can’t believe she agreed to a dangerous mission with the one thing she swore never to have in her life again—a military man. It’s not long, though, before her body betrays her, followed closely by her heart.
JACK
Jack never wanted a forced vacation back home, but the new farm hand is rousing his interest. She’s hiding something—and he’s got the skills to find out what. The farm is the perfect place for Niccolina to hide…until Jack shows up. He strikes sparks that put both her body and her heart in danger. Especially when her secrets catch up to her.
JIMMY
Jimmy had one amazing night with the governor’s hot, redheaded daughter. Then an assignment pulled him away to the worst six months of his life. The only reason he’s alive—her memory. It figures that Lia’s one rebellious night ended when the man disappeared. When they meet again, the chemistry is stronger than ever. Tempting her to stop sacrificing happiness for the family dynasty.
Warning: Contains bad men with big…guns, special operatives looking for some action, and sex hot enough to melt your panties off.
NOTE: Trey, Jack and Jimmy are each available as individual eBooks or in the trade paperback compilation Red Blooded.