A Texas Hero

by Linda Warren

  Effortlessly, they discarded their few remaining pieces of clothing, and then they were skin on heated skin. Ethan caressed every sensitive area on her body and she returned the favor by stroking his strong muscles and feeling the power of him in her hands. When his fingers touched her intimately, she moaned, wanting more. Opening her legs, she welcomed him, but the moment she felt his hardness against her, she stiffened. A reaction she couldn’t seem to control.

  Ethan’s mouth found hers and after a drugging kiss, he whispered, “Relax. Let go.” One hand gently stroked from her breast to her hip. “Let go. Don’t be afraid.”

  At his soothing words, her body went limp with need. He thrust inside her and she marveled at the beauty of the coupling, but her thoughts quickly spun out of control as each thrust heightened her need and awareness that something beautiful was happening. Feeling brazen, she wrapped her legs around him and held him tight until her body dissolved into a shuddering mass of pleasure like nothing she’d ever experienced in her life. Ethan collapsed on top of her in a spasm of release.

  Her last thought was, “Oh, my God.” She’d just experienced her first orgasm.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ETHAN WOKE UP at dawn and stared down at the woman in his arms. She lay against him, her body curled against his. Her beautiful features were relaxed in sleep...blissful sleep. Red marks from his beard streaked her mouth, neck and breasts. Oh, God, what had he done?

  He’d crossed a line—a line as big as Dallas. Do not get personally involved. Keep a cool head at all times. Cop rules, and he’d never had a problem maintaining them. Until last night. The moment her naked breasts touched his chest, he’d forgotten everything but her.

  The early-morning light showcased the error of his ways—her breasts. They were gorgeous: round, soft, perky. And, oh, so touchable. Damn. He had to get a grip. Having sex with someone in his care was a big no-no and he didn’t intend to make that mistake again, even though it was an experience he wouldn’t soon forget. She was anything but cold. Maybe a little hesitant and inexperienced. She learned quickly, though. Her ex must be a total douche bag if he couldn’t coax a response out of her. But then, dealing with a pregnancy and postpartum depression couldn’t have been easy either.

  All he knew was that he had to set some ground rules and stick to them. That shouldn’t be a problem, since they now had to deal with the heat of the day again. Survival would be their top priority, as it should have been last night. In a way, though, he felt Abby was struggling to find her feminine side. That’s why she’d talked about it. He shouldn’t have been sucked into her insecurities. And he should have kept his hands to himself. But her breasts were so tempting. They still were.

  He resisted the urge to kiss each one to wake her. That would be pure disaster. Taking one last glance at the twin peaks, he eased his arm from under her. He found his underwear and shorts on the floor and jerked them on. They were dry now, so it was easier to dress. He yanked his T-shirt over his head and slid his feet into his shoes.

  He made his way to the well for water. After filling the pitcher he slowly drank every drop. When Abby woke up she’d want water, so he went back into the cabin to look for a container to carry her some. He didn’t want to untie the rope attached to the pitcher. He found an old glass, rinsed it and then filled it.

  On his way to the porch, he heard a loud scream. “Ethan!”

  He ran, the water spilling onto his hand. He stopped short at the sight in front of him. Abby was on her knees, her tight butt and curvy backside facing him. He had to force himself to look away. She clutched her top to her breasts. A possum sat on the other end of the porch, watching her.

  “Ethan, what is it?”

  “It’s a possum. Shoo.” He picked up a small rock and threw it at the possum. “Shoo.” The marsupial ambled to a porch post, crawled down and scurried into the woods.

  “I brought water.” He held up the glass.

  She dropped her top and reached for it. He looked everywhere but where he wanted to. “Put your clothes on first.”

  “Ethan.”

  “Clothes first,” he insisted, for his own sanity.

  She picked up her top and slipped it on, as well as her bikini panties and slacks. He did his best not to look, but he couldn’t resist a peek at all those sensitive places he’d touched last night: her flat stomach, the blond triangle of curls between her legs and her smooth white skin. The moment he did that he knew he was in trouble. This wasn’t him. She had him acting like a seventeen-year-old.

  He handed her the glass and she sank back on her heels, sipping the water and staring at him over the top of the glass.

  He had to make a stand. Now. “Abby, last night things got out of control. I apologize for that.”

  Drinking the last of the water, she stared at him. “You know you get these little lines at the edge of your eyes when you’re serious. They’re very sexy.”

  “Abby...”

  “I can read your mind.”

  “You can not.” He sat on the porch and rested his back against a post, hoping sincerely that she couldn’t.

  “How’s this?” She cocked her head. “Last night was a mistake. It will never happen again. You’re a cop sworn to protect or whatever and you broke some sort of sacred vow the moment you touched me...in that way. You’re riddled with guilt and dishonor.”

  Maybe she could read his mind.

  “We’re two adults, Ethan, and free to do what we want. We didn’t hurt anyone. And, as far as I know, you’re not on duty.”

  “It was still out of line.” He had to make that clear.

  “I instigated it and I’m not ashamed that I did. I’ve been struggling with a lot of things lately, mostly feelings about my marriage and my part in its failure. I blamed Doug for a lot, but I was at fault, too. The marriage, pregnancy and the postpartum depression took a toll on me and I lost a part of myself that I thought I could never get back. Last night you showed me I could be a woman with deep, sensual, passionate feelings. I feel better about myself and the future ahead.”

  He had nothing to say. Once again she’d surprised him.

  “So you see, I expect nothing from you, and I promised not to stalk you when we get back.”

  “You’re very adult about this.”

  “I’ve been angry about Doug’s betrayal for a long time, but being out here where nothing matters but staying alive, I have to admit that I betrayed him, too. When I return home, I’ll be able to talk to Doug without all the anger.”

  “You think you might get back together?” Why did those words taste so bitter on his tongue?

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Doug’s been wanting to, but I absolutely refused. Our sex life was so unsatisfying I couldn’t understand why he would even consider it. Now I see it was only unsatisfying for me.”

  “So last night was an experiment?”

  She glanced toward the awakening horizon with a dreamy expression. “I’ll remember last night for the rest of my life. The night I discovered an important part of myself with a hard-nosed macho cop who just happened to be a wonderful man. I don’t regret a second of it, and I hope you don’t either.”

  “Nah. It’s been my life’s goal to awaken unsatisfied women.” He was being flippant, but deep down he felt a little used and a little sad. He didn’t understand that. Before she’d opened her eyes, he’d been sweating bullets about what she’d expect from him. Obviously nothing. That should be a big relief. Why wasn’t it?

  And to prove he was the good guy she thought he was, he added, “I hope you can work it out with your ex. It would be best for your little girl.” The words came out of his mouth, but he didn’t feel them in his heart.

  “Yes, but I plan to take things slowly. I’m not sure if we can go back. I’m only sure we need to talk without all the bad feelings.”
/>
  He swung his feet to the ground. “The sun will be up soon, and we need to walk while it’s cooler.”

  She followed him to the well and they drank more water. “I saw some plastic soda bottles in the cabin. We can fill them with water and carry them with us. Maybe I can make a backpack out of something.”

  He found an old knife in a drawer and ripped up a sheet to make a pouch and straps by making holes and tying knots.

  “You’re very resourceful,” she said.

  “You learn that on a ranch and in the Marines.” He fished the bottles out from under the sink and they went back to the well. “Drink all you want and then we’ll fill the bottles.”

  “Here.” She handed him the pitcher and cupped her hands. “Pour some into my hands. I want to wash my face.”

  He did as requested and she splashed the cool water on her face and rubbed with her hands. The water trickled from her face to her neck and made wet spots on her dirty top. His eyes were drawn to her nipples outlined by the wet fabric. Drawing a deep breath, he went back to drawing water to fill the bottles. He ignored all those feelings stirring inside him. He wasn’t a randy teenager, but she sure made him feel like one. Maybe the heat was affecting him more than he thought.

  He placed the bottles in the makeshift backpack and slipped his arms through the straps. He tested the weight on his back and asked, “Ready?”

  “Yes, but I’m so hungry.”

  “Mmm. A cheeseburger would do.”

  “That possum is beginning to look good.”

  He laughed, and he hadn’t done that in a very long time. Not since he learned about Kelsey. “I’m not sure they’re edible.”

  “Ethan?” He glanced into her worried blue eyes. “We are going to make it, aren’t we?”

  “Sure. We should come to a road or a farmhouse soon. And we have water, so let’s start making tracks.”

  They set off and he looked back at the cabin. He wasn’t a deep-thinking man or too sentimental, but he knew enough to know that last night would be a memory he wouldn’t soon forget.

  * * *

  EVERETT WOKE UP and looked around for Chloe. She wasn’t in the king-size bed. Neither was Gayle. He had insisted Chloe sleep with them because she was scared alone in a big bed away from Abby.

  He got out of bed and reached for his phone. No calls. Why hadn’t the cops called? It was morning and they still hadn’t located his daughter. He’d phone as soon as he knew Chloe was okay. He reached for his robe and headed for the kitchen.

  When he reached the den, he heard Gayle and Chloe in the breakfast room.

  “I’ve fixed you some whole wheat pancakes with blueberries,” Gayle told Chloe. “Eat up, they’re good for you. And drink your milk.”

  He could see Chloe sitting in her booster chair still in her pink-and-white cotton nightgown, clutching her doll in one arm. She took a bite of pancake and made a face. “It don’t taste good.”

  “Eat it,” Gayle said in a sharp tone and plucked the doll from Chloe’s arm. “You can’t eat holding a doll.”

  Chloe’s bottom lip quivered and tears rolled from her big blue eyes. “You’re mean. I want my mommy.”

  What was Gayle thinking? He would not have her acting like this toward his granddaughter. He was about to step in when he saw the stricken look on Gayle’s face.

  Suddenly, she stroked Chloe’s hair. “Don’t cry. Please. You don’t have to eat it. Here.” She put the doll back into Chloe’s arms. “Would you like some Froot Loops? Grandpa buys those for you.”

  Chloe nodded.

  For the first time, he realized his wife knew nothing about children. Her wealthy first husband died after two years of marriage and she’d worked at the bank as long as he could remember, more for something to do than for the money. She later became his secretary and helped him get over the death of his wife. Gayle was a smart woman, but clueless when it came to kids. She didn’t get how harsh she sounded sometimes or how her stiffness put people off. That had been the catalyst of Gayle’s and Abby’s problem.

  Anna, his first wife, had been soft and loving, and Gayle was the complete opposite. Gayle’s good qualities were there, but she hid them, and a teenage girl was not going to find them unless Gayle made an effort, which she never did. It was his fault. He should not have married Gayle until all the family problems had been resolved.

  “Is that better?” Gayle asked as Chloe spooned cereal into her mouth.

  Chloe bobbed her head.

  “I cut up strawberries and cantaloupe, too.”

  “I like strawberries,” Chloe said around a mouthful of cereal.

  “Good. Eat all you want.” Gayle pulled a chair closer to Chloe and sat down. Chloe pushed the plate of pancakes toward her and Everett smiled.

  Gayle picked up a fork and took a bite of the pancake. She frowned. “Oh, my, that’s awful. No wonder your grandfather complains.”

  Chloe giggled and Gayle stared at her with a wondrous expression on her face, as if she was seeing Chloe for the first time. His wife was having a major meltdown of the good kind. With kids, a kind word and a gentle touch worked much better than orders and strictness.

  “Where’s Grandpa, Gayle?”

  “He’s right here.” He walked in and gave Chloe a kiss on the cheek. “How my girl?”

  “Good. Gayle made me Froot Loops.” And without missing a beat, she asked, “Is Mommy coming?”

  “I’m not sure, but we’ll have lots of fun until she does.”

  “’Kay.”

  He went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Gayle followed. “I’ll take my coffee into the den. I want to call Detective Logan. Can you watch Chloe?”

  “Yes. No problem.”

  “We should have heard something by now. This isn’t good.”

  Gayle wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged. “I know, but we have to remain strong. You make your call, and I’ll take care of Chloe.”

  “Thank you.” He started to mention what he’d heard and to reiterate that he would not tolerate her being mean to Chloe. But he was positive she’d come to that epiphany on her own.

  Detective Logan didn’t have much to say. They were still interrogating the suspect. He was sticking to his story, and so far they hadn’t been able to break him. And the search for Abby and Mr. James had turned up nothing.

  Everett hung up with a hollow feeling in his gut. His daughter’s chances of being found alive were very slim. How did he accept that? How did he go on?

  Chloe crawled into his lap. “Can we watch cartoons, Grandpa?”

  “Yes.” He held his granddaughter close, knowing he had to stay strong for her.

  * * *

  WALT DRUMMED HIS fingers on the table. It was almost nine, and Kelsey still hadn’t come out of her room for breakfast. He’d called her at eight and gotten no response. Now what? He was worried about Ethan and didn’t have the patience to put up with an ill-mannered little girl.

  They finally knew why Ethan was at the bank. One of Ms. Bauman’s friends said she’d been talking to her just before the robbery and someone had rear-ended her. There was a scratch on Ethan’s bumper, so the cops assumed it was Ethan and he was at the bank to exchange insurance information and got caught in the robbery.

  He’d talked to Levi at four this morning and the slimeball robber wasn’t budging on his story. Levi was in Houston following a lead on the second robber. The FBI had said the tip was phony, but Levi was double-checking. Ross was handling the interrogation in Austin. Either way, Ethan was still missing and that was getting harder and harder to take.

  He marched down the hall to Kelsey’s door and banged on it. “Get up. It’s breakfast time.”

  No response.

  He started to bang again when he heard a sound. Was that a sniffle? Was she
crying? Oh, Lord.

  “Kelsey, open the door.”

  “It’s not locked.”

  Well, he hadn’t thought of that. He turned the knob and went in. She sat at the foot of the bed in a black T-shirt, her head down, her hair covering her face.

  Something was wrong. He sensed it. He’d play it slow and easy, like a cagey hunter. He didn’t want to spook her.

  “Breakfast is ready.”

  “I’m not hungry,” she mumbled.

  He wished she had told him that two hours ago. “How about some milk or juice?”

  “No. Just leave me alone.”

  Slow and easy wasn’t working so he got straight to the point. “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m not,” she denied.

  “If you’re worried about Ethan...”

  “Why would I worry about him? He never cared anything about me.”

  “You have to know about someone before you can worry about them. Ethan’s been fighting for custody since the moment he found out you were his. That doesn’t sound like someone who doesn’t care.”

  “He only did it to get back at Sheryl.”

  “He could care less about getting back at your mom. He did it so his kid could have a decent life and not be shuffled around like a piece of luggage.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re just a crazy old man.”

  “Look at me!” he shouted. “Now.”

  She raised her head and all he saw was a red blotchy face and a whole lot of hurt. “You can be sullen and pout all you want, but you will not be disrespectful in this house. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes,” she blubbered.

  “Now, why are you crying?”

  “Leave me alone.”

  “Kelsey.”

  “I got my period, okay?” she spat.

  Got her period? What the hell did that... Oh, Lord, no! He didn’t know anything about the internal workings of girls. Oh. Lord, no. He took a long breath that seared the nitty-gritty of his backbone. Walking out of the room seemed the best choice. But he couldn’t do that.