“I should have known those two would blab.” He set his mug on the bedside table. “Dad cleared that land the year before he died. Thought Rob or I would build there.”
“It’s perfect. Sean and Danny will love being on the ranch.” She cocked a hip. “You know what today is?”
“It’s Friday, five days, 118 hours and 25 minutes since I got shot.”
“To be precise, it’s Friday, May 26, the date set for the custody hearing. And speaking of phone calls, Edgar Patterson telephoned you yesterday. Will you tell me about that, or do I have to call Chris Hawke?”
A cry came from the nursery, and she whisked off. A moment later, she returned with the baby. She laid him on the blanket on his tummy.
Bobby squirmed and smacked his lips, blowing bubbles. Holt put aside his coffee and tugged the little guy onto his chest. Clutching at his uncle’s shirtfront, the baby lifted his head. “Look at that. And at barely three months.”
When she didn’t react, he jerked a nod at the bedside stand. “I found this book about a baby’s first months. All kinds of helpful stuff in there.” He gave her a deadpan look.
“Okay, you’ve found my secret to child care expertise. I confess. Now it’s your turn. The Pattersons?” Maddy sat on the bed and gazed at him like a young robin waiting for a worm. Her honey-colored hair and smooth skin were magnets to his lonely fingers.
He folded his hands on Bobby’s padded rump. “I should have told you right away. I was just...”
“Feeling grouchy? Out of sorts?” She smiled. And waited.
“They’re dropping the custody suit.”
Her eyes closed in thanks. When she opened them, tears welled. “There has to be more to it.”
“Edgar was ticked as a milked mule we didn’t tell them the truth from the beginning. Then he said that if a kidnapper could steal the baby from their home so easily, they weren’t fit to keep him.”
“So they’ll make no more trouble?”
“And he won’t call in the loan.” Holt rubbed his chin in thought. “He did mention two o’clock feedings and nonstop care being more taxing than he remembered. I get the feeling exhaustion played a big part in their decision.”
“Then you can start the adoption proceedings.” She sucked in a breath, her lower lip quivering. “We’ll be his parents.”
“Maddy,” he began. How the hell would he breach the wall he’d erected around himself?
The phone rang, and she picked up. “Sure, just a minute.” Her hair flipping about with her energy, she carried a yawning Bobby to his crib, then dashed to the kitchen.
At first, Holt heard only a muffled conversation until one sentence nearly stopped his heart.
“Holt won’t even miss me.”
“Won’t miss me.” Won’t miss her? If she left, she’d tear his heart out. And leave a hollow in his chest for the rest of his empty life. He’d ignored her, trying to get his bearings, trying to find the words, but his temper was running her off.
In a few days, it would be June first, the day she was to start her calendar contract in Europe. She canceled that, she said, so what the hell was going on? “Yes, I’m all set to start the job. Should be a lot of fun. I’ll see you there soon.”
She was leaving. Holt’s heart stopped, then thumped painfully against his chest.
Twice he’d tried to send her away, and twice she’d stuck it out. How blind a jerk could he be? Was it too late?
He swung his legs to the floor and grabbed his crutches.
When Maddy spotted Holt hobbling toward the bedroom doorway, her pulse pinged. She sent him her best smile and hoped his heart had finally turned his brain her way.
“Look at you, up and about. How about an outing to the corral?” Crossing the room, she punched the disconnect, then placed the handset on the bedside table.
“Maddy, you can’t leave.” He grabbed her. As if to imprint her texture and shape on his hands, he slid them up and down her arms.
His mere touch, his heat tripped her pulse higher. But she wouldn’t let herself hope only to be slammed down again. He had to spell it out.
She lifted her chin. “Why not?”
“I know I’ve given you hell these past days. I’m sorry. I needed time to work it out.”
“You’ve done your best to drive me away. Why should I stay?” Her heart hammered so loudly she was sure he could hear its frantic beat.
“I have to say this right,” he said. “Eight years ago, I wanted you, too, in spades. I denied my feelings, for Rob’s sake. I’ve fought myself ever since.”
“I know.” That was a start, but she wanted—needed—more. She wrapped her arms around his waist. She felt his hard body go rigid, his muscles bulge with tension.
“I don’t want to fight it any more. I know you’re not that flighty girl I thought you were then. I do trust you.”
“When I arrived more than a month ago, that would have been enough. Today it’s not even close.” She had to swallow down the tears choking her. “I’ll ask you one more time. Why should I stay?”
His eyes held her with laser intensity. His restraint fell away, and the naked emotion in the blue depths made her breath catch. “God, Maddy. You were right. I love you. I need you, and not just for Bobby. I need you. Don’t leave me. Stay and be my wife.”
Tears blurred her eyes, but she couldn’t look away from his face. Warmth suffused her as her love for him expanded. She stood on tiptoes to kiss him. “Oh, Holt, I knew you needed time. You’re deliberate and cautious, not hasty like me.”
“Then why were you going away? You have another contract. I heard you.”
“I do, but it’s only at the Circle-S.” When he merely gaped at her, she forged ahead, praying he’d catch on. “Will wants me to take pictures for a website. And Faith and I have been talking about a bachelor cowboy calendar to raise money for a therapy riding program. Now that Bronc’s getting married, do you suppose I could use the bunkhouse for an office and a photo lab?”
Like a pin deflating a balloon, her words seemed to expel the pressure within him. His breath came out in a whoosh. “Then...you’re not leaving.” He nearly stumbled on his bad leg, but she held him upright.
“I’m leaving, but only for the afternoon.”
He rested his forehead on hers. He smelled of healing and hope. “I’ve been so hard on you but it’s because I love you. Damn, that makes no sense.”
Her laugh caught on a happy sob. “It makes a crazy kind of sense. You were afraid to love me.”
“Maddy, I don’t want to tie you to this valley. You have too much talent to fence in. If you want to do a shoot in Mexico or Honolulu or somewhere, I won’t hold you back.”
The glow of contentment began in her heart and rippled through her soul. “I’ll always come back to you.”
He cleared his throat, smiled. “Maybe sometime, when the ranch is on its feet, I could go with you.”
“I’d love that. Bobby too.”
The heat of passion shined in his eyes. “Bobby’s napping, and Espie’s doing laundry.” He crutch-hopped to the door and pushed it shut. “How are your ribs?”
“Still sore but better.” As he cupped her breast, comprehension struck her brain, and heat swept through her. “Your leg—”
He kissed away her objection. “We’ll have to be inventive and make love like the porcupines.”
Her smile widened as her eyes closed beneath his kisses. Her knees could be spread on warm toast. “Very, very carefully.”
He laid her back on the bed, and they undressed each other slowly, lips lingering where skin was bared, sighs quickening as need built.
She felt her whole body dissolving under his hands and mouth. “Love me.”
With the barrier of clothing removed, he tossed away the last emotional barrier he’d kept between them. He mated his mouth with hers, caressing her with thoroughness, with promise, with his soul.
Tenderness welled as he helped her to straddle him. “I love you. I trust you
with my heart.”
Her hands framed his face as she sank onto him. She glowed with pleasure and love. They gazed into each other’s eyes as they moved together. The tension and excitement in his powerful body thrilled her. Her soul expanded with each stroke, with each sigh. He took her hands, kissed them, and linked his fingers with hers. She moved with him and over him, and pleasure swirled within her. Time lost meaning in the murmurs of need and giving in a long, liquid race that galloped away with them to a molten release.
Awhile later, Holt opened one eye. “Maddy, I forgot to use protection.”
He felt her chuckle against his chest. “Maybe we made a little brother or sister for Bobby.”
Sweet warmth spread through him at the thought of her carrying his baby. “I wouldn’t mind. You wanna try again?”
She laughed, the lilting sound he loved. “So Mr. Control lost control? That’s one for me.” She sketched an invisible tally in the air. “I guess you do love me.”
“You knew that before I did, sweetheart.” Inspiration struck. “And you’ll trust your husband’s word I trust you?”
Her answer came in a kiss. “Holt, now you’ve said it, I believe you. I’m your wife. I love you.” She laid her head on his chest. “Always.”
“Always.”
THE END
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DON’T MISS THESE OTHER TASK FORCE EAGLE BOOKS
BOOK 1 - NEVER SURRENDER (novella) – April 2013
When charming DEA Agent Ricardo Cruz, has a lead in Maine to the cartel that killed his brother, his vanished suspect’s loyal sister, Juliana Paris, refuses to cooperate. Threats force her to accept Rick’s protection, and their search leads them into deadly danger and each other’s arms.
AND
BOOK 2 – ONCE BURNED – May 2013
ATF Agent Jake Wescott, undercover in his Maine hometown, becomes the reluctant protector of Lani Cameron, scarred in the long-ago fire that killed her twin. As they uncover secrets, they face dangers more explosive than they feared.
About the Author
SUSAN VAUGHAN is the multi-published author of romantic suspense novels. Her books have won the Golden Leaf and More Than Magic awards and have been an RT Book Reviews Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Nominee and a finalist for the Booksellers’ Best and Daphne du Maurier awards. Her books have been translated into German, French, Spanish, and Icelandic and published in more than eleven countries. She’s a West Virginia native, but she and her husband have lived in Maine for many years. Her Web site is www.susanvaughan.com. She loves to hear from readers: [email protected].
Also by Susan Vaughan
ONCE BURNED (Task Force Eagle #2)
NEVER SURRENDER (Task Force Eagle #1)
PRIMAL OBSESSION
DEADLY MEMORIES
BREAKING ALL THE RULES
CODE NAME: FIANCÉE
GUARDING LAURA
DANGEROUS ATTRACTION
Reviews
“NEVER SURRENDER is the first book in author Susan Vaughan’s new series and now I can’t wait for the rest of the books to be released. In NEVER SURRENDER, Juliana Paris needs to rescue her brother, but before she knows it, she has hunky agent Ricardo Cruz shadowing her every move. This is a fast paced, romantic suspense with a yummy hero and an independent heroine.” – Reader Sheila S - 5 stars on Amazon.com.
“Susan Vaughan writes an intensely romantic thriller.... This is an excellent tale of people at their best and worst learning to work together through adversity.” - The Romance Studio about PRIMAL OBSESSION
“An action-packed story with a sizzling romance at its center. This is a fast-paced read with a great, hot romance between two people who couldn’t be more mismatched.” – RT Book Reviews Magazine about DEADLY MEMORIES (4.5)
“This is a fast paced romance with plenty of action and adventure, and a wonderful tale of an emotionally hurt woman with a life full of secrets and the one man who can erase it all.” – Coffee Time Romance about BREAKING ALL THE RULES (4)
Table of Contents
Published byGullwood Press Copyright 2013 Susan Hofstetter Vaughan
PrologueMarch 10Mexico
Chapter 1AprilColorado
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
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About the Author
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