When Deuce had come in from his chores, both John and Marc had immediately told him what had happened that afternoon. Both men had been disgusted by Elise, and Marc had confided in Deuce that he had seen the blackness of Elise’s soul. When Melanie explained that Elise had wanted to get pregnant by Jake and use the baby to extort money from the McKade family, Deuce had nearly lost his mind as anger had taken over. It had taken Gracie’s gentle touches and soothing words to calm him.
“I’m proud of you, honey,” Luke whispered against Melanie’s temple as he kissed her lightly. “I always knew you were not someone to mess with.”
“Don’t ever forget that, Luke,” Melanie told him, smiling up at him.
“I could never forget how much I love you, darlin’,” he whispered.
Melanie cuddled against her husband, smiling as he held her. When they were sitting like this, with Robbie sitting on his father’s lap and Mary Grace resting contentedly within her arms, she counted her blessings. Luke was her best friend and her lover. He was her champion. And he was the most incredible father. His love for her and their children filled her with wonder every time she looked at him and saw him smiling back at her.
Now, they were all sitting as a family, prepared to support Jake and Claire in what they were going through. Deuce wasn’t sure if Claire’s quietness should be a concern. He just knew that he was going to make sure that Elise Hamilton and her mother Irene would not ruin Claire and Jake’s chance at a happy future.
“Can someone please take me to our new home?” Claire asked as she walked down the stairway and stopped at the bottom. She looked at the people who were her new family and smiled reassuringly. She didn’t want them to worry.
“Is something wrong, Claire?” Deuce asked carefully. “I don’t know that you leaving Jake right now would be the best thing.”
“I just want to take the things I bought today to our home,” Claire explained quietly. “I’ll only stay for a little while. I wanted to set up the nursery with them to see how they look.”
“I think Jake would like to do that with you,” Rafe said, standing from his seat by the fire to walk over to his brother’s mate.
“I want to surprise him,” Claire said, smiling. “Would you mind taking me to the house? Give me a couple of hours. I’ll call you when I’m ready to come back.”
“If you’re sure, Claire,” Rafe said, looking at his brother Deuce for guidance. He saw Deuce nod his head once and relaxed.
“I’m sure. Just let me get my stuff.”
Rafe walked over to the front door and grabbed for his coat and cowboy hat. He pulled on his boots and waited while Claire grabbed for her purse, coat, and the bag from the craft store. He took them from her and waited patiently while she slipped on her coat and her shoes then gave them back to her when she was settled. Opening the front door, he stepped back and waited for Claire to walk out of the ranch home. He turned to look over his shoulder to see the rest of the family watching him.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Rafe said calmly. “She should stay with Jake.”
“Sometimes a woman just needs to be alone,” Becca offered, understanding that need more than anyone. “You can’t keep her where she doesn’t want to be.”
Rafe looked at her and smiled. “I know, Miss Becca.”
He turned and reset the alarm system then left the house, smiling to himself as he walked down the front steps and followed Claire to his truck.
“Everything okay, Rafe?” Claire asked him as she settled herself in his truck and buckled her seat belt.
“It really is, Claire,” Rafe said, laughing softly. Thoughts of Becca kept a smile on his face.
Chapter 38
Claire took a step back and looked at the painted wooden decorations that she had leaning against the wall of the room that would be their child’s nursery. The cartoon cowboy and cowgirl with a lasso and a crescent moon were absolutely adorable. She could picture them displayed on the wall above the area where the crib would be.
She sighed sadly. She didn’t have it in her to do this right now. She wanted Jake with her to share in this. She wanted him with her to set up the room that their baby would sleep in. It was something she was looking forward to planning with him.
She left the room, picking up the small bag of purchases that contained yarn and crochet hooks and taking it with her. She made her way up the back staircase to the attic loft that Jake had designed and furnished just for her. Every time she climbed these stairs, she thought about the kindness of her man. He had done something beautiful for her and had made her memories of a cold and punishing attic disappear with the amazing area that he had created for her.
She stood at the top of the stairs and looked around the loft. It was large, running the length and width of the entire house. The far area of the loft held a huge bed that was already covered with soft, golden sheets and a burgundy comforter. The floor was covered with a plush rug that was the same shade of pink as her favorite sweater.
A bedside table with a Victorian lamp was to the right of the bed. A couch that was upholstered in the lightest pink brocade material Claire had ever seen was on the left side of the bed. The cushions were huge and comfortable. Claire had sat in it many times already. Jake had said that he wanted her to have a comfortable couch to rest on or have a place to play with their children if she wanted to share the space with them.
Jake never said a word about him wanting to be invited to share the space with her, but she knew that he did. He just needed her to be the one to ask him. He was determined never to intrude on her haven. It was very sweet of him to be so considerate of her need for privacy.
Walking over to the front of the loft, she looked out the huge arched window with three panels that Jake had insisted be installed. He wanted her to have a view of their land. He didn’t want her to remember the tiny window in her mother’s attic that she had stretched on her toes to look out of and see the world passing her by when she had been locked in it as punishment. He wanted her to see the majesty of their land from their new home and create new, beautiful memories of their attic that was really her private loft.
A small mahogany table was placed directly in front of the window. It was a narrow table that held a small wooden bowl that was filled with vanilla and cinnamon scented potpourri. Once again, Jake’s concern for her feeling at peace and happy in her loft was the reason for its appearance.
The windows were huge and were the focal point of the front wall. An intricate fan design was etched in the glass in the top of the arch. The three sections of glass in the lower portion of the window consisted of one wide window in the middle and two narrower windows on either side of it. They were beautifully set in place in gold framing. The glass in all of the windows was a shade of pink that was so pretty, it made Claire get choked up. Jake had said that he wanted her to look at the world through rose colored glass. It was light enough to allow the sunlight to shine into the room and cast a soft, pink glow, but not dark enough to change the color of the beautiful view she could see when looking out at McKade land.
Reaching for her bag of purchases, Claire pulled out the small box that she had bought without letting anyone else see it. Opening the box carefully, she took out the item inside of it. Placing it on the small table, she unwound the black wire from the base of the ten inch electric candle. She moved the bowl of potpourri off to the left side of the table and placed the candle directly on its center, fixing the doily beneath it to spread it out neatly below the white candle. Reaching down behind the table, she plugged in the candle then dialed the control on, sighing with satisfaction when the bulb at the top of the candle flickered back and forth to release a gentle light that shown softly with an iridescent hue. It was beautiful.
“I hope you remember the story you told me about the sea captain’s wife lighting a candle to bring her man home to her,” she whispered softly. “I’ll always want you to come home to me, Jake. I hope that you’ll always want to come ho
me to me.”
She made her way over to the bed and touched the control panel next to it, activating the sound system that Jake had thought to include in the plan of the loft. The controls were already set to a music station that played classical music. Claire had once told Jake that when she was overwhelmed with the world, she would put on her headphones and listen to the soothing melodies of classical music. He hadn’t forgotten. He had also connected the sound system to a disc that played sounds of nature and the ocean, which he also knew helped to calm her.
It was touching how in tune with her needs Jake was. Although she didn’t need the calming music or sounds of nature to soothe her empathic ability since she had become pregnant, she still appreciated Jake’s thoughtfulness. He was always thinking of her comfort and protection from the world around her.
She lowered the volume setting so that the classical music gently wafted throughout the loft. Claire could feel herself calming just a little as the gentle music played. She closed her eyes and took several deep, calming breaths, allowing the music to fill her and settle deep within her heart. Opening her eyes, she brushed at the bed covers gently to smooth them.
Turning away from the bed, she walked over to the huge recliner of burgundy that was edged in gold that sat in a place of honor in front of the windows. It was the size of a small couch and wide enough to comfortably fit Claire, Jake, and a few kids. That’s what Jake had told her. Everything in the house was designed and purchased with the thought of comfort for their little family. It was something that Claire cherished.
Her rough cowboy who had a penchant for dominance and growling was really a pussycat inside—and a mamma bear. She laughed softly at the additional description of her man. He would not like it, she was sure about that, but it was the absolute truth. Jake was a sensitive and caring man. Sure he was tough and manly, but the underlying kind nature within him was an important part of who he was. She valued him. She cherished his kindness and his love.
Going over to the light switch near the stairs, she turned off the overhead lights. The loft was aglow with a gentle pink light as the early evening’s setting sun shone through the panes of the arched window. The single, electric candle glowed a gentle flicker of light that she hoped would be seen from outside. Even though she knew that Jake was too injured to be there with her right now, the thought of having that candle light his way home to her made her happy.
She walked over to the recliner, picked up the bag from the craft store, and slowly sat down, melting into the welcoming embrace of the piece of furniture. She loved the soft, brushed fabric of the upholstery. It was comfortable and would keep her warm. She had always hated leather furniture. It was cold in the cool months and uncomfortable and sweaty in the warm months. This recliner was perfect. It was built for comfort and warmth. It was also built for a family—a family that she and Jake wanted to create together. The thought of it made Claire smile.
Placing the small bag that contained the yarn that she was going to use to crochet a blanket for their baby on her lap, she pressed the button on the side of the right arm to recline the decadent seat. She couldn’t prevent the sigh of contentment that left her as she relaxed against the wide cushions and thought about the beauty of the home that they had built together. Thoughts of Jake and the kindness and the love that he always showed her surrounded her and filled her heart with warmth and happiness.
Her sister’s cruel words suddenly barreled through her head. She did her best to brush them aside, but they hurt too much to be ignored. Elise was beautiful. Compared to Elise, Claire felt frumpy and ugly.
She may not be beautiful like her sister, but Claire knew that she had a beautiful soul and a kind heart. She loved Jake and would spend the rest of her life caring for him and giving him happiness. She hoped that it would be enough to keep Jake satisfied.
Taking out the white baby yarn, she began the blanket that would keep their child warm. She crocheted continuously for more than an hour, loving that she was creating something for their baby. She looked up and peered through the window to see the sunset over the lake in the distance. The pink colors in the sky were interrupted by wisps of blue, reminding her once again that she lived in the beautiful world of the McKade family. She was incredibly lucky.
Closing her eyes tiredly, she rested against the cushions of the recliner. All her worry and pain had drained her energy. The emotions of others no longer hurt her, but her own emotions were enough to destroy her. She had no energy left.
Within a matter of moments, she was sound asleep. Her left hand gently cradled her baby as he slept so peacefully within her. Her right hand held on to the baby blanket. Pulling the blanket up to her face, she settled her cheek against its softness and sighed.
“Jake,” she whispered as she slept, missing her mate.
Chapter 39
“Claire!”
Deuce looked at the members of his family as they sat in the living room and smiled. Everyone but Marc smiled back at him.
“Jake’s awake,” he said, laughing softly.
“Claire!” Jake bellowed again.
“John, Marc, I think you should come with me to talk to Jake,” Deuce said, his tone suddenly serious. “We have to tell him what happened.”
Both John and Marc stood from their seats on the couches and walked toward the bottom of the stairs. Rafe stood up and walked behind them.
“Rafe?” Deuce asked when he saw his brother following them.
“I need to be there, too,” Rafe said calmly.
“You do?” Deuce asked, confused.
“I do. Trust me.”
“I’ll stay here and protect the women,” Luke called after them.
The women all laughed at Luke’s teasing words. Melanie leaned toward her husband and kissed his cheek, loving that he turned his mischievous blue eyes on her and winking.
“I guess you and I aren’t needed, Tim,” Spence said quickly.
“Guess not,” Tim agreed.
Lainey reached out and grabbed for her mates’ hands and squeezed them gently. “I need you,” she told them, her voice soft with the love that she had for them.
They each leaned in and kissed her, humming with happiness at her words. She pulled their hands to settle them against her belly, laughing softly as their babies took that moment to kick firmly against their hands.
“Your babies need you, too,” she whispered, loving the look of wonder and happiness that filled both of their faces.
Deuce just shook his head, smiling as he led the way up the stairs to the bedroom at the end of the hallway. He could hear Jake moving around in the room and was concerned that his brother might hurt himself. An angry Jake was not good. Jake missing Claire was even worse.
Deuce smiled as he raised his hand and knocked on the bedroom door just twice. He grabbed for the handle and pressed down, opening the door without waiting for a response to his knock. Seeing Jake pushing himself out of bed, he was immediately concerned. He walked over to his brother quickly and placed a hand on his shoulder to press him back onto the bed.
“Settle down, Jake,” Deuce told him calmly.
“Where the hell is Claire?” Jake muttered, pushing at Deuce’s hand and standing up.
“She’s not here.”
“What the hell do you mean she’s not here?” Jake nearly roared.
“Jake, calm down. Claire is fine. She needed to get away from the ranch home and think,” Deuce explained.
“She said she needed some time alone,” Rafe spoke up.
“Why? What happened? Did someone hurt her?”
John and Marc looked at each other for a brief moment before returning their attention back to him. He saw the way the two cousins hesitated and knew something was very wrong.
“John?”
“Elise Hamilton came to the ranch a few hours ago,” John began.
“Claire’s sister? Why?”
“She’s a bitch,” Marc said angrily.
“I agree,” John said
as he stepped toward the bed.
“Yeah. She is,” Jake agreed. “Claire’s mother is a real peach, too.”
“You’ve talked to them before?” Deuce questioned, glad that Jake was more lucid. He didn’t think they could have this conversation with him if the pain pills were still affecting him.
“Only once,” Jake told him with definite distaste in his voice. “They were at the student center at Claire’s school when I picked Claire up from her classes a while back. What’s going on, Deuce?”
“When Claire was shopping, Elise showed up and said she wanted to talk to her,” Deuce began.
“I don’t like where this is going already,” Jake said, sitting back down on their bed and slowly pushing himself along the mattress to sit against the headboard. “What did she say to Claire?”
The men looked at each other, unsure which one of them should tell Jake what had happened. Just as John was about to explain, Deuce shook his head to stop him.
“Elise took advantage of the time she was left alone in the living room,” Deuce began.
“What did she do?”
“She came up here to your room, took off all of her clothes, and tried to seduce you,” Deuce said, explaining in a firm voice without mincing words. “She had plans to get pregnant and then extort money from you.”
“She took off her clothes? Where was I?” He looked at Deuce then at John, Marc, and Rafe and saw the anger that was filling each of them.
“You were right here,” Deuce continued. “She climbed on top of you and did her best to get you hard.”
The growl started deep within Jake’s chest. The fury that filled him was beyond something that he could contain.
“Melanie had a vision that a woman was trying to rape you,” John told him. “She and Gracie came in here and pulled Elise off of you.”
“Did she?”
Jake's Angel [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 40