He smiled and walked over. She said nothing as he approached, just kept her eyes on his. She looked much better than when he’d left her—she’d freshened up and was wearing jeans and a simple, pink blouse, with enough buttons undone that, sitting as she was, he could see the intricate pattern on the edge of a flowered bra. As his eyes lifted from that alluring sight, he saw the bruising on her throat. It looked rough, but less angry than it had earlier.
She was clearly still in some shock, however, and he was worried that things hadn’t gone well with her girl. As he sat down, he brushed her knee with his hand and said, “Hey, hon. You okay?”
She was still watching him. “Are we?” Her voice sounded off. Keith hadn’t had his hands on her long, but he’d really been trying to hurt her. He couldn’t believe they were letting that asshole walk.
He grabbed her hand from her lap and brought it to his lips. “We are. No more secrets, though. If there’s anything else back there, tell me now. Clean slate.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing else. There wouldn’t have been room for anything else. I’ve been sitting here thinking about how that has been crowding everything else out of my life for twenty years, and I didn’t even know it.” She squeezed his hand. “Except you. You’re the only person I’ve felt connected to in all that time. I love you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“That’s good, then. I have no intention of letting you go.” He put his arm around her, and she scooted to lean into his chest. He rested his chin on her head. “How’d it go with your girl—what’s her name?”
“Adrienne. It went okay. Good, actually. It all feels strange, like the ground is rocking under my feet, but it was good. She’s had a good life. Good parents. I could never have given her the life she’s had.”
Smiling into her hair, he said, “You did the right thing. And she’s not mad, I guess?”
“No. She wanted to find me to thank me. For making her mom happy by giving her a baby. Her mom died a couple of years ago.”
“Christ. That’s rough. But I’m glad she’s okay with you. Where is she? I’d like to meet her.”
Shannon laughed. “Badge took her on a trail ride. I think he’s got a crush.”
Show didn’t like that, and he tipped her chin up to look her in the eye. “You know he’s got a heavy thing for you, right? I know you know that. You’re not worried about him pushing up on your girl?”
She smiled and put her hand over his. “Badge is a gentleman—and shy. I know how he feels about me, but it’s not a problem. Even if he is transferring, she’s leaving tomorrow, and she lives in New York. And she’s not my girl. She’s her mother’s girl. That’s a line I need to keep clear of. I don’t get to be her mom. I’m just glad she had one who could do what I couldn’t.”
Show released her chin and fed his fingers into her hair. There was something different about her. He couldn’t quite read it, but he could feel it. He wanted to think of it as calm, but until yesterday, Shannon had always been calm. So he didn’t know what this new thing, or this different thing, was. He stared into her eyes, puzzling it out.
She broke the moment, asking, “Is Keith okay?”
Show brushed the backs of his fingers over her bruised throat. “He did that to you. He’s lucky he’s breathing.” The thought of it made his pulse pound.
“I’m okay, Show. I think we’re all better off, though, if he’s okay, too. Is he?”
“He will be. Isaac’s bringing him back and sending him back to Tulsa as soon as everything’s squared away.”
“Squared away how?”
“Doctored up. And Bart’s looking for something that’ll keep him quiet.”
“He won’t say anything. He has a wide self-preservation streak.”
As she was speaking, Badger and Adrienne cleared the tree line at a trot, Badger on Gypsy and Adrienne on Toby, the mellowest horse in the stable. Even from this distance, it was obvious that Adrienne had rarely, if ever, been on a horse before, but Badge was staying right with her. Show and Shannon watched as they came up to the barn. Badge dismounted before Gypsy had come to a full stop—showoff—and flipped the reins over the post. Then he helped Adrienne down, putting his hands around her waist after she swung her leg over Toby’s rump. She was wearing low-slung jeans and that lacy top from earlier, and Badge’s hands were on her bare skin. From fifty yards, Show could see that clearly.
And it pissed him off. He sat up straighter on the swing. “You see that, right?”
“I do. I’m not sure why you’re using that tone, though. What are you upset about?” She moved so that she was no longer under his arm.
He didn’t know, so he had no answer. He continued to glare out toward the barn, now watching Adrienne lingering alone near the barn door while Badge led the horses inside. After a minute, she went in, too.
“That’s not bothering you?” It was all he could think of to say.
“No. She’s twenty—almost twenty-one. He’s twenty-two. And, whether you’re worried about him or her, she’s leaving tomorrow. Relax, Show. What is it?”
He sat back. “I don’t know. Just has me on edge. Never mind.” The kids were heading to the house, talking as they walked. Then Show turned at the grating rumble of a vehicle on the gravel road. Isaac was back with the B&B’s van, and, presumably, their favorite Tulsa lawyer. That was fast.
“Go inside. Stay inside.” He stood up, waving at Badger to hurry it along. The kid knew what he meant immediately, and put his hand on Adrienne’s back, moving her more quickly toward the house.
Shannon didn’t argue. She got off the swing and headed right inside, not even waiting for Adrienne. Show went to the steps and held his hand out to the girl as she came up. When she took it, he eased her the rest of the way up and said, “Hey, Adrienne. I’m Showdown. I’m Shannon’s old man. Do me a favor and go on inside while we take care of this. Shannon’s in there now.”
She looked down at Badger, at the foot of the steps, who smiled and nodded. Then she turned back and looked up at Show. “Okay. Is there trouble?”
He smiled. “Not at all. Just want to keep it that way.” He was glad to see her accept that and turn to the door. “Good girl. Badge and I’ll be in in a minute.”
Once she was safely inside, Show and Badge met Isaac at the van. Show opened the passenger door, and Keith flinched away as he reached in and put his fist around his arm. The guy looked like hell, but the only thing Show had broken was his nose. “Come on, hoss. I’m done with you. Let’s go.” Isaac came up behind him, and Show knew he was watching, waiting to jump in if necessary.
Through a swollen, split mouth, Keith said. “I need to see her first.”
Show laughed and leaned in, making Keith flinch back again. “That is never going to happen. What is going to happen is you’re going to get in your big, fancy car and go home, where you will stay.”
“I need to tell her I’m sorry. None of this is what I wanted.”
“I expect that’s true. But hear me when I tell you that you have seen her for the very last time. Do you hear?”
Reluctantly, he nodded. “I just…love her.”
Curling his other hand around the back of this asshole’s neck, Show pulled him out of the van. Before he let him go, he leaned down and said, low, near his ear. “No, hoss. You don’t.” He let him go with a little push, and Isaac took over, putting his hand on the guy’s shoulder and leading him to his black Mercedes.
Show walked over to Badger. “You know who she is?”
“Who? Adrienne? Yeah. Weird, huh?”
“You hit that, and I will be very unhappy.”
“What? No! Show, no!”
“Good. Keep it that way.”
Keith pulled out, and Isaac walked over to Show and Badger. “He’ll stay quiet. He has a gambling thing, and he did some creative accounting to pay a marker. That’s disbarment at least and maybe real time. So we’re good. He’s neutralized.” He looked from Badger to Show. “Everything good here?”
Show nodded. “Yeah. Looks like everything’s working out okay.”
Isaac studied Show for a second, then nodded. “Okay. I’m heading home. Badge, catch.” He tossed the van keys to Badger. “’Night, brothers.”
When Isaac pulled out on his bike, Show held out his hand to Badge. “Toss me the keys, brother. I’m gonna need the van.”
Badge tossed them. “Okay. Just leave ‘em at the front desk, though, when you’re done.” Show nodded, and Badge headed for the house. Show almost stopped him, but then he stopped himself. He didn’t understand why he was cock-blocking a brother over a girl he didn’t know. It was like there was something in the chemical makeup of Bannerman women that made him feel instantly protective. Shaking his head at himself, he followed Badge into the house.
Shannon and Adrienne were sitting together on one of the sofas. When the men came in, the women stood. Shannon asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Show said. “He’s gone. Can I take you ladies out for a steak?”
Shannon smiled broadly and turned to Adrienne, who looked shy. “I’m sorry. I don’t eat red meat.”
“Not a problem,” Show reassured her. “You eat chicken? They’ve got chicken, too.”
“Okay, then. Thanks. Badger—are you coming?”
Badge just gaped like an oxygen-starved fish. Show gave up and rolled his eyes. He slapped Badge on the back. “Yeah, he’s coming. You ready?”
~oOo~
Later that night, after supper, when Badger had gone home and Adrienne had gone up to her room, Show and Shannon lounged in her sitting room. Show lay back into the corner of her couch, and she lay on him, her head tucked under his chin. He was playing with her hair; she rubbed his belly under his shirt, tracing the long track of scar there.
Supper had been good. They got some attention from the people whose paths they crossed, but that was to be expected. They were going to be a hot topic for a while. Throughout the meal, Shannon continued to send out that vibe of calm or whatever it was. Adrienne was on the quiet side, but not uncommunicative. Just more of an observer, Show thought. She and Badger had obviously talked a lot during their ride through town in her car and their ride through the woods on horseback. Badger had been easy with her at the Chop House in a way Show had never seen. He usually got tongue-tied when he was around women. Show thought it a good indication that he really wasn’t trying to get some action. He just liked her. Like a person. Later, when Badge headed home, they’d simply said goodbye—no hug or anything. Show liked that, too.
He wondered what was next for Shannon and her daughter, though—whether this was a one-time deal, or whether there was more in store for them.
“So what’s the plan look like for you and your—Adrienne?”
Lying on his chest, still tracing her fingers over his scar and through the hair under his navel, she said. “No plan. She’s going back home. We’ve exchanged info, and I’ve invited her to come stay at the inn whenever she wants. Beyond that, it’s up to her. Whatever she wants.”
“What do you want?”
Shannon was quiet for a long time, and Show thought she wasn’t going to answer. But, eventually, she did. “I already have it. This life—this inn, this town. You.” She turned her head up and looked into his eyes. “You. God. I can’t believe how hollow my life was all these years. And I didn’t even know it. I thought I was doing well. I thought I had what I wanted in Tulsa. Everything was just like I planned it. But what I want is here. I’d like to get to know her if that’s what she wants, but Adrienne already gave me everything I could ever want of her. She took my guilt away. Now there’s nothing between me and what I feel for you. I love you so much, Show. I’m so sorry for these last couple of days.”
Show knew what it was that was different. Serenity. Shannon wasn’t just calm. She was serene. He sat up, bringing her with him, and cradled her face in his palms. “Shannon.” He stopped, catching back the words on his tongue. He’d almost asked her something he knew she wasn’t ready for. Too much, right on the heels of all this with her daughter. So he took a breath. “I love you. And I’m glad for you.” She smiled, and he kissed her.
As his tongue found hers, she pulled off his beanie, then wrapped her arms around him and lay back, bringing him with her. But she missed her aim, coming down off the edge of the couch, and they started to fall. He braced his leg and caught them, laughing into her mouth. Instead of bringing her back onto the couch, he let her momentum carry them to the floor, onto the thick, pale carpet. He pushed a table out of his way and lay on her, still kissing her hard, thrusting his tongue against hers.
He was wearing a t-shirt, and she was grabbing at the hem. He rose onto his knees and dragged it over his back and head, throwing it away. She undid the buttons on her cotton shirt in the meantime, and when it was open, he lifted her and helped her get rid of it. She went back for the hooks of her bra, but he stopped her, grabbing her hands and shaking his head when she looked up at him with a question in her eyes.
“Leave it.” That bra was so damn pretty, all colorful flowers and lace. She had the most beautiful underwear, all of it sinfully sexy but not slutty. It just felt and looked fantastic.
Leaving her bra, he worked on her jeans instead, and she ripped open his belt and fly at the same time. He felt her hands shaking against his belly.
“God! I want you so bad. God, Show.”
He moved faster.
In their haste, they ended up tangled and caught more than once, but finally he was naked and she was in that glorious flowery lingerie. He lay on her again, kissing her and reveling in the sleek rise of her amazing tits on his chest, cupping one in his hand and bringing its nipple to attention with his thumb, feeling her skin pebbling under the silk.
She broke away with a gasp. “I want to be on top.” He looked down at her lovely face, her hair a red halo on the light carpet. She was flushed, and the extra color had made her bruising more pronounced. He moved his hand there and stroked her gently.
“Are you hurting?”
She smiled. “No. I just want to go down on you.”
He still had trouble with that. At least with relaxing into it. At least at first. He loved the feel of his cock in her mouth and hands—how could he not!—but he couldn’t completely shake the sense that it dishonored her to give him head. All those fucking lonely blow jobs in the dorm hallway over the past few years, some nearly anonymous chick on her knees at his feet, had etched a sad association into his head. But Shannon wanted it, and he liked the light in her eyes as she smiled up at him. So he flipped them over and let her have her way.
She made the most of it, kissing and licking along his jaw, down his neck, over his shoulder and chest. She seemed to stop at every scar and pay it its own attention. He could feel the satin of her skin and the silk of her underwear gliding against him as she moved down, pressing always against his cock. He groaned, wanting to be inside her.
“Shannon.” He put his hands around her arms and tried to pull her up, but she looked up at him and shook her head.
“Nope. I want this. And you are rock hard, so I think you’ll be okay.”
“I want to come inside you.”
“Then you will.”
He gave up and released her arms, closing his eyes. She wrapped her hands around him, and then her hot, wet mouth was on him, sucking and licking. She used her hands and her mouth to touch, squeeze, suck every inch of him until he was panting and groaning. He wanted to be inside her.
Then he felt—good God. He lifted his head and looked down at her. She had him between her tits, still wrapped up in that pretty silk, and she was moving up and down around him, his cock sliding in the sumptuous fullness of her cleavage. Then she bent down and sucked the head of his cock into her mouth.
“Jesus Christ, hon. What—oh, fuck.” He groaned and thrust, his empty hands clenched into fists.
She took her mouth away and grinned. “Oh, good. You’re watching. You like this?”
He nodded, still thrusting, the feel of her tits surrounding him so goddamn intense he couldn’t make words.
Then she released him, and he had a moment where his brain skidded around in his head. But she was coming up, straddling him, moving her panties to the side. She hovered over him, looking down with a tiny, sassy smile. He grabbed her thighs and flexed his hips up toward her hot core.
When she came down onto him, she moaned and arched backward, grabbing her own tits and tweaking her nipples. Fuck, that was so goddamn hot. But she otherwise didn’t move for several very long seconds, until Show couldn’t wait any longer. He grabbed her hips and held her down hard on him, then sat up and turned them around, putting her back down on the floor underneath him.
“Time’s up, hon.” In this position, he had more control—of her and of himself—and he held her down and thrust into her, pushing deeper and deeper until her eyes were wild. She started to lift her legs to wrap around him, but instead he reached down and hooked one over his arm, pulling her to the side a bit. Then he began thrusting in earnest, feeling her muscles squeezing and flexing around his cock, the silk of her underwear caressing his balls every time he hit home.
“Oh, God. Oh, God! Show, don’t stop. Please don’t stop. God, oh, God!” She had fistfuls of his hair, pulling his head to hers. He didn’t resist, and their mouths crashed together, stifling her cries.
He thrust again and again, his need heavy in his gut, holding his release back by will alone, until he felt the change in her, the way her muscles eased all at once and then tensed completely just as fast, and her nails raked hard up his back, leaving stinging tracers like electric charges. She tore her mouth from his and arched sharply up against him, her mouth open wide in a silent scream.
And then, at last, he let himself go. He seemed to come forever, pulling it from the farthest reaches of his body. When he was finally finished, he pulled out and dropped to her side, their limbs tangled together. He felt her hands in his hair, combing gently through, and he closed his eyes.
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