by BA Tortuga
Fuck.
That bastard had thrown her ring, and she needed to go find it, get Bodie’s truck home.
She should have washed her hair, first, before she got into the tub. Really. Now she was just going to get the water all dirty.
“Addie? Where’d you go?” Bodie opened the door, leaning against the frame. So much for him resting.
“You—” She sniffled. “You’re supposed to be asleep.” She was having a bath and a meltdown.
“I was worried about you,” he rumbled. “I don’t want you to be all alone.”
“I’m okay.” That was, possibly, the first real lie she’d ever told Bodie.
“Bullshit.” He grinned a bit, his face so swollen that it was totally lopsided. “You have to be freaked out.”
She nodded. God, her head hurt, and she felt like her muscles were still twitching from the tazing she’d endured. “A little. I’ve never been kidnapped before. It’s not as common as you’d believe.”
“I wouldn’t think so, honey.” He came and put the toilet seat down, sitting next to the tub. He had bruises on his chin and chest where he’d fallen on the road, too. God. This was all her fault.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would be such a psycho.”
“You might have told me he was still bothering you, honey.” He reached out, fingers tracing the bruise on her cheek. “I would have stopped him. I had no idea he would hurt you like this.”
She nodded, leaned into his touch. “I didn’t want to bother you with it. I thought he was just being a nut.”
“Well, he is that.” There was no mockery in Bodie’s voice. No real chiding, either. He just seemed happy to be with her, happy that they were both alive.
“Yeah.” Addie looked over at him. “Do you want your ring back or anything? I mean, I still want to marry you, but I’m probably supposed to ask if you still want me, right? Since I sort of got your face bashed. Not only that, but I don’t have the ring anymore because he threw it, but I’ll go find it and change the tire in your truck and get it home, I promise. Maybe Maddie can help me.”
Bodie did frown at her now. “Don’t be any sillier than you have to be, Addie.”
Then he stood, walked out of the bathroom and she was totally confused. At least until he came back, grabbed her left hand and put the ring right back on her finger. “There. Back where it belongs. Now, as far as wanting you or not, I reckon this is the perfect situation for a guy like me.”
“How do you figure?” She had to hear whatever his logic was there.
“Well, for the first time in my life, I got to swoop in and be the hero instead of the guy who couldn’t do anything to save his girl. I figure you really are my good luck charm.”
“I will be. I swear, Bodie. I just want to be home, with you.” Taking pictures, training her dogs. Having a life.
“Now you can be, huh?” He handed her a sponge, which she knew he’d gone to Mt Pleasant to buy for her. Maybe Texarkana.
“Thanks.” She started washing, getting the filth of the day off. Bodie growled softly and she looked up. “What?”
“You need to see a doctor.”
“What?”
“What the fuck did that bastard do to you, honey? You’re all black and blue. Is anything broken?”
“He tazed me and kicked me. A lot.” Her hand covered her bruised skin. She knew nothing was broken. She’d broken a couple of ribs once playing chicken with Maddie on dueling lawn mowers.
“You don’t have to hide from me, honey.” He gestured at his face, which was really looking like Frankenstein’s monster.
“I know. I just—” She found herself close to tears again. “I’m going to wash my hair, I think.”
“You need some help?” He scooted a little closer, knees pressing against the side of the tub.
Addie looked at him, then nodded, sniffling hard. “I do, cowboy.”
“Well, I’m right here.” He stood, reaching for the shampoo. “Do you want to stand up and rinse off or just do it in the tub?”
“Come into the shower with me?” She stood up, her belly aching some, the water pouring off her.
“That’d be good.”
The steam would help them both, she figured, release some of the soreness. Bodie drained the tub, got the shower going, and got the shampoo lathered up in his hands. She leaned into the spray, the heat surrounding her, the water making her tears disappear. Bodie let her lean on him, one arm around her, one running through her hair.
“Never going to let anyone hurt you again. Never.” His hand shook a little bit, against her hair.
“I—I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Well, of course you didn’t, honey. This was one of those crazy things.” He chuckled, the sound damp. “You should have seen your dads.”
“I can’t imagine. Maddie was pissed.” She was a little surprised the dads let her come back here. She and Bodie were engaged, though, so maybe they figured they didn’t have a choice.
“Maddie was frantic. I thought for sure Brandt was going to shoot that guy.”
“Yeah. I was lonesome and ready to settle down. I took the wrong offer.”
“Hey, I’m the last guy on earth who can judge. I thought I was ready to settle down twice.” He tilted her head up and kissed her gently. “I never loved anyone like I love you, Addie.”
“No?” She cupped his poor face, so careful. “You’re it for me, cowboy, but you knew that.”
“I did.” He kissed her again. “I don’t want to betray Carla or Lena’s memories, but you’re my girl. You were the one I was waiting for.”
“Good.” She wanted to be his. “Take me to bed, Bodie, and hold me a little while? I’m tired and it’s been a long damn day.”
“You know it.” He rinsed her off, got a big old towel for her hair, and dried them off. “I’d carry you, honey, but I’d drop you.”
“Shit, I don’t need to be carried. I just need to be held.”
“I can do that.” They eased down on the bed, and Bodie pulled the covers over them. The puppies had gone home to Bodie’s dad for a few days. Daddy Chris had taken care of that. They’d paid John’s brother to feed the other animals. So all they had to worry about was them.
Too bad they were too hurt and tired to move.
* * * *
Bodie woke up with a vicious headache, his mouth dry as the West Texas desert. God, he hurt. What in hell? Had Cyclone kicked him?
He tried to sit up, but the room spun. Soft hands eased him back, gave him coffee and pills, and covered him back up. His girl was so good to him. Oh, his poor girl. He caught Addie’s hand when she went to move away. “How are you feeling, honey?” Now he remembered it all.
“Okay.” She gave him a worried little smile. Her pretty face was black and blue, one eye all swollen.
“We should probably head into town and see the doc, huh?” He tried a grin, and he reckoned it fell as flat as hers.
“Nah. I’m cool.” She crawled into the bed, curled into his lap, and that felt better, just having her against him. “Maddie called. She’s coming to bring supper. Daddy Chris is making soup.”
“So, we don’t have to go out to their place?” He yawned, wincing a little.
“Nope.”
Man, he knew they had to deal with what happened and all, but Bodie was a practical man. He was so not good at this—the guilt and worry and tears and weirdness. So she had a shitty, crazy ex. It happened. Hell, Cooter McMann’s middle girl had been shot and killed by that crazy hillbilly asshole she’d divorced just last year and Kitty down at the Waggin’ Bag had been tore up by the Eagen boys before her daddy and brother had descended like the wrath of Heaven. It happened.
He’d come for her.
She was home. Safe. In one piece. Bodie kissed her temple. “Well, good. I mean, we got a wedding to plan and all. Who has time for more nonsense?”
She actually smiled. “It was really real, huh? The proposal? You have a date in mind?”
“It really was.” Bodie chewed his lip. “I know it’s traditional to do summer, but I’m not the long engagement kind of guy anymore. Ty might get some leave around the holidays, either Thanksgiving or Christmas. He could stand up for me.” He’d have John, too, so Addie would have to have someone else along with Mads.
“That works for me, cowboy. I’ve always thought a Christmas wedding would be amazing. Reds and greens and poinsettias.”
“My mom will be over the moon.” His mom would drive Addie crazy with decorating and food and shit.
“Yeah. You think your mom will be? Wait until the dads get to fighting over who’s giving me away.”
“Why can’t both of them do it? You got two arms.” He chuckled, loving that idea.
“I do. And two dads. You’ll have to get a white felt hat.”
“I can do that.” A new hat would be the least of it, he figured. He’d have to get new boots, too. “You gonna go to Dallas to get a dress, or you gonna go simple?”
“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll have to decide.” She looked at him, eyes dancing. “Oh, who am I kidding? I’m getting the biggest, sparkliest dress in East Texas. Train. Veil. Jewels. Purple rhinestone shoes. I want the pictures to make people cry.”
“Oh, man, you were made for my mom.” When she pinched his nipple, he shouted out a laugh. “Ow! Me. You were made for me!”
“You know it, asshole. I’m going to Bridezilla all over you. Going to make you crazy.”
Right, because his girl was a drama queen. He knew her—as long as she got her toes done once a month, and he didn’t leave his unmentionables on the floor or shave in her sink, she was easy as pie.
“I’ll try to stay out of your way.” He chuckled. “Who’s gonna take the pictures? That’s what’s gonna make you crazy.”
“Yeah, I have friends.” She grinned at him. “Or I could just take more pictures of you.”
Like she hadn’t taken ten thousand pictures of him. Him riding. Him sitting. Him sleeping. It was a little unnerving and a lot dear.
“Not if your dress is gonna be the tear jerker of East Texas.”
“People are going to be talking about it for years. At least until Maddie finds a man.”
Right. Like Maddie was the big dress type. He’d bet when Maddie got hitched she would spring for new boots, and it would happen on horseback.
He ran his fingers through her hair, petting her. “Will you wear your hair down for me, Addie?”
She nodded. “You know it, cowboy.”
“Good. That’s good, honey.” Bodie sighed, his head finally easing off some, which made life so much better. “Hey, where do you want to go for our honeymoon?” He sure thought they ought to have one.
“Mmm. Well, it’ll be Christmas time, so we could go to the mountains, have a place with a fire, snow.”
“Oh, I like that. Colorado. Hell, Lake Tahoe.” It felt amazing, making plans with her, loving her. “I love you, Addie. I surely do.”
“Good.” She snuggled in. “I’m going to spend the rest of your life driving you out of your mind.”
“I can’t wait, honey.” Bodie tilted her face up for a kiss, moving carefully so neither of them hurt. “I really can’t.”
“Good thing you don’t have to.”
Epilogue
“Come on, Maddie! Bodie’s waiting for us at the club!” Addie adjusted her ears, her tail, the tiny little leopard leotard. Her fishnets were studded in tiny rhinestones, her heels painfully high.
Maddie came out, wearing a little baseball uniform, her hair in pigtails. “Oh, God. You look amazing. He’s going to die.”
“You think?” She spun, bouncing at the idea of Bodie going nuts when he saw her.
“Hell, yes.”
“Well, I don’t want him to die, exactly. I got plans for him.”
“Ew.” Maddie winked. “You two have made the house look amazing, Adds. You ever miss living with me?”
“No.”
“Oh, thank God. I’m turning your room into a workout room. I’ve ordered a Bow Flex and a hard-core ab machine.” Maddie grinned. “Besides, Daddy Chris is going to add a little deck off the back so we can work out together.”
“Daddy’s girl.” Addie rolled her eyes, but cracked up. “Tell Dad that he can come here, drink beer and watch the puppies chase the ball while y’all are being stinky.”
“Those pups are getting big. Bodie training them to herd yet?” Maddie checked the ends of her pigtails before nodding toward the door.
“Bodie?” She snorted. “I’ve been working with them. You should see Truman go. He’s smart as a whip.”
Maggie was less so, but she was sweet and sugar and was going to be a great momma in a couple years. She was a little lazy when it came to moving cows, but hey, it was all good.
They headed out, Mads taking her truck so they could meet Bodie at the club. They’d shooed him out early to get them a table, since he wasn’t dressing up.
“What are the dads up to?”
Maddie snorted. “Do you really want to know?”
“No.” Addie put her fingers in her ears. “Lalala.”
Maddie reached over and pulled her closest finger free. “Chaps are involved.”
“Oh, God.” She pretended to gag. “I swear, if either one of them says a single thing tomorrow about bow-legged anything, I’m changing my phone number and taking Bodie to Mexico.”
“Do I get the ranch?” Maddie was already talking about how awesome Bodie’s barns were.
“You’d probably have to split it with Ty. Lyla is moving to Montana with that rodeo cowboy.”
“Wow. Good for her.” Maddie took the back road into town, and every time Addie passed that spot where Jim had waylaid them she shuddered a little. “Stop it, sister. He’s gone. Huntsville. John would tell us if he got out.”
“I know. I know. It’s just weird, huh?”
“It is. But it was also your sign that Bodie’s nuts for you. He could have gone all noble on you and decided you were better off without him or some shit, but he didn’t.”
She snorted. “I’d have kicked his ass. I’m meant for him.”
“You so are,” Maddie agreed. “And he was like an avenging angel for you.”
They finally pulled into the parking lot at the club, and Addie was glad they’d sent Bodie ahead. She hoped there were lots of bad costumes to mock, so hers won the prize.
More than anything, she hoped Bodie liked it.
They headed in, waved through without having to pay cover. It was good to be a girl, especially when Robert was at the door. There were a ton of people milling around, beer flowing freely. The townies were dressed up. The cowboys weren’t.
They got catcalls and whistles and she looked around, hunting her cowboy. Maddie slapped someone’s hand when she walked by, and Addie chuckled. She only wanted Bodie’s paws on her.
He was standing across the barroom, looking at her, mouth open, eyes bugged out.
Bingo.
Blinking, he got up and came over to her, his hands landing on her shoulders. “You’re almost naked, honey.”
“I was sort of going for, ‘wow, you look hot’.”
“You do. Smokin’ hot.” He frowned, looking around, glaring at a few guys. Then he took off his jacket, wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Bodie!” Someone just wasn’t appreciating all the work she’d gone to.
“What? You have to be cold.”
“Are my nipples hard?”
Maddie broke in to peer between them. “Yes.”
Bodie gave Maddie a stare. She backed off. “You look cold, yes,” Bodie said.
“You don’t like my costume. I even have a tail.” She turned, to show it off.
“I love it.” The heat in his eyes when she turned back to him proved it. “I’m just not sure I want these yahoos to like it too much.”
“I couldn’t care less about the yahoos. I just want to tempt you.” She pushed into his arms, let him fee
l her, knees to shoulders.
His arms slid around her waist under the jacket. “You can do that in a burlap sack.”
“I’m almost as tall as you in these heels.” Well, maybe not, but she was way closer with the heels than not. And what fun could they have with that?
“You are. It has possibilities.” He started moving her toward the door. Which was not the dance floor.
“We’re not going to dance?” God, he felt good against her.
“Not here, no. We’ll put on some music at home.”
“I got all dressed up and you’re not going to show me off?” She waved at Maddie, over Bodie’s shoulder, and Maddie gave her a thumbs up.
“Nope. I want my own private showing.” He hustled her out to his truck, holding her up when her heels threatened to trip her.
He popped her into the passenger’s seat, hands on her sparkly fishnets, as he leaned in to kiss her, messing up her lipstick. That was okay since he was just taking her home. She would have fussed if they were going to get food or something.
Bodie smiled, leaning his forehead against hers. “You look amazing, Addie.”
“You think so, cowboy?” She fluttered her eyelashes, loving this beautiful son-of-a-bitch with everything she had. She grabbed Bodie’s hand, slid it up her leg and under the opening of her leotard to her freshly shaved mound, watching his pupils dilate. “Take me home and I’ll give you your surprise.”
“As long as it involves you and cotton candy, I figure I’m the luckiest guy on earth.”
She chuckled. Well, it was a good thing she’d bought cotton candy at the Brookshires. Sometimes she was amazed at how much both of their luck had changed since they first met.
Addie knew it could only get even better from here.
About the Author
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing porn sites in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her partner, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.