A Marshal's Embrace

by Dora Hiers

He sipped water from the straw and swallowed, unable to hide the silly grin cracking his lips as the cool liquid slid down his parched throat. “Don’t think I didn’t know about the ride in the chopper. Or the kiss.” Oh yeah!

  She raised an eyebrow, a crimson color creeping up her neck, and jutted her lower lip out. “Ryker McLane—”

  “It’ll take a lot more kisses to make me forget that one, toe-tingling kiss. I think I’m up for it, though.” Ryker chuckled at her outraged expression and ran his fingers through silky strands of her hair. He slid his hand around to the back of her neck and tugged her face down gently, his gaze locked in on her expressive eyes, aching to see her love shining from them again. Would she offer a repeat—

  A knock broke their connection, and the door handle jiggled. Danae jerked back and jammed a hand through her hair.

  Ryker groaned and flopped his head back on the pillow. Just when it was about to get interesting.

  A dark head poked around the door, then another, slightly above and behind the first. Gunner pushed the door open wide and stepped into the room, followed by Trent. “We can come back if we’re interrupting something.”

  One side of Ryker’s lips curved as he tucked Danae’s hand in his and cradled it to his chest. “Nothing we can’t resume later.”

  Trent’s cane tapped against the tile floor as the pair approached the opposite side of the bed. “Hey, Danae. Glad to see you’re not shell-shocked after last night. Sounds like you had quite a bit of excitement.”

  Danae dipped her head and flashed a smile of appreciation. “Ryker and Gunner had it under control the entire time. Why would I worry?”

  “I think Ryker here worried enough for the both of you.” With a grin, Gunner nodded in his direction. “How long are they holding you against your will this time?”

  “Only long enough for me to find some clean clothes.”

  “Until the doctor releases him,” Danae said at the same time, her mouth firm.

  Ryker hiked an eyebrow, the grin still etched across his lips. “Didn’t they stitch me up again last night?”

  She nodded.

  “Then I’m good to go.”

  Danae stood and dragged her hand out of his to plant both fists on slim hips. “Ryker McLane, if you leave this hospital—”

  “What?” Ryker dared, still smiling. “Will you chase me down? Because you know I’ll let you catch me and when I do—”

  Trent cleared his throat and gave Gunner a pointed glance toward the door. “We’ll be on our way, then. Let you two work this doctor thing out. Glad you’re okay, Ryker. You, too, Danae.” Trent’s limp was barely noticeable as he headed to the door without the aid of his cane.

  Gunner placed a brown sack on the tray table next to the bed. “Sorry, buddy. Best we could come up with.” He hustled ahead of Trent, opened the door, then glanced over a shoulder. “Oh, I almost forgot. We’re having a get-together at our house for Thanksgiving if you’re able to make it. Mina said to be sure to invite both of you.”

  “Thanks, guys. See you soon.” As the door closed behind the duo, he reached for Danae’s hand and tugged her toward him. “Now where were we?”

  “We were just leaving.” She pulled her hand away.

  Ryker nodded, happy to go along with that plan. “That’s right. Do you know where my clothes are stashed?”

  Danae gave a slow shake of her head, determination lining her face. “No.”

  “Yes, you do. Come on, Danae.” Why was she doing this to him? Couldn’t she see that he longed to take her home, wrap her in his embrace, whisper, “I love you,” and kiss her breath away?

  “You need to wait for the doctor to release you, Ryker. If you keep opening up your wound, you’ll have permanent damage.”

  “Spoken like a paramedic.”

  “Spoken like somebody who worries about you. I don’t want—”

  The door opened and the doctor breezed in, professional and brisk. “Good morning.” He glanced over a shoulder as he lathered soap on his hands in the sink. “How are you feeling?”

  How was he feeling? Tired and cranky from all the interruptions. Would he never get a moment’s peace to tell Danae how much he loved her? He wanted out of this place. His voice came out in a growl. “Ready to go home.”

  Danae covered her mouth with a hand, trying unsuccessfully to hide a grin. “I’ll wait outside.”

  “Don’t go far. I’ll need a ride home. Again.”

  She smiled, her eyes lacking their usual sparkle, fingers on the doorknob. “I’ll be waiting.”

  ****

  I’ll be waiting.

  Like always. Waiting for the man she’d loved forever to love her back.

  What was wrong with her? Now that the threat to her was over, the marshal would go back to life as normal, forget all about his temporary stay in Serenity Ridge. He’d probably even move back to Charlotte. Who knows? Maybe he’d even reconcile with Jennifer.

  What would happen to her? She’d be left nursing a bruised and aching heart, that’s what.

  But she’d make it. She didn’t need Ryker. Her life was rich and satisfying already. She had a job she loved, friends she adored, and plenty of kids at Quiver Full to hang out with, kids who needed her attention. Yeah. Life was good.

  But sharing every day with Ryker would make it so much sweeter. Brighter.

  Tamping down the temptation to slam her fist through something, Danae settled her rump against the wall in the hospital corridor, satisfied with the thump. Cleaning chemicals mingled with the odor of sickness and dying hopes churned her stomach. She needed fresh air. She’d give Ryker five minutes before she was out of here.

  Ryker’s puzzled expression—and a tad hurt—flitted across her vision. The man had never played games before. He’d always been Ryker. Genuine. Real. Like an older brother.

  But holding her hand? And kissing her, passion and yearning flowing from his lips to hers, yet so soft and tender, and filled with a promise of forever. Those weren’t older brother, care-what-happens-to-Danae, kisses. Were they real, forever kind of kisses?

  Oh, God, I can’t—

  The door to Ryker’s room opened, startling Danae upright. She shifted away from the wall, straightened her back and jutted her chin.

  The doctor breezed from the room, his white lab coat pocket sticking to the door handle. He turned and flipped it loose, a stern expression on his face. “He’s all yours. Try to keep him out of trouble.”

  Danae gave her head a slight rattle. Had she heard the doctor correctly? Keep Ryker out of trouble?

  Ryker appeared in the hall, fully dressed in a pair of jeans two sizes too big and a lightweight sweater a smidgen too small, judging by the material straining against his broad chest. He jerked the bottom of the sweater down until it touched the top of the jeans. “What?”

  Danae bit her bottom lip, grinned. “I’m supposed to keep you out of trouble.”

  “Won’t be too hard. All I want to do is go home. Get out of these clothes.” He stalked down the long hall toward the elevator.

  Danae sucked in a breath, hustled to catch up with his long strides.

  “Then I’ve got some business to attend to.”

  She blew out a sigh, her chest trembling. Translation. Ryker had already forgotten about her.

  20

  Danae’s fingers curled around the doorknob. “See you next week, Jacko. You, too, Ames. Happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Sure I can’t talk you into coming to lunch tomorrow, Danae?” Ames asked, a phone pressed to his ear. Jacko craned his head from his position near the assignment board to catch her answer.

  She smiled at their concern. “Thanks for the invite, Ames, but my brother will have a fit if I don’t show up at their house. This is their first holiday meal and I can’t miss it.” Stephen and Ella had invited all of Quiver Full for Thanksgiving lunch, and growing up an only child, Ella would need help cooking for such a large crowd. Danae wasn’t about to let her sister-in-law down.

  S
he tugged the light jacket tighter and stepped outside the med flight office into darkness, dispelled by a few well-placed floodlights, the brisk wind blowing loose hair across her face. She pushed it out of her eyes and headed for her car. They’d just gotten in from transporting a patient to California and back. Working had never felt so good.

  Going home to an empty house was a different story.

  Two and a half weeks, and Ryker hadn’t stopped by one time.

  Seventeen. Long. Days.

  He’d called every night, up until she left for California three days ago. Sweet, extended phone calls, where he chatted about her day, but offered nothing about his.

  Then the phone calls stopped.

  Playing basketball at the orphanage or hanging out with Lorie did little to lift her spirits as the days marched on with no visits from her favorite marshal. The only bright spot had been the anonymous donation to supplement the carnival proceeds to get the ball rolling on the orphanage building. And his phone calls.

  Had he forgotten about her? Or did he just not care?

  Shivers raced up her arms underneath her jacket. Walking alone in the dark still made her nerves skittish. Danae blew out a sigh, disgusted with herself, and dug through her gym bag for her car key. At the same time her phone vibrated.

  Frustration rippled through her. She dumped her purse upside down, scattering the contents across the pavement. Battling the urge to scream, she gave an angry swipe at the moisture seeping from her eyes and took a deep breath.

  She. Would. Not. Cry. She had so many things to be thankful for. That’s what she needed to focus on. Not Ryker’s lack of attention or that his heart belonged to someone else.

  Squatting, she collected her belongings, letting the call go to voice mail, not even bothering to check the caller id. Probably Stephen wondering what time she would be at their house tomorrow.

  She tossed phone, wallet, lip gloss—everything—back into her purse and stalked to the car, giving the door a good jerk when she opened it. Once the car cranked, Amy Grant’s music soothed the wounded parts of her heart, moving her to worship at the feet of Jesus. Oh, God, please forgive my selfishness. Your love is more than enough for me.

  When she reached her driveway, Danae gasped at the truck parked in the grass.

  And the man leaning against the truck.

  Ryker!

  Arms crossed, jeans covering mile-long legs, a black leather jacket casually slung over wide, muscular shoulders, a few days’ growth of beard on his face. Man, he looked good. Like heaven come to earth.

  Her breath came out shaky as she downshifted, zipping the car under the overhang. Why was he here? To tell her that he was moving back to Charlotte? Getting back together with Jennifer? She gritted her teeth and cinched the ropes around her heart. Tight.

  She grabbed her gym bag, and with wobbly legs, moved around to the front of the house where Ryker waited. “Hey.”

  “Hey, back.” He moved away from the truck and stepped toward her, taking the loaded gym bag from her shoulder and following her up the porch steps.

  “How did you know I’d be home tonight?” Once inside her fully lit family room, she tossed the key on the console table by the door.

  “Stephen.”

  Oh, how she’d missed that voice the last three days, rich and deep, like her favorite coffee blend. Mmm. The one word loosened the knots she’d tied around her heart.

  She should have known something was up when her brother texted earlier today asking what time she’d be back. Danae took the gym bag from his hand, dropped it on the floor in the hallway, and headed for the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”

  “Actually, no.”

  She stopped, turned around, and bumped into that rock-hard chest. Two hands reached out to grip her arms, and he wrapped her in the shelter of his embrace. “I came to see you.” His words rumbled against her head.

  He did? Her heart skipped, skittered, then resumed pumping.

  “Will you take a ride with me?”

  She pulled back far enough to see his face but still close enough to feel the thumping of his heart. “A ride?”

  “I know it’s late, but it’ll be worth it.” He smiled, those tawny eyes glowing, as if he wanted to share a secret, but couldn’t. He tugged her by the hand toward the front door.

  She narrowed her eyes. What was he up to?

  “Sure. It’s never too late—” She almost choked on the for you that almost slipped out, not quite ready to share that yet.

  He held the truck door for her. “That’s not what you said when I showed up on your doorstep at five a.m. a few days ago.”

  She chuckled, enjoying their teasing, as she climbed inside the cab. “That was way too early. Not too late.”

  Standing outside her door, he leaned in, so close she caught a whiff of peppermint candy and Old Spice. She couldn’t look at his eyes, afraid of what hers might say, so she focused on his lips. That wasn’t any better. They were so close, so tempting.

  With gentle fingers, he nudged her chin up, forcing her to gaze into those golden eyes, loosening the knots around her heart even more. “I’ve missed you.”

  She caught her breath.

  His lips covered hers, sweet and sugary. So sure of himself.

  He hadn’t stopped by in over two weeks! What was she doing? She pulled back, breaking the connection, and somehow managed to harness the moan. “You must have had a lot of business to take care of.”

  A faint smile curved his lips. “Give me time. I’ll show you.” With that, he closed her door and walked around the front of the truck.

  She couldn’t stop from staring at him. His confident stride, the tender smile still on his lips.

  She sighed. Oh, man of her heart!

  ****

  Ryker drove into the parking lot at the orphanage, contentment and love filling the empty spaces of his heart to overflowing, a tiny black box and a couple of airline tickets stuffed in his pocket. He pulled the truck close to the lot designated for the new building, the headlights illuminating the permit marker staked in the freshly plowed dirt. Danae wouldn’t be able to see the bistro table and chairs or the bench he’d tucked under a tree earlier today. Or the kids hiding out in the closest cottage, waiting for them to arrive.

  She peered out the front window, her forehead scrunched. “Wow! I can’t believe they’ve already started working.” She turned in the seat to face him, practically bouncing with excitement, and clapped her hands. “Ryker, did you know someone donated the extra money we needed to start the new cottage?”

  He smiled at the vibrant tone of her voice, the animation in her hands. “Yes.”

  “You knew?” Confusion clouded her expression.

  He couldn’t wait any longer, not wanting her to be angry at his disappearing act. But he’d had so many things to take care of, so many hoops to jump through to get this ball rolling, and he knew he’d never be able to look into her beautiful, expressive face and not spill his guts. He picked up her hand from the console, turned it around and kissed her palm. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

  She jumped down from the truck before he could make his way around to her side. He grabbed her hand and led her toward the table.

  White Christmas tree lights blinked on, twined around the trees surrounding the table. Candles shimmered and two place settings of the orphanage’s finest china sparkled on a white linen-draped table. A giggle sliced through the quiet, then a clink, and soft worship music filtered through the silence.

  Ryker grinned. The kids had done a great job pulling everything together after he left just an hour ago for a much-needed shower.

  Danae gasped, and a hand flew to cover her mouth. Ryker pulled out a chair and, with a flourish of his arm, gestured for her to sit down.

  Kyle appeared, dressed in a white oxford shirt and black slacks, a white napkin hanging over one forearm, a pitcher of ice water in his hand. “Good evening. We’re so glad you could join us tonight.”

  Dana
e grinned. “Thank you, sir.”

  Ryker winked at the teen. “Thanks. What’s on the menu for tonight?”

  Kyle filled the water glasses. “What a good question, sir. Let’s see.”

  The server crinkled his eyebrows, obviously trying to remember his lines. “First up this evening we have salad. Followed by a grilled sirloin steak, medium, just the way the lady likes, baked potato with a smidgen of butter and bacon, and peas. And for dessert, hmmm, as I recall, dessert is a generous slice of carrot cake topped with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream…”

  Ryker caught Kyle’s sly grin and waited for Danae’s reaction.

  “What?” Danae scooted forward in the chair, eyebrows raised, mouth dangling open. “Butter pecan?”

  The kid shook his head and rolled his eyes, quite the drama king. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say butter pecan? I meant that coffee ice cream with the chocolate pieces. I can’t remember the name. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.” Grinning, he covered his mouth behind a hand and coughed. When he left their table, he hunched over as if hiding a full-on laugh.

  “Wow. This is quite a setup. Thank you, Ryker.” Joy lit her face, her eyes.

  “The evening’s just starting, sweetheart.”

  He kept conversation light as dinner progressed with each one of Danae’s teen buddies helping to serve, giggling as they walked away from the table. After they finished dessert and coffee, Ryker stood and extended a hand to Danae. “Shall we?”

  She flashed that mega-watt smile he loved.

  His heart shifted into overdrive, his mind humming with the words he wanted to say, the feelings he wanted to express. Slow down there, buddy. You don’t want to mess this up after the kids did such a great job.

  He led her to the bench and settled himself next to her, tucking her under his arm and nestling his cheek against her head. A cool breeze lifted her silky hair, tickling his lips, her berry scent charming his senses. She was so warm and full of zest for life. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Apparently not enough to come by and say hi.”

  He chuckled. “Does that mean you missed me, too?”

  She sighed but didn’t say anything. Just jutted that cute little chin a notch higher. And scooted a little closer.