“I was talking about Cassidy.” No wonder she was so crazy last night. “About sending Cassidy away. I Told Mom she had to go.” I turn back to Jessamine. “I know she’s your friend, Jess. But Isa’s gonna be my wife. I can’t have somebody trying to undermine her. As soon as you all get that into those thick skulls of yours, this will be a lot easier for everybody.” Good God… My family!
My gaze swings back to Isabella. “You were gonna leave me, Isa? You would leave me?” This is almost more than I can take. Cool air chills my chest. All I’m wearing is my jeans. It’s springtime, but it still cold in the mountains.
She was gonna leave me.
I drop my head in defeat.
Delicate fingers grip my arm. “But I couldn’t.”
I meet her gaze again.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of being sent away by you.” She glances toward Jessamine and then back to me. “I wanted to believe it was a mistake, but it seemed crystal clear.”
My eyes pinch closed. “About Cassidy.”
“What’s all the commotion down here?” My mom’s voice carries across the living room. And then tiny hands wrap around my legs.
I open my eyes to see Leeland’s little face peering up at me. His hair stands straight out. For me the saying “Love me, love my family,” applies more than I would have thought.
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.” Isabella lowers her voice in the vain hope that this conversation will include only the two of us. “I wanted to surprise you with my boots.”
Her boots.
A slow flush spreads up her neck. My Isabella wanted to surprise me by wearing cowboy boots. Instead, she thought she overheard me telling my mom that I didn’t love her. Noises vaguely penetrate my thoughts as Jessamine explains the misunderstanding to my mom.
Next thing, Mom’s beside me. “Oh, sweetheart.” She places one hand on Isabella’s arm. “No. Oh, Lord, no. Tucker loves you to the moon and back. If you’d listened a little longer you would have heard that part too.” And then she glances over her shoulder. “This is partly our fault. We haven’t done much to make you feel welcome, and that’s gonna change right now.” My mom pulls Isabella into her arms. “I’m so sorry, honey. It’s just that we love this guy so much. But don’t you worry. I think we get that you love him too.”
Tears overflow from the gorgeous blue eyes I love so much. Isabella looks overwhelmed, but her arms wrapped around my mother easily.
That’s when I get a glimpse at her left hand.
Digging into my pocket, I step back to allow Jessamine through.
“I’m sorry too. I was a bitch, and I really am sorry.” My sister’s one of the most stubborn people I know. The contrite look in her eyes floors me. What did I miss? What did Jess do to Isabella?
Isa is nodding but laughing a little too. “It’s okay.” But then she glances at me hesitantly. I take that as my cue. I need to leave no room for any doubt.
“I think you forgot something.” I’m holding up her engagement ring. Her eyes flicker between the ring and my face. She winces and then bites her lip. Because we both know she hadn’t just forgotten it. She left it behind intentionally.
I hold up one hand. “If there was any doubt, I’m going to put an end to it here and now.” With Leeland still wrapped around my leg, I drop down onto the other knee. Ahs and oohs sound from behind me. I’m vaguely aware that L.T. is standing beside my mom still wearing his pajamas. “Come here, buddy.” I tilt my head and L.T. steps forward. With my two sons looking on curiously, I hold the ring up to Isabella.
“Half the time I don’t know what I’m doing. And I swear to you, I’m probably gonna make all sorts of mistakes in the future. But the thing is,” I meet her gaze with my heart in my eyes. “I want to make all those mistakes with you.”
Isabella raises both hands to cover the hint of a smile that’s beginning to curve her mouth. Almost as though she doesn’t believe this is happening. Hell, I can hardly believe it myself. But it feels right.
“We’ll all make mistakes, won’t we? Lee? L.T.”
L.T. nods solemnly. Leeland just watches with wide-open eyes.
“Boys. I love Isabella. I love her so much I want her to be a part of our family. You think you’d let Isabella take a shot at being a mom?”
Now it’s Leeland nodding. This little one. He doesn’t even remember Lenora. I know that L.T.’s memories are mostly from photographs.
L.T.’s following my words closely. “For just a while? Or forever?” he asks.
I can’t help but pull this kid over and kiss the top of his head. “That’s a good question L.T.” I direct all my attention to Isabella again. So much love overflows from her that I feel it already. “What do you say, Isabella? Forever?”
She’s drops to her knees to join us. I know she’s doing all she can to keep from crying. Her cold hands hold the sides of my face. “Forever.”
She moves to wrap her arms around the boys. “Forever.” I appreciate the attention she’s giving my sons, but the knowledge that I nearly lost her has taken its toll on me.
“Isa,” I say her name softly. She meets my gaze unwavering. “I mean it. Don’t ever question my love for you again. I love you. You hear me? I need to breathe the same air as you.”
Eyes shining, she swallows hard. “Even when my head thought it knew what I was doing, my heart kept telling me I was wrong. I’m so sorry, babe.” Her sincerity nearly bowls me over. “Same air. Always.”
“Forever?” Leeland pipes in.
“Forever,” Isa and I say together. It sounds like a vow.
I slide the ring back onto her finger and growl by her ear, “Forever.”
EPILOGUE
Tucker
June Six.
Today I get to make her mine.
For the last few days, the entire ranch has been inundated with my extended family. And some very important people as well. People who love my Isa. The people who worried about her coming out here. Her poised, confident mother. A little standoffish at first, but after spending a few days around her, she’s warmed up to me.
And then there’s Ashley. Isa’s bestie from San Fran is something of a pistol.
Colt hasn’t been able to take his eyes off her. Like she’s some exotic creature from another land… Would serve him right…
It’s been a month since I proposed all over again to Isabella. Since my family finally took their heads out of their asses and saw her the way I do. As a beautiful, warm, giving, intelligent woman.
L.T. and Leeland love her. I knew they would.
She’s my everything.
I could go on and on.
But for now, I stand at the end of this makeshift aisle, the sun shining down from above causing me to sweat even more in this infernal tuxedo… and I wait.
All the guests are seated, and the music starts up.
Colt, as my best man, escorts Ashlee first. He towers over her, but anyone watching would think she’s the one dragging him along. I can’t stop the chuckle that escapes as I get a glimpse of Colt’s expression.
He’s toast.
And then L.T. and Leeland walk down the aisle carrying pillows with fake rings attached. For all of ten seconds I panic. Where are the rings? I pat down my pockets and then Colt steps up beside me.
“I’ve got ’em, asshole.” God bless my brother.
“Right.” Jesus Christ, my hands are shaking. The boys arrive, and L.T. takes his place beside Colt.
Leeland wraps himself around my legs.
Before I can do anything about my son, the music changes and everyone rises from their seats.
Isa.
I don’t deserve her.
Dressed in white lace, curls tumbling around her shoulders from beneath intricately pinned flowers and lace, my Isa looks like an angel.
Blue eyes sparkle back at me when her gaze flicks down to Leeland at my feet.
And that smile.
God.
That smile.
Wi
thout thinking about it, I’m grinning back obnoxiously.
I fucking love this woman.
And then she stops.
Turns to the side and hitches her dress up just enough to show off…
Cowboy boots.
I’ve died and gone to heaven.
—The End—
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
PENNY never intended watching her new neighbor, but the window is right there. And, damn, those abs, that chest!. He’s way out of her league. But a girl can look, right? Ever since the divorce she’s just felt so… invisible.
MILITARY PILOTS get any woman they want. So when Penny tells Chaz he’s too young for her, he can’t help but take a second look. She’s sassy, she’s earthy. She’s real. Hell, if she doesn’t do something for him.
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
By Annabelle Anders
CHAPTER ONE
Low Slung Camos
The older couple next door apparently had a son.
A shirtless, sun-bronzed, hard-bodied, strapping, son. Penny fanned herself as she gawked out her window and into the neighbor’s bedroom.
Mary, mother of Jesus, but he was hot.
His buzzed hair was dark brown, judging by the shadow of growth she could see. And a set of dog tags swung on a chain around his neck. Military. Definitely military.
Chiseled features contrasted with the ready smile he gave the older woman fussing around him.
He’d apparently suffered some sort of injury, his arm immobilized by a wide white bandage wrapped around his right shoulder and chest.
He had to be their son, right? He was too old to be their grandson. When she’d caught sight of her neighbors on a few occasions, they’d looked to be no more than sixty.
Well, maybe he could be a grandson.
If she’d taken the time to stop and chat, she might have learned something about the imminent arrival of this perfect specimen of the male human.
But no! On the rare occasions she left her house, she kept her head down in order to avoid meeting their eyes. Because if she met their eyes, she’d have to speak to them. And if she spoke to them, they’d ask questions.
They’d want to know if she was married.
Did she have any kids?
Was she new in town?
No, no and yes.
Penny chewed at her thumbnail and continued peeking through the hundred-year-old glass. The skin on his chest and back was smooth. He couldn’t be much older than twenty-three or four, just a kid!
His mother, she had to be his mother, moved about the room efficiently, busily unpacking the suitcase and hanging clothing in the closet. A white uniform, and was that a flight suit? Penny couldn’t tell for certain.
Her gaze swung back to him. Had he been injured in combat?
She was always hearing about helicopters going down over there.
It made her angry. Such a senseless war.
She’d tuned it out.
He could have been shot. The thought of a bullet breaking through this young man made her cringe inside.
So unnecessary! So very wrong!
Even in the shadows, his physique appeared defined and lean. Not bulky. Not massive. Not an inch of flab anywhere. Butterflies fluttered obnoxiously deep within her belly.
Man-boys should not be allowed to look like that. It wasn’t fair! And this one – she fanned herself – oh my! He was particularly lethal, strutting around in nothing but desert camo pants that hung so low she could see where his ab muscles ended and other, um, features of his anatomy began.
It was as though he’d hardly managed to get them on, just enough so he could get himself from the hospital to his home.
Camo pants ought to be illegal.
Penny continued watching as his mother hugged him impulsively. She then collected what looked to be some dirty laundry and disappeared from the room.
Mister Spectacular stretched, winced, and then stretched again. Sleek, tight, and powerful.
Penny sighed. What would it feel like? To be with somebody like that?
And then.
He untied his pants and dropped them.
White ass.
White, sinewy, smooth, muscular ass.
At this point, Penny threw herself onto the floor. She shivered and then, unable to help herself, pushed up to her knees and peeked over the lip of the window again.
In the future, she would realize, this was the day she’d become something of a voyeur.
Four days later, and this ogling was triggering all kinds of frustration in Penny – on multiple levels.
She had work to do, dammit!
How dare he waltz around in front of his window wearing nothing but a… well, he didn’t do much smiling. Most of the time he looked like he was in pain. He ought to stay in bed. Rest up so that he could heal.
But no, he had to pace the room like a caged lion, occasionally pumping a hand weight with his good arm.
It wasn’t her fault she was so easily distracted by his… everything.
She’d not had an orgasm – brought on by another human being, that was – for over eight months.
Hell, if she were to be honest with herself, sex with Kent, toward the end, had been disappointing at best.
She could describe what she experienced as… “orgs”… or perhaps… “asms.”
Kent hadn’t cared much whether she’d reached the summit, so to speak. He’d told her not to dawdle so much. She needed to keep up with the program.
When he was done, he was done.
End of event.
The only respectable orgasms she’d had in the past five years had been self-induced.
God, she was pathetic.
In a way, watching Mister Spectacular over there had brought her back to life a little.
Not that she’d ever speak to him or meet him. Likely, he was convalescing at Mom and Dad’s house for a few weeks and would soon be shipped back off to Afghanistan, or Syria, or wherever he’d been injured.
She ought to thank him for his service before he left.
Penny ignored the urge to peek out the window again. Twenty minutes ago, he’d attempted a few one-handed jumping jacks. After five, he’d flinched something awful. He was probably still lying down.
Such a nice boy; brave, disciplined, patriotic…sexy as no get out.
When he wasn’t prowling around the room or sleeping, he read. If she’d had binoculars, she probably could have made out the titles but she’d forced herself to draw the line somewhere.
The houses built in downtown Pine Springs were over one hundred years old, huddled intimately close to one another. Up until last week, this hadn’t bothered Penny in the least.
She’d merely pulled the blinds and drawn the curtains. She’d not wanted to get to know her neighbors. She wasn’t ready yet. She still felt… raw.
She’d preferred to be left alone, working from the privacy of home. She’d been lucky to pay cash outright with the settlement money Kent had given her.
Been ordered to give her.
Frankly, she would have taken less but her lawyer insisted she get as much as possible.
Penny had simply wanted out.
The house, the home they’d purchased together twelve years ago, was tainted now.
He slept with that girl there.
In Penny’s own bedroom.
In her own bed.
She’d ignored fleeting suspicions but the shock of finding the man she trusted, the man she’d built her life around, on top of some nubile nineteen-year-old, her ass propped on Penny’s pillow…
Walking in on such an encounter confirmed what she’d refused to consider.
Her husband was not the same man she thought she’d married.
He was a liar.
A cheater.
A bastard.
Penny purposely shoved these thoughts out of her mind. They were too depressing.
Almost without thinking, she slipped out of her chair, crossed the room, and peeked around the cur
tain. He’d hung a dartboard on the wall and was throwing little metal arrows at it.
He must normally be right-handed, she surmised, when the third arrow in a row bounced off the wall. Your mother’s gonna kill you.
She hadn’t left the house for six days, and her empty freezer taunted her. Unless she wanted to survive on coffee, a bag of pinto beans, and some ranch dressing, she was gonna have to venture outside, and yes, interact with other human beings today.
She had no choice but to make a trip to the grocery store.
She closed the freezer door, trudged upstairs, and examined her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
She’d showered yesterday but not bothered with her hair. When she didn’t tame it with gel or styling cream, it curled into crazy yellow spirals and twisted wildly around her head.
Makeup hadn’t been a priority as of late either. The only color around her eyes came from the circles beneath them. She peered closer. Ah, yes. Wonderful. And the crow’s feet.
At thirty-six!
Her T-shirt was so worn out as to be transparent.
Another feminine item she’d eschewed since moving to Pine Springs was a bra. She never went anywhere so…why bother? It wasn’t as though her B cups were sagging.
Yet.
Her stomach, though, was soft. As were her thighs and butt.
Exercise? What was exercise?
After discovering her husband sleeping with another woman – strike that – girl – she’d not eaten for nearly a month. Well, she’d eaten but barely. And that was tribute to just exactly how devastated she’d been.
Seven months later, she’d yet to have gained the weight back.
But she was no poster for fitness, that was for sure.
She’d run from her old life and moved into this rickety old house two months ago. It was far better than the month-to-month apartment she’d initially escaped to.
This house had personality.
It had history.
It had character.
It was hers.
And damn, but it had one hot neighbor.
The Mile High Madness Page 42