From Maverick to Daddy

by Teresa Southwick

  “What?”

  “You do have protection?”

  “Yes.” Then he went still, as if that sank in. “Not that I planned on this happening. It’s just—”

  “I understand.” She laughed. “There’s no way you can be responsible for the road washing out. You’re just—responsible.”

  “Okay, then—” His voice was breathless and sounded almost desperate.

  In the dark she heard the scrape of his pants and belt across the sheets. Then there was fumbling, which she was pretty sure meant he was fishing a condom out of his wallet. The tearing of the packet was followed by the sound of his ragged breathing mixing with hers. And then he stretched out beside her and covered her mouth with his.

  He continued to touch her everywhere, eagerly exploring the curve of her waist, her breasts and belly, the sweep of her thigh. Part of her wanted him to go on doing that forever. The other part didn’t think she could take much more. And he seemed to sense that. His hand settled on her knee and gently nudged it open. As he slid his hand up the inside of her thigh, she rolled her hips, instinctively letting him know what she wanted.

  “Oh, Caleb—” Her voice sounded hungry and harsh even to her own ears.

  He rolled over her and tucked her beneath him, bracing his forearms on either side of her. She was trapped in the most exciting possible way and couldn’t move her arms. So, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around the backs of his thighs.

  “Mal—”

  He groaned out her name and entered her slowly, letting her get used to the feel of him. She sighed and he went deeper, kept pressing her, filling her. She shifted her hips just a fraction but he knew what she was asking for.

  There was no more going slowly. He rocked against her, taking her higher with each thrust, each stroke. Her breath came faster and faster until he reached between where their bodies were joined and caressed the sensitive bundle of nerve endings at the juncture of her thighs.

  The touch sent her straight over the edge and she cried out. But he was kissing her and took in the sound of her release, held her until the trembling stopped.

  He was still hard, still filling her, and she rocked against him now, urging him on. She went slowly at first, then faster and faster until he groaned out his release and held on to her for dear life.

  They stayed that way for a long time and Mallory was reluctant to let go, loving the closeness. The sex was pretty awesome, but this was awesome, too.

  She whispered into the darkness something that she probably would never have admitted if the lights were on. “That was simply remarkable.”

  “Can’t argue with that.”

  Caleb left the bed and went into the bathroom. Moments later he returned and was beside her again, pulling her against him. Taking this intimate step should have scared her but the only scary thing was how safe she felt.

  At least she had tonight and the rest could wait until morning.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning Mallory woke up in Caleb’s arms and memories of the previous night floated through her mind. She was sleepy, satisfied and for several moments felt completely carefree. Sunlight peeked around the curtain covering the hotel-room window. And that was when reality came rushing back. The road was impassable and she was cut off in Kalispell.

  “Lily.”

  An adrenaline rush chased away sleep as efficiently as a caffeine blast. She sat up and the sheet fell to her waist, revealing that she was as naked as after making love with Caleb last night.

  This wasn’t a great time for an attack of shyness but that didn’t stop it. He hadn’t technically seen everything, since the room had been pitch-black, but he’d sure found his way with his hands. The pleasure of his touch rippled through her even now.

  “Mornin’.” Caleb had one eye open and his dark hair was tousled from sleep.

  He was too cute for words and it was so tempting to slide back under the covers and forget all her responsibilities, just for a little longer. Then guilt zeroed in and she couldn’t believe she’d been so selfish. How could she even think that? Lily would be worried and insecure, and here she was just thinking about herself.

  “I have to call Lily.” With the sheet clutched to her breasts, she looked around. “But first I have to find my cell phone.”

  Caleb tried the bedside lamp and it went on. “Electricity’s back.”

  He fumbled around and came up with a shirt. “Here.”

  How sweet was that? He knew she was feeling vulnerable, although the sheet clutched to her chest was probably a clue. She took the garment and slid it on. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to find coffee and see if I can get some information on the roads while you talk to Lily.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  She slid out of bed, grabbed her slacks, blouse and under things, then went into the bathroom. After washing her face and running her fingers through her hair, she quickly dressed. When she returned, he was fully clothed. He stood there hesitating, as if he was going to kiss her goodbye. As if they’d crossed some sort of invisible line into territory where this—whatever it was—might be more than two people who had turned to each other just because they were marooned together.

  In a weird way she was relieved to not be the only one feeling awkward. Especially because Caleb seemed to be the kind of man who didn’t feel awkward about anything.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  When he was gone, Mallory grabbed her phone, found the number in her contacts list and selected it. Cecelia picked up right away.

  “Mallory. Are you all right?”

  “Yes.” Although that depended on your definition of all right. “Caleb and I got probably the last room in Kalispell.”

  “A room?” There was a long pause. “You’ll have to tell me all about it when I see you.”

  Mallory decided to let that go for now. “Is Lily all right?”

  “Fine. She was kind of quiet when I told her what happened, but I didn’t push her. Just let her process the information. We were just about to call you.”

  “Thank you so much for staying with her.”

  “Are you kidding? I love spending time with her.” There was silence for a moment before she said, “Someone here is anxious to talk to you.”

  There was a shuffling sound and then, “Aunt Mallory, are you okay?”

  “Hi, sweetie.” She hadn’t missed the anxiety in the little girl’s voice and put more enthusiasm than usual into her own. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you with Caleb?”

  Again a particular definition could apply. They were stuck together and had made love, but whether or not she was with him was another question. But this child wanted the simple answer. “Yes. The road back to Rust Creek Falls was blocked and right now he’s checking to see if it’s fixed so we can get back home.”

  “I know he’ll take good care of you.” All trace of worry had disappeared from Lily’s voice.

  “Yes, he will.” Still, she should prepare her for all contingencies. “But you might have to stay with Cecelia for a while longer.”

  “Cool.”

  “You’re okay with that?”

  “It’s awesome. She said we can go out to breakfast and get pedicures. Do girl stuff.” Lily’s anticipation practically vibrated through the phone.

  “Okay, sweetie. I wish I could talk longer, but I don’t have my phone charger with me and need to save the battery. Tell Cecelia I’ll let her know what’s going on when I have news.”

  “Okay. Love you, Auntie Mal.”

  “Love you, too, sweetheart.”

  A few minutes after clicking off she heard a sound at the door and opened it. Caleb stood there with a cup of coffee in each hand.
<
br />   “Room service.” He handed one of them to her.

  “Smells good.” She took a sip. “Heaven.”

  “So, do you want the bad news first or the good?”

  Mallory didn’t consider herself a pessimist, but usually wanted unpleasant stuff first, just to make sure she could handle it. “Bad.”

  He sipped from his cup. “The road isn’t open yet.”

  “Okay. So how is there anything good about that?”

  “Crews are working to remove downed trees and debris. It will be passable by early afternoon.”

  “So, we’re still stuck here,” she said.

  “Yes. But, as I always say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

  “I’m not quite sure how to do that.”

  “I am.” He moved close and crooked a finger under her chin, nudging it up until her gaze locked with his. Mischief of the sexy kind sparkled in his eyes. “Checkout isn’t until noon.”

  He took her coffee and set it beside his on the desk. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Fate was putting her responsibilities on hold. If she was selfish for taking pleasure in that, so be it.

  The clothes they’d just put back on came off again and Caleb took her hand, leading her into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, and when the water was warm, he lifted her into the tub and joined her. This time she could see with her eyes and not just her hands. She couldn’t touch him enough or look at him enough and he must have felt the same. After putting on protection, he pulled her against him and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He settled his hands on her bottom and lifted as she wrapped her legs around him. She was slick and ready and he entered her with a single thrust. Both of them were breathless as he drove her higher and higher. Together they stepped over and into release, clinging to each other until the pleasure faded to a warm and lovely glow.

  “I had no idea what I was missing,” she whispered.

  When he set her down, Mallory rested her cheek against his chest. It had been a very long time since she’d been with a man and they said you never forgot. But she couldn’t forget what she’d never experienced. And she’d never experienced intimacy as powerful as what she’d just had with Caleb.

  * * *

  Caleb knew that with some women sex was just sex, but Mallory was different. She was a single mom concerned about keeping Lily’s life stable. That meant not letting a man in without a reasonable certainty that he would stay. It was a responsibility, one that weighed on him driving back from Kalispell.

  It was late in the afternoon now and Caleb stopped by his sister’s place. After dropping Mallory off he’d decided to visit his folks before going home and his mom sent him to Paige’s with a casserole because she was having a rough day with the new baby, Carter Benjamin. When an infant was fussy, getting a meal on the table could be a challenge, his mom had said. Sutter, her husband, was busy in town, fortunately not in Seattle, where he worked part-time raising horses.

  So here he was in Paige’s family room, where it looked as if a baby store had exploded. Caleb’s new nephew was screaming his head off, and his sister looked close to tears herself.

  “I’m so tired,” she said, bottom lip quivering. “And he won’t stop crying.”

  What freaked Caleb out was when Carter did a thing where he screamed and shivered and didn’t make any noise for a second, then there was a sound that could be heard two counties away.

  “I put the casserole mom made in the fridge,” he said, putting his words into a pitch she could hear over the baby’s cries. “Obviously this isn’t a good time, so I’ll just—”

  “Don’t leave me, Caleb.” A single teardrop slid down her cheek.

  Don’t do this to me, he silently begged. He hated to see her upset. There was no question she’d been excited about having a baby, starting a family, and now she was sniffling and about to cry. Men didn’t like it when a woman cried and it made no difference that the woman in question was his sister.

  “Please. Just hold him for a minute. Maybe five. I need to brush my teeth. And my hair. Sutter will be home soon and he’ll think I’m some hideous mythical creature from Lord of the Rings.”

  “He loves you.”

  That appeared to be the wrong thing to say. Her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re saying I do look hideous.”

  “No.” He held out his hands in protest and the next thing he knew, a wiggling, screaming human a little bigger than a football was thrust into his arms. For a tired new mom, she was pretty doggone fast. “Hey!”

  “That’s what you get for confirming I look like something the cat yakked up.” On her way out of the room, she stopped in the doorway. “Speaking of that, Carter just ate and he tends to spit up. It might gross you out but it won’t kill you. Don’t forget to support his head.”

  “Wait! I don’t know how to do this.”

  “I didn’t, either. Deal with it.” And then she was gone.

  Oh, boy. The baby’s face was bright red and his skinny little legs were kicking like crazy. Caleb tried moving him gently up and down but, if anything, the kid cried harder.

  “Guess you don’t like that, huh, Carter?” He sat on the couch that faced the stone fireplace with a flat-screen TV above it. There was a baby blanket on the cushion, and logic told him Paige had put the baby there at one point. “How much more ticked off could this make you?”

  As it turned out, quite a lot. On his back on the blanket, the pitch of Carter’s cries went higher and turned more intense. “Okay, back to the drawing board.”

  Caleb slid one hand under the baby’s head and the other beneath the tiny body. Before liftoff, he made sure the vulnerable body parts were accounted for and supported.

  “Look, kid, it would be good if you could cut me some slack,” he muttered. “Let’s give this a whirl and try not to judge. I’m new at the whole uncle/nephew thing.”

  He managed to get the baby up to his shoulder, one hand on the head, the other on the butt and back. Carter sucked in a couple of shuddering breaths, then sighed. And was quiet. Caleb held his own breath, waiting for the cease-fire to be over and the wailing to resume. But the kid stayed peaceful and seemed to relax.

  Paige immediately appeared in the doorway and walked toward him. “What did you do to my baby?”

  “Beats me. I can feel him breathing.” He turned his back to her. “Is he asleep?”

  “No. His eyes are open.” She moved in front of Caleb, an expression in her eyes that was part frustration, part wonder. “How did you do that?”

  “Beats the hell out of me. Sorry, Carter. I meant to say heck.” He looked at his sister. “I guess he just wanted to be upright.”

  “You don’t think I tried that?” She shook her head. “It’s like you’re a baby whisperer.”

  “Well, I am pretty good with horses,” he said. “Not to brag or anything.”

  “So not the same thing, Caleb.” Her tone brimmed with sarcasm. Then she smiled tenderly at the sight of him holding her son. “You should have one of your own. Maybe more than one.”

  That would have made him squirm, but he didn’t want to rock the boat with Carter. “I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. It includes marriage.”

  “So what?”

  “That’s not for me.”

  She looked at him as if he had alligators coming out of his ears. “A lot of people we know are happily married. Look at me. I’m happy.” Wearily, she plopped on the sofa.

  “You don’t look happy,” he said cautiously.

  “You’re not catching me on my best day, but trust me. Having a family is all I’ve ever wanted and better than I thought possible.”

  He patted Carter’s back and paced in front of her. “Yeah, there have been a lot of weddings in Rust Creek Falls recently, but how long w
ill they last?”

  “What about Mom and Dad? They’ve been married a long time and are still like newlyweds. It’s embarrassing,” she said.

  “That was a different time.” He’d seen what a bad relationship looked like, too. Take his cousin. “Then there’s Jonah. He and Lisette knew each other since they were fifteen and it all fell apart. He hasn’t been the same since.”

  “He’s more than our cousin,” she said softly. “He was your best friend. The two of you used to be inseparable.”

  “And I lost him.” Caleb would always miss the carefree cousin he’d raised hell with. After his marriage fell apart, Jonah left Rust Creek Falls a sad, bitter and angry man. “More than once he said to me that he grieved the baby his unfaithful wife lost, but the best thing he could say about the divorce was that there were no kids who could be hurt by it.”

  “Yeah.” Paige’s gaze settled on her baby. “Still, if you want the brass ring, you might have to go around more than once on the carousel.”

  If at first you don’t succeed, get the stuffing stomped out of your heart again? No thanks, he thought.

  The baby was really relaxed and all scrunched up against him. “Is he all right?”

  “He’s sound asleep.” Paige took the baby, who squeaked and squirmed but didn’t wake. After settling him on the blanket and snugly wrapping it around him, she said, “Does Mallory Franklin know how you feel about marriage?”

  Uh-oh. “Why do you ask?”

  “Mom said that you took her to dinner in Kalispell and the two of you were stuck there overnight. And I didn’t just hear it from her. Word around town is that the two of you are getting close.”

  Closer than anyone knew, he thought. He couldn’t forget the feel of her naked in his arms or the sight of her in the shower just that morning—slick with water sliding over her breasts and a look of female satisfaction on her face that he was responsible for.

  I had no idea what I was missing.

  Words like that gave a man responsibility whether he wanted it or not.

  “Caleb?”