by Angel Smits
The shirt she wore was high necked, but that was an illusion as the lace showed him plenty of tanned skin through its design. He slid the tiny button through the collar, then kept following the row of matching buttons downward. The heavy fabric fell apart, exposing the gentle curve of her breast and the white cotton nothingness of her bra.
It didn’t take much to move the fabric off her shoulders so that he could slide one narrow strap off her shoulder. And then the other. And then suddenly she was there in the moonlight, her shirt cast aside, the white strip of her undergarments scattered on the floor. He looked his full.
But he’d never been good at just looking. He wanted—needed—to touch her. And he did. Slowly, carefully palming the full curve of her breast and tweaking the tender nipple with his thumb.
Her sigh was pure pleasure. “Marcus,” she whispered, reaching out to pull his head down to her kiss. “You’re driving me crazy,” she whispered just before her lips took his.
Marcus had been so focused on tasting and touching her, but Addie had been doing her own exploring. The sensation of her hand slipping beneath his shirt and gliding up his bare spine shot straight through him. He couldn’t get that shirt off fast enough, needing to feel her touch everywhere.
She was happy to assist and oblige. “More,” she whispered, those magical fingers finding the button of his jeans. “Now.”
Marcus laughed and did his own finger dance down her belly. Feeling her muscles contract in reaction made him want more, too. Lowering his head, he tasted the dark, round nipple that had been taunting him since he’d first started to undress her. Her moan of pleasure sent heat straight to his groin.
He was ready for her. More than ready. But he wanted to make sure she was right there with him. He ignored her plea to show her more. He wasn’t sure how long he could hold out if there were no barriers between them.
Slowly, he undid her jeans. The thick denim was a rough contrast to the pure, soft skin he found beneath. His fingers brushed lace panties, and he felt her shiver and buck against his touch.
She reached down then and pulled off the jeans for him. “I need you closer. Much closer.” Her breath came in quick, hot pants, and he wasn’t going to deny her much longer.
Before he granted her wish to lay skin to skin with her, he made sure he grabbed the packet from his pocket. Holding one up, he grinned at her, enjoying her knowing smile in response. She plucked it from his hand and opened it for him.
He stared. He couldn’t do anything else. His entire body froze in delight and desire. Waiting.
Addie nudged his shoulder, pushing him back so that she could touch him, gently, carefully sheathing him. Marcus groaned aloud. Anyone in the rest of the house might hear, but at this point, he didn’t care, nor was he able to deny the pleasure this woman gave him.
“You amaze me,” he whispered, reaching for her and pulling her lips to his. He deepened this kiss, lengthened it to the point of forgetting where he ended and she began.
As gently as she’d touched him, he slid his hand lower, finding the spot where he ached to be. Slowly, he slid his finger along the tender fold, testing, teasing.
She was as ready as he was. Maybe more.
Carefully, he slid over her, letting his body envelop her and hold her close. He kissed her, pouring all his want and need into that single kiss. Taking all her desire inside.
“Addie, are you sure?” he whispered at the last, as he was poised to take that next step.
She nodded. “Please,” she whispered, as she lifted her legs and put gentle pressure on the small of his back. “Now!”
With a single thrust, he was inside her, moving slowly, wanting to prolong this moment. Passion took over and she was moving with him. Taking him deeper, harder, more.
Addie let herself experience it all, tasting Marcus’s kisses and the wonder of his heat inside her. She felt herself flying higher, closer to the joy she knew lay ahead. She let it overwhelm her. Throwing her head back, she pressed her breasts against the wide expanse of Marcus’s chest, increasing the pleasure, sending her higher.
Finally, she tumbled over, taking him with her. She rode it, savored it, wrapped her arms tight around him and prolonged it.
Catching her breath, she held on to Marcus’s shoulders and tried to calm her thoughts. Nothing had prepared her for that. Nothing.
His chest rose and fell in the same rhythm as hers. He looked at her. “You okay?”
She couldn’t hold back the smile. “Oh, yeah. More than okay.” Leaning up, she kissed him softly, quickly, half-afraid to do anything else yet...yet.
Marcus reluctantly rolled away, returning to pull her against his side and settle them beneath the covers. Something hitched in her chest. He planned to stay with her. Not sneak off like this was some kind of secret.
She snuggled against his shoulder, knowing, hoping that the night was still long ahead of them. She kissed his shoulder and closed her eyes, not so much to sleep as to savor the memories of tonight.
“What are you thinking about?” Marcus asked softly, pulling her tighter into his arms.
“Us. You.” Heat washed up her cheeks. “About just now.”
“Good thoughts, I hope.”
“Oh, definitely.” She looked at him. “Most definitely.” Their gazes caught, and the heat in his eyes ignited the fire in her.
His lips met hers just as a loud pounding echoed throughout the house. At first, she thought it was Wyatt or one of her other brothers at the door. Then she realized it was downstairs.
It came again, this time with the sound of hurrying footsteps in the hall.
“Wyatt? Addie?” Dutch Ferguson’s voice cut through the night.
What did the sheriff want this time of night?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BY THE TIME Wyatt had Dutch settled at the kitchen table, the entire family had come in. Everyone was there, but Addie was the one who pushed her way to the front. “Dutch.”
Dutch was the rock that this community relied on. Right now, he was broken.
“I... She just wouldn’t listen,” he whispered. He ran his hand down his weathered face. “I tried to stop her.”
“Elizabeth?”
He nodded, looking only at Addie. “She’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere.”
“We’ll find her, Dutch.” Wyatt’s voice was that of reason and determination. Addie had relied on that voice, on his broad shoulders, so many times in her life. But was he going too far? Was he promising something they couldn’t do?
Dutch looked toward the window, and Addie followed his gaze to the inky black beyond the yard lights. What was he thinking? Imagining? Remembering?
“I should have known what to do,” he whispered. “I’m trained. I know not to push her, I know to just go with her, not try to make her see reality.”
Addie put her hand on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him. “You said yourself she was upset.”
“Yeah. Something set her off. She said she saw Cal.” His voice broke. “She kept screaming at me that I was keeping him away from her.” Dutch’s shoulders shook. “I’d never do that to her.”
“We know better.” Addie tried to reassure him, but the memories of Cal hurt them all too much. The idea of Elizabeth out in the night, searching for what she’d never find, hurt.
Dutch looked defeated. “I gotta find her. I thought because we were here earlier, maybe she came back. She swore she saw him tonight.”
“I’m sorry, we haven’t seen her.” Wyatt grabbed his jacket. “But we’ll help you look for her.”
Everyone moved then. No one even thought twice about jumping into action. Dutch stared at them, wiping his eyes with his big, weathered hand.
“What if...what if she goes back home? I didn’t think of that. No one’s there.” Panic filled his voice.
“I’ll go over to yo
ur place and wait,” Emily volunteered.
“She might not recognize you.”
“Maybe. We have to take that chance. I don’t know what choice we have. I’ll call you if she shows up.”
Dutch slowly nodded and headed to his cruiser. Wyatt called the bunkhouse to get the men involved while Emily grabbed her car keys.
This was a search everyone wanted to help with.
Marcus stood at the edge of the kitchen, watching the commotion, watching the family kick into gear. Addie approached him then.
“What’s going on?” Marcus put his arms around her, letting her lean into him.
“It’s bad,” she said, holding on to him, needing someone to lean on. Needing him.
“What happened?”
“Elizabeth thought she saw Cal. I told you how she never recovered from his death. And lately, her dementia’s been getting worse. She took off this evening, and Dutch can’t find her.” Addie finally pulled away. “We’re going to help look for her.”
The sound of footsteps on the stairs broke through the night’s quiet, reminding Addie that she needed to pull herself together and get changed. Everyone would be leaving soon, and she intended to join the search. “I—”
“What can I do to help?” Marcus asked, his offer smoothing some of the rough edges of her sorrow.
“You don’t have to—”
“I know that.” He hugged her. “I want to help. When Ryan was gone those few hours.” He swallowed hard.
Addie remembered the panic in Marcus’s voice over the phone that night. Empathy for Dutch covered his face.
“Thank you.” She wanted to kiss him and go back upstairs. “Later,” she whispered before letting all the commotion engulf her.
In the yard, the men had mounted the varied ranch horses. They’d go over the hills. Wyatt and DJ sat behind the wheel of the trucks. They’d drive the roads, paved and dirt. Mandy was on her phone calling neighbors.
Elizabeth would be home by morning. Addie was confident of it.
Addie led Marcus across the ranch—to all the places people had partied, danced, ate, walked. The dance floor was deserted. The bonfire had been put out, though the circle was still warm.
“Do you really think she came back here?” Marcus asked as they headed toward the barn. The kids were still sacked out, so they were moving around quietly.
“I don’t know. She’s familiar with the ranch. With our family.”
“Because of you and Cal?”
She had to think about that answer. “Some. But she was friends with the family long before us. I remember her when I was a kid. She was fun.” She hadn’t known Cal then. Addie laughed softly with a memory. “The bonfire was her idea originally.” She kept walking. “Except back then it was over by—”
Suddenly, Addie knew where Elizabeth was. She didn’t want to know, didn’t want to even think about her there. But it was the only answer. The memories overwhelmed her. She fought to clear her mind. No. She had to focus. Had to...go there.
“Where are you going?” Marcus called after her. She heard him, but couldn’t take the time to explain. She ran. Across the lawn, down the hard-packed dirt track she hadn’t followed in years.
Her sandals slapped loud against the dirt. It was strange wearing shoes here. Barefoot was the norm back then. The sand and soon the mud oozed up between her toes. She swallowed the ache inside her throat.
Addie heard thudding steps behind her. Knowing it was Marcus. And probably Wyatt. And half the ranch. She didn’t care. If she waited, she might never get the nerve to face it again. She hadn’t managed it in fourteen years.
She heard the water rushing over its banks. So familiar and beautiful. And painful. Oh, Cal. She almost thought she heard his laughter. The call of his deep, sweet voice. The boy who’d never had the chance to grow into the man. The ghost she couldn’t manage to leave behind.
* * *
ELIZABETH STOOD ON the edge of the river. Even from here, on the bluff just a few yards away, Addie saw her eyes. Her stare was that distant blank that only a person whose mind had faded could display. Addie’s heart hurt. Sad for Dutch. For Elizabeth. Who was that with her?
The boy standing beside Elizabeth turned, and the relief that washed over his familiar face nearly tore Addie’s heart in two. “Ryan?” Addie called.
Elizabeth turned as well, her eyes suddenly coming to life. “No, you stay right here with me, young man.” The authoritative voice grated on Addie’s nerves. It was so unlike the Elizabeth she remembered.
“Elizabeth,” Addie called, slip-sliding down the side of the sandy bluff. Finally, she halted at the bottom, sand under her feet and clinging to her legs. She ignored the discomfort. “He’s not Cal.” She said it firmly, but not without an edge of her own fear.
“He’s my son.” Elizabeth bit out the words.
“No, he’s not.” Addie lifted her chin, struggling to stay calm, to stay firm. “This is Ryan.”
Elizabeth’s gaze wavered as she looked at the boy, a frown on her brow. “No. It’s...” Elizabeth stared, looking at Ryan. Then at Addie. Then Ryan again. “Addie?” she whispered. Her confusion was strong, but Addie couldn’t worry about her now. She needed to protect Ryan. Get him away. Then she’d deal with Elizabeth.
“You need to let him go home to his dad.” Addie spoke carefully, clearly. “He’s got school tomorrow.” Maybe that would help. God, she hoped so.
“No!” Elizabeth reached out and curled her hand around Ryan’s arm. “He’s... He has to stay with me.”
“No!” Ryan tried to pull his arm away from Elizabeth. “I gotta go home.” He sounded panicked.
“Ryan, just hold still,” Addie told him. All his reacting and struggling would only make Elizabeth worse. The older woman’s adrenaline had to be high.
And Addie almost understood. Elizabeth thought this was Cal. Her son. Her only child.
Addie didn’t think she’d ever let go, either. She looked at Ryan—wishing. Not now. She pushed those thoughts away.
“Elizabeth.” Addie stepped closer, trying to get the older woman to look at her, away from Ryan. “We all need to go home.” For once, she wished it would start raining. That type of clue wouldn’t be lost even on Elizabeth, but the sun was coming up, bright gold.
“Why?”
“It’s time.” She kept her answer short on purpose.
The men who’d been running behind her crested the hill just then. Addie groaned. Elizabeth looked up, startled. Her grip on Ryan tightened. “Make them go away,” she screeched.
“They won’t go away until you let go of him,” Addie told her, hating the pain that blanketed Elizabeth’s face, but knowing there was no choice.
“He’s my baby,” Elizabeth cried, and Addie didn’t have the heart to hurt her any more. Instead, she stepped even closer.
“It’s okay, Elizabeth,” she whispered. “I’m here. I’ll help you.” The vague reassurance seemed to calm the older woman.
Elizabeth’s confusion grew, and Addie had to use it to her advantage. Once Ryan was gone, she could soothe Cal’s mother.
“You need to take him with you.” Elizabeth reached out and took Addie’s hand. She put it on Ryan’s shoulder. “He likes you.”
Addie took the opportunity to get Ryan away. As they crested the hill, flashing red and blue lights cut through the night. Dutch’s cruiser came down the dirt road. He’d take care of her now.
* * *
THEY WALKED TO the house in silence. The only sounds were the breeze and the whisper of their footsteps in the dirt. Marcus had his arm around Ryan’s shoulders, and they spoke softly.
Addie didn’t have anything to say. She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep for a week. Relief stole the adrenaline that had kept her going the past couple of hours.
“Go on up to bed,” Marcus told him.
“I’ll be up in a minute.”
When Ryan turned, but didn’t leave, Addie looked over at him. The frown on his face told her something was wrong. What had Elizabeth said or done to him tonight? His face was pale and his eyes wide.
“Ryan?” She looked at Marcus. He looked as surprised as she felt that Ryan was still here. “What’s the matter?”
“I didn’t mean to cause any problems.”
She frowned. “Tonight wasn’t your fault.”
“What are you talking about, son?” Marcus walked over to the boy. “What’s the matter?”
Ryan crossed the floor and flung his arms around his father. Addie watched the pure pleasure on Marcus’s face as he returned his son’s hug.
“You know you can talk to me.” After several long minutes of silence, Marcus pulled back. “I think you need to tell us what’s going on. What happened that you aren’t telling us?”
“I’ll be right back.” Ryan turned and ran up the stairs.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Marcus asked her.
She shook her head. The long day, the long night, Elizabeth and now this—She wasn’t sure how much longer she could function.
It took several minutes before Ryan returned. He had a folded piece of paper clutched in his hand.
Instead of walking to Marcus, he stopped in front of Addie. “I...” He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. He extended the paper toward her. “Here.”
“What’s this?”
“Look.”
Slowly, she opened the much-folded and unfolded paper. “What—”
The world around her spun. Her heart pounded so hard against her ribs she thought it would knock her over. Oh, God.
Then, as if her brain kicked into gear, something else dawned on her. Slowly, too scared of what she wouldn’t see, what she would see. “Ryan...” She looked at Ryan. Then at the paper. Then back at Ryan. At the copy of an all-too-familiar birth certificate.
Marcus was behind her. When had he moved? Did it matter?
“What’s this?” He reached for the paper. His frown grew. His glare turned to her. “Someone better start explaining.” He shook the paper at her.