The enclosure of his arms around her was warm—right. Her anger seemed to melt when Seth laid her down in the middle of the rose petal covered bed and gently kissed her. She wanted it to be real so badly she chose to ignore the warnings. Maybe he does care. Maybe it's time to just let go for a change and grab a little pleasure. After all, they were married.
She buried her face against his throat, kissing the pulse of his heartbeat. His invitation was a passionate challenge as her mind told her to resist, but her body refused.
He deepened his kisses and a response awakened deep within her soul. But from the back of her mind, a seed of doubt entered her thoughts, echoing her ex-husband’s hateful words from the past. Making love to you is like screwing a corpse. What if she couldn’t please Seth? Was Lee wrong? She had to know, once and for all. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through her as Seth continued kissing her deeply. His nearness kindled rivers of fire running through her body.
The occasional bump of his thigh brushing against her hip almost sent her over the edge. Giving herself freely to the passion of his kisses, Grace molded her body against his.
Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. “I want you.” His words were smothered on her lips as she moved her mouth against his, devouring its softness. She wanted him, too...had since the first day she saw him with his shirt off in the rain. No more thinking. She wanted to feel...to live again. She had desires and needs he could fulfill. She kissed him back with all her pent-up frustration. A burning desire, an aching need for him pulsed through her as she unbuttoned his shirt, needing to feel his bare skin against her body.
He removed her sweater and his lips seared a path down her neck and across her shoulders. His tongue sent shivers of desire racing through her when she pulled his shirt off and threw it on the floor. His hand gently outlined the circle of her breast. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra. He eased the lacy cup aside as his tongue caressed her sensitive swollen nipples, one after the other, sending shock waves through her body.
She stroked the length of his back while his lips traced a sensuous path to ecstasy. His hands began a lust-arousing exploration of her soft flesh while his body imprisoned hers in a web of growing arousal. He unfastened her slacks and pushed them down her hips, undressing her slowly, worshipfully. She helped him remove his clothes. The beauty of his naked body taunted her while her own passion pounded the blood through her veins.
He gathered her into his arms and slid one hand across her taut stomach to the swell of her hips. Pausing to kiss her, he whispered his love for her. “You’re so beautiful and I want to make you mine.” She moaned softly as his body moved to partially cover hers, taking the time to explore, to arouse, to give her pleasure.
His tormented groan was a heady invitation as she squirmed beneath him. His expert touch sent her to ever higher levels of ecstasy when he entered her. She moaned aloud with erotic pleasure. Their bodies were in exquisite harmony with one another, soaring higher, exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations.
After holding each other for what seemed like an eternity, he gently rolled to her side and gathered her in his arms. “That was the best.” She sighed in pleasant exhaustion while he cradled her against his body with tantalizing possessiveness.
Lee was wrong. She snuggled against Seth, drowned in a flood of liberation of her mind and body, slowly succumbing to the numbed sleep of the satisfied lover.
The next morning Grace reached across the bed to find it empty. Seth had already left for the day. What a night. She had never known such lovemaking. They had made love several times, each of them unable to get enough of the other. Relieved to know Lee had been wrong, she snuggled back under the covers stifling a yawn. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced at the clock.
My goodness, it was late morning. She had slept like the dead. What must Seth think of her? Where were the children? Pulling on a robe, she rushed downstairs.
“Well, good morning, sleepy head.” Cindy sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee. “Aren’t we just the picture of satisfaction?”
Cindy grinned while Grace poured herself a cup of coffee. Her inquiring look begged her to tell all. She’d always shared everything with Cindy, but what had happened between her and Seth was private, theirs. “I’m glad you’re here. Did the kids get off for the day okay?”
“Yes, Joey went with Seth and Jamie caught the school bus, complete with her Mickey Mouse lunch box. You know I’m enjoying this. It’s actually fun getting them going in the morning.”
“Thanks for taking care of the kids for me. I feel like I’m trudging through mud, can’t get anything done on time.”
“Not a problem. This job does have its perks. I get to see Travis.” Cindy rubbed the side of her coffee cup, deep in thought. “To feel like you’re knee-deep in mud is only normal with all you have going on. By the way, how did things go last night?” She raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Seth had a big smile on his face when he came down this morning.”
Grace flinched. “You set me up. You knew I didn’t want to sleep with Seth. Some friend you are, that room was like something from the Arabian Nights. With my favorite champagne, flowers and soft music playing, how could I resist him?” She smiled. “It’s your fault.”
“All right.” Cindy squealed and smacked the table with glee. “It’s about time. You’ve been lusting over that cowboy long enough.”
“Do you have to put it that way?” Grace frowned, knowing Cindy was right. She had been day-dreaming about Seth since the first day she saw him. Her heart did a flip flop in her chest at the memory. And now she was married to him.
“There’s nothing wrong with lust. It’s a good thing. You’re finally dealing with life on your terms, not letting anything being taken from you.” A smile spread across Cindy’s face. “I’m proud of you.”
“I feel wonderful. I didn’t think it was possible for a man to make me feel this way. He makes me feel alive. It was never that way with Lee.” Grace stopped. Oh, my God. I love Seth. She had to sit down.
“It wasn’t just Seth. You’ve been cloaked in the darkness waiting to step out into the sunshine and Seth was there to help you. It’s perfectly understandable after what you’ve been through. But the bottom line is...you’ve won.”
“I feel like dancing.” Grace danced around the kitchen, laughing. “My heart is full. I’m a complete woman. I never thought I would ever feel this way again.” Then she frowned as it dawned on her. “I know how I feel about him, but I don’t know where I stand with Seth. Last night was all about feeling. Proving to myself Lee was wrong, that I could enjoy making love.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I...I let myself be carried away, not thinking of the consequences.” A horrible thought struck her. “Do you think he made love to me out of pity?”
Cindy’s mouth dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding. He wouldn’t do that.”
“I don’t know.” This was too much to digest all at once. Her feelings were too raw. She’d have to think about it. Shrugging Grace glanced at the clock. “I have to take a shower and get to the hospital. No matter what’s going on between Seth and me, Nana comes first.”
“You’re wrong. Seth is a good, honest man. See how he treats you when you see him at the hospital.”
“You don’t know everything. I know you mean well, but I may have made the biggest mistake of my life.” Grace sighed deeply. “You see, by marrying me he gets half of the Cactus Rose. That’s incentive enough to consummate the marriage. I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly when it happened.”
***
Seth drove Joey out to the back forty and gestured at the vista before them. “Grace and Jamie don’t know it yet, but this is where I’m going to build our new home.” They sat side by side, there in the truck, the same place he and Grace had come to gaze at the stars. The lush valley stretched far below them, with high mountain peaks jutting against the deep blue sky on the distant horizon.
“It’s a prett
y spot.” Joey hesitated for a heartbeat, and then said, “A new home? Are you moving out?” A wild look of fear crossed the boy’s face before Joey could get it under control.
Knowing the boy was thinking he’d be left behind again, Seth said, “There’s something I need to talk to you about...man to man.” He turned toward Joey, pushing up the brim of his Stetson, getting the boy's full attention. “Right now, Grace is all tied up in knots about Nana or she’d be here with me to talk to you about this.”
Joey gazed at Seth with apprehension in his huge brown eyes as if waiting for a bomb to drop.
“Grace and I have talked about this and we would like you to come live with us—to make it permanent. Would you like that?”
In the blink of an eye, Joey scooted across the seat and was against Seth’s chest, crying, mumbling, “Yes, yes...yes.”
“There now. It’s okay.” Seth held him, showing Joey a fatherly comfort the young man had sorely missed. Joey was a good boy and Seth would be proud to be his father. This young man possessed more strength and courage than most grown men. “I want you to know I’d never try to take your father’s place, but I’ll be here for you.” Seth pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Joey.
Leaning back and wiping the moisture from his eyes, Joey stuttered, “I...I...I can’t believe it. Not to have to go anywhere else? Just stay with you all?” He sniffled into the hanky. “Is it possible?”
Seth grinned at the astonishment on the boy’s face. “That’s right. The Cactus Rose will be your home until we move here, into our own place.” He laughed. “Now, it’s only a matter of paperwork. I’m sure Nana’s friend, Ida, would be happy to help us push it through.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Joey twisted Seth’s handkerchief in his hands.
“You don’t have to say anything. We’ll take it one day at a time. Welcome to the family.” He gave Joey a hug.
Joey released Seth and sat up, gazing across the valley. “This is great. Jamie will be my little sister.” He sat up straight as if he were trying to appear older. “I’ll always watch out for her.”
“She’d like that. She’s always wanted a brother.” Seth tweaked Joey’s nose and grinned at him. You’ll be good for each other.” Seth opened the door and came around to Joey’s side of the truck. “Now, I need your help.” Joey sat there as Seth pulled a pair of crutches out of the back of the truck. The boy’s eyes grew round with fear.
“Doc Kruger says your leg is strong enough for you to try these. I thought you might want to get used to them without the womenfolk around.” He handed the crutches to Joey.
Beads of sweat popped out on Joey’s upper lip. “I’ve been practicing walking with the bars. Do you think I can do it?”
“Sure, you can, with a little work. It’s like roping a steer. If you don’t succeed the first time, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again.” Seth grinned at the boy. “Besides, it took me several times to rope my first steer. My grandpa was there to help me. And I’m here to help you.”
Joey’s hands tightened as he placed the crutches under his armpits, obviously hesitant to take the first step away from the safety of the truck.
“Let me help you.” Seth put his arm around Joey and lifted him out of the truck to a standing position, and stepped back. “You’re doing it.” Unbidden, moisture came to Seth’s eyes while he watched Joey take the first step.
“I am. I’m standing and walking. I never thought it was possible until I came to the ranch.” His mouth split into a wide grin. “Watch me take another step.”
Seth rushed to catch Joey as he lurched forward and almost fell. “I got you. Remember, it’s like the steer—it takes practice. Let me guide you to that big flat rock.”
Slowly, Joey straightened himself and with Seth’s help made it to the rock. Breathing hard at the exertion, Joey grinned. “I can do it. I can walk again.”
“You’re such a trooper. You make me proud.” They sat on the rock hugging each other for a minute, before gazing out at the valley.
“I’d like to ask your help with something else, if you’re willing.”
Joey glanced at Seth with open admiration. “Sure, anything for you.”
“As I said earlier, this is where I want to build our new home. I know you play with a lot of design web sites on the Internet and have talked about wanting to be an architect when you grow up. I want to surprise the girls and I’d like you to help me design the house, especially, yours and Jamie’s rooms.”
“Could I? Really?”
“That’s what I’d like.” He pointed toward the valley below. “I want to have this view from the family room with a whole wall of windows so we can always look out and watch the weather move in. Other than that, it’s up for grabs.”
“I can find all kinds of floor plans on the net.”
Seth could tell Joey was beside himself with excitement. “Great, you start there and we’ll compare notes with our builder.” He stood up, gazing at the site of their future home. Maybe Grace would change her mind about how she felt about him when he gave her a beautiful log home of her own.
Joey held onto his crutches and stood beside Seth. “You really didn’t tell the girls you’re going to do this?”
“Nana knows. Other than her, we’ll keep it between us men. Can you keep a secret?” Seth ruffled Joey’s hair.
“Oh, yeah, my lips are sealed. They’ll never get it out of me. Even if they torture me, I’ll never tell.”
He laughed. “Okay, good enough for me. I’d better take you back to the ranch. We have a stretch of fence we need to repair up north. Have to go out and check on it with Travis.”
“Can I keep the crutches and practice before Grace gets home from the hospital? I want to surprise her.”
“Yes, on one condition. You don’t wear yourself out.”
Joey grinned at Seth. “Deal.” They shook hands.
After helping the boy work through his problems the last few months, Seth had grown quite fond of the young man and had always wanted to adopt him. Now Grace thought it was her idea, it would work to his advantage. He knew how deeply she cared about the children. He would bind this family so tight she wouldn’t have a way out.
Besides, after last night, he knew they were meant to be together. She couldn’t let herself go like that if she didn’t care. He had the memories to hold on to. For now, he’d step back and give her space to adjust to the changes that had happened to her in the last few days. It was okay. He needed the time to build their new home. If he left her alone, she’d realize he loved her and wanted to spend his life with her and the children.
Chapter Nineteen
The days flew by, turning into weeks, keeping Grace busy with her visits to the rehabilitation center where they’d moved Nana, her writing and caring for the children. Today, when she walked into the room, Nana’s thick white hair had been washed and combed smooth and Grace was happy to see the sparkle in her eyes that had been missing.
“It’s good to see you sitting up.”
“The nurse shampooed my hair and I feel much better today. The doctor says I’ve turned a corner.”
She kissed Nana’s cheek, hoping she would be able to come home soon. “That’s wonderful news. I’d like to curl your hair for you, if you feel up to it. I’m not used to seeing it so flat.”
“I’d love it.” Nana clicked off the TV. “I hate it like this, but at least it’s clean.” She sighed, picking a ball of fuzz off the blanket. “I haven’t had it done in such a long time.”
The tone of Nana’s voice was music to Grace’s ears. The fact she cared about how she looked was a good sign. It meant she was on her way to a full recovery. “Well, I can take care of it. I'll run down and borrow one of Cindy's curling irons and style it for you.”
“Thanks, dear. Getting my hair curled would pick up my spirits.”
“Do you need anything else while I’m downtown?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She pressed the b
utton to lower the bed. “I think I’ll take a nap while you’re gone.”
"You do that." Grace leaned over and kissed Nana’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”
***
Nana smiled to herself as she watched her granddaughter leave the room. Things were working out the way she had hoped. Seth had told her the house was almost finished and with each day Grace was getting closer to the children. He loved her and was giving her time to come to the realization she really wanted to be married to him.
Grace was going to be surprised when she found out Seth had built her a new home. Nana drifted off to sleep with a warm feeling in her soul.
***
Grace walked past the reception desk, smiling at Gloria. Cindy was sweeping up her last client’s hair from around her styling chair.
Cindy glanced at Grace. “Hey, what’s up? I thought you were at the hospital.”
“I was. Nana wants her hair curled. Can I borrow a curling iron and some hairspray?”
“Sure. She must be feeling better.” Cindy waved toward an arrangement of curling irons at her styling station. “Take your pick, whatever you need. I’m going on my lunch break. Want to grab something to eat with me?”
“Sure, Nana is taking a nap so she won’t miss me.” She remembered how hectic things could get when working in the salon. Many times the stylist didn’t get a lunch break. “Where do you want to go?”
“Across the street to the pizza parlor. I only have a half hour.”
Grace hadn't been feeling too well the last couple of days and the thought of pizza made her stomach lurch, but she’d go along.
Grabbing her purse, Cindy smiled. “What’s up? You look like you have something on your mind.” They ran across the street, avoiding the light afternoon traffic.
She frowned. “Let’s order first.” Standing behind the counter staring at the pizza under glass, all of a sudden her heart was beating too fast. Everything turned hazy and she gripped the counter, willing the nausea to pass.
“We’ll take two specials. My treat.” Cindy ordered for them both as Grace slid toward the floor.
No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) Page 19