“I’m just surprised. You should have called and I could have met you at the airport.”
“I’d forgotten how far out into the country I’d have to drive.” She swept through the door and kissed April on the cheek. “Don’t look so shocked, dear. If you call and leave me a message telling me you’re pregnant, aren’t I expected to come and check on you?”
April wanted to ask about all of the other times she’d needed her mother and she never came, but decided not to open an assortment of problems. “Well, I’m glad you came.”
“So, when shall we start planning the wedding?”
“The wedding?” April felt her stomach drop to her feet.
“Yes, dear. You did say the father of the unborn asked for your hand in marriage.”
Brain cells popped. “I—well—yes, he did ask. ” Vomit burned the back of her throat. “Mother, how long do you plan to stay?”
“As long as it takes.” Anneta pulled her scarf loose from around her neck.
“That’s vague.”
“Well, dear, did you think I’d miss my only child getting married?” Her mother peeked into the living room. “I see not much has changed around this place.” April caught the wrinkling of her mother’s nose. “Anyway, I need coffee. Do you have some?”
“I just got up, but in the kitchen…I have your favorite. Would you like to go and make a pot while I get dressed?” April edged her way to the staircase. Seeing her mother’s hesitation, April asked, “You do remember where the kitchen is, right?”
Anneta huffed. “I’m sure I won’t get lost.”
Would she remember how to make coffee? Her mother had never spent much time in the kitchen. Raised in a wealthy family, she’d always had cooks and housekeepers who did the day-to-day duties. When Anneta had met April’s father, Danny, a country boy from Texas, she’d heard her mother couldn’t take living in the small town and insisted they travel, using her grandparents’ inheritance, of course. They never came back. Danny had worked himself up the ladder at her family’s oil business, and combined with Anneta’s bottomless inheritance, they’d lived a life of luxury. Thankfully, growing up, April had her grandfather who’d helped her stay grounded with things that were important, things money couldn’t buy. Somehow, she’d lost her way and had forgotten all of his life lessons.
April hurried up the stairs, taking two at a time and ran down the hallway. Once inside the bedroom, she closed the door and took a moment to catch her breath. Dante still slept. Naked and stretched across the bed, the white sheet barely covered his tight bottom. Knowing her mother was downstairs dampened any desire.
“Dante, wake up,” she whispered. He moaned. “Wake up.” She gave his shoulder a shake. One eye opened.
“What is it?” He pushed himself onto an elbow as he blinked against the sun streaming in through the window. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not.”
He quickly sat up. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?”
She shook her head. “No. My mother is downstairs.”
He blinked. “Good. I’d love to meet her.”
His morning woody bobbed and April swallowed as she grabbed the sheet and covered him. “You can’t.”
“I can’t?” Confusion made his eyes slant.
“Not right now. She’s come to help plan our wedding. And I don’t want her to meet you like this.” She paced the floor as anxiety trickled through her spine.
“Hold up, sweetheart. Planning a wedding? Our wedding? You didn’t tell her?”
Stopping mid-stride, she looked at him. “No, I didn’t tell her that you and I are married already.”
“Okay, well, go and tell her now. Better yet, let me get dressed and I’ll be by your side when you break the news.” He stood up and the sheet dropped to his feet. His erection aimed at the ceiling.
“Not with that you won’t.” She pointed.
He picked up the sheet and secured it around his hips. A smooth grin curved his lips. “Don’t act so shy, sweetheart, especially after what we shared last night.”
“Did you not hear? My mother is downstairs.” She forced the words through tight lips.
“And I doubt she can see through the walls. Why are you freaking out?”
April inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “I’m a little shocked that she showed up unannounced—”
“She’s family and family is welcome any time.”
She looked at him through the veil of her lashes. “And, she wants to plan a wedding. How can I tell her that we got married in front of a justice of the peace?”
He shrugged and scratched his two-day-old beard. “You said you didn’t want a big wedding.”
“I know and I meant it.”
“Then why don’t you tell her a wedding isn’t needed?”
“You’re not following, are you?” she snapped.
“No, not in the slightest.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
April started pacing again. The movement helped her think clearer. “I haven’t seen her in a long time and poof, she shows up here. If I’d thought, for a second, that she’d want to help me plan a ceremony I’d have jumped at the opportunity.”
“Because you’ve always craved her attention.”
She came to a screeching halt. “I guess so. And I can’t bear to tell her that it’s too late. She’ll probably catch the next plane out.”
He got up and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You’re not alone. We’ll tell her together and I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“No she won’t.” She gave him a gentle push. “You’ve got to get dress and sneak out.”
Chuckling, his humor vanished at the narrowing of her gaze. “You’re serious?”
“Very.”
“Oh shit, April. We’ve only been married for two days and you’re already kicking me out?” he growled.
“I’m not kicking you out, honey.” She palmed his cheek.
“Then what are you doing?”
“We’re going to let my mother have her wedding.” Dropping her hand, she went to the dresser and pulled out a bra and panties.
“Sure, we can do the whole glitz thing, if it makes you happy.”
“I’m glad you understand.” She turned and gave him her sweetest smile. “And we’ll get the entire planning done fast so then you can come back home and sleep with me again.”
“Okay, I—what?” His tan disappeared.
“Well, you and I can’t be living together if we’re not married.” She slipped on her panties then swept past him to the closet and looked through her clothes.
“But we are hitched.”
“She doesn’t know that.” Sliding into shorts, she pulled off his shirt and placed it on the bed. “Since you haven’t moved your things in here yet, we’re not officially living together.”
“Damn, April, we are adults. I don’t like this one bit.” She tossed him his discarded jeans.
“Am I worth a few more months of waiting?” Her stomach twisted.
“Sweetheart, I’d wait a lifetime, but I’d like to think the waiting is over,” he said.
“Please, Dante. I know you don’t understand and I’m sorry, but let me have this with my mother. She’s never reached out like this before.”
He hesitated and then his jaw slacked. “Okay.” He practically tore into his jeans and shirt.
“We have to hurry. She’s in the kitchen making coffee.” Grabbing his hand, she pulled him toward the door.
“How long does it take to make coffee?”
“For my mother, a long time.”
“I need my boots,” he said. She found them beside the bed and handed them to him. “And my hat.” She snatched it from the chair and laid it against his chest.
“By the way, last night was amazing. You’re amazing.” Standing on tiptoes, she kissed him on the mouth.
“I’d feel flattered if you weren’t telling me this then throwing me out.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, claiming her mouth fo
r a long, passionate kiss. Lifting his head, he held her gaze. “This isn’t what I’d planned for this morning. I was hoping we’d try out that fantasy, you know, the one where you and I are in the shower?”
Overcome with a need to rip his clothes off his body, she pulled her thoughts back on track. “There will be plenty of time. I promise.” As quietly as possible, she opened the door and peeked out. “Okay, it’s clear.”
“You seem pretty good at this. How many other boys have you snuck out of the house?” he whispered.
“Shhh!”
They slowly made their way down the stairs and just as soon as they touched the bottom step, the wood creaked. April stiffened.
“April, what took you so long?” Anneta called from the kitchen. “I need help in here.”
Turning to Dante, April mouthed, “Hurry!” She pointed at the door as she rushed toward the kitchen. Before she crossed the threshold, she turned and watched him leave. Her chest ached and an unexplainable loneliness filled her. They were on their honeymoon, and they shouldn’t be apart. Taking a step in the direction where he’d disappeared, she felt a tug on her arm.
“What are you doing? I can’t get this crazy coffee machine to work.” Anneta shook her head in frustration.
“I’m coming.”
****
Dante stepped out onto the porch and dropped his boots. “If this ain’t a bunch of bull!” He tugged on his boots and sighed. “Some honeymoon.”
He stomped around to the back of the house, grumbling. Almost to his truck, he reached into his front pocket for his keys and came up empty. “Shit!” He guessed they’d fallen out when he took them off last night.
Raking a hand over his gritty eyes, he turned and headed back to the porch. He couldn’t knock and simply ask that April return his keys from her bedroom floor. That’d ruin things for his wife, and that wasn’t going to happen. He wanted her content and if planning a wedding with Anneta brought a smile to April’s face, then he’d be happy—well, slightly happy. Being away from her would suck.
Sticking his head close to the door, he listened. He couldn’t hear anything.
He guessed they were still in the kitchen. The strong smell of brewing coffee floated through the open window and teased his caffeine-deprived blood. He had no choice but to sneak back in and grab his keys.
Opening the front door, he was relieved the old wood didn’t squeak. The house was quiet as he stepped into the foyer. Almost to the staircase, he finally started breathing again.
“Dante? Is that you?”
Busted!
His blood ran cold. Damn, he was never any good at sneaking. He looked over his shoulder at Anneta who was watching him with a curious glare. He searched his brain for an excuse, any one at all, but his brain shut down.
“I’m glad you stopped by this morning. You and I should get to know each other better.”
Removing his hat, he held it against his chest. “Yeah, I dropped by out of the blue.” Oh, double damn!
“Mom, who are you talking to?” April swept out from the kitchen, mug halfway to her mouth. When she saw Dante, she jerked and coffee splashed over the rim. “Dante! What are you doing?”
“I-I…” What could he say? Better to remain quiet.
Anneta’s gaze narrowed. “I was getting my planner from my purse and I caught him sneaking in.”
He laughed but April’s cold stare shriveled his insides. He should start talking. “I just thought I’d come by. I was up early.” Dante pulled his head from his ass. “That coffee smells great.”
“Come in, have a cup with us. I’ve come to discuss the wedding and we need your input too.”
His gut clenched as he saw April’s eyes widen. “I find your confidence in my opinion flattering, but I’d probably only be in the way. I’ll grab a cup of coffee over at Brooke Creek.” He started to turn but his mother-in-law pulled him back.
“Not at all.” Anneta ticked her arm around his elbow and led him to the kitchen. “It seems you and my daughter are in a predicament. I was just telling April that we shouldn’t be in any hurry to have a ceremony. We could even wait until after the baby is born.”
He shot April a look over Anneta’s head. “That’s months away.”
April stepped forward. “Mom, I have a suggestion. I’d like to have the wedding as soon as possible. I’d like to be Dante’s wife before the baby comes.”
Anneta tapped her chin in thought. “I guess you’re right, dear. I just don’t know how we’ll get everything done in such a short amount of time.”
“Oh, mom, you’re being silly. We all know you could plan an extravagant party in a week if needed.”
With a batting of lashes and a sweep of her finely manicured hand across designer blouse, she said, “I have hosted many wonderful cocktail parties. Never a wedding though.”
“This won’t be hard for you, I’m sure. A woman like you with such classy taste, you’ll whip up something amazing,” Dante said, adding his own sweet talk.
“Well then, sooner the better. We’d hate for you to get cold feet, Dante,” Anneta curved one thin brow. “Will that be a problem?”
“Not in a million years.” He popped his gaze back to April who was smiling. His heart filled with love. He realized he’d do just about anything for her, including this ludicrous scheme to keep her mother in the dark.
“Good. We’ll schedule it soon.” Anneta already had her planner open and was sifting through dates.
Dante forced a smile on his lips. “I’m available any time.”
April hooked his arm and practically dragged him into the hall. “I’ve got to talk to Dante. We’ll be back, mom.”
“Don’t take too long. We have to settle on a date.”
Once they were out of her mother’s earshot, she grilled him with a narrowed gaze. “What are you doing?”
“I need my keys. I tried sneaking back in but how the hell was I supposed to know that she was watching?”
She blew out a long breath. “Okay. I’ll go upstairs and find them, but don’t say anything to her. You can’t lie.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I know you hate this.”
“I’ll have to go back to the ranch when I should be here with you.”
“It’s not that long. It’ll go by quickly and then you’ll be here every day and every night for the rest of our lives.” She entwined her fingers with his.
He couldn’t be angry, not with her. How had he become a pushover?
Chapter Nineteen
“WAIT, LET ME get this straight.” Deckland latched the stall then turned to Dante with a look of pure confusion. “You moved in with your wife only to move out days later because you two need to have a wedding, which you already had…and I know because I was a witness.”
“It wasn’t a wedding.” Dante picked up a bale of hay and laid it on top of the stack. Sweat dripped from his forehead. “She wants to do something special with her mom, and it just so happens it’s planning a wedding.” He realized he hadn’t lost any of the irritation from his tone.
“Couldn’t they just have a day of shopping? Maybe a day at the spa?”
Taking off his gloves, he tossed them on the worktable in the corner. “It’s only two months. It’ll go by quick.”
“In the meantime I have to deal with your cranky ass? Lucky me.” Deckland chuckled.
“Give me a break. I have every reason to be a dick. I miss my wife.” He slammed his hand through his hair.
“Poor you.” Deckland headed to the door. “I’ve got to run into town and grab some things. How about some beer, steaks on the grill and ESPN later?”
“Sounds like a plan.” He’d rather be with April. She’d been busy with her mother since he’d left yesterday.
Up at the house, he went straight for the shower. He hadn’t worked this hard in a while and his stinky pits and dirt stained body was proof of all he’d done.
Starting the shower to scorching hot, he pulled off his s
weat-soaked clothes and climbed into the spray. The water hitting his back helped ease the tight muscles. He closed his eyes and braced himself against the ceramic wall, letting the heat penetrate deep.
A rustling sound brought his chin up. A smile spread his lips. “Am I dreaming?”
April skipped her gaze over his body. “Nice to see you too.” With a wriggling of brows and a mischievous grin, she pulled the curtain open. He lost all logical thought as he slid his attention over her naked curves. “I couldn’t wait another second to see my cowboy.”
“Phewy, woman! You sure do know how to make an entrance.” He turned and gave her room to join him. He was already bone hard and aching to wrap his arms around her.
Bending her head back, the water streamed over her, turning her hair to a silken waterfall. “This feels so good.”
“Did you just come to use my shower?”
Her gaze turned emerald as her bottom lip puckered ever so slightly. “I was waiting in your bed, but since you made this your first pit stop, I had no choice but to join you.”
He could no longer keep his hands off her. Threading his fingers through her hair, he brought his mouth to hers. She tasted like heaven and he could never get enough. “How’d you get away from your mom?” he murmured against her lips.
“She had a hair appointment. I told her I had things to—someone to do.” Her chuckle seeped through his skin and lit his blood with fire. With hands to his chest, she gave him a slight push and his back pressed against the cold tiles. “And don’t think I’m joking. I need me some cowboy.”
If he wasn’t standing in a stream of water she’d see him sweating bullets. She sent sweltering heat tearing through his veins. “I’m yours for the taking.” Wasting no time, she grabbed his cock and pumped until tingles caressed his flesh. With the other hand, she cupped his balls, squeezing ever so gently, rolling them around her palm like dice. He walked his fingers down her slight rounded stomach, further to the apex of her thighs and slid his finger through the warm slit. “Nice and juicy.”
“You’re all I’ve thought about since you left yesterday. How the hell can I survive without you for the next few months? I shall shrivel up and disappear.” She nibbled his neck, his collarbone then his nipples.
Second Song Cowboy (Second Chance) Page 14