Rowan flushed, embarrassed, amused, a little envious of Donavan’s blatant desire. Get a room came to mind. Rowan wished like hell he could do the same. He silently prayed about his wayward, sensual thoughts. God help him, Rowan was so tempted he could hardly see straight. He had gorgeous women literally throw themselves at him in various states of undress. His body never responded. He met women of upstanding character who would make a great pastor’s wife. His heart felt nothing. They could quote scriptures from memory, make a sumptuous dinner, come from the most spiritual background – all Rowan felt was polite civility. Sawyer did things to him he never expected to feel again. He managed to get through the ceremony.
Donavan and Harper kissed so tenderly, it hurt to look at them. As the radiant bride and groom walked hand in hand down the aisle, Rowan got ambushed by the eighty year old twins, Susie Q and Penny May. They wrote a tell all blog for the good folks of Aberdeen proper. One of the old girl’s pinched his ass. He couldn’t believe it. Sawyer laughed. The musical sound warmed him. Before he could join her, Seth made his move. He glued himself to Sawyer’s side.
“Hello beautiful,” he drawled.
A tick leaped in Rowan’s jaw. He cussed under his breath.
Susie Q gasped. “What was that pastor?”
“Nothing,” he muttered.
During the photographs, Rowan came this close to smashing Seth’s face in. The other man found any excuse to touch Sawyer, on the shoulder, the hand, her back.
Rowan gritted his teeth. So far, he committed the sin of lust and jealousy in less than an hour!
The reception was no better. Seth pulled Sawyer to the dance floor before Rowan could ask her. He was all up in her personal space, teasing, flirting as they danced to Earth Wind and Fire’s Let’s Groove.
Rowan never took his eyes off the pair. The next song, a sultry love tune, played. Seth’s hands wrapped around her waist. Rowan saw a hazy shade of red in his direct line of vision.
The bride, Harper elbowed her new husband. “Oh, here we go!”
“It would be a shame if my cousin dies at my wedding,” Donavan said.
Emerson and Dylan joined them. “What does the Bible say, there’s a time to kill?” Dylan said, amused.
Rowan plowed through the dancers to get to Sawyer. “Good thing Seth’s got military training,” Dylan said, “By the look on Rowan’s face, he’s gonna need it.”
Emerson smiled secretly, “I hear wedding bells.”
Sawyer pried Seth’s hands from around her waist. “You’re not getting lucky tonight,” Sawyer said, “I’m not that kind of girl.”
Seth was about to say something when Rowan shoved him hard. Sawyer gaped. Rowan didn’t have a violent bone in his body. Seth remained in place like a block of concrete.
“If you touch her again,” Rowan hissed, “I will break every bone in your hands and shove them up your-”
“Rowan!” Sawyer said, shocked.
Seth looked as if he were though roughly enjoying the exchange. “Aw come on pastor just because you can’t get laid don’t deprive the rest of us.”
Rowan went for his throat. Seth dodged out of reach, while Sawyer pushed Rowan out of the wedding tent, to the garden courtyard beyond. He vibrated with unleashed violence. Sawyer had never seen him behave that way.
“What’s up with you?” she asked.
“How can we date,” he did air quotes, “When you let him feel you up on the dance floor?” he said through his teeth.
Sawyer planted hands on hips. “I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did,” Rowan said, seething. His green eyes threw sparks, his muscles bunched with tension and his face had a frown so fierce, she didn’t dare laugh.
“Rowan,” Sawyer said calmly. “He was only teasing, besides, I don’t want any man’s hands on me but yours.”
The tension seeped from him in rippling waves. “Really?”
That this big, gorgeous, honey sweet man could be made so vulnerable melted her heart.
“Come here,” she said.
He walked in her arms like a lost boy. He crushed her to the length of him. “Cricket,” he whispered in her hair.
She held on tight. “I’m scared too,” she confessed.
“What if we mess this up?” He voiced his fear as well as hers. “I can’t lose you.”
She closed her eyes. “You won’t, not ever.”
They stood that way for a heated moment, arms wrapped around each other. His head buried in her hair. He absently touched her curls. One coiled around his finger. “I like this,” he said, “You look good enough to eat.”
Sawyer blushed. “I’m Black Widow, you better watch out.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
He kissed her forehead tenderly. They were about to cross into uncharted territory, the point of no return. Rowan stroked her soft cheek with the back of his hand. She looked up. Their eyes locked. The green eyes she knew so well glittered in the darkness and promised wicked things. Sawyer stood on the tip of her toes. He needed no further encouragement. Rowan kissed her warm lips, sweet at first, breathlessly tender. Sawyer whispered, “Very nice, now kiss me like you mean it.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “I’m not pretending,” he said.
“Neither am I.”
He kissed her long, hot and deep. Sawyer’s knees felt weak as his head slanted above hers for a drugging, melting, wet taste of his lips and tongue. He gently bit her lower lip, his tongue plunged again, ravishing her as the sun blazed on the horizon.
Sawyer moaned as he kissed her with years of longing and passion exploding between them. Her hands sank into his ginger gold hair. She couldn’t get physically close enough. His hands trailed from her waist and cupped her sweet ass to his arousal.
Rowan suddenly let her go. His breath harsh and fast. He tried to cool his body down but he was having a heck of a time. It was the sweetest passion he’d ever known. Fine tremors went through him where her touch lingered. He wanted her so badly, it rattled him how much. He raked a hand through his hair. “Oh God Cricket, if I touch you again, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop,” he confessed.
“We can take it slow,” Sawyer said with a trace of doubt. At this rate, the passion between them burned out of control. Rowan looked at her mussed hair, flushed cheeks and swollen lips. He wanted her in his bed every night, longed to bury himself deep inside her. Sawyer licked her lips. “Oh Rowan, I want you too!”
They felt shy with each other for the first time ever. “What are we going to do?” she whispered.
A rustle in the bushes answered that question. Sawyer turned as a flash blinded her. Rowan hauled the reporter off his feet. The man dangled in the air like a puppet.
“Wow, you’re strong!” the man marveled.
“Give me the camera,” Rowan growled.
He plucked it from around the reporter’s neck and yanked out the 35mm film. Rowan let go. The man crumpled to the ground. He leaped up and backed away.
“I took a few on my cell and I emailed them to myself.”
Rowan tensed. The reporter backed out of reach. “Care to comment on the passionate scene I just witness Pastor Camden?”
Rowan’s icy glare made the other man squeak. “I’m Bob North from Celebrity Times, either I get an exclusive or these photos go live. Say bye bye to your congregation, your ministries and your reputation.”
Sawyer leaped to Rowan’s defense. No way in hell was he going to lose all he worked so hard for. His ministries literally saved thousands of lives a day through feeding programs and orphanages. He even had safe houses in several countries for victims of sex trafficking. The media would demonize Rowan. He’d be another disgraced pastor. They’d forget all the good he did and label him a moral failure.
Sawyer felt men of the cloth were held to an impossibly high standard. It was pretty hypocritical of the rest of us to judge them so harshly. Hedging his bets, the reporter turned to Sawyer
. “I can see the headlines now – Pastor Camden Resigns Fornicating with…what’s your name miss?”
“Don’t you dare speak to her or look in her direction,” Rowan said furiously.
Sawyer soothed his arm. She slipped her hand in his. “My name is Sawyer Landon, Pastor Camden’s fiancé.”
The reporter went bug eyed.
“We went to school together.”
Bob North whipped out a pad and took notes. “We’ve been friends for years but we recently re-connected.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t set a date yet.”
“By the looks of that kiss you better,” he muttered, “Am I right?”
Rowan’s hand curled into a fist at his side. His fingers relaxed when she soothed his arm.
“I hope you don’t publish those photos, you caught us in a private moment, we would appreciate your discretion.”
Bob nodded. He looked like a rollie pollie with bad hair and a face only a mama could love. His wrinkled, mis-matched clothes screamed his single status. “Okay, but if I find out this engagement is a farce-”
“It’s not.”
“Fine,” he said to Sawyer, “But I want an exclusive interview with you one on one later on.”
He gave Rowan a wide berth and handed Sawyer his card. “I know a lot of women who’ll be sorry you’re off the market pastor, congrats.”
Rowan glared at him in stony silence. “Oookay then.” The reporter gleefully got his scoop. He ran for the hotel lobby when Rowan took a threatening step.
Sawyer curled herself in his arms. Rowan held her close.
“Fiancé hmm?” He kissed her hair.
“Yes, so I can have my wicked way with you.”
Rowan’s sexy laugh made her toes curl. She smiled at him adoringly.
“You have to stop rescuing me, Cricket, I’m a big boy.”
“How big” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Why don’t you reach under the kilt and find out,” he laughed again, “I’m kidding, but one day,” he kissed her cheek, “You’re going to find out,” he kissed her other check. “Would you like that baby?”
She nodded. “I’ll take you deeper and deeper,” he whispered. “Till you scream my name.”
Sawyer closed her eyes. “Rowan,” she groaned. He dipped his head and licked and kissed the pulse at the base of her neck. He sucked soft, then hard.
Sawyer reached beneath his kilt. He had on underwear, darn it! She cupped his ass. She squeezed him to the wet heat of her and rubbed herself against him. A guttural sound escaped his throat. “Aw, you’re killing me woman.” She did another slow grind against him, “A short engagement!” Rowan groaned. It took every ounce of his self-control to step back. “Cricket, I can’t wait until you’re mine.”
Chapter 6
The wait lasted forty eight hours. Rowan and Sawyer were married by a stunned pastor friend who flew in for the blessed occasion. A smug Deena Camden sat between her children.
Caleb – who inherited his mother’s blond hair and blue eyes and her adopted daughter Felicity – who inherited her parent’s chocolate skin and stunning beauty.
Both siblings were surprised by the quick turn of events. “I didn’t even know he was thinking about that,” Caleb said.
Felicity snorted, she flipped her natural long hair. The sister locks rippled to her mid back. “It’s a little sudden but Ro’s loved her for years.”
“Hey, any girl who can quote The Star Wars Canon is a keeper.”
“You’re such a dork.”
Caleb tugged her hair playfully. “Ow!”
“Children behave,” Deena said. She flashed them both an indulgent smile. Felicity held her mother’s hand. “You’re on cloud nine.”
“I simply helped nature take its course now, all I need is for you to get married.”
Felicity rolled her big brown eyes. “I’d rather swallow nails, thanks.”
Deena squeezed her hand. “I’m going to Aberdeen for a few weeks to scout locations in Cedar Park, Georgetown and Pflugerville. I want you to come with me, I need your killer instincts.”
Felicity gaped. “Mom, I’m busy in London.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job honey, thanks to you, The Jane Austen is one of our most successful ventures. But our managers can take it from here, I need you in Aberdeen.”
Felicity made a face. “Yes ma’am.”
When Donavan McClain, Dylan Chambers and Seth McClain walked in the penthouse suite, side by side the trio made an arresting sight. Caleb nudged his mother. “Who’s the eye candy?’
Felicity turned, saw who was coming down the aisle and spun around. Her breath came hard and fast. She trembled uncontrollably and lowered herself in the seat.
“What is he doing here?” she whispered in panic.
“Who?” her mother asked.
Felicity covered her face with her hands. “Make him go away Lord.”
Seth stopped beside their row of chairs. Dressed in tailored navy, he looked devastatingly handsome.
“Felicity? Felicity Camden is that you?”
She lowered her hands but refused to meet his blistering gaze. Caleb and Deena looked between them as if to say – what’s going on?
The strained silence between Felicity and Seth was palpable. “This isn’t awkward at all,” Caleb muttered. “Hi, I’m Caleb and you are?”
“Seth McClain, Felicity’s ex-husband.”
Had Seth sprouted horns he couldn’t have shocked them more. He grinned, satisfied the damage was done and walked away.
Deena and Caleb glared. They both spoke at the same time.
“What the hell is he talking about?” Deena hissed.
“A secret husband? Do tell!” Caleb said.
Felicity bit her lip hard enough for it to bleed, grateful for the interruption of the ceremony.
Sawyer hardly recognized herself. The Vera Wang Chantilly lace wedding gown felt luxurious against her skin. Harper placed the delicate veil in her mahogany curls. Emerson clasped her own emerald bracelet on Sawyer’s wrist for something borrowed. Still frail from his treatment, Booker Landon endured the plane ride to walk his only child down the aisle.
“You okay daddy?” she asked anxiously.
He rasped, “Never been better!” He beamed with pride. His home health aide, Clinton hovered nearby. Sawyer wanted to wait until her dad was stronger to have the wedding. Booker insisted he was fit and dandy. He took the next plane out to Vegas.
“If only your mother could see you now,” he said with tear bright eyes.
“Oh daddy!” she hugged him tight.
“You are the best,” he said squeezing her, “Best daughter a man could ever have.”
Sawyer sold most of her prized possessions to help pay for his cancer treatments. The insurance company declined the lifesaving medication as experimental and medically unnecessary. Sawyer refused to let her dad die without a fight. She organized a calendar full of hunky firefighters and police officers. She raised nearly $75,000 with calendar sales alone. The hospital received an anonymous donation of $250,000, enough for his treatment. Sawyer had no idea who his wealthy guardian angel was. Her heart overflowed with gratitude. Had it not been for the mystery donor and the support of her friends, her dad wouldn’t be here today.
There were so many nights when she sat by his bedside, crying silently near his skeletal remains. His skin ashen, bloodless. His hands, thin to the bone and white at the knuckles. He asked for Rowan when death seemed imminent. He wanted prayer and peace near the end. Sawyer had never cried so much or so hard in her life. Rowan would take her in his arms and just hold her until the storm of tears subsided. He’d whisper things in her ear, words of comfort and strength.
Harper made sure she slept, threatening to knock her out if need be. Emerson militantly forced her to eat despite a total lack of appetite. Rowan kept Sawyer alive in mind, heart and spirit. He
wouldn’t give up, give in or let go.
Sawyer, Harper and Emerson had a group hug.
“This is déjà vu,” Emerson said, smiling. “I got married two weeks ago, Harper got hitched two days ago and now we’ve come full circle.” Her pixie face flushed with unshed tears. “I love you Sawyer.”
“Me too,” Harper said.
“Me three,” Booker yelled.
The women laughed. “You’re seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Harper said wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
Chapter 7
The sight of his bride nearly brought Rowan to his knees. He clenched his jaw. His breathing altered. His chest felt tight as Sawyer walked beside her dad, who looked strong, despite all he’d been through. Rowan’s green eyes glittered over her. Dear God, what did he do to deserve this girl? Sawyer took his hand. Her hazel eyes luminous.
Deena’s chin trembled with the effort not to display emotion in public. Felicity and Caleb cried openly in happiness for their brother.
Seth glared at Felicity with mockery and something she couldn’t identify. She held his searing gaze as the vows were said and done. His expression grew fierce, every inch the former Navy Seal. Felicity gulped and looked away.
Rowan held Sawyer’s chin in his hand, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly. The guests clapped as they were pronounced husband and wife.
The reception was a blur of hugs, dancing, cake and more hugs. Rowan had Sawyer laughing throughout their first dance. The father daughter dance was so emotional there wasn’t a dry eye in the penthouse suite. The dance made all the more memorable since neither Sawyer or Booker thought he would live to see it. The silky voice of Luther Vandross Dance with My Father surrounded them. Sawyer and her dad embraced long after the song ended. In a poignant moment, Rowan joined them, holding his bride and his father in law close.
“Please,” Booker whispered tearfully, “Please take care of my little girl.”
Rowan swallowed convulsively, “I will.”
They walked Booker to his suite. Clinton took over his care and bid them congratulations. Rowan and Sawyer walked with their arms around each other’s waist. Sawyer never imagined such happiness.
Where There's Smoke: A Texas Heat Novel Page 3