3 Times the Heat

by Sapphire Knight

  Wiping my face for what feels like the thousandth time, I sniff, my nose running and clogged all at once due to my unrelenting tears. “If I could go back, knowing what I do now…you’d be the first person I’d tell,” I admit with a hiccup. “I never stopped loving you for even a second.” I stare into his hazel irises, tinged with sadness. “I fought myself at every turn not to come running back to beg for your forgiveness.”

  He takes my hand in his, weaving our fingers together, staring at the connection. I wish I knew everything he’s thinking right now. Does he hate me? Can he ever forgive me?

  “My pride was hurt the most, besides my heart feeling as if it was ripped from my chest,” he mutters, using his free hand to wipe away his own tears.

  “I will always hate myself for hurting you. I thought I was giving you a future.” It sounds so stupid now. I believed I was doing the right thing, and in doing so, I ruined things for us.

  “You were my future, Shyla. I thought we’d been together long enough for you to see that. I’d never asked you to marry me if I’d felt anything less.”

  “I’ve had many years to go over it, Clyde. I know that now. I was young and so in love with you, I couldn’t see past what I’d thought was right. Over the years, I eventually realized that what I believed to be the best option wasn’t my decision to make in the first place. I hurt you and myself all because I thought I was doing what was needed. I’d sacrifice my happiness for yours in an instant.”

  Clyde’s gaze flicks back to mine, new tears escaping after hearing my last comment. His palm comes to my cheek, his thumb swiping away the wetness. His lips tremble as they near, his warm breath escaping before his lips fall to mine. The kiss is so different than any of the others we’ve shared since I’ve returned. This kiss is full of sadness, longing, forgiveness, and love. He pours himself into every stroke, showing me just how much he’s waited for us to be connected again. It’s like I’m finally home.

  Moments pass, and I cling to him like he may be torn from my grip once more, only this time I won’t let him go. There’ll never be enough time to spend with him. I feel like no matter how many kisses and caresses we have, nothing will ever make up for the time we’ve been apart. I love this man with everything that I am.

  He draws back, only leaving enough distance for his nose to softly brush mine. He stares at me with such an intensity I can feel it everywhere. His breath against my mouth utters the thing I’ve yearned to hear him declare the most. “I love you, Shyla.”

  “Oh, Clyde,” I wrench on another sob. “I-I love you…so very much. God, do I love you,” I confess and throw my arms around him. He embraces me tightly, his warmth spreading over me completely. Finally, I’m home again and in his arms where I’ve always belonged.

  “Shhh, little darlin’,” he mumbles into my hair and lays me down on his chest. His hand runs through my fair locks, his chest steadily rising as I cling to him. I decide to lay there for as long as he’ll let me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me all of this sooner. That’s the part that hurts me the most. I wish you’d have just let me in, Shyla. I would’ve helped you or forgiven you—whatever I needed to do back then to have you by my side. It’s where you’ve always belonged.”

  His fingers comb through my tresses, my eyes growing more tired with each pass. “Everything’s going to be just fine, Shyla,” he promises quietly, and I yawn.

  “But you still love me?” I bother him some more to repeat himself.

  “Yes, baby, I love you,” he mumbles, and I yawn again from the man in question not letting me have any sleep last night. “Take a nap.”

  “Nuh-uh,” I argue, already half asleep.

  His chest moves with his chuckle. “Why not?”

  “’Cause…not letting you go again…ever,” I get out before starting to doze.

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here when you wake up. Never keep anything from me again. I mean it. I couldn’t handle losing you another time. Once was hard enough for me, it changed me inside, not having you near me,” he assures, and it rouses me a bit.

  “My mom said to get pregnant, so you’ll marry me.”

  He laughs—not a chuckle or snicker, but a loud belly laugh. I love the sound, especially after the seriousness of everything I’ve just confessed to him. “Oh yeah?”

  “Yep. I didn’t know what to do, so I came to seduce you.”

  His lips fall to the top of my head, leaving a kiss behind along with amused chuckles. “You on birth control, Shy?” he asks me after a moment, and I refuse to lie to him ever again.

  “Nope.”

  He grows still at my admission, and then he’s turning me onto my belly, entering me from behind. Clearly, it was the right answer.

  I rouse after sleeping for who knows how long. The juncture between my legs aches worse than I can ever remember. I’ve had more sex since yesterday than I have in the time combined since I’d left Clyde. That’s saying a lot, and at this point, my uterus may fall out of my vagina if I try to walk anywhere. I definitely need to soak in a warm bath to help ease the discomfort.

  “Mmm.” I stretch, feeling sore muscles everywhere and heat to my side.

  Clyde’s beside me.

  My hands go into my hair next, wanting to feel it first before seeing the monstrosity in the mirror. My fingers rake through it, and my hand gets snagged. What the hell? My finger feels weird, kind of heavy. Carefully, I weave it free, and my eyes pop open as I hold my hand in front of my face.

  Tears crest. You’d think I’d be out of them by now. “Clyde,” comes out in a broken plea.

  His eyes part, a lazy smile on his lips as he meets my gaze. “Hi.” It comes out quiet.

  Taking a deep breath, I bite my bottom lip and reply, “Yes.”

  It takes a second for my reply to register with him. “Yes?” he repeats in a question.

  “Yes. One hundred times yes and the answer will always be yes!” By the time I finish, I’m nearly shouting. I leap toward him, wrapping my arms around him, propping my body up on his chest to press my lips to his. “I love you, Clyde Owens.”

  “I love you too. It doesn’t bother you I’m not down on one knee asking?”

  Shaking my head, I press another kiss to his perfect mouth. “You already did that for me. This is perfect.”

  “So…you’ll take my name?” he asks, and I know he’s trying to get around from the actual words. I’d broken those words the last time in his mind, but I’ll fix it.

  “Will I take your last name? Yes. Will I marry you? Yes. Will I be your wife? Yes. Will I stay with you forever? Yes. Will I love you for as long as I breathe? Yes. Will I have your babies and grow old with you? Yes.”

  Chuckling, he interrupts me. “Okay Shy, I get it. Thank you for making me the happiest man alive. And I mean it when I say never leave me or keep anything from me again. Once was bad enough.”

  With a smile, I reply, “It was all in a day’s work, and you’ll never be rid of me again. That I promise.” He chuckles and wraps his muscular arms around me, kissing me like we’ve never been apart, and I couldn’t wish for more. I have everything in this man.

  The South where love, family and tradition are the sugar in our tea.

  “Wait, you asked her to marry you? I thought you couldn’t stand her? You didn’t want to even cook breakfast!” Nate gapes in disbelief.

  With a shrug, I take a large gulp of red Kool-Aid. We always have a pitcher made it seems. My mom started the habit.

  He sputters on. “Don’t you think this is a little premature?”

  “I’ve known her since I was twelve years old, little brother.” I set the glass down giving him my non-answer. “She made a mistake, but I know what I want in my life.”

  “I’ve known Dallas my entire life, doesn’t mean I’m going to marry him,” he grumbles, and I scoff. If Dallas was a female and not our cousin, I’m sure it would be a different argument right now.

  “It’s already been done, Nathan; get used to
it. We’re going to get married, and she’ll be moving in here. All I asked of her is to not pull that shit again and keep stuff from me. We have to be a team.”

  He levels me with an amused grin. “I told her she’d have you by the balls. Just didn’t realize she’d be able to pull it off so damn quickly.”

  My brow wrinkles. “What are you talking about?”

  “We spoke about it all before she cooked you dinner awhile back.”

  “And?”

  It’s his turn to shrug. “She filled me in on what happened. With how much you supposedly couldn’t stand her, I knew you were still in love with her. And there wasn’t a doubt in my mind of her devotion to you. That woman would do anything for you.”

  “That so?”

  He nods.

  “Suppose you’re thrilled with being right.”

  “I am, big brother.”

  “Don’t get cocky,” I grumble, and he lets out a chuckle.

  “Come on, Clyde, don’t rob me of my satisfaction.”

  A snort leaves me as I roll my eyes. He’s still my bratty brother even as a grown-ass man. “Suppose you wouldn’t want to be my best man when the time comes, then?”

  That quiets his gloating immediately. “Seriously?”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.”

  “But, what about Tyler? You two have grown closer since he went to college and everything.”

  “I love Tyler, and I’ll always be proud of him, but Nate, that doesn’t mean I don’t love you too.”

  “But you’re not proud of me, and to ask to be by your side…”

  “Nathan, just because you didn’t become some star NFL player doesn’t mean I’m not proud of you. We’ve been through a lot over the years, and when it comes down to it, I’m proud to call you my brother.”

  He pulls me in for a brotherly hug. “I’d be honored then…truly.”

  “Good.” With a nod, I step back.

  “When will you be married?”

  Shrugging, I blow out a breath. “I’m not sure. Honestly, I’m just glad she agreed this time.”

  He nods wearing a thoughtful smile. I wonder if Shyla told him everything. He seems to understand my comment more than I’d expect him to.

  “Now, what’s going on with the property line?”

  “I found more tracks last night.”

  “You should’ve told me.”

  “You were preoccupied, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  I can’t be pissed at him; Shyla and I needed that time together. If he had come and got me, then there’s a chance things could be different between us right now.

  “I understand.”

  “You what? Wait, you aren’t pissed off?”

  “I get it.”

  “Holy shit, she really does have you by the cock hair.”

  “Jesus Christ, Nate.” My head shakes, exasperated, but I continue. “Was it one set or multiple?”

  “It looked to be at least three different sets. The hound tried to take off. I guess Gracie picked up a scent, but I didn’t want one of those dipshits shooting her for crossing onto their property.”

  “You made the right decision. If they’d have hurt her, then I’d have even more of a reason to shoot one of them.”

  “What are we going to do? They keep coming back.”

  “To be honest, I don’t know what we should do. Without being aware of their plans, it’s hard to react, you know?”

  He nods and swallows, waiting for me to come up with something. He’s a good brother, despite my irritations with him sometimes. “We can keep checking things out, but I’m a little worried since we keep missing them. The first few times I thought it was coincidence, but part of me wonders now if they’re watching us as well.”

  “I never considered that,” I concede, and his chest puffs out with my admission.

  “What do you think they want?”

  That’s a damn good question. There’s no telling what those hillbilly pricks could be after, but I intend to find out. My father had to stand up to theirs. I’m not afraid by any means to stand up to his sons if need be. They’ll learn real quick that I’m not to be pushed around if that’s their intentions.

  “I wish I knew. Do you work tonight?”

  “No, I’m off today and tomorrow.”

  “Good. Grab Dallas and you two set up down at that end of the ranch. Don’t let our cousin get piss-ass drunk and call me immediately if you spot anything amiss.”

  “Will do, brother.”

  “And, Nate?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be careful.”

  “I’m an Owens,” he calls over his shoulder on his way up the stairs. I don’t admit to him that’s what I’m afraid of. We have a bad habit of being too cocky. It’s one trait I’m not proud to admit, even though it’s the truth.

  Now that I have things worked out with Shyla, it’s time I put an end to our unwelcome visitors.

  “Oh honey, I can’t believe you’re going to be a bride!” My mother gushes happily. Ever since I shared the news, it’s been the highlight of her day.

  “I know, Momma. I’m so excited.”

  “I suppose it’s a good thing he already asked your daddy’s permission all those years ago.”

  “Wait, he did? When did that happen? I had no idea.”

  “Well, of course. You know how Mr. Owens was a real stickler for those boys having manners. Clyde came over a few weeks before he proposed to you, spoke to your father and asked for your hand, just as a real man should. I always liked that young man; his family raised those three up to be gentlemen.”

  “I can’t argue there. His parents were good people.”

  “God rest their souls,” she titters on, refilling our coffee cups.

  “Oh, Momma, I can’t stay for another cup.” Her lips turn down. Even disappointed, she’s still the picture of perfection. She’s always been the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My father was a bit rougher around the edges, but my mother made sure our entire family was presentable.

  “Well, why not, Shy? We have lots of planning to do.”

  “We can start that soon, I promise.” I haven’t even begun to think about planning the actual wedding. I’m still on cloud nine from him asking me again.

  “What about an engagement party? You shouldn’t dawdle on that, child. You need to make it known to those hussies in town that you have Clyde Owens’ ring on your finger, and he intends to wed you.” She’s so Southern in her ways, sometimes all I can do is laugh. She’d give Scarlet O’Hara a run for her money for certain.

  “Lord do I love you, Momma.” I smile and stand, taking my cup to the sink.

  She sniffs, not sure whether I meant that as a compliment or in exasperation.

  Coming back to her side, I wrap my arm around her shoulder. “How would you like to plan the engagement party?”

  Her hands clasp, and a smile tips her lips at my suggestion. I knew she’d be brimming at the opportunity to plan any bit of my life.

  “Please keep in mind, Clyde doesn’t like extravagant notions—the less fuss, the better where he’s concerned.”

  She waves me off. “Oh hush up, child. The wedding and everything around it is for the bride. He may be a man, but even he’d know that much. You just keep that handsome face of his happy and let your momma take care of this for you.”

  I press a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Shyla. Now, what are you still doing here?” Her brow raises, and my smile grows. She’s itching to get on the phone with her friends and get to planning; I know what she’s all about.

  “All right I’m going to visit Amber and tell her the news. And I have to let my boss know so he can expect me to take some time away from the office.”

  “Oh yes. I need you to start working on my grandbabies; you’re getting older—no time to waste.”

  With a snort and a roll of my eyes, I plant a second kiss on her cheek. She’s been a bit of a handful to g
row up with, but she’s been the best mom I ever could’ve wished for. “Tell Daddy I stopped through and give him a kiss for me.”

  “I will now run along.”

  Leaving her, I giggle to myself the entire way to my truck. She’s all fuss until I let her plan a party, then she’s ready to kick me out. No wonder my father had her organizing dinner parties all the time when I was growing up; it must’ve kept her out of his hair. Being the governor’s wife probably wasn’t an easy job, but she made it look like it was as stress free as baking a pie.

  I remember the sweet sixteen party she’d planned for me. I wanted something that wasn’t too flashy. I told her no pink. I was sixteen, after all, so that meant I wasn’t a little girl anymore. It was entirely the wrong thing to say to her.

  She had pure white horses clad with handsome young men dressed in pink jackets as potential suiters ride in; mind you, I was barely sixteen. In her world, you’re never too young to meet a potential husband. Anyhow, I was loaded into a white carriage with gold trim to be pulled by white horses. The party itself was outside, and everywhere you could see was tasteful baby pink and white decorations. It was beautiful, but something I would’ve loved at age six.

  I learned my lesson then not to ask for birthday parties in the future. My father was okay with it, too, since he didn’t have to shell out the money for it. My mother was disappointed but didn’t push, thankfully. My giving her free reign on my engagement party has most likely opened the floodgates of a party even I won’t be prepared for, let alone Clyde. The poor man. Thank God that he loves me. The wedding event may be for the bride, but I’ll undoubtedly have to make the honeymoon about my intended husband.

  I wanted to tell Amber about the last twenty four hours I’d spent with Clyde, but I knew if my mother found out she wasn’t informed first, it’d crush her. So, I came to see her as soon as possible. I was bursting at the seams to tell someone and show off the beautiful ring Clyde placed on my finger. It was once his grandmother’s, and I couldn’t be more taken with it or the significance. I should’ve let him place it there so many years ago. I was a damn fool for not agreeing the first time, and I was definitely not making that same mistake this time around.