Gabe (The Buckhorn Brothers)

by Lori Foster

  “I was careful.”

  “But what if you’d stumbled like I did? How the hell would I have gotten you out of there?” Her expression softened, and she leaned forward to gently kiss his mouth.

  “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “I love you.” He hadn’t said it again since she’d had her nightmare, and now he couldn’t keep the words contained. Her eyes widened. “What?” he asked, sounding a little sarcastic. “You thought I made it up the first time? Not a chance.”

  “Oh, Gabe.” Tears welled in her eyes, and Gabe held his breath, waiting to see what she would say.

  Then Jordan appeared, and he hauled Lizzy to her feet. “I’ve been so busy trying to see to things, I haven’t even thanked you yet.”

  Jealousy speared through Gabe as he watched Jordan lift Lizzy onto her tiptoes and kiss her soundly. She blushed, but she didn’t pull away.

  “This is going to be inconvenient as hell for a few days,” Jordan said, hugging her tight, “but at least all the animals are safe.”

  Lizzy finally pulled back. She smiled and started to say, “Gabe’s the real…” but then her words tapered off and she put a hand over her mouth.

  Jordan raised a brow. “Real what? Hero? I’d say you both are. Not only did you get all twenty-three animals outside, you even managed to get my baby brother out with only a knock to his hard head. That took a lot of guts, sweetheart, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

  After Jordan walked away, Gabe took pity on Lizzy and tugged her down beside him. She was mute, her dirty face blank. Gabe kissed her ear. “How’s it feel to be a heroine? Will you add your own experiences to your thesis?”

  She blinked owlishly at him. “But I didn’t…”

  “Didn’t what?” He smoothed a long red sooty curl behind her ear. “Didn’t risk your life for those animals? Didn’t face injury without a thought? Didn’t do what had to be done almost by instinct?”

  “But…” She sucked in a deep breath. “I was so scared.”

  “For yourself?”

  She stared into his eyes, bemused. “No, not at first. I was afraid for you, and for the poor animals. But now I’m shaking with nerves.” She held out her hand to show him, and Gabe cradled it in his large hand.

  “Only a fool wouldn’t react after going through something like this. You think after that boating incident I wasn’t something of a wreck?”

  “You said you weren’t afraid.”

  “I was mad as hell at that fool for falling out of his boat. I wanted to tear something apart, and since I couldn’t get hold of him, I punched a hole in my wall, then had to repair it.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “It’s all just reaction. Anger, fear…I’ve even seen people start laughing and not be able to stop. You’re trembling. I got violent. We’re the same, sweetheart, but we’re also different. And what you did today is no less significant than what I did a year ago.”

  She seemed to consider that for a long time, and Gabe was content to hold her. Finally, without quite looking at him, she said, “I don’t want to be a coward, Gabe.”

  “You’re not.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “Have you enjoyed spending your time with me these last few weeks?”

  His heart started pounding. His palms got damp. Gabe didn’t give away his reaction when he answered, keeping his tone mild. “I told you I love you. So of course I love spending time with you.”

  She nodded slowly, then curled tighter to his side, keeping her face tucked under his chin. “How many women have you loved?”

  Wrapping a red curl around his finger, he said, “Hm. Let’s see. There’s my mother. And now Honey and Misty.”

  She punched his ribs. “No, I mean romantically.”

  “Just you, sweetheart.”

  “You’ve never told another woman that you loved her?”

  “No. Though plenty of women have told me that.”

  She was so surprised, she leaned back to glare at him. “Really?”

  Gabe flicked the end of her nose. “Really. Just not the one woman I wish would tell me.”

  She swallowed hard. Her blue eyes were round and filled with feminine daring. Gabe held his breath.

  “What would you think,” she asked slowly, “of me finishing school and coming back here to stay?”

  Afraid to move, Gabe said, “Are you considering doing that?”

  “I think, since you love me, and since I love you, it’d make sense.”

  He let his breath out in whoosh. “You little witch!” He laughed and squeezed her, then winced as his head pounded. “Why haven’t you told me before now?”

  “I wasn’t sure if I’d dreamed it or if you’d want me around forever. I wasn’t sure if I was making too much of things. I’m not very good at figuring out this whole romantic business. But I do love you. I can’t think of much besides you.”

  Going for broke, Gabe said, “You know you’ll have to marry me.” He frowned at her just to let her know he was serious. “You can’t tell a man you love him and then not marry him.”

  Her face lit up and her smile was radiant, despite the black soot on her cheeks and the end of her nose. “I have to finish out my semester first. But that won’t be too long.”

  “I can wait. I don’t want you to give up anything for me.” Then he shook his head. “I take that back. I want you to give up your guilt. And your free weekends because I’ll be coming to see you whenever you’re off school. And I most definitely want you to give up any thoughts of other men, or—”

  She touched his face. “Okay.”

  Gabe grinned so hard his head hurt. “I just love an agreeable woman.”

  EPILOGUE

  “QUIT LOOKING so disgruntled.”

  Gabe frowned at Jordan, his face red, his fists clenched. “I can’t believe you stole her right out from under my nose.”

  “She came to me willingly, Gabe. And besides, I need her.”

  “So do I!”

  Jordan shrugged indifferently. “You can get anyone to answer your damn phones, but Elizabeth has the touch. The animals love her. More than they love me, sometimes, and that’s a truth that hurts.”

  Gabe looked at his wife, all decked out in snowy white, her beautiful red hair hanging in long curls down her back. He wanted to get the damn reception over with so he could get her alone.

  “Uh, Gabe, your lust is showing.”

  Gabe considered flattening his brother, but then he saw Lizzy smile and she looked so happy, he knew he had to give in gracefully. “All right, so she can be your assistant. I guess I can hire someone else.” He had taken Sawyer’s advice and opened a shop in town. He had more business than he could handle, but he enjoyed it so he wasn’t complaining. He’d thought Lizzy would work with him, but she’d opted to sign on with Jordan, and he had to admit she had a way with animals.

  She was so special she made his heart swell just looking at her.

  “So magnanimous,” Jordan uttered dryly. “I had no idea you had these caveman tendencies.”

  “I didn’t, either, until I met Lizzy.”

  “She got a fantastic grade on her thesis. Did she tell you she’s been approached about adding it to a text?”

  Gabe scowled. “She’s my wife. Of course she told me.”

  Jordan laughed, then quickly held up both hands. “All right, all right. Quit breathing fire on me. I’m sorry I mentioned it.”

  Thank God she’d kept his name anonymous, Gabe thought, disgruntled by the instant popularity of her Mystique of Heroes. He snorted. What a stupid subject. But evidently not everyone thought so; Lizzy had received several calls from men wanting her to interview them. Gabe would have liked to hide her away somewhere, but watching her bloom was a distinct pleasure, so he put up with all the other men ogling her and tamped down his jealousy.

  After all, she’d married him.

  Jordan nudged him with his shoulder. “She’s getting ready to throw the bouquet. This always cracks me up the way the women fight o
ver it.”

  Ready to get back a little of his own, Gabe said, “I noticed all those women lining up are eyeing you like a side of beef. You’ll be next, you know.”

  Jordan shook his head, then downed the rest of his drink. “You can forget that right now. I’m rather partial to my bachelor ways.”

  “You just haven’t met the right woman yet. When you do, I bet you get knocked on your ass so quick you won’t know what hit you.”

  Jordan was ready to refute that when suddenly the women all started shouting. He and Gabe looked up to see that Lizzy had thrown the bouquet, but her aim was off. It came sailing across the room in a dramatic arch. Right toward Jordan.

  He almost dropped his drink he was so surprised, but when the flowers hit him in the chest, he managed to juggle everything, and was left standing there holding the flowers.

  Gabe laughed out loud, Lizzy covered her mouth with a hand to stifle her giggles and Jordan, seeing a gaggle of women rushing toward him, muttered, “Oh, hell.”

  Gabe looked at his wife and winked, then whispered to Jordan, “You better make a run for it.”

  And he did.

  Gabe smiled as Lizzy headed toward him, looking impish and beautiful and so sexy he decided the reception was well and truly over. He kissed her as soon as she reached him, then whispered against her lips, “That was a dirty trick to play on my brother.”

  She grinned. “I was tired of all the women here looking at you with broken hearts. It’s time for Jordan to be the sacrificial lamb.”

  Gabe shook his head with mock sympathy. “Damn, I feel sorry for him.”

  Startled, Elizabeth leaned into his side and asked, “Why?”

  Taking her by surprise, Gabe hoisted her up in his arms, which left her delicate white gown loose around her legs, giving everyone a sexy peek. Over the sound of the raucous applause from all the attending guests, Gabe whispered, “Because the prettiest, sexiest, smartest female is already taken—and I have her.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “You are a charmer, Gabe.”

  He started out of the room, holding her close to his heart. Right before he disappeared through the doorway, he looked up and saw Jordan backed against a wall, women surrounding him. Gabe shook his head.

  He wished his only single brother all the same love that he’d just found.

  The women looked determined enough to see that he got it.

  * * * * *

  Love the Buckhorn brothers? Don’t miss Lori Foster’s newest series!

  Read on for a sneak peek of the next sizzling

  Guthrie brothers book,

  WORTH THE WAIT,

  from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster!

  CHAPTER ONE

  FIVE O’CLOCK ON A Friday and Hogan Guthrie found himself smiling in anticipation as he closed the books on his work and powered down his computer. He could work from home and sometimes did, but the scope of the new client meant some coordinating with other employees. For a week now he’d spent hours at the desk for his usual nine-to-five shift, poring over past records and updating them to a better, more cohesive platform. Popping his head to the side, he released tension gathered in his neck. A glance at the clock showed he’d have time to run home, shower and change into more casual and comfortable clothes before heading to the diner.

  Friday nights at the diner usually ran late, but he didn’t mind. Hell, he was actually looking forward to it.

  Of course, he knew why.

  Violet Shaw.

  Violet with that sexy Southern drawl, her rich red hair and vivid blue eyes. And that pale, creamy skin—

  He jumped when a small, warm hand settled on his shoulder, and he looked up to see his boss, Joni Jeffers, smiling down at him.

  “You look tense,” she said, and her fingers dug into his muscles in an impromptu and very inappropriate massage. “It was a grueling week, wasn’t it?”

  Wondering, with facetious cynicism, if he should file a sexual harassment suit, Hogan said only, “Too much time reformatting numbers. I should have remembered to stretch more.”

  “I can tell you stay in shape.” Her other hand settled on him, too, and she leaned close as she kneaded his shoulders. “How’s that feel?”

  Like a blatant come-on. Not that long ago, he’d have jumped on Joni’s unspoken offer. After having his life turned upside down, he’d spent damn near a year belatedly sowing his wild oats with a single-minded vengeance. He’d been a miserable bastard, too, and had probably made others around him miserable.

  He hadn’t known Joni then. Probably a good thing since he now worked for her. He’d done a lot of stupid things lately, but he wasn’t an idiot.

  Joni was cute with her bubbly personality, curly brown hair and top-heavy figure. At the moment, he felt not only her warm breath on his ear but her lush boobs on his back.

  Yet he wasn’t even tempted. Again, he knew why.

  These days, along with feeling more content in general, he had a preoccupation with his two jobs, his seventeen-year-old son—and his unrequited lust for Violet.

  Standing—and dislodging Joni’s hands—he asked, “Ready to head out?”

  “I was thinking about grabbing a drink.” Her tongue slicked over her bottom lip in blatant suggestion. “Interested?”

  Hell no. “Sorry, I can’t. I have to get home in time to see my son before he leaves on a date.” He assumed Colt would have a date, so that wasn’t a lie.

  Her eyes, sultry a moment before, flared. “Your son?”

  “Yeah.” The mention of a kid had often proved to be effective discouragement with a certain type of woman. Apparently, Joni was that type. “Colt’s seventeen, almost eighteen now,” he added, hopefully putting the nail in the coffin of her interest.

  Straightening, Joni looked him over with suspicion. “You’re not old enough for that.”

  “I’m thirty-five and I had Colt young.” One of the few things he didn’t regret from his youth.

  “Your wife?” she asked bluntly.

  Just as blunt, he answered, “Dead.” And he wasn’t explaining beyond that. “I have to run, but it looks like Derrick is hanging around. Given the way he smiles at you I’m betting he’d love to get a drink.”

  She wrinkled her nose, but sighed as if resigned. Proving she wasn’t yet entirely dissuaded, she gave him a long look and said, “I’ll catch you next time.” Turning, she headed for Derrick, who perked up at her approach.

  * * *

  COLT WASN’T THERE when Hogan got home. Neither was Diesel, their dog, but then the dog often hung out next door when he and Colt were away.

  He checked his phone but didn’t see a message from his son. He understood that Colt, almost eighteen, wanted his independence, but one of his few rules was that he needed to give his father a call when he’d be late.

  It wasn’t until Hogan stepped out of the shower that he heard Colt coming in, Diesel with him. Drying off, Hogan opened the bathroom door and asked, “Where’ve you been?”

  “I was at Uncle Jason’s. You didn’t see my truck?”

  Relaxing, Hogan shook his head. It wasn’t only the dog that liked to visit next door. He’d bought the small house next to his brother, Jason, when Jason had married the woman who’d previously owned it.

  Diesel hurried in to get some pats and show some love, then went back to sit next to Colt. Hogan should have realized where Colt would be, but he’d been in such a rush he hadn’t been aware of anything except his anticipation.

  Insane—yet he seemed to have found his calling, and it wasn’t accounting.

  While Hogan pulled on jeans, Colt leaned in the doorway, Diesel sitting beside him. At six-three, Colt was taller than both his father and his uncle. Broad shouldered. Lean and muscular. Both Colt and Jason had dark brown eyes, whereas Hogan’s were a much lighter blue.

  Colt hadn’t inherited much from him.

  Diesel was a shepherd mix they’d rescued that had first belonged to Honor but now adored Colt. He was fond of many peop
le, but he was clearly Colt’s dog.

  “I’m coming to the diner tonight, okay?”

  “Sure.” Hogan glanced up after pulling on a polo. “A date?”

  “Maybe.” Colt smiled crookedly. “It’s a group of us, but…”

  “But?”

  While he stroked the dog’s head, he said, “A new girl joined my chemistry class today.”

  “Ah.” Hogan guessed, “Pretty?” Maybe his son had inherited something after all. Not entirely a good thing.

  “Very.” Colt grinned. “I’m hoping to win her over before anyone else does.”

  Probably wouldn’t take much effort. Once Colt had settled in after the move from Columbus to the much smaller, quaint town of Clearbrook in Ohio, the girls had been flocking to him.

  “So,” Hogan said, “is this a request that your old dad stays away, or can I meet her?”

  Looking far too serious, Colt said, “You don’t need to hide away, ever.”

  Hogan sat to pull on his boots. “If it becomes an issue—”

  “It won’t.”

  Unsure when he’d become philosophical on the issue, Hogan said, “You know, if the girl is new around here, she might need a friend more than a hot date.”

  “I’ll be both.” Colt straightened off the wall. “Gotta go. I’ve got grass-cutting jobs this weekend, so I want to finish my homework now. C’mon, Diesel.” The dog was already on his heels.

  “Be sure to cut our grass, too, before you take off.”

  With a wave, Colt headed to his incredibly messy room, so messy in fact that it kept him from being too perfect. Not that Diesel minded. He tended to sprawl on the piles of discarded clothes.

  Smiling, Hogan wondered how he’d gotten so damn lucky. Lucky, at least when it came to his son.

  He grabbed his keys and helmet, yelled a goodbye to Colt and headed out the door to his bike. The late-August evening hit his face like an open oven.

  As he rode, the sweltering air tore across his face and he loved it. Sure, he’d first gotten the bike to indulge some idea of being a rebel with a “fuck you” attitude, as if that could make up for the past year of hell. He was over that now, mostly anyway, but he still loved the bike.