by Mari Carr
Instead, she searched for Liam. She caught only the briefest glimpse of him before the crowd stood and blocked him from her line of sight. Obviously, Sienna had come into view. She kept looking for him as she traversed the aisle, her heart racing when she finally spotted him in his tuxedo.
He’d never looked more handsome. She smiled at him and he returned the gesture, his gaze holding hers as she stepped to the front, then took her place to the side of the altar. She drank in every gorgeous inch of him.
Even as Sienna reached out for Daniel’s hand, Jade and Liam didn’t break the connection, neither of them able to look away.
She listened as Sienna said her vows, told Daniel all the things he meant to her. It was as if her cousin had peeked into Jade’s heart and stolen the words. For the first time in her life, she truly understood what all the fuss about love was.
It was overwhelming, powerful. Amazing.
As she looked at Liam’s beloved face, she recalled what her father had said. Understood why Liam was different, special. Unlike other men who had sought to change her, to break her spirit, Liam let her be herself while keeping her safe, protected.
She’d started this summer full of a white-hot anger she feared would consume her in flames.
Liam found a way to tame the fire. He never sought to extinguish it or snuff it out. Instead, he controlled the burn, made it rage in beautiful ways.
Once the I Do’s were spoken and the kiss exchanged, Jade’s mom began playing once more—the wedding party’s cue to walk back down the aisle. Sienna and Daniel led the line as the crowd clapped and cheered. Wyatt stepped forward to usher Hope out, while Clayton claimed Sterling. Liam walked over and offered his arm.
“You ready?”
While she knew he only meant to ask if she was ready to go to the reception, her answer meant something else entirely. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”
He gave her a funny look, but in typical Liam fashion, he rolled with it, escorting her down the makeshift aisle and toward the large tent where dinner would be served. The Whitacre brothers were set up and playing a slow, country song. They’d likely keep the music soft until after the meal, when they’d speed up the pace and keep everyone on the floor, dancing until the wee hours.
Liam led her to her seat at the head table, then claimed the chair next to her. He’d intended to give her space today, much as he had last night, but something about her demeanor gave him hope. She wasn’t avoiding him, wasn’t trying to keep as much distance between them as humanly possible. Seeing her last night, watching her try to steer clear of him had hurt. Badly.
He’d left the rehearsal and polished off three stiff bourbons before falling into bed. He’d woken up this morning with a killer headache and a sinking feeling in his stomach that told him Jade was going to give him the brush-off once and for all today.
Then he’d seen her, walking down the aisle in her pretty sky blue dress, her eyes bright, her smile genuine and the pain went away.
“You look incredible.”
She smiled at him. “So do you.”
“Jade, I—”
“Liam—”
They laughed when they both started talking at the same time.
Liam toyed with the stem of his wineglass. “Let me go first?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
She frowned. “Why? I’m the one who left.”
“You were right when you said I lied to you. I never intended for this to be a summer fling. I misled you even though I knew how much you wanted to protect our friendship. I’ve spent the last week going over all the ways I fucked this up. I did everything wrong, Jade.”
“No.” She shook her head, tried to say more, but Liam continued to explain, needed her to understand how bad he felt.
“I tried to trick you into giving more than you were comfortable with. You were upfront right from the beginning. About all of it. And if friendship is all you’re able to offer, then that’s what I want. I’ll accept that and live with it. Because I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
Jade wiped away a tear as she glanced around the room. Folks were milling around, congratulating the bride and groom, looking for their seats at the tables. “Can we go somewhere else for a minute?”
He nodded. They’d serve dinner before introducing the wedding party and kicking off the dancing. Liam steeled himself for the worst as he took her hand and led her away from the tent. Jade prodded him on until they reached the large front porch, leaving the noise of the crowd and the music on the other side of the house.
“You weren’t wrong, Liam. I was.”
He started to argue, but Jade cut him off. “You offered me everything—your trust, amazing sex…and your heart. I’m the one who should be saying I’m sorry, the one who should be on my knees begging for forgiveness. I was a coward and an idiot, making excuses. I’ve spent most of my life running from this, from love and happiness. And I don’t even know why.”
“It’s okay.” He grasped her hands in his, hard-pressed to stop the smile her words evoked. “I don’t want an apology from you, Jade.”
She tilted her head. “Well, I don’t want one from you either.”
Her tone told him she was actually ready to fight him. He laughed. “So I guess it’s safe to say the fling is over?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’d like to drop the time limit, make this relationship a little more permanent. If you’re okay with that?”
Liam studied her face, searching for any lingering doubts. What he saw took his breath away. She was finished fighting against this. She was all-in.
“I love you, Liam.”
Those words were the greatest gift he’d ever received. “I love you too, Jade Compton.”
He bent down and kissed her. After a week without her, thinking he’d lost her for good, Liam struggled to keep it light. He longed to drag her away from the party, to sneak away to his place where he’d keep her in his bed for the next six dozen years or so.
Jade groaned when he pulled away. “Ugh. We have to go back, don’t we?”
“I’m afraid so. Come on, kiddo. You and I have never danced together. I like the idea of taking a spin on the floor with you.”
“I can’t dance.”
He lifted her arm and twirled her once. “I’ll teach you.”
Jade laughed and started to follow him, then tugged on his hand just as they reached the backyard once more. Her eyes betrayed her surprise at how quickly and easily they’d mended the fence. Doubt crept in. “Can I come home?”
He’d never heard a sweeter request in his life. She considered Circle H her home. He nodded. “God, yes.”
“Can I quit my job at Compass for good and work with you training the cattle?”
“Absolutely.”
Jade gave him a mischievous grin. “Can I buy Spurs?”
He chuckled. “If you want to.”
“Can I ride Fearless?”
Liam cupped her face, drawing her nearer. “Never. Not in million years.”
She laughed. “Fine. Can I ride you?”
Liam groaned as his cock went from soft to fully erect in record time. “Dammit, Jade. You realize we’ve still got at least four more hours to endure with your entire family and most of the town. How the hell am I supposed to do that with a hard-on?”
Jade stroked his dick through his trousers. “Revenge is a bitch.” Then she walked toward the tent, laughing.
Fearless looked up from the grass he was munching on as she approached. He appraised her with cold, black eyes for only a moment before dismissing her and returning to his breakfast.
She watched him for a few minutes, then took in her surroundings. For years, the house she’d shared with her parents had been her home. Then, after high school, she’d moved to Compass Ranch, making it the place she kicked up her feet after a long night tending bar. Now, somewhere in the past couple of months, Circle H had staked its claim, made her a part of its land. She could see
herself spending the rest of her life here. Working with the animals, raising a family, spending night after night in Liam’s bed, his arms. Rather than frighten her, the idea felt right.
A roll of thunder sounded in the distance. Jade took in a long, deep breath. The air was definitely cooler than it had been all summer. Rather than dry and humid, it actually smelled damp. Maybe they would see a break in the drought, receive some welcome rain.
She glanced over her shoulder when she heard footsteps behind her.
Liam walked up to her, tucking his hands in his back pockets. “I was a little worried when I woke up in an empty bed. Thought maybe you’d reconsidered.”
She shook her head. “I’m finished with second-guessing everything. I meant what I said last night on the porch, Liam. I love you.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I’m not going to get sick of hearing that any time soon. What the hell are you wearing? My T-shirt?”
She nodded. “Yep. We came here straight from the reception. I thought my bridesmaid dress might be a bit too formal for breakfast. Besides, you gave the hands the day off, so it’s not like anyone will see me.”
“Had to give them the holiday. They were all drunk as skunks last night.”
She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Both of them were floating on a cloud, lost in that wondrous place where the newness of pleasure and lust and love came together in perfect harmony. “How long do you think this feeling will last before life returns to normal?”
Liam laughed. “Knowing you and me? I give it until noon, then we’ll likely be snapping at each other over some stupid thing.”
She hugged him tightly. “Yeah. You’re probably right. So I guess I should do this now while we’re still getting along.”
She took a step away from Liam, grinning at the confusion on his face when she knelt before him. He glanced around the yard. “Um, Jade. Despite the fact they’re probably sleeping off their hangovers, you do realize there are still at least a half dozen hands who could walk by here any second, right?”
She laughed. “God, you’re a horny bastard. Not everything has to do with sex, cowboy.”
He tilted his head as she watched the light go on. “I stand corrected. Carry on.”
She grasped his hand and kissed it. “I know you’ve been down this road before, that the concept of getting engaged, of planning to spend a lifetime with someone isn’t exactly new to you. And I hope you realize I know what Celia meant to you and I don’t want to replace her or make you forget her. She was an important part of your past and she played a big role in making you the man you are today. I’m grateful for that. For her. But I’m hoping that maybe you’ll consider marrying me.”
A raindrop fell, sliding along her upturned face. He squeezed her hand and started to pull her to her feet. “Jade.”
She tugged back, refusing to rise, as more rain fell. “I know I’m a pain in the ass, Liam. I’m loud, abrasive. My laugh borders on downright obnoxious. I have a terrible temper and I’m not exactly good at thinking before I act.”
Liam chuckled. “Damn. Why the hell am I with you again?”
She gave him a dirty look for teasing her when she was trying to be serious. The rain started to fall harder. “You done?”
He nodded. “Keep going.”
“But despite all those flaws, I’m hoping you’ll remember that I love you. You’re my best friend. You make me laugh, you make me a better person. I’m stronger with you. And happy. And I want to be able to give you all those things too.”
“You do, Jade. All that and more. I love you so much it hurts.”
She wiped the rain out of her eyes, grateful for it as it hid her tears.
This time when Liam tried to tug her up, she let him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as the sky opened up, washing away all the heat, dust and dirt, offering instead something that was clean and crisp, cool and refreshing.
Jade broke the connection of their lips first. “You didn’t let me finish.”
Liam wiped a wet strand of hair away from her face. “Say it.”
“Will you marry me?”
He nodded. “There’s nothing I want to do more.”
She laughed as he pushed her against the fence, his lips taking hers roughly, hungrily. They kissed as if their lives depended on it. It was beautiful, sensuous. Then Liam raised the bar, his hands slipping under her drenched T-shirt, discovering her secret.
“Jade.”
“Hmmm,” she hummed as she ran her lips along his neck, his throat.
“Where are your panties?”
“You ripped them off me last night, remember?”
Liam didn’t respond. Instead, he ran his fingers along her sex, stroking her clit until she was gasping for breath. Then he reached for the button of his jeans.
“What about the hands?”
“I figure none of them will be able to pull themselves out of bed until this afternoon. Besides, who’s going to go out for a walk in this weather? I want you, Jade.”
She slid his zipper down, reaching inside to free his hard cock from the denim. “Prove it,” she dared him.
Liam lifted her, using the fence at her back for support as he slid inside her. Jade gasped with pleasure, wrapping her legs around his waist.
His thrusts drove her to the brink quickly.
“Love you,” she said as his hands gripped her ass tighter.
The rain continued to fall on them as Liam pressed inside her, filling her body and her heart.
The summer may be ending, but her life was only just beginning.
Epilogue
Sterling propped her feet up on the railing of the small porch of her cabin and watched a bright red leaf fall from the tree in the front yard. Jade had moved out a couple weeks earlier and since then, Sterling had struggled to adjust to life alone. All of her cousins had figured their futures out, found the men who understood them, completed them, made them happy.
Meanwhile, here she sat, watching summer give way to autumn. While the artist in her adored the changing landscape, the bright, vivid colors of the season, she realized she’d spent too much time lately observing and not enough living.
She’d always been able to go with the flow, to follow her heart, but those abilities didn’t help her now as she longed for companionship, romance, God…something more than countless hours in a quiet cabin with nothing but her jewelry designs to fill her days.
When she’d complained about her loneliness, Vivi told her love came in its own season, that Sterling would simply have to be patient.
Then Vivi promised Sterling that when she fell in love, she would fall slowly, softly, and it would be beautiful. Sterling had appreciated the sentiment, but right now, she’d settle for going down fast and hard.
Anything.
Another leaf fell. Autumn was here. It was a magical time of year.
She closed her eyes and made a wish. Then she looked around her once more as another leaf fell. It floated on a breeze for several moments before landing gently at her feet.
Magic.
About the Authors
Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr met at a writing conference in June 2009 and instantly became archenemies. Two authors couldn’t be more opposite. Mari, when free of her librarian-by-day alter ego, enjoys a drink or two or…more. Jayne, allergic to alcohol, lost huge sections of her financial-analyst mind to an epic explosion resulting from Mari gloating about her hatred of math. To top it off, they both had works in progress with similar titles and their heroes shared a name. One of them would have to go.
The battle between them for dominance was a bloody, but short one, when they realized they’d be better off combining their forces for good (or smut). With the ink dry on the peace treaty, they emerged as good friends, who have a remarkable amount in common despite their differences, and their writing partnership has flourished. Except for the time Mari attempted to poison Jayne with a bottle of Patrón. Accident or retaliation? You de
cide.
Jayne and Mari can be found troublemaking on their Yahoo loop at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heat_Wave_Readers/join.
You can follow their book-loving insanity on Twitter or Facebook or send them a personal note at [email protected] or [email protected].
Look for these titles by Mari Carr
Now Available:
Because of You
Because You Love Me
Because It’s True
Black & White
Erotic Research
Tequila Truth
Rough Cut
Happy Hour
Power Play
Slam Dunk
Compass Brothers
(Written with Jayne Rylon)
Northern Exposure
Southern Comfort
Eastern Ambitions
Western Ties
Second Chances
Fix You
Full Moon
Status Update
Compass Girls
(Written with Jayne Rylon)
Winter’s Thaw
Hope Springs
Print Collections
Learning Curves
Dangerous Curves
Love’s Compass
Wicked Curves
Just Because
Coming Soon:
Second Chances
The Back-Up Plan
Compass Girls
(Written with Jayne Rylon)
Falling Softly
Look for these titles by Jayne Rylon
Now Available:
Nice and Naughty
Where There’s Smoke
Men In Blue
Night is Darkest
Razor’s Edge
Mistress’s Master
Spread Your Wings
Powertools
Kate’s Crew
Morgan’s Surprise
Kayla’s Gifts