by Marie Force
“He looked like he’d been drinking for days.”
“I wondered why he hadn’t called to see Ashleigh in a while. For all his faults, that’s not like him.”
Maddie’s arm came around her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I guess. Just kind of shocked to see him lose it that way. I had no idea his business was in such bad shape.” Suddenly chilled to the bone despite the warm summer day, Tiffany wrapped her arms around herself protectively. “You don’t suppose Blaine will kill him, do you?”
“I’m sure he’d like to rough him up a bit, but he’d never do that to you or Ashleigh. He’ll go totally by the book on this one because of who Jim is to you.”
“He’s nothing to me,” Tiffany said forcefully.
“You know what I mean. He’s still Ashleigh’s father.”
Tiffany knew her sister was right, even though Blaine was already more of a father to Ashleigh than Jim had ever been. Speaking of her husband… He came back into the room, his face stony with anger. When the brown eyes that normally looked at her with nothing but love and lust and tenderness connected with hers, she realized he was incredibly angry. At her.
Tiffany’s stomach ached with apprehension, a feeling that reminded her all too well of her unhappy years with Jim.
“Uh-oh,” Maddie muttered as Blaine crossed the room to them.
“Where is he?” Tiffany asked. “What happened?”
“I turned him over to my people.” His words were clipped and economical, nothing extra offered to calm or soothe her the way he normally did. “He’s on his way to jail, where he belongs. Let’s go.”
With a grimace for her sister, she let her husband lead her from the room. He held the passenger door to his department-issued SUV for her and waited for her to get settled before he slammed it closed. As he stalked around the front of the truck, Tiffany’s nerves skyrocketed into all-too-familiar terrain. She’d spent years with a man whose mercurial temper left her in a constant state of dread over when the next blowup might occur. If a blowup with her new husband were imminent, at least Ashleigh wouldn’t witness it. She was spending the afternoon with Jim’s parents.
Blaine got in the truck and slammed his own door as hard as he’d slammed hers. He pulled out of the parking lot, leaving a cloud of dirt in their wake, and drove to their house in total silence.
She noticed his knuckles were white as he gripped the wheel with all his considerable strength. Swallowing hard, she finally worked up the courage to poke the tiger. “What’s wrong?”
He looked over at her, seeming incredulous, before returning his attention to the road.
“So you’re just not going to tell me? It’s not my fault Jim did that! I hadn’t seen him in weeks.”
No reply. Fantastic.
She crossed her arms to contain her own fury, which was mounting by the second.
He pulled into the long driveway that led to their home a few minutes later, the truck swerving as he braked abruptly, threw the truck into Park and got out. Opening her door, he said, “Come.”
“I don’t want to. You’re acting like a madman.”
“I’m acting like a madman?”
“Yes! What the hell has gotten into you?”
“You want to know what’s gotten into me?”
“Stop answering my questions with questions!”
“Then how about you tell me what the hell you were thinking confronting a man who has professed his hatred for you to anyone who will listen when he’s wielding a fucking butcher knife?”
All of a sudden, she got why he was so upset. She’d scared him. She released her seat belt and turned to him, still sitting in the SUV while he stood outside. “Blaine…”
“Don’t do that. Don’t go all soft like that and think you’re going to get out of this by sweet-talking me. He could’ve killed you!”
Despite his reluctance, she put her hands on his face and forced him to look at her. “You were right there, and you never would’ve let that happen.”
“What were you thinking confronting him like that? He was clearly over the edge and looking for vengeance. You nearly made it easy for him.”
“I wasn’t thinking about anything other than trying to make him stop before things got even worse. I knew you were right there and would protect me if it went bad.” She leaned in to kiss him. “I knew you were right there.”
“Baby,” he said with a tortured moan as he hugged her so tightly she couldn’t breathe, “don’t ever do anything like that again. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you.”
“You have to promise me. I think my heart stopped for a second there when I saw you approach him. I need you to promise.”
“I promise.”
He scooped her right up and out of the truck and carried her to the house, kicking the door open and then kicking it closed behind them.
Tiffany wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the love and desire he aroused in her every time he touched her. “You scared me, too, you know.”
“When? When did I scare you?”
He sat her on the counter in the kitchen, right where their first significant encounter had occurred. “When you were angry with me. It reminded me too much…of him. Of how it always was with him when I spent most of my time waiting for him to lose it with me over every little thing.”
“This wasn’t a little thing, but I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I never want to make you feel the way you did with him.”
“I know.”
“So we scared each other.” He ran his hands up her legs and under her skirt until they were cupped around her bottom. “It’s only because I love you so fucking much that I nearly lost my mind when you confronted him. The thought of you in any kind of danger, no matter how fleeting, makes me want to lose my shit.”
“I’m okay.” She caressed his face and smoothed his hair, which had gotten mussed in the altercation with Jim.
“I should be at the station dealing with him, but I need to be inside you right now more than I need my next breath. I need you, Tiff.”
She unbuttoned and unzipped the dress pants she’d had to talk him into wearing to the party. “Take me. I’m all yours.”
He growled as he ripped the lace panties off her body in a move that sent her own need into the red zone. With his hands under her skirt gripping her ass, he pulled her toward him and impaled her on his hard cock, drawing a gasp from both of them. “Shit,” he whispered as he froze. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“That was rough.”
“I loved it, and I love you.”
Her words sent a tremble rippling through his muscular body as he took her on a wild ride. She hooked her arm around his neck and urged him into a frantic, passionate kiss.
He made an inarticulate sound as he pulled at the bodice of her dress, tugging until her breast popped free of her bra. Squeezing and kneading, he pinched her nipple between his fingers until she cried out from the orgasm that ripped through her, sending waves of heat and sensation from her core to every part of her body.
“Fuck, you’re so hot,” he said on a groan as he pushed hard into her again stayed there this time as he rode the waves of her climax into his own. Sweating and panting in the aftermath, he let out a gruff laugh. “I need to get mad at you more often. That was incredible.”
“Please don’t get mad at me more often. I couldn’t take that.”
“You have absolutely nothing to fear from me—ever. I’m your slave. I’m completely and totally under your spell.”
Charmed and moved by his heartfelt words, she tightened her legs around his hips and pushed against the cock that was still hard inside her despite his orgasm. His stamina never failed to amaze and exhaust her. “Look at where we are.”
He seemed to snap out of the sex-fueled daze to realize he’d taken her right on the kitchen counter where he’d once given her the orgasm that changed both their lives. “I do some of my best work right h
ere,” he said with a proud grin that made her laugh.
With his hands still wrapped firmly around her buttocks, he lifted her off the counter without losing their connection and carried her to the sofa in the living room, where he came down on top of her. Lifting her skirt, he eased the dress up and over her head, leaving her only in the bra that had matched the now-shredded thong. He released the clasp on her bra and disposed of it with expertise that never failed to amuse her.
“I know, I know,” he said before she could. “I’m good at that.” He nuzzled her bare breasts, teasing her nipples with his tongue and the rough brush of his late-day whiskers against sensitive skin. “It’s because I have the best possible reason to get rid of your bras with all due haste.”
She grasped a handful of his hair and directed him to focus on her nipple. Her husband knew how to take direction and had her twisting and gasping and straining against him within minutes. “Blaine…”
“What, baby?”
“I want you to know…”
“What do you want me to know?” He never stopped kissing or sucking or teasing as he spoke, and the wash of his hot breath over her wet nipple was nearly enough on its own to make her come again.
“I told you that when you were angry with me, it reminded me of him. But you’re nothing like him, and our marriage… It’s nothing like that one was. It’s so, so much better. It’s more than I ever dreamed possible.”
His forehead dropped to her chest. “You kill me, baby. The stuff you say to me… You’re so damned sweet, and I’m so sorry you went through everything you did with him, but I’m so, so glad it led you to me.” He raised his head to meet her gaze. “I never felt like I belonged anywhere until I belonged to you.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way.”
“Love you,” he whispered as he began to move again, making slow, sweet love to her this time.
“I love you, too.”
“And you’ll never do anything like you did today again, right?”
“Yes,” she said with a sigh.
“Promise?”
“I promise, Blaine.”
“In that case, I’ll let you come again.”
Laughing, she closed her eyes and held on tight to him and the love he’d brought into her life. “You are just too good to me, Chief Taylor.”
The engagement party broke up shortly after the guests of honor left in an ambulance. Kara’s parents had tried in vain to salvage the festivities but gave up when it became clear the party was over. After saying good-bye to their family and friends, Adam extended his hand to Abby to walk the short distance to the house they rented from Janey.
“That, right there, is why we should never have an engagement party,” Adam said as they navigated the crowded downtown, which was overrun with tourists late on that sunny Sunday afternoon.
Abby had no idea what to say to his joking comment. She’d had reason to wonder if they’d ever have an engagement, let alone a party. At times, she feared she’d made another mistake by moving in with him before they were married. Since she was right there, at his disposal, what reason did he have to want to move things forward? If her father said one more word about cows and milk in regard to her and Adam, she’d never speak to him again.
The sad part, if you wanted to call it sad, was that she’d never been happier in her life. Adam was everything she’d ever wanted—and their relationship was light years better than the ones she’d had with his brother Grant and her ex-fiancé, Cal. Adam understood her on a deep, intense level that had created an indelible bond between them.
And the sex continued to be a revelation. All of which had her wondering whether he had any plans at all to take the next step with her.
“Hello? Anyone in there?”
Abby realized she’d zoned out on him. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was making jokes about why we’ll never have an engagement party.”
She glanced over at him, slayed as always by the wavy dark hair, the glasses that made him look like a smart, sexy nerd, the sardonic little smile and the light dusting of stubble on his cheeks that made for one incredibly sexy package.
He bumped her hip with his. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“Dan and Kara, and Jim with the knife, and how I hope Dan’s okay. He’s just finally back to normal after what happened on the sailboat, and now this.”
“Is that all you were thinking about?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“You guess. So you don’t really know what you were thinking about?”
His persistence had her looking over at him again. “Why do you want to know so badly?”
He surprised her when he led her across the street to a bench that overlooked the ferry landing below. “Sit.”
“Okay…”
Adam sat next to her, turning to face her. “Talk.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me why you went all quiet on me when I made a joke about our engagement party.”
“You need me to tell you why? Really?” The comment was testier than she’d intended, but honestly, how obtuse could he be?
“Yeah, I guess I do.”
“For someone so smart, you can be rather dense at times.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“Abby… Come on. This isn’t how we roll. We air it out. Don’t we?”
She wanted to be cool and calm and collected, but this was too important, and she’d already been burned twice before by long romances that didn’t work out in the end. If that happened this time…
“Baby, why are you crying?”
Abby hated herself for the tears that came despite her ardent desire to be unemotional and pragmatic about broaching this subject with him. She forced herself to look at the face she loved above all others. “I want to get married, Adam,” she said softly, “and we never, ever talk about that. Which leads me to wonder if that’s what you want, too.”
“It is what I want.”
“Then what’re we waiting for?”
“The right moment.”
“For what?”
“For this.” Before she knew it, he was on his knees in front of her. “Abigail Callahan, I love you more than anything in this world. You’ve changed my life in every possible way, and I want to be with you forever. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
She was crying so hard that she could barely hear him over the sound of her own sobs, but his words registered just the same, as did the slide of the ring over the third finger on her left hand.
“Where… What… How long…”
“On the mainland, two carats and about three months ago now. Any other questions before you answer mine?”
She gazed down at him and then at the exquisite ring and shook her head.
“You aren’t saying no, are you?”
“I’m not saying no.” She cupped his cheek and leaned in to kiss him. “I’m definitely not saying no.”
“A double negative is hardly what a guy is looking for when he asks the most important question of his life.”
“How about a triple positive, then? Yes.” She kissed him. “Yes.” She kissed him again. “Yes.” She kissed him a third time and stayed there when his arm encircled her neck, keeping her trapped against him.
“I like triple positives,” he said, coming up for air after kids walking by on the street yelled at them to get a room.
“Did you say that about engagement parties on purpose?”
“Maybe. I’ve been waiting for an opening.”
“I’ve always been open to this conversation. Since the day you told me you were moving back here permanently.” She paused, needing to ask him something but unsure of how she should put it. “Adam?”
He rejoined her on the bench. “Yes?”
“We’re going t
o actually get married, right?”
“Of course we are,” he said, laughing. “Why would you ask me that?”
“I don’t have the best track record when it comes to making the close.”
He waggled his brows. “You have a very good track record for making the close with me.”
“I’m not talking about sex.”
“I know you’re not, honey, and I’m well aware of what you’ve been through in the past. And you know what’s happened to me. I think it’s safe to say we both want to see this through to the finish line. I know I do.”
“So do I. I can’t wait to be married to you.”
He propped his sexy glasses on the top of his head and leaned in to kiss her again.
“Don’t you guys have your own house?” a female voice behind them asked.
Abby looked up to see Owen and Laura walking toward them, holding hands. Abby held up her left hand. “Big news, and you’re the first to know!”
Laura let out a shriek and came over for a closer look at Abby’s ring. “It’s gorgeous! Congratulations, you guys.” She hugged Abby and then her cousin. “Nice job on the ring, Adam.”
“Why, thank you.”
Owen shook Adam’s hand. “Congrats, man. Happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
“We’ll leave you to celebrate in private,” Laura said, taking Owen’s hand and giving a gentle tug. But before she walked away, she gave Abby one more squeeze. “So happy for you. I know you really wanted this.”
“Thanks, Laura.”
“We’re going to be cousins!”
Abby laughed at Laura’s delight and waved as they headed off toward the Surf.
“What do you say we go home and celebrate this momentous occasion?”
“I would like to celebrate, but not the way you have in mind. Until later, anyway,” she said with a giggle at his distressed expression.
“What do you have in mind?”
She took his hand and turned it so the palm was faceup, drawing a line across the inside of his wrist. “I would like for both of us to get today’s date tattooed right here, so we’ll never forget it. And then when we get married, we’ll put our wedding date on the other wrist.”