Taming the Troublemaker (The Hills of Texas Book 3)

by Kadie Scott

  “I figured I’d be your backup, just in case.” Another poke to the chest, this one pushed him back a step. “In fact, I’ve told all the DFPS workers and interviewers that. I think you’d be a wonderful father.” She poked him in the chest again. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t lose the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you.”

  “Then why not marry me and guarantee it?” He asked the words quietly, but might as well have shouted, because that’s how the question felt to her.

  No way. The man was impossible.

  “You are not blaming this on me if it goes wrong, Autry Hill,” she snapped. Then shook her head. Her entire body shook, actually. She never, ever got this worked up, but this had been a long time coming.

  “I can’t do this,” she muttered.

  *

  Black despair sank deep as Autry watched Beth spin on her heel and march away, shoulders ramrod straight, her dress even whiter in the bright afternoon sunlight, making her glow like an angel.

  “Damn.” Autry watched her taillights flash by the door with a cocktail of regret, and anger, and the worst helpless feeling of having no fucking clue what to do all swirling in his stomach.

  She’d done this for him? Because Dylan was important to him? She even thought he’d be a great father? Autry felt about as skewered as a shish kebab. Should he follow her and try to put this right?

  He missed his friend, and he damn sure missed her kisses. Except the more important thing was not messing up the adoption for Dylan. Maybe he should wait until that was finalized. Still, he had to do something, dammit.

  When you loved someone, you fought to keep them in your life. Right?

  Every function and brainwave inside him screeched to a halt. I love her.

  Realization smacked him between the eyes like that line drive in high school that knocked him out cold.

  I’m in love with Beth Cooper.

  In love with the woman who’d refused to marry him. If that wasn’t some sort of poetic justice for the county playboy, he didn’t know what was. His family, friends, and damn sure every woman he’d ever dated, would get a great laugh if they could see him now.

  So… What the hell to do about it?

  “Are you going to go get her? Or should we?” Lexi demanded.

  Autry spun to face Beth’s sisters who glowered at him, ready to rip into him if he didn’t fix this. Pride be damned. “I love her. What do I do?”

  Lexi and Juliet sat back and shared a look that communicated volumes, not that he could interpret. Then Juliet grinned. “Go get her.”

  That easy, huh? “I hate to break it to you, but I proposed, and she said no.”

  “We know,” Lexi said with a roll of her eyes. “She told us she said she would only marry for love.”

  “Exactly.”

  They gave him the patient look he’d seen Beth use with a student being particularly silly.

  “Did she ever say that she didn’t love you?” Juliet asked, speaking it slowly as though he needed that to understand.

  Even so, the implications still took a second to sink in. Had Beth ever said she didn’t love him?

  Autry thought back through his conversations with Beth, particularly the proposal and what she’d said in the courthouse, and her sisters were right. That didn’t mean Beth meant anything other than that she didn’t love him and couldn’t marry him. However, that fine line deserved clarification.

  “I think I have somewhere I need to be.” Without another word he spun on his boot heel and hurried out to the parking lot. He fishtailed onto the road, and forced himself to slow down. Getting into a wreck would not help anything right now.

  Once he cleared town, he fished out his phone and dialed. “Dad?”

  “Yeah.”

  “The bet is off. I lost a while ago. You win.”

  Autry had a bigger prize in mind—like winning the heart of the woman he loved, come hell or high water. Even if she said no, even if he’d drowned trying, like the day he’d rescued that stupid skunk.

  “About damn time, Son.” His father harrumphed in his ear.

  *

  Beth tossed her purse on the couch and flopped down beside it. She’d taken a long, backroad way home, windows down, phone turned off, and radio loud in an attempt to blast away her thoughts. Exhaustion, however, was the least of her problems.

  Burning the candle at both ends to write lesson plans for her sub while she took all these classes was rough. Thank goodness her principal was sympathetic to the situation. Spending all this time with Autry keeping every emotion, every reaction, bottled up was like dropping Mentos into a Coke bottle and sealing it up. Boy had that finally exploded today, only now she was drained from the blow up… and nothing had changed.

  Sunlight filtered in through her windows, taunting her with happiness she wasn’t feeling. What happened to all those spring thunderstorms? Had they decided to only come in the winter? That kind of weather was more her speed at the moment.

  Briefly, she debated calling her sisters to apologize for ditching them. Only she couldn’t get up the energy to move off her spot on the couch to get her phone from her purse, just out of reach at the other end. The rest of her Saturday stretched ahead of her with nothing to fill it, which meant lots and lots of time to think about a certain cowboy or worry about Dylan. They’d find out officially on Monday.

  A soft knock sounded at her front door and Beth frowned. Who on earth could be here to see her?

  Heaving herself off the couch with a groan, she checked the peephole, then hopped back with a gasp, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. Beth paused and rolled her eyes at her own overdramatic response. But what was Autry doing at her door? He hadn’t come near her home since she’d rejected his proposal. Was she conjuring things with her mind now? Exhaustion and tension leading to some kind of mental break?

  Another knock. “Beth?”

  She definitely wasn’t imagining his voice. A glance around her house didn’t reveal any astonishing answers, so she took a deep breath and opened the door.

  “Autry?” Beth was super proud of how controlled her voice came out when the rest of her was shaking like an aspen leaf. “Is something wrong?”

  “Yeah.” Only he didn’t continue, just stood there staring at her as though trying to see inside her.

  She crossed her arms, partly to protect herself from his gaze, but also partly to hide her body’s traitorous reaction to his presence in her home and all the memories associated with him being here.

  “What is it that’s wrong?” she prompted when he didn’t say more. Maybe he was here to apologize for the crack about married couples and adoption.

  “Why won’t you marry me?” he asked softly.

  “Are you kidding me?” They were seriously back to this again? Beth didn’t know how many more times she’d have the strength to say no when every cell in her body screamed for her to say yes.

  Autry glanced away, hands curling into fists, and she got the distinct impression he was upset. With her? Or something else?

  He faced her again, eyes bright and laser-focused on her. “You said you would only marry for love, right?”

  She tightened her arms against the effect of his gaze and his words, which were this side of scaring her. He was getting too close to a truth she had no intention of admitting. “That’s right.”

  “Do you love me, Beth?” The question came out rough, like sandpaper.

  Her throat closed in so tight at the outright demand for a truth she was terrified to admit to, all Beth could do was squeak.

  Autry searched her face as she searched for words. She had no idea what he saw there, but suddenly he grinned—every ounce of the fun-loving man she’d been missing so much back in those hazel eyes, along with a healthy dose of wickedness that she wasn’t sure she should trust.

  Then he stepped inside, kicked the door shut with his foot, and threaded his hands into her hair. “Me, too.”

  He swooped down and captured her lip
s in a kiss that was both soft and demanding at the same time, coaxing her shocked body to give in and let go and just enjoy the ride this man could take her on. Her heart hit the accelerator and Beth leaned into him, reveling in the taste of him, the spicy scent of him, the feel of his body against hers, and the way she absorbed his heat.

  Home.

  Being in Autry’s arms was like coming home.

  Only she was still so confused.

  She whimpered as he lifted his head to smile into her eyes. “I’m a fool, Beth Cooper.”

  Air punched from her lungs in a laugh. “I know you are. But want to explain?”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners as his smile widened. “Only a fool would propose to a woman without telling her first that he’s head over boots in love with her.”

  Unbidden, tears stung the back of her eyes. “You love me?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “I think I’ve always had a bit of a thing for you. Those damn dimples.” He ran his thumbs softly over her cheeks. “Plus, you’re the only girl who didn’t fall at my feet… unless you tripped.”

  Beth chuckled.

  “You were also always so kind and never judgmental, always acting like you expected me to meet your every expectation. But I think I really fell for you when you locked your purse in my car.”

  “On accident,” Beth insisted, earning another grin.

  “That kiss nearly put me on my ass, and I wanted more. But your attitude was also a challenge, and I found myself wondering if I could ever deserve a woman like you, Beth Cooper. I know I don’t, but I want to spend the rest of my life trying, if you’ll let me.”

  Beth swallowed, unable to keep the tears from spilling over, and Autry smoothed them away with his fingers. “Good tears? Or bad tears?”

  “Definitely good,” she choked.

  He waited a moment, then his lips twisted. “So… good tears because you love me, too?”

  “Oh, my gosh. What woman leaves Autry Hill hanging when he’s just said he loves her?” She giggled.

  He huffed a laugh and dropped his forehead to hers. “I’m still hanging, honey.”

  Beth wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Autry Hill. With all of my heart.”

  He let go a low breath. “Thank God for that.”

  He’d been worried? Beth had no idea why, but his lack of that usual undentable confidence made this real for her. Made this true for her.

  With a low hum of need that echoed the clamoring getting louder in her body, Autry scooped her up, stalking to the back of the house.

  Beth giggled and held on tight. “Sex or no sex this time?”

  She’d got the impression he hadn’t clued his dad in on the last time, maybe not counting it when she rejected his offer of marriage.

  “Definitely sex.” He shouldered open her bedroom door. “I have every intention of making you mine in every single way before you can change your mind.”

  “What about the bet?” she asked.

  He grinned. “I called it off. Besides, I’m making love to my future wife. I think that doesn’t count anyway.”

  She tossed him a prim look. “I haven’t said yes, yet.”

  Devilry entered the grin he aimed at her. “Then I guess I’ll have to get you to finally say it.” He put his lips to her ear. “Over, and over, and over again,” he whispered.

  Best proposal ever. One she wouldn’t be sharing with their family or their children. Although she fully realized keeping her mischief-loving husband from spilling the beans might be more difficult.

  Epilogue

  Autry vibrated with the anticipation buzzing through his system. Beside him in the truck, Beth sat quietly, a small smile playing around her mouth while she viewed the ring on her left hand from different angles. They’d gone to Lucy’s, the jewelry story on the square, to pick it out together, deciding on a simple rose-gold band with a large oval-cut diamond. He loved that ring on her finger, marking her as his in no uncertain terms.

  “What do you think he’ll say?” she asked.

  Autry canted his head. “Hard to tell with that kid. He’s been so angry with us about how we’ve handled the adoption thing, but he’s angry because you refused to marry me.”

  She lifted her head to give him a sparkling glance. “I wouldn’t have refused if someone had just figured out he loved me sooner.”

  Autry reached across the console and took her hand. “What dumbass did that?”

  She chuckled, and he lifted her hand up to place a kiss on her knuckles. “I should’ve realized from the second you said no that I loved you. Otherwise it wouldn’t have hurt so much.”

  His reward was a misty-eyed grin as he pulled up outside the Wright’s house and parked. “You ready?” he asked.

  Beth bounced in her seat. “Can’t wait. I wish autumn was already here, and we were already married.”

  Damn, he loved this woman.

  Mrs. Wright met them at the door, but came out onto the porch, shutting it behind her. “Well?” she asked.

  Autry gave her a thumbs-up, though he needn’t have bothered, because Beth was glowing.

  For once, Dylan’s foster mom cracked a sincere smile that made her seem years younger, and fathoms kinder. “Good. He’s in the family room waiting.”

  She let them find their way, understanding more than anyone else probably could that this was a private moment between the three of them.

  Dylan slouched on the couch, ostensibly watching TV, but the way he tensed when they came in the room told Autry he’d been waiting.

  “Can we talk to you?” Autry asked.

  Dylan flicked a glance their way before giving a careless shrug. With a click of the remote, he turned off the TV. “What’s the point? I already know what you’re going to say.”

  Beth and Autry exchanged frowns. He did?

  “And what are we going to say?” Beth questioned.

  “That they are going to take me away. I heard Mr. Wright talking. Kerrville maybe or even San Antonio.”

  What the hell? “When did you hear this?”

  “Last night.”

  No way would Mr. Wright have been referring to Dylan then, he must’ve been talking about something else. “He got it wrong.”

  Dylan’s entire body froze. It took him a solid few seconds, but he raised his eyes, looking at them directly for the first time probably in a month. “Wrong?”

  The suppressed hope in the kid’s voice threatened to level Autry, and Beth’s hand in his clamped down tight, telling him she felt the same way. They would never let Dylan feel that kind of uncertainty again. Not if they could help it.

  She let go of Autry and squatted down in front of Dylan. “We talked to Cindy today. They’ve named me your foster mother and I’ve already started the paperwork to adopt—”

  Beth squealed as Dylan threw himself bodily at her, tackling her in a hug.

  “Really? You mean it? I can stay with you?” In less than a blink, Dylan transformed from morose, disconnected kid to eager child desperate for love and consistency in his life.

  Beth stood, pulling Dylan up with her, laughing and hugging him back. “You’re ours now, and we’re not giving you back,” she said.

  “Ours?” Dylan didn’t let go of her, but he pulled back enough to glance between them.

  Autry grinned and reached around Beth to pick up her hand and flash it at the boy. “I finally got the stubborn woman to admit she loves me.”

  Dylan’s eyes went wide as his gaze jumped from the ring to Beth to Autry. “You’re getting married?”

  Beth and Autry both nodded. “And Autry will be included in the adoption papers. If that’s what you want,” Beth said.

  “I told you that’s what I wanted,” Dylan yelled and threw himself at the both of them.

  As they laughed and cried a little and held each other, Autry could swear his heart might explode from sheer happiness. Because in his arms was his soon-to-be wife and their soon-to-be son and everything was right with the wor
ld. They’d figure out where to live and what life would look like later.

  They’d figure it out together—as a family.

  Who’d have guessed that this was where he’d end up when innocent Beth Cooper “accidentally” locked her purse in his truck?

  The End

  The Hills of Texas

  For the Hills of Texas, ranching is a legacy, hard work is a way of life, and having siblings is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of. You know whatever you do, they’ll still be there. Family will stand by you, stand with you, stand behind you, and sometimes give you that needed push. Especially when it comes to finding love.

  Book 1: Saving the Sheriff

  Buy now!

  Book 2: Resisting the Rancher

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  Book 3: Taming the Troublemaker

  View the series here

  Book 4: Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas

  Coming soon

  Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from

  Saving the Sheriff

  Kadie Scott

  Book 1 in the Hills of Texas series

  Keep reading below or buy now!

  Williams Hill dragged his hand over his face as he sat in his truck at a stoplight in Estes Park, Colorado. After two straight days of driving up from Texas, he was ready to reach his destination of the rodeo grounds in the small Rocky Mountain town. Flexing his shoulders to work out the kinks, he happened to glance over at the vehicle stopped next to him.

  Everything in him froze… then released in a pent-up laugh.

  The woman driving a shiny new black Ford truck was gorgeous with high cheekbones and pouty lips. Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, so he couldn’t quite make out the color, but her appearance wasn’t what had made him laugh.

  She was clearly enjoying a favorite song—singing and dancing for all she was worth, without a care in the world for who might be watching. He chuckled again as she did a little shoulder shimmy. Adorable was the word that struck him, and he was strangely affected, an instant attraction coiling inside in a way that surprised him.