Heart suddenly in her throat, Shayla turned to watch Kevin approach, gaze friendly, smile warm and his stride sure and damn sexy.
He was here. Not Houston.
He came. To see her. Not Amber.
Shayla’s glee was short-lived when common sense returned. The cowboy was just stopping in on his way. Despite their pact to not have sex, they had formed a bond, and she felt safe to consider him a friend. So, that was probably all this was…one friend stopping in to share an achievement with the other before leaving for a date.
Swallowing the bitter-sweet pill, she forced the smile to remain on her face and her heart to get over itself. The man was free to do what and who he wanted. She needed to get a clue.
Still, she was touched that he made time for her in his weekend plans.
Her “Hi, Kevin,” mingled with the others, and she noted a few of their friends wore surprised expressions on their faces.
Except for Cole and Kade.
“Nice of you to join us,” his cousin said, lip twitching into a grin.
Cole cupped his shoulder. “Stopped for a gift, I’m guessing.”
Before the smiling cowboy could answer, Amelia twisted in her arms and spotted him. “Daddy!” Delight lit her daughter’s eyes like the stars in the Texas sky, then her face puckered and she burst into tears. “My, daddy…daddy,” the little girl sobbed, reaching out to the frowning cowboy with both arms.
“Hey, pumpkin, don’t cry,” he soothed, taking her daughter to cradle against his chest, tenderness and concern softening his gaze as he stared down at the now sniffling little girl. “It’s okay. I got you.”
“Okay,” Jordan spoke up, making a shooing motion to the others with her hands. “Let’s go eat and give them some privacy.”
And just like that, the three of them were alone. Amelia lifted a hand to tenderly touch Kevin’s face with such love and joy in her little heart, Shayla’s chest ached.
“My daddy,” her daughter repeated, smile once again in place.
Yeah, her daughter was definitely besotted with the cowboy. Shayla, too. Dammit. And she’d been so careful, for them both. Fat lot of good it did. The cowboy still had them wrapped around his finger.
Clearing her throat in an attempt to remove the lump lodged there, she stepped closer and touched her daughter’s head. “Sorry, I guess she was missing you more than we’d realized.”
At least Shayla had gotten to see him at dance practices, but her daughter hadn’t seen him since they’d eaten dinner at the Dalton’s over three weeks ago.
“No worries, darlin’,” he said, glancing up, blue gaze so affectionate and sweet that ache in her heart increased. “I missed her, too.”
By the tone in his voice, and way he stared at her with open longing, Shayla got the impression she was included in that remark. She nodded, and forced her racing pulse to slow.
“Thanks for coming. Jen had said something about you going to Houston to see Amber.”
He nodded, and she waited for him to explain he was just stopping on his way out of town.
“I was. Figured it was best to stick with our original plan, but I’d actually like to talk to you about that,” he said instead, sending that simmering pulse back into orbit.
He wanted to talk? About their no sex plan? Oh Lordy, she didn’t think she could just have sex with him anymore. She wanted to. So very much, but she had to be truthful…
Her heart was no longer out of the equation.
Chapter Sixteen
“Sorry to interrupt,” Kerri said, face flushing as she came to a stop. “But I thought maybe Amelia would want to see the doggy and give you some time alone.” The considerate cook turned her warm gaze on Shayla’s daughter. “What do you say, cutie? Want to see Bullet?”
“Goggy.” Amelia perked up. “See Bullet. See Bullet.” Then reached for Kerri and happily went with her friend in search of Jordan’s retired police dog.
She turned to Kevin, surprised to find him staring at her. “You were saying?”
“First, I want to say congratulations.”
He stepped close and wrapped his arms around her tight. Unable to resist, she slid her arms around his back and fought off more tears.
“I’m so damn proud of you,” he said against her ear and hell, the tears spilled over. He kissed her head then drew back and gently swiped the wetness with his thumb. “I wish you would’ve told me you were taking your tests. I would’ve been there for you. Waited for you to come out.”
“You would’ve?” She hiccupped.
He nodded. “Yes. This is a milestone. A huge achievement, Shayla. I hate the thought of you going through it alone.”
She swallowed and forced words past her hot throat. “Caitlin was there today.”
Relief softened his features. “I know. I heard. I’m glad.”
“And I’m glad you’re here,” she said, reaching up to touch his chin, enjoying the feel of stubble scraping her palm. “And not on your way to Houston.”
“Yeah, about that,” he said, grabbing her hand to twine their fingers together. “Let’s go somewhere a little less crowded.”
She nodded without even attempting to respond because his touch was causing a crazy fluttering in her chest and drying her throat. His hand was firm and strong, and she was happy when he led her to the McCall’s gathering room, sat with her on the sofa but didn’t release his hold. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and she tried desperately to find her voice while he stared at their hands.
“My sister was right,” he finally said, but didn’t glance up. “I was heading to Houston to see Amber. I’d already made the date with her before I found out about your party.”
Her thundering heart nosedived into her ribs. “I see,” she managed to say, but didn’t mean it. She was completely confused.
“But, on my way out of town, I realized something important.”
“What?”
He smiled, a secret smile as if it held some kind of meaning or shared joke. “She’s not you.”
“Oh?” Now her pulse was back to thundering in her ears again.
“She doesn’t make me feel, but you do.”
“I do?”
“Yes.”
She blinked as the meaning set in.
“What I’m trying to say is, if you’re willing to take a chance, I’d love to see you in a sexually monogamist way.”
“Like…in a relationship?” Her heart rocked in her chest.
He blew out a breath and nodded. “Yes. That.”
“I’d like that, too.”
She was going with her heart on this, not her head. No thoughts of how brilliant and rich the man was, or the number of girlfriends he had, or the possibility of her and Amelia being a substitute. Screw it. Her heart wanted to be with him. Her body sure as hell wanted to be with him, so her mind could either get on the same damn page or shut up.
“Yeah?” A smile reached his eyes for the first time in ten minutes. “So, you’ll be gentle with me? Because I haven’t been in a relationship in over ten years. And that one ended badly. Mostly because of me.”
His admission on top of another admission took her by surprise. She blinked and squeezed his hand. “I haven’t been in one either,” she admitted, and when confusion wrinkled his brow, she smiled weakly. Since he thought Bobby was Amelia’s father, he was no doubt confused as to how she could’ve been engaged without having a relationship. “Long story. I’ll tell you about it someday, but right now, I’d rather just take it one step at a time.”
“Deal, darlin’.” A brilliant smile crossed his face as he released her hand to caress her cheek. “I’m so damn proud of you, Shayla.”
She was too busy trying to keep her tears in check to respond. But he didn’t seem to care. He just leaned in and brushed her lips with his. Twice. Nipping and nibbling, soft kisses that drove her wild. Powerless and hungry for more, she leaned into him and kissed him back. Cupping his face, she enjoyed the feel of rough stubble on her palms, an
d smiled at his groan.
Or was that her?
When they drew apart, he rested his forehead against hers and sucked in air. “God, I’ve missed that.”
She nodded, still finding her breath. “Me, too. I can’t believe you’re here.” And he wanted a relationship.
“No more running.” He pulled back and stared deep into her eyes while he grabbed her hands and squeezed. “For either of us. We’ll face your dad together if he shows.”
Once again, tears blurred her vision as she nodded. “Okay.”
She wasn’t leaving Harland County. And if everything worked out, she was…home.
He gently kissed both of her hands, then released them to draw a square box from his shirt pocket. “This is for you. For getting your GED. When I saw it, I knew it was meant for you. To commemorate your special day.”
Today was special, but it had nothing to do with her testing and everything to do with the gorgeous cowboy handing her a gift. No man ever bought her a gift before.
Her hands were trembling as she lifted the lid, and a split second before the tears returned to her eyes, she’d caught a glimpse of a metal and turquoise dragonfly necklace.
So achingly perfect.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, fingering the precious gift, tears rolling unchecked down her face, again. “I love it. Thank you.” She couldn’t take her gaze off the necklace, even though her vision was all blurry.
He lifted her right hand, turned it over and kissed her dragonfly tattoo. “Beautiful. Like you. Resilient. Like you,” he said, kissing her wrist after each word.
Shayla’s chest hurt. In a good way. And when he placed the necklace around her neck, he said the words that were in her heart.
“I think your mother guided me to this necklace.”
She inhaled and nodded, fat tears dripping down her cheeks. “Me, too,” she choked out, feeling so close to her mother at that moment. “Thank you.”
“Come here,” he said, drawing her against his chest, holding her tight as she made an idiot out of herself and cried like a baby.
She finally got her GED. Her mom was here with her. This wonderful, incredibly sweet, incredibly good-looking cowboy holding her tight, stroking her hair, wanted her in his life. What a perfect day. Shayla didn’t have many. The only other one had been the birth of her daughter.
When she finally regained some composure, she drew back and wiped her face. “Sorry.” She sniffed. “I had a moment of weakness.”
“No, darlin’, no. That wasn’t weakness. That was emotion. You’re like me. You bottle it up too much.”
Another admission. She didn’t think her heart could expand anymore, but the trust the cowboy was showing by opening up to her was huge. The monumental step wasn’t lost on her.
Shayla held his face with both hands and smiled. “Then we’ll work on unbottling together.”
“Deal.” His mouth curved and he leaned forward and kissed her. But instead of deepening the kiss, he broke it and drew them both to their feet. “We’d better get back to the party. If I stay in here any longer with you, we’ll be testing the integrity of the sofa, and I don’t think the McCalls’ bought it with that in mind.”
Shayla laughed, and as Kevin grabbed the empty gift box and tucked it back in his shirt pocket, she dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, her life was going to be full of good things for a change.
Two weeks after Shayla had taken the tests, her GED arrived in the mail, along with a print out of her scores. Kevin ran right out and had everything framed, including a picture he had insisted on taking of her holding the items. She deserved something special. Now they all resided on the wall where the woman could see her achievement every day.
That was three weeks ago, and every time he entered the apartment, like now, his gaze was drawn to the pictures, and his mind slipped back to the day of her party. Nervous excitement had ruled his pulse because of the huge step he wanted to take with her. He never planned to travel the relationship road again, but Shayla was different. Special. A kind, caring woman with a tough backbone and will to survive. She was intoxicating, and he loved being around her. She made him feel good. She made him happy.
The night of the party, after they’d moved Amelia into her own room and the little angel had fallen asleep, Kevin took his time showing Shayla exactly how happy he was to be in her life. And she showed him right back. With much enthusiasm.
He smiled. They’d been enthusiastic for over a month now. And he really couldn’t ever remember being happier. He wanted to know things about her, personal things like her birth date, favorite band, flower, color, all things he’d shied away from in the past. It was different with Shayla, a good different. He already knew her favorite spot, rhythm and position. Now, he was ready to go beyond the basics. This past week, he’d been at a conference in Seattle. It was the first time since the party he’d been away from his girls for more than one night. It sucked.
“Kevin, you’re back early,” Shayla said, rushing out of the bedroom, hair wet, navy towel wrapped around her delectable curves, giving him a glimpse of the promise land as she rushed to him. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Damn, she looked good enough to eat.
He dropped his briefcase and overcoat on a chair in time to crush her close and taste the woman he’d missed to within an inch of his life. The strong, powerful feelings Shayla invoked in him were definitely scary, but he had to credit Moose with some good advice. It’s easier if you don’t fight it. The big guy was right. Kevin was beginning to understand his friend’s logic worked well, and following that advice reaped incredible reward.
Just like following the seam of her mouth with his tongue opened up a whole lot of rewards. She moaned and fisted his shirt, practically crawling up him. He liked that. A lot.
Sneaking his hands under the towel, he cupped her gorgeous, bare ass and ground his heavy erection into the sweetness he’d been without for far too long. He needed to put his lips on her, taster her, be in her…
Shit.
He ripped his mouth away and rested his cheek on her head. “Where’s Amelia?” His voice was rough and low. The libido train was out of control, and a crash was eminent if he didn’t slow things down.
She stepped back, smiled up at him, gaze heated, and oh hell yeah, deliciously wicked as she dropped the towel. “At Mrs. Masters’.”
God bless Jordan and Kerri’s mom. She was getting something extra for Christmas.
In seconds, his suit coat and tie hit the chair, then slid off onto the floor. He stepped over them and reached for his beautiful redhead, kissing her deep and desperate, running his hands over her beautiful curves while she unbutton his shirt. Wicked fingers skimmed over his chest, down his abs, and heaven help him, stroked his ridges until they quivered under her touch. It took his breath. She took his breath, and her fingers moved lower, to the band of his pants.
He released her mouth and sucked in a breath. “Shayla.”
“I need you now,” she murmured, unbuckling his belt.
He lifted her, pressing her to the wall near her photos, dipping to taste each perfect peak. They demanded attention. She shudder and he release her nipple to kiss a path to her shoulder where he nipped and soothed with his tongue.
“I missed you. Missed us. Missed this,” he said, trailing a hand down between her quivering thighs to dip inside, finding her hot and wet. “Oh, yeah,” he muttered, biting her shoulder.
She grabbed his face and tugged until they were eye to eye. “I missed you, too. I need you.” Her lips brushed his with each word.
“Yeah?”
“So much, Kevin. So much,” she whispered, mouth kissing and drinking.
But he needed more. Much more. Everything. All of her. He deepened the kiss, taking, demanding and she gave and demanded until he was at the verge. She unzipped his pants, and before they could fall, he rescued a condom from his pocket.
“Allow me,” she said, ripping the packet open, freeing hi
s erection and rolling the condom down excruciatingly slow.
“Killing me,” he ground out hoarsely against her collarbone.
“Good. Then we’re even.”
He choked out a laugh and drew back. Beneath the smoldering heat in her eyes was a sparkle of humor.
God, he missed her. He missed her most of all. Sure, the heat and the desire were incredible, but he missed Shayla’s wit and timing and heart. But he wasn’t ready to tell her. Not with words, anyway.
Capturing her mouth for another rough, hot, deep kiss, he lifted her higher and shoved into her, their gasps of pleasure echoing in the room. Heat skittered down his spine then burst in all directions as he drove in and out, barely hanging on. She came on the third thrust, and he followed her, fighting his damndest to remain upright until her shuddering subsided. Still embedded deep inside her, he slid to the floor and held her tight, face buried in her hair.
When his breathing settled and mind returned to its palace, Kevin recognized something was different. More.
“I missed that,” she said against his shoulder. “Next time you go away, please take me with you.”
He drew back and stroked a wet strand of hair from her face. “Okay, but I’m not going anywhere for a long, long, time.”
“Good. This week was tough,” she said. “Everywhere I turned, someone was making out. Connor and Kerri, Cole and Jordan, Kade and Brandi, Jen and Brock, even Caitlin and Greg were visiting and I caught them kissing in the kitchen.”
“Ah, poor baby,” he cooed, trailing a finger down her nose. “Is that all I’m good for? Is that all you missed is my kissing?”
Frowning, she shook her head. “No, of course not. I missed the back scratching and neck rubs, too.”
A little flutter of disappointment settled in Kevin’s gut. He knew how hard it was to open up. Sometimes she had a harder time than him. But he wished she’d give him a little more. He’d seen the emotion in Shayla’s eyes, felt it in her touch, yet, she kept it to herself.
Since he was guilty of it, too, he had no right to get upset. Not wanting to rock the boat, especially since he’d only just gotten back from his trip, he shook it off and picked up on her playfulness. Reaching out, he stroked a finger down her breast to the puckering tip. “I’m going to get a shower, and since you stated you wanted me to take you wherever I went, I guess that means you have to go, too.”
Her Forever Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 4) Page 23
