After cake, and ice cream and presents, she finally sat down and watched her daughter having the time of her life, playing with the big stuffed moose from Connor and Kerri. Climbing in and out of the outdoor playhouse castle built by Kade and Brandi, which was now a permanent fixture at the Dalton’s. It made Shayla feel like maybe she and Amelia were permanent fixtures at the ranch, too.
It was a wonderful feeling.
“She’s having a blast,” Kevin said, settling onto the bench with her, draping his arm across her shoulder and tugging her in close. “Good thing she’s staying over with Cody again tonight. I’m not sure you’d get her to leave.”
She was so grateful to Jen and Brock. Her daughter really enjoyed her time with Cody. “Yeah, I think you’re right,” she admitted, snuggling closer, exactly where she wanted to be. With this man. Loving this man. Forever.
Her heart rocked so hard in her chest she stopped breathing.
She was in love with Kevin Dalton.
Breathing returned, but kept catching in her throat. What did she know about love? What if he didn’t feel the same? He could have anyone. Why would he love her? Shayla halted the negative thinking. She was worthy of love, and he’d be the first person to tell her that, so there was no room in her head for depressing thoughts.
His grip tightened and warm breath washed over her cheek as he kissed her temple.
“You ready for some of that gazing?”
Shayla glanced up at the sun slowly setting in the sky, then into Kevin’s eager gaze. “Whenever you are.”
Chapter Eighteen
After the yard was cleaned up and the party proclaimed a success by Cody, Shayla sat next to Kevin in his truck as it bounced over Shadow Rock Ranch. Having only been on the land near the house and stables, she was curious to glimpse some of the raw acreage that made up the property.
“We’re almost there,” he said, caressing her thigh, drawing little circles with his thumb, the simple movement played havoc with her pulse. “I haven’t been out here in the truck in ages.”
Her mind immediately wondered how many girls he’d taken to stargaze.
“When I was a teenager, there were only three girls I brought out here,” he said as if reading her mind.
“Tina?”
He nodded. “But I never brought anyone to this spot.” He slowed the truck to a stop then parked near several live oak trees clustered in the middle of an open field. “You’re the first,” he said, turning in his seat to caress her cheek. “And the last.”
Hope beat loud and strong in her ears. She drew in a breath and smiled. “I’m glad,” she said, covering his hand on her cheek.
Slowly, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her so achingly sweet her heart was full to bursting with all the emotion in the embrace. When he pulled back, he placed soft kisses from her mouth to her temple. She returned the caress.
“If we hurry, we can still catch the sunset.” Grabbing her hand, he kissed her knuckles. “Wait here while I fix the back.” Then he was out of the cab and in the back, moving blankets and unrolling sleeping bags and stacking pillows.
Her heart raced at how romantic everything was, and she longed to lay down and open up her heart to him under the vast night sky.
“Okay,” he said, reappearing to take her hand and walk with her to the back of the truck.
She sat on the tailgate and removed her shoes with him, then she crawled on all fours onto the sleeping bag, smiling at his soft curse and low groan about killing him. A second later, he was behind her, settled his back against the cab and her against his side.
“What do you think?”
Breath caught in her throat as the sun slowly set, streaking the horizon with a blaze of orange before eventually fading into pink, purple then dark blue. “Perfect,” she whispered.
His arms tightened around her a second before he shifted and she found herself flat on her back staring up into his eyes as he leaned on an elbow. “Agreed.” He lightly brushed the hair off her forehead, then lowered his mouth to her temple and placed more of those killer soft kisses over her eyes, her nose, her cheek, as if kissing her freckles before finding the corner of her mouth.
She sighed, lifting a hand to cup his face, brushing his temple with her thumb as his lips conveyed such sweet emotion her throat burned. There was a lot she wanted to say, to reveal, to share, but his lips were drugging, and need was beginning to take over. His kiss was changing, heating, deepening while he slipped a hand under her shirt to stroke her belly, ribs, over her bra, then yes, peeled back the lace and brushed over her nipple. Shayla moaned, and arched up into his hand, needing more, feeling more.
He broke the kiss and pressed his lips to her throat, zeroing in on the hot spot behind her ear. She gasped and clutch at him, lost in sensations and racing pulse and building need. Her hands went to his shirt and began to unbutton. “Too much clothes.”
“Agreed,” he said against her collarbone, then sat back on his knees to shed his shirt, heat blazing in his eyes as he watched her rip hers over her head. Then he stood, and with economical movements, removed his jeans, boxer briefs and socks.
Trying to keep up, she unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, then stilled at the sight of him standing naked above her, a possessive, heated expression etched on his face, the setting sun bronzing his skin, casting shadows over the ridges she longed to lick and explore. He was magnificent. Her whole body heated at once, and she went to stand to finish undressing, but he shook his head and dropped to his knees.
“No,” he said, pressing her onto her back with a hand before he moved to kneel between her legs. “Let me.” He grasped her waistband and tugged her jeans, sucking in a breath when he saw her baby blue thong. “Gorgeous,” he murmured, putting his mouth on her, his lips and heated breath tickling her center. Her eyes fluttered closed as she clutched the blankets and moaned.
Then he was tugging them down, along with her jeans, and she opened her eyes and lifted up on her elbows to watch him finish pulling them off before removing her socks. A lacey blue bra the only scrap of clothing between them, she sat up and reached behind to unhook the barrier. Despite the diminishing daylight, her gaze remained glued to his, heartbeats rocking hard in her chest at the hunger she could still see smoldering in his eyes as he watched her breasts bounce free.
He inhaled. “So beautiful,” he said, crawling up her body, nudging her down on the blankets, pinning her with his weight. Heaven was Kevin Dalton on top of her. Shayla was sure of it. Everything was so clear out in the peaceful wide open space. She could hear her heart speak. Hear her heart yearn, and it yearned for Kevin to yearn for hers back. He already owned it.
With the moon rising in the sky, illuminating their little love nest, she lifted her hand to trace his jaw. “I’m yours, Kevin,” she said, as he hovered near her mouth, gaze inches from hers. “All yours.”
Joy and satisfaction mixed to brighten his gaze. “Good, because I love you, Shayla,” he said, brushing her cheek with the back of his knuckles as he stared deep into her eyes that were suddenly burning with unshed tears.
She blinked and stared at him, hardly daring to breathe. “You do?”
“Yes.” He smiled, so tender, so sweet, more tears appeared and slid down the side of her face.
“I love you, too, Kevin. I never dreamed y—”
He stilled. “You do?”
“Yes. So much.”
A brilliant smile crossed his face, and he leaned down and kissed her lips with all the feelings he’s just professed. Shayla kissed him back, showing him, telling him she felt the same. This time, they weren’t going to have sex. This time, they were going to make love.
But as his hands slipped into her hair, and she gripped his back, she realized they’d been making love for a long time now. When exactly the sex had stopped, she wasn’t sure, only that it had been before the Dance-a-Thon, before he’d gone to Seattle, before they agreed to try a relationship.
He broke the kiss and buried
his face in her neck. “So beautiful,” he murmured, brushing the spot behind her ear again. She sucked in a breath, dug her fingers into his back and ground helplessly against him.
His attention shifted to her collarbone, both breasts, then lingered on her nipples. She pressed closer to him, the mounting pressure making her desperate for relief.
“I’m going to take care of you real good,” he said, reminding her of their sparring earlier. He lifted his gaze to her, and heaven help her, it was hot and mischievous and almost did her in.
Lowering back down, he kissed her belly button, nipped at her hip, then pushed her thighs up. “Real good,” he murmured again, breath tickling her sensitive skin.
She gripped the blanket and squeezed her eyes closed at the heat and need rushing through her body. He grasped her hips and kissed an inner thigh, rough stubble scraping her skin in exquisite torture. She could barely breathe.
“I need…”
“I know,” he said against the other thigh, kissing and scraping until she moaned. Then he kissed in between. And traced with a finger. Shayla cried out his name.
“I got you,” he said against her.
Her heart was pounding hard in her chest as she rocked up to meet his light kisses. She was hot and shuddering, and he was right at her core. Then he took her into his mouth and added two fingers, sending her to a shattering climax that had her seeing stars. As she slowly came back down, she realized the stars were real, her eyes were open and she was staring up at the brilliant night sky.
“Your taste is addicting,” he muttered with one last lap, then she watched him sit back and roll on a condom.
Sweat glistened off his skin, and his blue eyes were deliciously hot and needy and fierce. She shivered in anticipation as he held her gaze, entwined their fingers near her head and slid into her in one long, deep thrust. Their murmurs of approval mingled in the air as their bodies connected. Hearts connected. Souls connected.
He lowered himself onto his forearms, and Shayla had never been so close, so linked, so bonded to anyone before. She felt his heart beating. Felt him breathe. Felt him loving her with each slow, pulling movement. He gently kissed her eyes, cheek and mouth as if she was his world.
He was everything to her. All she’d dared to dream of. Desired. Hope for.
And all the hardships she’d ever faced, faded to the background. She was blessed.
Blessed with Kevin.
He lifted his head, gaze dark with hunger and emotion, and as he drew nearly all the way out then pushed in to the hilt, she fought to keep her eyes open. She wanted to hold his smoldering gaze, see everything revealed in his eyes, and reveal all she felt in hers.
She gasped, squeezing his hands, rocking her hips to meet his increased thrusts. Their breathing mingled, hard and ragged, and everything began to fade as the need and hunger took over.
Nothing mattered. The world didn’t matter. Their past didn’t matter. Only the here and now. “I love you, Kevin,” she whispered, empowered by the fierce emotion lighting his eyes.
“I love you, too,” he said, dipping down to kiss her long and deep, his tongue mimicking their thrusting bodies, driving her wild.
She wrapped her legs around his hips, forcing him in deliciously deeper.
Releasing her mouth, he let out a low, sexy sound and drove in and out of her in a rhythm that had her calling out his name as she spiraled and burst into a million stars, and he followed with her name on his lips.
The next day, Shayla was pitching in to help with the renovations on the stable at Shadow Rock Ranch, stealing glances at a certain blue-eyed cowboy working, shirtless, hello, putting in posts for a new corral. Side-by-side with the other cowboys, the man captured her attention and tripped her pulse with his black hair, trim muscles, lean hips and long legs.
Their time under the stars had been eye-opening, incredible, memorable, and continued back at the ranch, when they’d snuck into his room and made love well into the early morning hours. Shayla felt new, whole, complete for the first time in her life. It was amazing, and she couldn’t keep from smiling.
“There she goes again, Brandi. What’d you do, give her a raise?” Jordan joked as the women painted a new break room area for future volunteers.
No, but Kevin did. She snickered and her friends smiled as if knowing.
“I think that expression is courtesy of my soon-to-be cousin-in-law over there,” her boss replied, motioning out the window toward the Daltons, McCalls and Kade’s guard buddies. Brandi blinked then straightened, her intake of breath echoing around them. “Damn.”
Yeah, damn. Over ten hard-bodied cowboys and National Guardsmen all shirtless, all swinging hammers, sledge hammers or lifting posts. It was muscle-flexing heaven.
“Okay, I’m ordering a break. Right now. At the window,” Brandi stated, walking across the room for a better look.
Shayla set her brush down on a lid and eagerly joined the smiling women. “Pass the popcorn.”
Her boss chuckled. “Amen.”
“Pass the hose,” Jordan said, and they fell into a companionable silence, each, no doubt, lost in a fantasy involving hoses and their hot cowboy. “Damn, now I need that hose,” her friend said.
“Amen,” Brandi repeated and Shayla echoed, glancing at her phone for the time.
Still another hour to go. She eyed the half-painted wall. Doable. And a goal. Finish the wall, then she can concentrate on Kevin.
Two hours later, after enjoying leftovers from Amelia’s birthday barbecue, Shayla sat with Kevin on the porch swing at Shadow Rock, contentment washing over her again. She never thought she could be this happy. And she’d probably feel even better once she told him about Amelia’s father.
“Care to share the reason behind that sigh?” he asked, arm around her, pulling her in close.
She lifted her head off his shoulder and turned to gaze into his eyes, loving the affection and heat that always seem to be there. He was no longer holding back either. It felt good. She hoped the truth didn’t ruin anything. Hoped he didn’t think less of her for her dishonesty. She knew how it cut him to the bone with Tina. “I’m just happy.”
“Me, too.” He smiled and kissed her lips, running his tongue over her bottom one, making her moan.
The familiar haze began to cloud her mind, but she wanted to get this off her chest. She drew back and blinked at him. “Hold on there, cowboy. I’d like to talk to you about something, and I get sidetracked when you kiss me.” Yesterday was proof positive of that.
Reluctance and a little bit of apprehension furrowed his brow when he nodded. “Okay. What about?”
She blew out a breath, and tried to decide the right words. So, about Amelia’s dad. No. Amelia’s dad is a Casanova cowboy. Nope. Her chest rose and fell with another sigh.
A warm hand settled over her knotted fingers resting on her lap. “Hey, it’s okay, darlin’. Whatever it is, you know you can tell me anything.”
With her pulse pounding in her ears, she nodded and forced herself to talk. “Remember when I overheard you talking to Kade about Tina and your baby?”
Pain flittered through his gaze as he stiffened. “No… You heard that?”
Complete confusion and worry darkened his eyes. He withdrew his hand and vaulted to his feet.
Dammit, she was screwing this up big time. Idiot. She jumped up and raised a hand to touch his stiff back, but slowly lowered it instead. “Yeah, I did. Sorry…I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”
He twisted around to face her, anger darkening his gaze. “You just open your mouth and talk. Say something like, oh, I don’t know…Hey, Kevin, I heard you and Kade talking about Tina and your baby.”
Her chin lifted. “Well, I did hear, and I…felt bad for you. So bad, Kevin.”
His jaw clenched and eyes momentarily closed. When they opened, they held a little less anger. “Did you hear Kade ask me if I was using you and Amelia as substitutes?”
She swallowed and nodded.
“And…?” His dark gaze was intense. No softening, no warmth. Nothing.
“You said no, and I believed you. Trusted you,” she answered. “I would never have gotten involved with you otherwise. Surely you see that?”
He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. “Right now, I don’t know what to believe. What else haven’t you told me? What else haven’t you been honest about?”
“Bobby wasn’t Amelia’s father,” she blurted.
He reeled back, brows raised as he stared at her. “He’s not?”
“No. Her father is a Casanova cowboy. A jerk I was with one time, right after Lyle…” she let out another breath and shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. His name is Brandon. I tracked him down after I found out I was pregnant. He shoved money in my hand, told me he wasn’t daddy material and to take care of it.”
Kevin’s jaw cracked so loud it echoed around them. “Bastard.”
She nodded.
“Is that why you didn’t want anything to do with me at first?”
She nodded again. “Yeah. I was completely cured of gorgeous, self-centered cowboys. But it soon became obvious you weren’t one.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed.
He didn’t squeeze back. “Did Bobby know?”
She let go of his hand and frowned. “Yes. Of course. I…Oh, hey, no, I didn’t try to trap him if that’s what you’re getting at.”
Kevin shrugged, gaze no longer open. She had no idea what he was thinking now.
“Bobby already had me down as his beneficiary because he didn’t have any family. And when he found out I was pregnant, he insisted we claimed he was the father—that way the birth would be covered under his guard healthcare, and then the baby would be too once she was born.” Memories of that conversation, as plain as day, brought back with it the loss of her friend. “He was always looking out for me.” She blinked back a round of tears.
Her Forever Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 4) Page 25
