She headed downstairs to check on the shop first; Dade followed like a shadow. Jamie and Tony had heard the gunshots and called the police. Little did they know, the police had been the one to fire the shots. An officer was downstairs with them, keeping the shop secure.
“I think this is the craziest summer Peak Town has ever had,” Jamie commented. “The only shootings we’ve ever had before this summer were hunting accidents.”
The young girl shivered. Tony wrapped an arm around her in comfort.
“Let’s close up the shop for today guys. It’s only a few hours from closing anyway. I’m going to be staying at the ranch for a few days, but I’ll be in tomorrow to open.”
“Lizzy, are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean—”
She shot Dade her best evil-eye over her shoulder. “I’ll be in tomorrow.”
He held up his hands, backing off. “Tomorrow, sure. I’ll drive you in.”
“I can drive myself.”
He looked as if he might argue for a moment, but wisely kept his mouth shut. He was still in the doghouse as far as she was concerned. Though, remembering Carr pointing that gun at him had her heart skipping a beat. She’d been so afraid that the crazy man would shoot Dade, part of the reason she kept razzing him, trying to get his attention off him. It wasn’t as if she had a death wish, especially now when she was protecting two. She just couldn’t stand the thought of the man she loved dying.
And she did love Dade. As much as she tried not to, it was impossible. She was head over heels crazy in love with the cowboy. He said he loved her, too, but how could she believe him? Worse, what happened if she did believe him? She had never seen an example of happily ever after actually working. Not in her parents’ marriage, not in anyone’s.
How did you believe in love when it had never believed in you?
Chapter 33
Dade wanted to drive Lizzy to the ranch, but she insisted on taking her own car. He backed off, agreeing to her demand. He was being far too agreeable. She didn’t trust it. He was up to something.
When she pulled into the ranch driveway, Maggie came barreling out of the door with Colton hot on her heels.
“Dammit, Magpie, slow down! You’ll hurt yourself,” her best friend’s fiancé shouted.
Maggie didn’t listen and didn’t slow down until Lizzy parked. Once she exited the car, her friend came to a halt. Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she launched toward her. Lizzy welcomed the support with open arms, fighting back tears of her own.
“Oh, Lizzy. I was so worried. Sheriff Ryder called and said he couldn’t get ahold of you or Dade. He mentioned something about Carr. About him possibly being after you.” Maggie hiccupped as the tears fell. “He said he was on his way over to the apartment to check on you. I tried calling, but your phone just went to voice mail.”
“I’m sorry. I turned it off, but I’m fine. See?” She pulled back, spreading her arms wide.
“Fine? Fine!” her best friend shouted. “Then why did I get a call from Jamie that there were half a dozen police officers at the apartment? Peak Town only has eight officers. She heard shots, Lizzy.”
She winced. Would have been nice of Jamie to let her know she called Maggie. She didn’t blame the poor girl, really. Jamie had been scared and was just trying to contact those who loved her.
Those who loved her.
It had always just been Maggie. Now, could it possibly include someone else?
She glanced over her shoulder at Dade who had driven behind her the whole way. He stood a few feet away, allowing her a moment with her best friend. His eyes smoldered as they made a perusal of her body. She knew what that look meant, but he could forget it. No way was she hopping back into bed with him. No matter how tempting it was.
He gave her a devilish grin. His eyes said he knew exactly what she was thinking, and he’d be more than willing to accommodate. She sucked in a breath. Boy was it tempting.
“What happened? Was it Carr?”
She turned her focus back to her friend. “Yes, it was. I’ll tell you all about it, but can we go inside please?”
“Of course, but…” Maggie lowered her voice, her eyes darting to Dade then back to Lizzy. “Are you okay? I mean he didn’t hurt…”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. Carr didn’t even touch me. The baby is fine.”
Her friend gasped at the same time Colton asked, “What baby?”
“So you told—”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I told Dade.”
“Looks like you’re going to be an uncle, little brother,” Dade’s deep voice said from behind her, close behind her. His hand came down to rest on her hip, squeezing in a reassuring gesture. She didn’t know when he had moved, but his show of support touched her. The man really didn’t play fair.
Colton pumped his fist in the air, making a whooping sound. “Congratulations, you two. Lizzy, I hope the baby looks just like its mama. Be a shame if the kid came out with his daddy’s ugly mug.”
Dade reached out, smacking his little brother on the back of the head. “Remember, we’re related, numb nuts.”
“Yeah, but I got all the good looks.” Colton winked.
“Will you two knock it off?” Maggie glared at the two men. “Lizzy needs rest and cookies, and I need to know what happened, so let’s move this sibling love fest inside okay?”
“You made cookies?” Her fiancé’s eyes lit with eagerness.
The cupcake maker sighed. “Sometimes I think the man only wants to marry me for my desserts.”
Colton wrapped his arms around Maggie, nuzzling her neck. “Not true. I love all the food you make. I especially love eating it off your sexy, naked, bo—”
Maggie turned in his arms and smashed her hand over his mouth. “Okay, that’s enough of that. In the house, cowboy, or no cookies for you.”
He gave her a wide grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
The two of them led the way to the house. Lizzy started to follow.
“Do you know why I love you, Elizabeth?”
She stopped at those softly spoken words. Maggie and Colton continued into the house, leaving her alone with Dade. She didn’t want to hear any more of his lies, but she couldn’t stop herself from turning around to face him.
“Why?” she asked, even though she knew she shouldn’t.
He stepped closer to her. His right hand came up to cup her face. The big, rough palm warm and so comforting. His hands were such a dichotomy. They reminded her of how strong he was when he protected her, and how gentle he was when he made love to her. She turned into his touch, like a cat begging to be stroked.
Ugh, I am so pathetic.
“I love your strength, your independence, your intelligence. I love that sassy mouth of yours, even when you use it to distract a madman and scare me half to death.”
She laughed softly. Even with all the chaotic emotions surrounding this man, he could still make her laugh.
“I love your beautiful, stormy eyes that express every emotion you feel. I love how silky your hair feels sprawled on my chest in the mornings. I love your perfect breasts, sexy, long legs, and that spectacular ass. I love how beautiful you are when I’m inside you and you come for me.”
She blushed. Just thinking about sex with Dade was making her hot. Her nipples started to peak inside her bra. A tingle started low in her belly.
No! We are mad at him, body. And we didn’t bring our sexy underwear so stop those thoughts right now.
“I love how you keep surprising me. Every time I think I’ve got you figured out, you do something that turns me on my head. You’re smart, funny, loyal, beautiful, and the most amazing woman I have ever met.”
Oh crap. He was going to make her cry. Again.
“But most of all, Lizzy, I love you because you’re you. I love every single part of you. You made me feel alive when I thought my heart was dead.”
Dade gripped her face in both hands now. It was a light hold, but she felt the desperation in it. She s
aw tears in those clear, sky-blue eyes and it humbled her.
“Rachel rejected my love because she didn’t want me to get hurt, but I got hurt just the same. Don’t reject me now because you’re afraid I’m just trying to do the right thing. I am trying to do the right thing.”
She sucked in a breath. Her heart cracked as her worst fears started to materialize, but then…
“I’m doing the right thing by being with the woman I love.” He gazed deep into her eyes. “You, Elizabeth Hayworth, are the woman I love. And I will never stop trying to convince you of that as long as I have breath in my body.”
He leaned in, brushing his lips over hers in a soft, tender kiss. She could have pulled away, stopped him, but she didn’t. She needed his kiss more than she needed her next breath. When he pulled away he gave her a hopeful smile.
“Think about it. No matter what you decide, I am always here for you.” He placed a hand on her belly, rubbing softly. “And I will do everything I can to make sure our child never has a moment of sadness.”
She placed her hand over his. It felt comforting and right. No matter what happened between them, she knew Dade was going to be the best father there ever was.
“I love you, Lizzy. Every single part of you.”
With that final statement he headed into the house, leaving her standing there, confused, hopeful, and terrified.
Chapter 34
Every single part of you.
The words kept buzzing around in her brain keeping her awake. All through dinner, the explanations to Maggie, and now as she lay in bed, the words whispered to her. Did she dare believe them?
Lizzy tossed and turned in the queen size bed. It was a comfy pillow top with down quilts and feathered pillows. She felt like she was sleeping in a big, fluffy cloud. Except she wasn’t sleeping. She was wide-awake thinking about the cowboy in the next room.
Dade told her he loved her, all of her. Those words were what she’d always wanted to hear—someone who loved her just for being her. Her deepest dream was coming true…and it terrified her. What if her dream turned out to be a nightmare? What if years down the road, he didn’t love all of her anymore?
She was borrowing trouble, but she was so afraid to accept what he told her she wanted to poke holes in it.
She sat up with a gasp.
There it was. Just like Dade said. She was afraid. Afraid this might be too good to be true; he was too good to be true. He was, but somehow, he was still here and wanted her. Was she really going to throw away the greatest guy she’d ever known just because she was afraid?
Hell no!
Elizabeth Hayworth wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything.
If Dade said he loved her and wanted to be with her, then she would not let her fear of the future ruin the present. Right now, she had a man who loved her for her, and she wasn’t going to throw that away.
Rubbing a hand across her still flat stomach, she grinned. They were going to be a family, a real family who loved and supported each other.
Mind made up, Lizzy tossed the covers aside and slipped out of bed. A glance at the bedside clock showed the time to be just after midnight.
Good.
Maggie and Colton would, hopefully, be asleep. As for Dade…
She smiled. If he was sleeping, she was sure he wouldn’t mind the way she wanted to wake him up.
Making her way across the bedroom, she turned the doorknob, opening the door as quietly as she could. Dade’s room was just across the hall. Maggie told her he used to sleep in the master bedroom, but gave it to her and Colton after she moved in. Another shining example of the man’s generous heart.
Peeking both ways, she made sure no one was up and about before she tiptoed across the hallway to his room. Without knocking, she turned the doorknob and entered. All the lights were off. The room was dark, as dark as hers, so her eyes were adjusted. She could just make out his form in the large bed that seemed to take up most of the room. He was lying on his back, one arm resting on his chest the other at his side. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Confident he was asleep, she took a moment to stare at the man she loved.
“Didn’t figure you for a peeping Tom.” His deep voice came out of the darkness and curled around her like sensual smoke. “You gonna stand there all night or are you planning to join me?”
He pulled back the covers, revealing he was wearing absolutely nothing to bed.
Mmm, my favorite outfit on him.
“I thought you were sleeping you big fake-a-rony!”
His chuckle caressed her as she made her way to him. “That’s not a word.”
She sat next to him on the bed. “It should be.”
Rising up on one elbow, he reached out, grasping her behind the neck. His thumb stroked her cheek. Those piercing blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. “I love you, Lizzy. You believe me, don’t you?”
Tears of joy gathered in her eyes as she finally let herself accept his words. She nodded with a smile. “I do.”
“And you love me, too?” The hesitancy in his voice amazed her. How could he ever doubt she loved him?
“Yes.”
“Say it,” he growled.
“I love you, Dade. So much more than I ever thought possible.”
He let out a breath, and it seemed as though a weight lifted off his shoulders. Pulling her to him, he captured her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside. She met him eagerly.
“Tell me again,” he demanded between breath-stealing kisses.
“I love you.”
His hands caught the edge of her flimsy silk nightgown—okay, so she brought one sexy undergarment, just in case, after all, she’d been a girl scout—and tugged. His mouth left hers only long enough to drag it over her head. Tossing it away, he came back to her. He rolled them so she was on top. Fine with her, there were a few things she wanted to do to him tonight, and this was a better position for them anyhow.
Breaking away from his lips, she kissed his chin, his throat, his chest. She made a trail of kisses down his body, taking little love nips along the way until she reached the part of him she was craving.
“Lizzy?”
She shushed him, her hand stroking his thighs as her eyes feasted on what was before her. Dade was a big man, all over. Mostly in their lovemaking, he had been the one controlling the foreplay. He was fantastic at it, so she let him handle whatever he wanted, but tonight, she wanted to do a little handling of her own.
His cock was thick and hard, standing straight up like a lollipop begging her to lick it. So that’s exactly what she did.
“Shit!” Dade gasped as he gripped the bed sheets in his hands. “You’re killing me, woman.”
“Not yet,” she said around a smile.
“Now, Lizzy. I need you now.”
“Not yet,” she repeated. She wasn’t done with her fun yet. And she wanted to show him how much she loved him. She wanted to do this for him, give him pleasure, love him in every way possible.
He cursed.
Giggling, she kissed him, then opened her lips and took him in her mouth.
“Sonofabitch.”
She grinned as he struggled for control. She liked that she had this effect on him. Moving her head up and down, she swirled her tongue around him as she took him as deep as she could. She could hear his ragged breathing as she hollowed her cheeks and sucked. She had never been a big fan of oral sex before, but with Dade, she could see herself becoming an addict.
Suddenly without warning, he reached down, grasped her by the arms, and pulled her away, dragging her up his body.
“Enough.” His voice was harsh with lust. “I need you now.”
“Now,” she agreed, her need as great as his. Who knew giving a blowjob could be such a turn on?
He positioned her above him, and his fingers found her, testing her readiness. She was ready all right. Touching Dade’s naked body was all the foreplay she needed. One finger slid into her, quickly followed by another. She whimpered as his thu
mb found her.
“Now, Dade!”
He chuckled. “Now who’s demanding?”
But he didn’t tease her further. They were both riding the edge of hunger. His hand left her, and she felt the head of him pressing against her opening. One thrust and he was deep inside. She cried out from the pure rapture of it.
He started a slow, steady pace, pulling out then thrusting back in as far as he could. He held her hips at an angle so every thrust hit her tiny bundle of nerves. Her entire body was on pins and needles, tingles racing over every inch of her. Had anything ever felt this good? She couldn’t remember. She could barely remember her own name right now.
“Look at me,” he demanded.
She forced her eyes open to find his. There, shining from their blue depths, was so much love, she thought she might cry.
“I love you, Elizabeth Audrey Hayworth. Now and forever.”
That did it. Tears started to fall, tears of happiness, joy, and pleasure. He quickened his strokes, filling her, body and soul.
She called out his name as she climaxed, her body tensing with her release. She fell onto his chest as he gave two more hard, deep plunges then joined her in completion.
****
Lizzy sat on the exam table wearing nothing but a paper gown. Dade sat by her side holding her hand. Nerves and excitement were high. Four weeks had passed, four magical, love-filled weeks. She’d moved to the ranch, much to the delight of everyone. She and Maggie talked every day about weddings, babies, and the shop. Maggie had gotten the all clear from her doctor, so she was back baking.
Dade and Colton had been discussing additions to the ranch house or possibly building another house on the property. When they thought the women weren’t listening, they also discussed babies and weddings. Everything was going perfectly.
Carr survived, but was now states away awaiting trial for fraud, perjury, and attempted murder. Ryder assured Lizzy and Dade their statements would be enough, and they would not have to testify. Which she was grateful for. She never wanted to see Carr in her life again, ever.
Love on the Wild Side Page 20
