Brodie and Sam made certain the injured men got home. August to his house, and Jasper to his room in the boardinghouse. When Tilden gave his approval for Bay to take Suzette home, he put an arm around her shoulders, tucking her against him as they walked home.
Walking up the steps, he opened the door, scooping her into his arms to cross the threshold. She wrapped her arms around his neck before looking around. One light remained on in the quiet house.
“Vangie must be in bed. After all, it is close to midnight.” She settled her face against his chest.
“Cam must also be in bed.”
His comment had her pulling back. Her brows drew together. “Camden MacLaren?”
“Vangie was frantic. I asked him to stay with her until we returned.”
The corners of her mouth slipped into a grin. “Is that so?”
Lowering his head, Bay kissed the sensitive spot below her ear, trailing his lips down her neck, feeling her shiver before he straightened. Turning toward the stairs, he carried her to her bedroom, shoving the door open, then kicking it closed.
Bay set her down next to the bed, cupping her face in both hands. The kiss was slow and languid, his tongue tracing the silky fullness of her lips. Suzette’s hands stroked up his arms, resting on his shoulders before slipping around his neck. In seconds, the kiss became urgent, more aggressive.
Adjusting his position, he wrapped both arms around her, needing to feel her against him. Having her in his arms, her mouth open for his, sent waves of heat rushing through him. He tugged her closer, leaving no space between them. Hearing her moan, he let his hands move to the buttons on the back of her dress, releasing them with a minimum of effort.
Another moan escaped when he slid the dress down her shoulders. He let his lips trace a path of hot kisses down her neck, along her shoulder, to the swell of her breasts. Lifting his head, he stared into lust glazed eyes, her mouth swollen with his kisses.
“I won’t be leaving tonight, or any other night, sweetheart.” He bent, brushing another kiss over her moist lips. “I love you more than my own life, more than I ever thought possible.” Lowering his head, he covered her mouth with his, creating a fire that flared between them.
“Bay, please…”
Chuckling against her lips, he shoved the dress and chemise to the floor, letting his hands wander over her soft skin. “I desire you more than you’ll ever know. You’re my entire world, Suzette. Tonight, I’m going to show you in every way possible how much you mean to me.”
Epilogue
One week later…
Unlike the wedding they’d first planned—small, with a few friends—this one filled the church. All the MacLarens attended, as did Brodie’s deputies and a good number of townsfolk they’d met over their time in Conviction, including both doctors.
Griff stood next to Bay, Vangie next to Suzette. She couldn’t help noticing how her friend took quick, furtive glances over her shoulder at Camden, her face flushing when he met her gaze. The actions amused Suzette. Perhaps something was starting between the two.
August sat in the front row next to Kyla MacLaren, their hands entwined, the cane he hated using resting against the bench. Audrey MacLaren, her son, Quinn, and his wife, Emma, occupied the rest of the row. Behind them, Camden sat with Colin, his wife, Sarah, and more MacLarens.
When the reverend pronounced them man and wife, Bay took advantage, bending Suzette over his arm for a searing kiss. The action caused the crowd to applaud and cheer, sealing the joy Bay and Suzette felt. Walking past the rows, she couldn’t help noticing the flush on Vangie’s face, or Camden’s eyes locked on her. Suzette found herself wondering how close they’d become while waiting for Bay to rescue her.
Reaching the back of the church, Bay took her hand in his, bending down to brush another kiss across her lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Bay.”
“All right. Enough of that, lad.” Brodie clasped his shoulder.
Laughing, Bay shook his outstretched hand, then those of several others, while Suzette was engulfed by several women. “We should get to the restaurant. I hope there are enough tables and chairs.”
“Ach, don’t worry about it, lad.” Colin slapped him on the back. “We’ll stand if necessary.”
Another smile spread across Bay’s face. “There will be plenty of food and a huge cake.”
“Cake?” Bram’s brows flickered in amusement.
“Biggest darn thing you’ve ever seen. Suzette refused to have our wedding without it.” His eyes wandered to her. “I’d better get my bride so we can all head to the restaurant. The new man, Zeke, will be wondering about us.”
“I’ve met him. Seems to be a good man.” Brodie let his gaze move over the crowd.
Bay nodded. “He’s a mystery, but I do believe Suzette made a good decision in hiring him.”
“Enough of this talk. I’m hungry.”
Bay chuckled at Brodie’s grin. “You’re right.” Walking to the group of women, he threaded his fingers through Suzette’s. “Time to feed these people, sweetheart.” Placing an almost chaste kiss on her cheek, he tugged her outside, leading them to the restaurant.
Within minutes, all chairs were occupied, servers moving from one table to the next, filling glasses with champagne. Suzette couldn’t keep the smile from her face. Since returning from her ordeal, numerous friends and people she’d never met stopped by the restaurant to ask about her. For the first time, she truly felt as if she belonged.
Her gaze lit on Vangie at a table next to theirs. Camden sat on one side of her with Griff on the other. Suzette couldn’t stop herself from wondering if both men held an interest in her beautiful friend. She watched as Camden leaned close to Vangie, her friend smiling at whatever he said, a blush coloring her cheeks. Suzette no longer wondered if the two were attracted to each other. She did, however, wonder at Griff’s interest.
Suzette’s attention shifted to the entrance when the front door burst open. A man dressed in dusty black pants, coat, and hat stood there. Above average in height, his shoulders were broad, arms thick, straining the fabric of his coat.
“Do you know him?” Bay asked as the man took several steps inside.
“No.” The word had just left her lips when Suzette heard Vangie gasp. Glancing at her, she saw her friend lean toward Camden, as if for protection, her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide. In fright or surprise, Suzette didn’t know. Either way, she knew Vangie recognized him.
Bay pushed back his chair and stood at the same time Brodie began walking toward the man.
“I’m Sheriff MacLaren. Are you here for Bay and Suzette?”
The man shot Brodie a cursory glance, not answering before searching the faces in the room.
Brodie tried again. “The restaurant is closed for a wedding celebration.”
Not finding who he sought, the man looked back at him for an instant. Turning toward the crowd, he opened his mouth, his loud voice vibrating throughout the room.
“I’ve come for Evangeline Rousseau and won’t be leaving without her.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Bay’s Desire. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
Watch for book nine in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain series, Cam’s Hope.
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About the Author
Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical and contemporary western romance with a touch of suspense. She is the best-selling author of the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Series, the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Series, and the Redemption Mountain Series. Shirleen grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from S
an Diego State University and the University of Maryland. Her passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona. Between them, they have five adult sons who are their greatest achievements.
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Books by Shirleen Davies
Historical Western Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Tougher than the Rest, Book One
Faster than the Rest, Book Two
Harder than the Rest, Book Three
Stronger than the Rest, Book Four
Deadlier than the Rest, Book Five
Wilder than the Rest, Book Six
Redemption Mountain
Redemption’s Edge, Book One
Wildfire Creek, Book Two
Sunrise Ridge, Book Three
Dixie Moon, Book Four
Survivor Pass, Book Five
Promise Trail, Book Six
Deep River, Book Seven
Courage Canyon, Book Eight
Forsaken Falls, Book Nine
Solitude Gorge, Book Ten
Rogue Rapids, Book Eleven
Restless Wind, Coming next in the series!
MacLarens of Boundary Mountain
Colin’s Quest, Book One,
Brodie’s Gamble, Book Two
Quinn’s Honor, Book Three
Sam’s Legacy, Book Four
Heather’s Choice, Book Five
Nate’s Destiny, Book Six
Blaine’s Wager, Book Seven
Fletcher’s Pride, Book Eight
Bay’s Desire, Book Nine
Cam’s Hope, Book Ten, Coming next in the series!
Contemporary Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Second Summer, Book One
Hard Landing, Book Two
One More Day, Book Three
All Your Nights, Book Four
Always Love You, Book Five
Hearts Don’t Lie, Book Six
No Getting Over You, Book Seven
‘Til the Sun Comes Up, Book Eight
Foolish Heart, Book Nine
Forever Love, Book Ten, Coming next in the series!
Peregrine Bay
Reclaiming Love, Book One, A Novella
Our Kind of Love, Book Two
Burnt River
Shane’s Burden, Book One by Peggy Henderson
Thorn’s Journey, Book Two by Shirleen Davies
Aqua’s Achilles, Book Three by Kate Cambridge
Ashley’s Hope, Book Four by Amelia Adams
Harpur’s Secret, Book Five by Kay P. Dawson
Mason’s Rescue, Book Six by Peggy L. Henderson
Del’s Choice, Book Seven by Shirleen Davies
Ivy’s Search, Book Eight by Kate Cambridge
Phoebe’s Fate, Book Nine by Amelia Adams
Brody’s Shelter, Book Ten by Kay P. Dawson
Boone’s Surrender, Book Eleven by Shirleen Davies
Watch for more books in the series!
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Copyright © 2018 by Shirleen Davies
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
For permission requests, contact the publisher.
Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC
PO Box 12618
Prescott, AZ 86304
Bay’s Desire is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.
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