Crime Tells: Cady's Cowboy
Page 17
The emotional storm she’d been battling rose with the force of a hurricane and tears formed in Cady’s eyes. Kix pulled her into his arms again. “Don’t do that, Cady darlin’, please don’t cry. Hear me out, then if you need to throw a punch, go ahead and do it. Just don’t cry or walk away. Damn, Cady, I couldn’t take that. I love you.”
When Cady didn’t say anything, his gut went tight and Kix swallowed hard. Damned if his heart couldn’t make up its mind whether it was going to burst right open or just plain shut down.
“Say you’ll forgive me, darlin’. I know I hurt you and I’m sorry. Sorrier than I have the words for. I was thinking with my heart and not my head. I didn’t want you anywhere close to danger.”
Cady closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, the erratic beat of his heart offering testimony to the fact he was on the same emotional roller coaster that she was on.
She believed him. Believing him was the easy part. She could even work up a joke about how not putting the little woman’s life in danger was probably written in the Code of the West or something. But that didn’t mean it hadn’t really hurt.
She took a deep shuddering breath and lifted her face, looking into his worried eyes and seeing the vulnerability, seeing the desperate need to have his apology accepted and to get another chance.
No regrets. From the very start she’d made that promise to herself when it came to Kix. And right now, the only thing she’d ever regret would be throwing away a chance of a lifetime by letting hurt and pride get in the way of love.
She loved him. Wholeheartedly. Completely. Like she couldn’t imagine loving another man. He was everything she’d ever wanted…and then some.
But maybe a little bit of caution was called for. He had to know that, cowboy code or not, she wanted his full acceptance of who she was and what some of her work involved.
“I’m okay now. I’m not mad. And I’d like to keep seeing you. Most of the Crime Tells cases I work are pretty tame, but there’s still a chance one of them will go sideways. You have to accept that going in, Kix, and not try to protect me by keeping information from me.”
Joy rushed through Kix at the acknowledgement that she was contemplating a future with him. “I trust you, darlin’. You’re smart and capable. And besides that, you’ve got me and Ranger for backup.”
Cady rubbed her cheek against his shirt, a ball of conflicting emotion in her chest. “So you meant it? You want me to stay with you in Texas for awhile?”
Kix pulled back so he could see her face. “For a lifetime, Cady. I want you to marry me.” Then before she could start worrying about leaving her family, he added, “There’s a Gulfstream jet and a pilot standing by at the Kicking A Ranch. As long as you spend most of your nights in our bed, you can fly back and forth as much as you need to.”
Cady’s eyebrows went up. “That must be some ranching operation.”
Kix grinned and brushed a kiss across her lips. “You’ll love the Kicking A Ranch. It’s home to fine horses, fine cattle, fine men and some mighty fine oil wells. Now put me out of my misery, Cady darlin’ and tell me you’ll marry me.”
“What if I tell you I love you and I’ll marry you?” She went to put her arms around his neck, but the handcuffs interfered. “And that maybe you’d better take these off.”
“For now, darlin’. But I think we might just find a use for them in the bedroom.”
About the author
Jory has been writing since childhood and has never outgrown being a daydreamer. When she’s not hunched over her computer, lost in the muse and conjuring up new heroes and heroines, she can usually be found reading, riding her horses, or hiking with her dogs.
Jory welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1337 Commerce Drive, #13, Stow, OH 44224.
Also by Jory Strong
Crime Tells 1: Lyric’s Cop
Fallon Mates 1: Binding Krista
Supernatural Bonds 1: Trace’s Psychic
The Angelini 1: Skye’s Trail
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