Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm down and slow her heart rate. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t real. It was just a nightmare.
Her head started to ache and she was afraid a migraine was coming on. She always ended up with a migraine after dreaming about Firestorm.
She had to get a grip. It was Monday morning and she needed to get to work. She sat up, untangled herself from the sheets, scooted out of bed, and headed to the bathroom. The ugliness of the nightmare clung to her skin like pond scum and she needed to take a shower to scrub it off.
When she walked into the bathroom she paused and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The scar seemed so much more vivid than ever. She moved closer to the mirror and traced the slash across her face. Her eyes were a little red from the tears the dream had brought forth—not only because of the horse, but because of the people being so cruel.
She shook her head. She hadn’t cried over the scar in a long time.
Blake had been there, too. He’d been standing beside her, but he’d looked upset. Had the dream-Blake been thinking the same thing everyone else had been saying?
With a shake of her head she turned away and ran the water in the shower until it was warm. No, Blake would never think of her that way.
Yet doubt and insecurities kept dragging her down.
She opened the medicine cabinet and took out the bottle of migraine meds that would hopefully help stave off a full-blown migraine. She shook out a couple of tablets, cupped water from the sink in her hand, then swallowed the meds and washed them down with the water in her palm.
When she stepped under the showerhead, she let the spray hit her full-force in the face. The awful feelings the dream had caused in her seemed to fade as the water washed over her and her mind cleared. She shook off the insecurities and fear that the nightmare had dredged up.
When she reached the accounting firm, Blake had his shoulder hitched up against a column of the overhang in front of the door. Her heart thumped a little faster when she saw him.
Thoughts of the nightmare came rushing at her and she remembered how he’d been at her side and how upset he’d looked.
She forced thoughts of the dream away, parked her truck next to his, and climbed out. She shut and locked the door, then walked up to meet him.
“You didn’t return my two calls yesterday,” he said in a slow drawl as he pushed away from the column and met her in front of the office. “Is everything all right?”
“I went to my grandmother’s and stayed a little late.” Cat gave him an apologetic smile. “I had Sunday supper with her and then we played dominoes and watched an old movie. She really seemed to need company last night.”
Blake put his hand on her shoulder and leaned down and kissed her, catching her off guard. “I missed you,” he said in a low voice as he drew away. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.” Her lips tingled as she looked up at him. “How’s Demi?”
He raised his western hat and pushed his fingers through his short hair before he settled his hat back on his head. “She’ll be all right. She just wants to believe that her mother and I will get back together someday. She wants her mother just like any girl would, I imagine.”
Cat nodded, feeling a tightness in her chest as she thought of what the girl must be going through. “I sure missed my mother when she died. Even though she was an alcoholic and didn’t protect me from my father. I felt like I needed her.” She took a deep breath. “My grandmother filled that spot. She was more of a mother to me than my own was.”
Blake put his hands on her shoulders. “Something’s wrong.”
She looked down at her shoes before meeting his gaze again. “I don’t think we should date. Demi doesn’t need the drama at this time in her life.”
He studied her for a long moment. “Demi is a big girl. She needs to understand that you’re important to me.”
“But—” Cat started.
“We’ll keep it discreet.” He searched her gaze. “I need you, Cat.”
His words caused a whirling sensation in her belly. I need you, Cat.
She hesitated. “How could you know that so soon?”
He gave her a little smile. “I wouldn’t call nineteen years soon.”
“You know what I mean.” She bit the inside of her lip before she continued. “We’ve both changed.”
“And I like what I see in you.” He let his hands slide down her arms to her wrists before taking her fingers in his. “You’re an amazing woman, even more than the girl you were when we were together before.”
She shook her head. “You can’t know that.”
“I can and I do.” He squeezed her fingers. “Now stop arguing with me and tell me you’ll go out with me Friday night.”
At that moment, Friday seemed so far away. She took in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Okay.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up around six in the evening if that works for you.” He leaned down and kissed her again. He raised his head and smiled at her and she felt more crazy sensations pinging around in her belly.
She nodded. “That works.”
He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Now what about that audit?”
“Oh. The audit.” She’d forgotten about it. “Do you have time for me to come by this week?”
“Right now would be nice.” He gave her a slow grin.
She couldn’t help a smile. “Seriously.”
He shrugged. “How about Wednesday morning?”
“Demi will be at school?” Cat asked.
“Even if she wasn’t, she needs to get used to you being around,” he said. “But yes, she’ll be at school.”
“I’d rather work up to being around slowly,” Cat said.
“I understand.” He nodded. “I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll see you Wednesday.”
She found herself smiling. “See you then.”
He kissed her, then turned and walked to his truck.
Chapter 12
The sound of a car driving up to the house caught Blake’s attention. He tossed the last bale of alfalfa hay from the old work truck then pulled off his leather and canvas work gloves. He walked out of the barn to see a new pearl-white Cadillac he didn’t recognize. He tucked the gloves into the back pocket of his Wrangler jeans and strode toward the car.
When a blonde woman in a bright red skirt and blouse stepped out of the car, Blake’s jaw tensed and he had to hold back a scowl.
Sally’s hair hung in long waves down her back and her cinnamon brown eyes held no smile. She wore red lipstick the same color as her dress and red high heels that weren’t practical for a ranch. Not that Sally had ever been practical.
She plastered a fake smile on her beautiful face. Or at least what he had once thought of as beautiful. She had him fooled long enough for her to get pregnant and then he’d started to see her true nature. He hadn’t known her well enough to see through her at the beginning. The protection they’d used hadn’t worked and she got pregnant within two weeks of their meeting each other.
Even though she wasn’t the kind of person he’d thought she was, he’d married her because it was the right thing to do. The six years they’d been married had been hell, but he’d tried the best he could for Demi’s sake. After Sally left, he realized that the best thing for Demi was not having such an unstable person in her life.
“Sally,” he said when he reached her. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s some greeting.” She tilted her head to the side. “Think you could find it in your heart to be kinder to the mother of your child?”
He just looked at her. “What do you need this time? Money, again?”
She kept the same pleasant expression on her face but had a spark in her eyes that might have been anger. “We need to talk. Why don’t you offer me something to drink?”
“It won’t be alcohol.” He ignored her scowl as he strode past her and up the porch steps to the front door and he held
it open for her. “I have lemonade or iced tea.”
“Lemonade is fine.” She followed him up the porch steps and walked in through the door he held open. He closed the door behind them. She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t drink anymore.”
Sure, she didn’t. He didn’t believe her any further than he could pitch her across the yard, which by the end of the conversation, he suspected, he would want to do.
Without answering her, he went to the kitchen, put ice in a glass, and poured her lemonade from a pitcher out of the fridge. He didn’t make himself a drink.
He handed her the glass. “What brings you here?”
“I like what you’ve done with the place.” She took the glass from him and sipped from it as she looked around the kitchen. She seemed to be taking in everything before she strolled past him into the living room. “Quite a remodel since I was here last.”
“You’re not here to admire the remodeling.” Blake wanted to clench his teeth as he walked behind her and into the living room. “Why don’t you tell me why you are here.” He said the last as an order, not a question.
She faced him, determination in her brown eyes. “I want Demi to come live with me. I’m moving to the Nashville area. Maybe you can have her for the summer and some holidays.”
“Like hell. You’re not taking my daughter away from me, much less across the state line.” He narrowed his gaze as anger began simmering beneath his skin. “You aren’t a fit mother and you know it.”
“I’m a perfectly fit mother.” Color flamed in Sally’s cheeks. “I’ve been out of rehab for some time now and I’ve been sober for six months. And, I’m getting married to a wealthy man.”
Which explained the Cadillac, Blake thought.
Sally continued, “My new home is huge and will be a better environment than her living isolated with nothing but dirt and bushes around.”
“No.” Blake tried to keep his calm but his temper was on a short leash. “Not happening. I have full custody and it’s going to stay that way.”
“A judge won’t see it as you do.” Sally raised her voice. “A judge will see that a daughter belongs with her mother. Demi is mine.”
“A judge will see that you’re not fit to care for her.” Blake struggled to keep from clenching his fists at his sides and to keep his own tone down. “You’re a drug addict, and an alcoholic, you can’t keep a job or a home, and you abandoned your daughter eight years ago to run off with some man. No, a judge isn’t going to rule in your favor.”
“That’s all changed.” She nearly yelled the words. “I’ve got it together and I want my daughter.”
“You think you can discard Demi then decide you want her again?” Blake’s whole body was tense and he felt like putting his fist through a wall. “She’s happy, stable, and she has a good life. I’m not about to let you put her through the pain you’ve caused her ever again.”
“You won’t have a choice.” Sally was nearly screaming now. “My fiancé can afford to take you to court and we’ll take it as far as we have to.”
“Demi isn’t some kind of prize for you to win.” He was having a hard time not raising his own voice. “She’s our daughter, not an object to fight over.”
Sally sounded nearly hysterical now. “You’ve had her long enough. She’ll be living with me now.”
“Like hell,” Blake ground out. “There is nothing you can do so you might as well stop it.”
“Oh, yes there is,” she said. “You just wait. You’ll find out.”
“What is that? A threat?” he said. “Are you actually threatening me?”
She sneered. “You’ll learn soon enough.”
“Get out,” he said. “Just get out.”
This time when Cat drove up to Blake’s house, a late model pearl-white Cadillac was parked beside his truck. She parked her own truck on the other side of Blake’s before she climbed out and headed for the house, his files tucked close to her chest in one arm.
With her opposite hand she smoothed down her flowing white eyelet skirt and adjusted her white blouse so that it was tucked in the back. She wore pretty gold flats that looked cute but wouldn’t cause her to break her neck walking across the yard on a ranch.
Vaguely, she wondered who the owner of the Cadillac was. When she reached the front door, she raised her hand and knocked on the wood.
The sound of a woman shouting caused her to go still. She stood frozen on the porch, not sure what to do. Blake was clearly in the house having an argument with someone. She started to turn away to go sit in her truck when the door opened.
Blake stood in the doorway, his jaw tight but his expression relaxing a little when he saw her. “Come on in.”
She cleared her throat. “Sounds like you’re busy.”
“It’s fine.” He stepped back so that she could come in.
Cat hesitated but then walked in to see a furious blonde with bright red lipstick standing in the living room. She wore a tiny red skirt, her breasts were large with her generous cleavage showing in the V of her red button-up blouse. The woman’s hands were propped on her hips and fire was in her eyes. She was beautiful—and she looked a lot like Demi. This had to be Sally, Blake’s ex.
“Sally,” Blake said, confirming her suspicions, “this is Cat.” He turned to her and gestured to the woman. “This is my ex-wife, Sally.”
“Cat?” the woman spat before Blake could make introductions. “You’re the one who dumped him and broke his poor little ’ol heart?”
Cat hugged the files to her like a shield. “I’m his accountant.”
“And my girlfriend.” Blake settled his hand on her shoulder. “Do you want to wait in the office, Cat?”
Surprised that he’d introduced her as his girlfriend, she just nodded. She wanted out of there as fast as possible.
“Don’t go. I’m leaving,” Sally said to Cat. Her sneer made her far from beautiful as she turned to Blake. “I can see you’re going to be busy with Scarface.”
Cat felt like she’d been slapped. Blake’s features hardened. He went to the door, opened it, and stood to the side. “Call next time you want to talk about Demi. Don’t feel the need to stop by again.”
“I’m going to get her back.” Sally snapped the words. “Don’t try and stop me because you’re going to lose her.”
Blake pointed out the open door.
Sally marched past him, stopped to glare at Cat, then walked through the doorway.
Blake quietly but firmly closed the door behind the woman.
When the door was shut he went to Cat and took her in his arms. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” she said against his shirt.
“What she said to you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I can only say, I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Cat tried for a smile as she stepped away from him, but the smile felt tight and artificial. “It’s not the first time I’ve been called that.”
“Oh, honey.” He took her into his arms again and held her close like he was never going to let her go.
He rocked her in his strong arms and she found herself sinking into his embrace and breathing in the clean smell of his T-shirt and his masculine scent.
This time when they parted she raised file folders. “We have work to do.”
He shook his head but put his arm around her shoulders and headed with her down the hall to his office.
When they walked through the door, she saw his desk and thought of the way he’d taken her there. Papers flying everywhere as he buried himself inside her.
Feeling warmth flooding her, she glanced up at him.
He gave her a sexy little grin. Even though she hadn’t said anything out loud, he said, “Me, too. I’ll never look at my desk the same way again.”
She smiled back at him. “I’d have to say that was the most exciting client meeting I’ve ever had.”
Chapter 13
“And I’m the only client you’ll ever have t
hat kind of meeting with.” The expression in Blake’s eyes told Cat that he meant it.
She didn’t bristle at the near command in his words. Instead, she felt giddy inside, his near demand making her feel as if she belonged to him. It surprised her how much she liked that feeling.
He took the file folders from her and set them aside on his desk before bringing her into his arms and kissing her. His kiss was slow and passionate, sending shivers of desire through her.
When he raised his head he trailed his fingers from her eyes to her hair and back. “Such beautiful cat’s eyes,” he murmured. “I’ve always loved your eyes.”
She ran her finger along the front of his shirt. “Don’t we need to get to work, Mr. McBride?”
“I have a few things in mind that I’d like to take care of first.” His smile was entirely sexual. “Unless you have other plans, Ms. Hayden?”
“Whatever you require, I’m here to help.” She realized her breathing was coming quicker. “The client is always in charge.”
“You’ve got that right.” He cupped her ass and caught her off guard as he raised her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clenched her thighs around his trim hips. He was so muscular and strong that she felt like a doll in his arms.
He turned toward the door and started carrying her out of the office and down the hall. “Hey.” She laughed as she clung to him, her arms tighter around his neck. “We’re supposed to be working.”
“I’ve got another project in mind.” He gripped her close so that she could feel his belt buckle through her skirt. And that wasn’t all she could feel. “Now shush before I throw you over my shoulder and spank you for talking back.”
She tilted her chin. “You wouldn’t dare, Mr. McBride.”
He raised a brow. “Are you challenging me?”
She shook her head then squealed as he hefted her over his shoulder, her face against his back and her ass in the air. He pushed up her flowing skirt so that it hung over her back and he ran his hand over her pink silk panties.
Roping Your Heart Page 9
