The sound of a vehicle coming down the road caused him to turn. His heart thumped when he saw that it was Cat’s truck. The windows were tinted and he didn’t get a good look at her until she parked and a few moments later climbed out of the truck.
Emotions warred in him as he strode toward her. He saw her beautiful face and the set of her jaw, the determination in her gaze.
When their eyes met, she ran toward him. He stopped, waiting for her, wondering if something had happened.
She reached him and flung her arms around his neck and pressed her body close to his.
“Blake.” She tilted her face to look at him. “I can’t do this. I can’t just say goodbye. It hurts too much.”
He studied her, loving the feel of her in his arms, never wanting to let her go. “What are you saying, honey?”
“I’ll wait for you.” Her throat worked as she swallowed. “We can do this long distance until Demi graduates from high school. It’s four years down the road, but I’ll wait for you. Having some of you is better than none of you.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “That is, if you’re willing, too.”
“Hell, yes.” He pressed her close to him, breathing in her scent, reveling in the feel of her body against his. “I’ll come back to see you at least every three to four weeks and we can talk on the phone every day if you want.” He took her by the shoulders and held her away from him, studying her. “If you’re sure that’s what you want to do.”
She nodded. “We were apart for so long. Another four years isn’t going to be easy, but I love you too much to let you go.”
He caught sight of her wrist. “You still have it.”
She looked down at the gold bracelet connected at the top with a heart. The one he’d given her for her eighteenth birthday.
“Of course.” She smiled.
“My little KitCat.” He drew her in once again and she clung to him.
* * * * *
The time they spent together that afternoon had been fierce, passionate, neither one of them wanting to let go of the other. It was like they were making up for lost time and for days yet to come when they would be alone.
When Cat had to return to town to check in on her grandmother, Blake was reluctant to let her go, but knew she needed to.
They walked outside, hand-in-hand. They reached her truck and he brought her into his arms and kissed her.
He put his forehead against hers. “You know how much I love you, don’t you?”
“At least as much as I love you,” she said with a smile.
His phone rang. He was going to ignore it, but she pulled away. “It might be Demi.”
He drew the phone out of the leather holster at his belt and looked at the caller ID screen.
“It’s Sally,” he said.
“Take it.” Cat looked up at him.
He pressed the connect button and raised the phone to his ear. “Hi, Sally.”
“Blake, I need to talk to you.” Sally was hesitant, which was unusual for her. It was much like the odd way she’d sounded the last time they’d spoken.
“All right,” he said, feeling wary as he turned away from Cat and stared out into the clear blue sky. “What do you need to talk about?”
“So much has happened and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past three months.” She paused, took an audible breath, then said, “I haven’t touched drugs but I started drinking again.”
Cold washed over him. “You what?” he said even though he knew he’d heard her right.
“Drinking. About two months ago.” She sounded nervous. “But I started going to AA meetings again and I’ve been sober again for almost three weeks.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, trying to control his anger. “Demi can’t live in that kind of situation,” he said. “I can’t let that happen.”
“I know.” Sally truly sounded like she truly knew she was in the wrong. “I’m working with my sponsor and as I’m working through the twelve steps I’ve come to realize some things. I don’t know that I can give Demi everything she needs.”
His brow furrowed. “You need money?”
“That’s certainly not a problem.” She gave a laugh, but it wasn’t one of humor because her voice turned serious again. “My sponsor helped me to see that I’ve been selfish, and frankly, a total bitch.”
Blake didn’t say anything as his mind tried to come up with a solution to the problem that Sally had been drinking again. Even if she was sober now, the fact that she’d slipped was a huge problem.
“I’ve thought a lot about what Cat said to me after we’d gone to court over Demi,” Sally continued and Blake glanced as Cat, wondering when she’d had a chance to talk to Sally and what she’d said.
“And as I work through this twelve-step program,” Sally went on, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not cut out to be a full-time mother. I started turning to alcohol again because it’s all been so stressful and I’ve felt inadequate. I want to be that girl’s mother so badly, but I know where she wants to be and I know I can’t replace you.”
He frowned. He could hear the emotion in her voice and thought she might be crying, but he wasn’t altogether sure what she was trying to tell him.
“Cat was right,” Sally said in a rush. “It’s in Demi’s best interest to be with you full-time.”
Stunned, Blake couldn’t think of what to say. He felt frozen as he tried to grasp what she was telling him. Somehow it wasn’t sinking in.
“She’s not happy here, either, and I’m gone a lot with my husband,” Sally added before he could say anything. “I thought maybe she’d get used to it here and make some friends and be happy. I thought I would spend more time with her while having her live with me, but it hasn’t worked out that way.”
“You’re giving custody of Demi to me,” he repeated slowly when it began to sink in. “Legal?”
“I want her for some of the holidays, but yes, full legal custody to you.” Sally sounded like she was unsure. “You still want her, don’t you?”
“God, yes.” A sense of elation swept over Blake and the corners of his eyes stung. He was going to have his little girl again.
“I was thinking she should probably finish the school year out here.” Sally had a note of relief in her voice, as if she had thought he might refuse. “There’s only about a few weeks left.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” He agreed with Sally even though he would have given anything to have Demi back on the first flight to Phoenix.
“In the meantime,” Sally said, “I’ll have my lawyer draw up the necessary legal paperwork.”
He gripped the phone tighter. “Have you told Demi?”
“No,” Sally said. “I wanted to talk with you first to make sure you wanted to take her.”
He realized he was grinning now as he met Cat’s gaze. She was looking at him with surprise combined with amazement and joy.
“When are you going to tell her?” he asked Sally.
“Tonight, after she gets back from the stables,” Sally said.
He felt almost high from the elation filling him. “Have her call me afterward,”
“I will.” Sally almost sounded like she was going to cry. “Thank you, Blake. I’ve come to realize that you’re a much better dad than I’ll ever be a mother. I have an awful lot of work to do on myself.”
He sighed, not wanting to bring her down. “She loves you, Sally. You know that.”
“I know.” A bit of a smile touched her voice. “She’s just happier with you, living the life she was raised in.” And then she sounded sad again. “I’m sorry I put you both through this. It wasn’t fair of me.”
“I’d still like to come out Thanksgiving week if that’s all right with you,” he said. “I’ll stay in a hotel and work something out with you to take her out for the holiday.”
“That’s fine,” Sally said. “One last thing.” She sounded serious again. “Tell Cat thank you.”
He nodded. “I’ll do that.”
“I need to get to my AA meeting,” she said. “I’ll have Demi call you tonight.” Then Sally disconnected the call.
He lowered the phone and closed his eyes before giving a broad grin. He opened his eyes and whooped loud enough to startle a flock of birds that had been resting on a nearby fence rail.
Cat closed the short distance between them and he caught her up so that her thighs were around his hips, her arms around his neck. Her eyes sparkled and she looked nearly as happy as he was. He swung her around, grinning, and she laughed.
“My little girl is coming home,” he said and felt his eyes burn again. “She’s coming home.”
Chapter 25
Cat walked hand-in-hand with Blake from the stables in Montana, leaving the horses to be brushed down by the stable hands.
Blake squeezed her fingers as they walked by the lodge and in the direction of their cabin, and she looked up at him and returned his smile.
“This has been the best honeymoon.” She leaned into his arm. “Cat Hayden McBride. Has a great ring to it.”
“Yes, it does.” He caught her by the chin and tilted her face up and kissed her. “I have the most beautiful wife.”
“And I have the sexiest husband in the west.” She grinned. “Heck, the sexiest husband alive.”
He laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. She didn’t think she could ever get enough of being close to him. It was June, a little over a year after Cat had first run into Blake at the 4-H horse club meeting. School was out, and Demi was with her mother while Blake and Cat honeymooned.
“When you talked with Demi, she sounded like she’s having fun with her mom,” Cat said as they approached the cabin. “I think Sally has come a long way during the past seven months or so.”
“She has.” Blake gave a nod. “I feel a lot more comfortable now letting Demi stay with Sally for an extended period of time. Even though I still miss my daughter.”
“I think she’s really enjoying going to the horse races with her mother and stepfather.” Cat swung hands with Blake. “Pretty cool that Sally’s husband has friends who have racehorses and that he likes to go to the races.”
“Demi certainly loved the Kentucky Derby,” Blake said with a nod. “Gives her something in common with her mom now.”
“She has rodeo with you and horse races with Sally.” Cat smiled. “I guess she has the best of both worlds.”
“Mrs. Belleview seems to think your granny is doing well these days.” Blake squeezed Cat’s hand.
She nodded. “Grandma Hayden is pretty amazing, the way she’s pulled through it all. She’s so tough, nothing can keep her down.”
They reached the cabin and Blake opened the door. He caught Cat off guard as he swept her up in his arms and she giggled as they walked through the door and he kicked it shut behind him.
It was called a cabin but it was pretty amazing with its huge vaulted ceilings, skylights, hot tub, and so much more. They would have been happy to spend their honeymoon together in a bare one-room cabin, but this had been a fun place.
Still carrying her in his arms, he headed up the stairs to the huge loft with the massive bed beneath the skylights. When he reached the bed she squealed with laughter when he tossed her onto the middle of the mattress.
He grabbed something from his duffel bag that was in the closet and then he eased onto the bed. She saw what it was as he straddled her.
“Rope?” she said as she grinned up at him.
He grasped her wrists and pulled her arms over her head. “I promised you that I’d tie you up. I need to show you that you’re mine.”
She laughed as he tied her wrists to a wooden rail of the headboard. “I’m already yours.”
“Just making sure that you know it.” He unbuttoned her blouse as she squirmed beneath him. Full sunlight shone through the skylights and she looked up at his hard but handsome face.
When her blouse was unbuttoned, he pulled her red bra beneath her breasts and her nipples tightened. He brushed them with the back of his hand and she bit the inside of her lip and arched her back, wanting him to do more than just touch her.
“You want more?” He dipped his head and sucked on one of her nipples.
She moaned. “Lots. And lots.”
With a low laugh he said, “That’s what I have in mind for you.”
He eased down her body until he reached the foot of the bed, then grasped one of her boots and tugged it off. He removed her other boot, then pulled off each of her socks.
“Now that I can have my way with you, what should I do?” he murmured just before he tickled the bottoms of her feet.
She wriggled, giggling. “Noooo. Not that.”
He grinned and tickled her more, causing her to laugh so hard she could barely breathe. She begged him to stop once again and he moved back up her body and braced his hands on either side of her as he looked down at her.
“Will you behave?” he said, still grinning.
She nodded vigorously as she tried to stop laughing. “I promise.”
He reached for the button of her jeans and unbuttoned them before drawing down her zipper. That calmed her laughter as she met his gaze and saw the smoldering look in his eyes. He adjusted himself so that he could strip off her jeans.
When she was left in her red panties, he ran his finger along the waistband. “You know how I love it when you wear red.”
She nodded. “I wear that color just for you.”
He stripped off her panties and now all she wore was the open shirt with her bra beneath her bared breasts and her arms tied over her head. As he watched her with a look of intense hunger, he stood and shucked off his boots and his clothing.
Her mouth watered and her body ached for him as she studied his incredible form and his erect cock that was hard just for her.
He moved between her thighs and braced himself over her again. His expression grew more serious. “I love you, Mrs. McBride.”
She thought she’d melt from the way he was looking at her. He untied her wrists and she looped her arms around his neck and smiled. “I love you, Mr. McBride.”
He slid inside her then, causing her to gasp with pleasure. Slowly he moved in and out and she rose up to meet his every thrust.
Feelings of love swirled with the sensations whirling within her body, so intense she could barely focus on his strong features.
“Come with me, KitCat,” he said. “Now.”
She cried out as she climaxed and he shouted and shuddered with his own pleasure.
When he could control his breathing, he wrapped her in his arms and adjusted her so that he was on his back, her head on his chest.
“We have a lot of time to make up for,” he said as he held her.
She smiled. “We certainly do.”
# # #
Also by Cheyenne McCray
“Riding Tall” Series
Branded For You
Roping Your Heart
“Rough and Ready” Series
Silk andSpurs
Lace and Lassos
Champagne and Chaps
Satin and Saddles
Roses and Rodeo
Lingerie and Lariats
Lipstick and Leather
“Altered States” Series
Dark Seduction
“Dark Enforcers” Series
Night’s Captive
Lexi Steele Novels
The First Sin
The Second Betrayal
The Temptation
From St. Martin’s Press:
“Night Tracker” Series
Demons Not Included
No Werewolves Allowed
Vampires Not Invited
Zombies Sold Separately
Vampires Dead Ahead
“Magic” Series
Forbidden Magic
Seduced by Magic
Wicked Magic
Shadow Magic
Dark Magic
Single
Title
Moving Target
Chosen Prey
Anthologies
No Rest for the Witches
Real Men Last All Night
Legally Hot
Chicks Kick Butt
Hotter than Hell
Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romances
Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romances
Excerpt… Branded for You
Cheyenne McCray
The afternoon was cooling off as it turned to dusk and then darkness descended on them. They each grabbed a light sweat jacket from the camper and slipped them on.
Ryan took a couple of steaks out of the cooler to cook over the fire. Megan sliced the potatoes and wrapped them in foil with butter and seasonings and put them in the coals first. Ryan buttered, salted, and peppered the corn on the cob and wrapped them in foil, too. When it was time, they placed the corn along the edge of the fire. Ryan had cored out the onion and put butter in the center and wrapped it in foil and put it in the coals, as well. The steaks went on last, when everything else was just about finished cooking.
When it was ready, they sat on the camping chairs in front of the fire and ate dinner.
“This is unbelievable,” Megan said with a smile.
Firelight flickered on her pretty features, casting shadows in the darkness as they ate. He thought about what he’d said to her earlier.
“I might be falling for you, Meg.”
He didn’t regret his words. He’d dated a lot of women in the past but there’d just been something missing. Something intangible that he hadn’t been able to name.
He’d never been a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy, but some thought so. He just wasn’t going to hang in there with someone if he knew she wasn’t the right one.
He’d never felt the same way with anyone that he did with Megan.
Last night he’d taken her hard and rough, and the memory caused his groin to ache. Damn she’d been amazing. But she needed to know that he wanted more from her than a night of good, hard sex.
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