Frowning, Dev looked away for a moment and then met his burning gaze. “Sloan, do you love me?” She was so scared to ask and yet Dev knew this was exactly what needed to be discussed with him. His eyes widened a little, but she saw tenderness come to them. Sloan lifted his hands, framing her face and leaning down, capturing her lips.
Closing her eyes, Dev melted into his strong mouth that slowly, deeply cherished hers. His breath was moist, warm and comforting across her cheek and jaw. Tiny prickles of delight skittered across her flesh where his roughened hands cupped her face. His mouth curved gently across hers, giving to her, letting her know of his love even though he’d not spoken the words yet.
Sloan eased away, drowning in her luminous green eyes, seeing so much love reflected in them for himself. He felt like shouting out his joy. Instead, he gave her a wry look and said huskily, “Dev, you have more courage than I do. I love you. I was going to wait until another time to tell you, maybe later after you got some sleep under your belt.”
“I’m always impatient,” Dev managed brokenly, tears jamming into her eyes. Sloan caressed her cheek and released her, capturing her two hands in his, holding them warmly within his grasp. “I wanted so desperately to live, Sloan. I swore if I got out of that, it would be one of the first things I’d tell you…”
“It’s mutual, sugar. I figured out that the day I met you out there on the highway that I’d started falling for you.” He tucked errant strands of her black hair behind her ear. “Then, I got tangled up in my own past, my failed marriage, and I didn’t want to rush anything with you. I knew you were still traumatized by Gordon jumping you in that barn, and that you were skittish around men in general. I thought I’d wait it out. I never questioned that I was falling in love with you, Dev. I was.” He shrugged. “It was me. My past, and my coming to grips with it and getting real about it once and for all.”
“I kinda figured that,” Dev admitted, feeling his love like warm sunshine embracing her. “We both thought we had all the time in the world to let our relationship open up and bloom naturally, but that didn’t happen.”
Sloan dragged in a deep breath, squeezing her hands gently. “No, Gordon took care of that. We should both thank him for that one thing. For me, it pushed me beyond my past, those experiences that were holding me back. I got very clear about you and me. What I wanted to share with you, Dev.” Sloan looked around the quiet apartment and then gazed at her. “I don’t want you to be anywhere but living here with me. Are you all right with that?”
Nodding, Dev said, “I’d love to stay with you and Mouse.” She gestured to the dogs. “I think from the moment Bella and Mouse met, they liked one another. Maybe,” she said, giving Sloan a soft look, “a sign of things to come later between us?”
“Dogs are a lot more up front about it than we were, that’s for sure,” Sloan agreed, a smile edging his mouth. “I love you, Dev. Never, ever doubt that.” He leaned forward, giving her a tender kiss meant to heal her. He tasted her salty tears and withdrew from her lush lips. “Come here,” he told her gruffly, turning her around so that she could fit beside him once more. Sloan understood Dev needed to cry and that was a good thing, not a bad thing. He enclosed her in his arms. “Go ahead,” he rasped against her hair, “just let it go, sugar. I’m here. I’ll hold you through it…”
Sloan’s heart winced with each of her sobs. Dev pressed her face against his chest, her arm going around his waist, clinging to him, as if afraid she would be torn away from him again.
Whispering soft words near her ear, he continued to gently wipe the trailing tears away from her cheek, loving her so damn much. As the initial shock began to dissolve, Sloan knew her raw emotions would start coming back online. He had anticipated her weeping. He saw both dogs rise and come over, standing as close as they could get to Dev on the couch. Bella leaned forward, her cold nose against Dev’s pant leg, as if to give her doggy support, wanting her to feel better. Mouse sat down, whined a little, worry in his intelligent eyes as he thumped his long, thick tail.
Closing his eyes, feeling her shake, Sloan absorbed her sobs. He was so grateful to be here for her this time. It still bothered him he hadn’t been able to protect Dev before, but at least now he could be here to help her through this part of her long healing process. It would take Dev time to work through the combined traumas. She’d come out West to escape Gordon. And he’d followed her. Grimly, Sloan held the woman he loved more than life gently in his embrace. In the coming months, Dev would be fragile, would need his quiet support, his love to shore her up in order to get through all the legal hurdles that would now begin with Gordon’s capture. In time, she would have to face him once again, in another trial, and put him away, he hoped, for the rest of his life this time. For whatever sick reasons, Gordon had fixated upon Dev.
Sloan had already made a phone call earlier from the ER at the hospital to Dev’s mother, Lily, explaining everything. In another week, Lily would be flying out here to stay and visit with Dev. That was a good thing, Sloan felt. Right now, Dev needed her family. Even though her father was missing in action, her mother had immediately stepped up to the plate and been compassionate toward her daughter. Dev needed the wagons circled around her right now, and Sloan was going to make sure that she would feel not only safe, but cosseted by those who truly loved her. That was when true healing took place.
*
DEV AWOKE SLOWLY the next morning to sunlight peeking around the drawn drapes of Sloan’s bedroom. She missed his presence. She smelled food being cooked outside the partially open door. Her tummy grumbled. Yesterday she hadn’t been hungry at all. Sloan had coaxed her to eat a tiny bit of last night’s light dinner he’d prepared for them. Shock made a person lose their appetite. Sliding her palm across the cool sheet where Sloan had lain beside her last night, she smiled softly into her pillow, closing her eyes, caught in the love thrumming through her heart for him. She heard movement on her side of the bed and heard Mouse’s long, low whine.
Rubbing her eyes, Dev slowly sat up. Her left arm was achy but more serviceable this morning. She saw Bella with her head resting on the edge of the mattress, watching her. Mouse sat next to her, happily thumping his tail, his eyes bright and shining with what she interpreted as happiness. “Well,” she laughed huskily, reaching out and petting each of their heads, “I can see how this is going to go.”
“Good morning.”
Sloan leaned casually against the doorjamb, smiling over at her, his arms across his powerful chest. Instantly, her body warmed to that sensual male smile of his. He wore a pair of clean jeans, a dark green cowboy shirt with pearl buttons, and looked so damned good to her. “It is,” she murmured, slowly pulling the covers aside. She was naked and didn’t mind his admiring look. It felt good to be seen as beautiful.
Sloan shoved off the jamb and walked to the end of the bed, handing her his dark blue robe, helping her on with it. “Sleep well?” he asked.
Pushing some hair off her face, Dev stood and tied the sash around her waist. “I died.” And then her mouth quirked. “Let’s not use that analogy,” she muttered, giving him a longing look. Sloan read her accurately, taking her gently into his arms so she could curve her arms around his waist and rest against his tall, strong body. “I slept really well,” Dev admitted. “Thanks to you. I always sleep better when you’re with me, Sloan.”
He kissed her cheek after moving some of her ebony strands aside, easing them across her shoulder. “Love always makes a person sleep better. Did the dogs wake you up?”
She laughed a little. “No, not really. They both must have been in here earlier?”
“Yes, they were at the door this morning when I got up. Mouse was whining and I was afraid it would wake you up, so I let both of them in. I made them lie on the rug. I didn’t want them jumping up on the bed and waking you up.”
Dev eased away just enough to reach up and kiss his mouth. Luxuriating in the strength and emotions behind Sloan’s returning kiss, Dev drowned with
in his arms. Breathless after the kiss, she glanced down at the two adoring dogs who stood expectantly nearby. Both tails wagged in anticipation. “I woke up on my own,” she told him, reaching out, patting both of them. “And I think they felt me wake up and then came over to my side of the bed to give me a doggy good morning.”
“They love you, too, sugar. Are you hungry? I’m fixing ham, scrambled eggs and toast. Sound good?”
This morning, it did. “It does…” Dev slid her feet into his too-large soft leather slippers, warming them.
“Got coffee for you, too,” he teased, leading her out of the bedroom.
“You really know what will get my attention,” she said, grinning. Walking out into the airy, sunlit kitchen, Dev felt some of the heaviness dissolve from around her shoulders.
“How’s the arm doing this morning?” Sloan asked, pulling out a chair at the table for her to sit down upon.
“No so cranky. I can even lift it higher. Look.”
Sloan gave an approving nod. “Good. You sit here and I’ll get you some coffee.”
Dev looked out the huge picture window. The sky was a powder blue, the sunlight strong, no clouds in the sky. She would never tire of looking at the nearby forest or the wide Wyoming sky above them. Bella came and sat on one side of her chair, Mouse on the other. “What are you,” she teased them, “guard-dog bookends?”
“They know you need a little more TLC than usual,” Sloan offered, placing the large red mug with coffee in it before her.
Making a muffled sound, Dev caught his serious gaze. “I do. I feel like an egg without a shell right now.”
“In time, that will pass,” Sloan reassured her. “And while you’re in that mode, you need to do things that make you feel safe and happy.”
“Then,” Dev murmured, reaching out and catching Sloan’s work-worn hand, “I’m in the best possible place for that to happen.”
“Speaking of nice places to be,” he said, going back to the kitchen, “Miss Gus called an hour ago. She wanted an update on you. I told her you were doing well considering everything.” Sloan fixed up two plates with the breakfast food. He brought them over to the table and then sat down at Dev’s right elbow. “She’s invited us over for dinner tonight if you feel up to it. Do you?”
Tucking the green linen napkin across her lap, Dev said, “Of course. They’re people I will always want in my life. I feel very safe and well loved by all of them.” The salty ham smelled heavenly to her and she picked up her fork and knife to cut into it.
“She’ll be happy to hear that. I’ll call her as soon as we’re done with breakfast. I think everyone from the Triple H and Bar H are going to come to see you, make sure you’re doing all right. You okay with that crowd?” He searched her eyes.
“They’re like family to me, Sloan. I’m going to love seeing each and every one of them. Yesterday, I didn’t think I’d see anyone again.”
“Good, because you need to put yourself with people who care about you, Dev.”
She frowned. “I need to call Charlotte and find out when she expects me back on the job.”
“I called her this morning. Jordana wants six weeks off for you and Charlotte’s granting her that medical request. It will give your arm time to really heal up properly, get you physical therapy, plus give you some emotional space to recollect yourself, sugar.”
Relief tunneled through Dev. “That’s great.” Her eyes sparkled as she met Sloan’s concerned gaze. “But what am I going to do with six weeks without something to do?”
“Oh,” he said mysteriously, digging into his pile of fluffy scrambled eggs, “I think you might find out more about that tonight when we go over to see Miss Gus.”
Tilting her head, she gave Sloan a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” he drawled, “you know Miss Gus. Her and Iris Mason are a lot alike. They’re the fairy godmothers of this valley, always doing good turns for good people who need a little helping hand every now and then.” He smiled a little. “But it’s a surprise, Dev, and I don’t want to spoil it. I’ll let Miss Gus tell you. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, hungry and appreciating the eggs. “Well, if it’s a surprise from Miss Gus, then she’d kill you if you let it slip out.”
Chuckling, Sloan nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’ll do what Miss Gus asks of me.”
Suddenly, Dev felt so much of the heavy weight lift from her shoulders. She was sitting and having breakfast with the man she loved. The dogs were nearby, loving her too. “I’m really surrounded with love, Sloan.” Her voice trembled a little. “It feels really nice…” Dev reached out, briefly touching his hand, holding his tender blue gaze.
“It’s long past time, sugar. It was good you transferred out here. I think Wyoming is the place where you’ll not only find love but people who want you in their lives from near and far. You’ll bloom here.” Because Sloan knew the wounds left by her father were still alive and well within Dev. He understood when a parent jettisoned his own child, the child carried a lifelong heart wound. And even though Sloan knew he couldn’t heal that wound in her, he could love Dev, and over time she would make peace with her past and release it.
*
DEV WAS SHOWERED with love and affection as everyone encircled her after Sloan drove her to the Bar H. Miss Gus wrapped her thin, strong arms around her and gave her a very powerful hug. Next came Valerie McPherson and her baby, Sophia, and then Griff, her husband. It felt so good to be embraced, hugged and have her cheek kissed. Talon, Cat, Cass and then Sandy were next. They guided her to the huge living room where everyone sat down. She was glad to have Sloan’s hand in hers. They sat at one end of the massive U-shaped leather sectional.
They brought Bella along because they knew Zeke would be present. Sloan left Mouse at home because the two males would not get along under the circumstances. Bella was wagging her thick yellow tail, thumping it on everyone’s legs as she eagerly licked their proffered hands hello and readily accepted all pets available while she remained at Dev’s side. Zeke was a happy dog.
The smells emanating from the huge warm kitchen made Dev’s mouth water. Miss Gus had told her it was a celebration-of-life meal for one and all. Just being with all these people who cared for her drove tears into Dev’s eyes. She tried to circumspectly wipe them away with trembling fingers. Sloan offered her his white linen handkerchief, which she took with a grateful look. He then rested his arm around her, keeping her close, understanding she was emotionally vulnerable as never before.
Miss Gus took the rocking chair which faced the U-shaped sectional. She was wearing a bright purple apron, her silver hair glinting beneath the hurricane lamp chandelier hanging above the area. The rest of the family crowded around Sloan and Dev. Val had brought a file to her and Gus thanked her. She placed her parchment-like hands over the file resting in her lap.
“Well, you’re looking a bit peaked, Dev, but under the circumstances, that’s to be expected,” she told her gently.
Dev smiled a little, giving Gus an apologetic look. “It’s been a little rough of late,” she agreed.
“That’s gonna end,” Gus said firmly. “And this is a happy dinner, planned especially for you. I found out from Sloan this morning that your favorite meal is tuna and noodle casserole.” She slanted a lively glance toward her rapt audience. “Cass helped me a lot since that’s not something I know how to cook very well. We also have corn relish, and I’m sure you can smell the homemade yeast rolls he’s made, just starting to bake in the oven.” Her hands fluttering, she added with a wide smile, “And yes, your favorite dessert, German chocolate cake. We have Cat to thank for that. Thank you, Cat.”
Cat grinned over at Dev. “In truth, Talon helped me out. He’s a better cook than I am.” She gave her husband a warm look of thanks. Talon returned her loving look.
“It’s a family affair,” Gus told them sternly, waving her finger at all of them. “And that’s what families are for. We help one another out when things get tough o
n one of us.”
“Gosh, Miss Gus,” Dev said, “this is even better than Christmas! Thank you, everyone.” She glanced around and made eye contact with each of them, smiling.
Everyone smiled and nodded.
“It is Christmas in summertime,” Gus agreed sagely, giving Dev a serious look now. “We all know your story, Dev. And you’ve been hounded almost to death by Gordon. That no-good is gonna get slammed away for a long, long time. Wyoming judges don’t put up with our women being stalked out here. I know the judge who’s taking this case, and he’ll hit him with the maximum sentence.”
“Couldn’t happen to a better person,” Dev whispered. She felt Sloan’s arm squeeze her gently. Everyone nodded in grim agreement.
“On to happy things, now.” Gus cackled, smoothing her hands over the file. “I’ve been working with Sloan on the sly for a bit. You didn’t know anything about it, and he wanted to keep it a secret from you for a bit.”
Confused, Dev twisted a look up at Sloan. His eyes gleamed with amusement and he gave her a kiss on the brow. “What did you do?” she demanded.
Sloan had the good grace to blush, his cheeks growing ruddy. “Well, actually, it’s Miss Gus who can tell the whole story, sugar. Go ahead, Miss Gus. We’re all dog ears.” He gave Bella and Zeke a fond look.
Chuckles flowed around the room.
Dev frowned. She looked at all her friends and they were smiling, eagerness in their expressions. What was going on? Cat could hardly sit still, wriggling around, happiness in her expression. Dev felt the love and care radiating from Sloan, who had an enigmatic look on his face. The man knew how to keep a secret.
“Okay,” she said. “Are you playing Mrs. Santa Claus today?”
Out Rider Page 29
