by Cara North
Jack sighed and touched the bandage on his eye. “Do you really love me?"
He touched her cheek and felt the dampness from her tears still there. “Sweet Bethany, God help me, I still love you."
Jack turned and walked out. Tomorrow, they could talk about it in the morning. There were enough tears and bloodshed for one night.
Chapter 18
Again, his head was pounding but not as bad as before. This time when he woke up, the sun was out. He noticed the front door was open as he stepped to the hall. He heard her crying on the front porch and crept closer to hear what she was saying and hopefully see who she was talking to.
His heart almost exploded as he saw her sitting on the swing, the two dogs listening with interest to her every word.
"I'm sorry, guys.” She sniffed. “I really might have blown it this time."
Blue Dog put his paw up for a shake. She sniffed and laughed. “Thank you."
She cried out again with heavy sobs. He almost burst out the door then, but she started talking, and he wanted to hear it all. She wouldn't lie to the Danes. She had no reason to.
"I never wanted to marry Douglas. I only agreed to get away from my family. I knew I could get the girls to go wild with a bachelorette party. I tried to get them to do it in Rome, or Paris, or Australia, even Hawaii. I wanted out of the U.S. I wanted to go far, but they chose Las Vegas. Then, I met your dad, and all I wanted was one night with a real man, but then we got married, and I came here.” She sniffed and wiped her nose on her shirt sleeve. Jessie Boy put his head in her lap, and she rubbed his ears. “But don't worry. I took care of everything. I gave Douglas the majority of the shares to my dad's business, so he would leave your dad and me alone. He doesn't know it, but I gave Paul the rest of them to do something with. I don't want the money. I wouldn't care if we lived in his truck, just the four of us. I just want your dad, but I think I've lost him."
Jesus. Could she rip his heart out a little more, so it could really bleed? Making noise as he walked, he stepped out on the porch. The dogs looked at him then back to her. Blue Dog actually whined.
"Come here, boy.” He slowly walked toward him and nuzzled his hand. “Sorry about last night, boys."
Jessie Boy came over next, and they took turns looking up at him and back at Bethany. If those dogs could talk, they would tell him not to let her go. “It's going to be okay, fellas. Go on down to the barn and see Jan. I bet she's got a treat for you."
At the word treat, they both perked up. “Go get Jan, she's got a treat."
They headed off toward the barn. He only hoped Jan would be there, but he couldn't take the pressure of all three of them looking at him with big sad eyes. He stepped over to her and sat next to her on the swing. She still sniffed and wiped her nose again on the shirt sleeve.
"You look like hell,” he said and let out a short laugh.
"Thanks.” She pulled her feet up onto the swing and hugged her legs, resting her chin on her knees.
"You patch up my eye last night?” He breathed a heavy breath.
"Yes.” She sniffed.
"Why didn't you just tell me the truth?” he asked and hoped she would be as honest with him as she was with the dogs.
"By the time I realized I could, I didn't think it mattered. I didn't think he would come looking for me. I guess he really wanted the money,” she said into her knees. “I would have signed it all back over to my father or mother or even him. I swear I don't want anything to do with them. I have two hundred fifty thousand dollars in my closet. Minus the clothes and stuff we bought. I was already planning to get a car and then put the rest in with the family funds for the ranch."
"Change your mind?” He stroked his hand down her back. The small connection was as essential as oxygen since his lungs felt ready to collapse.
"You hate me.” Her tears started anew as if she had not cried all night and all morning.
"I don't hate you.” He hated the situation. He hated the thought of her not trusting him and really hated being blindsided by another man, but he did not hate her.
"Yes, you do. I can see it in your eyes, Jack. You looked at me like I just stole your truck, your dogs, and ran over your horse.” She remembered his three major rules. None of which she had broken. It made him smile despite the situation.
"But you love my dogs, and my horse, and you look good in my truck.” He pulled at her shoulder a bit, and slowly she leaned into him. “You know you have a month and a half before you can even think about leaving me."
"What?” She sniffed.
"We agreed to three months, remember?” He tried not to wince as she leaned against him. His ribs still hurt like hell.
"You don't need me, Jack.” She sniffed and wiped her nose again.
"No. That's where your wrong, sweetheart. I do need you. Who else is going to chase after my kids? Sneak bacon to my dogs and carrots to my horse when I'm not looking?” He twisted a curl on his finger. “I love you, Bethany Johnson. You broke my heart. Don't do it again."
"Oh Jack!” She squeezed him, and he winced out loud for real. “Oh no, look at your ribs, Jack. I can't believe you were in a fight."
"He called you a very ugly word.” He pushed her back and looked at her blotched face. Her eyes were swollen and red. Her nose could lead a team of reindeer on Christmas Eve. Even her lips were swollen. She sniffed again, blinked back more tears, and he noticed the droplets on her lashes.
"You know.” He wiped her nose with her shirt and then pulled it over her head leaving her in just her bra and panties. She hadn't put on anything other than his old raggedy shirt. The thing was basically a snot rag by now anyways. “I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful than you do right now."
Her lower lip trembled.
"Good Lord, woman, you gonna cry all day?” He smiled. She really was a bundle of raw emotion this morning.
"I love you, Jack. I swear I never meant to hurt you. I promise I won't ever keep anything big from you again.” She bit her lower lip. “So, I guess I should tell you I might be pregnant."
"Real funny, sweethear,t but you just stopped taking the pill.” He smiled at her, but she didn't smile back, and she sure didn't look away. “Bethany?"
"I forgot them in Vegas, and I haven't had a period since I've been here. I should have started two days ago.” She grabbed him. “Don't be mad, Jack. Please."
He looked at her and realized he should be mad, but he wasn't. Instead, he was a little bit nervous and excited. “Why didn't you tell me you forgot them?"
"So much was happening around here I never really thought about it, and then I told you I wanted kids and realized I couldn't remember the last time I took a pill. I swear I hadn't even thought about any of it, and then you left. I was scared to death I had lost you. I realized I might be pregnant, so I checked my calendar. I'm late."
She never once looked away. “Anything else you want to tell me while we're at it here?"
"I flattened the tires on your truck last night, so you couldn't leave without seeing me this morning.” She sobbed again. He laughed. Now, she had really done it. “I don't know what's wrong with me."
"I do.” Jack wiped her nose again. “You're desperate."
"Maybe.” She shrugged.
"No, sweetheart, you are. Just as desperate as I was. Lost and confused, thinking crazy thoughts. Come on, let's go lie down a while. My head is killing me, and I'm sure yours is, too.” He helped her to her feet and led them back into the house.
"What were your desperate thoughts?” she asked, and he laughed.
"I thought about locking you in your closet until you learned to trust me.” He laughed again and held his ribs because it hurt.
"I don't think locking me in a closet would have made me trust you.” She sniffed and let a little laugh out.
"Hey, I was desperate. Flattening my tires wouldn't stop me from leaving. I got rows of transportation in the stables, sweetheart. I'm a cowboy. I'd just ride off into the sunset.”
He closed the bedroom door behind them, crawled back into his bed, and pulled back the sheets on her side. “Come on, come lay with me."
Bethany snuggled in and gently laid her head on his chest. “I love you, Jack."
"I love you, too, sweetheart. Now rest up. I'll need to re-consummate this relationship in a few hours.” He kissed her forehead and relaxed. With too much to process, he just needed sleep.
* * * *
Bethany traced his lips with her fingertips. It was well into the afternoon and time for them to wake up. Her heart was full again, mended. Jack still loved her, and he wasn't mad about the possible baby or the tires. Well, he might be mad about the tires, but he seemed okay about the baby. She kissed his lips softly, and he stirred. His arms moved around her and hugged her tightly then let go as he winced.
"Ouch.” He grumbled then rubbed the bruises on his ribs. He looked like a prize fighter all beat up.
"Jack?” She continued to kiss him, down his throat, over his collarbone and each bruised rib.
"Mmm.” His hand found her head and stroked her hair. “I didn't like sleeping without you last night."
"Me either.” She smiled and rubbed his belly button with her nose before dipping her tongue into it.
"Tickles.” He squirmed a second.
"You smell good, Jack. You know, on the first night, when we danced, I was more intoxicated by your scent than the tequila.” She nuzzled his hipbones one at a time, kissed them, and made her journey to the juncture between his legs and the angry looking erection staring back at her. “He always looks so ... angry."
"Well, you'd be angry too if you spent your life trapped in a denim prison.” He laughed then groaned as she cuddled his balls in her hand.
"Jack?” She inhaled his spicy scent and tasted the salty drop of fluid already dripping from the head.
"Yes, sweetheart."
"I think I should be on top this time.” She licked the shaft, and he readily agreed. Bethany had no intentions of having sex this afternoon. She had every intention of giving him pleasure, of tasting and teasing and pleasing her personal hero. The man who had fought for her honor and loved her through it all. She would be so lucky to bear his children. If they were going to be anything like Jack, a couple kids, two dogs, and a dude ranch with horses, cats and family to spare was enough of a job for any woman!
About the Author
Cara North began writing short stories as a child. Her first full length novel was written by hand in approximately seven different hard bound journals. Of course today she uses the computer. She is published in several different genres of romantic fiction, sweet romance, science fiction/fantasy, contemporary, and erotic romance. Both of her novel series’ will be released at Tease Publishing LLC.
Cara's goal is to continue winning readers over one by one and eventually make the NY Times Bestseller list. In a perfect world The Beaufort Series would be made into a movie. Ethan would be played by Josh Hartnett, Joshua by Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ayden by Ryan Reynolds. The heroines could be played by several talented actresses. Did you hear that Hollywood? I'm waiting...
In the meantime she lives with her own personal hero and husband, Chris. They share their home with two dogs, Brittany and Jonah, and two cats, Han-Solo and Shiva. Learn more about Cara at www.sirensandmuses.com or check out her MySpace at www.myspace.com/caranorthwriter yes, she blogs!
Semper Fidelis
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