“Oh my God, he’s taking his clothes off, isn’t he?” Riley laughed. “I swear our Braden boys know what we like. Call me if you need me, and give my love to your mom and dad.” Riley ended the call, and Jade set the phone on the bedside table.
Rex stepped from his jeans and crawled across the mattress like a panther on the prowl, his bulbous muscles emphasizing the depth of his power. His eyes simmered with passion, stealing the last of her rational thought. He crawled over her, bringing her down beneath him. His hard length pressed firmly against her center as he laced his hands with hers.
“I missed you, baby,” he rasped against her neck, sending shivers of heat through her body.
“I couldn’t find the necklace.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to confess that when what she really wanted was to disappear into him.
He touched his forehead to hers and smiled down at her. “It’s okay. We’ll find it.” He kissed her tenderly. “I’m sorry about your dad, babe. Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“I’m going to make sure you’re more than okay.” He kissed a path between her breasts, gently stripping off each piece of her clothing, leaving her bare and wanting beneath him. He proceeded to do as he promised, loving her with his mouth, his hands, and every inch of his magnificent body until all she felt was pure, unadulterated bliss.
Chapter Four
EARLY THE NEXT morning they awoke to the shrill ring of a cell phone. Jade nearly jumped out of her skin as she clamored to get her phone.
“Oh God. Dad,” she said as she climbed across Rex and grabbed her phone. She quickly looked over at Rex’s nightstand when she realized it wasn’t her phone ringing.
“It’s mine, babe.” Rex pulled her into his arms as he reached for his phone. “It’s Dane, not your dad. Come here.” He lay back against the pillow, bringing Jade down with him and holding her against his chest as he answered the call.
“Dane? Is something wrong?” Rex’s older brother Dane was an expert on sharks. As the founder of the Brave Foundation, whose mission was to use education and innovative advocacy programs to protect sharks, he and his fiancée, Lacy, traveled often.
“Lacy’s been sick all evening. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. It’s probably the flu. We’ll see how she feels tomorrow before making any decisions, but we may not make the wedding.”
“Dane, it’s four thirty in the morning here. Where are you? Is Lacy okay?”
“Australia. We’re on a tagging assignment. I think she’ll be fine. It’s just the flu or something. I totally forgot about the time difference. Sorry about that.”
“No worries. It’s cool. Let us know about Lacy, and give her our best. Earl is in the hospital. He had a heart attack.”
“Oh, damn. I’m sorry we’re not there with you guys. Is he going to pull through?”
Rex explained Earl’s prognosis and that he should get out of the hospital on Saturday.
“Rex, are you going to postpone the wedding?”
Rex looked at Jade lying across his chest in a silky negligee. Her brows were knitted together. He imagined she was thinking about her father. All Rex had ever wanted was to make her happy, and if Sunday came and her father was still in the hospital, he’d never forgive himself for not pushing her to agree to postpone. He kissed the top of Jade’s head, wishing he knew which way to go—insist they delay the wedding or let things play out and hope for the best?
“Jade and Earl don’t want to postpone it.” Saying it aloud felt even more uncomfortable than thinking about it. He needed to get off the phone so he could breathe. “Give my love to Lacy, and let us know how she’s feeling tomorrow.”
He ended the call and closed his eyes, feeling Jade’s finger drawing a path down the left side of his chest.
“Hey, babe, Lacy’s sick. They’re not sure if they’ll make it to the wedding.”
“Oh no. I hope she feels better soon.” She propped her chin on Rex’s chest and gazed up at him.
He hadn’t realized that he’d been hoping that might make her change her mind. Rex slid out from beneath her and sat on the edge of the bed, his muscles tense from a fitful night’s sleep. “I really think we should postpone the wedding.”
He felt Jade’s strong, soft hands on his shoulders as she kneaded his tension away. In addition to being a veterinarian, Jade was a specialist in equine shiatsu and acupuncture. The way she was touching Rex brought back memories of the way she’d touched him when they were first dating. No one had ever touched Rex with as much love and tenderness, as much intense passion, as Jade had that night—and every day since.
He reached up and placed his hand on hers, knowing he’d do anything she wanted, including not canceling the wedding.
Later that morning, after checking on the horses, Rex came back home to pick up Jade for breakfast and found her sitting in her office leafing through photo albums. Jade, like Rex, wasn’t big on technology. They both used cell phones and computers, but Jade still preferred to have her photographs printed by a camera shop rather than downloading them from a phone onto her computer. She’d kept albums from the time she was in grade school.
“Feeling sentimental?” Rex leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smelled like Flame, which told him she’d taken a stroll down to their barn while he was at his father’s ranch. She loved that horse as much as she loved him, and he loved that about her, too.
“I was just thinking about the wedding. I always dreamed of my father walking me down the aisle.”
Rex crouched beside her. “I know. I called Ben this morning and he said your father is doing well. Chances are he’ll be fine to walk you down the aisle Sunday, but I still think postponing the wedding just to be safe is a good idea.”
Jade sighed and ran her finger over a picture of her holding her father’s hand when she was about ten years old.
“He’ll walk me down the aisle. I know he will. Besides, we have everything planned, and…” She nibbled on her lower lip as if she were contemplating saying something else, and when she didn’t, Rex tried again to persuade her.
“And what if he’s not? What if we go through with it and he’s stuck in the hospital? I’ll never forgive myself for not pushing you to put it off.”
Her eyes teared up, and Rex gathered her in his arms, feeling his own chest tighten over her sadness. He knew she was sad over her father more than the idea of postponing their wedding, but her emotions were all tangled up, and Rex was powerless to separate them and cause her more pain by making the decision himself.
“It’s Friday. We have one more day until we have to make a final decision. Let’s not worry about it until then. You go spend the day with your dad, and I’ll take care of whatever loose ends need to be tied up. I have to get Ross out here to see Hope, too, because she’s not doing well.” Rex’s cousin Ross lived in Trusty, Colorado, and he was also a veterinarian.
“Hope?” Fresh tears sprang to Jade’s eyes. “I’ll look at her.”
“No way. You have enough on your plate. Ross is a great vet, and you need to be with your father.”
“Maybe this is all a sign because I lost the necklace. What if this is all my fault? Dad, Hope—”
“Jade, none of this is your fault. Your father was a ticking time bomb. You know that. You’ve worried about his health for years, and Hope has already lived longer than any horse I’ve ever had.”
She gazed up at him with damp eyes. “What if the necklace was the key to holding it all together—holding us together—and everything falls apart? What if my dad doesn’t make it? What if Hope dies? What if we don’t find the necklace? That was your most meaningful tie to your mother, Rexy, and I lost it.”
Rex cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. The one thing he heard loud and clear was what if the necklace was what held them together, and as wrong as that was, it wasn’t the most pressing what if she’d asked. “Baby, your father is going to make it. Ben hasn’t given us any indication that he thinks otherwise, and R
oss will fix Hope up. We’ll find the necklace. I’m sure we will.” He held her tight and hoped to hell the things he said were true.
Jade rarely cried. She was a strong woman with a sassy personality, and she’d been so emotional these last few days—weeks?—that Rex worried even more. As much as he wanted to postpone the wedding, he was more concerned about causing her any more grief.
“My stomach is a little off this morning. I think I’m going to skip breakfast and go directly to the hospital.”
“I’ll walk you out.” He walked her to the car and pulled her in close. “Babe, you have to know that there is nothing holding us together but the love we feel for each other. Please tell me you know that.”
“But—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “No buts. I love you, and you love me. It’s a pretty simple equation. Right now your world feels like it’s crumbling around you. It’s not. We’re solid. I promise you that.”
Rex watched her car until it disappeared over the ridge, and he finally breathed again. Would he ever get used to seeing her worry? It cut like a knife, slicing anew with every look.
He pushed those thoughts away and called Ross. They made plans to meet at the barn later in the afternoon and then Rex drove over to Hal’s. He saw Treat heading for the barn with Adriana holding his hand and Dylan snuggled against his shoulder.
“Hold up,” Rex called out as he climbed from his truck.
Adriana dropped Treat’s hand and ran toward Rex. Even at five she resembled her grandmother, with long brown hair, big, almond-shaped eyes, and always a smile on her slightly wide mouth.
“Uncle Rex! We’re going to see Hope.” She jumped into his arms and wrapped her skinny arms around his thick neck. She smelled like syrup, and her sticky little hands told him that she’d had her mother’s famous pancakes for breakfast.
“Did you eat my pancakes this morning?” Rex teased.
Adriana’s hair was pinned up in two ponytails that swung as she shook her head. “Mommy saved you some, but Dylan ate Daddy’s.”
“He did, did he? That little rascal.”
Adriana giggled. “He is a rascal. Why weren’t you there for breakfast?”
“I was with Aunt Jade.”
She laid her head on Rex’s shoulder. “Mommy said Jade’s daddy is sick. I hope he feels better soon.”
“Me too, princess. Are you excited about being one of the flower girls for our wedding?” Adriana and Layla, Hugh’s daughter, were going to be flower girls and walk down the aisle together.
They came to the bottom of the hill, and Rex followed Treat into the barn.
Adriana nodded, eyes wide. “My dress is beautiful. Daddy said I’m going to be the prettiest girl there, but Mommy said I am not supposed to be prettier than the bride, so don’t tell Aunt Jade.”
“Don’t you worry about Aunt Jade. She thinks you’re beautiful, too. But I have a feeling you and Layla will be equally as beautiful.” Rex kissed her cheek.
She giggled. “Your whiskers are prickly.”
He set Adriana down. “Don’t get into any trouble.”
“Uncle Rex, I never get into trouble.” She held on to one of Rex’s fingers.
Rex walked up to Hope’s stall, and Hope didn’t nuzzle against his chest. Her head hung low, and her whole body seemed to sag.
“She’s having trouble today,” Rex said quietly to Treat as he opened Hope’s stall. “I was down earlier and I’ve already called Ross.”
Dylan reached for Rex, and he took him from Treat and kissed his chubby little hand. “How’s it going, moose?”
Dylan giggled.
“Dad was down even earlier than you were.” Treat’s face was somber. Rex could tell that he was worried about Hope, and they were both avoiding the elephant in the room—what would happen to Hal if Hope passed away?
“Where is he now?”
“Up at the house with Max and Shannon. Max is going with him to the hospital in a few minutes, and Shannon’s going to watch the kids.”
“Good. Jade is already there, and I’m sure she can use the company.”
“I talked to Dane this morning,” Treat said. “Lacy’s been sick. I hope they can still make the wedding.”
Treat petted Hope’s side, and Hope finally pressed her muzzle to Rex’s chest. Rex’s shirts were all worn in the center from that very motion. He was trying to ignore the tug in his heart at the thought of losing Hope.
“I know,” Rex said. “He called me at the ass crack of dawn.”
Dylan reached for Rex’s hat and he handed the toddler his Stetson, which Dylan immediately began sucking on.
“Sorry, moose, no leather snacks today.” He slid the hat back on his head, and when Dylan whined, Treat reached into his pocket and pulled out a hard rubber horse, which Dylan was very happy to gnaw on.
“In case I don’t tell you often enough, you’re a great father, Treat.”
“We had a great role model.” Treat nodded toward the entrance to the barn, where Max and Hal were closing in on them. Treat opened his arms to Max, and she settled right in against him, dwarfed by his broad frame.
“Heading to the hospital?” Treat asked.
Max’s long dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders. She wore jeans and boots, dressed up with a silky tank top. Max smiled up at Treat and went up on her toes to kiss him.
“We are. I just came down to get the kids and bring them up to Shannon so you guys could do manly things without being hamstrung by the kids.”
Rex pressed a kiss to Dylan’s cheek. “Hamstrung? I love these guys.”
Max stroked the back of Dylan’s dark head, and he reached for his mommy. She took Dylan from Rex, and he instantly missed the weight of him in his arms. The paternal longing that had gripped him over recent months rose to the surface.
“I know you do, Rex. Maybe after your wedding you and Jade can start a family right away.”
“That’s the plan.” Rex knelt beside Adriana and lifted her up in the air. She squealed and giggled. He kissed her cheek, then set her on her feet. “If we’re blessed enough to have children half as wonderful as yours, we’ll be in good shape.”
Max rolled her eyes. “Please, with yours and Jade’s genes, you’ll have smart, strong, beautiful babies.”
“They’ll have stubborn babies.” Hal slung an arm over Rex’s shoulder. “Stubborn, proud, beautiful babies, like we did.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Sadness swept through Rex as Jade’s father’s mortality eked into his thoughts. Hal’s hair was now more gray than black. His face was mapped with lines from too many years of toiling under the hot sun. He was still a handsome man, and it was easy for Rex to fool himself into thinking that his father might live forever with his fortitude and commanding air of self-confidence. But with Hope and Earl ailing, real life had a way of creeping in and stripping away the linebacker shoulders and barrel chest and revealing the aging man beneath.
“How’s Jade holding up, son?” Hal asked.
“About as good as to be expected. She refuses to postpone the wedding, though, and that isn’t sitting well with me.” He contemplated telling his father about the necklace, but he didn’t want to upset him. He held out hope that they’d eventually find it.
“What does Earl want?” Hal asked.
Rex found it interesting that Hal didn’t ask what he wanted, but then again, he and his father talked often, and Rex had made no bones about wanting to marry Jade since the day he’d fallen in love with her.
“He wants us to go through with it.”
“Then, that’s what you’ll do.” Hal went to Hope and kissed her on the top of her head. “Right, Hope?”
Hope neighed and nodded her head.
Rex scoffed. “What about family comes first and all that? Besides, what if Earl doesn’t get out of the hospital and he can’t walk her down the aisle?”
Hal turned serious eyes to his son. “Family does come first, son. The thing is, I don’t think Jade wants to take a c
hance at her father not being there any more than you do. I think her heart is too broken right now to think clearly, but Earl…Well, son, Earl’s thinking for her, and there are times in every father’s life when he has to step in and do the thinking for his children.”
Treat walked Adriana and Dylan out of the barn with Max, then returned to his father’s side.
“She’s an adult, Dad. I think she’s well past that stage,” Rex said.
“I’ve got to tell you, Rex,” Treat said. “I know what Dad’s talking about. I think Adriana will have a hard time keeping my nose out of her business.”
“So I’m supposed to just sit back and go along with it? Call the florist and the caterer and the photographer as if I’m excited to get this wedding off the ground? And what about Dane and Lacy?”
“They’ll be here,” Hal said as he stroked Hope’s cheek.
“Lacy’s sick,” Rex reminded him. “So we might end up getting married without Earl, Dane, or Lacy, and that would suck.”
Hal kissed Hope’s jaw and mumbled something that Rex couldn’t hear. “Trust me, Rex. They’ll show up. I best be on my way so Max doesn’t leave without me.”
“Dad, Ross is coming over to check out Hope this afternoon,” Rex said.
Hal waved him off. “Hope’ll be fine, too. She just needs you and Jade to work all this crap out.”
Rex watched him walk up the hill and sidled up to Treat. “Dad still thinks he can talk to Mom through Hope. Should we be worried?”
Treat shook his head. “If you’re worried about his mental faculties, no, you shouldn’t worry. He’s as sane as they get. If you’re worried about whether he’s going to fall apart if Hope dies…” He shrugged. “Won’t we all?”
Chapter Five
JADE WATCHED THE nurse take her father’s temperature and check his monitors and leads while Earl asked her four times when he could go home. The staff at Weston Memorial Hospital were efficient and compassionate, and Ben had already been by twice this morning. Jade had asked Ben about dietary restrictions for her father, and she took copious notes for her mother, who had been vacillating between acting perfectly fine and looking as if she were in a daze. Jade was as worried about her as she was about her father.
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