Moon squinted. She felt disgusted that the woman had been watching her and Cam making love, but she dragged her thoughts back on track. She needed to stay focused on getting out and away from this maniac. “You need to let me go.”
“No, I don’t need to do anything I don’t want to do. And without the doc here to save you what can you do?”
Moon met Nola’s gaze. “Why don’t you let me out of these ropes and we’ll find out.”
“Tsk, tsk. Maybe you should concentrate on who has the upper hand here, honey. I don’t take kindly to threats. You saw what happened to your buddy. Cole understands now. I have to hand it to him. He’s tough. Not only did he survive a hit to the head with my friend,” she lifted the club proudly, “but an arrow to his leg, which was more for show than anything, yet he was dragged by the horse that I thought would surely kill him.” She paced the floor. “I had planned it so well. I had shot the horse, not wanting to kill her, just spook her enough so she’d ride like hell, straight into the ranch—straight to you. Wow. Everything was so good.” She laughed.
Moon drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Why Cole, though? Did he lie to you?”
She stopped pacing, her cold eyes on Moon. “Cole was like every other man I’ve come into contact with. They think with their penis. I have no tolerance for that behavior. Look what he did to you? I must say, I was angry that you didn’t take care of him yourself, but sometimes it takes a woman like me to step up and be the heroine.” She leaned the club against the wall. “I found that I enjoyed watching him suffer.”
“You hurt him because of me?” Her stomach twisted.
“Not as much for you as for every woman. It’s time we take a stand against cheating bastards and ignorance. Just like my husband. He actually thought he could get by with cheating.”
“Nola, did you do something to your husband?”
There was a long hesitation. “Nothing that he didn’t deserve. This was his golf club.” She lifted it and smoothed her finger along the shiny metal. “He didn’t like it as much when it landed against his skull. You see, honey, I don’t hurt people that I have a bond with, that’s why I locked you in your bathroom. I was saving you from making a mistake with a man…again. You didn’t take it seriously. I wanted to have the doc meet the club too, but I just didn’t have a chance.”
“Cam is a good man. He isn’t out to hurt me.”
“And how would you know? You’ve been cheated on. We both have. Bitten once it’s their fault. Bitten twice and it’s ours. I’ve learned. Why don’t you?” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s what he’s packing behind his zipper, right? Why do we fall for a big dick?” She shook her head.
Moon winced. “That’s not the way it is, Nola. I’m sorry your husband cheated. That’s unfair. I know because as you said, we both have been through it, but there are good men out there. Cam is one and I…”
“You what?” she sneered.
“I love him. With all of my heart. Sometimes we find a person when we least expect it.”
Nola shook her head in disgust. “They’re all the same. And because you can’t see that I need to help you.” She stepped closer, her eyes lost all humanity and warmth as they changed into dull orbs. She slowly lifted the club over her head…
“Nola, you can’t do this. I’m pregnant!” Moon cried out.
The club paused, the woman’s brows scrunched. “What?”
Neither one of them had a chance to react when a flash came out of nowhere. Moon watched as Cam ransacked Nola, sending her sprawling onto the floor. The club fell out of her hand, sliding ten feet across the floor. Caught unaware, she looked up, moaning.
For good measure, Cam picked up the club and tossed it through the door. “If I were you, Nola, I’d stay right where you are until the sheriff gets here.” Cam knelt down in front of Moon and she looked at him through unshed tears. “Are you okay?” He pulled at the ropes until she was free.
“I-I could be worse. How did you find me?”
“During one of the conversations I had with Nola I remember her saying that she liked coming here because it was quiet.” They stood up and he dragged her into his arms, nuzzling his face into her hair. “And I love you too.”
She pulled back, blinking. “How did you know?”
He smiled. “I heard you tell Nola that you love me. I was just outside of the door, waiting for the opportunity.”
“Watch out, Cam!” Moon screamed.
He pushed her to the side as he turned. Nola was charging him, a board raised high over her head. He ducked and came up, knocking the wood from her hand.
“Let me handle this, Cam.” Moon stepped forward, facing the disgruntled older woman who had saliva bubbling at the corners of her mouth. “This is for my baby.” Moon drew her fist back and landed it in Nola’s chin, sending her onto her back for a second time. A cloud of dust rose up around her. She was out cold.
EPILOGUE
“I’m so happy for Dade and Felicia. She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress.”
“And you look so beautiful in this dress.” Cam slid his finger down the strap of the flowered, wispy dress.
She sighed. “This is the first time I’ve worn a dress in a long time. Too bad I’m as big as a house.” She palmed her full abdomen. The baby kicked.
“It won’t be long, sweetheart.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Just a few more weeks and we’ll be welcoming James Tyler Parker into our family.”
Her smile was beautiful. “I’m so ready.”
“Are you sure this is what you want to do? Get hitched in front of a judge at the courthouse?” he asked.
“Cam Parker, I want us to be married before this baby is born. I know you’ve dragged your feet, but it’s what I want. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I’ve dragged my feet?”
“Okay. I had hoped to wait until the baby was born, but this is truly what I want. When we welcome our baby I want not only for us to be mommy and daddy, but I want us to be Mr. and Mrs. Parker.”
“Well, then, let’s do this.” He entwined their fingers and together they walked up the wide, stone steps to the massive wooden door into the courthouse. She stopped and moaned. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked.
She tapped her stomach. “This kid is going to be a linebacker. Sheesh!”
He laughed. He couldn’t even begin to describe how happy he was. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each of her knuckles. “I’m so happy to have you as my wife, darlin’.”
“We better hurry. We don’t want to take the chance that we’ll miss our appointment. The Judge said he only has a short window to do this today.”
Without any more hesitation, they hurried down the hall and into the chambers where Judge Laramie waited for them.
“Thank you for doing this, sir.” Cam shook the man’s hand.
“After what you two had gone through at Nirvana, it was the least I could do.” He nodded and took off his black robe, hanging it on a hangar. “Are you two ready?”
Moon bent over, clutching her stomach. “Ouch!”
“Moon?” Cam was beside her, helping her stand straight.
“I-I think the baby is coming.”
“Why do you say that?” Cam narrowed his gaze.
“My water broke.”
“What’s that you say?” The judge stepped forward, his eyes wide. “I agreed to marry you two, but I didn’t agree to help deliver a child.”
“It’s okay, Judge Laramie. I’m okay. We can still do this.” She grabbed Cam’s hand and led him across the room.
“What? Moon? If it’s the baby and you’re feeling the contractions that strong, it could be close,” Cam warned.
She looked up at him, batting her lashes and smiling widely. “That’s why I’m marrying a doctor. I feel safe.”
Judge Laramie moaned. “Are you sure?”
“Time is a wasting and as far as I know Mother Nature goes by her own clock,”
Moon said in a sing-song voice.
“Okay. Let’s hurry. Do I have your permission to use the quick version?”
“Just say it, Judge.” Moon stepped over and braced herself on the edge of the desk as another sharp pain struck her, this time more intense.
“Okay…” He flipped through pages of his book. “Marriage is a union of not only two people, but two hearts…”
“Holy shi—” She bit down on her bottom lip, remembering where she was. “I think we’re going to have a baby real soon.”
Cam held her hand, holding her steady. “You should sit down.”
“No!” She pointed at the judge. “Keep going. Skip the sweet blah-blah-blah! Just get to the good stuff.”
“Do you Moon Novak take Cam Parker to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“Yes!” she screamed out, bending over as another ragged pain unleashed through her abdomen.
The judge’s skin turned pale. “Do you Cam take Moon to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“Yes.”
She was bearing all of her weight between Cam and the desk. She looked up at him. “Kiss me one last time before this baby is born.” The kiss was quick, but it was full of love and promise. “Now, I think I better lie down.”
“I pronounce you man and wife. I’m calling an ambulance.” Judge Laramie dashed to his phone and dialed.
“Might be too late,” Moon moaned. With Cam’s help she was now stretched out on the floor, he was lifting her skirt and peeking under. He was as white as the judge. “What is it, Cam?”
“The head is crowning.” His voice was raw.
“The head is crowning? I’m going to have my baby here?” she cried.
“Honey, remain calm because you don’t have a choice. This baby wants out now and he ain’t waiting. Remember what you said? I’m a doctor and I’ll keep you safe.”
“What do I do, Cam? I’m scared.” She couldn’t catch her breath.
“Breathe.”
“You want me to breathe? That’s all you can say to me?” She lifted herself. “I need to push!”
“Then that’s what you should do.”
“I can’t! I won’t. We had our labor and delivery plans all made up.” And as she spoke her body naturally forced her to push against the pressure. She could feel a burning sensation between her legs as a pain unlike any other ripped through her bottom. “This is all of your fault,” she forced through her tight lips.
He looked up at her. “My fault?”
“I’m sorry, Cam. No! How will we manage having our wedding anniversary and our baby’s birthday on the same day? How will we manage being parents? I’m barely good at taking care of myself. All of that junk food I throw down my throat.”
Calmly, just like the man she loved dearly, he looked at her, took her hand, and kissed her palm. “My love, haven’t you found out by now that you and I can do anything? We love one another and we’ll love this tiny human that we’ve created. You are a super woman.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. “You always know the right thing to say.”
“Now push!”
The End.
From the author:
Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let others know your thoughts.
Hugs,
Rhonda Lee Carver
At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.
Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.
When Rhonda isn’t crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit: www.rhondaleecarver.com.
Find me on Facebook, too! www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver
Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Diamond in a Rose
Double Dare
Delaney’s Sunrise
Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)
Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)
Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)
Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)
Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)
Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)
Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8, Second Chance Cowboy Series)
Castle’s Fortress
Dreaming Ivy
Friends With Benefits
Sin With Cuffs
With Honor
Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)
Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)
Fighting Flames
UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE RISING (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE POINT (Book 3, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
SECRET PRESSURE (Book 4, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
RESISTING PRESSURE (Book 5, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
Under the Mistletoe
Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana)
Ropin’ Trouble (Book 2, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Book 3, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Kissed, Spurred, & Valentined (Book 4, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Cowboy is Mine (Book 5, Cowboys of Nirvana)
The Discreet Cowboy (Book 6, Cowboys of Nirvana)
Leather for Two, Wings of Steel MC
An Unexpected Hero (Buttermilk Valley)
A New Year’s Cowboy
Pride & Pleasure (Book 1, The KNIGHT Brothers)
Roman’s Choice (Book 1, Saddles & Second Chances)
Letting Go (Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah! Kindle World)
Have you read Letting Go? Here’s the first chapter as a gift. Please grab your copy and find out how hard letting go can be…
CHAPTER ONE
Brooke Winslow heard a child’s laughter and looked across the lobby, spotting the little girl cheerfully playing with a set of building blocks. Her blonde hair hung in one long braid down her back and she wore a pretty yellow dress. She had beautiful bright green eyes. “Look, Mommy. I built a tower.”
Her mother glanced up from the magazine she was flipping through. “Oh sweetheart, what a stable tower it is too.”
Feeling a sudden twinge in her chest, Brooke turned away, barely able to catch her breath. Why was she doing this? She stood up, gained her equilibrium, then started for the glass doors that would take her back out to her car—away from the possibility of having a panic attack in front of the people waiting in the lobby. She’d gotten better at staying in control, but on occasion she found herself coming unglued from the demons that still haunted her.
She gripped the cold handle of the door just as she heard her name being called, “Ms. Winslow. The doctor will see you now.”
Her mind raced. Her heart skipped a beat. She could easily scurry out and skip the appointment. Being here didn’t help anyway. She hated opening up and talking about the tragedy that turned her world upside down. Why couldn’t people just understand that not everyone needed to talk about their feelings?
Fingers touched her shoulder and she spun around, coming face to face with the receptionist. “Ms. Winslow, Dr. Forester will see you now.”
Several people had turned to watch her. She wondered if they too wanted to break free?
“Ms. Winslow?”
Oh, phooey. Brooke had no other choice but to let go of the handle to freedom and follow the receptionist. Part w
ay down the hall Brooke heard sniffling coming from a room to the right. She caught a glimpse of a woman with her head bowed and her shoulders shaking. Brooke’s breath hitched and she clenched her hands into fists. Crying happened a lot here. But not for her—not anymore. After three years, the tears had dried up. Too bad the memories were as fresh as newly picked blueberries.
“How are you today, Ms. Winslow?” the receptionist asked as she motioned for them to continue on their way.
The question came more as a distraction than civil conversation. “Peachy.”
If the other woman picked up on any sarcasm in the answer, she didn’t let on.
They stopped at the last doorway, Dr. Forester’s office—a forty-something, attractive blonde who always dressed in impeccable pant suits. She had also recently divorced her husband of ten years. They had no children and a mansion with lots of bedrooms and a tennis court. Brooke only knew this because she’d overheard the receptionist and a nurse discussing the details when they thought they were alone. Usually Brooke passed on eavesdropping, but it did break up the monotony of sitting in the lobby and staring at a watercolor.
On the threshold into the room, she hesitated. It wasn’t that she disliked Dr. Forester or her help, but what could be done? The past was over and the pain had embedded itself deep inside of Brooke’s bone marrow. Not even a therapist could rid her of the heartache, the memories, and the knowledge that she couldn’t save Jessie.
Many times in the last year, Brooke had picked up the phone to cancel her appointments, but then she’d hang up. Dr. Forester had become a crutch for Brooke.
“Brooke, come in.” Dr. Forester stood up from behind her desk and smoothed her black jacket. Brooke couldn’t remember ever seeing the elegant woman unruffled or wrinkled. Her clothes were pressed and spotless. Her makeup had been applied with a detailed hand, hiding any physical flaws that she might have. She had to have at least one, but up until now, Brooke hadn’t found it. Even the desk was tidy and clean.
Brooke crossed the room, aware of her own disheveled appearance. Before leaving the house she’d thrown on a T-shirt and jeans and pulled her hair up into a messy bun. If she cared, she would have gone for the right side of her closet where her nicer things were hung, but the problem was, she didn’t.
A Perfect Cowboy Daddy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 7) Page 17
