by Mindy Neff
“Yeah. I must be in bad need of rest, too.” He propelled her to the bathroom doorway. “Get undressed. I’ll go find your pajamas.”
“Linc, I’ve only got a few sore muscles.”
“And that’s a few too many. I’ll be right back.”
Tracy Lynn decided she wasn’t going to win this argument. She pulled off her boots, then her jeans and sweater. For all the undressing she was doing today, she should have just stayed in her pajamas in the first place.
Daddy and Ellie might have raised an eyebrow at that. Daddy especially. And she didn’t imagine her lavender pig slippers would fare too well out in the barn.
The bathroom door opened a crack and Linc’s arm appeared with her pajamas dangling from his fingers. She snatched them from him. When the door closed, she took off her bra and panties, then pulled on the soft drawstring pants and top.
Linc was waiting for her at the side of the bed. He’d taken off his boots and flannel shirt, leaving him wearing just his T-shirt and jeans.
“You really are getting in bed with me?”
“I figure that’s the only way I’ll get you to stay there. That mind of yours will start spinning, and next thing you’ll be off supervising dominoes at the seniors’ center.”
“That’s not until tomorrow.”
“We’ll get you a substitute.” He pulled back the covers. “Hop in.”
“I don’t need a substitute. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
He propped pillows behind her shoulders and beneath her knees, then climbed into bed next to her and picked up his cell phone. “You might not be here tomorrow.”
“I hope you know, I’ll only let you get away with this bossiness for a very short while.”
“It’s called pampering, not bossing.”
“Could have fooled me. Why might I not be here tomorrow?”
“If you’re feeling up to it, I thought you might like to fly to Dallas with me.”
“In your plane?”
He nodded. “Ever flown in a small plane?”
“No.”
“Would you like to? I cleared it with Dr. O’Rourke. She said it would be fine.”
She bit her bottom lip and smiled. “I’d love to. Why are we going to Dallas?”
“I sold a couple of my yearlings. The new owners are coming to the Royal Flush tomorrow to pick them up.”
“You have baby horses there?”
“More like teenagers. And I’ve got quite a few pregnant mares due to foal next month.”
“Really?” She shifted toward him. “My massage book mentioned that—“
“Forget it. You’re not massaging my mares. The doc said you could fly, but you’re still supposed to take it easy.”
“I could at least talk to your men about the procedure.”
“We’ll see.” He punched in numbers on his cell phone.
“Who are you calling?”
He chuckled. “You’re supposed to be relaxing, babe.” He shifted the small receiver to his mouth. “Sunny? I need a favor. Tracy Lynn’s come down with a back ache, and the doc wants her to rest…. No, the baby’s fine. But she’s all worried about her horses not getting massaged back into health and friskiness.” He glanced over at her and grinned. “Yeah. She’s in bed now. Suppose you can stop by tomorrow and see to things? I’ve got today handled, but I’m flying to Dallas tomorrow and taking Tracy Lynn with me.” He paused and laughed. “You got that right. I don’t trust her. Okay. Thanks a lot.”
He held out the phone. “Sunny wants to talk to you.”
“I’m fine, Sunny,” she said into the receiver. “Linc’s just making a big deal.”
“You overdid, didn’t you?”
“A little.”
“Linc just told me you’re in bed, and judging by how quickly you came on the line, I’m assuming he’s in there with you?”
“Sort of.”
“You can’t talk, right?”
Tracy Lynn laughed. “Depends on what the subject is.”
“You just want me to suffer,” Sunny said.
“Of course. Misery loves company, don’t you know?”
“Yes. Well, I want the full story when you get back from Dallas, you hear? And I want you to take it easy, too.”
“I will. You just see to Miss Helen. She’s still not comfortable around all of the men. Hardy does the best with her, but she trusts you more.”
“I’ll take care of her. Isn’t tomorrow your day to go to the seniors’ center?”
“Yes. I can call and let them know I’m switching days.”
“No need. I’ll take Simba over there on my lunch hour, and make Donetta come, too. You just take it easy.”
“Thanks, Sunny. I feel silly that everyone’s rearranging their schedules because I’ve got a few sore muscles.”
“You’d do the same for any one of us,” Sunny said. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
Tracy Lynn handed the phone back to Linc. “Sunny’s going to drag Donetta with her to the seniors’ center tomorrow, so that’s one less thing you need to delegate.”
“Good. Turn over and I’ll rub your back.”
Her heart thudded. She wasn’t exactly in top form, and having Linc’s hands on her was going to make her want more than just a back rub.
“Um, you don’t have to do that.”
“Babe. You give so much of yourself to everyone else. It’s your turn now.”
Instead of waiting for her to comply, he shifted her himself, tossing pillows aside.
“Relax,” he said as he ran his palms over her tense muscles.
“Easy for you to say,” she mumbled into the mattress.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“I thought so.” He chuckled. “This is a clinical massage. Try to keep that in mind, okay?”
She had a lot in mind, but none of it was clinical. Every time his hands made a pass over her back, the slight pressure pinned her lower body against the bed just long enough to send a shot of desire zinging through her. Added to that was the baby in her womb. Linc’s baby. He had no idea his hands were stroking so close to his child. Their child.
She wanted to tell him about their child, then wondered if maybe she should wait until Christmas Day—his birthday. Would he consider the news a wonderful gift? Or would it be a burden?
She couldn’t think. The rhythmic stroking was turning her boneless and mindless. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent the afternoon in bed. And she was feeling awfully sleepy.
LINC CONTINUED TO RUB her back long after her breathing had evened into sleep. It was hell lying in bed with her, touching her, knowing he wouldn’t go any further.
He recalled her telling him that men either wanted her for a trophy or were intimidated by her. He was neither trophy-hunting nor intimidated.
He wanted her to know that her inner needs mattered. And that she damned well deserved to have someone take care of her for a change.
Chapter Thirteen
Linc banked the Cessna and buzzed Main Street in Hope Valley. From the sky at night, the town was breathtakingly beautiful. Christmas lights sparkled in candy colors of red, green, orange and blue, draped along eaves, rooftops and landscaping. The twenty-foot tree on the courthouse lawn was decorated with its traditional glowing candy canes, snowflakes and red bows with a three-foot-tall lighted angel resting atop its highest point.
Home, Tracy Lynn thought. That day in the hospital elevator, she’d halfheartedly suggested to Linc that she leave Hope Valley until the baby was born, but she’d merely been grabbing at straws. She couldn’t envision living anywhere other than right here where she was born and raised.
Linc’s roots weren’t planted as deeply in this soil as hers were. Or maybe they were, but they’d been damaged.
As he lined up the small plane with the landing lights on the short runway at the Forked S, she couldn’t help comparing this ranch to the one they were returning from in Dallas.
The Royal
Flush was a beautiful, high-class operation but the home she’d toured had lacked the warmth and welcoming feel that this one in Hope Valley had. Maybe she was just prejudiced because she had a big piece of herself invested in this ranch.
The biggest difference she’d noticed, though, was in Linc’s attitude. At The Royal Flush, he smiled and laughed with so much more spontaneity. He’d been at ease as he’d introduced her to Gus, shown her the pregnant mares, then strolled with her through the busy streets of downtown Dallas, helping her pick out Christmas gifts.
He’d been, in short, a happy man.
How could she ask him to trade serenity and happiness for bitter and painful memories?
Once they landed, he helped her out of the plane, and they unloaded their packages into the Suburban, which he’d left at the edge of the airstrip when they’d taken off this morning. The night air was cold, and she flipped up the collar of her coat as she climbed in.
Linc quickly started the engine. “The heater will warm you up in a minute.”
“Should we check on the horses before we go to the house?”
“The men will have seen to them.”
It didn’t take long to get from the strip to the house. They decided to leave the packages in the truck until morning.
“I had a good time today,” she said after he closed the front door behind them.
“Me, too. You were quiet tonight.”
“Just relaxed.” She didn’t want to bring up her observation about how different he’d seemed away from Hope Valley. Having him care for her so tenderly last night, hold her in sleep, then being so close to him all day today had built a fever inside her she was tired of ignoring.
She was so afraid she was going to lose him, and that was tearing her up. January was when his mares would begin foaling.
When he would be going back to Dallas.
Granted, that wasn’t across the continent, but it might as well be.
He walked with her up the stairs, and they both paused outside his bedroom door. She knew her heart was in her eyes.
“Come sleep with me,” he said.
“Linc, if I come into your room, I’ll want to do more than just sleep with you. I want to make love with you.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “You are the most honest, straightforward woman I’ve ever known.”
“You could return the favor.”
“Yes. I can.” He lowered his head and kissed her. She shivered and he rubbed his hands over her arms, then took her hand and led her into his room. “I’ll start a fire.”
“You already did that. A month ago.”
He smiled, kissed her again. “I’m crazy about you, Tracy Lynn.”
Her heart swelled with hope. Was that his way of saying he loved her?
She pulled her sweater over her head, her hair crackling with static electricity. While he stacked logs in the fireplace, she undressed and slid beneath the covers.
When he stood and walked toward her, firelight dancing at his back, her insides trembled. This fever she had for him was burning her up inside. He was a beautiful man. Broad shoulders, narrow waist and lean hips promised a sensual celebration for her hands.
His long hair was swept back from a face that could have belonged to a male print model. Women worldwide would flip through their magazines and pause, build unquenchable fantasies over those intense gray-blue eyes, imagine the skill of that un-smiling mouth, long to be the center of this man’s universe.
Tonight, he was hers.
An odd sort of desperation mounted, a need so deep it frightened her.
She never once took her eyes off of him as he shed his clothes. And when he eased down beside her, his skin warming her from chest to toes, she wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.
“What’s wrong, babe?”
She shook her head, buried her face in his neck and kissed his heated skin. “I just feel…edgy. Like I want to pull you inside of me—all of you.”
He rolled with her, shifting her beneath him, allowing her to feel every hard inch of him. Then he lowered his head and, with skill and tenderness, he toyed with her mouth. He took his time stringing soul-searing, individual kisses, each one sending her urgency higher, her love deeper.
“Linc, I need you so badly right now. It’s been so long. I don’t want to wait another minute.”
He reached between them, his finger sliding into her warmth. She arched against his hand, sucked in a breath. He had to know she was ready for him.
“Come inside me now,” she whispered. “Right now.”
Holding his weight on his elbows, he framed her face in his hands and entered her. Slowly. Oh, so slowly.
Their gazes held, the connection and silent communication profound. Tonight was special. Different. She could tell he felt it, too.
He buried himself deep inside her, pressed, fusing their bodies so there was no telling where one ended and the other began. Making them one.
She’d never known stillness could create such an explosion of sensations.
“Linc—“
“Shh.”
Her body pulsed around him, demanding more. But she didn’t move, just let the exquisite pleasure grow. Stunned, her breathing heavy, she felt the orgasm building stronger, steadier, like a whisper in the distance, echoing back as a shout.
He swelled inside her, throbbing, so hot, filling her. So full. Her breath came faster, mingling with his. Chests heaved in unison. And gripping her hips, holding her absolutely still, he brought her to the most mind-numbing climax she’d ever experienced.
Powerful spasms shuddered through her, rippling from head to toe like a maze of dominoes set in motion, each tremor propelling the next one and the next as he, too, reached his own powerful climax.
And when he kissed her, the tenderness, the utter reverence felt so much like love it brought tears to her eyes.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK PASSED by in a whirlwind of Christmas preparations, laughter and a kind of contentment Linc had never known.
Tracy Lynn was in the house wrapping gifts, and he’d been banished to the barn. This is where he belonged, of course, but he’d much rather entice Tracy Lynn back into bed.
His cell phone rang, and Linc grinned when he saw the ranch’s number on his caller ID. Christmas Eve was only three days away, and there was a dizzying array of things Tracy Lynn wanted to accomplish between now and then.
And because she was tied up inside the house, she kept thinking of things to remind him about that needed tending to outside. A person would think he didn’t know a thing about caring for horses.
He punched the talk button on his cell phone and raised it to his ear. “Yes, babe. Hardy remembered to give Miss Helen her treat.”
His words were met with silence. Heavy breathing. His smile faded and his muscles tensed.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Tracy Lynn?”
“I’m…the baby. I’m bleeding.”
He’d already started to run. “Where are you?”
“The bedroom. Yours.”
“Don’t move.”
Somehow he managed to push the right buttons to connect him to Dr. O’Rourke’s office. He knew he must have sounded like a madman when the doctor herself came on the line after he barked at the nurse, who insisted on asking him questions to which he had no answers.
He raced into the house. He’d never been so scared in his life. He took one look at Tracy Lynn sitting on the floor of the master bathroom and scooped her into his arms as gently as he could. “Hold on, babe. I’ve got you now.”
“I was looking for a heating pad,” she said as though explaining her presence in his bedroom—even though she’d been sharing it with him for the past week.
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I called Lily,” he said. “She’s expecting us.”
Although sun streamed in the windows, the lights were twinkling on the Christmas tree in the living room, and several more gaily wrapped gifts were arranged beneath.
&
nbsp; She curled into him, her silence scaring him even more.
“I don’t want to lose this baby.”
“Shh. I know.” The house smelled of cinnamon and sugar cookies. Scents of comfort, joy and expectation. He refused to believe tragedy could intrude on such bliss.
He carried her out through the garage door and eased her into the Suburban, figuring the ride would be a little smoother than the pickup. Leaning the seat back, he covered her with a blanket, stroked her forehead. “Hang in there, babe.”
He backed out of the garage and slammed the SUV into gear. The town lay to the north, and the private, unpaved road heading toward Jack’s house was the shortest way to the highway.
Every single rut the tires encountered felt like a giant crater, causing his gut to twist in another agonizing knot. It was a wonder he could even stay on the road, so focused was his attention on Tracy Lynn. He cringed each time a bump jostled her body, afraid the ride was causing her pain, doing more damage.
He was sorry he’d come this way, even to save precious minutes. Yet she never complained. Natural instinct made him want to slow down, but he kept his foot pressed hard on the accelerator, knowing they’d actually feel the jarring dips less at high speed.
After her backache last week, he should have made her stay in bed. Alone. He shouldn’t have been making love to her. God Almighty. Had he hurt her?
She wanted this baby so badly. He wanted this baby. For Tracy Lynn, yes. But for himself, too.
He took the gravel turnoff, the Suburban fishtailing until the tires caught, speeding them past the shed-row stable and barbed-wire fences where Jack’s cattle grazed in oblivious contentment.
Once they were on the highway, the ride smoothed out a little. The drive to town, though, seemed to take an eternity, and by the time he screeched to a halt in the ambulance bay at Hope Valley Medical Clinic, his nerves were so knotted he doubted they’d relax before next year.
“Stay put.” He jumped out, sprinted around to the passenger side and carefully lifted her, blanket and all.
When the automatic doors opened, Lily O’Rourke was waiting. She studied him as though he were the patient, instead of Tracy Lynn. He wished to God he was.
“This way,” she said. Turning, she quickly led him through the corridor and into a private examination room at the back of the emergency unit. “Lay her down on the bed.”
