“I’m glad we had your back-up though. Once your shots came from the woods, these guys knew they were outnumbered.”
The sheriff called for ambulances to pick up the injured. “I’ll send several of my deputies with them to the hospital.”
“If you don’t mind two of my men will ride with them also. We can’t be too careful.”
“I’d appreciate the help. Put handcuffs on all but the two more seriously wounded,” the sheriff instructed his deputies.
Lann and Sheriff Devon walked to where Todd stood. “What do you think?” Lann asked.
Todd shook his head. “I don’t think we got the real leader, the one who pays them.”
“We’ll see if anyone will give up his name for a possible shorter sentence,” Sheriff Devon said.
“I think they’ll leave these two ranches alone for a while. Is anyone else having problems around here?” Todd asked.
“David Summers said he’d had some mischief done lately, but he thought it might be teenagers bored with being out of school for the summer.”
“Better watch his property. I suspect as bad as they want this land the minerals may extend to a larger area underground.”
“You may be right.” The sheriff nodded at Todd. “I’ll talk with David. If he wants protection I’ll have my men keep an eye on his place. To be safe you might want to keep your guards around.”
“Don’t worry, we will.”
Lann told some of his men to keep guarding the ranches. Then he turned to Todd. “I’m going home to get a few hours of sleep. I’d like to meet with you for lunch, at my place, later today.”
Todd agreed to the invitation. “I’ll check on the progress with the hangar while I’m there.”
“Come around twelve thirty. I’ll be out checking on my cowboys until then.”
“I need some sleep, too. I’ll see you.” Todd walked back the shorter way to his house. Moonlight made a silvery path to his home. They hadn’t gone this way earlier to keep from being seen. He was glad he’d been here to help.
In the kitchen he drank a tall glass of water, and then walked to his bedroom. The suite seemed bigger and lonelier tonight. In his imagination, he pictured Sunn lying on the bed, naked and her silvery hair spread out around her.
He sank down on the bedside and put his head in his hands. The important question he had to resolve was whether he had the ability to be a good husband and father. He’d had no experience and no man in his life to teach him. Todd glanced at the clock. It was one thirty. He’d get some sleep and after he had lunch with Lann, he’d drive over and see Miss Truda. His old teacher had given him good advice in the past. He’d ask her what she thought about his capability to love a wife and family.
Todd stretched out on the bed, but when he shut his eyes, he saw Sunn and the mistrust in her expression. He tried to think of other things and wondered what Lann wanted to say to him. He’d noticed Lann start to speak on their walk to join the others. Damn, with so much on his mind, he’d never go to sleep.
He settled in his lounge chair where he could stare out at the moon and prairie. After a while his body relaxed, and he slept.
In his dreams, the night was foggy. A woman with blonde hair bent over him. She hugged him so tight he couldn’t breathe.
“Mommy, you’re hurting me.”
“Sorry, darling, but mommy will miss you so much. I’ll be back though. As soon as I find a place for us to live and a steady job, I’ll come for you. I promise.”
His heart pounded, and he yelled for her as she pulled away and hurried off. The plump woman standing beside him took hold of his arm and dragged him into a small house. She opened a door to a room with three beds.
“The empty bed is yours. You’ll get up at seven. I’ll have chores for you. I don’t tolerate laziness or crying all the time.” She shut the door behind her, and the three-year-old boy quit crying. The dark room scared him, but he shuffled to the cot and lay down. Outside a dog barked. Momma had gone and left him in a dark house with strangers.
Todd woke with a start, and as usual after his dream his face was wet with tears. He raked his hand through his hair and groaned.
I thought I was through with that dream. It hasn’t come to me in several years. What brought it back? Perhaps because of the changes I’m considering making in my life. Or maybe I’m dreading the meeting with Lann. He spoke of knowing someone who looked like me. I’ve never wanted to dredge up my past. My mother didn’t return as she’d promised, so I have no desire to find her at this late date.
* * * *
Jeb was awake when they entered the room. “There’s my girl.” He opened his arms to her and Sunn carefully hugged him.
“How are you?” she asked.
“I feel like an ornery horse threw me off his back and I landed on hard ground. But I’ve survived those types of falls, and I’ll survive this thanks to my good doctors.” He glanced behind her.
“Dr. Larsson, welcome.” Jeb put out his hand. “Thanks for helping my wife find the right doctors for me. Houston is a big place and has lots of physicians.”
“I’m glad I could help. It’s good to see you doing so well. Sunn worried about you, but I took her away from the hospital and made her eat.”
Her father patted her hand. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been given a second chance, and there’ll be no more cigarettes in my mouth.”
“I’ve already gotten onto Daddy Andy about his pipe.” Sunn winked at her other father. “He’s promised to give it up.”
“Good gracious, I don’t know if I can manage two men stopping at once. They’ll be like grouchy old bears.”
“Call me, Mom. I’ll fly to North Carolina and straighten them out.”
“We’ll wait a while before going to look for a place to buy. Jeb has to get his strength back. Then we’ll all three take a trip and go house hunting.” Her mom smiled at her two husbands. “I’m so glad we’re back together and the cloud’s been lifted from over our heads.”
A nurse peeked in the room. “Visiting hours will be over in ten minutes. He’ll need to get some sleep to recuperate.”
“Sunn, will you get a room at the hotel where Andy and I will be staying?”
“If you don’t mind, Sunn can stay with me. I have plenty of room.”
Andy and Jeb both gave Chandler a sharp, appraising look. “You aren’t going to hurt my girl like you did before, are you?” Jeb asked. “She tried to hide it, but we saw the hurt.” His tone was courteous but firm.
“No, sir. Todd and I love Sunn. We’re going to do our best to convince her to marry us.”
Jeb squinted at him. “If you’re fooling, I’ll get my rifle after you two. Andy and I both will.” Andy nodded.
“Don’t worry. The only way we won’t marry her is if she refuses us.”
“Then I think it’s all right for her to stay with you tonight. I’ll consider you engaged.” Jeb grinned when he said the word, engaged.
“Papa, I haven’t accepted. You can’t do it for me.”
“You haven’t called Andy or I Papa in many years. I like it. How about you, Andy?”
“I’ve miss her calling us that.”
“You two are such teasers. Good night, Mom and fathers. See you tomorrow.”
“Don’t go off in a huff.” Andy grinned.
Sunn wrinkled her nose at them and strode out the door. Chandler lingered behind her. She heard him thank her parents for their support.
When he joined her, she reminded him she hadn’t said yes and not to count on it.
“I’m an eternal optimist, sweetheart.” Chandler put his hand at her waist, and they walked toward the elevator.
She stomped on his foot just as the elevator doors opened. “Don’t get too cocky. I’ve taken some karate lessons.”
Chandler leaned against the elevator walls as they rode down. He bent over laughing. When they stopped at the bottom, the doors opened. Chandler threw her over his shoulder and carried her to the car where he placed
her in the passenger seat and shut the door.
When he got in, she punched him in the gut. “Ouch!” Her hand hurt, but he looked unfazed.
“Warn me when you’re going to karate chop me.”
“Oh, you make me so mad.” She glared out the window and heard him laugh.
After he parked, she jumped out before he could throw her around like a sack of potatoes. She put her hands out in front of her. “Don’t come near me.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He bent and waved at her to enter the elevator he’d unlocked.
Upstairs, he waited for her to go in the living room. Chandler flipped a switch and soft lighting lit the space, giving it a welcoming ambiance. He hit another button and the glass doors leading to his large balcony slid open. A cool breeze blew across the room.
“Go out and sit in one of the lounge chairs and relax. I’ll bring you a glass of wine. I’ll have a shot of bourbon.”
Sunn walked slowly across the room and out on the balcony. Up this high she saw stars sparkling in the sky, and the sound of traffic was muted. She walked to the high wall and glanced down. A few minutes later, she returned to the lounge chair.
Chandler stood in the doorway holding their drinks. His eyes looked dark and mysterious. They were alone, and his presence was compelling. The stamp of authority welded innately in him. He stepped out, breaking the spell he’d held on her.
She had sat in the first chair she came to and the soft leather cushioned her body. Chandler handed her a chilled glass of Chablis. She took a sip. “Thanks, it’s good.”
He sank into the seat next to her. “I love this spot at night. It takes you away from all the turmoil of the day and restores my balance.”
“I imagine you need that after the tedious type of surgery you do.”
“My work is important to me and I enjoy it, but you’re right. I need a time of rest and relaxation especially on the night before surgery.”
“Are you operating tomorrow?”
“No. I’d planned to travel to Saddlespurs and look for an office and staff.”
“I wish you wouldn’t. At least not thinking I’m going to be your wife.”
“I’d planned someday to make the move and return to Saddlespurs. It was my home many years ago. I’ve continued to visit as often as possible. I’m not a stranger there. It’ll be good to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, except for two days a week.
“When my grandparents’ ranch went up for sale again, I knew it was time to start preparing for my move. I consider it my hometown. Todd liked the area and actually bought his ranch before me. He made the purchase not long after he went in the construction business there.”
“I’d like to go home tomorrow and get back to work.”
“I’ll call Todd and arrange a flight for us in the afternoon. You can see your parents in the morning.”
“He may not be receptive and feel I’m taking advantage of him.”
“Don’t be silly. His feelings for you haven’t changed. He wants to be sure he won’t hurt you again. Slide over. There’s room for us both in that lounge chair.”
“It’ll be crowded.”
He wedged himself into the chair beside her. Then rolled to his side and pulled her close. “This is much better.”
“For you maybe.”
Chandler moved his body slightly over hers. Her breath quickened and he noticed. “Can you say you don’t like this? Your body is yelling yes, yes.”
“You are too arrogant and used to getting your way.”
“Probably. But I call it confidence.”
She’d tried not to smile, but her lips curved up. His grin dazzled her. A black curl fell across his forehead and her fingers couldn’t resist brushing it back. The strands were silky.
He pulled her under him. “I want to make love to you in the moonlight.
“Someone might see us.”
“Who?” He waved his arm around. “We’re on the top floor and there aren’t any windows where people could peek at us.”
Without waiting for her agreement, he unbuttoned her blouse and spread it open. After unsnapping her bra, he removed both. The chilly air had her nipples tightening.
“I’ll get you warm.”
His hands cupped both breasts and heat flashed in her core and outward. His dick pulsed against her abdomen, and her craving to have him deep inside her pussy grew stronger.
Chandler dipped his head and took a nipple in his warm mouth. His tongue licked across the peak and her body arched into his.
When he glanced up, a twinkle of moonlight lit his dark eyes and a muscle quivered in his jaw. “Tell me why you won’t say yes to us.”
“Marriage is forever in my book. Before the two of you sweep me off my feet, I want to know you both better than I do. I’m not going to let things move too fast. Lust is not love.”
“I agree. I’d never want to go through another divorce and thankfully we had no children. But with you I want it all, the children, a solid marriage, the whole works.”
“Easy to say, but harder to do.”
“Todd and I have much to make up to you. This time we’ll do it right.” He quickly pulled all her clothes off and removed his.
After he rolled a condom on his dick, his lips brushed her midriff and her abdomen. Then he spread her lower lips and grazed his teeth across her clit. Spreading her legs wide, he took his time kissing and licking his way to her pussy opening. Her pussy throbbed with the desire for his cock to fill her.
“Take me now,” she demanded.
“Not so fast this time.” He moved to her inner thighs and kissed them and all around her mound. When he sucked on her pearl, she yelled out in ecstasy. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind. He flicked his tongue in her pussy opening, and her body bucked with ravenous hunger for him to take her.
Chandler positioned his cock at her opening and drove his dick all the way inside her pussy. Her walls clamped around him and her world shattered into stars. Her heart pounded so hard she expected it to crash through her chest. She gasped for breath.
He pumped in and out, taking all she had to give. When the next orgasm had her pussy convulsing around his cock, he let go and took his pleasure.
They lay in the lounge chair, their arms and legs intertwined. He looked deeply into her eyes and disarmed her with his sensuous smile.
“I’m working my way through your walls, my love.”
She stayed silent. If she spoke now, she’d tell him how much she loved him. She wasn’t ready. Sunn wanted to know them in many situations, not just in bed. She held her feelings back and untangled her limbs and stood.
“We need some sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day.”
“Do you want your own room?”
“Yes, otherwise neither of us will get any rest.”
“I promise to be good. I’d like to cuddle with you.”
He had her in a spot. If she protested he’d know she cared too much. “All right. But if you start to do more, I’m moving to the bedroom next door.”
“Agreed.” They walked to his room after he locked up.
* * * *
Chandler knew when she fell asleep against his shoulder. Her body went limp and her breathing slowed. He held her snug.
His love for her frightened him at times. He hadn’t had this deep regard in his short, previous marriage. It had been a mistake for both of them. His parents and hers had pushed the two of them toward marriage.
Chandler wondered what his stepmother and father would think of Sunn. Actually, she’d been a mother to him since he was five. His own mom died giving him birth and his stepmother had taken good care of him in her own way. But he worried how Sunn would react when she met his rich, and popular society parents. He hoped they didn’t try to discourage them. They wouldn’t change his mind.
Chapter Nine
Todd arrived at Lann’s ranch promptly at twelve thirty. Bliss greeted him. “Lann’s showering. He’ll be right out. Can I get you a
glass of iced tea?”
“Yes, thank you.”
She walked him past Lann’s office on their way to the kitchen. “I hope you don’t mind eating in here. We’re informal at lunch. Aulay, our cook and friend, takes a break during the middle of the day. He rests, and then he likes to ride with the other cowboys for a few hours.”
“I prefer being informal.” Todd accepted the glass she handed him and took a sip. “Sweet and cold, just the way I like it.”
“Hi,” Lann said as he joined them. He kissed Bliss and sat across from Todd. Bliss put a plate of food, sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit in front of them.
“If you want dessert cut a piece of the cake.” She nodded toward the cake holder. “I’m going to drive to Bern’s and stay the afternoon. We’ll bring pizza home for dinner.”
“Have fun.” Lann kissed her and she waved on her way out.
“The threesome marriage has worked out for you all.”
“Definitely. We’re very happy. Eat. We’ll talk afterward in my office.”
“I admit you have me curious.”
Lann smiled and bit into his sandwich. “These are good. Bliss made them from the ham she baked yesterday.”
Taking Lann’s cue, Todd ate and didn’t ask any questions. Lann cut them each a piece of coconut cake, and they finished with another glass of tea.
After they cleaned the kitchen, Lann led the way to his office and sat behind his desk. “The hangar is almost finished. Your men have done a good job. I’ve ordered a small jet to have available for visits and emergencies.” Lann leaned forward. “Tell me about your parents.”
“Why?”
“Humor me. I’ll explain later.”
“I don’t talk to anyone about my past,” Todd snapped.
“I’ve touched a nerve. Let me tell you why I asked. You mentioned you never gain weight. My guess is you’ve weighed the same since you were around eighteen. And I noticed you kept up with me easily the other night.”
“So what’s so remarkable about that?” Todd’s chip on his shoulder showed. He could handle anything but talking about his childhood.
Seducing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 7
