by McBain, Mara
Throwing the door open, she dashed for the bed, feet barely touching the floor in her fear. Cole sat up in the gloom just as she leapt for the perceived safety. He caught her and they both tumbled to the mattress in a heap. She wriggled, trying to burrow under him in her fright.
“There’s someone outside,” she hissed, fingers curling into his shirt.
“It’s okay.”
“This wasn’t any McCade signal for help! I heard a woman scream.”
Cole’s big hand cupped her cheek.
“Listen to me. It’s okay. I know what you think you heard, but there’s no woman out there.”
“I’m not crazy!”
“That’s debatable,” he said with a grin. “But I believe you heard a scream. It was a bobcat.”
Adrienne shook her head adamantly. “That wasn’t a cat.”
“A bobcat’s screech sounds like a woman or a baby screaming. It’s a bloodcurdling noise. It still raises goose bumps on me, and I know what it is.”
She searched his face in the dark, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or just trying to mollify her. He rubbed the outside of her arms and shifted, helping her beneath the covers.
“It’s the God’s honest truth,” he said, tugging the blankets up around her shoulders and easing down beside her.
“What is it you think we’re doing here?”
He grinned, looming close in the dark.
“With a bobcat lurking around, if you go back to your room you aren’t going to sleep. We’ve all had a long day. It’s late and cold. Why don’t you just stay here with me and we’ll share body heat.”
“So you’re just proposing a little innocent snuggling in the name of body heat?” she asked with a hint of challenge in her tone.
“That’s what I’m suggesting,” he drawled, blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “If you have something else in mind, by all means, share.”
“Actually, I think snuggling with a big, handsome cowboy on a cold night sounds like heaven.”
“Then come here, angel.”
Cole shifted until he was comfortable and she was cradled against his side. Resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, she rubbed her nose against the soft cotton of his shirt and practically purred. The man was toasty warm, comfy, and even smelled good.
“How’s that?” he asked.
Nudging her cold toes under his leg, she sighed. “Perfect.”
He chuckled and patted her bottom, but didn’t move his leg away. Surrounded by a drugging heat and listening to the natural creaks of the house, she felt her lids slowly begin to droop. She gave in and closed her eyes. The day’s excitement played over in her mind. The brothers had showed incredible bravery and ingenuity. Nate had regaled them with the complete tale while they’d enjoyed their cider and cookies. Brute’s part in the rescue was nothing short of amazing. Gen had spoiled the big beast with a large hambone that she normally would’ve saved for beans. She’d said the dog had earned it. Adrienne couldn’t argue with that.
She smothered a yawn against Cole’s chest. His hand rubbed over the curve of her hip in a lazy caress. Peeking up at him, she was startled to realize he was watching her.
“What’re you looking at?” she mumbled sleepily.
“The beautiful angel lying in my arms.”
She snorted.
“You can go to sleep you know?”
“I don’t know how sound of a sleeper you think I am, cowboy, but I won’t sleep through it if that’s what you’re hoping for here.”
It was Cole’s turn to snort.
“Honey, if I was going to have my way with you, I guarantee that you wouldn’t sleep through it,” he said dryly.
“Are you saying you don’t want to?”
“Of course I want to. I’m a man,” he said with a chuckle. “But I invited you to snuggle and that’s what I meant.”
“So to be clear, you want to and it’s not a matter of not being able to,” she said, trying to hold back a giggle.
Her breath left her as he pushed her to her back, his muscular form pressing her into the mattress. A soft moan slipped from her parted lips as he lined their hips up to grind against her leaving neither his desire, nor ability, in question.
“What do you think?” he asked in a slow drawl that made her squirm.
Why did she have to goad the man?
“Mmmm. No, it doesn’t feel like either of those is the problem.”
“Do you think we have a problem?”
“If you keep doing that, I’m not sure I can uphold our original agreement,” she whispered, rolling her hips under him.
“I guess if things get to that point we’ll have to renegotiate,” he said softly.
She sighed with a little shudder. His voice was the only soft part of him. This was a really bad idea, but it felt so good. Cupping his nape, she pulled his head down. Teasing his lips, she waited. He let her take the initiative, but returned the kiss when she pulled him closer. His lips were firm. His breath smelled like cinnamon from the cider. Sweeping her tongue over his, she smiled. He tasted good too. She was having real difficulty finding a downside to this country boy.
Trailing her fingers down his spine, she flattened her palms against the hard planes of his back. His muscles played under her hands as he ground down against her. The heat coiling in her belly was demanding. She moaned into his mouth, sliding her hands down to cup his firm ass and tug him tighter. Sinking her fingers into the hard swell, she laughed breathlessly.
“Every inch of you is hard,” she murmured against his lips.
“I’m blaming you for that,” he said hoarsely, breaking away from her mouth to nuzzle the side of her neck.
The harsh pant of his breath sounded loud in her ear. She shivered as he traced the delicate shell with the tip of his tongue. Her brain kept trying to remind her that this wasn’t a good idea, but her body completely disagreed. Her legs parted on their own, wrapping up around him.
“If we’re just going to snuggle—”
“Does this feel like we’re still just snuggling?” Adrienne asked breathlessly. What was she doing?
Cole chuckled. “I just want to make sure what you want, princess. I’m not a pup. Just like in the barn, I’ll stop.”
She closed her eyes. Stopping would be the right thing to do, but she couldn’t find the willpower. She arched under him, hands roving.
His laughter rumbled in her ear but it was his hands sliding under her nightgown that answered. She’d thought she was warm, but his big paws felt like brands on her skin.
“Adrienne?”
She froze as the sound of her name floated down the hall and then panicked. Wiggling desperately, she fought to free herself from under Cole and the blankets. He grunted as elbows and knees dug into his flesh in her effort to scramble over him. Her feet barely hit the floor and Gen appeared in the open doorway. Adrienne shook her head in disgust. They hadn’t even closed the door before they’d—
“Adrienne?”
“I’m right here,” she said breathlessly. She straightened her nightgown as she stepped closer to the door. “Sorry. I thought I heard someone scream and I woke poor Cole up like a ninny.”
“It’s okay. It was just a bobcat. The first time I heard one it scared me half to death,” Gen said, a smile in her voice.
“I’m glad I’m not the only one. I swear it sounded like someone was being murdered!”
“I know. I came out of a dead sleep. I don’t know if it woke Trey up or that was me trying to burrow into his side.”
Adrienne giggled. “I can see where having a strapping husband is preferable in the wilds.”
“It does have benefits,” Gen agreed. “Come on. We can talk for a bit and if that doesn’t get you back to sleep, we’ll go down for a drink.”
“I’ve never known you to imbibe,” she teased, her expression aghast as she joined Gen in the hallway. “Does your husband approve of such behavior, Mrs. McCade?”
“I don’t
honestly know,” Gen admitted, glancing down the hall toward the master bedroom. She bit her lip and her shoulders shook with laughter until she had to lean into her. “If I can’t talk you to sleep I guess we’ll find out.”
Chapter Six
Squinting against the blowing snow, Cole concentrated on his brother’s broad back and tried to chase thoughts of Adrienne from his mind. Sleep had been impossible after the fiery beauty’s late night visit. Gen had stayed in the songbird’s room until her jealous husband had retrieved her. The noises coming from the master bedroom afterward hadn’t eased the ache of his body. He’d hoped Adrienne would come back, but after what had happened in the barn, he hadn’t wanted to be the one to push it.
Trey reached up and touched the guide rope to assure he was staying on track before plowing forward. Trudging in the broken path, Cole prayed they’d be able to get the pump working in the barn. The snow would work as a water source for the cattle in the pasture, but it wouldn’t be as easy for the sheltered animals. Opening the door, they staggered into the barn at last. Cole put his weight into pulling the door closed behind them, shutting old man winter out. Trey offered a panting grin from where he leaned against one of the heavy posts. Cole chuckled, shaking his head as he rested his hands on his knees. It never failed to surprise him what his brother found pleasure in. The big man loved a challenge. Staggering over to lean next to him, Cole slapped his shoulder.
“I’ll tell Gen you’ve earned your feed this morning.”
“I appreciate it,” Trey said with a chuckle and straightened to stroll over to the pump.
It took some priming and a little elbow grease, but between them they got the old pump working and the animals in the barn cared for. Hauling hay to the cattle through the deep drifts took a lot more. By the time they made it back to the house, even his workhorse of a brother was eager to get inside. Gen hurried to help them off with stiff and frozen outer clothes before ushering them to the table near the stove.
“Are the animals okay?” she asked as she poured two cups of steaming coffee.
“Everything is fine, darlin’,” Trey said, holding his hands out to the old-fashioned woodstove. “Your feathered friends only left you a couple of eggs with the lights out, but they’re fed and have plenty of straw.”
“Thank you.”
“Where’s Adrienne?” Cole asked, wrapping cold hands around his mug and taking a grateful sip.
Gen frowned. “Adri’s trying to coax Nate to eat a little. He’s not feeling well this morning.”
Trey snorted. “Tell him the chores are done. I’m sure he’ll perk right up.”
Cole laughed, but nodded at the truth in his older brother’s words.
Shaking her head at their razing, Gen poured batter onto the sizzling griddle. Adrienne breezed into the room, giving Cole’s ear a chiding flick with her nail on the way to the stove.
“I’m beginning to think that you two are just jealous of your younger brother’s success,” she said, flashing Cole a censorious look over her shoulder while she filled a tea cup.
Trey made a rude noise. “I wouldn’t trade a day of my life for his soft city existence.”
“What makes you think we’re envious of the runt?” Cole asked, a frown furrowing his brow. Was this about the money? There was no doubt Nate’s lifestyle in Philly was a lot closer to what Adrienne was used to. How did he compete with that?
“Neither of you has let up on the poor guy since he got here. That type of persecution has to be fueled by something.”
“Persecution?” Cole blurted in disbelief. “You don’t get it. He’s our baby brother. He doesn’t have to do anything for us to give him shit, but the truth is, he was a dumbass and almost died. If you women think we’re going to cut him any slack after that, you know nothing about siblings.”
He watched Adrienne’s spine snap ramrod stiff. She stirred a generous helping of honey into the tea before turning to face him. Her emerald eyes blazed.
“I want you to stop and think about how much it hurt when you lost your parents,” she said coldly. “Now think how it would have felt to stand there knowing that you had no one left, you were completely alone.”
Only the hiss of the griddle broke the silence as she glared at him. His throat ached as he struggled to force words past the lump there, something to erase the hurt in those eyes. The cup rattled on the saucer as she stepped past him.
“Neither Gen nor I had the luxury you take so lightly. Think about that next time you want to torment your siblings.”
Cole rubbed at the bridge of his nose as he played Adrienne’s words over in his head. She was right. Sweet Jesus! Why did he stick his foot in his mouth every time he opened it around this woman?
“Don’t just stand there. Go dig yourself out of that hole before she puts the stone on top,” Trey muttered.
“Is that what you would do?” he snapped. “Would you go running after Genevieve to kiss up?”
“I’ll admit it when I’m wrong.” The big man’s voice was defensive. “I’m learning that it’s easier to get the apologies out of the way instead of letting misunderstandings stew.”
“Is this new found wisdom going to extend to the rest of us, or just the pretty redhead that shares your bed?”
“We’ll see. I can’t deny I like the way she makes up.”
Shaking his head at the droll tone of his brother’s baritone, Cole looked at Gen. “Do you ever regret answering that letter?”
“Never,” she said, her voice soft, but adamant. “Becoming a McCade was the best thing that ever happened to me. She’ll probably deny it at the moment, but even Adrienne has come to think I hit the jackpot in the husband stakes.”
Cole smiled fondly as she put a stack of pancakes in front of Trey. “You’re a lucky man,” he said, slapping his brother’s shoulder on the way past.
“And smart enough to know it. Wise up little brother.”
Actually considering Trey’s chide, he strolled through to the living room. Adrienne was holding the tea to Nate’s lips. The boy did look flushed. Of course he was wrapped in a cocoon of quilts in front of the fire, and did have Adrienne leaning over him. What man wouldn’t be a little flushed?
“This seems a constant around you, but I’m sorry.”
“Maybe you should think before you open your mouth,” she said, not bothering to look up from her patient.
“You make it difficult to think.”
She looked up in surprise and then rolled her eyes. Nate answered for her.
“Then maybe you should stay away from her.”
“Do you remember that time you lied to Daddy and told him I’d left you to clean the whole barn, when the truth was I’d cleaned my side before going fishing?”
“Yeah,” Nate said, obviously trying to figure out where he was going with the reminiscing.
“More importantly, do you remember how I kicked your ass after I got mine whipped?”
Nate’s smile faltered and Cole nodded. “I’ve only gotten bigger and meaner since then. Think about that.” He held up his hand when Adri turned a censorious glare on him. “I know what you just said about siblings, but I don’t care who he is right now. He’s a man and you’re the woman I asked to marry me. Until I know the answer to that is no, I’m going to keep hoping. That also means I’m going to do whatever I can to scare off the competition. If the pretty boy can’t take a hint, he’ll take a beating. Both of you think about that,” he said firmly, and turned on his heel.
“Did he really ask you to marry him?”
Tearing her gaze from the now empty doorway, Adrienne glanced down at Nate. Fussing with his blankets, she shrugged.
“He mentioned he wouldn’t be object to the idea. I wouldn’t call it a proposal.”
“He seems pretty serious about it.”
She lifted her shoulder again and gathered up the dirty dishes, piling them on a tray and setting them aside to carry to the kitchen when Cole wasn’t in there.
“May
be it’s the fever, but I’m a little confused. You’re staying here. He hasn’t exactly proposed, and you haven’t said yes or no. Did the two of you exchange letters like Trey and Genevieve?”
Her shoulders slumped this time and she turned slightly to stare into the fire. How did she explain something that she didn’t fully understand herself?
“Are you two just taking the time to get to know one another before tying the knot? I have to admit I thought it was crazy that Genevieve came out here and immediately married Trey. Now that I’ve seen her, I’m even more surprised. She’s a pretty woman.”
“What does that have to do with her decision to marry Trey? He admittedly doesn’t choose to follow the latest fashions or style, but your oldest brother is a handsome man in his own right.”
Nate held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not saying Trey’s a hunchback, but he’s not prince charming either. My big brother can be difficult to like let alone love.”
“Well, lucky for him, Genevieve is very much in love with him. They make a good team. Cole and I were talking about that last night. They take care of each other, and what better thing is there to say about the bond of marriage?”
“So they hit it off right away, but you and Cole are still figuring it out,” he mused, frowning. “I’m sorry. Excuse my curiosity. When he told me about Trey’s new bride, he didn’t mention that he was getting one too.”
“We didn’t exchange letters. Genevieve and I were very close in New York. After her correspondences with Trey, she came out here on her own to marry him. Not only did I miss my friend, but I couldn’t get the story out of my head. So when my situation changed, I decided to buy a ticket and come check out her new husband and my options alike.”
“Bold. Brave,” he commented.
“I honestly don’t know what I was thinking. This isn’t the wild west with men just hanging around looking for wives,” she said with a shake of her head. “I guess I was just looking for something new and got a little caught up in the excitement and romance of Genevieve and Trey’s story.” She laughed. “It sounds crazy when I say it out loud, and I have no idea why I’m telling you this.”
