Even Heroes Cry, Fords of Nashville, Book 1

by Hildie McQueen

  He'd not been hesitant to ask to spend the night, knowing full well most of the cast was going to be in Nashville. There were probably plenty of empty beds at his house.

  Tesha huffed and flopped onto her stomach. Why did this have to happen? The hurdle of her feelings for Adam was making sleep impossible.

  Along with bright sunshine, the birds outside were cheerful and loud. Tesha glared at the window and wondered what the hell they were so damn happy about. She'd finally fallen asleep around three in the morning, and now the little chirpers woke her up.

  Kylie shook and inched closer. She licked Tesha's cheek. "Okay, I'm up. I'm awake." She trudged to the side door and let the puppy out. "So much for sleeping in." She scratched her head and stare bleary-eyed at the clock on the microwave. It was nine-thirty. She'd actually slept in, it didn't feel like it. Where was everyone? The noise in the kitchen should have woken her when Cassie arrived to cook. She went to the French doors and peered out.

  In a grassy area between the houses, there was a small tent erected. Under it, tables and chairs. A van with bright red letters was parked on the street, "Red's Pancake House" in large red letters on its side.

  Cassie walked into the garden, saw her and waved. She had a plate piled with pancakes and slipped in to the house. "Isn't it great? They showed up at the same time I did and offered to feed the crew free of charge. I looked in on you and you were passed out, so I didn't wake you. I stole your phone so it wouldn't wake you either." She pointed to Tesha's phone on the counter.

  "I didn't hear anything. The birds woke me up." Tesha slumped into a chair and dug into the pancakes Cassie slid in front of her. "I hope the execs don't decide to hire them instead of us."

  "They can't, we have a contract," Cassie replied between bites. "Besides, they are from Nashville and came for today only. Some sort of publicity stunt I'm sure. These are good."

  "Hmpf," Tesha reached for the cup of coffee that magically appeared. She guessed Cassie had poured it when she'd had her face inches from the pancakes.

  "You don't look good." Cassie narrowed her eyes. "Are you sick?"

  "Nope, just tired. Restless night."

  "Worried about something?"

  "Adam is coming to ‘talk.’" She made quotation mark motions with her fingers. "It shouldn't worry me so much, I mean, what can he possibly have to talk about? He assumes we're friends with benefits. Maybe he's bringing the woman he went out with to live with him and wants to warn me. Or maybe he wants to continue to be friends with benefits and wants to date other women in Nashville."

  "Oh." Cassie frowned. "What if he wants to take your relationship to the next level?"

  "No friends, just benefits?"

  Cassie let out a giggle. "No silly, monogamy."

  "I doubt that very much," Tesha grumbled. "I don't think he's the boyfriend type."

  "You're about to find out, he just walked up to the gate."

  "Oh shit." Tesha shot up to her feet and ran toward her bedroom. "Stop him. I'm not ready. I look like crap."

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Adam caught sight of Tesha's pajama clad bottom as she raced to her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. Her friend, Cassie, sat at the dining table with a cup of coffee up to her smiling face, eyes trained on him.

  Her gaze followed him as he walked into the room, but she didn't say anything until he sat down. "Tesha wants me to stop you from going to her bedroom. She's not ready."

  "Not ready for what?"

  She shrugged. "I don't know exactly. I think she needs to change or something."

  Adam considered going to Tesha's bedroom, but decided to respect her wishes, so instead he slid the plate she'd left closer and began to eat.

  "I'll be on my way, since we didn't have to cook breakfast today, it gives me a chance to go to the store." Cassie stood and grabbed her purse. "Don't do anything dumb. She's a great person and deserves to be treated well."

  "I'll try my best. She is and you're right."

  His answer seemed to appease the pretty woman who gave him a bright smile. Her smile disappeared and was replaced with a gawk when his brother walked in through the doors.

  "Hey," Jensen said to both of them, then smiled at Cassie, who whirled and rushed from the room and out the front door.

  "That makes two women who run when seeing one of us," Adam told Jensen. "Tesha ran to her room when I walked in and now you scared off Cassie."

  "She's cute," Jensen said and pulled back the chair Cassie had just vacated. "I think she likes me."

  "Most women do," Adam replied not liking that Jensen might take advantage of the sweet woman. "You should steer clear of her. She's not the play with kind."

  "I know," Jensen replied surprising him. "That's why I haven't tried anything."

  "Sometimes you surprise me." Adam studied his younger brother. With hazel and dark blond hair like Tristan's, he seemed at ease. Jensen always wore his hair a bit longer than he and his brothers, touching his collar and cut in a style that somehow looked messy yet perfect at the same time. As usual when not working, he wore his favorite color, black shirt and black jeans. Beneath the sleeve on his left arm, the bottom of his tribal tattoo peaked out.

  Jensen stretched. "I'm not going to Nashville with the crew. Selene is coming to spend a couple nights."

  "Where is she staying?" Adam bristled. His plans to stay in his house suddenly complicated.

  "In my room. Well, your room, but mine for now." Jensen smiled. "I got some special sheets and fancy bedding all set. You can keep them after I leave."

  "Yuck."

  "Duh, they'll get laundered." Jensen stood. "See ya later, bro."

  "I was planning to stay here this weekend." Adam stood and glared at his brother. "I need my bedroom."

  "No can do." Jensen skirted around him and left.

  Adam turned to watch Jensen walk through the garden and on to his house. "What an ass."

  "Who?” Tesha stood behind him.

  "Jensen just kicked me out of my own house. He's an idiot if he thinks I'm not going back in."

  She looked fresh and beautiful in a pair of denim shorts and a light green gauzy top. She didn't wear much makeup as usual, her lips only slightly colored with a soft shimmer. Her large brown eyes searched his face. Once again wariness in her expression. "He's a character."

  It was time to let down his guard, to open himself to her and hope for a good outcome. In the best of times, he wasn't good at communicating. Now he prayed the right words would come. He took her hand and pulled her toward the table. "Please, sit."

  "If I have to sit for this, I'm not sure I want to." Tesha resisted only a bit. “How about we go to the front porch? I need fresh air."

  They made their way to the front of the house. He couldn't keep his eyes off her delicious body. The thought of her soft skin against him dried his throat. Tesha was beautiful, exotic, tantalizing. He wanted her more than ever.

  Before she could take a seat, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her shoulder. "I miss you. Miss being your neighbor."

  The huskiness in Adam's voice made Tesha shudder. This was the time to be strong. She couldn't let his sweet words or enticing body woo her into doing something stupid. Tesha moved away from him and leaned on the railing. "What is so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone? I don't want you to touch me until we talk, clear things up. I can't think when you are too close."

  She took a fortifying breath when he hung his head and looked at his feet. "You're not making this easy."

  Here it came the "I'm seeing someone else speech.” Or better yet, "I want to remain lovers, but only when I come here on weekends," proposal.

  When he lifted his head and looked at her, she almost gasped. His heavily lashed eyes were dark, the blue almost turquoise in color. So beautiful. The corner of his sensual mouth lifted. "I am not ready for a relationship. That's what my therapist says. That I should take things slow and wait until I have better control over my flashba
cks."

  "Of course, I understand. No problem." Tesha wanted to run back inside and lock the door. Instead, she ran her finger along the top of the railing and then stopped when she noticed it shook with restrained annoyance. "He probably also suggested you date and enjoy being a bachelor."

  "Yes, he did actually." Adam neared, the warmth of his breath on the side of her face made her eyes close. "But I don't want to."

  "Adam." She couldn't move away. At this moment she hated how much he affected her. "What do you want me to do? I don't know that I can be just friends, but also I can't continue to be more than that. It's hard for me to keep my heart from getting involved."

  "I—I want to ask you to give me a chance. I realize I'm asking a lot. That man you saw that night is still inside me. But I don't want to lose you. Will you give me a chance, Tesha? Give a relationship between us a try?"

  Tesha blinked and her mouth opened. What exactly had he just asked? "Do you mean you want a relationship with me?"

  He nodded. "Yes."

  "Oh." Now it was her who found it hard to speak. "I'm not sure what to think. You just threw a curveball at me."

  "I understand if you need time to think." His shoulders slumped slightly, before he straightened in an attempt to look unaffected. But she'd seen the hurt in his eyes when thinking she would turn him down.

  "I don't have to think about it, Adam." Tesha smiled and took his right hand in both of hers. "I don't want to lose you either."

  "Is that a yes?"

  Her heart melted at the expectation in his expression. His eyebrows high, his rounded eyes locked with hers. Could it be possible that this amazing man was actually in love, or more realistically, in like, with her?

  "It's a yes." Before she could say anything else, she was engulfed in his arms, his mouth searched for hers and she lifted her face to him. He tasted of coffee, pancake syrup, and possibilities.

  Her fingers weaved through his soft hair as she allowed him to deepen the kiss, and his hands, flat on her back, held her flush against her.

  The warmth of his kiss sent her heart fluttering, her breathing becoming more like pants when his lips traveled down from her jawline to the side of Tesha's neck. She'd missed him so much. Longed for his touches and caresses. It was a strange feeling to know she could allow herself the luxury of enjoying him and make plans with him. Her scrambled mind came to a screeching stop when the picture of him kissing the woman's hand in the restaurant popped front and center of her mind. How could she have forgotten that?

  Tesha pushed away and looked up at him. It took a moment to see clearly past the fog of wanting to drag him back inside for a leisurely morning in bed. "What about that woman you went out with? Do you plan to see her again?"

  "Never. It was a business dinner. She propositioned me and I said no. I couldn't when I thought of how it would affect us...you." Adam's brows were drawn down over his eyes. "What about Malloy?"

  "We only went out once, and we've not spoken in weeks. I have not seen him since."

  "You're expecting me to tell you I won't see anyone else," Adam stated the obvious matter-of-factly. "I won't see anyone else. I hope you won't either. I want us to be exclusive."

  "Good."

  Tesha smiled up at him, she tugged at his hand. "I planned to go into town today and pick up groceries and then maybe go for a drive and relax. Would you like to do that with me?"

  He smiled and for the first time she saw a flash of what he must have looked like when he was carefree and didn't carry the burdens of a war on his shoulders. "Sure."

  She was happy he'd not pushed her for more right then. It was best they ease into things, spend the day together and get used to the idea of being in a relationship. Although admittedly it would have not taken much effort to convince her otherwise, it meant a lot that he was fine with spending time doing mundane things.

  A few minutes later, she sat beside Adam in his truck. He drove along a two-lane highway. The radio was set to classic rock the windows down letting the warm air in. Tesha couldn't help stealing sideways glances at him. He wore aviator sunglasses and a navy blue polo shirt. His jeans were worn and fit him perfectly. He was an amazing looking guy.

  She reached over and slid her fingers down the side of his face. "Pull over."

  "Is something wrong?" He searched her face and then his eyes widened in surprise when she slid her other hand to his thigh and between his legs.

  "Yes, something is terribly wrong. I want you."

  He looked into the rear view mirror and then to her. "Someone could drive up."

  "I know. But I don't think they will stop." Tesha leaned over and ran the tip of her tongue along his ear lobe. "I can't wait."

  Adam pulled the truck off the road and drove up a bumpy gravel path and pulled to a stop. Tesha yelped and giggled when he grabbed her and pulled her over him.

  His mouth was hungry when it took hers and his hands were already under her shirt unfastening her bra. When her breasts fell free he yanked her top off and took her nipple into his mouth to suckle. Tesha almost came then and there. She struggled to pull her shorts off and finally was able to after much maneuvering. Being completely nude while Adam remained dressed was erotic as all get out.

  His eyes raked over her in appreciation. "Damn you're incredible. So beautiful."

  He moaned when she reached between them and caressed his thick arousal. "Damn, Tesh, I can't wait to be inside you."

  "Me, either. I need you now." She unzipped him and shoved his fly open then pushed his briefs down to release his erection. It jutted straight up, hard and enticing. As much as she wanted it between her lips, there wasn't time. She straddled him and lowered, taking him in.

  Adam held her hips and his own jutted up until he thrust his entire length into her.

  "Oh God!" Tesha cried out, her body trembling. "Oh!"

  "Ride me." His command stirred her into action and she placed her hands on his shoulders and did just that.

  The combination of being in the confined space of a truck, out where they could be discovered and his happy grunts brought Tesha to a quick orgasm. "Ahhhh." The sounds of their bodies meeting brought her to start a second climb.

  Adam let out a deeper moan and grabbed her hips lifting and lowering her. His moved faster, the thrusts harder. "Oh shit," he panted in her ear. "I'm about to lose it. You probably should get off me."

  Before she could move, he lost control. His body took over, grabbing her hips and holding her in place. Adam began to tremble, threw his head back, cried out and came.

  It was then she realized they were not using protection. Tesha couldn't budge. He held her fast, his hot release filling her. She shook as she too succumbed to an orgasm that had her shaking from head to toe. She collapsed against his chest while he peppered kisses on her temples and face.

  "Damn, Tesh. I didn't mean to come inside you. Are you mad?" He lifted her face and his soft gaze met hers. "I assure you, I'm clean."

  "No, of course I'm not mad." She pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. "But I am going to stress out until my period comes. I'm not taking any birth control."

  She waited for the panic. For him to scramble to separate and begin to babble. Instead he wrapped his arms around her and held her. "I know we're not ready for anything that drastic. But I want kids, I would love it if you get pregnant."

  "Seriously, Adam, sometimes you say the sweetest things." Tesha let out a breath and scanned the view of the road through the back window. "We probably should go before cops show up or something."

  It took a while for her to get dressed, especially since she had to keep brushing Adam's hands away.

  Once she dressed and they were on their way, Tesha bit her bottom lip.

  "You're worried." Adam slid his eyes to her. "I'm sure you're not pregnant."

  Tesha let out a chuckle. "You can't be sure of that. I'm fine. I'll make an appointment first thing on Monday to get birth control."

  His hands slid down her arm and took her
hand. "I meant what I said. If something comes of it. I will marry you immediately."

  Although her heart warmed at the thought he'd stand by her, Tesha hoped that wouldn't be the only reason he'd offer marriage.

  God how she hoped there wouldn't be a consequence to making the maddeningly delicious man pull over.

  Yes, that was exactly how she felt in spite of the smile tugging at her lips.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Three days later, Adam hung up after speaking to Tesha. He sat back in his leather executive chair and looked out the window. Her period had started. She sounded relieved and laughed when he'd told her he was already making a list of names. He wasn't kidding.

  When she told him she'd gotten birth control and they didn't have to use condoms anymore, Adam was somewhat appeased.

  He planned to marry Tesha, but knew it would take a little time before she'd accept. And there was the matter with Doctor Mitchell. The doc wouldn't be pleased when he found out he'd went ahead with a relationship. Which reminded him. He had a call to make.

  It was time to make it clear to Malloy he wouldn't appreciate the guy calling Tesha anymore. He grimaced at his need to be overly aggressive. If Tesha found out he was making calls that made him more caveman than anything else, she'd be mad. Okay, he'd call Malloy and insure the guy understood he and Tesha were in a committed relationship. He would do his best not to growl or threaten.

  "I can't believe you called James." Tesha's voice was raised an octave in his ear. "It wasn't your call to make. I planned to tell him if he ever called again."

  "Well, he obviously called."

  Adam made a mental note to pound the guy into the ground if he ever saw him again.

  "Yes, he called, I left him a message about Kylie's papers." Tesha huffed. "You can't go all barbarian on me, Adam. I have male friends and I am not the kind of girl who will sit back and let you club them over the head. Cleve for instance."