Roping the Marshal: A Sweet Contemporary Cowboy Romance (Kester Ranch Cowboys Book 2)

by Tori Kayson

  “Yeah, cowboy. I’m here.” Maverick smiled and helped her off his lap.

  They stepped to the bed, side-by-side, Maverick’s arm draped over her shoulder. A warmth settled in her belly and floated up to her heart. This felt right. Like they were a family. But would she still feel the same when he left to go back to work?

  And how had Maverick’s hat ended up on her son’s head? Smiling, she plucked it off and smoothed Logan’s hair back. She leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  “G’morning, mama. G’morning, Mav.” Her boy’s smile widened to the edges of his face, broad and sunshiney. Much like hers had to be.

  “Morning, cowboy. So what’d you do to end up in this bed instead of your comfy one at home?”

  “I ate too much candy.”

  “Candy?” Maverick’s honey brows lifted. “I sure hope I don’t eat any of that candy. Because I’d much rather sleep in my own bed—” he flashed her a look that made those goose bumps rise on her arms again “—or your—”

  She interrupted, her mommy radar shooting warning sparks. “That wasn’t candy, sweetheart. That was medicine.”

  “Oh.” Logan’s forehead crinkled. “Sowwy.”

  Maverick lowered the bed rail and tugged Logan onto his lap. “You know what that means, right, cowboy?”

  “But Aunt Key ate some. I saw her.”

  “Aunt Kierra knows when she needs medicine. Just like your mama knows when you need it. So you should only take medicine when your mama or the doctor gives it to you. Otherwise, you’ll get sick.” Maverick’s gaze traveled around the room. His heavy brows dipped close to those warm silver eyes, but the curved lips betrayed his stern expression. “And you’ll end up in here again. Maybe get a shot or two.”

  “Shots? Ewww!” Logan shuddered.

  “What do you say I round up a doctor and then we blow this joint?” Mav asked.

  “Yeah. Let’s bwow this joint.” Logan’s head wagged with exaggerated enthusiasm. Did he really understand what that meant?

  It didn’t matter, did it? All that mattered was that Maverick was here, providing moral support, coaxing a smile from her precious little man, and dragging her heart out of hiding.

  Maverick took the hat from her hand and plopped it back on Logan’s head, causing her son to burst out in giggles. “You look mighty fine in this hat.”

  Her heart smiled, really smiled, the warmth flowing from her chest in all directions. So what if Maverick wasn’t a full time cowboy. She already had one in the house. Who needed two?

  17

  Hope and Charity raced from Fargo’s yard and barked at the moving truck. Maverick smiled and steered into the parking lot of the ranch, weary to the bone. Two days of strenuous, take-his-breath-away training opps had left his body worthless.

  Worthless, with the exception of a couple parts. He chuckled in the empty cab. Anticipation at spending an entire weekend on the ranch, seeing Summer and Logan, sparked a fire in his gut and put a crazy grin on his face.

  He climbed out of the truck, wincing when a sore muscle rebelled, and patted both dogs on the head. “Good boys. Run along back home now.”

  Always obedient, the dogs loped back into their yard, tails wagging. Cattle lowed in the distance, and one of the horses snorted and stomped the ground in the nearest pasture. The familiarity of the ranch seeped into his spirit. Coming back to the ranch was so comforting, so peaceful. Much different from the loneliness that pitted in the bottom of his gut when he pulled up to his Dallas apartment.

  He grabbed his duffel bag from the cab.

  “Maaaav!” Logan hollered and tromped down the front porch stairs. Tiny boots pounded the ground before a body slammed into his thighs and pudgy arms hugged his legs.

  “Hey there, cowboy.” Smiling, Mav reached down and lifted the kid up to his chest, pleased to see he didn’t have to give away another hat, but he would’ve. He flipped the too heavy brim up so he could catch sight of those adorable eyes…like chocolate kisses from heaven. “It’s good to see you.” And it was. Oh it was. But where was his mother?

  “You too.” The boy’s adoration was obvious. In the toothy white smile, the puffed out chubby cheeks, the fingertips that massaged the bare skin on the back of Mav’s neck. Cool lips burrowed into Mav’s neck followed by a loud smacking noise. Then the kid nestled his head against Mav’s shoulder, knocking the Stetson to the ground.

  Mav closed his eyes, drowning in the wonder of a little boy’s hug. The peace came back, gushing from his heart like a waterfall, but the love? Son of a deuce, the love hit him even stronger, with more force, enough to knock him backwards if his weak legs weren’t already planted in place.

  How could Summer’s ex-husband give up something, someone, no make that two someones, as sweet and precious as Summer and Logan? How could the man just throw away their love?

  Not him. If Summer ever gave her heart to him, he’d never hurl it back at her. No, he’d treat them as the most treasured people in his life. But, weren’t they already? No other woman, or child, had ever managed to steal him away from work. Leaving after he’d settled them back in their apartment after Logan’s release had been torture. No other woman had created this firestorm going on between his head and his heart, making him consider giving up his job.

  “Hey, Maverick.” His eyelids zapped open at the somewhat shy voice, but he hid under the brim of his hat.

  Coward! But, he didn’t want her to see the moisture rimming his lashes, wasn’t ready for her to glimpse the love glowing from his face. Not yet, anyway. There’d be time for that later. After he’d convinced her that she really didn’t want a cowboy.

  “I was beginning to give up hope that you’d make it tonight.” At her worried tone, he looked up. She lifted her chin, a “you’re just like my ex” accusation in her expression. Hurt shimmered from her eyes.

  Make that if he could convince her. But no way would he allow her to believe he was anywhere close to that deadbeat ex-husband. If it took him one year or ten, he’d prove it to her.

  He kissed the top of Logan’s head and settled the little boy boots on the ground, scooped the disheveled hat off the grass and mashed it back on Logan’s head. Keeping a firm grip on Logan’s hand, Mav snagged Summer’s wrist and tugged her against his side.

  “Did you think you could get rid of me that easily?” he murmured, breathing deep of her citrus and floral blend.

  Oh, how he’d missed her this week! How he’d longed to feel those soft curves mold so perfectly to his form, for those arms to coil around his neck, for her mouth to respond to his urging. But it went deeper than that. Every night when he’d unlocked his front door, he’d yearned for her just to be there. To share his day. To warm his night.

  He snuck a kiss. Reluctant, he pulled away like a parched man desperate for fresh water. Seeing Summer was like stumbling upon a precious, beautiful waterfall, and he couldn’t get enough. He nudged her forehead with his. “Not a chance, sweetheart. Not a chance.”

  “I didn’t know if you’d gotten stuck on a case…” Her voice faded, and she folded arms over her chest, putting way too much space between them for his liking.

  “I told mama you’d come, Mav.” Logan tugged on his hand, breaking the tense vibes coming from Summer.

  “You better believe it, cowboy.” He smiled down at the boy’s earnest expression. A deep thrill raced through his veins. Logan believed in him. Now if Mav could only get the boy’s mama to trust him. He turned back to Summer so she’d hear his message, loud and clear. “You two are important to me. It’d take more than a case to keep me away.”

  Her eyes widened and glazed. She dropped her arms, dipped her head and licked her lips.

  “Come here.” He draped an arm around Summer’s waist. Together, the three of them began the trek to the ranch house.

  Important? He meant necessary. Like breathing. But what was he going to do about that?

  ****

  “I wish you didn
’t have to go back to Dallas in the morning,” Summer moaned.

  He blew out a frustrated breath, fanning wisps of her blonde hair. “Yeah. Me too. It’s been nice, hasn’t it?”

  They’d spent all weekend together, and now they were capping off Sunday evening cuddling under a blanket on the swinging bench. He really didn’t need the blanket, not with Summer warming his side. Logan snuggled on the couch with Mav’s mother, watching a movie and eating popcorn. Leaving them…alone, for once.

  “Mmmm.” She murmured and buried her face against his shirt. She slid her hand across his chest, electrifying other body parts.

  He covered her hand with his, stilling it, hoping to douse the raging inferno before it took hold. He wasn’t willing to muddy this perfection with a romp in bed. No, she and Logan were too special, too permanent, to risk moving their relationship to the bedroom too soon.

  “Woman, you don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

  She lifted her head and regarded him with hazy blue eyes. Her tongue peeked out to lick luscious lips. One brow arched, a sexy come-hither-and-take-me look on her face.

  Well, son of a deuce. “Or maybe you do,” he growled and lowered his head, scrounging up his best menacing look.

  She didn’t flinch. Only giggled and reached up to cradle the back of his head, bringing his lips crushing down on hers.

  Give her something to remember all week. Or him, at least.

  He tugged her closer. Kissed the smooth skin around her neck. Threaded his fingers through silky strands of hair. Then, he dived into her mouth again. Exploring, possessing, teasing, an urgency driving him to the edge of his self-control, his lungs screaming for air.

  Two seconds away from hauling her to a secluded spot, he pulled back, his breathing ragged, and rested his forehead against hers. He had to get a hold of himself. For her. For Logan.

  “Nice,” she murmured, her chest rising and falling with as much effort as his.

  “Nice? That’s all?”

  “Well, on a scale of one to ten, I’d rank it a twenty, but I didn’t want it to go to your head,” she said, smiling.

  “Don’t think that’s going to happen.” Mav settled back against the swing and nudged it into a gentle motion. Summer nuzzled against him like a contented cat.

  “Are you okay with this?” He hated the need that eked out in his voice.

  “This?” She lifted her head, her bow-shaped lips full and red from his kiss. “As in?”

  He gestured between the two of them. “Us. Me. And me not being a cowboy. Because I sure as shooting need you to be.”

  “You do?” Hope lit her face, immediately chased by something else, some emotion he couldn’t put a finger on.

  “Yeah.” Nodding, he raked a hand through his hair, stared into the black night. A calf cried for her mama, the sound comforting, but not real, not permanent. Not for him anyway.

  No. What was real was his badge and the weapon he strapped on to do his job every day. Protecting people was what he did and who he was. Ranching didn’t excite him, would never make him want to get up in the morning, and he’d go crazy riding around on a horse most of the day. But that’s what he’d do if it meant sharing a life with her and Logan.

  “I care about you, Summer.” He inhaled a lungful of courage. “Son of a deuce, to be honest, I’m way past caring. I’ll drive back and forth every weekend if you’re willing to take a chance on me. To let me prove that I’m nothing like your ex.” He rubbed the tips of her hair between his fingertips. “To show you that I’ll be there, not just when you need me, but even those times when you’d rather I just go home and leave you two alone.”

  “I can’t imagine not wanting you around.” A sweet, slow smile curved her lips. She caressed his jaw with her palm. “You don’t have to prove anything, Maverick. You’re not like Judd. I know that now. And you have been here when I needed you. You came to the hospital.”

  Had he drifted off into a delicious dream? If so, he never wanted to wake.

  No, that’s not true! He wanted this, he wanted her, for real, for life.

  He studied her through hooded lids. “You and Logan…you’re not short term to me, and I know you have your doubts about my career. I want to earn your trust, sweetheart. Your love.”

  Her eyes widened, deep liquid pools that invited him to dive in and splash and play, never to leave, but to treasure for the rest of his life. “Okay.”

  “Okay.” He leaned in, intending to seal his commitment—

  The hinges on the screen door squeaked. Summer shifted away slightly as boots pounded across the porch.

  “To be continued,” Mav whispered and flashed her a you-just-wait look.

  “Mav, I bwot you a cookie!” Logan held out his hand, smeared with chocolate and the remains of a smushed cookie.

  Maverick chuckled. “Why, thank you, cowboy.” He reached down and hoisted the little guy onto his lap, winked at Summer. “Did you bring one for mama, too, or should I share this with her?”

  “This one’s for mama.” The youngster held up his other hand with an equally mangled cookie.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Summer plucked the morsel from Logan’s hand and popped it in her mouth, flashing her mega-watt smile, the one that reached deep inside and set the wild horses to rampage in Mav’s gut.

  Oh yeah.

  Summer and Logan were worth a thousand tomorrows.

  18

  The floorboard creaked just outside his bedroom door. Apparently, more than mice stirred this Christmas morning.

  Maverick chuckled and checked the time on his phone. Six AM. The munchkin had slept longer than Mav expected.

  Logan would have so much fun today, celebrating with the entire family. No guests this holiday weekend, only family. Summer and Logan counted in that category. No question, after tonight.

  He smiled, fingered the velvet case on the nightstand.

  The bedroom door eased open. Maverick slid the phone and the jewelry box under the sheet and pretended to be asleep.

  Bare feet padded over to the bed, and then Logan smacked his bare chest a couple times. “Mav! Mav!”

  Maverick let out an exaggerated moan and flipped over on his side, but that only meant the rattling continued on his upper arm.

  “Mav!” This time hot morning breath blew against his cheek. Persistent fellow…one who needed to brush his teeth.

  Maverick fought back a smile and opened his eyes to the most adorable kid on the planet.

  Logan was eye-level, his face up close and personal, those humongous coffee-warm eyes wide as tangerines, and oh so lovable. What had he done to deserve this little guy’s adoration?

  Love swelled in his chest. Mav tugged the kid onto the bed. “Where’s your mama?”

  “Still sweeping.” Logan squirmed and twisted to give him a hug, then slid off the bed, his feet thudding on the wood floor. “It’s Cwismas, Mav!”

  “I know, cowboy.”

  “Time to get up.”

  He chuckled. “That it is.” Not like he’d catch any more winks this morning, not with this cowboy up and raring to go. Truth, Kester, is that you’re probably more excited about today than he is. He unfolded the comforter and set his bare feet on the floor, anticipation tickling his insides. “You hungry?”

  “No. Let’s open pwesents.”

  He ruffled the boy’s hair. “Not quite yet, cowboy. We have to wait for everybody else to get up. Do you want some breakfast first or do you want to go outside and practice roping?” Either way, Maverick planned to keep Logan busy and not wake up the entire ranch in the process.

  Logan scrunched his nose and tilted his head, considering the offer. “Roping.”

  “You got it.” Maverick plucked the tiny pair of denims and a flannel shirt off the dresser, the ones he’d insisted Summer give him last night just for this reason. “Here. Can you put these on while I get dressed?”

  “Sure. I’m a big boy.”

  Pride surged. Smiling, Maverick shoved the p
ile into Logan’s arms. “Thought so. Now don’t leave my room. I’ll be right back.”

  Maverick left the walk-in closet door ajar and dressed in jeans lightning quick. When he came back into the bedroom, Logan was on the rug, struggling to slide into his pants.

  Maverick bit back an offer to help. The cowboy needed to experience the satisfaction of doing things for himself. When Logan finally popped up, dressed down to the pint-sized boots, Maverick patted the Stetson on the youngster’s head. “Great job. Now let’s go brush our teeth. And hit the toilet.”

  “Oh man!” Logan complained, but followed Mav down the hall.

  When they finished in the bathroom, Mav asked, “You ready to go rope that calf?” Hanging out in the barn for a few minutes would give Mav a chance to hide the ring inside the battery compartment of Summer’s new camera, his Christmas gift to her.

  “Yeah!”

  The duo tiptoed down the hallway, hand in hand. Maverick slowed over the spots with weak floorboards. He’d probably regret that in a few years, when Logan was old enough to sneak out of the house.

  He grinned. Yeah, maybe, but he’d still catch him and eventually, Logan would realize that his mama had married a marshal with exceptional hearing. Especially when it came to someone sneaking in or out of a house. After all, he’d had years of practice.

  Panic gripped his gut and flashed a warning signal to his brain. What if Summer said no? What if she wasn’t ready? Or still wouldn’t consider saddling herself to another law enforcement officer. What then? Would he be willing to wait years for a commitment she might never make?

  His steps lagged, his chest literally aching with love for these two precious souls who’d been hurt and rejected by people who were supposed to love and cherish them.

  A door whooshed open and a draft tickled his spine. He spun around.

  Summer poked around the doorframe, her smoky eyes hazy from sleep, her blonde hair tousled. A bright red Henley hugged her curves.

  His shirt, but he wasn’t complaining. It looked so much better on her. Her fuzzy looking pajama bottoms practically invited his touch, but he settled for grazing her smooth cheek. “Morning, sweetheart.”