Wanted--Texas Daddy

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Sage grinned.

  “And the back of a pickup truck.” He gestured magnanimously. “And the view of the three canyons at sunset.” For which his family’s ranch had been named.

  Sage leaned against the back of the cab, her legs stretched out on the thick layer of blankets lining the truck bed. “I’ve never seen anything this beautiful,” she murmured as they polished off the last of the steak tacos. “How come you never brought me up here to see the sunset before now?”

  He put their dishes into the basket. Tucked her into the curve of his arm and kissed her temple, teasing, “’Cause I figured you’d fall in love with the land and not me.”

  Love.

  She just wished their emotions were that intense.

  “Sorry.” He mugged. “Bad joke.”

  Sage drew a deep breath, and looked out at the purple-and-pink streaks against the backdrop of the slowly darkening Texas sky. “No offense taken.”

  The only reason she was even the tiniest bit upset was that this whole adventure was so damn romantic. To the point that the promise of never bringing anything as problematic as love into their relationship was getting difficult.

  Nick moved far enough away to see her face, and took her hand. “Something’s off.”

  “I was just thinking about your sibs’ reaction,” she fibbed.

  Nick took her hand in his. “From their point of view, they probably have a right to be worried. I am the baby of the family, you know. After my folks died when I was ten, everyone had a part in raising me.”

  She liked it when he confided in her like this. It made her feel closer to him. “Let me guess. You were the rebel.”

  He squeezed her fingers companionably. “More like a wannabe Warren Buffet.”

  Trying not to think how handsome he was, or how much she always seemed to want to make love to him, Sage sighed. “Back to money. Lots of it.” Just like her father.

  “And success. But I have to admit, the money would have been great to have back then. We struggled, trying to hold on to everything after Mom and Dad died. Sold all the cattle. Went through what savings there was, trying to pay the taxes on the land, and still fell woefully behind.” He released a breath. “If it hadn’t been for Mac Wheeler coming to town, putting the wind energy turbines on our land, we might have lost everything, including the store, despite all our best efforts to the contrary.”

  “But now you don’t need the money. The ranch pays for itself and the store is doing a booming business.”

  His brows took on a determined slant. “I do need more of a challenge. This could be it.”

  “Could be?”

  He frowned. “There are some things I didn’t tell my sibs.”

  Curious, Sage tensed. “Like what?”

  “They’re planning to make the stores a lot more high-end and seat them only in urban areas.”

  Sage blinked in surprise. “I thought the idea was to link them in some way to the success of the original mercantile. Have you as spokesperson.”

  “They are still going to do that, although in a roundabout way. Meanwhile, the Monroe name and four generations of expertise selling Western wear will help them promote the venture.”

  So he was being used. Willingly, albeit, but...she had to ask, “You think you’re going to be happy with the finished product?”

  As darkness descended, Nick turned on the camping lantern. It filled the bed of the truck with a soft, intimate light. Whatever demons he had had been put to rest. “MR has assured me that I’ll still have a great deal of input.”

  Sage looked on the bright side. She might not believe in his new partners, but she definitely believed in him. She smiled. “So then it can’t help but be a success. ’Cause I’m sure you’ll handle whatever comes your way.”

  “Like I ‘handle’ you?” Nick teased, shifting her over onto his lap.

  Sage settled intimately against him. “Ooh, sexy, cowboy!”

  Nick stroked a hand through her hair, down her spine. “Ever made love in the bed of a pickup truck?” he asked huskily.

  Sage shook her head, ready for the pleasurable diversion he offered. “Can’t say that I have.” She pressed her lips lightly to his. “Is that about to change?”

  “Let’s see.” Nick rubbed his thumb across her lower lip. Slanted his head. “First we’d have to kiss...”

  Sage opened her mouth to the insistent pressure of his, savoring the heat and taste of him. “Very nice so far...” she decreed.

  Nick smiled and reached for the buttons on her blouse. “Then we’d have to get a little closer still.”

  She quivered as he undid the clasp on her bra, and bared her to his touch. “Also nice,” she whispered, unfastening his shirt, too.

  “And touch.” He shifted her over her onto her side, and stretched his frame alongside hers. Facing each other, they kissed and stroked until his sinewy chest tautened and her nipples pearled and her blood ran hot and heavy through her veins.

  Needing more, they kicked off their jeans.

  Sage lay on her back, knees raised. “And become one...”

  Resting his weight on his forearms, he slid home. Sage caught her breath, the force of her own desire driving her to wild abandon. Excitement racing through her, she ran her hands through his hair and held his head. “Good thing we fit together so nicely...” she murmured, her breath coming raggedly.

  Nick paused, searching her face. “And in every other way,” he affirmed in the rough sexy voice she loved. He flashed her a deliberately provocative grin, and took her mouth again in a long, hot, tempestuous kiss. As desire swept through her, he settled on top of her, his weight as welcoming as a blanket on a cold winter’s night.

  Savoring the intimacy, the emotional connection that only seemed to get more intense every time they were together, she wrapped her limbs around him, pulling him deeper still.

  “Nick,” she whispered. Oh, Nick...

  He went deep. And slow.

  She arched up to meet him.

  And then all was lost in the swirling passion, their climaxes merging as irrevocably as they were beginning to merge their lives.

  * * *

  “COME WITH ME TODAY,” Nick encouraged the following morning, after another bout of sweet and sensual lovemaking—in the shower at her apartment this time—had left her body humming.

  Aware she didn’t want to leave him, either, Sage shrugged on a thick terry-cloth robe. “Back to Dallas?”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss into her hair. “We could work in some honeymooning in the evenings.”

  The days, Sage already knew, would be spent working on the new business venture. She slipped away from him and picked up a wide-toothed comb. “I bet MR would really like that.”

  Frowning, Nick finished drying his body. “You’re not jealous of her, are you?”

  Only in the sense that the exec was suddenly spending a lot more time with Nick than she was, Sage thought, as she began detangling her wet hair.

  Yet the question reminded her of what Everett had told her as he escorted her to the town car at the hotel, indicating she was not gaining a husband, but instead losing her best friend.

  She met his glance in the bathroom mirror. “Should I be?”

  Grinning, Nick replied, “What do you think?”

  Sage shrugged. If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked.

  Nick turned her gently around to face him. Planting his hands on the counter, on either side of her, he leaned over her and delivered the kind of long, soulful kiss that left her breathless and trembling and in no doubt of how much he desired her.

  When he finally came up for air, he paused, his gaze drifting over her. As always, seeing far more of her inner vulnerability than she wanted him to see. “What’s really bothering yo
u?”

  Something stupid someone else said.

  But not about to become the kind of clinging woman who needed constant reassurance from her man, Sage pushed aside her niggling uncertainty.

  “Sage?” Nick pressed, his gaze narrowing in concern. “Come on. Level with me. What is it?”

  Actually, Sage thought, there were about a hundred little things. She picked one. “I know it’s silly, but...I’m a little nervous about the sonogram.”

  A lot could go wrong with a pregnancy, and although hers was progressing nicely to date, according to her obstetrician, Sage had also read enough online to know that could change at any time.

  Complications cropped up. Perfectly laid plans were forced to be abandoned...

  Nick laced a reassuring arm about her shoulders and pulled her in close to his side. “I’m still planning to be there. Two fifteen, right? A week from Friday? Your OB’s office?”

  “Dr. Johnson. Right.”

  “It’ll be amazing,” he predicted with a grin as wide as all of Texas.

  “I know.” I hope. I wish...

  “Our first glimpse of our new baby!”

  Thus far. Although she had heard her baby’s heartbeat, loud and strong, at her last appointment, Sage had yet to feel him or her kick. She had been told it could happen at any time in the fourth or fifth month, and several times she’d almost thought she felt something, only to wonder if she had only imagined it.

  She drew a breath and tried to get a grip on her soaring emotions. This was all hormones, she promised herself, nothing more.

  “Speaking of our little one, I need to purchase a crib and a changing table.” She paused at Nick’s inscrutable expression. Frustrated to find she still couldn’t read him anywhere near as well as he could read her, she said, “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to go with me for that...or...?”

  He paused, looking completely at a loss. Why, she wasn’t sure.

  Sage moved away. “Actually, never mind. I think it might be better if I went with Molly and Adelaide, since they have already outfitted nurseries, and know exactly what to buy.”

  Nick’s relief was palpable. “I’d be happy to put it together,” he volunteered happily, looking around. “The larger question is, where are you going to put it?” he asked. Her apartment consisted of two large rooms and a bath.

  Sage grimaced. “Not sure yet.”

  Nick tugged on jeans and a shirt. “Do you want to go ahead and get two cribs then? One for your place? One for mine? I’ll reimburse you, of course.”

  Yep, they were definitely back to the business side of their relationship. Trying not to feel disappointed—this was what they had agreed upon after all—Sage smiled. “Do you want them both to be identical or different?”

  He deferred again. “You decide.”

  O-kay. Wishing he were a little more enthusiastic about setting up an infant space, Sage watched Nick’s glance cut to the clock. Suppressing her frustration, she asked, “Need to get a move on?”

  He drew her toward him and dropped a tender kiss on her forehead. “Unfortunately, yes.” He smoothed the hair from her face. “But—” he paused to kiss her one last time “—I’ll be back before you know it.”

  Chapter Eight

  “You’re in a hurry.”

  Sage put the closed sign on the door. “Shows, huh?”

  Luisa nodded. “Nick coming home tonight?”

  Finally! “He should be in at about eight this evening,” Sage reported. Which gave her roughly four hours...

  “Cooking dinner for him?”

  Shutting down the coffee machines, Sage feigned nonchalance. “I told him I’d throw something together.”

  “Which means...?”

  “Man food. Steak. Baked potatoes. Salad. And of course the quintessential apple pie.”

  “Just make sure you don’t get too tired to give your man a proper welcome home.” Luisa winked.

  Sage rolled her eyes, although she was expecting their reconnection to light up the sky with fireworks.

  “Seriously, I’ll finish up here. You go get ready for your man.”

  Sage hugged Luisa. “Thanks.” She whipped off the barista apron, let herself into the hallway adjacent to the back alley and headed up the staircase. Inside, her apartment sparkled from a recent cleaning. Her fridge was filled with fresh ingredients. And she was brimming with excitement.

  Nick had been gone ten days, most of which had been spent on the road with MR and Everett, meeting with potential suppliers. She hadn’t heard from him yet today, but he had called or texted or emailed every other day. Just to see how she and their baby were doing. It had felt good, being connected to him that way, even if their communications had sometimes been rushed. So she was eager to catch up completely.

  And that excitement stayed with her as 8:00 p.m. came and went. Still with no word from Nick. No call or email or text. Which really began to worry her. It wasn’t like him not to let her know he was going to be late. Never mind this late.

  Finally, around eleven, she texted his sister Bridgett. Her phone rang a few seconds later. “What’s going on?” Bridgett asked.

  Sage explained. “But, now that I’m saying all this out loud, I feel like I’m being silly, contemplating worst-case scenarios.”

  “I’m sure Nick’s on his way,” Bridgett soothed. “Otherwise, he would have let you know. Maybe he’s out of cell phone range. You know there are a lot of dead spots between here and Dallas. But listen, if you want me to call all the other sibs...”

  “No. You’re right.” Sage shook off her increasing sense of dread. “I’m letting my imagination get away from me. He’ll be home before I know it.”

  * * *

  AT MIDNIGHT, SAGE went to sleep. Sometime after that, her cell phone rang.

  It was MR Rhodes, requesting a FaceTime chat with her.

  Heart jumping with anxiety, Sage switched on the bedside lamp, drew the covers over her chest and accepted. MR appeared on screen, dressed in her usual elegant business attire. “Sage. Sorry to wake you.”

  Sage shoved the hair out of her eyes, glad she had worn a demure sleep shirt to bed. “Is everything all right?”

  “We’re just behind schedule. Which is why Nick asked us to get in touch with you.”

  That was weird. Embarrassing or not, she had to ask. “Is there some reason he couldn’t contact me himself?”

  “He’s still meeting with the Santa Fe artisans who are trying to get their goods in our new venue. They’ve been coming to the hotel all day to show us what they can provide exclusively for us, and since Nick is the expert on Western wear, he’s riding point on the discussions.”

  Made sense. Sort of.

  MR smiled. “Anyway, he wanted you to have his flight information for tomorrow morning. Everett, can you please give it to Sage?”

  The phone changed hands.

  Everett appeared on screen. There was a second’s pause, as he took Sage in, with what might have been a flash of remorse or indecision in his expression. Then he glanced down at the tablet in his other hand and read out the airline and flight number. “Departs at 6:07 in the morning, and arrives in Dallas at 9:20.”

  “Thank you, Everett. Text that information to Sage.”

  Everett disappeared from view.

  MR came back into the picture. “So even if there is traffic Nick should easily be able to make your ultrasound appointment tomorrow afternoon. He wants you to know that. So...you’re good?” MR said crisply.

  Sage forced a smile. “I am. Thanks for calling.”

  They ended the call.

  As much as Sage wanted to, she couldn’t go back to sleep for several hours after that. Her mind kept replaying the warning Everett had given her the morning after she married Nick, the way he ha
dn’t quite wanted to look her in the eye during the FaceTime chat.

  Did he know something she should?

  Or was it just the way the venture capital/start-up business worked that had MR’s assistant so sure trouble was brewing for her and Nick?

  One thing was for certain. You couldn’t build any kind of successful relationship if you rarely interacted with the other person. And, Sage thought miserably as she wrapped her arms tightly around her pillow and sought comfort where she could, that was certainly becoming true for her and Nick.

  * * *

  “HOW MANY TEXTS have you had this morning?” Luisa asked, sliding another tray of apple Danish into the oven to bake.

  Sage spread a thin layer of jalapeño cream cheese on some tortillas. “Thirty-two.” In five hours.

  Luisa cast a look toward the front of the shop. Just after eleven, the lunch crowd had yet to come in. Satisfied the part-time counter help could handle things for the moment, she turned back to give Sage a concerned look, “All from Nick?”

  Sage layered thin slices of mesquite-smoked chicken overtop, then added slices of avocado, heirloom tomato and red onion. “Every last one.”

  Luisa added cooled brownies to a display case tray. “Bad news?”

  “He’s still fogged in, in Santa Fe.” Which meant he would miss the ultrasound.

  “Can you reschedule?”

  Sage rolled the sandwiches, sliced them in half, then covered them with plastic wrap. “Not without twenty-four hours advance notice,” she admitted glumly. “Besides, I really want to take a look myself and see the baby is okay.”

  “Still not kicking?”

  “Not that I can tell.” Sage fell silent. And though she knew from her readings that it could be as long as the twenty-fifth week before a first-time mother felt her baby kick, she still worried. The anatomy scan would show them definitively that everything was okay.

  So Sage went to her obstetrician’s office alone, at the appointed time. Signed in, turned off her phone and drank the water they gave her. Twenty minutes later, Sage’s bladder was uncomfortably full, and she was reclining on the exam table, a pillow beneath her head.