Twelfth of Never (Book 3 of the McKay series)

by Hestand, Rita

  "You know your father made him feel responsible for you, don't you?" Mike asked when they had devoured most of the lunch.

  Wendy leaned on an elbow and rested. "Yeah, I knew. Dad had no right doing that. Wade runs the ranch. Not me."

  "Did your dad know how you felt about him?" Mike asked wanting to know more about this relationship that seemed so one sided.

  "I'm not sure. I never told him, but I always had a crush on Wade. Most everyone else knew, so I guess Dad had an idea. I'm not sure Dad would have taken it seriously either." Wendy's voice drifted off as though remembering her encounters with her father.

  "Wade has a fixation about you being too young for him. You know that, don't you?" Mike probed further.

  "Yeah, I know. And there's absolutely nothing I can do about it either. Except show him I'm not a little girl any more. And kissing you and wearing these clothes seem to be working," Wendy cried. "Tell me, where do cowboys get such noble ideas?"

  Real tears began to fall and Wendy turned away. This was no act, the girl was hurting on the inside and Mike wanted to reassure her, only he wasn't convinced it was love on Wade's part yet.

  Mike sat up and grabbed her gently to him. He looked into her beautiful eyes and he kissed her. This time he put all his senses to work and actually worked at making this kiss remarkable. Wendy responded and the kiss changed. Wendy was responding and he needed to back off, but she was making it impossible. When she opened her mouth and slid her tongue inside his mouth, it was all he could do to breathe.

  Mike instantly shoved her away.

  "Why did you do that?" Wendy asked.

  "You are a really sweet girl, Wendy. And I do like you, but that kiss was just for Wade. Nothing else. I don't want you thinking it was more than it should have been," Mike insisted.

  Wendy chuckled. "Don't you find me attractive?"

  "Of course I do. Any man would."

  "It's hard Mike," her voice lowered, her lashes lowered. "I can't really read you at all. Most of the boys I've kissed, well, they didn't know how to kiss, but you sure do. I like it. And if I don't look as though I'm enjoying them, Wade won't react at all. I guess what happened was I have begun to really trust you. You really are a dear man to help me like this. I mean…you don't have any feelings for me, do you?"

  She laid her head against him, clinging to him.

  Mike looked puzzled. "No, I don't Wendy."

  Something in her expression changed, something close to anger, but more intense. "Well that's good, because I love Wade…" Wendy smiled into his flushed face. "I am not a fickle person, Mike. Anyone can tell you that. I've had this crush on Wade since I was a kid of fifteen. Nothing has changed. I admire him, I love him, he's my world and I know it. But if I'm going to make him jealous, I have to put some effort into this the same as you. At first I felt strange with you. Now, I don't. Now I'm very relaxed and I am enjoying it. Oh…I know you don't love me, but you want me…don't you?"

  "No, I don't. You are reading the wrong man. And I think at your age you need to be very careful about that."

  Just then she laughed, posing provocatively against him. "Oh, don't worry." She rubbed up against him. "I know you are my friend and that is all you are. But if I'm going to go to all this effort to make Wade say something, then I'm putting my heart and soul into it. Understand?"

  Mike relaxed then, and gave her a quick once over. "You are quite a girl. No, excuse me, woman. I wish Wade knew how much a woman you really are…"

  "He's coming over right now…" Wendy whispered in his ear as she let her teeth sink in around Mike's lobe.

  "Wendy…I want to talk to you…" Wade stormed at them.

  Wendy backed away from Mike and stared up at Wade innocently. "Sure, what's wrong?"

  Wade took Wendy's hand and pulled her away from Mike. He glanced over his shoulder at Mike. "The picnic is over, Mike."

  Mike nodded and smiled as he packed up the picnic gear and put it in the back of his truck. He watched Wendy and Wade in the distance and he could see the tension from there. It had worked. His job was over, and relief flooded him.

  He had to admit, Wendy was more of a woman than he figured, and she was dead serious about Wade. He grinned; he hoped they made it.

  Chapter Ten

  When Mike knocked on the door that next day, Sandy was stunned to see him.

  "Well, hello stranger," she said in a husky voice.

  "Hi." Mike smiled. He glanced around her and waited until she invited him in to say much more.

  "So what brings you here so early?" Sandy asked as she motioned for him to sit down in the living room.

  Mike sat on the couch, she sat in the recliner.

  "Just wanted to stop by and tell you it's over."

  "What's over?" Sandy asked puzzled by his statement.

  "If Wade hasn't admitted his feeling, they have at least had some kind of understanding between them," Mike announced.

  Sandy's eyes widened. "That fast?"

  "Yep. I think Wade's had all he's going to take from me. And I regret he probably won't be speaking to me much more. I'll be lucky if he lets me use the meadow again for pictures." Mike snickered.

  "I haven't talked to Wendy, so I have no idea…" Sandy began. "But you don't have to worry about your shoots. I'll take you out myself."

  "I just wanted to let you know, I did what I could. And your sister is some little lady." Mike smiled.

  "Yes, I gathered you became close…" Sandy smiled although Mike quickly realized her smile didn't really reach her eyes. No, her eyes were strangely sad.

  "You know, when you first asked me to help her, I was hesitant. I wasn't sure she had more than a crush on him and would eventually get over it. But after being with her…I realized I was very wrong. She really does love Wade. I only hope he feels the same…"

  "Did he act jealous?" Sandy asked.

  "Oh yeah…I'm just not sure for the right reasons." Mike shook his head and smiled.

  "What do you mean? The right reasons?" Sandy frowned, her jerky movements and unsettling expression made Mike uncomfortable with the subject.

  "Well, yesterday morning, he wanted me to know that Wendy couldn't be a model." Mike chuckled.

  "A model? But…she isn't, is she?"

  "No…not at all, and she has no ambition to be one either," Mike informed her. "Wade thought she did."

  "How did he get an idea like that?"

  "I took a few pictures of her. And here they are. They are quite provocative, but they are not meant for anyone but her or Wade. I'll let you decide who gets them." Mike handed her the manila envelope in his hand. "I want you to know they are not at all the Wendy I know, but they were meant to make him take notice and it worked. I'm just not sure if he is concerned over her career choices or her."

  "Can I see them?" Sandy asked.

  "Sure, they are not mine," Mike insisted. "I didn't even save the negatives."

  Sandy opened the envelope and the pictures that stared at her were pictures that pinked her cheeks and made her voiceless for a moment. Mike wasn't comfortable about them either. That's why he felt a need to get rid of them and fast. "Wow, if this didn't get to him, nothing would."

  Mike nodded. "She could easily be a model, she has the right bone structure and body, but I really think she belongs here, and I would never encourage her. Modeling is a tough business and few come out of it without a few scars here and there. These were taken only for the benefit of making him jealous. It did the job. It made my job shorter and less stressful, I'm happy about that. But please…whatever you do, don't ask me to do that again."

  Sandy stared at him a moment. "I'm sorry…"

  He stood up. "You are forgiven. At least it appears to have worked out well. So now I am going to present my work to the magazine on your sister's project. They are fantastic and I think this is going to help so much in the end."

  "Julie and Cade…they are so happy you did this, and so appreciative."

  "No thanks needed." Mike s
tarted for the door.

  "You are leaving?" Sandy's voice held disappointment and had Mike doing a quick about face.

  "Yeah, I'll see you this weekend if you are still helping out with the kids…" he began.

  "Of course I am." Sandy followed him to the door.

  "See ya soon." He smiled and was about to open the door and leave.

  "Wait…I want to thank you…for your help. For the favor…" Sandy began. "I didn't know what to do for Wendy…and you helped her."

  Mike turned toward her, saw the tears in her eyes and then he moved toward her. He didn't mean to kiss her as if he was starved for her kisses, but it happened like lightning. He fit her close and his mouth searched hers for answers unspoken. His hunger overrode good sense. His needs announced themselves against her as they kissed for a long while. Her lips seem to melt against his, as his tongue shot out to waltz with her own. When had she opened her mouth to let him in, and why had it seemed more like a coming together than just a mere kiss. There were no sounds in the room but their lips nipping, and caressing each other, and the breathless gasps. The heat from their bodies surrounded them in a cocoon of security. His lips feather touched her brow, her nose, and back to her waiting mouth building a slow burning fire as she clutched at him. His hands went from her neck to her shoulders, to her lower back and then he gently moved them back to her waist. Her hands were around his neck, urging him on. His lips burnt a trail to her ear, where he blew softly and then down her neck to her shoulder where he pushed the blouse away and caressed her there.

  Only a noise from outside filtered in breaking their embrace and awareness.

  Breathless and shocked they both moved away from each other slowly.

  "Oh my God…" she cried as though ashamed of her actions.

  She backed away…as her eyes searched his.

  "Sorry," he tried to make light of the moment. "I guess kissing the McKay girls is getting to be a habit. See ya soon, honey."

  And then he was gone.

  ~*~

  That same night, Wendy stopped by Sandy's bedroom door. "Hey, what are you doing?"

  "Not much, just hemming a dress. So…how are you?" Sandy asked, glancing up from her task long enough to look at her sister.

  Wendy came to flop on her bed and smiled. "Wade was fit to be tied. I've never seen him like that before. And all thanks to Mike. It worked; at least I think it did. He started to scold me, but then…it turned into more. Wade hasn't said how he feels, but he let me know he wouldn't tolerate me acting like a little sex kitten around the men."

  "Did you ask him why?" Sandy smiled coyly.

  "No…I didn't want to pressure him. That was enough for now…" Wendy exclaimed falling back on the bed. "I know how he feels about me. His kisses were hot and he was definitely turned on."

  "Really, how could you know if he doesn't say something?" Sandy frowned.

  "He didn't have to say it, he kissed me." Wendy giggled. "He's barely ever looked at me, but he looked today. He got an eyeful, and he liked what he saw."

  "He kissed you!" Sandy threw the dress she was hemming on the bed and stood up, eyeing her little sister.

  "Yes, he finally kissed me. I mean, really kissed me. We aren't talkin' a peck on the cheek." Wendy got up and pranced around the room. "He took me to the barrel at the corner of the corral, where it's dark and secluded from others and he sat down, he set me on his lap, and he kissed me silly. I can't begin to tell you how I felt. The way he pulled me into his arms, the way he kissed me. I wanted so much more, but I respected the fact that he stopped when he did. We were kissing and holding each other for an hour I bet. It's a wonder it didn't go further. I wanted it to. I've loved him so long."

  "But he didn't say the words….?" Sandy's face screwed up into a frown. "Did he try to take the advantage?"

  "What advantage? Oh…you mean…did he try to make love to me? Well, sort of. His hands were all over me, and I liked it. I wanted so much more. I mean…I've loved him most of my life."

  "At the corral, anyone could have seen you."

  "No, it was dark there. And the horses kept anyone from seeing us."

  "Wendy, if there was anyone about, they could see you. Why didn't you go inside the barn or something?"

  "Caleb was in the barn and the cowboys had gone into the bunkhouse. No one was around, just us, and our hot breathing."

  "I know making out was what thrilled you for the moment, but Wendy, just because you love him doesn't mean you can let him take advantage of you. Until he admits his love, and asks you to marry, you shouldn't permit him to make love to you. Do you understand that? If you don't, just remember what happened to Julie."

  "Why not, I love him. Everyone knows I love him. And Julie loved Cade, only she didn't know it then," Wendy protested, taking a defensive stand against her. "There's nothing wrong with true love, Sandy. Now I know he loves me and wants me as much as I love and want him."

  "But does Wade really love you?"

  "Of course he does. If he didn't he wouldn't have kissed me in the first place. And especially outside. Believe me, he marked me as his territory, and I knew it."

  "Wendy…you've got to come to your senses about Wade. It's time you knew that the facts of life are more than just sex and falling for a man. It has to go both ways."

  "Look, I know Wade better than you do. He would never have kissed me like that if he didn't love me. I know that. He wanted me too. And that's more than you have with your Chad. You're just jealous that no man wants you like that," Wendy said and ran to her room.

  Sandy followed her to her room.

  "He should have told you how he feels about you."

  "He doesn't have to," Wendy insisted. "I keep telling you, and you are not listening. We love each other. And he'll ask me to marry him too, you'll see."

  "Yes he does need to tell you, little sister. If he loves you, he needs to say the words. Big tough cowboy or not, he can't get around not telling you, sooner or later," Sandy insisted.

  "Why, the kiss was enough." Wendy threw back her head and laughed. "It told me everything I have to know about his feelings. He wants me…as a woman. And what's more I want him. I've always wanted him. Just Wade."

  "Was it that pleasurable for you?" Sandy twisted her head in disbelief.

  "It went beyond pleasure. And if he had said what I wanted to hear, I'd have stripped off naked for him. As it was his kisses were rough, and hard, and demanding, nothing like Mike's. It was like he branded me as his own and I knew it. We belong together, I've always known it. He did tell me I had the sweetest kisses. And that he didn't want me wearing these kinds of clothes for working."

  Sandy wasn't at all satisfied with her little sister's account. She wanted more for her sister than a man who would kiss her silly. She wanted to hear Wade get down on his knees and tell her how he feels. Why wasn't Wendy demanding that from Wade?

  "Where did this happen, in front of the men?" Sandy questioned.

  "No I told you, it was later in the shadows of the corral, this evening. We kissed for a long time. I mean, we made out, really. He loves me, and I know it now." Wendy giggled. "I couldn't be happier."

  But Sandy didn't know it and it bothered her that Wade wouldn't tell her how he felt. Even cowboys had to lower their guard at some point.

  "Wendy…I thought you wanted to hear him say it," Sandy protested. "After all this time, don't you want to hear him say the words? Don't you think you deserve it?"

  "I did. But knowing Wade like I do, it's not in his nature to speak of it. At least not right now. He will sooner or later. I mean, he has to ask me to marry him." Wendy laughed. "I need to give him time to think about what we shared with each other. But I could tell by his kisses how he felt about me."

  "But honey, I want you to have everything. I want him to tell you how he feels. Tell the world how he feels," Sandy cried out to her. "And kisses don't tell you anything, except he might want you in a very basic way."

  "Very basic. It'll happen. Y
ou can't push these kinds of things in one day, Sandy. After we've been together a while, he'll tell me when the time is right. I just know it," Wendy said dreamily as she waltzed down the hall to her room.

  "But you are nearly ready to have sex with him now, after only one day of him showing you how he feels."

  "Yes, I am…and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Don't look at me like that; Julie had sex with Cade before she married him, a long time before she married him. Everything worked out fine. Besides, I'm not that old fashioned. If Wade wants me that way….then…"

  "Oh my God, she's totally delusional," Sandy gasped as Wendy disappeared down the hall.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was late in the evening when Sandy tapped on Mike's apartment door. At first she got no answer at all, so then she banged and he answered swiftly. He was standing there in his pajama bottoms with no shirt, barefoot, his hair mussed and obviously shocked to see her in the middle of the night.

  "What have you done?" she demanded to know, moving past him and into his apartment.

  Mike stared at her like he couldn't quite believe she was there. He slowly closed the door and motioned for her to sit down in his living room.

  "What are you talking about?" Mike asked, his voice still full of sleep.

  "My sister. My sister, that's what I'm talking about. She's gone nuts. My sweet little sister has lost her mind," Sandy cried out. "We've created a little monster, that's what we have done."

  Mike seemed a little relieved that Wendy was the subject of this visit. "Sit down. I'll make us some coffee and we'll talk about this," Mike instructed her. "You'll have to excuse the way I look, I was asleep."

  "Oh…I'm sorry. I didn't realize. I didn't even look at the clock. I have been mulling over this for hours and finally I decided since I couldn't sleep I had to talk to you about it. I thought you'd be up." Sandy gave him a limp apology.

  He went to the kitchen and he was gone long enough to let her calm down.