by Leah Brooke
Carson grinned back, already imagining a future with two blue-eyed blondes that had already stolen his heart. “Agreed.”
He’d heard the shower shut off a few minutes earlier, and knowing that Deanna would appear at any moment, he promised himself to prove to her that he could be a good father.
He grabbed the package of cookies and rose, closing them and sticking the package in the cabinet where Deanna had placed them. “Mommy said three cookies. You ate three cookies.” He went back to the table to get the gallon of milk to put away, just in time to see Casey pout.
“I want another one.”
Sam cleaned the crumbs and Casey’s milk mustache away, gently wiping her little mouth with a napkin. “Do you know what a promise is?”
Casey nodded, holding her stuffed bear close.
Tossing the napkin onto the table, he leaned close. “Your mother promised you three cookies. Did she keep her promise?”
Nodding, Casey glanced at Carson as if looking for sympathy. “Yes.”
Knowing that both she and her mother needed the security of a strong, united front, Carson fought not to smile. “And you made a promise to your mommy that you would go brush your teeth and get ready for bed as soon as you finished your cookies and milk.”
Sam moved her glass aside, bending low to be on eye level with Casey. “How would you feel if your mommy didn’t keep her promise and took one of your cookies away?”
Casey tucked her chin to her chest. “I wouldn’t yike it.”
“And do you think your mommy would like it if you break your promise to her?”
“No.”
Lifting her chin with a finger, Sam forced Casey to look at him. “We don’t break promises—especially to people we care about.”
Casey frowned as if pondering that, kicking her feet. “Otay.”
Sam inclined his head. “We made a promise to you, too. Do you remember what it was?”
Shaking her head, Casey glanced at Carson again. “No. I forgot.”
“We promised to keep you and your mommy safe.” Sam released her chin, tapping her nose with a smile. “Okay?”
“Otay.” She hugged her bear, and Carson could almost hear her mind working. “You pwomise not to hurt my mommy?”
Sam nodded. “I promise.”
Carson helped her from the chair, crouching in front of her to meet her gaze squarely. “I promise, too.”
“Otay.”
She turned at the shuffle of Deanna coming down the hallway. “Mommy! I have to brush my teeth and go to bed. I pwomised!”
* * * *
Grateful that Casey went to bed without a fuss, Deanna left the light on in the hallway, closed the bedroom door almost all the way, and made her way back to the kitchen where she knew Sam and Carson waited.
She found them sitting at the table, which had been cleared of crumbs and empty milk glasses, which now sat in the drainer.
Forcing a smile, she retrieved one of the glasses and filled it with water. “Thank you for watching Casey for me. It felt good to be able to take a shower in peace.”
Sam inclined his head. “You’re welcome. It was our pleasure.” He pointed to the open prescription bottle. “You need a pain pill.”
Deanna sipped her water and shrugged. “It’s just been a long day, and I’m tired. I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”
She hoped they’d take the hint and go so she could go to bed, but neither appeared in any hurry to leave.
Carson leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Sam and I have both seen you wince several times. We saw it when you slid into the booth at the diner, when you reached for groceries, and when you put them away. It was hard for you to even get out of the truck.”
“I’m fine, Carson. I just need to go to bed.”
Carson got to his feet and moved closer, the sheer size of him unnerving her. “Of course you’re fine. You’ve got the remnants of a black eye, bruised cheek, broken wrist, and bruised ribs. You’re so tired that you’re shaking and swaying on your feet. You look like a stiff wind would blow you over.”
“Like I said, I’m tired. I plan to go to bed as soon as you leave and I can lock up.”
“To sleep in the same bed with a four-year-old who is probably going to bump you several times in your sleep.” Sam got to his feet and approached her from the other side, both men towering over her. “You need a damned pain pill.”
Too tired to argue, she gestured toward the bottle. “You take them. Lock up before you leave.”
Sam moved fast for such a large man, blocking her exit. “Deanna, please. We can see that you’re in pain and there’s no reason to be.”
Lifting her chin, Deanna took a step back. “You don’t know me well enough to know that.”
Carson picked up the bottle and brought it closer. “These are pretty strong. I can see why you didn’t want to take them when you were alone with Lil’ bit, but we’re here now. We’ll take turns dozing off in the other room, but we’re light sleepers. We’ll hear her if she gets up.”
He shook one of the pills into her palm while Sam reached around her for her glass of water. “Take one and go to bed.”
Unnerved by how small her hand appeared in his, she closed her fist around the small pill and pulled her hand away, backing into Sam.
Carson smiled stiffly. “I understand that trust takes time, but having you flinch from me with fear in your eyes is a little rough on my ego.”
Deanna swallowed the pill and finished the glass of water, anxious to go to bed. “Sorry.”
Sam shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Go to bed. You have an appointment with Don’s lawyer in the morning.”
She blinked at that, surprised and irritated that they’d made the appointment so soon. “I do?”
Sam inclined his head. “We do. Carson and I are the executors of his estate, and this afternoon you sounded anxious about money. Go to bed. It’s going to be hard enough for you to sleep in the same bed as a four-year-old. We’ll be here. We’ll hear Casey.” Lifting her chin, he slowly bent his head and brushed his lips over the bruise on her cheek. “Sleep. You’re safe tonight.”
* * * *
Sam watched Deanna nod and leave the kitchen, the need to protect her tying his guts into knots.
Knowing it would be a long time before he slept, he refilled Deanna’s glass and gulped its contents. After setting the glass in the sink, he leaned back against the counter, frowning at the sight of Carson poring over the papers he’d pulled from the bag. “Are those the release papers from the hospital?”
Carson didn’t look up from the page he read. “Yes, along with instructions for her care. We’re going to have to get her an appointment with the doctor.”
“We will.” Dr. Scott, the ranch doctor, had handled more than his share of broken bones.
Setting the top sheet aside, Carson continued reading. “It looks like she put everything together. Here’s the police report.”
“I wanted to take a better look at that.” Sam moved to the table, dropping into the chair across from Carson and accepting one of the pages his friend handed to him. “I didn’t take the time to sort through the other papers. I was interested in getting her prescription filled and reading the hospital instructions.”
His jaw clenched as he read the report and the description of what had been done to her. “That fucker kicked her when she was down. That’s how she got the bruised ribs.”
The rage inside him continued to build, each new piece of the puzzle concerning Deanna making him more determined to protect her. “Christ, I’d like to get my hands on that son of a bitch.”
Sick to his stomach, he glanced up at Carson, surprised that his friend had even more paperwork. “What’s that?”
“The documents requesting a divorce. She filed them months ago.” Carson looked up, meeting Sam’s gaze. “It says here that she’s been sleeping on the floor in Casey’s bedroom for months. He was kicked out of the house and kept
showing up, and she was afraid he would sneak in one night and take Casey.”
He tossed a paper toward Sam, keeping his voice low. “That letter from her attorney said that it was taking longer because Jimmy refused to sign. Her attorney has a court date next week, and he expects the judge to grant custody, especially due to the circumstances.”
Sam nodded. “Good. We’ll get Len to find out more.”
“Where’d you get this paperwork?”
“It was sitting on top in the bag that she brought. Saw them when she got her dry shoes.” Carson continued to read the letter. “It says here that the danger to Casey should allow Deanna to have full custody of her.”
“Thank God.”
Carson cursed under his breath as he continued to read. “I found more papers with the divorce papers. Here’s a copy of another police report. This one says that when they served Jimmy with divorce papers, he got drunk, went home, and beat the hell out of her. Two black eyes with that one and a concussion.”
Sam rose, too restless to sit still, picking up the prescription bottle and putting it on the top shelf of one of the cabinets. “She didn’t have the money to leave, so she stayed with him. Fuck.”
Carson scraped a hand through his hair. “She blames herself for that. I can only imagine her trying to save a few dollars here and there and hiding it away so he wouldn’t find it.”
Sam wanted to throw up. “Hell, no wonder she didn’t want to take anything that would dull her senses.”
Carson placed everything neatly back into the small plastic bag, folding the edges the way it had been. “I wonder how she’ll react when she realizes that she has plenty of money now.”
Sam turned on the tap, refilling the glass. “We’re not releasing it until everything’s settled. That bastard’s not getting a fucking dime of it.”
“On that we agree.” Carson leaned back against the counter, lowering his voice even more. “She and Casey are safe here. I’m worried that she’ll take the money and run.”
Sam inclined his head. “And spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, wondering if that bastard is after her.”
“He doesn’t sound like the kind of man who gives up.” Carson smiled. “So we do what Don apparently had in mind all along. We keep her here where she’ll be safe. Wonder what Don would think of both of us falling for his beloved niece.”
Sam took a steadying breath, some of the knots in his stomach loosening. “Don was nobody’s fool. It feels a hell of a lot like he planned it this way.”
Carson shrugged, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I don’t know about you, but I have no intention of screwing up his plans.”
Inclining his head, Sam shrugged on his coat, fastening it before reaching for his Stetson. “Easy, Carson. If things don’t work out, she’ll fly out of here without a backward glance. I don’t want to spook her any more than she already is, and I sure as hell don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
He went outside, breathing in the cold crisp air, pushing thoughts of Deanna out of his mind so he could focus on his responsibilities.
The snow crunched under his boots as he crossed the yard toward the stables, and he couldn’t hold back a smile at the thought of a nice swing set for Casey.
And for any other children who came along.
The mental image of Deanna pregnant with his and Carson’s child rose in his mind, filling him with a warmth that defied the weather.
Irritated that he hadn’t been able to keep from thinking about her for more than a few minutes, he approached the stable just as two of his men rode out.
Bill Nedder paused beside him. “Boss, we were just coming to get you. That new stallion is causin’ trouble again. Knocked down a fence trying to get himself a female.”
Shaking his head, Sam couldn’t hold back a smile. “Understand the sentiment. Got him tied?”
“Yeah, but it took seven of us to do it. Won’t hold for long. Blaze is already saddled for you.”
Chapter Six
The sound of her daughter’s laughter woke Deanna from a deep sleep, the distance of the sound sending off her inner alarm.
Panicked, she sat up abruptly, searching frantically for Casey as she stumbled from the bed. “Casey!”
Several things hit her at once.
She was in her uncle’s house.
The bright sun streaming through the window meant she’d overslept.
She couldn’t see Casey.
“Casey!” She hurried from the room, another burst of her daughter’s laughter telling her that Casey had gone outside.
“Dear God!” Stumbling down the hallway, she raced toward the front door, flinging it open and rushing outside, stopping abruptly as she took in the scene in front of her.
Casey in her pink coat, boots, hat, and gloves stood out in the white snow surrounding her, laughing while Carson, with his black coat and hat, and Sam in his tan ones lifted the head onto the snowman they’d built for her.
“Casey.” Breathing a sigh of relief, she shook her head, sucking in a gasp when the cold suddenly hit her.
Sam strode toward her, his green eyes flashing. “What the he—heck are you doing?”
“Mommy! We made a snowman!”
Sam bent as he took the steps and, without pausing, scooped her into his arms and strode inside, kicking the door closed behind him.
He set her on her feet briefly, shrugging his coat off and tossing his hat and gloves aside before picking her up again. His long strides carried them to the sofa where he sat with her on his lap, cursing as he pulled the crocheted afghan from the back of the sofa and tucked it around her. “I can’t believe you ran outside in nothing more than thin pajamas! Christ, what the hell were you thinking?”
Deanna snuggled into the afghan, a moan of bliss escaping when he pulled his shearling coat over her. “I forgot you were here. I woke up when I heard Casey laughing, saw I’d overslept, and panicked when I realized her laughter was coming from out front.”
Sam blew out a breath. “Mother’s instinct took over before you were awake.” Pulling her closer, he tucked her head against his shoulder and rubbed her back and thighs, sliding his hands beneath the afghan. “You looked downright panicked. Give me your feet.”
He wrapped his hand around her feet, his large hand enveloping them in warmth. “Do you feel any better?”
Deanna smiled and let her eyes flutter closed. “I think so, but I won’t know for sure until I have a cup of coffee. The outside woke up fast, but my brain’s struggling to catch up.”
Held in his embrace, she stopped shivering, the warmth of his body penetrating hers. “How can you be so warm after being outside?”
She felt safe—safer than she could ever remember feeling.
Keeping her eyes closed, she gave in to temptation and let herself pretend—just for a moment—that she belonged there.
Chuckling, he pressed his lips against her hair. “Just built that way, I guess.”
She breathed in the scent of him, warm male, leather, and coffee, listening to the sound of his strong heartbeat against her ear.
His warmth and solidness proved too irresistible for her peace of mind.
Stilling when she felt the unmistakable feel of his cock against her bottom, she swallowed heavily, her heart racing.
Unable to use her right hand and injured wrist, she turned on his lap to use her left hand for leverage in an effort to get up. “I’d better get ready. I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”
Sam closed his hands on her waist. “Easy. I don’t want to hurt your ribs, and the coffee was made hours ago.”
She held on to his arm as he rose with her and would have pushed away if he hadn’t tightened his hands on her hips, a shiver going through her when he bent to touch his lips to her ear.
“You don’t have to be nervous around me. I want you. I’m not going to lie about it, but I’m not going to do anything about it—at least until you’
re ready.”
Unnerved at her response to his nearness, Deanna pushed away, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I’m not interested in getting involved with anyone ever again. I already explained things to you and Carson.”
Sam’s lips thinned, but his eyes held a gentleness that made her heart beat faster. “Once everything’s clear, we’ll talk about it some more. I also know it’s gonna take time for you to learn to trust again. I just don’t want you to be nervous around me. I have no intention of hurting you or rushing you into anything.”
“That won’t happen.” Shaking her head, she took another step back, putting more space between them. “I don’t know the first thing about running the ranch, and I’m going to need your help. Getting involved with you will only mess everything up. I’ve done enough messing up in my life.”
Sam’s expression closed, his eyes becoming unreadable. “You don’t have to worry about the ranch. Carson and I will take care of everything.”
“It’s my responsibility.” Lifting her chin, Deanna held her injured wrist in front of her. “I don’t even like horses. I couldn’t even tell you what they eat. I either have to count on you and Carson to run it or sell it.”
Turning, she went to the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee, the back of her neck tingling when Sam followed her.
Dropping into one of the chairs, Sam watched her move around the kitchen. “It sounds as if you’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“I loved my uncle, and I appreciate that he left the ranch to me, but it’s a huge responsibility.”
“You needed a place to go. He knew that and wanted you to know you had a home here.”
Deanna shrugged. “I just didn’t count on having to run a ranch. I’m hoping that he left some instructions with the attorney.”
“You don’t need to worry about it.”
After adding cream and sugar, she turned to him, something in his tone rousing her suspicions. “You sound as if you know something that I should know.”
Inclining his head, Sam got up and refilled his cup. “I do, but I want you to hear it from the attorney.”
