Lucas stretched the kinks out of his back and wound up his arm for another perfect cast over the wide river.
The dim, early morning light made the water black and inky, but the old adage was true…fish tended to bite early.
“I bet fishing with Naomi was a hell of a lot more fun than fishing with me,” Levi muttered, standing next to him, sullen and waist deep in the river.
“It was a different kind of fun.” He watched the fly for a possible strike. “This is fun because I’m kicking your ass at something.” He’d already caught four solid rainbows to his brother’s zero. After the pool fiasco, he figured it was time to put his little brother in his place, so he’d dragged Levi’s ass out of bed before the sun was even up.
“Let’s step into the corral when we get back,” Levi suggested. “Have a little competition to see who can get the best of Reckoning II. How would you like that? What’s it been since you’ve ridden a bull? Ten years?”
“I ride occasionally.” When he wanted to give a possible purchase a test drive. But there was no way he’d beat Levi in a bull-riding competition. Especially on Reckoning II. He wasn’t stupid enough to try. “I’m not in a hurry to get back to the ranch.” He needed to be out here—hadn’t worked everything out in his head yet.
After he’d dropped off Naomi and Gracie yesterday, he’d spent the whole day with Reckoning II, working late, until the sun started to dip and the bull wanted to kill him in the most painful way possible. Naomi had called him after that, admitting that Gracie was still in her room pouting. But Lucas knew it was more than that. He’d betrayed her trust. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to talk to him.
“Gotta say…I’m impressed,” his brother said, reeling in yet another empty line. “Thought you would’ve knocked out Marshal’s teeth by now.” He shook his head. “His kid teasing Gracie like that? You’re showing serious restraint.”
“I don’t have a choice.” Going after Dobbins would only rile him up more. Who knew what he’d do then?
“I’ll do it for you if you want.” Levi sounded more serious than Lucas was comfortable with. “I’d kick the shit out of him for you.”
“Kicking the shit out of him won’t do any good.” He’d thought about it all night. What would happen if he said screw it all and went and paid Dobbins a visit? “It’d only fuel him. Give him another reason to make my life and the lives of everyone around me hard.”
All that mattered to him in this whole thing was protecting Gracie. And he was afraid there was only one way to do it. “He won’t be happy until I’m gone.”
Levi fumbled with his fishing rod, almost dropping it in the river. “You’re not thinking of leaving.”
“Not sure I have a choice. At least for a while.” All his life, he’d been solution-oriented. When a problem presented itself, he took action. He didn’t wait around for it to get worse. “McGowen came to see me.” He’d neglected to mention his boss’s visit to his father and brothers. Hadn’t told anyone, actually. “He made me a tempting offer.”
Levi spun to face him. “You leave her again, she won’t let you come back.”
“Trust me. I’m well aware of the potential risks.” He’d spent hours thinking through worst-case scenarios. “But if I’m gone, she and Gracie won’t have targets on their backs.” And yes, she might be mad at him. She might not forgive him, but he had to accept that possibility. It wasn’t so much the teasing Gracie had taken that got to him; it was the fact that Marshal’s son had been involved. When Naomi’d told him that on the phone last night, he’d realized how serious Dobbins was about ruining his life. And it scared him. What kind of man would use his kid that way? Dev had already alluded to the fact that Marshal wasn’t exactly stable. “I’m worried about what he’ll do next,” he admitted. Especially since Dobbins had taken the fall for the whole bar brawl. “Something’s not right with him.” Maybe it was drugs or some kind of illness, but Marshal didn’t appear to be playing with a full deck.
“Wish I could argue, but the guy is definitely not normal.” Levi slogged over to the riverbank. Seemed he was done fishing.
Lucas wasn’t. He’d be glad to delay the inevitable a little bit longer.
“I could tell everyone the truth about the fire.” His brother tossed the fishing rod to the grass and peeled off his waders.
“Won’t make a difference.” Lucas made another arching cast. The fly settled on the water a few feet in front of him. “Dobbins hates our family. It’s not only me. And it wouldn’t be only you, either. Especially after what happened at the bar.”
They’d made Marshal look like the ass he was, and now he wanted revenge.
* * *
“Do you have your water bottle? Rain jacket?” Naomi asked, fiddling with the zipper on Gracie’s backpack.
“Yes, Mom.” Her daughter sighed. “I have everything.” She counted out the items on her fingers. “Snacks, raincoat, water bottle, emergency first-aid kit, sunscreen, and my hat. Oh, and that whistle you made me pack,” she finished with a dramatic roll of her eyes.
“Hey, missy. Whistles can save your life out there.” Back in high school, she’d done some wilderness training and she’d never forgotten the stories about kids getting lost in the backcountry. “I guess you’re ready, then.” Naomi sighed, too, but it wasn’t exasperation. It was a heart sigh. A release to ease the ache. Mark would be there any minute to pick up her daughter and she’d likely be gone the whole day. “You remember to drink plenty of water. It’s a long hike.”
“I’ve done it tons of times,” Gracie reminded her. “I could do it with my eyes closed.”
No one could do it with their eyes closed. Not with all of the rocks on the trail. “Still, you need to be careful.” Naomi knelt in front of her. “I put the phone in the small pocket of your backpack, just in case you need me for anything.” She always kept a prepaid phone in the house so Gracie could get in touch with her when they weren’t together.
“Okay,” Gracie said again. She smooshed her lips against Naomi’s cheek. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Dad and I are gonna have tons of fun.”
“I know you will.” But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t fuss over her until the second she walked out the door. That was every mother’s right, and she happened to be very good at it.
The fussing had started this morning when Gracie was getting dressed. Naomi had to make sure she was wearing her hiking socks and a light sweatshirt, even though it was supposed to be in the eighties. Then she’d taken Gracie out for breakfast on the way over to meet Mark at the inn, making sure her daughter got plenty of protein so she’d have enough energy to make the hike.
Energy didn’t seem to be an issue for her daughter, though. Gracie traipsed over to where Bogart lay on his plush dog bed underneath the large bow window and knelt down next to him, squeezing his neck.
Bogy licked her face.
“Almost ready, boy?” she asked the dog. “You’ll love Dad. He’s so great,” she chattered.
Naomi tried not to wince. Mark seemed great. So why couldn’t she make herself trust him? “Make sure to bring Bogy’s leash,” she said to distract herself from the question. “Just in case it’s crowded and he bothers anyone.” It might’ve been silly, but she was relieved Bogy was joining Mark and Gracie on the hike.
“Bogy won’t need a leash.” Gracie smothered the dog with kisses. “Will you? You’re always a good boy.”
Naomi knelt down and joined them on the floor.
“What are you doing today?” her daughter asked, patting the dog’s head.
A sweltering blush crept up her cheeks. “Um…” She cleared her throat. “I think I’m going to spend some time with Lucas.” Her tone was guarded. Gracie still hadn’t forgiven him for hiding his past from her. But she would. Naomi had told Lucas as much on the phone last night. They just needed to give her some time. “He’s going to help me tear down some wood paneling so we can keep this project moving.” Hopefully Gracie didn’t detect the high wisp in her voice. She couldn’t help it. Even as hard as it was to know Gracie would be with her other parent, the thought of spending a whole day alone with Lucas had her heart twirling.
Her daughter turned, gazing at her curiously. “Don’t you care that he was in jail?” she asked bluntly. “Don’t you care that he started a fire and hurt animals?”
Naomi took her time gathering a response. This was the most Gracie had wanted to talk about it, and she didn’t want to mess it up. “At the time, I was very hurt,” she finally said. “I never thought Lucas would do something like that.” There was still a part of her that didn’t believe it. “But, honey, he was seventeen. Still a kid. He made a big mistake and he was very sorry for it.” She smoothed her hand over her daughter’s hair, patting down the unruly curls. “You know what, though? Even though it hurt me, I’ve forgiven him. Because I see who he is now. A good man with a good heart. Someone who only wants the best for the people he cares about.” It was what she loved about him and also what she feared most about him. The way he always tried to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of everyone else’s.
Gracie bit her lip thoughtfully. “Papa Luis always says you should forgive everyone or it’ll only end up making you sad.”
Naomi smiled at that. “Papa Luis is a wise man, isn’t he?”
“He sure is,” she agreed. Those luminous green eyes narrowed. “Lucas doesn’t make mistakes like that anymore?”
“Well, no one is perfect.” But her daughter already knew that. Naomi had always been the first to admit her failings and apologize. “But he does his best not to make mistakes. And he’d never do anything that would put him in jail again.” She was sure of that.
“If you forgave him, then maybe I will, too,” Gracie said cautiously. “At least I’ll try.”
“That would mean so much to him.” She squeezed her daughter just as a knock at the door announced Mark’s on-time arrival.
Gracie took off to answer it with Bogy barking and bounding behind her. “Dad’s here! Dad’s here!”
Brushing the tears from her eyes, Naomi followed behind her.
“Hey, kiddo.” Mark leaned down to give her a hug. “Wow.” He walked into the foyer as he took everything in. “This place looks amazing.”
“Thanks,” Naomi said politely. “It’s coming along.”
“We’re gonna open the inn right after Thanksgiving,” Gracie informed him as though the whole thing had been her idea.
“That sounds like the perfect time of year. Right before the holidays.”
“Maybe you could come to Thanksgiving dinner,” her daughter said hopefully. “And bring your whole family.”
“Oh…” Mark glanced at Naomi apologetically, as though he was worried she wouldn’t approve.
She didn’t know if she approved. “Um. Well. Maybe.” The words stumbled all over each other. “We’ll see. I mean hopefully there are no delays or anything…”
“It’s okay,” Mark interrupted. “We’ll have to play it by ear,” he told Gracie.
Thankfully, the answer seemed to satisfy her. Instead of begging, Gracie pulled on his hand. “Okay. Let’s go hiking now.”
Bogy whined as though worried he would be left behind.
“Come on, Bogy.” Gracie snapped on his leash. “He’s a really good hiker,” she said to Mark. “Most of the time he won’t need his leash.”
“It’ll be fun to have him along.” Mark walked her out the door. “I brought some cookies if we make it all the way to the top.”
“Cookies!” she cheered.
He turned to Naomi. “I’ll have them back by three.”
“That’s fine.” She bent to kiss Gracie’s head. “Listen good. Okay? And don’t hike too fast. You don’t want your dad to get lost.”
Gracie giggled. “I promise.”
As Mark and Gracie made their way down the porch, Lucas drove up and parked his truck in the driveway.
Just. In. Time.
She waved once more at Gracie and waited for him on the porch.
Lucas seemed to take his time climbing out of the truck. He lugged along an old metal toolbox, making him look all rugged and strong. He was rugged and strong. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he made his way across the lawn. The jeans he had on were more worn and tattered than the ones he usually wore, and his faded T-shirt showcased every sculpted muscle. Her heart clenched with an expectant yearning.
“Hey.” He bounded up the steps, but instead of pulling her into his arms like she’d assumed he would, he hung back. In fact, he hardly even looked at her. “Ready to get started?”
The abrupt question made her flinch. “Uh…sure.” Stiffly, she stepped aside so he could get past her.
He moved like he was on a mission and didn’t want anyone or anything to slow him down. She followed at a distance through the foyer and sitting room and finally he paused in the kitchen.
“It’s looking good,” Lucas said, glancing around. “Emilia’s done a lot of work.”
“Um, yeah.” Naomi skirted the skeleton of the kitchen island so she could face him, so she could see past the façade he was putting on.
“She’s been working hard.” The flatness in her tone brought on a roll of her eyes. What the hell had happened? They were talking like two strangers, when only days ago they hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other. Didn’t he want to be with her today? She tested out the answer by taking a step closer.
Lucas turned away. “Where’s the den?” he asked, leaving her behind again. “Back here?” He ventured through the door off the kitchen, and by the time Naomi had made it to the den herself, he was already holding one of the crowbars Emilia had left out for her.
“This shouldn’t take long,” he said, running a hand down the hideous dark wood paneling that dimmed the room. Eventually this area would be part of her and Gracie’s apartment, once a couple of walls were knocked out.
With his back to her, Lucas began to work, shimmying the crowbar into the seams between the panels, monotonously ripping them off the wall and tossing them into a pile on a tarp. He didn’t look behind him. Didn’t acknowledge her presence in the room at all. Just kept prying and ripping and tossing as if he needed that artless, repetitive movement to give him something to focus on.
She watched, unblinking, until her eyes blurred, until the hurt and confusion swarmed into something fierce, until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Stop,” she demanded, stalking across the room. She ripped the crowbar out of his hands. “Just stop.”
He stared through her, face hard and conflicted, his eyes unwilling to meet hers.
She glared at him, channeling every raw emotion that coursed through her. She’d waited so many years for this man to come back. Even though she hadn’t known it, hadn’t let herself think about it, he was what she’d always wanted. Now he stood right here and he wouldn’t even look at her directly. “I’m not doing this,” she told him. “I’m not going to stand here and wonder why you’re suddenly ignoring me.” Too much time had already been wasted. Too many years of silence. And she wasn’t about to let it stand between them anymore. “So you can either tell me what the hell is going on, or you can leave.” Because she’d already made her decision. She’d let herself love him again. And she didn’t deserve uncertainty.
Lucas’s shoulders seemed to cave. His eyes finally raised to hers, sad but steeled, too. That stubborn cowboy look. He’d made up his mind on something and come hell or high water he was going to do it.
“I have to go back to the McGowen place,” he said. His voice had that empty quality, and if it hadn’t been for the flicker of pain in his eyes, she would’ve been sure he didn’t care.
“It’s better for you. It’s better for Gracie.” The hard clench of his jaw told her he believed that. “Kids were taunting her at school. She got into a fight because of me,” he went on, as though that would haunt him forever. “I don’t want to wait around to find out what Marshal Dobbins will do next.”
As she looked back at him her face steeled, too. She felt it—her eyes narrowing, her cheeks pulling tight. “Who cares?” Was he seriously going to let Marshal Dobbins ruin his life? And why would he go back to the McGowen Ranch? “I thought you quit. I thought you told Bill McGowen you were done.”
He looked away. “I tried, but he made me an offer.”
“An offer?” A sudden assault of emotions made the room spin. “So you were keeping that in your back pocket? Just in case this didn’t work out?”
He rushed over and took her shoulders in his hands. “No. But I can’t let anything happen to you. Or to Gracie. Don’t you understand that? If I’m gone, he’ll leave you alone.”
“Stop pretending to be noble.” She jerked away from him. “I’m scared, too. Okay? But I don’t have a plan B.” She hadn’t given herself a safety net. “I’m all in, Lucas. Even with the risks and the unknowns and the potential trouble it might bring, my life would be more complete with you in it.”
His eyes closed.
“I’ve never loved anyone else,” she whispered, touching her fingers to his lips. “I don’t think it’s possible.” It had always been him. Only him. “No matter what you think is best, you belong here. You belong to me. And I don’t want to waste any more time.” Life had more power when you took risks, when you embraced the uncertainties. Since he’d kissed her that night, she’d been more alive. Terrified, but also expectant and hopeful and passionate.
Lucas’s eyes opened and she knew she’d brought his earlier conviction to its knees. Greed and hunger darkened his gaze. She felt it, too, stirring powerfully in her own chest.
“God, I love you,” he uttered helplessly as he pulled her close.
“Then don’t leave.” She let her lips do the begging, brushing them against his in a hot, pleading caress.
His lustful groan filled her mouth while his hands pressed into the small of her back, urging her closer. She didn’t need his help. Breathlessly, she pressed her body against his, feeling small against the sheer strength of him.
Kissing her thoroughly, he wrapped her up in his arms. She freed herself to him—to all of it—to the beautiful weakness melting her joints, to the quick pound of adrenaline rushing through her. The energy charging between them drove into her, filling her with an urgency to unite with him, to give him everything before it was too late.
Trembling with the intensity of it, her hands slipped under his T-shirt, inching it up until she could pull it off over his head. She stopped kissing him long enough to admire the lean, sculpted muscle mass that was his upper body. Since high school, he’d gained breadth, and dark hair was scattered across his pecs. The sight almost shocked her but intrigued her, too, setting her aflame with anticipation. Lucas was not an inexperienced teenager anymore. And they were not fooling around in his truck.
With the authority and single focus of a man, Lucas peeled off her shirt and let it drop to the floor. Eyes fixated to her chest, he reached around her back and popped the clasp on her bra with one hand, slowly dragging the straps down her shoulders before he pulled the lacy satin away from her body.
She didn’t have time to wonder what he thought before his mouth was on her skin, tasting and kissing and stroking her with his tongue. Unable to hold back a moan of pleasure, she raised her hands to his thick hair, tangling her fingers into it as he buried his face into her chest. The feel of his tongue on her nipples brought on a surge of exquisite tingling. She staggered back a few steps until the paneled wall supported her weakening body.
Lucas kissed his way up her neck, hands covering her breasts, fingers slowly moving over her as though memorizing every detail. “I used to dream about this,” he said, gazing down into her eyes. “About touching you like this. About making love to you.” His lips grazed her jaw and her head tipped back, resting against the wall while she watched his eyes.
“And I wouldn’t want to wake up. I’d fight it, try to stay asleep so you’d still be there.”
“I’m here now.” And there was nothing else. No other distractions. No threats to pull them away. Just the two of them in this barren room, alone in the house of her dreams. “Make love to me, Lucas,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Oh, I intend to.” He lowered those warm skilled lips to hers again.
Judging from the slow seduction of his mouth, he intended to draw it out, make it last as long as possible.
But she wasn’t sure she could wait.
Lips still fused to his, she went to work on the button fly of his jeans, clumsily tugging and fumbling until they’d all popped open. She slid them down his hips, taking his boxers with them.
“You’re not being very patient,” he accused, unbuttoning her jeans and sliding his hands around to her backside.
“I’ve already been too patient,” she gasped. Now she couldn’t wait another second. “It’s highly overrated.”
Laughing, Lucas wriggled out of his jeans and kicked them aside along with his shoes. Then he took hers down to the floor slowly, lowering to his knees as though he wanted to get a better look.
Legs shaking, she stepped out of the jeans, shoving them out of the way with her foot.
Lucas’s hands caressed their way up her legs, stroking her thighs until her lower stomach pulsed. Still on his knees, he kissed one thigh then the other, gliding his tongue higher while his hands gently widened her stance.
Blood rushed through her, heightening every sense, wrapping her in the lovely warmth of desire. “I can’t stand,” she whispered, unable to muster any power. Her legs faltered. “God, Lucas, I can’t even stand up.”
“You don’t have to stand.” He took her hands and gently tugged until she sank to the floor with him, face to face, both on their knees on the sheets Emilia had put down to protect the refurbished wood.
He kissed her again and she couldn’t keep her hands still. She had to feel him, to touch him, to make him want her even more. Taking the hard length of him in both hands, she pressed her lips to the coarse skin of his jaw, loving the burn it gave her.
Now Lucas was the one faltering. His upper body slumped slightly as her hands slid up and down his pulsing erection. Under her influence, his body trembled noticeably. “I love the feel of your hands on my body,” he uttered between ragged breaths.
The feeling was mutual, but she wanted more than his hands and touching. “I want you inside of me.” She pushed him back until he shifted to sit on the floor. “Now. Don’t make me wait.” She inched forward to straddle him.
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled, fastening his hands on her hips. With a tug, he guided her to slide down onto him.
A sharp gasp escaped her lungs and stilled her body. “God,” she breathed. “Oh God. Lucas…” He filled her—not just her body, but her heart, her soul. Being locked together with him, everything was right and good and so…powerful.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She understood what he meant—the tightness; he must’ve felt it. Sex hadn’t been part of her life for so long. But now she was glad for that. Because it wouldn’t have meant anything with someone else. She’d saved all of herself for him.
“It doesn’t hurt,” she whispered, kissing him lightly. “Not at all. It feels…” Shyness almost took over but she fought it back. “It feels so good, Lucas.” So good she couldn’t see clearly. So good she couldn’t be still anymore. She arched her back, inviting him in deeper.
His head fell back with a low moan and his hips strained upward as though he wanted to get closer, deeper.
She thrust down onto him again, the tantalizing sensation blinding her to everything except his face, his intense gaze focused on hers.
He smoothed her hair away from her face and kissed her as though he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her lips. “This is so much better than my dream,” he said through that sexy crooked grin.
“I think it’s about to get way better,” she managed, rocking her hips into a rhythm that gained momentum with each thrust.
Every time she arched her back, Lucas lifted his hips, plunging so deep into her that she lost her breath again and again. The cord of her desire wound tighter and tighter, flowing out of her in pants and soft moans and pleas.
Lucas slowed things down, pulling out the whole length of her and slowly—torturously—pushing back in. She gave up control, letting him tease her, reveling in the game he was playing, bringing her so close, then drawing it out. But impatience flared again and she ground her hips into his, pulsing against him, contracting every muscle until he was moving faster, gasping and moaning and pleading as much as she was.
“I want to see you let go,” he groaned.
She couldn’t even answer. The explosion loomed over her, tempting her body to give in, but she fought because she didn’t want it to end. She didn’t want this to be over.
Thrusting her higher, Lucas took her breast in his mouth, nibbling on her nipple as though he knew that would make her lose her grip. The shuddering rush gripped her, starting deep within and spreading until she trembled with wave after wave of bone-melting pleasure.
He quickened the pace—the friction, the heat prolonging the sensations until he was shuddering and saying her name. Crying out again, she slumped over him, unable to hold herself up or breathe or think.
Lucas’s chest heaved against hers. Though he seemed satiated, he held her tightly against him, his arms strong and sturdy.
She turned her head, resting her cheek on his shoulder, gazing up at his mouth. She couldn’t even lift her head. “So that’s a first.” Her voice still had that breathless quality of passion.
He lowered his head and peered into her eyes. “What was?”
“Multiple orgasms,” she said with a lazy smile. “I’d heard they existed but I always thought it was an urban legend. Darla always talks about it. I used to wish I knew what it was like.”
He laughed and directed her lips toward his. “Baby, I’m here to make all your wishes come true.”