Cowboy After Dark (17 page)

“Yes, ma’am, you did.”

Outside the storm raged, and inside the party grew livelier, but in this cozy corner she and Liam seemed set apart from everything and everybody. Smiling, she glanced down at him. “I love cowboy manners. Thanks for that little white lie.”

“It wasn’t a lie. You looked cute and huggable.”

“Nice of you to say so.”

“But now that your hair’s done, you don’t look cute anymore.”

“You don’t like it?” She felt the twinge of a familiar pain.

“I love it. You look hot.”

The pain receded. “That’s Edie’s doing. I don’t usually wear it up.”

“Why not?”

“It’s extra trouble and it looks better down.” She heard an echo of Tom’s voice.

“Depends on what you’re going for. When it’s down it’s more touchable, but sweeping it up off your neck like that creates a different kind of sexy, like you’re royalty or something, and I’ll have to work harder to get you into bed.”

“Is that so?” Her body tingled. “Liam Magee, you really are a silver-tongued devil.”

“I’m not.”

“My BS meter just flipped over to the red zone.”

He shrugged. “So don’t believe me. But when your hair’s up and all that soft skin is exposed, I have the urge to nibble on you until you surrender to my charms.”

“I see.” If he was trying to arouse her enough to make her squirm, he was succeeding beautifully.

“You were really something, dancing down that hallway.”

That made her laugh, which relieved some of the tension. “Oh, I was something, all right. Something you’ll never see on
So You Think You Can Dance
?”

“Make fun if you want, but you were sexy as hell.”

“All the credit goes to the slit in the skirt.”

“That was nice, but you have a certain way of rotating your hips. I almost swallowed my tongue.”

“Really?”

“Yes, ma’am.” His blue eyes gleamed with lust. Holding her gaze, he reached for her other foot. “Thanks for taking off your shoes so I could have a good excuse to touch you. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d probably have my hand under your skirt by now.”

“Liam.”
Cheeks hot, she glanced around to gauge whether anyone might have heard him.

“They’re not listening to us. The storm is making everyone shout to be heard.”

“But you’re not shouting.”

“I don’t have to. You’re reading my lips, same as I’m reading yours.”

He was right. She hadn’t even known she was doing it. Watching his mouth move was such a pleasure, anyway. That little scar was an irritant because it reminded her that he’d had great sex with someone else. But it was also a turn-on, a tangible sign that he could make a woman lose her mind enough to draw blood.

Searching for a different focus, she dropped her gaze to where he was using his strong fingers to bring intense pleasure to her feet. She’d experienced the joy of his talented hands on other parts of her body, parts that were warming up at an alarming rate.

She took a sip, but the warm drink and the hot cowboy were a lethal combination. “You should probably stop doing that.”

He glanced up at her and kept stroking her instep. “Is there a problem?”

“Yes.”

“Can I do anything to help?”

“Not at the moment.”

His beautiful mouth curved in a seductive smile. “Later, then?”

“Later.” She took a shaky breath. “Definitely later.”

18

I
N
THE
PAST
, Liam hadn’t been particularly concerned about whether a woman craved his body or not. If she did and the feeling was mutual, then great, they’d enjoy the fun while it lasted. If he lusted after someone and she didn’t feel the same, he walked away.

But now, for the first time in his life, he was prepared to use everything at his disposal to convince Hope she couldn’t give up their sexual pleasure at the end of the week. A week wasn’t long enough to create the kind of bond he longed for. Two weeks probably wouldn’t do it, either, but if he could get her to extend the deadline once, she might extend it again.

He’d figured out that she didn’t know what she wanted long-term. But he was afraid if she shoved him out of her life after a mere seven days, he’d lose her forever. She might not realize they were meant for each other, but he was presumptuous enough to believe they were. Maybe he shouldn’t put so much emphasis on her Winnie-the-Pooh bathrobe, but he couldn’t seem to help it.

His mother had read those stories to him and Grady when they were little, and he’d never forgotten the characters. He’d identified with Owl, who always seemed to know what to do, but he’d also identified with Christopher Robin, who looked after all of them. He knew he wasn’t Pooh, but he’d always loved that bear—trusting, joyful and naturally creative.

After seeing Hope in that bathrobe, everything had clicked into place. Once upon a time she’d functioned like Pooh. Then she’d met Tom, who’d sucked every bit of that optimistic joy out of her. Liam wanted to help her regain that joy because when she did, she’d find herself. She might also decide they were right for each other.

But he couldn’t expect her to hear that explanation, agree with it and fall into his arms. So he was willing to use sex to give her a reason to hang around until the light dawned. The foot massage hadn’t been planned, but he’d grabbed the opportunity. As long as he could keep touching her and reminding her of the pleasure to be found with him, he might buy a little more time.

She insisted they leave their private corner and mingle. He agreed that was a good idea considering how tight his jeans had become during that foot rub and sexy discussion. But thanks to that, they were both thinking about their rendezvous tonight, and this time they could play until dawn if they wanted to.

The storm cleared as the sun began to set. While Rosie notified the other guests that they could head toward the ranch for the ceremony, Cade and Brant volunteered to feed the horses and check out the meadow. The resulting report made everyone groan.

“The tent’s gone,” Cade said. “Probably over in Campbell County by now. The chairs are tossed around and muddy, and the decorations on the front of the cabin blew off. The artificial turf stayed put, I guess because we weighed it down with rocks on the corners. It’s wet, but it’s there.”

Damon wrapped an arm around Phil’s waist. “It won’t be quite the ceremony we’d envisioned.” He gazed down at her. “I’m sorry.”

Phil didn’t look devastated, though. “Let’s forget about the chairs and have everyone make a circle around us while we say our vows. We don’t need the tent, anyway. We’ll get married in the glow of the sunset.”

“Instead of a circle,” Hope said, “how about a heart with you two and the minister at the point in the middle?”

Liam’s own heart tightened. A woman with this much romance in her soul couldn’t possibly be happy with a string of temporary lovers. Not telling her that was going to take some restraint.

“Oh.” Edie fanned her face and sniffed. “Now I’m ready to bawl again.”

Rosie gave her a quick one-armed hug. “No time for that, lady. The guests are on their way. We need to move it.”

Rides were arranged, and the guests wore the most practical footwear they had on hand. Rosie and Herb loaned out all the spare rain boots in the closet, and Liam was glad to see that Hope got a pair. Music turned out to be the easy part. Liam backed his truck into position near the meadow, and Aria’s brother, Josh, who would have had some trouble navigating the muddy terrain, anyway, offered to sit on the tailgate and keep the tunes coming.

The other guests drove straight to the meadow, and all had worn boots. While Phil and her attendants waited in the SUV parked at the end of the artificial turf aisle, Hope organized the heart shape so that those who would have been sitting on the bride’s side formed the left curve and the groom’s guests formed the right curve. She created a gap for the maid and matrons of honor and a break at the bottom for Phil, her dad and her attendants to walk through.

Liam watched in admiration and looked forward to finding a place beside her and holding her hand throughout the ceremony. But as the guests divided into two groups, he realized that she’d be on one side and he’d be on the other. They’d be separated. Or maybe not. She was moving to the end of the line on her side.

He quickly switched places with the last person in line on his side. He managed it seconds before Josh started the music. Hope glanced at him with raised eyebrows, and he grinned at her before turning to face the procession coming toward them.

Nobody tried to dance down the rain-slick turf, but from their expressions of joy, they would have if it hadn’t been dangerous. Liam had attended a few weddings, most recently one for the woman who’d given him the scar on his lip, but he’d never felt such tenderness toward the participants. Made sense that he’d be emotionally attached to this ceremony, though. These were his people in a way other friends never would be.

Lexi walked toward them in her lacy dress that was so different from the jeans and T-shirts he remembered from years ago. She’d always been riding, working in the barn or teasing the guys, Cade most of all. She’d had an excuse to hang out at Thunder Mountain because her parents, who were standing on the groom’s side, were Rosie and Herb’s best friends. But she’d mostly been there because of Cade.

Next came Rosie, looking happier than he’d ever seen her. Not every man was lucky enough to have one great mom, let alone two. That, combined with Herb’s loving guidance, had more than compensated for not growing up with a dad in residence.

Edie looked radiant, too. She’d become Phil’s stepmother only a few years ago, but judging from the way she’d thrown herself into the wedding plans, they’d formed a true mother-daughter bond. Last came Phil, holding firmly to her father’s arm. Every time Liam had seen Karl in the past couple of days, he’d been laughing and joking. Not now. He was obviously too manly to cry, but he was blinking rapidly and his jaw was set.

After they entered the heart-shaped ring of wedding guests, Liam stepped toward Hope to close the opening. Lexi, Rosie and Edie took their positions in the upper left curve of the heart, and Karl placed Phil’s hand in Damon’s before claiming his spot in the right-hand curve beside Cade and Finn. He discreetly thumbed the moisture from his eyes.

The minister surveyed the guests. “Let us all join hands as we surround this couple with the love of family and friends.”

Liam took the hand of the woman on his right and was about to grasp Hope’s when she beat him to it. Slipping her soft fingers through his, she met his gaze, and there was no mistaking the yearning in her eyes. Maybe she hadn’t completely given up on happily-ever-after. He tightened his grip. If she hadn’t glanced away, he might have spent the entire ceremony lost in her tender expression.

Instead she directed her attention to where Phil and Damon stood with the minister. As sunset painted the landscape in shades of pink and orange, everyone took on that glow, but it seemed centered on the couple standing in the middle of the heart.

The words of the ceremony were familiar to Liam, but the emotions they churned up were not. Until meeting Hope, marriage had been a vague concept, an event that would happen to him in the distant future. Yet something had clicked in his brain from that first moment with her.

When he’d talked to Grady about what they’d do if either of them fell in love, he’d been picturing Hope as a likely candidate. Hearing Damon and Phil make those age-old promises with Hope so near, her fingers laced through his, had a powerful effect on him. He couldn’t know whether she was feeling that, too. Logic told him she wouldn’t want to admit it.

That was okay. He could be patient for the next few days. But he was really glad he’d shuffled the order of the lineup so he could share this with her. It might be something to build on.

The ceremony ended, Damon and Phil flinging themselves into each other’s arms and kissing with an abandon that brought whistles and cheers from the guests surrounding them. Then they joined hands and started toward the SUV as Josh pumped up the volume on the recessional. Liam had to let go of Hope because the happy couple needed an exit.

Traditionally the maid and matrons of honor were supposed to pair up with the groomsmen and parade down the aisle, but Karl broke with tradition and hurried after the bride and groom.

“They need a driver!” he called out as he followed them to the SUV. He hopped in, started the engine and off they went.

Edie stood with Finn at the end of the aisle of artificial turf, staring at the departing vehicle. “First of all, that’s my car he’s driving, and second of all, where are they going? There will be no reception waiting for them at the house. We’re all here!”

“But it was dramatic,” Rosie said, laughing. “Come on. Let’s load up and move on out. We won’t be too far behind them.”

In the confusion that followed, Hope ended up riding back with Lexi and Cade. Liam and Grady were the last ones to leave the area. Once they’d made sure no one else needed a ride, they closed the tailgate, climbed in the truck and drove toward the house.

“Nice wedding,” Grady said.

“Different. I liked it.”

“Me, too. I noticed you got next to Hope.”

“Yeah.” Liam blew out a breath. “You might as well know this. I think she’s the one.”

“Does she think you’re the one?”

Count on Grady to cut to the chase. “She doesn’t believe in such things anymore.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t say.”

“Oh, boy. I thought I’d be the one to pick a complicated woman. I figured you’d end up falling for one of your outdoorsy rafting ladies. A straight shooter.”

Liam glanced over at him. “Turns out that I ended up falling for someone as complicated and creative as you, little brother.”

“Then God help you.”

“I could use some divine intervention, so if you have any pull in that department, please use it.”

“You’re not kidding around, are you?”

“No. I know what I want to happen, but convincing her that it’s the right thing won’t be easy.”

Grady settled back in his seat. “I knew all along that this temporary fling business wasn’t your idea. That’s not you.”

“It’s not her, either.”

“Then why did she set it up that way?”

“I can’t say.”

“Maybe you can’t say, but I’m getting the picture. She’s let you into her confidence and into her bed, but not into her heart.”

“Thanks.”

“Am I wrong?”

“No.” Liam found a parking space near the house and turned off the motor. “Like I said, there are issues.”

“I can see that.” Grady unsnapped his seat belt and turned to him. “I can also see that you’re in danger of having
your
heart sliced and diced, big brother. Maybe you should drive back with me tomorrow and forget about playing house with a woman who’s not smart enough to see that you’re the best there is.”

Liam smiled. “Thanks, Grady.”

“I feel the urge to tell her so.”

“Please don’t.”

“I wouldn’t really, at least not at this stage, when she might still come to her senses on her own. But if she ditches you, I’ll have to give her a piece of my mind.”

Grady’s loyalty touched him. “I’m not so smart, either. A smart guy would go back with you tomorrow, but I have to see this through. Otherwise I’ll always wonder if I’d given up too soon.”

“Hmm.” Grady drummed on the dashboard, something he tended to do when he was thinking. “I get that. Whenever I hit a rough patch with a sculpture, I have the same thought. I could ditch the idea, and I’m so tempted, but then I might be haunted by the possibility that I gave up when I was on the verge of a breakthrough.”

“Exactly.”

“See, I work with metal and you work with people, but the concepts are not that different. I try to bring out the beauty in the metal, and you’re digging for the beauty in the souls of your rafting clients.”

“Or in this case, a wedding guest.”

“Right.” He punched him lightly on the arm. “Go with your gut, bro. Every time I’ve done that, my sculpture is so much better.”

“Good advice.” Liam opened the driver’s side door and climbed out of the truck.

“Hurry!” Hope stood on the porch in her green dress and purple rain boots. “They took the box thing off the wedding cake and—”

“Messed up the cake?” He and Grady walked faster. “Please don’t tell me they messed up that cake.”

“They’d better not have,” Grady muttered. “Not after all we went through to get it there.”

“The cake’s fine,” Hope said. “But they can’t find the cake topper. Do either of you know where it is?”

Liam clapped his hand over his shirt pocket, but of course he hadn’t been wearing this shirt.

Grady stopped and glanced at him, eyebrows lifted.

“I put it somewhere.” Liam tried not to panic. That topper had been important to Damon. “Somewhere safe.”

“Mentally retrace your steps,” Hope said. “You’ll remember.”

“God, I hope so.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “It was in my shirt pocket when I set the cake down on the pool table.” Then he’d turned around to find Hope. Her smile had made him forget everything else.

“Right.” She walked down the steps and came toward them. “I don’t remember you taking anything out of your shirt pocket.”

“I didn’t. Then Ty and Whitney drove up.”

“And Brant and Aria,” Grady said. “And we had lunch. Did you still have it then?”

“Pretty sure I did. I’d sort of forgotten about it, in fact.”