“Help me,” he said to his brothers, who took up positions on either side. Together they pulled the warped doors upward.
And then he saw her face. Her smile. Her beautiful eyes. His Paige.
She handed out a small bag with Ruby stuffed inside. The kitten’s indignant howls conveyed the horror of her situation.
Then Buster was handed up. He greeted the Montgomery men with yaps and puppy kisses, excited to have attention.
Finally, Paige climbed the ladder. Sheer elation rolled through Cash when her head popped through the small opening. Reaching down, he grabbed under her arms and pulled her out. Then he immediately wrapped her in his arms and began kissing her. Her forehead. Her cheeks. Her lips.
“Oh my God,” he said, a definite choke to his voice. “I thought I’d lost you forever. I love you, Paige. Love you, love you, love you.”
“I love you too. I’ve loved you my whole life.”
“I hate to break this up,” Jason said with a slap on Cash’s back. “But I’m wet and cold and starving. Think we can head back to Halo M now?”
Cash took one last nibble of Paige’s lips before he looked at his family. “I love you guys. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
Travis laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
Caroline slid her arm around her husband’s waist. “Jason’s right. Let’s get home so I can see if any of you need medical attention.”
“I don’t, but we need to check on Mom and Dad and the kids,” Travis said. “I want to make sure the storm didn’t do any damage over there.”
“Lydia too,” Jason said as he started jogging toward the truck.
Cash wanted that in his life. A woman he loved who loved him back. And he’d finally found her.
When they got back to Halo M, Jackie and Lane Montgomery were waiting in the kitchen. The twins had been at their house during the storm, and when Jackie couldn’t get an answer at Halo M, they’d loaded up the kids and headed over.
“Hi, Mom,” Cash said, his arm still firmly wrapped about Paige’s shoulder.
Jackie stood and hugged Cash and Paige. “I am so sorry, honey. Your father and I saw what’s left of your house when we got here.”
“It’s just a house.” Cash squeezed Paige. “I got the most important thing out of there.”
“Thanks, Jackie,” Paige said. “I’ve never been through anything like that in my life.”
Jackie pulled Paige over to a chair. “I’m so glad you are okay.” She eyed Paige’s clothes.
“What are you wearing?”
Paige looked down and smiled. She was dressed in the robe Cash had given her and had his silver buckle belt wrapped twice around her waist. “I only had two minutes warning to get to shelter. I was wearing this at the time. I grabbed Ruby, shoved her in my purse, snatched up Buster and raced for the storm shelter. If Cash hadn’t put in the new door on that side of the house, I don’t think I would have made it.”
Cash stood behind her chair, water dripping from his hair and clothes. He threaded his fingers into Paige’s hair. “Thank God, I did that.” He leaned over and kissed her in front of his entire family. “I don’t want to think about the alternative.”
“Enough,” Caroline announced. “We are all soaked to the skin. Showers and dry clothes for everybody. Paige, there’s clean towels and whatever you’ll need in the guest bath upstairs. I’ll find you something to put on. Cash, you can use Noah’s bath, but no promises what condition it’s in.”
Paige rose. “Thanks, Caroline. Hospital scrubs will be fine.”
Travis headed to the master suite while Jason bided his turn for the showers by drying the best he could with a towel. Cash’s gaze never left Paige as she exited the kitchen and headed up the stairs.
“Go on,” Jackie said on a sigh. “I’ll pretend I’m not your mother.”
Cash laid a quick kiss on his mother’s cheek and raced after Paige.
Paige was just stepping into the shower when the door burst open and a panting Cash stepped into the bathroom.
“I thought it would be considerate if we showered together. You know, to save water.” The twinkle in his eyes said he was thinking about anything but water conservation, but damned if she’d argue.
Okay, she giggled a little as he rocked from side-to-side and bounced off the wall a couple of times struggling to get wet denim down his legs. But the thick material would only slide down an inch at a time.
“Stop laughing,” he snarled, but there was no heat behind the words.
He stripped off the rest of his clothes and then pushed her under the shower spray. Hot water rolled down her back and she wasn’t sure if it was that or the hot male flesh pressing into her front that was sending ripples of delight through her.
She nibbled on his neck. “I think I heard something about love.” Pulling back, she stared into his crystal-blue eyes. “Was that just the heat of the moment speaking? I understand if it was, and I’ll be okay if you tell me it was,” she lied. “But it won’t change how I feel about you. Ever. I love you, Cash. I know that scares you. Makes you want to run away, but it’s too much to hold in any longer. I love you.”
He grinned and kissed her. “The only heat of the moment was blurting it out in front of my brothers instead of in front of you.” Pulling her snug against him, he trapped his engorged shaft between then. “I do love you, Paige. I was going to tell you, just not like that. I want you to go to school and get that degree. I won’t let my feelings interrupt your future.”
“You’re an idiot,” she said with a laugh. “Loving you won’t interrupt my future. It makes my future.” She took his mouth in a deep kiss, thrusting her tongue between his lips, seeking to lock the taste of him in her mind. She felt him flinch. “What’s wrong?”
He rubbed at a cut on his lip. “Still a little tender.”
“Poor baby. What happened?”
“Long story, but let’s just say that Travis and I had a discussion about his meddling in my life.”
She laughed and went back in for a kiss, but making sure to move her lips gently on that side.
Their shower took longer than she’d planned but when the cool water sluiced down her hair and back, she turned off the dial and pushed Cash out. “We used all the hot water. Your family will be taking cold showers because of us.”
Cash snatched a fluffy white towel off the counter and began rubbing her abdomen. “I’ll apologize.” The grin he gave her was saucy and totally unapologetic. “But I’m not sorry.”
Paige pulled the towel away. “Get dressed before they send someone up here to see why we’ve been gone so long.”
After a kiss he said, “Yeah, like they don’t know.”
Two weeks later, Cash pulled his truck down his parents’ drive at Bar M Ranch. Beside him, Paige held two wrapped presents.
“You think Caroline and Travis realized their wedding day was so close to Adam’s birthday?” Paige asked.
“I doubt it. From what I understand from Travis about their wedding, it wasn’t a planned date as much as it was the only day they had with Caroline’s grandmother.” He pulled the truck behind Drake Gentry’s Range Rover. “I can’t believe they’ve been married a year.” He shook his head. “Where did the year go?”
“I’m just pleased at how happy they are.” She pointed to a small boy with a dog. “How old is Adam today?”
“Seven.” He cleared his throat. “Um, you might be warned that his mother might be a little upset with me, Travis and Jason.”
She rolled her eyes toward him. “What have y’all done?”
“You’ll see.” He grinned. “C’mon. Let’s join the anniversary slash birthday party.”
Adam looked toward them when the truck doors slammed. A smile as wide as his face split his mouth and he ran toward them.
“Thank you, Uncle Cash. Thank you. I’ve always wanted a horse.”
Olivia Landry followed her son to where they stood. “Hi, Paige.” She looked at Cash. “You, I’m not speaking to.” But the sparkle in her eyes gave away her mirth.
“Oh, sis. You know you love me.” Cash pulled her into his arms, gave her a loud smacking kiss on her cheek and then messed up her hair.
Paige brushed a kiss on Olivia’s cheek. “A horse?”
“Oh, yes. After I distinctly told my brothers not to buy a horse for Adam for his birthday, that arrived this morning.” She pointed to a chestnut-brown colt. “Meet Rocky.”
Paige chuckled. “He’s lovely.”
“He’ll grow up with me,” Adam said. “I’ll love him forever.”
Cash knew his sister would forgive them. Every little boy had to have his own horse, at least in his family they did.
“And how old were you when you got your first horse, sis?”
Olivia flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Irrelevant.”
“How old were you, Momma?” Adam asked.
Cash leaned over to his nephew. “She was seven.”
Adam laughed. “The same age as me.”
“Now that your uncle Cash and Paige are here, let’s go cut the cake,” Olivia said, clearly redirecting her son. Over her shoulder, she whispered, “If you two ever have a son, I’m buying him a set of drums. Two can play at this game.” She followed Adam as he raced toward the house.
Paige slipped her arm around Cash’s waist. “Oops. You might have won this battle, but I think the real war is ahead.”
Cash slung his arm around her shoulders. “Gotta love a good family scrimmage that’ll take years to win.”
Walking with Paige, their arms intertwined, Cash knew his plans for the day were right. He belonged with Paige and she belonged with him. Forever.
Wedding anniversary presents for Travis and Caroline had to wait until Adam tore through his stack of birthday presents. Boots. Gloves. A new saddle—from his dad who’d known about the horse. A hat. And more toys and books than Cash could count.
Unlike Adam, who ripped and tore his way through his gifts, Caroline was much more restrained as she opened the few anniversary gifts for Travis and her. Each gift was pronounced as perfect before being handed off to one of the other women to see.
The men stood off to the side, each of them with a drink in hand. Beer for some. Soft drinks for others.
“You’re a lucky man,” Cash said to Travis with a tip of his glass of Coke toward Caroline.
“Don’t I know it,” Travis said with a smile. “I don’t deserve her, but whatever you do, don’t tell her.”
Cash laughed.
“So, little bro, when you stepping up to the plate?” Jason asked.
Cash frowned. “That’s an excellent question.” He looked over at the women in his family sitting on his parents’ patio. The men were gathered with him. Adam was over in the pasture running with his new colt. “You know what they say. No time like the present.”
He stepped away and walked over to the women. Their high-toned voices quieted when he knelt beside Paige’s chair. She turned toward him.
“What’s wrong, Cash?”
He pulled a small black velvet box from his front pants pocket. “What’s wrong is your last name. I want to change it to Montgomery.” He popped open the box and the two-carat oval-diamond engagement ring sparkled in the late afternoon sun. “Will you marry me?”
Paige’s mouth dropped. Tears began filling her eyes.
Behind him, he heard the shuffle of boot soles as the men in his family joined the women on the patio. No one spoke as they waited for her answer.
Her hand went to her mouth. Her gaze shot from him, to the ring, and back to him.
“Ohmigod. Ohmigod. Are you serious?”
Cash smiled. “I’m serious. Marry me. Hell, you need to make an honest man out of me. You’ve made me live in sin with you for months.”
She laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you.” She covered his face with kisses.
Around them, his family cheered and applauded. It didn’t matter what twists and turns life held for them. As long as they were together, they could weather any storm.
About the Author
Cynthia D’Alba was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, she’s thrilled to be making her home back in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake. When she’s not reading or writing or plotting, she’s doorman for her two dogs, cook, housekeeper and chief bottle washer for her husband and slave to a noisy messy parrot. She loves to chat online with friends and fans. You can find her most days at
www.cynthiadalba.com
or
www.everybodyneedsalittleromance.com
. Follow her at
www.
facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaDAlba
,
www.twitter.com/CynthiaDAlba
, or email her at
[email protected]
.
Look for these titles by Cynthia D’Alba
Now Available:
Texas Montgomery Mavericks
Texas Two Step
Texas Tango
Texas Fandango
Two weeks on a beach can deepen more than just their tans.
Texas Fandango
© 2014 Cynthia D’Alba
Texas Montgomery Mavericks
, Book 3
KC Montgomery was eleven when she met the love of her life. Of course, seventeen-year-old Drake Gentry didn’t know she existed, but that didn’t stop her girlish fantasies from growing and changing over the years.
Now, after enjoying a front-row seat to his breakup with his latest girlfriend, she’s been handed an all-grown-up fantasy come true—two weeks at the Sand Castle Resort. With him.
Drake most definitely noticed KC a long time ago, but the timing’s never been right. Now that he’s facing a lonely vacation that was supposed to be for two, it seems only natural to accept KC’s offer to fill in. And as far as her terms go… No strings. No expectations. No holds barred. Drake is no fool—he’s all over it.
But once they’re back in Texas there are invisible strings still hanging between them. Strings labeled attraction, affection…even love. And the more they try to untangle the knots, the tighter they’re bound together.
Warning
: Beware of sunburns, whirlpool sex and sand in delicate places.
Enjoy the following excerpt for
Texas Fandango:
This woman…this beautiful woman had a thing
for him
?
His circulatory system shunted all his blood to his groin, which swelled with interest and desire.
“Drake? What are you doing here?” she repeated.
For an additional second, he reconsidered why he’d come. What if Leo had been wrong? Crap. What if he made a total fool of himself?
He cleared his throat. “Do you have a minute? I thought we could talk.”
She picked up the wiggling dog and cocked her head. “About what? You pretty much made your position clear at Leo’s.”
He walked down the porch steps to where she stood on her walkway. “Yeah, about that. I need to apologize.” He tapped the side of his head. “Brain fog.”
“Great,” she said with fake enthusiasm. “Apology accepted.” She swept past him and climbed onto her porch.
“Wait.” He followed her. “What’s his name?” he asked, stroking her dog’s head.
The puppy squirmed in her arms. Drake leaned over and the animal licked his nose.
“
Her
name is Killer,” KC said.
“Can I?” Drake held out his hands to take the puppy.
KC passed her over.
“Killer? Why, this little lady doesn’t look like a killer.” He nuzzled the dog’s fur. The puppy darted her pink tongue out and tickled his face with tiny licks.
“You’re just lucky I don’t give the command to kill. She’d rip your lips right off your face.”
He chuckled. “You mean lick my lips right off my face, right?”
She sighed and opened her door. “C’mon in, I guess. If you insist.”
Killer—Drake had serious doubts that was the dog’s real name—and he followed KC into the house. They stood in the foyer as she unclipped the dog’s leash.
“You don’t have to hold her. She’s done her business outside so she can run around.”
He set the tiny bundle on the floor. “What breed is she?”
“Yorkie. She turned six months old last week. Want something to drink?”
“Just water. I’ve had my beer quota for today.” They turned to the right and he followed her into a large, bright kitchen.
“I haven’t.” She pulled a bottle of beer and a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
“Nice place,” he said, taking the water and allowing his gaze to roam. The hardwood floor from the entry continued here. The dark gold and black granite countertops were set off by the glossy white of the cabinets. The black appliances complimented the black swirl in the granite.
The area behind the sink opened up on the dining room just beyond it. Through that large opening, there was an expansive view of a golf fairway.
She shrugged at his comment. “Let’s go to the living room and you can tell me really why you’re here.”
He followed her through the adjacent dining room and then down three steps to a sunken living room. The room had a back circular wall comprised completely of glass, providing the view of the golf course he’d admired from the kitchen. He realized that the sunken room kept the incredible view available to anyone in the kitchen or the dining room.
She dropped into a plush off-white leather recliner. Killer—that just couldn’t be this dog’s name—followed them, her nails clicking faintly on the hardwood. As soon as KC sat, the puppy stood on her hind legs to be picked up, which KC did. She stroked the dog’s head, sat back and waited.
A large, butter-yellow overstuffed leather sofa beckoned to him. He sat and took a large gulp of water. First to dilute the beer floating around in his gut. Second, to put some moisture in his mouth and down his throat, both of which had turned to dust the minute he saw KC standing on her walk. And third, to buy him some time as he tried to find the words he wanted to say.
KC waved her hand in a get-on-with-it gesture. He nodded.
“Leo said—”
“Oh God. Leo sent you here?” she snarled. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Don’t kill him yet. He sort of knocked me upside the head and rattled my brain enough that what you said this afternoon finally sank through my thick skull. You really want to go with me to the Sand Castle?”
She dropped her head against the headrest. “Great. Just freaking great. You have rattled brains, and because of that you’ve come to see me.”
He laughed. “Not exactly.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. His movement caught the attention of the puppy, who jumped down and ran over to him. The ball of furry energy danced around his feet and Drake picked her up. If she weighed a pound, he’d be shocked. The puppy wiggled and climbed up to his face, again smearing it with her puppy tongue.
“Traitor,” KC said.
“Me or Killer? And what is her name? It isn’t Killer.” He nuzzled his nose on the puppy’s head. “This baby isn’t a killer of anything.”
“Ha! You haven’t seen the heel of my leather boot.”
He grinned.
“Her name is Jasmine. I call her Jazz.”
At the mention of her name, the puppy’s head snapped toward her owner and she immediately began struggling to get down. Drake set Jazz on the floor and she scurried to KC, who shook her head and picked her up.
“She’s rotten,” she said, but there was no fire behind her words.
Drake leaned back on the sofa and crossed an ankle over a knee. “Okay, as I was saying, do you want to go with me on vacation? You sort of caught me off-guard this afternoon, and I’m sorry for being so slow on the uptake. I’d love for you to come with me.” He drained the remaining water and set the empty bottle on the side table. “But you need to know that I reserved a one-bedroom suite. I’ll sleep on the couch, you don’t have to worry. You can have the bed.”
KC set the puppy down and leaned forward. “You’re asking me to go with you on vacation?”
“Yep. My treat.”
“And you’re not going to make me sleep with you?”
He shrugged and made himself maintain eye contact when what he wanted to do was look anywhere but at her. Damn. Her voice was a little tight and high with that last question. Now what had he done wrong? He didn’t think he’d ever understand women.
“Right.” He dragged the word out. “No obligation.”
She drained her beer. The empty bottle dangled from the tips of her fingers. The side of her cheek sucked as she rolled it between her teeth.
“So no sex. That’s what you’re saying? I just want to make sure there are no misunderstandings this time.”
He nodded. “Sure.”
She echoed his nod and then set her bottle on the floor. “Well then, in that case, no.”
His head popped back. “What?”
Leaning toward him, she said, “No sex, no trip.”
This time, he swallowed hard. Crossed and uncrossed his legs. Adjusted his position on the sofa. “Explain exactly what you’re saying. Use small words and short sentences. I don’t think my mind is hearing correctly this afternoon.”
“Here’s the deal, Doc. I want a vacation with the five S’s. Sand. Surf. Sun. Spa. And sex.” She leaned back in her chair. “And not necessarily in that order.”
“So you
want
to sleep with me?”
“I want a two-week torrid, scorching-hot affair. No holds barred. Then, we walk away. No harm. No foul. Those are my terms.” She stared into his eyes. “Take it or leave it.”