Chapter Eight
Lani caught her breath as his words gripped her heart.
Nothing. Everything. Whatever you’ll give me.
Trevor darted up from the lake. “Is my pole fixed, Dad? I want to catch more fish!”
Rick squeezed her hand, sending dangerous sensations through her belly. With movements as fluid and graceful as a mountain lion, he scooped up Trevor’s fishing pole and stood. “Hold your horses, kiddo.”
The moment Rick left, Lani felt alone. Like a part of her was missing. His scent had been so intoxicating, his touch so sensual, surrounding her with his masculinity. She’d bared her soul, and just by telling him, felt lighter, as though she truly were alive again.
But did she dare trust him with her heart?
As she watched Rick with Trevor, she couldn’t believe that voice inside her that said all men were like James and her father. She couldn’t believe Rick would intentionally hurt anyone.
She watched as Rick cast Trevor’s line then worked with his son with such patience. Why did she feel like she could talk to him so easily? Perhaps it was the day. The intimacy of spending time together with just the three of them. Yet they’d probably spent a good hour chatting yesterday, long after the interview had ended.
While he settled Trevor on a log to wait for fish to nibble, she took the opportunity to study Rick. His denim shirt accented his vivid blue eyes, and when he laughed at something his son said, that adorable dimple appeared in his cheek. Jeans molded his muscular thighs, and even though he was a big man, tall and muscled, his movements were as fluid as a mountain lion.
And those hands. Strong, large. She thought of the texture of his skin against hers, how it felt when he’d held her face in his hands and kissed her, his calluses rough against her cheeks.
Lani glanced from Rick’s hands to his face and froze. He was watching her with the same hunger in his eyes that must have been apparent in hers. Yearning curled in her abdomen like molten fire, and for endless seconds, she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. Then a fish tugged on Trevor’s line, and Rick turned back to his son.
God help her, but she wanted him. Needed him.
It took all her effort to stop staring at Rick. She fought to compose herself, gazing out at the midnight blue of the lake, listening to the soft lap of the water against the shore. His husky voice washed over her as he spoke to Trevor in a low, even tone. The boy’s answering voice, so high and sweet, took hold of her heart, never to let go.
With her eyes closed, she focused on the wind whispering through pine and juniper trees, and drank deep of the scents of rich loam and pine. The breeze caressed her face, as soft as Rick’s touch, and she ached for him, wanting his fingers sliding over her skin.
Lani opened her eyes, forced the thoughts away, and scooted to her feet in an abrupt movement. After brushing stray pine needles from the seat of her shorts, she strolled to the edge of the lake just as Rick helped Trevor reel in a fish.
“It’s a big one, Lani!” The boy hopped along the water’s edge while Rick added the fish to the stringer. “It’s really, really big. It almost pulled me in! It’s a catfish. Do you like catfish?”
“Love ‘em.” Lani put her hand on Trevor’s shoulder.
“I think that’s enough.” Rick pulled the stringer out of the lake and tossed it into the ice chest they’d brought for that purpose. “We need to get back for cake, ice cream and fireworks.”
“Okay. But first I wanna show Lani how to make a wish in the lake.” Trevor scooped up a small rock and held it up to her. “You take a rock and squeeze it real tight.” The boy wrapped his fist around the stone. “Close your eyes, make a wish, and throw the rock into the lake. But you can’t tell nobody what you wished for or it won’t come true.”
Lani laughed, delighted in the boy’s enthusiastic instructions.
Trevor gripped the rock in his hand and shut his eyes even tighter. His lips moved then he leaned back and threw the rock into the water. He opened his eyes and pointed to the ripples. “I threw it really, really far, and I made a great wish. Your turn.”
She knelt and selected a flat round stone, then stood. Trevor bounced up and down on the shore with unbridled energy. “Come on, Lani. Close your eyes and make a wish!”
What did she wish for? She shut her eyes, feeling the smoothness of the stone against her palm.
Rick. His name popped unbidden into her mind, and a flush heated her body. But then the thought of James chased away the warmth, leaving only cold. Reminding her that she shouldn’t make herself vulnerable again.
“Lani!” came Trevor’s sweet voice. “Are you going to make a wish?”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice too hoarse, filled with the pain of longing and the emptiness of regret.
And then it came to her, as clear as that July summer sky. She wanted a child as wonderful as Trevor to call her own. With her eyes still squeezed tight, she brought the stone to her mouth and kissed it, feeling its smooth contours with her lips, then pitched the rock into the lake.
“Wow, you can throw far!” Trevor shouted.
Lani opened her eyes to see Rick beside her, his intense blue gaze boring into her as if he could see her dreams and know her thoughts. She shivered, longing to ease her arms around him and feel the comfort of his body next to hers.
Trevor bounded between them, and crinkled his freckled nose. “Why’d you kiss the rock? Do you think it’ll make your wish come true?”
She shrugged and tried not to look at Rick. “With all my heart, I hope so.”
Trevor tugged on his dad’s sleeve. “Dad, your turn. Make a wish before we go.”
Rick scooped up a rock and gazed at Lani. Her stomach somersaulted again, and she wanted to touch him, to be near him. He closed his eyes, brought the stone to his lips, and kissed it. For a moment, Lani wished she was the stone, and that he had his lips pressed against hers. He leaned back, the muscles in his arm rippling as he and flung the stone into the lake.
“Cool!” Trevor bounced up and down. “You threw it really far, even farther than Lani. How come you kissed your rock, like she did? You’ve never done that before. Do you think your wish will come true?”
Lani’s gaze met Rick’s and her throat grew dry.
Rick tousled Trevor’s hair and smiled, but never took his eyes from Lani’s. “I hope so, Trev. I hope so.”
By the time they reached the ranch, it was late afternoon and Rick was starving. “We’ll head on up to Bisbee for fireworks after dinner,” he said as they piled out of the truck. “And of course, after birthday cake for the birthday boy.”
“All right!” Trevor clutched pine cones in his hands that he’d gathered in the forest. “Grandma makes the best cakes in the whole world,” he said to Lani. “She always bakes a red velvet cake for my birthday with blue and white frosting on account of it’s the Fourth of July, and it’s my favorite.”
The boy dashed off, then stopped. “What about presents, Dad? Do I get presents, too?”
Rick rubbed his chin. “Hmmm, presents? I knew there was something I forgot.”
“Daaaad!”
With a grin, Rick pointed toward the house. “Why don’t you go inside and see.”
Trevor whirled and tore off like a mini tornado.
Lani grabbed the picnic basket and thermos while Rick took the ice chest full of catfish, and they walked together in companionable silence. The house smelled wonderful when they walked in—like fried chicken and hot biscuits.
“No catfish for dinner tonight,” Sadie was saying to Trevor when they walked in. “We’ll have it tomorrow.”
“Ahhh Grandma, why not?” Trevor pouted, his lower lip thrust out, and Lani almost laughed aloud.
“Not enough time to clean the fish and fry it up before the fireworks. That’s why.” Sadie turned back to the stove. “Besides, I made your favorite. Fried chicken.”
“It looks awesome, Grandma.” Trevor peeked under foil covering a plate mounded with fried chicken. “Mashed potatoes and gravy and corn on the cob, too?”
Sadie nodded. “That’s right.”
Trevor hugged her. “Thanks, Grandma.”
She waved him off to the bathroom. “Go on and wash your hands.”
Holding out his palms, Trevor said, “They’re clean. I cleaned them in the lake.”
Sadie planted her hands on her hips. “Get into that bathroom and wash with soap and clean water. Do it before I cloud up and rain all over you!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Trevor spun and headed for the hall bathroom.
Rick chuckled and Lani snickered. Sadie brandished her spatula at the two of them, but with a smile. “That’s enough out of you kids. Go clean up.”
Before dinner Lani took a quick shower and put on a button-up pink blouse with a short jean skirt. After cake and presents, they headed to town.
They reached the park in Bisbee just before dark and crowds were gathering. Rick parked in their favorite spot near the old ballpark where years ago he used to play Little League, and they set up lawn chairs around the SUV. Trevor settled between Chuck and Sadie, so excited he could hardly sit still.
“When’ll the fireworks start?” Trevor bounced in his chair like a Mexican jumping bean. “I can’t wait!”
“As soon as it gets dark.” Chuck patted Trevor’s knee. “Can you hold your horses that long, Pardner?”
Trevor wiggled out from under his Grandpa’s hand and stood. “I hope it hurries up and gets dark really soon.”
“How about a walk in the park while we’re waiting for the fireworks?” Rick asked Lani, hoping he would have some time alone with her.
She smiled and said, “Sure.”
After Rick let everyone know what they were doing, he and Lani strolled across the street into the park, the way lit by an occasional streetlight. The night smelled of fresh cut grass, charcoal and barbeque and the air was filled with chatter and dogs barking.
As they walked past folks sitting on picnic blankets and lawn chairs, they dodged the occasional beer cooler and avoided being trampled as laughing children raced past them. Rick noticed how Lani’s gaze followed the kids, a soft smile on her face. He remembered when Lani had told him how she’d always wanted children, but how her bastard of a husband had been so cruel in his response.
A mutt streaked by, almost tripping Lani. Rick caught her hand, helping her balance, then laced her fingers with his. She stopped and studied him, emotions flickering across her features.
Fear? Longing?
Rick squeezed her hand. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
She paused as if considering his response and then said, “I don’t know about that, Rick McAllister.”
They walked further into the park, as far away from the crowds as he could take her. Finally Rick pulled Lani under the shadows of a huge old oak tree and brought her close, resting his back against the tree, shifting so that his gun didn’t press into his spine. She hesitated, then leaned closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Desire stirred in him as her warm body pressed to his. He brushed his lips over her hair, drinking in her womanly scent. His cock hardened even more, and he was afraid she would draw away if she felt how much he wanted her.
He’d just have to take that chance, because right now, he wasn’t letting go.
The sound of voices and laughter in the distance dimmed as the world narrowed, focused, and Rick’s only thoughts were of Lani. She stirred against him, and he sucked in his breath as her innocent movement hardened him even more.
“Lani,” he said against her forehead. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” She lifted her face, and he stroked a soft wave of hair away from her eyes.
She smiled. “Tell me.”
He pressed her closer to him. “You can’t feel it?” It was too dark to tell if she blushed, but he would’ve bet she did.
Lani bit her lip and then said, “Um, yes. Hard to miss.”
“It certainly is.” Rick raised his eyebrows at the double meaning of her words.
She groaned. “I didn’t mean that. What am I going to do with you?”
“Whatever you want, darlin’, I’m yours.” He cupped her face with his hand, her skin soft and smooth against his palm. The thought of kissing her, holding her, loving her, stoked the fire that burned for her, that heat he knew could consume them both. “It’s been too long since I’ve tasted you.”
Her lips trembled against his thumb as he ran it over her mouth. “Not that long, cowboy.”
“Definitely too long.” Rick moved his thumb from her lips, trailing it over her chin, then along her jaw to her earlobe. She shivered and moved her mouth to his palm, the caress of her lips shooting liquid fire through his veins.
He moved his lips to her ear. “You’re like honey on my tongue.”
Lani made a sound that could’ve been an answer, or a groan.
There was no doubt she’d been hurt in the past, no doubt she was scared of becoming involved in any kind of relationship. Hell, it almost scared him, how badly he wanted her. But there was one thing he did know, one thing that was absolutely clear in his mind.
He wanted her for keeps.
Rick kissed the tip of her nose. “Tell me what you want,” he murmured, his voice hoarse with all his pent up desire for this woman.
His
woman.
“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Please.”
In a slow tantalizing movement, he brushed her forehead with his mouth, then trailed kisses over the elegant arch of her eyebrow, down to the tip of her nose again. She trembled as Rick traced her lips with his tongue, teasing one corner until she moaned and parted her lips. His tongue darted into her mouth, lightly caressing the serrated edge of her teeth before slipping deeper into her mouth. Her tongue met his in a tentative movement, like she was afraid to show him how much she wanted him.
“You taste even better than I remembered,” he rumbled against her lips then pulled away so that he could look at her.
She moved her palm to his face, and for an endless moment she stroked his cheek and gazed into his eyes. “I lose my head with you. I can’t afford that—I can’t afford to lose myself again.”
Rick kissed the corner of her mouth, and moved to her earlobe. “If you get lost, I’ll help you find your way back.” He nipped at her lobe. “I need you, Lani. I’m not whole without you.”