Hidden Away, page 15
part #2 of Hearts of Montana Series
“And you shot a guy tonight.”
“Yeah, there’s that, too.” He laughed, trying to ease the tension in his chest. Lighten it up, make a joke out of it.
As a police officer, he’d seen some pretty terrible things, and sometimes the easiest way to distance himself from the reality of a situation was to make light of it, no matter how serious it was. Or there was always the deflection route. Turn the conversation to another topic.
He was good at that one, too. “Hey, don’t worry about me. It’s not like I killed him. It’s always a little scary when I have to pull my gun, but I don’t feel bad for shooting a wife-beating drunk in the shoulder.” He jostled her against him. “How about you? You okay? I’m sorry your party got ruined.”
She laughed. “I don’t care about the party. I care about keeping Sam. And tonight was about convincing the town that we’re really engaged and in a real relationship. I think we did that. If nothing else, that kiss on the porch should have convinced a few people.”
It had sure convinced him that this was something real. And that he wanted to make it real.
Not just to him, but to her as well.
How could he make her see that he still cared about her? That he always had? “Listen, Cherry, I wanted to tell you—”
“Hey, you guys, aren’t you coming back out to the party?” Sam stood in the doorway of the bedroom. “Russ said he’s making homemade ice cream, and it’s almost done.”
He released Cherry from his arms and turned to the boy. They would have time to talk later.
And they would talk.
He scooped Sam up into his arms. “Hey, buddy. I love homemade ice cream. We better get in line so we don’t miss out.”
He held his hand out to Cherry. She didn’t say anything else, just smiled up at him and slipped her hand into his. He squeezed it a little tighter than normal.
As the three of them headed back outside, his words echoed in his head.
He didn’t want to miss out.
Not just on the ice cream, but on a chance at a real relationship with Cherry. A real life with her and Sam.
A chance at having a real family.
Chapter Fifteen
Cherry leaned forward as Taylor’s truck pulled up to their spot at the lake. She hadn’t been up here in years. The lake was still beautiful. Funny how in the moonlight it looked just the same.
The party had broken up around eleven, and several people had offered to stick around and clean up. They’d made quick work of gathering trash and taking down the lights. The guys from the fire department would come out tomorrow to take down the dance floor.
They’d borrowed some tables from the church, and Taylor wanted to run them in to town so they’d have them for after the service tomorrow. Russ had offered to put Sam to bed and suggested Cherry ride along to keep Taylor company.
He was so obvious. She could see right through his flimsy attempt to give her and Taylor more time together.
But she loved Russ, and she loved him for wanting to see her with his son.
And really, keeping Taylor company wasn’t too difficult of a task.
They’d unloaded the tables, and Taylor had asked her if she wanted to go for a drive.
She hadn’t expected him to take her to the lake. The spot they used to park when they were teenagers.
The very spot they’d made Sam.
He rolled down the windows, and a soft, warm breeze blew through the truck. She could hear crickets chirping and the gentle lap of the water against the shore. The sounds of a summer evening.
Taylor sat back in his seat and pulled her into his lap.
Just like he used to.
It felt so familiar to be in his arms. So right. She leaned against the door and reached up to touch his face.
A face that had filled her dreams, her memories. She ran her finger along his chin line, the rough stubble of his whiskers rough against her skin. “You didn’t use to have whiskers.”
He laughed. “I didn’t use to have a lot of things. Like a working brain.” He reached for her hand and held her fingers to his lips. Lord have mercy, the man had amazing lips. “I’m sorry, Cherry.”
“What for?”
“For leaving like I did. For leaving you behind. For not calling after I left.”
His words brought the memories of that summer back to her, and she swallowed at the emotions building in her throat. “We were stupid kids. We both made mistakes.”
She’d pulled her hair up into a ponytail earlier, and he tugged at the elastic band, releasing her hair around her shoulders.
The simple gesture sent sensual shivers down her spine.
He brushed his hand through her now loose hair. “I was a stupid kid. I can look back now and see all the dumb things I did. But at the time, I was just so caught up in my own head. My mom died, and I didn’t know how to handle that. And I didn’t know how to handle the depth of my feelings for you. Looking back now, I think I was probably afraid of how close I was to you and afraid to lose someone else that I loved so much.”
“I made mistakes, too.” Now was the time. She had to tell him.
This was the moment to tell him about Sam.
He slid his hand under her hair and cupped her neck.
He pulled her to him and laid a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. “Babe, I’m not a kid anymore. I can’t promise that I won’t make stupid mistakes once in a while, but I still care about you. I think about you all the time. When I’m with you, I want to be touching you and when I’m not, all I think about is when I’m going to be with you again.”
He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “When that guy pulled that gun this afternoon, all I could think about was keeping my family safe. My family. You and Sam are my family now. I know it hasn’t been very long that we’ve all been together, but it just feels right when we are. I love that kid. I don’t want us to have a fake relationship.”
What was he saying? “You don’t?”
“No. I want us to have a real relationship. A real shot at making this family work. I want you back in my life. For real.”
Now. She had to tell him now.
She had waited years to see him again.
And in her deepest most secret part of her heart, she had wished that he would come back for her. Come back and tell her he still loved her.
Now he was here.
She was in his truck at their spot on the lake. In his arms with his lips on her skin. Saying the things she’d waited years to hear him say.
What if she told him about Sam and it ruined everything? Family was so important to him. What if he felt betrayed that she’d never told him? Never even given him a chance to decide.
What if he hated her for giving his son away without even telling him?
But he was the one who left. That had been his choice.
And Sam was here now. It felt like they actually had a chance at making this work.
If they were a family, he would be like Sam’s dad anyway, so maybe she didn’t need to tell him.
Maybe he never had to know the truth. Especially if finding out the truth could mean that she would lose him again. And maybe this time forever.
But she had to tell him the truth. How could they start a real relationship with this big of a lie between them?
She had to tell him.
She took a deep breath. “But Taylor, I need to tell you—”
“Shh.” He held his fingers to her lips. “No buts. I don’t want to hear all the reasons that this can’t or shouldn’t work.” He leaned in and kissed her. Softly, then with more urgency.
He pulled back. His hand still cupped her neck, and he pulled at the bow that held her halter top up.
The straps loosened, and her top fell down her front. He trailed his fingers across her neck and down her chest.
His touch was soft, and her nipples pebbled with yearning.
Pulling her bra down, he released her lush breasts. Dipping his head, he twirled his tongue around one ripe bud, then sucked it gently into his mouth.
She arched her back, giving herself to him, all thoughts of anything besides this man and his lips on her skin forgotten.
His hand slid down her waist, across her hips, and lightly brushed the skin of her legs. Gooseflesh rippled across her skin as he slipped his hand under her dress.
Her body simmered, and she ached with want and need, moaning softly as his fingers trailed closer to her center.
She couldn’t focus on anything but him. His mouth and the attention he was giving her breasts, sliding her taut nipple between his lips, teasing, sucking, and nipping at their swollen tips.
She squirmed against his hand as he cupped her bare bottom, running his thumb along the thin strap of her thong panties.
Gripping his shoulder, she bucked against him as his fingers explored, caressing, squeezing, gently spreading her thighs apart. Her arousal unbearably sweet as he finally reached her tender core.
She moaned his name as his fingers began to move in slow, sweet strokes.
Then he kissed her, taking her mouth in an onslaught of hungry passion.
His hand increased the pressure and pace, and she clutched at his back, digging her fingers into his muscled shoulders.
She arched into him, increasing the friction as the tightness inside of her continued to build. He picked up the rhythm until she cried out against his mouth, bliss filling her as she came undone in his arms.
She sagged against him, her breath ragged. He kissed her forehead, and she grinned up at him. The sweet, sly grin of a naughty vixen.
She wasn’t finished with him. Not even close.
Switching positions, she pulled her leg across him so she straddled his lap.
Starting at the top, she unbuttoned his shirt, dipping her head to kiss his chest. The cramped space of the truck cab constricted her movements, but she had enough room to scoot back and unzip the fly of his jeans.
He grinned up at her, a slow, sexy smile that had everything inside of her revving up for round two.
He pulled a foil packet from his pocket, ripped it open and covered himself with the condom.
This night seemed unreal.
She was in a truck with Taylor Johnson, her dress around her waist and her breasts bare as she straddled his waist. A warm breeze floated through the truck, caressing her already swollen and tender nipples.
Taylor noticed and leaned forward, sipping at one of the tight buds. She arched back, and he lifted his hips, pushing his jeans and briefs down.
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, as she felt his hardness brush against the bare skin of her thighs.
“You are so beautiful.” His words escaped his lips, as he pressed a kiss against her collarbone. His hands moved along her back, caressing, tickling, sliding lower until they were under her dress and cupping her bottom.
He kissed her neck, her breasts, her lips, sucking and nibbling her skin, murmuring sweet words of want and desire. Her breath came in soft pants, as he lifted her hips then brought her down, joining them in sweet union.
He moaned against her mouth. “I want you, Cherry. Like nothing I’ve ever wanted before. I’ve been lost without you. Nothing ever felt right or complete after I left. Leaving you was the biggest mistake I ever made.”
His words thrilled and moved her.
He spoke between kisses, his words coming out between harsh breaths as his hips moved in rhythm with her. “You filled my dreams, my fantasies. I swear to you, I could remember every moment we were together. I could remember the smell of your hair, the sound of your laugh.”
She stopped moving and took his face between her hands, tipping it up to look into his eyes. “I remember, too. I couldn’t believe it when you came back. I wasn’t sure you would even want to see me.”
“I wanted to see you. To touch you. To kiss you. I had hoped that you would at least be willing to talk to me. But in my heart, I wished that you would maybe give me another chance. I never imagined I would get you and Sam. Or that I would have you in my arms again. Or in my bed.”
She grinned, then leaned down toward his neck and sucked his earlobe between her teeth. “Or in your truck.”
He laughed. Then moaned at the delicious torture she caused by kissing his ear like that.
She leaned back, feeling brazen and sexy as she gave him a full view of her bare chest. Her long red hair felt wild and curly as it fell down her back and across her shoulders.
He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I need you, Cherry. You make me crazy and happy and hot as hell. I want you back. Say you’ll come back to me. Tell me that you’re still mine.”
She leaned forward, her hair tickling his chest. Her hips began to move in a slow, tortuous rhythm as she looked into his eyes. “Yes. I’m still yours. I always have been, and I always will be. My heart has always belonged to you, Taylor Johnson.”
“Damn straight it does.” He slid his hands down to grip her waist. His pace picked up as he moved beneath her. Her breath came in quick pants, and her nails dug into his skin as she clutched his back.
He buried his head in her neck, and she abandoned all thoughts as she lost herself to him. Drowning in his scent, in the feel of his skin, the taste of him on her lips. She cried out in pleasure, her soft moans reaching a crescendo as she tumbled over the crest of ecstasy.
She shuddered in his arms, sending another surge of heat through him, and he lost all control. He clutched her waist as his body let go in release.
She sagged against him, and he brushed her hair from her neck and laid a soft kiss on her neck. “You make me happy, woman. Like I just want to whoop and holler. Holler from the rooftops that this gorgeous woman is mine.”
Grinning, he leaned close and sang softly in her ear. “She’s my cherry pie. Tastes so good, makes a grown man cry.”
She smiled as she nuzzled against his neck, feeling happy as well. Except for the small twinge of guilt that lay deep in her heart.
Would he still claim her as his if he found out the truth? If he found out that Sam was really his son and she’d never told him?
Chapter Sixteen
The next afternoon Taylor walked into the county hospital and asked the receptionist where to find Leroy Purvis.
She tapped at her computer keyboard. “He’s in Room 105. Do you know where that is?”
“I’ll bet I can find it. Thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his hat then headed down the hall.
He’d had a weird feeling all morning about that look that had passed between Leroy and Reed and figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a visit with the patient.
Leroy had the television on, and Taylor walked in just in time to hear him yell a wrong answer at Alex Trebek. He should have taken “Dumbasses for $100.” That’s a category he might have a chance in.
“Hello, Leroy.”
Purvis looked up at him, a sneer on his slack face. “What are you doing here? Come to finish the job?”
“Nope. Looks to me like you’ve got that about covered.”
The guy did look terrible. His skin had a sickly pallor, and his five o’clock shadow had passed five a few days ago. His eyes were red-rimmed and blood shot and had the glassy look induced by pain medication.
A morphine pump sat next to his bed, and Taylor assumed that was his medication of choice. A bandage covered Leroy’s shoulder, and a silver handcuff linked his wrist to the railing of the hospital bed.
The room smelled like a bad mixture of alcohol, antiseptic, and body odor. Besides being shot, Leroy was probably detoxing as well.
“I just came to ask you a few questions.”
Purvis narrowed his eyes. “Do I need a lawyer?”
Oh brother. This guy watched too many police shows. “Do you think you need one?”
“Hell no. I ain’t done nothin’ wrong. I’m the one that got shot.” Evidently he hadn’t been watching them closely enough.
His voice had that loopy quality of medication. Taylor thought he might have come at the right time to get information if Leroy had recently taken his pain meds.
“I’m not here to talk to you about that. I just got to wondering how you knew Emma was out at my ranch last night. I know you just got out of lock-up. It sure didn’t take you long to find her.”
He shrugged. “That wasn’t no big deal. My lawyer told me.”
“So you do have a lawyer?”
“Yeah, well he’s court-appointed.”
“Even so, I find it hard to believe that your lawyer told you where to find your ex-wife knowing full well that she had a restraining order against you.”
“Well, not exactly like that. But Hill told me he was going to a big party in Broken Falls and that the whole town was supposed to be there. I knew Emma would probably go running back to her dad’s place, and they wouldn’t miss something like that.”
“Did you say Hill?”
“Yeah, Reed Hill. That’s my lawyer. Ain’t you listening? He told me it would be a good idea for me to steer clear of the place, just in case Emma was gonna be there.”
I’ll just bet he did.
Reed—that sneaky bastard.
He would have known telling Purvis to stay away was just the thing to get him to show up and cause a scene at the party.
Taylor hoped that he hadn’t known Purvis would bring a gun. Reed couldn’t be that much of a jerk. He wouldn’t put his own family in danger.
“Well, that’s about all I needed to know. I’ll let you get back to your show. It sounded like you almost had that last one.” Taylor tipped his hat and backed out of the hospital room.
Leroy turned back to his show, holding out his good hand and giving Taylor the finger. “Thanks for shooting me, asshole.”
Taylor shook his head as he walked down the hospital corridor. What an idiot.
But he did give him a valuable piece of information. Now to figure out the best way to use it against Reed and his threats.
