A Breath of Heaven: El Camino Real (18 page)

* * *

The reception was in full swing. Abby
slow-danced with Cade, even when the music was fast. He cradled her close,
stealing kisses. Once, he even kissed the ring on her finger. “I meant to give
you this last night, but when you gave me your gift I lost my train of
thought.” He chuckled and held her even tighter.

“You mean the Cowboy Hall of Fame belt
buckle?” Abby teased him.

“No, not the belt buckle—you.” He moved
his hips against her. “When you gave yourself to me, it was like you had given
me the whole world.”

Abby looked down, needing to tell him, yet
knowing he had an answer that would make everything okay. “This morning, when
you were gone…I thought you’d changed your mind. I thought you’d left.”

Cade lifted her chin. “You didn’t get my
note?”

“What note?” She searched his face,
confused. “I didn’t get a note.” 

He growled. “Damn ceiling fan. I put it on
the dresser, explaining how Vance had found my mother. It must have blown off
behind the dresser.” He caressed the nape of her neck. “I should have kissed
you awake or taken you with me, but you were sleeping so peacefully. I knew I
had worn you out.”

“It’s all right, I should have had more
faith,” she murmured, molding her body to his.

“You can have full trust in me, Abby. I’m
not perfect, but I’m on your side. I will never let you down.”

She looked up into his dear face, so
serious, yet so full of love. “I know that, Cade. I shouldn’t have worried and
questioned you. My insecurities and self-doubt almost ruined my life. I need to
have more faith in…in me.”

As they moved slowly to the rhythm of the
music, Cade cradled her close. “My Abby. You can have faith in us.” He sipped
at her lips, inhaling her kiss, the very air that she breathed. “When love is
right, like ours’, it never disappears. Through the years, it remains and grows
and changes as it goes, but it never goes away.”

“I love you so much, I’ve always loved
you.” She stood on tiptoe and fit herself as tightly to him as she could. 

Cade rubbed his lips along the soft hair
at her temple. “If I’d had any idea what was holding you back, I would have
been at your door and on my knees at your feet a long time ago.”

 “We’ve wasted so much time.” She sighed,
laying her head on his shoulder.

“We have the rest of our lives, Abby.
Don’t be sad.” He paused, running his thumb over her lip. “I thought you didn’t
want me because I was—”

“What?” Abby asked. She couldn’t imagine
what was making him look so…vulnerable.

He rested his forehead against hers. “I
thought you changed your mind because of who I was, the color of my skin, who
my mom was and my dad. I thought you listened to the gossip and talk and didn’t
want me anymore.”

“Oh, God!” Abby stopped them in their
tracks. She took his face in her hands and kissed him for all she was worth.
The guests all clapped. “Don’t you dare ever think any such thing! You are more
important to me than my own life.”

Cade chuckled, loving how she defended
him. “I know it now, Baby. You’ve proved it twice beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

“I’d do it again. In a heartbeat.” Her
tone brooked no argument. Cade believed her. He belonged to Abby Grace.

“I can’t wait to get to know your mother.”
She sighed happily.

“We’re going to have a wonderful life,
Abby. My mother, your family – hell, our family. We’ve got it made, babe. Your
parents said that Tia, my mom, could stay with them until we could get our house
built. I thought, if it was okay, we could build her a small house near ours.
Since I found her, I want to keep her close.”

“Of course, I want all of our family
close.” Abby ran her fingers through the hair at his nape. “Mostly, I just want
to be where you are, then I’ll be happy. So, what’s next?” She asked, with a
seductive smile on her face.

The music ended and Cade took her by the
hand. “I’ll tell you what comes next – the best part, our honeymoon!”

Abby laughed at his exuberance. “How long
of a honeymoon can we have?”

Cade looked up, pretending to ponder, a
happy smile on his face. “How about sixty years?”

“I like the sound of that.” She followed
him to where their family was gathering to say good-bye and wish them well.
“You once told me that for some people the honeymoon never ends.”

“I was thinking about us when I said that,
I knew if I could ever get you in my arms, I’d never let you go.” Cade couldn’t
help it, his mind was on what awaited them in bed. “Jase has given us the
honeymoon, if you want to go. How does Hawaii sound?”

Abby smiled. “Actually, Hawaii seems a
long way off. I’d rather just go back to your bed, if that’s okay. I don’t
really want to go on Pam’s honeymoon. I just want to be in your arms. I want to
be with you.”

“God, you’re sweet.” Cade hugged her
tight. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. As he led her off the dance floor,
they were met by her brothers and parents, their friends and his mother. 

“This cake is horrible!” Trace called out,
spitting into a napkin.

“Try the groom’s cake.” Jase laughed.
“It’s not vegan.”

Abby went to her brother. “I’m sorry about
all of this. I don’t know what happened, but I love you. You’re my favorite
brother.”

“I know.” He kissed Abby on the cheek and
shook Cade’s hand. “Next time I get married, I want to be as happy as you two
are.”

“I want that for you too.” Abby hugged
him, then went down the line, hugging them all, including Cade’s mother. “It’s
so wonderful to meet you.”

“I wish I had a gift for you.” Tia said
with tears in her eyes.

“You’ve given me the greatest gift of
all.” Abby kissed her. “Your son is the love of my life, thank you for him.”

Cade joined them and hugged his mother.
“I’ll see you tomorrow and I’m so glad you’re here.” When he turned his mom
loose, he gathered Abby into his arms. “Let’s go start our honeymoon, Wife,”
Cade whispered in her ear.

She threw the bridesmaid bouquet she’d
carried, and they posed for one more photograph, then slipped away. “We managed
to avoid some of the madness like throwing rice and garters and having our car
decorated.” Cade said as he escorted her to the front entrance. 

Abby didn’t care. She was happy. This was
the perfect wedding because she’d married the man she loved. “As long as you
carry me across the threshold, we’re good. I like that tradition.”

“No problem. I’ll take any excuse to get
you in my arms.” He opened the door and they stepped out onto the porch. The
night was clear and silent. The stars were bright as diamonds. “When I came
home for the wedding, I had no idea this would turn into the best Christmas of
my life. Merry Christmas, Abby.”

“Merry Christmas, Cade.” She turned into
his arms and nestled against him. He was the safest place in the world for her.

“Will you go with me to look at the land
we’re buying?” he asked as they walked hand in hand to his truck.

“We’re buying, I like that.” She hugged
his arm. “Just try to go without me.” Abby dared him, then smiled. “There’s
nowhere on earth I’d rather be than with you. You’re stuck with me, you might
as well get used to it.”

“Nothing will make me happier.” He opened
the truck door and picked her up, setting her on the seat. “Do you think we’ll
always get along?”

 “Most of the time,” she answered
solemnly. “We may fight, but the make-up sex will be hot.”

“Now you’re talking. Who wants a boring
marriage anyway?” 

Cade fastened her seatbelt. Before he
could back up out of the truck, she grabbed his hand, holding it tight to her
heart. “You can be certain of this, Cade...I love you more than anything. I’ll
love you forever.” 

Cade counted his blessings, placing a
reverent kiss to his wife’s lips. “Do you know what I’m certain of?” He kissed
her on the end of the nose, making her smile. Then he hugged her close.

“What?”

“With every breath I take...I’m more
certain I’m holding heaven in my arms.”

THE END

Loving Justice

El Camino
Real series Book 2

Justice
King and Charlee Parker are best friends…or they were until the day her
feelings changed and she fell madly, hopelessly in love with him.

He
didn’t feel the same way. And who could blame him? Justice King was perfect.

He
could have any woman he wanted.

And
she was just Charlee – a flat-chested tomboy with her heart in her eyes.

But
some things are just meant to be.

Some
are luckier than most. Soulmates, friends as well as lovers.

When
fate begins to weave a thread of hope to bring them together, they go from an
ill-fated night of passion to a misunderstanding which separates them for eight
long years.

But
destiny will not be denied – a calamity at El Camino brings Charlee home and
from the moment he sees her, Justice knows he’ll never let her go again.

But
Charlee has a secret…a secret she’s afraid to tell Justice. She’s been keeping
something from him, something he might not be able to forgive

Loving Justice

myBook.to/LovingJustice

Before you get to know a little about Sable Hunter and
see her full list of books, please enjoy a taste of her other series!

A Scene from…

COWBOY HEAT

(Hell Yeah!)

Six brothers. One Dynasty—

TEBOW RANCH

Meet the McCoy brothers and
their friends —Texas

men who love as hard as they
play.

Texas Cowboys and Hot Cajuns –
nothing better.

Lord Have Mercy!

She was breathtaking.

He didn’t know where to look first, or where to look longest.
Tight jeans encased a sweet, heart-shaped little butt that made him want to
bare his teeth. Her legs were long and all he could think about was what they
would feel like clasped around his hips. A form-fitting, red T-shirt proclaimed
that she was “Raw Honey – Sweet as Sugar, Twice as Addictive”. The implications
of those words practically had him bowing at her feet. He bet her cream would
taste like raw, wild honey. His fingers itched to see if he could make them
meet around that trim little waist. When his eyes roved northward, tears almost
came to his eyes. She bounced a little bounce in response to something funny
that Jacob had said, and when she did, he wanted to step forward and catch
those sweet little tits before she hurt herself. Maybe, he ought to change his
job description – he could go from being a simple cowpoke to a full-time,
full-service breast support man. By their jiggle and wave, there was no doubt
in his mind that those tits were real and in dire need of about an hour of
attention from his hands and tongue.

Realizing he was about to embarrass himself, he took off his
Stetson and held it below his belt buckle, effectively hiding her unexpected
and tremendous impact on his libido. His smooth move did not go unnoticed by
Noah, who smirked from across the room. Casually, Aron shot him the finger.
Asshole. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had affected him this way,
if ever. Watching his brothers surround the tempting little morsel, Aron opted
to utilize a tactic which had come in handy when the McCoy’s would be out
carousing pre-Sabrina. They had tried to avoid stepping on one another’s toes,
romantically speaking. Whenever one would see a little filly who caught his
eye, he would look at her and simply say one word that would alert the others
that she had been claimed and was strictly off-limits to the rest of the
McCoys. Stepping closer to the table, he loudly proclaimed, “Tag!”

As soon as the word had left Aron’s mouth, the younger men looked
up at him in surprise. Isaac bit back a snort, and Jacob simply said, “Thank
God.” Their brother had finally decided to come out of hiding.

Libby wondered at the word Aron shouted. Was this some type of
fire drill or a weird game they played? She could feel him looking at her, ‘God
give me strength’, she prayed.

Libby, as of yet, had not turned to face him fully. And he had to
see her – now. “Turn around, Baby. Let me see your face.” Confused, Libby did
as he requested. Slowly. Uncertainty made her hesitate, but when she had made a
complete 180, she heard him catch his breath and she raised her eyes.

Aron.

There was no way she was going to hide the joy that she felt, so
she didn’t try.

Her smile lit up his world. His body began to instantly heat as if
it had been graced by the warmth of the rising sun. Aron tried to move forward,
but he was frozen, immobilized, entranced. Muscles that he hadn’t used in a
while began to loosen, and before he knew it, Aron McCoy was smiling. My Lord,
the woman had the cutest, sweetest face he had ever laid eyes on. All he could
focus on were pink, kissable lips. They were trembling ever so slightly. Aron
felt the world tilt just a fraction, he wanted to follow that irresistible pull
and enjoy the silky softness of that delectable mouth. He heard her let out a
soft, sweet sigh.

Memorizing her features, he let his eyes slide over the smooth
curve of her cheek, the endearing turned up nose and cheekbones that begged to
be traced with his tongue. When he met her gaze, Aron was surprised by the
beautiful color of her eyes. They were huge, a deep dark violet, surrounded by
smudgy dark lashes that made them look like amethysts nestled in velvet.

Knowing she expected him to say something, he tried to get his
brain to engage with his mouth. All he could manage was “Where did you come
from?” As if his words released the brakes on his feet, he found himself
walking up to her as bold as could be. There was no way he could hold himself
back. He had to be as close to her as possible. She stood her ground, bless her
heart.

Time slowed down, and she lost herself in the wonder of his
nearness. For years, she had dreamed of the day when she would be this close to
Aron. He was a big man. Shoulders as wide as a John Deere tractor were encased
in a crisp, white western shirt – the kind with the silver snaps. As she looked
at him, she couldn’t help but think how it would feel to reach right up, grab
that shirt right under the collar, and just jerk it open. Those snaps would
come in handy if one wanted to get him naked in a hurry. She bet his chest was
magnificent, ripped and sculpted. He would look just the way those heroes were
described in the romance novels she loved to read. Would his skin be smooth or
would he be sexily furred? Damn, it would be fun to find out. ‘Look up, Libby,
look up’ she thought to herself. She knew her eyes were hung up just north of
his belt buckle. Gravity and lust were pulling them south. With a jerk, she
looked up and when their eyes clashed, she felt it clear down to her pink
parts. God, he was potent.

If she didn’t touch him, she would die. She took a deep breath.
‘All right,’ she thought, ‘let’s go for casual and friendly.’ “Aron, it’s good
to meet you. Thanks for letting me fill in for Bess. I promise to work hard,
and I will take good care of you…I promise.” Geez, how lame could you get. Oh,
well. She offered him her hand.

‘Hell yeah! You’ll take care of me, no doubt about that.’ He’d lay
awake tonight imagining the ways she could take care of him. Aron forgot about
the five pairs of eyes which were watching them in rapt attention. He just had
to touch. A handshake was much too mundane to satisfy this particular need. His
hand met hers. First touching the tips of her fingers with his own, he slid the
palm of his hand up hers, before finding the pulse at her wrist with his
forefinger. When he could feel the beat of life that flowed through her veins,
he caressed that spot, memorizing the rhythm. A sweet little gasp escaped her
lips and she shivered. Damn! Her whole body trembled, as if in the first throes
of orgasm. Aron closed his eyes, realizing this was one woman who would be
capable of turning him inside out.

Libby leaned toward him; her breasts almost touched his chest -
almost. She could feel her nipples swell in greeting. It was as if there was an
irresistible, gravitational pull between her body and his. Shyly, she looked up
at him. His eyes were the color of a dark blue lapis. If she were more schooled
in the ways of men, she might have thought she read desire in those lazuli
eyes. Not possible. This was Aron. And she was just…just Libby.

Cowboy Heat

 
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