Lone Star Valentine (McCabe Multiples) (16 page)

He grinned and gave her a big hug. And kiss. “I’m all in.”

* * *

A
N
HOUR
LATER
, thanks to frantic SOS’s from all members of the chili cook-off committee and resultant cooperation from every restaurant in the area, the concession stands were once again serving Texas favorites of all kinds.

The fairgrounds were teeming with tourists, many of them football fans, on the lookout for Bode and his supermodel wife and kids. None of whom could be found.

But the country band hired to play that night had started. The twinkling red heart-shaped lights strung around the fairgrounds lent a festive Valentine’s Day weekend air to the cooling night.

Gannon would have liked to haul Lily out onto the dance floor. But every time he got even close to doing so, something else happened that required her attention.

When it came to a work-related crisis, he considered himself a patient person. He understood she had a job to do. He admired her tenacity.

When it came to his personal life, he didn’t want to put anything off unnecessarily. Or feel anywhere near as frustrated as he did at this moment.

Maybe it was selfish. He didn’t care. He wanted to have Lily all to himself, so they could make the most of the previous little time they had left before he headed back to his own professional responsibilities.

And if it wasn’t going to be during the dance...as it apparently wasn’t, he noted as another opportunity to hold her in his arms came...and went...then it would be later...

Finally, around eleven, the band called it a night. The party began breaking up. He offered to drive her home. She was so tired, she agreed to leave her SUV at the fairgrounds and climbed into his pickup truck.

All too soon, Gannon parked in her driveway and watched the motion-detector lights on the outside of her bungalow come on. Suddenly, they were both bathed in a soft yellow glow. He drank her in, admiring her from head to toe. Despite the tumultuous events of the day, Lily looked as lovely as ever. She pushed out of the cab. He walked around to join her. Together, they walked into her house. “Looks as though the festival is a success.”

“The first half of the festival is a success.” She took off her jacket and reached for his. Both landed on the coatrack next to the door. “We have another day to go.” She drew a deep breath, oblivious of the way the action raised and then lowered the soft swell of her breasts beneath the long-sleeved festival T-shirt.

Wishing he could just take her to bed and make love to her until all the weariness and uncertainty in her eyes went away, Gannon let his gaze rove the mussed strands of her honey-blond hair and said, “I predict tomorrow will be even better.”

Holding on to the newel post, she toed off her fancy red cowgirl boots, then watched as he did the same with his boots.

She tilted her head. “Thank you for being here with me tonight.”

Gannon knew they were both tired. He also knew their time together was dwindling. He gathered her close. “Don’t you know there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be?” he said tenderly.

Her lips curved ruefully, even as her turquoise eyes shone with hope. “You’re letting the romantic atmosphere go to your head,” she teased.

He tunneled his hands in her hair and brought her face up to his. “Or my heart.”

She rose on tiptoe, the softness of her body giving new heat and hardness to his. “Gannon...” she moaned wistfully, the urgent yearning on her face matching his.

He kissed her passionately, shifting her closer still. And still they kissed, until their tongues twined intimately and feelings poured from his heart, followed swiftly by a need that was soul deep.

Lily might not want to admit it yet, but no woman had ever touched him this way, and he was pretty sure, given the way she was kissing him back and pressing her soft, lithe body against his, that he did the same for her. If being in each other’s arms like this wasn’t heaven on earth, he didn’t know what was.

He stroked his hands through her hair, moved them lower to ease beneath the hem of her shirt. She sighed as he caressed her silky breasts through the lace of her bra and breathed in the sweet feminine scent of her.

He grinned, bending to slip a hand beneath her knees. “This is what Valentine’s Day is all about, Lily.” Shifting her up into his arms and against his chest, he carried her up the stairs, down the hall to her bed. He set her down and began kissing her again.

She whimpered even as she kissed him back, threading her hands through his hair. “Exactly why it’s dangerous.” She guided him closer still. “Nights like this make me feel reckless.”

Wanting her to see how right they were for each other—long-term—he began to undress her, then lowered her gently to her bed. “Reckless can be good.” He disrobed, too, and stretched out beside her. She rolled onto her side and arced against him, her mouth as hungry as his, her breasts pressed against his chest, one of her thighs looped over top of his, giving him the kind of access he had longed to have.

He stroked and kissed, delving into her mouth with a rhythm of penetration and retreat that was echoed by the searching caress of his hands. Until there was no doubt for either of them about what they wanted or what was coming next.

She trembled and caught his head in her hands as he found her breasts, suckled gently and then moved lower still.

“Gannon.”

“Let your guard down, Lily. Let it down with me...” His own body throbbing, he explored the silky soft insides of her thighs, loving her slowly, thoroughly, until she was quivering from head to toe, shuddering and moaning low in her throat.

And still he wanted more.

Unable to get enough of her, he moved upward again, kissing her even more deeply and evocatively this time. Their tongues mated intimately, their slow searing kiss enough to send her sliding over the edge. She strained against him, convulsing, even as he wanted her all the more.

He moved as if to take her.

She laughed softly. “No. My turn...”

And then she was shimmying down his body. Loving every inch of him with her hands and lips and tongue. Using the palms of her hands to generate scorching heat that started across his pecs, she slid down his abdomen, found the insides of his thighs and the aching, throbbing length of him. The softness and skill of her lips created a firestorm of need. He reached for her, wanting her—now. Shifting her onto her back, he lifted her against him and surged inside.

Lily had wanted to be in command of not just their lovemaking but her feelings this evening. A hopeless aim, as it turned out. Every time he touched her, kissed her, every time he possessed her like this, she felt the strength of their passion. She felt it in his kisses, in the exquisite way their bodies melded and their hearts thundered in unison.

She might not know what the future held for them beyond the next two days. But she knew this. Right now, Gannon meant everything to her, and she urged him to go deeper, harder still. Until all reservations were put aside and they soared into a pleasure unlike anything they had ever experienced.

As they clung together, gasping, bodies reverberating in pleasure, Lily knew she was right where she wanted to be, now. And could be for the foreseeable future, if they found a way to curtail their recklessness. Remain patient and take the wonder they had found one slow, patient step at a time.

Chapter Fourteen

Gannon woke to the chiming sound of an alarm, with Lily still wrapped in his arms. She moaned and snuggled closer. Aware he had never felt as content as he did at this moment, he stroked a hand through the silk of her hair. “Want to sleep a little more?”

She rubbed her temple against his bare chest. Yawned. “You have no idea. But I have to get up and shower and get to my parents’ place in time to have breakfast with Lucas before I head back to the fairgrounds.” She released a breath. “It opens at 8:00 a.m. today so the contestants can start cooking their chili in time for the first round of judging, which begins at noon.”

She had a point. He threw back the covers. “I better get a move on, too. I promised Clint McCulloch I’d help him transport the ponies to the fairgrounds.”

She rose from the bed and stretched luxuriantly. “What time?”

He grinned as his body stirred in response. Damn, she was beautiful, with clothes and without. “I’m supposed to be at his ranch by seven.”

Lily reached for her robe. “You want to shower here?”

Did he! “With you...?”

Mischief lit her eyes. “Then we’d both be late.”

She was right about that. Whenever they started making love, they lost all track of time and place.

Lily glided closer and kissed him anyway—a down payment for later. Arms still wreathed about his neck, she eased back to look into his eyes and regarded him with mock innocence. “I meant in the hall bathroom while I use the master,” she explained, letting him go.

Figuring he’d make up later tonight for their lack of time now, he drawled, “Thank you kindly, ma’am.” He tipped an imaginary hat, then grabbed her wrist and reeled her back to his side.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“Yes?” she asked.

He kissed the top of her head. “Save a dance for me tonight.”

* * *

“Y
OU
’
RE
LOOKING
HAPPY
this morning,” Lily’s mom said when she let herself in the back door.

And she was. More than she had ever dreamed possible.

Lily smiled. Though her parents were still in their pajamas, her son was already dressed in a Western shirt and vest, jeans and boots.

“I’m ready to ride the horses, Mommy!” he enthused.

Lily glanced at her watch. “I can see that. But the pony rides don’t start until nine o’clock. I’m just here to have breakfast with you before I have to go to work. Grandma Lacey and Grandpa Jackson are going to bring you over when it’s time.”

Lucas munched on his toast. “Are you going to watch me?”

Lily helped herself to some coffee and sat down next to him. “I sure am. And Mr. Montgomery is going to be there, too.”

Lucas clapped his hands. “I like Mr. Montgummy!”

She ruffled his hair and replied sincerely, “I do, too.”

Her parents exchanged speculative looks. Realizing she’d said too much, Lily flushed. She doubted they had any idea how deeply involved she had become with Gannon during the past week or so, but had they known, she was sure her parents wouldn’t have approved. Especially given the heartache her previous reckless behavior had provided...

Her expression pleasant yet concerned, Lacey set the platter of eggs and bacon on the table. “Any word from Mr. No-Show?”

Lily shook her head and continued talking in a code her son would not understand. “The QB never even texted to apologize for standing us up last night.”

Her dad frowned. “I’m not surprised. Given how little regard he seems to have for other people’s feelings.”

Lily couldn’t argue that.

Sensing tension, Lucas offered Lily a bite of his already cut-up pancakes. “Want some, Mommy?”

“Thank you, honey.” She made a great show of savoring the sticky bite.

Lucas grinned, ever the little peacemaker.

“When does Gannon have to go back to Fort Worth?” her mom asked.

She added salt and pepper to her eggs. “He has to be in the office on Monday.” Which probably meant he would be leaving Laramie by Sunday evening, at the very latest.

Lily sighed. She had known this would be the case all along but still found it utterly depressing.

Lucas tapped her on the arm. “Present, Mommy?”

Lily looked at him. “Honey, it’s not your birthday.”

Lucas giggled. “No, Mommy. For you!” He climbed down from his chair, dashed into the formal dining room and returned with a wrapped gift. “I made it.”

“Well, then, I can’t wait to see.” With his help, Lily tore the paper off. Inside was an insulated travel mug with four festival photo-booth pictures of Gannon and Lucas clowning around, enclosed beneath the plastic outer cover. Looking at it, seeing how happy the two of them were, how right they seemed together—almost like father and son—Lily’s heart filled with joy. “It’s beautiful.”

Lucas tugged on her arm and peered into her face. “Mommy, are you crying?”

“Happy tears,” Lily explained. The kind that always welled up when she received a sentimental gift. And a few sad ones, too, at the reminder that soon Gannon would be leaving not just her but her son to go back to Fort Worth.

* * *

“S
O
WHAT
’
S
GOING
on between you and the mayor?” Clint asked.

Gannon checked the cinches on all the ponies they had lined up for rides. All were as they should be. He slanted his old friend a casual look. “We’re friends.”

Clint smirked. “Uh-huh.”

Gannon tipped up the brim of his hat. “We are.”

“Rumor has it a whole lot more.”

Rumor was right. Up to now, Gannon thought he’d had everything figured out. He knew what he wanted out of life. Knew what he didn’t want, too—which was to move back to the rural Texas county and the ranch where he’d grown up.

But Lily and her son had changed all that.

They made the idea of leaving in thirty-six hours almost unbearable. Which was foolish, he knew. Especially given how independent in nature both of them were.

“Uh-oh,” Clint said. He jerked his head to their left. Gannon turned in the direction of Clint’s gaze and saw the world’s biggest scumbag marching toward them, full entourage, including dozens of reporters and photographers, in tow. Instead of the brilliant Gladiator blue apparel he had been wearing, he had on a form-fitting purple T-shirt. Before Gannon could mull over the significance—or non-significance—of that, Bode Daniels flashed his trademark grin. “Is this where the pony rides are happening?”

Gannon curtailed the urge to deck the deadbeat dad. He nodded brusquely.

“I’d like to be here to help Lucas ride,” Bode said, heavy on the paternal pride.

“Sorry. Ex-rodeo cowboys only,” Clint put in, being the hard-ass Gannon could not afford to be at this moment. Not without making things a whole lot worse for Lily anyway. “You’re free to watch the professionals at work, though,” Clint continued with a provoking grin.

Bode stared back, the only hint of the QB’s temper a slight tic on one side of his lower jaw. Fortunately—or unfortunately—depending on how you chose to look at it, Lily’s parents chose that moment to walk up with Lucas between them. They seemed in a hurry.

“Gannon, can you watch Lucas until Lily can get over here?” Lacey asked. “We’re needed for an emergency at the hospital.”

“No problem.” Gannon held out his hand.

Lucas started to take it.

“Actually, as his father, I think I should do the honors,” Bode said, stepping between them.

Lacey and Jackson McCabe looked at Bode as if he were chewing gum that had suddenly become glued to the bottom of their shoes.

The older woman turned back to Gannon. “As one of our daughter’s legal representatives, you’ll see that everything is as it should be?” she clarified tersely.

Understanding what she meant, which was that Lily’s mom did not trust Bode in the slightest—especially with their beloved grandson—Gannon nodded.

Lily’s cousin, Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle McCabe, suddenly appeared. In uniform, he cut an imposing figure. “Not to worry,” Kyle said to one and all. “I’ll watch over them.”

Doctors Jackson and Lacey McCabe nodded in relief and rushed off.

“Hey there, fella.” Bode lifted Lucas in his arms and cradled him against his chest while the photographers began taking photos of the “precious” moment. “Ready for your horsey ride?”

No
I’m sorry I stood you up last night
, Gannon thought, irritated by the lack of consideration for both Lily and Lucas. The only saving grace in the situation was the fact that the little boy had either forgotten or was so confused by all the changes recently that he couldn’t comprehend all that was going on.

“Hey, Bode! Can we get a photo of you and your son and one of the ponies?” a photographer shouted.

Before anyone could say yes or no to the request, a throng of reporters rushed toward them, all jockeying for position.

“Bode!” The reporter in the lead, a pretty blonde with a microphone, shouted, “Is it true? Was a deal just worked out to trade you to the Baltimore Hawks—for even more money than you’ve been making at the Dallas Gladiators?”

Bode flashed a grin worthy of the Lone Star State. “What can I say?” he answered, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the son he held was beginning to look frightened by the aggressiveness of the journalists pressing in. “When the Hawks see talent, they value it!”

Without warning, Viviana and her entourage appeared. The crowd parted for what everyone knew would be the money shot of the day.

Suddenly, the supermodel was standing next to Bode. Their little girls were handed off by their nannies. Bode had two children in his arms, a three-year-old girl and a four-year-old son. Viviana held their year-old daughter. The flashbulbs went off. The reporters pressed closer, all of them shouting to be heard.

Without warning, all three small children had suffered enough and began to cry. The nannies quickly appeared. The two little girls were spirited off, still crying. Bode, not sure what to do, handed Lucas off to Gannon.

“They’re too
loud
! I’m scared!” Lucas sobbed to Gannon, winding both his arms tightly around Gannon’s neck.

Still holding Lucas close, Gannon moved away from the departing crowd and into the stable. “I know, sport,” he soothed, patting the tyke on the back. “In your place, I’d be a little rattled, too. Those people were way too loud and way too pushy.”

Lucas sniffed. “Yeah,” he said.

Their glances locked. For the first time, Gannon learned what it was really like to comfort a child. He liked the feeling of being someone Lucas could depend on, almost as much as he adored the little boy in his arms. And he did adore Lucas, every bit as much as he adored Lucas’s mommy.

The air around them grew quieter.

Gannon looked around, then walked back out into the ring, where the ponies were still tethered. Not only had the reporters followed Bode, but a good deal of the fairgoers had raced after them, too. “Would you like to be the first to ride a pony?” Gannon asked, glad the melee had passed—at least for the two of them.

Lucas exhaled shakily and held on all the tighter. “Can I?”

Gannon smiled at him, glad to be able to bring a little joy and attention into the young child’s life. “You sure can,” he soothed.

His grip loosening slightly, Lucas studied Gannon. “Those noisy people won’t come back?”

It wouldn’t matter if they did. As far as Gannon was concerned, all photo ops were done for the day. “Not to worry.” He pressed a kiss on the top of Lucas’s head. “I’ve got you.”

* * *

L
ILY
WAS
IN
the midst of arbitrating a dispute over the cooking competition site assignments when it sounded as if all hell broke loose toward the fairground stables. By the time she reached the riding ring, she’d heard enough from excited conversations en route to glean what had happened.

However, nothing prepared her for the sight of Lucas cradled in Gannon’s strong arms. In that instant, the two looked more like father and son than Lucas and his biological father ever would. Her heart swelled with emotion.

Clint McCulloch reached her first. He filled her in on all that had happened, concluding, “Your son’s fine—thanks to Gannon.”

Lily could see that. She patted the former rodeo cowboy on the arm. “I’m sure you helped, too.”

Clint shook his head, not about to take credit where none was due. “It was all Gannon.”

“Mommy!” Seeing her, Lucas broke into fresh tears. He reached for her. “The noisy people scared me!”

“I know, baby,” Lily gathered him into her arms and held him close. Her eyes met Gannon’s. “Thank you,” she mouthed, as she continued to soothe her son with touch and words.

“Don’t you know,” Gannon said softly, “I wouldn’t have been anywhere else.” Then, oblivious to all the people watching, he leaned over and brushed a kiss across her temple.

* * *

N
O
SOONER
HAD
Lucas finished his pony ride than Lily was paged to the fairground office. “I’ll keep Lucas with me until you’ve handled whatever that is,” Gannon promised.

Lily looked at him in relief. She really had to stop letting him come to her rescue this way. Yet at this particular moment, what choice did she have? The overcrowded chili cook-off and festival was in full swing and she had a job to do. “You sure it’s okay?”

He nodded. “He can help us take tickets from the other little kids, right, buddy?”

Lucas nodded, looking as important as ever.

Glad for the help, Lily discreetly squeezed Gannon’s hand. “I owe you one.” Actually, more than one.

He flashed a rakish grin. “I’ll be sure to collect...”

Trying not to think how glorious he made her feel whenever they were together, Lily shook her head at him—just as playfully. Then texted the others to let them know she was on her way, and headed for the fairgrounds office.

Inside were members of the steering committee. “We’re short a judge!” bestselling author Taylor O’Quinn-Carrigan said to quickly bring Lily up to speed.