The Way Home (Chasing #3) (32 page)

“Hey, boy,” I said, lifting my good arm and wrapping it around him as he crowded against my side. I scratched behind his ear and felt the brush of his wet tongue along the side of my face. The fur had been shaved in the places where he had been wounded. Everything looked to be healing well. After a few minutes, I nudged Hank aside and he finally settled down. The trip here had worn me out, so I laid my head back against the couch and closed my eyes.

It felt damn good to be home.

The lightest brush of sweet lips teased the corner edges of mine, dragging me slowly from sleep. With the alluring, faint, familiar scent drowning my senses, every nerve and muscle in my body tightened in anticipation. A groan escaped my lips, whispering softly along the warm flesh, teasingly and unmercifully tempting mine right at this very moment. My hand tangled in the weight of her long, silky hair. My fingers slid through the length to cup the back of her head. Her breath hitched as her weight shifted and sank down into mine. Even with only one arm I was in control now. Her body drawn by the silken threads of desire. My legs tensed at the feel of her thighs pressed alongside mine.

Opening my eyes, I gently drew Miley’s head back in order to savor the feel of her clinging lips. I hated to break the connection. Unable to resist, I leaned forward and slid my tongue once more into the welcoming warmth of her mouth before pulling away. The sight of her flushed creamy skin, the delicate curves of her fragile cheekbones, and the dazed but hungry look registering in her blue eyes had my heart hammering erratically in my chest.

“Nate.” She sighed. Her lush lips curved into a sexy grin as her hooded gaze held mine captive.
She was so damn beautiful
. While I may not be the man worthy of a second chance or the one worthy of owning her heart, I can damn well fucking guarantee I was going to keep it and take everything she offered.

“After dropping off Sierra at daycare, I stopped by the hospital only to find out from your brother you had already left. Why didn’t you call me?” she scolded, and I couldn’t help but smile at the tone of her voice.

“I had it under control.”

Her bottom lip was now poised in a sinful pout as she stared back at me while considering my words. That pout had my blood simmering and my dick hardening in my jeans. She slid her arms around my neck and edged closer to me. There was no way to catch a break with this woman and, as I started to lean forward to press my lips against hers, my eyes suddenly noted the white bandage on the outer curve of her bicep.

Unconsciously, my fingers flexed against the back of her head. A painful tightness squeezed my chest, twisting my heart like a vice wringing emotions from me that could cripple a lesser man. I was more than well aware of how close I’d come to losing her.

“What’s with that look?” she asked, her gaze following mine. She leaned back and held out her arm. “See, it’s fine,” she insisted, flexing her arm. “Say something, Nate? I was so scared. I thought I’d lost you.”

Tears welled in the depths of her blue eyes, slipping over the edges of her lashes. “Shush,” I said softly, and urged her closer. I hated for her to cry. She laid her head against my chest. The warm, curvy weight of her body was curled into mine.
She felt like fucking heaven
. “I’m not going anywhere, Miley,” I reassured her.

Well… not unless she made me.

“We need to talk about what happened. We need to talk about us.”

She buried her face in the center of my chest. The tip of her nose pressed in between my pecs. The warmth of her breath seeped through the fabric of my t-shirt. My fingers uncontrollably squeezed her hip, and it was only then that I noticed she was wearing a skirt
.

Fuck me running! I needed to be strong. Don’t go there, Nate, I silently chanted.

But, it was too late.

I was already gone.

“Are you wearing any panties?” I asked.

She giggled — the sweetest sound — but it was muffled. Her face was still hidden in my chest. Suddenly, she pulled back and wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “Do you really want me to answer that?” she asked.

Shit!

“No.” My own chest heaved on a defeated sigh. “I spoke with Matt at the hospital,” I said and tried to focus on the talk we still needed to have instead of what she was or was not wearing underneath her skirt.

“Matt was supposed to stay with you until I arrived this morning. I’m so mad at him for leaving. How did you get home?”

“That doesn’t matter, but what he said does.”

“All right… what did he say, Nate?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. The motion caused the fabric of her shirt to strain against her breasts.

Those breasts, damn.

I cleared my throat.
What if Miley agreed with Matt? What then? What if I had to let her go?
She was staring curiously at me and waiting.
It was now or never.
I swallowed nervously holding her gaze.

“Years from now, how do you think Sierra will react once she finds out that she’s being raised by the man who killed her father?”

Miley’s smooth brow wrinkled at hearing those words. She arched an eyebrow at me and then frowned. “Is that what this is all about, Nate?” she asked, and I nodded waiting for an answer.

Instead, she placed a hand over my heart. Her other hand covered my own which was still gripping the curve of her hip. Her weight felt so fucking right against me. It was hard to focus when all I wanted was to bury myself in her softness.

“You listen to me, Nate Lucas,” she ordered, and I lifted my distracted gaze from the length of her bare legs on display to meet her eyes.

It was cute when she tried to boss me.

“Yes, ma’am,“ I murmured, and the somber expression currently on her face was transformed by a smile.

“Remember, you’re the one who wanted to talk first. I’m trying to be serious,” she reminded me, her expression thoughtful. “When the time is right, we will both sit down with Sierra and have that talk. The man who killed her father is the same man who saved me — the same man who played Memory with her, who painted on the bedroom wall with her instead of scolding her — the same man who loves us both unselfishly, unconditionally… and the same man who will cherish us for an eternity. You haven’t said the words yet, but in my heart, I know you love me and you love Sierra. By killing Ryder, you saved us both. You gave my child her mother, the only protector and caregiver she has ever known, and that man whom you refer to as her father, he has never cared for anyone except himself.”

I wanted to believe in her words; that everything would be all right, that it would all work out in the end, but still some part of me remained hesitant. Some part was still holding back.

I wanted her and I wanted Sierra, but when it was all said and done, years from now, would I end up losing everything I loved once again?

“It’s a risk,” I said, probably coming across like a selfish asshole, but it had to be said.
Everything had to be put out in the open, right here and right now.
Miley’s eyes slightly widened. I expected her to argue, but instead she stared solemnly back at me without saying a word. “It’s a risk not only to our future and the life we’ll build together, but a risk to any children we may or may not have of our own… the threat of the life we build together crashing down and everything going straight to hell when Sierra is finally old enough to understand the truth.”

Her eyes sparked. Her expression plainly stated she disagreed with what I said. She shook her head in denial, strands of her long hair brushing against her shoulders. Her gaze was intent, focusing solely on mine. She leaned forward and cupped my cheeks, her thumbs stroking my beard. “It’s a risk, Nate. It really is. You’re right. I agree with you, but it’s a risk that I’m willing to take. Life’s a gamble, and I’m gambling on us. You’re not throwing away our future on a whim. We’re not putting our life on hold to wait for the inevitable or to worry if the other shoe is going to drop. It may never happen, but if or when it does, we will handle it together. Life isn’t a happily ever after — believe you me, I know this all too well — but I’d live each day of my life happily with you by my side as my husband and as Sierra’s father. Whatever happens will happen regardless. When the time comes, we will deal with it together — as a family. Nate, I love you.”

Moisture gathered at the corners of my eyes.
I was turning into such a pussy and it was all because of this woman.
“You’ve destroyed me,” I said and for a second, she appeared confused, but then she smiled back at me. My own lips helplessly curved into a grin to mimic hers. “I love you, Miley Wilhelmina Triton… the protector of my heart. Will you allow me to spend the rest of my days by your side loving you and your daughter?”

She started to giggle, and then fell quiet.
What in the hell was up with that? I’d just poured my heart out like some fucking pansy and here she was… giggling.
Her lovely face inched closer; her lips hovering a hair’s breathe over mine. There was a radiant sparkle in her blue eyes I’d never seen before.

“I would love that more than anything in this entire word,” she replied, and then she shifted closer, dragging up the hem of my shirt with her movement. Her fingers teased my skin along the way, sliding dangerously slow along my ribs. My muscles tightened. My whole body tensed at the sudden rush of hot heat now pressed intimately against my abs. My eyes widened. She winked at me and then grinned.

By hell, I fucking knew it. She wasn’t wearing any panties!

Whether it be hours, days, months, or even years, I had been blessed with this beautiful spitfire sitting on my lap. Life would definitely never be dull with Miley Wilhelmina Triton around. She knew exactly how to keep a man like me on his toes, and with that thought, a happy groan escaped my lips right before I captured that sassy mouth of hers beneath mine.

Eight Months Later

~Miley~

“DID YOU FIND
it, babe?”

That voice had me raising my head from the box I’d just managed to drag out from underneath a stack of junk. Warm hazel eyes regarded me curiously. Just the sight of him made my heart stutter.
This man, he was my undoing.
My body quivered, coming to life beneath his gaze. I had no control what so ever when it came to him.

“I think it’s in this box,” I confirmed, and drew in a deep breath. I couldn’t help the way my voice sounded. It was as if I were winded, and it had absolutely nothing to do with me digging around in the attic but everything to do with the sexy man before me who guarded my heart and my daughter’s as if they were both national treasures.

Nate thought he was the lucky one, but in truth, it was actually me… well, me and my child.

“I also found that million dollars your gran had hidden up here.”

“Quit shitting me, woman. You drive me crazy.”

Typical, Nate.

Full lips were curved into a grin. My attention was drawn to the matching dimples in his sculpted cheeks that not even his closely cropped beard managed to conceal.
He was gorgeous
. The epitome of everything I’d ever desired packaged into one breathtaking male. He’d finally given in and allowed me to trim his beard. With a sigh, I recalled how I’d almost had him talked into a goatee until Sierra had butted in proclaiming she loved Daddy Nate’s beard.

I swear, that child had him wrapped around her pinky finger.

“Crazy with love,” I teased him, smiling. I loved this man more than my next breath. His arms were propped against the edge of the opening leading up into the attic. I couldn’t help but notice his bulging biceps and the way his t-shirt stretched tight across his broad chest.
Yummy!
Only the upper half of his body was visible, the rest hidden from view. My eyes regrettably shifted from his to land back on the box before me.

This was the right one. It had to be.

I lifted the lid.

I knew it! I’d finally found it!

“I don’t understand what was so all fired important that it couldn’t have waited until later. I mean, we were standing before our family and friends, a table full of food, and you had to run off before we could make our big announcement.”

“This is special. It has to be on the table,” I insisted, noting the twirling dust motes catching in the sun’s rays shining through the tiny attic window as I took in Nate’s expression of disbelief.

“There’s only junk up here, sweetheart.”

But I shook my head in denial.
He didn’t have a clue.
Wearing a huge smile, I turned toward him as I lifted my find out of the box. I held it up for him to inspect and closed the distance between us.

When I finally stood before him, I noticed his eyes appeared somewhat glassy.
Aww. He was fighting back tears.
Nate’s heart was as soft as mine, even though he’d never admit it. “It’s perfect,” he agreed with a smile that stretched from ear to ear, but then his smile abruptly disappeared. “Miley, we really do need to get back to our guests.”

Caught up in my quest and the moment, I’d completely forgotten about all of the family and friends waiting for us downstairs. “Kara warned me if we weren’t back in fifteen minutes, she was sending out a search party.”

Last week, I’d decided to host a party inviting everyone. I’d even included my mom, dad, and brother. I’d also invited Nate’s brother, Miles, adding him and his family to the list. As soon as Miles finished up his shift at the hospital, they planned to stop by. Over the last few months, he and Nate had grown close. It had been impossible for my sister Mia to attend. With the Super Bowl only days away, Bryce was training, and she’d refused to leave him.

I understood, really I did.

When I’d excused myself earlier, I hadn’t missed the surprised look on Nate’s face. He’d stood the same time as I did, obviously thinking it was time for us to make our big announcement, but I just couldn’t, not without making a trip to the attic first. Usually Sierra would have been hot on my heels wanting to know what was going on, but she’d been too preoccupied by Althea, Jagger and his new baby sister, Helen.