Stone Cold Cowboy(99)
“Your brother stole a dozen more cattle. At this rate, I’ll run out of them before he’s caught.”
Sadie flinched, gasped, and pressed her fingertips to her lips. “Oh my God. Again. I’m so sorry.” Lightheaded, she swayed and reached out to the wall to steady herself.
Rory launched himself off the bed and grabbed hold of her shoulders to steady her. “Are you okay? You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine. A touch of morning sickness. That’s all. I need something to eat.”
Rory pulled her to the bed, turned her, and made her sit down. “I’ll get something for you. Stay here.”
She clasped her hand over his forearm and stopped him from leaving. “I’ll get something after I get dressed. Hurry up, take your call.”
“Sadie . . .”
She squeezed his hand and kissed the back of it. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Go.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Please let me take care of you.”
“You do. You are. I’m a little off after waking up the way I did. I’m sorry I’m all over the place. It’s my fault.”
“Nothing is your fault. Sweetheart, I . . .”
“Rory, man, are you taking this call or what?” Ford asked, tired of waiting outside their door.
Rory huffed out a frustrated breath. “We’re not done talking about this.” He snagged his jeans off the chair by the window, dragged them on, along with a T-shirt he took from the dresser, opened the door, and took the phone Ford handed him. “Hello.” He looked back at her one last time, his eyes filled with regret they’d left too much unsaid, then closed the door and left.
She followed him down twenty minutes later, dressed and ready to get through this day so they could talk again tonight. His muffled voice came from the office to her right at the bottom of the stairs. She went left and headed for the kitchen and something to settle her queasy stomach. She found a sleeve of crackers and made herself a mug of herbal tea. She sipped at the tea and walked into the office just as Rory hung up the phone. He stood behind the desk, staring down at the huge aerial photographs he’d taken when Agent Cooke took him up in the DEA helicopter to scout the property, looking for her brother and where he was cooking up the drugs. They’d found nothing specific and had spent the last weeks checking out one lead after another, always ending up empty-handed. One part of her was grateful they hadn’t found her brother. The other part wished they would find Connor and his friends, put them out of business, and end this thing once and for all before Connor got killed. For Rory’s sake, and that of his family’s business, she hoped they found Connor soon.
“Hey,” she said from the doorway, popping another cracker into her mouth, trying not to think about the fact he’d announced they’d get married, but had never actually asked her.
Rory’s head shot up and he stared at her for a long moment. “You look better.”
“Thanks. You’re gorgeous as always.” That earned her a kind of smile. She missed the ones he used to give her so easily when things were simple between them and all they had to worry about was the asshole who liked to watch her bleed who was still out there.
Oh, the good ol’ days.
She took another sip of tea, pulled another cracker from the sleeve tucked under her arm, and popped it into her mouth.
“Can I do something for you?” The concern in his voice touched her.
She walked forward and set her tea and crackers on the desk. She looked him in the eye and said simply, “I could use a hug.”
This time the smile was genuine and filled with relief that she’d asked for something he could give her and they both needed. She didn’t want to fight with him. She wanted to revel in what they’d found together. They’d find their way there.
His arms banded around her back and he rested his cheek on her head. Her hands slid up his arms to his broad shoulders. She inhaled his scent, this morning more Rory than horses, hay, and spring breezes. She rose up on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Not enough. Hold on to me, Rory.”
“Always.” His arms contracted around her into a tight bear hug, just the way she liked it.
She held him tighter, turned her head, and kissed his neck. She buried her face in his warm skin and savored this moment, both of them with their barriers down, completely connected.
His big hands rubbed up and down her back, settling on her hips. He gently set her away. “I’ve got work to do, but I hate to leave things between us so . . .”
“We’re fine, Rory.” She put her hand over his heart and smiled softly up at him. “Everything is going to be fine.”