“California is a community property state, which entitled Ted to fifty percent of what I had. My house, my cars, my pension, my assets—assets that had dwindled to damn near nothing in the time we were married. Everything I’d worked for, all the money my dad left me…gone.”
“Oh baby, c’mere.” Kade put their wine glasses on the coffee table and enfolded her in his arms. She didn’t cry, this tough, independent woman who’d had every man in her life let her down. She just melted into him. That broke his damn heart. He didn’t speak, partially because he didn’t know what to say, but mostly because he now understood her need for absolute control.
“It was the most humiliating thing that’s ever happened to me. So yeah, I have some issues with trust.”
“I imagine so. Hell, I would too.”
An unwieldy pause lingered.
Finally, he said, “Can you tell me the rest of it?”
“When we were at the end of the divorce proceedings, my mother returned. I moved into her new place, which ended up being a good thing because not four months later she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.”
“Jesus. Are you serious?”
Sky nodded. “Sounds like a soap opera, doesn’t it? Of course, my mom had let her health insurance lapse while she was in seclusion, so all the payments to the hospital and doctors came out of her pocket. India actually cleaned up her act for a while and helped me care for Mom. My grandma, my mom’s mother, Elizabeth, came to help.”
A warm feeing unfurled in his chest. “Eliza was named after her, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah. She was a remarkable woman. It fascinated me she was part Cheyenne since my mother had never mentioned that part of our background. Grandma mixed up herb ointments for my mother that actually worked. When I asked her about them, she gave me the basics until she realized I had more than just a passing interest. We created batches of new soaps and lotions made from all-natural ingredients. I decided someday I would start my own company using her formulas. After she passed on and left us this land, I knew this was where I was supposed to be. Everything had come full circle.”
“Well, you’ve done her right proud, sweetheart.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. Know what else I know?”
“What?”
Kade brushed his mouth over her ear and was tremendously pleased when Sky trembled. “That Eliza has a long line of strong women behind her to look up to. She’s a lucky girl.”
“You’re so sweet, Kade, you’re going to make me cry and I swore I wouldn’t, not ever again. Not over him or what he did to me or anything from that awful part of my life.”
“Go ahead and cry, baby, I gotcha.”
Skylar didn’t sob, but she allowed him to hold her and settle her, stroke her wherever he wanted. Her arms. Her breasts. Her belly. Up and down her thighs. Her breathing had become erratic, even as she relaxed against him.
Time to make his move.
“Thanks for tellin’ me the truth. You gotta know I wouldn’t ever do what that bastard done to you.”
“Pretend to be someone else? Take something from me? Use me? No offense, but I’ve heard that line before, from every single man who’s been in my life.”
“I ain’t like them.”
“You sure? Would you be here with me if it weren’t for Eliza? Especially since she’s the rare McKay girl child?”
When Kade paused, she assumed it was a guilty pause. “I didn’t think so.”
“You’re wrong, but it don’t change a damn thing.”
“Change what?”
“That I still wanna marry you. I’m gonna keep askin’ until you’re so sick of it that you’ll say yes just to get some peace.”
She smiled slightly. “Not happening, McKay. Once burned, twice shy.”
“We’ll see. I’m not Ted. I’ll never be the man who wants more from you than you’re willin’ to give. But I’d be lyin’ if I told you I didn’t want it all.” He turned her around so he could kiss her full on. He loved the way their mouths fit together, hunger fed sweetness. The kiss changed from slow and easy to hot and heavy.
Kade traced the line of her body from her neck to her knee. His fingers inched up the inside of her thigh until they reached that warm wetness between her legs.
Skylar made a soft moan when his first two fingers pushed inside.
He rocked them in and out in a steady rhythm. She began to undulate and whimper, clenching and unclenching her thighs, kissing him with more force. Kade twisted his wrist so the heel of his hand rested on her clit. As he plunged his fingers in, he pressed on the swollen bit of flesh.