Hiding Out At The Circle C

her.

But first, she had to make her fantasy come true. She deserved that much, at least. She had to get Cam to make love with her. She couldn't face her death without that.

* * *

Cam sanded the oak rocking chair with loving hands that soothed and coaxed the best from the wood. He'd never made a rocker before, but he'd wanted to give Nellie and Jason's unborn baby a special gift.

And someday, he wanted his own baby to be rocked in this chair.

That thought startled him enough to straighten and stare into space with a dreamy expression on his face.

A baby. His baby.

He'd thought he'd never want another, not after having lost his son before he'd even gotten to hold him. But oh, he did, and he wanted one with Haley.

Haley.

He'd stayed up until dawn trying to figure out what to do. There was simply no way to keep her safe and hidden for the rest of her life. It wasn't right. She had to turn herself in and fight. He'd he at her side, of course. His entire family would. But coming to that decision and convincing Haley of it were two different things. She had to go willingly, for he simply couldn't handle the thought of calling the authorities behind her back. He had to make her see reason, and he had to do it today, before it was too late.

He looked up as the barn doors opened, letting in the sunlight and the scent of late autumn. Wind and leaves twirled through the opening as Haley stepped inside.

A greeting died on his tongue at the look of immeasurable sorrow on her face. But the moment she saw him, her expression was transformed. The promise of passion took his breath. He dropped the sandpaper and went to her, reaching for her hands.

'Haley?'

She managed a smile, but it seemed too bright, and Cam felt the first inkling of dread. 'It's freezing outside and you're not wearing a coat.'

She gave a little laugh, completely without mirth.

He tightened his grip on her fingers. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing,' she said quickly-too quickly, which did nothing to relieve the pit in his stomach. 'I just… have something I want to do.'

She reached up on tiptoe to set her lips on his. He jolted in surprise, and would have pulled back, but she threw her arms around his neck to hold him still and teased the corner of his mouth with a flirty pass of her tongue. Instantly, his heart drummed hard and fast against hers as she pressed her body to his. Wait, he tried to say. He wanted to look at her, assure himself she was okay. He could feel her tremble, could feel how cold and clammy she was, and he couldn't shake the sense that something was terribly, horribly wrong. He thought he could taste her desperation and fear, her needs and doubts…

'You're thinking too much,' she said.

And then he couldn't think at all because she'd slipped her hands up beneath his T-shirt to streak over his bare, heated skin.

'I want you,' she whispered huskily.

His hands, which he'd lifted to her waist, froze. 'You- Now?'

She let out a sound that might have been a laugh. She tipped her head back, and he could see the shadow of fear in her eyes, though she kept her gaze steady and level on his. 'Yes, now.'

'Are you sure?'

Her lips curved. 'Are you going to turn me down, Cam?'

It was easy to ignore the soft sarcasm when he still couldn't get past the feeling that something wasn't right. 'You've waited a long time for this, Haley. I just don't want you to regret it. I don't think I could stand it if you did.'

'You are going to turn me down.' With a sound of impatience, she moved away from him. 'I'm really not very good at this, I knew that.' She let out a little laugh. 'I actually thought… Oh, never mind.' Stumbling, she went for the door.

His heart broke at the rejection he'd seen flash on her face. 'Wait.' He reached for her and gently turned her back to look at him. 'You thought what?'

Face reddening, she leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. 'I thought I could seduce you. Silly, huh?'

The yearning grew and spread until his body ached with it. How could she not know what she did to him? 'No, it's not silly.' He traced her jaw with his fingers. Her skin felt so silky, so soft. She wore the peek-a-boo blouse tucked into a long skirt that brushed against his thighs. He'd never seen anyone look so beautiful or desirable. 'You've been seducing me for weeks with little to no effort from you at all.'

She gripped the front of his shirt with tight fists. 'Then make love with me. Now.'

Need and longing swirled inside him, so deep and so strong it was amazing to him that he could remain on his feet. The cold, crisp air blowing in the door did nothing to cool him down. She wanted him, and yet… the absolute sense of urgency, the desperate look in her eyes told him that something was wrong.

Haley mistook his silence.

Squaring her shoulders, she gave him one of her regal looks. 'Never mind,' she said. 'I can see the idea of making love with me just thrills the hell out of you.' She spun away, but before he could so much as take a step toward her, she whirled back, fury emanating from her every pore.

'Wait a minute,' she said unevenly, pushing her hair from her face. 'All my life I've been doing this. Accepting casual criticism without a murmur. Taking rejection silently, painfully. I won't do it anymore, Cam. Not even for you.' She jabbed his chest with her finger, her eyes misting, but her voice remained calm. 'I thought you were different. These past few weeks have meant something to me.'

'Haley-'

She evaded his touch. 'No, don't. I'm sorry.' She shrugged. 'You know what? I've got to go.'

When had the conversation taken this bad turn? Cam found his limbs and grabbed for Haley as she rushed out, but she fought him with a strength he hadn't guessed she had. Finally, unable to do anything else, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, restraining her.

'Dammit, Cam,' she muttered, fighting wildly. 'Let me go.'

'You're wrong, Haley,' he said gruffly into her ear. 'Wrong, if you think I was playing with you, that I don't really want you.' He turned her in his arms and shook her gently until she looked at him, her glorious blue eyes bright with humiliation. He couldn't stand it. 'I wasn't rejecting you just now. My God, you think I could? You just startled me, that's all.' He had to laugh at himself. 'You came in here with the offer I've been waiting for and I lost all capability to think.'

He realized that, given her limited experience, she might have no idea what he was talking about. 'Do you understand what I'm saying?' he asked, because he still couldn't believe that a woman who looked and felt like she did was a virgin.

She shook her head, her eyes wide on his, and his blood surged.

'God, you're sweet,' he said, giving her a quick, hard kiss. 'You make me ache for you, Haley, everywhere.' With a slow, easy gesture, he grabbed her hips and rubbed them against his. He knew by her sharp intake of breath, she hadn't missed his very unmistakable desire. 'Yeah, that's what you do to me, darlin',' he whispered, then nearly died of pleasure when, with an instinctual movement, she slid herself over him again.

At the connection, her mouth fell open, her head dropped back. 'Oh!' she whispered, obviously finding equal pleasure. Cam wanted to lose himself in her, but he had to make one thing clear. He gripped her waist in his hands to keep her still, waiting until her glazed eyes met his. 'Haley,' he murmured. 'Listen to me. You'll never have to scramble for affection, or attention with me. Never.'

She blinked and braced herself by clutching his arms tightly. 'That sounds nice,' she said, her voice whispery