“Hell, I must be losing my touch.”
Emma led her to the room at the center of the hallway and pushed her gently inside. “Trust me, hot stuff, you haven’t lost a thing.”
From the window they could see the men and women they had brought with them still working to get the precautionary system in place. Emma was surprised to see Hayden with a piece of electronic equipment in his hand, walking to the utility pole across the street.
“What’s he doing?”
“Learning the business from the ground up, like every Casey before him. Just ’cause you’re born with the name, you don’t automatically get to be the leader. Hayden knows that without anyone telling him, just like I did.”
Emma leaned against Cain and wrapped her arms around Cain’s waist. “Before that happens you’ll teach him everything you know, right?”
“I know you don’t agree because he’s your son, but—”
Emma pressed her fingers to Cain’s lips. “He’s
“And then some, love.”
“Then let’s leave him to his work, and you and me get into that nice comfortable bed.”
Emma helped Cain with her shoes and took off her own heavy sweater before pulling back the blankets and climbing in beside her. They had to reverse sides from their usual sleeping arrangements because of Cain’s injury, but when Emma rolled over and snuggled up, it felt just as wonderful as she remembered.
“Tell me about the Raths,” Cain said as she rested her hand on Emma’s hip.
“What do you want to know?”
“Whatever you want to tell me. I’m just curious.” She moved her hand from Emma’s hip up her side close to her breast. “They sounded nice enough on the phone.”
Emma felt like Cain was pouring liquid fire along her skin. While she’d missed Cain for a variety of reasons, when she was really honest with herself, she had to admit that the sex always came close to the top of the list.
“Maddie and I went to school together. Well, for a little while, anyway. I was just starting high school, and she was a senior. We hit it off from the beginning, and even though she didn’t want to go to college, she was the one who really encouraged me to attend Tulane.”
Emma moved so that she was almost on top of Cain, without putting any undue pressure on her chest. “When I came back here alone and knowing I was going to have Hannah, I cried on her shoulder the most. My father loves me, but he was at a loss as to what to do with me except try to convince me to go home to you and work it out, and my mother was just her usual self. Maddie understood me, but even she wondered why I’d run home and desert the two people I loved most in the world.”
“It was a dark time, love.” The long breath Emma let out warmed Cain’s chest, and Cain ran her fingers through Emma’s hair to offer comfort.
“To tell you the truth, I never understood it myself.” Emma sighed. “I was so lonely, and I missed you so much. It’s a miracle Hannah survived. I was so sick and didn’t want to eat. It was the most miserable time of my life.”
“Was Maddie there when Hannah was born?” Cain asked to keep their talk going. Having Emma get some of that hurt out would only help the two of them in the future.
“She, Jerry, and Daddy were the only ones who came with me to the hospital, but once Hannah was born and they knew I was all right, I sent them home. I remember sitting in the hospital holding my baby, staring at yet another Casey and crying because I was so happy and so miserable at the same time. Did I tell you that I brought some whiskey with me?”
Cain smiled and shook her head.
“I did, and I baptized her Casey-style just like I remember you doing with Hayden. Then I told her about the proud clan she was a member of. I swear if she could’ve talked right then, she would’ve told me to take her home to you.”
“Considering you and she lived with your mother all that time, it’s a wonder she’s so spirited.”
“It’s that strain of Casey bad grass running through her veins. My mother had about as much chance of breaking her spirit as she did yours. I’m just glad I don’t have to raise her alone anymore. Hannah’s a beautiful child, but let me tell you, she’s a handful. Sort of like someone I know and love.”
Emma moved toward the lips she couldn’t get enough of. Just as the kissing started, Cain’s wandering hand finally came to rest on her right breast, and Emma’s nipple came to life when Cain squeezed.
Their time on the plane, the cuddling they had done, and now this were making Emma want things she didn’t think Cain was capable of delivering because of her wound, but she certainly didn’t want to stop. She pulled back from Cain’s mouth long enough to check for any discomfort.
“Come back down here, love,” Cain said in a gentle voice. “I missed you something fierce, and I’m tired of waiting.”
“I really want to, but you’re hurt.” She knew her protest was weak at best.
“Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll leave you alone.”
Emma didn’t answer and was on the verge of giving in.
“Tell me you’re not sopping wet, and I’ll stop touching you.”
That did it. Emma lowered herself for one more kiss before getting off the bed.
She knew Cain was about to groan in frustration, but she just locked the door, then stood in the sunlight so
