her absence.
*
Cain addressed the man who had just put down with a little too much force. “Thanks for the ride.” If his shaking hands were any indication, he wasn’t going to be having a long chat with Kyle’s men.
“No problem, ma’am.”
Cain drove back to the farm at the same unhurried pace, with the same company as before, only now the sun was just starting to rise. She used the time to consider her first problem before she could worry about Hannah. For now, she couldn’t afford the luxury of thinking about the little girl or giving in to the anger she felt toward Emma. Now she needed to concentrate on all the pieces that would need to fall into place to make her plan work. Parking in the same spot, she took a deep breath before she stepped out into the cold.
“Morning, Cain, out for an early drive?” Ross stood on his porch drinking a cup of coffee.
“Something like that. I was having trouble sleeping, so I went to talk to a friend.”
She heard the door to the bunkhouse open and surmised it was Hayden in the doorway. “How about breakfast in town, son?”
“Great.” He moved to the passenger-side door in no time, bundled up for the cold.
“Ross, want to ask Emma if she’d like to join us?”
“She’s out running an errand this morning, Cain. I’m sure she’ll be sorry she missed out.”
She could see his discomfort for telling the lie, but she wasn’t about to push. Ross was too honest for the position he found himself in.
“I’m sure you’re right.”
Chapter Seventeen
Emma ran around to the back door of Maddie’s house, eager to spend time with her daughter. Being away from the sweet child was killing her, but she couldn’t take the chance that Cain would see Hannah. It wouldn’t take a DNA test to determine the roots of Hannah’s family tree. The four-year-old was as much a Casey as Hayden.
A squeal greeted Emma when she opened the door and spotted the object of her secret covered in oatmeal. “Mama!” The blue eyes, identical to Cain’s, lit up when Hannah saw her mother, and like they often did, they flooded Emma with memories.
“Good night, honey.” Emma kissed Hayden’s forehead and pulled the covers under his chin. She had just read their second book of the night, hoping Cain would make it home before she was finished and Hayden fell asleep.
“But Mom isn’t here yet.”
“I know, sweet boy. She must be running later than she thought, but I promise she’ll be here when you wake up.” Emma ran her fingers through his hair in an effort to relax him and help him go to sleep.
“Aunt Marie’s party’s coming up, Mama.”
“I know. We’ll have to sneak into our room and finish wrapping her presents. Now go to sleep.” Emma kissed him again and watched the blue eyes flutter closed.
Outside the room Cain relaxed against the wall and waited for Emma to finish. A warm smile came easily as she listened to their conversation and thought about spending time with Emma. She wanted nothing more than to go in and kiss their son good night, but she knew it would take another forty minutes to calm him down again.
“Thanks for not coming in. He’s been wired since seven, and sleep wasn’t high on his list of priorities tonight,” whispered Emma when she emerged. Together they peeked in on the sleeping child.
“Maybe he thinks he’s missing out on something while he’s doing all that sleeping.”
“No, lover, that would be you who thinks that. He really missed you tonight. Come to think about it, so did I.” Emma pressed closer and started unbuttoning Cain’s blue shirt.
“I’m here, and I’m all yours for the rest of the night.”
“Promise?”
“With all my heart.” She kissed Emma, then scooped her off her feet and headed for the bedroom.
Problems at the Erin Go Braugh had kept Cain out late for the past week, and Emma had missed her touch.
Cain could feel her lover’s longing. She opened Emma’s robe and ran her hand down the lithe body.
“Sit down, baby,” requested Emma.
The shy lover had morphed into a woman sure of what she wanted and how to get it. Cain sat at the foot of the bed and watched Emma take off her clothes. The robe pooled at Emma’s feet, leaving her in a short silk nightgown that revealed her erect nipples. Before she lifted it over her head, Emma cupped her own breasts and pinched the nipples.
The move made Cain growl in a deep voice, “Take it off,” and Emma complied, smiling.
Emma’s body was, to Cain, perfection. Emma was what she liked to call curvaceous. Her breasts were full, with soft pink nipples, and her flat stomach gave way to shapely hips. True to her word, Cain had never desired another woman in her heart or in her bed after she found Emma.
Emma moved closer and finished removing Cain’s shirt. She unbuckled the belt next, and after she unzipped the pants, she snaked her hand down the opening and pinched the hard clit. “I promise to take care of this, but I want you to make love to me first.” Emma shoved the strong body down and pushed her own center over Cain’s mouth.
Cain loved Emma’s scent and taste. She took her time, pressing her flat tongue along the wet opening.
“Please, baby, I’ve been waiting for you all week,” Emma begged.
