"Are you crazy? What if you'd been caught?" She couldn't believe how stupid he was sometimes.
"Don't tell me you care what happens to me, Kate?" He nudged Molly out of the way and stood, shuffling over to where Kate had risen at the top of the steps. He placed his hand on her arm and the heat raced through her skin. "I was perfectly safe, but your concern is always welcome—more than welcome in fact."
"You're reading it wrong. I wasn't concerned for you, just the family in general." Brushing his hand off, Kate placed her cup on the ground and backed down the steps. "I have to go to bed. I've got an early start. Nice to see you again, Stevie. Night all." Kate walked away, cursing herself for acting like an idiot. He would think she was another conquest and that was mortifying. She refused to put herself in the same category as his groupie girlfriends. Her pride wouldn't let her even though her body might have other ideas.
"Kate, please wait." Cade almost caught up with her as she reached her front door. He must have cut through the house.
"What?" She kept her hand on the door handle, ready for a quick escape.
"I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry." The race through the house to head her off sporting crutches took more effort than he thought it would. There were spikes of pain shooting up his leg and he was out of breath.
She turned to face him and sighed. "I used to think you were the most amazing person when I was a kid. I know, stupid wasn't it? But now I'm all grown up, Cade, and I don't need you to remind me I’m nothing more to you than one of your groupies. I don't belong there."
"You're right, you don't." I realised that when I thought that stupid colt was going to hurt you and I risked everything for you. Pity I didn't figure it out sooner.
Before she could register his movements, Cade dipped his head and traced his tongue over her quivering bottom lip. She sucked in a startled breath as he gripped her shoulders and pressed her against the door, laying his mouth against hers. Willing her body to stay still, she breathed in his musky male scent, heady and oh, so very tempting.
When he lifted his head, Kate gazed into his eyes, hoping her face was inscrutable. "What was that for?"
"Didn't you like it?"
"Doesn't do anything for me if you don't mean it. I don't do casual flings, just so you know, but thanks for the free demonstration of your skills." She pushed him back, opened the door and slammed it in his face. On shaky feet, she stumbled to her bedroom and threw herself down on the cover, gripping her hands across her stomach. "You bastard, Cade, you had me at saving Molly. How dare you tease me?"
Chapter 27
"It was good to see you again, Russ. I hope everything works out for you." Stevie rose and walked over to shake hands before steering Rooney outside to the garden. "I think it's time we had a little talk."
They walked around to the back of the house by the old stables where he’d parked his car. Rooney walked over to the kitchen garden opposite and sat on the wooden paling fence.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Her pale hair shone in the moonlight and it hit him in the gut how much he’d missed out on—seeing his child grow in her stomach, the birth and the first steps, the first loose tooth and the first day of school. He had so much to make up for.
"I want to marry you, Rooney. But first I want to get to know my daughter and make sure we can work this out together." He sat beside her on the fence. "I want us to be a family."
"I'm sorry, Stevie. I don't think that's a good idea." She turned her head and looked at him, her face sad.
"Why not? You're home. I can make it all up to you. Get to know Tam and make a life for us." He clutched at her hands and she stood up. Pulling her in between his legs, Stevie wrapped his arms around her waist holding her tight. "We still have the connection. Look what happened the other day when I called in to see you."
"It was always about sex with us, you know it was. It's not enough to base a marriage on. I won't do that to myself or Tam."
"I'm not buying it, Rooney. What aren't you telling me?" He squeezed her butt, ready to take her here on the grass if she gave him the remotest indication she wanted him too.
Rooney chewed on her bottom lip and lifted her hands to cup his chin. "I don't think I trust you enough to put me first."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"No. I'm sorry. As irrational as it sounds, I can't forgive you for what you did. I know I was in the wrong not telling you about Tam, but I can't get over it. I'm scared you will leave me behind if something more important comes up, and after what I've been through, that would kill me." She brushed her hand through his dark hair and gave a rueful smile. "We could be friends and care for Tam together."
"No, I want more than that and I think I deserve a chance to prove it to you. Give me that, Rooney. Please don't say no just yet." He gripped her hand and turned it over, exposing her palm. Raising it to his mouth, he kissed her palm, her wrist, and bit the skin where her blood flowed to her hand.
"You don't play fair."
"I have no intention of playing fair with you. I want you, Rooney and I will fight for you, anyway I know how." He stood and pulled her close. "I think it's time we revisited the old barn. There
