"Okay. Are youstaying for dinner then? I want to show you my room?"
"Essie has cookedenough to feed an army. She said to make sure I told you." Rooney lookeddown at him, a small smile playing at her lips.
"I've missed her.Funny, she was the only one who approved of me." He stood and took herhand. "Can we talk later, after dinner?"
"Um…yeah,sure." She pulled her hand free and spoke to Tam. "You need to go andwash up. Essie will have dinner ready in ten minutes."
"Okay, Mum."Tam smiled and ran up to the house with the puppy racing to keep up with her onits three good legs.
Stevie watched her goinside the house and then turned to Rooney. He watched the colour race up herpale cheeks and resisted the urge to tease her. When they were younger, he haddriven her to distraction when she blushed. It had invariably led to makingout, the very thing they got into trouble for but they couldn't keep theirhands off each other.
Now he was aresponsible citizen, he would have to curb the lust that rose in him wheneverhe saw her. The way he had taken her yesterday was not something he regrettedthough. No other women had ignited the flame in him like Rooney did. Powerlessto resist the spark that burned between them, it guaranteed to get him intotrouble especially when she had his child with her.
He stood up andcasually draped his arm over her shoulder. "You know, if Tam wasn't hereI’d take you down to the barn and refresh old memories. You're lucky I want tosee my daughter but don't think you're getting away scot free." He droppeda kiss on her smooth blonde hair. "We can discuss us after dinner whenyour brothers have finished giving me dirty looks and grilling me."
She laughed, a soundthat shot right to his gut. "Grill you? That will be the day, you're thepoliceman. It thought that was your job."
"When it comes to leavingyou alone and pregnant, if I was your brother, I would kill me."
She walked toward theback door of the house and Stevie stuck close to her side, his arm still overher shoulder. "Yeah well, I guess we’re both to blame for that, so don'tfeel too bad. They might let you live since you didn't know about it."
Rooney pushed open thedoor and memories came flooding back of standing at the kitchen counter fillinghis stomach with Essie's home-cooking.
"Stevie, oh my,it’s so good to see you." The spritely housekeeper ran to greet him,wrapping her arms around his waist.
He picked her up andswung her around until she giggled. "Put me down, you ratbag."
While she gathered herbreath, he stood back and looked at the person he considered his saviour when hewas younger. His own mother had died when Stevie was twelve and his father shuthimself off, wracked with grief. The only person he’d had to talk to wasRooney, and the person who made sure he had enough to eat was Essie. It hadn'tseemed right to come and visit her with Rooney gone. The old man wouldn't havelet him on the property again.
"I've missed you,Essie." It was hard only seeing her in passing when she was in townshopping. Knowing how much she loved and believed in him was one of the reasonshe’d joined the force.
"Oh away with you,Stevie." Essie blushed at his words. "My how you've grown into ahandsome man. Poor Rooney won't be able to resist you now anymore than she didwhen you were youngsters."
"And look how muchtrouble that got them into."
Stevie turned around tosee who had spoken. Russ was walking into the kitchen, a grim look on his face.Fuck, I'm done for now. Dread filled his stomach and he preparedfor the confrontation he knew he deserved. Stevie clenched his fists at hisside and moved forward to meet Rooney's eldest brother.
Chapter Twenty-five
"Well I'm gladyou're here, Stevie. Rooney needs you," Essie said.
"I think she’s theone who should decide that, Essie," Russ said as he walked into thekitchen. He looked at Stevie and dropped his briefcase by the door beforewalking over and standing in front of them. "I do hope now you're someoneof worth, your morals have changes somewhat and you're ready to do the rightthing by my sister."
"What is up withyou, Russ?" Rooney walked over and stood between him and Stevie. "Youdon't talk to anyone this way."
"It's okay, I cantake it. He won't be the only one who thinks I need a flogging for leavingyou."
"No, he won'tbe." Cade hopped into the kitchen, his new dog close on his heels."If I wasn't injured, I would drag you outside to the barn, and itwouldn't be for what you’re used to getting up to in there either."
"Stop it, both ofyou." Rooney glared at her brothers. "This is none of your bloodybusiness and I'll thank you to remember that. Russ," she poked him in thechest with her finger, "you look like someone just messed up your niceorderly life. Spill your guts and tell us what’s really pissing you off, andstop taking it out on Stevie."
He shook his head,stepping away to go and look out the kitchen window. He took a glass from thedraining board and filled it with water, drinking the lot before he turned backto them. "Sorry. I really am so sorry. It's good to see you again, Stevie.I apologise for my behaviour. It's been a shocking day and I feel like hittingout at something or someone."
"Hey, bro, Ithought we were on the same side here." Cade looked crestfallen now therewasn't going to be a fist fight. "How am I supposed to take him on bymyself?"
"Get over it,Cade. You don't mean it and we all know it. Stop trying to play tough."Rooney walked over to Russ and rested her hand on his arm. "Tell us what'sgoing on. I know it's more than work. You were foul yesterday when you gotin."
"Fine, a problemshared and all that. It's my ex-wife, or at least I thought she was my ex.Seems after initiating a divorce and taking everything I had, she’s decided shewants this place too. To top it
