She turned to face himand sighed. "I used to think you were the most amazing person when I was akid. I know, stupid wasn't it? But now I'm all grown up, Cade, and I don't needyou to remind me I’m nothing more to you than one of your groupies. I don'tbelong there."
"You're right, youdon't." I realised that when I thought that stupid colt was going tohurt you and I risked everything for you. Pity I didn't figure it out sooner.
Before she couldregister his movements, Cade dipped his head and traced his tongue over herquivering bottom lip. She sucked in a startled breath as he gripped hershoulders 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 andoh, so very tempting.
When he lifted hishead, Kate gazed into his eyes, hoping her face was inscrutable. "What wasthat for?"
"Didn't you likeit?"
"Doesn't do anythingfor me if you don't mean it. I don't do casual flings, just so you know, butthanks 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 herbedroom and threw herself down on the cover, gripping her hands across herstomach. "You bastard, Cade, you had me at saving Molly. How dare youtease me?"
ChapterTwenty-seven
"It was good tosee you again, Russ. I hope everything works out for you." Stevie rose andwalked over to shake hands before steering Rooney outside to the garden."I think it's time we had a little talk."
They walked around tothe back of the house by the old stables where he’d parked his car. Rooneywalked over to the kitchen garden opposite and sat on the wooden paling fence.
"What did you wantto talk about?"
Her pale hair shone inthe moonlight and it hit him in the gut how much he’d missed out on—seeing hischild grow in her stomach, the birth and the first steps, the first loose toothand the first day of school. He had so much to make up for.
"I want to marryyou, Rooney. But first I want to get to know my daughter and make sure we canwork this out together." He sat beside her on the fence. "I want usto 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'rehome. I can make it all up to you. Get to know Tam and make a life forus." He clutched at her hands and she stood up. Pulling her in between hislegs, Stevie wrapped his arms around her waist holding her tight. "Westill have the connection. Look what happened the other day when I called in tosee you."
"It was alwaysabout sex with us, you know it was. It's not enough to base a marriage on. Iwon't do that to myself or Tam."
"I'm not buyingit, Rooney. What aren't you telling me?" He squeezed her butt, ready totake her here on the grass if she gave him the remotest indication she wantedhim too.
Rooney chewed on herbottom lip and lifted her hands to cup his chin. "I don't think I trustyou enough to put me first."
"You're kiddingme, right?"
"No. I'm sorry. Asirrational as it sounds, I can't forgive you for what you did. I know I was inthe wrong not telling you about Tam, but I can't get over it. I'm scared youwill leave me behind if something more important comes up, and after what I'vebeen through, that would kill me." She brushed her hand through his darkhair and gave a rueful smile. "We could be friends and care for Tamtogether."
"No, I want morethan 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 itover, exposing her palm. Raising it to his mouth, he kissed her palm, herwrist, and bit the skin where her blood flowed to her hand.
"You don't playfair."
"I have nointention of playing fair with you. I want you, Rooney and I will fight foryou, anyway I know how." He stood and pulled her close. "I think it'stime we revisited the old barn. There is unfinished business between us."Stevie took her hand and led her down past Kate's cottage toward the barn.
The moon cast shadowsover the old timber building and its high cathedral ceilings, but they bothknew it inside out. Many nights spent there together came rushing back to him,pumping the blood through his system in a rush. Pulling her inside, he pushedher against the wall and devoured her mouth with nine years of pent up passion.He held her face in shaking hands and absorbed the taste of his sweet Rooney,the only woman who could make his blood race by merely glancing his way.
"God, I’ve missedyou so much."
"Me too. Therehasn't been anyone else, not for me anyway." Rooney smiled and pulled hisshirt from the waist of his jeans. She undid the buttons, spreading it open.
"You shouldn'thave any doubts about us being together then."
"But I do. Humourme for a while. Now, stay still and don't move a muscle." She dipped herhead and traced her warm tongue over his nipple, using her teeth to tug andpull on him. The zing went straight to his cock and he arched his back,grinding his hips into hers.
"Wow, slow down,big fella." She let the shirt fall from his shoulders and stood back. Witha smile on her face that promised more torture, she undid the top button on herblouse. When her fingers reached the next one, she lifted her gaze to his andran the tip of her tongue over her lips. With each button, she did somethingseductive with her mouth.
"You know you areasking for trouble, don't you?" He could only contain himself for a shorttime longer before grabbing her and throwing her down in the hay.
"Uh uh."Rooney let the blouse slip from her shoulders and fall to the ground. Turningher back on him, she undid and slipped off her bra, letting it fall to theground. When she looked over
