Char laughed and placed both her hands on his neck. He obliged and circled both arms around her waist. “Ride ’em cowboy,” she whispered.
“Yippee-ki-yay.”
Yeah, it was nice. A hot, gorgeous blond melting into him. Why wouldn’t it be nice? He drew her a little closer and splayed a big hand just above her ass.
“I was broken hearted Marla saw you first, Dwaynie.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, sure, until my brother appeared on the scene. Don’t kid a kidder, sis. Marla was the only woman on my radar from day one, you bad girl.” He hugged her against his chest and kissed her ear. “My brother is one lucky man to have all this in his arms every night.”
“And that’s why I love you, Dwayne. You’re true blue. I know you’ll be good to my baby sister.”
He moved his head back, grinned into her big brown eyes then grazed her neck with his teeth.
“Okay, okay, break it up!” Donovan bumped them with his shoulder. “Time to switch partners.” He took Charlene’s hand and pulled her away, leaving Dwayne and Marla standing, staring at each other.
She put a wry twist on her lips. “That was quite a show, Dempsey.”
“Your big sister’s a very bad girl, Danaher. My little brother has his hands full.” He embraced her. “Want to sway for a while?”
“Um hm.” Her arms went around his neck.
God, she felt perfect in his embrace. Aroused immediately, he whispered. “Step back a couple of inches, honey, or I’ll have to dance you to the front desk and get a room.”
“You sure know how to charm a lady.” She grinned and took a half step away from him. “Your brother doesn’t have a thing to worry about. Char is disgustingly, sickeningly, madly over the top in love with him.”
“I know. He’s one lucky Dempsey, and so am I.” The next wedding for their two families would be his and Marla’s. He crooked his finger at Amber. She skipped across the floor to him, and he lifted her in his arm, tucked her between them, and swayed with his two best girls.
Amber fell asleep on Marla’s lap on the drive back to the ranch. Miss Emmaline nodded off in the backseat with Dylan’s girl lying across her knees. Every now and then Dwayne would reach across the seat and brush his knuckles on Marla’s cheek.
The next time he did it, she turned and kissed his fingers. “This was very special day, Dempsey.”
He nodded and smiled. She’d never get enough of his smile. Every time he touched her, she got the familiar warm, melting sensation in her bones and all her special places. She studied Amber’s face and stroked her silky hair, ashamed of the twinge of jealousy she felt for the innocent child who worshiped her daddy. Amber’s child-woman relationship with him didn’t leave much room for Marla.
She didn’t doubt Dwayne loved her, he’d told her many times in the past few months. Did he love her enough to marry her? Her chest squeezed painfully. She mentally shoved away the doubt.
Stop it, Marla. Just love them and don’t worry about tomorrow.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dwayne snuggled against Marla’s bare back and kissed her ear. “I gotta get up, honey. Dylan, Donovan, and I are riding out to repair a break in the fence line and round up some feisty heifers that decided to take a walk in the park.” He stroked her bottom with his big, rough hand. “God, I love your sweet ass.”
She caught his hand and laid it on her breast. “Stay.” She cracked open an eye. “It’s still dark.” It seemed to her they’d only been asleep a couple of hours. “What time is it?”
“Five. Gotta go.” He nipped her shoulder. “Cookie’s already in the kitchen. I smell coffee and bacon.” He rolled away from her and hop-slid to the bathroom, holding onto the bed and furniture.
She groaned and rolled onto her back. “Five! Just shoot me.” He chuckled and began to close the door. “Wait!” She jumped up and raced past him, her bare feet slapping on the cold wood floor. “I have to go first. Close your eyes.”
“Like I haven’t had my eyes, hands, and mouth on every inch of your body by now, Red?”
“Close them! This is different.” She made it quick and artfully dodged his hand when he grabbed for her on her way out of the bathroom. She jumped back in bed. Warm with a predictable glow from his casual sensuality, she pulled up the quilts and snuggled into the low spot in the mattress he’d just left nice and warm for her.
Water splashed in the sink as he washed and shaved. There wouldn’t be a drop anywhere on the counter, sink, or floor, and the bathroom would seem like it had never been used when he left.
By the time he came back to the bedroom she was wide-awake and treated herself by watching him dress. Clad in jeans, two T-shirts and a heavy flannel shirt, he attached the prosthesis with his work boot on it. He took a quick glance in the mirror and finger-combed his thick black hair.
He caught her smile in the mirror. “What are you looking at, Danaher?”
“I’m admiring my man, Dempsey. Come over here and kiss me before you go.”
“Nope. No way. If I do, I’ll never make it out the door. If Donovan can show up the morning after his wedding night, what would it look like if I didn’t? I have an image to maintain.”
“If you don’t kiss me good-bye, I’ll get up and follow you down the hall in my birthday suit.”
He grabbed his heavy barn jacket and winked. “I dare ya.” He threw her a kiss and closed the door. She heard male voices in the hallway. Dwayne and his brothers trooped down the stairs.
Marla fell back with a sigh. Holding the quilt tight against her chin she sighed again and counted the knots in the
