“Feelings of hatred.”
“And lust. You want me.”
“God, how does your ego fit in your truck with you?”
“If you didn’t want me, you wouldn’t have climbed into my bed. Knelt over my face.”
“Women can only get off if their feelings are involved?” she countered.
“I don’t give a shit about other women. I care about you. You can’t. You’re a one-man woman, baby girl.”
“You think that man’s you?”
“It always was. I just had to make something of myself. Make myself worthy.”
“Like I said, I loved you just the way you were. You didn’t have to prove anything to me.”
I shook my head. “Your father was right. But I got my shit together. Graduated the academy, became a deputy.”
She held up a hand. “Wait. What does my father have to do with this?”
“He’s always hated me. You knew that.” I shrugged, remembering his harsh words. “I proved him wrong. Then you proved me wrong when you didn’t come to me after that first year of school.”
“You keep saying this. There was no way I’d come back to you after what you did. What I thought you did.” She set her hand on my chest, tipped her chin up, and blinked. “Why do I have to repeat myself? I thought you’d been with someone else, wanted her enough to make a child.” She wilted then, as if she’d been deflated like a balloon.
“Claire’s mine. How that came to be doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me!” She sighed, blinked hard as if willing tears back. “It took me a long time to get over you, Huck. I can’t go through that again.” She looked down at the ground.
I remembered that time like it was yesterday. Sarah and I had spent the night together in the back of my pickup. I’d driven us onto the back forty on the ranch by a creek. I’d packed a late-night picnic and made a bed of old blankets. She’d given herself to me that night. It had been perfect. Hot as fuck. Sarah had been sweet in her innocence. Sexy.
A few days later her father had met me at the door. Told me to call it off. Threatened Sarah’s college chances. So I’d walked.
That had been my wake-up call. The one thing that I wanted, I wasn’t worthy of. So I’d tried to make myself worthy of her. I’d made something of myself so she could be proud of me. So my parents would have as well. I’d even saved an infant from a fucked-up life. One look at the tiny, squirming blonde bundle and I’d known it was going to be me. I’d just hoped it would also be Sarah.
I squeezed her shoulders. “So last night. Why’d you do it?”
“I found that paper in Kale’s truck. Seeing it and learning the truth? I was so angry. All those years ago you made me think—”
“I didn’t make you think anything,” I countered. “You did it all by yourself. With your daddy’s help.”
“Don’t bring him into this.”
I agreed with her. Bill had pulled us apart before. I was thirty-fucking-two years old. I didn’t need to go through Sarah’s daddy to be with her any longer.
Pulling her into me, I leaned down and kissed her. I couldn’t be gentle, not now, not when I was desperate for her. My frustration and need, my longing and craving for this woman poured out of my kiss. I licked into her, remembered her taste. I tangled my fingers in her hair, and I angled her head as I wanted. I knew the second she gave over, her body all but melting into mine. I wrapped an arm around her to hold her up, pressed her curves into me.
“Fuck, baby girl, you’re so sweet,” I murmured in her ear right before I nipped it. Then I went back to her mouth. Feasting. Plunging. Consuming. I turned us and backed her into the side of my truck, and let my knee wedge between hers, and she began to ride my thigh.
I had no idea how long it went on for, but when my hand was up her dress and playing with the lacy edge of her panties, I remembered we were in a fucking parking lot.
I settled my forehead against hers.
“It’s just you and me, baby girl. Always has been.”
“Huck,” she whispered, licking her swollen lips.
“I think it’s time you had a little chat with your daddy.”
I could understand him wanting to protect his daughter. Hell, I’d probably do the same for Claire when she was eighteen and a guy was sniffing around her. I’d even have my service pistol out when I did it.
But I’d walked away just like he’d wanted. I hadn’t done it for him but for Sarah. Then I put myself on the path to make her mine by going to the academy, and it had all fallen to shit. I wouldn’t trade Claire for anything, but I’d always had what-ifs. I did now, especially with her in my arms.
Sarah wasn’t a kid any longer. She was a grown woman and knew the truth.
She shook her head. “You’re the one that walked. Who never believed in us. That I’d go to school and then run my own shop. That you’d be there for me.”
I stepped back, ran my hand over my mouth. It didn’t erase her taste. My dick was still punching against the front of my jeans to get out. “Oh yeah? I always believed in you. That’s why I left. So I wouldn’t hold you back. But who’s holding stopping you now? If your daddy believes in you, then why aren’t you running the shop? Why doesn’t he let you work on the cars? Every time I’m on a scene with Roy, he’s nothing but a lazy ass. Your father would rather employ that fucker than you, his own daughter.”
A gasp escaped her lips, and
