Hide and Seek (21 page)
Holt studied Caprice. Her cheekbones appeared more prominent. "I was on my way to West Virginia."
Her eyes widened, a smile curved her lips and something in her expression looked relieved.
“Look, LeBerger,” Doc’s tone was impatient. “I've left several messages on your…”
Holt stared and laid a hand over his hammering heart.
As if Caprice understood his befuddlement, she said, "I came back because…” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “I learned something yesterday that I felt you should hear about in person, so I rescheduled some of those endless depositions with the state attorney’s office then drove all night."
Her accent melted him. What did she have to say? What could be so important?
A big guy with
We Move America
stamped across his brown tee shirt stepped beside Caprice. He gestured with a stubble-covered chin. “Ya know him, Freckles?"
Freckles?
Holt bristled and turned his back on the guy, effectively blocking his view of Caprice. “She knows me." Holt’s gaze feasted on the witch’s lips, the pointed nose he adored. "Where's Shawn?"
"He and Sherman, our new puppy, are with Melissa.”
“Ahh.” Holt found he was smiling. “Things have changed.”
“Yes, they have and that’s why I came back, but...” She gestured to the Mustang. “After I left your sister’s house, my car started making rattling noises. Steam started spewing from under the hood." Caprice acknowledged the others with a graceful sweep of her arm. "Fortunately these gentlemen stopped and graciously offered their assistance."
As if he had been personally complimented, Puddin' colored and cleared his throat. "Ma'am, I do believe your vehicle's radiator has split a seam. These older, copper models can be easily repaired with the use of a torch, which I happen to retain at my residence."
Holt snorted at Puddin’s up-scale register when the trucker scooted back into view. "Sure you don't want a ride into town, miss?"
"No, she doesn't," Holt said not bothering to hide his annoyance.
A resulting silence ensued. Several hostile stares turned on Holt. The trucker’s dark eyes narrowed. Doc squared his shoulders. Puddin’ filled his chest and spit hard into the bottle.
Feeling ugly and battered, Holt glared at Jason’s flaccid features. “Why are you here? Go home and see your
wife.
”
Aware these men didn’t appreciate his attitude, Holt drew himself to his full height. He was ready to charge when a jolt like an electric current hit his chest and zinged, slamming his toes. He blinked and stared at Caprice.
I came back...
Wasn’t that what she had said?
I came back
.
Like a soothing elixir, her words poured over the angry raw and scraped places deep inside him. No woman…no woman but this one had ever returned to him. Finding it necessary to swallow the sudden constriction in his throat, he turned and dropped the Mustang's hood support. As metal slammed, he faced his friends. "I'll look after Caprice."
"Caprice."
We Move
savored her name like a dog with a marrow-filled bone. His eyes widened and his gaze raked up and down her length. “Wait, I’ve seen you before…”
Holt’s nape hairs bristled and Caprice’s expression became shuttered. “Sorry?”
The man bobbed his head and his enthusiasm grew as he pointed. “Yeah. You posed naked for the September edition of…”
Holt threw the first punch. He sent
We Move
stumbling on his booted feet. Following his target, Holt drew his arm back to strike again when Caprice cried, "Somebody stop him. Please!"
Every man obeyed. They jumped the trucker.
Doc’s powerful, bull-wrangling hand impacted Holt’s chest. “Ho, LeBerger! That’s enough.”
It took a few hefty shoves, but Puddin', despite his small wiry stature, separated the trucker from the rest. The farrier eyed the man. "This is Elixir, asshole. We don't insult our women.
Ever
."
Along with several grunts of agreement, bobbers and lures jangled, but Doc’s tone was laced with patience. "Better try another spot downstream, son.”
Flushing deeply, the trucker glanced at the guarded expressions on the community of friends. "See ya."
As his boots scuffed through the long, roadside grass, Holt clamped his arm over Caprice’s shoulders, and he took a primal satisfaction when she leaned against him.
Puddin’ shook his head and released a low envious whistle. "Guess, I’ll be looking elsewhere as well, but I sure do like your taste in females, LeBerger!"
Men chuckled and reset their caps. They flexed their shoulders and tucked their shirts back into wash-worn jeans. Most strode away, discussing an early lunch and tall iced teas.
"Holt," Doc said, "the church is sponsoring the Community Christmas Concert again."
Holt waved his hand. "Not interested.”
"Perhaps, but the Chamber of Commerce breakfast is next month. We thought you'd make a nice opener by singing for us."
Holt glared. “It’s not gonna happen.”
Caprice stared. “Singing? Holt, I recall you telling me not to short-change others out of my gifts. Are you exempt from your own advice?"
Aware he’d been busted, Holt exhaled and eyed the vet whose grin had turned broad. "Okay. Maybe we can work a deal."
"State your terms."
"I've just shipped in a beautiful, two-year old bull from Texas. He’ll need a breeding soundness exam for my records."
"Done. I'll give him a thorough BSE next week." The older man scrutinized Caprice as he took her extended hand. "Better get out of the sun, young lady.”
Soon, Doc's dusty vehicle pulled onto the asphalt and left behind clay tracks the color of sweet potatoes.
"It’s hot, Caprice. Let's go."
"Wait. My luggage." She removed keys from her purse, opened the trunk, and Holt grabbed her suitcase.
Once inside the cool motorhome, he locked the door then turned and pulled her into his arms. His lips captured hers and held for long seconds before he pulled away. "I don’t know what brought you back, but you belong with me."
“Well, actually I...”Armor barked and she reached to stroke the dog. "Armor, I didn’t mean to ignore you."
Caprice’s high color worried him. "Just a moment." He flung open the refrigerator and handed her a bottled water. "How long were you standing out there?"
She lifted a delicate shoulder. "They weren't sure what was wrong."
"Like hell. They were just becharmed by your presence." Holt took a clean cloth, wet it at the faucet, and dabbed at her face. “Lady, you shouldn't have driven so far with just Shawn and a dog for company."
"I stayed on the interstate. And, this time I had my G.P.S, my cell phone, and the charger.” Her expression turned somber. "Holt, there's something I must tell you."
He pressed his fingers to her lips. "Okay, but this isn't the place. Let's move before some sheriff's deputy slaps me with a ticket."
In moments, he turned west on a secluded, graded road near real estate he had purchased for timber. He cut the engine and stood. Closing his fingers around her elbow, he drew her up. "Come here, darlin’.”
Bending at the knees, he swung her into his arms and carried her the short distance to his room. When he set her onto her feet, he caught her lips with his, kissing her hard then began to unbutton her blouse. He kissed her neck and she tipped her head, allowing him access to her throat.
She sighed. "We should..."
"Shh. We'll talk, I promise," he breathed, shoving the blouse down her arms, "but first let me touch you." He dropped feather-light kisses on her bare shoulders. Her quivered response fueled his desire. "Ahh, Caprice, I’ve missed you!" He drew pins from her hair and they hit the carpet in tiny thuds as lush locks cascaded to her shoulders. Joy zinged in his veins as she captured his face between her palms and claimed his lips with hers.
They pulled away and her eyes glowed with a confetti of emotions he could only half discern, but that was because Caprice was so complicated…and well…witch-like.
Sliding his hand up the back of her thigh, he shoved the denim up and drew her against the hardest, most needy part of him. She was supple, made for his arms.
She tugged the leather strip from his hair. Her eager hands roamed his chest and shoulders before she changed tactics and began twisting his shirt buttons free. He was irreversibly in love. The thought didn't frighten him, or send him crawling into a dark hole of torment.
"Caprice, I love you."
She shoved his shirt apart. Her fingers unhooked his belt buckle. She pulled his shirt free and kissed his chest. Stepping away, he unsnapped his jeans, and shoved them down his legs. Her hands glided down his torso to his hips.
"Caprice!"
One by one the fine threads of his control snapped as he followed her down onto the mattress. He shoved his knee between her thighs and stared into wide, green eyes. He considered using protection, but he wanted her bound to him for life.
Her hands swept over him, so eager and loving, then stopped on his sore backside. “What happened here?”
“Nothing but what the doctor ordered. Now, I’m with you.” Hooking his arm under her middle, Holt centered her beneath him in one sliding movement and entered her. Her surprised gasp was followed by a welcoming sigh as she gripped his shoulders. "Caprice, my love."
As she climaxed, his mouth covered her soft, desperate cries. He wanted only to please her then lost his control. He slumped onto her, peaceful, humbled, and no longer polluted by the past.
Later, she lay curled in his arms, their legs entangled. She stretched and he lifted onto his elbow so he could run a hand over her ribs, to the indentation of her waist, and the jut of her hip.
“Now, I’m curious,” he murmured. “What did you need to tell me?”
When he smoothed her middle, she stopped the movement, pressed his palm firmly onto her abdomen and ensnared his gaze. “I saw the doctor yesterday. I’m pregnant.”
This time he blinked as emotions tumbled over him in giant waves. His gaze swept back to his resting hand. He couldn’t speak.
"We weren't careful,” she said. “Not every time."
Seconds passed before he found his voice. "How do you feel? When?"
She smiled. "I'm fine and due in late June.” She sat up, adjusting the sheet over her breasts. "You won't be obligated, but you deserved to know."
"Obligated?” He rubbed his face as if to finally clear away the past. "Caprice, I’ve been a frickin’
gobshite,
and I’m sorry I hurt you,” he said and knew he had never spoken more honestly.
Her eyes softened, yet were filled with amusement. “I can teach you a lot stronger swear words than
gobshite
.”
“Count me in." Smiling now, he wound a cool shank of her hair around his wrist. "I’ll admit I was afraid of losing again, but I love you, Caprice. I want to be a father to Shawn, and our baby.”
She leaned forward and gripped his chin to plant a honeyed-kiss on his lips. "I want that too."
Caprice and Shawn had brought sunshine to the dark burrows in his soul. A woman, a son, and a baby on the way. A family…just like that.
She kissed his shoulder. “I’ll never leave.”
"That's because you belong right here." He touched the slashing scar that tapered to a fine point right over the most loving part of him...his heart.
A word about the author...
Raised in a military family, Charlene Newberg spent three years attending grade school and touring castles in Germany. She earned a bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University and has taught elementary school, but now writes fulltime.
While reading and traveling always inspire her writing, she is also an avid gardener and equine enthusiast. She resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her husband and children.
Write her at:
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