The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Cowboys of Chance Creek Book 8) (28 page)

“I’m going to read you a bedtime story.”

She laughed. “Really?”

“Really.” He bent down and shuffled through the paperbacks on the bottom shelf of her bedside table. “You read this one yet?”

“No.” It was a mystery set in a small New England town.

“Good. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

At first she thought she’d never be able to fall asleep with Luke reading aloud to her, but she found she couldn’t simultaneously think of to-do lists and follow the storyline, too. It wasn’t long before her eyes drifted shut, and not much longer until she was dreaming.

In the morning,
Luke was pleased to see that Mia looked much brighter than she had the night before. He knew she needed to get ready for another busy day, but his body wanted more alone time with her. He lay in bed considering his options as she got up, picked out her clothes and made her way to the bathroom. He waited until he heard the shower running before he got up, too, and knocked on the bathroom door. “Mia? Can I come in?”

“It’s unlocked.”

Luke slipped inside and shut the door behind him just as Mia pulled the shower’s sliding glass door shut. She raised her eyebrows when he shucked off what little clothing he was wearing and made to join her.

“You don’t mind, do you?” he asked, slipping under the warm water with her.

“I have to keep moving.”

“I won’t slow you down. Here, you wash your hair. I’ll wash the rest of you.”

“Luke.”

“Get going—you don’t want to be late.”

“Fine.” She took the shampoo from him and lathered up her hair, but as soon as he soaped up his hands and began to wash the rest of her, her movements slowed. Luke started with her shoulders and neck, moved down to her arms and chest, and when he skimmed his hands around to lather her breasts, Mia moaned and sank back against him.

“Is that good?” he asked as he circled her breasts and smoothed his palms over her nipples.

“That is so good,” Mia murmured. Sensing her acquiescence, Luke took advantage of the situation. He did all the hard work, supporting her as she leaned forward to brace herself against the wall, spreading her legs with his thighs and then easing into her from behind.

He used one arm to keep her upright, but slipped the other hand between her legs to move in sensual circles as he moved inside her. Her lush, ripe, wet body turned him on until he found it difficult to keep Mia’s pleasure foremost in mind. He wanted this to be a special experience for her, but his own need made itself known and soon he’d be hard pressed to hold back.

He needn’t have worried. Mia came with a cry that echoed against the tiled walls and her obvious pleasure tugged him right there with her. His release shuddered through him until his whole body tingled with it. Afterward, he moved out of Mia and helped her clean up.

“I hope I didn’t make you late,” he said as he helped her out of the shower.

“I don’t care if you did. I needed that more than anything,” Mia said, standing on her tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“Don’t ever be afraid to ask me for what you need—whatever it is. I’m yours—especially today.”

“Well…” Mia considered this as she wrapped a towel around her body. “First, I have to eat. I refuse to collapse at Rose’s wedding.”

A grin spread across his face. “One pancake breakfast, coming right up.”

‡
Chapter Twenty

M
ia thought she’d
be exhausted after Tracey’s wedding the night before, but her encounter with Luke in the bathroom energized her and she had a spring in her step as she went about the business of setting up for Rose’s big day. The Cruz ranch’s guesthouse made the perfect setting for a wedding, with its floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room and panoramic views. She should have guessed that all her friends would pitch in to help, too. The four couples who lived on the ranch were already hard at work by the time she and Luke arrived to set up, and pretty soon the other couples from the Double-Bar-K arrived to join in. Mia was afraid that she’d have a hard time making everyone listen to her, but when she showed up, clipboard in hand, with Luke standing guard behind her, her friends put themselves at her disposal and carried out her orders willingly.

“I could get used to this,” she told Luke after she’d dispatched Ethan, Cab, Jamie and Rob to move into position the tables that had been dropped off the night before.

“You’ll make the prettiest tyrant ever, princess.”

With so many willing hands it was a cinch to get all the chairs set up in rows for the ceremony and all the decorations in place, too. Autumn was helping Fila and Camila with the catering, so Mia didn’t have to worry about that. They finished setting up so early, Mia had plenty of time to help Rose dress for the wedding and soothe her friend’s last minute wedding jitters.

Rose looked regal in her form-fitting white dress as she took her place at the top of the aisle. Mia thought all her hard work was worth it when she slid into her seat just as the wedding march started and she saw Cab’s face as he caught sight of his bride. His love for her was so plain to see, and when she turned her head, Mia saw that Rose had eyes for no one but Cab, either.

“That’s what I want,” Mia whispered to herself.

“Me, too,” Luke said in her ear and handed her a handkerchief. She took it gratefully and dabbed her eyes, her heart swelling at his words, and at the kind gesture. Luke put an arm around her shoulder as Rose joined Cab at the altar and Reverend Halpern began the service.

“You did great,” Luke whispered in her ear.

“This is the easy part. Wait and see how the reception goes.” But his praise touched her.

Was Luke finally on her side?

Luke had to
hand it to Mia; she could really throw a party. He didn’t think he’d been to a wedding where the guests had so much fun. The furniture that normally filled the guesthouse living room was gone, replaced by the same circular tables used at Tracey’s wedding the night before. This time the color scheme was white and peach, and Mia had made the place a festive springtime oasis. Fila, Camila and Autumn had outdone themselves with the food and had hired several local teens as servers for the evening. A bartender kept drinks flowing, and when the meal was done the guests had pitched in to move tables and form a dance floor.

Through all of it, Mia’s bulky form had moved more gracefully than he would have thought possible, as she solved problems, kept guests happy, made sure everyone had enough food and drink and kept the bride and groom circulating, dancing and performing every duty a bride and groom had at their wedding.

“Come on.” Jake jolted him from his reverie with an elbow to the side. “Cab and Rose are leaving in a minute.”

Luke followed the crowd to the front porch where Rose was just giving Mia a huge hug.

“Thank you. It was everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Rose said.

“Thank you for being my first and best fan,” Mia said.

Luke felt a pang that he hadn’t been Mia’s first and best fan, and decided then and there that from now on he would be her most loyal one. He stood by her side as the crowd waved off Cab and Rose, who left in a limo for a quick drive to the airport, where they’d catch a flight to Italy and spend ten days on their honeymoon. Luke knew Rose was thrilled at the chance to see classical architecture and artwork—and that Cab was thrilled to get away with his new bride, no matter where they went. He had no doubt the couple would enjoy themselves immensely.

As the guests trailed back into the house, he sensed that more casual friends would soon leave, until only a core of those closest to the bride and groom remained. Before the music died down, he wanted one dance with Mia.

It took some persuasion, but some minutes later he was swaying to a slow song, Mia’s belly pressing into him.

“This is awkward,” Mia complained.

“It’s terrific.”

“Will you stay with me again tonight?”

“So I can read you to sleep again?”

“Yes.” She buried her face against his chest. “And so you can be there. So I don’t feel so alone.”

Luke stopped. “Do you feel alone?”

She looked up at him. “Sometimes. A lot of the time, I guess.”

“You’re not, you know. I’m always here, even if we aren’t together.”

She didn’t answer, just leaned against him as he began to sway to the music again. She didn’t have to speak, though. He understood what she was saying. She might not like to ask for help. She might not be ready to accept his offer of marriage. But she needed him.

The baby kicked against his stomach and he chuckled, sliding a hand down to rest on her belly. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, young’un.”

“She’s just saying hello.”

“Hello, baby,” Luke said back. “Can’t wait to see your beautiful face.” He heard Mia take a ragged breath. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know why you stick around when I’ve been such a—”

“Shh. I’ve been hard-headed, too,” he cut her off. “You know exactly why I stick around. I love you. I hope someday you’ll let me stick around permanently.”

She sighed. “Don’t you think we ought to date before we decide something like that?”

Luke knew he’d have to tread carefully through this conversation. “Haven’t we been dating?”

“Not really.” She pulled back. “We’ve been sleeping together.”

“I like sleeping with you.”

She smiled. “Yeah, it’s not bad. But that’s not dating.”

“So you want to be wined and dined, huh?”

“Something like that. I know one thing.” She pulled away from him and rubbed her back. “I don’t want to get engaged when I’m as big as a house.”

He bit back his disappointment. He’d take her at her word. At least she was talking about getting engaged. That was progress. He could understand why she’d want to put off big decisions until after she had her baby, although he wished they’d be married before the birth.

As much as he wanted to plead his case and push for a wedding sooner rather than later, he decided this wasn’t the time or the place. Mia was tired. She’d pulled off two major events in two days, with a third to come. He’d respect her wishes tonight, and think it over himself tomorrow.

“Well, I was
wrong,” Lila said to Mia late in the day of the family reunion. “Everyone loves your tents. They’re exotic and beautiful all at once.”

As darkness fell, the fairy lights hanging around the tents made them seem like otherworldly halls. Children raced about playing tag and hide and go seek, slipping from shadow to light back to shadow again. Adults sat at tables and drank wine, laughing over shared remembrances and lingering over desserts. After sending Lila a set of questions, Mia had concocted a trivia game about the family and the questions and answers had set the whole crowd buzzing and laughing, and brought them all together.

“I’m glad you like them.” Mia patted Lila’s arm. “You have a wonderful family.”

“And so will you. Your children will be lucky to have a mom like you. I bet they’ll have birthday parties that will be the envy of all their friends.”

Mia smiled. “I like that idea.”

“I was just nervous—that’s why I gave you so much trouble, dear,” Lila confided. “But you kept me on the straight and narrow. You’re good at your job.”

“Does that mean you’ll write me a glowing recommendation?” Mia grinned.

“You bet I will. Oh—Roger’s just about to spill that juice all over Matthew.”

Mia rushed over to the two boys just in time to prevent the accident Lila had spotted, smiling ear-to-ear. If she’d impressed Lila White, she had to be good at her job.

She’d done it. Three events in three days. Surely that had to be a record.

“Another triumph.” Luke slipped up to Mia and kissed her neck.

“Hey, you’re still on the clock, you know.” Mia had gladly accepted Luke’s offer of an extra pair of hands today. Jake had taken over the chores at the Double-Bar-K, for which she was eternally grateful. Once again, Luke had proved willing to take orders and work hard during the set up process. Once the party was underway he’d been a godsend with some of the more troublesome kids. He’d invented games and races to keep them out of trouble while the parents socialized. Mia was so impressed she wished she could bring him to all her events.

“What do you think? Employee of the month?” He grinned at her.

“Damn straight, if you keep it up.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“Is that all I get? I want a plaque.”

“We’ll see about the plaque. For now my only goal is living through the next few hours.”

“You sure about
this?” Carl said as he made out a check to Luke.

Luke sighed. “Yeah, I’m sure. If you’re going to be a real rancher this time, you’ve got to have a real truck, not one of your namby-pamby foreign excuses.” They stood in front of Linda’s Diner, where Luke had asked the other man to meet him for a cup of coffee. They’d talked business and finances, and then Luke had mentioned he wanted to sell his truck.

“I guess you’re right.” Carl scrawled his signature and tore off the check. “For what it’s worth, I think this is a good start. Cash in the bank is a solid foundation for any venture.”