The Patriot Girl (25 page)

“We’ll cross those bridges when we get there.” He had no idea what difficulties she believed they had ahead of them, but with her by his side, they would conquer the world. “Right now I want to get you home. When are they going to let you leave?”

****

MaKayla ran her fingers through his thick curls and stared into his eyes. They still had the same hypnotic effect on her as the morning she’d been tossed into his arms at the bank. Who would have known she would never leave them?

She pressed her lips against his, softly at first, but then opened her mouth to taste him, to claim him.

Trying and failing to make this relationship work would be better than not putting their all into the effort. She didn’t want to live with regrets the way his mother had.

The curtain was thrown back and Dustin hopped off the bed, ready to protect her from whoever interrupted.

“Hey, cowboy.” Jodi opened her palm against his chest. “It’s only us.”

“I didn’t know you had company, dear.” Peggy tapped MaKayla’s blanket-covered foot. “We’ll come back.”

“No, we won’t.” Jodi pushed Dustin aside. “I need to see for myself that she’s okay.” She placed a bag on the bed. “Here are some fresh clothes from your house.”

“Thank you.” MaKayla reached as far as she could to hold her best friend, and then hugged her mother. “I’m waiting for the doctor’s release.”

“Where’s my girl?”

Dustin moved to the opposite side of the bed to give her father room to hold her.

“How are you doing today, Mackey?”

“Good. I’m hoping they’ll let me out soon.” She looked at Jodi. “Any word on who did this?”

“Not yet. But don’t worry. You won’t be alone until they find him. Rex and I will be staying with you.”

“Rex?”

MaKayla took Dustin’s hand and answered. “That’s the name of Jodi’s gun.”

“Dustin, come get a coffee with me and give the ladies some gossip time.”

MaKayla wasn’t surprised to hear her father call Dustin out. She had wanted them to meet so she could get his opinion …but certainly not in this way.

The men left and her mother began to sob. Jodi handed Peggy a tissue. “She’s been doing this all day.”

“Why?”

“Maybe because she’s worried about you?”

MaKayla choked up. She never thought much about her mother’s caring. Of course her mother would have concern, but in her thirty-eight years, this was only the second time MaKayla had witnessed her mother expressing emotions.

She opened her arms. “Mother, come here.”

Peggy moved close enough for MaKayla to hold her. “I’m going to be fine, Mother.
And
I’m happy.” She glanced up at Jodi. “Dustin and I are together now and we’re going to make things work.”

“Wow. We have a full house here.” Her doctor came around the other side of the bed, smiling. “How are you feeling today?”

MaKayla released her mother as she returned the doctor’s smile. “Good.”

“Any dizziness or nausea?” He flashed a light into her eyes.

“No.”

“Ready to get out of here?”

“Yes.”

He concluded her examination. “Okay then. Let me go sign your release papers.” He returned twenty minutes later with papers in hand. “You’re good to go. If you feel dizzy or start vomiting, I want you back here. Don’t over-exert yourself for a couple days. You need to take it easy.”

MaKayla nodded and smiled at Dustin entering the room. “I can go home.”

Dustin looked at her parents and Jodi. “Do you mind if I do the honors? I’m not going to let her out of my sight.”

The doctor patted her leg, but looked at Dustin. “I want her to rest. If she shows any signs of dizziness or slurred speech, you bring her back here.”

He nodded.

After the doctor left, Jodi leaned above the bed’s metal bar for a hug. “I’m glad you two have worked things out. If I’d known it took a bullet to get you to come to your senses, I would have shot you a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry you missed out on the pleasure.” MaKayla embraced her friend as they shared a laughed.

She hugged her parents and assured them she’d call later. Dustin helped her out of the bed and into the bathroom to change into her fresh clothes.

Sitting in the passenger’s seat of Dustin’s minivan, MaKayla saw the world with her eyes wide open. She no longer had a barrier, shutting out people who cared for her because she feared reality. She reached for Dustin’s hand. Better things had come from putting the past behind.

After parking in her driveway, he came around to her side of the car, scooped her into his arms, and carried her over the threshold. “You can put me down now.”

“Not a chance.” He stepped into the living room and sat on the sofa with her still in his arms. “I don’t ever want to let you go.”

“You have to go home at some point.” Her eyes scanned each room from where she sat. A feeling of insecurity washed over her. As much as she didn’t want him to leave, he did have other obligations. She was going to have to learn to live here without fearing for her life. “You have a daughter and a business to tend to.”

He removed her sneakers then massaged her feet. “They’re both covered.”

She dipped her hand between his legs and felt his excitement. “How about we go to the bedroom and you can welcome me home properly?” She smiled at how quickly he had responded to her touch. Her lips dropped kisses on his neck. “Make love to me.”

“The doctor said you needed to rest.” He removed her hand. “They’ll be plenty of time for that when your body’s ready.”

“My body
is
ready.” She nipped his earlobe with her teeth.

“You’re not making this easy. I won’t jeopardize your health to satisfy our needs. Doc said you need to recuperate.” He removed her from his lap and sat her on the cushion beside him. “How about a cup of tea?” He stood, adjusted himself beneath his fitted jeans, and then headed toward the kitchen.

She put her head in the palm of her hands. The quick move from his lap had triggered a pulsating sensation between her eyes. “Sure. I’m going for a shower. I’ll be down to join you in ten minutes.” As she stood, she felt a blood rush and she lost her balance. Her knee banged against the table in front of her, and she sat back down.

Dustin came to her rescue. “Why don’t you relax?”

“I will after a shower.” He helped her up. “Make yourself at home and I’ll be down soon.”

The warm carpet beneath her feet made her feel better as she made her way to the top of the stairs. The eerie feeling returned. Soon Dustin would be gone and she’d be alone.

She couldn’t be a prisoner in her own home. She shook the feeling and turned the corner into her bedroom. She gasped. A gold foil package sat on the corner of her bed. Her stomach knotted and panic set in.

“Dustin.”

His footsteps pounded the stairs as he made his way to her side. “What is it?”

She pointed to the package. “What is that?”

He sat on the bed and took a deep breath. “It’s for you.” He handed her the box. “Jodi brought it by when she came to pick up your clothes.”

She pulled the bow, opened the box, and then read the card on top of the blue satin fabric. “Merry Christmas.”

He stood and took her into his arms. “I bought it the day we met at the mall.” She flashed back on the shopping bag she’d seen that day. His lips pressed against hers. “I hope it fits.”

He kissed her neck. Her breathing became heavy and her body weakened. Even if he would agree to lay her on the bed and make love, she needed a shower first.

“You need to leave so I can shower and try this on.” MaKayla held onto his shirt before he moved. “Unless you want to join me?”

He smiled, but headed down the stairs.

The hot shower had relaxed every cramped muscle in her body. She removed the midnight blue satin nightgown from the gift box and let the cool material glide down over her warm skin. Maybe a little fashion show would get him to change his mind about making love.

She left the matching robe in the box and headed downstairs. Leaning against the wrought iron railing at the bottom of the steps, she stared at the back of his head while he sat on the sofa and chuckled at something on the TV. “Ahem.” He turned around, stood up, and headed her way.

****

“Wow.” Just when Dustin thought he had his libido in check, he set his eyes on the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. When he picked up the eveningwear at the mall, he never really expected he’d be witnessing her modeling it for him. MaKayla took his outstretched hand. “You look beautiful.” The apple scent on her body had returned.

She kissed him on the lips and stepped even closer. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Her breasts were too close and too tempting. He couldn’t fall for her seduction. “I’m still not going to break doctors’ orders.”

“You’re no fun.”

He escorted her over to the sofa. “When the time’s right, you’ll be eating those words.” He adjusted two pillows against the armrest and tossed a tan blanket over her to ease his temptation. He lifted her legs onto his lap. Her bare thighs were calling for his attention.

He handed her a teacup. “Anything you want to watch?”

“I’m already watching what I want.” She stared at him. “How’s Dana doing in Oklahoma?”

“Great.” He hit the remote’s button turning off the television. “She’s turning her trip into a vacation. Can’t say I blame her. It’s beautiful and peaceful out there.”

MaKayla had told him she wanted to learn everything about him. Since they were on the subject of his favorite childhood place, there was no better time to share his memories. “We grew up there…on my grandfather’s ranch. He taught me how to ride horses, work hard, and be a man. My No Bulls idea came from my grandparents’ barn. Every Saturday night the town folks would stop by with potluck dishes and dance to country music. Anyone who sang or played an instrument would join in.”

“So you recreated your childhood with your club?”

He nodded. “I loved visiting them. I fell asleep on a haystack in the back of a truck one night. My mother woke me in time to see the sunrise. I remember wondering what else I had missed while I slept. Some days I get up before dawn just to watch the sunrise.”

“I need to take you to Kentucky sometime.” She smiled. “I, too, go there for the sunrises.”

He nodded and drank his tea.

Her smile faded. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why’d you give up being a lawyer?”

He explained how Liz had been raised by a nanny and had often felt deprived of her parents’ love growing up. She had wanted the hands-on experience of raising their child. “Giving up my practice was the only way to keep my deathbed promise to Liz.”

She reached out her hand and he took it. “I’m sure Melissa will appreciate that when she gets older. My mother was home with me…but we never bonded the way a mother and daughter should.”

“You seem to be now.”

She smiled. “That’s something I’m trying to get used to.”

“Now, can I ask
you
something?” He smiled, not sure exactly how to ask. Twice already he’d seen her best friend make a gesture that had sparked his interest. “What’s with Jodi and the tongue-in-the-cheek thing she does?”

MaKayla laughed and covered her mouth with her hands. “You saw her?”

He held up two fingers. “Twice.”

“So you’ve been spying on our conversations?”

He shrugged.

“What do you think it means?”

Every male knew the code for a blowjob. He wanted to know why her best friend had been giving MaKayla the signal. “Where I’m from, it means you made a man very happy.”

“Really?”

He chuckled. “You sound surprised. Why? You’ve never…?”

She shook her head. “Paul was very conservative. He didn’t think a woman should be down there. Jodi, of course, is always reminding me of what I’m missing.” She turned her body so that her head laid on his lap now. She looked up and smiled. “Are you a
conservative
man, Dustin?”

Was that her code for getting his permission? “Nope. You can do whatever you want to me”—he scooted down, leaning his head against the sofa so that her head now rested on his stomach—“after you’re feeling better.” He stroked her hair. “Go to sleep now.”

****

MaKayla opened her eyes to a darkened room. Her head lay on a sofa cushion instead of on Dustin. He must have gone home. She’d been awake for only seconds and already she missed him.

A bang in the next room made her stand up. She followed the scent of something cooking on the stove. Her head felt as if she had a bag of rocks inside her skull. Her stomach was queasy, and she was freezing. She glanced down at the nightgown she wore.

“Hey, beautiful. Sleep well?” Dustin enveloped her into his warm embrace.

“You’re still here?”

“Of course.”

She glanced at the pan on the stove. “What’s cooking?”

“My mother and Melissa dropped off homemade chicken soup for you.” He reached for a paper lying on the table. “And Melissa made this for you.”

She took the green construction paper with the words “Get Well Soon” scribbled in red surrounding a photo of his beautiful daughter’s face squished against a princess’ cheek.

MaKayla’s hand covered her heart. She’d yet to sit with the little girl to discuss her Florida trip, and see all the pictures she’d taken. Guilt rushed through her.

“She’s so cute, Dustin.” She met his gaze. “Did you tell them about us?”

His thumb caressed her cheek. “Yes. Melissa gave you a kiss on the forehead while you were sleeping. I told her she’d be seeing a lot more of you. My mother is, of course, thrilled and can’t wait to talk with you. Dana says you must have hit your head pretty hard to agree to put up with me.”

“Tell Dana that
hit
was what brought me to my senses.”

He smiled then gently kissed her mouth.

The noise of the back screen door squeaking made MaKayla break the kiss. She squeezed his arm. “What was that?”

Chapter Twenty

Dustin dashed out the back door and chased the person running down MaKayla’s driveway. “Call the police.”