Wild Borders (25 page)

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The following afternoon, the Turners went to pick up Rick from the hospital. Apparently he’d be checking out today and Lani would have to face him.

She stood at her bedroom mirror and studied her reflection as she brushed her hair. Thoughts of all the things Rick had said to her over the past couple of weeks flooded her mind. Showing her his property and talking like he was including her in his plans. Picking out the stoneware pattern that she’d fallen in love with.

Calling her
his
woman.

“Damn it, Lani.” She thumped the brush down on the dressing table. “You can’t blow this chance. Just maybe Rick loves you, too.”

The sound of someone clearing his throat caused her heart to drop to her belly. She cut her gaze to the doorway and saw Rick standing there with his good arm hitched up against the doorway.

Heat flushed over her from head to toe. “You heard that.”

He gave a slow nod and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Well, he already knew she loved him—she told him that when he was shot—so what did she have to lose?

“I love you, Rick McAllister.” She stood a little straighter and faced him. “I need to know how you feel about me.”

Rick smiled and in two steps had his good arm wrapped around her shoulders and her body pressed to his. He squeezed her tight to him and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t you already know, honey? I’ve loved you from the beginning. I just had to wait until you figured out you loved me, too.”

Lani sagged against him, unable to believe it was true. He
did
love her. “I was so afraid you didn’t.”

He lightly tugged on her hair so that she was forced to look up at him. “How could you not know? I said it in a thousand different ways.”

Emotions swirled within like one of their summer monsoons. Happiness, yet worry over what he’d think about her being pregnant.

Before she had the chance to say another word, he said, “Come on. I want to take you somewhere special.” He turned away, heading toward his room, and tossed over his shoulder, “Pack your overnight bag.”

Insisting that he could drive just fine with one good arm, Rick drove from the ranch toward Bisbee, but Lani couldn’t help worrying about him.

He loves me!

They talked about nothing and everything. About her time with Trevor and how much Rick disliked hospital food. Yet he didn’t mention the future.

When they reached Old Bisbee, she smiled as she thought of the day they’d spent there. As Rick drove up the winding Main Street, memories assailed her. She saw the shop where they’d bought the dress. The museum. The café they’d had lunch at. The shop they’d picked out the dinnerware.

The bed-and-breakfast where they’d stayed.

And then Rick parked right in front of it.

Lani turned toward him. “What are we doing here?”

He trapped her in his azure gaze. “I have something to show you.”

Rick took her hand after they got out of the truck, and he smiled. Warmth seeped into her and she wanted to melt against him. Instead, she let him lead her into the inn, where he approached the guy at the front desk. The pony-tailed clerk tossed Rick a key without either of them saying a word.

“What’s going on?” she asked as Rick led her up the stairs.

“You’ll see.”

At the top of the staircase, Rick inserted the key into the lock of the same room they’d stayed in before. He opened the door and gently pushed her inside.

Lani stared openmouthed while the door closed behind them. Flowers completely filled the room. Bouquets of red and yellow roses sprinkled with baby’s breath covered the vanity. Vases brimming with white lilies and orchids topped the bureau. Baskets of purple irises, blue bachelor’s buttons, and pink carnations lined the walls. The only space left open was the bed and a pathway to it.

She looked up at Rick and saw him watching her, a silly grin on his face. “Do you like it?” he asked, his voice almost shy.

“I’ve never seen anything as wonderful in my life.” It smelled like a florists shop, sweet with the perfume of roses and carnations. “You did this for me?”

“It’s only the beginning.” He brought her to him and kissed her so thoroughly that her knees gave out and he had to catch her with his good arm. He started nibbling at her ear.

“Your injuries.” She gave him a worried look. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“When I’m with you everything’s fine.” Rick tossed his Stetson on the table.

Lani shivered as he started unbuttoning her blouse. He undid the front clasp of her bra and she gasped as his mouth captured her nipple.

She buried her hands in his hair and moaned. “Oh, god.”

“God, huh?” He pushed her blouse off her shoulders. “I’ve never been called that before.”

Before she could stop herself, she giggled, and Rick chuckled. She kissed the wound at his temple and the cuts and bruises on his face. When she helped him unbutton his shirt, she winced at the sight of the bandage around his arm.

In moments they were both naked, and tumbled to the bed. She kissed the bruises on his chest, her heart twisting at the sight of the dark purple and blue flesh.

He pushed her back against the pillow. “Let me,” he murmured. His lips took possession of her, loving every inch of her body. He slowly eased down her belly, to the soft hair, to the delicate skin of her thighs.

And when his tongue met that most intimate part of her, he drove her almost to climax, licking and sucking her clit, and then stopped and moved over her. She was burning alive for him, wanting him deep within her. She wrapped her legs around him, but he just braced himself on his good arm and smiled.

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?” She slid her arms around his neck. “Don’t stop.”

“Say it,” he whispered.

“What?” She squirmed under him, begging him without words to take her.

“Tell me you love me,” he said “Say it. I want to hear it again.”

He lowered his head and captured her nipple in his teeth and she moaned as she murmured, “I love you, Rick.”

He kissed her hard as he slid into her, filling her, his strokes slow and purposeful. She clenched his hips and raked her nails over his skin, urging him on.

“Look at me,” he said, his voice husky.

She gazed up into his blue eyes, their normal brilliance clouded with passion. Shockwave after shockwave rolled over her as she climaxed. He groaned and his body convulsed as he found his own release.

Lani closed her eyes, feeling completely boneless. Utterly relaxed with his heart beating against hers. She lifted her lids to see him watching her. “You don’t play fair.”

“I know.”

He withdrew from inside of her, but remained on top as he leaned over and opened the nightstand’s drawer. Her eyes widened as he pulled out a red velvet box and laid it between her breasts. “Open it, honey.”

Her hands trembled as she opened the box and saw an exquisite diamond and sapphire ring. She looked at Rick and saw him smiling at her.

“Marry me, Lani.”

Her thoughts spun. “Wow,” was all she could think to say. “Really?”

“I bought this the day after our stay here.” He stroked her hair behind her ear and his face was suddenly serious. “Like I said before, I fell in love with you the day I met you. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but it never seemed to be the right moment.”

Lani bit her lower lip, then said, “There’s one thing I have to ask you. Trevor said you told him not to tell me that he wanted me to stay.”

Rick smiled. “I asked him to hold off telling you because I wanted to.”

Lani sighed with relief. Even though he’d told her he loved her, a part of her had still held back, afraid to give in. “I was worried you didn’t want me around.”

“How could you think that?” He kissed her nose, her cheeks, her forehead. “Just the thought of you leaving rips me up inside.”

The happiness welling up inside her made tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

“Hey, are you okay?” His blue eyes filled with concern as he brushed hair from her face. “If you don’t want to live here, we’ll move to Tucson and I’ll get transferred there. I’d even move to San Francisco if it would make you happy. I just want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”

Her eyes widened. “You would do that for me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Oh, god.”

“There you go again,” he teased, and kissed her. “Say yes, Lani.”

She put a finger to his lips. “I have to tell you something first. And then if you’re as happy as I am, I’ll say yes.”

He gave her his lazy smile and ran his finger over the tip of her nose. “Deal.”

“Remember when the condom broke?” She took his hand and moved it between them to her belly. “You’re going to be a father again, sometime next April.”

His jaw dropped, shock crossing his face. “You’re pregnant?”

She nodded.

Rick raised himself up to run his hand over her abdomen. “Beautiful Lani. You’re going to be a mother. You’re going to have my baby. Our baby.”

Hope filled her heart. “Are you happy about it?”

“Hell yes, I’m happy. I want us to have at least half a dozen more kids together.”

Laughing, she nipped at his chest. “Half a dozen? Why don’t we just start with this one and Trevor, and go from there.”

He took the ring from the box. The diamond caught the light, sparkling and glittering with brilliant fire. The sapphires surrounding it were as deep as the blue in his eyes. “Will you marry me?”

She nodded, so unbelievably happy. “Yes. I love you so much it hurts.”

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her long and hard. The gold felt warm and solid, a bond made of love. It felt right.

“I love you, Lani,” he said, his gaze fixed on hers. He kissed her hair. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

Lani breathed in Rick’s earthy scent and sighed. “You can’t possibly be any happier than I am.”

“Darlin’, you have the rest of our lives to prove it.”

Chapter Twenty One

One year later

“Trevor, pick up your toys,” Rick said as he reached the landing. “You wouldn’t want someone to trip over them and fall down the stairs, now would you?”

“Okay, Dad.” Trevor scooped up the action figures, tossed them onto the floor of his room and dashed back. “Mom’s feeding the baby on the balcony. When she’s done, can we go over to Grandma and Grandpa’s? Roxie had her puppies and Grandpa said I could have one if it was okay with you.”

“Oh he did, did he?” Rick grabbed his son and tickled him until he squirmed on the floor in fits of laughter.

Trevor squealed. “Yes! And I want to name one Rex. Can I, Dad? Can I?”

Rick tousled the boy’s hair. “Okay, kiddo.”

“All right!” Trevor scrambled to his feet and ran to the master bedroom. “Mom! Dad said I could have one of Roxie’s puppies!”

He followed his son through the bedroom to the balcony. The sun was settling over the Mule Mountains, the sunset blazing across the sky in pink and orange streaks. Lani was reclining in her favorite chair, a soft smile on her face as she held their daughter over her shoulder, patting the baby’s back.

“Mom, what do you think of the name Rex for the new puppy?” Trevor asked as he gently stroked his baby sister’s arm.

“Sounds wonderful.” Lani hugged him, then looked up at Rick and smiled. “How was your day? No shower?”

Rick leaned over and kissed her. “Showered in the locker room.” His heart swelled as he looked at their daughter. “Let me hold Naya.”

“She’s all yours.” Lani handed the baby to Rick and he cradled his daughter in the crook of his arm and kissed the top of her head. Her features were so tiny and perfect. She was as beautiful as her mother.

“How’s Daddy’s girl?” He let Naya grab his finger with her tiny hand. She kicked and smiled, and made strange gurgling noises that filled his heart with intense joy. Her eyes were dark, and he fancied they would be the same chocolate-brown as Lani’s.

Trevor ran his hand over the baby’s soft blond hair. “Naya’s cute for a baby, but she’s not much fun. When’ll she be old enough to play with?”

“Oh, give her a few months.” Lani pulled Trevor into her lap and hugged him. “And then she’ll probably be into all your toys.”

“Some things I might let her play with, but not my important stuff.” Trevor wriggled out of Lani’s lap. “Can I call Grandma and Grandpa and tell them we’re going over there in a little while to pick out a puppy?”

“Sure,” Lani said, her smile ample.

“Did you finish those book reviews?” Rick asked after Trevor dashed out of the room.

She yawned and stretched. “I managed to e-mail the last one to Theresa while Naya napped.”

With a smile, he walked through the French doors into their bedroom and laid Naya in her bassinette. Lani followed and slid her arm around his waist as they looked down at their daughter.

“Do you remember when we made wishes at the lake on Trevor’s birthday last year?” Lani asked as she leaned against Rick.

“Mmmm,” he murmured and kissed the top of her head. “My wish came true.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “I wanted a baby. A child, like Trevor. But before I made that wish, I wanted to wish for you. I just didn’t think I could have you.”

He grinned. “Darlin’, you had me wrapped around your little finger from the day we met.”

She turned and eased her arms around his neck. “What did you wish for?”

“You.” Rick brushed his lips over Lani’s. “What do you say we take a nice long bath in that huge tub of ours, and start practicing making another brother or sister for Naya and Trevor?”

Lani sighed and melted against him. “I’m all yours, cowboy.”