Chapter Twenty-Three
“Seriously, did you bring the black swimsuit?” Cordell asked after they’d been on the road for miles. He reached for her hand. “I know you’re worried. I am, too. But the alternative is what? Kidnapping Amy Sue?”
Josie knew he was right. She’d done her best to convince her sister of the mistake she was making. Amy Sue was an adult. “What if I can’t stop this? Short of murdering Shane and going to prison, I don’t know what to do.”
“Like I said, I have some ideas since he has to get rid of you first,” Cordell said with a smile.
“I’ll tell you all about it at dinner. But know I’m not going to let him hurt you.
What I am going to do is try to show you such a good time that you’ll quit worrying for forty-eight hours and just enjoy yourself. ”
She couldn’t help but return his smile. “I did bring that black swimsuit.”
“Now you’re talking,” he said as they came over a rise and the Magic City, as Billings was called, came into view. “What do you say about the two of us going for a swim before dinner?”
Josie tried to relax. “You’re just determined to get me in that swimsuit, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “I’m just as determined to get you out of it later.”
“What changed your mind?” she asked as he drove into the largest city in Montana.
“Changed my mind about what?”
“You and me.”
He shot her a look. “Nothing has ever changed my mind about you and me.”
“But the other night before dinner at the hotel when you showed me the owner’s suite…”
He nodded, his eyes back on the road. “Make no mistake, I want you, but it’s true I want you for more than one night or even a weekend.” He braked for a red light and looked over at her. “I’m not like my brother. I know what I want and yes, I’d like to nail it down with a commitment.”
She started to say something, but he stopped her.
“I can understand that you don’t trust me completely. I left to make something of myself. For six years, I worked construction jobs. I saved every penny I could. I had plans for when I came back to Dry Gulch.”
“The hotel,” she said in surprise.
He grinned over at her. “I’ve always wanted to bring it back to life.”
The light changed and he pulled away. “I know I have to prove myself to you. That’s fine. I can do that. But I’m not like Goldie. I don’t want to wait years, just hoping you love me as much as I love you.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that. He’d said he loved her, but she’d already known that. “I think that sounds very reasonable.”
He grinned over at her. “I’m glad you agree.”
* * *
Cordell saw Josie’S expression when they checked into the hotel, and he’d reserved two separate rooms—though connected.
“What kind of commitment is it going to take?” she asked in the elevator as they rode up to their rooms.
“Aren’t you a lawyer?” he asked.
“You need something legally binding?” she asked, looking over at him to see if he was serious.
“I’m sure we can pound out the details over a drink later,” he said without meeting her gaze.
As the elevator door opened, he handed her the key to her room. “Let me know if you need anything. Just knock on the door between the rooms when you’re ready to go to the pool. We can go together.”
She took the key, her mind on what he’d said earlier.
Was he talking marriage before they slept together again?
It wasn’t like they hadn’t already had sex when they were younger.
They hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other.
They’d made love on a blanket in the woods, in the grass down by the river, on a towel on the dock at the lake—everywhere but in a bed.
Even on the tailgate of his pickup truck.
What he was suggesting surprised her. It was as if her bad boy had grown up and wanted everything that came with it.
Opening her bag, she pulled out the black swimsuit. It had been six years since she’d worn it. Josie remembered the last time as she pulled it on again. She shivered at the memory since it was also the last time she saw Cordell for six long years.
She felt sick at the thought that he might disappear again after this weekend. Wasn’t that her fear? Did she trust that he was truly back?
Her skin felt prickled at memory of Cordell’s breath on her neck as he came up behind her at their swimming hole. His fingertips brushed across her shoulder and down to the hollow between her breasts.
She straightened, but the memory stayed with her. It had been too long since she’d felt his touch on her bare skin. She ached for it, just as she ached for him. But how far would she go to get what she wanted?
Or more to the point, how far would he go?
* * *
Shane was like a kid on the plane. Amy Sue traded places with him so he could sit by the window after he told her he’d never flown before. She loved seeing how happy and excited he was.
She just wished she could feel the same.
As hard as she tried to push what she’d found hidden in his duffel out of her thoughts, she couldn’t.
Just as she couldn’t forget what Josie had told her about Shane and Roger Grimes having known each other.
They would have gotten out of the prison at the same time except for that paperwork that kept Shane in longer.
Amy Sue remembered his writing her about that. He’d sounded as if he was surprised to be getting out when he did. But he must have known for some time that he was being released. He’d kept that from her and had only recently let it slip.
“I didn’t want to get my hopes up or yours, either,” he’d said when she’d questioned him about it.
At the time, she’d accepted his answer as being responsible. She would have been disappointed had he not gotten out.
“Look,” Shane said, drawing her over to the window. “It’s Vegas.”
She didn’t have to ask. Clearly he’d never been there. She watched him take in all the large buildings with a kind of awe. Again, she heard her sister’s voice. Does this look like a man who would be happy farming outside of Dry Gulch, Montana?
Shane had to put a couple of quarters in the slot machines at the airport before they caught a taxi. He instructed their driver to take them to the Regional Justice Center downtown, where they would get their marriage license.
“Don’t you want to go to the hotel first so we can get rid of our bags?” she whispered to Shane, who shook his head.
“We’ll go to the hotel after we get our license. We’re getting married today!”
She couldn’t understand the rush. He’d already told her that the Clark County Marriage License Bureau was open from eight in the morning to midnight 365 days a year. They had the whole weekend since he said they wouldn’t be flying back until late Sunday.
He was definitely enamored with Vegas and the bright city lights, she thought, amused and also worried as he took in the city from the taxi window.
Clearly, there was so much he hadn’t experienced.
From his letters, she’d gotten the impression that he’d had a rough life, no money, not much hope, and that he’d spent much of his youth behind bars.
She tried to see it all through his eyes but as they passed one gaudy wedding chapel after another, this all felt too rushed and not what she’d ever pictured. She’d never thought she’d ever get married without her sister by her side.
* * *
Down at the pool, Josie removed her cover and dropped it and her towel on a chair. There had been a couple in the hot tub, but they were leaving as she and Cordell came in. She could feel his gaze on her as she turned, walked to the edge of the water and dived in.
By the time she surfaced, he was right beside her. His hands cupped her waist as he drew her to him and kissed her. They floated together, barely moving more than it took to keep them afloat. He pulled her closer with one arm and cupped her cheek.
“I’ve loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you in sixth grade,” he whispered as he brushed over her lower lip with the rough paid of his thumb.
“As I remember, you were still eating glue like the elementary schoolboys back then,” she joked even as his touch sent a tremor through her.
“Oh, so you did notice me, huh?” His chuckle was low, seductive. He dropped his hand, those fingertips grazing the top of her breasts. Her nipples were already taut and aching. “I do love this swimsuit,” he said as one finger dipped under the fabric to rub her nipple.
She arched against him, her body crying out for this man whom she’d loved as far back as she could remember, whom she would always love.
She cupped the back of his head and drew him into a kiss, her tongue teasing his.
She felt his own need growing against hers.
If they weren’t careful, they would be making love right here in this pool like they would have done when they were teens.
Cordell pulled her down under the water before breaking off the kiss. His hands on her waist, he lifted her and surfaced beside her again—just not as close.
“I hope there is no more question about whether or not I want you,” he said as if seeing that she was shaken as badly as he was by their intimacy.
She couldn’t speak. Her body vibrated with a primitive need that she knew only he could fulfill.
“We’d better get ready for dinner,” he said as he quickly kissed her, then turned and swam toward the edge of the pool.
* * *
Shane had gotten them a beautiful room with a view of the Strip. The moment they entered, he threw himself on the bed, bouncing and laughing. “This is the life!” His gaze met hers. “Come on.”
She knew what he wanted. A quickie before they got dressed to go to the wedding chapel he’d reserved.
“Not until you make an honest woman out of me,” she said as she grabbed the dress she was going to wear and headed for the bathroom.
She could hear him chuckle before ordering champagne from room service.
She wondered if he’d used her credit card to pay for all of this, then hated herself for thinking it.
Leaning against the glass shower wall, she tried to catch her breath.
This was happening too fast; she wasn’t getting time to think.
Back at the farmhouse before the flight, she’d seen him take down his two duffel bags.
There wasn’t any way he hadn’t noticed that the copies he’d made about the farm weren’t where he’d hidden them.
She’d watched him out of the corner of her eye, expecting some kind of response.
But there’d been none as he’d turned and began putting clothing into the bag. The other one he rolled up and pushed into the first bag.
“You’re taking both bags?” she’d asked.
He’d hesitated but just for a moment before he’d turned to look at her. “You caught me. I’m hoping I can pick up some new duds in Vegas, dress a little better for my soon-to-be wife.” His smile hadn’t reached his eyes.
“There is nothing wrong with the way you dress,” she’d said and had to bite her tongue to keep from adding, “After all, you’re going to be a farmer soon.”
“Hey,” he now called from the other room. “We need to get going.”
With trembling fingers, she pulled on the dress. It was one she’d been saving for a special occasion, never dreaming she would be getting married in it. She looked at herself in the mirror. Are you really going to do this?
She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the day she saw him waiting by his motorcycle.
She could still recall that well of emotion she felt when he’d looked at her.
She’d gotten to know this man from his letters.
He was sweet and thoughtful, and he’d come all the way to Montana for the dream the two of them had of running the farm together.
Opening her eyes, she took a breath and let it out before she opened the door and plastered a smile on her face. “Let’s get married!”
Shane took her in with his eyes, looking as if he’d never seen anyone more beautiful. “My bride,” he said and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. “Come on. You don’t want to be late for your own wedding.”
* * *
Josie’s body felt alive even after the shower and getting dressed for dinner. Cordell had told her that he’d asked around for the most romantic place to have dinner in town. He was definitely pulling out all the stops, she thought.
The restaurant exceeded its reputation. It was elegant, small, private and very romantic. But she would have found having a hot dog from a vendor on the street romantic as long as she was with this man. He wore new jeans, a white shirt and a sports jacket and boots. He’d never looked more handsome.
After their almost lovemaking in the pool, she was ready to sign on the dotted line. Cordell didn’t have to prove himself. She saw the man he was. She felt him in her heart. He’d come home to her. He was all she’d ever wanted.
A part of her wanted to argue about how she could agree to marry him, though, when her sister was in this relationship with Shane.
“Nope, not tonight,” Cordell said as if seeing that she was worrying about her sister. “Tonight, it is just you and me.”
She smiled at him and nodded. “Just you and me,” she said, looking at him in the candlelight. “Thank you for this.”
“My pleasure. Did you enjoy the swim?” That mischief she’d loved so much was right there along with that dimple.
“Oh, I did,” she said with a chuckle. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to seduce me.”
He gave her his best innocent look. “On the contrary. I’ve never wanted to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
“This commitment. Does it have to be written in blood?” She saw his expression and realized the joke hadn’t come off as well as she’d hoped. “Sorry.”
“No, I am. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“I don’t,” she assured him as the waiter approached their table. They ordered drinks and appetizers. She asked for a pen and paper, avoiding Cordell’s questioning look. The drinks arrived quickly—along with a pen and paper.
She took a sip of her drink, looking at him over the rim of her glass before she put down her drink, picked up the pen and began to write.
The next time she looked up, Cordell appeared amused.
With a flourish, she signed what she’d written and added the date, time and place. Then, taking her time, she folded the paper and put it on the table next to her before picking up her drink again.
“You aren’t going to let me read it?” he asked, studying her.
“Let’s see how the night goes,” she said and took a sip of her drink.
Cordell chuckled and raised his glass to hers. “To the perfect evening.” They clinked glasses.