Chapter 13
Jasmine
I settled against the railing, lifting my booted heel to the bottom rung as Jenna swung into Kassie’s saddle. The sun peaked over the horizon, and I inhaled the cool morning air. The horse stood placidly, tail twitching, as dirt drifted up around us.
“We’ll be back in an hour, maybe two,” Cam said as he brought his horse up next to Jenna’s.
“Take your time,” I said. “Cash and I are going to be just fine.”
Cam smiled, but the wear of worry still sat on the edges. “I know you will. That was never a doubt, Mama.”
I opened the gate, and they headed out. I sighed as I shaded my eyes, hoping that the trail ride and time together would help Cam and Jenna work through their lingering sadness.
As I turned back toward the house, I wondered what Steve was up to that morning. There I was, a mature woman, mooning over a man.
“Just silliness,” I said to myself. But my emotions were fresh and sweet, supple and beautiful. Real. I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face at the mere thought of him.
I opened the kitchen door just in time to find my grandson, clad in his thin reindeer pajamas, trying to climb up on the counter from the bottom drawer he’d pulled open, chanting, “Appa pie!” over and over.
I grabbed him at the waist to secure his little body and kissed the soft skin on his chubby cheek. “You were sleeping so sweet, Cash-man. What’s this with sneaking on Grammy’s counters?”
He squealed in sheer delight as he wriggled. I turned him so he was settled on my hip, and his big eyes implored from that sweet face. “Gamma! Appa pie.”
“You know it, my darling.” I smoothed his wild hair down and managed to get him settled in the wooden highchair his daddy used to sit in before I sliced him a piece of pie. Once he dug in, I poured a fresh cup of coffee and settled next to him, bringing my chair to touch his.
Cash turned and smiled at me, all innocence and joy, cheeks bulging with his treat. He didn’t know that I’d let his father and uncle eat apple pie for breakfast—well, anytime, really—when they were growing up. Right now, Cash felt decadent, and I loved making him feel special.
He was special, just as this moment between us was. I savored it.
“Love your pie, Gamma. Love you!”
His words warmed me deeply, and I smiled. “Love you more, sugar.” I gently booped his cute little nose.
Cash giggled as he picked up a piece of crust. “Daddy says to Mama: love you.” He scrunched his shoulders and giggled. “Love sugar. Love pie!”
I wondered if Steve would ever say something like that to me. “Can’t argue with truth.” I took a sip of my coffee while Cash devoured the rest of his slice. “Let’s get you dressed so we can play.”
Cash slid from the wooden chair until his chubby little feet hit the ground. “Kay! Cars.”
“You got it.”
Cash and I built a racetrack and zoomed his cars all over the living room.
I glanced up when I heard the crunch of gravel heading toward my drive.
Before I could get up, I heard Steve hailing Cam, who replied from close to the front deck.
A moment later, Jenna stepped into the house, her cheeks flushed, eyes bright, and ponytail messy.
“Good ride?”
“Just what we needed.” She slid to her knees and opened her arms to Cash, who jumped into them, babbling about his speed game.
Jenna smoothed his hair, and I shifted, my gaze darting toward the door.
“Steve asked to speak to Cam.”
Butterflies exploded in my belly. I knew why, of course. But the idea of my happiness resting on my son’s generosity motivated me to rise and move toward the door.
“Don’t worry, Mama. Cam wants you happy, and I’ve let him know that Steve’s the one who’ll do that.”
I tossed Jenna a relieved smile over my shoulder, but I kept walking. Much as I loved my son, there was no way I was going to let him dictate my future. I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.
The two men, both so tall and strong, were walking toward the barn, Cam holding a saddle against his hip. I hurried after them.
“…permission to court your mother,” Steve said. He opened the barn door.
I snorted at his antiquated language as I approached. Still, his desire to ensure our kids were happy made me love him more.
Cam’s gaze flashed to mine, humor sizzling in his eyes.
“I don’t think Mama’s going to agree with you there about needing my permission, but for what it’s worth, I know you’re a good man.
So do Carter and Kate, and Kate’s been talking my ear off about how good you’ll be for Mama, how happy you’ll make her.
In some ways, Kate would be the hardest nut to crack.
You’ve won her over along with Mama, so you have my blessing. ”
“I appreciate that,” Steve said, bowing his head as if he needed a moment to rein in his emotions. Sunshine bounced off the golden strands, and I thought, again, that Steve was like Adonis. One who didn’t know how to accept good—love—into his life. At least not with ease.
I decide then and there that was my mission. Steve deserved love, and I’d be the one lavishing. Maybe, if I were lucky, ravishing him, too.
Cam reached over and squeezed Steve’s thick shoulder. My heart pinged as I watched my boy connect with my man.
I’d always wanted this for Cam…and for me.
“Keeping Nash in line when he was in his self-destruct stage wasn’t easy. Taking his lip and absorbing all that nasty he needed to get out was even harder.”
Cam paused and Steve set his jaw as he forced his gaze back to Cam’s.
“He had every right to feel that way—”
“Maybe so, but you were there, solid and sure, through it all with him. You stood by him when he tried so damn hard to shove you away.” Cam glanced over at me, his eyes filled with his own ugly past.
My throat ached as I swallowed. I love you, sweet boy. Always. No matter what. And for always.
He seemed to catch on to my unspoken words because he offered me that lopsided grin I adored. Just to be utterly Cam he followed it up with a wink before he turned back to Steve, his countenance once again serious.
“That’s what I want for my mama: a man who cares for her and won’t back away from whatever challenges life tosses at you, even when they hurt.” His gaze shifted toward the house where Jenna and his son remained. “Because that’ll happen.”
Steve offered Cam his hand, and the two men shook while I cooled my heels a few feet away. Steve turned toward me, a thick blond eyebrow raised, as Cam headed into the barn.
“Fancy finding you out here,” I said.
Cam chuckled from the tack room. “Now that I got that put away, I’m going to fetch my lovely bride and my boy.”
Cam hugged me before sauntering off toward the Big House.
Jenna waved to him from the porch before she set Cash on his feet.
The little boy churned his sturdy legs, squealing as he ran to his father.
Cam picked him up, hugging him tight, before holding open his free arm to his wife.
Jenna settled against his side and they headed toward their place, all entwined.
My heart tugged with love at the sight of them.
I rose on tiptoe and swiped a kiss along Steve’s stubbled cheek. “Get what you came for?” I asked.
He’d been staring down at me, his expression intense. He shook his head slowly.
I shoved my hands into my back pockets. “All right. I’ll bite. What did you want?”
He snagged an arm around my waist and reeled me closer so that our bodies were pressed together from torso to booted toes. “You. Us. My bed, your bed. Together.”
I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck. “I like how you think, Sergeant.”
His eyes smoldered. “I like that you know my rank.”
I trailed my fingers down the center of his chest, next to the buttons of his crisply ironed dress shirt.
He’d made such an effort just to talk to my son.
His desire to do right by our relationship warmed my heart.
“I know lots of things.” I let my lips curve a little, enjoying this game, especially when Steve’s eyes darkened and his breath hitched.
“Do you, now?”
“Yep.” I popped the “p”. I leaned in closer so that our noses brushed. Steve inhaled sharply. “Want to guess one of them?”
He groaned rumbled through his chest and into mine. I shivered as the heavy weight of arousal settled in my core.
“Wrong answer.” I nipped his ear lobe, pleased when he gripped me tighter. A warm pulse in my core made me shiver.
“Hell, I can’t think…what’s that, Jasmine?”
I slid my chest against his as I rose up enough to put my lips to his ear. “I love you.”
He tightened his hold even more, though he was careful not to dig his fingers into my skin. I felt like prized porcelain—treasured and treated with utmost care.
We were products of our pasts, of secrets and trauma, and that’s what made us who we were—made us ready to be the other’s lover, beloved. Life had led us here, and I was very okay with that.
He kissed me, slow and sultry with a hint of sweetness that left me hotter and more than ready for some naked time.
We broke apart, panting. Jagged need curled from my core and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. I wanted him. Now.
As I reached for him, he pulled back, just enough to look into my eyes. “And I love you, Jasmine. You have me—all of me.”
I smiled to let him know I understood he meant the messy bits, too. Instead of dwelling on that now, I kissed him again. Our tongues danced. My body thrummed with need.
Breaking the kiss, Steve lifted me in his arms and carried me up the porch steps. I opened the door to the kitchen, and he inhaled.
“I love how your kitchen smells.”
I rested my cheek against his shoulder and wound my arms around his neck, content and needy. He shoved the door shut with his foot and trod through the kitchen and living area to the stairs. I marveled at the ease with which he carried me.