Chapter 1 #2
“Hello?” he shouted, trying to out scream the baby so he wouldn’t catch its caregiver off guard. Surprise out in these parts could be deadly.
From around a tree, the most intense set of blue eyes peered at him.
Wheat-colored hair slicked back in a bun and Coke-rimmed glasses didn’t give the unfamiliar face away.
Her full lips weren’t something he needed to focus on, so he forced his gaze to the pink bundle with a set of lungs in her arms.
“Help,” Blue Eyes said. The one word spoken in such an anxious voice, tightened the knot that had formed in Adam’s gut. She opened her left hand and a sharp stick tumbled out.
So much for desperate.
Prudence Owens stared into the most intense and beautiful pair of eyes she’d ever seen. “I’m Prudence.”
“Adam,” he said but she already knew his name. “What are you doing out here?”
He had every right to ask the question and she wished she had an answer for him. All she could do was shrug.
Adam had been five or six grades ahead of Prudence in school, so she knew him by name and reputation only.
She’d been in the same grade as his younger brother Fallon, though she hadn’t known him personally either.
It seemed like the Firebrands were all sports stars or popular kids, whereas as she would have been voted most likely to be found in the library.
He shot her a look of disbelief.
“I have no idea. I promise.” Prudence wasn’t lying. She couldn’t for the life of her remember much of anything that had happened today or how she’d ended up with this angel in her arms. She glanced down at the bundle. “I don’t know what she wants. Can you please help?”
“Not sure what I can do,” he said, his words spoken with the same hopelessness she felt. “Do you have a bottle? Milk? Some sort of bag to carry diapers in?”
“No. None of those things,” she admitted, as panic made it hard to breathe. Panic she had no intention of giving into, despite the tight feeling in her chest.
Adam offered a hand up. She took it, ignoring the jolt of electricity that came with contact. He met her gaze and held a second longer than she figured was appropriate. Was he studying her? Trying to figure out if she was mentally unstable or a baby thief?
“How did you get out here?” Adam studied the area like it was midterms, and he was trying to pass English.
“I already said that I have no idea.” The baby’s cries literally caused Prudence’s heart to ache. “Any chance we can figure all that out after we find a way to feed her? She must be starving since she keeps trying to suck on her fist.”
Adam locked gazes for a long moment. A squirrel got loose in her stomach.
“I promise to explain everything once she’s settled.” It was a deal Prudence knew she couldn’t make good on. She couldn’t afford to feel bad about fudging the truth while the baby was suffering.
“Luna is nearby,” Adam said.
“Let’s go.” Prudence wasted no time moving in the direction of what she figured must be his horse. Luna would be an unusual name for a truck.
He led her to a gorgeous Appaloosa.
“I can hold her while you climb in the saddle.” He motioned toward the baby.
Prudence shook her head, unsure why she refused the offer. She searched her brain for an answer and came up empty. All she knew was this baby would have to be pried out of her hands. “Can you pick me up? I’d rather hold onto her.”
Adam was as strong as an ox. He managed to lift her up like she weighed nothing. Both hands on her waist, he hoisted her high enough for her to throw a leg over the animal’s back without further disturbing the little girl.
He was in the saddle a moment later and they were headed toward salvation.
Halfway through the ride, the little angel found her fist again, stuffing it in her mouth and sucking. The calm respite did little to slow Prudence’s galloping heart. It was impossible to think clearly with Adam’s strong arms wrapped around her, securing her and the child in the saddle.
Luna carried them to the steps of the back porch of an impressive house.
The two-story brick and stone home was the biggest Prudence had ever seen.
Grand wasn’t quite big enough a word to describe the exterior, but it was a good place to start.
Charm was another word that didn’t quite do it justice.
And yet, it was charming. They’d already ridden past an impressive set of barns, which was where she began to notice the place had everything in pairs.
She made a mental note to ask about that later.
Right now, all she could focus on was finding a bottle and… what?…milk?
One of Adam’s brothers came bolting out of the house with a concerned look on his face.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Bronc phoned when he saw you.”
“Brax, have you met Prudence?” Adam asked as he hopped off the horse.
Brax shook his head before tipping his hat by way of introduction. “What can I do to help?”
“Take Luna to the barn. Make sure she’s well cared for,” Adam said. After that run, she would be lathered up. He turned to Prudence. “Lean toward me.”
She did and he caught her. More of that electricity coursed through her. She mentally shook it off.
“I’ll take care of Luna myself,” Brax said, taking the reins. It was obvious the brothers were close. It also seemed to be understood Brax would be filled in later.
Adam seemed to thank his brother by way of a bear hug.
“Any chance we have baby’s milk inside the house?” Adam asked. “Pantry?”
Brax shot a clueless look. “You got me.”
“Thanks anyway, man,” Adam said.
Brax nodded before heading toward the red barn. He shouted back, “Nice to meet you.”
“Same.” Prudence had passed him in town half a dozen times. This didn’t seem like the time to bring it up. Plus, she had a way of blending into the woodwork when she wanted to. Crowds of people had never been her thing.
“This way.” Adam held the door open for her.
The man was sheer perfection with black as a night sky hair that was just long enough to curl.
By contrast, his eyes were the palest blue and he had the thickest, longest lashes she’d ever seen.
Make-up companies would kill to photograph them.
Not to mention the man was six-feet-three-inches of solid muscle.
He had the kind of cheekbones that looked good on a billboard with someone in their underwear and had the smokin’ hot bod to pull it off, with just enough scruff on his face to be sexy and a set of the most piercing eyes.
Her throat dried up as she walked by him and onto the screened-in back porch, complete with flat-screen TV, a fireplace, and a sitting area larger than her entire house.
If this was any indication of what she was about to walk into, she needed to take in a deep breath.
And probably a few more for good measure.
Adam’s cell buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket as he held the backdoor open for her. She walked into the kitchen that would be a professional chef’s dream as he answered the call.
“Luna okay?” were the first words out of his mouth. His concern for his horse struck her in a deep place. He said a few uh-huhs into the phone before glancing at Prudence. “How old do you think the baby is?”
“No idea. She can’t be too old. She doesn’t have any teeth,” Prudence supplied.
Again, Adam shot her a concerned look as he relayed the message. Shortly after, he ended the call.
“Brax gathered the ranch hands. Casey’s wife just had a baby. He’s bringing formula and supplies to the main house right now,” Adam said. “In the meantime, do you want to tell me why it is you have a baby in your arms you seem to know nothing about?”
It was then Prudence remembered the piece of paper. She dug it out of her pocket, grateful the baby had momentarily gone to sleep sucking on her fist.
“I found this tucked inside her blanket.” She held the wadded-up note on the flat of her palm.
When he took the offering, his fingers grazed her hand. Contact sent a sensual current skittering across her skin.
Adam flattened out the piece of paper on the granite center island. His pale blue eyes widened as he read the name: Adam Firebrand.