The idea of mud wrestling with him sends a charge straight through my core, and I wiggle out of his embrace, turning so I can put my arms around his neck.

  “If I’d known what you had in mind, I might not have run so fast.” He backs me against the post and leans down to cover my mouth with his.

  Lips part, and our tongues slide together in a kiss that lights my entire body on fire. It’s slow and gentle, pulling my lips with his and surrounding me with his sexy man scent. Lifting his chin, he looks down at me, and I want to climb him like a tree.

  “As much as I want to keep going with this, I’ve got to take care of the horses, and I need to shower if I’m going with you to the game.”

  “We could share a shower.” His hot voice has my insides dripping.

  “No,” I shake my head. “I have a surprise for you.” That makes him frown, and I slide up to kiss his lips again. “Maybe after the game you can take me to Makeout Point?”

  He lowers his head, running his nose along the side of my hair and sending chills skating down my arms. “Let’s make that a definitely after the game.”

  32

  Hutch

  “Hit it, Pepper, you got this!” I shout from the stands as our favorite shortstop enters the batter’s box.

  Blake gives my hand a squeeze before releasing it to clap. She’s outfitted in a red, adult-sized Snow Cones jersey with a white, pleated miniskirt, and her hair is styled in two side ponytails at her shoulders with red and white ribbons.

  “Freeze ‘em out, Snow Cones!” she yells, and I lean closer.

  “Where did you get this outfit?”

  “Carmen helped me. I’m a cheerleader.” She dips her chin, and makes a little sexy, pouty mouth. “You like my skirt?”

  Shit. My dick twitches in my jeans. “I like all of it. You’re hot enough to melt a snow cone.”

  That makes her laugh, and I have to focus on the game and not what I plan to do to this naughty cheerleader at Makeout Point later.

  Carmen chants from her other side. “We want a catcher, not a belly scratcher!”

  “We want a pitcher, not a belly itcher!” Blake joins, and I shake my head.

  “I can’t decide if Carmen’s a good or bad influence on you.”

  “We’re supporting our team!” she argues adorably.

  Pepper is all over the field as usual, pausing periodically to wave or do a little dance when she makes a triple play. Hana is inside the gate taking photos, and after the ones she showed me from last week, she might become the official team photographer. She’s really damn good.

  It’s a fast game, and the Snow Cones pull out a squeaker win at 6-5 over the Sea Turtles. The players line up to shake hands, and we head to our favorite bakery for celebratory donuts and chocolate milk.

  Hana dances through the group as usual, taking pictures of the pigtailed players holding oversized, sprinkled donuts in front of their eyes and striking silly poses.

  Scar took off after the win, telling me he’d be away for a few days. Dirk is helping him try to locate Ivan X, working off the theory he could be the Ivanov in Hugh’s ledger.

  Last I checked, they hadn’t established a definite link, but it’s a logical place to start. They both insist I stay out of it and take a break, which I’m all too happy to do–for a little while.

  I want to spend time with Blake and see if there might be the potential for something more between us besides “hired protector,” or even “hated teenage nemesis who ruined her life.” That last one makes me cringe, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. She was not safe in that house, and it was the only way I could have any peace of mind.

  But when I watch her sitting with Pepper, sharing sprinkled donuts, it hits me our situation might be more complicated than I’d considered.

  Up until now, I’d always thought of my situation with my sister’s child as a team effort between Lurlene, Dirk, and me. We all share responsibilities and pinch-hit as needed. The truth is, Pepper is legally mine.

  Blake’s only twenty-four years old. She’s a society girl and probably plans to pursue a career. What reason do I have to think she’d want to be part of an instant family, especially one that includes an eleven-year-old going on thirty?

  She looks up at me and smiles. Sitting there in a Snow Cones jersey with her pretty lips painted red and her dark hair tied with red and white ribbons, I wonder what she might say to this dramatic change in her lifestyle.

  “What’s got you so worried, big guy?” Carmen sidles up to me, and I straighten quickly.

  “No worries. Looks like the girls might be headed to the state championships this year.”

  “Pepper’s a pistol. She’s going to carry this team all the way.” Carmen takes a sip from her mug. “But that’s not what’s on your mind, I can tell.”

  “I just came off a pretty complex case, Carmen.” My tone is dismissive, intended to shut down this line of questioning.

  “Nope.” She looks at the table where Pepper and Blake have traded donut halves. “You’re worried about that right there.”

  Shifting my stance, I’m ready to tell the town gossip to keep her nose out of my business, instead I opt for diplomacy. “It’s a school night. I’m only worried about getting Pepper home in time to get a good night’s sleep before the first bell.”

  I start to move away when she catches my arm. “Listen to me.” She levels her hazel eyes on mine. “No woman spends that much time with a child unless she likes it. You’ve got nothing to worry about with Blake. She’s yours. Now put a ring on it before it’s too late.”

  With that she walks past me to where Hana is taking pictures of the outfielders pretending to catch fly-ball donuts with the help of their teammates.

  “Hold it right there!” Hana directs. “A little higher. I can still see your fingers. Move them to the back a little more.”

  My thoughts are a jumble with all that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, but Carmen’s words feel right. When I look again, Pepper leans forward to throw her arms around Blake’s neck, and Blake wraps her arms around the little girl, pressing her lips together in a happy smile.

  Hell, leave it to the town gossip to see what’s right in my face.

  The girls chatter all the way back to the house. Hana has her camera, and she’s in the backseat with Pepper, showing her the pictures she took. Pepper squeals and bounces in her seat, and I’m sure she’s had way too much sugar–even if she did burn a million calories on the field. She’s headed for a crash. Blake is turned in the front seat as if she doesn’t want to miss a thing.

  “And when you went down in that squat pose like that to stop the line-drive.” Hana holds her camera over to my niece. “Holy crap. What do you call that pose?”

  Pepper’s eyes are wide. “I don’t know. I just knew I had to stop that ball, or the game was over.”

  “It was an amazing play,” Blake says, and my eyes fall to her silky thighs exposed in the pale light of the dash.

  Talk about amazing, Blake in that cheerleader skirt is pretty fucking amazing. I’ve been on edge all night.

  “What did you think, Uncle Hutch?” Pepper’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, and I remember a time when it was only Pep and me driving home after games. She was just getting started then, not nearly the superstar she is now.

  “I think you’re a rockstar, Pep. I couldn’t be prouder.”

  Pepper falls back with a quiet smile on her lips. Hana nods, looking out the window, and Blake shifts around in the passenger’s seat, giving me a look like I just found the cure for cancer.

  We’re at my house, and I put the SUV in park. “Come on, Pep, I’ll walk you in.”

  Pepper unbuckles her seatbelt and flies across to give Hana a big hug. Then she rushes to the front to catch Blake around the neck, eliciting a startled laugh. Blake hugs her back with a fake grunt like Pepper and I always do at bedtime, and my worries melt a little more.

  I take my niece inside doing all the hugs and carrying on we do at bedtime, before passing her to Lurlene. The last stop before Makeout Point is dropping Hana at Hugh’s place.

  Few things are less exciting than getting rid of all the kids so you can have sex, but every time I glance over at Blake in the passenger’s side, her hourglass figure swiveling in the seat, tits stretching that red jersey, tiny white skirt scooting higher on her thighs, my dick reminds me it’s worth the wait.

  “See you in the morning,” Hana teases as she gets out of the backseat. “Or not.”

  The door closes, and Blake’s across the console, with her arms around my neck and her lips at my ear.

  “Finally,” she exhales hotly, and I’ve got a steel rod in my pants. “I didn’t think we’d ever be alone.”

  Makeout Point is barely two tenths of a mile from Hugh’s driveway, and I pull in, braking at the edge of the clearing and throwing my truck into park. I’ve just gotten the seat all the way back when Blake hops across the console, straddling my lap and covering my mouth with hers.

  Cupping her thighs with my hands, I slide them higher, under her short skirt, to discover. “Oh, shit.” She’s not wearing underwear.

  Her bare ass is soft and juicy, and I’m ready to get my pants off.

  “I’ve been waiting all night for you to touch my naked ass,” she teases, leaning back to meet my eyes. “I love our families, but shew, talk about cock blockers.”

  Reaching up, I hold her cheeks, pulling her lips to mine and kissing her slowly.

  “Blake,” My voice is heavy even though my cock is aching. “It’s all settled now. You can go back to your life in New York.”

  She slows, cupping my cheeks in her hands, mirroring my movements. “Is that what you want me to do?”

  Fuck no screams in my mind, but I’m a grown-assed man. Even with this gorgeous woman on my lap with tits I can’t get enough of and an ass for days, I can’t set myself up for that level of pain. I know how the world works.

  “I want you to do what’s going to make you happy.”

  Her thumbs slide lightly across the tops of my cheeks, and she leans in closer, every bit the sex kitten she’s always been as long as I’ve known her.

  “I’m about to do just that.” She pulls my bottom lip with her teeth before sealing our mouths together.

  Our lips part, and we’re sloppy, licking, kissing. Her hands tug on my shirt, and I sit forward to quickly whip it over my head.

  Silvery eyes darken, and she slides her hands over my chest, curling her fingers so her nails scratch my skin. She traces the outline of my ink, while I slide my hands over her ass, loving the feel of her in my arms, on my skin.

  “Your turn.” I take the bottom of the jersey, sliding it up her waist.

  She lifts her arms, and I exhale a groan. The bra she’s wearing only covers the bottom half of her breasts, and she slides her fingers down along the cups, pulling them lower so her pointed nipples peek over the tops. It’s all I need.

  My mouth is on her tits, kissing and pulling them into my mouth, teasing them with my teeth. Her back arches, and she slides her bare bottom back and forth over the bulge in my jeans, moaning.

  “Take off your pants,” she hisses. “I want to ride your cock.”

  “I have something better in mind.” Reaching for the handle, I open the door, turning to the side and lowering her down to her feet.

  She’s standing in front of me in that short skirt with those ponytails messed up and her lace bra pushed below her sexy tits, nipples pointing at me.

  “Damn, girl, you are so fine.” I slide out and move her around, leaning her forward into the cab so her naked ass peeps up at me from under that skirt.

  I slide my fingers up the back of her legs, lifting the white fabric over her lower back so I can have the full view of her bare pussy between her thighs. At the sight of it, I groan, dropping to my knees and putting my face between her legs, dragging my tongue all over it.

  Her moan is so loud it echoes in the cab, but I’m not about to stop. I’m going to show her how happy she can be right here, then we’ll talk about what’s next.

  33

  Blake

  Gripping the sides of the seat, my eyes close and I come so hard, my knees buckle. I’m pretty sure I leave my body. A cool rush of air fans my ass as Hutch’s lips press against my bare skin, moving higher to kiss my lower back before he straightens and slides his thick cock so deep, I rise onto my tiptoes.

  Spasms grip my core, and he groans low. “That’s my girl.”

  His arm is around my shoulders, and he lifts my back to his chest, thrusting hard and fast as his mouth covers my neck with kisses, tracing up behind my ear and into my hair.

  “I’ve wanted to fuck you all night.” His voice is hot, and his sexy words are making me come again. “You are so fucking gorgeous.”

  He’s close, and my eyes squeeze shut as his hand slides over my belly, between my thighs. I’m so sensitive, I jump when he touches my clit, letting out a loud whimper, and he breaks hard, groaning in my ear.

  “So good,” he moans low, holding me steady as he pulses again and again.

  He exhales heavily, lowering his face to my shoulder as he finishes, and I turn my head to kiss his temple, his cheek, any place I can find his skin.

  The touch of my lips makes him lift his head and kiss me deeply, sliding his tongue to mine and sucking my lips with his.

  He slides out and turns me, lifting my butt onto the seat and hugging me close as his lips move to my neck and up to my ear. “I’ve never been this way. You make me crazy.”

  His words tickle in my stomach, and I wrap my arms around him, holding him tightly. He’s right. We’re special together. It’s been that way from the start, and it wasn’t just the danger. It wasn’t my anger or even his pent-up need.

  Only now, real choices have to be made. We're on the other side of the storm, in Hamiltown, and it’s not only us we have to consider.

  How would he feel about being with me, knowing I’ll always have my sister to protect? I know he thinks she’s trouble. I know he thinks she’s messed up and makes poor choices. He only tolerates her around Pepper because I asked him to, and Pepper is so important to him.

  His breathing slows, and he slides large hands up and down my sides. He’s so warm and strong and amazing and beautiful. He’s a work of art, and I don’t want to think about the obstacles when we’re together. I only want to be lost in his sexy gaze. I want to bask in his admiration, letting it wash over me and give me strength.

  “I might have to get you an entire wardrobe of those skirts.” He chuckles, kissing the tip of my nose. “And I might never fuck you in a bed again.”

  “You know I love this place.” I trace my fingers in the soft, dark waves around his ears. “It’s our happy place.”

  He lifts his chin looking around the dark patch of woods. “I’ll do some research. Maybe I can buy the land and make it private property.”

  My nose wrinkles, and I lean forward to kiss his full lips. “We can’t have horny teenagers interrupting us.”

  “We’re the only horny people allowed.”

  “It can be on the sign. Posted, no horny people allowed except us.”

  He laughs for real, and I bite my bottom lip. I love the sound of his laughter. It’s such a rare thing, at least it has been for the time we’ve been together. Maybe I can change that.

  Maybe I’m presuming too much.

  Only it doesn’t feel like I am.

  “I’d like for you to spend the night with me.” He leans down to kiss my cheek. “But Pepper has school tomorrow, and when you’re in my bed, I forget to get up and see her off. She’s been giving me shit for it.”

  “Oh, no,” I cover my laugh with my hand. “Does she know we’re sleeping together?”

  “I don’t think so. She only knows I’ve been falling down on my job. The last time you weren’t even in my bed when I woke up.”

  His brow lowers like he’s pissed, and I reach up to trace my fingers over the line in his forehead. “I’m pretty sure I was trying to help you solve a mystery.”

  “Only mystery left is where are we going to dinner tonight? Got any favorite places?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do! I want to go back to Slim Harold's and learn to do that shag dance.”

  He reaches across, picking up our shirts from the passenger’s seat. “In that case, I’d better get you to bed. You’ll need your rest if you’re planning to dance all night.”

  We hold hands the whole drive back, and I sit sideways in my seat, watching the lights illuminate the line of his perfect nose, his square chin, scruffy beard. When we reach Uncle Hugh’s, I unfasten my seatbelt and lean across to kiss him one more time before we say goodnight.

  Placing my hand on his cheek, I look into his eyes. Such intense, focused, beautiful eyes, they steal my breath.

  Still I manage to say what I’ve needed to say for so many days, “Thank you.”

  My voice tightens, and I try to move away quickly. I don’t want to cry, but he’s too fast. He catches my arms, pulling me back to him and making me meet his gaze once more.

  Again, it’s too intense, too focused and beautiful. His brow is lowered, and he holds my chin as he speaks.

  “You never have to thank me for protecting you. I want to be that for you. Your uncle hired me, but I would never have accepted money. Even if you’d sent me away, I would’ve made sure you were safe. I… I hope you believe that.”

  Butterfly wings flood my stomach, and I nod, afraid to speak. He kisses my lips so softly before releasing me, and I drop my chin scooting out of his truck quickly. I need to sleep. I need to collect my thoughts and clear my head, and I need to talk to Hana. And my uncle.

  “What exactly are you worried about, Blake?” Uncle Hugh sits across from me in his study as we share a morning coffee.

  He looks at me like something I’ve never had–a doting parent who is actually interested in my problems and in helping me solve them. Jesus, we should’ve moved here years ago.

  My legs are bent under me, and I barely slept last night from turning over everything in my mind. “I was thinking, first of all, you’re so kind to let Hana and me stay here with you. I can look for a permanent place for us to stay in town if we’re under your feet or in your way–”