13

Peace and quiet. Coffee. And the man of my dreams. This is the life.

Melissa reclined in a chair on the back porch, jean-clad legs crossed at the ankles, bare feet propped on the railing, and sipped a cup of her favorite French roast. The horses were grazing, moving lazily along in the pasture beyond the fence, none the worse for wear after their ordeal. The vet had come by early the morning after the fire, and checked them over, pronouncing them healthy.

The one blight on the scenery was the burned husk of the barn, which stood as a stark reminder of all she and Clay could have lost. Against her will, her gaze drifted once again toward the blackened structure, and she shuddered. The love of her life had nearly died that night. The nightmarish sight of her vengeful cousin standing over Clay, a gun pointed at his head and ready to pull the trigger . . .

That memory was etched into her brain and would take a long time to fade—if it ever did.

The squeak of the back door sounded, followed by a familiar tread on the boards. Clay was striding toward her wearing nothing but a pair of sleep pants and a smile, his sandy blond hair tousled from bed. God, I’m such a lucky bitch.

He held a steaming mug of coffee in one hand as he took the chair beside her. The look he gave her was full of heat. “I woke up in bed this morning without a gorgeous redhead in my arms. Now why is that?”

Her body warmed. The man could get her worked up faster than anyone she’d known. “You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you. You definitely needed the rest.”

“So did you. This week has been a much-needed reprieve from the madness James and Foster perpetuated.”

“What Foster did to you sickens me,” she whispered, reaching over to take his hand. “You lost an entire year of your life because of the wreck he caused, and then he and my uncle had the gall to blame the fallout on you.”

“They tried to kill us both. They wanted you dead just because you were a cop.” He looked away briefly, directing his glare out, over the pasture.

“Not just any cop, but because I was family and betrayed them by becoming one. I’m ashamed I was ever related to them.”

Clay shook his head, his gaze softening as he smiled at her. “They were never your family in the way that mattered. You had your aunt to love and care for you, and now you have me. Not to mention all of our friends.”

Happiness welled up inside her, and tears stung her eyes. “You’re right. Damn, when did I turn into such a crybaby?”

“Since you learned you don’t have to be the strong one all the time, and it’s okay to lean on someone else—me.”

Then he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. What started as a sweet kiss turned sensual, fast. From day one, her lover had been a smoldering ember ready to explode into flames. She wouldn’t have him any other way.

Just as the kiss deepened, promising to become more, the whine of engines sounded in the distance, coming up the driveway.

Groaning, she pulled back ruefully. “Visitors? Now? They have crappy timing.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, I forgot to tell you Six-Pack called this morning, which is what woke me up. He wanted to make sure we were going to be home.”

“Did he say why?”

“Nope. Just said to stay put and clear our day of whatever we had planned.”

“Huh.” Brows furrowed, she watched as the big pickup truck roared into view. The intriguing thing was the convoy of vehicles following behind it. All shapes, sizes, and models.

“What the hell?” Clay murmured, standing.

In the lead truck, she saw the big captain behind the wheel, and his wife, Kat, next to him. She peered at the vehicles behind the Paxtons’ and her mouth fell open. “Your whole crew from the fire station must’ve shown up!”

“And a few more besides,” Clay agreed, setting his coffee on a nearby table. “Let’s go see what’s up.” He started forward but she tugged on his arm.

“Um, you’re half-naked, Mr. Sexy.”

“Oh.” Looking down at himself, he flushed slightly. “Entertain the troops while I go throw on some clothes.”

“Sure thing.” She winked at him, earning a chuckle. Once he’d gone inside, she set her own mug down and jogged down the porch steps to join their visitors. Of which there were many.

Gaping in astonishment, she noted that not only were his friends among the arrivals, but several of her closest friends and colleagues from the police station as well. She blinked at the rig Shane was driving—a big flatbed trailer with a bulldozer loaded onto it. Other trucks were filled with all sorts of tools and materials. In particular, she noted a second flatbed roll into view driven by Chris, and this one was loaded with two-by-fours.

One by one, the vehicles parked in every available space in her yard, front and back, the ones with the tools and heavy equipment rolling around back near the barn. As their friends parked, their wives and significant others emerged carrying grocery bags, coolers, pies, and an extra coffeemaker.

In that moment, she began to form an idea of what was going on, and her throat grew tight. Her eyes filled with tears all over again.

“Surprise!” Kat called out. She hurried forward, carrying what looked like a pound cake wrapped with plastic. “Nothing like having a whole boatload of people descend on your peace and quiet first thing in the morning!”

“You guys,” Melissa said hoarsely as her friends came forward. “Is this what I think it is?”

“What’s going on?” Clay called, jogging down the steps to meet them. Smiling, he came to stand beside Melissa and draped an arm around her waist. He’d dressed quickly in a pair of worn jeans and a T-shirt.

Six-Pack was grinning. “Sorry about the lack of notice, but this was meant to be a surprise. Who’s ready for an old-fashioned barn raising?”

Melissa’s hand went over her mouth and she choked on a sob. “Really?”

“Really,” the big captain confirmed, eyes warm. “What are friends for?”

“I don’t know what to say.” The thought and planning that had gone into this, the caring, overwhelmed her. “I can’t believe I thought for one minute that I didn’t have any family left.”

Six-Pack smiled and said gently, “No one knows better than me that family is made up of the people who love you. And we’re here to show you that you’ll never be without family as long as we’re around. Right?” he called out loud.

The crowd sent up a cheer of agreement, and the tears slipped freely down Melissa’s cheeks. After everything was said and done, she’d been right to return to Sugarland. To face her past and make this place, these fine people, her own.

And to claim the man she loved.

“You’re so right,” she said. “I can’t thank you all enough for this. You don’t know what it means.”

“Yeah, we do,” Shane replied, beaming at her. “We’ve all needed help, and now it’s our turn to give back.” He turned to Drew and Blake. “Boys, help us get this stuff unloaded so we can get started.”

“Yes, sir!” Drew called, running off with Blake on his heels.

A few of the crowd laughed, and Melissa watched the young man fondly, glad beyond words that Drew had survived the shooting. So many lives would’ve been destroyed that day had the outcome been different.

Kat came forward, linking her free arm with Melissa’s. “Come on, let’s get this food in the kitchen. Everyone’s going to be hungry, sooner rather than later once they start working.”

A few of the other women followed them inside and helped get the food, drinks, paper plates, cups, and coolers situated for easy pickings. Melissa enjoyed talking and laughing with them, and realized she was bonding with other women for the first time. For a woman who worked in a male-dominated environment, it was wonderful to let her hair down and be one of the girls.

“Damn, that’s some fine man-flesh out there,” Cara said with a sigh, peering out the kitchen window at the activity. “Are we lucky, gals, or what?”

There was a round of enthusiastic agreement. That was followed by a suggestion to make mimosas, which was met by even more enthusiasm. Out came the champagne and orange juice, and much laughter, not to mention gossip about their men, ensued.

Outside, the bulldozer roared to life, and Shane proceeded to clear off the rubble of the old barn, amid much “help” from Taylor—mostly his best friend yelling out directions, telling Shane what he ought to do and how. Shane flipped his friend the bird and pretty much ignored him. Melissa and the other women giggled as they watched, sipping their drinks on the porch.

Shirts were stripped off as the day grew hot, and the men hammered. The women certainly didn’t complain about the view. Slowly, the framework began to take shape—a bigger and better barn than before. Big enough to expand her stock if she wanted.

Out of the ashes, something new and good was being built. Something that had nothing to do with the barn itself. Something solid, and lasting.

Friendships. And family. The only ones who really mattered.

It was the best day Melissa could remember in a very, very long time.

• • •

The barn raising had actually taken two days. The framework and walls had gone up the first day, and that was the hardest part. On the second day, they finished out the stalls and detail work inside.

Now it was done, their friends gone home, and Clay was sprawled in the recliner in the living room, cataloging his aches. They were the good kind, brought about by hours of honest hard labor. He smiled to himself, thinking how grateful he was to be alive and well, to feel normal. This time last year, he’d been fighting for his life.

These days, he was looking forward to his future.

Footsteps came from the kitchen, and he glanced up as Melissa padded into the room. She’d made so many trips to gaze out the kitchen windows at the new barn, he was surprised she hadn’t worn a path in the floorboards.

“I can’t get over how great it looks,” she said, not for the first time.

“Wait until we get it painted, it’ll look even better.” He smiled, holding out a hand to beckon her to sit in his lap. She quickly obliged, settling her bottom on his thighs and nestling in with her face in the curve of his neck.

“I don’t even care about paint. I’m just thankful we have such great friends.”

“We do, don’t we? I don’t know how I would’ve survived the past year without them.”

Pulling back, she cupped his face. “I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know that my cousin was responsible for what happened to you.”

“Stop,” he ordered. “None of that was your fault, and it’s time for both of us to move past it. Let’s concentrate on where we go from here.”

Letting out a deep breath, she gave him a playful smile, relaxing in his arms. “And where might that be?”

His brows rose. “Oh, I can think of a good place. Like you and me, and a nice, hot shower to get rid of all this dirt and sweat.”

“I think I like you best when you’re dirty.” She leered at him to emphasize the double entendre.

Urging her to stand, he pushed out of the chair and scooped her into his arms, chuckling at her squeak of delight. “I like me best when I’m dirty, too. Why don’t we go see if we can find out just how filthy I can be?”

“I like the way you think, even if I already have a good idea.”

Clay relished the feel of his woman in his arms, and loved carrying her up the stairs. Something he couldn’t have done just a few months ago. He didn’t take such a simple thing for granted anymore. Every moment was a miracle to him.

Upstairs, he set her down and took her hand, leading her into the bathroom. They stripped quickly, and she reached for the faucet on the large bathtub, turning on the water and then plugging the drain.

“Thought we were going for a shower?” he asked.

“Wrong. We’re taking a bubble bath!”

He groaned dramatically. “Now I really have to turn in my man card. If it smells like flowers, I’m not getting in.”

Stark naked, she held up the bottle and turned to face him, wiggling her hips. “You sure about that?”

“Shit.” Heat surged into his groin, and his cock began to rise. “Never mind. Who cares what it smells like?”

She giggled. “I thought so. It’s vanilla, by the way.”

“Well, that’s not so bad. Smelling like a bowl of ice cream sounds better than reeking like a floral shop any day.”

“Mmm, ice cream.” She eyed him hungrily, pouring a generous amount of soap into the stream. “The better to eat you up.”

He couldn’t get into the water fast enough. Settling into the steamy heat with a sigh of pleasure, he held his hand out to her. Taking it, she climbed in, and he turned her around so that she was sitting with her back to his front. Then he spread his legs and pulled her close, nestling her bottom against his cock and balls, the former riding the crack of her ass.

“Someone likes bubble baths after all,” she teased.

“Little Clay likes you in the bubble bath with me.”

“Not so little,” she murmured.

“Glad you think so. I’m kinda stuck with him.”

“Mmm,” she purred, reaching behind her to wrap a hand around his neck. “I can’t think of a single thing that makes me happier.”

“How about this?”

Pressing kisses into her hair, he scooped up a mound of bubbles and spread them onto one pert nipple. He loved the little noises of appreciation she made as he plucked the tip, giving it plenty of attention. She arched into his touch like a kitten wanting to be petted, and he gave her what she asked for.

The other nub received equal attention and she moaned, begging for more. Obliging, he slid his palm down her belly to the juncture of her thighs and rubbed the folds of her sex. Spreading her legs, she raised her hips and turned her head to meet him in a kiss. A deep, hungry one that stoked the fire inside him had him hard as a steel rod in seconds.

Breaking the kiss, he panted, “Lift up, baby. Brace your hands on the side of the tub.”

Carefully, she rose to her knees and bent over, widening her stance for him. She looked like a gorgeous, redheaded sea goddess sent to tempt him beyond endurance. He almost wished they were making love someplace tropical, on a beach with waves lapping at their toes.

But he certainly wasn’t complaining.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. His fingers parted her, then delved inside, gently stroking to make sure she was ready.

“Please.”

She didn’t have to ask twice. Maneuvering onto his knees, he got into position behind her and brought the head of his cock to her entrance. Slowly, he pressed inside her welcoming heat and groaned. He couldn’t come. Not yet.

Her channel around him fit like a glove, squeezing him deliciously, making him crazy. This wasn’t going to last long, but he didn’t care. They’d do it again and again.

They had forever.

Soon he was moving in and out of her, and the wonderful friction sent jolts of pleasure along every nerve ending. His tempo increased until he was pumping with abandon, gripping her hips, vaguely aware of water sloshing all over the tiled floor. He couldn’t care less about that.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Fuck me hard!’

That plea, the assault on his senses, sent his desire spiraling out of control. It was more than he could take, and too soon his release boiled over. Unstoppable. He gave a shout as he shuddered and held still, buried deep inside her. With a cry, she climaxed, her walls spasming around his cock, milking him dry.

“What you do to me,” he said, lost in the glow.

“Same thing you do to me—you rock my world, every time.” He heard the smile in her voice.

Gently pulling free, he helped her sit again and then grabbed the soap. Washing together was fun, and more water found the floor. Neither of them cared.

After they were clean, he helped her dry off and then led her to the bedroom. Together, they sprawled on the bed and she snuggled into him, resting her head on his chest. For the longest time, he simply held her close, enjoying her warm body wrapped around him, her heartbeat, the sound of her breathing. He stroked her hair, liking how she played idly with his chest.

“I love you,” she said quietly. “I never knew it was possible to love anyone this way. I never thought love was for me.”

“I love you, too.” He squeezed her tight. “I’d hoped love was for me, someday. This time last year, I believed I’d never have the chance to find out because I was too broken. Just goes to show how life can turn on a dime, and not just for the worst. It can change for the better, when you least expect it.”

Resting her chin on his chest, she gazed at him with such love, it took his breath away.

“Yes, it sure can,” she said. “I have everything now I’ve ever wanted—a man I love, who loves me. Family, friends. My life was completed the day I met you.”

“Mine, too, baby. Mine, too.”

He was a damned lucky man.

And he’d never, ever forget that as long as he lived.