A Buckhorn Baby

Unable to resist, he stepped up close and slipped his hands around to her stomach. Nuzzling the side of her neck, he said, “I’m taking off.”

Her head fell back to his shoulder. Seconds ticked by while he kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear. Then she whispered, “You’re tired?”

Exhausted, but he said, “I’m fine.”

“Then don’t go.” She turned in his arms and his hands just naturally fell to her hips.

She hooked her fingers in the front waistband of his shorts and tugged him closer in reprimand. “Don’t let them run you off, okay?”

He could lose himself in those big blue eyes of hers. “It’s a family thing,” he said, meaning the celebration of a baby, “and I’m not family.”

Amber slipped her hands inside his T-shirt, drawing them up and over his abs, which tightened in reaction.

Her touch never failed to fire his blood. He closed his eyes briefly, struggling to get a grip. Out of desperate need, he put his hands over hers and tried not to think about what he’d rather be doing. “You’re killing me, Amber.”

“Stay,” she urged, “and in two hours we can leave together.”

With a promise like that, how could he resist? He kissed her, then said against her lips, “Okay.”

* * *

THE MOOD REMAINED festive as everyone celebrated the upcoming addition to the family.

Everyone but Noel.

Did he dislike kids? Or was it the commitment that came first that had him off-kilter today?

Amber watched him taking part in a game of badminton with several of the guys and a few of the women. He’d removed his shirt and it made her heart pound. When he grinned, she felt it clear to her toes.

“You should tell him how you feel.”

She turned her head to see her dad standing close behind her. As she’d done all her life, she leaned on him and enjoyed the way his strong arms came around her.

Morgan propped his chin on her head and said, “Well?”

“He’s never said how he feels.”

“What law says a guy has to go first?”

“My law.” Amber straightened, aware of Noel now watching her. He nearly got trampled because of his distraction, when Adam dived past him to return a volley. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

Morgan laughed. “I can tell you think so.”

She looked up at him. “What do you think, Dad? About him overall, I mean.”

Without hesitation, Morgan said, “He’s conscientious. That barn fire was dangerous, but Noel didn’t hesitate, and because he knows what he’s doing, he managed to not only save Fred, but his two cows and some chickens, too. If it hadn’t been for Noel, Fred might have died.” Under his breath, Morgan grumbled, “Damn fool had no business trying to burn the branches from that tree we trimmed. He’s eighty now, you know. It’s thanks to Noel that no one died.”

Noel could have died, but Amber tried not to think about that. She worried enough for her brother. Luckily they’d managed the fire with no serious injuries. “He cares about animals.”

“I’m sure Jordan knows and appreciates that.”

Her uncle Jordan was a vet with a magical voice that could soothe the most fractious animals...and some humans, too.

“He’s polite,” Morgan continued. “Respectful of others. He takes care of himself and pitches in whenever anyone around town needs him.”

So her dad saw all of Noel’s sterling qualities, too? She sighed. “He’s perfect.”

Morgan sat at the side of a picnic table and drew her down beside him. “Perfect men don’t faint over the mention of a baby.”

“He didn’t!” But it was close. “And you know what he thought, Dad. Any guy would have—”

“No,” he corrected gently. “Not every guy would.”

Amber had to give him that one. More than most men, her dad would understand surprise pregnancies. “You’re special,” she said, leaning against his boulder shoulder. “You know that, right?”

“Loving you doesn’t make me so. Not when it’s so easy to do.”

“Aww.” She hugged his arm and thought how lucky she was that her mother had met her dad so long ago. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Talk to him, honey. That’s all I’m saying.” Morgan tipped up her chin. “I see you going full-steam ahead, which is okay since I’m not sure you know any other way.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

He chuckled. “Of course it is. But it’d be a good idea to find out if you’re on the same tracks, right?”

Before she crashed. Amber frowned as she accepted the truth. “Okay. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Not that she was in any hurry to have kids. But yes, one day she wanted them.

That decision scared her silly. In all her twenty-seven years, she’d never fallen in love. Not until she met Noel Poet. Then she’d fallen hard and fast and now she couldn’t imagine a life without him.

“Maybe you should do him a solid and get him out of here,” Morgan said, “before Kady takes out his eye with that vicious swing of hers.”

She saw that Noel was once again watching her instead of paying attention to the game. “All right. Soon as they finish up.”

Just then he snapped back to attention, dived to the side and managed to return the birdie, which Shohn then missed.

After they all stopped cheering, she beckoned him over, and minutes later they were on the road.

CHAPTER TWO

IT WOULD HAVE been nice, Amber thought, to ride into town with Noel. If she had her way, they’d be spending a lot more time together.

Unfortunately, he could get called out if the station needed him, and she couldn’t stay late, not when she had to open the bookstore early tomorrow morning. So far their romance, what there was of it, had been pieced together in the name of convenience.

Convenience had certainly worked for her. But what if that was all it was?

No, Noel cared more than that, she was sure of it. Tonight, she’d nail him down and get some answers. She had the drive to think about what exactly to say, but also to anticipate every possible response he might make, from the unthinkable to the expected.

Her dad and Uncle Sawyer lived further from town with joined property on the lake. Uncle Jordan and Georgia lived out a ways too, but not on the lake. Uncle Gabe and Elizabeth were in town, and Casey and Emma lived on the opposite side of the lake. Just about anywhere she went in Buckhorn, she was likely to run into eagle-eyed family.

Given the circumstances, an intrusion might have been welcome, a way to delay the inevitable. Of course this was one of the few times she didn’t see anyone familiar and by the time they’d reached the small house Noel had recently purchased, she’d worked herself into a frenzy.

She was a woman who faced issues head-on, and she wanted this particular issue resolved...to her satisfaction.

Now that she’d made up her mind to force Noel to confront, and admit to, his feelings, only the tiniest doubt worried through her brain.

Tiny doubts, she realized, were not her forte.

He parked before her, then got out and came around to open her door.

Neighbors waved to them, a dog barked in the fenced yard next door and kids ran past in a game of tag.

Watching her closely, those velvety brown eyes of his alert, Amber wondered if he sensed her determination.

Likely. From the beginning, Noel had always been highly attuned to her.

He took her hand in his, reminding her of his size, how much larger and stronger he was—and how much it thrilled her. Going through the garage entrance, he led her into the kitchen.

She’d helped him choose this house, and in her mind she’d seen it as a starter home for a family.

Their family.

Three small bedrooms, a respectably sized kitchen and breakfast nook, and the open great room, large enough for a group of ten or more to gather together.

She’d pictured dinners with her family visiting, maybe another dog or two...and kids.

Turning her at the island that separated the kitchen from the great room, Noel caught her hips and put his forehead to hers.

She waited for his kiss, but instead he said, “I still smell like smoke. Want to join me in another shower?”

Yes. But she hesitated. Once they got in the shower, she’d give up her promise to her dad and nothing would get settled. So instead she pushed him back a few inches and said, “Let’s talk first and shower after.”

His gaze narrowed, then he stepped back, putting some space between them.

It wasn’t only physical, Amber knew. She felt the emotional chasm as well and she didn’t like it. “Don’t look so glum, Noel. I’m not going to propose.”

His eyes narrowed more. “I’m not glum.”

“Baloney. You’re braced like you think I plan to attack.”

He shrugged. “I know your moods, Amber. You’re definitely in attack mode. Given the day we’ve had and how your family came after me, I expect to be jumped any minute now.”

Not liking that distance between them, she again caught the front waistband of his shorts and drew him back to her. She loved being held against his hard body, the heat of him, the smell of his skin. “I thought you liked it when I jumped you.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice going husky with suggestion. “How about you get naked first, though?”

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