Claiming The Cowgirl's Baby

“Sure.”

“I had a big crush on you in college.”

“Uh-huh.” Was she blushing? Kade swallowed hard, feeling a little more Neanderthal than he was comfortable with. “I kinda figured that out.” She didn’t reply and he fumbled for something else to say. “You were cute, sitting on that fence mooning over me.”

Tilting her head, she studied him, a half smile on her lips and mischief twinkling in her eyes. “I had lots of dirty thoughts about you while sitting there.”

Kade opened his mouth but no words came out. Dirty thoughts? His libido overrode his brain. “How dirty?”

Laughing now, Pippa shoved the tray away. “Really dirty. Sexy dirty. Cowgirl-style dirty.” She pressed her hand against her mouth. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I blame the chicken soup.”

“What’s going on, Pippa?”

She glanced down at her hands clasped in her lap and her cheeks pinkened. “Probably nothing. I just...” She raised her chin and met his gaze directly. “I like you, Kade. A lot.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

“Is it?” She licked her lips and his eyes tracked her tongue.

Kade rolled off the bed, putting distance between them and easing the building pressure behind the buttons of his fly. What was Pippa saying? What did she want? For that matter, what did he want? “Are you done?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Was that disappointment in her voice? Kade reached for the tray, hesitated, staring. “What’s happening here, Pippa?”

Her eyes bored into his, as though she was searching for something. “I don’t know.” She breathed deeply. “A connection maybe.”

Connection? Kade liked that idea probably more than he should.

“It felt good—my head on your shoulder. And the kiss. Maybe we could just lie here. Talk. Or kiss. If you want to.”

If he wanted to? She was a beautiful woman. Sweet. And too good for him. But he definitely wanted to. Kade grabbed the tray, shifted it to the top of his dresser. When he returned to stand beside the bed, he felt awkward. Pippa slid down until she was prone and patted the bed. He stretched out next to her and she rolled into him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was. Maybe he was overthinking things.

Yet, the more he thought about it, the more Kade understood what Pippa was trying to do, what she sought from him and sought to give back. She was kind and caring, and it dawned on him. She wanted to grant him tenderness, and if he gave in to the need for her, he would give her the same in return. This moment of...belonging was a gift. Aftershocks from the day’s revelations continued to rock him, but Pippa could vanquish them. For a while at least.

His lips skimmed her jaw, seeking her mouth. Then he took their kiss deeper, yet kept it quiet and dreamy. And Pippa, this generous, concerned woman, opened for him. He held her as the kiss continued and they hovered just beyond the edge of desire. He discovered a sense of peace with her in his arms, mouth-to-mouth, body-to-body.

He eased back to look at her and asked, “Are you sure?”

She smiled, nodded and sat up. Neither broke eye contact as they unbuttoned each other’s shirts. He felt her fingertips skim across his abs, his chest, and his breathing turned ragged. Working for control, finally steady again, he slid her shirt off her shoulders so he could touch her. His fingers glided over her surprisingly delicate skin. She was a cowgirl, with a cowgirl’s strength. He was astounded when he discovered that fact, especially now as she sat on his bed, all but naked. A low hum thrummed in her, a sound of pleasure as she spread her hands over his chest while he skimmed his hands down her arms.

He gathered her close, eased her to the mattress and followed her down. They faced one another, touching, exploring, learning each other for the first time. He stripped the rest of her clothes off, kissing, licking, touching every part of her. He wasn’t in a hurry when he kicked off his own boots and jeans, and he was male enough to enjoy the way Pippa’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect O at the sight of his naked body.

He wanted to spoil her so he offered lazy caresses that teased then soothed. His mouth found her breast, his hand cupping it for easy access. He wanted to tantalize, stoking her passion in a slow burn. Pippa arched and sighed beneath him, her fingers tangling in his hair. He swirled his tongue around her other breast, making her gasp.

Using his mouth and his hands, Kade ensured she had a long, slow climb to her peak. Her sighs tripped over into moans, and she quivered in anticipation, waiting, wanting, needing the pleasure. When he brought her to climax, she drew his head up, begged him with her eyes.

“Inside me.” Her command rushed out on a hiss of breath. “Now.”

Kade recognized her desire and slipped into her. She surrounded him, welcomed him with drenched heat, her inner muscles holding him in a fierce grip. They moved together, an intimate dance of retreat and advance so unconditional his heart pounded. She clenched around him.

“Kade.”

When she spoke his name, the tenderness shattered him.

Three (#u235dbdaa-af24-503c-afca-0e21ab3205ce)

Pippa considered the empty space beside her on the bed. The spot was cold so Kade had likely been gone for some time. She couldn’t decide which was more awkward—waking up to the man she’d made love to for the first time, or waking up to his absence. Their relationship had changed—obviously—but for better or worse?

She listened but caught no sounds. Pushing off the covers, she rolled out of bed and stood, waiting to see if her head was going to cooperate this morning. For the first time in over a week, she had no vestiges of a headache lurking. Excellent. She grabbed her clothes and scuttled into the bathroom. She freshened up, using her finger for a toothbrush, dressed and headed toward the main part of the house. Which was empty. There was no sign of Kade but for a pot of hot coffee and a tented piece of paper propped up in front of it.

Opening cabinet doors until she found a mug, she poured a cup, rummaged for milk and sugar, fixed her coffee just the way she liked it and settled at the breakfast bar with Kade’s note in front of her. Pippa swallowed a few sips while working up her nerve to read it.

“You’re a big chicken,” she chided herself out loud. And she was. The fact that he hadn’t stuck around to face her the morning after—and they were in his house—didn’t bode well for their relationship to continue. If he was blowing her off, she’d have to figure out a way to salvage things. She still needed his expertise to get Camp Courage up and running.

Pippa stalled another couple of minutes while she fixed a second cup. Finally unable to put off the inevitable any longer, she opened the note.

Morning, Pip. You were sleeping sound so I didn’t wake you. I have some work this morning and need the early start. I left coffee. Hope it’s not too strong by the time you get up. Talk to you soon. KW

Well, alrighty then. Pippa had no idea what to think. It wasn’t a Dear Jane letter. Not exactly. But it wasn’t a declaration of undying love, either. Not that she really expected such a thing. She just wanted a chance to explore their relationship—especially after last night. Her whole body heated just thinking about it. He was... Her brain short-circuited and she puffed out a deeply feminine sigh of appreciation. He had real muscles and his hands were work-roughened. And his...oh yeah, his was something to behold. And enjoy. She thought about splashing cold water in her face then glanced at the paper on the breakfast bar.

She reread the note. He’d called her Pip. Which is what her best friend called her. Plus, it sounded like what a guy might call his best friend’s little sister. While Pippa might be an only child, her best friend, Carrie Longford, had two older brothers. Carrie had bemoaned the guy code loudly and often. Guys didn’t date their friend’s sisters. Nor did they date their sister’s friend. Good thing Pippa had never been attracted to Carrie’s brothers. But where did that leave her with Kade? She wasn’t in the sister zone. Was his reticence due to her friendship with Chase and Cash? He’d also written that he’d talk to her soon. What did that mean? She obviously needed her BFF’s advice.

She finished her coffee, rinsed out the mug and put it in the dishwasher. Her stomach rumbled from hunger. She also hadn’t mentioned she was on birth control in the heat of the moment, nor had he brought up the subject. Wondering if she should wait until he came back so they could talk, she stared out the window. Movement at the ranch office building drew her attention. Uh-oh. A black SUV was disgorging tall, handsome men. Four of them. The only Barron missing was Clay.

Yikes! She had to get out of here. She could avoid driving by the office, though it involved a circuitous route. Kade’s truck was still parked in front of the house and she figured the brothers would be headed here next. She located her purse and keys, glanced around to make sure no other evidence of her presence remained and boogied outside. She twisted the lock on the door handle, hoping it would secure the door, and pulled it shut behind her.

Skulking to her car, she scrunched down behind the wheel, started the engine and eased away from Kade’s house. Taking the back road toward the houses where other ranch hands lived, she eventually circled around toward the big house, gained the driveway and rocketed down it. Pippa didn’t take a deep breath until she’d hit the section line road headed toward I-35. Then she started laughing. She was so ridiculous sometimes.

* * *

Kade sat on his horse. The small hill gave him a good view of the ranch buildings on the left and the grass range where a herd of Black Angus cattle grazed. He’d ridden out before dawn looking for some peace. He hadn’t found it. He took off his Stetson and turned his face toward the sun. Wind teased his hair, loosening a few strands from the cord he used to tie it back.

He loved this land. Every scrap of it—the river to the south, the scrubby trees and rocky hills, the sweeping grasslands. He could admit to himself that he’d once wanted his own spread but after all the years here at the Crown B, this was home and he was satisfied. Until now.

Cyrus Barron. The man had been a master manipulator and he’d led Kade like a lamb to slaughter. Land management? You’re the expert, Kade. Cattle breeding program for high-yield, Grade A beef on the hoof? I trust you, Kade. Want a “super horse” stud? Do whatever you need, Kade. And he’d fallen right into the old man’s nasty web. Everything Kade worked for had been done to further the Barrons’ brand. And he’d been proud of what he’d achieved.

Then the truth came out.

Shoving the hat back on his head, he judged the time by the height of the sun on the eastern horizon. Was Pippa awake yet? And man, wasn’t that another can of worms he needed to sort out. He shoved that problem to the back of his mind. At the moment, he didn’t have the time or energy to sort out his feelings for Pippa. But he worried last night had been a mistake. A big mistake.

Kade shifted in the saddle to ease the pressure in his jeans. Physically, last night had been amazing. Emotionally? He wasn’t ready to go there. He liked Pippa. She was funny and cute and smart and sexy and sweet. Very sweet. She came from money—lots of it—and was the type of woman a Barron would date. Which brought him right back into that mental box he’d been trying to escape. He was a Barron. According to Cyrus’s will. But he wasn’t. He was Kaden Waite, half Chickasaw son of Rose Waite, grandson of William and Ramona Waite. He was a cattleman. He worked with his hands. He did not wear an expensive suit and tie.

But he’d put down roots in this place and it could all be his. His horse nickered and pawed the ground with a front foot. Kade loosened his grip on the reins. He’d freaked and stormed out of Barron Tower—and wasn’t that one of his finest moments. Not. He shook his head, feeling rueful. His half brothers had risen to their feet, all of them talking to him at once as he’d lost his cool. Chance had blocked the door, tried to manage the situation. Kade scrubbed at his face as he remembered the scene. He’d threatened to coldcock Chance if he didn’t get out of the way.

Chance held him in that conference room just long enough to say a few things—things he didn’t want to hear. Take some time, Chance had said. Think things over. Kade heard the murmurs of agreement coming from the rest of the Barron brothers. Yeah, easy for them to say. They’d grown up as Barrons, knew who and what they were.

Since coming to work at the ranch, he’d walked a fine line between employee and friend with the five brothers. Looking back, he recalled the sideways glances and the hints. They’d suspected all along and he’d been... What? An idiot? Stupid? Clueless? Pretty much. He’d definitely been blind. He was still too angry to call his mother and too unsure to call his grandparents.