McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) (9 page)

Cole laughed at his brother’s pointed jibe, but nodded. Adrienne smiled at the exasperated look Genevieve shot her hulking husband.

“What about your family, Adrienne? Are they all back in New York?”

“Gen’s my only family now. Falling in love with Cole is a blessing in many ways.”

“How so?”

“Not only am I getting a strong handsome husband, but I get the opportunity to be close to my little sister, and even gain two charming brother-in-laws in the deal.”

“I don’t know about Trey being charming,” Nate said, wincing in doubt.

“Trey and I might have gotten off to a rocky start, but we’ve found common ground in that we both love Gen,” she said, smiling at the giant who was cuddling Gen at the moment.

“Was this before or after you supposedly hit him with a blackjack?”

“After.”

“If she ever comes at you with her purse, run,” Trey said dryly.

“So it’s true?” Nate croaked, eyes widening.

“My wife scared ten years off my life running out into traffic, and when I caught up with her I was understandably…” Trey’s mouth twitched behind his golden goatee. “Irked. I grabbed her arm, and I guess Adrienne thought I was going to hurt the silly thing, because she brained me with her purse.”   

“She almost took the big man to his knees,” Cole added, blue eyes sparkling in amusement.

“I’d have paid money to see that,” Nate said, looking at her with a new found, what was it, appreciation or trepidation? Maybe a little of both.

“I forgot the part where he jumped up on the front bumper of a delivery truck and smashed his fist against their hood in his mad dash across Main Street,” Cole added, losing his battle with laughter.

Trey shrugged. “He didn’t hit Gen.”

“Thanks to you,” Gen said, stretching up to give her hero a kiss.

The comfortable silence was broke by Nate’s hacking cough.

“I’ll fix him a Hot Toddy. It will ease the congestion and help him sleep,” Gen said, shooting Nate a sympathetic look.

“Thank you, darlin’,” Trey said, lifting Gen from his lap. “With the furnace back on, he can sleep upstairs. Is the other guest room made up?”

“Yes, sir. I checked it earlier,” the willowy redhead tossed over her shoulder.

“Thank you, again, darlin.”

“She’s too good for you,” Nate whispered hoarsely when he regained his breath.

Trey shrugged. “I’m not arguing that, but she’s mine now.”

Adrienne turned to Cole. “I’m going to help, Gen. Do you want anything?”

“Just you,” he said simply.

Smiling, she leaned in for a kiss. “You’ll just have to wait on that, handsome.”

“You’re worth the wait,” he said as she slipped off the couch and headed for the kitchen.

“If she’s not giving it to you now, don’t expect it after you’re married,” Nate muttered, stifling another cough.

“Keep your nose out of our relationship, unless you want it busted too,” Cole snapped.

Adrienne walked into the kitchen shaking her head. “For being the book smart one in the family, Nate sure does know how to put his foot in his mouth with his brothers,” she muttered.

“I feel bad that Trey punched him earlier. I should’ve kept my nose out of it.”

“Why? It’s your home and your husband he was talking about. You have a right to stick up for him. Nate is a lawyer. He just likes to hear his own voice.”

“He’s Trey’s brother. I should make an effort to make sure he likes me.”

“And he should make an effort to assure you like him. Don’t get down on yourself. If Trey was unhappy with you, you’d know it.”

Gen actually giggled. “Isn’t that the truth?” She stirred the small pan on the stove. “I’m so happy for you and Cole and, on a totally selfish note, so relieved that there is going to be another woman around here, especially now,” she said, rubbing her belly.

“That’s not selfish and there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be.” She smiled hearing Cole’s laughter from the other room. “I’m so glad I came out to see you. I can honestly say that I’ve never met a man like Cole. He makes me dream about things I haven’t thought about since I was a little girl.”

“He’s head over heels for you.”

“I hope so. It would be really awkward if he wasn’t.”

Gen laughed. “You have it bad.”

“I do. It’s crazy. I’ve always been the one looking at the love sick guy thinking,
poor sap
, and this time…” She shrugged, fighting a blush and unsure of what to say.

“Adri that’s wonderful. It’s real. You deserve a man that is going to love you for you and make you peel off the mask. You said that he’s not like anyone else you’ve ever met, so you can’t treat him the same as other men in your life. Put your love and trust in him. I don’t think he will let you down.”

“Is that how you feel, felt, with Trey? How did you know that you could trust him? You never really told me that. I don’t know. It seems like it would be one thing to read the letters and dream of what could be, but something completely different when you stepped off the train and were met with a gruff giant that had no intention of falling in love with you. He’s so imposing. You had to be terrified.”

“I stepped off the train and I was standing there looking around, scared he wouldn’t come because the train was late. A man started to approach me. He was about my height, overweight, dirty. I remember looking at him and praying he wasn’t the one because my father always said that men hate to be looked in the eye, and I didn’t know how I was going to spend my whole life with my head bowed,” she said, shaking her head. “It sounds crazy now, but I was awed by his size when I saw him at the counter and then, when he looked over my shoulder and sent the other guy skittering with just a look, I felt protected. Don’t get me wrong. There’ve been times I’ve looked at his fists and been afraid. If he wanted to hurt me, he wouldn’t have to try, but when I’m in his arms I feel safe and believe it or not, cherished.”

“So you’re saying you just felt it. It’s not something you can pinpoint?”

“It was a feeling and something that he showed me. You scoffed when I told you that no matter how I tried his patience in the beginning, he didn’t once so much as smack me upside the head, but that showed me what kind of man he was. It allowed me to start trusting him. Like you said, I’ve never met anyone like him,” Genevieve said, the passion and conviction in her voice making Adrienne’s throat thick with emotion.

“Thank you for sharing your wisdom, little sister, and I pray that we can be as happy as you and Trey.” 

Gen poured the hot concoction in a tea cup and turned with a smile. “That was my prayer for you as well. May you be as happy as we are. It might not be flowery, but it’s true.”

“From your lips to God’s ears. I have a feeling I’m going to need all the help I can get. I love Cole, but what I don’t know about being a wife far outweighs what I do,” Adri said with a laugh and hooked Gen’s arm to lead her out of the kitchen.   

Cole’s step faltered as they neared the door to Adrienne’s room. She glanced up at him and he lifted a questioning brow. He stopped when she returned the look. Stroking the top of her hand with his thumb, he looked for the right words.

“Nothing about our courtship, if you want to call it that, has been traditional,” Adrienne said, her lips twitching in a smile. “I’d rather sleep in my fiancé’s arms than alone.”

“My arms are all yours, beautiful,” he said, releasing her hand to pull her into those arms and dance her down the hall.

Her laughter wrapped around his heart. This woman’s happiness did it for him. He was in trouble. What would he do to keep that sparkle in her eyes? Reaching around her to open the bedroom door, he realized what wouldn’t he do was the better question. He had to let go of her to lock the door and, when he turned, she was standing beside the bed with a come-hither look that stole his train of thought along with his breath.

The silk robe slithered off her shoulders, skimming down her body to puddle at her feet. Cole blinked. The silk camisole and flowing pants she wore were new to him but undeniably sexy. He felt the urge to feel her warmth through the soft material and crossed the room in two steps, shrugging out of his robe on the way. Adrienne’s dainty fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt and he pulled her against him. His big hands stroked up and down her back and over the firm curves of her ass, relishing in the way the silk barrier played between them.

Feeling the point of her nipples against his chest, he reluctantly pulled back the covers and swept her up into his arms. Easing down in the bed with her, he cupped her nape, tilting her lips up to his. Their kiss started out slow and languorous but when Adri’s fingers speared into his hair, pressing his head down, things heated up in a hurry. Her legs wrapped around him. He couldn’t hold back a laugh against her lips when her toes hooked in his waistband, starting to tug his pants down.

Pulling her mouth away from his, she said, “I want you naked.”

Who was he to argue with that? Rolling to the side of the bed, he stood and shoved pants and briefs down his long legs, kicking them free to land in a wad before turning back to the bed. Adri held up a hand, and he paused with one knee on the mattress.

“Give me a minute.”

Trying to shrug off the prickle of self consciousness as a chill, Cole stood still. When the seconds ticked off and she didn’t say anything, he wet his lips and shrugged.

“Do you want me to walk across the room, do a spin for you or something?” he asked wryly.

“That would be perfect. Do you need your boots for that cowboy strut?”

Her face gave nothing away, but he thought he detected humor in her voice. Knowing he looked like a dumbass, he still turned away from the bed and moseyed to the other side of the room, watching her in the dresser mirror. She leaned up on her elbow, propping her chin on her hand. He could feel her gaze crawl over him. Sarcasm hung heavy on his tongue as his discomfort grew.

“Are you going to come back?” she asked.

“Are you done gawking?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of looking. I’ve shared the stage or more with some very handsome men, but I’ve never seen one that compared to you.”

Heat flooded his cheeks and stabbed straight to his groin. He hadn’t been expecting that. She sat up and held her hand out to him.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. You have a truly gorgeous body. I would love to sketch it.”

The last words were wistful. He took her hand and let her draw him back down to the mattress.

“You’re an artist?”

Adrienne shook her head, eyes dropping to follow her finger nail outlining the curve of his powerful chest. “It was an escape when I was a girl and a couple of times I dusted the skill off as a boudoir game,” she admitted.

Jealousy reared its ugly head at the thought of her studying another man the way she was him, but he tried to shrug it off. She was going to be his wife. The others were history. She pushed unexpectedly on his chest, rolling him to his back. He caught his breath as she slid up over his body, the slippery material of her pajamas gliding over his skin.

“Give me a chance to make it up to you?”

The sparkle in her eyes erased the last of his discomfort and he grinned. “There’s nothing to make up yet, but feel free to practice.”

Adri laughed and gave him a wicked smile. “Not even my husband yet, and you’re already anticipating my screw-ups and blow-ups.”

“Don’t worry; I’m anticipating my own as well. I can’t seem to keep my boot out of my mouth when I’m around you.”

Her mouth trailed along his collarbone and his eyes drifted shut in pleasure. He combed his fingers through her inky tresses, loving the way it made her hum against his skin. She slid lower, a hand swirling in the smattering of hair around his navel.

“No one is perfect all of the time. We’re ahead of the game in realizing a few of our faults.”

“There’s going to be things about the other that drive us crazy, and there’s going to be times that c-crazy is good,” Cole said, his last few words coming out in a croak as Adrienne’s tongue dipped into his navel.

“You’re learning, cowboy. Like Trey, you’ll need to pick your battles,” she whispered, following his hipbone with openmouthed kisses. “But I think you’re right about this. Practice makes perfect.” 

His internal alarm went off well before dawn. The feeling of a warm body pressed against his side was a new one. Adrienne’s nose was burrowed into his side, her breath tickling the skin over his ribs. Her hand rested low on his belly where she’d idly stroked until they’d both fell asleep. Everything about it felt right. Shifting carefully, he turned off the clock so it wouldn’t wake her. He laid there a while, just enjoying the feel of her against him.

When he heard the creak of the stairs, he regretfully roused himself from his daydreams. Lifting her hand, he kissed it gently before placing it on the mattress and rolling from bed. She muttered a sleepy protest but he pulled the covers up over her slender shoulder and she stilled, nose pressed into his pillow. Dressing in the dark, he closed the door quietly behind him and headed downstairs.

Trey silently stepped away from the percolator, already sipping a steaming cup of brew. Gen came up from the cellar with a smile.

“Good morning.”

He returned the smile, murmuring something close to a salutation over the rim of his cup. Blowing, he took a cautious sip. It was always a race to see how much caffeine he could get down before his big brother finished his and it was time to head for the barn. Trey met his gaze and the quirk of his lips said he knew what was going through Cole’s mind. Surprisingly, instead of gulping the rest of his drink, the big man leaned against the counter and bent to nuzzle his wife’s ear. Cole didn’t catch the words but Gen giggled, her eyes darting to his while she leaned her cheek into her husband’s attentions. He shook his head. It was good to see Trey so relaxed, almost playful.

He held his curiosity until they made it to the barn. “Are you going to tell me what the joke was this morning?”

Trey flashed a grin. “Just wondering what time we would see you in the mornings once you two settle in your own home.”

“You’re a fine one to talk. We can’t exactly set our clocks by you since you got married.”

Trey chuckled, but shrugged. “I have to say when you have a warm, willing woman in your bed getting out here at the crack of dawn doesn’t seem as high a priority.”

Cole laughed and slapped his brother’s back. “Have I told you how much I like my new sister-in-law?”

Trey shoved him away with a laugh. “Get to work, boy.”

“How much longer are we going to let Nate get away with milking the sniffles?”

Rolling his broad shoulders, Trey grimaced. “Think about how much help the runt is when he’s healthy. Do you really want him out here whining?”

Pondering that for a moment, Cole cursed under his breath. Trey had a point. Besides, despite their brotherly bickering, they worked well together most of the time. They had everyday chores down pat, each knowing their role without having to ask or tripping over each other. He’d told the truth. He respected his older brother. Over the last couple of months, he’d learned that went both ways.

“Now that it has quit snowing and blowing, we should probably look for his luggage,” Trey muttered over a stall door.

“I assumed he left it at the train station.”

“When they realized it was getting too bad and Nate decided to continue on foot, he brought one bag with the basics and Martin took the rest back to town until we could get in.”

“Great. Does the dumbass know where he lost it?”

“In the driveway,” Trey drawled, the deadpan delivery making Cole laugh.

“That certainly narrows it down.”

Trey snorted in agreement.

Stomping his boots off, Cole made room for Trey to get in the door and tossed the frozen knapsack to land on the floor at Nate’s feet.

“Found your bag, princess.”  

“Thank you. First a shower and shave, now clothes that fit. I’ll look like a new man.”

“Because we all care what you look like,” Trey muttered. 

“Maybe you don’t, but the ladies will appreciate it.”

“About the time my lady starts appreciating you I’m going to put my unfashionable boot up your ass.”

“I second that,” Cole said, shrugging out of his heavy coat. “Save your pretty city clothes for church.”

“Are you going to tell your fiancée the same thing?”

Cole took a moment to lean around the door frame and take a look at Adrienne. He was glad he did. The scarlet sweater dress hugged every curve and she’d accented her tiny waist with a belt. Taking another moment to admire perfect calves and blink at heels in the same hue as the dress, he finally let his eyes travel up to his fiancée’s expectant expression.

“You make that dress look amazing.”

Adrienne’s red lips curved into an instant smile, and he knew he’d said the right thing.

“Sometimes a girl just likes to dress up, and there’s something about the color that always makes me smile,” she said, running her hands over the soft knit.

“I can see why,” Cole said, giving her a wink.

“I wish I could pull it off,” Gen said, openly admiring her petite friend. “It’s beautiful with your coloring.”

“I have a similar dress in cream that would look gorgeous on you if it’s long enough,” Adrienne said, lips twisting in thought.

“I hate to break up the fashion show, but I think French toast and sausage on a plate would look good about now.”

Genevieve’s shoulders shook in amusement as she skirted around her sarcastic husband to put the covered platter on the table.

“You have no appreciation for the finer things in life,” Nate said, shaking his head sadly at the eldest McCade while he tried to hold back his laughter.

The big man rolled his eyes and took a seat. “Every man has his priorities, Nathanial. I have the farm, a nice home, and a beautiful wife that loves me, faults and all. In my thinking, it doesn’t get any finer than that.”

Trey’s words earned him soft sounds of approval from the two women, and Genevieve somehow kissed her husband’s cheek through her wide smile.

“Damn,” Nate muttered. “Have you been working with him?”

Cole laughed. “Nope; Gen just inspires the big lug.”

Trey snorted. “The woman understands simple honesty, unlike most of them. It makes talking to her so much easier.”

“And our Neanderthal is back,” Nate said with a dramatic sigh. “How do you put up with him, sweet Genevieve?”

“Keep taking shots at my husband and you’re going to see my nasty side,” Gen said.

The tone of her voice and the firm look she leveled on Nate made the rest of them raise an eyebrow. The redhead meant business.

“You better be careful, runt. I told you the other night that my little firebrand has taken a shine to me,” Trey said with a wicked grin. “She decided after the fiasco with Catherine that she’s done biting her tongue around my detractors. I’m hoping this weather clears, because I’m almost looking forward to going back into town.”

Cole choked on a bite of sausage but grinned at Gen. “This should make Sunday mornings a lot more interesting.”

Blushing, she shook her head as she took her seat. “Cole, you agreed with me before. You said you were tired of people taking cheap shots. I’m not going looking for a fight. I just didn’t care for the way Trey was treated by Catherine, by some of the people in town, and even Pastor Paul. Catherine broke the marriage vows, but because of her tears and lies, Trey was made out to be the bad guy.”

“I still agree with you, little sister,” Cole said softly. “I was just teasing.”

“It sounds like I missed quite a bit,” Nate said with a serious frown. “I’d like to hear the whole story.”

“It’s not a big deal. You of all people know I’ve never been the warm and cuddly sort,” Trey said with a roll of his eyes.

“Maybe not, but the McCade name has always been good around here.” 

“It still is. It’s not like that,” Cole said flatly. “You know how it is; when people don’t have the facts, they’ll make up their own.” Trey shifted in his seat at the head of the table and Cole took the hint. “Now that you’re feeling a bit better, we have plenty of time to catch up. It’ll give us one more story to tell around the fire this afternoon.”  

Nate glanced at the big guy and then nodded in understanding. He took a bite and stole another look at Trey before leaning toward Cole. “Has this lazy afternoon in front of the fire been confirmed, or is that you being hopeful?” he asked in a loud stage whisper.

Choked laughter circled the table. Even Gen smothered a suspicious cough into her hand. Meeting Trey’s dancing gaze, Cole nodded slowly.

“After a little negotiation, the boss has graciously decided to postpone all unnecessary work until after the first of the year. We’re on holiday.”

“Have I done something to upset you?”

Adrienne whirled from fire. She had to admit that Nate did look like a different man. He’d teamed a stark white dress shirt with a tobacco colored vest and pants. She wondered if the cuffed sleeves were his effort at appearing casual. He looked ready for church. When had rugged denim and flannel become her preference in men’s fashion? Her lips twitched. Perhaps when she’d seen the way those materials complimented her muscular cowboy.

“You played me,” she said coolly. “And worse, you did it to hurt Cole.”

Nate’s face fell and he shook his head, fidgeting with his tie. “I’ll admit that I played on your sympathy so that you would spend time with me. You can’t blame a man for that. The fact that it seemed to annoy Cole was icing. I didn’t realize he loved you.”

Grimacing, Adrienne turned away. She hugged herself as she paced in front of the hearth. “Maybe I should thank you. Your game helped me realize how much I actually care for him.”

“Look, you’re a beautiful woman, but I wouldn’t screw over my own brother. That’s against everything that we were raised to believe as McCades. You have to understand that Cole is rarely set on anything.  He’s one of the easiest going people I’ve ever met.”

“What do you mean by that? That he is rarely set on anything?” she asked with a frown. Was Cole not serious about marriage? He’d seemed determined, even passionate about it.

Nate sat down on the arm of the chair and spread his hands. “I mean that Cole has always been the one to pick last. If there is three of something, Trey and I will take what we want, and Cole takes the one that is left. He never argues or complains about it. It’s just Cole. He’s never cared enough to argue over things before. I thought he would back down like usual. I didn’t realize he was serious about you. If I had I wouldn’t have pushed it but, honestly, I’ve never seen him like this.”

“You’re lucky you added that last bit in. I was preparing to be offended.”

Nate threw back his head and laughed. “I didn’t mean to prick your feminine pride, princess. You’re a breathtakingly gorgeous woman, and it’s obvious you have completely bewitched my previously easygoing brother. He’s as surly as Trey where you’re concerned.” 

Rolling her eyes at the mocking endearment, she asked, “How did you ever survive with that mouth?”

Nate laughed. “If I wasn’t their brother, I wouldn’t have. Fortunately for me, our parents drilled it into us that as brothers we’re always supposed to have each other’s backs. I’ve always gotten along with Cole. He’s a peacemaker. It’s generally Trey and I that butt heads. He drives me crazy.”

“Why?”

“He’s just so damn stubborn and old-fashioned. It’s impossible to get him to open his eyes and mind to new things. And as petty as it may sound to you, he was both Mama and Daddy’s favorite. I don’t know if you have siblings, but that rivalry you were talking about gets fierce when it comes to being the favorite. The infuriating thing is that Trey never had to try. What he does, the way he thinks, he’s just the perfect son. He would do anything for them, anything they asked, without question. I’m just not capable of that. I have to think for myself. My brain is always asking why?”

“Does he know you feel this way?”

“I doubt it. I don’t think he would understand if I explained it to him. It’s just who he is.”

“I agree with you for the most part, but he’s getting a little better at listening.”

Turning to face Cole, Adrienne was relieved to see a relaxed smile.

“You’ve always had a case of hero worship where he is concerned,” Nate claimed.

Adrienne winced, expecting a hot denial, but Cole shrugged.

“Like you were any better,” he said, pushing off the door frame to join them. “The funny thing is that Genevieve has it bad too. She looks at him like he’s ten foot tall and bullet proof. I tease her all the time about it. Adrienne’s the only one that is immune. She’s the giant slayer.”

His blue eyes sparkled as he caught her fingers and reeled her into his body. Her hand ended up pressed over his heart.

“You don’t seem afraid of me.”

“The plan is to keep you happy with me, but if that’s not possible I told you I think you’re stunning when you’re angry. I’ll enjoy the fighting and the making up.”  

“And Nate thinks he’s the smooth one,” Adri said, pushing up on tiptoe for a kiss.

“You’re learning,” Cole said with a wink.

Adrienne hugged him, smothering a laugh into his chest. He’d actually blushed at his own jest. His modesty was another endearing trait.

“I hope you’ll accept my apology. I might not know you, Adrienne, but you make Cole happy and he deserves that. I wish you both all the best.”

Resting her cheek on her man’s chest, Adrienne studied the youngest McCade for a moment. Cole tipped her chin up with his finger and lifted an eyebrow in question. He was leaving the decision up to her.

“Apology accepted,” she said, returning the smile that lit Cole’s face.

“Thank you.”  

“You owe one to Genevieve as well,” Cole reminded him sternly.

“Already proffered and accepted,” Nate said rolling his hand before him in a stately bow. “She’s much more forgiving than her bigger half,” he continued with a grin. He slid off the arm, making himself comfortable in the chair. “Now that I’ve wheedled my way back into everyone’s good graces, fill me in on what’s been going on with Trey. I get the feeling that it takes a bit to get Genevieve’s ire up and she’s even upset with the clergy. What did Pastor Paul do?”