Open Life (Open Skies #5) (5 page)

“I’ll take the one closest to the patio.”

She managed a weak grin. “Uh. That was Sonia’s room.”

“So?”

“So we painted it pink and stuck up butterflies everywhere.”

“I like pink and I think butterflies are nice.”

Maria laughed aloud and Dillon smiled back at her.

“OK, tough guy,” she teased. “You get the pink bedroom.”

“Excellent. Only one question: is there a normal-sized bed?”

“Yeah. Julie had all the furniture replaced but she hasn’t gotten around to repainting.”

“No problem, then.” He steered her towards the second bedroom. “Let’s get you horizontal.”

They reached the master bedroom and Maria kicked off her shoes, stretching her feet and toes. She slipped out of her vest and untucked her blouse and then she looked up at Dillon. She’d lost a couple of inches by taking off her pumps and he was now even more domineering. He gazed down at her, his eyes bright.

“What?” she said. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just looking at you.”

“At me?”

“Nobody else here to look at.”

“That’s true.” She reached up and yanked out her hair from its snug chignon with a sigh. Dillon’s green eyes flared when that long hair fell over her shoulders in dark waves. Before he could stop himself, he reached out, tucked a few unruly strands behind her ear.

Maria’s breath caught at his tender touch. His fingers ran over her neck, just for a few seconds, then they were gone. Dillon looked shocked at what he’d done and he stepped back and away.

“OK, you get some rest.” His voice was raspy again, that commanding tone fully present. “I’ll call Julie and tell her what’s up.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. That one innocent touch had set her pussy on liquid fire – it was pulsing with a steady ache that she recognized as arousal.
God
, it had been a long time since a man had had this effect on her. Maria’s last boyfriend had left the state for a job a year before, and there had been nobody since.

“Dillon?” She heard the longing in her own voice.

“Yeah?”

“You’ll – you’ll be right outside?”

“Yeah. I’m not going anywhere. You sleep, OK? You’re safe.”

To her shock, she felt a sob suddenly working its way up her chest, up her throat, and she struggled against it.
Why
was she so emotional? Nothing had actually happened, had it? No, it hadn’t. She was in one, uninjured piece and all was absolutely fine. But still… she felt small and scared and the man standing in front of her was a tough stranger she’d entrusted with keeping her safe from a bunch of murderers.

God, it’s been one hell of a day
.

The sob came out now and she turned away, feeling like her whole body was drenched in humiliation. Strong hands grasped her shoulders, turned her around again. Dillon gazed down at her, his hard face softening more with every passing second.

“Maria.” That deep, rough voice almost caressed her name. “Come here, baby.”

The endearment finished her off: she put her hands to her cheeks and wept. He took her in his arms, held her close, held her up. She clutched his back, the large muscles moving under her hands as he stroked her hair over and over, whispering the whole time. She didn’t hear his words as much as she felt them: he was making her promises, offering her comfort, soothing her faceless fears. And she believed him; she believed
in
him.

Dillon held her against him, revelling in how perfectly her body fit with his. She slipped in to his bulk like she’d been made to be there, like she was made for him. She was crying and trying so hard not to cry, scared and trying so hard to be brave, and all he wanted was for her to just let go.

“I got you, Maria. You’re safe here with me.” Her sobs got stronger and deeper as she let her fear start to come out. “That’s it, baby. Let yourself feel it… it’s OK.”

They stood like that for no more than a minute before Maria pulled herself together. Dillon found himself wishing that he could hold her longer, but then again, that would require her to still be crying – and hearing her cry was tearing him up inside. It made him furious in a way that confirmed what he’d already suspected: he’d lost his detachment where Maria Torres was concerned.

Why, though? Just –
why
? Dillon had protected hundreds of people in his life. He’d had the backs of his fellow SEALS in Iraq and he’d done some security work for civilians, too. Back in Denver he’d protected plenty of women when he was a bodyguard for Dallas Foreman. They were really nice people, mostly, and they’d all been scared of whatever it was he was hired to keep away from them. Fear and tears in principals was nothing new for him. He’d always been careful with them when they’d been upset or crying… but he’d never offered any of them a hug, never even
wanted
to. Not until this very minute.

She pulled back now and he stared down at her, dying to touch her face. She was nothing like his usual type and he’d probably not have even noticed her if he’d passed her on the street. She was shy and quiet, but by being forced to keep his eyes nailed on her for the past six hours, he’d noticed things about Maria. Funny, quirky, sweet things; ways that she’d revealed herself to him without even knowing it.

When she smiled, her nose scrunched up in a way that was totally adorable. When she was standing at reception and tapping away on the computer, she rested her weight on her left foot; the stance thrust her generous hip out a bit and showed off her sweetly-rounded ass. When she was nervous or stressed, she played with her hair and since her morning had been all about flower and fish fuck-ups, her smart little hair-do had come loose and she’d had dark curls trailing down on to her cheeks. She bit her lip before she spoke, she lowered her eyes around most people, she was gentle and kind with kids.

Dillon had sat and watched her and the more of her he’d seen, the more he’d liked her. Yeah, she was reserved and shy and that was fine. He’d do a lot to get her to open up to him… and not just emotionally.

Maria was feeling back in control now and despite the fact that he felt so damn good to hold, she forced herself to pull away from that amazing body. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath, fighting for calm.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “That was – I didn’t mean to do that.”

“What did I say to you, Maria?”

Startled, she looked up. “About what?”

“About not apologizing.” Dillon ran his fingers through her tangled hair. “Stop it, OK? You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“But I’m fine. Nothing’s happened, I’m not hurt.” She exhaled, able to breathe evenly again. “I have no reason in the world to cry and yet here I am, bawling all over the place.”

“You’ve had a shock.” Those hands were cupping her face now and
God
, it felt good. “I’ve turned your whole life upside down and I wasn’t even very gentle about it. If
anyone’s
sorry here, it’s me.”

She frowned a bit. “Yeah, that’s true. You could maybe work on your ‘delivering bad news to people’ skills.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I could. Client feedback noted.”

She sighed. “I think I’m ready to lie down.”

“I bet you are.” Finally, he released her and he hated doing it. “You OK?”

“Yes.” She meant it this time, he knew, so he backed up a bit more. “I’ll get some rest.”

“I’ll be right outside.” He paused at the door. “Sleep well.”

“I’ll try.”

The door closed behind him. Slowly, Maria took off the rest of her clothes and then wandered in to the attached bathroom. One of the cleaning women had brought her personals from the overnight room, so she had her toothbrush and long t-shirt, thank goodness. She got herself ready and then climbed in to bed, thinking how weird it was to be lying down in the afternoon.

To Maria’s surprise, she relaxed almost the second her head hit the pillow. She snuggled down in to the covers, warm and drowsy. The last thing she thought before drifting off was that Dillon was outside her door, watching, protecting, guarding. She was safe.

**

The next week passed fast, so fast that Dillon found himself wondering where the time had gone.

When King and Jax had first told him that he was stuck at Open Skies Ranch for the foreseeable future, Dillon had thought he’d for sure die of boredom up here. Yeah, OK, it was nice enough, he supposed. The Rockies were awesome and he’d always loved them – they were one of the main reasons he’d moved to Denver from his home state of Georgia – but beyond staring at the damn things between staring at Maria, what else could he
do
all day?

To his utter shock, Open Skies was fun. The staff were great people and they obviously loved Maria like a family member. The fact that Dillon was there to keep her safe meant that he was accepted too, and without question. Everyone was respectful, friendly, warm. Manny made a point to ask him about his favorite dishes and had his kitchen staff make a few of them; Julie had the cleaning staff run in to town to get some toiletries for him when he ran short; Jake gave him a key to the staff gym so Dillon could go and work out late at night when Maria was sleeping and Jake or Phil were in the guard booth, watching the camera feeds.

Within a week of being there, Dillon loved it and wondered how he’d be able to settle back in to the city again. He loved the laid-back calm of the ranch, loved the amazing food, loved the vibrantly-colorful wildflowers bursting in to bloom in the mountains. He loved the fresh air and the surrounding open fields and the campfires they had some nights.

Most of all, though, he loved being with Maria all the time. Every morning, he got up first, made the coffee and went out on the patio to drink his first cup. He stood there, watching the sunrise over the mountains, listening to the silence. Never in his life had he enjoyed getting up early as much as he did at Open Skies. When he heard her moving around in her bedroom, he’d pour her coffee and then they’d go to the patio together.

Seeing her sitting there in a long t-shirt and a pair of shorts, her hair loose and tousled, her bare toes curled on the chilly ground, made his heart clench. She didn’t say much in the mornings, didn’t chatter on about nothing, and he liked that. Often, they’d just sit together and drink their coffees, watch the birds flying by, make the occasional comment. The silence between them was comfortable and neither felt any pressure to fill it up.

His days were spent following Maria around and even that was fine by him. She spent most of her time at Reception, so he watched the door and he watched the road leading up to the main building. After she finished work, they were free to do whatever they wanted – and this was the part of the day that Dillon looked forward to, more than anything else.

Sometimes, they walked around the ranch or in the mountains. They went for horse rides together, which they both adored. They went in to Clarity to shop, or eat, or to drop by Maria’s place to grab some clothes or just check in and pick up her mail. They ran errands, went to the movies, bought Dillon some clothes since what he’d brought for what he’d assumed was a day trip to the ranch was woefully inadequate. She met friends for coffee or dinner and he sat one table over and watched them. And Maria and Dillon talked. God, how they talked… it was easy to laugh and joke with her and he loved to make her smile.

So somehow – without him even noticing – Dillon began to feel at home at Open Skies. And when he realized that, he began to wonder just how he could be expected to leave it.

To leave her.

Chapter Four

Annabeth stared at herself in the mirror, breathless and nervous. Eric had just called her from a gas station ten minutes away to say that he was almost there. She was going to see him again, after almost a year apart.

She winced when she remembered the last time they’d actually been physically in the same room together. It had been right here, in this cabin, and it had been when Eric finally told her that Annabeth’s husband’s heart was beating in Eric’s chest. He’d received Cam’s heart – and he’d come to Open Skies to meet Annabeth, to lay eyes on the woman whose husband had saved his life. What neither one of them had expected was to fall in love… and Eric’s revelation after weeks of being together and making mad, passionate love had shocked Annabeth. Angered her, too.

In her rage at his betrayal, she’d slapped Eric. She closed her eyes in shame, yet again, at that fact. In the whole of her life she’d never laid a hand on anyone – not ever – but she’d lost control that day and lashed out. Yeah, she’d had the right to be furious and she defended that… but she
hadn’t
had the right to hit Eric.

If the shoe were on the other foot? I’d have called the cops on him and he’d have damn well deserved it.

She took a deep, steadying breath. She and Eric had been talking on the phone for the past few weeks and she’d apologized for hitting him; she’d apologized roughly eight thousand times. He’d accepted, but she still needed to say sorry again. Face to face.

Of course, they had much more to talk about than just this and she knew it. Eric wanted to be with her – be with her properly, together all the time, and he wanted her to move to Texas – and she wanted that too. Or she
thought
she did and in theory, it was a done deal. But in reality, could she be with the man who had her dead husband’s heart? Could she be around Cam’s heart all the time – sleep next to it, feel it beating under her fingertips – and not feel his loss more keenly?

Well. Only one way to find out.

She ran a trembling hand through her long blonde hair one more time, put a bit of blush on her curved cheekbones. Her eyes were very blue in the morning sun and she tried a smile in the mirror. It came out more as a grimace.

“Hi, Eric,” she squeaked.

Urgh. No good. She looked and sounded like a woman being tortured at the dentist.
Try again
.

She smiled. “Hi, Eric.”

Better. Less pained, at least.

“Hi, Eric.”

“Hi.”

She spun around with a gasp.
God
, there he stood in the open doorway. She’d left it ajar to let in the mountain breeze and it must have blown open all the way without her noticing.

She took him in, almost devoured him. He was more handsome than she remembered, with that dark hair and those dark eyes and those wicked lips. His tall, muscular frame looked more powerful than she recalled, both safer and more dangerous. The look on his face knocked the breath right out of her: he was staring at her just as hungrily, and her whole body tensed as it reminded her what it had felt like to have this man inside of her.

“Eric,” she managed. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He stepped in to the cabin, still staring at her. “How you doing, angel?”

“I’m – I’m…” She swallowed. “I’m nervous.”

“Me too.” He set his bags on the floor. “But I’m glad to see you.”

“Oh, God.” Tears came to her eyes, suddenly and surprisingly. “Me too.”

He crossed the room now and she was in his arms before she’d even brushed the tears away. His large hand was on the back of her head, pressing it to his shoulder. His warmth washed over her, his scent flooded her senses.

“Don’t cry, Annabeth,” he murmured. “Please.”

“I won’t.” She was smiling as she spoke and Eric heard it in her voice. “I promise.”

They stood together in the sun and the wind, not saying anything more, slowly reacquainting themselves with each other’s bodies. Eric shut his eyes and just breathed her in. She was even more beautiful than he remembered her, more fragile and stronger. Her smooth, sleek curves melted in to him, just settled on in to his planes like puzzle pieces clicking together. He’d never felt
rightness
like he felt when he had this woman in his arms.

Christ
, he’d missed her and a part of him still couldn’t believe that he was here with her again. After what he’d done to her, he was sure she’d never forgive him. Eric had come to Open Skies last summer with the intention to meet her, to just put a face and a voice to the name Annabeth Wheeler. Then he’d made love to her for the whole of one amazing, astounding night and then he’d fallen in love with her – and all this had happened
before
he’d levelled with her and told her about having Cam’s heart. When she’d screamed at him to leave, he’d thought he’d lost the only woman he’d ever loved. He even felt like he
deserved
to lose her, for being such a coward and an asshole.

Eric still recalled the day two months ago that he’d gone to her blog to read her post to him. His heart had stopped in his chest and then started up again at double-time as he’d read her sweet words of forgiveness, of wishing him well. He’d sent her an e-mail right away and included his phone number; then he’d just prayed hard for her to make contact. When she had, he’d believed in miracles for the second time in his life.

Since that first phone call, they’d talked non-stop and about everything. When Annabeth had asked him to come back here to Open Skies to see her and to be her plus-one for Jake and Julie’s wedding, he’d almost fallen off his chair. She was offering him a chance, a chance he barely deserved, and he was goddamned taking it. His whole life back in Houston could just sit and wait for him, because at this exact moment, nothing existed beyond this woman that he was holding.

Annabeth drew back now and she gave him a real smile, a shining, pure smile that made him want to kiss her until her knees gave out.

“How was the drive?” she said.

“Good.” His drawl still turned her on desperately, she noticed. “No problems.”

“Why’d you drive, anyway?” she asked. Eric had been evasive and vague about not flying from Texas to Colorado and she’d let it go. Now, though, she found her curiosity piqued again. “It’s not like your hometown is just an hour away.”

“Yeah, well.” He grinned down at her. “I wanted to bring you a present and I knew it’d never get on a plane.”

“Is it that huge?” she teased him.

“Nope.” He let her go, reluctantly. “It’s just on the list of things that can’t be flown.”

She laughed. “You brought me a bottle of non-TSA-approved water?”

“Better.” Eric went over to his luggage, opened a bag. When he turned, he was holding a potted plant in his hand. She looked at the yellow flower, admired its graceful shape and long petals. She felt tears start yet again.

“Oh, Eric,” she said. “Is that Golden Smoke? One that you grew in your greenhouse?”

“Yeah.” He walked back and handed it to her. “For you, baby.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

She’d first seen Golden Smoke flowers right here at Open Skies, on one of the many walks in the mountains that she and Eric had taken together before things fell apart between them. Annabeth knew nothing about flowers, but Eric was a florist and landscaper and he knew more than enough for the both of them.

She’d fallen in love with the brilliant yellow blossoms and Eric had managed to grow some in Houston – despite the fact that they were way out of their natural environment. And now here he was, giving her one of her own. It was hands-down the most perfect gift he could have shown up with.

She set it on the table by the window and then she looked at Eric again. He was standing next to his bags and the time had come to take them to a bedroom – but which one? She had the master room, of course, and this was the room they’d shared last summer. But no matter how happy she was to see him, she wasn’t ready for that and she didn’t know what he expected. There was a moment of awkwardness now and she didn’t know where to look.

“OK, so.” He lifted his bags. “I’ll go get settled in the guest room and unpack and then have a shower. Then maybe we can talk a bit?”

She relaxed. Yeah, he was a gentleman and he wasn’t going to push. She should have known that.

“Good,” she said softly. “You want a cup of fresh coffee waiting for you?”

“Love one. I drove all night to get to you, angel.” He wandered down the hall to the office that doubled as a guest room and she watched him go. Yeah, the view from the back was as mouthwatering as ever, she saw, and she grinned a bit. The thought that this man was hers for the taking continued to astound her.

Now if only she could be sure that she could be with him – and with Cam’s heart. Because right now? That was still a big question mark.

**

Julie turned over in bed and groaned. God, she felt nauseous this morning. This was the worst that it had been yet, and she just wanted to stay in bed and pretend that it was Saturday.

“Babe?” Jake stood in the bedroom door, hovering anxiously. “You OK?”

She tried to smile at him and she struggled to a sitting position. “Yeah. I –” She froze as her stomach lurched violently. “Oh, crap.”

“What?” Jake asked, alarmed as he watched what little color she had in her face just drain away. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

She didn’t want to open her mouth to answer him, just in case. She untangled herself from the bed sheets, shot to her feet, bolted in to the bathroom. She managed to slam the door behind her – why, she had no idea, since she knew Jake would stand right outside and hear everything anyway – and she skidded on her knees over to the toilet. She got there just in time to vomit.

Jake stood outside the door, listening to Julie throw up for a solid minute. He knew she wouldn’t want him to see her like this, so he waited until silence descended. Then he tapped at the door.

“Julie? Can I come in now?”

“Just a sec,” she called, her voice shaky.

She got to her feet slowly, flushed the toilet. Holding on to the counter, she stared at herself in the mirror. Wow, she looked bad. Pregnancy kind of sucked in some ways, actually. She brushed her teeth, rinsed, brushed again, all while trying to ignore the continuing nausea rolling through her body.

“It’s OK, Jake. Come in.”

He opened the door and came over to her. He pushed her sweaty curls off her forehead and peered at her. “You need a hand?”

“No.” She started to walk out of the bathroom, sagged a bit. “Um. Maybe.”

Jake grabbed her and swung her off her feet. The sudden movement made her head spin and she shut her eyes. He set her on the bed again, gently, like he was afraid she might break.

“You going to stay home today?” he asked, his voice gruff with concern. “I’m sure Rob can handle your meeting with the accountants until you feel up to it all.” He paused. “You want a doctor?”

Julie opened her eyes and stared up at him. She’d planned to keep this news to herself for another five days and surprise him on their wedding day, but she just couldn’t. If she was going to be praying to the porcelain gods every morning now, Jake was sure to notice.

“No, I’ve already been to a doctor.”

He regarded her steadily. “Yeah? And?”

“And… I’m pregnant.”

He stared at her, his gray eyes warm. “I know.”

“What?” she faltered. “But – how?”

He smiled. “Baby, I know every inch of your luscious body – and lately you’ve grown a few inches around the middle, huh?” He knelt down, rested his hands carefully on her hips. “You’ve been sick and pale in the mornings, tired as hell in the afternoons. I may be a man, but I’m not a total idiot.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I was waiting.” He brushed his fingers across her waist. “I wanted you to be the one to tell me, when you were ready.”

“I wanted to tell you after we were married,” she confessed. “I’m still only ten weeks, but it seems that Little Weston has different ideas – gave the whole show away.” She glanced down at his large, tanned hands on her stomach. She realized that he was cupping and cradling their baby and tears sprang to her eyes. “Already as impatient as Daddy, I can tell.”

“Or as stubborn as Mommy.” He gently wiped the tears away. “Mama’s a handful, I can assure you.”

“I’m
not
stubborn,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster as she sat there in her pj’s with her hair sticking up. “I’m just… difficult.”

“You aren’t kidding, sweetheart.” He stroked her stomach. “But I love you anyway.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

They kissed gently and Jake brushed her hair back again.

“So – you OK to get to work?”

“Yeah. I just need a few minutes.”

“And some toast with scary amounts of butter and peanut butter?”

“You noticed that, huh?”

Jake laughed, the sound vibrating out of his broad chest. “Oh, hell, yeah. For the past three weeks, you’ve been downing that like you’re addicted to it.”

“It’s the only thing that calms my stomach in the mornings,” she said. “Unfortunately for my wedding dress.”

“Aw.” He ran his rough finger over her lips. “You’re going to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on the day you agree to be my wife.”

“Even if Tammy has to roll me down the aisle to you?”

He laughed again. “Yeah. Even then.”

She felt better now and took a deep breath. “I’ll go take a shower.”

“You sure?” He got to his feet and pulled her up. “You don’t want to take it easy this morning?”

“No, I’m good. The sickness has mostly passed.”

“Then I’ll get your fat and sugar laden breakfast ready for you.” He cocked his dark head at her. “You drinking coffee?”

“Yeah, just one a day. The doctor said it’s OK.”

“I’ll make it.” Jake paused and looked down at her. “You’ve given me every single thing I’ve ever wanted, you know. A home and love and now a family.”

“You’ve given me the same things back, in spades.”

“I hope I have.”

“Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“Do I… do I deserve this?”