Rocky Mountain Angel

Chapter Twenty-Three

He was still sopping wet, but damn if he could wait a minute longer. Gabe hauled Allison against him. Pressed her head to his chest and dug his fingers into her hair.

Clinging to her and trying to convince himself she was safe.

“I was so damn scared.” Her voice shook.

Something inside exploded. Ruthless anger at his father. “If he comes near you again I swear I’ll—”

“I don’t care if I am scared, I’ll kick him hard and run. Mean, cruel, ignorant bastard.” Allison reached up and caught his face in her hands. “You are not any of those things he accused you of. You’re good and you’re kind, and should be proud of everything you’ve accomplished. And you’re a saint for not sharing what you knew about him sooner.”

She kissed him and he took it all in. The stroke of her mouth against his, the way her breasts pressed tight to his chest, the moisture soaking her as well. The way her words poured in and stroked his aching soul.

Then she released him, pulled back her fist and punched him in the gut. Or tried to—he caught her before the blow could land.

“Hey, what’s that about?”

Allison jerked her hand free and crossed her arms in front of her chest as she glared at him. “Why was that the first time I heard about the bet? And what the hell is going on with my mother giving you money? I just about got whiplash from being jerked around during that conversation.”

“I can explain.”

“Make it snappy. I’m pissed at you.”

He chuckled. “I noticed.”

Her glare got hotter, and he rushed to clarify at least parts of the question. Gabe slipped past her to close the front door and pull off his boots as he spoke.

“The bet started the night—good Lord, it seems like years ago now—Canada Day. After the picnic. The same day everything first came out with your mom.”

The memory burst over her. “The first day we made love.”

“That too. There wasn’t any reason to tell you, not in the middle of what else was going on. Plus the bet didn’t really matter.”

She frowned. “What? How can you say that?”

“It didn’t,” he insisted. “We were already doing everything we could to make changes, and you knowing I had a deadline wouldn’t have effected what you suggested, would it?”

She wrinkled her nose. “No. I guess not.”

“You know not. All along you’ve talked about being realistic. Even though accepting the bet wasn’t sensible, it was my only choice. I still feel kind of sick at the final solution. I guess it’s worth losing some prime land if it means surviving the extra years we need for transition.”

Allison shook her head. “Stubborn fool.”

She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him into the bedroom.

“Not stubborn. Just…”

“Trying to save me the worry?”

She’d got him on that one. “Yeah.”

Allison pushed him toward the bed. She nabbed a towel from the bathroom and threw it at his head. “Now you’re a dumb fool.”

Gabe stripped off his shirt and rubbed the material over his torso and head, waiting for the final shoe to fall.

She removed her sweater, the one he’d gotten soaked by hugging her while dripping wet. Stepped in front of him and stilled his hands. How someone so much smaller could seem to loom over him was rather impressive.

“What about my mom?”

He groaned. “She swore me to secrecy. Do I really have to tell you the details?”

Her eyes rolled upward and she grimaced. “Dammit, did she sweet-talk you into accepting money for me?”

“What was I supposed to do?” he complained. “She turned those big eyes on me, and it was like watching a puppy beg. I couldn’t say no.”

“And you didn’t think you should tell me?”

He caught her and stopped her fidgeting, trapping her hands in his and pulling her between his legs. “I couldn’t tell you because she asked me not to. Keeping the gift a secret wasn’t hurting anything. The money is in a separate account, and I can sign it over anytime you want. Only I think you should pretend it’s not there, that you don’t know about it. That would make your mom the happiest.”

“Happier pulling one over on me than me saying thank you?”

He nodded.

She snorted. “You’re probably right.” Allison buried her face against him and snuggled in tight. “Oh God, Gabe, I’m so exhausted.”

He held her. Little by little their breaths synchronized, the tension in her body fading. She had one palm pressed to his naked chest, slowly tracing designs with her fingertips.

He felt every stroke as if she were permanently branding him.

“Why were you soaking wet and not wearing a jacket?” she asked.

That one was easy. “When Rafe came bursting into the barn to tell me Ben had tore off, madder than a hornet, I jumped. I’d parked across the way and had to run through the field to get to my truck to make sure you were okay. I didn’t trust him.”

He’d driven like a damn madman. Having something happen to her because he wasn’t there in time—even the thought of it tore him up inside.

Not being a part of her life would be nearly as bad. No way he could let this go for any longer, but hell if he could decide the best way to convince her this was real.

He could blurt it out, or arrange to take her out for dinner. Maybe wait until they’d finished fooling around, but none of those options were right. He’d already said he’d loved her, but it seemed to need repeating.

Bigger. Louder.

The heavy rain dancing on the ceiling had changed to a steady fall, the wind calmer, and inspiration hit.

“Come on.” He scooped her up. Ignored her squeal of protest as he carried her through the house and out the front door.

They were both instantly soaked, his hair completely wet this time with his hat abandoned.

Allison clung to his neck and laughed. “What are you doing, you crazy cowboy?”

He walked in his stocking feet all the way across to where the trail led up the small rise at the back of the cabin. “I need to show you something.”

Gabe placed her down carefully, her bare toes resting on the thick grass. He knelt on one knee and pulled her to sit on his thigh, her eyes level with his.

Allison shook her head as she laughed, one arm looped over his shoulders. “Rain dance? Harvest ritual I’m not aware of?”

He would totally make sacrifices to the gods of nature if he had to. “I want you to know what I’m offering.”

The little crease between her brows that appeared at his words was cute, but he refused to be distracted. He pointed back where they’d come from. “One nearly finished rustic cabin.”

Her frown broke into a smile. “Gabe?”

He kept going, pointing over the rise, passing his hand from east to west. “One section of not yet, but on its way to being self-sufficient, organic grazing and seed land.”

She fell silent as he caught her right hand and pressed their linked hands against his chest. “And one slightly beat-up heart. All of them are yours. For real. Forever.”

Her bright gaze darted over his face. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I love you. And I think you love me. Isn’t it about damn time you admit it?”

She bit her lip and sniffled once. Then again. Then the sniffle turned into a smile and she laughed. Softly at first, then louder. Laughter that carried over the land and the little cabin, and filled his heart with exactly what he needed.

It was infectious and addictive. Her smile, the sound of her joy—

There it was again. What she’d brought to him. Joy. In the midst of the tears, in the midst of the rain.

She stroked his cheek, wiping the moisture away, and he savoured her touch. Loved how in the middle of trying to save her, she’d saved him.

Gabe played with the ring that adorned her finger. “Does the fact I made you laugh mean yes?”

She leaned closer and whispered in his ear. “It means I love you too.”

The words hit like a branding iron. Scorching deep, permanently marking him, and he couldn’t have been happier.

He caught her by the cheeks, cradling her face, and kissed her. Full out, no holds barred, marking her as much as she’d done to him. The rain streaking down to baptize them with a fresh, clean start.

When they separated, she shook her head in wonder. “Never expected this to happen when I raced over to your place at the start of the summer.”

“One season of changes.” He brushed her lips with his thumb and spoke softly as he leaned in for another kiss. “I can hardly wait to see what we can accomplish in five.”