Kael (Texas Rascals, #6) Read online

  of thinking today, and after talking to Aunt Peavy, she was

  weakening in her resolve not to consummate their marriage.

  Despite every effort she made to deny the attraction, Kael

  Carmody pushed all her buttons. It had become increasingly

  difficult to be around him and not have an overwhelming

  desire to be kissed.

  “The effects of beestings only last a few hours, you

  know.” Aunt Peavy winked as if reading her mind. “Kael

  should be right as rain once he sleeps off those antihista-

  mines.”

  Yes and that’s what I’m worried about, Daisy thought.

  A car horn tooted outside.

  “That must be Jenny Louise,” Aunt Peavy said, hustling

  her girth through the kitchen with surprising speed. “See

  you tomorrow, sweetie.” She gave Daisy a little wave and

  disappeared out the door.

  Instantly the house fell quiet. The grandfather clock in

  the hallway ticked loudly as if counting down the moments

  to some unknown destiny.

  Don’t be melodramatic, she chided herself, but Daisy

  couldn’t shake the feeling that something monumental was

  about to take place.

  Inexplicably she felt herself drawn toward the stairs.

  Without consciously acknowledging her destination, Daisy

  moved in that direction, straightening odds and ends about

  the room as she went. She plumped pillows that didn’t need

  plumping, stacked magazines that were already even,

  brushed nonexistent lint from the furniture upholstery. Until

  at last she stood breathlessly at the bottom of the stairs.

  Taking the steps one at a time, she experienced a strange

  tightening in her chest. The floorboards creaked beneath her

  feet. Blood whooshed in her head. Her fingers tingled in

  odd anticipation.

  Inch by inch she walked across the carpet. Finally she

  rested her hand on the doorknob leading to Kael’s room.

  Come on, Daisy, you’re just checking to make sure

  Kael’s okay. That’s all. Don't read anything else into this,

  her sensible side urged.

  Squaring her shoulders, she eased open the bedroom door

  and slowly stuck her head inside.

  Kael lay on his left side, his face to the wall. The covers

  had been kicked off and were trailing the floor. The ice

  pack she fashioned for him had ridden down his leg and

  now dangled from his ankle at an incongruous angle. A

  faint slash of waning sunlight seeped through the curtains,

  and fell across his face revealing that the swelling and red-

  ness had almost completely dissipated.

  The door groaned as she pushed it wider, but Kael didn’t

  move. Daisy stepped closer, her breath coming in rapid

  spurts.

  An odd sensation swept over her, as if she were standing

  outside her body, watching herself in action. She saw her-

  self walk to the bed and oh, so carefully perch on the edge.

  Kael mumbled something and hugged his pillow to his

  chest. Daisy sat frozen to the sheets, her gaze transfixed on

  Kael’s sleeping features.

  A lock of hair drooped over his forehead, giving him a

  boyish appearance. His wide lips were slightly parted. His

  jaw was square, his nose straight and proud.

  And his bare chest! He must have taken off his shirt after

  she’d left him, for it lay in a tangle on the floor. His stom-

  ach was washboard flat, his chest free from hair.

  There was no mistaking the body of an athlete. Firm.

  Strong. Muscled.

  Heat swamped her body. She gulped past the bump of

  desire blocking her throat.

  What a man! So handsome. So masculine. So desirable.

  And he was hers. That was her gold band encircling his

  left ring finger. The mate to the one adorning her own fin-

  ger. After these many years of hoping, praying, wishing

  and dreaming, Kael was finally her husband, and she was

  entitled to the pleasures marriage could bring.

  All she had to do was reach out and take him.

  Daisy clutched her hands together to keep herself from

  touching him. No. She could not. She wasn’t ready. Not in

  her mind, anyway. Her body, however, was a different

  story. She ached for him deep down inside, hungry and

  savage, in a way she feared might never be sated.

  Knees pressed together demurely, she leaned over to get

  a better look. A sheaf of her hair swung from her shoulder,

  grazing his cheek. Daisy held her breath. Was he awake?

  He didn’t flinch. Convinced he was still sleeping, she

  flipped her hair back over her shoulder and continued her

  uninhibited perusal.

  She noticed a network of scars marring his pristine body.

  Scars gained bull riding. Scars garnered in the reckless pur-

  suit of thoughtless fun. Scars gathered like trophies.

  There was a pale, puckered line on his right shoulder and

  another silvery slash under his neck, while yet a third jag-

  ged wound disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

  Tight, faded, unsnapped blue jeans.

  Daisy gritted her teeth, appalled at her jumble of feelings.

  On the one hand those scars irritated her. He’d chosen to

  purposely chase those scars on the rodeo circuit instead of

  staying in Rascal with her. But on the other hand she

  found his flaws extraordinarily alluring. They were badges,

  emblems, symbols of a fearless man.

  To top it all off the scars made her jealous. He’d obtained

  these wicked marks living life while she’d been forced to

  stay home and take care of her responsibilities. Unlike

  Kael, she’d never been free to see the world, seek her for-

  tune or discover the real Daisy Hightower.

  Tentatively she reached out a finger and lightly, deli-

  cately explored the one-inch scar just above his breast bone.

  Her skin quivered where she touched him, and Daisy

  braced herself against the furnace blast melting her insides.

  Kael. She’d loved him most of her life.

  Was Aunt Peavy correct? Did Kael Carmody love her in

  return? If so, why didn’t he say the words? Even when he

  was trying to convince her to marry him, he’d never once

  mentioned love.

  But, the tiny voice in the back of her mind argued. Hasn’t

  he shown you that he loves you?

  He helped with the bees and picked up in the house. He

  occasionally brought her simple presents, a rose from the

  garden, a candy bar from the grocery store, a full tank of

  gasoline in the car. Little things that added up to something

  pretty special. Things that spoke more than all the words

  in the world could say. Plus, he’d honored her wishes to

  sleep in separate beds. Most men would have forced the

  issue. At the very least, Kael had demonstrated that he was

  willing to work at this marriage.

  Then today he’d shown himself to be a true hero. He’d

  sacrificed himself so Travis wouldn’t get stung. Seven years

  ago she wouldn’t have thought him capable of such an

  unselfish act, but becoming a father had changed Kael.

  Changed him in ways that thrille
d and terrified Daisy.

  What if? Her thoughts wandered. She wanted her own

  children so badly. Even entertaining the idea brought a

  twinge of longing to her womb. From the time she was

  sixteen years old, she’d fantasized Kael Carmody as the

  father of her children. They would have her work ethic and

  his fearlessness. His easygoing ways and her dedication to

  family. His hazel eyes and her auburn hair.

  Now here he was, her husband. Lying almost naked in

  her bed.

  What if they made love and produced a child?

  From a biological standpoint, her body cried, yes, yes,

  yes, but mentally Daisy knew better. She still was uncertain

  of Kael, not knowing if she could trust him to stay. He’d

  left her once before. Much better that he go before they

  had a baby together.

  What if he really has changed?

  Her thoughts seesawed back and forth, pulling her first

  one way and then the other. Truth was, only time could tell

  whether these changes in Kael were real or not.

  She continued to lightly strum his skin, savoring the de-

  licious sensation, toying with dangerous notions, tempting

  fate.

  Suddenly his hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist.

  Shocked, Daisy’s mouth flew open, and she immediately

  looked into his eyes.

  He was staring. Intently. His gaze lust filled and hot.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Daisy tried to scramble off the bed, but he ensnared her

  around the waist with his other hand.

  “Let me go,” she cried, pulling against him. Her voice

  was high, her words desperate even to her own ears.

  “It’s okay, Daisy, if you want to admire my body. But

  when you start touching me, you better be prepared to back

  up your invitation.” He tugged her closer still, until she

  was pressed flat against him, chest to chest, their faces mere

  millimeters apart.

  “Don’t tease me.” His expression was deadly serious.

  “I mean what I say.”

  “Please,” she whispered, trembling with pent-up sexual

  tension.

  “Please what?” he asked.

  Her mouth opened but no words came out. She was

  transfixed by the gaze in those hazel eyes.

  “Do you want me to make love to you, Daisy?”

  Yes! But, oh, how she wanted Kael to tell her that he

  loved her, because, no matter how badly she might yearn

  for physical release with him, she needed to hear those

  words.

  “How are the beestings?” she asked quickly changing

  the subject as if the man beneath her wasn’t this potent

  package of raw sexual energy just waiting to explode.

  “The beestings are fine. They won’t inhibit my ability

  to make love if that’s what you mean.”

  “I wasn’t asking for that reason.”

  “Then why are you blushing?”

  “Listen here, Kael Carmody,” she began, rearing her

  head back in an attempt to break his hypnotic spell. Her

  hair trailed like a bright orange flame over his chest.

  “No, you listen to me, Daisy Hightower. You crawled

  into my bed, stroked my bare chest. You started this—are

  you prepared to finish it?”

  Daisy whimpered. “I don’t know.”

  He stared at her a moment, their eyes locked. Her lower

  abdomen squeezed in excited anticipation.

  “That’s a start,” he whispered.

  “I’m so confused.”

  “I know.” Tenderly he traced a circle on her bare arm

  and she shivered.

  “Kael, I—”

  “No need to explain. How’s Travis? Did he get stung?”

  “No, you saved him. He’s spending the night with your

  folks.”

  “He is?” Kael mused, the gleam in his eyes glowing

  brighter. “Where’s Aunt Peavy?”

  “Sleeping over at her friend Jenny Louise’s.”

  “So we’re alone?”

  Daisy nodded.

  “Just you and me for the whole night?”

  “Yes, but Kael, I can’t, I don’t.” Daisy didn’t even

  know how to explain the crazy-mixed-up feeling jumping

  around inside her.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand.” He pushed her

  hair from her face, his callused fingers grazing her cheek.

  “You do?”

  “You need more time.”

  No, Daisy thought, I need for you to tell me that you

  love me.

  “You need to be ready,” he continued. “You’re inquis-

  itive, exploring, but I can see it in your eyes, you’re still

  holding back. You’re still wondering if I’ll betray you

  again.”

  “Kael...”

  “Shh.” He placed his index finger over her lips. “Let

  me just hold you,” he invited, nestling into the pillow.

  Tears dusted her eyelashes, and she didn’t even know

  why. She settled into the crook of Kael’s arm and breathed

  in his heavenly scent. She could hear his heart thudding,

  so strong, so reassuring.

  Kael curled himself around her, tucking his thighs under

  her bottom so that they spooned in the middle of that big

  bed.

  It felt wonderful, having him here like this, in exactly

  the way she’d imagined a million times over the years.

  “You don’t know how I’ve longed for this moment,”

  Kael whispered as if reading her mind. His warm breathing

  tickled the hairs on the back of her neck, causing Daisy to

  catch her breath. “Me and you, snuggling together as hus-

  band and wife.”

  Husband and wife.

  The phrase, spoke in such a reverent tone, sent a multi-

  tude of tiny shivers skipping down Daisy’s spine.

  Kael’s grip tightened and he tugged her closer. Every

  place their bare skin touched, Daisy’s nerve endings sizzled

  and caught fire like two sticks rubbed rapidly together. She

  closed her eyes and drifted on the heavenly sensation, too

  weary to fight the attraction any longer. She loved Kael

  Carmody. He was her husband, why shouldn’t she savor

  this incredible feeling?

  “Many a day, when I was on the road, only the dream

  of holding you in my arms again kept me going,” he said,

  his voice resonating in the room’s small confines. “It was

  pretty darned lonely.”

  Daisy swallowed hard against the tide of emotions push-

  ing her this way and that. “Then why didn’t you come

  home?”

  Kael was silent for a moment. Then he sighed. “I guess

  I was trying to prove something.”

  “What?” she asked, her stomach tensing as she waited

  for his answer. She’d never been able to understand why

  he’d chosen the rodeo circuit over a life with her. Perhaps

  now that they were older Kael could explain things in a

  way that made sense to her.

  “I suppose I was looking for my purpose in life.”

  “Wasn’t being Kael Carmody enough of a purpose?”

  she asked quietly, still mystified why he had felt the need

  to leave her in order to find himself.

  “You know this is why we broke up, because you di
dn’t

  understand this facet of my personality.”

  “I know. I never comprehended the appeal of risking

  your life for the thrill of staying on the back of a bucking

  bull for eight seconds.”

  ‘‘That’s because you’ve always had a purpose, Daisy.

  First it was running the farm after your parents died, then

  it was looking after Aunt Peavy and Rose. Now, it’s raising

  Travis.” He stopped talking and drew in a heavy sigh.

  ‘‘You assumed responsibility like a trouper. You knew

  what had to be done and you did it.”

  ‘‘Go on,” Daisy replied, “I’m listening.”

  “Me, I had nothing to show I was a man. I was raised

  in the lap of luxury, my parents so wealthy I never needed

  to work. I was an only child without any brothers or sisters

  to challenge me. I had everything on a silver platter, Daisy.

  Except for you.”

  “You could have had me, too.”

  “Not under your conditions, sweetheart. You wanted me

  to give up the one thing that gave me an identity separate

  from my father.”

  “I never knew,” she said, squeezing his hand.

  “I wanted to marry you more than anything on earth,

  but I felt that I had nothing to offer until I’d made a name

  for myself. That’s the real reason I decided to follow the

  rodeo circuit, not because I didn’t love you.”

  “You love me?” she whispered, her throat constricting

  against the warm rush rising inside her.

  “Daisy, I’ve loved you since you were sixteen years old.

  Haven’t you figured that out by now?”

  She turned over in his arms, her eyes hungrily searching

  his face in the faint light barely seeping through the win-

  dow. Fingers trembling, she reached out to touch his lips.

  “Is it true?”

  “Nothing has ever been truer.”

  Daisy’s heart thudded against her chest. She needed to

  believe him, more than she needed to breathe.

  “Oh, Kael, why did you wait so long to tell me?”

  “Because I knew I wasn’t prepared to marry you. Not

  seven years ago. But I should have. I think we could have

  worked things out, come to an understanding and had a

  long engagement if it hadn’t been for what happened be-

  tween me and Rose.”

  Ah, there was that. The old familiar pang of betrayal rose

  in her.

  Kael stared deeply into her eyes. “I’m so sorry for what