The Marine's E-Mail Order Bride (Heroes of Chance Creek Book 3) (24 page)

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“I’m trying to get you to make me scream. Are you man enough for the job or do you need to send for reinforcements?”

“Reinforcements, huh?” Just looking at her had made him hard again. “How about this? Does that feel like I need reinforcements?” he asked her, nudging against her from behind.

“That feels perfect.”

This time Zane moved more slowly, giving them both lots of time to warm up again. Twining his arms around her waist, he took advantage of her unzipped dress to reach inside and lift her heavy breasts. He didn’t know what it was about the weight of them that turned him on so much, but between that and the sweet curve of her bottom on display he was soon too caught up in their lovemaking to analyze it. He couldn’t imagine a better feeling than pushing inside her, unless it was pulling out and doing it all over again.

This time as he increased his pace he got to feel the sway of her breasts in his hands. He enjoyed the push of her soft skin, then slid one hand down between her legs and swirled his fingers, rewarded with her soft cries. Thrusting hard and deep, he kindled the flame within him again into a hot fire.

Storm. His Storm. He wanted to hear her cry out again—wanted to know how good he could make her feel. He held her in place, thrust in and out and waited for that moment—

When she cried out, he came with her, overcome with sensation, love and need until he bucked into her again, grunting with each movement. When it was over, he could barely stand. He reached for the top of the cubicle and steadied himself, easing out of her slowly.

Storm turned in his arms and tucked herself against him. Zane reached down to kiss her, sliding one hand under her hair to cup the nape of her neck.

“I love you. I will always love you,” he whispered.

“I will always love fitting room sex,” she whispered back.

“Any time, honey. Any time.”

‡

A
week of
cold, wet weather kept everyone inside and suddenly the Hall, which had seemed so cheerful and bustling with life, now felt cramped and dark. They all did what they could. Regan and Ella bustled around keeping a fire roaring in the living room fireplace and cups of coffee and hot chocolate flowing in the kitchen. The men spent as much time in the barns on their chores as possible, Cheyenne enrolled the girls in the local school, and in the afternoons she and Storm took the girls with them to the store to help prepare for the grand opening. Still, everywhere he went, Zane found himself bumping into someone else. He knew it was only a matter of time before tempers flared, so when the sun came out and burned the worst of the wetness away one afternoon, he gathered all the kids and Storm and brought them out to the obstacle course.

“Are you sure?” Storm asked, looking uncertainly at the large log structures. “I don’t think the girls can do this. It doesn’t look safe.”

“Sure they can. We’ll help them all the way. You and I will spot them.”

He sighed with relief when Storm acquiesced. He knew a good workout would do them all a world of good—even Storm, who sometimes battled with morning sickness but generally felt good in the afternoon.

At first the girls just played on a few of the easier obstacles while Richard, who had come for the afternoon, raced ahead, doing the whole course. Storm hovered near her sisters, watching for any slip that might bring trouble, but after a while she began to relax and when Zoe challenged her to try the first obstacle—a set of wooden monkey bars—Storm accepted.

She climbed up the two rungs on the vertical supports to get in reach of the horizontal bars, took hold of the first one, swung out and grabbed the next and was over it in no time.

“Race you,” Zoe said, and climbed onto the other set.

“Come on, Storm! You can beat her,” Violet cried.

“Come on, Zoe!” Daisy cheered.

Laughing, Storm took a starting position and Zane counted down to a start. “Three, two, one—go!”

They were off in a flash, both going hand-over-hand as fast as they could. For a moment it looked like Zoe had the lead, but Storm put on a burst of speed and outpaced her.

“Storm won!” Violet danced around. For a moment, Zane was afraid Zoe might cry, but as the girl regained her breath, she elbowed Storm.

“I thought you were supposed to let your kids win.”

“You aren’t my kid. You’re my sister. You’re supposed to torment your sisters,” Storm countered. She grabbed Zoe and began to tickle her. Zoe shrieked happily and tickled her back. In a few moments they were both in a heap on the ground, laughing.

“Sometimes I forget you’re my sister,” Zoe said when she caught her breath again. “You used to be just like Mom.”

Storm’s expression faltered. “Yeah, I know.” She stood up and brushed herself off.

“You’re different now, though,” Zoe said.

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“You’re more… yourself.”

“Is that a good thing?” Storm ruffled her sister’s hair. Zoe made a face and smoothed it down again.

“Yes.”

Her phone shrilled in her pocket, interrupting the moment, and Storm jumped. She hadn’t heard that ring-tone in weeks. It was—

Kenna.

She grabbed the phone from her pocket, accepted the call and quickly lifted it to her ear. Her heart pounded. This was her chance to convince Kenna—

“Hello? Storm? Are you there?”

“Kenna?”

“Finally! You can’t believe what it took to get this call through.”

“Kenna, where are—”

“Here’s the thing. You’ll have to take my place.”

Storm held the phone out and looked at it in shock. Kenna had said that once before, back when Storm had first arrived in Chance Creek. She returned it to her ear.

“Your place? Where?”

“In the wedding! What do you think?”

Storm had the strangest sensation of déjà vu. She’d already had this conversation, weeks ago. “But—”

“I’ll pay you double. Just tell Zane everything and marry him under your own name. I’ll pay you sixty grand the minute I get my inheritance.”

“But… why?” Storm thought she must be losing her mind. Or maybe Kenna was. She couldn’t be sure.

The silence on the other end of the line lasted so long Storm thought she’d lost Kenna again, but before she could speak, her boss came back. “Okay, I guess this is a surprise. You’ll never believe this. I fell in love. I’m getting married for real.”

Storm had never heard Kenna sound so happy—or so human. She clutched the phone more tightly to her ear. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I know, it’s crazy—”

“Actually, I think it’s wonderful. Congratulations!”

“But Zane… that cowboy…”

Storm groaned as she realized the extent of the damage she’d done by her early marriage to Zane. Kenna was going to be furious.

“Storm?”

She steeled herself. “There’s a bit of a problem with that. I married him already. In your name.”

Kenna sputtered. “How… when?”

“When I first got here. Look, it’s not that bad—”

“Not that bad?” Kenna raged. “I’m marrying in three weeks. Sam’s whole family will be there!”

“Calm down. We’ve already looked into getting it annulled, but the sooner you get here the better.”

“If you ruin my wedding, you can forget the money!”

Storm grit her teeth. “You know what, Kenna? Keep your money. I don’t need it anymore.”

Kenna went quiet again. “You’re not… quitting, are you? Because this isn’t a good time. I need you. There’s the wedding, and I have to shift my trip to the Andes, and there’s another grant application—”

“I’m sorry,” Storm said gently. “I’m staying in Montana. I’m marrying Zane and I’m about to open a women’s clothing store.”

For the first time since she’d known Kenna, Storm heard uncertainty in her boss’s voice. “But you’ll be my Maid of Honor, won’t you? I don’t have anyone else to ask.”

Storm hadn’t ever imagined she could feel sorry for Kenna, but she did now. “Of course I’ll be your Maid of Honor.”

Storm hung up several minutes later and faced Zane, who’d been watching her intently.

“Well?”

“She’ll be here in a couple of days to do whatever it takes to annul the wedding. We’ll be free and clear to marry.”

Zane let out a whoop, picked Storm up, whirled her around and kissed her. “See? I told you everything would be all right.”

“You were right. You’re always right.” She kissed him back.

Zane was relieved
that in the end it didn’t take much to dissolve a marriage that had never been consummated. With both parties swearing to that, it was only a matter of processing the paper work. He was assured it would be done in time for his wedding to proceed, and once Kenna was gone, he and Storm immersed themselves in wedding preparations.

Several weeks later, Storm’s family flew back to California briefly, Storm to be Kenna’s Maid of Honor, and all of them to pack their things to be shipped to Chance Creek. Zane knew taking leave of their house was hard on all of them, but he hoped knowing their new friends and family were waiting for them had made it easier to return home to the ranch without heavy hearts.

The weather grew colder as October slipped into November and a wild wind whipped up one night. The following day there was a real chill in the air.

Cheyenne shivered dramatically as Zane walked with the women and girls to the truck to drive them into town. They’d drop the girls off at school, and then he would help Storm and Cheyenne hang mirrors and fix a few last things at the store. The grand opening was approaching fast.

“I never thought I’d live in snow,” Cheyenne said. “We’ll have to do a little shopping, girls. Snow pants, hats, winter coats.”

“Better do it fast,” Zane said. “I have a feeling we’re going to see snow soon.”

Later in the morning, Belinda sought him out when the others weren’t nearby.

“Zane? Do you have a moment?”

Zane straightened the last of the mirrors he’d hung up and turned to find her watching him. Storm had told him that when it was only women in the store, Belinda was just as raucous as the rest of them, but the minute he arrived he sensed she clammed up and kept out of his way.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“It’s Darren. He…” She hesitated, then seemed to gather up her courage. “He doesn’t know I work here.”

“Still?” How on earth could he not know? News about everything traveled this town at the speed of light.

“I’ve been keeping it a secret.”

Something clicked into place in his mind. Whenever someone outside their family walked into the store she found a reason to slip into the back room, or at the very least kept her back turned while she worked on hanging things on the racks. She hadn’t worked the tag sale, something he hadn’t really thought about at the time. He’d always thought she was a little shy, but now realized she was actually hiding.

“What are you going to do when the store opens tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.”

“Belinda, you have to tell him. He’ll be furious when he hears it from someone else.”

“He’s going to be furious no matter what.” She stared up at him helplessly. “I have to quit, and I don’t know how to tell Storm. She’s been so nice.”

“You can’t quit.” Zane ran a hand over his jaw, taking a good look at her. He remembered how washed out she’d appeared the first time he saw her in the store. Since then she’d gotten her hair done in an attractive style and she never let her roots show anymore. Her clothes were clean and pressed and she was always working hard, even if she wasn’t speaking to him. That she’d pulled herself together during her time working with Storm was no coincidence. He could tell Belinda looked up to her. He wasn’t worried about Storm or the opening; she had plenty of help to make things run smoothly. He was worried about the woman standing before him. Her demeanor told him how things were for Belinda. He didn’t know how to ask his question delicately. “Does he hit you?”

Her eyes widened. “Darren? No.” She shook her head. “No, nothing like that.”

“Then why are you so afraid of him?”

She sighed. He noticed she was twisting her fingers together, but when she saw the direction of his gaze she stopped. “He makes life… unpleasant.”

“You mean he yells.”

Her lips pressed together. “Yells. Slams doors. Breaks things, sometimes.”

“Which is all a pretty good substitute for hitting you, because it makes you feel like that’s just around the corner.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “He’s not a bad man.”

Zane controlled his tongue, barely. “You know he won’t change unless you do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you quit today and go back home, then nothing is going to change. But if you keep this job and don’t let him change your mind, then he’ll huff and puff and make life unpleasant, but he’ll have to change at some point. Because you’ll have changed. You’ll have your own income, for one thing.”

She nodded vigorously. “It’s really helped so far, having my own money. I can pay our bills on time. I won’t have to keep asking him for the cash.”

“And it means you’ll have choices, too.”

They stared at each other.

“Are you going to quit?” Zane asked.