A Real Cowboy Rides a Motorcycle (17 page)

She smiled. "You do realize when you say things like that, it makes me melt for you, don't you?"

He grinned and dragged her into his arms, his cock rock hard. "You're at my mercy, woman. I love that." He cupped her breast as he nipped her earlobe.

She gripped his upper arm. "We're in plain view, Zane. Don't—" He cut off her protests with a kiss. He didn't care where they were. He just wanted her now. He had so much emotion swirling inside him, and Taylor seemed to take away all the shit and leave behind relief.

She sighed and kissed him back, arching into him as he slipped his hand beneath her shirt and pinched her nipple—

Her phone rang again, and this time it was a different ringtone.

She stiffened again, breaking the kiss "That's Mira's ringtone."

"When do I get my own ringtone?" He didn't stop kissing her.

"I don't even have your phone number." She put her fingers over his mouth, seriously impeding his seduction skills. "What if the baby's coming?"

Zane shook his head. "She said it wasn't coming for a while—" Then he cut himself off, remembering the call that had just come in on his phone. He didn't get many calls. What if that had been about the baby? Sudden tension poured through him. He leapt down off the rock and sprinted over to his bike. He unearthed his phone as Taylor climbed down from the rock.

He had a missed call from Chase. Swearing, he called his brother as Taylor ran over.

Chase answered on the first ring. "The baby's coming. Something's wrong. We're at the hospital. Can you take over at the ranch?"

Taylor grabbed the phone from him. "Chase? What's happening? I want to talk to Mira!"

"We don't know what's going on yet. Mira can't talk to you right now. I was using her phone to call you because I didn't have your number. If you guys can go back to the ranch and take care of the animals, we'll call—"

"No!" Tears glistened in Taylor's eyes. "I'm not going to the ranch. I'm coming to Mira. Where are you?"

Chase swore. "Listen, there's nothing you can do—"

"She's my best friend," Taylor interrupted fiercely. "You don't get to send me away. Where are you?"

Zane held out his hand for the phone. Wordlessly, Taylor set it in his hand. Zane held it to his ear, while Taylor pressed her head next to his to listen. "Bro, shut the hell up. I'll find someone to do evening feed at the barn. You don't get to play solo on this one, and you know Mira would want Taylor there if you'd just ask her. Their bond is like ours. We're coming. Got it?"

He felt Chase's relief over the phone. "Yeah, okay, thanks. It's rough, man. I could use you, as long as the animals are okay."

"They'll be fine. You're at the regional hospital?" He'd been there many times, after assorted bull riding accidents when he was growing up.

"Yeah." Chase lowered his voice. "I'm scared, man. Mira and this kid are my life."

"We're on our way." Zane hung up, and jammed his phone in his bag. Taylor was already reaching for her helmet, and her face was ashen. The helmet slipped out of her fingers and thudded to the ground.

Zane retrieved it for her, and set it on her head. Her hands were shaking so much she couldn't even grab the chinstrap. He folded his hands in hers, squeezing gently. "She's in a great place," he said. "It's a great hospital."

"Just go," she said, pushing him toward the bike. "We need to go—"

"Hey." He grasped her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. Her blue eyes were wide, her forehead furrowed with anguish. "Listen to me, Taylor. Mira is in good hands. They'll do everything possible for her, and Chase will make sure of it."

She gripped his wrists, her hands trembling violently. "She's all I have in my life, Zane. She's it. If I lose her—"

"You have me, too. I've got your back, for whatever you need. Understand?"

She stared at him. "But you said—"

"I'm made for crisis situations. I'm not going anywhere. Lean on me. I'll catch you. Got it?" Strength poured through him, an absolute determination to carry her through this, as well as Chase and Mira. This was why he'd hung around all these years, keeping his tenuous connection with his brothers. Because sometimes, all hell broke loose. He wasn't the nightly dinner kind of guy, but when the shit hit the fan, it was his party.

She nodded, tears filling her eyes. "Thank you."

"You got it." He caught her chin and kissed her, a kiss meant to reassure her that she could count on him. As he'd hoped, she gripped the front of his jacket fiercely, dragging him against her as she kissed him back, pouring all her fear and worry into her connection with him.

He locked his arm around her back and kissed her hard and deep, taking all her worry and accepting it as his own, offering her his strength.

After a long moment, she broke the kiss, and buried her face in his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He loved the feeling of her body pressed against his, of the way she was leaning on him for comfort and strength. He knew he wasn't a long-term guy, but in this moment, he could see the appeal of doing this for the rest of his life. Being the strong guy, the source of comfort, the one who could make her day better, felt damn good. He pressed a kiss to her hair. "Ready?"

She nodded and pulled back, her eyes searching his. "You think she'll be okay?"

He wasn't going to lie to her. He had no idea what was going on at the hospital. "Whatever happens, we're going to handle it. I promise you that."

She nodded once, biting her lower lip. "Okay." She didn't take her gaze off his as he finished strapping her helmet on. He brushed his finger over a tear sliding down her cheek. "You can do this, sweetheart. Mira needs you to be strong for her and believe in her, but you can be as scared as you want when you're with me. I've got you. Lean on me."

She nodded again. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for being here with me."

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." He swung his leg over the bike as she climbed on behind him. As she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, he squeezed her hand. "I'll keep the speed reasonable."

"No. Don't. Please hurry."

He hit the ignition and the bike roared to life. "You got it." Yeah, he'd go fast, but he wasn't going to take the kind of chances he'd take when he was alone. He'd learned his lesson on that one. Taylor's safety mattered more than any kind of speed, no matter what the reason, including running away from the life he didn't want to live. "Hang on, sweetheart."

Her arms tightened around his waist, and he eased the bike forward, swinging it around to head back to the main road. The moment the tires hit the pavement, he opened it up. The wind hit hard, just as he loved, but for the first time in his life, his bike wasn't about an adrenaline rush or a chance to be alone. This time, his bike was about something more. It was his chance to do something for someone else, and it felt good.

Damn good.

Taylor felt like her entire world was crumbling. The waiting room was tense and silent. Zane was sitting beside her on the couch, his arm around her. Steen and Erin were sitting beside each other on another vinyl couch, and Chase was pacing restlessly. The hospital smelled of antiseptic and broken dreams, and the white walls were unbearably stark. Nurses and other patients bustled past, a blur of activity that didn't matter, that barely registered.

Only Mira and the baby mattered, but there had been no news for too long.

"They should know by now," Chase said. His face was ash white, and he looked like he was on the verge of passing out. He sank down next to Zane, his face in his hands. "I can't lose them," he whispered. "They're my world."

Zane leaned forward, his head beside his brother's as they exchanged quiet words. Steen stood up and came over. He sat on the edge of the coffee table, leaning forward to join the conversation between the brothers.

The three men sat with their heads together, talking quietly. The intensity of the bond between the brothers was evident, and Taylor's throat tightened. This was Mira's world now, surrounded by people who loved each other and cared so deeply. She was so happy for her friend. After having to support others for so long, Mira had found a family who would never walk away from her. She'd found Chase, and acquired a posse.

"She's going to be okay," Erin said. "They both are."

Startled, Taylor looked over at Erin, who was also leaning forward, her hands clasped together. She was looking at Taylor, addressing her, bringing her into the circle that she didn't fit in. "You think so?"

Erin nodded. "She's an incredible woman, and she's so protective of her baby. There's no way she's going to give up."

Tears filled Taylor's eyes. "I know how strong she is, but—"

"No buts." Erin's eyes were glittering with unshed tears. "You can't think that way."

Taylor took a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay. They'll be fine, right?"

Erin nodded. "Of course they will—"

"Chase Stockton?" A nurse appeared in the doorway. "Come with me, please."

Chase leapt to his feet so fast he almost knocked over Steen, who had to scramble to get out of his way. "Are they okay?"

"Come meet your son. He's completely healthy."

"My son?" Chase's face paled. "And Mira? What about Mira?"

"She's still in surgery. Come on." She nodded at the others as Chase followed her. The two of them disappeared down the hall, leaving the others sitting there.

Taylor felt like she couldn't breathe. She looked around, and saw the others were equally grim. They should all be elated that there was a healthy baby boy, but with Mira's fate uncertain, there was no room for celebration. Zane pulled her against him. She sagged into his side, barely able to hold herself together.

Steen went to sit with Erin, and she nestled into his side exactly as Taylor was doing with Zane. She couldn't remember the last time she'd looked at a couple and not felt a deep pang of envy in her heart, but right now, when she looked at Steen and Erin, she just felt camaraderie. With Zane holding her, his warmth wrapping around her, even though she was facing the scariest moment of her life, she felt the safest she'd ever felt.

"How do you like living on the ranch?" Zane asked, his gaze steady on his brother.

It felt weird to have him ask a question like that when Mira's life was so precarious, but she knew he was trying to distract them from the uncertain fate trying to crush them.

Steen looked at him in surprise. "I like it. I'm psyched about the house, and Erin's vet clinic is shaping up well." He shrugged. "I like being back with the horses. I didn't realize how much I missed them." He grinned. "There's nothing like connecting with a horse that no one else can reach. That moment when trust happens is amazing. There's nothing else like it." He looked steadily at Zane. "You need to get back in the game, bro. It's in your blood. You won't be complete until you're around the ranch. Stop fighting it. Get off the bike and get back on the bulls."

Zane stiffened, a move so imperceptible she knew that she was the only one who could tell, because she was leaning against him. "It's not my thing anymore."

Steen regarded him without flinching. "It
is
your thing. It's in your blood. The reason you can't stay still anywhere is because you're not where you should be. Live, bro. You only get one chance at life."

Taylor glanced at Zane. His face was stoic, not inviting further comment.

Erin didn't seem phased by Zane's body language. She just nodded her agreement. "You should see Steen with the animals. He literally comes alive."

He grinned at her. "I never would have tried it again if not for you."

She smiled at him, a private adoring smile filled with love. "And I'm so glad you did." She grinned at Zane and Taylor. "He comes on my rounds with me when I have an animal I know is going to be difficult. He can calm any animal. He's really amazing. And my clinic is going to be wonderful. We're going to have a full equine surgical center, the only one within a thousand miles." She laced her fingers with Steen's. "That's my specialty, you know. I mean, I love all animals, but equine surgery is my thing. I didn't think I'd be able to keep doing it out here, but there are so many horses. Steen and I combined our funds to make it happen." She squeezed Steen's hand. "He made my dreams come true. I couldn't have done it by myself."

He put his arm around her, and smiled at her, a smile so tender that it seemed to light up the entire room. "You should see her operate," he said to Taylor and Zane. "She's gifted."

Erin was beaming now. "You guys really need to come see the clinic. It's just amazing."

Zane made a non-committal grunt, but Taylor couldn't resist. "I'd love to see it." How could she not? Erin's passion for her work was contagious, and she wanted to be a part of it, to see what it was like when someone lived a life that illuminated them so much. The happiness of the other couple was evident. It was clear they were very much in love, and that they were also following their dreams.

Taylor remembered being that excited the day she'd first walked into her own classroom. She'd forgotten what it was like to be so excited about life. She'd forgotten about being willing to love someone and be loved back. She'd forgotten about it all, until Zane had reminded her. She and Zane were exactly the same. Both of them walking away from what they loved because the baggage around it was too painful. She'd thought it was better to play it safe, but seeing how happy Steen and Erin were made her wonder if she'd been wrong all this time.

Chase appeared in the doorway, his face haggard and drawn. They all bolted to their feet, silence descending upon the small group.

Taylor gripped Zane's hand, her heart pounding as they all waited.

"She—" Chase's voice broke, and he cleared his throat.

Taylor felt the blood drain from her face, and she started to sway. Zane tightened his arm around her, keeping her on her feet.