His Safe Keeping (The Safe Series) (14 page)

“Do you have blue prints?” she asked.

“What?” Was that just a random question coming from her?

“Blue prints?” She didn’t mind repeating herself. “Do you have them, or can you get them? I never thought about it before. Really, it never even crossed my mind, but I can build my dream home.” Krista spun around again. “I can build it so it’ll look like this.” She stopped and looked at him, trying to see his reaction. “I mean, if it’s okay with you, me building my house to look like yours.” Maybe he didn’t want someone copying his house.

Fuck, no, it was not okay that she build a house somewhere that was not here, with him. If she wanted a house like this one, she could have this one, with him, for the rest of their lives. Wait…what? Did he want to spend the rest of his life with this woman? Fuck yeah, he did. He was falling in love with her. No, forget that, he wasn’t falling in love. He fell the minute he’d first seen her. Felt it the first time he woke up with her body wrapped around his. Knew it the first time he slid inside of her. He heard her call him ‘Irish,’ and yeah, he felt that too. He looked at her, her head slightly tilted to the side, and that little unsure smile on her face. She was so fuckin’ stunning. He crossed to her, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her with every drop of love he felt for her. When he loosened his hold on her, she stumbled back, but he steadied her.

“Wow.” He heard her breathe and offered her a smile. “Come on, baby, let me show you the rest of the house.” He grabbed her bag, and started up the stairs with her by his side, when he heard her mumble quietly.

“Hope this tour ends in the bedroom.” Then, he couldn’t help it, he busted out laughing.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Krista was in heaven, or at least what she thought heaven should be like. She was sitting on Kade’s back deck, drink in hand, feet propped up, looking out across his back yard. It wasn’t small like the front, but wasn’t huge either. Well, the grassy yard part of it wasn’t huge, but then there were the woods—lots and lots of woods. Kade told her it was about twenty acres of wooded area, and a large creek ran through it. It was fed from the river, which was further down on his property.

“I get it,” she said as she turned to look at Kade.

She’d gotten to see the rest of the house and its three bedrooms. One of them was used for an office and the other for a guest room. The master bedroom, well, it was just that, a master. The walls were white, the furniture all dark wood, no curtains on the widows, only wooden blinds, but right in the middle of the room sat the biggest bed she’d ever seen—and she had a king sized bed herself—with a huge dark, wooden, bookcase head board. She’d walked over to it and sat, then looked up at Kade who was standing in the door way watching her. “Big bed,” she commented, smiling up at him.

“I’m a big man.” Kade still didn’t move. She let her eyes travel down from his face, to his chest, to his stomach, to his…

“Oh, yes, you are,” Krista breathed. Before she could blink, she was flat on her back, being dragged up the bed toward the pillows. Kade’s mouth hit hers and poof! Her clothes were gone, and Kade’s big body was over hers, and then he was inside her and she found out—again—just how big he could get.

Now Kade was by the grill, had just flipped the steaks and was closing the lid, when he turned toward Krista. “You get what?”

“How you could fall in love with this place at only four years old. Why you would want this place so much. I get it.” She smiled at him and then turned to look back over the yard. He mirrored her gesture, glancing over his land. He didn’t bring women here, mostly because the ones he hooked up with were just that, ‘hook-ups.’ Of course, there were others that were more concerned about his money and what it could do for them, and he didn’t want any of that in his home. That didn’t mean they didn’t know where he lived or all about the ‘little house’ he should tear down and add some ‘style.’ Hell, one had even gone so far as to tell him that if he wanted to keep her, he had to upgrade his surroundings. He shook his head on that thought. “Irish?” she called to him and he turned back to her, giving her his attention. “Do you believe in destiny?”

His answer was to shrug his shoulders, then added, “Never really thought about it.” He wasn’t sure where this was going.

“I think I do. I mean, if you really think about it, if Dr. Miller had never contacted me, would I be living where I am now?” She tilted his head as though she was thinking. “I doubt it. I know I wouldn’t be going to the hospital here for my treatments. So, I never would have been on the side of the road and met you.” She let that trail off as she was thinking things through. “No matter how we end up, I’ll never regret meeting you and being with you.” She looked back out across the yard. “You’ve changed my life, Irish,” she whispered softly and he felt himself getting some sort of lump in his throat.

“I wasn’t supposed to be there,” he blurted. And he wouldn’t have been, if Minga hadn’t gotten sick when she did. Velgada would have taken his transport himself.

“Be where?” she asked, looking back at him. He walked over and sat down with her, his eyes searching her face. When they settled on hers, he reached up, his thumb tracing the delicate skin of her cheek.

“I told you I was retiring. I’m just on desk duty, finishing up paper work, closing out all my case files. My partner, well, he was my partner...his wife got sick and he asked me if I could take his transport so he could be with her that day. The Captain okayed it, but that was rare, and, baby, I mean a rare damned thing, for the Cap to do.” He watched as her eyes widened.

“Destiny gave you to me.” She laid her head over into his hand. Then, she suddenly jumped up. “Is she okay? Is she still sick? I have to do something for her, and him. For them,” she exclaimed as she started pacing around the deck, hands moving this way and that. When he only watched her, because hell, she was too fuckin’ cute not to watch, she yelled at him, “Irish!”

“Baby, she’s fine. Her appendix was removed and now she’s home.” He was smiling at her, and then he heard her take a deep breath. “Well, fuck,” he muttered. She stopped and stared at him.

“What?” she asked, her hands on her hips.

“Nothing, baby, what would you like to do?” He watched the smile come on her face, growing as she tilted her head.

“I want to make something and take it to them. Maybe tomorrow after lunch would be a good time.” She crossed to him, sliding her arms around his waist when she dropped down into his lap. “Can we do that? Please, Irish?” she softly whispered. Like he could say no to any fuckin’ thing she asked like that, but he actually wanted to see how Minga was doing himself. He leaned forward, touched his lips to hers and whispered against them.

“Yeah, baby, we can do that.” He kissed her deep before he got up to take the steaks and vegetables off the grill. “We eating inside or out?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

After they had eaten, Kade wanted to show her more of his ranch, or really, the ‘ranch’ part of his ranch. She thought they would be walking, but Kade walked around the side of the house to a detached garage and hopped on a 4-wheeler. “Hop on.” He coaxed when she just stood and stared at him.

“I think…uh…maybe we could…uh…I don’t know…walk, maybe?” Krista mumbled, not sure about that thing at all. It didn’t even have a seatbelt!

“Baby,” he said, smiling at her.

“It doesn’t have a seatbelt. Isn’t that like against the law, Copper?” she blurted some of what was in her head, taking a few steps back.

“Copper?” he questioned, trying not to laugh. She giggled and watched a smile spread across his face. Dang, she loved seeing him smile. He was handsome all the time, but when he smiled, he was captivating. She watched him as he got off and walked over to her, lowering his knees until his face was even with hers. He touched his lips to hers as he circled her waist, then stood with her in his arms. He carried her back to the 4-wheeler and sat her on the seat, sideways, then squatted down in front of her. “Baby, do you trust me?” he asked.

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate, and he leaned in and lightly kissed her lips.

“Do you think I’d let anything happen to you?”

“No,” she answered and got another light kiss.

“I’ll keep you safe,” he whispered.

“Okay,” she replied, but when he lightly kissed her this time, she parted her lips and touched her tongue to his lips. She heard a low, throaty growl, right before he sucked her tongue into his mouth. When he raised his head up, they were both breathing hard.

“Fuck, baby, I don’t know if I want to show you my ranch or take you back inside and get you naked again.” When he stated that, Krista couldn’t help but giggle.

“You can show me your ranch and then we could get naked.” Solving his dilemma.

“Yeah.” Made sense to him. Moving her to the side, he stood up and got back on the 4-wheeler before repeating his original request. “Hop on.” This time, she hopped on in front of him, trusting him. He showed her where to put her feet and where not to put them, then where to put her hands, which was basically the handlebars, right beside his. Before taking off, he warned her not to try and drive. It took a little time for her to relax enough to realize she was having fun, so much fun. Without thinking, she threw her hands up in the air and shouted.

“WHOOOPEEE!!” She felt one of Kade’s arms come around her waist like a band. She felt his breath at her ear, and laid her head back on his shoulder, right before she heard him whisper.

“Having fun, baby?” She smiled and turned her head to his ear.

“Oh, yessss.” She sighed and then nipped his earlobe with her teeth. She felt him growl from his chest, in her back that was pressed up against him and she giggled again. Before she knew it, they were at the stables and he was showing her some of his horses.

“You ever rode a horse?” he asked, but she only shook her head because she was too busy looking at the beautiful creature standing in front of her.

“Can I rub him?” she asked, reverently, as her hand was slowly rising to touch the horse.

“Yeah, he likes to be rubbed by pretty girls.” He teased her. But, just how many pretty girls were around to rub on the horse, and how many rubbed on the horse’s owner? She thought, and had never known before that she had a jealous streak! She was so into her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Kade was putting a saddle on another one and staring to walk it out. Grabbing her hand, he led them all out into a fenced in area. “Time to ride.” He scooped her up and placed her in the saddle on the horse. A very big horse. That was very far from the ground.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Krista asked nervously.

“Baby, you’re safe.” He stayed standing right beside her leg.

“It’s pretty far from the ground,” she stated nervously, because she was.

“Baby, you’re safe.” Kade repeated patiently.

“I won’t fall off?” she asked the question, but before he could answer, she continued, “If I fall off, I could break something.”

“Baby, you are not going to fall off.” Kade chuckled. She looked down at him. Was he laughing?

“Fine. But, just so you know, if I fall off and break something, there will be no nakedness, until said something in no longer br—” She began, and then squealed as big hands grabbed her by the waist and yanked her back off the horse, and when her feet touched the ground, she mumbled, “Broken.”

“Not goin’ to be no nakedness around here. Nakedness yeah, no nakedness, fuck no!” Kade stated. She looked up at him and it was her turn to bust out laughing. He took her back inside the stables to another horse, a bigger horse. She watched him saddle that one, then he walked them back out again. He got on the horse, then leaned down and held out his hand to her. “You can ride with me.” Before she could decide whether she wanted to get on that horse with him, he grabbed her up and had her in the saddle with him. Her back was pressed to his front, his arms around her waist. She felt the horse begin to move under her. “Relax, baby,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. Look around, it’s beautiful.” She thought he was wrong as she relaxed and began to take in her surroundings. It wasn’t beautiful, it was breathtaking. She had never seen anything like it. Green pastures, rolling hills, and off in the distance, she could see mountains and the sun was just starting to set behind them.

“Wow.” she breathed, quietly.

“Yeah,” he answered low.

“Irish,” she whispered as she melted more into him. She never wanted to learn how to ride a horse on her own if this was the result. Being held by Kade, tight in his arms.
Perfect
, she thought, absolutely perfect, though she never said a word. Words weren’t needed now, just this…this perfection.

They rode a while out in the open pasture while Kade pointed out the directions to where the creek ran and where the river bordered his property. Promising to show her more, but since it would be dark soon, he didn’t want to take her too far out. “Cuz, shit could happen,” he stated in Kade fashion. By the time they made it back to the stables, it was almost dark and the dusk to dawn lights was starting to turn on. There was a man standing out by the barn, at the stables side they were heading to, and he was just standing there, watching them. They were still too far away for her to see his face. He was more of a shadowy figure. To her, it seemed a little creepy. Kade must have sensed something in the way she was holding her body, because he hastened to let her know who the man was. “That’s Lank. He’s my foreman.” He gave her a little reassuring squeeze and she felt herself relax again.

“His name is Lank?” she asked.

“Not his real name, baby, but he’s been called Lank most of his life, ever since he was a teenager because he’s always been so tall and lanky.” Kade explained. They were finally close enough she could see the man.

“Hey Kade, Miss,” Lank said as he nodded his head to her and Kade. Kade walked the horse back to the fenced in area, helped her down, then got down from the horse himself. “Lank, this is Krista Avery.” Kade was looking back and forth from Lank to Krista. “Krista, this is Lank.” Krista could now see him and he was tall, but not as tall as Kade. Where Kade was big and built, Lank was skinny, or rather lanky. He was also nice looking, with brown, wavy hair—or messy, she wasn’t quite sure, but either way, he seemed to be able to pull off the look—and a five o’clock shadow that went a little past five. What really grabbed her attention, however, was his eyes. They were light brown, almost hazel, but it wasn’t the color so much as the kindness that seemed to radiate from them. She’d never seen anything like it.

“Hello, Miss Avery. It’s nice to finally meet you,” Lank said with a smile and yeah, that was kind too.

“It’s nice to meet you too, and please call me Kris.” She couldn’t help but smile back at him. Then she felt Kade’s arm around her waist as he stepped up close behind her. “Wait, did you say finally?” she questioned Lank.

“Pretty lady, this one here…” Lank started as he nodded his head up to Kade. “Has been talking about you non-stop.” He finished with a grin. Then she heard Kade grumble something under his breath and she watched Lank bust out laughing. She turned to look up at Kade.

“You’ve been talking about me? Why?” Kade looked down at her and smiled, then he lowered his head and put his mouth to her ear, whispering to her.

“Cuz, baby, you’re so fuckin’ amazing. I can’t seem to think of anything else.” He nipped her earlobe between his teeth and touched his tongue to it. Raising his head, he gave her a little squeeze, which was a good thing because her knees had gone weak. “Everything going all right?” She vaguely heard him ask Lank.

“Yep, everything’s good. Still keeping an eye out on the right fencing up by the ridge. Not sure if it’s something trying to get in or something trying to get out. My guess would be out. Probably a bobcat or some such.” Lank informed Kade.

“A bobcat, as in a big cat that doesn’t like people?” she asked as she was moving her arms up around her, because they were just out that way. Not all the way up to the ridge, but still. “If it wants out, why don’t you just open the fence and let it out?” But, before anyone could answer either of her questions, she had more to say. “We were just going that way.” She turned and looked up at Kade, pointing in the direction of the ridge. “And, you told me you’d take me up to the ridge, during the day. Irish, there’s a bobcat up there. You have to let it out before I go anywhere near there.” She turned back to Lank, pointing at herself. “I like animals, I really do,” Krista said as she waved her arms out. “But, I like the ones that like people better than the ones that don’t.” She leaned toward Lank as far as she could with Kade’s arms around her waist, and lowered her voice. “And, I don’t think bobcats like people all that much.” She finished with a loud whisper. Lank just stood there and stared at her. Kade’s arms tightened around her and she felt his body begin to shake behind her. When she looked up she found him laughing. “Are you laughing?” she asked him, not seeing anything funny. Kade put his lips to hers once she turned her to face him.

“Damn, but you’re so fuckin’ cute!” Then he kissed her again.