Mr. Unlucky (17 page)

Bodie chuckled. “Me, too. Come on, honey.”

Addie looked over at him, eyes going wide. “You need a shower, cowboy. You look like you’ve been butchering pigs.”

“Head wounds bleed.” He couldn’t seem to let go of her.

“Yeah. He did all this over some money laundering drug deal stealing from the government thing, I bet. God himself knows what was on that drive. Daddy, I think you should just shoot the son of a bitch, put him out of all our misery.”

“I think so, too, baby girl.”

“If he ever comes near you again, I’ll shoot him myself.” Bodie would, too. That was his girl.

“He won’t,” John muttered. “Will y’all just get on? Dave is coming to bring this piece of shit in, then I’ll call the folks up north, see what they know. Addie, I’ll need to take a statement, but you need some rest.”

“Thanks, John.” Bodie nodded at his best friend, knowing they were getting the good end of the deal.

Brandt came up to Addie, looked at her. “You going to come home?”

Bodie held her tight, fighting the urge to snarl. No. No, he was taking his woman home, damn it.

“Bodie and I can come for supper, maybe.”

“Well, baby girl, we’ll see you tomorrow, for a late supper.” Daddy Chris tugged at Brandt’s arm. “Right, Bodie?”

“Yes, sir. I know you’ll want to make sure she’s all right for yourselves.”

“Y’all take my truck.” Maddie handed over the keys. “I’m going home with the dads.”

“Thanks, Mads.” Addie pulled him along this time, hand in his.

“Love you, Sister.”

Addie teared up, nodded. “Go home, Maddie. I need to get Bodie cleaned up and have a hard cry.”

“I can see that.” Maddie waved and headed off with Chris and Brandt. John had the law thing under control.

“I’m taking you home. Get in the truck.” Addie sounded like she was fixin’ to lose her shit.

“I can drive, honey.” Though he really didn’t think he could. His head hurt so damned bad.

“Get in the truck.” Her voice shook, and he could tell the stress was catching up with her. She was spoiling for a fight, a little. He thought about giving it to her, just to break the tension, but she had a bruise on her face, a black eye. Rage at that asshole Jim churned in his gut for a moment, making his jaw clench. He didn’t want to tie it up with anyone but that man.

Bodie got in the truck.

He figured they’d had a big enough day. They’d have their first post-engagement fight after a nap.

Chapter Fourteen

Addie got Bodie home, cleaned his poor face up and put him in bed, despite his protests.

“I can wait for you, honey,” he said, but she waved him off.

Then she went into the bathroom he’d redone for her, ran a tub full of hot water, climbed in and promptly burst into tears. She was tired and sore, bruised and tender, and just…yeah.

Fuck.

That bastard had thrown her ring, and she needed to go find it, get Bodie’s truck home.

She should have washed her hair, first, before she got into the tub. Really. Now she was just going to get the water all dirty.

“Addie? Where’d you go?” Bodie opened the door, leaning against the frame. So much for him resting.

“You—” She sniffled. “You’re supposed to be asleep.” She was having a bath and a meltdown.

“I was worried about you,” he rumbled. “I don’t want you to be all alone.”

“I’m okay.” That was, possibly, the first real lie she’d ever told Bodie.

“Bullshit.” He grinned a bit, his face so swollen that it was totally lopsided. “You have to be freaked out.”

She nodded. God, her head hurt, and she felt like her muscles were still twitching from the tazing she’d endured. “A little. I’ve never been kidnapped before. It’s not as common as you’d believe.”

“I wouldn’t think so, honey.” He came and put the toilet seat down, sitting next to the tub. He had bruises on his chin and chest where he’d fallen on the road, too. God. This was all her fault.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would be such a psycho.”

“You might have told me he was still bothering you, honey.” He reached out, fingers tracing the bruise on her cheek. “I would have stopped him. I had no idea he would hurt you like this.”

She nodded, leaned into his touch. “I didn’t want to bother you with it. I thought he was just being a nut.”

“Well, he is that.” There was no mockery in Bodie’s voice. No real chiding, either. He just seemed happy to be with her, happy that they were both alive.

“Yeah.” Addie looked over at him. “Do you want your ring back or anything? I mean, I still want to marry you, but I’m probably supposed to ask if you still want me, right? Since I sort of got your face bashed. Not only that, but I don’t have the ring anymore because he threw it, but I’ll go find it and change the tire in your truck and get it home, I promise. Maybe Maddie can help me.”

Bodie did frown at her now. “Don’t be any sillier than you have to be, Addie.”

Then he stood, walked out of the bathroom and she was totally confused. At least until he came back, grabbed her left hand and put the ring right back on her finger. “There. Back where it belongs. Now, as far as wanting you or not, I reckon this is the perfect situation for a guy like me.”

“How do you figure?” She had to hear whatever his logic was there.

“Well, for the first time in my life, I got to swoop in and be the hero instead of the guy who couldn’t do anything to save his girl. I figure you really are my good luck charm.”

“I will be. I swear, Bodie. I just want to be home, with you.” Taking pictures, training her dogs. Having a life.

“Now you can be, huh?” He handed her a sponge, which she knew he’d gone to Mt Pleasant to buy for her. Maybe Texarkana.

“Thanks.” She started washing, getting the filth of the day off. Bodie growled softly and she looked up. “What?”

“You need to see a doctor.”

“What?”

“What the fuck did that bastard do to you, honey? You’re all black and blue. Is anything broken?”

“He tazed me and kicked me. A lot.” Her hand covered her bruised skin. She knew nothing was broken. She’d broken a couple of ribs once playing chicken with Maddie on dueling lawn mowers.

“You don’t have to hide from me, honey.” He gestured at his face, which was really looking like Frankenstein’s monster.

“I know. I just—” She found herself close to tears again. “I’m going to wash my hair, I think.”

“You need some help?” He scooted a little closer, knees pressing against the side of the tub.

Addie looked at him, then nodded, sniffling hard. “I do, cowboy.”

“Well, I’m right here.” He stood, reaching for the shampoo. “Do you want to stand up and rinse off or just do it in the tub?”

“Come into the shower with me?” She stood up, her belly aching some, the water pouring off her.

“That’d be good.”

The steam would help them both, she figured, release some of the soreness. Bodie drained the tub, got the shower going, and got the shampoo lathered up in his hands. She leaned into the spray, the heat surrounding her, the water making her tears disappear. Bodie let her lean on him, one arm around her, one running through her hair.

“Never going to let anyone hurt you again. Never.” His hand shook a little bit, against her hair.

“I—I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Well, of course you didn’t, honey. This was one of those crazy things.” He chuckled, the sound damp. “You should have seen your dads.”

“I can’t imagine. Maddie was pissed.” She was a little surprised the dads let her come back here. She and Bodie were engaged, though, so maybe they figured they didn’t have a choice.

“Maddie was frantic. I thought for sure Brandt was going to shoot that guy.”

“Yeah. I was lonesome and ready to settle down. I took the wrong offer.”

“Hey, I’m the last guy on earth who can judge. I thought I was ready to settle down twice.” He tilted her head up and kissed her gently. “I never loved anyone like I love you, Addie.”

“No?” She cupped his poor face, so careful. “You’re it for me, cowboy, but you knew that.”

“I did.” He kissed her again. “I don’t want to betray Carla or Lena’s memories, but you’re my girl. You were the one I was waiting for.”

“Good.” She wanted to be his. “Take me to bed, Bodie, and hold me a little while? I’m tired and it’s been a long damn day.”

“You know it.” He rinsed her off, got a big old towel for her hair, and dried them off. “I’d carry you, honey, but I’d drop you.”

“Shit, I don’t need to be carried. I just need to be held.”

“I can do that.” They eased down on the bed, and Bodie pulled the covers over them. The puppies had gone home to Bodie’s dad for a few days. Daddy Chris had taken care of that. They’d paid John’s brother to feed the other animals. So all they had to worry about was them.

Too bad they were too hurt and tired to move.

* * * *

Bodie woke up with a vicious headache, his mouth dry as the West Texas desert. God, he hurt. What in hell? Had Cyclone kicked him?

He tried to sit up, but the room spun. Soft hands eased him back, gave him coffee and pills, and covered him back up. His girl was so good to him. Oh, his poor girl. He caught Addie’s hand when she went to move away. “How are you feeling, honey?” Now he remembered it all.

“Okay.” She gave him a worried little smile. Her pretty face was black and blue, one eye all swollen.

“We should probably head into town and see the doc, huh?” He tried a grin, and he reckoned it fell as flat as hers.

“Nah. I’m cool.” She crawled into the bed, curled into his lap, and that felt better, just having her against him. “Maddie called. She’s coming to bring supper. Daddy Chris is making soup.”

“So, we don’t have to go out to their place?” He yawned, wincing a little.

“Nope.”

Man, he knew they had to deal with what happened and all, but Bodie was a practical man. He was so not good at this—the guilt and worry and tears and weirdness. So she had a shitty, crazy ex. It happened. Hell, Cooter McMann’s middle girl had been shot and killed by that crazy hillbilly asshole she’d divorced just last year and Kitty down at the Waggin’ Bag had been tore up by the Eagen boys before her daddy and brother had descended like the wrath of Heaven. It happened.

He’d come for her.

She was home. Safe. In one piece. Bodie kissed her temple. “Well, good. I mean, we got a wedding to plan and all. Who has time for more nonsense?”

She actually smiled. “It was really real, huh? The proposal? You have a date in mind?”

“It really was.” Bodie chewed his lip. “I know it’s traditional to do summer, but I’m not the long engagement kind of guy anymore. Ty might get some leave around the holidays, either Thanksgiving or Christmas. He could stand up for me.” He’d have John, too, so Addie would have to have someone else along with Mads.

“That works for me, cowboy. I’ve always thought a Christmas wedding would be amazing. Reds and greens and poinsettias.”

“My mom will be over the moon.” His mom would drive Addie crazy with decorating and food and shit.

“Yeah. You think your mom will be? Wait until the dads get to fighting over who’s giving me away.”

“Why can’t both of them do it? You got two arms.” He chuckled, loving that idea.

“I do. And two dads. You’ll have to get a white felt hat.”

“I can do that.” A new hat would be the least of it, he figured. He’d have to get new boots, too. “You gonna go to Dallas to get a dress, or you gonna go simple?”

“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll have to decide.” She looked at him, eyes dancing. “Oh, who am I kidding? I’m getting the biggest, sparkliest dress in East Texas. Train. Veil. Jewels. Purple rhinestone shoes. I want the pictures to make people cry.”

“Oh, man, you were made for my mom.” When she pinched his nipple, he shouted out a laugh. “Ow! Me. You were made for me!”

“You know it, asshole. I’m going to Bridezilla all over you. Going to make you crazy.”

Right, because his girl was a drama queen. He knew her—as long as she got her toes done once a month, and he didn’t leave his unmentionables on the floor or shave in her sink, she was easy as pie.

“I’ll try to stay out of your way.” He chuckled. “Who’s gonna take the pictures? That’s what’s gonna make you crazy.”

“Yeah, I have friends.” She grinned at him. “Or I could just take more pictures of you.”

Like she hadn’t taken ten thousand pictures of him. Him riding. Him sitting. Him sleeping. It was a little unnerving and a lot dear.

“Not if your dress is gonna be the tear jerker of East Texas.”

“People are going to be talking about it for years. At least until Maddie finds a man.”

Right. Like Maddie was the big dress type. He’d bet when Maddie got hitched she would spring for new boots, and it would happen on horseback.

He ran his fingers through her hair, petting her. “Will you wear your hair down for me, Addie?”

She nodded. “You know it, cowboy.”

“Good. That’s good, honey.” Bodie sighed, his head finally easing off some, which made life so much better. “Hey, where do you want to go for our honeymoon?” He sure thought they ought to have one.

“Mmm. Well, it’ll be Christmas time, so we could go to the mountains, have a place with a fire, snow.”

“Oh, I like that. Colorado. Hell, Lake Tahoe.” It felt amazing, making plans with her, loving her. “I love you, Addie. I surely do.”

“Good.” She snuggled in. “I’m going to spend the rest of your life driving you out of your mind.”

“I can’t wait, honey.” Bodie tilted her face up for a kiss, moving carefully so neither of them hurt. “I really can’t.”

“Good thing you don’t have to.”

Epilogue

“Come on, Maddie! Bodie’s waiting for us at the club!” Addie adjusted her ears, her tail, the tiny little leopard leotard. Her fishnets were studded in tiny rhinestones, her heels painfully high.

Maddie came out, wearing a little baseball uniform, her hair in pigtails. “Oh, God. You look amazing. He’s going to die.”

“You think?” She spun, bouncing at the idea of Bodie going nuts when he saw her.

“Hell, yes.”