Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders #4)(30)

“Then why is this the first I’ve heard of it, Kade McKay?”


His hand froze. “Shit. I didn’t tell you?”


“Nope.”


“You’re sure?”


Skylar lifted up to look at him. “Positive. You haven’t exactly been around the last couple days to tell me anything.”


“Ah hell, Sky, I meant to. I’m so damn sorry.”


“Me too.” Could he read between the lines and understand she was sorry for so many things that’d gone wrong between them?

“I’d understand if you didn’t want to come on such short notice.”


His sheepish expression squashed her intent to keep teasing him. “Lucky thing Miz Eliza Belle and I don’t have anything else to do so she can make her McKay family debut, huh?”


Relief swept his face. “Lucky indeed.”


“Will you be around?”


“Some. Why?”


Sky could scarcely think over the clucking noises echoing in her head. Truth was, she might be totally confident when it came to running her business, but this social situation absolutely petrified her, especially when she’d heard rumors about the wild, boisterous McKay family. She also feared they’d circle the wagons around her, holding pitchforks, demanding an answer to the same question AJ McKay had posed: why hadn’t she told Kade about her pregnancy?

“Sweetheart? What’s wrong?”


That pesky “be honest” voice appeared again. “I’m nervous, okay? I don’t know anything about big families and if you won’t be there I’ll probably freak out and then people will think I’m some kind of West Coast nutjob—”


Kade muffled her protests with a gentle kiss. “It’ll be all right, I’ll be around as much as I can. That said, I ain’t gonna lie. My family is a bit overbearin’. They’ll ask all sorts of personal questions that quite frankly, ain’t none of their damn business. But I’ve seen you in action, Skylar. You can handle anything.”


“Anything but you, it seems,” she murmured. Without conscious thought, she traced the dark stubble on his jaw; her fingers detoured to outline his full lips. “You have such an intriguing mouth. Even when you’re scowling at me.”


“Yeah?”


“Yeah. I know you think you’re just another one of those McKay men that populate three Wyoming counties, but you are different, Kade. From Kane. From your cousins.

Even your standard issue McKay blue eyes are more compelling…they draw me in.

Every damn time. Anyone who can’t see the differences is a fool.” Why haven’t I seen it?

Why have I acted like such a fool?

“Sky—”


Eliza squeaked once. Twice. Louder the third time.

“Oops, there’s our alarm clock.” Saved from further embarrassing admissions about his virtues, she rolled off the couch. Impulsively she leaned over and kissed Kade’s forehead. “Thanks for last night.”


She felt him staring as she cooed to their baby and got a jumpstart on the big day.

Chapter Twelve


“Skylar! You’re here.”


She bit back a smile at the sight of Kimi McKay nearly skipping toward her. “Don’t you mean Eliza is here?”


“No, smarty. I’m just as happy to see you as I am my beautifully perfect granddaughter.”


Kade didn’t get all his sweet-talkin’ ability from the McKays. Sky had no doubt Kimi could charm the bees from the flowers. “Here she is. All decked out for her first rodeo.”


Kimi laughed with delight. “Where on earth did you find jeans that small? With rhinestones?”


“Aunt India. She goes a little insane buying Eliza clothes. Toys. Books.”


“About that…” Kimi smiled. “I sorta went hog wild too, but that cute girlie stuff is impossible to resist, especially since I’ve never had the chance to buy it before. I keep reminding Kade to load it all up and take it to you. He keeps forgetting.”


Casually, she asked, “Why don’t you bring it over?”


“Really?”


“Sure. Pick a day. If you want, I’ll even put you on babysitting duties while I’m at work and you can have Miz Eliza all to yourself. Of course, you’ll have to hand her over when Kade gets home. He’s a bit territorial when it comes to time with his girl.”


Kimi made a frowning, blinking expression.

Had she said the wrong thing to Kade’s mother? “I didn’t mean to presume—”


“Presume? Lord, girl, you really don’t know how much I appreciate the invite.”


It was Sky’s turn to act surprised. “You don’t need an invitation, Kimi. You’re welcome any time.”


“Really? I’ve been tickled the couple of times Kade has brought Eliza into Sundance so I could see her. But I haven’t wanted to butt in and be a nuisance. Overstep my bounds. Meddle where I wasn’t wanted.”


“Seems we both have boundary issues,” Sky murmured. “As far as meddling?