Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders #4)(52)




“Yes.”


“Mmm. Then I’m really a pig because I sure like makin’ love to you without a condom.”


She rolled her skirt up, wondering why she wasn’t icked out by going commando. In fact, it primed her for more sexy and naughty fun. “Look, I didn’t tell I was on the pill—”


“We had an unplanned pregnancy, Sky. You don’t gotta explain nothin’ to me. But I’d like to think you woulda told me at some point.”


Certainly not the reaction she’d expected. But she was slowly figuring out that just because Kade McKay was even-keeled, he wasn’t the most predictable man she’d ever known, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

“What do you say we get our girl and head on home?”


“Sounds like a plan.”


They snuck back downstairs like a couple of guilty teens.

Outside, dinner was in full swing.

“Aunt C ain’t gonna let us leave without eatin’ first,” Kade said.

“I am kinda hungry. We can stay, if you want.”


A look of gratitude flashed in his eyes and he kissed her cheek. “We’ll go right after, I promise.”


After they loaded their plates, Kade was called over to talk to his dad, who was proudly holding Eliza. She ended up sitting with Kade’s cousins, Remy and Chet West.

She knew them since their construction company had remodeled her store in Sundance, but for some reason, she hadn’t made the West/McKay family connection.

The beefy guys were as equally fine-looking as their McKay counterparts, but fair-haired, fair-skinned, bulky, like a band of Viking warriors, rather than the “black Irish”


looks associated with the McKays.

Chet said, “Hello, Skylar. Our lucky day. I was hopin’ a single woman would join us.”


“One that isn’t related to us,” Remy added. “Speaking of related to us…Aunt Kimi has been cartin’ around your beautiful baby.” Remy leaned forward, his hazel eyes dancing with humor. “You could’ve told us Kade is her daddy. We can keep a secret.”


“In this family? Right.”


He smiled, flashing his dimples. “You’re catching on quick.”


“My cousins are socially inept, so I’ll introduce myself. Blake West.”


The man at the end of the table had a halo of golden curls adorning his deeply tanned face. His eyes were the color of melted milk chocolate. “Nice to meet you, Blake.

Explain the family affiliation, even though I’ll probably forget. Apparently pregnancy and childbirth has sucked out all my memory brain cells.”


“My father, Darren West, is Kimi and Carolyn’s brother.”


“Are you in the construction business?”


“I help them out occasionally, but my main occupation is raising sheep.”


“Sheep? Is it a family operation?”


“Just me and dad. We ain’t land barons like the McKays, got a small spread that barely supports us. So my older brother, Nick moved to Denver.”


“Really? My sister just moved here from Denver. What does your brother do?”


“He’s a cop. Upgraded to detective last year.”


Ironic, considering India had spent time in the slammer in Mile High City, not that she’d share that tidbit, despite the McKays wouldn’t think twice about tossing that in the conversation.

After a few minutes of polite chitchat, Remy said, “So what’s going on with you and Kade? I hear he’s living with you?”


Chet groaned. “Jesus, Rem. You’re as bad as Aunt Genevieve. I can’t take him anywhere, I swear.”


A large shadow fell across the table. Sky looked up, expecting to see Kade, but Cam McKay hovered over her. The man was huge; he had to be at least six-foot-five. His shoulders were damn near as wide as the picnic table, yet not an ounce of fat clung to his enormous biceps and flat stomach. With his buzz haircut, camouflage pants and tight T-shirt, he epitomized the lean, mean, fighting machine depicted in the army ads on TV.

“Pull up a chair, Cam,” Chet said.

Cam plopped down. He offered her a smile. “Have we met?”


“No. I’m Skylar Ellison.”


“Nice to meet you, Skylar.” He offered his hand. “I’m Cameron McKay.”


Sky tried not to stare, but Cam didn’t look much like his brothers, beyond having those same blue eyes. With dark blond hair, he resembled Chet, Remy and Blake more than the McKays, except for Carter. Still, he was striking looking, if a bit menacing.

“Who are you here with?”


“She’s here with me, Cam, and if you don’t let go of her hand I’m gonna hafta break yours,” Kade said.

Cam brought her hand to his lips and took his own sweet time kissing her knuckles.

Kade growled.

“Just kiddin’, K, sit down and chill out.” Cam grinned. “Congrats are in order on your daughter.”


“Thank you.”


Kade sandwiched himself on her other side. “Glad to have you home, cuz.”


“Good to be here, although it’s a little weird seein’ all the women and babies around my brothers.”

Lorelei James's Books