Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders #4)(66)

“A little. But it was worth it. Man, was it ever worth it.”


His blue eyes became heavy-lidded with pure lust. “I’ll say. One of the hottest nights of my life. Here I was hopin’ you’d play hooky and we could laze in bed. All. Damn.

Day.”


She blushed. “Aren’t you going to the ranch?”


Kade squinted at the rain beating on the window. “I told Dad and Kane I wouldn’t be over if it was rainin’. Not that I’m complainin’ because we need the moisture in a bad way. No point standin’ around doin’ nothin’ there when I could be here. You want me to hang at home with the hair-puller?”


“No. Actually, today is my turn in daycare. Even though I’m woefully behind on office work, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t pull my weight.”


“How many munchkins?”


“Eight including Eliza.”


“Hell, I ain’t doin’ nothin’. How about if I do your stint in daycare so you can get caught up.”


“You’re joking.”


“No, I’m not.” His gaze narrowed on her. “Why? You think I can’t do it?”


Crap. “It can get kind of crazy.”


“Crazier than takin’ care of a couple dozen newborn calves in the snow and havin’ them and their mommas all bawlin’ at the same time?”


“No. Different.”


“You don’t think I can do it, do you?”


Lie lie lie. “It was sweet of you to offer, Kade—”


“Sweet, my ass.” He bounced off the bed. “I’m doin’ it. I’m gonna be the best damn daycare worker you’ve ever seen. And I’m so gonna make you eat your words at quittin’ time, boss lady.”


“Right.”


“Wanna bet?

She snorted. “That’s a sucker bet.”


“Then why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?” Kade leaned forward.

“If I win, you do something for me. If you win, I do something for you.”


“Fine. What do you want if you win?”


His wolfish grin appeared. “I want you to blow me in my truck while we’re drivin’ down the road.”


Skylar blinked at him. “Oh. My. God. You didn’t just come up with that off the cuff, did you? How long have you been planning something kinky like that, Kade McKay?”


“With you? Since the day we met. The fantasy has just gotten more specific since I know how damn good you are with that sexy mouth of yours.” Kade wrapped a section of Sky’s hair around his finger. “What about you? What do you want if you win?”


For you to ask me to marry you again.

Dammit. She could not, would not, sound that damn needy. Sky considered him for a second before she smiled. “I want to tie you to the bed.”


“And?”


“And what is unclear about that?”


“Be specific, ’cause if it’s tie me down and leave me there without playin’ any naughty sex games, well, darlin’, that ain’t happenin’.”


“There’ll be sex games, cowboy, don’t you worry about that.”


Kade kissed her square on the mouth. “Deal. Now excuse me, I gotta get ready for work. I hear my boss lady is a real hard ass.”


Sky said, “Baby girl, I think I created a monster.”


“He’s great with kids.”


If one more person said that to her today, Skylar was going to scream.

Annie said, “Instead of doin’ arts and crafts, he’s teaching them to throw a rope. And at naptime, he had them drape their blankets over the desks and pretend they were camping out, Old West style. He even got Joey to fall asleep.”


She growled.

“And, he promised to bring them a pony to ride next time.”


Sky slapped her hands on the desk. “Annie. Why are you barging in here and telling me all this when I have work to do?”


“Because I knew it’d drive you crazy.” Annie offered her a benevolent smile. “Don’t you think you oughta tell Kade how you feel about him?”


“Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know. I mean, I will when it’s not so complicated.”


“Don’t seem so complicated to me, but then again, I’m just a country girl. You love him, he loves you, get a preacher and get married. Simple.”


Skylar slumped back in her chair. “What makes you think he loves me?”


“He’s here, on his day off, takin’ care of kids that ain’t his, in order to help you out?

Sugar, if that ain’t love, plain as day, I don’t know what is.” Annie left and closed the door.

A couple hours later Kade was outside dumping garbage when an old Dodge truck pulled up to the outer gate, not in the general parking area.

The bearded guy behind the wheel poked his head out the window and studied the building from top to bottom, side to side. Like he was casing the joint.

The behavior raised Kade’s hackles. Still, he decided to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. The man disappeared inside the truck cab, then sat up. He tipped a bottle of booze and took several long swallows. Then he jumped out of the truck, puffed up his chest and all Kade’s doubts were fully realized.