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  She smiled sexily at Ty. “You brought those fine hunks to town.”

  He hadn’t meant for one of them to make Jade fall in love with him. And as Jade appeared to be on something of a baby-making mission, it was a concern that weighed on Ty. “Hunks, huh?”

  She raised a brow, kissed him. “Just a little.”

  He could tell she was teasing him and enjoying it, but the thing was, he had this really strong urge to put a name on whatever it was they had between them. “I don’t like Sam,” he said with a growl.

  Jade laughed. “You think the world of Sam. Anyway,” she said, kissing him again, making him think about the fact that he should be kissing her, and in the most strategic places possible. “Sam isn’t a stayer.”

  “A stayer?”

  “Mmm-hmm. Haven’t you noticed? Sam isn’t going to be your success story. You’re far more likely to settle down than Sam. And Frog and Toad are guaranteed.”

  Frog and Toad? Ty might have laughed if he wasn’t so worried. “Frog and Squint are good guys. Sam is, too,” he admitted grudgingly. “How do you know he isn’t going to settle?”

  “He’s just along for the ride.”

  “You spent enough time with him to figure that out?” Ty asked, unable to help himself from sounding like a jealous schmuck.

  “He just doesn’t have any desire to stay in one place, Ty. Sort of like you.”

  She pressed gentle kisses on his chest, tantalizing him.

  “So what if we made a baby?” he asked.

  The kisses stopped. “You’re good, handsome, but I really don’t think you’re so good that a couple of nights—”

  “I’m trying really hard. And I have a confession to make.”

  “Do confess.” She cocked her head, waiting.

  “I’d like to spend the rest of time before I leave dedicating myself to that goal.”

  She looked at him for a long time. “I have a confession to make myself.”

  His heart hitched. He hoped like hell she wasn’t going to tell him that this was a one-shot deal. “Your turn.”

  “I’m on the same drug that Mackenzie was on when she got pregnant. It’s to help women conceive when it’s been difficult for them to do so.”

  “Why were you already on it?” He refused to think she might have been playing up to Sam for the very purpose of getting that baby she wanted.

  “The day you came home, I went and talked to the doctor.”

  His jaw literally sagged. “You never once let on that you wanted to date me. Or even be more than friends.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “It’s not the kind of thing a woman just blurts out to a man. Although I did mention to you tonight that—”

  He sat up. “Yeah, you mentioned it tonight, a handful of days before I’m leaving, and simply to keep me from jumping into a fight!”

  She shrugged, which made her very tempting breasts jiggle a little. He was utterly fascinated—but forced himself back to the conversation. “It took me a while to get my courage up. The fight sort of pushed me to the moment.”

  “I’m glad something did,” he groused. He hated to think he might have gone off and never known that this woman had sexy plans for him. “Holy crap.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So there’s really a chance we could make a baby, since you’re on this turbo-ovary-booster stuff.”

  She smiled. “It worked for Mackenzie.”

  He could be a dad. Holy, holy crap.

  “But I’m pretty sure it’s not the right time of the month,” Jade said.

  His world crashed. “How do you know? Doesn’t the medicine override all that?”

  She laughed. “I’m afraid not.”

  “Hell.”

  “It’s okay.”

  No, it really wasn’t. He didn’t have enough time to give this his best shot. And something inside him really, really wanted to do just that. “So you wanna get married?”

  “No.” She laughed again and got out of the bed. “You’re going to do your SEAL thing. Don’t try to use me to get out of it.”

  Use her, hellfire. He wanted to have her for the rest of his time here. He wanted everything she wanted to give him and then some. “But if I did hit the target, you’d marry me, right?”

  She reached for her panties, clearly getting ready to bolt. “You’re going into the navy. That’s all you ever talked about. Let’s focus on that goal.”

  “I just don’t want to come home to find you married,” he grumbled, knowing he was being totally unreasonable. He didn’t like the way she’d skirted the issue of marriage, either. It hadn’t been much of a proposal, as proposals went—more something that had flown unbidden out of his mouth. But she hadn’t so much as blinked or smiled when he’d said it, and from that alone he discerned a decided lack of enthusiasm on her part.

  He supposed she didn’t have much to get excited about, since he really had nothing to offer her. She was right. He was leaving, and there was absolutely no knowing when he’d be back.

  “I’m not done with you.” He grabbed her, tugging her back into bed with him, encircling her with his arms and holding her against his chest. Anything to keep her with him just a little while longer.

  “I have to leave.”

  She didn’t sound all that convinced. Ty figured he knew what a woman sounded like when she was ready to hit the door, and Jade made no move to leave his arms, either. He nuzzled her neck, sighed against the soft skin. Felt himself get hard, and stroked a hand across her nipples, which perked up instantly. She was fitted against him in such a nice, comfortable spoon fashion, and he moved into place easily behind her, finding the soft sweetness he craved, sliding inside her as if they’d never been apart. Didn’t belong apart. She moaned with pleasure, tucking herself closer against him, and Ty’s every muscle tightened with desire he couldn’t control. Something about her drove him completely out of his mind. Jade was the only woman who made him this insanely hungry. He teased her nipples, and when she gasped, rocking against him urgently, he slid a hand between her legs, stroking her, letting his fingers glide against her softness, taking his time bringing her to pleasure until she was gasping his name, begging him for release.

  Still he gently kissed her neck, taking his time before sweeping her over the edge, enjoying her heat and her desire for him.

  “Ty,” she said, her voice an urgent plea.

  He knew what she wanted. He could give it to her—he would. But he wanted her hovering with him at the edge of pleasure as long as possible, wanted her in his arms feeling this magic as long as he could keep her.

  She tightened up on him, and he steeled himself, but between her soft words asking him to release her, and the wild tension of her rocking against him, Ty knew he couldn’t last much longer. Taking a gentle bite of her shoulder, keeping her as close to him as he possibly could, he thrust into her as he teased her with his fingers until he could feel the soft, slick folds all around him tense, waiting. He tweaked her gently, burying himself deep inside her, and was rewarded by his name on her lips again as she gasped and cried out.

  Then he allowed himself his own release into her welcoming body, his every muscle shuddering, his arms holding her for all he was worth.

  This was what he wanted.

  This was his new plan.

  He didn’t know how it could work out. It seemed impossible.

  But if there was any way on God’s green earth he could keep Jade for his own, he intended to do it.

  * * *

  JADE HAD TY take her home just before the sun came up. After the excitement last night with the fighting, and then somehow them ending up in bed together, everything had changed. Jade barely knew what to think. She slipped quickly from his truck before the moment could get awkward between them. If it never happened aga
in, she wanted to remember last night just the way it had been—spontaneous and somehow magical.

  She went inside her house, headed upstairs for a hot shower and a change of clothes before she went to find Betty.

  Her mother looked up, smiling brightly, as she made it into the kitchen. “Good morning! There’s coffee and I have a cake fresh out of the oven.”

  “It smells fabulous.” Jade realized she was ravenous as she got a cup of coffee and slid onto a bar stool. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Busy day ahead.” Betty pulled out some eggs. “Thanks for all the help last night.”

  “Mom, I don’t want you to do everything yourself. You can’t run the ice-cream shop and do the treat stand at the Haunted H.” Jade sighed with appreciation as her mother put a fresh-baked slice of cinnamon cake in front of her. “I can run the stand at night myself.”

  “I look at this two ways,” Betty said, whipping the eggs in a bowl with some milk and other ingredients. “One, we’re lucky to have the extra income the Haunted H is bringing in, and with the Donovans being totally against it, we have to make hay while the sun shines, because who knows how long it’ll last. Two, I have help at the ice-cream shop. It’s not that much work to run the stand, too.”

  Jade barely realized she’d wolfed down the entire piece of cake. “I was starving.”

  “You were out late,” Betty observed mildly. “Probably didn’t have dinner.”

  Jade sipped her coffee. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Mom.”

  Betty didn’t stop stirring, didn’t glance up. “Does it matter?”

  And that was her mother’s subtle way of saying that she shouldn’t overthink the situation with Ty, which had just taken a major complication turn. “You’re right.”

  “Anyway,” Betty said, “Cosette called me last night.”

  Jade looked at her mother. “I’m fine. I just fell down a couple of stairs.”

  Betty glanced up. “You fell down stairs?”

  “Cosette didn’t tell you?”

  “My word, no. She called to tell me that Robert Donovan is continuing to put the squeeze on Phillipe. I don’t think Mssr. Unmatchmaker’s going to be able to hold out. And I think the divorce is going ahead, unfortunately. Too many financial issues, with Donovan pulling the strings.” She looked puzzled. “How would Cosette have known you fell down some stairs?”

  “Never mind. Long story.” Maybe Cosette hadn’t gone into full gossip mode as soon as she’d left Ty’s place. Anyway, it didn’t matter. Jade supposed she didn’t care if people knew she’d gone out to Ty’s place—even if folks would be a little surprised that he’d finally darkened that door after so many years. She certainly had been.

  Strangely, it had felt so much like he’d come home. She’d felt him relaxing, unbending.

  Until they’d unearthed the metal box. He hadn’t said another word about that during the night, and she didn’t figure he would. “I don’t understand why Phillipe and Cosette’s little matchmaking business is the immediate target of Mr. Donovan’s evil plans.”

  “They’re in the center of the block in town. If he can take that, he’ll have more leverage with the other businesses.” Betty put steaming eggs on a pretty blue plate in front of her. “Cosette is just devastated.”

  Jade’s phone buzzed in the back pocket of her jeans. “This is delicious, Mom. I should be making you breakfast, though.”

  “Nonsense.”

  Jade pulled out her phone, smiling when she saw the message from Ty: Come back tonight—I have plans for you.

  She texted back Plans?

  Just dinner, beautiful. Don’t be greedy.

  She laughed. He did have high opinions of himself.

  “Ah, young love,” Betty said with a happy sigh.

  Jade blinked. “I’m not in love, Mom. We’re not in love.”

  “Ty and you, you mean.”

  Jade realized she had no secrets from her mother. “Yes.” She texted back I’ll bring dessert. Going to the Haunted H tonight?

  Wouldn’t miss it.

  She put her phone away, her body already glowing with the secret knowledge of what she knew would happen tonight. “What do you think it would take to get Robert Donovan off our necks forever?”

  “If I knew that,” Betty said, sitting down with her own piece of cake and a cup of hot coffee, “I’d be blabbing it all over town.”

  “I feel sorry for Cosette and Phillipe.” Jade lost her appetite. Cosette was just about the nicest person in Bridesmaids Creek. In fact, there was no better place to have grown up than BC. Everybody helped look out for each other. Jade had never been tempted to leave—not like Ty had wanted so badly to do.

  She completely understood his reasons. “I think I’m going to spend some time with Ty until he has to go.”

  “That’s nice, dear.” Betty had her head buried in the Bridesmaids Creek newspaper now, looking for gossip items. “Try to keep him out of any more fighting until he leaves, is my advice. He needs all his strength for BUD/S.”

  Everybody supported Ty in his dream. Any time a BC son or daughter made something of themselves, the town celebrated, feeling a part of that success. Town pride was built in from birth. “I know. Thanks, Mom.” Jade got up, took her dishes to the sink. “I’m going to clean the kitchen, then I’ll run the stand tonight. Will you promise me to stay home and relax?”

  Betty glanced up from the paper. “Why wouldn’t I want to be where all the action is?” She laughed, shook her head. “Jade Harper, just because you’re spending time with a hot man does not mean I’m ready to suddenly put on my slippers and sit in front of the TV. You couldn’t keep me from the fun!”

  Jade smiled fondly and shook her head, then began putting a few things away so Betty wouldn’t have to. She’d gotten a lot accomplished when she heard the back door open.

  “Hello!” a man’s voice yelled into the house, like he’d done a thousand times before.

  “In here, Ty!” Jade called, irrationally pleased that he’d shown up so soon.

  He walked into the kitchen and Jade smiled. “Just like old times. You must have smelled the cinnamon cake a mile away.”

  He was so big and handsome—so sexy she could hardly stand it. All she could think of was the magic his hands worked on her, and his mouth, and his body against hers.

  A flush of desire stole over her.

  “No cake today, thanks.” He kissed her mom on the cheek. “Do you mind if I steal your daughter for a moment?”

  “Steal away.” Betty waved her hand. “Do you want the kitchen?”

  His gaze hitched to Jade’s. “Can we chat outside, Jade?”

  This was odd. He never passed up Betty’s cake or pie. She looked him over, hearing an urgent tone in his voice. He wore jeans, a freshly pressed long-sleeved shirt, his sheepskin jacket—and a really serious expression. A shiver of concern ran over her, and maybe even a splash of premonition that she wasn’t going to like whatever he’d come to say.

  Chapter Ten

  Jade walked outside with Ty, catching his serious mood like a virus. Lighthearted, daredevil-with-a-grin Ty—when was he ever this dark and quiet?

  “What’s going on?” she asked, anxious to get whatever it was out in the open.

  He took a deep breath as they reached his truck, and leaned against the door. As if he meant to drive off at any second. Jade’s heart rate kicked up.

  “I have to leave today.”

  She hesitated. “Didn’t we just text about getting together tonight?”

  He nodded, his gaze dark and focused. “Those were the plans. The weather forecast is ugly, and flights are already being canceled around the U.S.”

  “I saw that on the news,” she murmured, her heart sinking.

  “I can’t risk not showing up to BUD/S
on time.”

  “No. Not at all.” There would be no second chance, and being late wasn’t an option. “You’re absolutely right to go.” Her heart felt as if it was shattering. She’d caught the weather report on the edge of her subconscious, barely paying attention to it, wrapped in the happy glow of the wonder of spending time in Ty’s arms. “It’s a wise decision to get ahead of flight cancelations. This winter has been busy with storms.”

  She took a deep breath, unable to say any more. The last thing she wanted was to make him feel guilty that he had to leave, when he was doing the exact thing she knew he needed to do, and which she wanted him to do.

  “I want you to do something for me. It’s a lot to ask.” He took a deep breath, pulled her up against him.

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “I’ll understand if you can’t make the commitment. It’s a huge favor.”

  She looked up into his eyes. “Okay.”

  “I want you to take over Cosette’s job of watching the house. I don’t know when I’ll be back, and she’s done it for me for years, but I’d feel better knowing you were in charge.”

  Jade nodded, understanding. He was trying to get his affairs in order, which underlined the finality of his imminent departure. She swallowed hard, not about to dim his leaving with news that Cosette and Phillipe’s marriage appeared to be pretty much on the rocks. “It’s fine. I can do it. It’s probably for the best. Cosette’s so busy these days.”

  His arms wrapped around her more tightly. “No one’s busier than you are, lady. But you’re special to me, you know that. And I keep thinking about that loose step, and Cosette stepping on it—”

  “It’s no problem. Take that off your plate of worries.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Here’s the thing. I have a bigger favor to ask.”

  “Go on.” At this point, she was going to say yes to whatever he mentioned. The best way to have him leave with no worries in his rearview mirror was to do whatever she could to help.

  “About the box...”

  She watched him carefully. “Did you open it?”

  “Hell, no. As I said, I knew all of Dad’s business affairs. There’s no hidden gold or something fantastic in that box. Whatever it is, he meant to keep it hidden. I have no desire to open Pandora’s box. Not now.”