Matters of the Heart Read online

  “You have magical hands that send me over the edge and right now I want to be inside you.”

  He flipped her over onto her back and pushed the hair away from her face. He kissed her again as he caressed her breast and let its weight balance in his palm. Brad circled her navel before dipping lower past her curls and then teasing her pussy entrance.

  She stroked the side of his face right before he sheathed himself and slowly glided inside her channel.

  Lucy held his biceps as he thrust into her. She was wet, hot, and so very tight that each time he’d made love to her he’d had to pace himself so as not to come before she’d climaxed.

  Tonight wasn’t any easier. In fact, the more times he had sex with her the harder it actually got. She shifted her butt, wrapped her legs around his backside, causing him to slide deeper as he heard a little whimper escape from her lips.

  Her pussy grabbed him, squeezed him like it would never let him go. It turned him on, almost made him want to come but he managed to stay the course until she cried out his name, squeezed his arms some more, and then he found release. The best release of his life. He leaned against her, stayed inside her and tried to take his weight so he didn’t crush her.

  They rubbed noses and he thought how lucky he was. The phone rang just as he was about to kiss her.

  “Shit. I guess that’s what happens when you’re the sheriff.”

  He pulled out, rolled across her body and picked up the phone.

  “Hi Sheriff Ryan.”

  “Hi Brad, it’s Mike. There’s been another domestic disturbance at the Palmers’ house.”

  Lucy made circles on his back and butt, making it almost impossible to concentrate on what his deputy was telling him.

  He stood up and she slapped his butt almost making him burst out laughing.

  “He been beating her again?” asked Ryan.

  “Not this time. She took the skillet to him. He’s hurt pretty bad, called 911 but she won’t let anyone in the house to check him out.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  He put the phone down.

  “Duty calls and I have to deal with a lady with a skillet.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope, it’s true.”

  “Just be careful then.”

  She slid off the bed, stood, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He couldn’t help himself; he playfully slapped her backside this time.

  “Hey, I kinda like that,” she said.

  “Oh yeah, maybe you can have some more when I get back. Are going to be okay on your own?”

  “I’m a big girl.”

  He pulled on his boxers. “Behave yourself and keep the bed warm for me.”

  Chapter Nine

  Lucy couldn’t believe how lucky she was. Finding Brad like she had. Well, she had to thank Sadie for that. The lady certainly worked magic. Maybe that’s why she was running a matchmaking service. And she’d given Presley the cutest token coin with what looked like an emerald in its center. Lucy lifted it up and the sun hit it as Presley watched as the colors dance around.

  “How are my two favorite girls?”

  She hadn’t heard Brad enter the room. He hadn’t gotten back from the call out until the early hours of the morning and had fallen straight to sleep. He’d been still in the land of slumber when Lucy had gotten out of bed an hour ago.

  He put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him before planting a kiss on the side of her neck.

  “Don’t you think this would make a pretty necklace for Presley when she’s older?” asked Lucy.

  “Sure would, it’s beautiful. We should write a thank you note to Sadie for it, for babysitting, and introducing me to you.”

  He kissed her neck again as the doorbell rang.

  “Hope it’s not more crazy ladies with skillets,” said Brad.

  “You want me to get it?”

  “Nope, hopefully whoever it is won’t stay long.”

  Lucy had just picked up Presley when she heard Brad’s voice drifting up from downstairs. With each word he spoke, the volume got louder until he was shouting. She lifted up Presley from her crib and crept to the top of the stairs where she now heard a woman shouting back at Brad.

  “You dump your baby on a doorstep in the cold and then as usual, you have second thoughts and back you come for the baby.”

  “Everyone’s allowed to make mistakes in their lives,” said the woman.

  “Yeah and I made my biggest one when I hooked up with you.”

  “I want my daughter back.”

  “She’s my baby too and I say no, you’re an unfit mother.”

  “Do you really think that she’s yours? If you brought that then you’re a bigger fool than I gave you credit for, Brad.”

  Lucy squeezed her eyes together and pulled Presley in closer.

  “Not mine, really, then why did you abandon her with me?”

  “You were the only person I knew who’d take care of her.”

  “Nevie, you are the biggest liar I’ve ever met. Presley is mine. She has my eyes and my mother’s smile. She’s more Ryan than she is your side of the family.”

  “My husband’s her father and we want her back so we can be a family.”

  “She’s mine, and only mine now, and you are not getting her. I’ll get a court order if I have to.”

  “You can’t take what’s mine.”

  “Okay, we’ll have a paternity test run, but while we wait for the results she’s staying under my roof.”

  Presley chose that moment to cry.

  “My little girl. I want to see my baby.”

  “You can see her but that’s all.”

  Brad headed up the stairs and Lucy looked at him. “I can’t believe that bitch. Could you bring Presley down to see her?”

  Lucy followed Brad down the stairs where a tall leggy blonde in tight black leggings and a red ski jacket stood waiting. She was beautiful and suddenly Lucy felt jealous even though she knew whatever they’d been between Brad and she was over.

  “Nevie, this is Lucy, Lucy this is Nevie.”

  Lucy didn’t speak but instead nodded to her.

  “Oh I see you’re playing happy families yourself, are you Brad? Didn’t take you long. Come here Presley, let mommy take a look at you to make sure they’ve been treating you right.”

  Nevie put her arms out to take Presley. Lucy looked at Brad who nodded okay.

  Nevie lifted Presley into the air. “I think you’ve grown and once mommy has you back daddy, you and I are going to live in Oregon.”

  Brad snatched Presley back, causing her to scream at the top of her lungs.

  “See what you’ve done,” said Nevie.

  “Get out of my house and away from my daughter. I’ll get the tests done today and from now on let’s communicate through our attorneys. And don’t ever come to this house again.”

  Nevie opened her mouth and was about to say something but then turned, opened the door and slammed it shut on the way out.

  Brad kissed the top of Presley’s head.

  “I love this little girl so much, what am I going to do if Nevie’s not lying and she’s not mine? I don’t think I could give her up now.”

  ****

  Why was it when you thought your life’s was finally working out that something always came along to mess it up?

  For Brad that something was Nevie. She’d walked out on him, leaving him feeling like the biggest loser of all time, but he’d gotten over it, finally realizing it had actually been for the best. Then this beautiful baby, his baby, came into his life and if that wasn’t enough joy, along came Lucy too.

  She’d gone with him and held Presley while he and his daughter had both taken tests to establish whether or not he was the baby’s father. As the sheriff’s department often used the lab and the director knew him well, they’d promised they’d rush the results.

  He pulled up the collar on his jacket as he waited for the steaks to brown on the gril
l. Lucy had offered to cook but he’d told her he had a craving for a thick juicy steak. Brad stamped his feet. He wasn’t really hungry but he wanted to be alone, and outside where the cold air would hopefully clear his head.

  Smoke began billowing from the grill so he lifted the lid and turned the meat. Through the kitchen window he could see Lucy holding Presley and dancing around with her as his little girl smiled. Definitely his mom’s smile.

  But what if it was all in his mind and that test came back revealing that Nevie had told the truth about him not being the daddy? He’d have no claim to the child. Even if Nevie was the shittiest mother in the world, he’d have to hand the baby over. Definitely not to Nevie, but to social services where she might be put into foster care and even one day adopted. He might never see her again.

  He’d grown to love that little girl. No, that wasn’t true. If he was perfectly honest he’d have to admit that he’d fallen in love with her the second he’d seen her on the doorstep of the sheriff’s office. It was almost as if he knew she was his before he’d read the letter from Nevie.

  After he’d checked the meat again he glanced in the window. Lucy was looking straight at him. She smiled and lifted Presley’s hand pretending his daughter was waving at him. Brad waved back.

  Lucy would be heartbroken too if he lost Presley. She hadn’t said as much but after Nevie had left he’d seen tears in her eyes. Brad wiped his cheek with the back of his glove. He hadn’t realized he’d been crying. Being a dad had really turned him into this overly sensitive guy. Or maybe falling in love with Lucy had.

  He glanced at her again. She was dancing the teddy bear in front of Presley who was fingering it. Just before all this crap had happened he couldn’t think of anything but the family they might be. Him and Lucy someday making Presley a big sister and them all living happily ever after.

  Some snow falling on his face shook him out of that train of thought. At least he could blame him wet cheeks on Mother Nature and not tears. Not that Lucy would think anything less of him. That was one of the things he loved her about her. She accepted people for who they were, faults and all.

  He lifted the lid of the grill and put the two steaks on to the plate, turned off the butane, and headed inside. Lucy had made baked potatoes and a tossed salad to go along with the T-bones. Normally he would have dived straight in there but tonight he knew everything was going to stick in his throat.

  ****

  Lucy sensed that Brad needed his alone time with Presley so she let him put her to bed. However, he’d been in her room a good thirty minutes and now she was getting worried. She walked along the hallway and saw that the door was half open. Brad was sitting by the crib reading to his daughter. On his last trip to the grocery store he’d come home with a copy Mother Goose tales. He was planning on reading it to her when she was a few months older but he obviously thought he might not get a chance to do that now.

  She leaned against the doorjamb with him unaware she was there. He was totally engrossed in the story, using different voices and pitches for each character. She almost felt like she was intruding on this very special time between father and baby.

  Lucy leaned her head against the wood surround on the door. What if Presley wasn’t his? He’d be heartbroken. He loved that little girl. And yes, this was a bit selfish on her part but if that was the case she’d no longer have the nanny’s job. She’d probably have to go back to Helena and look for work because she didn’t think they’d be a nurse’s position for her in Pine Ridge. Miles away from Brad. And no longer having Presley around would break her heart too. She loved them both more than she cared to admit.

  Her left foot ached and she moved, causing the floorboard to creek. Brad looked up from the book, stopping the story in mid-sentence.

  He was crying. She ran to him. He dropped the book as she knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his chest as they held onto one another.

  “Do you believe in miracles?” he whispered to her.

  “I didn’t, but then I met you?”

  Chapter Ten

  Brad hadn’t realized he’d been chewing on the pencil in his hand until he felt something sharp bite into his lip and noticed that he’d actually splintered its wood. He threw it down on his desk.

  The paternity test results would be back later today.

  At least the wait would be over. He’d made up his mind what he was going to do whichever way this turned out. If he was Presley’s father he’d get his attorney to file for sole custody. If he wasn’t, he’d contact social services and have Presley placed in their care away from Nevie so there was never a chance she’d drop her on a doorstep again.

  There was a knock on his door and there stood Lucy holding Presley. She’d promised him she’d be with him when he got the results.

  “I think she’s grown in the last week,” said Brad taking Presley and putting her on his knee.

  “She ate some baby cereal this morning. And I think we could try some mashed veggies next week.”

  He looked at her, sure that she’d realized that there might not be a next week for them.

  The phone rang and they both jumped.

  Brad felt his stomach flip and the acid inside it churn as he picked it up.

  “Sheriff Ryan here.”

  “Hi Brad, it’s Todd.”

  Brad squeezed his eyes together. This was it.

  He reached over for Lucy’s hand and held it tightly.

  “Okay Todd, just tell me straight and put me out of my misery.”

  “Congratulations, it’s a girl. You are definitely Presley’s father.”

  He let his shoulders relax and mouthed I’m her dad to Lucy.

  She squeezed his hand back.

  “That’s wonderful news and you’ll put everything in writing for my attorney.”

  “I’m doing that right now.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for getting that through as quick as you did.”

  “No, problem and I’m glad it worked out for you.”

  Brad put the phone back and finally let his body relax.

  “I can’t tell you what a weight off my shoulders that is. I’m going to phone my attorney and have him file for sole custody right away.”

  Lucy leaned over and kissed him. He held her hand again.

  “I’ve sort of neglected you since Nevie stepped onto the doorstep that morning,” said Brad. “But I’m going to make it up to you.”

  She ran her hand down the side of his face. “I’m sure you will.”

  ****

  Lucy leaned her head back on the towel she’d folded up and placed at the back of her neck in the bath. She lifted her hand and let the bubbles on her skin disappear. Brad had suggested that she take the evening off and while she took a bubble bath he’d read a story to Presley before she went to sleep. She closed her eyes. He was back to being his old self now that he knew Presley really was his daughter. She hoped everything would be smooth sailing for them both.

  There was a tap on the door and in walked Brad.

  “Are you decent?” he asked.

  “I’m covered by bubbles if that’s what you mean.”

  “Darn, then I won’t bother to come inside.”

  Lucy lifted her hand and beckoned him in with her finger. He sat down beside the bath and they held hands.

  “I just spoke with Phil, my attorney, and he’d already filed papers with the court for me to have sole custody. He said we’ll probably need to go in front of a judge and if you’d go along and prove that I have full time help with Presley it would help me a lot. You know with me being a working dad and all.”

  “I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

  He nodded.

  Lucy somehow wished he’d talk more about their future, if they had one, but maybe she was getting ahead of herself. Maybe after the hurt with Nevie he needed some breathing space.

  “You need anyone to wash hard to reach parts of your body?” he asked.

  She ran her
hand down his face. He hadn’t shaved today and his whiskers grazed her skin but she liked it.

  “Are you offering?”

  “I certainly am.”

  He rolled his finger around her breasts before putting a dollop of the bubbles onto her nipples.

  Brad pushed his finger under the water and made a trail down her belly as he leaned over and kissed her.

  He went lower, brushing over her pubic hair and downward until he arrived at the entrance of her pussy. He teased her, letting his finger settle there without moving it.

  “Are you punishing me or what, sheriff?”

  He gave her a devilish grin and eased it inside her.

  “Does that feel better?”

  “Much.”

  She let her shoulders sink below the bubbles as he finger fucked her, making her wiggle her butt on the bottom of the bath with each of his tiny movements.

  Lucy took a deep breath, feeling herself get more aroused as his finger scraped the inside of her channel, exciting it like never before. She raised one leg out of the water and let it rest on the edge of the bath, while lifting the other and placing her foot flat on the tiles of the wall. It opened her more for Brad to tease her until she felt like she was sinking as her pussy pulsed and her thighs became weak. She couldn’t hold on to the wonderful feeling any longer. She knew it would be over but she had to come because a person could only take so much pleasure.

  She leaned her head back and groaned, feeling her legs shake and her pussy gripping Brad’s finger like it never wanted it to leave.

  He pulled it out and leaned over so he could kiss her.

  “You beautiful lady have me all worked up.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?”

  He stood and she turned and watched as he stripped off. At first she thought he’d be crazy enough to join her in the bath but then he took her hand and encouraged her to stand and get out of it.

  Brad lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him as he sat her butt on the edge of the vanity before sheathing himself.

  He kissed her while pushing his cock inside her. Lucy set her head on his shoulder as he slowly moved inside her. She caught the reflection of his butt in the mirror opposite them. The muscles of his thighs stood out as he quickened his pace. He was the sexiest man she’d ever known.