A Real Cowboy Loves Forever (Wyoming Rebels Book 5) Read online

  It wouldn't move, the banging became louder, and more and more panic started to build. "Come on!" She couldn't stop the tears of frustration and exhaustion now, but she grabbed the handle on the side of it and literally flung herself forward, trying to free the mattress from its wedged spot against the wall.

  "Hey, hey, hey. Let me help you with that."

  Hannah froze at the sound of Maddox's voice. Something rippled through her, through every single cell in her body. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Maddox?" As she said his name, a beam of light flashed on the ceiling above her head, illuminating the hallway with light that felt so beautiful that she wanted to cry.

  Maddox appeared on the other side of the mattress, looking down at her, his face truly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Yeah, it's me," he said. "A tree fell over the end of your driveway. It looked like it hit your power lines, so I came back to check on you." His gaze fell on her face. "I think I'm glad I did."

  "You came back?" She couldn't believe he was standing there, snowy and strong, in her hallway.

  "Yeah. No one is going in or out of your driveway until the storm is over and Chase can bring some crews in to clear the tree." His eyes were dark, roving her face with such concern that something in her heart turned over. "You moving this to the family room?"

  She nodded.

  "Good plan. Let me grab the mattress and you can get the bedding."

  She didn't move. She just stared at him, unable to grasp that he was there. Maddox frowned at her, then he grabbed the mattress and hauled it aside, shoving it as if it weighed nothing.

  Once there was no mattress between them, he moved toward her and caught her chin with his hand. "You look like you're going to pass out," he said, his voice so gentle that tears filled her eyes.

  She wanted to deny it. She wanted to tell him that she was strong and fierce and didn't need his help. But the words wouldn't come. She just nodded silently, unable to stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks.

  "Come on." He slid his arm behind her back, and before she knew what he was doing, he swept her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest.

  She knew she should protest, demand he put her down, and refuse to acknowledge weakness even to herself, but the words didn't come. She just leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, too tired even to slide her arms around his neck. His shoulder was solid and warm beneath her cheek, a feeling of strength that was so far from what she could muster on her own. She didn't even bother to open her eyes to see where he was taking her. She just surrendered to him, to his strength, to his protectiveness, to his rescuing.

  She could no longer deny the truth: she needed him.

  Chapter 11

  Maddox bent down, and Hannah felt a cushion sink beneath her. She opened her eyes, and saw that he was setting her on the couch in the family room. His arm stayed around her for an extra moment after she was settled, his face inches from hers. He had set his flashlight down somewhere, but the faint light still cast a glow on his face, enabling her to see the contoured lines of his cheeks, and the strong set to his jaw. "Thank you," she whispered.

  He flashed her a quick smile. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

  She nodded, unable to summon the energy to protest. He stood up, and she heard his boots thudding down the hall. Within moments he was back, and crouched beside her as he settled the blankets from her bed around her. He tucked them tightly against her, his brow furrowed as he watched her. "You're shivering."

  "I can't get warm," she mumbled. "I was outside trying to get the generator started, and I got so cold."

  An emotion flickered over his face, but it was gone before she could decipher it. "I'll work on that for you," he said. "Let me get the mattress set up first. You okay for the moment?"

  She nodded again. She knew she should get up and help him, but her body felt too heavy, and the cushions felt like quicksand that was trapping her. He studied her for a moment more, then leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, a kiss that made her heart turn over. Before she could respond, he was gone and walking down the hall again.

  She watched him through half-closed eyes as he dragged the mattress effortlessly down the hall and set it up in the middle of the family room. Within a few minutes, he had retrieved the linens from the floor of her bedroom, and had made the bed with easy familiarity that she wouldn't have expected from a rugged, scarred cowboy. In only a few more minutes, he had made the bed, using the blankets that he hadn't put on her. He made setting up the bed look so easy, a task that had nearly broken her, making her realize how truly awful she felt right now.

  He finished the bed and walked over to the couch again. He crouched in front of her, his face level with hers. Quietly, he reached up and lightly moved a lock of hair that had fallen across her face. "Want me to get Ava and bring her out here?"

  She shook her head. "I'll get her. It might startle her if she wakes up and finds you there."

  He frowned. "Are you up for that?"

  "I have to be." She tossed the blankets aside and forced herself to her feet. Dizziness assaulted her, but as soon as she started to sway, Maddox was suddenly beside her, his arm sliding around her waist.

  He frowned down at her, but said nothing as they walked down the hall toward Ava's room. She opened the door quietly and slipped inside, well aware that Maddox was still close beside her, his hand on her lower back, ready to catch her.

  She knew she should push him away, but she honestly didn't know if she might fall, and it felt good to have him there to catch her if she did. She bent over the bed, and smiled at Ava's sleeping face. Her heart turned over, and she smiled at Maddox.

  He was watching her with an inscrutable expression on his face...almost with longing? Then the expression was gone, and she thought maybe she'd imagined it. What would Maddox long for anyway? The open road, and a life anywhere other than trapped in a blizzard with two needy females.

  Her cheeks burning with fever, she bent over Ava and slid her arms under the little girl. Even in her sleep, Ava's arms instinctively went around her, and she scooped her up, stumbling when Ava's full body weight was in her arms. Before she could lose her grip, however, Maddox's arms went around Hannah, helping her support Ava. Not trying to take her away, just helping her do what she needed to do.

  With Maddox by her side, she made it to the living room, and settled Ava under the blankets. She pulled the blankets over her daughter, then stood up, bracing her hands on her thighs as she fought for the strength to stand. "So, I need to hang the blankets next."

  "No. I'll do them. You need to lie down." Maddox walked over to her, frowning.

  She shook her head. "It's my responsibility. You did the mattress. If you could just fix the generator before you go, that would be awesome."

  One eyebrow went up. "Sweetheart, I'm not going anywhere. I missed my window."

  Her heart started to pound as the implications of his words settled on her. "You're not leaving?"

  "Not until the storm is over, and you're plowed out."

  Suddenly, the small room felt even smaller. "You can't stay here."

  The other eyebrow rose. "You want me to sleep in the barn?"

  "No, but..." She looked around the tiny living room, the tiny house. How could she and Ava share a house with a man she didn't even know? Fear started to clog her throat, and her lungs constricted, making it difficult to breathe.

  "Hey." Maddox moved closer to her and set his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me, Hannah." His touch was gentle, yet firm, filled with a nurturing strength that made her want to cry.

  Reluctantly, she raised her gaze to his. His green eyes were intense as he studied her so thoughtfully that she felt heat rise in her cheeks. "I don't trust men," she whispered. "It terrifies me to think of having you in this house for a week."

  "I know." He sighed, his thumbs tracing small circles on the front of her shoulders, almost as if he didn't even realize he was doing it. "Generally,
I'm not a man that any woman should trust. I know that. But..." he hesitated, as if he were searching for the words. "You make me want to be a protector. You make me want to protect in a way I've never wanted to before. I'm not a good guy, and I carry genes so dark they would give you nightmares. But I swear on my mother's grave, that I would never, ever hurt you or Ava. And I will get the hell out of your lives, before I can destroy your souls."

  She searched his face, confused by his words. "Destroy our souls? What does that mean? Are you a devil worshiper or something?" Because that would be kind of weird. Of all the things that she feared about men, being around one that would summon the devil and possess her with it, hadn't made it onto her list of things to be afraid of.

  Maddox's face darkened, and he shook his head. "No, I definitely don't worship the devil. If I had a chance I'd take the bastard out, with pleasure."

  There was an edge to his voice that made chills pop up on her arms. "You sound like you've already met him."

  His gaze met hers. "I have."

  She remembered the scars on his forearms, and suddenly she knew. The fear fled from her heart, replaced with a deep, burning need to hug him, to heal him, to clear the darkness that kept him captive so ruthlessly. "I'm so sorry."

  He shrugged, but before he could say anything, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it, without turning away from her. "Hey."

  He listened for a second, one hand still on her shoulder, still tracing circles with his thumb. It was too intimate, but at the same time, it felt so good, she didn't want to pull away.

  "Yeah, I'm at Hannah's," he said. "They don't have power. Right now, we're arguing about whether I'm staying for the rest of the week. She seems to think that me leaving is still an option."

  Heat flooded her cheeks, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but his fingers tightened on her shoulder, tugging her forward into him. He caught her off balance, and she stumbled into him. His free arm immediately wrapped around her waist, supporting her against his side. Exhaustion suddenly flooded her again, and she closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder as he spoke into the phone, explaining the state of the house.

  After a moment, he put the phone to her ear. "Lissa wants to talk to you."

  Hannah fumbled for the phone, her fingers brushing against Maddox's as she took the phone from him. "Hello?"

  Lissa's warmth filled her with an indescribable sense of comfort. "Hannah, are you seriously thinking of kicking Maddox out?"

  She grimaced. "I just—"

  "Listen to me, sweetie. This blizzard is going to be brutal, and you don't have power. You need him."

  Hannah stiffened. "I don't need him—"

  "Yes, you do, and that's nothing to be ashamed of. He says you're sick. Is that true?"

  Maddox's arms wrapped around her, pulling her more tightly against him. She wanted to resist, but his warmth and strength was too appealing, so she closed her eyes and leaned on him, her cheek against his chest. "Yes, I have a fever."

  Lissa's sigh was audible. "Don't be stubborn, Hannah. It's not a shame to admit you can't do it all on your own. That was one of the first things I had to learn when I first got here. Maddox is a great guy, despite what he thinks of himself. You don't have to be afraid of him."

  Hannah grimaced at Lissa's perceptive statement. "I'm not—"

  "Yes, you are. I saw it in your face, but that's okay. You don't need to be ashamed of that. My mother's string of useless boyfriends taught me that some men were to be feared, but the truth is that not all men are bad. Maddox is one of those who is worth believing in, completely. Let him help you."

  Tears filled Hannah's eyes. "I don't know how," she whispered, but even as she protested, a part of her wished she did know how to let someone, to let Maddox, help her.

  Lissa's soft laugh echoed over the phone. "Oh, sweetie, Maddox is a born protector. You don't need to do anything, other than to simply take a deep breath, and tell him he can stay through the storm. The rest will work out. Okay?"

  Hannah squeezed her eyes shut, breathing in Maddox's delicious, masculine scent, feeling the strength of his body beneath her cheek, and in the way his hands were resting on her hips, supporting her. He felt so good standing there, enveloping her depleted body in a strength she couldn't muster on her own. She hadn't felt so overwhelmed in years, and she hated it. She wanted to be strong, to be independent, to be self-sufficient.

  Then a tremor wracked her body, and she knew that this time, for once, she couldn't do it alone. "Okay," she whispered.

  "Great." Lissa's relief was so evident that Hannah wanted to smile. "We'll see you after the storm. Go get some sleep and let Maddox take care of things. Bye."

  "Bye." Hannah hung up and let the phone drop to her side. Maddox caught it just as it started to slip from her fingers.

  For a long moment, neither of them said anything. She just stood there in his arms, leaning on him, too exhausted to pull away from him. She felt like it was his body that was generating what little strength and warmth still remained in hers, and if he moved away from her, she would have nothing left.

  "What did Lissa say?" he asked softly, his hands tightening on her hips, as she belatedly realized she was starting to sway.

  "She's manipulative and convincing," Hannah muttered, unable to keep the appreciation out of her voice.

  Maddox laughed softly. "That she is. What's the verdict? Are we still going to argue about whether I can stay here?"

  Hannah took a deep breath. Her body started to shake even more, and she wasn't sure if it was from the fever, from terror, or from a sense of relief so deep that it went all the way to her bones. Maybe all of them. "You can stay," she whispered. "I would be deeply grateful if you would."

  Maddox's arms tightened around her, and he let out a deep, shuddering sigh. "Okay, then."

  She felt him press a kiss to the top of her head, a kiss so gentle and tender that she wanted to weep. His finger slid under her chin, gently lifting her face to his. His green eyes searched hers so intently that her belly tightened. Neither of them moved, and suddenly, she became aware of him as a man, not a man to be feared, but as a man who was pure male, pure strength, and pure protector.

  A man who made butterflies leap in her belly, and longing pulse in her heart, which she had kept so carefully closed for so long.

  Shock reverberated through her, shock that she was noticing him, truly noticing him all the way in her heart, as a man, shock that there was a man out there who could get through her shields. Her mind wanted her to run, to flee, to hide, but at the same time, a deeper part of her wanted to plant roots, and stay right there, to step into the moment for the first time in her life.

  He smiled, a tender smile that made something inside her melt just the tiniest little bit.

  He was going to be in her house for almost a week, a house that had been reduced to one room, which suddenly seemed very small, very intimate...and filled with possibilities that made it feel like the tiniest drop of sunshine had suddenly landed on her heart.

  Chapter 12

  There was nothing left to do.

  Maddox stood in the doorway of the living room, watching Ava and Hannah sleep. It was almost four in the morning, and he was tired as hell, but so on edge he couldn't sit still. He'd tried to fix the generator, but it was too dark to see what he was doing. He'd started to bring stuff in from Hannah's trailer, but the bitter wind knifing through the barely-heated living room when he'd opened the door to go outside had shot that idea. He'd unpacked their kitchen. He'd hung blankets on the doorways. He'd found extra blankets for the couch for him to sleep on.

  There was literally nothing left to do. There was no other room to be in, except that living room, where Ava and Hannah were tucked up beside each other under the blankets he'd heaped on them while they were sleeping.

  He was restless.

  Impatient.

  Uncomfortable.

  He was trapped in a house with two vulnerabl
e females, against every rule that he'd lived by for years. He didn't want to be here...but at the same time, he wanted to be here so badly that he could barely handle it.

  He hadn't thought that he'd wanted this. He'd walked away from any dreams like this a long time ago. He'd given them all up when he was seventeen, when he'd walked away from the girl he'd loved and all his dreams of this kind of moment. He'd forgotten how badly he had once wanted it.

  Until now.

  Until he was standing beside the wood stove watching Hannah and Ava sleep, while the wind howled outside and battered the house. Hannah's cheeks were flushed, and there was sweat beading on her forehead. He knew she was sick, and he didn't like it. He knew Ava wouldn't talk, and that concerned him. He knew they were in for at least five days of brutal weather, cut off from civilization, without electricity, and he didn't like that either.

  He wanted both of them to be glowing, happy, and safe. For his whole life, he had believed that the key to any woman's happiness was to be as far away from him as possible. And yet, given this particular situation, he knew that his presence was necessary for their safety.

  He didn't know what he thought of that. He didn't like it, for their sake, but at the same time, to feel like he was necessary for the well-being of Hannah and Ava made him feel like something beautiful was beaming down on him for the first time in his life.

  Walking away from them in this moment would not be honorable, so he didn't have to do it. He could sit there, on their couch, breathing in the wholeness of who they were, and he didn't have to feel guilty that he was stealing life and hope from them. For five days, he had the gift of being able to live in their world without feeling like an asshole for taking up space in it.