His for the Taking - By Ann Major Page 0,59
angry at them,” she said. “We may not like what they do, but we don’t hate them. And what did I tell you about slamming doors?” Noah’s chest rose and fell with impotent fury as he struggled to process what must have seemed like very ill-founded advice.
Cole’s dark brows drew together. “What’s wrong, son?”
“Mueller called me bad names.” Warily Noah approached the table where they sat. Then his face contorted with misery as he stared up at his mother. “He called you a bad name, too, Mommy. He’s always calling you bad names. Then Luke and him laughed. They say you’re a bad lady because I don’t have a daddy.”
“That’s bull,” Cole thundered. “Why didn’t you tell them I’m your father?”
“Easy,” Maddie murmured.
“Easy? No way! You want me to go easy on the morons in this town who attack you?” His carved face fierce, Cole turned to Noah. “Listen to me. The next time you see that big-mouthed brat, you tell him who I am.”
“But you’re not married to Mommy!”
“Okay, you’re right. I should have married her a long time ago. Before you were born. But do you see that ring on her finger? It’s called an engagement ring. I gave it to your mother because I love you and because I’m going to marry her. Soon. But we don’t have to be married for you to know you have a daddy.”
“Really?” Noah asked, his eyes brightening ever so slightly. “Can I tell Mueller?”
Cole and Maddie both spoke at once.
“No,” she said very firmly. “Stay away from him.”
“Yes,” Cole said. “Tell him if he says any more bad things about your mother, you’re going to tell me, and I’ll go over there. Then he’ll have to deal with me.”
“Will you beat him up? Oh, boy! Can I tell him right now?” Noah demanded eagerly.
Maddie felt her collar tighten. “I don’t think…”
“Sure,” Cole said, meeting her gaze. “Why not? If you don’t fight for what’s important to you, you don’t have a chance in hell of getting it.”
Noah leaped for the door and raced out of the house, banging the screen behind him even harder than before.
Maddie turned on Cole, but he spoke first. “I think we’ve given everybody in this town long enough to get used to the idea that we’re getting married. And where has it gotten us? Brats are attacking Noah. I say we move on to the next step.”
“But they don’t accept us as a couple.”
“Who says they ever will? I know their acceptance is important to you, but I say to hell with them. What matters is being a family for Noah.”
How did he feel? she wondered. He wanted Noah, and he liked to sleep with her. But what kind of person did he believe her to be? Could he ever feel close enough to her to share his soul, to love her? Would she always feel this guarded and defensive around him because she wasn’t sure he thought she was good enough for him?
“Let’s have our engagement party,” he said. “We’ll invite everybody you’re so set on impressing out to the ranch for the best barbecue in the county. I’ll hire the best band. They can come or not—whatever. We’ll get married a week later and move to Austin. Then they can gossip all they want to.”
When she would have protested, he arose and pulled her into his arms. “I’m tired of sleeping at the ranch and you and Noah sleeping here. Every night just seems to get longer and lonelier.”
At his words, Maddie felt something hot and wanton flicker to life inside her.
“Don’t make me wait any longer,” he demanded, his low, hoarse tone holding more impatience than ever.
“All right,” she finally agreed. “All right.” Not that she felt completely sure of him. Still, she repeated, “All right.”
* * *
The ranch house exploded with music and people, people who were making it obvious they didn’t want her in Cole’s life.
Maddie needed to get a grip, to relax, so that she could at least pretend to enjoy herself at her engagement party. Not easy, since she was in an overly sensitive mood that had her feeling everything was false, even the few smiles tossed her way. She could think only about one thing: Would Cole have considered marrying her if Noah hadn’t been in the picture?
If only he respected her as much as he lusted after her. If only he’d let her wear something she’d picked out instead of the sexy blue number that shimmered