As he sat, a subtle scent invaded. Stacey had been on his mind and in his heart for so long, he’d completely ignored the fact that she’d stayed with him in other places. And if she had, that could only mean she’d given herself to him—in no small way.
It didn’t take him but a minute. The answer was so clear, it slapped him in the face when he looked at that handsome man staring back at him in the mirror. He knew what he could give her.
“Me. I’ve got me.” Dean grinned, confident that Stacey might actually be better than him in a lot of ways, but he’d burrowed under her skin and refused to leave. Now to show her he had staying power.
With just an hour before she had to go to the airport, Stacey rearranged the clothes in her bag for the twelfth time. She had no urge to pack again but couldn’t help herself, not when she’d be leaving part of herself with Dean in Cougar Falls. The people here were far from sophisticated, and hell, their obsession with denim and flannel gave her hives, but she’d seen more truth, honesty and integrity in the pride in the short time she’d hidden out here at the ranch than in her many years in Miami.
Yet her business was there. Her life showing off her designs, her skills. Without that, she’d lose money. And without money, she’d… What? She had her looks, but those would fade in time. Money gave her a sense of power, and as long as she kept making it, she’d be okay.
Her sisters thought she was making a mistake. Melissa and Amy planned to stay in Cougar Falls. Miles was coming, of course. Joy… Stacey frowned. Her hotheaded sister had gone ahead to meet them in Miami. But she’d been acting funny. Stacey really should talk to Miles about it, but she couldn’t stop missing Dean, and she hadn’t left yet. It annoyed her to feel so connected to him when he hadn’t once asked about her.
Grady and Burke had shaken their heads sadly when she’d asked about him, and not wanting to be a source of pity, she’d pretended it didn’t matter. But it did. That jackass had his life thanks to her. But did he even want to know how she’d fared?
A knock at the door startled her. She hadn’t heard anyone near. “Yes?”
No one answered. Irritated at having her pity party interrupted, she flung the door open and stared at nothing. But she scented Dean close by.
Her body quivered with recognition, and the cat inside her started to purr. Her animal spirit wanted to lick him up, to see for herself that her mate had survived and was ready to procreate once more.
That slutty cat would be the death of her.
She turned and slammed the door behind her, except it didn’t shut. Something—someone—shoved her toward the bed.
The door shut and locked before she caught her balance. And then Dean was crowding behind her, not giving her time for breath before he slammed her face down onto a quilt comforter.
“Oomph.”
“Sorry, baby. My balance is a little off.”
“Get off me, you oaf,” came out muffled against the bed sheets.
“What?” He moved back and sat on her.
Stunned that anyone would confuse her with a chair, she tried to buck him off the small of her back. “Get off!”
“Not until you unpack, princess.”
“You— Unpack?”A jolt of warmth shook her.
“Yep. You heard me.” He groaned. “Man, my body is killing me. A good mate would see to her man’s comfort. So unpack and get me naked. I need some lovin’.”
She couldn’t have heard correctly. “I’m sorry?”
“About time you apologized.” He sighed. “I figure you’re scared now that we’ve committed to each other. But that’s okay. We can go to Miami or wherever you need to be to do your fashion stuff. But I’d like to visit on holidays at least. Winters here are beautiful, and my cat likes the snow.”
“But—I—you—”
“Still, it would have been nice if you’d come to see me. I asked about you constantly, but my brothers told me you didn’t give a crap. I know better.”
“Your brothers are assholes.” She glared up at him over her shoulder, wishing he’d move those dense bones of his. Dean had asked about her constantly? Warmth unfurled through the cold spots in her heart. “I’ve visited you more than once since you were injured. Hell, I stayed with you through several nights. I was told you never asked about me. Not once.”
“Is that so?” He got that look in his eyes that promised payback, and she was glad not to be on the receiving end. “So now you know. I was waiting for you.” His expression sobered. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to save you.”
“What?”
“That I passed out in that nasty ski lodge and you had to fight Lex yourself. I didn’t doubt you could kick his ass, but you shouldn’t have had to.”
“It was a pleasure.” But it meant the world to her he’d believed she could beat Lex. He seemed more upset that he hadn’t helped her, not that she’d taken Lex out.
“I remember biting Jeremy’s ankle, but not much else.”
She chuckled. “You gnawed on him a bit. Then Grady crushed his larynx.”
“Good man.” Dean nodded. “For that at least.”
Silence filled the room.
“Dean?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you move your ass?”
“Oh.” He shifted off her and groaned, but at least she could breathe comfortably again.
Until she noted his bare upper torso and the low-riding sweatpants. She worked hard to swallow. “You look like hell.”
“Back at you, sugar.”
“Please. I look divine.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, you do. But you don’t look happy. Why the fuck are you packing?”
“I have a life to get back to. I don’t belong here.” So why did she suddenly wish she did?
“You could if you wanted. You could help all the pathetic women in Cougar Falls, the ones needing fashion advice. Then they wouldn’t have to shop online.” He cleared his throat. “I could build you a house. A big one that you could design any way you wanted. And I’d tell you every day how beautiful you are.”
Her heart raced. “I know I’m beautiful.”
“No you don’t.”
She frowned. “I’m gorgeous. People love me.”
“No. People love the blond hair, the blue eyes and those delectable tits and ass. I love that too, sure, but for me, it’s the woman on the inside who counts.” Dean lay back on the bed and put his hands behind his head, looking like he meant to take a nap. “I’m in love with the woman and that mean cat behind the façade.”
This was how he told her the most important words she’d ever heard in her life? How he declared that he loved her?
She rolled to her knees and loomed over him on the bed, her hands planted on her hips so she wouldn’t wrap them around his throat. “You tell me you love me while half asleep?”
“I’m injured,” he whined and looked up at her through half-shuttered lids. “And I’m aching.”
“You big baby.” She melted inside, remembering how much abuse he’d taken for her. He loves me. Oh my God. “You probably say this to all your dates.”
He opened his eyes wide, and the honest love there said what words never could. “No. Never said that to anyone. Just you.”
As they absorbed what that meant, Stacey knew now was the time. She either took a chance on Dean, or she went back to the lonely beaches in Florida, where empty, shallow and handsome men hung on her every word. None of them wore Levis, and none of them had ever seen beyond the blond veneer. And she would never claim any of them, not since she’d already given her heart to the sneaky cat watching her like prey.