Marie Harte - Foxy Lady

“Hmm?” She sounded half asleep.

“I love you.”

She froze then leaped on top of him. Her cute little nose twitched. “Say that again.”

Ty sighed, lost to everything but the fiery woman of his dreams. “I love you. The hot redhead with a temper and the cool professional who works for my ex -best friend. I’ve been in lust with you forever. In love with you for minutes, days, hell, probably years. You’re loyal to your sisters, you love with all your heart, and I want to spend the rest of my life pissing you off.”

She blinked at him, her eyes so wide he could fall into her dark pupils. “Pissing me off?” she whispered.

“You get me hard when you’re mad. So damned aroused I can’t see straight. And you’re so pretty, so sleek and soft. And sly.” He rubbed his hands over her back and down her ass. “You wrapped me around your little finger, baby. I’m yours. No one’s ever mattered but you.”

A huge smile curved her lips. “You are so slick. No wonder you’re the best at what you do. No one can deliver a line like you, Tyler Roderick.”

He winced. “I hate being called Tyler.”

“I know.”

He chuckled then sobered and kissed her. “It’s no line, Julia. I love you.”

He waited for what felt like three forevers.

“I…”

The damned woman was stringing him along. He could see it in her eyes, but he let her play.

“I think… Maybe…”

“Dammit.”

“No, I know I love you too. But, Ty—”

He cut her off with a kiss that deepened into something more.

“I don’t want my past to hurt our future,” Julia murmured when he let her go.

“Then don’t give in to fear. I’m not your dad. You’re not your mom. There’s nothing in this world that could make me leave you. Hell, if I die, I’ll come back and haunt your sexy ass.”

She laughed. “How romantic.”

“Honey, you want romance? I’m your man. Candles, chocolates, flowers, you name it.”

She sighed. “How about you secure my family’s place in Cougar Falls? That’s as romantic as I need.”

“Consider it done.”

She blinked. “Really?”

“Really. I didn’t share your secrets with Gerald for the hell of it. As I see it, we have two choices if we want to stay in Cougar Falls. We join the cats, which, technically, makes sense since you’re part cat. Or, we tell the council to fuck themselves because we’re mating, we’re staying, and that’s that.”

“But, Ty, they could make trouble for you. Maybe strip you as sheriff. Run your family out of the clan.”

“Nah. My mom and dad are pretty much entrenched with the Silver Foxes. Hey, if they have someone who can do my job better than me, so be it. I’ll find something else to do. I’m good with my hands.” He stroked a finger between her buttocks.

“Stop.” She smacked his chest. “I’m serious. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t leave me. Stay with me. Love me. Have my kits, cats, whatever.”

“Oh, God. What if our kids are cats?”

“What if they are? Can you really tell me you’d love them any less?” He narrowed his eyes, understanding what he’d missed before. “Do you love Gabby any less?”

“Of course not. Of course not,” she repeated softly, her face full of wonder. “You really don’t care, do you?”

“No, I don’t. And honestly, I don’t think many other people will either. You’ve spent your life apart from most people, honey, pushed away by your bitchy relatives. No more. My parents won’t care. Hell, my mother will hang a medal on you for finally tying me down.”

“You did play around a lot.”

He liked her jealousy, until she pinched him. “Ow. Dammit. I’m telling you, they were substitutes for you. And I didn’t sleep with half my rumored number of conquests.” He didn’t think. “I’m a one-woman man. You’re mine, I’m yours, end of story.”

“Yeah, end of story,” she reaffirmed with a steely-eyed glare.

He chuckled and pulled her closer. “Hot damn, I love you, Julia Easton. Will you marry me?”

She kissed him and squirmed, her taut breasts doing funny things to his libido once more. “I’m not sure. What will my fiancé think if I run away with you?”

“Who, Ned?” he teased. “I say we don’t invite him. One party crasher is one too many.”

“You got that right.”

“Good. Now that we have that out of the way, I want you to tell me exactly what Gerald said and did while I was gone.”

She laughed, but she made him work hard for his answers.

Julia spent the rest of the night with Ty. He dropped her off at her place on his way to work the next morning.

“Hmm, a kiss from my vixen. I like this.”

“You should. I’m worth it,” she drawled.

He chuckled and playfully pushed her out the truck door. “I’ll see you at lunch. And later tonight we’ll shop for a ring. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Julia wondered if she’d ever tire of hearing it. Seeing a big, strong man like Ty look at her with such tenderness made her melt inside. God, was he really hers?

She went through the house, not expecting to see Gabby since her sister rarely roused before ten unless she had to. After a nice, long shower, Julia changed into clean clothes and mentally prepared the rest of her day. She needed to talk to Gabby about the future as well. Deciding to tell everyone about their father affected them all. Though Meghan had pushed to tell the truth for years, Julia needed to know what Gabby truly thought. After all, Meghan intended to live away from Cougar Falls. Gabby would be here around Ac-taw who might or might not scorn her for her differences.

Julia flushed with shame, aware her worries about raising a mixed child echoed those of an ignorant, fear-based bigot. She was damned proud of Gabby, a smart and funny woman with a sunny attitude and the strength of a lioness. Ty and Gerald were right. She needed to think of her background as blessed and not a freakish happenstance.

She was finishing her bagel, deep in thought, when Gabby joined her at the counter.

“You look way too perky for the Julia I know and love,” Gabby grumbled, and pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes.

“Gabby, I love you.”

“I love you too.” Gabby hunted in the refrigerator for something.

“I’m proud of who you are. I think your cat is beautiful, and I don’t think we should hide it anymore.”

Gabby straightened and turned, clearly surprised. “What brought this on?”

“I’m in love and I’m getting married.”

“Say that again?”

“I’m in love with Ty. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”

Gabby rushed to Julia for a hug and babbled with joy. “Oh my gosh. I’m so incredibly happy for you. I guess this means I’m losing my roommate. But that’s okay. Now I can finally get rid of those hideous blue curtains.”

“Please. And replace them with what? Blinds?” Julia made a face. “Tacky.”

“Have you told Meghan yet?”

Julia shook her head. “I couldn’t get a hold of her.”

Gabby frowned. “Me neither. I called her twice yesterday. I thought we could meet up in Whitefish for breakfast this morning but she didn’t answer.”

Julia had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Try her again.”

Gabby’s smile faded. She hurried to the phone and punched in Meghan’s number. “Her voicemail.”

Life didn’t seem so bright all of a sudden. “I have a bad feeling about this. Do you have Jason’s number?”

“Yeah. Hold on.” Gabby raced into her bedroom. She returned moments later, her face drawn. “I called him. Nothing.”

“Let me get a hold of Ty.”

“Don’t go anywhere without me. I’m getting dressed. Be right there.”