Coming Home (24 page)

"Don't tell me you
care what happens to me, Kate?" He nudged Molly out of the way and stood,
shuffling over to where Kate had risen at the top of the steps. He placed his
hand on her arm and the heat raced through her skin. "I was perfectly
safe, but your concern is always welcome—more than welcome in fact."

"You're reading it
wrong. I wasn't concerned for you, just the family in general." Brushing
his hand
off, Kate placed her cup on the ground and backed
down the steps. "I have to go to bed. I've got an early start. Nice to see
you again, Stevie. Night all." Kate walked away, cursing herself for
acting like an idiot. He would think she was another conquest and that was
mortifying. She refused to put herself in the same category as his groupie
girlfriends. Her pride wouldn't let her even though her body might have other
ideas.

"Kate, please
wait." Cade almost caught up with her as she reached her front door.
He
must have cut through the house.

"What?" She
kept her hand on the door handle, ready for a quick escape.

"I didn't mean to
upset you, I'm sorry." The race through the house to head her off sporting
crutches took more effort than he thought it would. There were spikes of pain
shooting up his leg and he was out of breath.

She turned to face him
and sighed. "I used to think you were the most amazing person when I was a
kid. I know, stupid wasn't it? But now I'm all grown up, Cade, and I don't need
you to remind me I’m nothing more to you than one of your groupies. I don't
belong there."

"You're right, you
don't."
I realised that when I thought that stupid colt was going to
hurt you and I risked everything for you. Pity I didn't figure it out sooner.

Before she could
register his movements, Cade dipped his head and traced his tongue over her
quivering bottom lip. She sucked in a startled breath as he gripped her
shoulders and pressed her against the door, laying his mouth against hers.
Willing her body to stay still, she breathed in his musky male scent, heady and
oh, so very tempting.

When he lifted his
head, Kate gazed into his eyes, hoping her face was inscrutable. "What was
that for?"

"Didn't you like
it?"

"Doesn't do anything
for me if you don't mean it. I don't do casual flings, just so you know, but
thanks for the free demonstration of your skills." She pushed him back,
opened the door and slammed it in his face. On shaky feet, she stumbled to her
bedroom and threw herself down on the cover, gripping her hands across her
stomach. "You bastard, Cade, you had me at saving Molly. How dare you
tease me?"

"It was good to
see you again, Russ. I hope everything works out for you." Stevie rose and
walked over to shake hands before steering Rooney outside to the garden.
"I think it's time we had a little talk."

They walked around to
the back of the house by the old stables where he’d parked his car. Rooney
walked over to the kitchen garden opposite and sat on the wooden paling fence.

"What did you want
to talk about?"

Her pale hair shone in
the moonlight and it hit him in the gut how much he’d missed out on—seeing his
child grow in her stomach, the birth and the first steps, the first loose tooth
and the first day of school. He had so much to make up for.

"I want to marry
you, Rooney. But first I want to get to know my daughter and make sure we can
work this out together." He sat beside her on the fence. "I want us
to be a family."

"I'm sorry, Stevie.
I don't think that's a good idea." She turned her head and looked at him,
her face sad.

"Why not? You're
home. I can make it all up to you. Get to know Tam and make a life for
us." He clutched at her hands and she stood up. Pulling her in between his
legs, Stevie wrapped his arms around her waist holding her tight. "We
still have the connection. Look what happened the other day when I called in to
see you."

"It was always
about sex with us, you know it was. It's not enough to base a marriage on. I
won't do that to myself or Tam."

"I'm not buying
it, Rooney. What aren't you telling me?" He squeezed her butt, ready to
take her here on the grass if she gave him the remotest indication she wanted
him too.

Rooney chewed on her
bottom lip and lifted her hands to cup his chin. "I don't think I trust
you enough to put me first."

"You're kidding
me, right?"

"No. I'm sorry. As
irrational as it sounds, I can't forgive you for what you did. I know I was in
the wrong not telling you about Tam, but I can't get over it. I'm scared you
will leave me behind if something more important comes up, and after what I've
been through, that would kill me." She brushed her hand through his dark
hair and gave a rueful smile. "We could be friends and care for Tam
together."

"No, I want more
than that and I think I deserve a chance to prove it to you. Give me that,
Rooney. Please don't say no just yet." He gripped her hand and turned it
over, exposing her palm. Raising it to his mouth, he kissed her palm, her
wrist, and bit the skin where her blood flowed to her hand.

"You don't play
fair."

"I have no
intention of playing fair with you. I want you, Rooney and I will fight for
you, anyway I know how." He stood and pulled her close. "I think it's
time we revisited the old barn. There is unfinished business between us."
Stevie took her hand and led her down past Kate's cottage toward the barn.

The moon cast shadows
over the old timber building and its high cathedral ceilings, but they both
knew it inside out. Many nights spent there together came rushing back to him,
pumping the blood through his system in a rush. Pulling her inside, he pushed
her against the wall and devoured her mouth with nine years of pent up passion.
He held her face in shaking hands and absorbed the taste of his sweet Rooney,
the only woman who could make his blood race by merely glancing his way.

"God, I’ve missed
you so much."

"Me too. There
hasn't been anyone else, not for me anyway." Rooney smiled and pulled his
shirt from the waist of his jeans. She undid the buttons, spreading it open.

"You shouldn't
have any doubts about us being together then."

"But I do. Humour
me for a while. Now, stay still and don't move a muscle." She dipped her
head and traced her warm tongue over his nipple, using her teeth to tug and
pull on him. The zing went straight to his cock and he arched his back,
grinding his hips into hers.

"Wow, slow down,
big fella." She let the shirt fall from his shoulders and stood back. With
a smile on her face that promised more torture, she undid the top button on her
blouse. When her fingers reached the next one, she lifted her gaze to his and
ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. With each button, she did something
seductive with her mouth.

"You know you are
asking for trouble, don't you?" He could only contain himself for a short
time longer before grabbing her and throwing her down in the hay.

"Uh uh."
Rooney let the blouse slip from her shoulders and fall to the ground. Turning
her back on him, she undid and slipped off her bra, letting it fall to the
ground. When she looked over her shoulder, he almost lost it. How she could
look so innocent and wanton at the same time blew his mind. There was no way he
wasn't going to lay claim to this woman, no matter what she thought.

Stevie heard the pop of
a button and the zip of her jeans. Still with her back to him, she pushed them
down and he sucked in a breath. Rooney was naked under the jeans. No knickers
and the knowledge drove him crazy. He lurched forward and grabbed her, lifting
her up in his arms.

"Yeah, it still
works. Only problem is, it's been too long between for me to take any more of
your teasing." He walked into the corner stall and lay her down on the
hay. Her hair sprawled around her shoulders as she gazed up at him.

"I feel bad using
you like this."

"I don't consider
it using me, honey. I'm going to get you back anyway. I just have to prove to
you that you and Tam will always come first with me."

He kept his gaze on her
as he popped the button on his jeans. Pushing them down over his hips with his
boxers, Stevie stood in front of her.

A smile curved her lips
and she lifted herself up on her elbows. "Come here."

He knelt down beside
her and ran his hands over her pale white skin. When he touched her stomach, he
leaned down and kissed it, a wave of emotion rolling over him.

"Never again will
you go through that without me."

Rooney took his face in
her hands and pulled him down to lay beside her. She tucked a leg over his hip,
bringing their bodies closer together. "Don't talk. Let's just get lost in
the moment." With gentle fingers, she ran a nail down his chest, clicking
over his hard nipple and tracing it over his stomach. When he sucked in a
breath, she smiled and let her hand travel further down. His erection jerked
against her stomach and she wrapped her hands around it.

He ran his fingers
along the curve of her full breast, her nipple puckering in the moonlight
before he dipped his head to suckle. Pushing her back, he spread her legs with
his knee.

Rooney kept her hand
over his cock and guided him inside. She sighed in pleasure as he filled her.

Stevie started to move
slowly, intent on making this last longer than the last time. That had been
hurried ‘stamp my mark on you again’ sex. Tonight he wanted to rekindle love,
to remind her how well they fit together like a set of matched gloves, two
souls with one heartbeat.

He leaned his elbows on
either side of her body, and watched the emotions wash over her expressive
face. She was lost in a world of pleasure, relaxed and at peace as their bodies
remembered each other. Stevie kissed the tip of her nose. Rooney opened her
eyes and gazed at him, her smile filling his heart.

She lifted her arms and
wrapped her hands behind his neck to pull his mouth down to hers. The kiss
started soft and sensual, tongues tasting each other and exploring. As they
rocked together in the hay, they deepened the kiss. It became desperate and
hungry. Rooney lifted her legs and wrapped them around his thighs, pulling him
closer and urging him to go faster.

He increased his pace,
the blood rushing through his veins, the need for release chasing each thrust.
Rooney arched her back and cried out, clawing at his back. Her sex clenched
around him, driving him over the edge. With a final thrust, Stevie clenched his
jaw tight and let go.

He rested his forehead
on hers, their heavy breathing the only sound in the quiet night. Slowly they
settled, and Stevie slid his hands under her body, pulling Rooney close to
nestle against his chest. He rolled onto his back and held her tight, not willing
to let her go just yet.

The next morning as
Cade drove to his final visit with the surgeon, he played Kate's words over in
his mind. He had to convince her that he never put her in the same category as
the girls who used to hang around the players at the leagues club. She was more
than that and now he had to prove it and after this visit was over, he would do
just that.

"So, what's the
verdict, doc?" Cade sat back in his chair and tried to keep a blank look
on his face. His heart pounded and his palms were sweaty. He already knew the
answer. It was just a case of having it given to him in an official capacity.

"Well, I've gone
over the scans your doctor sent in the other day and I'm afraid there is
nothing more I can do." He sat back in his chair and took off his glasses,
pinching the skin on the top of his nose. "I know we've been down this
track before, Cade. Your long injury history was always going to work against
you eventually."

Cade sucked in a breath
and looked away from the sympathetic gaze the doctor gave him.

"We also need to
take your age into account."

"That's bullshit
and you know it. There are guys older than me on the team."

"Yes there are,
but have they had the injuries you have?"

"So, now what? Throw
me a bone and wave goodbye? Rugby is my life."

"I understand
that, and I'm sure management has strategies in place to help you adjust to
life after sport. For now, I can only suggest taking it easy until your leg is strong
enough to take off the brace. I suspect you may be left with a slight limp, but
that shouldn't impede everyday life."

"Thanks,
Doc." Cade glanced around the room he’d become familiar with over the
length of his football career. He stood and reached across the table to shake
hands. "Guess we won't be crossing paths again, but I appreciate all
you've done for me."

"Good luck with
whatever you decide to do. I'll fax my report over to the team manager now. I
understand you have an appointment with them today."

"Cheers."
Cade turned and hobbled from the room. He made it down to the car park and slid
behind the wheel before he embarrassed himself with tears. Knowing it was
coming hadn't made the result any easier to take. Gutted, he reached for his
emergency stash of whiskey in the glove box, only to remember he'd drunk that
last time he was here.

Alcohol never fixed
anything anyway and it was time he stopped using it for a crutch. He had to
face life and what it dealt out, head on. He slammed his hands on the steering
wheel and cursed his luck as the tears ran unheeded down his face. The outside
world blurred as his emotions rolled between despair and acceptance.

When he calmed down,
Cade opened the window to let some fresh air in and wiped his sleeve across his
eyes. Looking in the mirror, he shook his head
. Not a good look, buddy, get
your shit together and move on. You made a promise, now it’s time to keep it.

There was a meeting to
attend before he could go home and take control of his destiny, and he wanted
it over and done with before he wavered from the path he'd finally accepted.

Cade drove to the home
grounds and made his way to the team manager’s office.

"Cade. Come in.
Doc just sent the report through." Dave Dickson shook his hand and guided
him to a seat in front of his desk. "I'm gutted for you, buddy."

"Yeah, well it's
not that unexpected, is it?" Cade let the crutches drop to the ground.

"I guess not but
still, we were hoping for better news. We need to decide what to do. You still
have eight months to run on your contract and we will honour that money-wise,
of course. I need you to work out how you want to be paid, up front or monthly
as always."

"Leave it how it
is for now. I think my party days are over anyway."

"We don't want to
lose you entirely, Cade. I was thinking of the mentoring scheme we’re putting
in place for schools. Would you be interested in working with us on that? It
would only be a couple of days a month but we could sure use someone like you
to help draw in the young kids with talent."

Dave looked at him
expectantly and it took Cade bare seconds to make up his mind. "To tell
you the truth, Dave, I don't think so. I'm more interested in getting involved
in the family farm. Now the old man is dead, I'm more than ready to go back to
my roots and help keep the place going for future generations. I appreciate the
offer though."

The crestfallen look on
Dave's face made Cade smile. He’d surprised himself walking away from the sport
but his mind was made up. Now for the next part of the plan.

***

He drove up the
driveway without the pang of disappointment he usually suffered when returning
home. The past was past and now Cade was ready for the next part of his life.
I
keep my promises, Mother. If nothing else, I've always done that.

He drove around to the
old stables and parked in the same spot Kate kicked him out of the day he came
home for the funeral. When he got out of the vehicle, he threw his crutches in
the corner of the woodpile.
Take that.
Molly came running up to him,
excited to see him back. He leaned down and rubbed his fingers around her soft
ears, accepting the quick little licks from her. With her at his heels, he
alternated between hopping and walking into the kitchen.

"Home already,
Cade." Essie took a tray of cookies from the oven.

"Yes, Essie. All
the city doctors and stuff is over and done with. Now I'm home to stay. I could
use a coffee if there's one going." He snatched a hot cookie from the tray
and broke a piece off for Molly, throwing it to her as he perched on a stool.

"Kate should be in
soon, so yes there is."

He looked up as the
door slammed.

"Whose is that
damned truck in the shed?" She glanced quickly at Cade and then away
again, the blush rushing up her cheeks.

"It's mine,
actually." He leaned on the counter and watched her take a mug from Essie.

"What happened to
the yellow chick machine?" She stood watching him with a frown on her
face.

"I traded it in.
Won't be needing it anymore. Doctor gave me a final report today." He took
a deep breath, determined not to let his voice waver. "No more rugby, so
I've decided to honour the promise I made my mother. I'm going to be working on
the farm from now on."

Kate looked stunned,
her mouth dropped open and Cade resisted the urge to go and lift it closed with
his hand cupping her cheeks while his mouth explored hers.

"About time too.
Your mother waited for this day, Cade. I'm only sorry she never got to see you
working where you belong, but better late than never." Essie wiped her
eyes with the corner of her apron.

"How come I didn't
know about this?" Kate shut her mouth and poured herself a coffee.

"It was a promise
I made to her when she gave me her blessing to go and play rugby. She knew how
much I loved the farm but the game pulled at me more at that stage. I'm home to
stay."

"Um…that's…well,
great actually." Kate stammered over the words and her cheeks flushed even
more.

Cade smiled to himself.
He loved how flustered she was by the news. It meant she wasn't totally immune
to him. With any luck, he’d be able to prove to her he was serious about a
relationship. The Cade she knew was fantasy played out by the media and
management for promotional purposes. Not many people knew the real Cade
Williams, and he liked it that way.

Sure, he’d loved the
drinking and girls when he first got into the sport, but that had worn thin
pretty quick. You couldn't party that hard and turn up to practice day after
day, and he’d learnt that early on. Cade had been relatively sober until his
injury. Now he could see the writing on the wall.

"You got rid of
the Ferrari so you could work here?" Kate approached him and placed her
mug on the bench.

"Yeah, figured a
four wheel drive would be more practical on the farm. You need help, Kate. Why
employ someone else when I can do the job for you?"

She glanced pointedly
at the cast on his leg, her eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, well, that
won't take long to heal. I'll always have a bit of a limp but hell, I doubt the
cows will care about that. Did you see the four wheel bike in the back of the
ute?" He winked at Essie, smiling benevolently behind Kate's head.
"That will get me around easier for a while."

"You're serious?
You want to work here with me or are you thinking of taking over from me?"
A panicked-look raced over her face.

"With you, Kate. I
promise I don't want your job. You might need to give me an office job or
something every other day until this comes right, but you need help, I'm
it."

"I'm kind of
gobsmacked. The Cade I knew would be prancing around like the arsehole we were
used to seeing on the news, not taking in stray dogs and wanting to work
here."

"That's the
problem, Kate. The media hype it up so much you don't really get to know the
real me. How about you let go of those pre-conceived ideas and give me a chance
to prove I'm not the jerk you thought you knew?"

She gave a wobbly smile
and gripped the coffee in her hands.

Yes!

Rooney walked the
elderly couple to the door, carrying their empty cat cage for them. She would operate
later in the day to relieve the abscess under the animal’s back tooth and they
could collect it the following morning.

"The raid went
well yesterday, according to Dennis," Rhian said when they walked out. She
pushed her chair back and rubbed her belly protectively. "Mr Stubbs got
bail, slimy thing. He has to appear in court next month but I doubt he’ll avoid
a jail term."

"I should hope
not. He is cruel and a blight on society. I don't know how anyone can treat an
animal the way he does." Rooney lifted her hands above her head and
stretched. "At least the customers are starting to come in. With luck you
might get a pay packet this week."

"You know I don't
care about that. I'm just glad to get out of the house."

The skid of wheels
screeching to a halt in the car park made them both look up.

"What the…"
Rooney raced to the window and looked out. "Shit, it's Stubbs. Rhian, go
now. Out the back and don't come back. Call the police." She pushed her
assistant out through the back way and turned in time to see Mr Stubbs walking
in the front door. A chill went down her back and her stomach threatened to
give her breakfast back when she saw the knife in his hand.

"Mr Stubbs. Do you
think you should be here with that weapon?" She stood her ground, doing
her best to stay the shaking legs.

"You bitch.
Couldn't mind your own business, could you?"

He approached, waving
the knife in his hand, and the smell of alcohol washed over her face. "You
weren't satisfied with getting a good deal on a dog for your kid, you had to go
and open your mouth to the cops."

Sweat built up on
Rooney's top lip and she resisted the urge to wipe it away in fear any sudden
moves would make him attack. "Mr Stubbs, let me be clear about this. My first
thought is always for the animals and I can't help it. It's how I was brought
up and part of my training as a vet. I have to stand for those that cannot
stand for themselves."

"Pansy bloody
fools. How is a man supposed to make a living, eh? They were fed, they had a
life. Nothing wrong with breeding dogs. Your father bred horses and cows."

"Yes, he did, but
at no time did he treat his animals with the contempt you have. They were fed
well, unlike the pup you brought in here. Mr Stubbs, that dog was so
malnourished, it broke my heart. You can't do that to an animal, it's
inhumane." Rooney doubted she would get through to him but she had to try,
at least until help came.

He laughed bitterly,
the spittle running down his chin. "Inhumane. Fuck you. Because of your
meddling, I've lost my livelihood. That's going to cost you, lady."

He stepped forward and
Rooney backed away as he pointed the knife at her.

"Mr Stubbs, please
stop and think about this before you do something you'll regret."

"Already done that.
Regret selling you and your nosy brother
the dogs. Bet he had
something to do with this as well. Bloody upstarts you are."

The sound of sirens in
the distance gave Rooney a small glimmer of hope, but she didn't count on the
quick reaction of the drunken man in front of her. He grabbed her in his
hulking arms and wrapped one arm around her throat, pulling her back to his
chest. The smell of grease, sweat and alcohol made her stomach lurch and she
swallowed it back, hard.

A car screeched to a
halt, followed by another. A door slammed and feet pounded on the stones
outside, slowing as they neared the door.

Rooney let the tears
come when she saw Stevie standing in the door. "Let her go, Stubbs."