Chapter Eight

Lorna was a bundle of nerves; it had been so long since she went on a date. She stood in front of her closet, shuffling through her clothes, but nothing seemed right. Sighing, she left the room and headed to the kitchen where she found Lily on the floor coloring.

"You know, it would be more comfortable at the table," Lorna suggested.

"I like it down here, Mama," Lily replied without looking up.

"Okay, are you ready to go to grampa's?" Lorna asked.

Lily nodded, closing her coloring book, and putting away her crayons before standing up.

"I'm ready," she announced as she put her things into her backpack.

"Alright, let's go then."

Lily eagerly ran to the door, waiting for Lorna to open it so she could race out to their vehicle. As they walked down the steps together, Lorna couldn't help but smile at her daughter's excitement. They climbed into the SUV and Lorna drove them to her father's ranch.

After parking beside the porch, Lorna stepped out, removed Lily from her car seat, picked up her backpack and suitcase, then they walked up the steps. She was about to knock when she heard her father call to her and she turned to see him strolling across the yard toward her.

"Hey, Cookie. Lilypad, come give grampa a hug."

Lily giggled, jumped down each step, then ran to him. He squatted and picked her up.

He walked up the steps, opened the door, and nodded for Lorna to go inside then he followed her. He set Lily on her feet and stared at Lorna.

"What?"

"Are you ready for your date tonight?" He grinned.

"I'm so nervous, Daddy. I can't remember the last time I was on a real date."

"I'm sure it'll come to you. Eli's a good man."

"I know he is. I just wish he had a different job."

"If you love him, you accept what he does."

"I didn't say I loved him," she hissed.

Marcus laughed. "You didn't have to. I can see it when you look at him."

"Oh, Dad, I don't know what to do. You're right, I do love him, but his job terrifies me. I can't go through that again."

"Lorna, every day, people take chances on love. You'll never be happy if you settle."

"I know, but…" She shook her head.

"Let me ask you something, Cookie. Would you give up any of the time you spent with Mac?"

"No, never."

"Then why are you giving up time with Eli? You love him, Lorna. He loves you and Lily."

"I'm just scared. If he got shot—" she choked on her words.

"You'd deal with it, Lorna. God forbid that would happen, but you need to grab onto any happiness you can, when you can. If you push him away and something were to happen to him, you would regret it for the rest of your life. Don't make that mistake." He shook his head. "I miss your mother every day, but I'm grateful for the time we had together. Everyone dies eventually, honey. None of us can escape it, so make the most of each moment while you can. It could all disappear in an instant, as you well know."

"I do love him, but…"

"We have to hold onto love when we find it, Cookie. And being with Eli makes you happy. As I said, I can see it in your eyes when you look at him."

"I can't breathe when I look at him. I thought I loved Mac more than anything, but I feel so much more with Eli."

"And that bothers you, doesn't it?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Don't let it. I believe Mac would be the first one to tell you to go for it."

Lorna smiled through her tears. "He would."

"So, go out tonight and have a good time, but you think about shoving him out of your life just because of what he does for a living. Cookie, just because he's in a dangerous job, doesn't mean he'll die from it. You worked in the ICU. Are you telling me that every person in there was because they had a dangerous job?"

"No, of course not."

"Of course not. People die every day and it's not always from a job. There's cancer, car accidents, falls, numerous things."

"But the odds—"

"Are you going to live by the what ifs?"

Lorna sighed. "I don't want to."

"Then give it a chance, honey. That man is crazy about you. Take a chance."

She smiled. "You like him, don't you?"

Marcus nodded. "I do because as I said, he's a damn good man."

"Yes, he is." She nodded. "Okay, I'll see it through. I need to run to town to find something to wear tonight."

"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow."

Lorna hugged and kissed Lily then wrapped her arms around her father.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Cookie. Have a good time." He winked, making her blush.

She walked out the door, got into her vehicle, and drove to Clifton. She wanted to make a stop at Paige's, the local lingerie shop, she thought with a grin.

****

Eli stepped into the sheriff's department and found it deserted. He tapped the bell on the front desk, hoping to get someone's attention.

"Hey, Eli."

He turned to see Deputy Brody Morgan walking toward him.

"Brody. Can I talk to Callaway?"

"Sure, but he's pouting, so I can't guarantee his cooperation," Brody replied with a grin.

Eli chuckled. "Then he'll just have to listen."

"I thought you were off on Saturdays?"

"I am, usually, but we're swamped right now. All of us are working today. I wanted to stop in and try to get some information from the kid."

"I'll be in my office."

"Are you the only one here?"

"In the office, yes. But Nevada is on duty today too."

"And your fearless leader is probably at home, right?"

Brody laughed. "Yep. Sam refuses to come into the office on weekends unless there's an emergency."

"Can't blame him. It's good to be the boss." Eli smiled before heading toward the jail cells. He found Callaway in the last one, sitting on the cot with his head buried in his knees.

"Joey."

The kid lifted his head, rolled his eyes, and then buried it back in his knees. Eli tried not to grin.

"You brought this on yourself," Eli said.

"Yeah, fuck you."

Eli chuckled. "Talking big now, are we?"

Joey stood up, balled his fists, and glared at him.

"I want out of here."

"Too bad. You committed a crime and if you keep acting like this, you'll be seeing a lot more of these bars."

"I don't care."

"Oh, you will. Have you decided to tell me who else was involved?"

"I already told you. No one."

Eli let out a sigh. "Fine. I'm sure we can find evidence from your phone or computer. Enjoy your weekend."

He turned to walk away but stopped when Joey spoke again.

"He doesn't even care."

Eli tilted his head, looking at him. "Your father?"

"Yeah. I did it for him. I know how badly he wanted that land, but old man Palmer wouldn't sell any more of it. Dad loves making money." He sighed. "More than anything or anyone else."

"This was not the right way to get his attention. Cattle rustling and horse theft are severe crimes. They used to be punishable by death in the old west. You can't take someone's livelihood and expect no consequences. Where's your mother?"

"She died last year," Joey mumbled, explaining a lot. "Will I go to jail?"

"I doubt it, since you're a minor, but you could be sent to juvenile detention. And you will have to pay for your actions. You've already lost your truck and trailer."

"When can I get them back?"

Eli chuckled. "Never. And whatever was in either vehicle will not be returned to you either."

Joey's eyes widened. "My dad's rifle was in my truck. It's an antique."

"And now it's gone. You can explain that one to him."

"That's not fair," Joey shouted.

Eli clenched his jaw. "You know what's not fair? Stealing someone's horses without thinking twice about it. Let me tell you something, if you don't tell me who else was involved, I will make sure you face the consequences of your actions. I will see that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of your age." He walked out to the lobby and turned back before leaving completely. "Here's my card, in case you change your mind." He threw it through the bars and walked out.

Later, he heard Callaway made bail and was released to his father. Eli snorted. No doubt, John Callaway paid off a judge to get his son out. A father who would take him home, go into his office to make more money and ignore the boy.

He didn't understand that. Probably because he had a great relationship with his father. He admired and respected him. There had never been any tension between them. Not even when he was in his teens. He hoped if he ever had a son, he'd have a relationship like that with him.

"Eli?"

He glanced up to see Reece Maddox standing by his desk. He stood and shook his hand.

"How are you doing, Reece?"

"I'm great. You?"

"Same. They got you working Saturdays too?"

Reece sighed. "For now. I might have a lead on the men who shot you and killed Mac."

"That would be great. We want them, Reece."

"I know. I'll get back to you when I know more."

"Thanks."

Eli shook his hand and sat back down when the phone on his desk rang. He nodded to Reece, who headed out the door.

"Agent Hawkins."

"Eli, it's Beau. We have some names of kids who might have been in on the Callaway case."

"Give them to me. I'll go talk with him about them." Eli listened as Beau gave him the names, writing each one down. "Hey, thanks, Beau. I appreciate it."

"No problem." Beau hung up.

Eli pushed the chair back and walked out the door to head for the elevator.

As he walked out into the sunshine, he wondered what Lorna was doing. She was constantly on his mind. There were days he wondered what Mac would think. It happened so fast between them and if Mac were alive, it wouldn't be an issue.

Eli had finally accepted that he couldn't have saved Mac even if he had gotten to him. He missed him every day and hated that Mac was missing out on watching Lily grow up.

"I promise I'll take care of them, Mac," he whispered as he climbed into his truck, and drove to the Callaway house.

When he pulled up in front of the house, the door opened, and Callaway's daughter stood there with a smile on her face.

"Shit." He sighed, opened the door, stepped out, and walked toward her.

"Hello again, Agent Hawkins. Is it my turn?"

"Is your brother home? I'd like to see him."

"Seriously? You arrest him, throw him in jail, for the weekend, and now you want to see him?"

Eli hid a grin. And the claws come out.

"I believe I said that I did. And he didn't spend a weekend in jail. Somehow, he was released. Please get him."

She huffed. "Wait here." She pushed the door closed.

He sighed and tried to move into the shade. It was hot as hell, and she left him out here on purpose. He chuckled. Never piss off a woman, no matter what their age.

The door opened and Joey stood there, glaring at him.

"Here to arrest me again?"

Eli reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a slip of paper, and handed it to him.

"What's this?"

"Read it."

Joey sighed, rolled his eyes, and opened the paper. Eli kept his eyes on his face, and he knew the minute Joey read the names. He looked at Eli and swallowed hard.

"Wh-what's this?"

"Your partners in crime." When Joey shook his head, Eli sighed. "Don't. Just don't. I know they are. They posted all over social media about it. Once they knew you'd been arrested, they were more than happy to share their part in it. I don't know how you kept them quiet, unless you paid them. Their cockiness was their downfall."

"I ain't saying nothing."

"There is so much wrong with that sentence. Damn, son, pay attention in English class."

"Whatever." Joey rolled his eyes again.

Eli stepped closer. "Roll your eyes at me one more time." He shook his head. "Show some fucking respect. I hope you stay out of trouble." He turned to go to his truck.

"What did you come here for?"

"You have got to be kidding me," Eli muttered, then turned to face him. "Seriously? I came here to show you the paper with the names on it to get a reaction. Do you take drugs?"

"No!"

"Just checking. Maybe you can all spend time together in juvie." He strode to his truck, climbed inside, and drove off.

As he drove back to the office, it dawned on him that he had forgotten to make a reservation at the restaurant.

"Damn it, Hawkins," he muttered as he pulled out his phone to call. But it was too late; they were fully booked. He decided to call the owner instead.

"Hey, Eli. What's going on?" Grant Hunter answered.

"I couldn't get a reservation for tonight, could you help me out and get me one for six-thirty?"

"You expected to get a reservation on the same day?" Grant chuckled.

"Yeah, I know. Can you do it or not, Hunter?"

"You know, if you want my help, maybe try being a little nicer."

Eli laughed. "Yeah, whatever."

"Let me call you back." Grant hung up and a few minutes later, called back with good news. "You're all set for six-thirty. It always amazes me how my friends only reach out when they need to get into the restaurant."

"Well, what does that say about them? Thanks, Grant." Eli hung up with a smile when he heard Grant laughing.

He was about to put away his phone when he remembered he needed to call Lorna. He wanted her to stay over at his place tonight.

"Hello?"

"Hey, sweetheart. Are you busy?"

"I'm at Paige's," she replied cheerfully.

"Paige's? Damn, I hope you're getting something nice for tonight."

She laughed. "You can count on it."

"Anyway, I actually wanted to ask if you could spend the night at my place."

"We were planning on that anyway, right?"

"Yes, but this time I want you to stay at my house."

"Really? I'd love to. I'll pack a bag as soon as I get home."

"All you need to pack is whatever you're buying at Paige's," he joked. "Although, let's be real, it'll probably just end up on the floor."

She gasped and then laughed. "That's probably true. I'll see you later."

"Can't wait. Bye." He hung up, placed his phone in the cup holder, and drove home.

At six o'clock, he pulled up in front of Lorna's house. He grabbed the pink rose from the passenger seat, got out of the truck, and walked to the door where he knocked. When she answered, he couldn't help but stare; she was the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid eyes on. She wore a white blouse with a tight blue skirt and white stilettos.

"Hell," he said under his breath, causing her to laugh. "You look stunning." He handed her the rose.

"Come in. How did you know that pink roses are my favorite?" She walked to the kitchen, put the rose inside the fridge, and turned back to him.

"I asked your dad," he replied nonchalantly.

Lorna chuckled. "Tricky move. You look very handsome."

Eli glanced at his outfit, a red dress shirt, dark blue jeans, and distressed cowboy boots. Nothing out of the ordinary for him.

"Thanks. Shall we go?"

"So, you were able to get reservations."

"I called Grant."

"Well, whatever it takes."

"Yes, ma'am. If you're ready, we should leave now."

"Okay. Let me grab my bag."

"I'll get it." He reached for the small bag by the door and shook it slightly. "Feels like there's more than one item in here."

"I can't walk around naked all the time, Eli."

"Who says you can't?"

She playfully kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

"We'll see how the night goes."

"I'll do my best to convince you." He took her hand and led her out the door, waiting while she locked up before guiding her to his truck.

He held the door open for her and kissed her palm before gesturing for her to climb inside. Once she was settled, he closed the door and quickly made his way to the driver's seat. Then he drove them to the restaurant.

****

Lorna and Eli finished their meals, and she caught him staring at her across the table. She couldn't help but blush under his intense gaze.

"Why are you blushing?" he asked with a grin.

"I'm not." She laughed, then shook her head. "I don't know why."

"You shouldn't be shy around me. I've been over every inch of you," he teased, leaning in closer.

"Stop it," she playfully scolded, but couldn't help laughing.

"Let's get out of here," he suggested, signaling for the check.

The server came by and asked if they wanted dessert, to which Eli replied that they would have that at home. The server commented on how lucky Lorna was as she walked away.

"I think she likes you," Lorna joked.

"I only care if you do," Eli responded with a smile.

"Oh, I do. Probably more than I should," Lorna admitted.

Eli leaned back in his chair and grinned, clearly pleased with her response.

Before they could continue their conversation, the server returned to inform them that their meal had been taken care of.

"I'll have to thank Grant tomorrow," Eli said, leaving a tip on the table before standing up and offering his hand to Lorna. She took it and he helped her out of her chair, then they left the restaurant.

As they pulled up to his house, Lorna was struck by its beauty; a ranch style home.

"It's a beautiful home," she said.

"I like it, but eventually, I plan on building a log home. I have a hundred acres I'm going to build on. Let's go inside," Eli said, opening the door for her.

Lorna stepped into the kitchen and immediately gasped at the sight of it all.

"It's beautiful. Are those cabinets cherry?" she asked, running her hand over the smooth wood.

"Yes, I made them," Eli replied casually.

"Seriously?" Lorna exclaimed, turning to look at him.

He simply shrugged. "My grandfather taught me."

Lorna continued admiring the kitchen and noticed the attention to detail in every aspect of the design.

"They're just gorgeous, Eli."

"Thank you. I actually built the ones in my parents' kitchen too," he revealed.

"Do you do this for other people?" Lorna asked with curiosity.

"No, it's just a hobby," Eli replied with a smile.

"When did you buy this house?" Lorna asked.

"Three years ago," Eli said, his expression turning more somber.

"After Mac died," Lorna realized with a pang of sadness.

Eli nodded. "Once I healed, I decided to finally buy a place and get out of the apartment."

"Finally?" Lorna questioned, noticing the slight hesitation in his response.

"Yeah. Let me put your bags in the bedroom, and I'll tell you about it," Eli said, grabbing her suitcase and heading toward a nearby room.

"Can I see the rest of the house?" Lorna asked eagerly.

"Of course. Follow me," Eli replied, leading her on a tour of his home.

He guided her from the kitchen to a dining room with a large walnut table, then into a living room that took her breath away. A brick fireplace stood in the center of an exterior wall, surrounded by windows that would flood the room with natural light. The floor was lined with dark oak planks and the ceiling arched into a peak with wooden beams. Facing the fireplace was a red sofa flanked by two matching recliners, while a flatscreen TV hung above the mantle.

"How many bedrooms?" she asked.

"Three, four baths, and an office." He motioned for her to follow him down a hallway. They stopped at each door, giving her a glimpse inside before he stopped at one doorway and turned to look at her.

"This is my bedroom."

Lorna stepped inside and couldn't help but marvel at the stunning room. Dark red carpet covered the floor and a king-sized bed sat in the center of one wall, with a dresser on another and a chest of drawers between two windows. A doorway led to the bathroom. She smiled as she took in the white toilet, sink, tub, and shower; it was very masculine. Black towels were neatly hung from racks by the sink. She turned to see him watching her. Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"It's gorgeous," she murmured.

"Not as gorgeous as you."

His hands found her hips and pulled her close, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. He slowly lifted his lips and stared into her eyes.

"Let's watch a movie so we can relax a little bit."

"Okay. I want to get out of these clothes anyway."

"Can you leave the shoes on?" He grinned.

She kissed his lips. "No, but I'll put them back on later."

He groaned playfully and she laughed as he set her suitcase on the floor.

Lorna made her way to the dresser and gazed at the photographs. She picked up one and grinned while looking at it.

"That's my family," he announced from behind her, and joined her by the dresser.

"Your father is tall, isn't he?"

"I feel small in comparison." Eli chuckled.

"Your mother looks petite next to all of you."

"Chels, my sister, is five foot six."

"She's stunning. I see she inherited those curls too."

"Yeah, both of our parents have curly hair, but Dad keeps his short." He took the photo from her and returned it to its spot on the dresser. Then he sat on the bed, removed his boots, stood up again, took off his shirt, and slipped out of his jeans. He stopped and turned to face Lorna. "Don't look at me like that, or we won't be leaving this room."

"Okay." She smiled as she watched him grab a pair of sweatpants from a drawer along with a T-shirt. Her jaw dropped when he removed his boxer briefs before putting on the sweatpants and shirt.

When he saw her expression, he grinned. "I'll meet you in the living room."

She smiled as he left the room before changing into a pair of lounge pants and a tank top. She walked barefoot to the living room where she found him sitting on the couch. He patted the cushion next to him.

Smiling, she joined him on the sofa and rested her head against his shoulder.

"Tell me more about finally buying your house."

"After Mac passed away, I realized how fleeting life can be. I've wanted to buy a house for a long time and always knew I would eventually build a home on the land I own, but I wasn't in any rush."

"Until Mac."

"And after getting shot." He sighed. "My parents are incredibly wealthy, but you'd never know it by their demeanor. Not only are they the top two neurosurgeons in the country, but they've also made smart investments over the years. They own five hundred acres of land, yet they live in a modest home. When my sister Chelsea and I each turned thirty, we were each given one hundred acres of property. But I kept putting off building on mine. I thought I had all the time in the world." He shook his head. "But after getting shot and Mac dying, I realized I couldn't keep delaying it any longer. So, I started working on it. Thing is, I've been so busy, I've never finished it, but I plan to get back to it soon."

"Does Chelsea live on her land?"

"No, she was married to a real prick. When she found out he was cheating on her, she divorced him, and his lawyers tried to take everything from her. But thankfully, the judge ruled that Chels got to keep anything she owned and earned during their marriage. She's not ready to build a home yet, but I've been encouraging her not to wait too long."

"We always put things off," Lorna murmured.

"Yes, and I'm trying to change that." Eli gazed into her eyes. "Tomorrow isn't guaranteed."

"No, it's not." Lorna shook her head.

"I want you in my life, Lorna. I know you don't approve of what I do, but it's all I've ever wanted to do. But having you and Lily in my life is just as important to me."

"What are you saying?"

"I want you to give us a real chance. There's something special between us." Eli reached for her hand and held it.

"I'm trying, Eli. I really am. Being with you makes me happy, but it also scares me."

"Life's too short to let fear hold us back. We have to grab onto happiness when we can."

"My dad said something similar," she said as she lightly touched his cheek. "I promise to try."

"For now, that's enough," he replied before kissing her tenderly.

Lorna stared into his eyes. "Take me to bed," she whispered.

Eli stood up, picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed and lay down beside her, kissing her deeply. She ran her nails down his chest and pulled off his shirt before slipping her hand into his sweatpants and gripping his hard cock. He moaned as she stroked him.

Moving his lips to her ear, he whispered, "I want you so much, Lorna." She shuddered at his words, and he slipped his hand under her shirt, removing it to reveal her naked breasts. "You're beautiful," he murmured as he gazed at them.

"Eli," she breathed.

He moved down to suck on one of her nipples while running his hands over her body. She pushed off his sweatpants and admired his hard cock before begging him, "I need you, Eli. Please."

"I'll always please you, Lorna. I promise," he whispered before standing up and removing his pants. He turned back to face her.

Lorna got on her knees and guided him closer to the edge of the bed. As she looked into his eyes, she took him into her mouth, causing him to close his eyes in pleasure. She gently massaged his balls with her hand, making him groan.

Eli stepped back and walked to the end of the bed. He buried his face in her curls, moving his tongue through them before looking at her.

"Grab a condom from the nightstand," he instructed, pointing to the table.

Lorna opened the drawer, retrieved the condom, and carefully rolled it down over him.

****

Eli clenched his jaw as she rolled the condom onto his dick, hoping that he wouldn't embarrass himself. He then crawled up her body.

As he positioned himself between her legs, their eyes locked and a slow smile spread across her face. He moved in slowly, feeling the warmth and wetness of her enveloping him. It was more than just physical pleasure; it was a sense of belonging that filled him with comfort.

With each thrust, their bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, skin against skin. Her fingers dug into his back as her legs wrapped around his waist. As they both reached new heights of pleasure, Eli fought to hold back his own release, wanting to make sure she was satisfied first.

Her cries echoed through the room as she came, her legs trembling around him. In that moment, Eli couldn't resist any longer and gave in to the intense waves of pleasure engulfing him.

He collapsed on top of her after one final thrust, panting and spent. His face buried in the crook of her neck as he struggled to catch his breath.

Later, while lying in bed with his arms wrapped tightly around her, Eli let out a deep sigh.

"What was that for?" Lorna asked.

"I've been dreading telling you that I have a case on Monday."

Lorna sat up abruptly. "What kind of case?"

"We've finally got information on a group of rustlers we've been after for months."

"Are you going on a stakeout?"

"Not really a stakeout. We know where they are, some rundown house in Spring City. We just have to go in and get them." He shrugged casually.

"Eli"—

"It's my job, Lorna. I'll be fine."

"Don't you dare tell me that. You don't know that for sure." She got out of bed and started getting dressed.

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm getting dressed and you're taking me home."

"No, I'm not."

Lorna gasped. "Fine. I'll call my father to come get me."

"Damn it, Lorna," he said as he pulled on his sweatpants and T-shirt.

She stormed around the room, hands on her hips and a furious look on her face.

"Damn me? You kept this from me."

"I didn't know how to tell you and I knew you'd be upset. Damn it, Lorna. This is my job," he snapped.

She didn't say anything else as she finished getting dressed, grabbed her bag, and stomped out of the room.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered as he trailed after her. "You promised you'd try."

"Well, I changed my mind. I can't go through with this. I won't repeat the same mistake again."

"Damn it, woman, I love you!" he yelled.

She turned to face him. "Then quit your job."

Eli was taken aback. "What?"

"If you truly love me, then leave your job."

"You can't ask me to do that."

"I just did."

He paced the room, running his fingers through his hair before finally turning to face her.

"No."

She shook her head, blinking away tears as one rolled down her cheek.

"Take me home."

"Lorna—"

"Take me home. I refuse to bury another man that I love. I won't do it." She walked from the living room to the kitchen, and he heard the back door slam shut.

"Fuck," he yelled, then went into the bedroom to get dressed.

When he returned to the kitchen, he grabbed his hat off the hook, slapped it onto his head and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. He climbed into his truck to find Lorna staring out the passenger window, refusing to even look at him.