"But what about our guests?" His voice taunted.
"Screw 'em," Brenda panted.
Unable to stop himself, Raith grinned. The woman sounded so much like her daughter, a wealth of affection welled inside him. Suddenly, he wanted to be the one huddled in that nook around the corner, making Willow forget her hosting duties and saying—
"I love you. God, how I love you." Raith froze as he heard the judge. Walter DeVane laughed softly after making his confession. "Do you ever get tired of hearing me say that?"
Brenda hummed thoughtfully a moment before answering, "Not yet. But give it another fifty years and ask me again."
"Brat," the judge said with an affectionate chuckle. Then he grew somber. "Really, Brenda. Thank you for the surprise party. I can't believe you were able to do all this without me finding out."
"Oh, go on with you," Brenda grumbled. "I've never been able to keep anything from you. You knew exactly what was going on."
The judge was guiltily quiet for a moment, then he answered, "I was still honored you went to so much trouble."
"Well, you're welcome," Brenda answered, "and thank you for managing to look so surprised."
"Anything for you."
Usually, Raith would be rolling his eyes right about now, having to listen to such cheesy, romantic bullshit. But for some reason, he was touched. It was endearing to meet a couple who'd been together as long as Willow's parents and hear their heart-felt proclamations. He was starting to feel a little envious when he suddenly heard Willow's voice.
"What're you two doing back here by yourselves? Hmm?"
Raith's pulsed leaped, and the blood started to drum through his body. God, just hearing her voice could stir him. The thought scared him as much as it thrilled.
"We're... ahem." Judge DeVane cleared his throat. "Your mother and I were just discussing the fork supply."
"Uh huh. I bet."
"Well, what're you doing back here?" her mother countered.
"I'm looking for Malloy," Willow said, sounding suddenly annoyed.
Raith tensed, sure he was going to be caught any second now.
"Ran off again, did he?" the judge said in a dry voice. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Walter," Brenda scolded. "Be nice. I like him."
"Why?" her husband asked, incredulously. "Because the kid knocked up our daughter? Or because he deserted her afterward?"
Raith scowled and opened his mouth as if to defend himself, totally forgetting he was supposed to be hiding, when Willow spoke up on his behalf.
"He did not desert me," she muttered. "We had... a small tiff and... went to our own corners for a while to cool off before talking everything through again." Her explanation sounded weak, as if she didn't even believe the words herself.
Something hard and painful thudded against the bottom of Raith's stomach. Oh, God. She didn't think he had left her, did she? A cold sweat dripped down the back of this neck. He swiped at it, staring blindly down the hall. Had he honestly made her feel abandoned?
"Besides," Brenda DeVane was saying, "he came back, didn't he? So, behave around him, Walt, and don't go trying to run him off. Willow wants to keep him and I can't say I blame her any." Then she giggled. "The boy's a complete hunk."
In the shadows, Raith's eyebrows lifted.
"Excuse me?" The judge thundered.
"Oh, don't be jealous, dear. I still love you," his wife assured him in a sugary sweet tone.
"I'm not jealous," Walt muttered. "I'm concerned. My wife is ogling men half her age."
"Geez, Daddy," Willow said. "She's just old, not blind."
Brenda DeVane laughed again and Raith could picture the judge giving his daughter a dirty look.
"Now, Wally," Brenda said, her voice placating. "You were still better looking when you were that age." She must've kissed him then because Willow started squawking.
"Oow, gross. Can't you guys control yourselves a little better? God, it's a wonder I'm not emotionally scarred from seeing you two suck face all the time."
"Actually," Brenda said. "I read it's healthier for a child's development to have affectionate parents."
"In that case, Chase and I should be the healthiest children on earth," Willow muttered before adding, "Okay, off with you two. Quit necking in the corner and go visit your guests. I need to find my date."
"If he deserted you tonight, I'm going to break his nose," the judge growled.
"Well, thank you, Daddy," Willow cooed. "I appreciate the concern. Now go."
Raith heard the footsteps move off, and he relaxed. As he moved forward to leave the hall, a silhouette suddenly filled the entrance, blocking his way. The woman standing there set her hands on her hips.
"Well, well," Willow drawled. "Look who's turned into a little peeping Tom."
"It's not funny," he muttered, moving toward her. "I got freaking trapped back there, listening to your parents go at it. I couldn't find another exit, and there was no way I was going to break up their little... session."
"Oh, you poor baby, you." Willow reached for his face and stroked it soothingly. "Was it just awful?"
"Yes. I didn't think they were going to stop. If you hadn't come along, I doubt they would've." Raith tugged her into his arms and nuzzled his face against her hair.
"Welcome to my world," she murmured, sounding amused. She lifted her fingers into his hair, almost tentatively. He hummed and smiled as her nails gently raked his scalp. "You can't imagine how many times I've walked in on those two caught in a lip lock."
For some reason, it was on the tip of Raith's tongue to say, "Think we'll be like that in forty years?" but he stopped himself at the last moment.
It was one thing to sleep with her, to knock her up and have a child with her. But to think such permanent thoughts seemed like going over the line. It had him feeling hot and cold at the same time.
Seeking her steadying, solid presence, he pulled her close and simply held her. "I didn't desert you," he spoke against her hair.
Her body went tense in his arms, and he knew he'd struck a nerve. She had thought he'd left. But she merely pulled back a fraction to look into his eyes. "I never said you had."
"I was upset and, yes, scared and I just... I needed... I don't know. I just needed to step back and clear my head, figure out what to do next."
"I told you, you didn't need to do anything, Malloy. You're not—"
"Stop pissing me off," he hissed, clutching her chin and forcing her to look up at him. "I didn't leave you. I checked on you every freaking day. I had officers driving by to make sure things looked fine. I just couldn't pull into your driveway. I didn't know if you were going to kick me out or give me the beating I deserved. I..."
"Raith," she said quietly when the words became choked in his throat. His eyes slid to hers. She touched his face. "It doesn't matter. You're here now."
"I was always there," he promised. "We're having a baby together, Willow. I'm going to be a parent with you. Whatever we have to face regarding Bubble, we do it as a team. Fifty-fifty. This is our child. Not yours. Not mine. Ours."
Willow looked a little stunned by his impassioned words, but it didn't take long for a slow smile to spread over her face.
She gave a small nod and whispered, "I like the sound of that." Then she let out a little exclamation of pleasure and launched herself at him, kissing him full on the mouth.
He caught her, and they both stumbled against the wall of the hallway.
"God, you feel good," he murmured, sliding his lips and tongue up her jaw.
"Raith," she gasped, lifting her face to expose more of her throat. "What... what're you doing?"
He smiled and moved closer until they were pressed together, knee to hip to chest. "I'm following your dad's example."
She was explosively hot in his arms. He wanted to burn up in flames and sizzle for weeks, with nothing but Willow and a bed... or against a wall—a wall remarkably like the one he was currently maneuvering her toward.
; "Raith," she gasped. "We can't... the party..."
He growled and covered her breast with his hand. She whimpered. "Your mom gave in to your dad a lot easier than this, you know."
Letting out an outraged yelp, Willow struggled to get loose. But he merely kissed her some more, all the while sliding his hands down her body until he reached the hem of her dress. Once there, he picked up her leg and skimmed his fingers up her thigh, inside the skirt until he encountered silk panties. From there on, she was putty in his hands.
Twenty Five
They were both winded as they strolled back to the party. Holding Raith's hand, Willow drifted through the crowds and grinned at every person as if she'd just had the best orgasm of her life... which she very well might have, he thought grumpily as he once again readjusted his pants.
His own throbbing erection still hadn't gone down, even after he scrubbed the scent of Willow off his fingers. The line on his wrist where the waistband of her panties had left a mark remained. Raith smiled to himself with pure masculine accomplishment as he glanced at the red crease and lifted his other hand to rub at it.
"Cut it out," she hissed beside him, grabbing his hand and pushing it down to his side, out of sight.
He chuckled and moved closer to her so he could smell her hair.
God, he was crazy where Willow DeVane was concerned. Anyone could've come along and caught them with her dress up around her waist and his hand hidden in her... he shivered thinking about the moment afterward when she promised to return the favor later.
"Raith," she muttered, her face turning a dull red as she glanced over his shoulder as if to check if anyone was watching them. "Stop looking at me like that."
Grinning, he slid even closer until their faces were almost touching. "And how am I looking at you?"
She lifted her eyes. His stomach dropped to his knees. Didn't matter how much he fought it, this woman was his life, his very soul.
"How much longer do we have to stay?" he asked huskily.
Willow licked her lips and darted a glance around. "We should probably stay 'til the end."
He groaned. "I can't wait that long."
"I..." Her breathing accelerated and her eyes dilated. It didn't ease his erection in the least. "I could show you my old bedroom," she finally rasped.
Nodding, he took her hand. "Yes."
Offering him a private smile, she grasped his fingers, and they turned to begin moving through the crowd. But Sheriff Ballard and his wife, clinging to his side, stepped into their path.
"Sheriff." Raith lifted a hand, ready to brush his boss aside so he could get Willow alone and naked, preferably within the next thirty seconds. "Excuse us."
But the older man wasn't about to let them by. Looking distressed, he reached out and clutched Raith's arm.
Surprised by the aggressive gesture, Raith paused and looked from the hard, desperate lines creasing the other man's face before he glanced toward Mrs. Ballard. When he realized she was crying, he frowned and spun back toward the sheriff. "What—"
"Malloy. I told you I was sorry. You know I didn't mean—"
"Ballard," Chase interrupted, appearing at Raith's side. He held out two coats toward the sheriff. "I took the liberty of getting your coats."
Mrs. Ballard's sobs strengthened, and the sheriff's face went sheet white. He nodded once as he slowly took his belongings from Willow's brother.
"Thank you for coming," Chase said, though his voice was glacial and not at all appreciative.
As tears coasted continuously down his wife's face, the sheriff turned entreatingly to his lieutenant. "Raith?"
Raith opened his mouth and turned to the assistant county attorney. "What's going on?"
Chase ignored him as he sent the Ballards a hard smile. "Would you like me to see you out?" he asked, sounding congenial though his eyes were hard and unforgiving.
The sheriff swallowed and shook his head. "No, thank you." His voice went hoarse. When he turned to help his wife into her coat, she blubbered the entire time. Pulling his arm comfortingly around her, he glanced one last time toward Raith and then Chase. With a silent bob of his head, he ushered Mrs. Ballard toward the exit.
Willow rounded on her brother, her jaw hard with disbelief. "Did you just kick them out?"
Flicking an uninterested look at his sister, Chase quietly answered, "Dad asked Ballard to go."
Raith felt the same impact of shock Willow did. Her mouth dropped open as she turned to gape at her father, who was smiling and shaking the hand of a county councilman on the other side of the room. "But... why?"
"Because..." She didn't catch the quick glance her brother shot Raith's way. But he felt it all the way to the tips of his toes. "He insulted a member of our family."
"What?" Willow yelped. "Who? What'd he say?"
Raith realized most of Willow's family had gathered nearby as if offering their support. Still reeling in shock, he found who he was looking for in moments. Pinning an accusing look at the blonde, he croaked, "Camille?"
She sank guiltily closer to her husband, who was holding their sleeping infant son on his shoulder. "I only told Dylan," she was quick to defend herself.
"And the only person I spoke to about it was Kit," Dylan cut in.
Kit, standing nearby as well, lifted his hands in surrender. "Yo, I only blabbed to my wife."
"Who told my wife," Chase cut in. "Who told me. And I, in return, relayed it directly to Dad."
"Why?" Raith asked, feeling a little short of breath. What in the hell was going on here? Willow's family couldn't be... defending him. Could they?
Willow's brother sent him a skeptical look. "Weren't you offended by his comments?"
Knowing he should lie, Raith merely gave a brief nod and honestly answered, "Well, yeah. But it wasn't that big a deal. I handled it."
"Oh, whatever," Camille piped up. "If I hadn't come along and stopped you from breaking the sheriff's nose, he probably would've fired you."
After thinking about it for a second, Raith shrugged. "Probably. But I don't care. He pissed me off. He made crude presumptions about Willow—"
"Thus the reason Dad asked him to go," Chase said. "But—"
"That's it!" Willow cut in, stepping in front of Raith and lifted her hands to stare at her family. "What in the world is going on?"
"The sheriff insulted your date," Dylan answered.
"So I've concluded," Willow answered, sliding a curious look Raith's way. "What exactly did he say to you?"
"Nothing," Raith answered just as Chase explained, "He insinuated Malloy was dating you because of your family connections in order to better himself in the sheriff's department."
Camille huffed, "Insinuated, my butt. He came right out and called Raith a social climber."
As more members of Willow's family added their piece of gossip to the conversation, she turned to study Raith. He could feel his face heat about twenty degrees. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, looking hurt.
He opened his mouth but Allison, Chase's wife, beat him to the answer. "We didn't want to upset you, sweetheart."
Willow glanced silently around at her interfering, yet supportive, relatives. Her face softened a brief moment before she glanced at Raith and sighed. "That might be why everyone else kept it from me," she told him. "But not you."
"Willow—" he started.
She took his arm and dragged him away. "Come on, Malloy." She escorted him through the house until they hit the back hallway where she'd found him before, hiding from her parents. When she whirled toward him, her eyes were flashing.
"We're going to have to work on your trust issues," she muttered and then pulled his head down for a long, hard kiss.
He was too bowled over to do much at first. Then his mouth sank against hers, and he was dragged under. His hands cupped her face while hers ran over his torso and down. When she started to tug his shirt from his slacks, he broke off and stepped back.
"Will," he rasped. "I didn't tell you because—"<
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"I know why you didn't tell me," she snapped, her eyes flaring with annoyance. "You thought I'd believe the sheriff and kick you out instead."
He shifted uncomfortably and glanced away. "He said I could probably knock him out as sheriff in the next election with a family as powerful as yours backing me."
Smiling in amusement, she lifted a brow. "Then I guess we'll have to do just that."
Raith snorted. "I don't want to be sheriff. And I certainly didn't want your entire freaking family flying off the handle like that just because someone insulted me. It didn't bother me that much. I was mostly just dumbfounded he actually thought I wanted you for some other reason than total adoration."