The Texas Ranger's Nanny (Lone Star Lawmen 2)

“At last,” he whispered, catching her to him. He wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in the glory of her hair. “To have you where I want you is surreal.”

Not liking any separation, he picked her up and carried her like a bride to the back door of the house, kissing her all the way. He held the world in his arms. But when he reached for the handle, the door opened, revealing his pajama-clad son in the light from the kitchen. His eyes were shining.

“Hi,” was all he said.

Vic lowered Claire to the ground, but kept his arm around her waist. “Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?”

“I woke up and couldn’t find you.”

“Sorry about that, sport.”

“Did you...” He lowered his eyes. “You know...”

Yes, Vic knew. “Tell you what. Go back to bed and we’ll come in to keep you company until you fall asleep again.”

“Okay, but don’t take too long.”

The second he left them alone, Claire slid her hands up his chest to his face. She cradled it between her hands. Her eyes looked silver in the dim light. “I’m the luckiest woman on earth to be loved by a man like you. When I first met you, I thought such a love could never happen to me. I’ve gone to bed for so many months aching to get close to you. Being able to love your son has been the only thing keeping me sane.”

“You don’t know the half of it.” Vic pressed a hot, hungry kiss to her mouth. “The thrill of coming home to you after work at night has been the mainstay of my existence. The guys have tried to line me up with other women, but I couldn’t. You leave every other woman in the dust.”

She kissed him hard and long. “My sisters got one look at you at my graduation and they knew why I never wanted to go out on dates. No other man measures up to you, Vic.”

“Dad? Aren’t you coming?”

“Give us a few minutes,” Vic called back.

Claire gave him an impish smile. “Come on. You know he’s not going to give up.”

“There are times when he has to learn.”

“Under ordinary circumstances that would be true, Ranger Malone, but he’s still recovering from the most frightening ordeal of his life.”

“And ours,” he said on a half groan. “While you were playing Elaine to my Jim, I knew you were the only woman I wanted in my life. I might never have found him if it weren’t for you. I love you beyond belief.” His throat had swollen with so much emotion he couldn’t talk. Instead he drew her to him and rocked her for a long time.

“I love you more.” He felt her body shake with happy sobs. She clung to him, wetting his shirt. With Claire in his life, he knew he could get through anything. “Don’t you ever go missing on me,” she warned him in a voice full of tears. “I wouldn’t be able to function.”

“I’m not planning on going anywhere without you. Shall we go help Jeremy fall asleep?”

“Yes. Just don’t kiss me again or I won’t be able to make it past the kitch

en.”

A deep chuckle escaped his throat as they moved inside. He locked the door and followed her trail to Jeremy’s bedroom. He was sitting up in the middle of the double bed with his bedside lamp on. “I thought you were never coming.”

Claire gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You know better than that. Love you.” She removed her cowboy boots and sank down on one side of the bed.

Vic took off his boots. After turning off the light, he stretched out so he lay on the other side next to Jeremy. With Claire a body away, things were safer. Jeremy slid down and nestled under the covers.

“I love you, son. Now it’s time to go to sleep. We’re all tired.”

A little sigh escaped Jeremy. “I love you, Dad. I love you, too, Claire.”

It was just as well Vic couldn’t be alone with her yet. He needed to calm his pounding heart and get himself under control. When he’d talked to Dr. Marshall about controlling his emotions, he hadn’t been thinking about how it would be when he finally got her into his arms. There was no force greater or more powerful than love.

For the first time since Claire had come to live with them, Vic felt at peace. In a little while, when he knew Jeremy was asleep, he’d get up and take her with him so they could talk and make plans for the future.

* * *