Page 27 of Under an Oklahoma Sky

Subtle the woman was not, and Adam fought the urge to laugh. But her veiled threat had the desired effect, even if the sheriff still appeared annoyed. The man wrapped his big hand around the doorknob. “Prescott, take the report. When the rain stops, have Westfield show you the truck and where it all went down. Log any evidence you find. I’ll send Miller out to help.”

Cosgrove either didn’t give a damn or thought it was a hoax, but at least something was being done. After the man hurried back to his vehicle and drove away, Sage let out a heavy sigh, then smiled at the young deputy. “Come into the kitchen, Brian. You can take Adam’s report there, and I’ll put some coffee on for everyone.”

An hour later, with the sun shining again, Deputies Miller and Prescott took the one slug they found lodged in the passenger door of Evan’s truck. Unfortunately, the rain had washed away any other signs of the shooter or the first two shots.

As Maddie and Sage prepared dinner and Evan fed the animals, Adam strode back to his cottage. He needed a shower and some dry clothes.

Closing the door behind him, Adam leaned against it and shut his eyes. His body trembled as he finally let himself react to the terror he’d felt earlier and had kept hidden from the others. It wasn’t what could’ve happened to him that scared him most. It was what could’ve happened to Sage, the children, and the Tanners.

And he couldn’t ignore where the shots had come from.

It wouldn’t have been difficult for someone on Bart Sherman’s land to ride up into the woods on horseback, cross over onto Sage’s property, and get into position above the northwest pasture without being seen. Maybe it was time to find out everything he could about Sherman—and why the man was so damn determined to get his hands on property that had been in Mark Hammond’s family for generations.

Chapter Ten

Smiling softly, Sage put the items back into Mark’s memory box one by one. It had been a bittersweet trip into the past. There were pictures, ticket stubs, a four-leaf clover they’d found on a picnic one day, the pen they’d used to sign their marriage license, little love notes they’d given each other, and a bunch of other things which only had sentimental value for the two of them. Anyone else looking through the contents would see most of it as useless junk.

Once everything was neatly packed again, she stared at the contents for a moment before her gaze fell on the simple gold wedding band on her left ring finger. Since Mark’s death, she hadn’t imagined ever wanting to take it off—never thought she’d meet someone who made her want to take it off. But that had changed. Whether she and Adam had something special growing between them or not, whether he was here to stay or if he’d be moving on someday, it was time for Sage to admit she had a full life still yet to lead.

Sliding the ring from her finger, she brought it to her lips and kissed it before placing it in the box with all the other items. When they were old enough, maybe Jenna would wear it when she got married, or Matthew would give it to his bride. That she wasn’t crying as she shut the box lid told Sage she’d made the right decision. It was time to move on.

Sage stood, placed the box in the top drawer of her dresser, then pulled on her knee-length silk robe over her matching nightgown as her insecurity battled her body’s wants and needs. When she heard how close Adam had come to being killed today, she realized she’d fallen in love with him—not still falling, but fallen, as in a done deal, and her mind, body, and heart were all in agreement. He really was a good man… a man she could give herself to. And hopefully, he would give himself to her in return.

Pushing her feet into her slippers, she stepped out into the hallway and listened outside the children’s bedrooms. Jenna snored softly, and when Sage peeked into Matthew’s room, she saw he had also passed out. Following dinner, Evan and Maddie had stayed for a while, and they’d all played some board games, trying to erase the nervous energy in the house the kids had obviously been picking up on. Afterward, Jenna and Matthew had fallen asleep during the first ten minutes of a movie they’d begged to watch. Adam had carried the two and put them into their beds for Sage before softly kissing her goodnight and leaving for his cottage with the rifle Evan had insisted he keep. The older man had several other weapons at home, so he and Maddie were safe there.

What would he say if she knocked on his door and, when he opened it, slid the robe from her body? Would he turn her down—premarital sex and all that—or would he pull her into his arms and give her everything she begged for? Only one way to find out. She couldn’t deny what she craved anymore and just hoped he felt the same way.

Opening the back door, Sage bravely put one foot in front of the other and soon found herself on Adam’s doorstep. Taking a deep breath, she let it out, then lifted her hand and knocked. Seconds passed before the door swung open, and there he stood in all his handsome glory. A five o’clock shadow covered his jawline and upper lip. Unlike the first time she’d observed him in the cottage through the window, he wore gray cotton shorts that hung low on his hips instead of lounge pants, probably in deference to the warmer weather. But like that first night, it was all he was wearing—no shirt, no shoes, no problem. If he rejected her, maybe he wouldn’t mind if she just stood there all night, drooling over his muscular body.

“Sage? Something wrong?”

“Hmm?” Apparently, drooling over him was exactly what she was doing. Her gaze left his well-defined six-pack and chest to look him in the eye. He raised an eyebrow at her, and she shook the lack-of-sex-induced cobwebs from her mind. “No. Nothing’s wrong. Um… may I come in?”

The confusion in his eyes morphed into heat as he moved to the side, opening the door wider for her to enter. Swallowing her nervousness, she stepped forward, and the door closed behind her. A sensual shiver snaked up her spine as she spun around slowly to find him leaning against the jamb, watching her every move.

Electricity seemed to crackle about the room as they studied each other in silence. She realized she needed to make the first move and took a step toward him, letting her voice drop to a husky whisper. “Please don’t send me away.”

When she placed her hand on his bare chest, he inhaled sharply. She stared at their physical connection and let his warmth seep into her palm. His pectoral muscles twitched, and his heart rate increased under her touch.

“I need you,” she confessed.

His hand came up and covered hers. She lifted her chin until their gazes met—the desire in his eyes set her hormones in overdrive.

Reaching up with his other hand, he cupped her jaw, his fingers curving around to the back of her neck. He pulled her near. “I need you too, Sage. I couldn’t send you away, even if it cost me my next breath.”

His head descended, and he kissed her gently… tentatively.

She slid her arms around his shoulders, answering him without words. The hesitation between them disappeared as he drew her closer and deepened the kiss.

Without breaking it, Adam swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. When he set her on her feet beside the bed, there was no mistaking the desire in his eyes, but uncertainty was there too. His hands came up to cup her jaw, and she felt them quiver.

“Sage. I want to make this good for you. Show me how. Tell me what you need.”

Her heart squeezed. This big, strong man, who had faced more hardships than anyone deserved, was nervous about being with her.

Taking his hands, she lowered them to the tie of her robe. “I need you to stop worrying.”

His gaze searched hers. “It’s been twenty years.”