Brenda Jackson The Westmoreland Collection: ZaneCanyonStern Read online

  Canyon was certain if he hadn’t needed to come to a stop at another traffic light, he might have slammed on his breaks anyway. He looked over at her. “Your mother and your old man?”

  “The man who got her pregnant? Yes,” she clarified. She drew in a deep breath and then added, “I never told you this, but my father saw me when I was fifteen. It was then that he realized my mother hadn’t lied after all.”

  No, Canyon thought. She’d never told him that. In fact, she’d only told him how the man had denied the baby was his when her mother had told him about her pregnancy. “So what did he do when he realized you were his child?”

  “He tried making up for lost time, but it was too late. I knew the whole story of how he’d broken my mother’s heart, and I decided that I didn’t want to have anything to do with him.”

  So in other words, Canyon thought, she had totally dismissed her father and kept him out of her life—just like she’d done with him. “So what makes you think your mother has hooked back up with him after all this time?”

  “Because as I got older I realized something.”

  “What?”

  “That she never dated another man. She had friends and work, but she made me her life. For years I just assumed she enjoyed being independent, but now I can see things differently. She was hurt by his rejection, which is why we moved away from Texas. But now I believe the reason she never dated is because she couldn’t give her heart to another man.”

  Canyon didn’t say anything. What she said was probably true because he’d once walked that same road. When Keisha had left Denver believing the worst about him, he’d been hurt and it had taken him a while to get back into the dating scene. But even then he’d known he would never love another woman the way he’d loved her.

  “And lately,” Keisha said, breaking into his thoughts. “She’s been bringing him up each and every time we talk. It was subtle at first but now she’s been trying to convince me that he regrets not accepting me as his, he regrets turning his back on me for the first fifteen years of my life.”

  He imagined that wasn’t going over well with her since she tended to see things as black or white. “How do you feel about that? About your mom getting back with him?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I want to think I have no feelings one way or the other. It’s her life. However, I don’t understand how she can be so forgiving.”

  “Why? Because you wouldn’t be so forgiving?” he asked, trying to keep his voice calm when frankly, he was getting annoyed with her attitude. “In that case, it’s a good thing that you thought I betrayed you and not the other way around.”

  At her confused look he explained, “If I had been the one seeking your forgiveness because I mistakenly thought you betrayed me, chances are I wouldn’t have gotten it.”

  * * *

  Canyon’s words left Keisha speechless. What could she say? Her own mother had made a similar assertion to her yesterday. Okay, she would admit that forgiving didn’t come easily for her. And she would even concede that her inability to forgive easily was the reason she’d kept Beau from his father for two years. However, she’d been wrong to go that far and had admitted that, asking for Canyon’s forgiveness. And he had forgiven her. Was she being too hard on her father? Did he deserve to be forgiven like she had been?

  “We’re here.”

  She snapped out of her reverie and glanced around. They had pulled up in her driveway and there were several vans already parked there. “What’s going on?” she asked, already opening the door to get out.

  “The cleaning team I hired is here.”

  When she reached his side, she turned to him with a look of surprise on her face. “You hired a cleaning team?”

  “Yes. I had to talk Pete into giving me your key and he only did so after I told him what I planned to do. I didn’t want you to worry about cleaning up the place and it had to get done. A few years ago there was a fire at the home Bella inherited from her grandfather. This same company came in and did an awesome job, so I figured they could do the same here. I contacted them Saturday and I think you’re going to be pleased.”

  Keisha couldn’t say anything. Saturday hadn’t been a good day for them and they hadn’t been on the best of terms. Yet he had cared enough to hire some company to come in and get her house back in order. She took his hand in hers and held his gaze. “Thank you.”

  She meant it more than he would ever know. She hadn’t looked forward to coming here today, knowing what she would find. But he’d been kind enough to take care of it for her.

  “You’re welcome.” He tightened his hand on hers. “Come on, let me introduce you to everyone.”

  Keisha met the owners of the company—Mr. and Mrs. Helton—and their crew. From the moment she’d walked over the threshold she’d seen firsthand what a great job they’d done. Already they had righted her house to the extent that she couldn’t tell it had been trashed. A new coat of paint had been applied to her walls and new carpeting had been installed throughout the house. All of the colors matched her original interior design choices. The kitchen was spotless and the floor tile was a gleaming white. She thought her house looked better now than it had before.

  “The clothes that were thrown all over your floors have been taken to the cleaners or have been washed,” Mrs. Helton said. “Are you pleased, Ms. Ashford?”

  “Yes,” Keisha said without hesitation. She glanced around her bedroom, amazed. A new coverlet and new fluffy pillows were on her bed. The new carpeting, a shade of tan darker than what had been there before, was the perfect blend. She’d seen Beau’s room and her office and those rooms looked incredible, as well. “Your company did a fantastic job.”

  The woman beamed. “Thanks. Mr. Westmoreland said to make it special for you because you were special.”

  Keisha glanced over to where Canyon stood in the hallway, talking with Mr. Helton. “Well, you followed his instructions by doing an outstanding job.”

  “Thank you. Unless there’s something else you think we need to do, we’ll be leaving now.”

  Keisha nodded. “No, everything looks great.”

  The woman nodded with a smile on her face. “If you see anything we’ve missed after we leave, just give us a call. Our card is on your dresser and another on your kitchen counter.”

  “Thanks, I will.”

  The woman left and Keisha went into her bathroom and marveled at the new set of towels, matching throw rugs and shower curtain. A beautiful vase of artificial spring flowers that looked so real—she leaned down to sniff to make sure they weren’t—looked perfect sitting on the new vanity.

  “Keisha?”

  “Coming,” she said, leaving the bathroom to find Canyon standing in the middle of her bedroom. Did he always have to look so good? Have so much testosterone oozing from every pore? Her heart began pounding like crazy in her chest as she slid her gaze over the full length of him.

  “Looks good, doesn’t it?”

  “Most definitely,” she said, fully realizing they were talking about two different things.

  He looked at her and smiled. “I’m glad you’re pleased.”

  “I definitely am. However, I might have bad memories of how this place looked, unless...”

  He raised a thick dark brow. “Unless what?”

  She didn’t say anything for a moment while toe-curling desire trickled through her. And then she moved, walking over to stand in front of him. “Unless the bad memories are replaced with good ones.”

  No one could credit Canyon with being slow. But then it could have been the way her hardened nipples pressed against her shirt that gave her away. He took a step closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Need my help doing that? Replacing those memories?”

  She leaned in closer to him. “Are you volunteering, Canyon?”

&
nbsp; “Yes, I’m volunteering.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Do we have time? There is that matter of our appointment with an attorney at noon.”

  “We’ll make time.”

  Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he punched in some numbers without taking his eyes off her. Moments later he said into the phone, “Hey, this is Canyon. We’re running late, Roy.”

  There was a pause and then. “How late?” He smiled down at Keisha as he continued to speak into the phone. “At least a couple of hours. Maybe three.” Then, “Fine. We’ll see you then.” He clicked off the phone and slid it back into his pocket.

  Keisha felt her pulse beat wildly near her throat. “The front door?”

  “Locked.”

  She sighed in anticipation. She knew that look in his eyes. It had been there each and every time he’d made love to her.

  He cupped her face between strong hands, leaned closer and whispered huskily, “I want you.”

  She whispered back, “And I want you.”

  Within seconds, his hungry mouth was devouring hers, mating with her tongue like he owned it. Possessing it. Claiming it. All in the sweep of his tongue as he took her mouth with a skill that was all consuming. No other man could make a kiss so stimulating and erotic. A moan of lust she couldn’t contain forced its way out of her throat.

  With their mouths still locked together, he backed her toward the bed. When they reached their destination, he lifted his mouth from hers and began removing her clothes. Lifting her blouse over her head, he proceeded to slide her skirt down her hips. She was left in only her bra and panties. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra. Eager, he cupped the twin globes of her breasts in his hands, his fingers brushing across the nipples. As though on cue, her body flamed at the juncture of her legs and she moaned deep within her throat.

  Then he released her breasts, crouched down on his haunches and pressed his face to her feminine mound and drew in her scent.

  Keisha knew what he planned to do, and when he licked her through the silk of her panties, she tightened her hands on his shoulders. “Canyon,” she said, whispering his name on a shivering moan.

  * * *

  Canyon pulled back to ease Keisha’s panties down her legs, barely able to contain his hunger. Before she could take her next breath, he parted her feminine folds and put his tongue inside her.

  One of the things he’d missed most was this. Her delicious taste. She trembled hard and he held her firmly by her hips, intending to have his fill and give her pleasure. Over and over, he flicked his tongue over her and lapped up the taste of honey.

  She moaned and arched forward. He continued to hold her hips as he felt pleasure ripple through her, making her say his name. The sound infiltrated his brain, intoxicated his soul and whipped him with just as much pleasure as it seemed she was feeling. When the last tremble passed through her, he slowly stood, gathered her close and then tumbled her down on the bed with him.

  * * *

  “You still have your clothes on,” Keisha mumbled, when he slid off her to stand by the bed.

  “Something I’m about to remedy,” he said, pulling his belt through the loops of his jeans.

  She rested against one of the huge pillows and watched him while aftershocks of pleasure strummed through her. With her gaze glued to his body, she watched him undress. First his shirt. “Mmm,” she said as he eased his jeans down his legs along with his briefs. The man was so well endowed. “It’s always nice to revisit the Grand Canyon.”

  “Glad you want to,” he said in a deep, sexy voice.

  “Oh, I do.”

  After sheathing himself with a condom he’d taken from his wallet, he returned to the bed. When his knees touched the mattress, he dipped his head and brought his mouth straight to her mouth, mating with it in slow easy strokes. Moments later, breaking the kiss, he pulled her to him, placing her back to his chest.

  A shiver of anticipation stirred through her. There had never been a dull moment with Canyon in the bedroom and she had a feeling he was about to reacquaint her with some of those times.

  After pushing her up to her hands and knees and turning her to face the headboard, she felt him caress the contours of her back, thighs and backside. She sucked in her breath when his fingers eased between her legs and found her wetness. Then he replaced his hands with feathery kisses.

  When she thought she couldn’t handle it anymore, he mounted her from behind, sliding into her, clamping her back to his front, thrusting in and out of her with slow, measured strokes. She closed her eyes, wondering if she would survive all the pleasure.

  And then the tempo changed. He pounded into her harder, faster, while stroking his hands over her breasts. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh pervaded the air and she couldn’t help but moan. Her muscles, greedy for his invasion, clinched tight with each inward thrust.

  A shiver began in the pit of her stomach and spread. She tried forcing it back, not ready for an explosion just yet. Not wanting this to end. Her body was ready, but she wasn’t. She wanted to go on and on, and enjoy each powerful thrust.

  “Let go, baby,” Canyon whispered close to her ear as he increased the tempo even more. “I won’t let go until you do and the pleasure is killing me,” he muttered the words in a savage growl.

  She let go. Screaming at the top of her lungs while he rode her hard, their bodies locked together. He let out one hell of a sensuous snarl, before roaring out her name. Moments later, as they tumbled down in the bed, he gathered her close.

  She felt the aftershocks leave his body and hers and knew it would be a while before either of them had the energy to move.

  Twelve

  “Glad the two of you were finally able to make it.”

  Keisha nervously nibbled her bottom lip, totally embarrassed. Their appointment had been at noon and it was now four o’clock. She and Canyon were sitting next to each other, across from the man’s huge desk. “Sorry, we’re late, Mr. McDonald.”

  Canyon muttered softly, “I’m not.”

  She gave him a warning look and hoped Roy McDonald hadn’t heard what he’d said. She felt bad all the way around. She’d even called Pam and apologized. After telling Pam this morning that they would be by to get Beau before two o’clock, they were late for that, as well. Pam had understood and told her not to worry. Beau was fine and was having fun with Denver. Pam had even suggested that she and Canyon grab something to eat while they were out because Beau could eat dinner with Denver.

  “You did bring the birth certificate with you so we can start the paperwork?”

  “Yes,” she said, handing him the document. Roy McDonald appeared to be in his mid-fifties and, according to Canyon, he had handled business for the Westmorelands for a number of years.

  She studied the bracelet on her wrist so she wouldn’t be tempted to look over at Canyon. The last thing she needed to remember was what had happened back at her house. Not once, but twice. To say her home was now filled with good memories was an understatement.

  “Well, the paperwork will be easier than I thought. All I need is your signature on a piece of documentation, Canyon.”

  Canyon lifted a brow. “Why will it be so easy?” he asked.

  “Because you’re already showing as Beau Ashford’s biological father on his birth certificate, so all I’m doing is a simple name change.”

  “What?” He turned to Keisha, confused. “You listed me as Beau’s father?”

  Keisha nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Roy McDonald didn’t understand Canyon’s question and interrupted to ask. “The child isn’t yours?”

  Canyon frowned at Roy. “Of course he’s mine. What makes you think otherwise?”

  Roy shrugged. “By the nature of the question you just a
sked Ms. Ashford.”

  Canyon drew in a deep breath. “I’m not asking because I think Beau isn’t mine, I’m asking because I’m surprised she would have acknowledged it that way.”

  “Oh.” Roy then stood and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Canyon asked.

  Roy turned around and smiled. “To the break room to watch CNN. Evidently the two of you need to talk about a few things without me.” He then left, closing the door behind him.

  Canyon turned his attention back to Keisha. “Why?”

  She nervously nibbled her bottom lip. “Mom always said that was the one thing she regretted not doing, naming my father on my birth certificate. If anything had happened to her I would not have known anything about him. I didn’t want that for Beau in case he wanted to find you someday.”

  He nodded. “Thank you for doing that.”

  “You don’t have to thank me.”

  “Yes,” he said, standing and pulling her up from her chair, as well. “I do.”

  Then he kissed her with an appreciation he felt in every cell of his body. Last night and this afternoon had proved that their three-year separation hadn’t eradicated the passion between them. If anything, their passion was more intense than ever. It wouldn’t take much for him to place her on Roy’s desk and take her here and now. Kissing her with slow thoroughness had a way of making him lose control.

  There was a quick knock on the door and Roy stuck his head in. “I take it we’re going to proceed as planned.”

  Canyon chuckled. “Yes, that wasn’t the issue, Roy.”

  Roy lifted a brow as he returned to his desk. “Then what was the issue?”

  Smiling, Canyon continued to hold Keisha’s hand as they returned to their seats. “It doesn’t matter anymore. From here on out, we’re moving forward.”

  * * *

  “Welcome to McKays. Will there be just the two of you dining this evening, Mr. Westmoreland?” the waitress asked.