by Elle James
Viper shoved back from the table. “If you’re done here, I’d like to get started on what we need to accomplish. We only have a few more days left until the wedding.”
“Right,” Dallas rose beside him. “We don’t have a minute to spare.”
“Not if we want the event to be perfect.” Viper pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “Right, darlin’?”
She stared up at him, her eyes wide.
He’d caught her off guard and loved it.
“You call that a kiss?” Young snorted. “I kiss my dog better than that.”
“You would,” Vasquez said.
Young threw a punch at Vasquez’s only arm.
“Hey!” Vasquez glared at the man without legs and rubbed his shoulder. “Watch it.”
“You can do better than that,” Franklin taunted.
“Leave them alone,” Percy said. “They don’t have to prove anything to you yahoos.”
“No, we want to see a real kiss.”
“Like you didn’t see one last night?” Lori shook her head. “A bunch of Peeping Toms staring through the front window.”
“You were staring with us, Mize,” Franklin pointed out.
“Only to see what you all were gawking at,” Lori protested. But her lips curled upward on a smile. “And what a kiss.”
“Yeah, show us the real thing,” Vasquez said. “We’re living vicariously through you two.”
“Get your own lives,” Dallas shot back. “Maybe Viper doesn’t want to kiss me in front of all of you.”
“Challenge accepted,” Viper whispered and crushed his mouth onto hers.
Dallas gasped, opening just enough for Viper to dive in.
He swept his tongue across hers, sliding its length in a slow sensuous caress. She tasted of the bacon and syrup. Sweet and savory all at once.
At first, she was stiff in his arms. Then she melted against him, her body aligning with his. She slid her hands up his chest to weave together at the back of his neck. Her breasts pushed against his chest, her hips rubbing against his.
His cock hardened and pressed urgently against the thick denim of his fly. A groan rose up his throat and nearly escaped. When at last he raised his head, thunderous applause deafened him.
When the clapping died down, Lori sighed. “Now, that was a kiss.”
“Damn straight, it was.” Vasquez grinned. “Wasn’t sure the Rangers had it in them.”
Viper pulled himself together, curled his arm around Dallas’s waist and straightened. “If you all have had enough of the show, we have work to do. See you later.”
On her way out of the house, Dallas grabbed her jacket and purse.
Viper led the way to his truck and opened her door. She climbed in and fastened her seatbelt.
Once Viper was in the truck, he pulled away from the Brighter Days Ranch and headed toward the outskirts of Eagle Rock.
“Where are we going?” Dallas asked.
“I think we need to check in with Hank and fill him in on what happened yesterday. We can see if his computer guy found anything on any of our potential suspects.”
Dallas shot a glance toward Viper. “We have potential suspects?”
“I told him to look at Tyler King and anyone else connected with wedding planning, to include the florist, caterer, party furnishings and limousine rental.”
“Did you have him check on Mrs. Davis, while you were at it?”
Viper chuckled. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
She waved her hand. “Of course, I am. But I feel like we haven’t moved any closer to identifying our attacker. I liked it better when we knew our enemies.”
“Me, too. But the wedding angle is all we have to work with.”
Dallas nodded. “You’re right. But it doesn’t make the situation any easier.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
As they pulled up to the spacious ranch house, Hank and Sadie came out on the porch.
Viper rounded the truck, but Dallas already opened the door and dropped to the ground. “I can take care of myself,” she insisted.
“I know you can, but…”
“Don’t say it. Normal people are okay with accepting a little help getting in and out of large pickups.”
Viper forced a chuckle, though his chest tightened. “But you’re not normal?”
Dallas tilted her head to the side. “Now you’re getting it.”
“For the sake of—” he started.
“Our cover,” Dallas finished. “Okay, I promise to let you get my door on occasion.” She leaned closer and whispered, “But since Hank already knows our relationship, you have no need to be so attentive. We’re partners, not lovers.”
Viper dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose and whispered back, “I don’t think Sadie knows. Remember, Hank said the fewer who knew, the better.”
“You think Hank keeps things from Sadie?”
Viper nodded. “I’m betting on it. When she gave you that dress, she was helping another woman, not Hank’s new recruit.”
Dallas frowned. “I hope you’re right.” She smiled and turned to Hank and Sadie, who had stepped down from the porch and were walking toward them.
Hank hugged Dallas and held out his hand to Viper. “So nice to see you two. What brings you to the ranch?”
“Dallas wanted to stop by and thank Sadie for the dress.”
“That’s right.” Dallas hugged Sadie. “Thank you for the beautiful dress.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
“Once I have it dry-cleaned, I’ll return it.”
“No, please,” Sadie insisted. “I want you to have it. I used it as one of the dresses on my last movie. But it goes so much better with your coloring. I’d love to have that shade of auburn hair.”
“Sadie made up a pitcher of lemonade. Emma should be waking from her nap any moment, and I wanted to introduce you to one of the men who work for me.” Hank glanced toward Sadie. “Will you excuse us?”
“Certainly. I need to check on Emma and get glasses down for the lemonade.” Sadie smiled at Viper and Dallas. “Take your time. I’m sure a diaper needs changing.” Sadie hurried off toward the bedrooms and her baby, Emma.
Hank led Viper and Dallas to a door practically hidden from view. He uncovered a digital keypad and ran his fingers over the buttons, leaned down and added an optical scan before the lock clicked, and he pulled open the door.
Stairs led downward into a bunker.
Viper was impressed with the state-of-the-art technology and the security Hank had installed in his home.
As Hank started down, lights blinked on, triggered by his motion. “Swede, we have company,” Hank called out.
A tall, blond man emerged from another room and stretched his arms to the ceiling. “Good. I could use a break.” He held out a hand to Dallas and then Viper.
After stating their names, they shook and followed him into a room lined with computer screens.
Swede slipped into an office chair and rolled up to a keyboard.
“Find anything?” Hank asked.
Swede nodded. “As a matter of fact, I did.” He clicked a few keys and an image of a man appeared on the monitor. “Tim Fuller.”
“Fuller.” Viper rolled the name on his tongue. “Isn’t he the guy who provides tables and seating for events?”
“He is,” Hank said. “What do you have on him?”
“He was arrested a few months ago for assault and battery.”
Viper leaned closer, studying the man’s bruised face. “Looks like he got a little of the same.”
“What’s the story?” Dallas asked.
“From what I could gather from the police report, an article in the newspaper and the man’s divorce decree, he accused his wife of cheating on him and beat up the man he suspected she was cheating with.”
Hank crossed his arms over his chest. “Remember, his wife is the caterer who supplied food for the weddings that have been targeted.”
&n
bsp; “Why would Fuller sabotage weddings where he’s making money?” Viper shook his head. “It wouldn’t make sense.” The man obviously had anger issues, much like Tyler King.
“To get back at his ex-wife?” Hank offered. “They recently divorced.”
“Doing so would hurt him, as well.”
“He also supplies rental furniture to local events and corporate retreats. Losing out on a couple of weddings might not impact his sales.”
“Then the same would go for his ex-wife,” Dallas pointed out.
“The lead bears checking into,” Viper said, glad for something to check on. Perhaps the information they gleaned would lead to solving the case.
“You can start with the ex-wife,” Hank said. “She runs a bakery in Eagle Rock.”
Viper’s lips twisted. “Is it safe for us to visit a store in Eagle Rock? The last one we were in was destroyed by a runaway Cadillac.”
“You have a point. You two are targets. You can assume you aren’t safe anywhere.” Hank’s lips thinned. “That attack only proves someone is out to ruin local weddings.”
“What’s the connecting factor?” Dallas asked.
“We’ve only just begun the planning,” Viper said.
“The announcement was sent to the local paper,” Hank continued.
Dallas tipped her head to the side, a frown wrinkling her brow. “If Fuller was the culprit, why would he attack when we haven’t even met with him yet?”
“Daisy said she’d contact the florist, caterer, party rental and the Justice of the Peace,” Viper reminded her. “The florist mentioned she’d already heard from Daisy.”
Dallas nodded. “She did.”
“I looked at the others on the list of people the brides and grooms used for the weddings.” Swede ticked off on his finger as he recited the list. “Tim & Melissa Fuller, Tyler King, Brianna McCall and Paul Glover, who operates the limousine service out of Bozeman. No one came up on any crime database other than Tim Fuller.”
Viper glanced at Dallas. “Next stop?”
Dallas’s lips quirked upward. “Melissa Fuller’s bakery. Maybe she can shed some light on her ex-husband’s activities. If he is the one behind the sabotage.”
Hank led the way back up the stairs and into the living room.
Sadie chose that moment to return, carrying a baby. She handed Emma to Hank. “Hold her while I bring in the lemonade.”
Smiling, Hank took Emma and gave her a loud, smacking kiss on her cheek.
Once again, Viper found himself longing for something that had been taken away. A life including a wife, a baby and love. His glance swept to Dallas. The former Army Ranger’s gaze was fixed on the baby, her eyes wide.
“Want to hold her?” Hank asked.
Dallas backed away, her hands up in surrender. “I don’t know anything about babies.”
“You don’t have to know anything. They teach you.” Hank winked. “Really. She won’t bite…well, maybe a little because she’s teething. But it doesn’t hurt.” Before Dallas could protest again, Hank deposited Emma in her arms.
Viper could have laughed out loud at the terror in the woman’s eyes, but he didn’t.
Within moments, the baby had twisted her fingers into Dallas’s shirt, pressed her wet lips to the Ranger’s cheek and then giggled.
Dallas’s lips spread into a grin and she stared down at the baby’s laughing eyes. Then she chuckled. “You are a charmer, aren’t you?” She smiled up at Hank. “Are all babies this engaging?”
“We like to think Emma is special. Like most parents do.” Hank tipped his head toward the floor. “She loves to play on the rug. We keep a few of her favorite toys in the basket beside the sofa.”
Dallas sat down Emma, pulled a couple toys from the basket and laid down beside her.
Viper’s pulse hammered so hard against his eardrums he could barely hear. This situation was what he was missing and what he wanted in his life. A home, a woman to love and children. A gut-clenching yearning swept over him, threatening to rob the very air he breathed.
“Babies have a way of stealing your heart.” Hank stared at the two on the floor, as well. “I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love Sadie, but then Emma came along.” He glanced at Viper. “I’m sorry about your wife and baby. I can’t imagine what you went through.”
Viper’s chest tightened. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, but you don’t ever really get over a loss like that.”
“No,” Viper agreed. “But life goes on.” And he was still alive, breathing, thinking and feeling, while Emily and their baby were buried together in a plot of ground.
“I learned a long time ago that you can’t live a life filled with guilt that you survived when others died,” Hank said. “It’s not much of a life, and the behavior is not something those who died would have wanted for you. If I had died during some of my missions, I would have wanted the ones who survived to live their lives to the fullest. If not for themselves, then for those who hadn’t been as fortunate.”
Hank was right. Viper digested his words, his gaze going to Dallas and Emma. He wanted to get on with his life and to fully embrace living. But was he ready to find love all over again? Was he willing to risk his love’s life with a pregnancy that could end in her death?
* * *
What had started out scaring her to death turned out to be one of the highlights of Dallas’s day. Baby Emma was a happy baby, full of giggles and joy. She brought out in Dallas feelings she never thought she’d experience.
From the moment she’d joined the Army, Dallas turned off all things feminine inside, focusing on proving to others and to herself that she was as good or better than any man. That she could hold up under the pressures of battle and provide the support her team needed.
She’d given every waking, and many sleeping, dreams to her career as an Army Ranger. When she’d lost her leg, she’d lost her career and she thought she’d lost her identity. Who was she without the Army and the Rangers? She hadn’t needed to think beyond her commitment to her country. Marriage, relationships and family were all things other people did. Not her.
Now, with a new life, a new leg and a new job, she was only beginning to understand the breadth of options and choices she could have.
Emma crawled over to her and sat, holding out her arms.
Dallas lifted her and held her against her chest.
Emma nestled in the crook of Dallas’s arm and sighed, her eyes drifting closed.
“She might not have been quite finished with her nap.” Sadie carried a tray containing a pitcher of lemonade, four glasses and a platter of cheese and crackers.
Hank took the heavy tray from her and laid it on the coffee table in the middle of the room. He lifted the pitcher and poured lemonade into a glass, handing it to Viper with a smile. “It’s not beer, but Sadie makes a mean glass of lemonade.”
“Thanks.” Viper took it and drank. “It reminds me of my folks back in Malta. Mom makes lemonade when we have company.”
Dallas’s attention perked. Viper hadn’t talked much about his parents other than to say they were still alive. She wanted to know everything possible about this man who was her partner and so much more.
“Do you make it home often?” Sadie asked, taking a glass from Hank.
“Not often enough,” Viper replied. “I stopped in on the drive out here.”
Hank poured another glass of lemonade and handed it to Dallas. “Are your folks in good health?”
Viper chuckled. His parents were the picture of health. “I think they might outlive me. Now that they’re retired, they spend much of their time either traveling or fishing. No stress.”
Hank grinned. “Sounds like heaven.”
“I could do with some fishing.” Viper stared across the living room, images from the past filling his mind. “My father took me out to Fort Peck Lake every summer and sometimes during the winter for ice fishing. We made some great memories in the time we spent toget
her.”
“I can’t wait until Emma’s old enough to hold a fishing pole,” Hank admitted. “I’ll have her out on the river before she can spell fishing.”
“Only if I’m with you,” Sadie said, her eyes narrowed.
“That fact’s a given. I can’t imagine fishing without both of my girls.” He slipped an arm around Sadie and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Sadie smiled and kissed him back.
Dallas envied Sadie and Hank’s natural banter and loving looks.
Then Sadie turned to Dallas. “Let me take Emma. Your arms must be getting tired by now.”
“Not at all,” Dallas said.
Sadie took Emma anyway and laid her in a nearby playpen. The baby slept. “She was up half of the night, teething. Poor thing.” When she straightened, she gave Dallas a pointed look. “We need to get moving on finding a wedding dress.”
Dallas nodded. “Do you know where I can start looking?”
“Daisy and I conferred and set up an appointment to try on dresses at one of the shops in Bozeman tomorrow. She can’t make it, but I’ll be there.”
Dallas pushed to her feet. “I hate to take you away from your family. I can do this task on my own.”
“The hell you will,” Sadie exclaimed. “A bride needs her peeps around her when she’s choosing a dress. Besides, we’re driving there with our guys. They have to try on their tuxedoes.” Sadie tipped her head to the side. “Have you decided on your bridesmaids?”
“Bridesmaids?” Dallas grimaced. “I don’t know anybody.”
“You don’t have to have bridesmaids, but if you do, you can bring them along. My SUV will seat eight.”
“I would like to bring Lori Mize. She said she would like to be involved.”
“Great,” Sadie said. “We’ll swing by the ranch to pick up you three around nine in the morning. Plan on having dinner before we return.”
Dallas swallowed a gasp. “Choosing a dress will take that long?”
Sadie laughed. “It could. There are three bridal shops in Bozeman. If we don’t find what we want at one, we’ll go to all three until we do.”
“Wow,” Dallas said. “I didn’t know finding a wedding dress could be that hard. Can’t I just get married in my jeans and boots?”
