Andres blew out a breath. How could he fault the guy after his own dealings with the cartel? Angel was one of the good guys, and damn if his attitude toward the son of a bitch wasn’t thawing out.
“I don’t even know if it’ll make a difference at this point, even if I get her to listen. This is my home. It’s been my family’s land for six generations. Getting it back has been all I’ve thought about…everything I’ve worked for.”
“And Moni?”
Shit. His throat tightened. Before Monica, everything had been for his family’s land. Now, hell, he would give it away to have her.
He could so easily see her in his life, and he in hers. He pushed the words past his lips. “She was pretty clear from the start she was never gonna stay here.”
“So where does that leave you?”
“Caught between heaven and hell.” Andres gave him a grin he didn’t feel.
Angel stepped forward. “Let’s try this again.” He held out his hand. “Kristopher Angel Harmon. Kris.”
Andres took the outstretched hand. “Andres Calderon, of Rancho del Sol.”
“Well Andres Calderon…” Angel grinned at him. “Of Rancho del Sol…the decision is yours at this point.” Releasing his grip, he grabbed his cup and placed it by the sink. “But if the tables were turned, Moni’s the type of woman who’d crawl through hell on her hands and knees to get to you.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket, setting it on the table before walking out the door without a backward glance, just as silently as he seemed to do everything else.
Andres’s brow creased as he picked it up and turned it over. It was blank, but he could feel something inside. Opening it, he found a single sheet of paper, folded in half, with a name and address written on it. The pain of loss and heartache eased for the first time in days.
Life was giving him a second chance, and not just with the ranch.
Andres leaned against a scarred desk at the police station. With Guerrero gone Mario had returned and agreed to take over the chief’s position for the time being. Now he stood next to Andres as they both stared at the body lying on the bottom bunk of the jail cell. Mario shook his head, a deep-set frown on his face. “So this Carlo guy was masquerading as one of their own?”
“I guess.” Andres shrugged.
“Why did he start shooting?” Mario held his gaze.
“I don’t know what to tell you.” Andres crossed his arms. The explanation sounded fishy, even to him, and he’d seen everything firsthand. “We were on the other side of the stable when he went off. I thought he was shooting at me. The doctor ended up caught in the middle.”
“Poor old man,” Mario lamented. “You’re both lucky to be alive.”
Andres nodded. He had to hand it to Dr. Treviño. The old man must have seen death bearing down on him. He’d been staring at Uncle Rey’s memorial with something between relief and sadness. Likely glad they wouldn’t need to put up a ribbon to mark his end also. Thank goodness Carlo’s aim had been thrown off. A few inches and the bullet would’ve gone through a vital organ.
“I wouldn’t have thought Carlo was the assassin.”
“Same here,” Andres piped in. “He musta worked for another outfit.” Both men shook their heads. “Why else would he just start shooting?” The explanation made about as much sense as any other.
“You know, this didn’t happen all of a sudden. The guy had been in town for over a week before I heard he showed up at the ranch.”
“So he was already here during the rodeo?” Andres had been too busy staying away from people to notice Carlo hanging around.
“Oh yeah. The chief pointed him out to me days before.”
Now the story made more sense. Barrios had been sniffing after someone. Could Carlo have been the one he suspected? Damn. He’d mentioned an unexpected connection. “So, you thinking about keeping the chief’s badge?
Mario studied the light film of dust covering the desks. “Why? You looking for a job?”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “You that hard up to hire people?”
Mario scoffed, giving him a sidelong look before he sobered. “You’re serious.” Mario asked in disbelief.
He shook his head, tapping his fingers on the desk. “You’ve been helping the law for years. You shoot, rope, ride, and you’re the best damn tracker in the area.” Mario ticked off. “If it wasn’t for your brother wanting to keep you outta danger, Barrios would have hired you years ago.”
“Man, you gotta have some cojones to settle in the middle of the cartel without being one of ’em.” Mario’s eyes held admiration. “People respect you for that. Hell, half the town was trying to get to your place yesterday. But Ms. Lupe said the fire was under control, and Dr. Treviño sent everyone away.”
He ran his hand along the back of his neck. Had he been so deep in self-doubt that he’d read things wrong? “My hands are full right now, man. Getting the ranch back in working order is gonna take time.”
Mario nodded. “I’ve been asked if you were going to set up again.”
Andres crossed one boot over the other. “It’ll be a while before I can take on any stock. There’s a lot of repairs that’ve been ignored for too long.”
“Well, you got a few people interested in sending horses, if a Calderon is running the ranch.” He tilted his head. “Though it’s hard to imagine the place without Alex.”
Andres looked thoughtful, his chest a little hollow, knowing Alex hadn’t been around this morning. They’d finally made peace, but he’d still lost his lifelong friend.
Mario dragged in a deep breath. “None of my business…but I hope you two got past the whole thing with Susana.” Ah, shit. He didn’t wanna go down this road. “Her daddy knows what he raised. I think he was just pissed you were too smart to marry her. He was banking on having his whole family living in that big house.” Andres set his jaw. Guerrero, Susana, and now her father. He’d never understand how ambition could warp a person. “Still, it’s hard to believe Alex left town.”
“He’s gonna look after Dr. Treviño for a while, but he’ll be back.”
“Well, I wish ’em the best. I think Guerrero probably needs to see his kid and thank the Almighty they made it out alive.”
Andres struggled with a lump in his throat. Nobody knew about Paloma’s gruesome end. Maybe things were best left unsaid—for everyone’s sake.
“These drug wars have turned the world inside out.” Mario tightened his lips. “Now you never know what the guy next to you is capable of.” He huffed. “Hell, you should buy yourself some lottery tickets.” Grinning, he said, “You took out a killer, saved a man’s life, and came out without needing a doctor.”
Andres settled back. While not all the right people made it out alive, needing a doctor had just taken on a whole new meaning for him.
He’d thought he had nothing to offer her… But maybe, even without the ranch, he could be the man she wanted. The man she needed. He looked up at Mario. “Think you can help me find someone to help with the horses?”
“Yeah.” He tapped on the desk again. “You driving up to see the lady doctor?”
“Maybe.” Andres narrowed his eyes.
“Figured.” He laughed. “Hell, man, I was at the rodeo. You really expect anyone to believe you got thrown ’cause you can’t handle a horse?”
Chapter Thirteen
For someone who had always known her mind, made her own decisions, and stood by them, Moni was lost. She watched the distant sunset out the window of her borrowed hotel room. She found herself longing for the spectacular colors of the sun as it slid behind the mountains outside Copas. She missed knowing the people around her. Here the mass of bodies stifled her. After spending months willing the phone to ring with her reprieve, she now found herself longing for the familiar surroundings. But she had no place in Copas anymore. She wouldn’t be able to live so close to Andres without the pain of loss.
Even food held no appeal—which was enough to know something was wrong
. Maybe she should try pizza and beer. It might help her get out of this funk. Because really, she couldn’t hide forever. She owed Dr. Chavez a call but still had no idea what she’d tell him.
A knock at her door brought her out of her musing. Someone looking for Kris? She approached the door cautiously, knowing the danger he lived with every day. Peering through the peephole brought her up short. She flattened her palms against the door, feeling like the world tilted on its axis.
“Monica, open the door, please.” Andres knocked again.
She steeled herself and called through the door. “No. Go away.”
“Please, baby, I’d rather not yell everything through the door and get myself thrown out. But I will if that’s what it takes.”
She dropped her forehead onto the smooth wood, knowing since he’d been able to find her it was through Kris. And the rat had probably given him a key card to use in case she was stubborn. She unlocked the door and pulled it open, motioning him in with a sharp nod. “You have thirty seconds to convince me I should listen to anything you say.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He exhaled as he stepped inside, pulling off the ever-present cowboy hat.
She closed the door and turned to face him. His fingers twisted the brim as he focused his gaze on her. “That night…my house was burning to the ground behind me, it fell to me to get Susana out of there, I was upset about Alex leaving, and worried about Dr. Treviño. The hardest part…” His hands squeezed tightly, crushing the hat. “The hardest part was believing I’d already lost you.” He shook his head. “None of that is an excuse. Sometimes I do stupid shit even when I think I have good reasons for doing it.”
She stared at him, his raw honesty stripping away all her misconceptions about him. Her mind raced with ways to explain her side of that night. “Andres, about Angel…”
He held up a hand. “It’s okay, Kris and I talked. I understand the risk he took doing that. No matter what happens between us, Monica, you need to know I’ll never, ever, compromise his safety. And as for Susana, believe me when I tell you, I was getting her out of my house and the hell off my land.”
She curled her toes into the thick carpet as her mind reeled with the implications of his words. Kris had told Andres. It spoke volumes about what kind of man he thought Andres was.
“Her family has a small place on the other side of town. I took her home and set her father straight. Regardless of what she’s done, she’s still his blood.”
“And the baby?” Nerves tightened her stomach as she waited for the truth.
“Her baby. Not mine. I didn’t know she lied. And I guess everyone was trying to avoid calling me an asshole for abandoning my blood.”
He shook his head, lines of fatigue digging in around his eyes. “I shouldn’t have walked away that night. I should have told you how I felt, right then and there. I’m sorry about that. If you give me a chance, I’ll spend the rest of our lives together making it up to you. I’ll never give you cause to doubt me again.”
He hadn’t lied. Shoulders weak with relief, she welcomed the knowledge with heart-pounding hope.
She’d left, hurt and angry, judging him by what happened to her. A series of stupid misunderstandings led her to make a bad choice, one that could still be fixed. Her reasons for keeping him at a distance seemed so small and insignificant now, especially when compared to the promises she saw in his eyes. Pushing past the lump in her throat, she took a deep breath and bared her soul.
“A few days before I arrived in Copas, my mother had arranged a party to introduce my fiancé to the family. Turns out…we all got to meet his pregnant girlfriend and her two angry brothers.”
He blinked, and understanding dawned on his face. “And you thought I—” He shook his head adamantly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” He stepped forward, and she surrendered to his embrace, letting his arms slide around her as they backed into the room. The heat of his body blanketed her in warmth and comfort. He kept murmuring apologies, his arms tightening around her until she didn’t know where she ended and he began.
His scent surrounded her. And for the first time since that horrible night, she felt at peace. Like coming home after being away too long. “I couldn’t stay there. Not after you…well, I thought…” She dragged in a breath.
He took her face in his hands, staring into her eyes. “Shhh, it’s okay. I understand.”
She sniffed, realizing something that escaped her six months ago. The pain and embarrassment had been over being taken for a fool, not over the man. Not like this time. No matter what she’d done, she hadn’t been able to get Andres out of her head. This time she’d been grieving over the loss of the man she’d fallen in love with.
“Part of me wants to break that idiot in two for hurting you.” He kissed the top of her head then set his forehead against hers. The lines around his tired eyes relaxed. “The other part wants to thank him for being such a douchebag. Otherwise I never would have met you.”
He kissed her. Tenderly. So much that it brought tears to her eyes. “Tell me about her. All of it. I don’t want any more surprises.”
He drew her against his shoulder. “Susana was a pretty girl. Well liked. She probably had too many guys chasing after her.” He exhaled. “When I came back from college we…bumped into each other in town. She started up a conversation and…well, she’d always been kinda quiet around me. Figured she’d grown up while I was gone.”
“We saw each other over the next few weeks. My mother wasn’t exactly thrilled. Dad thought I was ‘sowing wild oats.’” Something in his tone made her think his dad’s comments had been more graphic. “The cartel stuff started getting pretty bad. She was scared and wanted to get out. I couldn’t help it. The feeling of…being a protector got to me.” He sighed. “My parents had a fit. They wanted me to start my master’s—”
“Wait, your master’s?”
“Computer science degree with a math minor.” She tilted her head, arching her eyebrow. He gave an answering shrug. “It was my parents’ dream. Not mine.”
“It wasn’t until she and I were leaving that I found out she’d been seeing Alex.” A tired breath escaped. “We got into it. Words were said. Choices were made. I got the hell out.”
Moni nodded, understanding the ever present tension between the two friends.
“Getting Susana smuggled into the States pretty much emptied my bank account. I couldn’t go to my dad for money, not after how things went down. And my damn pride wouldn’t let me go to Rudy or Brianna, my brother and sister. In school they tell you people are gonna throw money at you hand over fist. But reality was nothing like that. The U.S. economy was at an all-time low. I couldn’t find a job. Couldn’t support us. Couldn’t go back to school. With no real world experience, my BA was just an expensive piece of paper. I ended up a day laborer.”
“Did you ever think of coming back?” she asked.
“Yeah. A lot. But never more than when she told me she was pregnant.” He shook his head. “We had a room in a place we shared with five other people. She wanted more, so she started cleaning houses to earn some money and found someone who could give her a better life. By the time I got back, Guerrero had taken over the ranch, and my parents and siblings were living in California.”
“Have you spoken to them?”
“Briefly,” he said with a faraway note in his voice.
“I think you’ve spent too much time beating yourself up over this.”
He focused on a spot high on the wall. “I felt really stupid. Maybe…I guess I still do.” She tightened her arms around him. “For letting myself get taken in when pretty much everyone told me what she was about.”
“They’re growing pains. Things you have to go through yourself because nobody could possibly understand.”
“The experience certainly made me grow up.” A brief, humorless smile touched his lips.
“You talked to Alex?”
“Yes.”
“And he still left?”
<
br /> “For a while. He had a few things to work out.” She could understand that. Life had taken a few unexpected turns for all of them in a short time. Andres brushed his lips against her temple. “And you, baby? Are you working through a few things?”
She lay her head against his chest, right over his heart. The strong, steady beat echoed in her ear. “Dr. Treviño sent me back. Then Dr. Chavez called with a job offer.” The job was hers, if she wanted it. She should be wanting to high-five everyone in the building, yet she felt nothing remotely resembling excitement.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” he murmured.
She gently pushed him back to create space between them.
“Your thirty seconds are up, cowboy.”
He swallowed hard, looking down and nodding slightly.
“So I guess I’ll have to give you another few minutes to hear the rest of what you have to say.”
She barely had the words out of her mouth when he tossed his hat to the side and snaked his arms around her, picking her up off the floor. She held on tight, wrapping her legs around him.
He kissed her, his tongue sweeping past her lips. She dug her fingers into his hard shoulders and her bare heels into the backs of his thighs. Cupping her bottom, he stumbled away from the wall as she tore at the buttons on his shirt. Somehow they made it to the bed and fell on it, wound around each other. He broke the kiss and lifted his head to look deep into her eyes.
“I love you, Monica, and I’m not going to lose you if I can help it. But it has to be your choice.”
Tears stung her eyes.
“I need you in my life,” he said in a voice roughened by raw emotion. “In my home. And yes.” He cupped her breast. “In my bed.”
“I love you, too.” She blinked back tears but didn’t manage to stop them all.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart.” His lips pressed against her temple. “Tomorrow morning we can go talk to your parents, then we’ll start looking for a place.”
Secrets and Seduction (Dangerous Desires) Page 16
