The Return (Butler Ranch Book 6)

by Heather Slade

  “Open it.” Leech pointed to the envelope.

  He did and saw the letter inside was addressed to him, requesting his attendance at the reading. If for some reason he wasn’t able to attend, it would be rescheduled.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will.”

  Two days later, Kade sat in a room with Leech and Lena and listened as the family’s attorney told him that Elisabetta had left him half of what had once been called the Demetria Estate. Neither Leech nor Lena looked surprised.

  “I can’t accept this,” he said, stunned.

  “If you refuse the inheritance, it will be divided equally among the five of your siblings,” Peter told him.

  “Why?”

  “It’s what my mother wanted,” Lena answered.

  Kade wasn’t sure what to say.

  “I’ll give you a minute,” Peter offered, maybe sensing his discomfort.

  “Why did she do this?” Kade asked Leech directly after the attorney left the room.

  “As Lena said, it’s what her mother wanted. The property has never been mine, son. It’s always been Elisabetta’s.”

  California was a community property state, which meant that upon her death, the estate should’ve passed directly to Leech. Only her specifically stated intent to divide the property would supersede the default inheritance. Kade looked between Leech and Lena.

  “Who owns the rest?”

  “I retain ownership of the balance,” answered Leech. “The vineyards could be brought back, making it a lucrative wine-producing property,” he added.

  Kade looked at Lena, who appeared nonplussed. This land was her birthright not his; he’d simply accept it and use a quitclaim deed to give it to her.

  “You may give it to your siblings, but otherwise, you may not deed the property to anyone else. The codicil is clear,” Leech said, as though he anticipated Kade’s plan.

  “This isn’t right,” Kade said emphatically. “I’ll discuss this with my own attorney, and we’ll get this straightened out. I’m sorry, Lena.”

  “Why are you apologizing to me?”

  “Because this land should stay in your family.”

  “She considered you part of our family.”

  Kade scrubbed his face with his hand. Was that what Elisabetta had hoped, that he and Lena would reconcile, and thus the land would stay in the family? If so, it was manipulation on the grandest scale, and he couldn’t abide it. He and Lena had been married, and it hadn’t worked out. The circumstances he attributed to the demise of their union hadn’t changed. It wasn’t just that he was involved with someone else now, there was no way Kade would consider remarrying, or entertain the idea of a romantic relationship with her, even if he were single.

  “Excuse me,” he said, standing so abruptly, his chair threatened to overturn. He righted it and stalked out of the office, determined to find a legal way to undue what Lena’s mother had done.

  “Hold up a minute,” Peter said when Kade passed him on his way out.

  “I’m hiring my own attorney,” he said to the man who, as a former operative, had been a trusted colleague.

  “Don’t bother.”

  “With all due respect—”

  “It’s ironclad. She made sure of it.”

  “To get me to remarry Lena? It isn’t happening.”

  “She may have had other reasons.”

  Kade raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, Rawhide?” He used the man’s former code name, reminding him of the loyalty he expected, given their prior relationship.

  “Maybe she had other reasons.”

  “Like what?”

  Peter shook his head. “I really can’t say.”

  “This is bullshit.”

  Even now, Kade was angry about the whole thing. He felt manipulated regardless of whether he’d capitulated or not. He shook his head again, vowing not to let Lena continue playing on his guilt about the inheritance. There were plenty of other things, where she was concerned, that he felt bad about.

  —:—

  Given the plane Kade had been on landed almost seventy-two hours ago, Merrigan felt confident her plan to prevent him from finding her had proved successful. It also confirmed that Sorcha had kept her word not to interfere by divulging her location.

  She saw the post deliverer approach her house with what could only be another slew of trash mail. She felt terribly guilty every day when it arrived and she merely stuffed it into the rubbish bin.

  She picked it up off the floor beneath the mail slot in the front door and walked into the kitchen to toss it, and then make herself a pot of tea.

  As she dumped the pile of circulars into the bin, something caught her eye. She sifted through the stack until she found the white envelope she’d spotted.

  It was addressed to her in what looked like Sorcha Butler’s handwriting. Wondering what she was up to, Merrigan grabbed a knife and sliced the envelope open. The letter she found inside was written in a different script.

  When the kettle whistled, Merrigan set the piece of paper on the table, poured the hot water over the tea bag, and then read the words Kade had written to her over and over again.

  The world is dull and gray without you near, my sweet Merrigan.

  She understood what he meant. Her world, too, was dull and gray without him near.

  Please let me back into your life.

  What could she say when he implored so sweetly? God help her, but she couldn’t resist Kade Butler, no matter how hard she tried. The safety net of him being in a different country, halfway around the globe, had been pulled from beneath her, and here she sat, vacillating between calling or messaging him. The only thing she couldn’t do, was continue to shun him, not after the heartfelt words he’d written to her.

  —:—

  Kade had practically gotten on his hands and knees and begged his mother to tell him where Merrigan was. It was Da who’d told him Sorcha had been working with the MI6 agent while they were in Germany.

  Over and over she’d refused, until Kade finally held his folded letter in front of her. “I’ve written this to her, to tell her how I feel.”

  Still, she wouldn’t give in until he succumbed and let her read it. When she turned the paper over and finished reading his words, tears in her eyes, he knew she’d help him.

  “I’ll post it to her,” she agreed. “But dinnae ask me for more.”

  Kade thanked her and didn’t say anything else, because that was all he’d really wanted. He hoped that once Merrigan read his words, she’d at least agree to see him.

  It had taken two days, but Kade had finally gotten Lena to give up on staying at Casa Carrizo. He wasn’t certain, but something told him that Paps had interceded and convinced her to relent.

  He’d been the one to tell Kade that she’d rented a house in Summerland, a town less than fifteen minutes away from Montecito.

  His intention, now, was to head to Casa Carrizo as soon as he heard from Merrigan. He hoped she’d go with him, but if not, that’s where he’d go to lick his wounds.

  He picked up his phone to check for messages, not expecting any, but there it was, the text he’d been waiting for.

  Thank you for your beautiful letter, she wrote.

  I meant every word, he responded. Can I please see you?

  It took several minutes for her to answer, but when she did, she asked if she could come to him.

  I’m at the ranch.

  See you at 1400.

  Kade checked the time. Four more hours. He hoped he could last that long without pacing a hole in his floor.

  He’d been tempted to contact Quinn and Mercer about going to Montecito with him, but forced himself to wait. His daughter was the most important person in his life right now, but Merrigan was a close second. His priority today was to fix whatever had gone wrong between them, so he could focus on the rest of his life. As it was, she was all he could think about.

  After an hour, Kade sent a message to Naughton, asking if he co
uld ride his horse, Huck. The old draft horse was one of the few he felt comfortable riding, other than Brodie’s Morgan, which was now stabled at his and Peyton’s house on See Canyon Road.

  “Huck’s saddled and ready to go,” Naughton called and told him.

  “I could’ve done that.”

  “You can cool him down.”

  “Fair enough, Naught. Thanks.”

  “Kade?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I sure am glad you’re back.”

  “Me too, brother.”

  It had been a long damned time since he’d ridden the ranch. More years than he could remember. When he’d come home before, he’d stick around for a couple of days, get caught up with his family, and then be ready to leave again.

  It was different when he met Peyton, but even then, he didn’t stay at the ranch. After they’d been seeing each other for a few months, he started staying at her place instead.

  He’d still find reasons to take off and be on his own for a while, which she’d always been good about. Peyton was as independent as he was, or she had been. It seemed as though she and Brodie had settled into a really nice life for themselves and the boys.

  He couldn’t believe how much Jamison and Finn had grown up when he saw them at his parents’ dinner.

  It had been that way with Quinn. Every time he received another batch of photos of her, he couldn’t believe how much she’d changed. It broke his heart not being able to watch it happen up close.

  Whenever he returned from a mission, he’d be summoned to Langley before he could go back to the West Coast, and each time, he scheduled a side trip to New York, if only to catch a glimpse of his daughter.

  Maybe that’s why he felt so off. He’d always been alone when he visited Manhattan, so whatever shit he had to process through or demons he had to exorcise, he did before he came home, in the comfort of his favorite hotel, the Mandarin. He’d book the Oriental Suite with a view of Central Park, order room service when he didn’t feel like going out, and walk the city when he did.

  Maybe Merrigan would like to visit the city with him. He’d bet she’d love the birds’ eye view of the park from high above Columbus Circle.

  Kade shook his head and laughed at himself. There had never been a woman he’d remotely thought of taking to the place he considered his private respite, but once again, she was at the forefront of his thoughts, no matter the subject.

  He was almost back to the barn when he saw a sleek, Corris gray Jaguar F-Type Coupe pulling through the ranch gates.

  He dismounted, let Huck loose in the pasture, and closed the gate behind him.

  Kade waved when he saw it was Merrigan driving, and waited while she parked. He was halfway to her when she climbed out of the car. The breeze in her hair took his breath away, and the way her tight sweater hugged her curves set the rest of his body on fire. He had no restraint when it came to this woman. He could spend all day, all night, and every day after that with her and still never get enough.

  The sun was bright and reflecting on the car’s windshield, so she shielded her eyes and looked in his direction.

  “Hi.” She waved.

  He got close enough that he could grasp her nape with his hand and look into her eyes. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Merrigan leaned into his hand and closed her eyes. “You wrote me a beautiful letter,” she said with the Scottish lilt that had first made him think she was an angel.

  “I told you before that I meant every word. It was the only way I knew to tell you how I feel, both when I’m with you and when I’m not.”

  “I have to admit,” she murmured. “I don’t like being away from you either.”

  Kade took her hand in his and led her away from the car. “Nice ride, by the way.”

  “I was feeling…adventurous.”

  “It suits you.”

  When they got several feet away from it, she let go of his hand. “Should I park somewhere else?”

  He turned around and grasped her waist with his arm, getting close enough that their lips almost touched. “No,” he said, before covering her mouth with his.

  She smiled. “I love it when you do that.”

  “Then I’ll do more of it.” He kissed her again, deeper and harder. “I can’t get enough of you; no matter how many times I kiss you, hold you close to me, it’ll never be enough.” He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “If you’re not feeling the same way I am, Merrigan, you need to tell me now, because I’m all in with you. Do you understand?”

  She breathed deeply and nodded. “I could say the same about you.”

  “Thank God,” he said, leading her to the winery.

  She didn’t ask where he was taking her, only followed, her hand in his.

  They climbed the stairs to his apartment, and he kicked open the door with the toe of his boot. As soon as they were inside, he closed the door behind her, and then swept her up in his arms.

  Kade carried her into his bedroom and stood next to the bed, not wanting to release her from his arms. “I want to feel you next to me, not just now but always.”

  “Kade…”

  “Please tell me you want the same thing.”

  “I do, just with fewer clothes.”

  He set her on her feet and pulled her deep amethyst sweater up, over her head, and then tossed it to the closest chair. Before her fingers could undo the button on her jeans, he moved her hands away. “Let me,” he whispered, slowly opening the zipper and then tucking his hands inside and lowering her pants to the floor.

  Kade knelt before her and kissed across her body just above the fiery red curls of her sex. He breathed in the scent of her and groaned with want.

  Merrigan’s hands rested on his shoulders, and she arched her back. When he leaned forward, scattering more kisses, she moaned.

  “Let’s lose these, baby,” he told her, holding her steady as she stepped out of the jeans puddled near her ankles. “Open for me,” he said, resting his hands on the inside of her thighs until she’d spread her legs far enough that he could see and taste her want for him.

  —:—

  How many times had she dreamed about Kade making love to her body? What he was doing to her now felt better than any fantasy she’d had, awake or asleep. Her fingernails dug into the skin on his shoulders as she struggled to remain standing.

  “Stay still for me,” he said, grasping her bottom with both hands and holding her where he wanted her.

  “Kade, I…God…” His mouth brought her to an orgasm unlike any other she’d had, except with him. Only Kade could coax such ecstasy from her body.

  He stood, taking her weight, and sweeping her to the bed, where he stood and looked his fill. After shedding his own clothes, Kade opened the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a foil packet. “I wish we didn’t have to have anything between us, Merrigan.”

  She took the condom from his hand and tossed it away from her. “We don’t.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’ve been on birth control for years, and I haven’t been with anyone…”

  “Neither have I.”

  “You didn’t…”

  He held himself above her. “Finish what you were going to say.”

  “No.”

  “I will not touch another part of your body with mine until you do.”

  She looked away, but he waited.

  “Say it, dammit.”

  “Were you with her?” she whimpered, hating the jealousy and doubt in her own voice.

  “Look at me.”

  She turned her head and looked into his eyes.

  “No. I wasn’t with Lena or anyone else. And I won’t be. Not ever again if I have my way.”

  Her eyes stayed focused on his as she felt his hardness breach her sex. His mouth came down on hers, and he slipped his tongue between her lips. Kade kissed her, softly at first, and then harder as the frenzy of their need grew.

  “I love the way you feel, wrapped around me,�
�� he breathed, thrusting harder and harder until she couldn’t hold back any longer.

  When the pleasure he wreaked on her body built to a crescendo, Merrigan felt as though she was soaring. “Come with me,” she moaned, wanting him to fly as high as she was.

  Merrigan rested her head on Kade’s chest and listened to his heart beating in time with her own.

  “Do you have any idea how important you are to me?” he asked.

  “I think I’m beginning to.”

  “There’s something we need to talk about.”

  “Okay.”

  “The Animus intel.”

  “Right.” She had planned to bring it up to him, but not while they were naked in each other’s arms.

  “We need to come to an agreement, because this,” he squeezed her, “is what is most important to me.”

  “Above your commitment to your country?”

  Kade was quiet for a couple of minutes. Merrigan would have an equally difficult time answering that question. Regardless of how powerful their feelings seemed, this thing between them was so new.

  “I want us to come to an agreement that will allow us to honor our commitment to our respective agencies, but also honor our relationship.”

  “What if those agencies are unwilling to sign off on our personal agreement?”

  “We do it anyway.”

  Therein lay the rub. How could she agree to honor her commitment in one way, but not the other? It was easier for Kade, he was an independent contractor. While he had to abide by whatever his contract stated, it wasn’t the same as her refusing to do her job. Agreeing to a side deal was paramount to treason, in essence.

  “I can speak to Rivet if you’d like.”

  Did he really just suggest he speak to her boss on her behalf? Merrigan bristled and pulled away from him.

  “Hear me out.”

  She sat up and turned so she was looking at him.

  “I would suggest a deal between the CIA and MI6. If we find whatever Calder had on United Russia first, we agree to share it with MI6. And vice versa.”