by Brynn Paulin
“What? Moon! Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was tired, and I really thought it was my imagination. A trick of the sun and thinking about what you’d told me about the fires. He was there one moment then gone.”
Pete pulled her into his embrace and hugged her close to his body. His hand cupped the back of her head, holding it to his chest. “I never thought you’d be in danger here,” he said. “I didn’t think any of us were. It’s always been the vandalism—equipment destroyed and building’s defaced—and the fires, but no one’s been in danger of being hurt.” He blew out a hard breath. “That we knew of anyway.”
“I’m sure he was just trying to scare me,” she said. If that was the guy’s motive, it certainly worked. She straightened, pulling out of Pete’s embrace and taking a step back. She was stronger than this. She’d dealt with drug-crazed groupies; she could certainly deal with a deranged arsonist.
She almost laughed at her thought. Okay, maybe she couldn’t deal with this guy, but she wouldn’t let him immobilize her and become a useless hysterical girl.
Determined, she strode into the solarium with Pete on her heels. She went to the window where the man had been.
“He was right here,” she told Pete. “When he pointed at me, he…” She trailed off as she realized she could help this case. “When he pointed at me,” she said excitedly, “he touched the glass! Right here!” She indicated the approximate area. “Pete! You have his fingerprint. Maybe the sheriff can get something off it.”
“Maybe,” he replied. His tone was cautious, but a light of hope shone in his eyes.
Pete had never been so terrified as when Sun had called to tell him about the trespasser. If anything had happened to Moon…
God, he wanted to hug her again and not let go until he knew she was safe—and that she’d stay here, too. Although, at the moment, he wondered if the best possible option was for her to go back to California. At least there, she’d be out of Sam’s reach. And he was still pretty sure that’s who the culprit was.
Hope throbbed inside him when Moon told him they might have a print. Until now, they’d had nothing but suspicion and hypothesis. Maybe they’d have something concrete. Not that a print on his window would prove more than that Sam had been skulking about the Flying D. Any judge would argue that it was quite a leap to say Sam had set the fires and damaged the ranch’s property.
“Moon, can you tell me what he looked like?”
She made a face then her features scrunched in the cute way they did when she was thinking. “It was…fast. And shadowy. He looked like he was forty. Or maybe in his thirties with weathered skin from being outside a lot? Thin. I couldn’t see what color his eyes were and his hair looked…” She scrubbed a hand over her eyes. “Red. Faded. Almost…a strawberry blond color? That sounds weird, but—I wish I had more.”
He smoothed his hands down her arms, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay, baby. That’s way more than we had before.”
Pete was surer than ever that it was Sam, though her description could be greater than half the guys on the ranch.
“Will you be okay here for a sec? I need to go outside. I’ve got several of the hands here with me to see if we can spot whoever was here or see if he left anything behind. I need to tell them not to touch that window.”
“Of course. I’m going to go upstairs and get myself together.” She ran a hand over her damp hair. “I was just getting coffee before I finished getting ready. Do you want me to make enough coffee for the guys with you? Breakfast?”
He kissed her nose, touched by her thoughtfulness. Moon would make an awesome ranch foreman’s wife. “Maybe some coffee. They all should have eaten hours ago.”
He stroked his fingers over her soft cheek. “Don’t be too long,” he said regretfully. He didn’t want her to be dragged into this mess. “The sheriff will want to talk to you when he gets here.”
She nodded. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Pete watched her as she went. It had never struck him before how brave she was. Or maybe it was that she was stronger than he’d known. Clearly, she was spooked but determined to do whatever needed to be done to help the ranch and Pete’s men. She was meant to stay here, but he couldn’t let her now.
“Baby,” he called to regain her attention. She stopped in the doorway and turned toward him. His boots clunked on the floor, his feet like lead, as he crossed to her. He took her chilly fingers in his hands. “You understand that I want you here with me more than I want to breathe, don’t you? The past, the roadblocks…none of that matters.”
“I know. I’ve been thinking about it like you asked.” She smiled almost shy then pulled one of her hands from his. She cupped his cheek, and he couldn’t help but lean into the soft touch. What he had to do broke is heart. His chest clutched at the words he’d despise speaking more than anything he could fathom.
“You have to go.”
“What?” she gasped. She stepped back, her face stricken as if he’d struck her. “I—”
“Baby, please listen,” he begged and closed the space separating them. His arms locked around her stiff body. “It’s not safe for you here. God knows, I want you here more than anything, but I won’t let him hurt you.
As quickly as she’d gone rigid, she relaxed into his embrace. Her head rested beneath his chin. Now it was her arms locking around him. “I’m not going. That’s what he wants—I’m sure of it. Just think. Everything he’s done is to discredit you or make your job harder or to punish the Flying D for letting him go. What would make him happier than to take away something else you have? He wants me to run away so you’ll be alone.”
Her theory sounded good, but he wasn’t sure if he believed it. Even if Sam’s goal was to chase Moon away, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be desperate enough to hurt her if she didn’t go.
“Wait,” he said as all of her words sank in. “You’re not going?”
“Not yet, and not because of Sam. Pete, a few minutes this morning wasn’t enough time for me to think this through. I wish… I wish I could just jump and say yes to forever, but I can’t. It’s not in me. I grew up with a mother who was completely irresponsible. It didn’t really matter to her where our food and shelter came from; she just trusted it would be there. Sometimes it wasn’t. I can’t be like that.”
“It would be here,” he argued. “We’ll—I will take care of you and provide for you. And if you really want a job of some sort, I will help you find one. So will your sisters.”
She stared at him then one side of her mouth lifted. “Weren’t you just telling me I need to leave…like two seconds ago?”
“I changed my mind.” Pulling her close, he kissed her hard. He wanted to take her to his bed and hold her and forget all about the ranch’s problems. “Go do whatever it is you were going to upstairs,” he muttered then pressed his lips to her temple. “I’ll go check on my crew and wait for the sheriff.”
Chapter Eight
“Do you feel like you’re in imminent danger?” the sheriff asked. Sheriff Joseph Middleton had arrived while Moon was upstairs. He’d inspected the area and directed his deputy to take prints from the window and around the side of the barn. Then he’d asked Moon what seemed to be a million questions about what she’d seen, the times of the intruder’s appearances, where he’d been, where she’d been and her impressions of the whole thing.
“No,” Moon replied and ignored Pete’s low growl beside her. Despite not wanting her to leave Daly, he’d reiterated that he didn’t want her to be at the house alone.
Joe closed his notebook then looked between her and Pete. “It’ll take a few days to get the prints processed through IAFIS—that’s the federal database. We don’t have that equipment here in town. Of course, it’ll only help us if our guy has ever been in the system. If not, we’re sh—we’re SOL. And stay out of that area back there, too. I’m gonna call in a request over to have the city’s forensic team send a few guys over to examine the scene. It’
ll be low priority so I don’t know how long that will take—if they send anyone at all. I’ll talk to Robert on my way out. His clout can press them a bit, not that they’d admit it.”
He tapped a finger on his notebook cover. “So…if you feel fine about staying here, Ms. Szuzman, I’d say it’s all right. You’re not in jeopardy that we can tell. That said, don’t go wandering around. If you leave the house, be careful—check the area before you go out. Maybe spend a lot of time away from here with your sisters. When you are at the house, keep everything locked up. And if anything happens, call the station immediately. I’m keeping Deputy Martin on patrol here at the ranch until we get to the bottom of this. There’s been too much sh—uh, stuff going on here for me not to keep a man on this huge ass—uh, this huge spread,” he corrected.
Moon smiled because it was obvious the sheriff didn’t talk to women all that often.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “I’m sure Robert will, too.”
He nodded then opened to a blank sheet of paper and scribbled down two phone numbers then handed it to her. “Top one’s the direct number for me and bottom is for Kaleb—that’s Deputy Martin. We don’t have 9-1-1 in these parts so you’ll want those on speed dial.”
With a single, jerked nod, he headed outside to consult with his deputy.
“Are you all right?” Pete asked as she blew out a breath and stood.
“Yeah. Morning’s kinda shot,” she replied. “Sorry. I know you have a ton of things to do every day.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re more important. And if we can get to the bottom of this, things will be a lot easier around here, too.”
“I don’t doubt it.” She shook her head. “It feels a little surreal right now. Almost…like it didn’t happen. I mean, I know it did, but it’s just…diminished. I can’t even explain it. I’m not as worried. I just want to deal with it and be done.” She stepped close to him, going on tiptoes so she could brush a kiss over his lips. “So we can deal with more important stuff. Like Sully and Cord and you and me. I don’t think I have much vacation left. Ree called me the other day, but I haven’t returned his call yet. If he’s phoning me, he’s on his way back from his trip and he’ll want me in LA.”
He stiffened and backed away. “And you’re planning to go?”
“I don’t know.” She held out a hand, pleading with him. “I still have so much to consider.”
Pete shook his head. “Not so much. Come back here and be with me and your family or go back there and have a job.”
“It’s not that easy. I told you why—”
“Everything doesn’t need to be tied in a neat bow, Moon. Life doesn’t work that way,” he said. “Sometimes you need to take a chance. But you’re not going to, are you? You never were.”
He was oversimplifying. This was far harder than he wanted to admit. “Pete—”
“Cord’s Jeep is in the barn. I’ll go get it so you can go to the main house while I’m working.”
So…discussion over. Fine. Moon scowled after him wondering how she’d become the bad guy in the scenario. There was nothing wrong with holding onto the respect she’d finally found inside herself, and there was less wrong with her clinging to the security she’d never had while growing up.
Emptiness resonated in her gut, accompanied by the unwelcome urge to shed her clothes and entice Pete into bed, just to imagine she was close to him, emotionally. Just to lose herself in the mindless sensations of being needed and forget her problems for a little while.
Her frown deepened. Damn it! She was way beyond this. That had been her old way of dealing with things. Hadn’t she become more than a girl who had to fuck to feel as if she belonged, as fake as that might be? If she’d regressed this far, maybe it was time to leave and try to get it back together in California. Something was going very wrong here and stripping away everything she’d worked to build all these years.
* * * *
Seeing her sister—any of her sisters, actually—was the last thing Moon wanted. She needed to be alone but didn’t dare do that on the ranch. Getting into Cord’s Jeep, she drove into Daly. Though the place was small, there was always someone around during the days. Maybe she’d get a drink at the lone bar in town or grab a burger at the sole restaurant that stood next door. Or maybe she should just keep on driving. No, she really did love the little berg and the eclectic band of people who lived there. She’d hang out on Main Street and absorb as much of it as possible. All too soon, she’d be left with only memories once more.
As if sensing her last thought, her phone suddenly started ringing, the loud jangle seeming more protest than alert. Moon glanced at the screen. Her sister Sun.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Sun demanded.
“I’m driving and trying to clear my head. Why?”
“Because,” Sun hissed then lowered her voice. “My address here is listed on your employment records as next of kin and emergency contact. There’s a heavily tattooed man in a tight T-shirt and jeans sitting on the sofa in the front parlor of Robert’s house. He’s looking for you and seems pretty worried that he hasn’t been able to reach you.”
Moon’s foot pressed to the brake, causing the tires to squeal for a second before she let up and eased the vehicle to the side of the road. “Say that again…?”
“Your boss is here. He’s looking for you since you haven’t answered his phone calls.”
“He’s supposed to be in Brazil…” She wasn’t supposed to know that but since she handled most of his affairs, she knew where he’d booked tickets. But then, she’d also known if he was calling, he wanted her back on the job.
“Well maybe you can tell him that when you come get him,” Sun snapped.
“What’s wrong with you?” Moon asked. “Most women would love to have a rock star in their living room.”
“I’m not most women, and I know why he’s here, too. To take you away, so excuse me if I hate him.”
“Sun…”
“Hey, I can have my opinion. You better come and deal with him before I have a couple of the hands take him for a ride then lose him in the back pastures. I’m sure Pete would be thrilled to help with that.”
Moon couldn’t help but smiling at her sister, though she knew Sun was just spouting off. “I’m in town. I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes, okay?”
Sun sighed as if thoroughly put upon. “Fine. I’ll get him a drink or something.”
“You’re so gracious, sis,” Moon said dryly.
“Whatever. Just hurry…or not, like I said.”
Though she was quite sure Sun wouldn’t do anything nefarious, Moon sped a bit to get back to the Flying D, but with every mile she passed, the boulder forming in her gut grew heavier and heavier. This was it. She’d run out of time before she’d even had any.
Gravel spit out beneath her tires as she skidded to a stop behind a black Lexus parked at the base of the steps leading up to the main house. An incongruous rental sticker had been plastered to the bottom corner of the back window.
She sat in the Jeep for several moments. Her stare moved between the country mansion, the fields beyond it and at the luxury car in front of her. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t go in there, retrieve Ree and head out. She couldn’t leave here again.
Hot prickles of panic shot across her shoulders as she considered quitting her job and flying on the wind. Dear God! Was she insane? Apparently, a little.
But would she really be in the wind? Hadn’t Pete promised to anchor her? Or was that just talk? If it was, she’d manage. Daly was home. Her family was here.
Determined, despite her fears, she climbed out of the vehicle. The boulder in her gut rolled, and she realized it wasn’t alone. She had plenty of worries tearing up her insides.
Taking deep breaths, she leaned against the Jeep’s door and looked around, taking in the out-buildings surrounding the house and the constant activity around them. It wasn’t just Daly…
This place, the ranch, could be home if she let it.
Across the compound, Pete stepped from one of the barns with Sully and Cord on his heels. She straightened as they headed for her then belatedly realized they weren’t. They hadn’t noticed her there and were going to the house. She saw it on Cord’s face when he recognized his vehicle then zeroed in on her. His lips moved as he said something to his group. The adjustment was subtle, but suddenly, she was in their sites. Their path veered slightly as they stalked toward her.
Well…in truth, only Pete stalked. The other two seemed their normal, rambling selves. So apparently, Pete hadn’t shared the details of the spat he and Moon had had earlier, and clearly, from his stony expression, he was still pissed off. Considering she’d barely been given a chance to come to terms with her decision, his ire pissed her off.
“What are you doing outside?” Pete asked when they stopped in front of her. Sully, who had slung an arm around her waist and was about to kiss her, paused and looked confused at his friend.
“I just got here,” she replied. “I was driving then Sun called to tell me Ree’s here.”
“What the hell is he doing here?” Pete asked coldly. She’d been wrong to think his expression was stony before. He’d been irritated. Now, his face turned hard and expressionless while fury burned in his eyes.
“He came here looking for me. He needs me. And why the hell are you so angry?”
“Yeah, man, geez,” Cord muttered. He drew Moon into his embrace and kissed her while Sully crowded into their side and hugged them both. When Cord lifted his lips, she turned her head slightly and was met with Sully’s mouth. He pushed her lips open, his tongue delving inside as he groaned. Moon felt herself melting, just as she always did when they held her. This was where she wanted to be. In their arms—in Pete’s arms, too. All three of the men and her.
“So I’ll just go inside and let Robert know what’s going on,” Pete growled, staying outside the intimacy. He stomped away.
