Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite)

by Larie Brannick

  Soon their old cabin came into view. A beautifully carved, wooden sign hung on the gate ahead. Meg’s lips quivered, and her eyes grew misty. ‘Dolly’s Draw’. That was something else Grandpa must have added. She stopped and got out to open the gate.

  Stretching, she breathed in deeply, turning in a slow circle to take in the view around her. Home. “This is exactly what I needed.” She made quick work of the combination and swung the gate wide. Butterflies of anticipation fluttered in her stomach, and tears stung the backs of her eyes as she got closer to the cabin. She parked beneath one of the big cottonwood trees that shaded their picnic area and got out to look around. Not much had changed. It was still beautiful and peaceful and Meg’s heart lifted.

  Unloading her things could wait, but her need to reacquaint herself with this place couldn’t. After grabbing her water bottle and locking the car, she set off for the trail leading to the canyon. Seeing the beauty of the land through the eyes of ownership, Meg didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she did both. She’d been away too long, and guilt nudged its way into the mix of happy memories, grief over the loss of her family, and awe of the magnificent views. Thankfully, no one else was around to witness her emotional roller coaster ride.

  Lost in her own head, Meg rounded a bend around a rock outcropping and…What? The shock at seeing a stranger—a man—standing in this remote area stopped her in her tracks. An involuntary shiver of fear chased down her spine, and her heart raced. Panic threatened. Without conscious thought, her hand settled over her abdomen. Though hidden by her clothing, the thin line of slightly puckered skin reminded her to be brave. She inhaled slowly as she studied the countryside. Exhaling just as slowly, she assessed the situation. He appeared to be alone, oblivious to her as he leaned over a tripod. Was he taking pictures of something in the canyon? One thing was certain. He was trespassing on her grandfather’s property. No, her property.

  A sense of protectiveness pushed away the fear, and she straightened her spine. Quit being a weenie, Meg. Not all men are bullies. She patted her front pocket for her ever-present Mace can keychain and picked up her pace toward the man, waved her hand, and called out, “Excuse me! This is private property.”

  The man whirled around, ire flashing in his brown eyes. “Goddammit!” He slapped his hat against his denim covered thigh. “They’re gone.”

  Chapter Two

  Sonofabitch. This close. He’d been this close to getting a shot of the marking on the stallion’s right hindquarter when some lost hiker stumbled her way off the hillside and spooked the horses. Jake was beginning to think he’d never know if the scar on the animal was from an injury or an owner’s brand. He closed his eyes, counted to—he only made it to three.

  “Can I help you? Are you lost?”

  Jake opened his eyes and put his hat back on. The first thing he noticed was the hiker wasn’t dressed for hiking at all. Short denim skirt, lacy, pale blue tank top and… Keds? Keds for crying out loud. What, was she twelve? The second thing he noticed was that no, she wasn’t twelve. Not with the way her hips swayed as she walked toward him, or the way her tank top fit snugly against her… Nope. Definitely not twelve.

  “Hello?” She pulled her sunglasses off and waved her hand.

  Jake’s head snapped up. The third thing he noticed was her eyes. So blue they were almost violet. “I know where I am. I think maybe you’re the one—”

  “Then you know this is private property.” She stopped, gestured back toward the road. “Did you see the sign when you came through the gate?” When she turned back to face him, her gaze darted from his eyes to the hillside behind him. “Um, how did you get in here?”

  “I’m well aware this is private property.” Stay calm. “I happen to know the owner, and I have permission to be here.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I think the question is, what are you doing here?”

  She mimicked him and crossed her arms as well, the position creating some very distracting cleavage.

  “I beg your pardon?” One sneaker clad foot tapped the dirt. “I’m the owner of this property, and I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

  Jake shook his head. This woman wasn’t making any sense. Upon closer inspection, her violet eyes were a little puffy, like maybe she’d been crying. Her long, blonde hair was a bit tangled as if she’d been running her hands through it. Was she lost or was there more going on here? Uncrossing his arms, he took a step forward. “Hey, are you okay? You seem a little…confused.”

  Or unstable.

  Possibly crazy.

  The woman didn’t retreat. In fact, she took a step toward him. She glanced past him at his backpack and other gear. “The only thing I’m confused about is why a strange man is camping out here.”

  “My name is Jake. I’m not camping. I’m studying the wild horses.”

  “Wild horses?”

  Now he knew she was lost. If this was her land, she would definitely know about the herd. “Yes. A herd of wild horses lives in this canyon.”

  She perched her sunglasses back on her perfectly straight nose and walked around him. Shielding her eyes with her hand she scanned the area. “Where are they?”

  With an exasperated sigh, Jake answered. “They took off when you yelled at me. They’re pretty jumpy around people.” Being wild and all. “Listen, I can take you back to town. Or wherever—”

  She turned to look at him. “I’m not leaving. You, on the other hand, are trespassing. I’ll wait while you pack up your things and make sure you get out the gate.”

  Hands on his hips, Jake took a calming breath and thought about how best to handle the situation. Before he could come up with a solution, she stepped closer to him, her eyes narrowed.

  “Who… Are you Goldstone?”

  Goldstone?

  “Listen, I don’t know what you’re up to, but my attorney is all over your bogus petition.”

  What the hell was she talking about? “Whoa, whoa.” He held up his hands in the universal sign for wait, let’s back this up peacefully. “I don’t know who Goldstone is, but I’m not him. I’ve already told you. I have permission to be here.”

  She shook her head. “And I already told you. My family…” She cleared her throat. “This land belongs to me.”

  Her family. Jake didn’t miss the catch in her voice or the way her bottom lip trembled. God, he was an idiot. This wasn’t some lost, crazy hiker. She was John’s granddaughter. “Wait. You’re Dolly.”

  …

  Meg’s mouth dropped open. The only person who called her Dolly was her grandfather. He’d given her the nickname when she was born because she’d reminded him of a porcelain doll that had belonged to his mother. And this man knew about her? Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe her grandfather really had given him permission to come out here.

  A completely irrational wave of jealousy hit her. Who was this guy, and how had he known her grandfather? She hadn’t been home in a couple years. Not since her grandmother’s funeral. Why wouldn’t her grandpa find other ways to spend his time? Other people to spend it with?

  Meg looked at the stranger. At over six feet tall, he was an imposing figure. The black T-shirt he wore stretched snugly over his muscled chest. He’d taken his hat off to reveal dark blond hair that was a bit curly and a little long, just brushing the tops of his ears, like he might be overdue for a haircut. His handsome, tanned face wore a worried frown.

  “Um, miss? Dolly?”

  She shook her head. “My name is Megan. Meg. You knew my grandfather?”

  Relief flashed across his face, but sadness filled his deep brown eyes. “Yes. I knew John.” He stepped closer. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Meg.”

  Fresh tears threatened, but she fought them back. “Thank you. You were friends?”

  “We were. Good friends.”

  Wrapping her arms around her middle, she turned away. She had no right to take her frustration out on a complete stranger. She had selfishly—stupidly—left her home, her fami
ly, the most wonderful support system she could ever hope for because she’d felt smothered. God, what a fool she’d been. There was a difference between feeling sheltered and loved and being controlled. Too bad she’d learned it the hard way. Through her ex’s lies and manipulation, Meg had believed that her grandparents thought her a wicked, ungrateful child. That they would never welcome her back into their loving arms. And while she’d been dealing with her broken heart, assuming the worst, this man had built a relationship with her grandfather. A complete stranger had befriended her beloved grandpa, spent time with him.

  Time she could never get back.

  The soft rustle of dry grass alerted her to the presence she’d already felt—his. Surprisingly, there was nothing threatening about his nearness, but her heart pounded with anticipation nevertheless.

  “Megan?”

  She would not to cry in front of him. With her back still to him, she spoke, trying to keep her voice even, “Since the horses are gone, there really isn’t any reason for you to hang around.”

  “You’re upset. Why don’t you let me give you a ride? My truck is parked at the West entrance. I’ll go get it and take you wherever you need to go.”

  “I can make it to the cabin on my own.” Holding back a sob, she started back up the path. “Could you please make sure the gate is locked when you leave?”

  “That’s it?”

  She didn’t break stride, tears welling in her eyes. “That’s it.”

  “Hold up.”

  After only a few steps, his hand on her elbow brought her up short. Jeez, what was with this guy? Couldn’t a girl have a breakdown in peace? She turned slowly, hoping to keep it together a minute longer, but the look of concern on his face broke the dam, and the tears she’d been holding at bay tickled her cheeks as they streamed down her face.

  “Aw, hell. Please don’t cry.” Before she knew what was happening, two strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her close. One of Jake’s large hands cupped the back of her head and pressed her cheek to his chest.

  Several things hit Meg at once.

  Instead of paralyzing fear, the utter sense of being protected took her off guard. While one hand sifted through her hair, his other one slowly stroked up and down her back. The feeling of being cocooned in his warmth was both soothing and troubling. She didn’t fall into the arms of strangers. In fact, it would take all her fingers and toes to count the number of months it had been since she’d been this close to a man. Hell, she’d need an extra hand. In the last two years, she’d learned to make it on her own. She didn’t cry often, but being held like this seemed to give her permission to blubber like a baby. His masculine scent comforted her as she drew in a breath and his heart beat steadily against her cheek.

  Without thought or consent, her arms wound around his waist, and his hold tightened on her.

  While her rebellious body indulged as he rocked her slowly, continued to soak up his strength, her brain kicked into gear and she realized she was completely falling apart. In a moment of clarity, she remembered the look of panic on his face and almost laughed until that same sanity told her that her leaking eyes and runny nose were ruining this sexy man’s shirt! Eeww.

  Meg disengaged her arms and pushed away, dashing away the moisture on her face with the back of her hand. “Sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me.”

  Jake still held her arm, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin at the crook of her elbow. “Easy now. You okay?”

  Hmm. Between embarrassment at crying all over a stranger and being completely turned on by said same stranger, no, she wasn’t okay. But as always, Meg sucked it up. “Yeah. I’m good. Thank you.”

  The expression on his face said he didn’t believe her. “You’re upset, rightly so, but maybe it’s not a good idea for you to drive yourself. If you’re parked at the cabin, I can get my stuff together and follow you to town in my truck. You know, just in case.”

  “Why would I drive to town?”

  “If you aren’t ready to go to your hotel, I can wait.”

  Hotel? She stole a look over her shoulder. “I…um…”

  “You’re staying at the cabin?”

  Crap. Way to keep your cards close to the vest. What if this guy was really with Goldstone and he’d try to keep her from staying on the property? She bit her bottom lip while deciding how to answer. Jake didn’t give her a chance to respond. Jaw tense, his brown eyes bored into hers. “You can’t possibly be considering staying at the cabin by yourself.”

  At the look on his face, her first instinct was to back up a step and mentally calculate how much space she needed to keep between them in order to stay out of striking distance. But, she reminded herself, that was the old Meg. Now, she stood up for herself.

  She put her hands on her hips and tilted her chin in challenge. “It’s my cabin. Why wouldn’t I stay there?”

  Jake studied the mountains surrounding them and took a deep breath. Meg couldn’t help but notice his chest—no less impressive considering the fabric of his T-shirt bore the evidence of her crying jag—and had to force herself to look at his face when he spoke. “Think about it. A beautiful woman all by herself, miles away from help? It’s not safe, Meg. Who knows what kind of crackpots are running around? And the lock on the cabin door is a joke. I told John the same thing.”

  Well, hell. There went her precious bravado. He had a point. Meg hadn’t even stepped on the porch, let alone gone inside the little house. She hadn’t been here in ages and had no idea what kind of condition it was in. Her only concern had been getting back to Big Rock. Between Jake talking about crackpots and Bernie’s warning that someone could be watching the property, Meg wondered if she should rethink her plan. A shiver snaked down her spine. The memory of walking into her San Diego apartment and finding the place ransacked flashed in her mind. Though nothing had been taken, her things had been gone through, and her home had been trashed. She’d pretty much convinced herself it had probably just been her ex, Troy, trying to scare her. While the feeling of being violated had diminished over the past couple of months, it hadn’t disappeared totally.

  No. She refused to give her fear any more power over her, but she wasn’t stupid. She’d simply look things over tonight, and if necessary, change the lock tomorrow. “I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine.” The more she thought about it, the more she questioned Jake’s motive for not wanting her to stay on the property. Could it be that his compassion was all an act, and he was really somehow part of Goldstone? Unfortunately, her ability to read people and ultimately trust them had been seriously screwed up. She stole another glance at his chest and sighed. What a waste if it turned out he was behind the problems with the estate.

  “God, you’re as stubborn as your grandfather.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. So you’ll lock up when you leave?”

  Hands on his lean hips, he stared at her for a moment. Finally, he shook his head and raised his arms in submission. “Of course. I’ll pack up and get out of your hair.”

  Meg flinched before she could catch herself and hoped he hadn’t noticed. Nodding once, she turned to go.

  “Nice meeting you, Meg.”

  She stopped and turned back, their gazes locked. He tipped his hat and walked away.

  …

  Meg hurried over the rocks and sand as quickly as her shaky legs would carry her. What was wrong with her? She’d acted like a complete flake to a perfectly nice man, and if she were honest with herself, it wasn’t just her roller coaster emotions over losing Grandpa.

  Okay, if she was going there she had to be completely honest.

  Finding him at the canyon had shaken her to her toes. And some other pretty interesting places, too. He was… Whew. She’d always thought her tastes ran more toward dark-haired, neat, and tidy office types. Since when had beard stubble and cowboy hats turned her on? Those faded Levis fit him like well-worn gloves, snug in all the right places.

  Eyes the color o
f her favorite chocolate had stared into hers with empathy and a good dose of stubbornness. He’d challenged her while being respectful. Had been concerned when he realized she planned to stay at the cabin alone, and she’d bitten his head off. Speaking of biting, thoughts of nibbling on his sculpted biceps caught her off guard. Her toe caught on a rock, and she almost did a face plant into a cactus. “Smooth, Meg. Your mama shoulda named you Grace.”

  Her feet kept moving, and so did her brain. On one hand, it unnerved her to be so…unnerved by a man. At least in the way Jake had. On the other, the distraction from her grief was welcome. She owed the handsome stranger an apology and a thank you. If she ever saw him again.

  A chill of unease stopped Meg short. Even in the one hundred degree heat, her skin prickled with goose bumps, the sensation of someone watching her crawled up her spine. Turning slowly, she scanned the hillside. Nothing out of place, not even a faint breeze rustled the brush. This was nuts. Her imagination was getting the best of her. Picking up her pace, Meg scolded herself silently. She had too much to do to be obsessing over a man she’d probably never run into after today. No more thinking about Jake.

  The cabin came into view, and Meg sighed with melancholy. She was home. The same old boards creaked as she stepped onto the porch. The same sense of peace washed over her as she slipped the key into the lock. Meg pushed her sunglasses up on her head and went inside. It was a little musty from being shut up, but it was fairly clean, and she was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t seen the place in years, but her grandfather had spent most of his time here after losing Grandma. He’d updated the kitchen with newer appliances. Carpet now covered the old, wood floor in the living room and bedrooms. Even the tiny bathroom was brighter than she remembered. The furniture was still the same. The old sofa bed and Grandpa’s favorite recliner took up one wall, and Gram’s mother’s antique armoire still held the T.V. and radio. Meg felt her grandparents’ presence envelop her like a tight hug. Safe, secure, and loved. She gave herself a minute to take it all in.