Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite)

by Larie Brannick

  “What did that bastard do to you?” He gritted the words out, his voice held an edge of anger she’d never heard before.

  Meg wanted to ease his mind. “It’s not anything you did—but Troy used to…sometimes…” She blew out a breath. “That was kind of his…move. When he couldn’t manipulate me with words.”

  “Jesus, Meg.” Jake snatched up his underwear and jammed his legs into them before standing in front of her and grasping her hand. “If I could, I would take away everything that asshole put you through. Hell, tell me where he lives, and I’ll go kick the shit out of him.”

  That got a smile out of her. “I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind seeing that.” She found her panties and shook out her dress.

  “I’m not him, Meg. I wasn’t trying to manipulate you. I thought you were comfortable here. I was hoping you’d agree to stay because you want to be here. With me.”

  “I am comfortable with you, Jake.” Too comfortable. “But we haven’t even known each other a week.”

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t help it. I feel closer to you than I’ve ever felt to anyone else before, and I think you feel it, too.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “What about last night? After what we shared, were you really planning to just leave?”

  Meg didn’t know what she wanted. Well, that wasn’t true. She wanted to believe everything he was saying. Wanted to trust him. But a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that this was simply more manipulation. How could she trust her gut when it had failed her so miserably in the past? She couldn’t let him have so much power over her. “Jake, we had sex.” Great sex. Mind blowing sex. The best sex of my life. “I doubt that means you’re ready to have me move in with you.”

  “What if it does?”

  “What? What if it does what?”

  “What if it means I want you to move in with me?”

  “Do you hear yourself? We hardly know each other!”

  Jake put a finger to Meg’s lips to silence her. “The last thing I want to do is upset you any more or start a fight. All I’m saying is, I think there’s something going on between us that we should explore.”

  Though still confused, she nevertheless found it hard to stay angry when he looked at her that way and said all the right things. She sighed.

  “Okay, look. We obviously have some kind of chemistry thing going on, and it’s very powerful. But I don’t think we should be making a decision based on our hormones. I lost a lot of myself when I allowed Troy to control me. I’ll never be that person again.” Calling herself crazy, she continued. “I’ll stay the week. You won’t have to explain anything to your parents, and it will give the court time to dismiss the bogus petition. We’ll go from there.” She took her clothes to the bathroom and closed the door.

  …

  Jake hurriedly dressed to keep up with Meg. She had already donned her dress and was pulling on her sandals when he emerged from the bathroom. She was obviously still upset and probably would have liked to be by herself. Well, to hell with that. He crouched to search under his bed for one of his shoes. Wearing only his jeans and carrying his shoes, he scrambled after her just in time to see the front door close.

  “Shit. Man, don’t fuck this up,” he told himself. Half hopping, half running, he managed to get his shoes on and ran after her without tying them.

  Meg was almost to the trail at the back of the house when he got outside.

  “Meg, wait!” he called, but she didn’t slow down or even acknowledge that she’d heard him. He took off at a full run, and it didn’t take him long to catch up to her, stumbling over his shoelaces a couple of times. “Dammit, Meg. Slow down.” He reached for her, pulling her to a stop and nearly colliding with her when he tripped on his laces again.

  One eyebrow arched, she stared him down. “That’s a good way to break your neck. Didn’t your mother teach you not to run with your shoes untied?”

  “Well, I didn’t really have a choice what with you taking off like that.”

  She shrugged. “I needed some air.”

  “Jeez, Meg. I said I was sorry—”

  Meg held up a hand to stop him. “It’s not that. Okay, it’s not only that. I just feel like things are moving too fast.” Her face softened. “I understand your concern, I really do. I just need a little breathing room. I hate feeling cornered. I lived that way for too long, and once I got out, I learned to do things on my own, Jake.”

  “I get that. And I’ll try to give you some space. But I want you to get used to having me around. Don’t push me away.”

  Meg sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t want you to go away. Let’s just try to take it a little slower, okay?”

  “Okay, I’ll try.” He pulled her closer, lowering his head at the same time. “I think it’s time to kiss and make up.”

  She met his gaze.

  “Am I forgiven?” He skimmed his lips across hers.

  “You’re forgiven.” She barely whispered it. So this is what it’s like to be in a normal relationship. Give and take and compromise, oh my.

  Jake tightened his hold and pressed a kiss to her mouth. “And you’ll stay with me until you get things sorted out with your property?” He kissed her again.

  Meg wrapped her arms around his neck and flicked her tongue across his lips. “I’ll stay. But only if you’ll let me help you at the clinic. It’s the least I can do.”

  He was so happy his grin nearly split his cheeks. “Absolutely. Whatever you want.” Their mouths met again, and when they finally came up for air, they were both breathing hard. “We’d better get moving, huh?”

  Meg nodded, and Jake knelt to tie his shoes. They started up the steps to the clinic and Jake smiled when he heard Meg mutter under her breath, “So much for slowing down.”

  They finished with the animals in record time. In a short four days, it had become their routine to feed the animals together while Jake checked on each one. He enjoyed the quiet time, but also found working like this with her comfortable, as though they’d been doing things together all their lives.

  They got back to the house, and Jake sent Meg to go shower while he took care of a few things in his office. The urge to ask if he could join her was great, but since she’d just given him a hard time about slowing down, he thought better of it. He’d returned to the bedroom when Meg stepped out of the bathroom. A man could get used to seeing her in his bedroom. He liked it. A lot.

  She gestured to her clothes, and he realized she was wearing the same dress she’d had on last night and had braided her hair again. “We left the cabin in such a hurry I didn’t think to grab any clothes. The shower’s all yours. I’ll wait in the kitchen for you.” Meg started for the door, but stopped when Jake spoke.

  “I didn’t have a chance to set the coffee maker before we left. Could you make some? I won’t be long, and I’m sure my folks would love a cup when they get up.”

  “Of course. Anything else?”

  “I thought we could go to breakfast together. I mean with my parents. Sound okay?”

  “Sure, sounds nice. I’ll go start the coffee.”

  Before she made it to the door, Jake caught her by the waist and pulled her close. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Thanks, Meg. For everything.” He released her before she could say anything and strolled into the bathroom.

  Jake smiled to himself as he undressed quickly and stepped into the shower. No matter what Meg said, he knew she felt the same way he did about what was happening between them. The question was: how could he forge a closer bond without scaring her off again...? His first instinct was to keep her in his bed and never let her go. Though it seemed like a fantastic idea, he’d promised to put the brakes on a bit—meaning he’d have to be a little more subtle in his pursuit. He whistled while he thought about how to do that and finished his shower.

  …

  Bob and Linda came into the kitchen at the same time, happily chattering with each other. They smiled when they saw Meg at the table.r />
  “Oh! Good morning, dear. We didn’t know you were up.”

  “Morning.” Meg smiled back. “I’m an early riser. I guess that comes from growing up on a farm. We always had a lot to do in the morning. Coffee?”

  She started to rise, but Linda put a hand on her shoulder. “You sit, I’ll get it.”

  Bob sat in the chair next to Meg. “That’s right, you said you grew up around here.”

  “Well, our farm was about two hundred miles from Big Rock, near Gunnison, but my family had property here, too, where we spent time in the summer. My grandparents had planned to retire here.”

  “So that’s the property we heard you and Jake talking about?” Bob accepted the mug that Linda offered him.

  “Yes. I’ve decided to build a house there, like my grandparents wanted.”

  “I think that’s wonderful.” Linda sat on the other side of Meg with her own cup of coffee. “What is it you said you did for a living, dear? Surely you don’t just help Jake at the clinic.”

  “I’m hoping to find a teaching position in the fall—” Meg’s voice faltered when Jake walked in the room looking sexy as hell in his worn jeans and snug, navy blue T-shirt. His hair was still damp, and he smelled so good, Meg wondered what his parents would think if she jumped up and ripped his clothes off right here and now. He must have seen something in her eyes, because he winked at her as he walked to the coffee pot.

  “Meg’s been a great help to me since Loretta retired. She’s even offered to stay and help until her teaching job comes through. It’s working out really well. Wouldn’t you say, Meg?”

  “Um…right. It’s a good arrangement for both of us.” Meg tore her eyes from his and sipped her coffee.

  “Jacob, why is it every time we ask Meg a question, you answer it for her?” His mother gave him an inquisitive stare.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing that.” He shrugged innocently. “Hey, I thought we could go to Sadie’s for breakfast. You guys always like that place.”

  “That would be great, son.” Bob stood up and took his cup to the sink.

  Linda agreed and stood, as well. “What about Kristen? I don’t think she’s awake yet.”

  “I don’t imagine she is. When Meg picked her up at the bar last night, she was pretty out of it. She’ll probably sleep for quite a while. We’ll leave her a note.” Jake reached for the note pad and pen he kept by his phone.

  Linda’s eyes grew wide. “You picked her up at a bar?”

  “Yeah. Well, Meg did. Kristen took your car to town last night and got trashed. You didn’t know she left?”

  “No, we turned in early last night. Did you hear her leave, Bob?”

  “No. I must have left the keys out here. She’s all right?”

  “She was really drunk and needs to sleep it off. We won’t be gone long, and we can pick up your car on the way home.”

  Wanting to be sure Kristen was really okay, Bob stopped by her room to check on her. He agreed with Jake’s assessment. “We’ll let her sleep it off.”

  Meg nodded with relief. “Good. I’m glad it’s not something more serious.”

  “She’ll be fine. Hopefully a little wiser, too.”

  Sadie’s Diner was packed with tourists and locals alike. There were probably fifteen tables in the dining room and also a bar with ten stools. It was rustic inside with light, pine paneling accented with dark, forest green chairs and tabletops. One of the waitresses recognized Jake and got them a table right away, in spite of the line forming at the door. In typical girlfriend fashion, Meg arched a questioning brow at him.

  He smiled and shrugged. “It’s good to be the vet.” Breakfast was a relaxed and happy meal. Jake’s parents really were a lot of fun to be around, and soon Meg found herself laughing and joining in their easy banter. The food was great, and Meg’s mood lightened as the meal progressed. For the first time in her life, she had a feeling of what it might be like to be part of a large family. She liked it.

  …

  Monty sat quietly at the bar, sipping coffee and listening to the foursome at the table behind him. He’d risen early and gone out to the vet’s office to watch and wait for Meg. Keeping his eye on her had become his primary job. He’d even slept in his car one night where he’d parked up the road from the animal hospital to nose around, but the damned animals had nearly given him away. It was clear that Meg was staying with the good doctor, but for how long? Was she planning to stay until the estate was settled?

  Laughter from her table caught his attention. What a happy little bunch they were. Seemed like Miss Perfect had latched onto yet another family.

  Family. Hah. The whole concept left him cold.

  Yeah, he could admit there had been times he missed his father, but the feeling never lasted long. He’d had some good times with his dad when he was a kid—at least until his mother did something to ruin it. The guy was a pushover. She was the one who’d ruled the roost, and the old man had let her.

  But then he’d died, and Monty was left to fend for himself with the old bitch. He didn’t think about her much anymore. Yeah, he missed her money, but never her. She hadn’t liked him much anyway. Would have been a lot happier with a sweet, little girl. Someone she could have played dress-up with. Someone who wouldn’t get in trouble at school or come home dirty.

  Little Miss Perfect Meg was the old lady’s wet dream, and while Monty wouldn’t have cared too much about sharing his mother’s attention, he damned sure wasn’t going to share her money. Jesus, to think his mother had wanted him to play big brother to that little bitch.

  Unfortunately for her, that hadn’t worked out. Of course, his plans hadn’t quite worked out for him after she died—after he’d killed her—either. Three years in juvie had given him lots of time to think. And plan. And now all these years later, it was finally coming together. The thought made him smile. He wanted Meg to struggle. How many years had he thought about taking back what he was due? How many times had he dreamed of the look on her face when she realized who he was and what he’d come for? He was finally going to see it in her eyes.

  Right before he killed her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jake didn’t recognize the big red SUV parked in front of the clinic, or the people that piled out of it when they saw him pull in. By the time he parked near the house and shut off the engine, a man, woman, and two kids were running toward him. He’d barely stepped out of the car when they started the rapid fire questions.

  “Are you Dr. Matthews?”

  “Is Rex here?”

  “Where’s Rex?”

  They were all talking at once, so Jake raised his hand. “Whoa. Calm down. Yes, I’m Dr. Matthews, and you must be the Taylors?”

  The man walked forward and extended his hand. “Mike Taylor. Glad to meet you, Doctor. This is my wife, Cindy, and our kids, Michael and Molly.” He indicated each one with his free hand. “I’m sorry to surprise you like this, but we just got the message you left about Rex and we came right out.”

  Jake smiled and nodded as Mike kept shaking his hand. By this time, Meg had gotten out of the car and stood behind him. Bob and Linda had also arrived in the rental they’d picked up from the bar.

  “We’ve been looking for Rex for a couple of days. We didn’t want to leave the campground in case he came back, but we had to come closer to town to get phone service. That’s when we checked our home machine and got your message.”

  Jake finally retrieved his hand and motioned to the clinic. “Well, let’s go get Rex. He’ll sure be excited to see you.” He reached back and grabbed Meg’s hand and pulled her along.

  “We can’t thank you enough for taking care of him, doctor. We were frantic when we realized he’d wandered off. He usually stays right with us. I don’t know why he took off.”

  “He might have been chasing a rabbit or something. But don’t just thank me. Thank Meg. She’s the one who found him and brought him to me.” All eyes turned to her as Jake unlocked the door and u
shered them inside. “He’s in the kennel room. I’ll go get him.”

  Cindy Taylor stopped in front of Meg. “Really? You found Rex? What happened?”

  “He’d wandered into the road, and a pickup hit him. I brought him here, and Jake took care of him. I’m so happy you got Jake’s message. We were really hoping Rex’s family would find him.”

  “We can’t thank you enough…Meg, is it?”

  She nodded. “But Jake’s the one who fixed Rex up.”

  When he came through the door with Rex on a leash, the four Taylors ran across the room, whooping and crying, hugging the dog and ruffling his fur. Rex barked excitedly and wagged his tail giving doggie kisses to them all. Jake walked over and put his arm around Meg’s waist, pulling her close to his side.

  “You all right?” He whispered in her ear.

  Eyes stinging, she sniffed and nodded, not sure she could get any words out without blubbering.

  He gave her a gentle squeeze. “I know you got pretty attached to him.”

  She took a deep breath. “I did. But look how happy he is. How happy they all are.”

  Mike came over to the counter where Meg and Jake stood, a wide smile on his face. “I don’t know how we can ever thank you for taking such good care of him. I know his leg is broken, but there were no other injuries? We can take him home now?”

  “You sure can. His cast will have to come off in about four weeks. Your family vet can do that. Otherwise, just try to keep him from running and jumping around a lot until it heals.”

  He walked around the counter so Mike could take care of the business of settling the bill. Meg walked over to Rex and his family and, kneeling in front of the dog, gave him a big hug and scratched his ears.

  “You be a good boy, Rex. And drop us a line to let us know how you’re doing.”

  She stood up when Mike came back over to them. The kids were on either side of Rex, and Cindy took the leash. The five of them walked out the door together, and Mike picked him up to put him in the back seat. They all climbed in and waved as they drove away. Meg realized that Jake’s parents had been in the waiting room the whole time. His mother eyed them both suspiciously as they walked out the door.