Angie fell onto her sofa, laughing. “You just compared the human courtship ritual to a bird’s.” She laughed so hard tears ran out of her eyes.
Teresa joined her. “It is pretty funny, but Grandma says we’re not far from acting like animals most of the time.” This sent them both into peals of laughter.
“Come on.” Teresa pulled her off the sofa. “It’s your turn. Pretend I’m the one.”
Trying to be serious, Angie wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She envisioned herself moving around a crowd with her shoulders back, knowing she looked good. She almost felt the stares, and then she turned. Instead of Teresa, she imagined Brent, his light blue eyes giving her the once-over. A rush of heat flowed through her veins. She held the glance for a second, turned her head and moved one step forward before glancing over her shoulder.
“Wow, you’re a fast learner. You already know who you’re going to use that look on. I can tell Grandma you’ll do just fine.” She laughed. “Poor man, he won’t know what hit him.”
Chapter Two
Harmon Yannell, Angie’s stepfather, paced the floor of his office in Philadelphia. “That damn FBI agent, Glynes, is determined to bring me down and put me in prison.”
“But it wasn’t him this time, Harmon,” his number-one man spoke up. “Someone outside the agency captured Fred and turned him over to Glynes. Fred would die before he betrayed you. It’s been months now since he was caught. If he’d talked, we’d know.”
“I suppose you’re right, but I still feel Glynes’s hot breath on the back of my neck. He’s getting closer, and there are two people, somewhere, who know secrets that could topple my whole organization. We’d be in big trouble if he found them.”
“Your runaway wife and her daughter disappeared years ago. They’re probably dead, or we’d have discovered their hiding place.”
“Or we missed them somehow. Get a few men together and start another search. Find out if they’re alive or dead. If they’re not dead, make them that way. And put a tail on Glynes. I want to know every step he takes. I’d take him out, but then the whole FBI force wouldn’t stop until they had me.”
“Right, boss.”
Harmon threw himself in his chair. He never should have married the bitch. Her looks had caught his attention, especially her golden hair and lush body. She was smart, and wouldn’t put out without a ring on her finger. She’d had a young daughter who lived with them. The daughter had never liked him, but the first year of the marriage had been all right. She’d given him a daughter as lovely as her. Then when Lily was about one, his wife had overheard something she shouldn’t have and found out his real business.
She’d gone ballistic on him. After he slapped her around, he was convinced he had her under control. His mistake. The bitch took her daughter and fled. He had no doubt she’d have taken their daughter, too, but she’d known he’d move heaven and earth until he found her.
After a while, when they didn’t find them, he’d called off the search. She’d keep her mouth shut. Otherwise she knew he’d kill her daughter and then her.
But in the last twenty-one years, things had changed. Especially in the last ten.
Nate Glynes had joined the FBI task force that was looking into his business. Glynes had made it his personal crusade to take down the Yannell organization. He’d become totally obsessed with the idea, and he got closer every day. The people with the knowledge to help him had to be taken out.
“Hi, Papa, why the long face?” Lily Yannell strode across the office and hugged her father.
She was the sunshine in his life. Her name fit her perfectly. Her disposition as sweet and sunny as a flower. At twenty-two, she’d become an unusual beauty. She had her mother’s light blonde hair and his dark brown eyes.
“You’re dressed up. Where are you going?”
“Did you forget, Papa? I’m celebrating my graduation from college at lunch with friends. Then tomorrow I leave on my car trip around the country.”
“I don’t like the idea of you traveling alone.”
“I know, but I’ll keep in close contact with my cell phone. She gave him another hug. “Don’t worry. I’m a big girl now.”
“I don’t understand how you finished college and got your masters in four years. You should still be in school, not heading out to see the world.”
“Papa, we’ve gone over this before. I worked hard on an accelerated course in high school and college. I’m taking this summer off before getting a job. I’ve gone to school every summer for years.”
“All right, but call me. And I mean every night when you stop.”
“I will.”
She whirled out of the room. Always she moved at breakneck speed as though something was just ahead and she had to catch it.
His head hurt. He had a bad feeling and couldn’t shake it.
He picked up his phone and made a call. Lily wouldn’t like it if she knew, but he wasn’t having her traveling around with no protection. He’d get a report each night from her, and the man he’d just directed to guard her.
* * * *
Angie pulled her hair up into a loose bun. Why hadn’t she ignored Brent Terrell and cut it? With a long hot summer ahead, she’d have to keep it up anyway. The change in her hair and eye color had her staring at herself. After years of dressing and pretending to be someone else, she felt more a stranger in her own persona. The disguise had become her.
Time to go. The barbecue had started a half hour ago. She hadn’t wanted to be the first arrival. Hopefully with a crowd already there she’d blend in.
She headed out of town to Drake’s ranch. He’d made tons of improvements and had made a success of the cattle ranch. Janice had become one of her best friends, although neither she nor Samantha, her other good friend, knew anything about Angie’s real life. Or had her life here in Saddle Creek become truer than the one she lived her first ten years? She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
This was a fresh start. Forget the old. She swung her car into a vacant spot. A number of people milled around, talking and drinking. The barbecue cooked on several big grills. Angie got out of her car, lifted her chin, and stepped forward. This was her first outing since she’d thrown away her wig.
Janice waved and headed in her direction. She stopped to grab a cup of something and strode quickly to Angie’s side.
“Drake told me about the change. I’m not sure I’d even have recognized you otherwise. I love it. Here.” She handed her the cup. “It’s a mixture of fruit juices and a little vodka.” She grinned. “Drake also told me about Brent and you meeting again.” She laughed. “I’ve razzed him constantly since he got here. I can’t believe he charged into the beauty shop.”
“He did, like a knight in shining armor to defend my hair.”
“Well, he’s been like a bear with a sore tooth since then. I need to quit teasing him.”
Angie started to ask if he’d skipped the barbecue, but before the words came out, she sensed him. Turning her head, their eyes clashed across the wide picnic area. He moved his attention from her face, down over her body, and back up again. Heat surged through her. Deep inside the ache came back.
He started to walk in her direction.
Janice looked where Angie was staring. “My, my, this is getting interesting. I’ll leave you two to get better acquainted.”
Her words barely registered to Angie. She forced herself to turn away. She glanced around trying to find another person to talk with to avoid the man closing in on her. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, and her legs were almost too weak to take the steps necessary to avoid him. Why avoid him? She was a confident, mature woman, and no man, especially Brent Terrell, would make her run. Squaring her shoulders, she moved around to face him.
“You didn’t cut your hair.”
“No. But I may still as the summer gets hotter. I’m not sure why you have this obsession about my hairstyle.”
He shrugged. “I hate to see beauty destroyed.”
“Have dinner with me.”
“I doubt I’ll have room for more food after I eat barbecue. There must be enough to feed twice as many guests.”
“Brent and Janice like to have plenty. Tomorrow then?”
He really was a handsome man. His rich brown hair reminded her of shiny mahogany. The slight curl made her fingers ache to touch the glossy strands. Blue eyes and long, curly eyelashes would make any woman envious. His nose had a slight curve, probably from some boyhood accident, but it didn’t take away from his looks, only made him more alluring. A sensuous mouth curved into a breathtaking smile, and his square jaw kept the rest from being too soft.
“If you keep looking at me like that I’ll have to do something about it.”
His voice came out in a deep purr that slid along her skin in a tingling caress. She wet her dry lips and saw his pupils dilate. A flicker of lust flashed in their depths. His hand touched her arm, and a zing went straight to her pussy.
“You haven’t drunk any of your drink. Come with me. We’ll get you a fresh one and something to eat.”
“I don’t need anything else. I see Samantha. I want to speak with her. Excuse me.” Flustered, she hurried across the dusty ground toward where Samantha and her husband had parked. Samantha’s two older children jumped out of the car and ran to join the other kids. Samantha held on to her one-year-old son.
She glanced behind Angie. “Running away from Brent?”
“What? No. Whatever made you think that?”
“Well, your face is flushed, and he’s frowning in this direction.”
“We’d been talking, nothing important. How are you?”
“Fine. How about you? I love the hair and eyes. What brought on the change?”
“Really, it’s no big deal. Everyone is making too much of it.”
“Hmmm, the lady changes her hair color drastically and apparently for years has worn contacts in a different color to change her appearance. She’s surprised when questioned by her friends. There’s a mystery here.”
Angie’s heart sank, and uneasiness made her shiver. She’d made a mistake. There were questions she couldn’t and didn’t want to answer. But still, the surprise would die down. No one outside of Saddle Creek would be interested in an unimportant schoolteacher and her hair or eye color. She hoped.
“Don’t look so upset, Angie. I’m teasing,” Samantha said. “I’m sorry. I’d never have said anything if I thought I’d hurt your feelings.”
“No, no, that’s all right. I’ve just been surprised at all the speculation over the few changes I’ve made. I didn’t think people would notice that much.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. I mean you were attractive as a brunette with brown eyes, but now you’re a stunning blonde with the most fascinating eye color I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks. Can we change the subject?”
“Absolutely. I’m starved. Let’s go eat.”
Angie managed to avoid Brent the rest of the afternoon, but she was always aware of where he was. And she felt his eyes on her often during the day. She ate lunch with her two friends and their children. The men ate while standing around the grills, talking and drinking cold beer. Later some of them started a game of horseshoes.
Brent saddled an older mare with a gentle nature. Angie recognized it as the same one Drake had used to teach Janice to be more confident when horseback riding. The children lined up around the corral. Brent had a way with the kids. He kept them in line with a soft but firm voice, and encouraged the few who were frightened.
Each time he put one of them on the horse, he walked around beside them, ready for any possible occurrence. Angie’s heart softened at the sight of him and his patience and caring. He’d make a good father.
Almost as though he’d heard her thought, he glanced up and across at her. It was only for an instant, but the light in his eyes sent electricity sizzling along every nerve in her body.
He’d be the perfect one to father her child. But she only needed his sperm to fertilize her egg. She didn’t want him in her life. He was too big and overwhelming.
She needed a man she could marry, then he’d get her pregnant, and later they’d divorce. Not one that would be around and in her life even if they dissolved their marriage. She doubted Brent would be willing to forget he conceived a child, and her mother’s experience with her stepfather had convinced Angie she never wanted a permanent husband.
As the sun set, the children settled down on their parents’ laps. Several of the cowboys took up instruments and began to play. A quiet, comfortable ending to a busy, noisy day.
Angie planned to leave in a moment, but first she stood a little distance away, leaning against a large oak, and watched the gold, red, and purple colors streak across the vast sky. A cool breeze brushed over her face.
“Mind if I join you?”
Before she answered, Brent was beside her. His musky, masculine scent surrounded her.
“Another lovely day ended. I’d forgotten the feeling of working the land and watching the sunset across the prairie. Simple things that get lost in a busy life far from home.”
“Texas isn’t your home.”
“Montana is, and we grew up on a ranch. It isn’t that much different except, Montana has the mountains and the cold.” He smiled, and her heart lurched. He was so close she noticed the stubble of his beard. If she leaned forward an inch, their mouths would touch. A desire to taste him urged her to close that space.
He moved first, his lips gentle on hers. When she parted her lips slightly, his tongue brushed across her teeth and caressed the top and sides of her mouth. His hand held her chin softly, but firmly, while his other arm pulled her tight against his hard chest.
Her tongue teased his, touching, pulling away. All sane thoughts had left her mind. There was only his body, his taste, and his scent around her.
Gently, he pulled back. The shadows had hidden them somewhat, but Angie was embarrassed that she’d succumbed so quickly and mindlessly to him. She tried to read the expression in his eyes, but it was getting too dark.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at six.”
“I didn’t say I’d go out with you.”
He grinned. “Oh yes, you did.” He turned to walk away in one graceful movement. “See you tomorrow, pansy eyes.”
She watched him saunter toward the ranch house and realized the music had stopped. People were preparing to leave. She took a roundabout way to her car and headed home.
How was she going to fight this attraction she had for Brent, especially if he agreed to be her temporary husband?
He isn’t what I want or need. Or is he?
Chapter Three
Early in morning, the day after the barbecue, Brent followed Drake into the barn. Inside, the building still held shadows from the night. The cool air smelled of hay and horses. Brent walked to the stall holding the stallion that Drake had loaned him to ride. He started to saddle him.
“I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying being back on a ranch and working the land. I thought after all the cosmopolitan cities I’d visited these past years that I’d gotten the cowboy out of me,” Brent said.
“I don’t think that’s possible. Once you grow up working on a ranch, I think the cowboy becomes part of your DNA. If anyone had asked me, back before I met Janice, if I ever planned to live like this again, I’d have said, ‘hell no.’” Drake swung up in his saddle. “Let’s go herd some cattle.”
They rode along in silence for a few minutes. Brent enjoyed the fresh air and his brother’s company.
“You thinking about changing your career back to being a cowpoke?” Drake spoke in a teasing tone.
“Maybe.”
“Think you and Ty can get along and share the Montana ranch?”
“Nope. Too cold up there, and Ty’s used to being the boss. Cousin Dirk may own a share of the TRC organization now, but he likes to leave the busine
ss part to Ty. They work well together."
"The cold is one of the reasons I chose to start fresh here," Drake said.
“I figure I’ll look around this area. I hope to find a place somewhere within a hundred-mile vicinity.”
Drake gave him a surprised glance. “You serious?”
“I think so. We’ll see.”
“You have a lady in mind that’s fueling this sudden decision?”
“Not sure.”
“Well I’ll be damned. Another one bites the dust.” Laughing, Drake nudged his horse ahead, effectively ending any further conversation.
Brent held back. He’d startled himself when he’d verbalized thoughts just beginning to form in his head. Did he really want to give up his business and settle on a piece of land that took more physical labor than he’d done in a long time? Maybe it was a temporary feeling fueled by the fun he and Drake were having working together again. And perhaps a slight attraction to Angie, who happens to live nearby.
He just needed to get her out of his system. They’d enjoy a short romance, and then he’d be cured. His interest in any particular woman never lasted very long.
* * * *
Angie tried on three dresses before deciding on her new pale blue sundress. She’d bought a white shawl that would keep her warm if the air conditioning was cold in the restaurant. She wished she knew where they were going. She'd have a better idea of what clothes to wear. Still, a sundress would work most any place. She slipped into her white sandals, took one more peek at her makeup, and was ready.
Butterflies were doing a dance in her stomach. Her last date was over two years ago. Jumping back into the dating game with a man like Brent was like starting to fish for shark, instead of minnows. Dangerous. She hadn’t felt like herself at all today. Tonight had been constantly on her mind. Thank goodness it was time for him to pick her up. Much more of this anxiety, and she’d crawl right out of her skin. The doorbell ringing sent another zip up her spine.
Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 2
