by Leah Brooke
Once he finished, he got up from the table, too restless to sit any longer. “I can’t sit around here and watch the clock. I’m going to go check on those calves.”
And figure out what the hell he could say to get Kendra to forgive him.
Chapter Seven
As the sheriff drove away from the huge wooden house, Kendra couldn’t resist looking back, still a little shocked at the cold expressions on the men’s faces.
Ice men.
She hadn’t imagined it. They were every bit as cold as she’d remembered.
Stunned by their closed expressions, and by the distance it created, she’d been anxious to get away, mourning the loss of the intimacy she’d thought they shared.
Had it all been an act?
They’d lied to her and made her feel like a fool.
Shaken, and furious at herself for believing that they felt something for her, she turned back, her face burning when she realized that the sheriff watched her.
His eyes, filled with concern, shifted back and forth from the road to her again. “You okay?”
Embarrassed, and irritated at herself, Kendra stared out the windshield. “I’m fine, thank you.”
They’d saved her life and took care of her. She’d depended on them.
It had been nothing more than that.
Then why did she feel so betrayed?
Aware of the sheriff’s scrutiny, she turned to him and forced a smile, hoping to change the subject. “Have they lived here long?”
Way to go, Kendra. Keep talking about them.
The sheriff shrugged, seeming surprised by the question. “About five years or so. For the first two years, they hardly showed their faces. Two of them would come into town every couple of weeks to get supplies—usually Grant and Mason. Hardly spoke to anyone.”
“I’m sure they were busy. It’s a big ranch.” Smiling, she glanced at him. “And they don’t seem like the real social type.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “No, they’re not real social. Mason’s probably the most outgoing of all of them, but none of them like strangers. They seem real taken with you, though.” His smile fell. “I can take you back as soon as you’re done answering the investigator’s questions.”
Kendra grimaced. “Now that I know they don’t want to sell, I see no reason to stay.”
Especially since they didn’t trust her.
She’d believed they’d started to care for her, and the entire time, they’d been lying to her.
“I saw your face.” The sheriff’s soft voice brought her attention back to him. “You weren’t even thinking about listing the ranch. Just make sure you tell your boss they’re not interested.”
Frowning, she remembered Don Edelson’s instructions. “He just keeps raising the offer. I never even had the chance to tell them.”
The sheriff shrugged, his eyes cold. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t think they’d sell at any price. They love that place. Sometimes I think it’s like a sanctuary to them.”
He slowed as they drove into town, lifting a hand in greeting to a group of people on the sidewalk. “Cold? Yes. Distant? Absolutely. But they’re good men. They’ve helped out on several occasions and the folks in town are very grateful. They’re part of the town and I don’t want to see them hassled, and we sure as hell don’t want a damned resort here.”
Curious, Kendra dropped her head back on the headrest, too tired to hold it up anymore. “I understand that now.” Curious, she lifted her head again. “How did they help out?”
The sheriff frowned, his eyes narrowing on her face. “About a year after they moved here, a group of kids got lost up in the mountains. Teenagers. They’d gone for a day trip. When it got dark and they didn’t show up, everyone got worried.”
Kendra lifted her head. “Oh, my God. Their parents must have been frantic.”
Nodding, he stopped at a stop sign and glanced at her. “They were. Everyone was. Most of the families in town either had a kid missing, or knew one of them. Everyone got involved and went out looking for them. As soon as we got close to the Jagged Rock, Barrett and Quinn met us at the fence line, demanding to know what the hell we wanted.”
Turning the corner, he grinned. “I wasn’t in the mood to take any crap from them and told them that we were looking for some kids and told them to stay the hell out of our way. Quinn asked some pointed questions, and before I knew it, the four of them had taken charge.” Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, he smiled again. “Still haven’t figured out how they did that.”
Turning into a parking lot, he shook his head, smiling. “Turns out Quinn and Mason are two of the best trackers I’ve ever seen.”
Kendra forced a smile, remembering Quinn’s claim to be the best. “I assume they found them?”
The sheriff grinned. “Showed up with all twelve of them about three hours later. The kids had gotten lost and one of them had fallen into a ravine. Busted his leg. None of the others wanted to leave him, especially since they couldn’t decide which way they should go. Barrett, Quinn, Mason, and Grant managed to rescue the injured boy, splint him up, and get them all back to town. Barrett gave those kids a lecture they’ll never forget. To this day, those kids idolize them.”
He pulled into a parking place near the front of a brick building. “So do their parents.”
He put the car in park and removed the key from the ignition, turning toward her. “From time to time we have trouble, especially with tourists getting lost up there, and those men are always the first to lend a hand. Once we even had a convict holed up in the mountains. Damned if they didn’t find him. Somehow managed to get his gun away from him and had him well under control when they showed up on horseback at the jail.”
Remembering their icy expressions, and the way they’d rescued her, Kendra could believe it.
Each of them had an aura about them that inspired confidence, as if they could do anything.
The four of them together would be invincible.
Shaking her head at her own gullibility, she sighed. She’d actually believed they could have been hers.
Remembering the way they’d taken care of her, and made her feel safe and secure, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold on to some of that feeling.
Turning to the sheriff, Kendra smiled and tried to inject indifference into her tone. “I’m surprised they’re not married.”
The sheriff got out and came around for her. “Let’s get you inside and get you checked out. It’s damned cold out here.”
Irritated that the sheriff hadn’t commented, she got out of the car, having no choice but to follow him.
Once they went into the clinic, and Kendra had been settled in a curtained room, she eyed the sheriff, who paced back and forth in front of the curtain. “You never told me why they haven’t gotten married. I thought at first, they might be gay.”
She didn’t want to tell him that one by one, each of them had dispelled her of that idea.
To her surprise, the sheriff chuckled. “So did a lot of other people—at first.” His smile fell. “Turns out both Barrett and Grant were married before. Barrett’s wife died of cancer, and Grant’s took off for greener pastures. She likes men with money, and likes to party. Grant isn’t exactly the kind of guy who likes to party.”
Kendra nodded, saying nothing in the hope that the sheriff would continue.
The sheriff poked his head through the curtain, looking out, his impatience evident. Closing it, he started pacing again. “Mason’s the restless one. Once I was talking to him about his life back in Texas. He told me he’d been restless there, and needed a change.”
Smiling, he peeked out the curtain again. “Quinn’s the one hardest to pin down. He’s not just antisocial. He’s downright rude. He talked more to me this morning than he ever has. I usually get grunts and one-word answers from him.”
Turning to her, he studied her speculatively. “They don’t let women come to their house. When any of them are in need of female c
ompanionship, they find it elsewhere, but never let any woman come to their house. Except you.”
Kendra shrugged, her face burning under his scrutiny. “They didn’t have any choice. Once they found me, they had to take me home.”
“No, they didn’t. They could have brought you here to the clinic just as easily. They could have brought you here at any time. I rushed up there because I figured they might be a little too much for you. Instead, I almost had a fight on my hands to get you out of there. Interesting, don’t you think?”
If they’d wanted to keep her there, they could have.
Kendra looked away, blinking back tears. “I’m sure you’re imagining things. They wanted me out of there. They lied to me. They don’t trust me, and think I’m trying to manipulate them somehow into selling.” Smiling, she looked back at him, swallowing a sob. “Can you imagine anyone trying to make any of them do something they didn’t want to do?”
* * * *
Studying her, Sid could well imagine them doing just about anything for her. He couldn’t forget the way they looked at her, as if she was a treat and they were starving.
She was a pretty little thing, with eyes too big for her face. Even pale, and with scratches on her cheek, she had a quality about her, something that had a calming effect, as though nothing could touch her.
Intrigued by the fact that she blushed each time they talked about the men’s interest in her, he watched her closely.
They’d gotten to her. Even with their blustery personalities and hard-ass attitudes, they’d somehow gotten to her as much as she’d gotten to them.
If he’d been a betting man, he would bet that before long, they’d be coming after her.
He frowned when he saw her change position and wince. “The doctor should be here soon. Once we finish at my office, I’ll take you to the motel and get you settled.
He peeked out the curtain again, his gaze drawn to the man who’d been standing there ever since they’d arrived. He seemed to be waiting for someone, but amidst all the bustling activity, he caught Sid’s attention.
He didn’t seem to belong, and something about him made the hair at the back of his neck stand on end.
Turning back, he carefully kept his features bland, not wanting to show his unease.
He was so damned tired, he was probably just imagining things.
He wanted nothing more than to get the questioning over with, get Kendra settled and get to bed.
To distract her, and to keep himself awake, he paced again and kept up the conversation.
“Barrett couldn’t take his eyes off of you, Mason couldn’t seem to stop touching you, Quinn watched you like a hawk, and Grant looked like someone had punched him in the stomach when you walked in the room. I’d say all four of them have taken in interest in you. I never thought I’d see them interested in anyone.”
As he’d expected, she blushed again. “They’re hard men to read. I’m sure I disrupted their lives.”
Sid couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure that’s true, but if they didn’t like you being there, they could have brought you here.”
Grinning at her startled look, he paused at the foot of the table she sat on. “You should have seen the looks they gave me when you went up to get dressed, as if it was my fault you were leaving. All four of them kept looking toward the stairs, and they were restless the whole time you were gone.”
Kendra looked away, her face red. “I’m sure you were just imagining things. I hardly know them.”
He resumed pacing again, peeking out the curtain to see that the man had moved a few feet closer. Turning back, he forced a smile, impatient for the doctor to get here so he could go out and keep an eye on him. “I’m a trained observer. I’m telling you that as long as I’ve known them, I’ve never seen them act that way before.”
Grateful when the doctor and nurse came through the curtain, he stilled. “I’ll be right outside. I’ll be back to get you as soon as the doctor’s done.”
Waiting just long enough for her to nod, he greeted the doctor and parted the curtain, anxious to find out more about the man standing outside. Turning, he came to an abrupt halt, surprised to find the stranger gone.
After questioning the nurse at the desk, he realized that the man had no reason to be here.
Everyone else that had been treated had gone.
Kendra was the only patient remaining in the clinic.
The hair at the back of his neck stood on end.
He could feel the danger in the air, and couldn’t get over the feeling that it had something to do with Kendra.
Hurrying toward the door, he looked out at the parking lot and saw a dark blue sedan pulling out of the lot, tires squealing, and turning down the road toward town.
Uneasy, he headed back inside and placed a call to his deputy. “Frank, I want you to find out everything you can about Edelson Realty, Don Edelson, and why he would be so anxious to get Barrett and the others to sell the Jagged Rock. There’s a dark blue sedan heading to town. If you see him, pull him over. I want to know who the hell he is.”
He disconnected and paced in front of the privacy curtain where the doctor treated Kendra.
With a sigh, he made another call to inform the men at the Jagged Rock to be on the lookout for trouble. Frowning when the answering machine came on, he left a short message, disconnecting again just as the curtain opened.
Something was very wrong, and judging by the evidence, it had everything to so with the Jagged Rock Ranch.
And Kendra was right in the middle of it.
He’d hate like hell to see what the men at the Jagged Rock would do if someone threatened them, their ranch, or Kendra.
Hell, it was going to be another long night.
Chapter Eight
Barrett watched the others go toward the house, and even though he was as anxious to get back to Kendra as the others, he couldn’t help but pause to look over the land. He’d fallen in love with this property the first time he saw it.
It had been his salvation.
His sanctuary.
It wore him out so that he could sleep.
Now, it just felt empty.
He made his way to the house, smiling to himself when he found the kitchen empty.
Knowing the others would all be taking their showers, he took off his hat and coat and hung them on the hooks by the door.
Anxious to go to town to bring Kendra back, he pulled off his boots and started for the stairs, pausing as another scent hit him.
Her scent.
Even through the smell of their dinner and coffee, he could detect the sweet smell that lingered on his pillow.
Closing his eyes, he breathed it in, savoring the delicious scent that had nothing to do with perfume, a scent uniquely Kendra.
Opening his eyes, he grinned and started up the stairs.
The large house had been intimidating at first, and much larger than the four of them needed, but they hadn’t been able to resist the land that went with it.
It had taken some getting used to, but it had never felt so cold and empty before.
Irritated at himself, he hurried up the stairs and into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
The scent, much stronger here, sent a wave of longing through him that made his cock jump.
He paused next to the bed, gritting his teeth against the arousal that haunted him ever since Kendra snuggled up to him while she slept.
Christ, he wanted her. Reaching out, he touched the pillow she’d used, his cock growing larger at the memory of how she’d felt in his arms.
Cursing, he turned away from the bed, stopping abruptly when he got a glimpse of blue material on the floor next to his side of the bed.
Crossing to it, he bent and picked it up, his heart pounding furiously.
Fingering the soft material of her pajama top, he lowered himself to the side of the bed, staring down at it.
In her hurry to leave, she must have missed it.
Br
inging it to his nose, he closed his eyes in bliss, breathing in the scent of her.
The scent of warm, soft woman.
Despite his arousal, he’d experienced a sense of calm as he held her. Wrapped around her, he’d held her close, filled with a strong swell of satisfaction at having her warm softness against him.
Damn her for doing this to him and then walking away!
With a curse, he flung the soft material across the room and strode into the connecting bathroom.
Under the warm spray, he braced his hands on the wall and closed his eyes, his body tight with need for her. Gritting his teeth, he fought it, not about to come until his cock was deep inside her.
He wanted her so badly, he shook with it.
Anxious to get to her, he washed quickly, cursing his own body’s demand for satisfaction the entire time.
Once he finished his shower, he dried off and went back into the bedroom to get dressed again, his gaze drawn repeatedly to the puddle of dark material.
Cursing himself for being an idiot, he finished getting dressed and went to retrieve it. Fisting his hands in the material, he held it to his nose again, unable to resist. Calling himself all kinds of a fool, he folded it and stuck it in his top drawer.
Hurrying his steps, he made his way back down to the kitchen, coming to an abrupt halt when he saw the look on Quinn’s face.
His stomach knotted, knowing instinctively that it had something to do with Kendra. “What is it?”
Mason and Grant came down the stairs right behind him, both men rushing forward. Grant looked from Barrett to Quinn. “What’s going on?”
Quinn straightened. “I just listened to the messages. Listen to this.” He jabbed his finger at the play button.
“Hello? This is Don Edelson. Look, I sent someone out there, but the plane crashed. I haven’t heard from my agent yet, but I want you to know that I’m still working on a deal for you. I have a very interested buyer. He’s authorized me to raise the offer to seven million. Please call me.” He rattled off his phone number.
Barrett gritted his teeth. “Didn’t seem real concerned about Kendra, did he?”
