by Unknown
He left, hearing the lock click behind him. As they stepped out into the brisk morning, the dogs swarmed them and she paused to pet each one briefly before shooing them away. Colin looked at the yard and beyond, his gaze searching for anything amiss, but no one was in sight and the surroundings appeared peaceful.
As soon as the gate closed behind them, she began to jog. He joined her, clenching his teeth for a moment as pain from his stiff knee bothered him, but he soon worked it out.
The first rays of light bathed the world in gray. Dew was thick on the grass and a slight chill was in the fresh, clear air. Colin fell into step beside her, seeing the ranch for the first time in the daylight.
“I’d forgotten the wealth of John Frates. This is some spread,” he said, looking at the stables and the houses, the corral and outside track. In the distance were gently rolling green hills with tall oaks and spring wildflowers. “And it’s beautiful country.”
“It is at that,” she said. “Boone came to Texas intending to sell the ranch. Instead, he fell in love with Erin and that was that. He’s as rooted to this place as the trees are.”
“So maybe you’ll fall in love with one of these Texans and take root yourself.”
“Nah, not me,” she said as they jogged. He noticed she could keep up with his pace and she wasn’t winded. He shouldn’t have been surprised because he’d already had ample evidence that she was in excellent shape.
“I want to travel, to photograph people in other lands. I have a lot of plans for my photography. I’ve done a few freelance jobs for magazines and I liked it. I hope to get to do more.”
“You have a studio here now, you said.”
“I do, and I have a couple of people who work for me who can keep it open and going if I’m not here.”
“So when you move to town, are you taking the five dogs with you or is Boone taking them?”
“I hope to talk Boone into keeping them.” She extended a slender arm, pointing to a large red-brick-and-wood arena. “The track is in that building. The arena was built for the horses, but if the weather is stormy, I run there in the mornings. No one uses it for the horses this early.”
They entered the large building and he looked at a state-of-the-art arena with its built-in seats. He whistled. “This can be used for shows.”
“And it is. Rodeos, bull-riding and barrel-racing events, barn dances, all sorts of entertainment. And besides training horses here, it makes a dandy place to run in foul weather. The track is a quarter of a mile around.”
They both paused to stretch and then began to jog. He wasn’t going his fastest possible, but he was going fast enough for a brisk workout. She was still keeping up with him.
“You’re pretty good at this.”
“I try. The last freelance assignment out of the country was in Patagonia and it’s rugged country. I was thankful for every workout I’d done. It wasn’t a place for anybody who was out of shape.”
He remained silent, trying again to raise that wall between them. He didn’t want to be chums with her. And as for being out of shape—the woman had the best shape he’d seen in a long, long time.
Isabella had filled his dreams last night, added to his sleeplessness—along with her mutts—and with a start, he realized she had been the first person on his mind this morning, although, he was certain, that was because of his being in her home.
She was the first woman he had responded to physically since Danielle—no denying that one. He hadn’t wanted to live, hadn’t even felt alive for years now and never thought he would see the day he didn’t hurt over the loss of Danielle. But he had to admit that the pain from the separation had an edge taken from it. He glanced again at Isabella who was jogging beside him as if oblivious of his presence.
Clamping his jaw closed tightly, he tried to think about securing her house, making plans on how to deal with Washington. As soon as he returned from jogging, he intended to call the general to inform him of the plans. The military would be happy about him staying in Texas. There were only five of them in the group of this covert mission to find the double agent. And the five worked independently of each other, feeding information back to Adam Kowalski unless they were instructed to work together.
Colin jogged in silence until he and Isabella had covered three miles.
“I’m speeding up now,” he said, stretching out his legs and knowing he should push to the limits of his ability for part of the distance. He sprinted ahead and then was aware that she must have speeded up, too, because she was not far behind him. The last quarter mile, he slowed his pace, gradually winding down and falling back into step with her as she slowed.
“That’s a speedy run,” he said.
“There’s a workout room here, too. I do that for another half hour and then get ready to go into town to work,” she said.
“I’ll join you and see what equipment there is.”
He wasn’t surprised at the array of the best exercise equipment available. “The structures on this ranch look like they were built yesterday with millions spent on them.”
“It wasn’t yesterday, but Boone has instigated a lot of new building. They had old stables—one is still here—and they had a fire that scared them all, including Erin, so they began to rebuild. There is a lot of money generated here. This is a world-famous horse ranch.”
“I’m glad for the guys. Everyone is together again and happily married with families or one on the way.”
“Sure you don’t want to stay and become a part of it?” she asked, smiling at him.
“I’m sure,” he said curtly, knowing that wasn’t the future for him. “I may change my plans if we can ferret out the double agent. At least I could stop running and watching my back each hour of every day.”
“Lighten up, Colin,” she said, placing her hand on his arm. Lightning shot through him at her touch.
“Watch out, Isabella. I’m not one of your strays, happy to be picked up.”
She blinked and turned away. He swore silently at himself for being harsh with her, but it was that or something neither of them wanted. She was as friendly as those mutts of hers and if she wasn’t careful, that friendliness was going to complicate their lives incredibly.
His acerbic reply ended conversation and for the next half hour each of them worked out. Yet as he hoisted himself on rings, he couldn’t keep from watching her on the gym horse. She was an excellent athlete and he wondered if she had taken a lot of gymnastics. She worked the horse like a pro. She had well-toned arms and her legs captivated him as she swung them around and balanced herself. His gaze roamed over her trim bottom and his body reacted, tightening and growing hard with desire.
He flipped around so he wouldn’t face her and began to exert himself, doing exercises where he knew he better concentrate totally or he was going to hurt himself.
Finally they both cooled down and, at the same time, started back for the house.
“Can we take time for target practice?” Colin asked. “Boone said there was a firing range here.”
“Sure,” she said and shook her head. “Follow me.”
“Gladly,” he said, eyeing her bottom again as she stepped ahead of him. She led him around the arena to a concrete block building behind it. The long, narrow building was built solely for target practice and it was well equipped.
She reached up on a ledge and got a key, unlocking a gun cabinet.
“That’s got to go,” Colin said.
“What? The key up here?”
“Sure. That’s about as hard to figure as hanging it on the doorknob. Take it with you when we go and I’ll tell Boone.”
She nodded and opened the cabinet. “Take your pick.”
He picked up a Glock and watched as she did the same. He was curious about her marksmanship and shortly he saw that it was excellent, just as he had expected.
They cut short the practice, cleaned the weapons and returned them to the cabinet to lock it up. Colin held out his hand and pocketed the k
ey when she gave it to him.
The moment they stepped outside Colin gazed around them, making certain he didn’t see anyone or anything dangerous. A cowboy was near the stables with a horse. When Isabella waved to him and he returned the wave, Colin knew it was a friend.
The sun was up now, splashing warmth over them. The dew had long since disappeared and in the distance could be heard an engine from a pickup as someone drove across the ranch. A horse whinnied, somewhere in the distance a dog barked, all sounds that were safe and normal.
“That dog sounded far from the house.”
“It isn’t one of mine,” she replied. “There are four other dogs on the ranch and they are watchdogs—well, three of them are. One is just like mine and the cowboys all baby him. But there are dogs that will bark at strangers. And they’ll bark at you, so I hope you’re with one of us when you see them.”
“I’ll take my chances,” he said, mildly amused because dogs never worried him in spite of all his years of prowling around at night in his job.
“So dogs like you,” she said, looking up at him.
“You sound surprised.”
“Not really. Underneath all that numb oblivion to the world, Colin, I know there’s the warm, friendly man I remember.”
He inhaled swiftly. “Don’t bank on that one. I told you, that Colin died.”
She stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “I don’t think so. When I kissed you, you were very much alive. You’re just scared to come back to life, Colin. But you may have to in spite of yourself.”
“You think you’re going to save me just like you have those dogs, but it’s not that simple.”
“You’re so wrapped up in yourself you can’t see beyond your nose,” she said quietly. “You’re not a project in my life, Colin. I regret what’s happened to you, but I’ve got my life and I’m not letting you pull me down into your dark world.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to fix breakfast and go to work.”
She turned and sprinted ahead of him.
Stunned by her bluntness, he walked slowly toward the house. He was torn by emotions evoked by her words. Was he all wrapped up in himself? Probably. But he justified his self-absorption because he’d had to be that way for years just to get through surgeries, therapy and to survive.
Words or no words, just now there had been a challenge and a clash of wills. In spite of her declarations that should have meant there was a chasm between them, he knew the mutual attraction leaped gaps and obstacles.
He watched her take the steps to the porch two at a time. Her long legs were enticing. Every inch of her was alluring.
He grit his teeth and tried to ignore the thread of anger that burned in him over her accusations. She was getting under his skin in more ways than one.
“Dammit!” he snapped, increasing his pace. She was going to Stallion Pass and, even though he should avoid her, he wanted to go to town and he might as well ride in with her. “Yeah, right,” he said out loud, annoyed with her and with himself.
He hurried inside, glancing down the hall at her closed bedroom door, trying to shut out images of her in the shower.
He stripped and stepped into his shower, turning on the cold water, swearing and shivering as it struck him, yet knowing if it was ice, it wouldn’t cool the hot thoughts of Isabella that burned in his imagination.
Isabella showered and dried her hair, trying to keep her mind blank, yet failing. Colin had scars all over his body, but he was in prime condition and all lean, hard muscle, impossible to ignore. She shouldn’t have said what she had to him, but impulsiveness constantly got her into trouble and that probably wasn’t going to change at this point in her life.
She had a soft spot for strays, men on the mend—she had to face that fact about herself. They were keeping a wall between them or, at least, he was. Her blast had momentarily demolished that wall, but then the shuttered look had come over his features and she’d known he had withdrawn into his shell.
“Leave the man alone,” she told herself, brushing her hair vigorously as she dried it and then swiftly braided it, thinking about his hands in her hair when he had unbraided it that night.
She took a deep breath and slammed her brush down. She didn’t want to spend every waking minute thinking about Colin. Didn’t want to, but couldn’t keep from it.
She rushed around getting dressed in red slacks and a red blouse, trying to look festive because she was going to have to deal with his brooding darkness.
When she entered the kitchen, he already had coffee made and orange juice poured and was scrambling eggs. Dressed in jeans and a black knit shirt, he looked his usual handsome, dangerous self. When she tried to ignore him, he turned to look at her. The moment their gazes met, her pulse jumped and overlooking him was out of the question.
“You look great,” he said in a tone of voice that sounded as if he hated the fact that her appearance was pleasing.
“Thank you, Colin,” she answered with a smile, feeling as if she were winning a clash of wills here because she suspected he wanted to forget her existence. If he was noticing her, though, it meant he wasn’t dead to the world, after all. And that was an improvement. The minute the thought crossed her mind, she reminded herself that she was not on a save-a-soul mission with him. Stop being glad when he responds to you, she told herself.
“Want juice, toast and eggs?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” she said, pulling out the toaster and putting slices of bread into it. “And thanks for cooking breakfast.”
“Sure. I want to go to town. I want to see your studio and then I’m going to San Antonio to Mike’s office.”
“You might as well ride into Stallion Pass with me and then take my car on to San Antonio. I’m not going anywhere until closing time,” she suggested, trying to ignore the flutters that the thought of being with him stirred.
“I want to make sure that your studio is as secure as possible. While I was dressing, Mike called. He wants me to come by to meet with him. Also, I want to find a pay phone and call Washington.”
“From a pay phone?”
“That can’t be tapped or traced if I make it quick.”
She nodded, aware when she passed close to him of his clean, soapy smell.
“When is Mike coming out to check on my alarm system?”
“Late today. He said it would be after you get home. They’ll install a new system tomorrow. I can stay here for that. He wants to check out your studio, too.”
“I should be safe there. It’s in a string of shops and I have an alarm button and my words are falling on deaf ears, aren’t they?”
“Absolutely. Do you have a busy day ahead?” he asked as he stirred fluffy, yellow eggs.
“I have one appointment this morning at ten o’clock and then two appointments this afternoon.”
“I’m surprised you’re so busy in a town as small as Stallion Pass.”
“I close the studio on Friday even though I often go in and work. And a lot of my business comes from out of town. My ten o’clock this morning is a family flying in from Houston. My one o’clock this afternoon is a woman and her baby from Dallas. A lot of people come from Austin and San Antonio and places that are close.”
“That’s impressive,” he said, staring at her. “You’re amazing, Isabella.”
“You’re still thinking about a skinny kid in braces,” she replied with laughter in her voice. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so surprised that I have a profession at which I’m succeeding.”
“Maybe so,” he said, turning back to dish up the eggs.
In minutes they were seated across from each other. When their legs brushed, they both moved swiftly and apologized at the same time.
“Mike said to plan on lunch, so I’ll eat with him. What do you do for lunch?”
“Sometimes take my lunch. Sometimes meet a friend. Sometimes order out. Today I take my lunch because of the one o’clock appointment.”
“Mike said he’ll meet us h
ere later this afternoon.”
“That’s all right. How long before you think someone will track you to Texas and here to Stallion Pass?”
“It’s an impossible guess. The killer could be in Texas now. He failed in one attempt on my life—two if you count the blast five years ago, but that wasn’t aimed just at me. I know he’ll be determined to avoid failure again.”
“You keep saying ‘he.’ What makes you so certain it’s not a woman double agent?”
Colin shrugged. “Odds are a man. It isn’t a woman’s style to try to kill somebody by running them down with a car.”
“That’s true,” she said. She stood to get the coffee and refill their cups. “The eggs are yummy.”
“I put a load of clothes in to wash. I have to keep washing because you know how little I brought with me.”
She nodded and sat facing him again. In minutes they finished and together they cleaned the kitchen and separated to get ready to leave the house.
As she gathered her things, she heard him call to her that he would meet her at the car.
When she stepped into the garage that adjoined the guest house, Colin was bent beneath the hood.
“What’s wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing that I can find,” he said, closing the hood. “I wanted to check it out.”
“My car is in a locked garage.”
“That’s right, but if you think I couldn’t get in here undetected, then think again.” He held out his hand. “Let me start it.”
“You can drive for all I care,” she said, giving him the keys and aware when their fingers brushed.
“Do me a favor. Wait outside and away from the garage.”
She realized he was concerned about a bomb. “Aren’t you being overly cautious?”
He gave her a level look. “After having a brother—” he started but she waved her hand and interrupted him.
“You’re right, Colin. I’ll wait outside, but I don’t like the idea of you starting the car.”
“I won’t unless I think it’s clean.”
She left the garage and went back through the house, resetting the alarm and going outside to wait. To her relief he backed out of the garage without incident and the door automatically closed and locked behind him.
