She raised up and kissed him. Immediately he turned to her, holding her close. Together they raised the room temperature what felt like fifteen degrees. With their eyes they examined each other’s body, till finally Jessica reached out a hand and traced the muscles he had developed over the years.
Steve was fascinated with her curves, her fragility. Yet he knew she was a smart, capable woman. He couldn’t believe she wanted him. Never one to turn down his dream, he kissed her senseless. Almost of its own accord, their clothing disappeared until they were both naked under the sheets.
Steve told himself he shouldn’t do what he was doing. But Jessica encouraged him. She was so sweet and yet so strong. A rare combination in a woman.
Unable to resist what his body wanted, Steve made love to Jessica, tasting her, memorizing her beautiful body in case he never had this opportunity again. That thought intensified his lovemaking, because he wanted her again…and again.
He tried not to look at the future. He never had. But a future without Jessica wouldn’t be worth living. Though he didn’t tell her he loved her, he realized he did.
When she presented him with a condom, whispering that she didn’t want to get pregnant until everything was settled down, he was a goner. The thought of the two of them making a baby, having a future, was overwhelming.
Almost as overwhelming as the finale of their lovemaking. After they climaxed simultaneously Steve held her close as he regained his breath. When he attempted to speak, Jessica pressed her fingers over his lips.
“No, you don’t have to promise anything, Steve. Just don’t shut me out. I can help you, I promise.”
“I could never shut you out, Jess, but I want to keep you safe. You’re a rare woman. A special woman. I want—”
“Me, too. Let’s trust that there will be a future…for us.” With a sweet smile, she slipped from the bed and put on her robe, gathering up the nightgown and panties she’d worn.
“After your shower, come downstairs for some breakfast,” she said as she left his bedroom.
Steve lay there, remembering, memorizing, the wonderful sensations of making love to Jessica. He didn’t ever want to forget what he’d experienced as the sun rose that morning.
JESSICA LOOKED UP AS Steve entered the kitchen. She’d begun to wonder if she should go check on him. He’d taken an awfully long time to come down.
“Morning, Steve. How are you today?” she asked, as if she hadn’t spent the night with him.
“Fine. Sorry if I overslept.” He nodded to Red and Mildred, who were also in the kitchen.
“You’ve been hurt, boy,” Red reminded him. “You need your rest.”
“And some good food,” Mildred suggested. “I made cinnamon rolls this morning. I’ll warm one up for you.”
As she did, she poured him a cup of coffee.
“Thank you, Mildred,” Steve said, then addressed Red. “Were there any other disturbances during the night? Any word on the attacker? And what about the deputy who was wounded?”
Red looked at Jessica. “He’s full of questions, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Jessica agreed. “He likes to know what’s going on.” She, not Red, answered Steve. “I talked to Dad this morning. The deputy is fine, in the hospital recovering. There’s been no sign of the attacker, but there are still a couple of deputies guarding us. And yes, they got cinnamon rolls, too.”
Her words were perfectly timed as Mildred put Steve’s plate in front of him. When he tasted the cinnamon roll, the rich sweetness filled him. “Wow, this is great, Mildred. You and Red are terrific cooks.” Then, after a quick glance at Jessica, he said, “Does Jess know how to make these? If she does, I might have to marry her!” He laughed, hoping they would think he was joking.
In actual fact, he’d marry Jessica whether she could cook or not…if he could. But until he believed he had a future, he couldn’t.
Jessica ignored his joke. “Dad made some calls and set up a meeting for us with the head of the DEA.”
Steve looked up at Jessica. “When?” he demanded.
“In three days, which gives us two days to perfect our camouflage and then board a plane to D.C.”
“But, Jess, they’ll be looking for me at the airlines. I can’t—”
“We won’t use your identity, Steve,” Jessica told him patiently. “Or mine. We’re going to borrow some IDs so we can get on the plane without them realizing it.”
“Borrow some IDs? What are you talking about?”
“Eat your cinnamon roll. Red is scrambling eggs for you, and you don’t want them to get cold. I’ll explain everything after breakfast,” Jessica assured him.
He wanted to shout, to insist, to tell her his life was hanging in the balance. But he not only had to be strong enough for the trip in three days, he had to be prepared. He’d learned to take life step by step. The first step was breakfast.
To that end he dug in to the plate of sausage, scrambled eggs and toast that Mildred brought him.
Jessica watched him eat with gusto. No doubt she’d encouraged him with that tidbit of news from her father. She was encouraged, too. It meant her family was finally taking her plan seriously.
The Randall clan had always been supportive of whatever the children wanted to do, but three years ago there had been a lot of doubts about her ability to crack Hollywood’s horde of would-be actresses. She had stayed long enough to prove that she could act.
She’d decided she preferred life in Rawhide to life in Hollywood. With her film coming out in spring, she could return home, a proved success. But even more so, if she could pull off her plan with Steve, she would prove herself to her family once and for all.
When Steve had finished his breakfast, she suggested they stroll down to the barn and back to strengthen his muscles.
“Will it be safe?”
“Of course it will. No one can be that close, or they’d be seen. Besides, you have to get some exercise before you can go to D.C.”
“You’re right about that,” he agreed.
Red had overheard her suggestion, and his only comment was to let the deputy know.
“We will, Red,” Steve said. “And thank both of you for that fabulous breakfast. Best I’ve ever had,” he assured them with a smile.
Outside, they took Red’s advice.
“It should be safe,” Harry, one of Mike’s deputies, said. “But when you’re out in the open, move quickly. You don’t want to give anyone a stationary target.”
Jessica assured him they would. “We shouldn’t be long. We just need to build up Steve’s endurance.” She took Steve’s hand and hurried toward the first barn.
Once they’d stepped inside the barn, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Did we move too fast for you?” she asked as Steve bent over to catch his breath.
“No, I’m fine. I—I just need to get some air.”
“Good,” she said, waiting for him to straighten. When he did so, she slid her arms around his neck. “Now I can tell you good morning the way I wanted,” she said with a smile just before she kissed him.
Steve didn’t protest. In fact, he was more than enthusiastic. The sweetness he’d tasted earlier in the morning was there. Like a miracle, she opened up to him again. He couldn’t believe he was with her, alone, breathing the same air.
When they finally broke apart, Steve said, “Jess, I have to tell you—”
“No promises, remember?” Jessica said with a smile.
“You mean you don’t want a future with me?”
Jessica stared at him. “Of course I do, but I understand that you can’t promise anything. Your job is dangerous…and in California.” She ducked her head and then looked at him. “I can’t leave Rawhide again. I don’t like living there. I know we can’t plan a future, but we can share now.”
He didn’t argue with her. He couldn’t. But he didn’t object to a little more consolation. He pulled her back into his arms.
When they emerged from the barn, their arms were inte
rlocked around each other and their gazes didn’t go any farther than the other’s face. They were in a fog, unaware of their surroundings.
The crack of gunfire brought them back to reality quickly. A bullet hit the ground at Steve’s foot.
With well-trained reflexes, he pulled Jessica with him and rolled their bodies behind one of the trucks parked nearby.
“What was it?” Jessica asked, panting.
“Probably has a long-range rifle with a scope. I should’ve thought of that. I can’t believe I let you distract me!”
“Well, excuse me! I didn’t mean to cause problems for you!” She jumped to her feet and ran to the house.
Steve, stunned by her action, rose to follow her, but Harry shouted for him to stay down.
Damn. He’d let his attention wander to Jess again! Now it was time to come back to reality…and try to survive until tomorrow.
Chapter Ten
Damn! He’d missed again. Steve seemed to be having a run of good luck. When he’d followed Steve’s entourage home last night, he’d thought he could manage a break-in to destroy Steve. But he hadn’t realized how big the house would be.
Then, he’d been surprised the sheriff would put guards on the doors. What was Steve to this family?
He’d still resolved to slip in after all their guests had disappeared, figuring the guards would fall asleep before too long.
But he’d been wrong.
He’d managed to wound the guard in front, but he’d barely gotten away before half a dozen men came out of the house. He’d had no idea that many men were inside.
But he had no choice. No matter what it took, Steve had to die.
Baldwin knew he owed his partner some retribu tion. After all, not all the shots fired yesterday had been Marcus’s. Baldwin was sure his partner had died when he’d seen them carrying a body bag down the stairs.
He’d hung around a while longer, hiding safely, waiting to see if they brought down another body bag, in case Steve had been killed, too. But there had only been one.
So, he’d promised himself he’d make an effort for Marcus’s death. If not for his partner, then because he knew he couldn’t tell Miguel he’d failed.
After his attempt last night, Baldwin had given up on the possibility of breaking into the house. He’d gotten out his rifle with the scope and found a tree in the pasture that gave him a visual on the back door.
He’d sat in the tree for five hours before he’d even gotten a hint of Steve emerging. And then, damn it, his shot fell short.
But he’d been patient. They would have to return sometime. And he was determined to be ready.
WHEN STEVE FINALLY got back to the house, coming in the front door, which no one ever used, Jessica wasn’t in sight. He wandered into the kitchen where Red and Mildred were. “Uh, did Jessica come through here?”
“She tore through here like a whirlwind,” Red said. “Didn’t even say hello.”
“We got shot at,” Steve said, hoping to explain Jessica’s behavior.
“Don’t mean she couldn’t say howdy,” Red returned.
Mildred slapped him on his arm. “Just like a man, expecting her to say howdy when she’s all afraid.”
“Where’s Harry? I don’t see him on the back porch,” Steve asked anxiously.
“He took cover by the Bachelor Pad.”
“The what?” Steve asked.
Mildred patted him on the shoulder and explained. “At one time there were so many Randalls living here—and they mostly had boys—that they decided to build sort of a house just for the men. They each have a small room, but they take their meals here.”
“It’s that big building out the back door,” Red said.
“Yeah, I saw it.” He went to the back door and called softly to Harry. “Anything going on out there, Harry? Have you spotted him?”
“I thought so. I saw a dark mass, but when I shot at it, it ran away, so I’m thinking it was probably a cow. Good thing I missed it or Jake Randall would be pretty mad at me.”
“Okay, don’t take any chances.” Steve’s biggest fear at this point was that one of the Randalls or the deputies would be killed.
That was his biggest fear until he tried to leave. Then, if Jessica was with him, he’d fear something happening to her.
When that thought struck him, he stopped. Of course, there was the reason that would convince Jess not to go with him. She would endanger him by her presence.
“I gotta find Jess,” he said suddenly.
“Try upstairs,” Red said, concentrating on mixing something in a big bowl.
Steve hurried away before Red realized he’d suggested Steve go to Jessica’s bedroom. He was pretty sure that wasn’t acceptable behavior in the Randall family.
He moved up the stairs as fast as he could. He still had to catch his breath when he reached the second floor.
He knew Jessica had said her bedroom was close to his, so he knocked on the first door and softly called her name. No response. He moved down the hall, trying each door. He even resorted to trying the doorknobs, but there was no one in any of the rooms.
Finally, he stood in the middle of the hall and shouted “Jessica!” as loud as he could, frustration overtaking him.
“Yes?” came this cool, calm voice some distance away.
“Where are you?” he shouted.
“In the office on the first floor.”
No more direction than that. Didn’t she realize how big this house was? He’d been in hotels a lot smaller.
Going back down the stairs was much easier, but he’d reached the limit to his stamina. He sagged against the wall, wondering if he had the strength to find her.
“Steve,” someone whispered.
Steve’s head jerked up and he saw Red standing in the hallway pointing to a closed door.
Steve gave him a grateful nod before he staggered to the closed door and shoved it open. Okay, so he should’ve knocked, but he couldn’t take much more.
The sight of Jessica, calmly sitting behind a massive desk writing something, irritated the heck out of him.
He collapsed in a chair and gasped, “Next time could you leave a trail of bread crumbs?”
She gave him an innocent look. “Why would I think you would want to find me?”
“Come on, Jess. You know I didn’t mean— It was because I forgot to be careful. I didn’t want you to be hurt.”
Apparently that wasn’t sufficient groveling. She continued to write, offering no response.
“Jess, when I’m with you, I forget the danger and—and I put us both in danger because of that. And that’s why you can’t go with me!”
Okay, there it was, the clincher, the grand finale. He waited for his brilliant logic to hit her.
Nothing. It was a dud.
“Jess, don’t you understand?”
“Of course I understand. I have a superior brain, whether you think so or not. However, your deduction isn’t sound. You see, I won’t let you forget once we leave here. The only problem was that here has been a safe place for me all my life. Therefore, it was hard for me to expect danger. Once I leave here, I won’t expect safety. Ergo, we’ll both be more careful then. Do you understand?”
“No, Jess, it’s too dangerous. You have to stay here. I promise I’ll return when—if—”
As he floundered between those two words, she responded. “No, you’re the one who won’t understand. The day of leaving the little woman at home to knit and tend the fire is over. The little woman can do other things, like shoot a gun and make plans for our escape.”
Then, as if she’d convinced him, she bent her head and continued to write.
“Damn it, Jess, what is so important that you have to write it down in the middle of a fight?” he demanded.
“Our plans, of course.” She paused and when she looked at him kindly, he braced himself.
“If you can present more logical plans, plans that will guarantee your safety—” she paused, letting him know sh
e doubted that he could do that “—then I’ll be glad to listen to them.”
When he opened his mouth, she raised a finger and said, “But if your plan consists of you borrowing my gun and sneaking out of here, drawing the evil man away from us and leaving us safe and sound, with you, by the way, getting screwed, you can forget it!”
“Do you ever pause to breathe?” he asked.
“No.” And she returned to the paper she was writing on.
“Okay, what do you have on paper?”
“I’m not ready to show it yet. I’ll let you know when I am.” Her voice was as cool as when he’d first found the office.
He tried again. “But—”
“Go upstairs and get some rest. Or if you can’t climb the stairs again, go to the TV room and stretch out on the sofa. I’ll wake you for lunch.”
“Never mind!” he exclaimed. “I don’t need any lunch!” He rose and turned to go, determined not to rely on her for anything.
Jessica jumped up from behind the desk and reached him before he made it to the door. She threw her arms around him and said, “Please don’t go yet, Steve. I’m sorry. You upset me so much, I lost my temper.”
He wasn’t sure what to think. He’d been the one yelling. “But you were so quiet, so calm.”
“I know it’s strange, since I have red hair, but I vent my temper in words. And I insulted you. I know you’re strong, and the one with expertise and incredible courage. But I really believe I can help you. And I’m part of the plan. I wouldn’t even try if I didn’t think it would work. I’m no masochist!”
“Okay, honey, I believe you,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.
“So you’ll agree?”
“Whoa there! Not yet, but I’ll look at your plan when you have it ready, and try to consider it honestly.”
“Okay, for that promise, I’ll show you the TV room and even put a movie on for you. Then, when you get up for lunch, you’ll be much stronger and able to think clearly.” She gave him a brief kiss and led him to a room with several comfortable couches and lots of throw pillows.
Randall on the Run Page 10
