If You Only Knew

by Dixie Lee Brown

  “Ribs?” She remembered the dog and broke away from Ty. Ribs was sitting up, panting, and bleeding from three or four scratches. Rayna, still breathing erratically and expecting her heart to jump out of her chest any minute, couldn’t stop her hands from shaking as she ran them over the dog’s body. It didn’t help that he was wagging his tail and licking her face whenever she got within reach.

  Ty stopped beside her as his phone rang and he answered it without formality. “She’s okay . . . Yeah . . . a pair of cats in the barn . . . they won’t be a problem anymore . . . Hey, Nate, you might want to reconsider the status of this mangy dog. I’d feel better if he stuck around . . . everything is under control . . . we’ll be there shortly.”

  He jammed the phone in his pocket and knelt down beside her, quickly examining the dog exactly as she had done. “He’s got a few scratches, but nothing too deep. Other than that, he’s a fucking hero.”

  Rayna was shocked by the rage that accompanied his words. Not that she blamed him. Once again he’d come to save her. The fact she hadn’t asked him to—had asked him not to come when Andre held her hostage—didn’t change a thing. He obviously believed he was somehow responsible for her, and everything she did seemed to further prove she needed his care.

  With one final pat for Ribs, she pushed to her feet, brushing against Ty as she stood. She instinctively pulled away from his touch, dreading the confrontation his fury said was imminent. She tried to squeeze by him, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm. His face was a sea of turmoil, with anger battling for the lead. A heartbeat later, he shoved her back against the wall hard enough to knock the breath from her.

  He leaned close. “Goddammit, Rayna. You could have been killed.” He breathed the words, and the anger in his expression morphed into fear as he grabbed her forearms and gave her a shake.

  The deep emotion playing across his face tugged at her heart. His tortured gaze held her transfixed. She searched for the words to fix everything, starting with the way she’d botched their relationship, but some things couldn’t be fixed.

  She hooked her fingers in his belt loops and drew semicircles on his firmly toned abdomen with her thumbs until she found her voice again. “But I wasn’t . . . thanks to you and Ribs.”

  Ty straightened and glanced upward, away from her face. “I thought I was going to lose you. I won’t lose you, Rayna.” His piercing gaze fastened on her again, and he raised one hand to caress her cheek. “Don’t you get it? We’re a team. I need you, and whether you’ll admit it or not, you need me too.”

  Hope flared within her at his words, followed almost immediately by a spark of anger. “If you truly believed that, you wouldn’t be trying to keep me out of the hunt for Andre. If we’re such a good team, why not act like one?”

  Ty swept a hand across the back of his neck. “I’m not trying to keep you . . .” He stopped and looked away from her. “Shit. You’re right. I wanted you out of it so you’d be safe, and so I could do my job without worrying about you. I still want you to be safe . . . but I’m fairly certain Joe was going to side with you anyway.” He swung his gaze back to her, and amusement quirked his lips. “Besides, if he takes you home, you’ll just spend all your time worrying about me.”

  “Oh, you think so?” Rayna raised a quizzical eyebrow. Did he mean it this time? Would he let her help take Andre down, or was he simply putting her off again?

  Ty grew serious. “Stay with me, Rayna, and we’ll get this guy. He won’t know what hit him.”

  His soft words and the sincerity in his eyes melted her heart and filled her with sadness at the same time. It sounded like he was asking her to stay with him forever, but he’d already made it clear he wasn’t returning to Montana. So, where did that leave them? The smart thing to do would be to ask, but her courage failed in the face of what his answer could be. For right now, she wanted to believe he meant forever, but the truth was, she wanted him for however long he would have her, and she’d convince him later that he couldn’t live without her. Did that make her desperate? So what if it did? She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him closer as she shook her head slowly. “Try getting rid of me.”

  A genuine smile lit his eyes and his head lowered slowly, his lips touched hers in a lingering kiss, warm and promising more. His arms slid around her waist, pulled her in tightly, and he rested his chin on top of her head. She inhaled a deep breath, and her wild heartbeat began to slow. The safety and comfort of his embrace was exactly what she needed, and it was surprisingly easy to surrender herself to his care. Of course, there were still things to do. They had to get Ribs back and his wounds treated, but for now—for just a moment . . .

  A shrill siren screeched in the distance, disturbing the peace of Nate’s uncle’s property. Ty tensed and raised his head, listening, then pulled his gun from its shoulder holster.

  Chapter Fifteen

  * * *

  “WHAT IS IT? What’s wrong?” Uncertainty rang in Rayna’s voice.

  “A breach in the perimeter fence.”

  An incredulous expression swept her face, and she inhaled a quick breath as she searched his eyes. For an instant, he’d forgotten how much she’d been through in the last four days and how tenuous her emotional state might be. He’d fallen right back into treating her like his partner, a member of the team, but she still needed some time to put everything into perspective. Immediately he went into glossing-over-the-incident mode.

  “It’s probably nothing—it happens every now and then. Usually it’s a deer or a neighbor’s cow, but under the circumstances, we should take it seriously. We’ll give Nate a few minutes to check it out. He’ll call when he has something to report.”

  Ty’s gaze traveled over Ribs. The dog was on his feet and moving fairly well, in spite of the mauling he’d taken. Rayna moved toward him protectively, anxiety darkening her blue eyes. Ty stopped beside her and reached to pull a piece of hay from her blond curls, then brushed his knuckles across her cheek. An anxious half smile appeared for a heartbeat before she turned her attention to Ribs again.

  “He’ll be okay. We’ll head straight back and keep an eye out for anything unusual, but we’re not going to look for trouble. Nate and Joe can handle the heavy lifting if there’s any to be done. Agreed?”

  “I guess.” Rayna’s doubtful frown gave away her fear and showcased her anxiety.

  Ty hated seeing that look on her face again. She’d been a victim long enough. Maybe the best medicine would be for her to think like a soldier. Treat this like any other mission.

  He turned her toward him and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This is probably nothing, but I’m taking the lead on this one, and I need you to back me up and do exactly what I say until we get back.” He set his jaw and braced himself as he waited for her reaction. It might be the last straw to demand she follow his orders.

  She only appeared to favor him with a small portion of her attention as the squalling siren drew her gaze toward the house.

  Hell, she wasn’t even listening to him. He needed something to grab her interest—something she couldn’t ignore. Taking a step closer, he slid his hands down her arms. “It’ll be good practice for later . . . in my bedroom.” He hid a grin as her surprised gaze jumped to his. Jolting her out of panic mode and giving her something else to think about besides the danger they might be facing had been his objective, and if her flashing eyes were any indication, it had definitely worked.

  A short laugh burst from her. “Fat chance, Whitlock!”

  He smiled. “Just checking to make sure you’re paying attention. I still need your promise. Do what I say until we get back to the house?”

  She shrugged. “Sure. Unless something better comes to mind.”

  Ty frowned. When had she ever not gotten the last word? He let his breath out slowly. “Ready?” When she nodded, he took her hand, then whistled for the dog.

  He holstered his weapon, and she shoved her Sig in her waistband, beneath the tail of her shirt. Rayn
a circled wide around the dead cougar that lay between them and the door, and they stepped out into the sunshine.

  Ty tried to let Ribs set the pace, and he started out strong, but before they’d covered a hundred yards, the dog trailed behind, breathing hard and stopping every few feet. Ty couldn’t decide if it was the attack or Rib’s emaciated condition that was to blame, but he’d obviously made a bad call. He should have left the dog in the barn and gone back for help.

  Rayna glanced back at Ribs every few seconds, a frown furrowing her brow. “Why would those cougars come so close to civilization? Shouldn’t they be up in the mountains eating rabbits and deer?”

  “They should have been, but in 1994 the State of Oregon passed a law banning the use of dogs for hunting cougars. In no time, the cougar population spiked, and the excess animals were forced out of the back country to find food. The hungrier they get, the more unpredictable they become, and they lose all fear of man. Before I left here six years ago, there were routine sightings in the outlying areas and reports of sheep, cattle, and even horses attacked.” Ty paused and glanced back toward the barn. “Something else that no doubt got in while the gate was open for Nate’s workers. They could’ve stayed hidden in here indefinitely, only venturing out in the open when they got hungry. Those two must have been damn hungry to go after an adult human . . . or fairly certain they were going to succeed.” His stomach twisted as images of what could have been flashed through his mind.

  Rayna reached for his hand and he squeezed hers, hoping to reassure her and setting his own mind at ease in the process. She knew how close she’d come to being dinner for those two cats, and she was handling it better than he was.

  As soon as they stepped from the meadow into the cover of the trees, Ty stopped to let Ribs rest. The dog immediately found a shady spot and collapsed. Rayna sat beside him and scratched his head, the only spot that didn’t appear to be wounded. At least he still had enough energy to lick her hand.

  Ty knelt in front of the dog and surveyed his cuts. The bleeding was minimal, but several of the scratches were packed with dirt and whatever else had been on the barn floor, and that probably wasn’t good. Walker wasn’t a vet, but with his medical training, he’d be able to tell them if they needed one. Those tears that shone in Rayna’s eyes wouldn’t fall if he had anything to say about it. He settled on a rock opposite her and watched as her hands and low voice comforted Ribs. Damned if a little jealousy didn’t sneak up and bite him.

  “Why did you follow me?” Rayna didn’t take her eyes off the dog.

  He studied her over the dog’s head. “I followed you to apologize.”

  “Apologize? I knew how you felt about me going after Andre. It’s not like you were talking to Joe behind my back. You have doubts about me. You don’t have to apologize for that.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it as she looked up and met his gaze. “Yes, I do. I’ve been a jerk ever since you said you were going back to college. I should have been happy for you.”

  She dropped her head into her hand, and when she looked up again, she gave him a sad breath of a smile. “I’ve been lost for so long.”

  “I know.”

  She smiled and cocked her head to one side. “I think I’m going to be okay now, thanks to you. I’m sorry I dragged you through all that . . . with Charlie. That wasn’t fair to you.”

  “I’m not sorry. I’d gladly do it all over again. I was lost, too, you know, before you came along. Just two lost souls, destined to be friends.” Ty winked and received another sad smile. A twinge of guilt hit him as the not-so-friendly kiss he’d stolen just before the alarm went off replayed through his mind. A grin lifted one corner of his mouth as he dwelled for a moment on his body’s immediate and hard reaction to that kiss. He’d blown by the friend barrier with no effort.

  His phone vibrated, and he checked the caller ID before answering. “What’s up, Nate?” He almost put the phone on speaker but thought better of it at the last second.

  “Somebody cut a hole in the fence in the east quadrant. I think it’s just kids messing around, and they’re probably long gone, but we’re checking it out. Where are you?”

  “We’re in the trees just past the meadow. Ribs took a beating against those cats so we’re resting. Haven’t seen or heard anything here.” Ty shook his head at the question in Rayna’s eyes.

  “I’ll bring a quad and pick you up as soon as I can.” There was an edge to Nate’s voice that wasn’t completely unfamiliar to Ty. Something had him worried.

  Ty ended the call and got to his feet. He wasn’t going to sit here and wait, and he wasn’t going to hide anything from Rayna. “They found a hole in the fence so they’re checking it out. Nate’s not worried, but let’s get going anyway.”

  “Not worried? Does Nate have holes in his high-tech security fence often?” She scrambled to her feet.

  Ty studied her for a second. “Smart . . . and pretty.”

  She blushed self-consciously as he stepped closer and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. She didn’t seem to mind and hung on to his arm when he broke contact. He rubbed a thumb over her cheek. To hell with the friendship idea. He wanted it all.

  He snagged her hand. “Come on . . . let’s go.”

  They coaxed Ribs to his feet, and Rayna stayed beside him, urging him to move a little faster, not that it did much good. When they were halfway through the stand of trees, Ribs sat back on his haunches, his front legs spread wide. No amount of coaxing could get him up.

  “We’ll have to leave him here. We’ll get a quad and come back for him.” Ty was wasting his breath, and he knew it.

  “He just needs to rest for a few minutes. Then if he won’t move, I’ll carry him.” Rayna knelt beside the dog.

  “Eighty pounds of squirming dog? You’re strong, but I doubt it.”

  “He saved my life, Ty. I’m not leaving him.” Her tone was final.

  Ty swore under his breath. “Well, I’m not leaving you. Aw, hell! I’ll carry him.” It was what he should have done from the beginning. They’d be back at the house by now and know what was going on. He pulled his gun from its holster and handed it to Rayna, then knelt beside Ribs.

  As he was about to lock his arms around the dog, a flurry of movement in the brush beside the road grabbed their attention as a man, gun raised and aimed at Ty, slid quickly down the small incline.

  Ty straightened and went for his gun out of habit, encountered the empty holster, and swung toward Rayna as the dog growled. Someone else stood beside Rayna, brandishing a weapon. The second shooter was small, five-six or -seven, dressed in black from hat to boots. A woman. He’d bet on it. The man was tall, in good shape, and looked like he knew what he was doing. Something was familiar about both of them.

  “Toss the gun into the bushes.” The man motioned at Rayna with the barrel of his gun.

  Ty caught her eye and nodded briefly. She tossed his gun to the side of the road. Ty focused on the man again. If he were one of Andre’s goons, he and Rayna would both be dead by now. Who the hell was this, and why did Ty feel like he knew him?

  The woman beside Rayna lowered her gun and walked toward him. “Do you get it yet, Ty?”

  He recognized her voice immediately. He should have known. She always did the opposite of what he expected. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Bree?”

  “No harm done. I just need a little information.”

  “This isn’t the way to get it. You can start by telling your hoodlum to holster his weapon.” Ty glanced toward the man at the edge of the trees.

  “That’s no hoodlum. Don’t you remember Sean?” Bree laughed, the soft, breathy laugh he remembered.

  Sean Phillips. FBI agent with lots of pull and few scruples. He’d beaten the shit out of Ty one night in a holding cell because Bree had agreed to work with him on the Andre Komarov case. Sean hadn’t wanted her anywhere near Andre, and apparently thought he’d have more luck intimidating Ty than he would convincing Bree it was a
bad idea. Ty wouldn’t likely forget the man, and someday, God willing, he’d get the opportunity for a little payback.

  He’d never told Bree what happened, figuring she had to work with the creep. He could see now that might have been a mistake. “Yes, I remember Sean.” He stared at the gunman. “You’ve got a lot of balls showing up here. Put your gun away, because if I have to take it from you, I’m going to enjoy it way more than I should.”

  Sean snorted derisively. “Tell us what we need to know and we’ll leave.”

  “What is it you’d like to know?” Ty didn’t plan on telling Sean anything.

  “I need to know where Andre is . . . that’s all.” Bree pulled his gaze back to her.

  “What a coincidence—he’s looking for you too.” Ty turned to face the woman.

  “We don’t know where he is.” Rayna’s gaze slid between the two of them, wary and watchful.

  Ty tried to catch her eye. He was well aware she was still armed, her forty-five shoved in the waistband of her jeans. He searched for a way to warn her not to underestimate the pair.

  “She’s lying. She was just a reluctant guest of Andre’s.” Sean’s temper was beginning to show.

  “Watch your mouth, Sean.” Ty turned back to Bree. “Rayna and I were both at a house in Los Angeles. I’ll even give you the address, but Andre won’t be there. I’d be happy to help you find him, though, if you’ll send your boy home.” Ty enjoyed watching Sean fume.

  “I’m no one’s boy, you fool. I’m her husband.”

  Ty didn’t expect that, and his shock must have been evident on his face. He glanced at Bree and started to reach for her before he caught himself and dropped his hand. “You married him?” The revelation confused him and turned his stomach. He started to voice his condolences, saw the distress on her face, and decided it wasn’t worth it. He pasted on what he hoped was a sympathetic smile and cast about for a safer subject.