Perfect Wyoming Complete Collection: Special Agent's Perfect Cover ; Rancher's Perfect Baby Rescue ; A Daughter's Perfect Secret ; Lawman's Perfect Surrender ; The Perfect Outsider ; Mercenary's Perfect Mission

by Marie Ferrarella

  “Good morning, Nathan.” She turned and he was there.

  He bent and kissed Melody on her forehead. “Good morning to two lovely ladies.” As he was straightening, his lips came within a millimeter of hers, and she held her breath, hoping for her own kiss.

  Smiling, he gave her a peck on the cheek. Then a slight frown crossed his features.

  “I know going back to Cold Plains today may be difficult,” he began, “but Ford would like you to point out that warehouse you told him about. We’ll stay on the outskirts of town and should have no trouble keeping away from most of the Devotees.”

  “Have they caught Jonathan yet?”

  “Not yet. But Ford wants all the evidence he can gather when they do.”

  “Okay. But Melody has to stay here. Just in case.”

  Nathan nodded. “Of course.”

  “The baby smiled back at me when I smiled at her this morning.”

  “Really?” Nathan held his arms outstretched. “Let’s see if she’ll do it for me.”

  She turned over her little girl and watched as he began cooing at the baby. Her heart thumped and ached. Here she was, once again wishing for a lifetime with this man—wishes that were as worthless as a snow shovel in the desert.

  Nathan tickled Melody under the chin and smiled at her. The baby smiled right back and made a “goo-da” sound.

  “Look at that,” he said with amazement. “She’s trying to talk.”

  “Oh, shoot.” Susannah couldn’t stand here and watch while the two people she loved more than anything grew closer, knowing they would soon have to separate. “Excuse me a moment.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be right back.” She made a dash for the bedroom before the waterworks started again.

  This was crazy. She was such a wimp. How was she ever going to leave this place and keep her head high when the time came?

  * * *

  Ford brought his cruiser out to the ranch to pick them up for the run into town. Nathan was grateful for the small attempt at disguise for Susannah’s sake. The trip was quick and relatively painless.

  Susannah pointed out the pine tree she’d stood beside while she watched the warehouse. Ford took a line of sight measurement and then about two dozen photos. When he was done, he mumbled something about needing to find a reasonable judge to issue a search warrant for the place.

  When they returned to the ranch, Maria had the table set for a four-course midday dinner and insisted they eat every bite. After all the food, Susannah asked if she could visit with Sara for the afternoon. And as much as he wanted to spend every waking moment with Susannah himself, how could he say no?

  He needed to ride out and check on Mac and the men anyway. It had been a couple of days since he’d turned the reins over to Mac, and he was sure all would be running smoothly. Still, he would feel better if he saw for himself.

  A few hours later, his cell rang. When he answered, it was his old buddy Hawk on the line with real FBI business.

  “Thought you should know the Wyoming Highway Patrol stopped Miller just outside of Green River. They have him in custody in Cheyenne. There’re a couple of things I’d like to talk to you about if you have a moment.”

  “Give me a half hour, and I’ll meet you at the ranch office. I’ll tell security you’re expected.”

  They clicked off and Nathan headed back, wondering what Hawk would say.

  * * *

  “How long can you keep up this much security?” Standing outside near the office, Hawk asked the question as he gestured to the ranch hands who had escorted him in from the highway.

  “As long as it takes.”

  “Better make that sooner rather than later, bud. You need to move that gal and her baby off the premises. At least for the next few months.”

  “What do you know?”

  “I know Samuel Grayson is getting antsy. Somehow he seems to know the law is closing in on him. And having one Devotee try to kill another hasn’t helped. If anything, he’s tightening up his security and becoming more paranoid.”

  “Have you found out anything about Miller’s background? Who the hell is that guy?”

  “First off, it seems Miller is not his real name. His fingerprints say he’s a guy named Winchester with U.S. Navy SEAL training and a demolition specialty. But he was busted out of the service for a fragging incident. He tried to kill a senior officer. Unfortunately, he escaped the brig and went on the run. He thought becoming a Devotee would make a great place to hide out—until he got greedy for power.”

  “So he never was a true believer?”

  “Nope. But then I’m not so sure Grayson believes that crap he spouts, either. And that Miller-Winchester dude is not the only Devotee who’s handy with weapons and ready to use them under Grayson’s orders.”

  “What is the FBI really doing about Samuel—secretly?”

  Hawk sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “We’re running a task force from nearby. Intend to nail that creep.”

  “Nearby? Where?”

  “A cabin in the woods.” Hawk grinned. “I’ve got three agents with cabin fever on my hands. But we’re making a little progress. I’ve decided our best bet is to find a Devotee who can get us inside information. Someone like Susannah Paul, for instance.”

  Nathan opened his mouth to tell him what he thought of that idea, but Hawk cut him off. “Down, boy. She can’t go back there now, I know. But I’m still looking for one of them who’s becoming disgruntled.”

  “I want to help. I have exit counseling training that might be useful.” Wow, where had that come from?

  Hawk shook his head. “Your job is to take care of the residents, both human and animal, here on the ranch. All of your people need to stay away from Cold Plains and the Devotees. Send your men to Laramie for supplies. Besides, Nate, you have too many responsibilities right here. What we’re doing is far too risky.”

  Despite his initial frustration, Nathan quickly had to admit Hawk was right. If he was free to do whatever he wanted, he would be whisking Susannah and the baby off to safety and certainly not running to a cabin in the woods to join the fight.

  Life wasn’t always fair.

  “One last thing, bud. I will say this again because it’s important. Get that woman and her baby off this land and send them far, far away. Now. Within the next forty-eight hours. Having them here may become a huge distraction that Grayson can’t ignore, and I can’t battle a deadly distraction right now. I want him quiet and unsuspecting while we run this sting.”

  Nathan nodded but didn’t say a word. He knew they were out of time. But damn, how could he possibly stand to send them away when he’d only just discovered how much he loved them both?

  * * *

  Another day was gone too soon, Susannah thought with a heavy sigh. Everyone was already in bed. The house was dark and silent.

  Not really hungry or in pain, she just couldn’t sleep. She stood, vacantly staring at the inside of the refrigerator, daydreaming about Nathan.

  She hadn’t had time to be alone with him at all today, and he had headed off right after supper. But she was well aware of how short their time was and knew he felt the same. She could feel the tension between them growing.

  This afternoon, she had sought out Nathan’s brother and begged him to speed up his search for somewhere she and Melody could go to be safe. She fervently hoped it would also be a place where she could earn a living for the two of them.

  Derek had looked at her a little oddly but then said he’d been tracking down a place and he’d tell her all about it tomorrow. She had a day, maybe two, left. It had been everything she could do to gaze at Nathan over the supper table and not explode in tears.

  And now she wanted him so badly she was becoming detac
hed—unfocused. Her body craved his touch. Her mind felt desperate to hear him speak.

  “Still hungry?”

  She spun to the sound of his voice, hoping she was not dreaming. She was hungry for something, all right.

  “I just can’t sleep.”

  “Me neither. Are you in pain?”

  Shaking her head, she poured herself a glass of cold water and shut the refrigerator door. “I feel remarkably better. Maybe tomorrow Dr. Black can come out and remove the stitches.”

  The water trickled down her dry throat, but she still felt hoarse and tense. Just look at the man standing there…gorgeous…rugged and so sexy he made her whole body hum.

  Naked to the waist, his jeans were unbuttoned and the zipper halfway down. The stubble on his jaw was dark and made him look almost dangerous. Her mouth watered. Her fingers flexed, compelled to touch. She put the glass down before she dropped it.

  His eyes darkened, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. He wanted a kiss and probably a lot more. This desperation could be cooled only one way. But she was terrified to move—frozen to the spot from fear he would turn her away.

  They both knew she would be leaving soon. And Nathan was not a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of guy. If it came to that, neither was she—except she needed one more stolen night with this man.

  He shook his head slightly as though he was arguing with her or maybe with himself. Then he said softly, “I need you. Now.”

  Thank God.

  He moved closer—close enough that she could feel the heat of his hard body just inches away from hers.

  But the nearer he came, with that special look in his eyes, the more her body turned to mush. Her bones liquefied, and she could barely hold up her head.

  Reaching out to steady herself by hanging on to him, she opened her mouth ever so slightly. Trying to drag in desperately needed air without letting him know, she thought she might die in another moment if he didn’t hurry up.

  Just when she was sure he would never make a move, he murmured, “I…” He looked so frustrated and annoyed that she almost stepped back. “I can’t be gentle tonight. I need you—too much. Is that okay?”

  “Very okay.”

  She barely had the words out of her mouth when he scooped her up and turned, dashing down the hall to the guest bedroom. He kicked the door closed behind him and lowered her feet to the floor. But she couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it.

  Apparently neither could he. He leaned in, pinning her to the door, and opened his mouth over hers, taking this seduction to another level. It was a level they’d never reached before…to something so hot that it sizzled and burned and nearly choked her with all the female hormones raging through her body. She felt her own climax beginning and forced it back. Not yet, please not yet.

  Never breaking the kiss, he ripped at her nightgown and panties until they were mere shreds on the floor. As he lowered his jeans, he managed to touch her everywhere. Desire burst through her veins and rocked her backward.

  Moments later, he reached the spot between her legs and groaned. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

  With both hands, he held her bottom and helped her into position. Hot, wet and light-headed, she wasn’t sure how this would work, but she didn’t care.

  He pushed her back against the door and entered her in one quick thrust. She tilted her hips, and he drove deeper. Her head was swimming as she held her breath.

  “Don’t move,” he said through gritted teeth.

  She understood the sentiment and would’ve loved to comply—to make this go on and on. Trying to still, she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

  His jaw was tight, his eyes were half-closed. His face full of desire—for her—was a sight she would love seeing again and again.

  But this was her last chance, her last opportunity to revel in the feel of him inside her and focused solely on her pleasure.

  “Susannah,” he breathed.

  That clinched things. It was impossible not to grind her hips against his. She felt her own body betraying her—her internal muscles tightened around him, pulling him in.

  He grabbed her around the waist and began to drive into her, moaning and cursing under his breath with the effort to hold back. But it was too late for that.

  In a blur of thrusts, deeper and deeper, he plastered himself to her. Someone screamed. Her? And she called his name. Begging, pleading, she reached for that edge and dragged him along with her.

  The climax hit her like a tornado, whistling in her ears like a marching band and surging through to her core, shaking her to her soul. It took her to that elusive spot…to the stars.

  He bent his body and brought his mouth down on hers, swallowing her gasps and cries. With one last thrust, he brought his head up and growled, low and deep.

  His climax took her over that edge again, and she joined him in one last drenching explosion.

  For moments afterward, they tried to catch their breaths. She knew she couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to. But she didn’t want to. She wanted to stay right here, sweaty and out of breath, forever.

  “Wow,” she finally whispered against his neck. “That was…that was…”

  “Amazing,” he finished for her. “I can’t believe I never even made it to the bed.”

  “Didn’t hear me complaining.”

  Carefully backing up, he shifted his hold on her and carried her to the bed. As he laid her down on her back, he murmured, “Give me another shot at doing it right?”

  She’d give him another shot—or twenty or maybe a whole lifetime.

  How was she ever going to manage her life from here on knowing what she knew now? They were so good together. They were perfect, in fact.

  Swallowing the first sob, she smiled up at him. “We have all night.”

  It was their last night.

  CHAPTER 15

  Out of breath again, Nathan gazed down at Susannah and couldn’t believe his good fortune. She was amazing. They’d been making love pretty much nonstop for the past few hours. He knew he could go on with this forever, but she must need sleep sometime.

  He rolled over, taking her with him. She curled into his side and buried her face in his shoulder.

  Looking at the ceiling, he let his pounding heart settle. He’d planned to say a few things to her tonight when they were alone. But words never seemed quite adequate while he was inside her and everything in the world was all right.

  Perhaps after they both caught a little sleep would be a better time to talk—assuming he could keep his hands off her long enough.

  Closing his eyes, he gloried in the wonder of holding a woman like this one—a woman he loved and who he knew loved him in return.

  But then he heard a heartbreaking sound that pulled him wide awake with a thud. “Susannah, what’s wrong?”

  She sniffed into his shoulder. “Nothing.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” He sat up with his back to the headboard and dragged her along with him.

  He’d heard her cry ecstatic, lustful tears earlier and knew the difference between then and now. “After what we’ve done together tonight, you and I should be able to say anything to each other. ‘Nothing’ is not much of an answer. Something is bothering you, and you owe me an explanation.”

  His first impulse was to believe he’d done something wrong, not been good enough. Or maybe he somehow managed to hurt her despite how careful he’d tried to be.

  But when he flashed back to the past few hours and the many times she’d come for him, at least twice for every one of his, he erased those fears. These tiny sobs were sad, emotional sounds.

  “Are you hurting because you and Melody will be leaving soon? I can understand that. It makes me mi
serable, too, but can’t we talk about it?”

  “We haven’t talked much,” she finally mumbled. “Not really. Not about things that matter. Of course I’m unhappy about leaving. But…but…I can’t go and not tell you how much you mean to me. How much I love you.”

  The words startled him even though he’d guessed the truth days ago. This would be a good time for him to say those same words back to her. But he wondered if that wouldn’t make things infinitely harder on her. Wrenching her away from a man she knew loved her beyond measure seemed unnecessarily cruel. So instead of pouring out his heart, he remained silent. But he put his arm around her and drew her closer to his chest, protecting her always—even from his love.

  “I know,” he mumbled. “Still, I’m not sure you trust me.”

  “You’re a fine one to talk about trust,” she said through the sniffles. “You don’t trust that I love you enough. Do you? Is that because of your ex-wife?”

  “That’s not fair.” Man, now he was sounding like a twelve-year-old again.

  “All right.” He sighed when she folded her arms over her chest. “I have had a few issues with trust over my lifetime. Starting when my mother got sick and promised me she would be well enough to go to my grade school graduation.”

  “Is that when she died?”

  He nodded, though he wasn’t sure she could see him in the dark. “Three days before graduation. I never went. Her funeral was on the same day.”

  “Oh,” she said softly and put her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  Now that he’d said that much, he was on a roll. “And then my sister promised me faithfully she would never leave the ranch. That we would be buddies forever and take care of each other for good. We might each get married, but we’d bring our spouses to live on the ranch. No one would come between us.”

  “Did she say that when you were both little? Right after your mother died?”

  “Yeah. And it wasn’t long before she was riding off on the back of some guy’s motorcycle. She couldn’t be bothered with the ranch or even her own child.” Or with her promise to me.