“I think I’ll pass on that,” said Dell, relieved he wasn’t being antagonistic for the moment. “I think I’ll sit down, though.” His state of undress made her knees weak; she didn’t need to add alcohol to the equation. His lips twitched, but he made no comment, just settled himself easily in the chair across from her, turning it so he could straddle it. He propped his chin on the back of the chair and stared at her.
“So. What can I do for you?”
Dell hesitated for a moment, trying to focus her attention on the things she had come here to discuss. She made herself quit staring at his torso and shoulders and concentrated on his face. That didn’t really help, since his sensuous lips were touched with amusement, and humor glittered in the depths of his eyes. Unwilling to anger him right away when he was so utterly appealing in his current mood, she decided to begin with the easiest issue first.
“I just came from the barn,” she said, and realized he already knew that. Scolding herself for an unusual lack of mental composure, she shrugged. “You knew that. But did you know some of the stalls weren’t cleaned, and the tools were just lying in the corridor?” She stopped, realizing the complaint seemed a little petty. Pete had already seen to it, undoubtedly, and she doubted it was a recurring problem with Danny, or she would have heard.
He straightened a little, calling attention to himself all over again. “Well, no, I didn’t,” he said slowly. “If I had known, I would have picked up the equipment. And addressed the problem.” He paused. “I’m guessing the problem was with Danny, not Pete?”
“Yes. Pete was really upset.”
“You can’t blame the poor guy.” Jovi’s sympathy was immediate and sincere. “He’s not young, he loves the horses, and he’s too loyal to complain. He probably should have asked for Danny’s hide years ago.”
Dell arched an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty strong condemnation. Pete’s never mentioned any problems.”
“No.” Jovi shrugged. “Like I said, he wouldn’t have. To him, that’s a lack of loyalty. But that’s an easy problem to fix. Consider it done.”
Dell nodded. “Okay. One down.”
“Is there a list?” Jovi’s tone was light, but she sensed his surprise. She shook her head, and he stood up, pushing the chair back under the table.
“Not exactly a list. But I thought I’d tell you that my mother called. Out of the clear blue.”
Jovi frowned a little, and his expression turned grim. “I’m sorry to hear that. I gather it wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
“No.” Dell had meant to tell him about the click and the suspicions she’d had about him having already known. And yet he didn’t react nervously, as if he were worried she might have known someone had listened in on the conversation. And his concern for her feelings seemed real.
“The funny thing,” she went on, “is that I have absolutely no clue why she called. It didn’t make sense.”
“Didn’t you ask?”
“Yes, of course.” She looked down at her hands and absently began to twist her ring around her finger. “She said she wanted to patch things up. Because I’m an only child.” Dell looked up then, her eyes hard. “She was lying.”
Jovi didn’t say anything at first, just stood abruptly and walked over to the door, then turned and came back, massaging his neck. He didn’t sit down again, but stopped near her, and his nearness and tallness and maleness were overwhelming. Dell pulled in a slow breath and twined her fingers together to keep from jumping to her own feet.
“What other reason could there be, though?” he asked levelly, and she shook her head, still not looking up at him.
“I can’t think of any,” she admitted.
There was another long silence, and again he paced around the small room. She watched him this time, bemused. His air of concentration was disconcerting. If he had listened in on the call, he was an excellent actor. But she was sure now he hadn’t. He seemed too intent on figuring out what sinister motives had driven Erika De La Cordova to reenter her daughter’s life.
This time, when he got back to her chair, he shook his head. “Strange, I’ll give you that,” he offered, then held out a hand. “Come into the kitchen with me. I need something to drink.”
He drew her to her feet with a gentle tug and led her into the kitchen. He smelled of soap and freshly applied deodorant and aftershave, and she wondered for a moment if he was going out. Then she remembered he’d said he had a business appointment at seven, but had refused to discuss it with her.
She bit her lip, fighting back an immediate surge of annoyance. Maybe sugar would catch more flies than vinegar, she thought.
“I’ve got tea, cold water, or orange juice,” he offered, pulling open the refrigerator. Like the house, its insides were sparsely filled, but spotless.
“I’ll take a glass of tea,” Dell said, hoping that stalling over a drink would give her an opening to probe into Jovi’s unexplained business. She sat down at the table and watched as he carefully poured two glasses of tea over ice.
“Sweetener on the table,” he said, placing one of the glasses in front of her and then pulling out the chair beside hers and sitting down. She wished he’d chosen the chair across the table. His bare arm brushed hers, and she resisted the urge to turn and flatten herself against him. So much for unreachable, she thought darkly. She was well within reach. The trick would be to keep him from knowing just how close she wanted to be. Still stalling, she sipped her tea, wrinkling her nose without meaning to.
“Too strong?” he asked good-naturedly, and she managed a slight smile.
“No, it’s all right.” But she put the glass back down and reached for the sweetener.
“Never water it down,” he said huskily, and she knew he didn’t mean the tea. She stirred the sugar substitute into her drink with great concentration, hoping the infinitely small circles she made would hide the slight quiver in her fingers.
“So … ” Jovi apparently had decided she wasn’t going to acknowledge his innuendo and went back to their earlier conversation. “If you don’t think she called to see how you were, what do you suppose it could have been?” He took a huge swallow of his own unsweetened tea. “I know you said you couldn’t think of any reason, but there has to be something.”
Dell shrugged and shook her head, not turning to look at Jovi. “No. I got the impression someone told her to call. But the only person who bosses Erika De Cordova around is her father. And there’s no reason in the world why Lionel should have wanted her to call. No reason,” she repeated emphatically, finally turning enough in her chair to meet Jovi’s eyes again, her boot toe idly tapping the floor.
He was quiet and tense, and she wondered what on earth he was thinking. His dark eyes devoured her, but she didn’t think his tautness had anything to do with desire. At least not at the moment. His scrutiny made her uncomfortable, though, and she pushed her chair back abruptly and stood, momentarily forgetting the business appointment she’d meant to question him about.
“I guess I should get back to the house,” she said, brushing a few stray hairs away from her forehead.
“Without finishing your tea?” he chided, his mood lightening. He reached out, catching her wrist. “Don’t go. The second half of the glass packs the punch.”
She grinned. “That sounds like a threat, not an invitation,” she pointed out, relieved he wasn’t staring at her so intently, and that his fingers fell away from her burning skin almost at once.
“A promise,” he said loftily, and then stood up too, stretching his arms. Then he smiled at her. “You’re breaking my heart,” he announced, winking at her. “I thought you snuck over here for a little afternoon delight.”
“Hardly,” she scoffed. “You had your chance at that, and you blew it.” Too late, she realized what she was saying. She clamped her lips together, but his eyes gleamed.<
br />
“So that’s what South Padre was all about,” he said. She neither confirmed nor denied his suspicion, just raised her chin and returned his dark gaze with her own.
“Dell — ”
She held up a slender hand. “Let’s not go there, Jovi,” she said evenly. “Whatever South Padre was or wasn’t, it’s over.”
He took a step closer. “Why? Neither one of us has been happy with what’s happened since, have we?”
“What does that matter?” Dell retorted with frustration. “Jovi, no matter how … attractive I might find you, we can’t change the obvious. We’re not in a position to be involved.”
“No?” The throaty taunt made her shiver and press her eyes shut for a fleeting moment.
“Jovi, I don’t mean to be condescending. It isn’t about snobbery or prejudice. But you’re the man I hired to take care of my horses. An employee. We can’t … carry on an affair in front of four troubled teenagers who were all taken out of unhealthy situations with partners of one sort or another.”
He regarded her steadily. “You’re sure it’s not the De Cordova, Dell? Telling you not to make the mistake your mother did and set your sights too low?”
She supposed she couldn’t blame him for asking. But the question stung anyway. “How can you think that?” she demanded. She laid a hand on his arm. “Do you think I see my own father as less of a person than my mother? It isn’t about you being a ranch foreman, Jovi. It’s about you being — being an employee — ”
“Ah,” he said, nodding sagely, and the mischievous glint was back. “Harassment. You’re worried about making me feel obligated to sleep with you.” His lips twitched then eased into a grin. “I’ll sign a waiver,” he offered cheerfully, and Dell shook her head at him.
“Very funny,” she retorted. “Jovi, there’s just something — not right — about being involved with someone who works for you.” She sighed. “Besides … the girls … ”
“The girls were with you in South Padre,” he said quietly, the laughter gone again. He took a step closer and reached out to draw her against him. His warm skin burned the length of her body as he held her close, and she trembled against him.
“Dell, don’t use the girls as an excuse. We can work it out with them — if that’s what you want.”
She said nothing, leaning her forehead against the warm wall of his chest. She wanted him. But she didn’t want to. Reluctantly, she lifted her head.
“South Padre is over. It would have been a mistake, anyway. Wrong. I’m glad you’d gone out.”
“Liar,” he said gently.
She shrugged. “My story,” she said, and took a half step back.
“And you’re sticking to it?”
“I don’t have a choice,” she gritted, and he shook his head.
“Yes, you do.” He bridged the distance between them, brushing his lips across hers teasingly. “There are always choices.”
“Not good ones,” she argued. His hands cupped her face gently, and his lips teased hers again.
“Yes,” he insisted, the word warm against her mouth.
She meant to step away from him. Instead she found herself moving forward, her own hands sliding lightly over his bare, muscled arms. She sighed and gave in to temptation, pressing her lips into the rock hardness of his chest. He let out a long breath, and she felt him shudder.
Maybe we can, Dell thought, her eyes closed tightly as she lost herself in the feel of his hardness and warmth. He crushed her close, and she pressed more kisses up his chest to his throat, shaking against him as he returned her kisses with growing urgency.
“Damn,” Jovi said suddenly, in her ear, and eased her away, holding her while her legs steadied and their breathing slowed.
“Hold on,” he called, and Dell realized that the faint drumming she had heard moments ago had been someone at the door. She glanced at the clock. 7:05.
Jovi’s rueful grin confirmed her suspicion as he indicated his bare chest and shorts. “This is no way to conduct business, is it?” He touched her forehead with a caressing finger and sighed.
“Dell, do me a favor, will you?” He straightened her hair and turned her toward the door. “Will you let him in and ask him to wait just a minute?” He winked at her. “You can even offer him some tea if you want.”
“Who is this — this man I’m supposed to entertain?” she demanded, following him out of the kitchen.
He turned on the bottom stair. “Name’s Rick Ortega,” he replied, continuing up the stairs. “And he’s DEA.” He stopped at the top and peered down at her. “Just so you’ll be expecting it if he flashes ID at you.” And he disappeared into his room, leaving her gaping after him.
Chapter Twelve
Rick Ortega was as tall as Jovi, but strikingly thin. Dell couldn’t help but wonder how the man would fare if someone attacked him. He seemed almost frail, physically. His eyes were shrewd, though, and he responded to her questions with polite, noncommittal answers while they waited for Jovi to join them.
Jovi changed quickly, coming back downstairs in casual slacks and a knit shirt and taking control of the situation immediately.
“I’m sorry I lost track of the time, Mr. Ortega,” he apologized as he shook the agent’s hand. “I’d been doing some yard work. Would you like something to drink? I have tea.” He carefully didn’t look across at Dell, and she had to bite back her own grin. She doubted this man had come to be party to their inside jokes.
The urge to smile quickly changed to a genuine frown when she remembered that she didn’t know why Ortega was here, and that Jovi had intended to exclude her.
Almost as if he’d read her mind, Jovi waved a hand in her direction. “You’ll have to excuse Ms. Rosales for not knowing about your visit,” he ventured. “I hadn’t told her.”
Ortega looked at her thoughtfully from behind his wire-rimmed glasses, but made no comment.
“After I spoke to you, I thought I probably could answer any questions and that we’d only call her in if you wanted to.” Jovi turned to Dell, then, directing his explanation at her, unperturbed by her sudden unsmiling demeanor. “We had a report of suspicious activity along the riverbank near the property line. Not by the cabaña, but near the corner of the pasture where your property joins the Simmons’ place.”
Ortega nodded. “You understand, Ms. Rosales, that we’re not sure illegal activity occurred. But there have been instances of ranches along the river being used by smugglers.”
“Yes, I’m aware of the problem,” Dell agreed. “But Mr. Ortega, a couple of things about this visit concern me. One of them is why Mr. Treviño chose not to tell me — but I’ll discuss that with him later. What I don’t understand is how anyone could have been on the property. I’m not an absentee owner, as some of the ranchers who have problems are. I try to keep up with what’s going on around the place, and I know Mr. Treviño and Pete, my other stable hand, have done a lot of clearing and inspecting of the river property recently.”
“We’re not sure what we’re dealing with, Ms. Rosales,” Ortega said easily. “I called Mr. Treviño primarily because I thought the person who was most involved with land management would be the one to meet with. A Border Patrol flyover reported a small group of people who crossed from the Mexican side to the U. S. side in a boat. They landed in the corner of your property. They could have been alien smugglers, drug smugglers — we don’t know. Border Patrol ran their Marine unit up and down the river for a couple days and didn’t see anything themselves. But Mr. Treviño was quite concerned when I spoke to him. He said that you ride along the river bank frequently.”
Dell cast an annoyed glance at Jovi, but his expression was unreadable. “I wouldn’t really say frequently,” she muttered. “And it is my property, Mr. Ortega.”
“Yes, of course.” The agent shifted his lanky form un
comfortably. “Mr. Treviño asked me to come by to discuss possible measures to assure the riverbanks would be safe. Unfortunately, I don’t see that much can be done.”
“I think Mr. Treviño’s overreacting, frankly,” Dell said. “Jovi, if there really were a problem, I don’t understand your rationale for not telling me.” She turned her attention back to Ortega. “So these reports, these sightings,” she pressed. “Besides the most recent one you mentioned. Have they been frequent?”
“No.” Ortega shoved a hand through his sandy hair. “We only know of the one instance, Ms. Rosales. And we only had that information because of a pilot’s report on the situation.” He shrugged. “We just thought if we brought it to your attention — or to Mr. Treviño’s attention, anyway — further problems could be prevented.”
“Is there anything that can be done? Because of course I’d cooperate — ”
“No, Ms. Rosales.” The agent shook his head, then stood slowly. “The thing is, the river bank’s so long. There’s no way to patrol it all, all the time.” He sighed. “Not short of vigilante patrols, anyway, and those are a crime waiting to happen in and of themselves.” He shook hands with her and then with Jovi, and they walked him to the door.
He paused on the porch, turning back to her with affable concern. “The only thing is, Ms. Rosales, if you ride by the river, please be careful. And call us if there’s any problem.”
She agreed and then stood by Jovi while they watched the car disappear back down the drive toward the highway. When Ortega was gone, she turned to confront Jovi, but he held up a hand.
“Don’t. Yes, knowing you have this need for control, I should have told you. However, I saw it as my responsibility, and as an isolated incidence. I agree with what you told the man, Dell. We’re around too much for anyone to set up housekeeping there along the river, at least on our land. If the pilot had his location right, then it was probably just a one-time encroachment. Coyotes, probably, landing someone who escaped off into the brush. We’ll keep working on clearing the riverbank and fence lines.”
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