Her Heart-Stealing Cowboys [Hellfire Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Jennifer August

  “Van Sisk, when you’re ready to make that call, let me know,” Tag said. His tone was even and professional.

  The man didn’t reply as he sank onto the cot. He stared blindly at the ground.

  Tag grabbed her hand and pulled her with him into the outer office. He slammed the heavy iron door shut then leaned back and breathed harshly.

  Rebecca moved into his arms to hold him close. His heart pounded hard against her chest and she felt the tremors he was trying to hold at bay.

  “I’m proud of you,” she whispered.

  He stroked her hair then rested his cheek against her head. “Why’s that, Bex?”

  “You didn’t even accidentally knock him down.”

  Tag’s rusty chuckle rattled her jaw.

  “She’s got a point,” Boone said. “You did good, Tag.”

  “I’ll just be glad when you guys get him out of my jail.”

  She understood that. No one wanted a repeat of what happened to Fischer.

  “I’m waiting for a secure vehicle to arrive then I’ll haul his sorry ass down to Austin,” Boone said. “Tag, have you heard from Masters yet? He’s riding shotgun on this one.”

  “Uh, Ranger Masters called about twenty minutes ago. He said he’ll be here by two.”

  “Good.” Tag scrubbed his palm over his face. He looked tired. No, more than tired, he looked worn out.

  Her maternal instincts stirred and she looked at Boone. “Can you and Deputy Stewart handle the transfer without Tag?”

  “No,” Tag answered for them. “It’s my district and my prisoner. Before you argue, think about what we’ve been talking about. Not a step out of place. Leaving my brand-new deputy to take care of this prisoner transfer would leave a loophole open not even you could close.”

  She huffed but knew he was right.

  “Why don’t you and Wade go home? I’ll be along as soon as Van Sisk is gone.”

  “No,” she said.

  Wade echoed her firm statement.

  Tag rolled his eyes at both of them.

  The phone rang and Stewart answered it. “Sheriff, it’s Doc Mayers.”

  “Put it through to my office,” he said. Tag tapped her on the nose. “At least sit down and relax. Or go wander the Hex. Something.”

  She shooed him away and walked to Wade. “How are you feeling?”

  “Sore and tired. Tag wants me to go to the hospital but it’s just a little flesh wound.”

  She snorted. “You got hit by a bullet. That’s neither little nor something to ignore.”

  “Let’s keep an eye on it. I promise if it gets any worse, I’ll go to Methodist.”

  Rebecca wanted to push him to getting checked out but she also battled her inner need to take him and Tag home and lavish them with a night full of cuddling.

  “All right, I’ll hold you to that,” she told him.

  Just as Tag emerged from his office, the outer door opened. Rebecca sucked in an appreciative breath at the tall man who stepped inside. He was easily over six feet, but not quite as tall as Tag. He had the wide shoulders of a football player without any extra padding.

  “Rebecca,” Wade nudged her.

  “Hm?”

  “Breathe. And quit staring. You’re going to give him a complex.”

  The chisel-jawed man at the front must have heard because he flashed a dazzling white smile. When he took off his mirrored sunglasses, she gasped at the beauty of his ice-blue eyes.

  “Good afternoon.”

  His deep baritone held a Texas drawl as long as any she’d heard so far.

  Tag’s big body pressed against her back just as Wade took possessive hold of her hand. Rebecca shook herself from the stupor that grabbed her and cleared her throat. “Sorry,” she said.

  Boone stepped into the fracas. “Gideon. You been going to a tanning bed, son? You look more Cherokee than I am.”

  Gideon Masters gave a rolling laugh. “Don’t worry, Boone. I’d never try to steal your mojo.”

  “Good thing, too.”

  Gideon strode closer. “Tag,” he said and held out his hand.

  Rebecca noted the neutral tone of his voice. The Texas Ranger didn’t sound afraid, just wary.

  Tag reached around and grabbed the man’s hand. “Gideon. Damn, it’s been too long.” He moved out from behind Rebecca and pulled the man into a back-slapping bear hug.

  Rebecca smothered a laugh at the wide-eyed shock on Gideon’s face but she noticed it morphed into delight. His palms slapped at Tag’s wide back before he pulled away.

  “Who is this lovely lady?” he asked when Tag released him.

  “Rebecca Lyons,” she said and held out her hand.

  He took it and to her delight bent over and brushed a soft kiss over the back. “Enchanté.”

  “Oh, brother,” Wade muttered.

  Rebecca winked at him. “Don’t knock it, Wade. Manners are very sexy.”

  Gideon choked and stepped back hastily.

  Tag’s laugh boomed around her. “Don’t worry, Gideon. She’s taken.”

  “She is?” The Ranger looked at her with relief. “I mean, what shame.”

  Boone clapped him on the shoulder. “This guy is twice as bad as I’ve ever been, Rebecca. A born flirt and a fast runner.”

  “Sounds like a perfect match for Samantha,” Wade murmured.

  Boone’s face pulled into a dark frown and Rebecca lifted a brow. That’s an interesting look. She’d have to grill him about it when he returned from Austin.

  “Tag, you have everything ready for the transfer?” Boone asked.

  “Yep. Come in to my office. I’ll need your signatures on a few places.”

  Gideon groaned. “Man, I hate paperwork.”

  Tag grinned. “I know.”

  They moved into his office and Wade nudged her again. He looked worried.

  “Don’t get your boxers in a knot,” she told him. “I can appreciate eye candy just as much as the next girl without having to buy any.”

  “Huh?”

  She jerked her head toward Tag’s office. “Gideon Masters.”

  Wade shrugged. “He gets that almost as much as Boone. It’s no big deal.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  Wade crowded her personal space into oblivion.

  His serious expression notched her tension up a little more. “Wade, what is it?”

  “This will all be over in a few minutes. Van Sisk will be gone.”

  Realization hit her. She smiled and cupped his jaw then rose on tip toe and kissed him lightly. “But I won’t be.”

  His fingers trembled when he stroked her cheek. “How long will you stay?”

  She didn’t know how to answer that. Forever trembled on the tip of her tongue but she didn’t want to take anything for granted. They’d spent the last week in a haze of surrealism. What would happen when their worlds went back to normal?

  Not to mention she had her practice in Boston to deal with. What would Deidre do for a job? Would she move down here?

  The thoughts tumbled over and over in her head but the only thing she could do was smile and kiss Wade again.

  She heard Deputy Stewart cough.

  “Can it, Stewart,” Wade said and pulled her close.

  “The FBI car is here,” he said.

  Rebecca pulled away. “Right.”

  Tag, Boone, and Gideon emerged from the sheriff’s office just as the two black-suited agents walked into the building. Boone strode up the aisle and greeted them. The conversation was low and intense. Rebecca caught snippets but they were enough to make her shiver.

  The FBI considered Allen Van Sisk a vital component of their on-going investigation. She knew that probably meant any charges against him for Fischer’s murder and Sadie’s assault were going to be pending for a very long time.

  She wondered how Tag was taking it.

  The big lawman didn’t say much as Boone and Gideon ventured into the back and returned a moment later with Van Sisk in ankle and wris
t manacles.

  “He still hasn’t made his call,” Tag reminded Boone. “I want to know who he calls when he does.”

  “Right.” Boone slipped his sunglasses on. “I’ll let you know when he’s in Austin. You good here, Rebecca?”

  She nodded and he gave a slight smile then grabbed Van Sisk’s arm and herded him out the door. Moments later he capped the man’s head with his big palm and helped him into the black car with darkly-tinted windows. The two new agents slipped in on either side of Van Sisk and shut the doors. Gideon climbed into the passenger side and Boone opened the driver’s door. He waved one last time then dropped into the car.

  The car roared to life, reversed, then took off down Nettletree Street heading out of Freedom.

  “Holy shit, what a day,” Tag muttered. He studied Wade. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve been worse.”

  “Yeah? When?”

  “That time I thought I could ride bulls.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widened. “You didn’t!”

  His look was forlorn. “I did. Lasted about one-point-four seconds, then the beast, aptly named The Destroyer, bucked me off and into the dirt. If not for the rodeo clowns, I’d probably have lost a limb at the very least.”

  Rebecca’s cell phone trilled. “I want to hear more about this,” she told him as she dug in her purse. She didn’t recognize the number but it was the Boston area code. “Hello?”

  “Miss Lyons, it’s Detective Garner.”

  The flatness of his voice sent a chill down her back. “Detective. What’s wrong?”

  Tag and Wade snapped to attention in front of her.

  “I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he said grimly. “I’m standing outside of the building that used to house your office.”

  “Used to?” she whispered. “What happened to it?”

  “An early morning fire took the whole place down.”

  Rebecca swayed. Tag caught her and reached for the phone. She shook her head wildly. “Was anyone hurt? Deirdre,” she gasped. “Is she all right?”

  “Yes,” Garner said. “She’s fine. We think the fire was set between four and five this morning. There were two people inside. One is in critical condition.”

  Her stomach rolled like she’d had bad sushi. “Who?”

  Garner sighed. “I can’t divulge that information, I’m afraid.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry. Do you know who did it?”

  “Well, that’s where we got lucky.” Garner’s voice brightened. “Surveillance cameras from the brownstone across the street had an excellent view. Our perp is a well-known petty thief. Mostly pickpocketing, smash-and-grabs from cars, that kind of thing. We pulled him in and he was singing in minutes. Said there was no way he was going to jail for a creep like Gaughan. Your tip was dead on. That’s pretty impressive for a gut feeling, Miss Lyons.”

  Rebecca gasped and this time she leaned into Tag’s solid chest. Her knees quivered with relief. “Well, that’s how it goes sometimes, Detective.”

  “We picked up Gaughan a few minutes ago. Hate to tell you but I think he was pretty obsessed with you. Had pictures of you in frames all over his house, scrapbooks full of press clippings that look like they include everything ever written about you since you graduated from law school.”

  She swallowed hard. “That’s so strange. I never met him before he came to me to defend him.”

  “He’s not talking right now but we’ve got some pretty strong evidence. Why didn’t you tell me about those texts you received?”

  Rebecca shook herself. “I didn’t have the time. Things have been a little chaotic down here in Texas.”

  “Yeah, well, we found three disposable phones as well and the only number in any of them was yours. Based on the texts and the things happening at your office, I think he was escalating.”

  “Oh my God, Carrie Dawson! Did you find her?”

  Garner’s silence was so long she nearly cracked her phone with the tension.

  “Yeah. Don’t know if she’s going to make it, though.”

  Something in his voice told her he was holding back. “What aren’t you saying, Detective?” She used her most authoritative court voice on him.

  “Miss Lyons, Carrie Dawson could be your twin.”

  Even though she’d been expecting something like that, the news still hit her hard. “Whatever she and her family needs, I’ll take care of,” she said. “Can you get me contact information?”

  “I’ll work on it,” Garner said. “Do you know when you’ll be coming back to Boston?”

  Rebecca looked up at Tag. Fierce protectiveness shone from his green eyes. Her glance slid to Wade and she found the same ferocity. “No,” she said. “I don’t.”

  “I see.”

  “Is Deidre with you?”

  “Yes. Hold on.”

  Metal clinked, then Deidre’s breathless voice came on the line. “Rebecca, it’s all gone. All of it.”

  “It’s okay,” Rebecca said soothingly. “It can all be replaced. The important thing is that you’re safe.”

  Deidre sniffled. “That’s sweet. Thank you.”

  “Hey, you’re my best friend and the best office manager anyone could ask for.”

  “Now you’re blowing smoke up my skirt.”

  Rebecca laughed and rested her head on Tag’s shoulder. She reached out and grabbed Wade’s forearm. “Down here it’s called bullshitting.”

  Deidre laughed. “You sound different,” she said. “More relaxed. That’s kind of strange, considering you’re down there to investigate a murderer.”

  “That’s all wrapped up,” she said.

  “Wow, that was fast. When are you coming home? All my notes were in my computer and that’s a pile of plastic ash. I’ll have to call the airline for your itinerary and —”

  “Deidre,” Rebecca said loudly.

  Her secretary stopped talking then gasped. “You’re not coming back to Boston, are you?”

  Rebecca smiled at the two men watching her with the intensity of hawks. Tag smiled back and rubbed his thumb along her jaw.

  Wade slid her hand to his and entangled their fingers.

  “No,” she said. “I’m not.”

  “All right,” Deidre said. “Then I’m coming down. We can start all over in Texas. Hey, maybe I can land myself one of those cowboys.”

  “Not one of my cowboys. I’m keeping both of ’em.” Rebecca chuckled as she said her good-byes then disconnected the call. She lifted her palm before they could bombard her with questions.

  “Later,” she said huskily. “I’ll tell you everything much, much later. Right now, I want to go home and reassure myself we’re all alive and well.”

  Wade straightened away from the desk. He tucked up against her side and pushed her further into Tag’s warm body. “You have a suggestion on how to do that?”

  She snagged his neck and pulled his head down. She kissed him long and hard before releasing him. “Does that answer your question?”

  Wade grinned. “Hell yeah. Tag?”

  Tag’s arms tightened around her shoulders. He tipped her chin up and brushed a soft kiss to her lips. “Rebecca Lyons, I want this absolutely crystal clear before we go home and get naked.”

  The words sent a shiver of anticipation through her. “What’s that?”

  “I love you.”

  All the breath escaped her lungs in one fell swoop. Joy filled her. She bit her lip and sniffed back tears. “You do?”

  “Yep,” he said. “Not only that, but I don’t want you to leave me.” His green gaze lifted to Wade. “Us,” he corrected softly. “I don’t want you to leave us.”

  Wade’s grin was as wide as the entire state of Texas. She thought she saw a sheen of moisture in his magnetic blue gaze. “I couldn’t have said it better myself but then, ‘I love you’ is pretty straightforward.” He caressed her hand. “And I do. Love you. Very, very much.”

  The tears escaped and she gave a watery smile at their identical
looks of panic. “Good, you big lugs. Because I love you, too. I’m not going anywhere but home. Our home.”

  Tag grinned. “Sounds like a damn fine plan to me.”

  Wade held up his arm. “Me, too. Bex, when we get there will you kiss it and make it better?”

  All sorts of salacious thoughts stampeded through her mind. She lowered her eyelashes and peeked up at him with her best flirtatious look. “Is that all you want me to kiss?”

  His throat worked and his blue eyes flashed with sensual fire. “Hell, no. I’ve got lots of places I want those sweet lips of yours.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” she said.

  Tag’s fingers tightened on her shoulder and she looked up. He, too, had a look of devilish need in his green gaze. “Just how adventurous are you feeling, Bex?”

  Her mouth went dry. “Why?”

  He shared a look with Wade then lowered his head until he nuzzled the outside of her ear. Shivers raced through her body.

  “Because I’m thinking it’s past time we both had you. At the same time.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “You ever lick a nine-volt battery?” Tag asked as he held the door open for her.

  Rebecca paused in the doorway. “Uh, no. Have you?”

  He grinned and motioned her inside. “Hell, yeah. It’s a boyhood rite of passage.”

  She shuddered. “Glad I’m not a boy.”

  “Me, too,” Wade commented.

  They all laughed as they walked into the living room.

  Rebecca set her purse down near the sofa as Tag put his hat on a wall peg. “Why the weird question?”

  He winked and sauntered toward her. His loose-limbed gait made her heart beat a little faster, but it was the blatant love and admiration on his face that melted every part of her. He tweaked her nose, then walked past her. “Come to the bedroom and find out.”

  Wade patted her bottom, then grabbed her hand. His happy expression mirrored Tag’s and—she was pretty damn sure—her own. Joy and elation bubbled up inside of her and Rebecca squeezed his fingers.

  “Come on, Bex. I want you in my arms.” Wade grinned. “Then I want you on my hard cock.”

  She swallowed hard as a huge rush of lust hit her. “That sounds good to me.”

  Tag was rummaging in the closet when they entered the bedroom. Wade let go of her hand and pulled his phone out. After fiddling with it for a minute, Al Green’s sweet vocals drifted into the room. Wade held out his hand. “Dance with me?”