She smiled. “Yes, I am.”
“I wasn’t scared ’cause Brandon said he’d take care of us.”
“Well, that’s nice of him.”
Nora glanced across the room at Brandon. He looked as tired as she felt. After she’d left this morning, she’d retrieved the ledger from the locker, and gladly gave it over to the agents. They’d taken her to the sheriff’s office where she was surprised to find a lawyer waiting for her. A Clinton Maxwell, who was a friend of the Randell family.
Nora insisted she couldn’t afford him, but Mr. Maxwell only smiled and said he was working pro bono. Once they sat down and she’d been peppered with questions, she was glad for the lawyer’s presence.
Brandon walked to her. “Zach, why don’t you go back to your cartoons so I can talk to your mother.”
When the boy ran off, Nora wanted to call him back, but knew she had to face Brandon. No matter how hard this time together was, it was all she had left. And she was going to cherish every last bit of time with Brandon here, while knowing it would hurt to say goodbye.
Early the next morning, Nora walked out of the cabin carrying her coffee mug. Since Zach had eaten and was watching a video, and Brandon was in the shower, she’d decided to steal a moment for herself. She had to get out of the close confines even for a little while.
Bundled in one of Brandon’s University of Texas sweatshirts and Abby’s borrowed jeans, she wandered through the dew-covered grass. Following the rhythmic sound of the creek and chirping birds, she made her way down the rise to the meadow below.
Once through the trees she was met by the bright October sun. That was where she spotted the first of the ponies; the buckskin mare with her foal.
Nora stood still as the animal raised its head and looked at her. They both froze. Nora’s heart pounded, afraid she’d frighten them off. After all, she was the one intruding in their space. Finally dismissing her as a threat, the mare went back to grazing.
Nora leaned against a trunk and took a sip of her coffee, wishing she could feel as peaceful. Coming to the cabin yesterday and spending the evening with Brandon and Zach had made her forget for a short time. Despite Brandon’s assurance that he was going to keep her safe, she hadn’t been able to push aside the severity of her problems, or her total mess of a life. She had no job, and no place to live, but that was the easy part.
The worst was, a notorious drug dealer was after her. Jimmy wanted what she had, or what she used to have. Hopefully the ledger would be enough evidence to put the man away for life.
Nora glanced back up the hill and spotted the man standing in the parking lot, another deputy assigned to watch over her and Zach, to keep them safe until the DEA agents decided where they wanted her. Then what? The witness protection program?
She turned back to the mustangs. She didn’t care about herself, but what kind of life was this for her child? Zach deserved more. Tears filled her eyes; her lips trembled as she wiped her sleeve across her cheeks. And there would be no more Brandon in her life.
She thought back to their few nights together. Not together, like she wanted. She wanted to know what it was like to lay in his arms, and allowed herself to feel what it was like to have a man love her. To touch her, caress her with a loving hand, giving her pleasure that she’d never known existed. Another tear fell. It only made it harder for her to leave, and even harder to forget him.
She heard her name and quickly wiped the moisture from her face and put on a smile before she turned around.
Brandon was wearing a pair of worn jeans, a long-sleeved, gray Henley T-shirt, but no familiar, sexy grin. A funny feeling erupted in her stomach as he came down the hill toward her. He didn’t look happy.
“You aren’t supposed to be out here.” He glanced around and waved at the man up on the ridge. “It’s dangerous.”
“My whole life is dangerous.” It had been hard to sit across a breakfast table from the man, pretending everything was normal. “Sorry, the view stole me away. I could get used to this.”
Brandon could see the evidence of Nora’s tears. He couldn’t blame her for having an overflow of emotions. It had been a rough few months for her and Zach. It had been a rough life period. He only wished he could give her more.
“I’m glad you like it so much. It’s yours and Zach’s anytime you want to come here.”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, when we leave here we won’t be back.”
His chest tightened. “Why, Nora? Why can’t you come back?”
She tossed the last of her coffee in the grass. “Because when I go back to testify it could take a long time. And it might not be safe for us to return here.”
Brandon had been trying to figure out a way to make things easier for her. “About that, I’ve been talking with the agents. There’s a slim chance you might not have to testify. Technically the ledger was in the wall safe, so it was missing evidence.” He shrugged. “And you’ve been cooperating.”
She sighed. “As much as I want to believe that everything is going to work out, I still have Jimmy out there wanting revenge. He’ll know I gave the ledger to the DEA. And he’ll want me punished.”
“I’m not going to let him get to you or Zach, Nora. I care so much for you both.” He pushed it further. “And you can’t deny you have feelings for me.”
She tried to look away, but he refused to let her hide.
“It’s true, Nora. But you have to believe that we can get through this. Together.”
Her gaze met his as she lifted her hand to his face. “Oh, Brandon, you’ll never know how much that means to me, but you can’t get any more involved in this problem. Please.”
She closed her eyes momentarily.
Brandon wanted to argue, but he couldn’t cause her any more stress. “Okay, we have such little time left so why can’t we just pretend that we’re at the most perfect place ever in the world?” He touched her cheek. “And nothing can touch us.”
“Oh, Brandon,” she sighed.
He put on a smile. “It’s just you and me, Nora. In this special place,” he breathed as he dipped his head toward her and brushed his lips over her surprised mouth. Once, twice, and the third time the kiss suddenly turned intense and hungry. He also hoped it would prove how much he needed her in his life.
She finally pushed him away, trying to catch her breath. “No, I can’t change my mind.” She looked troubled. “When they come for me I still have to leave. And I have to get through this before I can think of anything else.”
When he stepped forward, she raised her hand. “Don’t make this any harder. There can’t be any you and me, and wishing isn’t going to make it happen.”
He knew she was lying. She wanted a future with him, too. “So we go back to business for now?”
“I agreed to stay here in the first place because of Zach. He has always been my first concern.”
It still hurt. “Zach is my concern, too. So are you.”
“So then understand that I can’t handle any more pressure now. I need to think only about surviving this. I can’t think about you, or what could have been. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She swung around and hurried up the hill, and soon right out of Brandon’s life.
Later that day, Hank stopped by the cabin. He could see Nora’s misery as soon as he walked in the door.
“You sure aren’t good advertising for our get-away cabins,” he said. “They were built to help people relax.”
She looked at him from the small table in front of the picture window. Her sadness touched his heart.
“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to brighten.
Hank walked across the large room’s open concept with high-beamed ceilings. There was a huge fireplace and a seating area with overstuffed furniture, and plush rugs to lie down on and snuggle up with a loved one. The isolated cabins had been rented many times as honeymoon suites. He only hoped his grandson and Nora would get a chance to use it as that someday. But they had a lot of h
urdles to get over first.
Hank sat down across from Nora, who was pretending to watch her son with Brandon just outside on the porch.
“How are you holding up?”
She put a smile on her pretty face. “I’m fine,” she told him. “I’m sorry, Hank, that I involved your family in my mess.”
He smiled. “Land sake’s, darlin’, you should get Brandon to tell you a bit about our family history. Over the generations, the Randell men have stood on both sides of the law. And my boys have gotten into plenty of messes.” He shook his head. “They’re not proud of it, but we’ve all managed to survive.”
“This is different, Hank. This is dangerous.”
He shook his head. “Neither you nor that boy of yours had anything to do with your ex-husband’s illegal business. Unless you’re playing the victim.” He studied her. “And you don’t look like the type. Not someone who risked everything to take her son to safety.” He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. “I’ve spent time with your Zach. What a fine young man you’re raising. You have to be so proud.”
She nodded, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. “I am. He’s had to go through so much.”
“And it’s made him stronger, but he gets that from you, Nora.” He patted her hand. “But it’s all right to ask for help, too. Just so you know, we’re here for you both. So is Brandon.”
“Oh, Hank, I know what kind of man Brandon is. That’s what makes it so hard to leave him.”
“So don’t give up on your man, because he hasn’t given up on you.”
Back in the cabin, Brandon had spent much of the day and evening on the phone with his boss, the sheriff and with Benjamin Mathis, the federal prosecutor in San Diego. The DEA had gone over the ledger, trying to build a case against Jimmy Archer. It wasn’t going to be easy. Jimmy’s ledger had more incriminating details on his associates than himself. The authorities had issued arrest warrants for several drug dealers in the area. At least the ledger was helping fight crime.
Brandon held out the phone to Nora. “Mathis wants to speak to you.”
Nora took the phone. “Yes, Mr. Mathis.” She wanted to get this over with. She had to get away from Brandon.
“Ms. Donnelly. We’re going to need you to return to San Diego as soon as possible. We’ve arranged for a safe house for you and your son. There are details we need to go through before we take our case to a judge.”
“Of course, Mr. Mathis.” This had been what she wanted, but now that it was going to happen it was frightening. “When do you need me?”
Brandon swung around and shot her an intense look. She had to turn away. “I’m sorry, what was that again?”
“I said, tomorrow?”
“If you can arrange safe travel for me and my son, tomorrow would be fine.” He gave her more details about the agent and her escort. She wrote them down, but her mind wasn’t on anything but the man across the room. The man she loved, but could never build a life with.
Finally she handed the cell phone back to Brandon. “Looks like I’ll be out of your hair by tomorrow.”
He blew out a breath. “It’s not as if it wasn’t expected, but just not this soon.”
The wood in the fireplace crackled and sparks danced in the dim room. With her son tucked in bed in the other room, it was just the two of them. And she wanted nothing more than to go into Brandon’s arms, and let him kiss away her fears and loneliness.
“It’s better this way, Brandon.”
“We both know that’s a lie, Nora. The difference is you won’t let me in to help.”
She couldn’t deny that, but her aching body betrayed her. “Let me get through this, Brandon. It’s hard enough, without worrying about you, too.”
“And you don’t think I won’t worry about you?”
“I don’t have to anymore. Maybe you should forget I ever came here. It might be the only choice if we want to stay safe.”
Nora watched his jaw tighten. “Sure, it’ll be easy. I’ll just forget those sparkling blue eyes, a mouth that causes me to ache. That should be easy.” He threw up his hands in frustration and started for the door.
Nora felt her panic building. She couldn’t let him go—not like this.
“Brandon!” she called.
He stopped and turned around and all she could do was run into his arms.
Without saying another word, his head lowered and his mouth captured hers. Hunger, desire and need all surfaced as he carried her to the fireplace and laid her down on the plush rug.
Never had there been anyone who made her feel this kind of longing. This kind of need. She reached out and her fingertips came in contact with his chest.
A shiver went through her as she ran her palms over his solid strength. She worked frantically at tugging his shirt until the barrier finally disappeared and she made contact with his heated skin. Her sweatshirt disappeared, too, and she moved closer and pressed her body to his.
“Nora.”
She heard her name spoken on a hoarse whisper and slowly she opened her eyes and looked into Brandon’s face. He was lying beside her on the soft rug, his gaze intense, smoldering. He cupped her face with his palms. “I want you to be sure you know what you’re doing.”
Nora’s heart was pounding in her chest, an ache in her lower stomach that only this man could satisfy. She should stop, but she couldn’t. Just once, she wanted to close everything out, except for the two of them.
“I want you, Brandon Randell.”
“I want to make love to you, too, Nora.” He lowered his head and took her mouth in another hungry kiss. He released her and trailed kisses along her jaw to her ear, sending more chills down her spine.
“Oh, Brandon,” she gasped.
He looked at her. “I want to make this night perfect for you. Tell me what you want.”
“Only you, Brandon,” she managed to whisper, and silently added, forever.
She pulled his head down to hers and pressed a kiss against his mouth. “Just for the time we have left. Make me forget.”
She closed her eyes and emptied her head of everything but this man. He had saved her more times than she could count. She wanted one last, special moment with him.
Then she had to save herself.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JUST before dawn the following morning, Brandon found himself alone in front of the dying fire. He sat up and glanced around the silent cabin.
Nora. No, she wouldn’t leave like this. He pushed aside the blankets, stood and pulled on his jeans and shirt from off the floor. While working the zipper, he checked the bedroom to find Zach still asleep, but no Nora. In the kitchen, the light over the stove showed the area was deserted, too.
Panic surged through him as he rushed to the front door and pulled it open. He stopped quickly when he found her perched against the porch railing. Wrapped in a blanket, she stared out at the valley.
He released a long breath, enjoying the sight of her. Her beautiful, thick hair hung past her shoulders. His sweatshirt covered a lot of her, but left those gorgeous legs exposed, triggering memories of last night. Just a few hours ago, she’d been in his arms. They’d shared an intimacy he’d never known before, and couldn’t imagine sharing with anyone but her. Yet even after their passionate night, he knew she had to leave him.
What frightened him the most was it might be for good.
And he couldn’t stop her. His chest tightened with an ache that made it difficult to breath.
Nora looked over her shoulder. “Sorry, I was lost in this incredible view.” She sighed. “You’re so lucky to have this place.”
He wanted to tell her she could come here anytime. She could live right here. If only she would stay. “I know. Did I tell you before my parents got together, I ran away and came here? The idea was to get Mom and Dad to come find me.”
She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a faint smile. “Why am I not surprised?”
“It wasn’t for attention. I only wante
d my parents to stop fighting and get married so Cade would be my dad.” He recalled that long ago time. “What I didn’t expect was for it to rain like a son of a gun, and I got cold and wet. Plus the punishment I got for leaving by myself.”
“How old were you?”
“About Zach’s age. But all I could think about was wanting a dad.” He came up behind her. “Family is important to me, Nora. I want to give that to you and Zach. I want you both, Nora.”
She pushed off the railing and moved away from him. “You want promises, Brandon, and I can’t give you any.”
“I just want to be included in a future with you, wherever that might be. Right here would be nice.”
“I’m not sure I would fit in here.”
“Come on, Nora. You already do.”
She smiled softly. “Your family has been gracious to me and Zach, but there are issues with my past. We’ve had very different childhoods. I’ve never had a family like you do. No father, and after my grandmother passed away, it was just me and my mom for a long time. Then when I was fourteen she died in a car accident, and I became a ward of the state.”
“I’m sorry,” he told her.
She nodded and looked toward the ponies wandering in toward the creek. “That’s where I first met Jimmy. We were both in the same group home. He was a few years older and offered to show me the ropes. We got into a few scrapes together, some shoplifting, and vandalism. Nothing serious. I got over my attitude and anger and the police said my record was sealed. Then one day I got home from school and Jimmy was gone. No one said what happened, but I figured he’d gotten into more trouble.”
He knew about her juvenile record, but he was still surprised by her confession. Brandon came around the railing to face her. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“I ran into Jimmy years later after I graduated from nursing school. He seemed different from when we were kids. He was polished and had become a successful businessman.” She glanced down at the ground. “Maybe I deserved what happened to me.”
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