The Rancher Returns

by Brenda Jackson

  Gavin reluctantly broke off the kiss. Drawing his mouth away from hers was one of the hardest things he’d had to do. He saw the look of denied need in her eyes before she leaned back, dropped her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. He figured she was as in awe of what just happened as he was.

  What they’d shared wasn’t just a kiss. It was an acknowledgment of deep sexual desires. He knew what was driving his and he thought he had figured out what was driving hers. She just refused to accept it. She was stubborn. It would take a lot more kisses like this one to bring her around. They’d felt an intense attraction to each other from the first, and from all appearances, things had gotten worse.

  He continued to stare at her as heat curled inside of him. He wanted her. Bad. And that pushed him to say, “So tell me again why we can’t sleep together.”

  * * *

  Layla heard his words but she couldn’t respond. Neither could she open her eyes to look at him. There was no point. She knew what she would see in the depths of his dark gaze. A sexual need so hot it was likely to sizzle her insides. It would make her fully aware of her own sexual need. A need he stirred to life inside her whether she wanted him to or not.

  “Open your eyes, Layla. I’m not going anywhere.”

  At least not today. She suddenly remembered Ms. Melody mentioning he had to go to Mississippi on business. “When are you leaving?” she asked, opening her eyes.

  Just as she’d expected. The eyes staring at her were dark and seductive.

  He lifted a brow. “Leaving for where?”

  “Mississippi. Your grandmother mentioned you had important business to take care of there.”

  “Trying to get rid of me, are you?”

  “It wouldn’t hurt,” she said and saw his eyes get even darker when she moistened her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. “So when are you leaving?”

  He moved his gaze from her mouth to her eyes. “I changed my mind about Mississippi. I’m not leaving here any time soon.” She couldn’t stop the disappointment that flashed through her.

  “But I thought you had important business to take care of.”

  “My plans have changed. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “I just hope you don’t plan to get underfoot.”

  “I’ll try not to. Now show me the exact spot where you plan to dig,” he said, opening the truck door to get out.

  No matter what he said, Layla knew Gavin would try getting underfoot.

  * * *

  When Gavin pulled an odd-looking camera from his backseat, Layla lifted a brow. “What is that?”

  He smiled. “A Vericon 12D. It’s a high-tech camera that’s mainly used underwater. Flipper messed around with it so we could use it on land, as well.”

  “Flipper?”

  “Yes, Flipper. One of my team members. He’s into technology and all that high-tech stuff,” Gavin said as they walked side by side.

  “Surely Flipper isn’t his real name.”

  Gavin chuckled. “His real name is David Holloway. His code name is Flipper.”

  “Oh,” she said, glancing up at him. “Do you have a code name?”

  “Yes.”

  “What is it?”

  He saw no reason not to tell her since his grandmother was well aware of it, too. His teammates called Gavin by his code name whenever they came to visit. “Viper.”

  Layla scrunched up her features. “Viper?”

  “Yes, Viper.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why do they call you Viper?”

  He stopped walking to answer her, and when he stopped, she did, too. He hadn’t noticed before how small she seemed, standing close to him. He figured he’d never noticed because usually when he faced her he was fixated on her mouth.

  “The reason I’m called Viper is because when I set my sights on a target, I don’t give up until I make a hit. I love taking the enemy down.”

  She tilted her head to look up at him. “Do you consider me an enemy?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “No.” She wasn’t the enemy, but he had every intention of taking her down...right into his bed.

  Evidently satisfied with his response, she looked around him, back toward where the truck was parked. Then she turned around. She did it several times and each time he saw her confusion deepen.

  “Is something wrong?” he finally asked.

  She whipped around to look at him. “Yes, something is wrong.”

  He glanced around before returning his gaze to her. “What?”

  “Someone moved my marker. It’s gone.”

  He lifted a brow. “What do you mean your marker is gone?”

  She frowned. “Just what I said. Someone moved my marker. It’s not here.”

  Gavin released a deep sigh. “Why would anyone move your marker? Are you sure you put one down?”

  “Of course I’m sure,” she answered in an annoyed tone. “Someone moved it.”

  Gavin raised his gaze upward. “And who would do that?”

  “I don’t know, but someone did.”

  He shook his head. “Layla, the Silver Spurs is out in the middle of nowhere. And this particular spot is considered way outside our working area, almost six miles from the main house. No one would deliberately come on this land to remove your marker.”

  “Well, someone did, Gavin. I marked the digging site,” she said with deep irritation in her voice.

  Gavin stared down at her. “Are you sure? Maybe your mind is clouded right now. I can understand my kiss leaving you that way.”

  Her frown deepened. “I’m serious, Gavin.”

  “So am I, Layla.”

  Exasperation darkened her expression. “Will you get your mind off sex for a minute?”

  A smile touched his lips. “My mind wasn’t on sex,” he said. “It was on that kiss we shared. But since you’ve pulled sex into the conversation...it’s hard to think of anything other than getting you in my bed when you look so good.”

  Layla pushed to the back of her mind that she’d deliberately taken more time with her appearance just so he would think she looked good. That was before she’d come out here and discovered her marker had been removed.

  “You moved it, didn’t you?” she asked with an accusing glare.

  “Now why would I want to do that?”

  When she didn’t say anything but continued to stare at him, his amusement was replaced with a deep frown. “I have no reason to mess with any marker you claim to have put down. This is the first time I’ve been out this far from the house since returning home.”

  He rubbed a hand down his face in frustration. “If that marker has in fact been removed, then that means someone trespassed on this land to do it. Although for the life of me I can’t imagine who would have cared enough to do such a thing. I just think you’re confused as to where you placed the damn marker,” he said, glancing around. “The south pasture is rather large. Maybe it’s all the way on the other side.”

  “I am not confused and it’s not on the other side. Not only did I map its coordinates, I recall parking near those tree stumps and walking twenty to thirty feet to my right. The marker was a wooden stake with a red flag on it, and I planted it exactly where we would dig.”

  “If you’re sure of that, then you need to consider who knows you’re here. And who would want to see you fail.”

  She lifted her chin. “And why wouldn’t your name head the list? The deal we agreed on means I would have to sleep with you if I fail.”

  Gavin took a step closer to her. “Whether you fail or succeed means nothing to me because I have every intention of sleeping with you regardless of the outcome of this dig.”

  Layla was taken aback by Gavin’s words. Of all the
audacity. She placed her hands on her hips. Anger poured through her. “And how do you figure that?”

  “Because, like I explained to you earlier, I’m Viper. I set my sights on a target. I don’t give up until I make a hit. You are my target, Layla, and I plan to break down your resolve.”

  She all but stomped her foot in frustration. “And I’ve told you that won’t happen. What part of that don’t you understand?”

  “This part,” he said, brushing his finger across her cheek. She couldn’t downplay her sharp intake of breath or the way her body shuddered beneath his touch. “You do something to me and I do something to you,” he continued. “We do things to each other. We can only hold out for so long.”

  She tilted her lips stubbornly. “I will fight you on that with my last breath.”

  “And I suggest you save that breath for that explosive orgasm you’re going to have.”

  Layla opened her mouth to blast out a resounding retort but then she closed it without responding. What was the use of arguing with him about something she knew for a fact wouldn’t be happening, no matter what he thought? So what if his touch warmed her to the core? She would put him out of her mind. She had more important things to be concerned with. Like who’d removed her marker and why. No matter what Gavin might assume, she was not imagining things.

  “My marker was removed, Gavin.”

  He rolled his eyes. “We’re back to that again?”

  “Yes. The dig is why I’m here. Why I crazily agreed to your deal. If you didn’t remove the marker, then who did?”

  * * *

  Gavin drew in a deep breath, trying to hold his aggravation and frustration at bay. He knew for certain she was not incompetent. So someone had removed the marker like she claimed.

  “Here, hold this,” he said, handing Flipper’s camera to her. He then began walking, studying the ground. He slowed when he saw footprints he knew weren’t hers or his. He crouched down and pressed his finger to one, touching the indention in the earth. It was cold. The tracks looked fresh, as if they hadn’t been made any more than forty-eight hours ago. Whose prints were they? One of his men? Possibly, but for some reason he doubted it. All his men had been working in the north and west pastures for the past few days. None had any reason to come to the south pasture.

  It appeared more weight had been placed on the left leg as that impression was deeper. He also noted the sole of the right shoe appeared more worn than the left.

  He stood and backtracked to where Layla said she’d parked her vehicle when she’d come out here. He walked, looking down and around the entire time. When he’d gone about thirty feet he stopped. Crouching down again he studied the earth and that’s when he saw the small plug where the marker had been. He glanced to the right and the left, studying the ground. Again he saw footprints. The same ones.

  He stood and slowly walked back to Layla. Without saying anything, he took the camera out of her hand. “Thanks.”

  She raised a brow. “Well?”

  She hadn’t asked what he’d been doing. She was smart enough to figure things out. He was using his skill as a SEAL to determine if there was proof that the marker had been removed.

  He met her inquisitive expression. “I saw footprints. I also saw where the marker had been. You’re right. The marker was removed.”

  “Why? By whom?”

  “Don’t know, Layla.” He honestly didn’t have a clue. The Silver Spurs was private property. And although there were numerous ways to get on the property, he couldn’t imagine anyone having a reason to come to this particular area. The one thing he didn’t see was tire tracks. But the person could have parked elsewhere and walked.

  “I planned on using this camera to scan the area,” he said. “I suggest you make a list of anyone who might have a reason for wanting you not to succeed in your dig. And make sure you take me off the list. I told you my position and I’m sticking to it.”

  And without saying anything else, he walked off.

  Eight

  I told you my position and I’m sticking to it.

  Later that day, Layla paced the floor. Gavin Blake was bullheaded, stubborn and full of himself. He was crazy if he actually thought he could get her to bend to his will. No way. No how. So why was she pacing the floor, wearing out both herself and her shoes?

  She had watched him use that high-tech camera, but she hadn’t been impressed with his findings. Gavin agreed there was something buried in the area but he refused to consider it was Jesse James’s loot. To his way of thinking, since that area used to be a popular hunting spot, the camera had picked up nothing more than buried bullet shells.

  Layla refused to believe her research was wrong. There was buried treasure somewhere in the south pasture, she was sure of it. And as far as who would not want to see her succeed in this project, that could be a number of people, including her parents. But she didn’t for one minute think they would go so far as to sabotage the dig site. They were hoping failing at this would make Layla realize she should pursue medical school, after all. Then there was her older colleague Dr. Clayburn and others at the university who felt she’d been too young and inexperienced for such an expensive project. Did the person who removed the marker actually think she wouldn’t have kept the coordinates and just re-marked it? That she would give up so easily?

  She stopped pacing when she heard a knock on the door. The tightening in her stomach told her who it was. Why was Gavin here? She had spoken to Ms. Melody an hour or so ago when she’d called to invite Layla to dinner. Layla had regretfully declined, knowing she would not have been the best of company this evening. Besides, she needed distance from Gavin. Evidently he hadn’t taken the hint.

  The knock on the door sounded again. There was no need to pretend she wasn’t there when Gavin knew she was. Crossing the room, she opened the door to find Gavin with a tray of food in his hand.

  “After you told Gramma Mel you weren’t coming to dinner, she strongly suggested I bring you something. I believe she thinks I’m the reason you didn’t come to breakfast or dinner.”

  Layla moved aside to let him in. Tray and all. Especially the tray. Everything was covered but the food smelled good. “I’ll let her know that’s not the case when I talk to her tomorrow.” No need for him to know he had been a factor in her decision.

  “She might not be here. Not sure when she’s leaving, whether it’s tomorrow or the day after.”

  Layla closed the door and followed him to the kitchen. “Leaving? Ms. Melody is going somewhere?”

  “Yes, to a library convention in Cincinnati for a week. But I’m sure she won’t leave without saying goodbye. And if you expect me to take her place and make sure you don’t miss meals...that won’t be happening.”

  She frowned. “I never asked your grandmother to cook for me, Gavin.”

  He put the tray on the kitchen table and turned to her. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  “Then why did you insinuate otherwise?”

  “Did I?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, you did.”

  “Then I apologize.” She couldn’t help noticing how his gaze roamed over her. “You changed clothes,” he said.

  Was that disappointment she heard in his voice? Seeing his gaze had moved to her chest, she dropped her hands to her sides. “I showered.”

  “I know. You smell good. And you look good in that dress. Nice legs.”

  She would have appreciated the compliment if she wasn’t still so uptight about that marker being moved. “I want to go back out to the dig site tomorrow and look around, Gavin. This time I want to use my own detector.”

  “If you’re still concerned about why the marker was moved, I might have a reason for that.”

  She came into the kitchen, trying to ignore the way he was checking out her
legs and the way her nipples responded to his blatant appraisal. “What reason is that?”

  “Clete. He’s an older man we hired years ago to keep the grounds clear of trash and debris as well as repair anything that needs fixing. That way Caldwell and the men can concentrate mainly on the cattle. When I mentioned the marker to Gramma Mel, she reminded me that Clete has a tendency to move stuff when he’s keeping the land cleared.”

  “But why would he remove the marker?”

  Gavin shrugged. “He probably didn’t know what it was and thought it was trash. He and his wife left a few days ago to visit their son who is in the navy and stationed in Hawaii. I’ll talk to him when he gets back.”

  Layla drew in a deep breath, feeling somewhat relieved. The thought of someone tampering with the dig site had definitely bothered her.

  “Sit down and eat. I promised Gramma Mel that I would make sure you did.”

  She raised a suspicious eye. “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why would you care one way or the other if I eat?”

  A slow, sexy smile touched his lips and her womb seemed to contract with the weight of that smile. And his dimples had bone-melting fire spreading through her blood. “The reason I care is because I don’t want you to start losing weight.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest again, and then quickly dropped them by her sides when she saw his gaze shift back to her chest. Could the man think of anything other than sex for a minute? “And what does my weight have to do with you?”

  “When I make love to you, I want to feel meat on your bones.”

  His statement answered her earlier question. No, he obviously couldn’t think of anything other than sex. “We won’t be making love, Gavin.”

  “Your food is getting cold.”

  He was blatantly ignoring what she’d said. “I’ll eat after you leave.”

  He chuckled. “If that was a hint that you want me to go, forget it. I want to make sure you eat.”

  She frowned. “What do you plan to do? Stay here and watch me.”

  “Yes, that was my intent.”