Shit.
He was going to have to disappear, that’s all there was to it. As far as his wife and kids—it was strange how little remorse he felt about leaving them. No doubt all his assets would be frozen once the police were after him, so they’d be left with nothing.
But hell, his wife had her parents to fall back on and they had money. Nancy and the kids would be fine.
All of the tension and adrenaline had him hyped up and needing release. He looked at Charlee still sitting on the bed looking terrified. He smiled and that seemed to scare her more.
He knew exactly how he was going to get that release.
Chapter 32
Tate dragged his hand down his face as he drove his truck down a street in the pouring rain. He’d have to find a phone and—
He squinted as he caught sight of a car pulling out of a gas station.
Was that David’s car? He thought he’d seen David getting into one like it previously. The blonde in the passenger seat looked like Charlee.
As the car headed onto the road leading to the highway, Tate started to follow in his truck.
Tate glanced at his dead phone on the console. He couldn’t call the police to tell them and David might get away.
A sense of urgency thrummed through Tate. He’d follow David to see where he was going and call the police as soon as he could.
David kept driving down the relatively isolated highway to Phoenix. Tate tried not to get too close so that there wasn’t a possibility that the man could see his truck.
The ninety-minute drive seemed to last forever. Tate’s jaws ached from gritting his teeth so hard as they drove. Tension kept Tate wound tight as he followed David to the south side of Sky Harbor airport, just off of University.
David pulled off the freeway. As he did, a large semi pulled out in front of Tate and he couldn’t see David’s car. He thought he caught a glimpse of the man’s car with a right blinker on but he could ’t be sure.
The semi in front of Tate had to back up once to get the angle and complete the turn. Tate cursed and honked the horn, only to get the finger from the burly truck driver. The truck drove on and Tate surveyed a strip of motels in the direction David had signaled with his blinker. Tate hit the steering wheel with his palm as he drove down the street. He turned onto the motel row, drove into each motel and circled the parking lots, but didn’t see David’s car.
As he checked the fourth motel, he spotted David’s car. He felt a moment’s relief, but then his mind turned to the fact that David could have had time to hurt Charlee. The thought burned his gut and he ground his teeth
As he surveyed the parking lot and motel doors, Tate didn’t see anyone around and he couldn’t tell which room David and Charlee might be in.
Tate hurried to the office and went to the front desk. He pulled out his wallet then put a fifty-dollar bill on the counter in front of the clerk who had to be in his late forties with stringy hair down to his collar. The man glanced at the fifty and then to Tate.
“How long do you need a room?” the man asked. “That’s enough for a couple of hours.”
“I’m looking for information.” Tate pushed the fifty closer to the clerk. “And I need it now. A man with brown hair and blue eyes came in here with a strawberry blonde.” The man reached for the fifty but Tate still had his hand on it. “What room are they in?”
“Why do you want to know?” the man asked, looking hungrily at the bill.
Tate clenched his other fist to keep from grabbing the clerk by the throat and strangling the answer from him.
“That’s my business.” Tate leaned on the counter, getting into the man’s personal space. Tate scowled and knew from the man’s response that he’d succeeded in making his expression intimidating. “What room are they in?”
The clerk swallowed. “I’ll check.” He looked at the screen of his ancient computer monitor. “One-fifty-three. It’s on the backside of the motel.”
Tate stared the man down. “Give me a keycard to the room. Now.”
Looking like he might have been shaking, the man swiped a keycard in a machine then handed it to Tate.
Tate took his hand off the fifty. “Call the police and give them that room number.”
The man nodded as he snatched up the money.
Tate strode out of the office and headed toward the back of the motel. When he reached the room he moved to one side of the door.
He listened and heard a voice and then a scream. A woman’s scream.
Tate didn’t wait to use the keycard. He slammed his boot against the door and kicked it in.
David was standing with a gun against Charlee’s forehead, his hand on his belt as he looked like he was about to rape her.
The man jerked his attention to the door but kept his gun trained on Charlee. His face went pale when he saw Tate. But then David set his jaw and jerked Charlee off the bed and brought her up against him.
Fury burned in Tate’s gut and he clenched his fists at his sides. “So help me,” he said to David, “you hurt her and I’ll kill you.”
Tears rolled down Charlee’s face and she winced as David pressed the barrel hard against her temple.
“I’ll kill her if you don’t get out of my way.” The look on David’s face was one of a madman. “You’d better step away from the door now.”
“You shoot her and you’re dead,” Tate said.
“I want you out of our way.” David nodded to one corner. “Stand over there. We’re leaving.”
Grinding his teeth, Tate tried to think of someway to help Charlee, but there didn’t seem to be anything he could do without her getting hurt. His chest burned even hotter.
Tate’s gaze met Charlee’s. Something flashed in her eyes. It was like hurt, fury, and pain had balled up inside her and she couldn’t take it anymore. David was watching Tate and didn’t see the hatred that suddenly filled Charlee’s expression.
Tate tried not to show anything on his face but he silently begged her not to do anything that might get her killed.
But Charlee had a look of fierce determination and rage that Tate never would have expected from her. She clenched both her hands together in front of her. Tate could only watch with terror in his heart as Charlee swung her arms up at David’s gun arm.
A shot rang out as she hit his wrist hard and knocked David’s arm up. The gun flew from his hand and clattered several feet behind him as a look of shock crossed his face.
Charlee dropped to the floor at the same time the shot had pierced the air. She lay on her side, facing away from Tate. Blood began matting her blonde hair and flowing along her temple.
With a roar of rage, Tate lunged for David who had turned and was going after his gun. Tate took the bastard down, slamming his head against the hard floor.
Gripping David’s collar in one hand, Tate drove his other fist into the man’s face. And then Tate couldn’t stop himself. He smashed his fist into David’s face over and over again.
David went still and Tate eased off the man who was now out cold. He had to see if Charlee was still alive.
With one eye on David, Tate went to Charlee who was stirring. Relief whooshed through him as he saw her sit up and put her hand to her head. “I think the bullet just grazed my scalp,” she said, looking stunned. “I’ll be okay.”
Tate went to Charlee and brought her into his arms. She hugged him and started crying against his chest. “Thank you,” she sobbed over and over. “Thank you.” She drew away and her tears mixed with blood running down her face from the wound.
David groaned and moved and Tate released Charlee to go to the man. Tate grabbed David by his collar and jerked him to his feet. Blood was flowing down David’s face. His nose looked broken and his face was already puffy and bruising.
Charlee stood. She walked over to David. “You bastard.” She drew her arm back and slammed her fist into his jaw.
Then she turned and walked out of the motel room.
Chapter 33
&
nbsp; Jo used the crutch to get around Tate’s kitchen. It had been two weeks since she’d almost been killed for the third time. She was feeling less sore on her good side and had gotten used to getting around with one crutch while wearing the casts on her left side. Nothing could keep her down for long.
She was grateful that David was now locked up, with the man who had tried to kill her still under guard at the hospital. The story had been so huge it had made the national news. Jo felt sorry for David’s family—it was sad what they’d had to go through. What David had done to them was despicable.
A knock sounded at the front door and Jo limped to the living room. When she reached the door, she turned the knob and moved out of the way. The door swung open.
Daphne was standing on the porch. The woman’s face fell when she saw Jo and then her look hardened. “Where’s Tate?”
“Out.” Jo studied the petite blonde and tried not to let jealousy rise in her. “Can I give him a message for you?”
Daphne gave a toss of her blonde hair. “I’m going to win him back. He was mine before and he’ll be mine again.”
Jo just stared at Daphne for a moment. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m dead serious.” Daphne was a good six or seven inches shorter than Jo’s five-eleven, but she still got into Jo’s space. “Your time is up.”
“Let me tell you something.” Jo clenched her hand into a fist. “Tate is my man and you’d better stay away. Don’t even think about coming back.”
Jo caught movement from the corner of her eye and saw Tate standing there with his thumbs hooked in his pockets, looking from Daphne to her. Jo felt a little flush of heat. No doubt he’d heard her declare that he was her man.
Daphne apparently hadn’t noticed him. “He doesn’t love you. You can’t keep him.”
Tate came forward, into the woman’s view. “Hi, Daphne.”
Daphne’s cheeks turned red. She looked at him as he moved beside Jo. He slipped his arm around Jo’s shoulders.
He smiled at Jo before looking at Daphne. “I love Jo,” he said. “My heart belongs to her.”
Daphne’s jaw dropped. “But you loved me.”
“Loved is the key word,” he said.
With a look of both anger and pain, Daphne turned away and marched over to a little silver car she’d parked on the other side of Tate’s truck. For a moment, Jo and Tate watched as Daphne climbed into her car and started it, then backed up and tore out of the driveway, her tires spitting up rocks and dust in her wake.
When she was gone, Tate turned to Jo. “Your man, huh?”
She straightened. “Of course.”
He grinned and settled his hands at her waist, being careful of her casts. “I like the sound of that.”
She looped her good arm around his neck and held onto him. “I love you, Tate.” It was the first time she’d been able to say the words and it felt amazing. “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you sooner, but I love you.”
He brought her hard against him. “About time you admitted it.”
She nodded. “About time.”
He carefully scooped her up in his arms and she laughed as her crutch clattered to the ground.
Chapter 34
In the clear May morning, close to six months after she’d told Tate she loved him, Jo held her hand to her belly to ease the flutters. They were on a ranch belonging to one of the McBride cousins. The ranch was northwest of Prescott and was at an elevation that overlooked the valley. One could see for miles, and it was absolutely gorgeous.
The day was perfect, as if made for this very moment.
“You have the prettiest dress ever,” Jenny said as she touched one of the pearls on Jo’s long white beaded gown. “You look pretty like my mommy did when she married my new daddy, Gage.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Jo stroked one of Jenny’s blonde curls with her free hand. A bouquet of white and red roses was in her other. “Are you ready to go when the music starts?”
Jenny bobbed her head, her blond curls dancing with the movement.
Jo touched her own hair that was swept up with strings of pearls wound in the long red locks. The pearls had belonged to her and Charlee’s grandmother. Charlee had insisted on the traditions—something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Along with the “old” pearls and her “new” dress, at Jo’s ears were simple diamonds she’d borrowed from Charlee and the garter on her thigh was blue.
After the wedding, they were going on their honeymoon to Paris, a place Jo had loved during her modeling years. She hadn’t been there since and was looking forward to being there with Tate.
The wedding march started and Jo’s hands were remarkably steady. She’d thought she’d tremble from nerves, but she felt nothing but happiness, contentment, confidence, and excitement. She took a deep breath and smiled. This was the day that she and Tate had talked about for ages and now it was really here.
“Let’s go,” she said to herself and to Jenny who bounced on her toes as she moved in front.
Jo stepped from the back porch, behind Jenny. The little girl began tossing red rose petals along the path leading to the gazebo. Jo reached the aisle between two rows of folding chairs that had been set up on the expanse of lawn behind the ranch house. The chairs were filled with family and friends on both sides of the aisle.
At the head of the aisle stood Charlee, who was Jo’s maid of honor, and Tess, Jo’s bridesmaid. Both women looked incredibly beautiful. Charlee’s broken and abused heart had mostly healed, yet there were shadows that hadn’t left her eyes. But today she smiled with happiness for Jo.
Tate’s brother and Tess’s husband, Gage, served as the best man and the McBride brothers’ youngest, Creed, was the usher.
The guests and the wedding party blurred as Jo’s gaze focused on the big handsome man standing at the altar. Tate looked amazing in his western tux and her heart swelled with love for him. She didn’t remember ever being so happy in all her life. The way he was looking at her made her feel as if his love could take her anywhere and everywhere.
Jo made her way down the aisle, one slow step after another as she managed to keep herself from running to Tate and flinging her arms around him. When she reached the altar, she handed her bouquet to Charlee before slowly turning to face Tate.
His green eyes held hers and he wore a serious but loving expression that very nearly took her breath away.
When the pastor began speaking, Jo could barely register his words. She was so wrapped up in Tate that nothing else seemed to matter.
Then Tate took her hands in his, grounding her in reality as he began to speak his vows. “From the moment I met you, when we were still kids, I knew you were the one for me. You disappeared from my life but now I have you back. You are the one I want to share my life with. With you I will be the best man I can be. You are my inspiration, my hope, my faith, my love. I promise to love you for eternity, sharing my life with you forever. I love you, Jo, with everything I have.”
Tate’s words flowed over her, filling her with warmth. She smiled before she started her own vows. “Today I become your wife and you become my husband. I will give you the best of myself and accept you for the amazing person you are. I promise to share my innermost feelings, secrets, and dreams and to grow along with you. I give you my heart, mind, and soul, completely and forever. I love you.”
He smiled down at her, never taking his gaze from hers. When the preacher pronounced them husband and wife, he brought her tightly to him and kissed her with a passion she’d known only with him. She forgot about everyone around them as he kissed her. It wasn’t until he drew away that she noticed the cheering and the laughter.
Tate took Jo’s hand, and together they stepped away from the altar and toward their new life together.
# # #
Also by Cheyenne McCray
“Riding Tall” Series
Branded For You
Roping Your Heart
Fencing You
In
Tying You Down
“Rough and Ready” Series
Silk and Spurs
Lace and Lassos
Champagne and Chaps
Satin and Saddles
Roses and Rodeo
Lingerie and Lariats
Lipstick and Leather
“Altered States” Series
Dark Seduction
“Dark Enforcers” Series
Night’s Captive
Lexi Steele Novels
The First Sin
The Second Betrayal
The Temptation
From St. Martin’s Press:
“Night Tracker” Series
Demons Not Included
No Werewolves Allowed
Vampires Not Invited
Zombies Sold Separately
Vampires Dead Ahead
“Magic” Series
Forbidden Magic
Seduced by Magic
Wicked Magic
Shadow Magic
Dark Magic
Single Title
Moving Target
Chosen Prey
Anthologies
No Rest for the Witches
Real Men Last All Night
Legally Hot
Chicks Kick Butt
Hotter than Hell
Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romances
Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romances
Cheyenne writing as Jaymie Holland
“The Auction” Series
Sold
Bought
Claimed
Taken
“Taboo” Series
Taking it Home
Losing Control
Alluring Stranger
Taboo Desires: three Tales of Lust and Passion
Tying You Down Page 18
