Conceal, Protect

by Carol Ericson

“Listen.” He pulled his T-shirt over his head, and his hair stuck out all over. “I’d characterize getting stalked by a man who instills fear in every drug dealer and terrorist across the globe and then having that man come after your family members more than a setback. You do what you need to do to take care of yourself.”

  He stuffed his arms in his flannel. “I’m sure you were doing just fine and had been well on your way to recovery, but this is a very special circumstance. Nobody’s going to fault you for backsliding under the circumstances—not your doctor, not me.”

  “But Dr. Eliason can’t know the circumstances, can she? She’s going to think I failed, that I can’t handle everyday pressures.”

  He strode around the love seat and grabbed her shoulders, giving her a little shake. “Stop that. She’s a doctor. She’s seen everything. She doesn’t make judgments like that. Besides, what do you care if she does? You know the truth. A lesser woman, one who hadn’t already had to deal with watching her husband murdered in cold blood, would’ve fallen apart by now.” He loosened his grip and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “You’re amazing.”

  Of course he had to say that. And that closed-lipped, dry kiss was probably all she had to look forward to now. Why hadn’t she been paying better attention when her nude body had been sprawled beneath his nude body? When his hands had been exploring all her sensitive bits? When his tongue had been teasing her to unbearable passion?

  She sighed. “Thanks. I’m going to lie down.”

  She started for the bedroom, then the buzzing of her phone stopped her. She spun around and almost collided with J.D., reaching for the phone.

  “Is it them? Are they calling back with their demands, with news of Ted, with a meeting place?”

  She dived for the phone and checked the display, her heart hammering in her chest. “It’s another unknown number, a different one.”

  “Answer it.”

  She pushed the talk button. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Noelle. What’s up? I finally got my phone.”

  Staggering back a step and bumping against J.D.’s chest, she choked out, “Ted?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Noelle swayed to the side, and J.D. caught her, lowering her to the nearest chair. Zendaris’s guys must be giving Noelle proof of life for Ted. They were allowing him to call to show her he was okay.

  Let the bargaining begin.

  “Ted, are you okay? What do you mean you got a phone?”

  J.D. drew his brows together. They gave Ted a phone? He wiggled his thumb in the air, and Noelle turned on the speaker.

  “You’re on speaker. J.D. is here. What happened?”

  “Why is J.D. always around? Is that guy your shadow or something?”

  Noelle turned wide and confused eyes on him.

  Hell, he was just as much in the dark as she appeared to be. Why was Ted taking his kidnapping so lightly? Maybe he could get through to him.

  “Ted, it’s J.D. Are you okay? What did they do to you?”

  “Huh? What’s the matter with you guys? I know I don’t always follow through on my word, Noelle, but is it really such a big deal that I picked up a phone?”

  “Ted.” Noelle put a hand to her head. “I got a call that you’d been kidnapped.”

  Ted hooted. “Why would anyone want to kidnap me? I have nothing, and if they’re trying to get to you, I don’t think a few hundred grand in life-insurance money is enough to risk a kidnapping. What are you talking about? Is this some kind of joke?”

  “It’s no joke, Ted. I got a call from some very serious people. They claimed they had you.”

  Ted laughed.

  Did Noelle’s brother ever take anything seriously?

  J.D. cut across the laughter. “Has anyone approached you? Has anyone been following you?”

  “Not unless you count the hot ski bunnies up at the lodge.”

  Rolling his eyes, J.D. shook his head at Noelle. “Would you even know if someone was following you?”

  “Believe me. I’ve had people on my tail before. I’d notice. What exactly did these guys want in exchange for my worthless life?”

  “Never mind.” Noelle slumped into the chair. “Just be careful. There’s a lot of strange stuff going on in Buck Ridge right now.”

  “Yeah, well, most of that strange stuff seems to be happening right there at the old homestead—not that it was ever my old homestead. Anyway, you have my new number, and I’ll let you know if someone tries to kidnap me.”

  Noelle ended the call and then saved Ted’s number in her phone. She tossed the cell onto the coffee table. “What do you think that was all about? Do you think they were bluffing? How could they not know I wouldn’t find out? Should I contact them?”

  “No. I have no idea what Zendaris is up to, but you do not want to initiate contact this time.” J.D. raked a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. He felt as if he’d just been on some giant roller coaster—three times. First, he’d had to back down the sharp peak he’d been climbing making love to Noelle. Then she hit him over the head with the fact that the best damned foreplay he’d experienced in years had been a ploy to squelch her OCD. Now this.

  It wasn’t like Zendaris to play games—not that the SOB didn’t like games.

  He massaged his temples. His head ached, along with a few other body parts he’d rather not think about.

  “I guess we have to wait and see if Zendaris’s men contact you again. Why don’t you take that nap? It should be easier now that you know Ted is safe. I’m going to get started on some work.”

  That’s what he needed to unwind this coil in his belly—good, hard manual labor.

  “Keep your phone next to you and your shotgun in the corner, even though I’ll be right out front on the porch.” He patted her back in a brotherly manner. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I’d feel better if I knew what was going on.”

  “Wouldn’t we all?”

  * * *

  AN HOUR LATER, J.D. pulled up the last of the rotted wood from the porch and stood back, hands on hips, surveying the gaps he’d have to cover with plywood.

  A truck rumbled down the drive, and J.D. narrowed his eyes, peering at the windshield.

  A woman waved out the window and beeped her horn. She parked the truck next to Noelle’s and hopped to the ground. Long, dark hair streamed from a knit cap on her head, and she raised a gloved hand in greeting.

  “Is Noelle around?”

  “She’s home, but she’s resting.” J.D. leaned on the handle of the pickax.

  The woman flipped back her hair and strode toward the ripped-up porch. “And you are?”

  His muscles tensed and his nostrils flared, picking up the woman’s musky perfume. “I’m helping out Noelle around the ranch.”

  “I can see that.” She fluttered gloved fingers at the pile of rotted wood. “I’m Tara Nettles from down the road. I grew up with Noelle...and Ted.”

  Noelle had mentioned her friend Tara before. She’d been involved with Ted. Too bad Ted had moved on to those hot ski bunnies, although this woman, with her flowing dark hair and doe eyes, fit that description as well. She and Noelle could be sisters.

  Bracing the pickax against the porch railing, J.D. held out his hand. “Good to meet you.”

  She clasped his ungloved hand in a strong grip, sizing him up with her dark eyes—pretty in their own right, but they couldn’t compare to Noelle’s deep violet-blue eyes.

  “Noelle didn’t mention that she was in the market for a handyman. I could’ve recommended a few locals.”

  J.D. shrugged. “We sort of ran into each other, and it just worked out.”

  “Were you the one driving the truck that crashed last night? I heard Noelle spent the night in the hospital. That’s why I’m here.”

  “She got a concussion and a cut on the head. She’s fine, but she needs her rest.”

  “That girl doesn’t need any more traumas in her life.” Tara placed her hands on her hips and p
lanted her booted feet about a foot apart. “So I hope you’re not the type of man to roll in dragging a wagonload of drama with you.”

  She had no idea who had all the drama following her.

  “Me?” He crossed his arms and grabbed his biceps, feeling the chill now that he’d stopped working, or maybe it was just the icicles shooting from this woman’s eyes. “Drama-free.”

  Tara snorted. She actually snorted.

  “Yeah, right. You look about as dangerous as they come, cowboy.” She shook her finger at him. “Don’t toy with Noelle’s emotions.”

  She really had no idea.

  He could give her an earful about how Noelle had just led him down a heated path of seduction, only to cut him off cold. Technically, he’d been the one to call it quits but when she’d told him to hurry up and get it over with that had pretty much punctured his balloon.

  He held up his hands. “I’m here to work.”

  And to do his job protecting Noelle.

  “Keep it that way.” She’d started to spin on her boot heels when the front door opened.

  “Tara?”

  Tara peered around J.D. “Are you all right, Noelle? Mom and I heard about the crash.”

  “I’m okay.” Noelle, still in her bathrobe, her hair even more tousled than before, took a tentative step onto the porch.

  “Careful!” J.D. sprang onto a slab of solid wood. “I ripped out the rotting wood, and there’s not a whole heckuva lot left to the porch. You shouldn’t be out in the cold anyway with just a robe on.”

  He curled an arm around Noelle’s waist and nudged her back into the house. When he glanced back at Tara, her dark eyes had gotten even frostier as her gaze bounced between him and Noelle.

  “Is it okay if I come in for a visit, Noelle, or are you still...resting?”

  “Come on in. I’ll make us some tea.” She glanced at the sky. “Or something stronger if it’s not too early for you.”

  “Tea is fine. Even though it’s five o’clock somewhere, in Buck Ridge it’s still only two.”

  “Is that all? It felt like I’d been asleep for hours.”

  “How’s your head?” J.D.’s fingers itched to smooth the hair back from her bandage and lay a kiss on its edge. But he needed to back off now that he realized he’d been all wrong in reading Noelle’s signals. Not to mention the penetrating stare emanating from Tara.

  How had he ever characterized those as doe eyes? Tara had wolf eyes, and she was sizing him up as prey.

  She planted a boot against the first step. “Is this safe?”

  J.D. hopped back down the porch to help Tara across, and then handed her into the house next to Noelle. “Let Tara make the tea, Noelle. You still need to take it easy.”

  Tara turned, her arms spanning the doorway as she wedged her hands against the doorframe. “I’ve got this, cowboy.”

  He saluted. No wonder Ted had hightailed it out of here.

  * * *

  “WHERE DID YOU find him?” Tara grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, her fingers kneading the terry cloth. “And are you naked under here? Why are you running around naked under your bathrobe with that—” she waved her hand at the front door “—hunk working outside?”

  “Take a breath.” Noelle crossed index finger over index finger and held them up in Tara’s face. “He’s out there. I’m in here. I think I have a right to wear anything I damn well please under my robe—including nothing.”

  “You slept with him.” Tara skipped around the room. “I can’t believe it. You slept with him—a stranger. When you go, you go big—and hot!”

  “Calm down.” Noelle wandered into the kitchen and filled the kettle. “I did not sleep with J.D.”

  Came damn near close to it before her ridiculous OCD tendencies got the better of her. Now she’d lost her chance. She could tell by the way he’d awkwardly patted her back before he’d sent her to the bedroom alone to take a nap. And the way he backed up when she faced him when before the electricity sizzling between them had drawn them close.

  Tara bustled into the kitchen, shooing with her hands. “You heard the man. I’ll take care of the tea. You sit down.”

  With the kettle on the stove, Tara returned to the living room and hung over the back of the love seat. “So where did you meet him?”

  Noelle curled her toes into the carpet before the fireplace, where she and J.D. had been in each other’s arms just a few hours ago.

  “He helped me out with the truck and one thing led to another.” She crossed her legs beneath her. “Why are you so giddy, anyway? The way you were looking at him outside, I thought you were going to grab the shotgun out of your truck and run him off my property.”

  “Just wanted to warn him that someone around here has your back. But as long as he’s a good guy, I say go for it.”

  “Go for what? He’s helping me out around the ranch.” Noelle folded her hands in her lap. And helping me ward off an international arms dealer who thinks I have something I don’t.

  “If you say so.”

  The kettle whistled, and Tara turned and made for the kitchen. She called over her shoulder, “It’s been two years since Alex died, and I don’t think you’ve had a date since, have you?”

  “Not exactly.” Did rolling around on the floor naked with J.D. count as a date?

  Tara floated from the kitchen, balancing two cups on two saucers. She set them both down on the table, the ends of the tea bags fluttering with the movement.

  “I think it’s time you give it a shot. You’ve laid all your...issues to rest, and you deserve some happiness.”

  Noelle’s gaze darted to the edge of the rug she’d smoothed out while J.D. had been worshipping her body with his tongue and touch. “I don’t know. Some of the old issues are still hanging around.”

  “It’s to be expected.” Tara slurped her tea. “Your husband was shot in front of you, and then his killer turned the gun on you. Who wouldn’t have problems with that? But your issues are not deal breakers when it comes to dating—a little anxiety and—” she waved a hand in the air “—that other stuff.”

  The incident in the gallery hadn’t gone down quite like that, but who had to know?

  Noelle took a deep breath. “That other stuff is called OCD, and it could definitely be a dating deal breaker.”

  Hadn’t it just broken the deal with J.D.?

  “Pfft. If you run into some guy who can’t handle that, he’s not worth dating anyway. In fact, that’s a great way to separate the jerks from the good guys.”

  Noelle blew on her tea, creating little ripples in the light green liquid. “For someone obsessed with the good guys, you sure spent a lot of time trying to make it work with Ted—not such a good guy.”

  “Ouch. What a way to turn the subject on me.”

  “Have you seen him since he’s been back?”

  “I saw him at the Buck Ridge Lodge last night. Must’ve been just about the time J.D. was crashing his truck. He was with that friend of yours, Bruce Something the Third, who said he’d just had dinner with you and your handyman.”

  “Oh, is that why you thought we were dating?”

  “Why else would you bring the hired help along to dinner with a friend?”

  “You met the friend.”

  “He wasn’t so bad—good-looking guy.”

  “Bruce must’ve told you he was a third because I don’t think Ted would’ve introduced him like that.”

  “Ted didn’t introduce him at all. Bruce took over to make up for your brother’s spotty etiquette.”

  “Bruce Pierpont the Third isn’t my type, but you might like him.”

  “He’s rich, isn’t he?”

  “Loaded.”

  “That’s my new type.”

  The front door swung open, and J.D. stuck his head inside the house. “Is it safe?”

  Tara hopped up from the love seat. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Just want to make sure I’m not intruding.”

  Noe
lle said, “You sure were making a lot of noise out there. Did you finish?”

  “Finished tearing out the wood, and I nailed some plywood over the gaps. It’s safe to walk on now.”

  “If you do good work, maybe my mom and I can hire you to do some jobs around our ranch. Speaking of Mom, I have to get going, Noelle. I have to pick her up from town, along with a few prescriptions. I dropped Mom off to have lunch with Mrs. Corcoran.”

  “Do you think you can pick up a prescription for me?” She glanced at J.D. “No hurry. I’m not currently taking the meds now, but it’s good to have them around.”

  “No problem. I’ll pick it up for you.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  “And I’ll make sure you get across that porch safely.” J.D. pushed the front door wider and stepped back outside.

  Tara gave her a quick hug. “Take care of that head. I’m so glad you came out of that okay. You can come and pick up the prescription from me later.”

  “Will do. Thanks for dropping by.” Noelle stood on the threshold as J.D. took Tara’s arm and guided her down the porch. He’d just scored some more points in Tara’s good-guy tally.

  Tara waved before ducking into her truck, and J.D. joined Noelle at the door.

  “She’s the suspicious type, isn’t she?”

  “Just protective.”

  “That’s a good thing.”

  The engine of Tara’s truck cranked once and sputtered out. She gave it another try. It revved but never turned over.

  “Uh-oh. What is it with you ladies and your trucks?”

  J.D. jogged toward the truck. Still in her robe and fuzzy slippers, Noelle stayed put.

  He stuck his head under the hood and called out instructions to Tara, but the truck wouldn’t start. Guess he couldn’t fix everything.

  Tara stomped across the yard back to the porch. “Can you believe this? I just had Zach work on this piece of junk last month. I hate to ask you, Noelle, but I really have to pick up my mom. Can I borrow your truck? I can bring it back tonight when I get Mom home. I still have the other truck and Zach can give me a ride back when he tows this heap.”

  “No problem. Keep it for as long as you like. J.D. can chauffeur me around in his rental.” She lifted a brow in his direction, and he nodded.