by R. C. Ryan
“Then you believe me? And you think I’m in danger?”
“I do. And I’m not inclined to allow someone in my home to face danger alone.”
Bo walked to the back door and opened it. Over his shoulder he called, “Good night, Annie. Son.”
When they were alone, Jonah took Annie’s hand. It was cold as ice. She was shaking.
“Hey.” He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.
And in that moment, she realized she’d been holding her emotions together by a mere thread.
With a little moan, she went limp in his arms, sobbing against his chest as though her heart would break.
Chapter Eighteen
Jonah felt a wave of such tenderness he could hardly keep from crushing her in his arms. Instead, he forced himself to be gentle as he held her. When her tears finally subsided, he handed her his handkerchief.
“Thanks.” She blew her nose and wiped her eyes before stuffing the handkerchief into her pocket.
She kept her gaze averted. “Sorry.”
“Annie.” He put a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up.
She closed her eyes to hide her shame. “I don’t usually go all weak and weepy.”
“You have a right. You’re in the fight of your life against some very clever cons.”
Her eyes opened. She shook her head. “That isn’t what brought this on, though I have to admit I’m terrified that I’m being drawn into something so big, so well organized, I may have no defense. I’m almost afraid to let myself think about what’s happening. But these tears are about your family.”
Seeing his puzzled look, she searched for the right words. “You said they might surprise me. And I may have hoped they wouldn’t come right out and condemn me. But I never dreamed they would actually stand together to not only hire a detective to defend me, but also insist that I stay on here.” She shook her head in wonder. “What an amazing family you have.”
“Yeah. They continue to amaze me, too.”
“I’ll never be able to repay them for this kindness.”
“Yes, you will.”
At the tone of his voice, she blinked.
His eyes were as steely as his words. “Seeing you vindicated will be all the payment they want. I know it’s the only thing I want for you.”
“Oh, Jonah, I hope you’re right. Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed by what’s happening…”
He lifted both hands to smooth the tear-dampened hair from her face. Though he’d intended it as a soothing gesture, the minute his fingers were plunged into the tangles, he paused for the merest second before lowering his head and covering her mouth in a kiss so hot, so hungry, he was consumed by it.
The fire raging through his veins caught him by surprise. He backed her up until she was pressed against the door, and still the kiss went on and on.
He felt her arms close around his waist as she clung to him like a lifeline. That was all he needed to change the angle of the kiss and take it deeper.
He heard her little murmur of approval and dragged her against him until he could feel the erratic tattoo of her heartbeat, keeping time with his. His fingers tangled with her hair and he kissed her until they were both breathless.
And still, holding her, kissing her, wasn’t nearly enough.
All his thoughts scrambled except one. He wanted her. Desperately. Right here. Right now. This minute.
They were practically crawling inside one another’s skin, and still it wasn’t enough. He wanted, needed all.
“Jonah.”
Over the buzzing in his ears, he thought he heard his name as his mouth moved over hers with a fierce hunger.
“Jonah. Wait.”
Through a haze of desperate hunger, he lifted his head and struggled to get his bearings.
Annie lifted a hand to his cheek. “We need to…”
“All we need is this. Here. Now.”
“I know. I want that, too. But not here. Not now. Not like this. Oh, Jonah…”
He realized that her breathing was ragged, and her words were halting. He’d almost crossed a line, thinking of taking her right here on the porch like a madman.
“Yeah. Give me a minute.” He put his hands on either side of her head, pressing his forehead to hers, before taking a half step back. “We need to…”
“Breathe,” she said with a short laugh. “At least I need to.”
“Yeah. Right.”
As his world began to settle, he took another step back, even though what he really wanted was to get back to that place where he’d completely lost himself in her.
“It’s late. And you’ve put in a rough day.” He reached around her and held the door open. “I guess we should head upstairs.”
She brushed past him, careful not to touch him with any part of her body, as though aware that they were both dangerously close to the edge.
He did the same, following slowly, taking his cue from her. He was so hot, if she just touched him he would surely explode with a need stronger than ever.
Upstairs, he paused outside the guest room.
She opened the door before turning to him. “Earlier today I thought I’d be leaving here.”
“I’m glad you’re staying.” He was staring at her mouth until he realized what he was doing and lifted his gaze to her eyes.
“I’m glad, too.” Her eyes were wide with emotion, looking too big for her face.
It should have been easier for him to walk away, knowing she was sharing the same feelings. But somehow, it made it more difficult. One more touch, one more kiss, and the spark would ignite into another blaze of white-hot passion. Since he was still vibrating with need, it could be the same for her. It was so tempting.
It took all his willpower to step back. “Good night, Annie.”
“’Night, Jonah.”
He waited until she closed the door before heading to his room across the hall.
Once inside, he tugged off his shirt and balled it up before tossing it with a muttered curse against the wall. He kicked off his boots and left them lying where they fell, stepping over them to cross to the windows. Barefoot and shirtless, he leaned a hip against the sill and stared at the darkened hills outside.
He’d always loved this view of the land. It was where he drew his inspiration. But tonight he looked without seeing. With his passion still so raw, all he could see, all he could taste was Annie.
He wanted her. God, how he wanted her.
He hadn’t meant for this to happen, but there it was. There was no sense trying to deny what his heart already knew. He wasn’t willing to give this feeling a name yet, but the attraction he’d felt the first time he’d seen her at Nonie’s hadn’t dimmed. In fact, it had grown and bloomed inside him until now here it was, nameless and fully formed and about to drive him mad.
Annie paced to the window and back, her arms crossed over her chest, her thoughts in turmoil.
What was happening to her?
She’d kissed plenty of men in her life, but she’d never had a simple kiss affect her like this. Maybe, she thought, it was because nothing about that kiss had been simple. With that first taste of Jonah, she’d been lost. He had taken her higher, faster, than she’d believed possible. She’d wanted, in those few moments, to beg him to take her.
Crazy, but there it was.
She considered herself a smart woman. Right now, she was in the fight of her life. She was caught up in some vile scheme that was threatening her future, her good name, her very freedom. She was staying at the ranch of a family that had long regarded her family as their enemy.
And yet tonight, with a single kiss, everything had been wiped from her mind except for that hard, driving need for Jonah.
While she undressed and prepared for bed, she forced her mind to go over the day and the things Chief Crain had revealed. But once she crawled between the covers, her thoughts returned to Jonah and that kiss.
That kiss.
It had rocked her world, and
she’d wanted the same thing he’d wanted.
Oh, he’d made it very plain what he wanted.
It had all happened so suddenly. One minute she thought he was simply consoling her. The next, he was setting her on fire with a kiss that was unlike any she’d ever shared with a man. With a single kiss, he’d had her not only willing to let him do whatever he wanted, but also ready to beg him to.
She still didn’t know quite where she’d found the courage to stop him. The voice that had come out of her mouth sounded too weak and breathless to be her own.
Right now, she didn’t know whether to laugh at her stupidity or weep over the fact that she’d stopped him. If she had the chance to do it over, she wasn’t at all certain whether she’d end it as she had or let the whole scenario follow along to its natural conclusion.
As she lay there, letting the scene play through her mind, she felt again the quick, sensual jolt and that amazing rush of fire and ice through her veins the moment his lips were on hers.
Who would have thought that beneath that cool façade he showed the world, Jonah Merrick was a man of such passion? It had been exciting to watch the transformation in him. One moment he’d been the tender bodyguard, shielding her from the unknown danger. The next a fierce savage about to take her right there on the back porch of his family home.
A man like Jonah Merrick would be an amazing lover.
The thought of freeing herself to ride that wave of unbridled passion with him was oh so tempting. It would be wonderful to forget, for a little while, the dark, mysterious scheme that had somehow wrapped itself around her, drawing her into a web of lies and deceit. But one of them had to be sensible. After all, his family had offered her sanctuary here in their home. How could she dare to do anything to dishonor them?
She gave a deep sigh of frustration. Until this mystery was resolved, she would be forced to spend a lot of time in Jonah’s company. Just the thought of him had her sighing. How was she going to ignore the passion he stirred in her, when her poor heart was already lost?
As she mulled her dilemma, she tossed and turned.
It was going to be a long, sleepless night.
Chapter Nineteen
Annie followed the sound of feminine voices to the kitchen, where Liz, Avery, and Kirby were enjoying coffee, while Billy was flipping pancakes at the stove.
She paused to help herself to a cup. “Good morning.”
“’Morning, Annie.” Liz separated herself from the others. “The guys are out in the barn, doing manly things. If you have time, I thought you might want to visit my studio.”
Annie nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Good. As soon as we stuff ourselves on Billy’s pancakes, we’ll head over there.”
The four women took their places at the table, while Billy set the first platter in front of them and started another batch.
“Oh.” Annie couldn’t stop the sigh of pleasure at her first taste. “Billy, these are wonderful.”
“Thanks, Annie. They’re Miss Meg’s favorites.” He shot her a smile before returning his attention to the griddle.
“I can see why.” She passed the syrup to Avery. “Will you be joining us in Liz’s studio?”
“Not today.” Avery crossed to the counter to retrieve a carafe of coffee before topping off her cup. “My first client of the day is half an hour from here. Nell Compton.”
Liz nodded at the name. “I hear she broke a hip.”
“Actually, it started with what Dr. Peterson thought was a simple ankle sprain. She took a fall on her ranch, and then a second tumble down the stairs while she was recovering from the ankle. That fall caused the broken hip. Now that she’s mobile, he wants to get her as much therapy as possible before something else happens.”
Annie turned. “How about you, Kirby?”
Kirby smiled. “I offered to go with Casey as he makes his rounds.”
Annie chuckled. “Seeing him working alongside the others in the barn, I forget that he’s a veterinarian.”
“Our neighbors never let him forget. They keep him busy. After he looks at Buster Mandel’s bull, the last patient on his list, we’ll probably have lunch or an early supper at Nonie’s.”
“That sounds like fun.” After finishing a stack of pancakes, with a side of crisp country bacon, Annie turned to Liz. “I can’t wait to see your studio. Avery and Kirby have been telling me about the number of magazines that routinely use your photos, not only in their articles, but also on the covers. What an honor to have one of your pictures on the cover of a magazine read by thousands of people.”
Liz managed a shy smile. “That’s a lot of hype to live up to.” She pushed away from the table. “If you’re ready, let’s head over there now.”
Annie turned to Billy. “Thanks for that wonderful breakfast. I can see why your pancakes are Miss Meg’s favorites. They’re on the top of my list now, too. Although I have to admit,” she said with a laugh, “anything I don’t have to cook becomes an instant favorite.”
The others were laughing as she followed Liz from the kitchen.
Liz switched on the lights in the equipment barn, revealing rows of vehicles of every shape and size.
“Oh my gosh.” Seeing the tractors and excavators and machines she couldn’t even name had Annie gaping. But when she spotted the giant combine standing several stories tall, her eyes went even wider. “Does somebody actually climb way up there and drive that thing?”
Liz was laughing. “All three of my nephews can drive it, as well as Chet. I’ve been in it a time or two with Chet. The cab is heated and air-conditioned and has its own GPS to guide the driver.”
“The driver must feel like a minnow trying to steer a whale.”
Liz nodded. “That’s about right. You feel really small up there.” She continued walking past the rows of machines before opening a door and flipping a few switches. Overhead lights came on, bathing the room in light.
“Welcome to my studio.” Liz stepped aside to allow Annie to walk past her.
“Oh.” The word came out like a sigh as Annie studied the light-filled room.
The walls were lined with shelves filled with photographs, some in color, others black and white. They seemed evenly divided between wildlife, portraits, and views of the fabulous Tetons.
In silence, Annie slowly circled the room, her interest caught by the photos of mustangs in every season. Mares with their foals in springtime, with patches of snow still visible beside rocks and beneath low-hanging evergreens. Herds grazing in a meadow with lush grass to their bellies. A small herd surrounded by trees wearing fiery autumn foliage. A stallion, his black coat in sharp contrast to the snow-covered hills as he watched over his mares during a blizzard.
“I see that you’re partial to my horses.”
At Liz’s voice directly behind her, Annie turned. “Oh, Liz. These are stunning.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you like them.” Liz was beaming. All trace of shyness was gone, now that she was in her element. “That particular shot of the black stallion was chosen for the cover of Wildlife Magazine last year.”
“I can see why. You’ve captured exactly what I saw on my hike into the hills the other day.”
“I’m so glad you had a chance to see some of our mustangs.”
“So am I. Jonah said some people hike here for ages without spotting any.”
“Wild creatures like to keep to themselves. And they’re adept at slipping away the minute they spot humans.”
“I noticed. I told Jonah they’re like ghosts.”
“It sounds as though the two of you have spent some time in the hills.”
Annie’s smile was radiant. “That’s how we met. I was hiking on what I thought was public land until I came across his cabin. He stepped out, startling me, and I apologized for trespassing on his land. That’s when he decided to join me on my hike. And since then, we seem to spend as much time as possible hiking the hills around his cabin.”
“You like my nep
hew.” It was a simple statement, and Annie found that she couldn’t lie to this sweet woman.
“I do. But I’m aware of the…issues between our families and realize that nothing can come of it.”
“Says who?”
At the challenge, Annie felt herself color. “It wouldn’t be wise…”
“If I’ve learned anything in my crazy life it’s this. Love isn’t wise. It can’t be planned. Or faked. Love is inconvenient. It has no rhyme or reason. It happens when you least expect it, or want it. Love…” She shrugged. “Love just is.”
“I wasn’t talking about love.”
“Weren’t you?”
Despite her shyness, or maybe because of it, Liz had a surprisingly direct manner. When she challenged Annie with that piercing look, it was exactly like the look her grandfather, Ham, and her nephew Jonah, gave people.
Annie lowered her head to avoid eye contact. “Liz, just so you understand, I can’t afford the luxury of falling in love. I’m very grateful to your family for allowing me to remain here. They had every right, once they heard my story, to order me to leave and never darken their door again. Right now I’m reeling from the blow of not even being certain just what I’m involved in, but I seem to be the target for something cruel, and very dangerous. And even with the help of your father’s friend Newton Calder, there’s no guarantee that I won’t be found guilty of grand theft, resulting in time in prison and my family’s name being ruined. I think those are very good reasons for…not getting involved with Jonah. Right about now, I’d like to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head and hope when I wake this was all a bad dream.”
Liz put a hand over Annie’s. “I know that my humiliation over being left at the altar by Luke Miller, my old love, doesn’t compare with the trouble you’re facing. But I’m going to share with you what I learned from my experience. It shames me to admit that I crawled into my own private cave of despair, where I hid for years, afraid to face people. Then Avery came into our family and when she heard what I’d endured, she reminded me that we can’t let life’s setbacks define us.”
