Just as she was about to tell Kade that she wanted to go somewhere special to talk with him, to tell him about the baby, he interrupted her thoughts.
“I’m going to miss you.” He stroked damp hair from her face, his features suddenly serious. “I can’t stand to be away from you.” “Are you—” Hair at her nape prickled as a chill crept over her. “Are you talking about when I leave for San Francisco?”
“Yes and no.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I came in here to tell you—and then lost my head.”
Her soul turned to ice and she stepped out of his embrace.
Kade reached for her hand. “You need to fly to San Francisco with my family tonight. I’ve made reservations, and—”
“You what?” She shrugged away from him and planted her fists on her hips. “You think you’re going to ship me off like a piece of luggage?”
“You don’t under—”
“No man is ever going to tell me what to do again.” Her voice rose. “We may have had sex, but that does not give you the right to order me around.”
“Damn it, Kelsey.” He clenched his jaw, his face hard. “I got a call today. A man threatened my family.”
A frigid wave of fear crashed over her, chasing away her anger. “Oh, my God.”
Kade ran a hand through his hair. “The son of a bitch said if I didn’t turn in my resignation, he would come after my family. He named everyone.” Kade grabbed Kelsey by her shoulders. “Including you.”
“Me?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Somehow they know that you’re my woman.” He motioned to the door. “Now let’s go. There’s not much time. Chuck’s driving you all to Tucson and flying you out to San Francisco to stay with my sister, Dara, where you’ll be safe.”
My woman. He called me his woman.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she said, “I’m staying.”
Kade clenched and unclenched his hands as Kelsey stood there, her brown eyes flashing defiance. He all but wanted to shake some sense into her. “This is serious. These bastards threatened you, too. I need you somewhere safe while I hunt them down.”
Kelsey shook her head. “I have two more interviews to do and I am not going to let anyone run me off.”
“This is serious.” Kade’s voice was practically a growl. “It’s not a joke.”
“I’m not joking.” Kelsey narrowed her gaze. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“Don’t you understand?” Kade’s tone turned almost pleading. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
Kade’s words poured into Kelsey’s heart. Half of her wanted to give in, to let herself be shuttled off safely away from the bad guys. But the other half of her knew she had a job to do.
The thought of being too far from Kade while he faced danger—no. Not happening.
Kelsey shook her head, more vehemently this time. “I’ll be fine.”
Kade crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t stay here.”
She tilted her chin. “Are you telling me I’m not welcome in your home?”
He grabbed his socks and boots and started pulling them on. “You know that’s not what I meant. They could come after you here.”
Kelsey flipped her hair out of her face, trying to control the emotions inside her. “I’m not going back to San Francisco until next weekend.”
Kade took a deep breath and counted to ten as he finished putting on his boots. “Then we need to take you to a hotel.”
Kelsey seized a pair of sandals out of the closet. “Are you going?”
“No.” He scowled. “I’m staying here.”
She pursed her lips. “Fine. I’ll check into a hotel on my own.”
“Tonight.”
“Tomorrow.” She spun and marched out, carrying her sandals. “Well, hell,” he muttered as he followed her from the room. Chuck, Sadie, and Trent were packed and waiting when Kelsey and Kade stalked into the living room.
“Ready, Kelsey?” Chuck asked.
“I’m not going,” she said as she gave him a hug. “I’m checking into a hotel tomorrow.”
Kade stood behind her with his arms folded, his brows furrowed, and jaw set.
Sadie glanced at Kade, then hugged Kelsey. “You sure you don’t want to come with us? I bet you’d be an excellent tour guide.”
Kelsey smiled. “One of these days I would love to show you around the Bay Area. But I have a couple more interviews and a deadline to meet.”
Sadie patted Kelsey’s shoulder. “You go ahead and use my vehicle while we’re gone.”
“Thanks.” Kelsey squatted down in front of Trent. “Hey, Taz. Take care of your grandparents and I’ll see you soon.”
The boy threw his arms around Kelsey. “You promise you’ll still be here when we get back? ‘Cause I’m really, really, really going to miss you.”
“I’ll try.” She pulled back. “I’m going to miss you, too.” She ruffled Trent’s hair. “Can you do something for me while you’re on the plane?”
“What?”
“Draw a picture for me, okay?”
“Sure.” Trent nodded, and brushed hair out of his eyes. “I’ve got my crayons and coloring pencils and paper packed in my backpack. Wanna see?” He started to unzip his pack, but Kade grabbed him by the waist and swung him high. Trent squealed with laughter.
“Slow down, pardner.” Kade hugged him tight. “You need to get to the airport so you can catch that plane and go see your cousins and Aunt Dara.”
Kade set Trent down, hugged his mom, then helped carry their luggage out to Chuck’s truck. Sadie promised to keep the cell phone on, and to call Kade once they hit the freeway, and again in Tucson and in San Francisco. Dara and the kids would be meeting them at the airport.
He breathed a sigh of relief as the red taillights disappeared into the night.
But Kelsey. He turned to her and frowned. How could he keep her safe?
Chapter 30
The following morning was muggy and overcast, and Kade was sure it would rain later. After feeding the livestock for Chuck, Kade cleaned mud off his boots before he entered the house. His footsteps echoed as he walked to his bedroom.
Last night it had seemed that she had something to tell him, but instead they made love again and again until they were too exhausted to move.
He stopped at the doorway to his bedroom and found Kelsey still sound asleep. This time they’d slept in his bed. Where he wanted her always. She made him feel so good, just by being there. In a couple of strides he reached the bed, leaned down, and whispered, “Rise and shine.”
“Mmmm.” Her lashes were dark against her pale skin, and her chest rose and fell.
Bedsprings creaked as Kade sat and shook Kelsey’s shoulder. “Get up, sleepyhead.”
“Leave me alone,” she mumbled, and turned her head away.
“Gotta get you out of here.” Kade tried pulling the covers off, but she snatched them back.
“Go away.”
“Nope. Out of bed.”
“A little longer,” she moaned.
He leaned over and kissed her ear. “I know how to wake you.”
A sleepy smile teased the corners of her mouth as he nipped her earlobe. She grabbed a pillow and covered her head with it, swatting his face in the process.
Kade couldn’t help smile as he pulled on his T-shirt, bulletproof vest, and overshirt. When he finished dressing, he lifted the pillow and nuzzled Kelsey’s neck. She smelled so good, her skin warm against his nose. “Get up, honey. I’ve got to get going.”
Another groan. “I will. Gimme a minute.”
“Only one.” He tossed the pillow aside and brushed his lips over hers before he grabbed her cell phone and placed it in her hand. “Call me at work and let me know when you make it to the hotel.”
“All right.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
As she settled against th
e pillow, he wanted to tell her then. Wanted to tell her how much he loved her. Was she ready?
“You need to go to work.” She captured his hand and brought it to her lips.
“And you need to get your pretty ass out of bed.”
“Okay.”
She looked beautiful and innocent, her hair splayed across the pillow, her lips soft and swollen. He didn’t want to leave. Wasn’t sure he should. Or could.
Last night they’d waited up until Sadie called to let them know that she, Chuck, and Trent had arrived in San Francisco and were safe and sound at Dara’s. He was relieved they were out of danger. Why did Kelsey have to be so stubborn? Why couldn’t she have gone to San Francisco, where she would be safe?
Fear settled in his chest, a hard lump that wouldn’t go away. “I’ll call in and tell Mikey I’ll be late until we get you settled into the hotel.”
Frowning, Kelsey shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’ll call you when I get to Nicole’s B and B.”
He knew he would only make her angry if he pushed the issue. It was enough that she would at least be away from the house. She would be safe in Bisbee.
“I expect to hear from you by noon,” he said. “If you don’t catch me on my cell phone and I’m not in the office, leave a message with Daryl.”
She smiled. “Gotcha, cowboy.”
Kelsey had fully intended to get up when Kade left. But it felt wonderful lying there, thinking about him, her lips still tingling from his kiss.
He had smelled delicious when he came in from feeding the cattle. Of sweet oats and the promise of rain on a morning breeze. She thought about the feel of his hand in hers, the texture of his callused fingers against her lips, the soft hair on the back of his wrist.
She moved her hand to her belly. He’d given her the world, and she hoped he’d be as happy as she was when she told him. Last night she had wanted to share the news with him, but she wasn’t sure what his reaction would be and she wanted to wait until she could sit him down and have some serious alone time. Not in-bed time.
While lying there, thinking about the reason he wanted her to go stay in Bisbee, she realized what Kade’s Achilles’ heel was, and her smile faded.
His love for his family. His concern for others. Whatever it was he felt for her.
The bastards knew exactly how to hurt Kade—by threatening his family. But Kade wasn’t one to back down.
He would die fighting to protect those he loved. And to protect those who loved him.
The thought chilled her.
She held a fist to her aching heart. She couldn’t bear anything happening to Kade. Couldn’t bear losing another person whom she loved so intensely. How could she walk away and hide in a hotel while he risked his life? Shouldn’t she remain at his side? But if she stayed, would that only put him in more danger?
The past few days weighed her down, and she closed her eyes against the relentless images. The threat to Kade’s family. Acknowledging her love for Kade. The pregnancy.
So tired. Her thoughts moved to the only close friend she had who had gone through a pregnancy. She remembered how exhausted Theresa Cortez had been in her first trimester. The woman could hardly keep her head up or food down for three months, practically from the day she’d gotten pregnant.
Thunder rumbled outside as Kelsey snuggled into the pillow and drank in Kade’s earthy scent, which clung to the sheets. She needed to keep her promise to him and get to the B and B so he wouldn’t worry. She would just rest a minute longer. The heaviness in her limbs dragged her further down, deeper and deeper, until darkness enveloped her.
***
When Kade arrived at the station, he headed straight to Miguel Martinez’s office.
“Everything okay?” Miguel asked, his green eyes narrowed. He sat at his desk, resting his chin on his steepled fingers.
“Got my family off to Frisco.” With a frustrated sigh, Kade ran his hand over his head. “Kelsey refused to go because she wants to finish her damn feature. But she agreed to stay at a hotel in Bisbee.”
Miguel frowned. “A man matching Gordo’s description was seen in the vicinity of the phone booth the call was placed from yesterday. Again, Jose Hernandez. I put Sal and Don on him, but they’ve come up empty.”
Fury simmered in Kade’s gut. “What about Bull Stevens?”
“Everything’s been quiet at his ranch.” Rubbing his palm over his stubbled cheeks, Miguel added, “But we tapped an interesting phone call yesterday that might connect him to the threat.”
Kade clenched the back of a chair, his knuckles white against the dark upholstery. Before he could respond, Daryl Jones paged him over the intercom.
“Phone call on line six for Agent Owen.”
Miguel pointed to the telephone. “Take it here.”
Kade grabbed the receiver. “Owen.”
“This is Juarez,” the informant said in Spanish. His voice trembled. “I have information concerning those who wish to do your family harm.”
Clenching the phone in his hand, Kade said, “What do you know?”
“Mario’s at noon. Come alone.”
The line went dead.
***
“I think another agent should go in with you,” Miguel said again when it was time for Kade to head to Mario’s. “We can put someone in undercover.”
“It’s only an informant,” Kade replied. “It’s a public place.”
“But it’s the first time he’s insisted you come alone, correct?” Miguel said.
“Juarez isn’t a concern.” Kade shook his head. “If anyone goes inside with me it’ll scare him too much to talk.”
Miguel picked up his frog paperweight and ran his thumb over the smooth glass. “I’ll have a couple of vehicles keep an eye out as they drive by.”
Kade nodded and headed out of the building, then strode through the rain to his truck. The drive took less than five minutes, and right at noon, he took his regular booth at Mario’s Cantina. He shook rain from his hair and combed it back with his fingers. Mari didn’t appear to be working, and another waitress took his order.
Fifteen minutes later, Kade checked his watch. Juarez was late, which wasn’t like him. He studied the regulars, several of whom were already bombed off their asses, and it was barely after noon. Speaking of noon, he should have heard from Kelsey by now. Outside the open door, relentless monsoon rains pounded the sidewalk. A breeze swirled in, the scent of rain mingling with the cantina’s odors of cigarettes and alcohol.
Another ten minutes passed and unease twisted in Kade’s gut. Something wasn’t right. He stood to leave and dropped a five on the table, then caught the smell of cheap perfume.
“Senor.” Mari came up to him and laid her hand on his arm, her dark eyes wide and lips trembling. “A man. You were here with him before. He is in the kitchen and asked that you come at once.”
Hair rose at Kade’s nape. “His name?”
“Juarez.” Her gaze darted to the back room and then to Kade again. “He said that he cannot risk being seen out here.”
Keeping his right hand close to the Glock holstered at his side, Kade followed Mari through the doorway. The kitchen floor was littered with scraps and smelled of sour beer and stale grease. He glanced behind him as they turned a corner, then back to Mari.
She stopped in front of a dingy room. Kade caught a glimpse of papers piled on a desk and an empty chair.
Her eyes darted toward the office. “He’s in here, senor.”
As he eased up to the office, an enormous man rounded the doorway. Before Kade had a chance to react, he saw the flash of metal. Blinding pain splintered his head as the man slammed the butt of an automatic onto the side of his skull.
Chapter 31
The crack of thunder jarred Kelsey awake and she bolted upright. “Kade,” she cried, holding her hand to her pounding heart.
Panic clawed its way up her throat.
She glanced at the digital clock on the bureau. Twelve thirty? How had she slept
so late? She took a deep breath, then exhaled. Nothing was wrong. It was just the time making her nervous. She’d promised Kade she would go to Bisbee and she should have been gone already.
A flash of lighting and another rumble sent shock waves through her. Thunderclouds darkened the sky and rain poured in thick sheets.
She needed to call Kade. Let him know she was running late.
Still naked, Kelsey scrambled out of bed and grabbed Kade’s robe. His scent enveloped her as she tied the belt and looked for her cell phone. He’d just given it back to her... There. She snatched it up and called his cell phone. No answer. More panic grabbed hold of her, and she hurried to the study, where she flipped through the card file. She dialed his work number and tapped her fingers as she waited for an answer.
“Border Patrol. Daryl Jones here.”
“This is Kelsey Nichols. Is Kade Owen available?”
“Nope,” the agent said. “He’s out of the station right now. Do you want to leave a message?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes. “Please tell him I’m running late and probably won’t be leaving the ranch until after one. I’ll call him later.”
After Daryl repeated the message, she hung up and took another deep breath. Kade was fine. She just needed to get to Bisbee so he wouldn’t worry.
Kelsey hurried to take a shower and then packed enough clothes for four days. She French-braided her hair to keep it out of her face. After putting on her bra and panties, she pulled one of Kade’s blue T-shirts over her head. It was baggy on her but made her smile when she smelled his wonderful scent. Then she tugged on loose jeans, socks, and tennis shoes.
When she was ready, she grabbed her laptop bag, purse, and suitcase, locked the front door, and headed through the rain to Sadie’s SUV. The rottweiler trailed after her. Kelsey tossed everything onto the floorboard of the passenger side and slammed the door shut.
She rounded the vehicle and grabbed the handle to open the driver’s side door when Roxie’s bark caused her to jump. The dog bounded into the driveway and growled. The sound grew more ominous and threatening as Roxie stared down the road that led to the ranch.
Kade: Armed and Dangerous Page 22