Rescued by the Ranger

by Dixie Lee Brown

  “And if I ever start to grope you in public, please just put me out of my misery.”

  He laughed softly and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry. If that happens, I know just what to do.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  GARRETT WALKED CLOSE beside Rachel on the lush green grass of the wooded acre that served as the venue for the classic car show. The lake, less than two hundred yards away, sparkled in the moonlight, adding its beauty to the surreal setting. Cowboy was on high alert beside him. The dog wasn’t used to being leashed, and it always made him edgy. At least if anyone got within two feet of Rachel, Garrett would know.

  Something had shifted, the tiniest fraction of an inch, between him and Rachel in that elevator earlier. As they’d returned to their room, grabbed jackets, and left again with Cowboy, a deeper trust had lingered in her eyes each time she glanced his way. He didn’t fully understand, but the warmth that settled somewhere near his heart morphed into tenderness for the courageous redhead who’d grabbed his interest with little or no effort. Now, more than ever, it was up to him to make sure nothing happened to her.

  Garrett kept one eye on the crowd as they walked along a row of restored muscle cars, stopping to admire, occasionally speaking with an owner who stood ready to share information about horsepower and performance. Garrett was amazed and proud of Rachel’s knowledge of the V-8 engines that powered the cars. Many times she carried the conversation herself, and he’d learn something new before they moved on.

  After one particularly long interchange where even Cowboy got antsy, Garrett slung his arm around her shoulders and leaned close. “Where did you learn about cars?”

  “One of my mother’s many boyfriends when I was growing up was a mechanic. Unlike most of the men who hung around, he didn’t mind answering my questions—until the day my mom kicked him out.” She turned away, but not before he saw the pain reflected in her eyes.

  “I’ve never heard you talk about your mother before. Why is that?” Of course, he had an idea. The many boyfriends reference kind of said it all. Was Rachel afraid she’d turn out like her mother? Is that why she’d had such a strong reaction to the girl in the elevator?

  “We’re not close. There’s not much to talk about.” She shrugged and tossed her head as though the small action would put a period at the end of the conversation.

  Garrett chuckled and slid his arm around her waist—then stopped abruptly as he encountered the hard object against her back, hidden by the drape of her denim jacket over her hips.

  He swung her around in front of him. “Are you carrying?”

  “Of course. Aren’t you?”

  “Well . . . yes, but—aw hell! Never mind. I should have known you were . . . and that you’d keep that bit of news to yourself. Rachel, I thought we’d made a little breakthrough, but apparently not. When are you going to start trusting me?”

  She pressed her palm against his chest. “I do trust you, Garrett. More than I ever thought possible, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be unarmed when Jeremy tries to kill you.”

  It always threw him when she steadfastly maintained that he was the one in danger—that Jeremy would go after him if their little ruse worked and they managed to pull him out into the open. Garrett hoped to hell she was right. He wanted a shot at the bastard in the worst way.

  Over the top of Rachel’s head, Garrett caught a glimpse of a familiar face. The words on his lips dissipated as he did a double take straight into the grinning mug of Jase Richards. What in the hell? Jase wasn’t supposed to show until tomorrow.

  As he stared, his friend motioned to his right where a coffee vendor occupied a temporary kiosk. Rachel looked over her shoulder, apparently noticing his shift in attention.

  Irritation made him jumpy. What was going on with his friend anyway? He’d never known Jase to say one thing and do another. He must have a damn good reason. Garrett drew a deep breath to calm himself. “You remember Jase from the phone, right? How about if we go get a cup of coffee and I’ll introduce you to him?”

  Rachel raised one eyebrow. “That’s Jase? Why doesn’t he just come over here and say hello instead of making hand signals behind my back? I’m pretty sure he wants to talk to you privately, and frankly, I’ve been eyeing that ice cream stand over there.” She jutted her chin back the way they’d come, just beyond the red-and-white 1968 Camaro whose owner had graciously let her sit in the car.

  Garrett reached for her hand as though that would keep her beside him. He didn’t like the idea of letting her get that far from him, though common sense told him it was only three car lengths away. Besides, he’d have a battle on his hands if he tried to tell her she couldn’t go. He tried to put Cowboy’s leash in her hand.

  She wouldn’t take it. “I don’t have control over this dog the way you do. I know what you’re going to say—he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. That’s true, but what if he perceives a threat where there isn’t one? What if I can’t stop him? I’d never forgive myself.”

  She was right, of course. There was always a possibility of an incident getting out of hand if someone didn’t have complete control of an animal, especially one with the training that Cowboy had. He made a note to himself to teach her at the first opportunity. “Okay, I’ll have my eye on you the whole time. You get your ice cream. I’ll get Jase, and we’ll meet back here. Turn your phone on just in case. Don’t go anywhere else. Got it?” He was probably pushing his luck, but it had to be said.

  To his surprise, she smiled. “You’re kind of bossy, but I’ll let you get away with it this time.” She squeezed his hand before she pulled free, already digging for her cell phone.

  Garrett watched the sway of her hips as she walked away, then turned toward the coffee shack his friend had indicated. As promised, he glanced over his shoulder every few seconds to track Rachel’s progress.

  Jase Richards had been a year ahead of Garrett in school, which made him thirty-five. He was a couple of inches shorter, but the size of his biceps and pecs kept most of the sleazeballs he encountered in his investigative work from causing problems. They’d gone through Ranger training together, going on to deployment with different units, and lost track of each other. Garrett had been promoted through the ranks, eventually making captain. Jase had finished his first hitch and opted out. When Garrett was sent stateside after the cluster that had killed most of his unit and wounded him, Jase was the first person to walk into his hospital room. They’d resumed their friendship as though only a few days had passed since they’d talked, instead of almost twelve years. Garrett still trusted him with his life.

  “So . . . that’s the beautiful lady, huh?” Jase gave a low whistle as Garrett approached. “Is it serious, or do I have a shot?”

  Garrett turned to appreciate the same view Jase had. “That would be hands-off territory, Jase, and that’s the only comment like that you get for free.”

  Jase threw his hands up. “Well, it’s about damn time you got possessive about a woman. I’m happy for you.” He shoved a hot paper cup toward Garrett. “I hope you still drink a short Americano. I was worried about the caffeine keeping you up all night, but now that I’ve had a look at Rachel—”

  Garrett slammed his fist into his friend’s shoulder. “Jase. I meant what I said.”

  “Okay. Okay. Shit, man! That’s gonna leave a bruise.”

  “Grab your fucking coffee and talk while we’re walking. I don’t like being this far away from her until we know for sure we’ve got her stalker under lock and key.” Garrett started back toward Rachel and waited for Jase to catch up. “What are you doing here? Luke said you were flying in tomorrow.”

  “That was the original plan.”

  “And since when don’t you tell me everything you know up front?” Garrett stared straight ahead, following Rachel’s path.

  “Keep in mind I’m just the messenger here, okay?” Jase rested a hand on Garrett’s shoulder for a split second.

  Rachel had purchased her ice cr
eam in a cup and was meandering back along the line of cars they’d already looked over when the owner of the ’68 Camaro approached and engaged her in conversation. The guy was harmless, so Garrett turned his attention back to Jase. “Waiting for you to spill it, Richards. What could possibly be so bad that you needed a face-to-face and a day earlier than planned?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Could be I suddenly got dragged into this thing between you and your old man. As usual, he’s got his own agenda, and I knew you’d be pissed as hell. So here I am if you need to take a punch at someone.”

  Garrett stopped and faced his friend. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Jase flung one arm up, his frustration clear. “I had a brief phone conversation this afternoon with the intruder they caught at that fucking wilderness lodge where you’ve apparently been hanging out. He didn’t tell me anything either, in spite of my best interrogation techniques. Just gave me a phone number and suggested I call. He’s one cool dude, man.”

  “Did you call?”

  “You know I did.” Jase looked toward the ground and shook his head.

  “Well, who was it?” Garrett had already guessed the answer, and his patience was at an all-time low.

  “Senator Harding.” Jase raised his head.

  Garrett smirked. Of course. He should have known. His old man certainly had the money and the clout to hire a professional like the one that currently languished back at the lodge. One of the most powerful men in the country, this wouldn’t be the first time he’d used his position to his advantage. Yep. This had his father written all over it, though why he was interested . . . Garrett couldn’t begin to fathom. He started walking again. “Did my father give you any useful information?”

  Jase caught up in two strides. “Not really, but he’s joining us via helicopter tomorrow at the Cougar Ridge Hunting Lodge.” Jase groaned. “Shit! I tried, but I couldn’t talk him out of it, Garrett, and he wouldn’t explain why he was coming except that he had to talk to you in person.”

  Garrett clenched his one free fist, and for a moment, considered hurling the hot coffee somewhere into the crowd. “That’s why you’re here early—because you knew how long it would take me to get my head on straight after hearing your news. And taking quite a chance that I wouldn’t lose it on the messenger, I might add.” One glance at Jase’s cautious expression told Garrett he was right. He looked toward Rachel in time to catch her smile in answer to something the owner of the car said, and an instant calm settled over him. In all his life, Garrett had never been able to guess what his father’s reaction was going to be. That the senator was somehow involved in this, though momentarily surprising, was so very typical. Garrett couldn’t wait to hear his bullshit explanation.

  But—shit! Rachel was under the impression the man detained at the lodge was Jeremy, and that her life of hiding was finally over. Yet the senator couldn’t be responsible for the stalker who’d killed Chance and made Rachel’s life hell for the past ten years. Instinctively, Garrett knew his father wasn’t involved with Jeremy. The man detained at the lodge wasn’t Rachel’s stalker and probably didn’t know anything about him. So who was he . . . and where the hell was Jeremy?

  Suddenly feeling too exposed, he searched for Rachel through a red haze of anger until he focused on her still talking to the owner of the Camaro and another man. She laughed and then shook her head, turning to go. The newcomer grabbed her left arm and didn’t let go when she tried to shake him off. Cowboy growled low in his throat. Immediately, Garrett tossed his coffee cup into a nearby receptacle and jogged toward her. Jase must have noticed, too. Within a couple seconds, he was keeping pace beside Garrett and Cowboy.

  Rachel dropped her ice cream and reached behind her back, flipping the edges of her jacket up. Garrett picked up his pace to cover the last ten feet and placed his hand on her back just as she would have drawn the weapon. Her sigh of relief was audible as she dropped her hand to his belt loops.

  Cowboy’s growl was menacing, and he stared straight at the man who had his hand on Rachel. Garrett knew just how he felt. The man released her and stumbled back, eyeing first the dog and then Garrett.

  “Is everything all right, sweetheart?” Garrett slung his arm around her shoulder and smiled.

  Rachel stared the man down for a second before turning to Garrett. “Uh-huh. I’ve been having the nicest conversation about this Camaro, but then I spilled my ice cream.” She reached to scratch Cowboy’s head and finally managed to drag his attention away from the man he’d been fixated on.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get you another one.” He turned her away from the two men and headed for the ice cream stand. He knew Jase would have his back, just like always, even though they hadn’t spent much time together for the past few years. Old habits died hard.

  “What was that about?” Garrett leaned close and spoke in a low voice.

  “I don’t really know. The Camaro owner and I were talking, and then the other guy joined in and said he had a ’69 Dodge Charger he thought I’d like. And then he got really insistent about taking me to see it. I tried to walk away, and you saw the rest. Oh God! I was so glad to see you. I thought I was really going to have to shoot someone.” She hugged him around the waist as they continued walking.

  “Any possibility it was Jeremy?” Garrett hated to ask, but he had to know.

  She backed up a step as a small gasp escaped, and the disappointment in her eyes made her stiffen and glance around. “I hadn’t considered that. I was under the assumption Jeremy was locked up at the lodge.” Her brow furrowed. “He’s not . . . is he? Is that what your friend Jase came to tell you? Oh God.” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she hugged herself. “That guy . . . touched me. I should have shot him.” She choked out a laugh, sounding close to hysteria.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed the side of her forehead. “You did just right, sweetheart. I’m proud of you. Until we know for sure who’s back at the lodge, we need to operate like Jeremy’s still out there somewhere. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. I won’t let you get that far away from me again—not until this is over.” They paused by the ice cream stand, and Garrett reached for his wallet as Jase halted beside him.

  Rachel shook her head. “No. Thanks, but I couldn’t eat anything now.” Her smile was slightly strained, but she was clearly trying to keep it together.

  “Rachel, this is Jase Richards. We’ve been friends since we were kids, enlisted together, and went through Ranger training side by side. You can trust him.”

  “Hey, beautiful lady. Garrett wasn’t lying.” Jase shook the hand she offered.

  “I don’t think we were expecting you until tomorrow. Is something wrong?” As usual, Rachel cut through the bullshit.

  Jase glanced at Garrett, obviously not sure how much he should share.

  Garrett wanted to put them both at ease. “You can tell Rachel anything you’d tell me.” He cupped her chin and turned her face so he could study her eyes. “But maybe not tonight. I think I’ll take you back to the hotel.” He kissed her lips gently and looked up in time to see Jase grinning at his own feet.

  “Jase.” The word was a warning.

  “What? I didn’t say anything.”

  Garrett snorted a laugh. “Where are you staying?”

  “Comfort Inn near the freeway.”

  “We’ll pick you up at six, have breakfast, and hit the road.”

  “I’ll be ready.” He gave an informal salute. “It’s damn good to see you, Garrett.”

  “You know it.” Garrett shook his hand and then the two of them bumped elbows as they’d done as part of their secret handshake when they were kids. Then they both broke up in laughter. Damn. It really was good to see him. Maybe leaving the army wouldn’t be the worst thing that ever happened.

  “Goodnight, Jase.” Rachel waved her hand as Garrett led her up the path toward the street and the Explorer.

  As soon as they left the crowd behind, he unhooked the leash
from Cowboy’s collar and gave him the command to heel. A few minutes later, Garrett let the dog clamber over the front seat and disappear into the back before he closed Rachel inside the cab of the Explorer and strode around to the other side. He hadn’t missed the fact she’d started shaking about halfway back. On the off chance she was only cold, he started the engine and turned the heater on high as soon as it warmed up. It didn’t seem to help.

  He was about to pull away from the curb when Rachel’s phone chirped. It took her three rings to fish it from her bag. Her shaking hand, holding the device, made it clear to Garrett who was calling. He reached for the phone. “Let me take it.”

  Rachel shook her head. “No. Jeremy can’t know you’re here. I have to do this.” She pressed the speaker button. “What do you want now, Jeremy?”

  Garrett was proud of the strength in her voice when he knew how her insides were quaking. This answered their question. Jeremy wasn’t under house arrest at the lodge tonight. He could be anywhere.

  “Rachel. I’m glad to see you getting out again. It’s been a long time.” His voice, muffled and clearly disguised, filled the cab.

  She glanced sharply at Garrett, fear in her eyes. Sitting up straighter, she pulled the phone closer to her mouth. “I couldn’t care less what makes you happy. When are you going to stop hiding and face me?”

  Garrett raised his hand and brought it down slowly in a gesture he hoped would warn her not to intentionally annoy him. He didn’t want the jerk upset with Rachel. If Jeremy needed someone to take out his anger on, Garrett would gladly accept that role.

  “Patience, my love. It won’t be long before we’re together. However, I’m a bit exasperated with you. Have you forgotten what I did to the last man who had the audacity to take what was mine? Have you?”

  Rachel’s face had gone white. “No, I haven’t forgotten.”

  “Yet you flaunt your new boyfriend in front of my face?”

  “He’s not my boyfriend. We’re just friends.” Panic edged her voice.