by Chloe Lang
“Damn, Jason.” Reed blew out a big blast of air. “What have you gotten us into?”
“I guess you two will soon find out.” Jason’s shoulders sagged. “I know she’s a cop, fellows, but with everything I’ve found out about her in the last couple of days, I know she’s in real danger. She’s got to be protected.”
“We’re on it, buddy.” Sawyer rushed out of the room to Nicole, the woman who needed Reed and him. When he finally caught up to her, she was already walking past the Blue Dragon across from Lucy’s.
She turned and rewarded him with a hint of a smile. “Your sheriff needs a course in manners.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“I think your brother isn’t far behind him in that department either.”
“Right again.” As they continued down South Street, he watched her taking in the sights of his town. “Destiny has to be quite a change from Chicago.”
“Yes, but take away the trees, mountains, and songbirds and add in throngs of people, high-rises, and screaming sirens and it’s exactly the same. Have you lived here your whole life?”
“I have,” Sawyer said as they turned onto East Street. “It’s a great place to grow up.”
“Any other siblings besides your brother?” she asked.
“Yes. We have a younger sister. Erica.”
“I bet your parents had their hands full.”
The old grief stirred inside him. God, he missed his parents. “This is our truck,” he said as they passed Maude, the 1976 yellow four-by-four Chevy truck that had over two hundred thousand miles on her. They’d rebuilt her engine seven years ago. The old girl was once again on her last leg. The best course would be to junk Maude and buy a newer truck, but neither he, Reed, nor Erica could seem to let go of her. Maude had been their dads’ last vehicle.
“This is mine,” she said, pointing to the silver Honda next to Maude.
“Isn’t that interesting that we are parked next to each other? Maybe this is fate playing out.”
“I’m not a big believer in such things.” She unlocked her door and pulled out a small suitcase. “Why didn’t you park the truck in front of your club instead of a block and a half away?”
“Reed and I only come to town a couple of times a week. Today’s trip started with a visit to the courthouse to get a copy of a deed to an acre of land we just paid off. Helping Mr. Gold, the owner of Phase Four, was the last task for today.”
“It’s early. What was your plan for the rest of the day?”
Reed walked up alone. Jason hadn’t come with him. “Whatever we had planned, Chicago, is off. You’re our one and only priority now.”
She shoved her suitcase into his chest and smiled. “Good to know. Make yourself useful, cowboy, and put my bag in your truck.”
Reed’s eyebrows shot up and then a big smile spread across his face. “It’s going to be fun being your bodyguard.”
Nicole shook her head and shut her eyes. “One week. Only one week. I can handle this.”
“And we can handle you, Chicago. You’ll see.”
“Reed, shut your mouth. Nicole is our guest. Stop teasing her.”
“Sure thing, bro.” Reed swung her suitcase into the bed of their truck. Then he opened the door. “Officer, if you please,” he said in a mocking British accent.
She snorted but didn’t say a word in response. She got into the truck, sliding past the steering wheel to the center of the cab.
Reed got in the driver’s side of Maude and he took the passenger seat.
They headed out of town together.
The whole drive, she sat staring straight ahead with her hands on her knees. Touching her on the chin earlier had him hard as a rock, but this was no time to let his cock do his thinking for him. She needed him to be better than his best, and he silently vowed to himself that whatever it took to be that man, he would. No woman had moved him in that way before.
He wanted to hold her, to tell her everything was going to be okay, to kiss her until the hurt he sensed in her vanished for good. The load she carried was heavy. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her words, even feel it around the false façade of toughness she presented. Of course, she was tough. Tougher than most men. She’d nearly had Jason on the ropes back at Phase Four. That was something to see.
He glanced over at her as Reed turned off the main road and through the cattle guard at the southern entrance to Stone Ranch. The firm set of her jaw told him a storm of doubt and confusion was brewing behind her big brown eyes.
Sawyer wanted to reach her somehow. This had to be difficult for her. It would be for any woman. She and Jason had told them about the error on the missing persons report and her suspension. She’d come to Destiny to clear her name. Now she was headed up a mountain with two strangers and the Russian mafia was coming for her. “Difficult” fell short of what she had to be feeling at the moment. He needed to lighten her mood. “Welcome to Stone Ranch, Nicole.”
She turned to him for a brief moment and sighed. Then she turned back to staring straight ahead.
“It’ll take us forty more minutes to get to our cabin.” Reed turned the wheel, navigating around the debris in the road. “We’re still cleaning up from a storm we had back in May. That was one helluva deluge. Most of the roads are back to normal. A few, like this one, still need work. Normally, the drive to our cabin would only take twenty minutes from here.”
Reed knew what he was doing, and that made Sawyer proud of him. She wasn’t a sub they needed to train, but she did need them. Keeping the conversation casual might help her to relax.
“Oh my God.” Nicole’s whole body seemed frozen with fear.
Her sudden outburst got his attention instantly, and his fingers unsnapped his gun’s holster.
“What?”
She pointed straight ahead. “What’s that?”
He looked in the middle of the road and saw the mountain lion he and Reed had learned to respect. Hell, they were even fond of the old girl. “That’s Connie.”
And then the big cat was gone.
“Odd for her to act that way,” Reed said.
He agreed. They’d only seen her a handful of times in the last five years and then only briefly. “I think she came to welcome Nicole.” He turned to Nicole only to find she was trembling. “Don’t worry about Connie. This was unusual for her to be on the road. She avoids humans.”
“She’s so…so beautiful.” Not only was Nicole sexy and beautiful and strong, but she was also obviously so, so passionate.
Sawyer had never met a woman like her before. A part of him stirred, but for the first time in his life, it wasn’t his cock. It was his heart.
Chapter Five
The creature’s gaze seemed to reach past all of Nicole’s walls and into her soul.
She’d been so moved by the sight of the mountain lion. Connie was graceful and majestic. The big cat’s size was impressive, at least seven feet, with her regal tail making up a third of her length. Connie’s coat was a rich bronze. The tips of her ears and tail were black. Her memorable face was a grayish brown with a pale patch above each golden, mesmerizing eye.
“What can you tell me about Connie?” she asked, dying to know more.
Sawyer’s big manly lips curled up into a sexy smile. “She’s a loner.”
Like me.
“And powerful,” Reed added. “Connie’s brought down some big game. Her favorite meal is mule deer, but she’s also good at keeping the coyote population on the ranch to a minimum.”
“She’s actually snacked on some of the Stone’s livestock. That’s why we have to keep tabs on her. Connie usually hunts at night or during the low-light times of day, at dawn and dusk.” Sawyer’s voice was filled with what sounded to her like respect and reverence. “She’s a mix of stealth and power. Last year I had the rare opportunity to see her through some binoculars patiently stalking a mule deer. She took her time, creeping up so slowly I could barely detect movement. She took the beast down in a single pounce.”
Nicole closed her eyes, imagining how Connie had looked on that day. “Impressive. But I’m surprised you don’t hate her. I thought most ranchers despised big cats and worked hard to eliminate them from their land.”
Sawyer’s hand came down on her knee, sending a tingle up and down her spine. She thought about asking him to remove it, but didn’t. Of the two brothers, he seemed less forward than Reed. “If Connie keeps to mule deer and leaves the cattle and sheep alone, she can roam the Stone Ranch for as long as she likes. If her tastes change, then we will have to deal with her in a different way.”
She knew that meant he and Reed would kill the beautiful creature. Like her, Connie was alone. “Does she hunt only on this ranch?”
“Nope. She’s been spotted on the Knights’ ranch as well as others. My guess is her range is wide, likely thirty-five square miles, but Stone Ranch is at the very center of it.”
“Do you have Internet at your house?” she asked, hoping to read up on Connie’s ilk. She wanted to see if mountain lions were on the endangered species list, if they ever attacked humans, and if so, how many fatalities occurred from big cats.
Reed drove the truck through another cattle guard. “No Internet or cell service, Chicago. We’re way up the mountain. Very remote.”
Her nerves went into high gear. She pulled out her cell and saw the infamous “No Service” message at the top right of its screen. “What about a landline? Surely you have a landline.”
Reed shook his head. “It would’ve cost a butt-load to get the phone company to drop poles this far up. If you need to call someone, there’s a payphone at the gas station we passed on the county road after we left town.”
Sawyer squeezed her knee gently, startling her. She’d forgotten he was still touching her. “We don’t have to go that far, Nicole. Most cells get a bar or two back near the entrance to the ranch. If you need to make a call, that’s where we’ll take you.”
“Good to know.” But she didn’t have a single person she would call. Henry was number one on her speed dial, but she wasn’t sure why anymore. He’d called Sheriff Jason Wolfe and told him her secrets, secrets that gave the sheriff the advantage over her. Why? Likely it was Henry’s way of keeping her away and safe, but that didn’t matter to her. He’d betrayed her. She wasn’t sure she would be able to forgive him for that. She definitely wouldn’t trust him again.
What about Patti or Jaris? They were number two and number three on her speed dial. No. She had to go through this alone, had to figure a way to get Jason to trust her to be on the case again, had to redeem herself of all her past sins.
“How much longer until we get to your place?” she asked.
Reed patted her thigh. “One minute to Castle Coleman. This is the entrance to our fifty-two acres.”
“You have your own land?”
“Yep,” the brothers said in unison.
Reed smiled, pride clear on his face. “Every year we try to buy an acre or two, depending on what we can save up.”
“Isn’t fifty-two acres enough to have your own ranch business?” She looked ahead and saw a wooden gate with a metal sign to its side. She smiled at the red-lettered message.
You are entering Coleman Territory. If friend, welcome. If foe, best to turn around now.
“No, Chicago. Here in the Colorado Rockies, you need a lot of land to run livestock, much more than what you need in flat pastures. On the Stone Ranch, you need about 10 acres for each head of cattle or two head of sheep.”
“Water is the most important element, Nicole,” Sawyer said. “There’s our pond.” He pointed to the left of the road at a pool of water that screamed for an artist to immortalize it in paint. The trees around it were magnificent. Its surface was like glass.
“We’re here,” Sawyer announced. “What do you think of our estate, sweetheart?”
The truck stopped and she gazed out the windshield to two structures. “Is that your home?” she asked, pointing to the bigger of the two buildings off to the left.
“Nope. That’s one of our barns.” Reed pointed to the small structure. “That’s home.”
She gazed at the tiny log cabin with a broad covered porch that seemed to wrap around the whole building. Two rocking chairs and a porch swing allowed visitors to take in the picturesque scenery around the wooden abode.
“Well?” Reed asked impatiently. “Do you love it or hate it?”
“I think it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, but what difference does that make? I’m here because your sheriff forced me to go with you.” Nicole saw the disappointment in Reed’s face. She hated how easy it was for her to push people away. They’d been nothing but nice to her. They didn’t deserve her rudeness. “It does look amazing though.”
Reed smiled. “It’s not much but it’s all ours. We built it ourselves.”
“You’re kidding, right?” The cabin looked like it had been right where it sat for the past century, if not longer. Her first impression was that this was a home Mother Nature had built herself to live in. Nicole half expected the logs to sprout new growth right before her eyes.
“Reed and I aren’t big kidders, Nicole. That would be our sister’s specialty.” Sawyer hopped out of the truck and held the door for her. Apparently, this part of the country still held to certain practices like men opening doors for women. She wondered what other past practices Destiny conducted on its streets.
“She live here, too?” she asked.
Sawyer shook his head, taking her hand and helping her out of the truck. “Nope. She lives in town.”
She tensed, realizing she’d agreed to Sheriff Wolfe’s demand to stay with Reed and Sawyer. One week here. The place looked tiny. “How many bedrooms does your house have?”
“You’ll see.” Holding her bag, Reed came around the front of the truck and stood beside her, which placed her right between him and Sawyer. Apparently, they were already assuming their bodyguard duties.
Her heart was pelting the inside of her chest hard and fast. She’d been in some tight spots back when she was still in the field with the department, but somehow this seemed scarier to her than any of those times.
“How long have you two lived here?” she asked.
“August it’ll be ten years,” Reed said with obvious pride. “Want to see inside?”
Her legs felt wobbly, but she still took a step forward. The brothers walked behind her as they moved onto the porch. She turned around and saw the mountain peaks off in the distance and imagined how amazing it must be to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. The sights and sounds of Chicago were much more chaotic and jarring.
She sighed, knowing she would be returning to the Windy City in a week. “I bet your sunsets are gorgeous here.
“They’re nice, but it’s the sunrises that take your breath away. We’re facing east now, Chicago.” Reed opened the door to the cabin. “I can’t wait to see your face tomorrow morning at dawn.”
“How early do you get up?” She’d never been much of a morning person, but imagined that both these guys were. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who leap out of bed with a smile.”
“Sawyer’s not but I am,” Reed said, pointing to Sawyer.
Sawyer shook his head, clearly not understanding his brother’s love of mornings. “Nicole, maybe you can explain to him why coffee is required before talking.”
“You’re right about that, cowboy.” She turned to Reed. “It might be good for you to write that fact down. Remember, I’m always packing.” She patted the side of her jacket where her pistol was.
“So am I, Chicago.” He turned his waist to show off his own weapon of choice, which was holstered and attached to a leather belt around him. “So am I.”
“Me, too, bro.” Sawyer said. “That’s two against one. Might be smart to listen to the lady and keep your morning motormouth in check, if you know what’s good for you.”
Reed snorted. “Okay, but we are getting up before the sun come
s up. I want to see what morning sunshine looks like on her gorgeous face.”
She shook her head. “Do those kind of lines work for you often?”
He grinned. “That’s a new one, sweetheart. You tell me.”
Sawyer glared at him. “You gotta control yourself. Jason asked us to help Nicole. Keep that in mind.”
She couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The playfulness and yes, even the lustiness of Reed got to her, as did the seriousness and gentleness of Sawyer. The brothers weren’t quite polar opposites but not far from it either.
“Well?” Reed motioned her inside. “Let’s give you the whole tour. Should take about ten seconds.”
She stepped inside and was shocked to see such an orderly room. Nothing was out of place. How could it be the home of two bachelors? Then the thought hit her. Maybe they’re not single. It seemed unlikely, but it was still possible. She hadn’t asked them and they hadn’t asked her. Neither of them wore a wedding ring but that didn’t mean much. They were cowboys, working men. Jewelry didn’t seem to fit into their line of work.
Her granddad had never worn a ring either, though he’d been married to her grandmother for many years. He always said jewelry belonged on two kinds of men—pimps and thugs. Granddad was from the old school of chauvinism, though he’d been her most staunch supporter when she decided to join the force. Had he lived, who knew how much more evolved he might’ve become.
“Chicago, you still with us or have you drifted off somewhere in your pretty head?” Reed asked.
“Just taking in your design sense. Don’t rush me.” Nothing was out of place. It was tidy and dust-free, which had to be quite a task indeed. “Either of you have girlfriends? Guys don’t keep places this clean normally.”
“We’re far from normal.” Reed grinned. “Would you be jealous if we did?”
He was such a flirt. “I’ll take that as a ‘no’ to the girlfriend question.”
“You like our place?” Sawyer asked.
She nodded. A leather sofa filled one side of the small room. On the other side, an enormous flat-screen television screamed that men decorated the space. A black cast-iron stove sat in one corner of the room, adding to the rustic feel of the place. The floors were made of beautiful hardwoods. The walls were logs, which were left rounded here in the inside just like on the outside. “Where’s the kitchen? The bathroom? The bedrooms?”