by Jillian Hart
Brody didn’t mind the miserable conditions. They were good for him. He didn’t think of Michelle constantly—just almost constantly. He kept picturing the love on her face as she’d pressed her cheek against his hand. Kept remembering how silken soft her skin was. How luminous her eyes were.
How he’d give anything. Do anything. Risk everything to have the right to love her. To make her his wife.
“I’ve got this last knot and we’re done. You did good, Brody. I appreciate your hard work,” Pete told him just as lightning split the sky and thunder followed within seconds. “Now you best get in while you’re still in one piece, or Michelle will have my hide.”
“Thanks, man.”
There was nothing else to do as the hail bounced like miniature golf balls. The sound was deafening, and the pellets stung as Brody ran to his bike, strapped on his helmet, wiped his seat with the swipe of his hand and climbed aboard.
Worry troubled him as he roared down what used to be the road. It was now mud and streaming water. Hunter hadn’t called. Where was he? He was feeling antsy because the sooner they could wrap up this case, the sooner he could propose to Michelle.
He splashed and slid and churned up the incline, revving the engine, both feet on the ground to give the bike enough balance and pull in the thick mud. He felt his cell phone vibrate against him—two buzzes. It was business. It was urgent. He idled the bike at the crest of the rise and dug the phone out of his pocket. “Brody here.”
Static crackled in his receiver. It was Hunter’s voice. “It was tough getting the warrant, but we did it. We’ve got Mick’s middlemen on tape and we’ve ID’d them. I’ll send you the electronic file.”
“Great.” That meant the end was in sight.
There was static and then Hunter continued. “We’re moving in a team. Be ready to—”
Lightning ripped through the sky overhead. Thunder crashed with such fury the ground quaked beneath Brody’s boots.
“Hunter?” The line was dead. After a few more tries, he gave up and jammed the phone into his pocket.
How soon would they move in? How long did he have? He had to get to a landline and see if—
A white fork of lightning jabbed from the sky to the earth, about an eighth of a mile from where he was. Deafened by the thunder, he watched sparks explode from a utility pole. Must have hit a transformer. That meant there was no power. Or phone. When he needed them most.
He sped into the wind, fighting the mud and hail until the ranch house came into sight. The windows were dark. Lightning flashed and thunder roared as night descended, stealing the last of the shadows.
There was a bob of light in the darkness ahead. A flashlight? he wondered. It was Michelle. Was she in trouble? His motor stalled, and he let it die.
He spotted her slim silhouette in the paddock. Now that he was close he could see that she was tacking a lantern to the side of the stable. The sharp terrified squeal of a panicked horse sounded like a scream. The hair raised on the back of Brody’s neck.
“You need some help, beautiful?”
“If you care to lend a hand,” she yelled to be heard above the storm. She waved a lasso at the panicked mare, the large coil bunched in her hand. “How good are you at herding horses?”
“At least as good as you are.”
“Then come help me, cowboy.”
How could he say no to that? It was Jewel who raced by, a dark flicker of motion and substance before she disappeared into the darkness. Lightning strobed overhead with the whip crack of thunder, and Jewel went wild. She reared, her powerful front hooves slashing the air.
Astride Keno, Michelle rode with a steady calm. Brody had to admire her for that. Her voice was a low hum that did not waver as the mare came down fighting, teeth flashing, wild to attack whatever was frightening her.
Michelle was in the way as the mare charged. Brody hurled through the board rungs of the fence, fighting to get to Michelle. He had to help her. She was in danger.
No, she was in control, he realized. She tossed the lasso, the same instant she sidestepped her horse out of harm’s way and the noose slipped neatly over the mare’s head.
Just as the horse ducked away before the noose could pull tight and escaped. Brody endured the hail chilling him to his bones. Lightning flashed. The storm swelled.
“Throw me that lasso,” he shouted.
She tossed it, a perfect throw. He ran forward to snatch it before the wind stole it. She was left with the rope coiled over her saddle—he could see her as she rode through the gleam of the lantern, and then there was darkness.
They didn’t need to speak. He knew what she intended to do, and he moved without question toward the far end of the paddock. The mare was between them; he could see Michelle’s shadowed outline moving against the utter blackness of the night.
Brody and Michelle worked together, driving the mare forward. Lightning shattered the darkness, blinding and bright. As thunder answered, the mare reared up, and its powerful hooves ripped into the air. Aiming right at Michelle.
Back! Michelle yanked on the reins, willing Keno to move before the mare’s front hooves began to fall.
“Michelle!” She heard Brody’s warning a nanosecond before the blow came.
Pain shot across the top of her shoulder and knifed down her arm, but Keno saved her, wisely moving as she directed. She wouldn’t worry if she was hurt. She had to save her dad’s horse. Jewel was going to hurt herself. She was beyond all sense.
Michelle shook out her noose and threw. The rope caught the mare neatly this time, and she was ready, pulling Keno back before Jewel could toss the noose. Michelle wound the rope around her saddle horn as Keno sat back, keeping the rope taut until Brody’s lasso sailed high and into place. They brought the mare in.
Brody closed the doors behind her and fetched the lantern to light the way to Jewel’s stall. No longer able to see the lightning, Jewel’s panic faded to a skin-prickling terror. Michelle calmed the mare enough to cross tie her safely in her stall.
“Is she going to be all right?”
“Doesn’t look like she’s injured, just scared.” Michelle grabbed a currycomb from the shelf in the aisle and got to work, talking calmly. “You sure worked yourself up, didn’t you, girl?”
Leaving her to the mare, Brody unsaddled Keno, grabbed a jug of grain from the barrel in the feed room and let the gelding lead the way to his stall. It was clean and fresh with sweet-smelling straw—all Brody had to do was fill the trough with grain and fork in some hay.
It had been a long time since he’d cared for a horse, and it felt good. Right. He took it as a sign he was right where he belonged.
He took the comb from Michelle’s cold fingers. “You sit down. I’ll towel her off. I want to look at your arm.”
“It’s just a scratch. Look, it’s already stopped bleeding.”
Brody lifted one lantern to see for himself. “That should be bandaged. Come upstairs with me.”
“It’s more of a bruise. She got me with the outside of her hoof. How about you? You’re a muddy mess.”
He looked down. She was right. From the dirt from the fieldwork and the mud from the paddock, he was covered from hat to boot. “I’ll shower, you go home and change and meet me at my place. I’ll entertain you with dinner, candlelight and Scrabble.”
“You’ve said the magic words. I’ll be there. The electricity is out. What are we going to do for food?”
“I’ll start a fire in the fireplace and we’ll roast hot dogs. Not romantic, but hey, I guess I’m a cheap date.”
How he could make her laugh. Brighten even the stormiest evening. “It’s a deal. I bet I can find the makings for s’mores in Mom’s pantry.”
“Can’t wait to spend time with you.” He thumbed away a speck of mud on her chin. “When I’m not with you, I miss you so much.”
She couldn’t think, so she couldn’t answer. His touch was like heaven, like the promise of peace and adventure all at once. Like being t
hrilled. Like coming home.
“Because I love you.” Tough words for a tough guy to say, but he did it. “Maybe I’ll have to stay around when the haying’s done. So I can be with you.”
How would she respond to that?
He’d traveled the country hunting bad guys, computer hackers, terrorists and criminals. He’d been undercover in extremists groups, criminal crime rings and nothing—ever—had frightened him like this. Terrified him down to his soul.
Standing before her with his heart on the line, no gun would protect him. No SWAT team could swoop in and save him.
Michelle, with her sweet-spirited gentle ways, had done what no one else could do.
She’d terrified him, she enlivened him. She made him complete.
“Yes.” She looked as afraid as he felt, for this moment was a changing point for both of them. “I love you so very much. It would be wonderful if you could stay.”
Tenderness overwhelmed him. A warm liquid sensation filled up his heart. His soul. He reached out—how could he not want a deeper connection to her? To this woman he’d been waiting for all of his life?
He wanted to marry her. He wanted to propose to her, but he had to do it right. Had to think it through. He wanted it to be a special moment for her to remember.
Her hair was like wet silk and smelled of strawberries and rain. Her face was rain-damp and warm as satin. He cupped her jaw, delicate against his callused fingers and, heart pounding with the importance of what he was about to do, leaned down and claimed her with a soft, slow kiss.
“Oh, Brody.” She sighed against his lips.
“I didn’t do too badly, then?”
“Passable.”
“Is that all? Maybe I’d better try again.”
“Maybe.” Michelle, breathless, lifted her face to his.
Passable? No. More like paradise. Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt, holding on for dear life. No man had ever kissed her like that. With all his heart. With all he was. She melted into his kiss.
How could a simple brush of a man’s lips feel like a caress to her soul? She didn’t know how a man’s kiss could be so incredibly tender.
The storm crashed overhead, rain hammered the roof and the horses shifted in their stalls, neighing as lightning struck. The lantern sputtered and went out.
All she knew was Brody’s touch, Brody’s kiss, the hammer of his heartbeat with hers.
He pulled away and gazed into her eyes. For the first time, in the pitch dark, she could see.
He was hers to love. She no longer had to hold back her heart. Keep this great affection secretly locked away. She eased into his arms, laid her cheek on his chest and savored the wonder of his strong arms enfolding her.
Michelle watched in amazement as Brody began shifting the tiles into place on the board. “I don’t believe it!”
“Believe it. Quartz. Triple letter score. So let’s see, that’s forty-four points.” Candlelight only improved the look of him—caressing his brow and high-cut cheekbones, the way her fingers ached to. “That puts me in the lead.”
“Not for long.”
“A challenge. I like that. Okay, beautiful, let’s see what you’ve got.”
Sure, he had to go and say that. As if she could do anything with the letters she had. She had to think. And how hard was that? With the love of her life across the table from her, how was a girl to concentrate?
Then inspiration struck. “Buzz. There’s a double letter score, so—”
“No!” Brody leaned forward, as if to see for himself. “You can’t have it.”
“I do.” Triumphantly, she slipped the last of her tiles into place around his most recent word. “And that’s thirty-four points. For the win.”
“Way to go.” He pushed away from the table, circling around in the shadows and knelt at her side.
She turned toward him, captivated by the shine of unconditional love in his eyes. This was happening. It really was. Brody was in love with her. And he was staying. She could already imagine their wedding—simple but elegant. And his gold band on her finger. She’d have a new name—Michelle Gabriel—and he would be her husband. Her family. And in time, there would be children. A little boy and a little girl to love and take care of.
Her life and her future were suddenly full. And fulfilling.
Because of this man kneeling before her. Because of his love.
“Come over here to the fire with me.” His big hands were callused and rough textured but gentle as he led her to the crackling hearth. Soft orange light danced as if in celebration, and seemed to welcome them as she settled onto the floor, and he sat across from her. Never letting go of her.
“There are some things I want you to know about me.” He looked noble, like a knight of old, a man of unshakable integrity. “I work hard. I’m an honest man. And I love you. Not for any other reason than because you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”
Could he be any more perfect?
“I’m not here because of your parents’ land. Or because I’m in transition looking for a new place in life. I know you’ve been hurt, and you didn’t deserve that.”
“Everyone’s been hurt.” She drew his hand to her lips and pressed a tender kiss on the back of his first knuckle. “That’s life. You don’t have to do this, to tell me you’re not like Rick. I already know that.”
“You hardly know me.”
“And that would take a lifetime.”
How did he get so lucky? “You have no malice for Rick, do you?”
“No. I still believe in the goodness of people. Sometimes a person can get misguided, but in the end, I believe we’re basically good.”
That was what he needed to hear. Maybe then the twist of nerves in his stomach would calm down. “Do you know what you deserve?”
“Another s’more?”
“No. I’m serious, here.”
“Sorry. I’ll try to keep the jokes to a minimum.”
“Thanks.” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead gently to hers. He felt a flash of connection, his heart to hers. He had to let her know. Try to make her understand.
“You deserve a man with an honest heart. A faithful soul. A man who will love you with everything he is, heart and soul for the rest of his life. When a man loves a woman like that, she’s the only thing that matters to him. Not money, not pride, not comfort. He would die to protect her. Give everything to her.” Gazing into her blue, blue eyes, he saw his future. In this life and beyond. “Know how I know this?”
“N-no.”
“It’s how I feel about you.”
Big silver tears filled her eyes but did not fall. It was obvious his love mattered to her.
“You need to know this.” He wasn’t done, and she had to understand. If the warrant came down tonight and there was enough solid evidence for an indictment, then everything would happen too fast. There would be no time to pull her aside and make her understand.
“Shh.” She was done talking and leaned forward to capture him in the gentlest of kisses.
Tenderness so perfect and powerful swept through him and made the fury of the storm outside seem small. He curled his fingers around the nape of her neck and held on. Breathed in the light faint floral scent of her perfume, only to kiss her again.
Marry me, he begged silently. Let me love and protect you forever.
But how could he ask? She didn’t know that he was a federal agent. She didn’t know who he was. He was here under false pretenses. Good ones, true, but he was deceiving her. He wanted to explain it to her, but he was sworn to secrecy.
Would she understand when the arrest was made? Would she forgive him for gathering the evidence that put her favorite uncle behind bars?
Of course she would. Look at her. She was good, through and through. She was compassionate enough to understand. To see that while he was doing a job, his love for her was the greatest truth.
“I love you.” It was as honest as he could be tonight. “I wan
t you to remember that. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I love you, heart and soul.”
She leaned into his arms and buried her face in his shoulder. She gave a little satisfied sigh. Love overwhelmed him. A deep abiding affection that was as infinite as the sky and as true as heaven.
“I love you the same way.” She pressed her lips to the hollow of his throat in a quick kiss. “I’m so glad you crashed in front of me that day. What would I do if I’d never met you? I never would have known you.”
Grateful to God for leading her here, for giving her this man who was perfect in every way, Michelle was too overwhelmed to continue speaking. Peace settled around them like the fire’s glow.
She breathed in the masculine spicy scent of his skin and the fresh laundry scent of his shirt. She held him, just held him. This wonderful man who’d fallen into her life. A man like no other.
Her own honest, protective, faithful man.
It was fifteen minutes after one, according to his watch, and he couldn’t sleep. The electricity was still off. The phone lines remained down. His cell was dead. There was no way to contact his partner or his captain.
He was worried about ending this job neatly, with no casualties. He was worried about Michelle.
The apartment held the memory of her laughter. The faint vanilla scent of the thick chunky candles she’d brought to light their way. The Scrabble game was boxed up on the table. The evening had been pleasant and companionable and complete.
He never wanted it to end.
He didn’t want tomorrow to come. But the night was ticking away and soon it would be dawn. The morning raid was going to happen. Michelle was going to find out he had deceived her. There was nothing he could do to stop it.
He could only believe in the power of their love. In the goodness of her forgiving heart.
After the raid, when Mick was in custody and Michelle knew the truth, would she understand? Or would he lose her love forever?
All he could do was pray for the strength to handle what was to come.
Chapter Thirteen