by Barb Han
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” She sighed with relief.
A knock sounded at the door. Tyler shot her a warning look. “Get out of sight until I give you a green light.”
She moved into the bedroom and stood behind the door where she could see through the crack.
Tyler pulled a handgun, she wasn’t sure what kind, and held it behind his leg as he opened the door with his left hand.
“Come on in,” he said to the room service attendant.
The attendant wore a white sous chef shirt and black pants. He looked legit as he wheeled in the tray. “Would you like me to set up at the table, Mr. O’Brien?”
“No, thanks. Just leave it there.” Tyler pointed next to the table. “I can take it from here.”
He pulled a few bills from his pocket and tipped the attendant without revealing what was in his other hand. “Smells fantastic.”
“Enjoy, sir,” the waiter said with a smile.
Tyler closed the door behind him. “It’s safe.”
Even though the waiter was gone and the coast was clear, the tension stayed in the room. Jessica hated living like this, afraid of her own shadow. But her identity had been revealed and soon everyone would know that Jenn had a twin sister.
“What are you thinking about?” Tyler placed the gun securely in the side table.
“How they’re not going to stop until they find me. They know about me now. Our advantage is gone.”
He motioned for her to sit at the table, so she did. He put a plate in front of her and pulled off the metal cover to reveal the best-looking hamburger she’d ever seen. Or maybe she was just that hungry.
“I also ordered a fresh pot of coffee,” she said. After that adrenaline rush, the beer didn’t sound as good as coffee. She didn’t want anything to dull her senses and she was a lightweight when it came to alcohol.
He must’ve been thinking the same thing because he set the beers aside in an ice bucket. “I’ll keep these cold for later.”
By the time she took the last bite of her burger, Jessica had downed a bottled water. She poured a cup of coffee afterward. “Want one?”
“I can get it.”
“I’m right here.” She cocked her eyebrow. She hadn’t noticed it with all the drama going on around them, but this cowboy seemed to prefer to do everything for himself. “I don’t mind. Really.”
“Don’t go to any trouble.”
“It’s none at all.” She poured a cup and handed it to him. “See how easy that was?”
He chuckled. “My parents taught us to be independent. We grew up working the ranch right alongside Pop. Mom spoiled us but pretended not to. She always said we were blessed and not spoiled. Either way she managed to bring up six independent boys. Although,” he smiled, “some might call us stubborn.”
“Sounds like you grew up in an ideal family.”
“We did. And it ruined us. We all have a difficult time letting others in,” he admitted and there was something dark in his eyes now. Regret?
“Doesn’t sound like such a bad thing. The situation I’m in now reminds me to be even more careful who I trust,” she said. “Even someone with the best of intentions can hurt you.”
* * *
“TRUST CAN BE a good thing. When it’s earned.” Had he trusted Lyndsey too soon? He’d believed that she knew him and understood his priorities. And then she’d demanded that he walk away from the ranch forever if he wanted a future with her. She’d said their life was in Denver, where her family lived. Needless to say, being given an ultimatum had gone over about as well as filthy ranch clothes in church and begged the question, why would she demand something like that if she really knew him?
She’d walked out and the nagging question remained: How could he have loved someone he knew so little? Even so, when Lyndsey had left he didn’t think he’d ever breathe again. Surprisingly, his body functioned even when he wasn’t sure he wanted it to. Losing his parents at the same time had been a double blow.
Speaking of family, when this ordeal was over and Jessica was safe, he needed to touch base with his brothers and Tommy about the investigation back home. It was easy to set aside his pain and focus on someone else’s problem for a change. Tyler had focused on his own until he’d gone numb. All he could think about was the note Lyndsey had left behind. Enjoy your life and try to put someone else first for a change.
For the past few weeks he’d tried to figure out if there was any truth to what she’d said. He’d dated around since Lyndsey, but it had felt like he was ticking a box, making sure he was playing the field.
Tyler could be honest enough with himself to admit that Lyndsey hadn’t been completely first in his life. He chalked it up to their differences. She was outgoing and liked to hang out with friends at the bar after a long day. She was flirtatious and he’d almost convinced himself that he didn’t mind. He was the complete opposite. Tyler kept more to himself, preferring to trust only those who shared the O’Brien last name.
And after a long day, he wanted a good meal and a cold beer under the stars. If there was a woman involved, then he could think of other things he wanted to do, as well...things that involved both of them naked.
There was something special about looking up at the night sky in Texas, the wide expanse of midnight blue with bright specks.
Lyndsey was most likely right. He probably needed to make more of an effort with people. He was good at negotiating and analyzing all sides of a business deal to come up with a fair solution and that’s why he was in charge of handling contracts and disputes. He had managed a temporary truce between Aunt Bea and Uncle Ezra recently and that had taken some serious skills. But dealing with emotions, especially his own, wasn’t his strong suit.
Enough focus on the things he didn’t have the first idea how to fix.
Tyler needed to straighten out his thoughts about the current situation. “Let’s go back to the beginning and think this through. Milton was one of your sister’s exes, right?”
“Yes. She dated him for a short while last year but they stayed friends after, or so she thought.” Jessica sat on the couch and folded her right leg underneath her bottom. She sipped her coffee and set the mug on the table.
“Is that the reason she figured he wouldn’t catch on that you were subbing for her? He must not’ve known her very well,” Tyler said.
“He didn’t. Not really. But then my sister’s personality has many layers. I’m not sure I know all of her. I never imagined she’d be in any kind of trouble like this and yet here we are. And then there’s the affair.”
“We now know that Elijah is involved,” he said.
“Up to his eye teeth,” she added.
“How close were the two of them?”
“I’m guessing he reminded her of home, barely scraping by,” she said. “He must’ve felt familiar to her and helped her miss us less.”
“I can’t help but wonder how a musician and a corporate lawyer would know each other. It doesn’t seem that they would travel in the same circles,” he said. “Not to mention the fact that Milton couldn’t possibly be currently practicing law with his criminal record.”
“That’s a good question. My sister is the only connection I can find. She never dated Elijah to my knowledge.” Jessica sipped her coffee.
“But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have feelings for her.”
“No. You’re right. In fact, I’m pretty sure he did based on the way he looked at me before. There was no way she’d go out with him, though,” Jessica’s eyes lit up just then. Her eyes weren’t the only thing he noticed. There were other things, endearing quirks about her that he liked. For example, the corner of her mouth twitched when she was nervous. The movement was so slight he almost missed it the first time. He’d also noticed that her tongue slicked across
her bottom lip when she was about to lie. He’d seen that a few times when she spoke to Elijah and was grateful that she hadn’t done it while talking to him.
Her laugh was almost like music and made him want to hear it more often. He vowed to himself to take her out to dinner when this was all behind them and make her laugh until her stomach hurt. Also, she blinked when she wasn’t sure what to say next.
But the main thing he noticed was how sweet she tasted when he kissed her. And just how right she fit when he’d held her in his arms.
“I’m worried about the Brasseuxs.” She sighed sharply. “And I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Every time I ask questions I go round again.”
“I keep wondering what they and Elijah have in common. Or Milton, for that matter.” Tyler stabbed his fingers through his thick hair. “I mean, the Brasseuxs could’ve had some interaction with Milton socially. But Elijah? I can’t find a connection there.”
“I know one,” Jessica said.
Tyler arched a brow.
“My sister,” Jessica said quietly. “What if she’s not as innocent as I want to believe? What if she stole the necklace to get back at Ashton and then her so-called friend Elijah sees an opportunity to make some money off of her? Everything could’ve gone sour and she got herself in more trouble than she could handle.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” he asked.
“I don’t want to, but that’s where the evidence points,” she said. “You know what? I’m tired. I need to get some rest.”
Chapter Eleven
Jessica tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep for the nagging feeling that she was missing something important. She drifted in and out, straining to think. At three o’clock in the morning it finally dawned on her. She bolted upright and must’ve screamed because Tyler burst into the room a few seconds later.
“What happened?” he said, his low, sexy voice still gravelly from sleep. He rubbed his eyes and moved to the bed.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said, forcing her eyes away from his muscled chest. This wasn’t the time to think about those ripples of pure steel and how soft his skin felt to her touch. Or the warmth his body possessed.
“I’m a light sleeper.” The mattress dipped under his weight. He had on boxers and nothing else.
“It came to me in a flash and I realized what I’d been missing. Do you have your smartphone?” she asked.
He jogged into the next room, returned a moment later and offered his cell to her.
She pulled up the internet and entered The Bayou into the search engine. Hope filled her chest for the first time. “It’s an actual place. The Bayou. She said that she’d see me in the bayou, which I assumed was a general reference, except that there really is a place. She took me there the very first time I visited and never again. It was one of the only public places we went. It’s really far on the outskirts of town. Actually, saying it’s near any kind of civilization is being generous.”
“What kind of place is it?” he asked.
“A hole-in-the-wall that only locals know about. See?” She shoved the phone toward him with an address highlighted on Google Maps. “It doesn’t have a website, per se, but it’s listed as a business. This is the address.”
He took the phone and examined the web page. “This is a good place to start.”
In her excitement at this first real lead, she launched herself toward Tyler and threw her arms around his neck. The covers pooled around her knees.
“This place looks...interesting to say the least. It’s literally surrounded by a swamp.” His free arm circled her waist.
Jessica realized all too quickly that her thin cotton tank top was the only thing standing between them. She started to pull back.
He dropped the phone on the bed next to her knees.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said, hauling her against his chest. His other arm wrapped around her bottom.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she kissed him. With a quick maneuver, he had her on his lap, straddling him, and she could feel the warmth of his erection pulsing against the inside of her thigh. Jessica deepened the kiss. Tyler was all hotness and fire and manliness. His hands palmed her bottom. She liked the feel of him...real...and rough...and still so surprisingly gentle. She scooted closer until her heat was positioned against his straining rod. The thought of sex with Tyler sent a thunderclap of need pounding through her, making her stomach quiver.
His hands roamed her bottom as she pressed her almost-naked breasts flush against his chest.
A throaty, sexy growl tore from his throat and she could feel his muscles as they flexed. Their breath quickened as her hands searched down his back, lingering on each ripple, memorizing his strong lines.
And then five words she didn’t want to acknowledge wound through her thoughts. Is this a good idea?
She barely knew the guy and yet she’d already trusted him with her life. And a certain intimacy had come out of that, which couldn’t be denied. But did she really know him? Sure, the sexual tension between them was thicker than the Louisiana humidity. She had no doubt sex with Tyler would be amazing. And then what?
They were from two different worlds. He’d go back to his life on the ranch. She’d go back to hers in Shreveport, helping her parents and running the family business, which wasn’t much but enough to keep them going financially. She couldn’t imagine leaving them to fend for themselves.
Her brain cautioned her not to get ahead of herself. The future was a long way away. She had tonight. She was feeling the effects of an exciting breakthrough. And there was nothing wrong with mindless sex.
* * *
THE IDEA OF taking a breather when Jessica’s skin flamed against his touch was almost unthinkable.
Except that he cared about her and they were stuck in a weird space between needing to blow off steam and needing to be with each other. The former was a no-brainer. That’s where Tyler existed most of the time. The latter scared the hell out of him.
Calling on every ounce of strength he had, he forced himself to slow it down a few notches.
The other side of the coin was that he realized she’d been through a lot and most likely needed an outlet for her stress. While that would normally be right up Tyler’s alley, for reasons he couldn’t explain it bothered him with Jessica.
“This is not a good idea right now.” He lifted her up and set her on the bed next to him, doing his level best to squash the disappointment roaring through his chest and the little voice in the back of his mind cursing him out. That was the same piece of brain that controlled everything south and he’d learned as a teenager not to listen if he wanted to stay out of trouble.
“Oh” was all she said, and he could hear the surprise and disappointment clearly in her tone.
“You’re beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But anything happening between us is not going to work,” he managed to say.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to spare my feelings.” Her cheeks blushed and that ripped right through him.
Did she think he didn’t want to have sex with her? How could he not? She had all the attributes he admired in a real woman. She was smart, had sexy curves and was damned near irresistible. In fact, if he didn’t do something to cool his jets in the next minute or two he couldn’t trust himself not to haul her into his arms again and take her right then and there on her bed. Before he went all caveman on her, he needed a cold shower. He’d explain later...when he figured it out for himself.
“We’re going to talk about this, but not right now.” He pointed at the phone. “First, we find your sister.”
Before she could protest, he walked out of the room and straight into a cold shower.
* * *
IF THAT DIDN’T rank right up there as one of Jessica’s most embarrassing m
oments in life, she didn’t know what did. Clearly Tyler wanted her. There was no denying the erection she’d felt against the inside of her thigh. Was there something horribly wrong with her that he couldn’t follow through on that desire? Maybe he’d finally realized what he was doing and decided to put a stop to it. Everything had happened so fast that Jessica got swept up in the moment. The attraction between them was real, but there was more to a relationship than physical pull. And he was right. They needed to focus on finding her sister.
Guilt washed over Jessica for losing focus. Jenn needed her and she’d gotten momentarily wrapped up with the handsome cowboy.
Shaking it off, she dressed in jeans and a cotton shirt. Throwing her hair in a ponytail she tried not to focus too much on where they were going. There’d be mosquitoes in the swamp. Alligators. Bacteria. And all sorts of creatures eager to feed off human flesh and blood.
And if thinking about that didn’t give her pause, nothing would.
Then there were the people themselves to contend with...people who preferred life off the grid with no cell service or contact with the outside world.
She took a fortifying breath and turned toward the living room. Tyler stood there, dressed and fresh from a shower, staring.
“Ready?”
“As much as I’ll ever be,” she said, thoroughly confused by the mixed signal.
He picked his phone up from the bed and made a call.
“Who are you calling in the middle of the night?” she asked, slipping on her running shoes. If she was going to hike through the swamps in the middle of the night, then she figured that she’d need to be comfortable.
“It’s not safe to drive around in Zander’s limo anymore. I’m arranging transportation,” he said.
* * *
“LET’S GIVE OUR eyes a few minutes to acclimate to the darkness before we head out.” Tyler adjusted the seat of the SUV that had been organized for him by the hotel manager. He didn’t normally play that card, the one that had him waking up a hotel manager in the middle of the night, but this felt like a real lead and waiting until morning could be the difference between life and death for Jessica’s sister.