9781631054723LucasDavis

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.” She slid across to sit beside him and put her hand on his cheek. “Please don’t antagonize him. He’ll only come after us with more anger and his anger is not something to mess with.”

  “I told you, I’m not afraid of him. I want him to come after me, not you.”

  “He’s only interested in me and if he thinks for one second you’ll be in the way, he’ll do what he can to get rid of you. One way or another, he’ll get rid of you. I know him. Trust me on this.” She sighed. “It’s why we’re better staying together. In town or at the ranch. He won’t try to get to me with you at my side but if he can separate us, he will and then he’ll make his move. What were you planning to do by following him?”

  Lucas grumbled. “I have no idea. I just wanted to let him know I’m not worried about him.”

  Emily kissed his cheek and slid back across the seat. “He doesn’t care you’re not worried. It’s me he’s after.”

  Lucas nodded and didn’t say anymore. The thought of Adam trying to intimidate them was something he wanted to change. Lucas wanted to talk with him, convince him to let Emily alone. He pulled up to the house and turned to her.

  “Where does he get money if he just got out of prison?”

  “His parents were stinking rich. They both died within the last two years. Adam inherited everything. I don’t understand why he wanted my family to help with his felony charge when his parents had money.” She shook her head. “Anyway, there was no other family. Since he was in prison, the money sat in a bank and drew interest. He has enough money to buy anything or anyone he wants. Which is why I wanted a man I thought wouldn’t care about the money I know he’ll offer.”

  Lucas narrowed his eyes at her. “You think he’ll offer me money?”

  Emily laughed without humor. “Oh yes. He’ll contact you in some way and offer you money for me. I can promise you that.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  She shrugged. “Because I know you don’t care about the money. You’ve got a partnership in a very lucrative ranch, why would you need the money?”

  Lucas nodded. “True but some people never seem to have enough.”

  Emily moved closer to him. “But you’re not one of them, Lucas. I can tell you love the work, not the money it brings. After talking with your mother, I knew you were the one I wanted protecting me.”

  He muttered under his breath. “I can’t believe you talked to my mom about this.”

  Emily laughed. “Let’s go inside. I don’t like being out here.”

  Lucas nodded and pulled her out the door of the truck and led her inside. They took their jackets off and Emily went about making dinner. Lucas headed to the office to work on the books. He couldn’t concentrate. The thoughts of Adam attempting to bribe him set him on edge. Lucas hoped he did try so he could laugh in his face. There wasn’t enough money in the world to make him give up Emily. He sat back in the chair and stared out the window at his land. His and Emily’s. He wanted to see their children out there running around the yard in the summer and building a snowman in the winter. He wanted to teach them to ride horses and love them as he did. They’d grow up learning the trade of raising and selling the best Quarter horses money could buy.

  Lucas sat forward and rested his arms on the desk. When had she come to mean so much to him? He woke up every morning, looked over at her, and wanted nothing more than to pull her close and hold her. He thought of her all day long while he was in the barn with the men. Sometimes he’d catch Tinker smiling at him and Lucas would glare at him until Tinker would chuckle and walk off. Lucas laughed softly. Tinker knew Lucas was a goner where Emily was concerned, although, he still wouldn’t admit he was in love with her. She never said how she felt about him and he wasn’t putting his heart out there. He wanted them to make the marriage work and have babies together. Dark haired, green-eyed babies. Beautiful like their mommy.

  Lucas reached for the phone and called his good friend, Montgomery Bradford. Mont was an FBI agent out of the Jackson Hole office. They’d grown up together in Dry River. Mont was one of the “bad boys” too. After asking for him, Lucas sat and waited for his friend to come on the line and prayed Emily didn’t come back to the office.

  “This is Agent Bradford, can I help you?”

  Lucas chuckled. “Still gets me hearing you call yourself an agent.”

  Masculine laughter came across the line. “Lucas. How are you?”

  “Good Mont, you?”

  “You’re not good or you wouldn’t be calling me.”

  Lucas sighed. “You know me too well. I have a little problem I’m hoping you can give me some advice on.”

  “I’ll try. What is it?”

  Lucas explained about Emily and her ex-husband. About him showing up and following them.

  “Wait. You got married?” Mont asked in disbelief.

  “Another long story but suffice it to say, I married her to protect her from her ex.”

  “Yeah right. Tell me another one.”

  “I got half her horse ranch.”

  “Now the truth comes out. Big ranch?”

  “Whispering Pines.”

  “Holy shit.” Mont yelled. “You own half of Whispering Pines?”

  “It was part of the deal. Look, Mont. I’ll be more than happy to explain some other time but right now, I want to know if there’s any way we can get him away from here and Emily.”

  “Not really. He hasn’t done anything wrong. You can’t even prove he was following you and even if he was, he could say he was heading that way too. He hasn’t broken any laws. Have you talked with Nathan about it?”

  “No. Like you said, he hasn’t done anything…yet.”

  “You think he will?”

  “Yes. He wants to hurt her, I’m sure of it. She seems to think he’ll offer me money to leave her or hand her over.”

  “Jesus. What a nice guy. Look, you know my hands are tied. I can give you advice as a friend but I can’t help you with things like that. Unless he takes her, I can’t be involved.”

  Lucas ran his hand down his face. “Shit. I know. I just wanted your opinion. I’ll talk to you soon. After all this shit is over, come visit and meet my wife.”

  Mont burst out laughing. “I never thought I’d ever hear you say that. Later.”

  Lucas hung up, glanced at the door, and groaned. Emily stood there staring at him.

  “Who was that?” she asked as she entered the room.

  “Mont.”

  “Montgomery Bradford?” She sat in the chair across from him.

  “Yes. Although, he never goes by Montgomery. You know Mont too?”

  “I know of him. I never knew any of the boys you ran with.” She smiled. “The bad boys of Dry River.”

  Lucas moaned. “Please don’t say that.”

  Emily laughed. “It’s true. All of you had a reputation. All the girls had crushes on you and later all the women wanted you.” She leaned forward. “I had a crush on you when I was seven.”

  Lucas grinned. “Yes, I know. You already mentioned it.”

  Emily blushed. “You carried me home. I’ll never forget it. Anyway, why were you calling Montgomery?”

  “He’s an FBI agent now.” Lucas watched her eyes widen and laughed. “Yeah, shock, huh?”

  Emily shook her head. “I can’t believe it. From bad boy to FBI agent.”

  “I called him to see if there’s anything we can do about Walters but Mont said since Walters hasn’t done anything, there isn’t.” Lucas stood and strolled around the desk and squatted down in front of her. “The restraining order will help.”

  “I don’t think it will. A piece of paper isn’t going to keep him from me.”

  “Probably not, but it’s the principal of the thing. If he comes anywhere near you, we can have him arrested,” Lucas told her. “Mont thinks I should tell Nathan about Walters.”

  “The sheriff? I forgot about you knowing Nathan. Being one of you
r best friend’s brothers, it makes sense you’d know him.” Emily stood and moved toward the window. “I just want Adam to leave me alone. I can’t offer him money because he has more than God so it wouldn’t matter to him.” She folded her arms and turned to face Lucas. “We’re in a wait and see situation.”

  Lucas moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t let him get to you.”

  “For how long though? How long will we have to keep this up?”

  “Keep what up? Our marriage?” Lucas clenched his jaw as he gazed down at her.

  “No. How long will we have to keep looking around every corner? I thought you said you wanted to stay married?”

  “I do. I just thought you meant you wanted to end it once we were rid of him.”

  “Lucas, I want to stay married to you. I…like being married to you, even if it is a little unconventional.” She smiled up at him.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I like being married to you too. It is unconventional but I like the benefits.” He chuckled when she blushed.

  * * * *

  Emily hugged him tighter. She was so scared of Adam getting to her. Lucas would do all he could to protect her but he couldn’t be with her twenty four seven. There were days he spent hours in the barn. All Adam had to do was get to know their routine. She may hate the man but she also knew he was smart and had plenty of money to hire anyone to do his bidding. Emily shivered against Lucas. His arms tightened around her. She’d die if something happened to him. Falling in love with her husband happened so quickly, it shocked her. How can you fall in love with someone so fast? Emily pulled back and gazed up at him.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Lucas,” she whispered.

  “I won’t. I can handle myself.”

  “You don’t know him. He’s ruthless.” Emily hugged him again. “He won’t stop until he makes me pay for divorcing him. He always said he’d never let me go.”

  “He doesn’t have a choice. You’re married to me now and he needs to get over it.”

  Emily knew that wouldn’t happen. Adam was hell bent on making her pay for divorcing him. He was obsessed with her and always had been. He belittled her to make her think no other man would ever want her. Now Lucas was her husband and Emily knew with all her heart Adam would never accept it.

  * * * *

  Two weeks later, Adam sat across from the feed store and watched as Lucas Taggart carried out a bag of salt as if it weighed nothing. The man was big and strong. Adam had his work cut out for him. If he approached him, he was sure Taggart would punch him. Sighing, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number on the feed store sign. When someone answered, he asked to speak to Taggart. He heard them lay the phone down and a minute later, Adam saw a young woman run out the door and talk with Taggart. He put the salt bag into the bed of the truck and followed her inside.

  “This is Lucas.”

  “I want to meet with you,” Adam said. A silence greeted him. “This is—“

  “I know who it is. When?”

  “Now. I’m across the street.”

  The next thing Adam knew, someone pulled him from the car and then slammed him back against it. Lucas glared at him. He was much taller than he looked from across the street. Lucas put his face close.

  “What the fuck do you want, Walters?”

  Adam pushed his hands away and straightened his suit jacket. “I think you know what I want.” Lucas raised an eyebrow. Adam sighed. “I want my wife.”

  Lucas laughed. “Your wife? You don’t have a wife. Emily is married to me now.”

  Adam clenched his jaw. “Nonetheless. I want her. I’m prepared to offer you a lot of money.”

  “You don’t have enough,” Lucas told him.

  “Everyone has a price. Name yours.”

  “I don’t have one when it comes to my wife. I have everything I need.”

  “I can make you a very rich man.” Lucas stepped back and glared at him. Adam smiled. “Very rich indeed.”

  Lucas folded his arms across his chest. “How rich we talking?”

  “A few million,” Adam grinned.

  “A few million? That’s it? Whispering Pines is worth way more than that.”

  “I can give you whatever you want. Ten million,” Adam sneered.

  “And all I have to do is hand Emily over to you?”

  “You hand her over, you get the money, and you keep Whispering Pines.”

  “I already have Whispering Pines. I have enough money and I will not hand Emily over to you. Ever.” Lucas opened the car door and shoved Adam inside. “Now get the hell out of here and if I see you anywhere near her, you’ll deal with me. I’m not afraid of you.”

  Adam watched as he slammed the car door closed and strode across the street. He got into his truck and pulled out. Adam gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. He needed to take the bastard out and soon. He was going to need some help and he knew just the men to call. Friends he’d made in prison who were out now too. Adam would have to deal with Lucas Taggart but first he had to get Emily away from him.

  * * * *

  Son of a bitch! Lucas slammed his fist against the steering wheel. The bastard had balls, he’d give him that. Ten million? Lucas wouldn’t take any amount to hand Emily over. Her life wasn’t measured in money nor were his feelings for her. Did Walters think money was the cure-all for anything and everything? Shaking his head, he was still shocked he’d been offered money for his wife. For what? What did Walters have in mind for her? Was he going to kill her or just run off with her? Did he seriously think Emily would willingly go away with him? Or did it even matter to him one way or the other? Lucas knew the answer. It didn’t matter to Walters how Emily felt, it was what he wanted that mattered.

  “Damn it,” he shouted. Emily told him Walters would offer him money, he just found it hard to believe. He pulled onto the road leading to Whispering Pines and felt a sense of pride knowing he was part owner. It was enough for him. He shared it with his wife and hopefully one day, their children.

  Pulling up to the back door, he hopped out and strolled inside. The house seemed eerily quiet. He removed his jacket and hat then walked through the kitchen to the living room. Emily wasn’t there so he headed down the hall toward the office. He opened the door and saw the room was empty. Spinning on his heel, he ran for the stairs and took them two at a time until he reached their room. He slowly pushed the door open and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her lying on the bed, asleep.

  Lucas moved toward the bed and sat down on it. He brushed her hair from her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at him and smiled.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hi. Are you feeling all right? You rarely take naps.” His hand caressed her cheek.

  “I got so tired I could barely keep my eyes open after staring at the books.”

  “You’re sure that’s all it is?”

  Emily sat up. “What else could it be, Lucas?”

  “Could you be pregnant?”

  Emily laughed. “No. No chance of that.”

  He nodded. “Just tired then.” He sighed.

  She tilted her head. “Were you hoping I was pregnant?”

  Lucas shrugged and grinned. “I want kids but I think we need to get rid of Adam first.”

  At the mention of Adam’s name, Munch growled from her spot on the windowsill.

  “Yes. Something you and I agree on, cat,” Lucas muttered.

  “What happened?”

  Lucas stared at Emily. “He offered me ten million for you.” At Emily’s gasp, he continued. “I told him there wasn’t enough money to hand you over and then I shoved him into his car and told him he’d better not come near you or he’d deal with me.”

  Emily got to her knees and hugged him. “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me, darlin’. I’m not interested in his money. He also told me I’d get full ownership in Whispering Pines if you were out of the picture.”


  “I hate that man,” she said.

  “I feel the same way. He’s showing his hand now. I’m sure he’ll start getting more ballsy.”

  Chapter Six

  Emily kissed his cheek and left the bed. Lucas followed her from the room and down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and gazed back at him.

  “I have to work on the sales sheets then I’ll fix dinner.” She headed down the hall to the office.

  Once inside, she sat at the desk and covered her face with her hands. She knew Adam would offer Lucas money. She’d been surprised at the amount. Lucas turning it down made her feel wonderful but then, she knew he would. Money didn’t matter to him. She lowered her hands and frowned. Why wouldn’t it matter to him? He didn’t grow up with money and with most people it would make them want it even more. Standing, she was about to go ask him when he filled the doorway.

  “Why didn’t you take the money?” she asked softly.

  “What?” He frowned at her.

  “You grew up without money, didn’t you?”

  Lucas moved into the room and took a seat in one of the wingback chairs. “Yes.”

  “Then why wouldn’t you want ten million dollars?”

  Lucas laughed. “Money isn’t everything.”

  “It is to a lot of people, Lucas.” Emily sat back down.

  “I’m part owner in one of the best horse ranches in the states, it’s all I want.”

  “Is that all?” She couldn’t keep the hurt from her voice.

  Lucas ran his hand along his jaw and sighed. “No. I want a family too.” He stood and ambled around the desk and crouched down in front of her. “I want you.”

  Emily smiled through tears. “I want you too. I want a family with you, Lucas.”

  “Once we get rid of him, we’re going to start on our family.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. “I don’t remember what my life was like before you Emily.”