Back to Texas

by Sienna Black

  BACK TO TEXAS

  Sienna Black

  ®

  www.loose-id.com

  Warning

  This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  * * * * *

  This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable (homoerotic sex, ménage, violence).

  Back to Texas

  Sienna Black

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Published by

  Loose Id LLC

  1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924

  Carson City NV 89701-1215

  www.loose-id.com

  Copyright © April 2007 by Sienna Black

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

  ISBN 978-1-59632-444-2

  Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

  Printed in the United States of America

  Editor: Jana Hanson

  Cover Artist: Croco Designs

  www.loose-id.com

  Chapter One

  When Sela Reeves signed the Agency contract, she thought she'd been pretty clear. She wanted the job for the opportunity to make a difference on a grand scale. The fact that she'd get to see the world just counted as a fantastic bonus. In her interview, she mentioned there were only a few places she flatly refused to go. "Back to Texas" topped the list.

  She still didn't know exactly what she'd been thinking when she agreed to take the Lone Tree case. Now, she was headed deep into the heart of the state she'd planned to leave behind for good to track down a gunrunner. If she'd been driving, she'd have taken the first detour to anywhere else.

  Instead, she rode in the passenger's seat with her bare feet on the dashboard and her eyes closed. Maybe if she didn't watch the too-familiar landscape pass by, the knot of dread in her stomach would disappear. "We can pretend it's our honeymoon."

  "We could, if we were pretending to be married." Marcus Hughes, her partner, had a voice like sin and chocolate combined. She'd listen to him read the phone book, given the opportunity. When she added his looks into the equation, Sela couldn't even grumble about early morning missions. She looked forward to going to the "office," wherever that might be on any given week. Who minded getting dirty with a guy like Marcus at their side?

  She slid her hand onto his thigh without looking. He was hard to miss. He was built, to put it mildly. She gripped his leg, massaging rather than just holding. Muscle tensed and jumped beneath her fingers. "We've played husband and wife before."

  He caught her hand, plucked it loose and dropped it back into her lap. The vehicle didn't swerve at all. "That's not our cover this time. We're college friends. We're doing a road trip reunion and stopping at the ranch on the way."

  A deadly silence filled the cab of the Cherokee. Norah Jones murmured lowly, the music not quite loud enough to be audible. Still, Sela could have joined in on the chorus if she'd been in the mood.

  "You're kidding, right?" Now she looked over at him, hoping for some hint of his hidden sense of humor.

  "Nope." The tightness around Marcus’s mouth meant disapproval. A hundred different scenarios would have made better cover and they both knew it.

  Sela bit back the first unpleasant words that came to mind and looked out her window. She tried not to grind her teeth. She'd signed a contract saying she'd follow orders, but hanging their asses out a window and inviting everybody passing by to take a shot didn't make any kind of sense. "So, we're newlyweds."

  "Sela ..." Marcus used his down-to-business voice.

  She turned to face him, tucking her knees as she twisted beneath the seat belt. "Marcus. It's lame. You know it as well as I do. What university did we go to? When did we graduate? What was your major and what fraternity did you pledge? Are you going to tell stupid drinking stories about smashing beer cans against your forehead?" She paused to let the barrage of questions sink in. "We can make the newlywed thing work for us."

  After seven years of partnership, there were no secrets. Things went unsaid and untested, but the emotions and the urges were still there. If they pretended to be a couple head over heels in love, they knew all the tricks that'd sell the story. Casual caresses. Secret smiles that spoke of things they'd shared and could relive with just a glance. The kind of easy familiarity that came from living just underneath someone's skin.

  Sela put her hand on Marcus’s shoulder, letting it rest there until she felt some of the tension bleed out. She stretched a finger, tracing the corner of his jaw. He didn't flinch. He didn't shy away. She saw his fingers tighten on the steering wheel, but he didn't tell her to stop. She wanted to know just how far he'd let her push.

  She'd wanted him from the moment they met, though she told herself she was out of line and crazy for the first two years. A good agent didn't sleep with the man guarding her back, no matter how hot he looked or what she dreamed about him at night. So what if he moved like a predator, all coiled power and surprising grace? So what if his smile made your stomach tight and your panties wet? No mixing business with pleasure.

  Two years, and she couldn't stand it anymore. She kissed him in Rio de Janeiro, caught up in the spirit of a festival. Surprise flared in his caramel-colored eyes, only to be followed by understanding and desire. He got her all but naked on the cruise through the Antilles. If the ambassador hadn't come back to his suite, they'd have committed a whole new sort of international crime.

  Unspoken feelings hummed between them, just another aspect of a normal day on the job. They were both too stubborn to request a transfer. They hadn't given in to those sorts of urges again, but chemistry and attraction worked in their favor. Why not use it, Sela reasoned? Why not play it up a little, dance along the knife's edge?

  She watched Marcus wet his lips, his tongue a glimpse of pink against the lush darkness of his skin. He swallowed and she tracked the motion. Being able to watch him from behind the safety of her shades while he couldn't turn away or hide his reactions thrilled her. Behave, she warned herself. Let the man drive.

  "Well?" She prompted, curling her fingers against the warm skin at the nape of his neck. "Is it a deal?"

  He slanted a sidelong glance at her and she knew she'd won. "It's a deal. Newlyweds."

  * * * * *

  A dust cloud appeared on the horizon and Tyler was pretty damned sure it hadn't been stirred up by the wind. There was a breeze, but he could hardly feel it and he'd stripped to the waist. Mopping his forehead with his discarded shirt moved more air around than this piddly current did. A dust devil was just plain out of its league.

  The car must have kicked up dirt from one of the filled-in potholes on its way toward the ranch. Until they got a county crew out this way, the Lone Tree made repairs with shoveled dirt packed down by boards and boots.

  He didn't remember seeing anything on the schedule about a new arrival today. He wouldn't hurry to investigate, though. There was no place on the ranch he didn't know. No one got away without meeting him at least once. More than a part of
making the guests feel welcome or like a temporary member of the resort family, Tyler considered it his responsibility to look each one of them in the eye. Good people tended not to make trouble when they knew the people they'd be hurting by name.

  So he tacked the last loose shingle in place and climbed down the ladder from the roof. He put the tools away, locked up the shed, and drank the last few swallows of lukewarm iced tea before heading up to the main buildings, thermos swinging in his hand.

  The newcomers were unpacking the car by the time he reached the parking lot. They each had a pair of suitcases and the man carried another bag -- a camera or something -- over his shoulder. The woman swung the back door shut as Tyler reached the bumper. She offered him a bright, beautiful smile.

  Tyler froze.

  He'd seen a lot of people pass through the Lone Tree. Bored teenagers, harried mothers and co-eds looking for a good time were part of the usual fare. He'd been hit on by giggling college freshman, entitled wealthy divas and all sorts in between. Which made this woman's impact all the more impressive.

  The sleeveless white blouse played up a golden tan. Her bangs and a few shorter locks of hair framed her face, but the majority had been pulled back in a braid so dark it glinted blue. She moved like she was having fun, confidence oozing from every pore. A lot of people, Tyler thought, had to work to make people want to know them. This woman had alluring down to an art.

  Then again, she always had. "Sela."

  Surprise made her voice too bright. "Tyler?"

  The big man with her looked between them, head turning as though he watched a tennis match. "You know each other? Did you know he'd be here?" His expression darkened into an impressive scowl.

  Sela jerked as though she'd been prodded and her gaze twitched up toward the other man. "What? No." She frowned and looked at Tyler again. "Tyler Brooks left the state after college and said he'd never come back."

  Tyler summoned up a smile he hoped stayed solid. His heart thudded hard against his ribs. "We both did," he reminded her. "I never thought I'd see you again." His gaze flickered to her companion and back. "It's been a long time. You look different. You look good."

  She looked better than good. She'd been beautiful ten years ago. Now, she was stunning. Back then, straight out of college, he'd been ready to drop everything and propose. He'd bought the ring and made the plans, but before he could ask the question, she figured him out.

  And shot him down.

  "What are you doing here, Tyler?" She folded her arms under her breasts, hugging herself. "California didn't suit?"

  He ducked his head and grinned. So he could still put her on edge. "Bottom dropped out of the tech market and my degree suddenly didn't mean so much. That and the family asked me to come back."

  Her brow furrowed. "Family. Here?"

  "Aunt and Uncle." His gaze touched on the other man again and he gestured toward him with his chin. "You gonna be polite and introduce us?"

  "She forgets her manners sometimes. Marcus Hughes." He held out a broad hand and Tyler took it, shaking amiably.

  If he tightened his grip, Marcus could have broken Tyler's hand. His smile hid an edge too, despite his restraint. Here stood a man who played it close to the chest. "So how do you know my wife?"

  Wife. He might as well have punched Tyler in the stomach, for all the air he could manage after that revelation. Marcus slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close, and the word echoed through Tyler's mind again. Wife. So she'd gotten past the point of not being ready to settle down and married after all.

  Married a man built like he played pro sports. He would have fit in well on the defensive line. He might have looked at home in a boxing ring. He was nothing like the type Sela once claimed to favor.

  In college, they'd joked about her love for cowboys. The broader the hat, the longer the legs, the bigger the rodeo buckle, the happier she was. Tyler fit the mold perfectly. At least, he had then. If this was the sort of man she favored now, he couldn't compete.

  All that coiled aggression and power just waited to be called into action. Marcus wore sunglasses. Tyler couldn't read his eyes, but he didn't need to see them to know he was dealing with the boss. Territory lines had been firmly drawn, and Tyler would obey.

  He swallowed an unreasonable lump of jealousy and summoned up another smile. "Congratulations. And hey, I didn't mean to hold you up. I just try to say hello to folks coming in and you happened to be here. Looks like you've got things under control, though, so I'll just --"

  "You're working here?" Sela stepped out of Marcus’s embrace, either ignoring or oblivious to the tightening of his jaw.

  "Around the place," Tyler answered, nodding. "Like I said, the family owns it. I help out where I can."

  She hesitated, looking like she had something to say. In the next moment, her whole expression changed, warming and brightening. She slid her arm through his, the touch tentative at first, but soon she settled against his side. "Can I talk you into a tour?"

  Tyler tried not to think about the fact that he could feel every curve. "Show us all the places regular tourists don't get to see," she went on. "For old time's sake."

  He chuckled, hoping it sounded casual and cool. Talk about mixed signals. He felt sure he'd seen dismay flicker through her expression when she recognized him. Now she wanted to be friendly? He cleared his throat. "We don't rope off portions of the ranch. Anywhere your feet can take you, you're welcome to go. Or take a horse, if you're comfortable riding. The trails are all marked out."

  "We don't ride," Marcus said flatly.

  "We haven't ridden," Sela amended, but she took the hint and went back to her husband's side. "There's a first time for everything. You might look cute in a cowboy hat and boots." She grinned up at Marcus.

  Her husband shook his head and bent to pick up a pair of suitcases. "It's four, right?" He moved without waiting for an answer.

  "Good ears," Sela told him. "I'll be there in a sec."

  They stood side by side, watching Marcus go. A hundred things to say paraded through Tyler's mind, but he kept his peace. Where should he start?

  Sela laid her hand on his shoulder. Heat from her fingers bled through his shirt. Her touch lingered there until Marcus got out of earshot, then she pushed her shades up and left them staring at the sky. He'd forgotten just how blue her eyes were.

  "So." She didn't squint, though there was something tight about her eyes, as if she searched him for unseen clues. "Small world and weird coincidence. Tell me everything."

  He laughed, caught off guard. "Yeah, okay, now I'm sure it's you." He plucked his hat off and shoved a hand through his hair. "Nobody else gives orders that way. God, this is weird. What are the odds?"

  "Astronomically high and yet, here we are." Her posture relaxed and Tyler took the first deep breath he remembered in a while. "How long have you been back? I lost track of you."

  "Didn't figure you'd want letters. Besides, no address and DC's a big place. Writing a letter to Sela Reeves probably wouldn't have worked." He shook his head. "The old handyman retired a couple of years ago. I had nothing better to do, and it's free room and board." He paused. "Being married agrees with you. I meant what I said, you look great."

  Ruddy color crept into her cheeks. "Yeah, well, you filled out. Grew up. It looks pretty good on you, too. It's ... He's ... Don't mind him. He gets possessive."

  Tyler grinned. "I noticed. And I'm betting he's not real thrilled about you staying out here with me. How long's it been?"

  She stared for a moment, expression blank before she smiled. "A couple of weeks. Belated honeymoon. He's a great guy," she added. "You'd like him when he's not thumping his chest." She shifted her weight then glanced toward the cabin and back. "I should go. But maybe you'd have dinner with us while we're here? If I can get him to behave."

  Tyler glanced in the direction Marcus had gone. He summoned up a crooked grin and looked back at Sela. "I don't usually have dinner with the guests. And if you don't mind me sayi
ng, I think your husband's looking forward to some time alone."

  If he'd been the sort to blush, he'd have lit up like a bonfire at the smile she gave in return. "You're probably right," she all but purred. "But if we just wanted to crawl on each other, we could have stayed home, and I'm a curious kind of girl so ..." Her eyebrows lifted like punctuation to her words. "Dinner?"

  The answer should have been no. Tyler had a job to do and the ranch had a reputation to keep. Fraternizing with a newly-married couple, even without the past he and Sela shared, begged for trouble. "Sure. Dinner sounds good."

  Sela leaned close in an impulsive move and kissed his cheek. "Great," she said before he could change his mind. She picked up her suitcases and straightened. "I'll leave a message for you at the desk. It'll be fun. We love gossip." She curled a finger by way of waving and sauntered off toward their cabin.

  Tyler stared after her, watching her go. Who was he kidding? He watched the way her hips swayed. He shook himself, grabbed his abandoned thermos and headed for the reception lobby. The message would probably never come. He'd have to convince himself that he didn't mind.

  Chapter Two

  A camera flash stopped Sela just inside the cabin door. Blue spots blinded her and she opened her eyes wide in an attempt to see around them. It didn't work. "That was obnoxious." She squeezed her eyes shut and tried again. No, still blue. "What happened to undetectable?"

  Marcus straightened from behind the tripod. He'd already lost himself in technical details, judging by the deep line carved between his eyebrows. "It is, when it's calibrated. I just got it set up." He paused as if he'd say something, then shook his head. "Sorry. I didn't know how long you'd be."

  Guilt urged her to bow her shoulders and curve in on herself, as if he could somehow see it thrumming through her. She squared them instead and stepped farther into the room so she could put the suitcases down. "I wasn't expecting him to be here, before you ask again. I honestly thought he'd stayed in California." He should have stayed, she added silently. The fact that he was here now made him a suspect. No matter what she thought of him, no matter how she felt, she had to tread lightly.