by Aimée Thurlo
He nodded. “We should be there by six, at least. Most dealers are open late this time of year.”
“We can’t go looking like we do right now. We have to stop someplace and clean up a bit first. My clothes still have caked mud on them from the storm and that mess in Santa Fe. You look even worse. That bruise on your jaw is positively daunting. If we get near that dealership looking like this, someone’s going to call the cops on us.”
He’d been far more worried about McNeely lying in wait somewhere, than in presentability. “Good point,” he admitted. “We’ll attract security guards instead of salesmen, the way we look now.”
“Lucky for you I’m here to remind you of the niceties the Rangers forgot to include in your training. Face it, Mr. Redhawk, you need me.”
Travis groaned. “Fate’s punishing me. That’s got to be it,” he muttered.
They made a quick stop at a Bernalillo shopping center, buying jeans, shirts, and fresh underwear. Sure they hadn’t been followed, they continued their journey toward Albuquerque on the old highway west of the interstate.
“We’ll stop at the first motel we find,” he said.
Trapped in the confines of the vehicle as the miles stretched out before them, he found all his thoughts had become focused on the woman beside him. The wanting, the needing, were as natural to him now as sun was to the desert.
“What do you think about when you get moody and quiet like that?” she asked softly. “Do you think of me at all?”
Her question tugged at his restraint. Fox had never experienced physical love, he knew that. He had to be careful with her. Then he remembered how her body had opened to his caress, and how hot and wet she’d been as she’d welcomed his touch. Fire swept over him.
“Are you keeping secrets from me?” she pressed.
“I was just wondering what it would take to tame a fox,” he answered at long last.
Fox smiled slowly. “With wild things, it’s always best to go slowly. Test the waters, so to speak. If your approach isn’t exactly right and well-timed, you’re likely to get your hand torn off.”
He chuckled. And that, he thought, summed up his relationship with the only woman who’d ever carved a place for herself in his heart.
AS FAR AS MOTELS WENT, it sure wasn’t much, and she was glad they wouldn’t be staying. Since they were only there to clean up, they decided to save money and rent only one of the closet-size rooms. Now, as she looked at the torn window screens and the flickering light fixture, she was happy that they’d stayed together. They could compensate for the lack of security this way.
As Fox pulled her new clothes out of the shopping bag, she slowly became aware of the way Travis was watching her. Emotions stirred the air and a delicious shiver raced up her spine.
Knowing how dangerous it was to allow desire to go unchecked, she tried hard to focus on what she had to do next. It didn’t help. “Mind if I shower first? It was my idea, after all.”
“Go right ahead. I’m used to getting down and dirty. A little caked mud and slime don’t bother me nearly as much as they do you,” he teased, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
“That explains your choice of motels,” she countered playfully. “Although this place does have a certain charm...along with resident pets.” She watched a cricket hop across the room, then duck behind the curtains.
“So it’s not the Royal Sands. Go take your shower. We won’t be here long.”
Fox closed the door behind her. As she threw back the shower curtain, she saw an enormous, orange-colored centipede trying to climb up the slippery side of the tub. “Bring me your gun, Travis,” she joked, opening the bathroom door again. “I refuse to bathe with creepy worms.”
“You don’t have to call me names,” he kidded. “I have no intention of going into the shower with you.” Travis saw the seven-inch centipede now scrambling toward the drain. “Oh, you didn’t mean me,” he said, feigning surprise.
“Disappointed? I didn’t realize that worm talk would get you excited, but I suppose there’s no accounting for taste.”
He looked at the centipede, then back at her. “What exactly would you like me to do now? I can’t just squash it, you know. They’re ropy and hard to kill.”
“Ah, I see. Professional courtesy.”
“I could, of course, let you handle this yourself.”
“I thought things like this were all part of my bodyguard’s job,” she answered, nonplussed. “They are poisonous.” She glanced around and saw a plumber’s helper beside the toilet. “Ah, as I said, this is one class joint.” She handed it to him. “Here, pick him up with this and toss him outside.”
“Forget it. That’ll take too long.” He grabbed a towel from the rack and tossed it over the centipede. Bundling it up, he then shook it free outside the screenless window. “Okay, miss, you’re all set. Is there anything else I can do for you? Scrub your back...or thereabouts?”
“Out,” she said, closing the door behind him.
As she began to undress, she could hear Travis moving about in the next room. Fox stood beneath the cold spray of the shower trying to banish the ache that suddenly filled her. Her feelings for Travis went so deep they felt like an intrinsic part of her being. Yet instinct assured her that she and Travis didn’t belong together.
Hot tears fell down her cheeks as she forced herself to face the inevitable. Travis would never welcome the closeness growing between them, because accepting that kind of vulnerability went against everything he was. Acknowledging the truth at last, she felt an undeniable sense of loss.
There was only one answer now. She, too, would have to keep a tight rein on her emotions but, unlike Travis, that went against everything she was. As she considered how she was going to manage it, she had a most annoying realization. Travis had shown remarkable restraint all along. She’d been the one who’d given in to her emotions.
She took a deep breath, turned off the shower and dried off. As she saw her reflection in the mirror, she noted that her eyes were still a bit puffy from the tears she’d shed. Hoping he wouldn’t notice, she dressed quickly and walked out into the bedroom.
“The bathroom’s all yours.”
“I won’t take long,” Travis said, moving away from the window where he’d been standing guard.
He turned, then stopped, studying her expression for what seemed an eternity.
Seeing the fear and sadness reflected in his eyes, her throat constricted. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer right away and, to Fox, each of those moments stretched out and lasted a lifetime.
“I need to know if you’ve lost confidence in me.”
Fox stared at him in surprise. “Why on earth would you think that? We’re a team. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.”
“Then why are you holding back on me? I know you’ve been crying. But instead of talking to me about what’s bothering you, you come out here pretending nothing is wrong.”
With a sigh, she sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t lie to him, but she knew that there were things that should not be said. She measured her words carefully. “I was crying because you make me feel crazy and none of it makes sense!”
Travis smiled, his expression gentling. “In that case, welcome to the club. If I knew how to cry, I’d join you.”
She looked up suddenly and glowered at him. “You are so infuriating! You get me to admit that I’m frustrated beyond words, but then act as if my reaction is nothing but a feminine weakness you can rise above without any problem. Do you really have that much control or is it that you just don’t feel anything deeply?”
His expression darkened. “I feel and I care. You know better than to ask that. I’ve held back with you because I don’t want you to get hurt. If I didn’t feel anything for you, I wouldn’t worry about what could happen.”
She saw the angry fire in his eyes, but she still refused to back down. “Stop being so darned careful with me. For once, just show me wha
t you’re feeling!”
A hunger she’d never even dreamed could be real sparked in his eyes. Travis took her hand and pulled her roughly to him. He held her tightly, forcing her to remain still as his tongue entered her mouth, seeking her fiery response.
Flames danced along her spine. He had overpowered her, but it was the strength of their feelings that made her surrender.
Travis released her a breathless moment later. “Do you understand now how dangerous desire can be without control?”
“You can meet any opponent with courage, but you’re afraid of love,” she replied, shaking her head slowly and turning away from him. “I don’t understand that, but I know I deserve a man who is not afraid to reach out for what he wants.” She took his place by the window. “Go take your shower. I’ll keep watch.”
His anger was a palpable force in the tiny room. As he came up behind her, she turned around, ready to face him squarely. Slowly, Travis reached out and rubbed his knuckles over her cheek in a light caress. “Sometimes you show more courage than common sense. That’s one of the reasons I care about you so much. And why I will hold back around you. You need someone to watch over you, whether or not you realize it.”
Before she could gather her wits, he walked into the next room. A moment later, she heard the shower being turned on.
No way was he getting away with a comment like that. No one had the right to tell her what was best for her. If all she’d wanted for herself was to be looked after, she would have bought a Doberman.
She strode up to the bathroom door. They’d continue their argument while he showered. With him naked and her clothed, she’d have the advantage. Ignoring the warmth that spiraled through her at the thought, she took a deep breath and prepared to go inside.
Fox reached for the door but, as she turned the handle, it clicked and stopped. He’d anticipated her and locked the door. A sound much like muffled laughter reached her a moment before his voice rose in a country-and-western song about a “misbehavin’ lover.”
Chapter Fifteen
A tense silence stretched out between them as they drove down the highway to the car dealership in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. She knew he’d deliberately baited her with his comment back at the motel and there was no way she’d give him the satisfaction of an argument now.
It was after sundown by the time they arrived. Travis parked a block down from the sprawling car lot, wanting to stay as anonymous as possible. “The day shift has gone home, no doubt, and there will probably be a smaller crew there now. I don’t know if that’s an advantage or not.”
“Let’s walk around the lot and get a feel for the place,” she said. “As we do that, we can keep an eye out for any employee old enough to have worked here when Prescott was around.”
“There’s an old janitorial truck parked around back,” he said, pointing ahead. “And that janitor seems to fit the profile. Let’s walk over there casually.”
She sped up, eager to get started, but Travis reached for her hand, slowing her down. “Ease up a bit.”
“Sorry. I’m just so tired of waiting and having to be patient.”
“Don’t become so focused on only one goal. Relax and keep your eyes and ears open. Otherwise you might end up missing other important things in the process,” he warned.
“Is that part of Ranger training?” she asked.
“No, it’s more a lesson life’s taught me. I spent so many years concentrating on carving out my future that I think I missed a lot in the process.”
She looked at him in surprise. “What is it that you think you missed? You’ve had more adventure in your life than anyone else I know, including Ashe.”
He grinned. “Now that warms the cockles of my heart.”
She chuckled, then grew serious. “Don’t keep me in suspense. What is that you think you’ve missed?”
Travis said nothing for several long moments as they strolled across the asphalt, passing through rows of shiny new cars and trucks. “Connections. When you move continually from one thing to another, everyday things slip past you.”
“Like love?” she whispered.
“That, and other things, too. Like the chance to be with old friends you share a history with.”
“You and I share a history, in case you missed it,” she said.
“I know. You’ve always worshiped the ground I walk on.”
“Stuff it,” she answered.
“That’s the spirit. Deny everything. I’d do that, too, if I were you.”
“Actually that’s your problem. Half the time you even keep things from yourself.”
They reached the back doors before he could reply. Travis suddenly pointed to the Shiprock Rodeo bumper sticker at the rear of the janitorial van. “I think we just got a big break,” he said.
Travis greeted the elderly Navajo man who came out to retrieve supplies from the van. “Good evening, uncle,” he said, using the term of respect.
“What brings you here tonight, nephew? If you’re looking for a job, I’ve got nothing to offer you.”
Travis shook his head. “What we need is information about this place,” Travis said honestly. “Can you help us? We’ll keep everything you say in confidence.”
“What do you need to know?”
“The information we’re searching for dates back quite a bit Can you tell us how long you’ve worked here?” Travis asked.
“I’ve been cleaning this place about fifteen years. I also take care of several offices in the area. Now tell me what it is you need.”
Travis decided that the best way to get the man’s cooperation was to put all his cards on the table. He identified himself, and explained what he could about Fox’s case.
“I remember hearing about this,” he said. “My name’s George Gray Eyes. My relatives keep me up with what’s happening on the Rez, and I read the newspapers. I’ll help you, if I can.”
“Tell us about the dealership’s owners and the type of people they hire.”
“It’s not like it was many years ago,” Gray Eyes said. “When I first started here, people worked until late at night along with me. The salesmen were always excited, coming and going all the time. They called themselves ‘full service,’ and they’d even go and pick up owner trade-ins.”
He shrugged, then continued. “These days it’s a lot different. The salespeople here now are a mixture of retirees and kids with useless college degrees. Everything’s more laid-back now. But, of course, after the big scandal, you’d expect things to settle down.”
“What big scandal?” Fox asked.
“The former owner and the sales manager got into trouble with the police,” he said. “I particularly remember that sales manager. He was one bad piece of work—a foreigner with the eyes of a coyote.” He paused, gathering his thoughts before he continued. “One morning he and a few of the other top people just didn’t show up for work. The company closed down a short time later. I read in the papers that the bank accounts had been cleaned out.”
“How long was it before the dealership was back in business?” Fox asked.
“A new owner took over in a matter of weeks. I got my job back but the rest of the people were newly hired. I don’t think they ever found the old owner or his people, though the police questioned everyone. The stories I heard claimed that they’d been running a car-theft ring right from the premises, and that’s what those so-called trade-ins usually were. Some young fellows, the part-time people mostly, were doing the stealing. I remember one college kid, a really nice boy who always left a can of pop for me on his desk, was arrested. But they let him go. I don’t know about the others, but I figured that particular kid was just trying to get money to pay for college.”
“Do you remember his name?” Travis asked.
Gray Eyes shook his head. “When I read about the former district attorney, Prescott, I thought that it looked like the same kid, but it’s been too many years and the hair didn’t look right. I can’t say for sure t
hat it was him.”
As they left the dealership, Fox glanced at Travis. “It really annoys me when people say that Prescott was a nice guy. He killed my parents.”
“We present different faces to different people. To see the real person, you have to look past all the smoke screens.”
As Fox mulled over his words, he stared at the interstate ahead, lost in his own thoughts. He took the exit through the Big I back toward Santa Fe, though he really wasn’t sure where they’d go next. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted to stay on the move.
He glanced over at her, glad she was safe and, more importantly, here with him. He knew now that when it finally came time for him to leave and go rejoin his unit, it would feel as if he were tearing off a piece of himself and leaving it behind.
He looked at her, realizing how beautiful she’d grown these past few weeks. Her skin was tanned and her golden hair shimmered like molten gold. A different kind of desire forked through him. It was a need to unite with her, body and soul.
He gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned pearly white under the strain. It was pointless to think like this. No matter how much he cared, he just wasn’t the type to get a nine-to-five and live a life punctuated by routines. To think of marrying her and then end up dragging her from base to base was just as crazy.
Aware of her lengthy silence, he turned away from his introspection. Whenever she stopped talking and started planning, there was bound to be trouble. “Don’t do this,” he said.
“Do what?”
“I can hear the little wheels spinning in your head. You’re hatching up something. I want to know what it is.”
“Force yourself not to sound so enthusiastic,” she replied. “You know, for someone reputed to like adventure, you’re a downright stick-in-the-mud at times.”
Travis bit back a curt answer. “I’m trying to protect you even though you’re constantly putting yourself in the line of fire. Considering you haven’t gotten yourself killed, you should be thanking me for doing a fantastic job.”