Thinking for a moment, Forbes shrugged. "I haven't kept track."
Sophie didn't care how experienced Forbes was. As far as she was concerned, who, where, why, and how often could stay a mystery until the end of time. What mattered was the here and the now.
Sophie turned to face Forbes, cupping his face with her hand. "I want to be with you. Only you. Do you feel the same?"
"Yes," Forbes said, kissing her palm.
"Are there any health issues I should know about?"
Blue eyes sparkling with humor, Forbes shook his head. "They ran a shitload of tests when I was in the hospital. My blood—to quote the doctor—is pristine."
"Pristine?" Sophie shot him a look dripping with skepticism. "Really?"
"Words to that effect." Forbes leaned over Sophie, opening the end table drawer. Settling back beside her, he held up a condom. "Safety first, last, and always."
"And so ends the get to know our sexual history part of the program. Thank God."
"Awkward," Forbes agreed. He used his teeth to rip open the packet. In a flash, he rolled the contents into place. "But necessary. I would never put you in danger, Sophie. I'd defend you to my last breath."
Wow! Sophie had never considered herself much of a romantic. She survived her childhood by adopting a pragmatic view of the world. Yet, Forbes' declaration made her heart flutter—just a bit. He hadn't made the statement to impress or seduce. His words weren't flowery or embarrassingly over the top. The statement was made without preamble. Simple. Straightforward. Sincere.
That said, Sophie didn't want to think about Forbes taking his last breath—for any reason. Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed him onto his back.
"Let's promise each other something," Sophie said, straddling Forbes' waist. "No acts of heroism unless absolutely necessary. We're going to stay alive. For a long, long, time."
Forbes slid his hands up Sophie's legs, to her hips, finally settling on her backside. "This long life? Are we spending it together?"
"Would you mind?" It hadn't been Sophie's intention to make a declaration. Or to extract one from Forbes. Then again, the path that had led them here was unique—to put it mildly. Why should a moment this important be any different?
"When I imagine the rest of my life, I see you. Right beside me. All the way."
Words failed Sophie. She looked into the deep blue of Forbes' eyes, seeing something she never thought to find. A man she could trust. With her life. With her future. With her heart.
The kiss began sweetly. Sophie wove her fingers into Forbes' dark-blond hair as she opened her mouth, her tongue teasing his. Sweet sparked to hot. Forbes' fingers bit into her skin. He growled his approval when Sophie's teeth sank into his bottom lip. And that was it. Hot morphed into unbridled.
Her blood already singing, Sophie felt the world tilt only to find herself flat on her back, staring up at Forbes.
"I can't wait, Sophie." Forbes' chest rose and fell in rapid succession. "Are you with me?"
"Yes."
Always. Forever.
Forbes entered her with one smooth, strong thrust. The veins on his neck stood out from the effort of keeping his instincts in check. Sophie could see what he wanted. No. Not wanted. Needed. Hard. Fast. She was right there with him.
To make certain Forbes understood she was ready, Sophie twined her legs around his hips. Her muscles held him tight, firm and strong from years of working on the ranch.
"Don't hold back," Sophie urged.
"You're sure?"
At the breaking point. Sweat covered his body. His arms shook with the effort of preventing his weight from crushing her. And still, Forbes was able to take a moment to tease her. The man was unbelievable. Sophie took two fistfuls of hair, tugging him close.
"Now, you idiot."
Sophie pressed her lips to his. And Forbes turned into a wild man. Had she thought it would be hard and fast? That didn't begin to describe the ride he took her on. She felt herself soar. Up. Up. Up. Higher than she thought possible. The air seemed thinner as breathing became more and more difficult. For a second—right at the end—Sophie wondered if she would pass out. But she needn't have worried. Forbes held her head in his hands, willing her to look into his eyes. They were in this together. He wouldn't let her miss a moment.
Sophie crashed over the edge, Forbes toppling right behind. A burst of light. A rush of heat. Followed by the feeling of floating back to Earth. Slowly. Gently. Landing softly in Forbes' arms.
"Whoever said that anticipation is the best part was a freaking idiot." Forbes pulled Sophie close, his lips brushing the top of her head.
"Amen," Sophie sighed, adding a silent hallelujah and praise the Lord.
"I need water. And food. And sex. After the water and food."
"Sounds like a plan I can get behind," Sophie nodded. "If I could move."
"Give me a minute. Or ten," Forbes said, making Sophie smile. "I'll take a run to the kitchen for provisions." With a groan, he lifted his head. "It's just after twelve. Plenty of time until you have to say goodbye to one of your babies."
"It is hard not to get attached to the horses," Sophie admitted. Forbes had only observed her working with them a couple of times. Yet somehow, he understood how she felt.
"You work magic, Sophie. To do that, you need to bond with the horse. You have a big heart. Big enough to send a little of it with them when they go."
"Thank you." Sophie felt humbled by Forbes' words.
"Water, food, and sex." Forbes gave Sophie a quick kiss before rolling out of bed. "I suppose I should put something on."
"Not as far as I'm concerned." The sight of Forbes naked would never grow old. "But as I said, the kitchen is open territory during the day. How many clothes you wear—or don’t wear—depends on your sense of modesty."
"In the Army, there is no such thing," Forbes said, pulling on his jeans. "In case Maeve returns. It's been over twenty-five years since she last saw my bare backside. I'd rather keep the streak alive."
"YOU COOKED," SOPHIE said, looking at the tray of food Forbes set on the bed. In addition to the sandwich she left on the counter, he added a few more items.
"Scrambling a few eggs and toasting a couple of slices of bread doesn't equal cooking."
"It does in my book."
"I'd love to read your book sometime. Cover to cover."
"It would bore you to tears. I live a clean, industrious life." As far as Sophie was concerned, her story began the day she arrived on the ranch. The first fifteen years were filler. She burned the pages long ago. Ridding herself of the memories wasn't as easy. But she tried her best not to think about them—succeeding most of the time.
"No more secrets?" Forbes asked, dropping his jeans, kicking them across the room.
Sophie shrugged. Though she wasn't comfortable with the subject, she had nothing to hide. Not anymore. "A secret is something a person wants—or needs—to hide. I don't enjoy talking about the past, but if there is something you want to know, ask."
"I can think of a few things. Just for clarification." Forbes fed Sophie a grape. "Later. For now, let's enjoy our lunch.
Comfortable with his nudity, Forbes joined Sophie, sitting cross-legged. Seeing the direction of her gaze, he kept a straight face. However, his blue eyes twinkled brightly.
"You put on my t-shirt. Should I cover up?"
"I was chilly." Sophie made no bones about studying all Forbes had to offer. Why not? He was gorgeous. Top, bottom, and everything in between. "Apparently, you aren't."
Forbes took a bite of toast, letting his silence—and strangely adorable smug look—speak for him.
"Which horse is leaving this afternoon?
As Sophie ate, she told Forbes about the black and white pony. Abused, starved, and abandoned, she was rescued by a wonderful couple who took care of animals others left behind.
"When Jem arrived, she was nothing but a rack of trembling bones. The gashes on
her back had healed, but it was easy to see where and how often she was abused. Paul and Lynnette Shields—they have a ranch in Wyoming—took her in after a neighbor was arrested for animal cruelty."
The Shields ended up with dogs, cats, chickens, goats. The list went on and on. They found homes for most, keeping the others to add to their ever-growing menagerie.
"Jem needed special care. I'd worked with Lynnette last year. We belong to a national organization that helps fund what she and Paul are able to do for free."
"How long has Jem been here?" Forbes handed Sophie a napkin, drinking down the last of his coffee.
"Four months. Longer than most, but I've had some up to a half year. Jem's progress was slow. Gradually, I earned her trust. Now, she is the sweetest horse I've known. Gentle and loving." Smiling, Sophie set the now empty tray on the floor. "She will be perfect for Paul and Lynnette's younger grandchildren. But most of the time, Jem will laze around the fields, playing with the other horses."
"Sounds like a good life." Forbes took Sophie's hand. He ran his thumb over the back, his eyes looking into hers. "You could have kept Jem."
Sophie shook her head. "If she didn't have a good home to go to, I might have considered it. However, I can't let myself become so attached that I lose sight that—first and foremost—I'm running a business."
"And doing a damn fine job of it." Stretching out on the bed, Forbes tugged Sophie down by his side. "I looked at the books when I was in the hospital. Not my forte, but I understand them well enough. You've increased the value of the ranch and its assets every year since you took over."
"Newt guided me."
"At first, sure. I know for a fact that Dad handed most of it over to you long before he died. He was damn proud of you, Sophie. So am I."
Forbes' words sent a burst of warmth through Sophie. Plus a whole lot of unease. She didn't doubt her abilities. Ranching was still a world dominated by men. She had learned quickly to stand up for herself. When it came to making a deal, she could go toe to toe with the best of them.
For all that, the one thing she hadn't discovered was the secret to gracefully taking a compliment. Praise from Forbes—especially regarding her handling of the ranch—was welcome. It also made her want to change the subject—as quickly as possible.
"Want to go for a ride before dinner?"
"Sure." Forbes scooted down until his face was inches from hers. "I really want to make a joke, but…"
"If it involves me using you like a horse and ends with ride em', cowboy. Save yourself the embarrassment. I've heard them all."
"Men and their lousy pick-up lines," Forbes sighed dramatically. "Pigs. That's what we are."
"Only the ones who won't stop when I make it clear I'm not interested." Sophie lifted her arms, happy to let Forbes pull the t-shirt over her head.
Forbes frowned. "Does that happen often?"
"No. Most of the ranchers I've met are good men—and a few women. They welcomed me like a daughter—and an equal, once I showed them that I knew my stuff. However, there are always the ones who get handsy after a few too many drinks. Sometimes I wound their pride. Once…" Sophie trailed off. She saw no need to burden Forbes with the gory details. "Let's just say I can take care of myself."
"I want a name."
Sophie almost laughed. Except she found nothing funny about the deadly serious tone of Forbes' voice. In a blink, the blue of his eyes had turned from warm to icy cold. It was her first glimpse of the soldier. The man who lived on the edge, courting danger for a living. She hated violence, but she couldn't help the thrill that ran up her spine. Forbes called men pigs? Women—at least this one—were suckers for a man with a dangerous edge. It didn't hurt when the man had the body of a warrior and the face of a movie star.
"If I kiss you, will you forget about doing bodily damage to a man twice your age?"
"Twice my age?" Forbes mulled over the scrap of information. "That describes three-quarters of the possibilities."
Sophie smiled. She knew what she was doing. Forbes wasn't getting a name. Nor was she about to tell him about her new—and surprising—weakness for his tough-guy side. Better she kept both a secret—for the sake of all concerned.
"Fine," Forbes huffed. Under his breath, he muttered, "For now."
"For good. It happened years ago when I was green, and he was beyond three sheets to the wind. Since then, nothing. It's settled. Okay?"
"Do I still get that kiss?"
"And many, many more," Sophie promised.
But first, they had some unfinished business. A question that needed asking. One she couldn't put off any longer.
"Why the frown?" Forbes touched his index finger to the spot between her brows, rubbing lightly.
Sophie took a deep breath. "You reconciled with your father. Spoke with Jerry, Mike, and Maeve. But never me. Why?"
"The big question," Forbes' frown matched Sophie's. "I wondered why you didn't ask it sooner."
"I was afraid the answer would hurt. Or piss me off." Rolling to her back, Sophie kept her hand where it was. On the bed. Next to Forbes. When his fingers laced with hers, she felt herself relax a little. "Since you didn't volunteer the information, I let it slide."
"Me, too."
"Despite what you said, was it because of my…" Sophie didn't want to say Joy's name. Here. After what they had shared, it felt wrong. "Was it all the lies?"
"No." Resting on his elbow, Forbes leaned over Sophie. "The truth is, I didn't have a reason. So many times I thought about calling you. Before I could dial, something stopped me. A feeling that I couldn't explain. Until now."
Forbes smoothed back her hair, brushing his lips across hers.
"I loved my life. It was exciting. I felt I was making a difference. Small, but substantial. When I thought about you, I felt a tug toward home. For a long time, this was the last place I wanted to be. I think—somewhere deep inside—I knew the only thing that could make me want to come back was you."
Sophie touched Forbes' cheek, her eyes—and heart—drinking in what she saw in his expression.
"I wanted you to come home," she said. "But never would have asked."
"You wouldn't have had to. It was easier to stay away, to cut you out of my life completely. I know it was selfish."
"It wasn't. You weren't ready. Neither was I." Sophie felt giddy. As if champagne had replaced the blood in her veins. "This is our time, Forbes. Right here. Right now."
"I think you're right." The side of Forbes' mouth ticked upward. "I'm glad we waited for each other."
Sophie wound her arms around Forbes' neck, breathing in. He always smelled so good.
"I didn't know it at the time," she told him. "But looking back, the wait was worth every second."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FORBES READ THE report detailing what happened at the ranch. He poured over the pictures of the broken flood lights, the words painted on the side of the house. Dozens of tire tracks left from the vehicle that sped away before Forbes could get a look at it or the driver. For some inexplicable reason, there were several pictures of Sophie's dog Dandi. She was cute as hell but had nothing to do with the investigation. Forbes made a note. Give the photographer a crash course in what is and isn't relevant at a crime scene. And schedule a longer forensics seminar for the entire department.
After all of thirty minutes, Forbes had discovered nothing new. The type of getaway vehicle had been confirmed but in the vaguest terms. The tires—almost new—were the kind one would find on a pickup truck. Mid-sized. Generic tread. Information Forbes had already deduced.
If this were a television show, Forbes' expert team would have found a clue. Miniscule. Something nobody, in reality, could have detected. However, this was real life—and his team was anything but expert. A fact that was now his responsibility to correct.
"These are online courses set up by my company to train our employees." Forbes sent a secure link to Ollie's computer. "Beginning
immediately, I want every man and woman employed by the Cloverdale P.D. to take them and pass them."
"Everyone? Or just the uniformed officers?" Ollie set a cup of coffee on Forbes' desk. With one of his own, he took a seat.
"Everyone. These programs are for in-office use only. Understood?"
Ollie nodded. He took a drink of his coffee, set aside the cup, and began taking notes.
"Find a private room where you can set up two computers. Use one of the interrogation rooms. God knows why we need three. Make a rotating schedule for during working hours. One or two at a time depending on what we're dealing with from day to day."
"What if somebody finds the program too…?" Ollie shrugged. "Challenging?"
"The courses are bare-bones basic. Theoretically, what every man and woman out there should already know." Forbes knew a small-town police department couldn't compete with the kind of operation he was used to, but he saw no reason they shouldn't up their game. "I expect everybody to pass, Ollie. If somebody can't, or struggles to barely get by, they should reconsider their choice of profession."
"Yes, sir."
"Do you think that's too harsh?" Forbes asked, hearing the tone of disapproval in Ollie's voice.
"May I speak freely?"
Forbes met the other man's gaze. "Always. I might not always agree. Take my word as gospel when I say the last thing I want—or need—in this office is a yes man."
Ollie nodded. "The last chief was good at his job. But he wasn't as vigilant in his hiring practices as he could have been."
"Are you saying there is some dead weight out there?"
"That might be a bit harsh." When Forbes shot him a steely look, Ollie sighed. "Okay. Yes. From time to time, Chief Didier indulged in a bit of cronyism."
Forbes' fingers flew over the keyboard, pulling up the department's employee files. He had deemed the process of reviewing each one important, but something he could get to in stages over the next few weeks. That was when he thought this job would be a cakewalk. Evaluating his staff just moved up his to-do list.
"Give me the names."
Ollie tugged at his collar, obviously uncomfortable with Forbes' request.
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