All Your Nights

by Shirleen Davies

  “Well then, come on.” She grabbed a harness, called Gremlin, led him into the barn, then walked toward a storage area and pulled down her saddle and blanket, throwing them over a rail. “I’ll be right back.”

  Kade watched her leave, picking up the blanket and saddle, and laying them on Gremlin. He’d just finished cinching the saddle in place when Brooke strode inside.

  “You have your choice of Blackjack or Rascal.”

  Kade snorted. “Blackjack.”

  Brooke watched him approach the magnificent black stallion. She could hear him making soothing sounds, never once flinching when Blackjack sniffed. Others had ridden him, he’d never been trained as a one-man horse, yet it took someone skilled to handle him.

  “You’re a beauty, aren’t you Blackjack,” Kade said as he led the horse from his stable and threw the harness rope over a rail.

  “This should work for you.” Brooke carried a well-worn working saddle, the one Heath preferred.

  In no time, the two mounted and started toward the mountains to the west, unaware of the two men watching them from a small patio off Heath’s study.

  “I can’t place him, but I feel as if I’ve met the man before.” Heath continued to watch as they rode out of sight. “Every time we’re in the same room I get this prickly sensation. It’s eerie.”

  “It’s his walk and mannerisms that caught my attention. Same as you, though, I can’t place where I’ve seen him. Can’t say as I know too many DEA agents.”

  Heath looked at his brother. “How many do you know?”

  Jace grinned. “Two. Agent Taylor and Agent Nelson.”

  ******

  “How long do you stay when you visit?”

  They headed down one of the many rolling hills toward a reservoir in the distance. Kade figured they had about another hour before they needed to start back to the house.

  “Usually a few days. Once I finish my degree, I hope to spend a few months here and determine my next steps. I’ll be able to work in industry or teach. The truth is, I’m pretty burned out. I’ve been around a campus environment for so long. I went straight from my undergrad degree to my master’s program, then on to the doctorate. I’m ready for a change.”

  “You’re thinking of getting a job in some big corporation?”

  “Maybe. Professor Krueger has connected me with two national consulting firms, both looking for people in management systems and operations. That’s my field. I’ll be meeting with both in the next few months.” She shot him a quick glance. “Unless something better comes along.”

  “You don’t sound too excited about it.”

  Brooke was surprised Kade had picked up on her lack of enthusiasm. She had been wondering for some time why she didn’t feel a sense of excitement at her goal being so close, but she just hadn’t figured it out yet. She let out a slow breath.

  “It’s been a long stretch and the last couple of weeks haven’t made it any easier. I’d just like to get all this behind me, finish up, defend my dissertation, and come back here.”

  She’d first thought of making some excuse when he’d told her they needed to talk after the meeting with the family. Now she realized it had been a nervous reaction at the thought of being alone with a man she had such a strong attraction toward. He had an air about him uncommon to most of the men she’d known around campus. If she had to describe him a week ago, she’d have defined Kade Taylor as arrogant, cocky, pushy, and impatient. Her opinion had changed in the last twenty-four hours. She now saw him as confident, comfortable with himself, level-headed, somewhat detached, with a calm demeanor which made others feel secure. She felt safe around him.

  “What about you?” Brooke asked as they reined their horses to a stop at the reservoir.

  “You mean my job?”

  “Yes. Do you see yourself doing this work forever?”

  “No, not forever.” He’d been struggling with his job in the DEA for several months, needing a change and feeling as if his life had somehow fallen off kilter. He couldn’t define the sense of foreboding he’d felt since the last big undercover job almost blew up. Kade looked at Brooke, deciding how much he could say. “A couple of years ago, I’d been given an undercover assignment which lasted much longer than anticipated. It involved a renegade motorcycle gang dealing in drugs and, well, other things.”

  “Such as?”

  “I don’t know how much you’ve read about what some of the gangs are doing, but their activities have stretched well beyond the burglary, assaults, and drug possessions of a few years ago. Some are involved in human trafficking, usually young women and boys, extortion, prostitution rings, money laundering, and associations with Mexican drug cartels.”

  “Like the Bujazans,” Brooke whispered.

  “Yes.” Kade led Blackjack away from the water and checked his cinch, making a slight adjustment. “There’s stuff going on in the clubs most people don’t know or care to think about. It’s not pleasant, Brooke. But someone has to infiltrate them and try to shut down their operations.”

  “That’s what you were doing?”

  He nodded. “In the end, the assignment got out of control, leaving an agent and several gang members dead. We took the main leadership into custody and they’re awaiting trial.” He thought of the extreme violence he’d witnessed, and become a part of, to achieve his rank in the club. “When it ended, I requested a leave of absence. Bad timing on my part—the department was shorthanded.”

  Brooke had a long conversation with her mother and Heath earlier while Kade made perimeter checks. Heath encouraged her to understand Kade only did what his job required. They may not like or agree with some of the work men like him had to do, but someone needed to take on tasks no one else wanted to touch, even when they impacted innocent people.

  Brooke walked over and placed a hand on Kade’s arm. “You were doing your job. What you witnessed and took part in was what you had to do. It’s not who you are, Kade. You’re a good man, that won’t change.”

  Kade’s reaction surprised her. He dropped Blackjack’s reins and snaked a hand around her wrist, gently pulling her toward him as his eyes bored into hers. “Is that what you think, Miss Sinclair, that I’m a good man?”

  He stared into her wide, crystalline blue eyes, wondering if she felt the same attraction to him as he felt for her. Kade could see her swallow in an attempt to understand his reaction to her comment, her eyes darting to his mouth and back up before her tongue slipped out to moisten her lips.

  “Christ,” he muttered under his breath, yet didn’t let her go.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t presume to know anything about you, Agent Taylor,” she stammered as she tried to step away. He held firm.

  Kade searched her face, seeing the same hunger he felt, and the realization rocked him. He closed his eyes, dropped her wrist, and stepped away. No matter their feelings, this wasn’t the time or place.

  “We’d better start back.” He mounted Blackjack and turned toward the ranch.

  They rode in silence, Kade trying to make sense of his reaction to her and deriding himself for losing control. Hell, he’d have pulled her into his arms and done what he’d wanted since he’d first seen her on campus if she hadn’t tried to pull free. Everything about her made him want what he couldn’t have, a normal life.

  Brooke did everything possible to control her racing heart. She’d wanted him to draw her closer, against his hard body and kiss her. She’d imagined it all the way from the ranch to the reservoir, and it almost happened. All she would’ve had to do was take a step closer instead of pulling back. Why had she hesitated?

  They rode into the barn, removed the saddles, and brushed down the horses, still saying nothing to each other. Brooke let Gremlin out the back, into the corral with Rascal, while Kade returned Blackjack to his stall.

  “I apologize, Miss Sinclair. I never should have touched you.”

  She closed the back doors and turned toward him. “If you recall, I was the one who reac
hed out to you.” She offered a vague smile. “I take full responsibility for your reaction.” Brooke laced the halter over a hook. “And, for the record, I didn’t mind your reaction one bit.”

  Chapter Six

  Kade glanced over at Brooke from his position by the front window and tried to figure out what she’d meant. He’d been out of line, he knew it. His job was to protect the people in this house from harm, not let his attraction to Brooke hinder his concentration. He needed to protect her while keeping his distance. Even acknowledging it, he still wanted her.

  “Anything?” Clive’s voice cracked through his ear bud. He’d taken a position outside, closer to a turn leading to the house.

  “Nothing here.”

  “Hold on, I’ve got a call coming in.” He grabbed his phone. “Taylor.”

  “He’s in Fire Mountain,” his boss, Dennis Johnson, said. “Used his credit card to check into a motel.”

  “Thank God for stupid criminals. Give me the details.” Kade jotted down the name and address of the hotel. “Do you want us to pick him up?”

  “Negative. We want him to get her notebook and try to retrieve the flash drive. Are you set on your end?”

  “We are.” He’d slipped the original flash drive into her binder earlier in the day, hoping their suspect would make it to Fire Mountain and attempt to locate the data. “I’m taking her into town tomorrow. First stop will be the library where it will be easy for her to leave the notebook unattended.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  “Yes, sir.” Kade set down his phone and adjusted his ear bud. “Clive, Worton checked into the Valley Motel in Fire Mountain under his own name.”

  “Isn’t the guy some kind of brainiac?” Clive’s sarcastic tone came across loud and clear.

  “I thought so, but apparently not. Anyway, we’re to lure him to the library tomorrow and hope he goes for the binder.”

  “Roger that. I’m on my way inside.”

  Kade pulled out the ear bud and shook his head. This was the damnedest case he’d been on in a long time. They were in possession of some of the most damaging material available on the Bujazan drug trade, yet Paco had sent a complete amateur to find and retrieve it. None of it made sense. Unless …

  He strode to the front door as Clive came inside. “Something’s not right.”

  “I agree,” Clive responded.

  “It’s just too easy. The kind of data Paco is passing off is dynamic, it could create massive problems in the cartel operations if it gets out. He’d use his best men on this, right? Instead, he’d got an amateur acting as a courier to locate the missing data. Why would he do that?” Kade asked.

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” Clive took a seat, leaning forward and letting his arms rest on his knees. “Remember, Paco is young, spoiled, and arrogant. He’s been protected by bodyguards and his father his entire life, and raised to believe he’s the golden son who can do no wrong. Given his background, it isn’t surprising he believes he’s invincible. My guess? It hasn’t occurred to him the flash drive is in our possession, or we know he’s been using both Miss Sinclair and Mr. Worton as couriers.”

  “And his father?”

  “Paco is doing whatever he can to prove himself to his father. The problem is, he’s going about it all wrong. I doubt Francisco Senior is even in the loop on this one.”

  Clive had spent the last four years following Paco and learning everything he could about the young man. No one knew more about the junior Bujazan than Clive, and nobody wanted him in custody as much as the senior agent.

  “You believe we’re dealing with a raging case of arrogance?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Paco’s ego is risking an organization worth billions.” Kade shook his head. His last assignment, working inside the motorcycle gang, had been nothing like this case. “I wonder what his daddy will do when he learns his son has misplaced such an important package.”

  “Again, I’m just guessing, but Francisco isn’t above making his own son disappear.”

  “Gentlemen, is there anything we need to know?” Heath walked up beside Kade.

  “Perry Worton is in Fire Mountain at the Valley Motel. Do you know it?”

  “It’s a decent place a mile from the old town area on the highway.”

  “The plan is to wait until mid-morning before I drive Brooke to the library. I have a hunch Mr. Worton will make his move then and we’ll pick him up.”

  “Seems too easy.” Heath crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

  “We were just discussing the same thing. I guess I’d better let Brooke know.” Kade walked toward the sound of her voice coming from the kitchen.

  Heath watched him leave, struck again by how familiar the slight swagger seemed. He looked at Clive.

  “Where’s Taylor from?”

  “You mean originally? Wyoming or Montana. I can’t remember which.”

  Heath pushed from the wall and followed Kade into the kitchen, hearing his deep voice explaining the plan for tomorrow to Brooke. He walked into the room in time to see Brooke rest her hand on his arm and Kade lean slightly toward her. Annie had been right. Something was definitely going on between the DEA agent and his stepdaughter.

  Brooke dropped her hand as Heath approached and stepped toward the counter.

  “Kade’s been explaining what I need to do tomorrow.”

  “Are you okay with it? If you’re uncomfortable, I’m certain Agent Taylor can work out another plan. Right?” Heath’s gaze locked on Kade.

  “I’m fine with the plan. There’s no need to change anything. Believe me, I want them to nail Perry and I want to be there when they do it.”

  “Ah, a little vengeance?” Kade asked.

  “Of course not. Well, maybe a little.” Color crept up Brooke’s neck. “I know it sounds awful, but…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know how much Kade knew about her breakup with Perry, preferring he knew as little as possible.

  “Hey, the guy’s a jerk and most likely a criminal. No need to feel bad at all about wanting him arrested.” Kade grabbed a couple of cookies from the counter then turned to lean against it. “Wow, these are great. Your wife make them?”

  “Annie loves to bake when she’s nervous and this whole situation has her tense. We may end up with enough to open a bakery by the time this is all over. Well, time I turned in. See you two in the morning.”

  Brooke placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m not far behind you.”

  “Goodnight, Mr. MacLaren.” Kade finished off the second cookie and wiped his hands on his slacks. “Clive and I will take turns watching out the front.”

  “I thought you believed the chances of anyone coming here were slim.”

  “They are, but it pays to be cautious. I’ll see you tomorrow, Brooke.”

  ******

  “And Cam, I’d like to speak with you again tonight about your first impressions of RTC.” Heath hung up the phone as Kade entered the study. “Good morning, Taylor.”

  “Mr. MacLaren. You’re up early.”

  Heath checked the time. Eight o’clock. “I’m at my desk here at home by six at the latest, then I usually drive to the office. Today, I’ll stay here, for obvious reasons. Can I do anything for you?”

  “I wanted to let you know the call you made to Buck Towers paid off. He just called. They set up surveillance at the motel. Worton stayed inside all night, but took off a little while ago. He’s driving toward the ranch and there’s a problem. He has someone else with him—a beefy looking Hispanic man. The deputy took a photo and is trying to get an identification, but odds are, he’s one of Paco’s men.”

  “Does his presence change your plans?” Heath asked.

  “That’s what I want to talk with you about. Clive will follow us to town and stay outside to keep an eye on Worton’s companion. Chief Towers will also have men posted outside the library. I can call Towers or the sheriff to see if they can send some men out here to keep watch while we�
��re gone.”

  “No. I’ve got my own people. You don’t have any indication there are more of Bujazan’s men around, right?” Heath asked.

  “No, sir. It appears to be just Worton and whoever is with him.”

  “We’ll be fine then.”

  “All right. I’ll go check with Clive.” Kade started to leave before turning at Heath’s words.

  “Taylor, one more thing. You’d better keep a good watch on Brooke. Anything happens to her and I’ll hold you personally responsible. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, sir. Quite clear.”

  ******

  “Are you ready?” Kade asked as he and Brooke walked toward her car.

  She shaded her eyes and glanced up at him. “Yes. Let’s get this over with.”

  They’d decided she’d drive while Kade stayed out of sight in the back, figuring Perry would be able to recognize her car. Clive left earlier to park next to one of the restaurants where he’d have a good view of the ranch entrance as well as anyone following Brooke’s car. Thanks to Buck Towers, they had the description of Perry’s car. Clive had already confirmed the car was in the lot with both Mr. Worton and his friend inside. As they all hoped, Perry took the bait and pulled onto the highway a few cars behind Brooke.

  Kade checked the time. If everything went as planned, Perry Worton would be in jail within a few hours, telling them everything he knew about Paco Bujazan.

  Brooke parked outside the library, grabbed the notebook, and glanced in the back seat.

  “Don’t take any chances. Find a spot, work a while, then leave the binder while you walk around the bookshelves. Stay away long enough for Perry to snatch it and leave. The rest of it will be up to us.”

  Brooke didn’t reply, just took one long look at Kade, and closed the car door. She spotted Clive’s car right away as well as one of Buck Towers’ men talking to another gentleman at the second entrance. She sucked in a deep breath and walked inside.