Cade sat back with a chuckle as the rambunctious dog greeted her with several wet kisses. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s happy you’re staying.”
Lacy fell back laughing, her world suddenly looking a whole lot brighter.
Cade smiled. He loved the sound of Lacy’s laughter. There was something about it that made the ranch seem more like a home again. And to think he’d almost pushed her away for good. Never again. She was worth risking his heart again for.
Lacy turned her head away with a giggle, her arms still wrapped around Domino’s neck. “You are quite the kisser.”
“He’s nothing compared to me,” he teased as he shooed the dog away and drew her back into his arms for another kiss.
When the kiss ended, he ran a hand along her cheek. “Been thinking about you all day.”
“In a good way I hope,” she said, toying anxiously with that damnably kissable lower lip of hers.
“Let’s just say I never expected to wake up with you in my arms. Had fantasized about it, yeah. Expected it, no.”
“I don’t make a habit of going to bed with men I’m working with...ever.” Her gaze dropped to the button on his shirt she was toying with nervously. “Truth is I’ve only ever been with one other man. And we both decided a few months into the relationship that it wasn’t working and went our separate ways.”
“There hasn’t been another woman for me since my wife died,” he admitted. If Lacy could open to him about her past, he could do the same. “I thought that doing so would tarnish the memory of what we had together.”
She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. I never meant to make you feel like you were betraying what you and you wife had shared.”
He cupped her chin and brought her face back around to his. “Making love with you felt right. I loved Karen, but she’s gone. It’s time for me to move on and stop living in the past.” He caressed her cheeks with tender strokes. “It took you coming into my life to make me realize that.”
“Me?” Her voice was no more than a whisper.
He smiled. “Yes, Dalton, you.” He brushed another kiss over her lips. “I’ve done a lot of soul searching lately and Burk was right. I’ve been running from my feelings where you’re concerned. What happened between us this morning didn’t just happen. I wanted it to.”
Those beautiful amber eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked up at him. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it. Hell, Dalton, you make me feel alive again.” He paused before adding, “I know I don’t have much to offer you right now, but I intend to work on that.”
“What are you saying?” she asked in a near whisper.
He smiled. “Lacy Dalton, will you go steady with me?”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. The crazy, adorable man. She laughed softly. “Yes, Cade, I’ll go steady with you.” She couldn’t help but smile. They sounded like a couple of lovesick teenagers.
He reached for her hand again. “I want to do it all with you, everything I missed riding the circuit all those years. Like taking you dancing so I can hold you in my arms all night long. And teaching you to ride just to watch the wind whipping that sun-kissed hair of yours around your beautiful face.” He reached out to run his fingers through the silken strands.
This was almost too good to be true. Lacy felt a moment of panic. “What about my job?”
“I’ll deal with it.”
“I’ll give up the story.” For him.
He shook his head. “Not a chance. You and I are gonna see it through – together.”
She didn’t want to cause him any more pain. Drudging up old memories for her story would do that.
“I see that mind of yours working overtime again, Dalton. You might as well stop your worrying. We’re gonna make this work. How can I not? I love you.”
Her breath caught. “Love?”
He laughed softly. “Don’t know when it happened. Don’t even know how it happened. All I know is that you’re all I think about every second of the day...and night.”
Hot tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. He loved her! Emotion welled up in her throat. So much so, she couldn’t speak.
“You’re probably thinking that I’m crazy. That this is all happening way too fast-”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Then I’m crazy, too, because I feel the same way.”
He kissed the tip of her finger. “How can I ask you to give up an exciting life in the big city for an ex-rodeo rider with a run-down ranch?”
“Ask me,” she said softly.
“What?” He searched her gaze.
“Ask me, Cade, and I’ll tell you that I hate the fast pace of big cities. Ask and I’ll tell you that I love big ugly dogs and boy cows with horns, and big stubborn cowboys in tight...”
Her words were lost as Cade’s mouth covered hers in a thoroughly possessive kiss.
“Well, well,” Burk hollered from the direction of the barn. “Looks to me like Lacy has finally succeeded in thawing that frosty heart of yours.”
Cade didn’t release her, merely turned his head Burk’s direction. “You’d best find something else worth doing before you get yourself fired again.”
“Promises...promises,” his friend called out before sauntering off toward the corral.
Lacy collapsed against Cade in a fit of laughter. “He has the most incredible timing.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” He curled his arm around her, drawing her up against him. “Now, let’s see. Where were we?”
“I think you were just about to kiss me senseless.”
“That being the case, I suggest we do it inside and out of his view,” he said with a nod toward the corral. “If he pats himself on the back any harder, he’s likely to break an arm.”
“He is eating this up, isn’t he?” Laughing, she allowed Cade to help her to her feet, wincing as he took her hand.
Concerned creased his brow. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
He turned her hand over to inspect it and winced himself. “What the hell happened?”
“The work gloves Burk gave me to use this morning were too big. They kept falling off.”
He reached for her other hand, one less tender, but blistered all the same. “Damn it, Dalton, I’m so sorry. I never should have—”
She gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s part of the job.”
“A job you didn’t need to be doing. I was trying to make you leave,” he confessed. “Not that I really wanted you to.”
Lacy nodded. “I figured that’s what you were up to.”
“I honestly thought you’d refuse to muck them out.”
“I gave my word, Cade.”
“And you kept it,” he said with a heavy sigh. “It seems there are some good reporters out there.”
“Thank you for saying that.” She touched his face. “And you’re forgiven.”
“Come on, Dalton, let’s go tend to your hands.” Hand around her waist, he walked her into the house.
“You know it’s going to be rough living with Burk now that he’s on to us,” she said with a grin.
“Reckon so, but if he hadn’t of tricked you into coming here, I’d have never met you. And for that alone I can put up with any amount of ribbing he wants to throw my way.”
“If you were serious about going through with the story, I have it for you to approve.”
“It’s done.”
“As much as it’s ever going to be. All the important facts are in there. I just have to get it faxed in to Mac.”
“Then let’s get it faxed. I’m ready to have your undivided attention.”
“I’ll pull it up on my laptop so you can read it first.”
He shook his head. “No need. I trust you.”
His trust meant the world to her. “You wouldn’t happen to have a fax machine here would you?”
“Sorry, can’t help you there. You can fax it from town when we go to pick up your tru
ck. But first, we’re gonna see to those hands.” He set her things aside and led her over to the sink where he pulled a first-aid kit out from under the counter. “While we’re being honest,” he said with a grin, “I have to tell you that truck you bought is one of the ugliest damned trucks I’ve ever seen.”
She winced as he poured hydrogen peroxide over her tender flesh.
He muttered a curse, her discomfort bothering him more than it was her.
She gave him a reassuring smile. “It has all the necessities, windows, doors and an engine that runs.”
He managed a grin. “I think you talked them into throwing those in for free. Not that it matters. We’re gonna see about getting your car back while we’re in town.”
“Not a chance, cowboy. I’ve discovered that I’m more of a truck kind of woman. Besides, the paint color can always be changed.”
“No, what you are is my kind of woman,” he said, looking into her eyes. “Don’t go back to Denver. Stay here, Dalton. Marry me.”
* * *
Lacy was bursting with happiness as they drove into town. Cade loved her. He wanted to marry her! That morning her heart had been in pieces. Now it was pounding with excitement at the promise of a future with Cade.
She looked away from the view outside, her gaze settling on Cade who sat next to her in his truck. He looked all cowboy from his hat down to his boots, his muscular arm resting casually atop the open window, and that lazy smile that never failed to make her pulse flutter.
He glanced her way with a widening grin. “Having second thoughts, Dalton?”
“Not on your life, cowboy.” She smiled and sidled closer to him on the truck seat.
“Good,” he replied, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
She slipped the palm-sized tape recorder from her purse and playfully asked, “How about giving me the real scoop on my husband to be? Off the record, of course.”
“He’s a man who appreciates sassy little reporters with sexy little bodies.” His hand eased down over her shoulder, his fingers slipping beneath her shirt to caress the swell of a breast.
She moaned softly, closing her eyes.
“Dalton,” he said with a chuckle.
“Huh?”
He nodded at her tape recorder. “That thing on?”
She had forgotten all about it with Cade touching her that way. “Yes.” Before she could turn it off, he removed his arm from behind her and took hold of the recorder.
“Hello. Cade Tyler here. I want to state for the record that Lacy Dalton is the sexiest woman I’ve ever known from her head down to her toes, including that cute little birthmark on her backside.”
“Cade!” She reached out, snatching the recorder from his grasp. “Be serious.”
“I am being serious,” he said, wiggling his brows as his appreciative gaze slid down over her.
She laughed. “You’re incorrigible. Now keep your eyes on the road and behave yourself.”
“Hard to do with you sitting next to me,” he said as they turned into the parking lot of the Blarney Stone.
“Hurry home,” he told her as he turned to kiss her goodbye.
“I’ll be home before you know it.” She stepped out to get into her own truck, waving to him as he pulled away.
Starting her truck, she pulled out of the near empty lot and headed down the street to Sparky’s, the local hardware/grocery store where Cade said there would be a fax machine. It was time to send her story off and turn her focus to what really mattered to her. Her relationship with Cade.
* * *
Burk sprinted across the yard the second Cade pulled up the drive, waving his arms frantically.
Cade slammed on the brakes and threw the truck into park. He threw open the door and jumped out. “What’s wrong?”
“We’ve got a serious problem,” Burk said, his breathing labored from the sprint he’d made to reach Cade before he drove all the way up to the house. “It’s Bluster.”
“What about him?” He looked toward the pasture.
“Something’s wrong with him. He’s down.”
“Shit.” He turned and reached in to cut the engine and then broke into a run for the lifeless mound of black lying in the pasture.
“I’ve already called the doc,” Burk said as he followed. “He’s on his way.”
“Where’s Danners?”
“In town picking up those fence posts we ordered.”
Cade let out a stream of curses as they neared the downed bull. Without him, there was no hope of saving the ranch. And without the ranch, he’d have nothing at all to offer Lacy. Bluster couldn’t die...
* * *
Lacy stepped up to the fax machine, placing her briefcase and purse on the narrow table beside it. Her gaze drifted to the tape recorder sticking out the opening in her purse. She picked it up, running her fingers over it with a smile, remembering Cade’s playful little interview in the truck on their way into town.
“Any problems, Danners?”
The raspy voice in the next aisle and the mention of Brigg’s name had Lacy’s head turning that direction.
“Not a one, Mr. Brandt,” came the hushed reply.
Brandt? Why did that name sound so familiar? Curiosity getting the better of her, Lacy leaned closer to the paint can lined shelves.
“Have you taken care of Tyler’s prize bull?”
“Sure did. Cade won’t know what hit him until it’s too late. And with his main money maker dead, he’ll be forced to sell the ranch.”
Her heart slammed against her chest. This couldn’t be happening.
“Well done, Danners. The Flying T is as good as mine. And Tyler will have nothing. He’s going to wish he had died in that fall at nationals once I’m through with him. Hell, he should have died in that car accident two years ago. I didn’t expect his wife to be the one behind the wheel that day.” Brandt’s reply was cold, hard.
“You mean that was an accident? Tyler was supposed to die that day instead of his wife?”
“Yes, but it all worked out anyway. An eye for an eye. His bull killed my son. I killed his wife.”
Lacy clamped a hand to her mouth to keep from gasping in horror. Her legs shook beneath her as the men’s conversation sank in fully.
“You’ve done well, Danners. Better than that reporter I sent here. She hasn’t given me anything yet and I’m tired of waiting.”
That voice. It was so familiar. Brandt. Her heart pounded even harder as it came to her. MacKenzie Brandt. Owner of Bustin’ Loose Magazine. Oh, God, she worked for the man who was trying to destroy Cade’s life. A man who had just admitted to murdering Cade’s wife.
“Glad to be of help.”
“Here’s your money,” the older man said.
Lacy heard an envelope being ripped open. No doubt Danners checking out the money he’d just been given.
“This isn’t the amount we agreed on,” the hand complained.
“You’ll get the rest once I have the deed to Tyler’s ranch in my hand.”
Lacy couldn’t move. Her gaze fell to the bright green light on the recorder she held clutched in her trembling hand. But all she could think about was the revelation that Cade’s wife had been murdered and the man responsible was standing in the very next aisle.
She had to get back and warn Cade. Turning to leave, she gasped as she ran right into the store’s owner.
“Everything all right, Miss Dalton?” he asked, his expression one of concern as he peered up at her from behind his spectacles. “Are you having trouble with the fax machine?”
It felt as though her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. “N...no. No problem at all,” she said, grabbing her briefcase and purse from the table. Heavy footsteps behind her had her glancing back over her shoulder. Mac and Danners were moving her way, scowls on their faces.
“I...I have to be going.” She wanted to scream for Mr. Sparks to call the police, but knowing what she did about the lengths Mac would go she feared for the stor
e owner’s life if she did. So instead she ran.
Outside, the sky had turned a dark gray and it was starting to rain. Without slowing her step, Lacy flew to her truck, the ankle she’d twisted that morning aching with each pounding step. Tossing her briefcase in through the open window, she whipped open the door and scrambled inside.
She fumbled in her purse for her keys. A quick glance in the rear view mirror told her she was in serious trouble. Mac had come out of the store and was heading straight for her with Danners close on his heels.
To her relief, her fingers brushed across the cold metal of her key ring. Yanking them from her purse, she jammed the key into the ignition and turned. The truck roared to life.
Suddenly, an arm snaked in through the half-open window and caught the sleeve of her shirt. Lacy let out a terrified scream.
“Going somewhere?” Danners demanded.
The rain began coming down harder, pouring in through the open window. “Danners,” she said, forcing a smile even as the rain soaked her sleeve and the side of her face.
“Shut off the engine, Miss Dalton,” he replied with a snarl. “There’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”
“I’m really in a hurry.”
Remain calm.
Danners’ hand bit into the tender flesh of her upper arm. “You seem to be confused. I wasn’t asking. I was telling you.”
Her gaze went from Luther Danners’ cold hard eyes to Mac who was sliding in behind the wheel of a black Mercedes. She had two options. One was to do as Danners ordered and go with him willingly. The other...
Before he knew what hit him, Danners was sitting in the parking lot, holding the foot she’d just run over in her escape and yelping like a wounded animal.
Lacy glanced back over her shoulder to see Danners limp over to the Mercedes and jump into the passenger side. She was in so much trouble.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lacy’s knuckles glowed white as she grasped the truck’s worn steering wheel. All she knew was that she had to get back to the ranch. To Cade. She’d be safe there.
The wipers, which were probably as old as the truck itself, were little help in the pouring rain. She leaned forward in hope of seeing the road better. But it was no use, she had to slow down.
Capturing the Cowboy's Heart Page 18