by D'Ann Lindun
His hands fisted in her hair that had somehow come loose from it’s braid, holding her hostage as his mouth locked onto hers. His tongue plunged in and out of her mouth, mimicking the movements of his cock.
Maybe it was being alone too long, or just the thrill of letting herself go, but Isabella had never felt like this before. Exited. Wild. Free.
She dug her short nails into his back and held on as her body began to tense, tighten around him.
He released her hips and slid his hands under her ass, tilting her pelvis so that his cock could go even deeper.
Isabella couldn’t hold back her release. It came hot, hard and so intense her entire body imploded, from the top of her head to her toes. He swallowed her screams, his own guttural noises mingling with hers as his own orgasm hit.
He collapsed on top of her, the sound of their raspy intermingled breaths loud in the small tent.
Shane stirred. “I’m too heavy.”
“You’re not.” Isabella tightened her arms around him. She liked his weight on her, it made what they had done feel loving and somehow complete.
With a gentle kiss, he rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. “That’s better. I won’t crush you this way.”
Glad for the darkness that hid her embarrassment, she smoothed a palm over one of his nipples and silky chest hair. “I—” Her voice trailed off. What did one say in these situations? Thank you?
Shane caught her hand and held it. “You’re amazing.”
His simple words filled her with joy. No false declaration or a lie. Just an honest compliment.
She closed her eyes as exhaustion overwhelmed her. “So are you.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Shane slipped out of Isabella’s arms and dressed. She slept peacefully, snoring softly. He smiled. She’d probably be mortified, but the sound tickled him. She was something else. Smart. Resourceful. Sexy.
He stopped that train of thought before it left the station. Letting his mind go there would have him crawling back inside the sleeping bag and spending all day making love to Isabella. He didn’t get paid to make love to women involved in a case, and already he’d compromised his investigation by doing so.
Not only that, he’d betrayed Ellie’s memory.
He shook off the guilt. Later. He’d let it get to him later.
Outside, the rain had finally stopped and the sun threatened to peek over the horizon. A fire and hot coffee sounded good. First, he untied the animals so they could graze, then he found a few pieces of wood left from the night before and placed them inside Isabella’s fire ring. She’d thought of everything.
He stepped inside the tent and found the coffeepot and grounds, plus a couple bottles of water. They were almost out of supplies, but Durango should be less than a day’s ride. He’d expected to have Gonzalez in custody by now, so hadn’t packed much. Where was the convict? Durango, as Isabella suggested? Should they go on, or head back to Black Mountain to put out an APB?
If he’d been more alert, Gonzalez wouldn’t have gotten the jump on him. He’d be in custody and on his way back to Denver by now. Black Mountain and Isabella would be in Shane’s rearview mirror.
I don’t want her in my rearview mirror.
The thought startled him. He was loyal to Ellie. Another woman could never take her place. He rubbed the bare spot where his wedding ring used to be. He’d taken it off because looking at it every day had been more painful than not.
If he’d had it on, last night wouldn’t have happened.
Liar.
He wanted Isabella, pure and simple. A teenage boy might claim hormones overrode good sense, but he wasn’t a kid any longer. He could have stopped her when she kissed him, but he hadn’t wanted to.
The tent flap opened and Isabella stepped through, looking as fresh as the morning dew. Her hair was neatly braided and her clothes tidy. She smiled tentatively. “I smelled coffee…”
“It’s just now boiling.” He reached for the pot, jerking back when his palm touched the hot handle.
“Careful.”
Using the cuff of his coat for a potholder, he poured them each a cup. After he handed one to her, he met her eyes. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Bright pink tinged her cheeks. So she was as rattled as he was. He remembered her saying she hadn’t been with anyone since her divorce. Damn, being single sucked. How did people do it? Hook up and move on with no ties?
“Looks like it’s going to be a nice day.” Shit! Now he was talking about the weather.
“Yes.” She looked everywhere but at him, studying drops of rain falling from tree branches as if she’d never seen such a sight before.
It was going to be a long day if he couldn’t figure out a way to smooth this out a little. He took a deep breath. “Thanks for last night. Warming me up—”
“You’re welcome,” she said stiffly.
Shit! He was mangling this bad. “I mean—”
She held up a palm, facing him. “I get it. We’re adults. We enjoyed each other. End of story.”
“Right.” He opened his mouth to say more, then snapped it closed. If she was good with a fling, he should be, too.”
“What’s your plan, Marshal?”
She was back to her addressing him as marshal? After last night, she could at least call him Shane. He shook off the thought. Putting distance between them was smart. “I can’t be sure. I’m afraid Gonzalez is probably in Durango by now. If so, he could have gone any direction.” He sipped his coffee. “But if he circles back on us for any reason, I’d hate to miss him.”
“I would bet after he whacked your head, Reuben hit the trail hard and fast. My guess is he’s halfway to Phoenix by now.”
“Why Phoenix?”
“He has a few cousins who live there,” she said. “They might help him disappear.”
Shane cursed. “Damn. Let’s head back to Black Mountain. I’ll call the guys in the Phoenix office to see if they can get a line on these cousins.”
A flash of something—disappointment? Why?—flashed across her face before she nodded. “Sounds good.”
~*~
Although she ought to be glad to be heading back to civilization, regret filled Isabella. She hated to see her time with the marshal come to an end. Last night had been magical, and she’d secretly hoped that if they spent a little more time together it might happen again.
By his attitude, not likely. He was as remote as one of the distant peaks. Obviously, he regretted his actions. She wondered if his decision to return to Black Mountain had anything to do with wanting to get rid of her sooner than later.
The coffee soured in her stomach and she dumped the rest in her cup on the ground. “I’ll roll the sleeping bags.”
“I’ll tack up the horses and take down the tent while you do that,” he said.
Inside the privacy of the tent, Isabella fought tears. She had no one to blame but herself. He’d made no promises, only taken what she had freely offered. It had been a no-strings, one-night stand. Obviously not a good choice for her if she got attached this easily.
With jerky movements, she rolled the sleeping bags into tight bundles and gathered the pan she’d cooked in last night and their mugs. Carrying all of it, she left the tent. Shane had the horses saddled and the donkey’s pack ready. She handed everything to him. “All that’s left is to take down the tent.”
“Thanks.” He stowed the supplies in the panniers.
She waited until he was ready, then walked with him to the tent. Together, they tore it down and folded it in a matter of moments. He took it from her and nodded at the canvas manti on the ground. “Can you bring that?”
“Of course.” She picked up the heavy canvas and hurried after him.
He placed it over the packsaddle and panniers, tying it down—all without looking at her.
Isabella didn’t know what she’d expected, but his cold, remote act wasn’t it. She should have let his ass freeze last night. With a huff, she turned towar
d the horses. She’d only taken two steps when Shane caught her elbow and spun her around.
Startled, she pulled away and stared at him with wide eyes. “What the—”
“I couldn’t leave here without letting you know I’m grateful for what you did for me last night.”
She couldn’t speak. Of all the things she’d expected, an expression of gratitude wasn’t tops on the list. She managed to nod. “We already covered this. You saved me. We’re even now.”
He flinched at her harsh tone. “Let’s go.”
What did he expect her to say—I’d do it for anyone? She approached Gunner, untied him and mounted. She waited for Shane to settle in his saddle and rein the paint away. She fell in behind him, Donquita bringing up the rear.
In silence, they made their way to the trail. When they reached it, Shane hesitated.
“What’s wrong?” Isabella called.
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’m leaning toward Durango.”
“It’s about two hours further than the trail back to the meadow.” She shifted in her saddle. “Reuben might be skulking around town, looking for a place to stash that money.”
“I think so, too.” Shane reined the paint in Durango’s direction and urged him into a fast walk.
If they had been on a pleasure ride, it would have been a perfect day for it. The rain had dried up and the sun was bright. Droplets of water hung on trees and grass, making them shimmer. The gray granite mountains looked almost black, the sky impossibly blue. A few soft clouds floated by, but weren’t gathering for another storm.
But this wasn’t a pleasure ride, it was a mad dash to try and stop a killer before he hurt someone else. The trail was too narrow and steep to lope, but every time it seemed safe, Shane urged the horses to trot. Unused to riding, Isabella’s thighs screamed in protest.
As Shane slowed the pace to a fast walk, she said, “I would kill for a massage.”
He glanced over his shoulder, a flash of heat in his eyes. “I’ll check you into a hotel that has a spa, and you can relax while I look around for Gonzalez.”
“Okay.” Although it was a generous offer it stung that he wanted to ditch her. Or did he? Would he purchase one room, or two? Her stomach knotted with a combination of fear he’d get his own room and fear he wouldn’t.
Ahead of her, Shane pulled up. “Damn.”
“What?” Her skin prickled.
Shane leaned to the left so she could see around him. On a sharp corner, the trail was covered by a waterfall. The rain from the night before had turned a trickle into a racing stream that cascaded over the trail, effectively blocking it.
“Is there a way around it?” She glanced to her right. A drop-off. Not going there. A look to her left showed a pine-covered hillside too steep to navigate on horseback.
“If there is I don’t see it.” Frustration filled Shane’s voice. He moved forward a few feet to a wide spot in the trail and dismounted.
Isabella, too, slid off her horse. “What now?”
“Wait here. I’m going to see if I can get through.” Without waiting to see if she did as told, he walked toward the rushing water.
Isabella slipped to Gunner’s head and grabbed his reins. Her heart pounded wildly as she watched Shane approach the thundering water. The rocks around it were wet, slick. One misstep could send him crashing over the edge, into the deep abyss below.
To her immense relief, Shane spun around and came back to her and the animals. “I don’t see any way through. I’d put on my slicker and duck through if I thought it wouldn’t wash me over the edge.”
“No.” She grabbed his sleeve. “Please don’t risk it.”
“I won’t.” He glanced at her hand, then met her eyes. “I don’t want to die today.”
She released him. “Thank God.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Looks like we have to backtrack, though. At this rate, we aren’t going to get to Black Mountain until dark.”
“I wonder if Reuben made it through before the rain turned the stream into a waterfall?” she mused out loud. “Or if he was turned back, too?”
Shane gave her a startled glance. “You think he might have been stopped? Went back?”
She shrugged. “Possibly.” Her cheeks burned as a thought crossed her mind. “If he did, he probably heard us…”
“Unlikely, the way the wind and rain were howling,” Shane said.
Her embarrassment faded. “True.”
He slipped by her and grabbed Donquita’s halter, turning her back the way they’d come. “You’re going to have to lead this posse for a while, girl.” He slapped her behind and she brayed indignantly and trotted up the trail.
Although they stood on a wide spot, it wasn’t exactly made for easy maneuvering and Isabella held her breath while Shane turned both horses around. Where they stood was too narrow for mounting, so she took Gunner’s reins and walked after the fleeing donkey to where she grazed, waiting for them.
They mounted and Shane tapped Wrangler’s sides with his heels as Isabella moved aside to let him take the lead. Although she knew the area better than he did, it seemed natural to let him take charge.
Why not?
He was the cop, not her.
He had the training and the experience to track a killer.
She was just a novelist, one who only wrote about lawmen. Her experience was limited to what her characters went through in the stories she created. Her rangers, sheriffs and marshals always outsmarted the bad guys. This wasn’t a book, but she had faith Shane would bring Reuben to justice.
So far, her ex had been one step ahead, but the lawman was sure to catch him. Together, they just had to figure out where he’d go, who he’d run to. Isabella’s mind roamed over the people he might turn to for assistance.
Because he’d turned into a thief and killer, Reuben’s family wouldn’t be lining up to lend a hand. His parents had disowned him. Even his so-called friends had long since abandoned him. As Isabella’s mind flipped through people she knew who might help, one suddenly jumped out—Gloria Soto—the woman he’d dated before Isabella. She hadn’t taken their breakup well, stalking him for a long time after his marriage.
Would she be willing to help him now?
Their paths didn’t cross often, almost never, but the last Isabella heard Gloria was still single. Maybe because she carried a torch for the man who had treated her so badly? Had they corresponded while he was in prison?
Was she jumping to wild conclusions?
Or playing amateur detective?
Indecision weighed on her—should she voice her concerns, or keep them to herself? If she spoke up now, wouldn’t it look suspicious that she hadn’t spoken up before? Staying quiet probably wasn’t a good idea either. She shuddered to think Shane might believe she’d deliberately withheld information from him.
Being truthful was always the best course of action.
Mind made up, she called him. “Marshal, hold up. I have something I need to talk to you about.”
CHAPTER NINE
As Shane negotiated the narrow mountain road leading back into Black Mountain, he talked to Chief Bustamante on his cell phone, bringing him up-to-date on the events of the last twenty-four hours. Most of them, anyway. He left out making love to Isabella. That was nobody’s business but theirs. The Chief wouldn’t be happy to know Shane had acted so unprofessional with a witness.
Shane’s mind shot back to his chief when the man spoke. “I’m going to send Deputy Cahill to Durango to see if he can pick up Gonzalez’s scent. I want you to stick with this woman, make sure she stays safe.”
Shane opened his mouth to protest, then snapped it shut. Arguing with the Chief never panned out, and besides, what he said made sense. Although he was doubtful Gonzalez would circle back around to hurt Isabella, it was a possibility.
A shudder ripped through Shane. He’d sooner die than let a woman he cared for die.
Cared for?
The thought rocked h
im hard. He barely knew Isabella; how could he be falling for her? She was tough and strong and so beautiful she stole his breath every time he looked at her. But he didn’t love her. He couldn’t. He still loved Ellie with his whole heart and soul.
“Deputy? You there?” The Chief’s voice pulled him back from his wayward thoughts.
“Yes, sir. Sorry. Navigating a steep curve in the road here.”
“I’ll check in with you as soon as I hear anything from Cahill.” The Chief hung up without a goodbye.
Shane stuffed his phone in his front pocket.
“Who was that, if I may ask?” He could feel Isabella’s gaze on his profile.
He glanced at her. “My chief. He’s sending another deputy to Durango. He wants me to stick with you until Gonzalez is apprehended.”
“What? No.” Out of the corner of his eye, Shane saw her shaking her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“He got the drop on you once,” Shane reminded her.
“That was before I knew Reuben was on the loose. I’ll be more careful now—”
“It’s not up for discussion,” Shane told her. “And that’s final.”
“I have a book to write—”
“Your life is more important than any book, and besides, I’ll be quiet. You won’t even know I’m around.” Shane understood her unease. Being with Isabella was dangerous to his heart. He changed the subject. “Do you have a suggestion as to where I could keep the horses?”
“I have a small field behind my house. Will that work?”
“Fences good?”
She nodded. “Yes. My mama used to keep a few goats there, but she sold them when she moved in with my sister.”
Shane downshifted for the last, steep grade before the highway. “That sounds perfect.”
“How long do you think it will take to catch Reuben?”
“I’m hoping Deputy Cahill can get a line on him fairly quickly.” Shane glanced at her. “Then we can both go back to our lives.” He ignored her slight frown. He also disregarded the pinch in his chest.