She massaged gently, and he thought her fingers lightly kneading to work it into his skin did as much good as the ointment itself. He studied her bent head and fought the overwhelming desire to tip her face up and take her lips with his. It occurred to him that he was done fighting, that what he wanted from her was something totally different. He had a sneaking suspicion their arguing over the years mostly had been a screen for some seriously potent sexual tension.
Gwen stepped back, her fingers still lightly touching him. He set down the tin and dipped his head, brushing a kiss across her lips. “Thank you.” When she continued to look at him with those shadowed eyes, he leaned forward again, this time slanting his lips across hers in a hungry, open-mouthed kiss.
Her touch, the smell of the liniment she’d rubbed on his skin, the little hum of pleasure she gave when their tongues clashed, shot a knotted fist of need straight to his gut. Aching desire overshadowed the aching of the bruise. Her fingers curled around his belt, knuckles rubbing against his skin. The image of her lying beneath him on the rear bench seat of the truck made him hard and had him ignoring the fact that the backseat of a pickup was too public a place for what he had in mind.
He bent his knees, reaching down to hitch her up. He took her weight and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands diving into his hair. He backed her up against the truck, his mouth moving over her throat, and along the silky skin below her ear.
“I gotta have you, Gwendolyn. You’re making me crazy.”
A shudder ran through her body. “Eli, we can’t do this.”
“We have to do this.”
Her hands fisted, then tugged at his hair, pulling his head back. “Elijah.”
He sucked in a deep breath and their gazes locked. He was gratified to see her struggle for control was no easier than his. When she wiggled to be set down, he held her still. “Don’t move. Let me cool down.”
They stared into each other’s eyes, and after a long few moments, Eli felt like he had a tether on the needs still clawing through him. He set her down but didn’t release his hold. “I guess this means you don’t want to make out with me behind the football stadium.”
“Wanting to and knowing better are two different things.”
“I was afraid of that.” He took a deep breath to tighten his hold on his libido, and grasped her hand. “I’d like to revisit this sometime soon, but for now, let’s go see some fireworks.”
Chapter Sixteen
By the time the grand finale lit up the sky in patriotic explosions of red, white, and blue, the kids were drooping. A parade, carnival, rodeo, and fireworks all made for a full day. They trooped out of the stadium, Ben carrying a sleepy Christy, Cameron and Robby dragging their feet.
Gwen walked beside Eli, his hand firmly grasping hers. She wondered if he was trying to reinforce the story that they were in a relationship, or if they actually were in a relationship.
Eli turned to Ben. “Can you and Daisy take Cameron home with you? Gwen and I will get the truck and swing by the arena to make sure the Broken Arrow trailers are good to go.”
“Sure thing.” Ben nodded, rubbing Christy’s back, while Daisy dropped a hand on the boys’ shoulders.
“You okay to go home with them, Cameron?” Gwen brushed the hair off Cameron’s forehead so she could see his eyes.
“Sure.”
“Cameron can sleep over with us, if you want. I’ll go ahead and put them all to bed instead of having him wait up for you.” Daisy gave Gwen a knowing smile, making her wonder if she was wearing a neon sign reading “Eli kissed me brainless.”
“Thank you, Daisy.”
Eli’s cell phone buzzed. He let go of her hand and pulled out his phone, nodding to the Cutters as they walked with Cameron toward their truck across the parking lot. He listened to the caller, sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.” Frustration edged his words.
He broke the connection, swearing under his breath. “Pete Houser from the Circle M backed into one of our trailers. The idiot’s been drinking and now he’s getting belligerent, and saying it wasn’t his fault because our trailer was in his way. I need to get over there.”
Gwen glanced around at the thinning crowds, cars and trucks filing out of the parking lot as people headed for home. “You go. I can get the truck and drive it over to where the trailers are parked.”
Eli’s truck was a couple blocks from where they were, while the trailers were in the opposite direction behind the rodeo arena. He shook his head. “I’ll walk with you to get the truck, and we’ll go over to the arena together.”
His phone buzzed again, and this time when he finished the call, Gwen thought he looked ready to throw something. “More guys from the Circle M have shown up. I need to get over there before there’s a fight.”
He reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys and cell phone, handing both to Gwen.
“Get the truck. If there’s any problem, call Whit’s cell.”
“Okay.” She tucked the phone in her back pocket and grabbed the keys. As she turned away, Eli caught her arm. “Wait. I’ll walk with you. I don’t like you going off on your own.”
Gwen laughed. “Eli, really. I’m not helpless. Go on and take care of the problem.”
He gave her a long look. “It’s not that I think you’re helpless. You plain worry me.” He dropped a swift kiss on her lips. “But okay. I’ll see you in ten minutes.”
Gwen started walking, enjoying the chance to stretch her legs, and wondering at Eli’s comment. How did she worry him? She wasn’t sure where she and Eli stood. What she did know was their relationship had changed, and she’d been forced to abandon that front of resentment she’d hidden behind for so many years. And that made her vulnerable.
She waved to the driver of a passing car, recognizing one of Eli’s teachers from the grocery store. The woman lowered her window and leaned her head out. “You’re Eli’s girl, aren’t you? Isn’t your name Gwendolyn?”
Gwen nodded. “Hello, Mrs. Montes.”
“Where are you going, sweetie? Do you want a ride?”
Gwen shook her head. “I’m fine. Eli’s truck is only a block or so from here and I’ll drive it over to where he is by the arena.”
The woman looked doubtful but nodded. “You be careful, now,” she cautioned.
Mrs. Montes drove off, and Gwen continued her walk, glad she’d taken the time to change into jeans because the temperature was dropping now that the sun was down. Pulling up the zipper on her hoodie, she followed a family going in the same direction as the truck.
Eli had commented on the change in their relationship, but she didn’t really know what it meant. From her perspective, the world had tilted on its axis. Instead of Eli being judgmental, he now looked at her with a new and different sort of focus. His attention sparked something inside her, making her feel alive in a way she never had before.
She continued walking, then glanced around. While she’d been thinking about Eli, the family in front of her had disappeared, leaving her alone on a deserted stretch of road. Hurrying her steps, she approached the truck where it sat in the glow cast by a streetlight, shadows from a tall tree behind it edging in from the darkness. Her instincts hummed. Something had put her on alert, made her nerves jump. Gripping Eli’s keys in her right hand, she worked them until individual keys poked out from between her fingers. Not much of a weapon, but better than nothing.
Head swiveling back and forth, she hurried toward the driver’s side door as she scanned for what had alerted her to danger. Hand outstretched to the door handle, a noise had her whirling around. She gave a startled gasp. Thug One, tattooed, muscular, and with a face that looked mean, stood only feet away, and had her heart jumping into her throat.
“Why, hello, sweet thing. Guess you weren’t expecting me.” He wore jeans and a beater t-shirt under the leather vest, and a smirk that turned her stomach.
Gwen backed toward the truck, one slow step at a time. The smirk turned
into an unsettling leer.
“Where you going, honey?” He moved closer. “I just want to talk.”
“Go away.” If she could get in the truck and lock the doors, she’d have a chance. She had Eli’s phone so she could call for help. Eyes riveted, she strained her ears for any sound that might indicate if his partner was with him. Her breath hitched in her throat when he moved closer.
A slight rustling from the other side of the truck, perhaps clothing against tree bark, reached her ears and her stomach dropped.
Thug One was still far enough away that she chanced making a break for it. She whirled, sprinting across the road toward Main Street where there were more cars, more people. A blurred shadow streaked toward her and she veered at an angle. There was a brief moment when she thought she’d gotten away, then the chilling grip of hard fingers on her shoulder jerked her backward. In mere seconds, she was pulled into the shadows behind the truck. Thug One held her from behind, encircling her arms in a tight grip. Breathing in quick spurts, she used his hold to give her leverage and kicked with the heels of her sneakers, then slammed her head back. She missed his nose, but thought she’d hit his mouth.
“Fucking bitch, you’re gonna pay for that.” He loosened one arm to close a large hand over her mouth, pinching her nose. Struggling furiously, she twisted, trying to bite his hand. His hold loosened for a brief second and she sucked in air.
“Dwayne, grab her legs. We need to get her to the truck.”
Thug Two materialized and lunged toward her. She struck out with a vicious kick that had him swearing in guttural tones. Desperate, panicking, she kicked, twisted, did everything she could to free herself. Thug One’s grip loosened a fraction and once again she slammed the back of her head into his face. He uttered a snarling oath and let her go, and she stumbled to her knees.
“The bitch knocked my tooth out.”
Not wasting the moment, Gwen scrambled to her feet and darted into the street, Thug Two coming after her. He grabbed her by the arm, nearly yanking her off her feet. She reeled about, bracing herself, ready to fight.
In a sudden blur of movement, a shadow leapt from the darkness, taking the big man in a diving tackle that tumbled them both to the ground.
Eli. She thought her heart would burst as he slammed his fists with savage ferocity into the thug. His opponent had weight on his side, but Eli went after him with an intensity that refused to give ground. They scrambled across the pavement, breaking apart for a moment as both men jumped to their feet. In the distance, a siren sounded.
They tangled again, and Eli smashed a fist to the other man’s gut, following it with a wicked uppercut to the chin. Gwen’s stomach sank as Eli took a right to his ribs at the same place where the bull had caught him. He staggered, then recovered to deliver a solid kick that knocked Thug Two on his rear. They grappled on the asphalt, the sickening thuds of flesh hitting flesh punctuated by ragged breathing and snarling curses.
Shuffling feet had her whirling around. Thug One, blood dripping down his chin, scurried toward the two men, a metal pipe gripped in a meaty fist. Tires squealed as a truck took the corner too fast, fishtailing as it drew nearer.
Gwen leapt on Thug One’s back, wrapping an arm around his neck, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. She hung on like a burr on a saddle blanket as he thrashed about.
“Get off me, you little bitch.” He swung the pipe back, delivering a glancing blow to her forehead. Her vision blurred, and she blinked rapidly, afraid of losing her grip.
Truck doors slammed and sharp voices called out. The men of the Broken Arrow had arrived. Jed, the Montoya brothers, JD, and Davey ran toward her, and Gwen leapt free. Within seconds, they had Thug One face down in the dirt.
Eli and Thug Two still brawled on the pavement, fists flying, until finally one lay motionless and the other rose slowly to his feet. Gwen could have wept with relief as Eli turned to face them.
Davey whistled between his teeth. “Well, hell, boss. You didn’t leave much for us to do.”
Thug Two began moving and the Montoya brothers pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. Eli moved slowly, gaze searching until landing on Gwen. He walked toward her, limping slightly. “You hurt?”
“I’m fine, not hurt.” At least she didn’t think so. Except now was she beginning to feel the pain adrenaline had blocked out.
Eli reached up a hand and lifted the hair off her forehead, and let go an angry hiss. “Goddamn it. You’ve got a lump the size of a quail egg. You need to go to the hospital.”
“I need to go to the hospital? You need to go to the hospital.” She mimicked his action and brushed hair off his forehead with fingers that shook. A raw scrape oozed blood that dripped along the side of his temple. The piercing wail of the siren grew louder.
He must have felt her trembling, because with a muttered curse he gathered her into him, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close, his head bent to rest alongside hers. Gwen let out a trembling sigh. Held in an insulated, protective cocoon, her world narrowed to only Eli.
“How did you know I needed help?” She whispered the words and he turned his face so his breath warmed her cheek as he spoke.
“Mrs. Montes flagged me down, said she saw two shady-looking guys going the same direction as you. I’m sorry, Gwen. I shouldn’t have let you go on your own.” He pulled her even closer, her body snug against his. Despite what had happened between them before, at that moment Gwen’s heart shifted, tilting toward a deeper emotion than she was willing to acknowledge. She tightened her hold around his waist and heard him suck in a breath.
She pulled back, and when he loosened his hold, once again tugged up his shirt. “Oh, Eli.” The injury from the bull’s horn was now matched by a patchwork of scrapes and bruises. “You need to go to the hospital to get your head bandaged, and make sure you haven’t cracked a rib or damaged any internal organs. Come on, I’ll take you.”
The siren grew louder until an SUV, light bar flashing red and blue, roared to a stop, the siren stopping mid-wail. Jack Morgan got out from the driver’s side, a younger officer exiting the passenger door.
Eli ignored the new arrivals, instead responding to her comment. “I’m bruised. I’m more concerned about you. You could have a concussion.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t lose consciousness, I’m fine.”
He gave her a searching look, then nodded.
“Eli.” Gwen recognized the voice of Jack Morgan.
Arm going around her shoulders, Eli turned to face the officers. “Jack, Cal.” He nodded to indicate the two thugs guarded by Broken Arrow men. Thug Two still sat on the pavement, Thug One stood between Jed and Davey, each holding an arm behind his back. “You might want to cuff these two. They attacked Gwen.”
When Thug Two rose to his hands and knees, Jack nudged him with a knee. “Sit on your ass, dude, hands behind your back.” Jack leaned down to cuff him, then peered into his face. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’ve got blisters all over.”
The big man rubbed his face against his shoulder. “I think it’s poison oak. It’s killing me.”
Jack laughed. “Karma’s a bitch.”
Jed handed Thug One over with a little shove, muttering, “Brave man, attacking a woman.” The man snarled an obscenity before being cuffed by Cal.
Jack moved to stand by Eli. “You want to tell me what happened, MacElvoy?”
“These two have been stalking Gwen. They confronted her on a trail on the Broken Arrow three days ago, and attacked her tonight.”
The officer turned his attention to Gwen. “You injured, ma’am?”
“More scared than injured.” When Eli narrowed his gaze, she added, “I’ve got a lump on my forehead from where Thug One hit me with a pipe.”
“Thug One?” Jack Morgan raised dark brows.
She shrugged. “The shorter, stocky guy is Thug One, and big guy is Thug Two.”
“Got it. Did you lose consciousness?” After Gwen assured Jack that she didn�
��t need medical attention, he asked her to go over what had happened.
Gwen talked through the events, trying not to let her voice betray how scared she’d been. Eli remained resolutely at her side.
Jack stepped aside when Cal motioned him over, and after a short conversation, returned. “You’re positive these two are the same men you saw on the trail, and that they threatened you?”
Gwen nodded.
“My partner says they’re from Los Angeles, both with rap sheets as long as my arm. And both are recently paroled for violent felonies.” He gave Gwen a shrewd look. “Any idea why they would be interested in a schoolteacher visiting her boyfriend in the Eastern Sierras?”
“I don’t recall telling you Gwen is a schoolteacher.” Eli’s tone was flat.
The officer flicked a sharp look at Eli. “Goes with the job. You think I wouldn’t run her plates, Eli? I’d already made a pass down that road before I came across the two of you a couple weeks back, was getting ready to call and have the car towed.”
“Damn it.” Eli all but vibrated with anger. “You might as well have put a target on her head.”
“What are you talking about? She came up clean.”
“Yeah, but you alerted the guy who wants her dead. That’s why he sent these two goons.”
Jack stood with hands on his hips, brows lowered. “What the hell’s going on, Eli?”
Eli shook his head. When he didn’t speak, Jack took a step closer. “Tell me what’s going on, MacElvoy, or I’ll have you sitting in a cell for obstruction of justice so fast your head will spin.” His expression hardened. “And then I’ll have your girlfriend alone and can question her without your,” he paused, “somewhat questionable protection. I’m sure I can get her to tell me every last damn thing I want to know.”
“Go fuck yourself, Jack.”
Gwen turned under Eli’s arm and raised her hands to his chest. “Stop it, Eli. I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but he should know.”
“He can’t be trusted.”
While the man behind her swore under his breath, Gwen kept her gaze steady on Eli’s. “Elijah, let me tell him.” Another police vehicle arrived at the scene, red and blue lights cutting the darkness.
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