by LENA DIAZ,
“You’re doing great,” Colby said. “Tell me more about the stables. You said they weren’t big enough once your business started booming, so you planned on expanding. But you said you had to cancel your plans to add on, because of the mishaps?”
“Mishaps?” Dillon rested his forearms on the table. “What does that mean?”
She sighed. “The sheriff in my county already had some of his deputies look into those things. Nothing raised any red flags for him. It’s just that a lot of accidents have been happening—equipment breaking down, things getting lost. It forced me to dip into savings, big-time. And with the expansion plans and payments I already made to contractors to get on their construction schedules, I ran out of liquid cash and couldn’t pay the mortgage. That’s why I left before Gladiator was taken. I went to an auction to sell a few of my top horses so I could pay the mortgage and make payroll, just to tide us over until things got better.” She shook her head. “Unfortunately, the horses didn’t fetch as high a price as I needed and I was still short on the mortgage. Then I found out about Gladiator and, well, you know the rest. I really need to get home soon so I can figure out how to plug the hole in my sinking financial ship.”
Dillon looked like he was about to ask another question but a knock sounded on the door. At Dillon’s wave, a deputy poked his head inside the room. “Got a minute?”
“What’s up?” Dillon asked.
He stepped inside, leading a young white man, dressed in a gray T-shirt and faded jeans.
“This is Derrick Huff. Tell them what you told me, Mr. Huff.”
The man, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, looked extremely nervous as he fingered a piece of rumpled notebook paper in his hands.
“Go on,” the deputy urged.
Instead of saying anything, Huff handed the paper to Colby, who was the closest to the door.
Colby frowned and started reading the paper, then shot out of his chair. “You’re with Jedidiah? Where is he?”
Huff’s eyes widened like round moons. “No, no, no. I’m not with anyone. A guy stopped me a few blocks down the road and offered me money if I’d—”
“Deputy, send some men to—”
The deputy held up his hands. “It’s already handled, Detective Vale. We have some officers canvassing the street, looking for Jedidiah.” He put his hand on Huff’s shoulders. “Just tell them what happened.”
“Like...like I said. This guy stopped me a few blocks away and paid me to drive his truck over here and give you that note.”
Piper stood beside Colby, trying to read the paper.
“What’s it say?” Dillon’s face was lined with impatience.
Colby frowned at Huff as if he wanted to arrest him. But he read the note out loud.
“I know this Palmer guy you mentioned to Mindy. All I’ll say on that is he’s bad news. Once you left the mountain—”
“Left?” Piper exclaimed. “Did he really say we left, like we were just up there for a visit? He kidnapped us!” Everyone was looking at her. She felt her face flush with heat. “Sorry. Go on. Finish reading the note.”
Colby gave her a reassuring smile, then continued.
“—we went looking for Palmer and his men to make sure they weren’t close by where they could hurt someone. We found the truck and trailer you were looking for, off in a ditch a few miles away—with the horses still inside. Abandoned. It looked like it hit a patch of ice and slid off the road and Palmer and his men didn’t even bother to try to save the horses.”
Piper covered her mouth with her hands.
Colby’s face flushed with anger and he handed the note to Dillon, then pulled Piper into his arms. “I’m sorry, Piper. I’m so sorry about Gladiator.”
Dillon scanned the rest of the note. “Doesn’t say much else, just that he wanted to return what was rightfully yours and he’s sorry for everything that happened.” He shook his head. “Obviously he’s trying to backtrack to make it easier on himself once he’s arrested.”
Piper fought hard to hold back her tears. It was only because of Colby’s strong arms around her that she was able to cling to her composure.
“So where are the truck and trailer?” Colby asked Huff.
“Out front, in the parking lot.” He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and held them out.
“Drop them on the table. We’ll have someone go over it for prints. Who knows. Maybe Palmer was dumb enough to leave a perfect set and we can run it through AFIS and get a match.”
Piper shook her head. “I don’t think we’ll get that lucky.”
“Probably not.”
Huff frowned in confusion and glanced from the deputy to Colby. “But what are you going to do about the horses? It’s cold outside. And they need food and water.”
Piper jerked her head up. “Food and water?”
“They’re alive?” Colby asked.
“Well, yeah. A red one and a huge black one. Don’t think I’ve ever seen one like that before. What kind—”
Piper shoved past him and ran out of the conference room.
Chapter Fourteen
Dillon waved toward the cache of weapons in the open trunk of Blake’s car outside the Johnson County sheriff’s office. “You sure that’s all you want to take?”
Colby shoved the pistol that Dillon had just given him into the holster clipped to his belt. “I’ve got four magazines in my jacket pockets and one in the gun. If I need more ammo than that, I’m toast.”
“Good point.” Dillon grinned. “You know, you could let Miss Caraway drive that horse of hers back to her ranch by herself while you stay here with Blake and me and gather evidence on Jedidiah and his crew. The three of us can head up to Lexington in the morning to coordinate with the sheriff up there and find out what we can about Palmer. No need for you to crash in Miss Caraway’s guest room tonight when you can bunk with us at a nice hotel in Mountain City.”
Dillon glanced toward Piper fifty yards away, who was grilling the large animal vet with questions even though Gladiator had already been examined and given the all clear to go home. The gelding wasn’t as lucky. He was dehydrated and would remain in the doctor’s care until he deemed the horse well enough to travel back to Destiny to be reunited with its owner. But in spite of the reassurances, Piper was still asking the poor doctor questions even while he loaded the gelding into the trailer that he’d brought.
“Piper assured me she didn’t mind me using the guest room for tonight. She even offered for all three of us to stay as long as we’re in Lexington. But I told her we’d get a hotel once you two come up. If I thought you and Blake really needed me today, I’d stay. But I know you don’t. And I can’t sit in a conference room while Piper’s making a five-hour trek, all alone, in that rig of hers. She’s been through a terrible ordeal. And that checkup by an EMT when we got here was a joke. I think she needs time to rest and recuperate. I want to drive her home and make sure she gets there okay.”
“You went through the same ordeal and are recovering from a concussion. I imagine you’re just as tired.”
At Colby’s frown, Dillon laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “I knew it. You’ve been bitten by the bug, my friend. I can’t wait to tell Ashley. She’ll be thrilled.”
“What bug?”
“The love bug.”
Colby shoved him. Hard. Which only made Dillon laugh harder.
His smile faded and he turned serious. “All teasing aside, if you run into any trouble along the way or after you get there, Blake and me can be there in a couple of hours on the sheriff’s chopper. I mean it. If things go sideways, call me.”
Colby nodded. “I will. Thanks.”
“We’ll finish up here tonight and head to Lexington in the morning. I haven’t had a chance to set up an appointment with the sheriff there yet—”
“I did,” Col
by said. “Called him before you two arrived. He’s expecting us in his office around one. I already briefed him on the case, too, and he said he’d send a deputy to the ranch to check things out.”
Dillon nodded his approval. “You’re making my job too easy. Next I know, you’ll want to be lead detective.”
“Nah. The pay’s not good enough for the extra headaches.”
“Ha, no kidding.”
“Dillon.” Blake’s voice rang out. He was standing in the open doorway to the building. “The sheriff’s on the phone for you.”
Dillon clapped Colby on the shoulder. “We’ll see you around lunchtime tomorrow, if not before.”
“Sounds good.”
Dillon jogged back to the building.
Colby waved to Blake then strode to the horse trailer. Piper was exhausted—so exhausted that she was sleeping, standing up with the truck’s keys dangling perilously from one of her fingers. Her mouth was slightly parted and she was slumped half against the wheel well. He was just about to shake her awake when her eyes flew open.
She let out a cry of alarm and swung her fist toward his jaw.
He ducked out of the way. “Hey, hey, Piper. It’s me, Colby. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
She froze, then recognition flooded her eyes and she gasped in horror.
“Colby. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries. You didn’t hit me.”
She grimaced. “Did I...fall asleep? Standing up?”
“Yep.” He snagged the keys. “Looks like you’ve been around your horses a bit too much. You’re taking on their characteristics. Personally, I prefer sleeping in a bed over standing up.”
“Ha, ha.” She covered her mouth as she yawned. “Good grief. I really am tired.”
“Which is why I’m driving. Come on. Let’s get you settled into the cab.” He started to lead her to the passenger side, half expecting her to fall over because she was so tired. But she suddenly stopped.
“Wait, Palmer kept my purse or threw it out after he stole my truck. I don’t have my license or credit cards and this thing is a gas guzzler. We’ll never make it to Lexington on one tank.”
“No worries.” He gently pulled her to the passenger side and opened the door. “I’ve got a Destiny PD credit card, courtesy of Dillon. And I printed out copies of our licenses from our respective DMVs until we can both get new ones.”
“I’m impressed. You thought of everything.”
“Not quite.” He lifted her up into the cab, noting the attractive blush that spread across her cheeks before he let her go.
She cleared her throat. “What did you forget?”
“I didn’t forget exactly. But I haven’t had a chance to take care of something that’s bothering me.” He held up the ring full of keys. “I know Palmer expected us to die on that mountain, so it’s unlikely he copied your keys. But do you think one of your ranch hands can get the locks changed on your house before you get home?”
She looked down. “Of course. Thanks. I can call Billy and he’ll—”
He gently tilted her head up. “Piper...” A single tear tracked down her cheek.
She pushed his hand away and swiped at the tear. “I’m fine. Just... I’m tired is all.”
He cupped her face in his hands until she looked at him. “You’re the bravest, strongest person I know. But even a brave person needs to cry it out sometimes. And that’s okay, too. It’s okay, sweetheart.”
Her face crumpled, and then she was reaching for him, or he was reaching for her; he wasn’t sure which. But he stood in the open doorway with her arms around his neck, his arms around her waist, holding her tight. And nothing had ever felt so right.
Normally, a crying woman would make him want to run the other way in panic. But not with Piper. The heartbreaking sobs shaking her petite frame only made him want to hold her tighter and protect her and make sure nothing bad ever happened to her again.
Somehow the words she needed to hear in that moment found their way to his lips, and he whispered them into her hair as he rocked her against him. And when the tears stopped and the storm passed, another storm took its place. Her mouth brushed against his skin at the V of his shirt and sent a rush of adrenaline pumping through his body. He tensed, his breath catching in his throat. Desire slammed into him like a hurricane, flooding his senses, making him shake with the intensity.
Piper drew back, her face flushed with heat, her own breaths coming fast and hard as she stared at his lips. Then her pink tongue darted out and he almost died right then and there.
“Colby,” she whispered, pulling him toward her, angling her mouth up.
A ragged breath escaped between his clenched teeth. He wanted to lean down, meet her halfway. But it wasn’t right. She was half-asleep, scared, vulnerable. And he wasn’t in much better shape himself. Plus, he was afraid that if he ever kissed her again, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
It almost killed him, but he pulled back and tugged her arms down. At the questioning look on her face, he tried to smile, but was pretty sure he failed miserably. “We shouldn’t. Not now. Not here.”
She blinked as if shocked to realize where they were. “What was I thinking?” She pushed him back. “Go on. I’ll call Billy, get those locks changed. I guess I’m more tired than I realized. I’m doing crazy things.” She gave an embarrassed laugh and punched a number into her phone as she pulled the door shut.
He stood outside her door for a full minute while he tried to regain control. Meanwhile, she finished her call and clicked her seat belt, all without looking at him.
He’d embarrassed her and he hated that. Did she think he didn’t want her? That he’d pulled away because he wasn’t interested? Nothing could be further from the truth. Even now his pulse was slamming through his veins, rushing through his ears. He wanted her with an intensity that was alarming.
He headed to the driver’s side. Somehow he had to figure out how to make this right. He didn’t want her embarrassed and thinking he wasn’t attracted to her.
He hopped into the driver’s seat, started the engine, then looked over at her.
She was asleep.
He grinned and shook his head. So much for worrying about hurting her feelings.
About an hour later, he was rounding a curve on a rural two-lane highway when a warm hand touched his on the steering wheel. He glanced at Piper and smiled. “Hey, sleepyhead.”
“Pull over.”
He frowned. “What?”
“You heard me. Pull over.”
“Is something—”
“Colby.”
“Okay, okay.” He pulled to the side of the highway, halfway on the winter-brown grass to make sure no one would hit them. Then he put the truck into Park. “What’s wrong?”
“I need you to kiss me.”
His mouth went dry. “Sorry. What?”
“Just do it, okay? Kiss me. It’s an experiment.”
“An experiment?” He felt like an idiot repeating everything she said, but he was so dumbfounded by her request that he couldn’t quite make sense of it.
She unclipped her seat belt, got on her knees on the seat beside him and leaned over, crushing her breasts against his chest. “Kiss. Me.”
His gaze fell to her lips, then lower, where her shirt gaped open, revealing the delectable cleavage he’d tried, in vain, to push out of his mind ever since she’d taken off her bra up in the mountain.
“Piper, you don’t know what you’re asking. You’re still exhausted, traumatized—”
She pressed her lips to his and destroyed every ounce of honor he had left. His conscience evaporated beneath the tantalizing heat of her mouth, the erotic tug of her teeth against his lips as she tried to coax him to kiss her back.
He groaned deep in his throat and pulled her onto his lap, straddling him with her delicious h
eat. Sliding one hand down the arch of her back, he caressed her backside and drove his other hand deep into the luxurious fall of her hair, desperate to pull her even closer. He drank her in, their tongues dueling, tasting, teasing until he was aching with the pleasure-pain of wanting her, wanting...more.
Their kisses in the mountain had been born of a desperation to survive, to generate heat, to chase away the fog of delirium. This kiss was born of a consuming fascination that had sparked to life the instant he’d seen her at the fair, tiny yet spunky and brave, risking everything for the love of a horse. His desire for her had been simmering ever since, and now that it had broken free, it scorched both of them, consuming them from the inside out.
He half turned with her, pressing her against the door. He wanted to kiss her...everywhere...but not yet. Not until he had her screaming his name from just a regular kiss. Not that this was like any kiss he’d ever experienced. Good grief, the woman was like one of those sexy sirens of old folklore. Where had she learned to kiss like this? That thought sent an insane spark of jealousy straight through him. He suddenly wanted to kill any man who’d ever dared to look at her. As he made love to her mouth with his, one word kept repeating itself over and over in his lust-fogged brain.
Mine.
The shock of what that word meant sent a cold chill through his body and cleared the fog of passion that had gripped him like a prisoner. He broke the kiss, pushing her back, his lungs straining for oxygen.
Her luscious breasts rose and fell with her own ragged breaths, taunting him, tempting him to kiss her again.