She touched his rough face, his hard shoulders, and his silky hair, reveling in the heat, the strength, and the power encountered beneath her fingertips. Laynee lifted her arms, looping them around his shoulders and spearing her fingers through his hair. Leaning closer, he captured her mouth in a hot kiss, his tongue swirling against hers.
Moving his hand between them, he teased her clit until an orgasm tore through her like a freight train. She screamed as the pleasure overwhelmed her. David growled, his hips jerking, his cock twitching inside her.
After a few moments, he lifted his head and pressed a gentle kiss against her neck. Reaching up, he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb tenderly back and forth across her lips. Laynee held her breath and winced when he separated their bodies, and then snuggled close into his embrace when he curled up at her side.
David lifted her breast in his hand and circled the nipple with one finger. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman, Laynee. You’re perfect.”
“I’m anything but perfect, David.” She bit her lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, love. You can ask me anything.”
“What happened to give you all the small scars you have across your back?”
“Felt those, did you?”
“My fingertips are pretty sensitive since I can’t see.”
Tenderly, he drew her chin upward and captured her lips with his. “We told you that we lived in a home for orphans before Kitania, Ethan, and Latan adopted us.”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, all I’m gonna say is that they had a rather stiff method of punishment. I had a little trouble following the rules at first, but it didn’t take me long to mend my ways. Do they bother you?”
“Oh, God, no.” Laynee threw her arm over his stomach and snuggled close against his warmth. “Nothing about you bothers me in a bad way, David. I feel sad for the little boy that had to learn such a hard lesson, and I admire the man he’s become.”
David leaned close to her ear. “I love you,” he whispered.
Laynee smiled, closed her eyes, and let sleep pull her under.
* * * *
David listened to Laynee’s soft, even breathing letting him know she’d fallen asleep. I sure hope we get some use out of a bed soon. These floors are killing my ass!
* * * *
Robert slammed the phone down, picked it up, and hurled it across the room, narrowly missing Jeremy as he walked through his office door.
“Are you crazy?” Jeremy peered up and down the hall and quietly shut the door. “I would think you wouldn’t be doing anything to draw attention to yourself at this point.”
Robert glared at him. “Shut up and get out.”
Jeremy chuckled. “I don’t think so. What’s the matter with you? Having a bad morning? Have they found your darling daughter’s body yet?”
Robert narrowed his eyes. Maybe I should let them find your body, Jeremy. “Oh, they found her all right.”
Jeremy’s eyes widened as a smile spread across his face. “That’s wonderful! You should be celebrating here in private. You’ll only have to act the grieving father in public.”
“Wouldn’t look very good for me to be grieving my daughter now.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because they found her alive.”
Jeremy’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”
“According to the sheriff, a couple of campers stumbled across her and took her back to their home someplace in the Wind River Valley. I believe he called the place Takoda.”
“When did they find her?”
“I guess not long after we left her there. She was apparently suffering from exhaustion and couldn’t tell them who she was until last night. The people that found her contacted the local authorities who in turn, called the team from Search and Rescue that’s been on the job since the beginning.”
“Do they know what happened?”
Robert noticed the touch of fear in Jeremy’s voice. “I don’t think so. The damn fool was too intent on congratulating me and thanking our maker that my prayers had been answered.” He snorted. “Damn sure wasn’t an answer to my prayers.”
“I thought the raw meat was supposed to attract wild animals.”
“The sheriff didn’t say anything about the meat, so I’m guessing it worked. Only the wild animals must have thought she was too much trouble and filled up on the steaks instead.”
“What are you gonna do now?”
“I’m going to produce a power of attorney and make a transfer at the bank before my dear daughter gets home.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have her power of attorney.”
Robert picked up a folder from his desk. “I do now.”
“Shit, you forged her signature?”
Robert shrugged. “Who’s to say? She signed a lot of papers for me. Can she really say she didn’t sign this one?”
Jeremy shook his head. “You have no scruples. Do you have to go get Laynee?”
“No, the damn do-gooders are bringing her home.”
“Did they tell you anything about them?”
“Not really. The guy did say they come from a very respected family from the mountain and I shouldn’t worry about her traveling with them.”
“When is she due back?”
“Sometime late this evening. I’m gonna drive out to Winston’s house after the board meeting this afternoon and check out the second floor and see if I can find anything that could be sold.”
“Good luck! We sure as hell didn’t find anything on the ground floor. Can you still get in?”
“Of course. The servants are there, and they don’t know the terms of the will. I can waltz in like I own the place.”
“How long do you think that’ll last?”
Robert shrugged. “As long as I take care of all her correspondence, she’ll never have a reason to find out.”
Jeremy turned toward the door. “If you don’t get your hands on some money, everyone’s going to find out. I came to tell you the auditors will be here on Monday. So you’ll need to have the funds replaced no later than Friday, and then you’ll have to doctor the books so it can’t be traced back to you.”
Robert curled his lip. “If I go down, Jeremy, then so do you.”
* * * *
David shook his head, concentrating on traffic as they drove from the airport. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
Laynee groaned. “Why not?”
“It’s simple, David,” Eric said. “We head to Laynee’s grandfather’s house. Legally, it’s hers, so we aren’t doing anything wrong.”
David sighed. “And we’re doing this because?”
“It’ll throw my father off track. He doesn’t know I’m aware of Grandfather’s will. I’ll just say that I didn’t have my purse and Grandfather’s address is the only one I know by heart because he writes to me so often. He’ll think I’m in shock from everything that’s happened, and it’ll throw him off base.”
“Even if all that’s true, what’s the benefit of throwing him off base?” David asked.
“Because we don’t know the extent of all he’s done against Laynee, and technically, we can’t prove anything Macon found out right now. Zyne said this was the best and safest way to flush him out. We need positive proof if we’re gonna take him down, at least legally.”
David shook his head. “I wish Zyne hadn’t had the last-minute emergency with one of his cases. It would have been comforting to have a lawyer along with us. How are we supposed to get him to let us stay after we deliver Laynee to him?”
“I’ll take care of that,” Laynee said. “I’ll just insist you stay.”
Eric put his hand on her shoulder. “Let him think we have business in the area and Laynee has graciously offered to put us up in gratitude for saving her life in the big, bad woods.”
She snickered. “What are we gonna tell him about my rescue?”
David chu
ckled. “He’s gonna be sweating bullets wondering if we found all that raw meat he scattered around.”
“It’s best to let him think you woke up and wandered off, away from the area he left you in,” Eric said. “We wouldn’t have had a reason to search once we found you since you were too exhausted to tell us anything.”
David snorted. “That’s exactly what happened. I ran across her some distance from where she woke up.”
“Yeah, remember I told you I walked for a while with that big dog.” Laynee frowned and turned toward Eric. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask when you found my soda can.”
David cleared his throat. “After we got you safely home, Eric went back to take a look around to see if he could find your father.”
“Yeah, I came across that big tree that had your footprints, or at least someone’s small footprints, and the empty soda can lying nearby. That wasn’t really sinister by itself, but the raw meat thrown all over the place was a different story. It made me suspicious enough to bring the can back and turn it over to the doc and have it tested.”
David tapped the steering wheel. “I should point out that he was really careful not to get his fingerprints on it. So anyone who touched the can should have their prints all over it.”
“It’ll have mine for sure,” Laynee said. “He gave it to me in the car, and I started drinking it right away.” She laughed. “I used to be addicted to orange soda, and the taste of it brought back a lot of memories, most of them not so good.” She turned to Eric. “If you went back to look around, did you see a big dog running around?”
“Uh, no, didn’t see any dogs big or small.”
She sighed. “He didn’t have a collar, and I don’t think he has a home. I hate to think of him running around out there, having to scavenge for food. If I could have brought him home with me, I would have. Grandfather’s place is pretty big. I’m sure there would be room enough on the property to put up a pen for him to live in.”
David choked back a laugh. “Maybe Eric could find him for you and we could put a cage in the back of the Jeep to bring him up here.”
Laynee smiled. “You’d really do that for me?”
Eric glared at David over her head. “If I didn’t see him when I searched, I’m sure he’s left the area. He wouldn’t have stuck around if there was no food, and if he was as friendly as you say, he’ll be looking for some human interaction.” He moved his arm to drape it over her shoulders. “Don’t worry, pretty lady. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“According to the map the rental agency provided, we get off at the next exit.” David checked the rearview mirror and signaled a right turn.
“How far is it from here?” Laynee asked.
Eric picked up the map and studied it for a moment. “We should be pulling into the driveway in about a half hour or less."
David groaned. “It’s been a long trip. I sure hope we don’t have any trouble getting in.”
“Your uncle Remus said he’d wait until we landed and then call Grandfather’s attorney to let him know we were heading to the house.”
Eric nodded. “He wanted to make sure you dad didn’t have enough time to leave you any unpleasant welcomes. The attorney is gonna let the house staff know to expect us, and I imagine he’s making that call right about now.”
“Do you think he’ll call my father?”
David shrugged. “It won’t matter one way or the other. If you have any hope of getting him to incriminate himself, you’re gonna have to let him join us at the house.”
Laynee clasped her hands together. “I just wish this was all over and I didn’t have to keep bodyguards around to feel safe.”
Eric growled softly. “Does that mean when he goes down you’re gonna send us on our way?”
David waited anxiously for her answer. He was more worried about her sending them away once she found out about their animals.
“No, absolutely not. I want you guys to stick around for as long as you want.”
Eric leaned close and rested his chin on her head. “Then you might as well get used to us because we’re not going anywhere.”
“Look,” David said. “There’s the sign for Hadley Estates.” He put on the blinker and slowed the car. “In just a minute, we’ll be pulling into your new home, Laynee.” And hopefully, it’s a temporary home.
Eric hugged her shoulders. “We want you to go back to Glacier with us and live in our cabin.” He pointed toward a driveway. “That’s it, on the right.”
David turned into the drive by the mailbox. “Let’s go see this mansion of yours.”
* * * *
Robert pulled the middle drawer from the desk and searched underneath. “Where the hell did you hide the combination, old man?” He was determined to find a way into the wall safe. He could call a locksmith to break it open, but they’d require all kinds of documentation, and technically, he wasn’t the owner of the damn house.
“Mr. Conners, whatever are you doing, sir?”
Robert looked up at Maysie. She’d worked for his father-in-law for almost thirty years. The damn woman never aged. She’d looked fifty when he’d met her over twenty years ago, and she still looked fifty. She always made him feel like a naughty schoolboy. “I’m still trying to settle Winston’s estate, Maysie. You know how eccentric he was. I’m guessing he has important things hidden all over this place.”
“Yes, Mr. Weathers could be a bit odd at times. But he had a good heart, rest his soul.”
Robert groaned inwardly. “Yes, he certainly did.”
“Will you be joining the young miss and her companions for dinner?”
Robert pushed the drawer back into place and studied the old housekeeper. “What young woman?”
“Why, your daughter, of course. They should be here any minute.”
Robert stood. “What are you talking about? Laynee’s not due until late tonight or tomorrow, and she’ll be coming home to my house.”
Maysie shook her head. “Begging your pardon, sir, but Mr. Kemp was quite clear.”
“When did you talk to him?”
“He called no more than an hour ago, letting me know that their flight had landed and they’d be coming here to stay while they’re in St. Paul.”
“Laynee’s coming here? And she’s bringing those men with her?”
“Mr. Kemp said to get some rooms ready, that they’d be staying for an undetermined amount of time.”
Robert pushed the chair back hard enough to crash into the wall. He scowled when she flinched. “Sorry, Maysie. I’m just having a bad day. I hadn’t realized Laynee would be coming here. I was all set to give her a big homecoming dinner at my place.” He looked toward the window. “I’ve been so worried about her since she got lost in the woods.”
She harrumphed. “It’s a miracle she made it out alive. I couldn’t believe it when I read about it in the morning paper. What were you thinking of, sir? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Robert straightened his nearly six-foot frame and glared at the woman who was merely a servant. “I do mind, Maysie. It’s not your place to question me. I will definitely be staying for dinner. In fact, I’ll be staying indefinitely. Please have Edward remove all of Winston’s personal things from his room and make up the bed with fresh linens. I’ll be using it from now on.”
Maysie stared at him with wide, rounded eyes. “What would you like for me to do with Mr. Weather’s things? Should I donate them to charity?”
“Not until I’ve had a chance to go through them. Have them boxed up and put in here. I’ll go through everything tomorrow, and then you can get rid of it.”
“Right away, Mr. Conners.” She turned to walk away.
“And, Maysie.”
She turned back. “Yes, sir?”
“Put my daughter in the room next to me and her traveling companions in the other wing.”
“But, sir, we’ve had that wing closed off for some time. There’s been no dusting or vacuuming in months.”
; Robert smiled. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want them to overstay their welcome. Just do a cursory cleaning on a couple of the rooms and make sure they have clean sheets and towels. They should understand we’re getting over a death in the family and not running a bed and breakfast.”
Maysie tightened her lips until they resembled a thin line. “Very well, sir.” Without another word, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Robert walked to the window and smiled. “Well, my darling daughter. Seems you have multiple lives just like a cat. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming here? What the hell are you up to?” He turned and sat down at the desk, picked up a pen, and began clicking it open and closed. “This is an old and dangerous house. You just might break your neck if you got clumsy and fell down the front stairs.” He thought for a moment and then chuckled. “If I work things right, I just might be able to have the two strangers in our home held responsible for your early demise.”
Chapter 8
Remus slid his arms around Maddie and nuzzled her neck. “Whatcha doin’?”
Maddie snorted. “What does it look like?”
He gazed over her shoulder and grimaced. She never indulged in sweets unless something was bothering her. A three-decker ice-cream sundae meant she was pissed about something. Slowly, he covered her hand with his and took the large spoon away, dropping it into the sink. “Are you gonna tell me what’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
He barked out a laugh, ran his finger through the fudge sauce, and held it to her lips. He felt his cock twitch when her tongue shot out and licked his finger clean.
Sighing, she turned in his arms and laid her head on his chest. “I’m just tired of our lives having so much turmoil.”
He pressed a kiss against her head. “It’s not that bad. We have everything pretty much under control.”
“You can’t be that delusional, Remus. Victor is making noise about never taking a mate since they’re so much trouble. Eloise is hankering after that fellow from the National Council.”
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