A tap sounded at the door, making her jump. Who in the world would be showing up at that time of the night? There was only one person who came to mind. Had Dalton seen her light on? Was he there to lecture her on the need for sleep? Grabbing for her crutches, she pushed to her feet and hobbled to the door to answer it.
“Dalton, I…” Her voice trailed off as she looked up to find one of the teens she had taken under her wing at Stoney Brook several years before standing in the hallway outside.
“Jeffrey? Jeffrey Randolph?”
“I hope this isn’t a bad time,” he said with a worried frown as he eyed the crutches. “The woman working at the diner downstairs told me where to find you.”
“No, not at all. I just twisted my ankle in the snow and have to take it easy.” She hopped aside. “Come in.”
He moved past her into the living room. “Nice place.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. It was so good to see him again. It was amazing how much he’d filled out since she’d seen him last. He was no longer the string-bean that kids teased him about being. And there was a new self-confidence to him that hadn’t been there before.
She’d never forget meeting Jeffrey for the first time. He’d been an attention starved, under-loved kid who was angry at the world when he first arrived at Stoney Brook. By the end of that summer he was a new kid. Despite the positive changes, the odds of his returning to his old life on the streets were high. But he looked to have beaten those odds and it warmed her heart to no end.
He returned her smile. “I’m on my way down to Houston.”
“Houston?”
“I’m hoping to get accepted into the Astronaut Candidate Program they have there.”
“You wanna be an astronaut?”
He nodded. “It’s always been a dream of mine.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say.” She was ready to burst from the pride she felt for him.
“I remember you telling me never to give up on something just because it seemed out of my reach. You told me what I had to do was reach a little higher.”
The fact that he remembered her words touched her deeply.
“That summer I spent at the retreat,” he continued, “taught me so much I didn’t know about myself. You convinced me that I could do anything I wanted to if I set my mind to it. Well, I did just that and graduated last fall with a bachelor’s degree in biological science.”
“Jeffrey, that’s wonderful!” Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes as she stepped forward to hug him. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I owe it all to you, Miss Myers. I just wanted to swing by on my way through and thank you for believing in me when no one else did.”
She sniffed softly as another wave of emotion washed over her. “Someone did the same thing for me once.”
“Well, you can be sure I’ll pay it forward, too, someday.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to run, the taxi’s waiting.”
“Jeffrey…”
“Yeah?”
“You’re gonna make a great astronaut.”
“All thanks to you for teaching me how to reach for the stars.” With a wave, he stepped out into the night.
Caitlin closed the door behind him, listening to the sound of his retreating footsteps as he descended the stairs. She suddenly felt emotionally rejuvenated. Tucking her crutches under her arms, she made her way over to the window and watched him climb into the awaiting taxi, pride filling her.
There were so many teens out there in need of all the things the retreat offered - guidance, discipline, emotional support, and so much more. Jeffrey’s visit had convinced her to reach higher herself and find some way to change Brandon Barnes’ mind. Troubled teens could turn their lives around and make something of themselves if only given a chance. And Stoney Brook was that chance.
*
After a good night’s sleep and a long shower, Dalton dressed and headed downstairs to his brother’s office. Whether Brandon liked it or not, they were going to discuss his plans to shut down the retreat. He had given Caitlin his word that he’d talk to his brother about it and he always kept his word.
Brandon glanced up from where he sat behind the mahogany desk that had once belonged to their father and motioned to the phone at his ear. He signaled that he’d be with him in a moment, then turned and propped his boots up on the windowsill behind him, returning to his conversation.
Dalton crossed the room and settled into one of the southwestern style chairs that sat in front of the oversized desk. He hadn’t been in there since the reading of his father’s will, but nothing had changed. Trophy mounts from their father’s many hunting trips still lined the far wall. Below them sat an antique bookcase that had belonged to their grandfather, inside of which was their father’s prized collection of Louis L’Amour novels.
“Let me know when you hear back on that. Sure thing.” Brandon swiveled around in his chair and deposited the cordless onto the desk in front of him. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. I have to say you look a hell of a lot better than you did the last time I saw you.”
“It had been a long couple of nights.”
The chair creaked beneath him as his brother eased back against it. “Spare me the juicy details.”
“There aren’t any.”
Brandon chuckled, the sound echoing off the surrounding walls. “Don’t tell me the big rodeo star couldn’t perform.”
“Ex-rodeo star,” he corrected. “And I’m not here to discuss my sex life. I wanna talk to you about your decision to shut down the retreat and build some fancy pants playground for rich folk.”
“It’s gonna be a resort, and it happens to be a smart business investment.”
“Says who? Martinson?” Alan Martinson was his brother’s financial advisor. A real snake in the grass if you asked Dalton. Martinson had worked for their father as a young man and had continued on when Brandon took over the running of the family business.
His brother’s lips thinned with anger. “What right do you have to question any of my business decisions?”
None, and he knew that.
Not giving him a chance to reply, Brandon went on, “You haven’t wanted a damned thing to do with the family business for years. So why now?”
Pushing out of the chair, Dalton walked over to the bookcase, fighting the urge to fall back into their old pattern of arguing and accomplishing nothing. This was too important. He turned back to Brandon.
“Because…” his words trailed off at the sight of Caitlin’s head bobbing up and down in the window behind his brother. What in the hell was that crazy woman up to now?
“Hold that thought,” he blurted out as he started for the door.
“Where are you going?” his brother demanded as Dalton flew past him.
“Be right back,” he called out over his shoulder on his way out the door. Their conversation was going to have to wait. He had a pretty little neck to rescue – again.
CHAPTER SIX
Brandon stared at the doorway his brother had just gone through in amazement. He raked a hand back through his dark hair with a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Damn it, Dalton.”
It was just like his brother to run out right in the middle of a discussion regarding the family business. Story of Dalton’s life. He couldn’t plant his feet in one place for more than five minutes. And if it had anything to do with the family business he lit out like a fox with its tail on fire.
Hell, it was surprising his little brother was still in Lone Tree. He’d returned home nearly two months before and hadn’t made mention of leaving yet. Then again, he’d been hired to work with one of Judd Manley’s problem horses and, knowing his brother, he wouldn’t leave until he’d seen that through. Commitment meant something to him, except when it involved his family.
His brother had always had a passion for horses, something Brandon himself had never acquired. And having gotten thrown from one while riding the trails a few years back, he was even less enthusiastic ab
out the temperamental creatures.
With an irritated frown, he reached for the phone and punched in Alan Martinson’s number. It rang and rang. He drummed his fingers on the desk impatiently. “Answer, damn it.”
“Hello?”
“Alan, it’s Brandon.”
“What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you’d heard back from John Sanders yet.”
“No, but he left a message on the answering while I was out this morning. Apparently he had to go out of town for a few days on business, but he’s supposed to fax me their bid as soon as he gets back.”
“Great. Let me know when you get it.”
“I will. You know, I have to tell you that your brother’s indiscretion could have easily cost us John Sanders’ business.”
He knew that, but he didn’t care a bit for Alan’s pointing it out to him like he was blind to his brother’s poor choices and reckless ways. Despite Dalton’s not so admirable qualities, he had to admit it was good having his brother home again. Even if they still didn’t see eye to eye.
“You worry about Sanders. I’ll handle my brother.” He hung up and pressed a finger to his temple where another stress-induced headache had begun to throb.
*
Dalton stormed outside, jaw clenched in anger. Was the woman Looney Tunes or what, climbing up the trellis like that? He wanted to think he’d just imagined it, seeing as how Caitlin had been invading his thoughts since he left her place a few nights before. But the second he rounded the side of the house, there she was. Caitlin Myers in all her glory, clinging to the vine-covered trellis by Brandon’s office window.
Not hard to miss in that hot pink jacket surrounded by all that green foliage. He moved toward her, shaking his head as he went. A sprained ankle wasn’t enough for her? She wanted a broken neck to go along with it?
He stopped behind her, biting back a growl. Even with an injured ankle, she was amazingly adept at climbing. She had made it up high enough that her backside was at face level. And what a view that was.
Crossing his arms, he cleared his throat. “Adding peeping Tom to your list of offenses?”
Caitlin let out a startled shriek, immediately losing footing. In her frantic struggle to regain her balance, the weathered trellis gave way, separating from the house with a loud crack.
“Oh, hell.” He jumped back, but not far enough to avoid being flattened by the incredibly sexy female peeping Tom.
“Dalton,” she gasped, trying unsuccessfully to get off of him. She was like a turtle that had been flipped over onto its shell, flailing wildly but not able to right herself.
“Will you hold still!” he snarled past a mouthful of her hair.
To his amazement, she actually listened. “I’m sorry. I was trying not to crush you.”
“You should have thought about that before you laid me out flat with the trellis.”
Although he had to admit it felt pretty damn good having her body pressed against his, the curve of her sexy little backside nestled between his thighs.
“I…well, um…”
“What in the hell were you doing up there?”
“I was checking to see if your brother was home.”
“Ever consider knocking on the door first?”
“I tried that. No answer.”
“How about calling?”
“Tried that before I came out here and was told he wasn’t home. So I decided to come out here and wait for him. I noticed a light on in the window and was trying to see if he was home and just avoiding me.”
“Who told you he wasn’t home?” Only he and Brandon live there at the house. And she hadn’t talked to him.
Before she could reply, a section of ivy leaves on the trellis above them parted, revealing the bright blue of the sky above. That was quickly replaced by his brother’s smirking face.
“Need a hand?”
Dalton groaned. He would rather lie there until the next spring thaw before asking his brother for help. But Caitlin took the matter out of his hands.
“Yes, please.”
“Dalton?” Brandon said, no doubt waiting for his brother to request his assistance, too.
“We’re fine.”
Caitlin looked back at him pleadingly, their bodies still pressed together beneath the weight of the fallen trellis.
With a groan, he gave in and muttered his reply.
“I’m sorry,” his brother said, leaning closer. “I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I said yes, please!” Dalton ground out, taking in another mouthful of Caitlin’s hair in the process.
“That’s better.” Brandon stepped away and then lifted the trellis high enough to drag it safely aside. Once that was done, he reached down to help Caitlin to her feet.
She gave her head a quick shake, sending the pieces of leaves that clung to her hair fluttering up into the air around her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” his brother replied in his usual brusque manner.
She glanced Dalton’s way, clearly expecting him to thank his brother, too.
Brandon crossed his arms, waiting.
“Thanks,” he murmured with a frown of irritation he got to his feet. He brushed the grass and leaf bits from his jeans and then did a quick check to make sure nothing was broken. Everything seemed to be intact. That is, with the exception of his pride.
His brother shook his head as he stood eyeing the two of them. “Would someone mind explaining what the hell is going on out here?”
Dalton’s gaze shifted to the house where only the weathered outline of the trellis remained and then back to Caitlin. He wasn’t even going to attempt an explanation. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what had just happened.
“I was trying to get your attention,” she admitted.
“Well, it worked,” his brother muttered.
Color flooded her cheeks. “I’m really sorry about the trellis. I’ll pay for the damages.”
“I don’t think there’ll be a need for that,” Dalton cut in. “It just needs reattached to the wall. Simple enough.”
“Then the job’s yours,” Brandon told him and then turned back to Caitlin.
“Do you realize I could have you arrested for trespassing?”
“Not if she had my permission,” Dalton argued.
His brother arched a dark brow. “You gave her permission to climb the trellis and peep into my office window?”
“I wasn’t peeping,” she said in her own defense.
“She wanted to talk to you,” he explained, not that Brandon ever listened.
“Through a window?” Brandon shook his head. “Never mind. I suppose we’d best continue this conversation in my office. Something tells me if I don’t let you two say your piece, she’s gonna bring my whole damn house down.” That said Brandon walked away.
“Thank you,” Caitlin hollered after him. Then she turned to Dalton with a bright smile. “Finally.”
“Are you crazy?” he demanded, his narrowed gaze shifting between the side of the house and Caitlin. “Climbing a damned trellis with one good ankle.”
“All that matters is that I finally got your brother’s attention.” Turning, she snatched up the crutches she’d left lying in the grass a few feet away and started off after Brandon.
Dalton caught up to her, his fingers curling around her arm to stop her from following after his brother.
Her emerald gaze lifted, looking like polished jade under the morning sun. “What are you doing?”
“My brother’s attention isn’t the only one you’ve grabbed hold of.”
“Excuse me?”
He plucked a piece of greenery from the red-gold strands, his hand lingering long enough to caress one of those silky strands.
Her lips parted with a sigh.
“You’ve got my attention,” he said huskily, slipping his arms around her waist. He drew her up against him and lowered his head, covering her mouth with his own in a deep, hunger driven kiss.
Caitlin didn’t try to push him away. Instead, she slid her arms up around his neck and leaned into him, returning the kiss.
She tasted sweet, like her favorite candy - peppermint. A flavor that was quickly becoming his favorite as well.
He let his hands glide down her back to the gentle swell of her backside, cupping her to him.
She moaned softly, her hips pressing into him.
The window behind them creaked as it slid open, successfully interrupting the moment. Dalton released Caitlin, stepping away from her a mere second before his brother’s face appeared at the screen.
“You two coming? I don’t have all day.”
“We’re coming,” Dalton replied, casting a glance in Caitlin’s direction. She looked as flustered as he felt, her slender fingers pressed to her kiss-swollen lips, green eyes wide. So much female in one petite, unarguably sexy package. One he wanted to unwrap again and again.
She bit into her bottom lip, the action making him want to drag her back into his arms and finish what they started.
It took all he had in him not to give in to his needs. One of them had to stay focused on their goal. And from the dazed look in her eyes it appeared it was going to be up to him.
“Come on,” he said, fitting her crutches back into place. “The Ogre’s waiting.”
Dalton’s kiss had left her legs wobbly and her mind dazed. Then again, he seemed to have a knack for knocking her off-balance. Both mentally and physically. And now here he went again.
She’d never been kissed like that before. Of course, she’d never had much time to do any experimenting in the make-out department. Between working at the diner and furthering her studies, her love life was practically nonexistent. Maybe extinct would be a more fitting description.
Dalton slowed his step beside her. “You sure you’re all right? That was quite a spill you took.”
“I’m fine.”
It was a good thing a person couldn’t die from embarrassment or she’d have been a goner a very long time ago. She just hoped Brandon hadn’t seen them kissing. Her having taken down his trellis was bad enough.
KIDNAPPED COWBOY Page 9