Reunited With The Rancher

Emily focused on him with a piercing look. “Tom, have you slept with Natalie?”

“Never,” he answered with a clear conscience. “That isn’t what this is about. I’m helping Natalie out, for Jeremy. That’s all there is to it. He was a buddy and he died for his country.” Tom gazed into Emily’s green eyes and wondered whether she believed him or not. “It would be a good idea if you two met. Natalie has a sweet family.”

“Oh, Tom,” Emily said. She looked as if she’d been punched in the gut. Her shoulders sagged and she frowned. She ran her hand across her brow. “I’ve made a big mistake then,” she repeated.

“I think you did,” he said quietly. “But not one that can’t be fixed.”

Emily nodded. “I owe you an apology, because I believed this, even though it was so unlike you. The picture really shocked me.”

“Forget that. We’ve got this ironed out between us now as far as I’m concerned, and I’ll arrange for you and Natalie to meet.”

“You never told me about seeing them. If it was just to be a help and do this for Jeremy, why didn’t you tell me? I could have done some things for them, too.”

He felt a ripple of impatience. “You haven’t been interested in anything I’ve done for a long time. We don’t keep up with each other any longer. I don’t know any more about what you’re doing than you know about what I’m doing. We’re out of each other’s lives now.” He looked down at the papers in his hand. “This divorce was inevitable.”

Clamping her lips shut, she nodded. “That’s true. I can see why you didn’t tell me.” She frowned. “So this troll just sent the message to upset and hurt me,” Emily said quietly, as if more to herself than to Tom, but he heard her.

“You got this from Maverick?”

“Yes.”

“Damnation,” Tom said, his temper rising as he thought about someone hiding behind a fictitious name, sending hateful messages to try to hurt Emily, who had already suffered the worst possible losses. He had failed Emily in the worst possible way before, but he wasn’t going to fail her this time. “There’s too much damn hate in this world and we don’t need this going on in Royal. Maverick.” He said the name with distaste. “Someone has hurt you once, but I damn well can see that he doesn’t hurt you again. First of all, unless you’ve already called him, I’m calling Nathan Battle and letting him know about this,” Tom said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Sheriff Battle?”

“Yes. This week it’s a hateful message to you. Who knows what this might escalate into next or how much this troll might hurt someone else? For some reason, he or she or they want to hurt you or you wouldn’t have received that email. But I can’t imagine you have an enemy in this world.”

“Frankly, Tom, I didn’t think about calling the sheriff. I was thinking more about us.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. If you get another message from Maverick, call me the minute you do.”

“You saw the message—it was on target,” she said quietly, and his anger increased at hearing the pain in her voice.

“It was a lie meant to hurt you. I’ll call Nathan right now.”

Tom’s anger boiled and he was frustrated not to be able to take more direct action. When Nathan answered, Tom quickly told him about the email. After a minute or two, he turned to Emily. “Nathan wants to come pick up your CPU. He knows it most likely won’t do any good, but he doesn’t want to overlook anything.”

“I don’t mind if he checks the CPU and the email,” she answered. “Goodness, I have nothing to hide. I’m going back into town, so I can drop it off at his office.”

Tom smiled, then went back to talking to the sheriff for a minute before ending the call. “We’ll go by his office. I’ll help you get your CPU.”

“That’s fine. How do you suppose someone got that picture? Do you remember who took it?”

“There was some guy, about seventy years old, staying at the bed-and-breakfast. He was taking pictures. I’m sure he didn’t know any of us.”

“Well, then, how did Maverick get the picture?”

“The guy was using a camera. Maybe he got the prints made at a store. Those can be handled by several people. It wouldn’t be hard to get a copy.” He tilted his head to look at her. “Do you have plans tonight?”

“Not at all,” she answered.

“Good. Because I’m moving back in,” Tom announced in an authoritative voice that she assumed he’d developed in the Rangers. “I want to stay close, because no one knows Maverick’s ultimate intentions.”

* * *

Startled, Emily stared at him. “I appreciate your offer but it’s not necessary. I’m not staying on the ranch any longer. I’m going to restore Uncle Woody’s house and move in there. I’ve put a cot in a bedroom and I’m already living in Royal.”

“You’ve moved off the ranch?” Tom said, frowning. “Look, Maverick isn’t getting the reaction from us that he, she or they expected, which will increase the hatred and anger toward you. Move back to the ranch until this Maverick gets caught. You’ll be safer here.”

She might have been tempted to do what he asked, except he was asking for the wrong reason. She wasn’t moving back because of an email message. And now that she knew the truth and Tom still was the same Tom she had always known, she had lost her anger toward him. But they still had all the problems they’d had for the past five years. She was going to move into town and Tom wasn’t going to stop her.

As she calmed down, the feelings and responses she had always had began to return, including noticing his thick black hair that was a tangle over his forehead but always looked appealing to her. She could remember running her fingers through his hair. Her gaze slid down and she thought about his strong arms holding her against his rock-hard chest.

She sighed, because the memories were a torment and she couldn’t keep them from happening. The breeze caught locks of his hair and blew them slightly. Everything about him made her want to walk into his arms and hold him close. She had always thought he was good-looking, and as the years went by, he seemed more handsome than ever. Or did she feel that way just because he was more off-limits than ever? She wasn’t staying on the ranch no matter what he said, because they had been too unhappy together there. There were too many bad memories in the big house on the ranch.

“I’ll be fine in town,” she said, knowing that was the best place for her to be. “I’m working at my studio four days a week now, and the other days, I can work on the house.”

“Okay, I’ll get a sleeping bag and stay with you in Royal. You don’t know if you’re in any danger from this troll. Just because nothing’s happened in the past doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.”

Startled, she stared at him. “You can’t live in Royal—you have a ranch to run,” she blurted, feeling a sudden panic that they would be in close quarters. No matter what problems they had, when they were together, the physical attraction was impossible to resist. She had been trying to get over him and build a new life. If they lived together, she wouldn’t be able to resist him.

“You don’t need to spend all that time driving back and forth every day from Royal to the ranch,” she said. She was pleased that he was concerned and had made the offer, and overwhelmingly relieved to discover that the troll’s message hadn’t been true and Tom was still the same trustworthy person she had always thought he was, but her panic about spending nights under the same roof again began to revive. She gazed into his thickly lashed hazel eyes, which made her get a tightness low inside and think about his kisses that could melt her.

“If you’re in danger and something happened to you in Royal while I’m out here on the ranch,” he said, “I couldn’t live with it. You’d do the same if the situation were reversed.”

She had to smile at the thought of being a bodyguard for Tom. “That’s such a stretch of the imagination, I can’t picture it. Don’t even think about moving to Royal, but thank you for the offer, which is nice of you,” she said, running her fingers along his forearm, feeling the solid muscles. She had meant it as a friendly gesture of gratitude, but the minute her fingers touched his arm, a sizzling current spiraled in her and she thought again of having his strong arms around her.

As she drew a deep breath, she saw his eyes narrow. Either he felt something, too, or he knew that she had—or both.

She dropped her hand instantly and stepped back. “Thanks anyway,” she said, dismissing his offer.

“Give some thought to this. For all we know, you might be in danger. The safest possible place would be in the guesthouse. I can protect you the easiest there.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary at all. According to the rumors I’ve heard, Maverick hasn’t done anything except send terrible messages, trying to blackmail Royal citizens and stir up trouble. I need to work in town and I don’t want to drive back and forth. I’m staying at my uncle’s. Thank you for your concern, but you don’t need to stay with me,” she said firmly.

“I’ve already lost one of the most important people in my life,” he said in a tight voice. “I don’t intend to let anything happen to you.” His hazel eyes looked darker, as they did when he was emotional or making love. “I’m going to ask Nathan to have someone drive by Natalie’s and check on her to make sure she and her family are protected and okay.” Tom removed his phone from his pocket again. Emily wondered who he was calling now until she heard him say hello to their foreman.

“Hey, Gus. I need to be away from the ranch for a while.”

Even as she stepped in front of him and shook her head, trying to discourage him, she knew the futility of her efforts. Tom had made up his mind that she should have protection and she wouldn’t be able to stop him. She threw up her hands and walked away as he gave instructions to Gus. How was she going to be able to resist Tom if they were under the same roof? Maybe he would stay downstairs and she could stay upstairs, or vice versa.

“There, now,” he said when he finished talking to the foreman. “I’ll bring my sleeping bag and stay in the old house with you. I won’t be in your way, and I can help you with the restoration.”

Exasperated, she stared at him. While she was annoyed, she knew this alpha male attitude was part of why she had been drawn to him in the first place. He was decisive and got things done. In high school it had been part of his appeal. Now she was glad he could make a decision and solve problems, but this time she really didn’t want him interfering in her life by taking charge. Each time she thought about being back under the same roof with him all night, her heart pounded. If he was going to help with the restoration of the old house, they would be working together. And she couldn’t trust her physical response to Tom. He would stir up all those latent longings again. Tom had a virile, sexy body. He was superbly fit from the Rangers and from ranch work.

Tom turned to her. He had his hands on his hips and he stood close. He had the shadow of stubble on his face and his tangled hair added to his disheveled attraction. He looked more appealing than ever in a rugged, sexy way. She realized where her thoughts were drifting and tried to pay attention to what he was saying.

“Nathan told me that Case Baxter, president of the TCC, plans to have an emergency meeting this coming week. Case agrees with Nathan that Maverick has to be stopped. To do so, they need to learn Maverick’s true identity. I’m going to that meeting, and I’d like you to come with me.”

“Sure, I’ll go. But I don’t think I can help in any way.”

“It won’t hurt, and the more of us who are informed and keep in touch with Nathan, the more likely he’ll be able to catch Maverick. If you go, remember, Maverick may be sitting in the audience.”

She shivered. “That’s creepy.”

“Hopefully, his emails and threats on social media won’t escalate into violence, but no one knows right now. What he’s doing now is bad enough. He hasn’t really hurt us, but he could have, and he can hurt others badly.”

After a pause, Emily steered the conversation to an equally unpleasant topic. “Tom, when we’ve waited a bit, we need to sit down and talk about the divorce and how we’ll divide things. I was so angry when I filed. The picture was so convincing.”

He nodded. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem dividing up the ranch, the house, the cars or the plane.”

“You can definitely have the plane,” she remarked, and he gave her a fleeting smile that made her smile in turn.

“I’ll sign the divorce papers. We’re there anyway, and you can have a life.”

She turned away before he saw tears in her eyes. He was right. They were as good as divorced now, and she couldn’t give him children. Their marriage had such devastating memories. Even so, it still hurt when divorce became reality; she had filed and the papers were in his possession. It was one more big loss in her life and this one she took responsibility for because she’d been unable to get pregnant again. If she had been, it would have held them together. She’d wanted so badly to give Tom another child like Ryan. There was adoption—Tom had been willing—but it wasn’t the same and she was against it. She wanted to have another child like Ryan.

Now she and Tom were estranged, and if they got divorced, they could each go ahead with life. But it was difficult to imagine ever loving another man.

And it didn’t help that Tom had proved Maverick wrong and was trying to help her. It was easy to file for divorce when she was so angry with Tom because she thought he had deceived her. To know that he was still the same guy she had always admired and trusted made the divorce hurt.

“Emily?”

She blinked in surprise, turning to face him again. His eyes narrowed, and he studied her intently. “I’m sorry, Tom. My thoughts drifted back to Maverick,” she said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She suspected he could guess exactly why she hadn’t heard him.

“You said you’re going back to Royal from here. Let me grab a sleeping bag and a few things. I’ll take you.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but before she said a word, he waved his hand. “I’m taking you to Royal. Tomorrow we’ll come back and get your car. I’d just as soon let everyone see us together—it’ll give me pleasure. Hopefully, the damned troll will see us and realize that email did no harm. Far from it. How’s that for a plan?”

She shrugged. “I have a feeling if I didn’t like it at all, I would still end up doing it. I think you’re right about letting Maverick see us together. That gives me a sense of getting even with the troll.”

“We can flaunt that we’re getting along. It doesn’t take long for word to get around Royal.”

“I agree. While it’s good to be seen together, you don’t need to stay with me,” she argued again. “I’ll be in town, where I can call for help at any hour and someone will be right there.”

“I’m staying, Emily. This is someone with a grudge and you’re on the list. That was a damn hateful message you received. Look at the results. You filed for divorce. If rumors started, they could have hurt Natalie, which in turn would have hurt her kids. Frankly, I’m not ready to divorce you when it’s because of a bunch of lies from a vengeful creep.”

“You have a point, Tom,” she said, wishing he had said he didn’t want the divorce for other reasons, yet knowing he was right. “And while we’ve been talking, I’ve been thinking—Maverick has to be somebody who lives in Royal, or has lived in Royal until recently, to know this about you and Natalie and to know to send the picture to me.”

“That’s right.” He looked down at his dusty boots, his mud-splattered jeans. “Can you have a seat inside and let me take a quick shower? I can be speedy.”

“You were never speedy when I showered with you,” she teased and then blushed. “I don’t know where that came from,” she said. “Forget it.”

“Hell, no, I won’t forget it,” he said, his voice getting soft. “You were teasing like you used to, and that’s allowed, Emily. We can have some fun sometimes—let it happen. We’ve got too much of the sad stuff. At this point in our lives, it really isn’t going to change anything to have a laugh or two,” he said.

She nodded. “I suppose you’re right,” she said quietly, thinking he was the way he used to be before the bad times set in. Relaxed, kind, understanding, practical, sexy. He had been fun, so much fun, so sexy. She waved her hand at him. “Go on, Tom. Shower. I can go get the CPU while you’re in there.”

“Nope. I want to be with you. This Maverick bothers me, I’ll admit. I can’t imagine why you’re on anyone’s hit list. That’s worrisome. You’re softhearted, generous—”

“Oh, my! We’ve turned into a mutual-admiration society, thanks to a troll.”

“It’s not thanks to the damned troll. It’s time we have something between us again that isn’t sad, even if it’s just for five minutes.”

“Tom, I agree with everything you just said. For just a few minutes, it was sort of the way it used to be, at least a tiny bit,” she said, suddenly serious, thinking it was a lot better than not speaking and avoiding each other. “I know we can’t turn back the clock, but we can at least be civil to each other.”

“Damn right. Don’t disappear while I go shower,” he said, starting inside and holding the screen door. He paused, looking over his shoulder at her. “Unless you want to come inside and join me.”

She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

He grinned. “After your remark, I had to try.” He let the door slam shut behind him and disappeared.

“Don’t make me fall in love with you all over again,” she whispered, and wound her fingers together, trying to think of seeing Nathan Battle, of her appointments tomorrow, of anything except Tom in the shower.

In less than ten minutes Tom reappeared, his hair slightly damp. He wore a clean navy T-shirt, fresh jeans, black boots and a black hat. He carried a rolled-up sleeping bag and a satchel. “I’ll put up my truck and get the car and we’ll go get the CPU.”

“Sure,” she said, walking out with him and waiting on the porch until he pulled up in a black sports car. He was out and around the car by the time she got to it. He held the door for her, and as she passed him, she glanced up and received another scalding look. She was close, her shoulder brushing his arm as he held the car door open. Their gazes met and she couldn’t catch her breath. For just a moment, she forgot everything except Tom, pausing to look into his thickly lashed hazel eyes that immobilized her. The differences between them fell away, and all-consuming lust enveloped her.

It took an effort to tear her gaze from his. In that brief moment, she had wanted his arms around her and his mouth on hers.

“Thanks,” she said, hating that it came out breathlessly. She slipped into the passenger seat and gazed ahead as he closed the door. He strode around the car. Handsome, purposeful, filled with vitality, he would be married again after their divorce, she was certain. Tom was too appealing to live alone, and he liked women. The idea of Tom marrying hurt even though they had no future together and no longer had the joy and happiness of their first years together.

She rode in silence as they drove the short distance from the guesthouse to the mansion they had shared. Now it stood silent and empty. They had been happy in the sprawling, palatial two-story house until they lost their son. She didn’t want to live in it alone. It was too big, too empty without Tom. He’d seemed to fill it with his presence when he would come home. When they had Ryan, his childish voice and laughter had also seemed to fill the big house. At present, she found it empty, isolated and sad. She didn’t like living alone in it and she didn’t intend to ever again. This wasn’t the place for her any longer.

The house had a somber effect on her and Tom seemed to react the same way. They both were quiet as they walked to the door. Tom still had a key and opened the door to hold it for her. She walked through into the spacious entryway, switching on lights as she went, although it wasn’t dark outside yet.

She suddenly thought about Ryan running around in front of the house when he was so small. Tears came and she wiped them away quickly. Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder at Tom, and he looked stricken. She guessed that he, too, was thinking of Ryan and hurting because he hadn’t been in the house in almost a year. He rubbed his eyes—the tough, decorated Ranger who had been in combat, been wounded, been a prisoner until he escaped. She couldn’t bear his grief, which compounded her pain. When she turned away, crying silently while she tried to get control of her emotions, Tom put his arm around her.

“Come here,” he whispered. Sobbing, she turned to him and they held each other. His strong arms around her felt wonderful and she tightened her hold on him as if she could squeeze out some of his strength, transferring it from him to her. He was a comfort and she hoped she was for him. She stroked his back, relishing holding him. It had been so long since she had been in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Tom. Sometimes I just lose it and I guess you do, too. Having you here helps,” she said, wiping her eyes with a tissue.

He looked down at her, easing his hold on her slightly. “I’m glad I’m here for you. It helps me. Grieving is part of it that we can’t escape.” She nodded as he released her. She missed his strong arms around her.

“I’m okay now. Thanks.”

They went through the house to the large room that was her office. “I’ll get the CPU out for you, Emily,” he said and strode past her. “I’m sure this is futile, but it would be ridiculous for Nathan not to check it out.”

“While you do that, Tom, I’ll pick up a few things to take to Royal.”

“Where’s that white cat of yours?”

“Your cook has Snowball until I get settled in Royal. You don’t care, do you?”

“No, I don’t care where your cat is.”

It seemed natural to be in the house with Tom again. She watched him hunker down to disconnect the CPU, the fabric of his jeans pulling tightly over his long legs. Desire swept through her, and she turned to leave the room abruptly to get away from him.

In less than half an hour they were on their way to Royal. They rode together in silence. She knew he was bound in his own thoughts as much as she was in hers, and they had little to say to each other. While they didn’t talk, she was acutely conscious of him. She hadn’t been around him this much in a long time. And their time together was just starting. How could she live under the same roof with him again without being in his arms and in his bed and back on an emotional roller coaster?

She glanced at his hand on the steering wheel. He had a scar across the back of it that had healed long ago. He had scars all over his body from his time in the military.

His hands were well shaped, nails clipped very short, veins showing slightly. Too easily she could remember his hands drifting over her when they had made love—strong hands that could send her to paradise.

She realized her thoughts were carrying her into a place she didn’t want to go. “I think you’re right about the divorce. We’ll get it—that’s inevitable—but I don’t like getting a divorce because of Maverick, either.”

“Let’s table the divorce for now. I’ll try to find out how much effort Nathan is devoting to catching this troll. The meeting Monday at the club may shed more light. If we don’t divorce and we both stay at the house in Royal—”

“Maverick will know you’ve become my bodyguard,” she said, shaking her head.

“Not necessarily. If I help you restore the old house, it’ll look as if we’re back together. For all anyone knows, we’re fixing it up for you to sell. For a few weeks, maybe we should keep quiet that I’m worried about your protection and that we’re not really together anymore.”

“That’s fine with me. Anything to defeat Maverick. Frankly, I’m still amazed I’m a victim. I’m not the sweetest person, but I usually get along with people I know and work with, neighbors, church friends.”

“I’ll ask you the question that Nathan is going to ask—do you have any enemies? Anyone who doesn’t like you or you’ve angered?”