A Bride By Summer: The Texas Ranger's Bride / From Best Friend to Bride / Once Upon a Bride

When she thought of Anita and the look on her face when she saw Cy, Kellie feared it was the same smitten look she’d been walking around with since Bandera.

“Vic brought your laptop back.” At the sound of his deep voice, she swung around and saw it on the kitchen table. “The lab has finished with it. Feel free to check your emails and your blog site. Add whatever comes to mind.”

The mention of it reminded Kellie of her phone. She’d turned off the ringer. Thank heaven Cy was here. In his presence she wasn’t frightened to see who’d called.

After getting it out of her purse, she walked into the living room and sank down on the couch. While Cy was upstairs, she checked her cell. Five messages had been left. One from Cody, who was verifying their trip plans to Rapid City, South Dakota, for the rodeo. She’d call him back. Four came from friends. There was one text message. It came from... Trixie?

Kellie felt sick. When she checked it, there was a picture with the text. She pressed on it and saw herself and Cy in his car as they were backing out of her garage. The text read, Plan to say goodbye to your husband, Kellie girl. It’ll be payment for my brother. Then I’m going after your horse. Don’t forget your turn is coming.

“Cy—” she cried out in panic. Within seconds he came down the stairs. “Look at this! He’s a maniac! He’s threatening to kill you and my horse!” She handed him her phone so he could see everything.

Without thinking about it, Cy sat down and put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. He’d been wondering when she’d break down. All this time she’d been so brave, but the threat accompanying the photo of her horse had been the tipping point for her. It was too much. She burrowed into his neck and sobbed.

He brushed the hair away from her cheek. “Awful as this is, it means he’s ready to spring into action. But don’t worry. Two of the agency’s men dressed like local ranch hands are guarding your horses around the clock.”

She blinked. “All this time?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, thank heaven.”

“The stalker doesn’t have much more time before you leave for the rodeo next week. I’m convinced he’s going to make his move soon. I’ll be ready for him,” he murmured, pressing kisses to her brow.

One minute she was clinging to him. In the next instant she raised her head to reveal a tear-sodden face. He brushed the moisture from her cheeks with his thumb.

“I—I’m sorry I fell apart like that,” she stammered. “How embarrassing.”

Cy heard the words, but their lips were only an inch apart, distracting him from his duty to protect her. All that registered was her warmth and beauty, seducing him into wanting a taste of her. It was wrong to give in to his desire, but he’d passed a threshold where chemistry had taken over. He could no more stop what was happening than he could prevent himself from being swept into a vortex.

When his mouth closed over hers, he heard a small moan, then she was giving him access as if she couldn’t stop herself, either. For a minute he forgot everything while the wonder of her response had taken hold. One kiss became another and another until it all merged into a growing need that had set them on fire.

He’d never known this kind of ecstasy before, not even with his fiancée. Maybe it was because of the danger surrounding them that the experience of holding and kissing her had surpassed any pleasure he’d known with the few women from his past.

Kellie was exciting from the way she looked, talked, walked, rode a horse and fought her fear. Her smile dazzled him. Her lust for life—her plans for life—thrilled him almost as much as her touch, almost as much as the feel of her body molded to his.

Caught up in a frenzy of giving and taking, Cy unexpectedly heard a familiar voice come into his head. You realize the two of you will be walking a very thin line.

Stunned by how far he’d gotten carried away, he lifted his mouth from hers with reluctance. Somehow he managed to let her go and got to his feet. He cleared his throat and stood there with his hands on his hips while he attempted to get his breathing under control. “That wasn’t supposed to happen, Kellie. I apologize for betraying your trust, but you have my solemn oath it won’t happen again.”

She looked up at him through clear blue eyes dominating a flushed face. “It takes two, Ranger Vance. I was right there with you and crossed a line I swore I wouldn’t. But I’ll tell you this. I enjoyed it.”

An honest woman. He smiled, loving her candor. “It was even more exciting for me than watching you round the third can in Bandera and fly straight down the alley.”

After running his hands through her hair, Cy could see he’d disheveled it. She smoothed a few strands off her forehead. “It’s past my bedtime, so I’ll say good-night.”

“I need to keep your phone,” he said before she reached for it. Kellie nodded, then stood up and hurried out of the living room.

No sooner had she disappeared up the stairs than Vic called. Cy pulled out his phone and clicked on. “Did you get in to interrogate our prisoner?”

“Yes, but he’s not going to give up any information. These guys are real pros, but I have other news you need to see and sent it to your email. I sent the same email to the agents back east who are working on this case.”

“How soon can you get here?”

“I’m walking toward the front of Kellie’s town house now.”

“I’ll let you in.”

In a few minutes they sat at the kitchen table. Cy handed him Kellie’s phone. “Take a look at the message from the sender named Trixie. Dan took a picture of me and Kellie in the car backing out of the garage earlier today.”

Vic studied the photo and read the text. He shot Cy a glance. “The loss of his twin has unhinged him.”

“Yup. He’s starting to take daring risks and is damn good at knowing how to terrorize Kellie. I assume he’s armed with a rifle in order to take care of me and Trixie. Then he’ll go back to his preferred method to kill Kellie.”

“We’ve got to find him quick.”

“Did Janene ever track down that IP address?”

“No. It has her stumped for the moment, but I’ve received information on the identical-twin birth records from both cities.”

“I want to see those, but first let’s talk about the photo. Dan was obviously hiding behind the fence this afternoon in order to take it. No doubt he was hidden in the same place when we took his brother out to the van. I’m thinking he’s using one of the town houses.”

“So am I,” Vic broke in. “I’ll phone TJ right now to get us a warrant.”

They could read each other’s minds. “We’ll need backup so we can do a thorough search of every town house on this street and the town houses on the other side of the alley. Our lunatic is hiding out here somewhere ready to strike. We need to nab him fast.”

“Agreed.”

While Vic got on the phone with their captain, Cy opened the email Vic had sent. He studied the statistics for identical twin boys born in hospitals in 1986 when the populations of both areas were smaller. The sum from both cities equaled ten sets, six from Charleston, four from Virginia Beach. Hopefully, the agents at the other end could track down the parents from birth records and make an ID that would help them form a correct profile of the brothers.

Vic ended the call. “TJ’s getting the warrant as we speak. He’s sending Luckey to guard Kellie so you and I can do the search with the crew. As soon as he gets here, we’ll start.”

Cy’s thoughts were whirling. “I need to tell Kellie about the change in plans.” Since he had her phone, he needed to tell her in person. “Be right back.” He got out of the chair and hurried up the stairs with her cell phone.

“Kellie?” he called to her before rapping on her door.

“Yes?” she answered immediately.

“I have to leave for a little while with Vic. But I won’t go until Luckey gets here. He’s one of my closest friends in the Rangers.”

“One of the Sons of the Forty, you mean?”

“Yes. He’ll guard you with his life.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“I’m leaving your phone on the floor outside your door in case you need it. If the stalker calls, let it ring through to your voice mail. I’ve just put Luckey’s phone number in your list of contacts. He’ll answer if you call him. Try to go back to sleep if you can, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Be careful, Cy.”

He took a deep breath. “Always.”

Chapter Seven

I have to leave for a little while with Vic.

Kellie could only imagine what that meant. Instead of lying there shuddering in fear for Cy, she threw back the covers and slid off the bed to get her phone. When she opened her door, she saw her cell but couldn’t hear voices downstairs.

Something important was going on and he wanted her out of it, yet he always put her needs first. She believed he was so dedicated, he’d treat any person he was guarding with the same kind of care. That was the problem. Kellie wanted to mean much more to him.

When they’d kissed earlier, she’d never wanted them to stop. She couldn’t blame all of it on hormones. This man was different. She was different when she was with him. Kellie had dated a lot of guys over the years, but something had changed when she’d first looked into Cy’s startling dark blue eyes.

She picked up her phone and went back into the bedroom. If only there were someone she could talk to about this, but her feelings were too private to divulge even to her family or closest friends. She’d known Cy for only a week. Anyone she confided in would smile and tell her it was natural that a man and woman thrown together in a dangerous situation would grab a little comfort that went along with the hero worship. But in the long run it couldn’t be taken seriously.

As she walked over to the bed, more questions ran through her mind. What would it be like to be married to a Texas Ranger? To know that every time he left for work, he was facing danger head-on? When he didn’t get home on time, or was involved in a stakeout that kept him away for days at a time, how would she be able to handle it?

Judging by the tension gripping her body right now, she already had the answer to her question. She wouldn’t be able to cope. To love Cy meant she would never be at ease when he was out of her sight.

Kellie’s mom didn’t worry when her husband left the house. She knew he’d walk in at the end of the day and come find her wherever she was. Barring a natural disaster or an unforeseen accident, her mom didn’t have to be concerned that she might never see her husband alive again.

Like her mom, Kellie had grown up knowing their husband and father would always be in their lives. She’d never given it a thought. But she did now...

With a tortured sigh, Kellie turned off her phone and lay back, praying this threat to her life would be over soon. If the stalker were caught before she had to leave for South Dakota, she would end her association with Cy cold turkey. That was the only way to deal with her feelings. They never had to see each other again and she could concentrate on getting ready for Finals.

Tomorrow she’d talk to the real-estate agent helping her find the right property to buy. So far she hadn’t found the exact thing she wanted. Maybe something else had just been listed on the market. Whether something turned up or not, she’d go on her last four-state circuit of rodeos starting with South Dakota, then Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma.

After that she’d come home for three more rodeos in Texas before she left for Las Vegas. Once Finals were over, she’d buy a place to get her new training business started. With the decision made about Cy, she turned on her side. But her mind wouldn’t shut off. Being in his arms, being kissed with such hunger, had changed her.

Upset with herself, she turned on the other side. When sleep didn’t come, she slid out of bed to get her laptop off the table. The latest scores of her competitors would be listed. Cynthia Lyman from Tombstone, Arizona, was the barrel racer to beat. She’d made the most money for the year, and her last winning time was 13.77.

Kellie needed to do better than that in order to come in first. Her time in Bandera was 14.10. Though she came in second, it wasn’t good enough. Once she reached Las Vegas, she’d be competing for ten nights and had to nail those barrels with consistently low scores in the l3s. Focus was everything.

After reading the latest news, she went to her blog. Once she’d thanked people in a general message after reading the latest entries, she posted her schedule of events for the next seven weeks and promised to add to her blog between each rodeo.

Eventually she grew tired and put her laptop on the floor before succumbing to sleep. When morning came, she was surprised to discover she’d slept in until nine. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that. Emotional exhaustion had to account for it.

Was Cy back?

With her heart in her throat, she showered and dressed in riding clothes and boots. She ran a brush through her hair and put on lipstick before hurrying downstairs.

“Good morning, Ms. Parrish.”

Her spirits plummeted to see a dark blond Ranger wearing a polo shirt and jeans seated at the table with his laptop while he drank coffee. He was a close friend of Cy’s.

“Good morning. You must be Luckey.”

“That’s right.”

“I take it C—Ranger Vance hasn’t come home yet.”

“Nope. He’s still out working.”

She bit her lip. “Have you heard from him?”

“Not yet.”

Good grief. What was wrong with her? He wasn’t about to discuss Ranger business with her. “I’m going to make breakfast. Would you like some?”

“Sounds good.”

“Cy loves bacon and eggs.” Cy’s name rattled off her tongue. She could have kicked herself for using it.

Luckey’s brown eyes smiled. “I think that’s an all-around favorite.” He didn’t miss a thing. Of course he didn’t. He was one of the Famous Four she’d heard mention of on the news.

“Good.” She got to work and whipped up some biscuits to go with them. Before long they sat across the table from each other while they ate.

“If I’d known that house-sitting Cy’s wife was going to come with these perks, I’d volunteer more often.”

She shook her head. “Once he catches the stalker, he probably won’t be able to live down this fake marriage.”

“Cy’s a brilliant tactician. That fake marriage caught the first stalker before any of us could blink. It won’t be long before he brings the other one into custody. In case you weren’t aware, the captain gave the assignment to him because he knew he was the right man for the job.”

Kellie knew that already.

“However, I’d like you to know that any of us would have been happy to take your case on after watching you in the Bandera Rodeo.”

Luckey was a charmer and very attractive. “You could have no idea how grateful I am for all your help.” She got up to pour him another cup of coffee. “I happen to know you were on watch all night long and must be exhausted. If you want to stretch out on the hide-a-bed in the living room, please go ahead while I wash the dishes.”

He didn’t get up. “If I lie down, then I’ll go to sleep. That’s a no-no on the job. I’m better off sitting here talking to you.”

While she loaded the dishwasher, she asked the first question to pop into her head. “What made you go into law enforcement?”

“I wanted to be a Texas Ranger from the first time I saw a troop of them riding their horses in an Austin parade. I was just a little guy. When I told my dad, he said that we in the Davis family descended from a real Texas Ranger living back in the 1800s. After he showed me my great-great-grandfather’s picture, that did it. I was going to be just like him.”

“That’s a darling story.”

His chuckle filled the kitchen.

“Are you married, Luckey?”

“Divorced.”

Kellie frowned. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s all right. My ex-wife didn’t find my occupation darling.”

No. She wouldn’t. No woman would who wanted her husband with her every night of her life. “But if she married you—”

“She thought she could handle it.”

With that response, Kellie felt as if someone had just walked over her grave.

He cocked his head. “How come you’re not married?”

“I’ve been too busy chasing a dream.”

“And thrilling crowds,” he added.

Her mouth broke into a smile. “You’re full of it, Ranger Davis.”

“I couldn’t agree more” came a familiar male voice from the living room. She lifted her eyes in time to see Cy, who walked into the kitchen looking wonderful even though he was tired and needed a shave. How long had he been listening to their conversation? At the sight of him, her heart knocked against her ribs.

She smoothed her palms over her hips. “There’s more breakfast if you want some.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He caught a chair with his boot and sat down by Luckey. If he had any news about the stalker, he wasn’t ready to share it with her.

“I didn’t know your wife was such a great cook, Cy. Try the biscuits. They’re sensational with strawberry jam.”

“Yeah?” The two men glanced at each other. Kellie could tell streams of unspoken messages were passing between them.

She poured a cup of coffee for Cy and placed a plate of food in front of him along with utensils. “There’s more where this came from.”

“Bless you,” he murmured, eyeing her with a look that sent coils of heat through her body.

“I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about, so I’m going upstairs. Thank you for watching over me, Ranger Davis.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Kellie darted out of the kitchen and hurried upstairs. When she reached her room, she fell onto the bed, so relieved Cy was all right she cried tears of happiness into her pillow. Taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone. No call from the stalker. There was only one message. It came from her parents. She should have phoned them last night before she’d gone to sleep.

Without wasting more time, she called them and brought them up-to-date on what was going on. Later in the day she and Cy would drive out to the ranch to exercise the horses. At least that was her plan, but it all depended on him.

* * *

“HOW DID THE search go?”

Cy looked at Luckey while he ate. “I don’t even know where to begin. It curdled my blood when we entered the town house opposite this one on the other side of the fence. According to the landlord, a married couple named Michael and Julie Sanders signed a year’s lease in February. When the landlord was shown a picture, he identified Dan as the husband.”

“Good grief!”

“No one was home. When we searched the upstairs, we found that the bedroom overlooking Kellie’s garage had been made into a shrine. Her pictures were plastered all over the walls and ceiling. Hundreds of them.” It had been a nightmarish experience for Cy.

“We found camera equipment and half a dozen guns along with a ton of ammo. One of the rifles has a high-powered scope and was set by the screened window he’d left open. All the weapons are loaded. There’s duct tape, pepper spray, handcuffs, ether, everything used in their other murders.

“In the master bedroom Vic found that a part of the closet contained men’s clothes. The other half held women’s suits and jackets. The upstairs bathroom was filled with makeup and wigs.

“Just yesterday Vic had questioned the owner of a local theater costume shop in town. He remembered selling a lot of women’s makeup, including a brown and blond wig, to a man who said he needed them for a play he was producing. When Vic showed him the picture, the owner identified him immediately. The date of the purchase was the first of February.”

Luckey shook his head. “That was right before they signed the lease.”

“Yup. Those perverts have been holed up there all this time, eying Kellie’s every move.” Cy hissed the words. “While Denny held down the fort, Dan followed Kellie around the circuit. We found a motorcycle in the garage, so he’s out somewhere either on foot or in another vehicle, maybe even a motorcycle.”

“No doubt they’re responsible for a slug of unsolved armed robberies here in Austin to finance their operation.”

Cy’s jaw hardened. “We fully expected Dan to walk in on us. When he didn’t show up, we left and ordered the other condo renters on both sides of the alley to vacate the premises until further notice. We’ve organized the crew to stake out his place. After his last phone message to Kellie, my gut tells me he’s going to make his move when he gets back from wherever he’s been. I’ll be his first target. I know how his mind works. He’s planning to take me out with the rifle, then he’ll break in here for Kellie.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Get some sleep on the hide-a-bed because I’m going to need you later.” He got up from the table. “I’ll be upstairs catching some sleep myself while I wait for a signal from Kit, who’s heading the crew.”

“Kit’s outside?”

“Yup. TJ wanted the best fresh body to head the stakeout. I told him I wanted Kit. Vic has gone home to get some sleep. After I explain to Kellie what’s happening, I’ll be in the guest bedroom. She’s free to roam around the house, but I don’t want her leaving for her parents’ ranch today. That will have to wait.”

He reached for another tasty biscuit and popped the whole thing into his mouth before taking the stairs two at a time. “Kellie?” Cy knocked on her door.

Before long she opened it. He could see her laptop open, lying on the bed she’d made. She was so beautiful to him, he swallowed hard. When he thought of all the pictures smeared over the walls and ceiling in the other condo, rage for the maniacs who’d been lying in wait for her for almost a year threatened to take over.

“Luckey’s asleep downstairs, but we need to talk. Shall we do it in here or in the guest bedroom?”

“Here is fine. Go ahead and use that chair.” She walked over to the bed and sat on the side. He brought the chair around so they were facing each other. A quick glance around the room with its piles of soft, colorful pillows on the bed and comfortable accents around the room proved to him a very feminine woman lived inside the cowgirl.

Cy leaned forward with his hands clasped between his legs. “We’ve tracked down your stalker to his lair. He’s not there at the moment. As we speak, a crew from the department has his place surrounded. I don’t know how long it will be before he returns. If it extends into days, we’ll deal with it. What you need to know is that you’re safe as long as you stay in this condo.”

She nodded. “I’ll phone Dad and ask him to work the horses.”

“Good. You’re free to move around the condo. I’m going to catch some sleep in the guest bedroom, but I’ll be leaving the door open. If there’s any activity at all, someone will phone me and Luckey, so you’re not to worry about anything. Keep your phone right with you. If the stalker calls, I want you to come and wake me before you answer it. Turn on the speaker and keep him on as long as you can.”

“Okay.” She stirred restlessly. “I-is he close by?” Her voice was full of fear.

What to say that wouldn’t alarm her...? “Yes, but we have everything under control.”

“I know that,” she whispered and got off the bed to walk around. “What if he has a gun?”

“It won’t matter. He’ll be surrounded.”

Her hands formed fists. “But it does matter. Even Texas Rangers with all the protection available have been known to get injured, or worse...”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Her eyes blazed a hot blue. “He’s out to kill you for arresting his brother.”

He got to his feet. “I won’t give him the chance.”

“But if you get shot, it’ll be my fault. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

Cy could have sworn that was her heart talking. When he’d agreed to take her case, he’d felt an attraction that had been growing so deep and fast, he didn’t recognize himself anymore. TJ had warned him about walking that thin line. Unfortunately he’d already crossed it after meeting her in Bandera and would have pursued her, case or no case.