The Colton Bodyguard

“What’s that?” she asked breathlessly.

“This.” He slanted his lips down to capture hers in a kiss that seared her from head to toe.

Someplace in the back of her mind she knew she should jerk away...halt the kiss...do something to stop the insanity. Instead her arms automatically reached up to circle his neck and she leaned into him as the kiss deepened.

When he finally released her, her heart pounded too fast. She murmured a quick goodbye and slid into the safety of the Jeep.

It was only when she was on the road and headed toward Tulsa that she allowed herself to think about Tyler and that deep, unexpected kiss.

It had been a definite sign that despite their night together, he still wanted her. And as crazy as it was, she still wanted him, too.

She’d never indulged in a strictly physical relationship before, but that was what this was...desire built on nothing more than some kind of wild chemistry between them.

The sane thing to do was to drive home and not return to Tyler’s place. But she hadn’t felt quite sane in months. Besides, she desperately wanted to work with the horse that showed such distrust of people. There was also a desire for her to be away from her own home, gain some distance from everything that had been happening there.

Work had always centered her and it had been too long since she’d utilized her talents as a trainer. For the past couple of months she’d been busy planning a wedding that was no longer going to take place.

Working with the horse at Tyler’s place would be a good escape for her. She no longer had to play the socialite and appear at public events in fancy designer dresses with Mark and her parents. It was a role she’d never been comfortable in.

Surely when she returned to Tyler’s later this evening, she’d be able to make him understand that what had happened between them last night wasn’t going to happen again.

Chapter 3

Tyler watched the horse he’d named She-Devil when he’d first brought her home and realized just how temperamental, how emotionally damaged, she was. She remained backed up against the opposite side of the corral, her body tensed as if she was expecting something bad to happen to her.

Raymond Edwards, his ranch hand, joined him at the corral. “I saw you had Greta Colton out here. Is she going to work with the filly?”

“Yes. She left for Tulsa to pack some bags and will be back here sometime later this evening.”

“Good. I’m glad she’s on board. She’s one of the best trainers in the area. If anyone can help that poor tormented soul, she can,” Raymond said.

“I told her you’d be available for whatever she needs,” Tyler replied.

“Of course.”

Tyler clapped the thin, wiry cowboy on his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Raymond.”

Raymond smiled at him, revealing a missing eyetooth that had been knocked out in a bar fight when he’d been young and stupid. “You’re an easy boss. I’m heading into the stable now to clean out the stalls. I look forward to learning from Greta.”

Tyler nodded and watched Raymond disappear into the stable. Raymond didn’t live on the property. For the past five years he’d worked for Tyler, he’d arrived each morning at dawn and left around six. Tyler kept four saddle horses and Raymond saw to their needs and kept the stable and riding equipment meticulously clean and maintained.

With a final glance at She-Devil, Tyler turned and headed back toward the house. Greta. His brain instantly filled with a vision of her. He’d been surprised to see her on his front porch, but nothing had surprised him more than her appearing in his room the night before.

He’d wanted Greta Colton long before Mark had ever met her. He’d sent Mark to meet Greta with the specific intent of getting her interested in his filly and close to him.

The moment he’d first seen her she’d stirred something inside him. Even after making love to her last night, he hadn’t had enough of her. He wanted more.

Once Mark had become engaged to her, Tyler had tried to spend as little time as possible around her, although there had been occasions when they’d all been together. Still, Tyler had kept himself distant, not wanting to ruin anything for his younger brother by giving away his own feelings about her.

Since the age of nineteen, when their parents had died, Mark had struggled with life. He’d squandered what little inheritance he’d received, and when he’d been flat broke, Tyler had offered him the position of vice president of the family company, along with a generous salary and few real responsibilities.

But Mark liked the good life and he rarely made it from payday to payday. When that happened, he’d come to Tyler for extra money, and it happened frequently.

Tyler entered the house by the back door, poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table. There were times he thought his brother hated him. Mark hated Tyler’s success, hated having to come to him for a handout. Mark had known of Tyler’s desire to meet Greta from the beginning. When they first met, his brother hadn’t mentioned the wild horse but had wooed Greta right into a relationship and eventually an engagement. Tyler suspected a lot of Greta’s allure for his brother was because Mark knew Tyler was interested in her.

Tyler hadn’t alibied Greta to ruin her relationship with Mark, although he’d known the odds were good that would happen. He’d alibied Greta because he couldn’t stand the thought of her being behind bars and he knew she didn’t have it in her to kill anyone. Most important, when he discovered that Mark hadn’t even visited Greta in jail, let alone attempted to help her in any way, Tyler had known he had to step forward.

He hadn’t seen or spoken to his brother since Greta’s release from jail, but he had heard rumors that Mark wasn’t crying in his beer and instead had been making the rounds of old girlfriends and partying it up. He must have found a sugar mama because normally by now Mark would be asking for an “advance” on his paycheck.

Thankfully, nobody’s heart appeared to have been broken by Tyler’s false alibi and the subsequent broken engagement. He’d accomplished what he wanted to do by getting Greta released from jail and last night he’d held her in his arms and made love to her.

It had been magic. Making love to her had been everything that he’d fantasized about and more. He had no driving desire to find a wife and build a future with her. He just knew he wanted Greta again...and again.

She not only drew him physically, but she also intrigued him. He wanted not just to know her body but to get into her mind, as well. She appeared to be so different from the superficial social-climbing women who normally surrounded him.

He didn’t know exactly where this would all lead, but for the first time since his parents’ deaths, he was willing to let fate take over and just go along for the ride. For the first time in a long time, he was allowing emotions to lead him rather than carefully planning and using his head.

He finished his coffee and then headed for his bedroom. As he made the bed, he thought of how passionate she’d been, how eagerly she’d responded to his every touch the night before.

After making the bed, he checked in with his office and was glad to hear that there were no fires that needed to be put out. It would be a long day awaiting Greta’s return.

Tyler had few friends. Taking over the family business and making it successful and seeing to Mark’s welfare had taken up most of the time when young men hung out at bars or sporting events and built friendships.

Thankfully, he had one good friend, the rancher next door. Derek Underwood was three years older than Tyler, but the two had struck up an unlikely friendship that Tyler cherished.

He returned to the kitchen and punched Derek’s number into his cell phone. Derek answered on the second ring. “I was wondering if you wanted to come over and drink a cup of coffee and shoot the bull with me for a little while,” Tyler said.

“You’re at home? On a Wednesday morning?” Derek replied in surprise.

“I took the day off,” Tyler said.

“I’d better look outside to see if the sky is falling.”

Tyler laughed. “You want to come by or not?”

“Sure, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

The two men hung up and Tyler made a fresh pot of coffee. By the time it had finished brewing, Derek was at his back door. On the surface the two men were exact opposites.

Derek’s wardrobe consisted solely of worn jeans and flannel shirts. Some days he shaved; some days he didn’t. His dark brown hair was long and shaggy and appeared to have not been acquainted with a comb for years.

“I hired Greta Colton to come out here and work with She-Devil,” Tyler said as he poured them each a cup of coffee and joined Derek at the table.

Derek frowned, his bushy brown eyebrows nearly meeting across the bridge of his nose. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I have a good friend in Tulsa who is fairly friendly with the Coltons, and lately it seems there’s a lot of drama going on with that family.”

“What kind of drama?” Tyler asked. He knew about the murder of a ranch hand and Greta’s arrest, but he hadn’t really kept up with what was happening to the Colton family.

“Greta’s mother was attacked in her bedroom and was in a coma for a little while. They’ve had fires set in some of their outbuildings and fencing torn down. Then there’s the mystery of the murder of Kurt Rodgers. I’ve even heard rumors about Greta being on drugs.”

Tyler stared at his friend in surprise. He hadn’t heard anything about the problems at the Colton ranch. Mark certainly had never mentioned anything unusual going on there. Of course, Mark had been more interested in getting his photo in the paper with his lovely fiancée.

“Sounds like foolish gossip to me,” Tyler scoffed.

Derek shrugged. “Maybe. All I know is that from what I heard, where Greta goes, trouble follows. I mean, even her own brother had her arrested for murder.”

“Greta couldn’t kill anyone. I don’t know how her DNA got around the crime scene, but it wasn’t there because she killed somebody.”

Derek took a sip of his coffee and eyed Tyler over the rim of the cup. He set the cup back down and leaned back in the chair. “I heard you alibied her for the night of the murder. Is it true that she was with you that night?”

Tyler hated lying to anyone, especially a good friend, but he knew he had to stick to his story, not just to protect Greta but also to protect himself. “Yeah, it’s true. I was at the Regent Hotel for a business meeting, and when the meeting ended, I wandered into the bar. She was there and we shared a couple of drinks and one thing led to another and I wound up in her room for the entire night.”

Derek narrowed his eyes. “If that’s what you say.”

“That’s what I say,” Tyler replied firmly. “And where did you hear about the alibi?”

“I’ve got a friend in the police department in Tulsa. He told me and then warned me that if I repeated it to anyone, he’d shoot me.”

“If you repeat it again, I’ll shoot you,” Tyler replied with a grin.

“At least you’re getting the best when it comes to a trainer for She-Devil.”

Tyler nodded. “Greta is moving in here to work. She should be arriving sometime this evening and will stay as long as it takes.”

“Rumors or not, if I were you, I’d sleep with one eye open,” Derek said wryly.

Tyler laughed. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

The two visited for about a half an hour, talking about ranching and local news, and then Derek left to go back to his chores.

Tyler placed the coffee mugs into the dishwasher and thought about what he’d just learned about the events at the Colton ranch.

Burning buildings, downed fencing, an attack on Abra Colton and murder... It was a lot to take in.

Where Greta goes, trouble follows.

I’ve even heard rumors about Greta being on drugs.

Those two sentences of Derek’s played and replayed in Tyler’s head. He knew she was a talented horse trainer, but what didn’t he know about the woman he’d made love with the night before, a woman he’d invited to live with him in his home?

* * *

“Mother, you have to cheer up,” Greta said.

Abra Colton sat in a chair next to a window in the sitting area of the master suite and stared listlessly outside.

After years of barely knowing her mother, who had spent much of her children’s growing-up years traveling the globe, in recent months Greta had finally begun to develop the kind of relationship she’d always wanted with her.

Abra had thrown herself wholeheartedly into Greta’s wedding plans. Her smiles had come more often and her eyes had sparkled with life. There had been no killer migraines, no need for her to take to her bed for days on end of rest and quiet.

Now she released a weary sigh, her thin frame absent any energy as her fingers idly toyed with the fringe on the bottom of a lavender throw that covered her shoulders. She turned and gazed at Greta. “But you would have made such a beautiful bride.”

As usual, Abra was perfectly groomed, every dark brown hair perfectly combed into a chin-length bob, but her eyes held such sadness it broke Greta’s heart.

She sank down on her knees next to her mother’s chair. “But surely you wouldn’t have wanted me to marry a man who couldn’t bring me happiness,” Greta said softly.

“Of course not,” Abra replied quickly. “I just thought Mark was a much better man than he turned out to be.”

“That makes two of us,” Greta said. “Mother, just because this wedding fell through doesn’t mean I’ll never have a wedding at all, and when the next time comes, I want you by my side and planning every detail with me.”

Abra forced a sad smile. “So much has happened in the last couple of months. The wedding was the one good thing to take my mind off everything else.” She patted Greta’s hand absently. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine, dear. I just need a little bit of time.”

Greta rose to her feet. “I’m getting ready to leave for a job. I’ll be in Oklahoma City for the next couple of weeks or so.” She didn’t tell her mother specifically whom she would be working for or where she would be staying, and she was grateful when Abra didn’t ask.

She left her mother’s room and headed to her father’s study. She wondered how much of Abra’s depression was due to the cancellation of the wedding and how much was because she’d recently learned that Greta wasn’t her biological daughter and the baby girl she’d given birth to twenty-six years ago had died after only one day of life.

Greta found her father at his desk in the opulent oversize room. He didn’t hear her approach and for a long moment she stood in the doorway and simply looked at him.

At sixty-six years old, John “Big J” Colton was still like a force of nature. He was the life of any party, with a loud, booming voice and a bigger-than-life presence.

Although his hair was now silver white, his green eyes still sparked with a lust for life. He’d been the rock of the family when his children had been growing up, and Greta knew the anguish he’d suffered each time Abra had gone away for one of her convalescing trips.

He must have sensed Greta’s presence, for he looked up from whatever he’d been reading and his face lit with a smile.

“Greta, my darling girl.” His eyes filled with the affection and love that had got Greta through life despite her mother’s many absences.

Big J had been the one constant in Greta’s life. “Are you working hard?” she asked.

His grin widened and his eyes twinkled. “Hardly working is more like it.”

“I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading off to Oklahoma City for a couple of weeks.”

“Work or play?”

“Work. I’ve been hired to train a horse.”

“Good. I think some time away from here is best for you until Ryan and the rest of the police get everything under control.” He eyed her with a touch of worry. “You’ll stay in touch?”

“Of course,” she replied. “You can always reach me on my cell phone. And you’ll keep an eye on Mother?”

Big J’s gaze softened. “Absolutely. She’s a bit sad right now, but I’m sure she’ll rally.”

“I feel guilty about the wedding being called off,” Greta confessed. Of course, the wedding hadn’t been the only recent blow Abra had received, along with the rest of the family.

“Nonsense.” Big J waved his hand dismissively. “The last thing I’d want for you is to be married to a shallow womanizer like Mark Stanton. You know I never really warmed up to him. Never forget that no matter what has happened, you’re a Colton through and through and you deserve the very best.”

Sudden tears misted her eyes and she quickly blinked them away. “Then I’ll just get on the road. I’ll be in touch.” She left the room before the tears did more than blur her vision.

She loaded her Jeep and headed away from the huge mansion on the hill that was home. Abra had designed the house and Big J had given in to her every whim, which had resulted in an 11,000-square-foot home furnished to make a statement...and it screamed, “We have money.”

Greta had always been more at home in the pastures than in the house. She’d been right beside her five brothers as they’d all grown up, climbing trees and fences, scooting through cattle chutes and riding bareback on some of the biggest, fastest horses on the ranch.

The past couple of months of prewedding activities had been miserable for her as she’d donned frilly dresses she wasn’t accustomed to, picked out pink ribbon and lace and flowers for the wedding and visited various caterers, all in an effort to please her mother.

The whole pink-and-white wedding scene hadn’t been her thing, but she’d gone along with it all, being somebody she wasn’t to make Abra and Mark happy.

Although she was sorry for the way things had turned out and that Abra had fallen into one of her depressive states, there was also a sense of freedom that she could once again just be herself.

Before leaving the house, she’d showered and changed into a pair of jeans, a burnt-orange blouse and a brown suede jacket. She had no idea what the dress code was for the restaurant Tyler had mentioned, but she’d packed a couple of less casual things just in case.

As she got closer to Tyler’s, a little bit of nervous energy jumped through her veins. She wasn’t nervous about working with the horse. In fact, she was excited by the challenge. The black filly had called to her, touching something inside her that was impossible to ignore.

It was definitely the man himself who made anxiety bubble up inside her. Despite the fact that she’d showered not so long ago, she imagined she could still smell the scent of his expensive cologne clinging to her skin, still feel the heat of his hands on her naked skin.

It was early dusk when she pulled into his driveway. He opened the front door, as if he’d been standing there staring out and waiting for her all day.

“You made it back,” he said as she got out of her car. “And I have reservations at the restaurant in thirty minutes, so your timing couldn’t be more perfect.”

The force of him, the very energy he exuded, had her half-breathless before she’d even opened her back door to get to her suitcases.

“Here, let me take those.” He carried the two suitcases to the front door, with her hurrying to catch up with him. Once she did, he headed down the hallway until he reached the guest room she’d stayed in the night before. “In here? Or in there?” He gestured toward his room.

“In here,” she said firmly and walked into the guest room. He placed the two suitcases on the floor.

“You can unpack later. We should probably go ahead and head out to the restaurant,” he said.

“Should I change clothes?” she asked, although he was casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt.

“No, you’re fine.” He smiled at her. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

With the same momentum that he’d put forward in bringing her inside, he took her back outside, and before she could even catch her breath, she was ensconced in the rich leather passenger seat of a sleek silver sports car.

“This place is a little hole-in-the-wall, but it’s become so popular you have to make reservations even on a weeknight,” he said as they pulled out onto the highway.

“You mentioned it was a steak house. I’m definitely a steak-and-potatoes kind of girl,” she replied.

“Good. Then we should get along just fine.”

“I never asked you this morning what the horse’s name is.” She wanted to keep the conversation focused on the reason she was there.

“She-Devil,” he replied.

Greta shook her head. “That will never do. Does she respond to that name?”

“She doesn’t respond to anything.”

“Then we have to find her a new name, something that doesn’t have such a negative connotation.”

He slid her an amused glance. “I suppose you want to call her Sugar.”

“That’s perfect,” she replied. “And by the time I get finished with her, she’ll be as sweet as sugar.”

“You sound pretty sure of yourself.”

“I know what I’m good at,” she replied.

Again he flashed her a grin. “I like confidence in a woman.”

They passed a strip mall and he turned into the parking lot. At the end of the line of businesses was a restaurant named Cattle Call.

“Like I said, it’s a bit of a hole-in-the-wall, but the steaks are out of this world,” he said and angled into an empty parking space at the side of the building.

“I like hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurants,” she replied. “Besides, it’s the quality of the food that counts.”

They got out of the car and entered the crowded restaurant, where the hostess greeted Tyler by name and led them to a two-top table in the back that was a little more secluded than the other tables.

The scent of grilled meat filled the air, and while the place was full of people, the level of noise was relatively low and made conversation between them easy.

The hostess handed them each a menu and then with a bright smile told them their waitress would be with them soon and left the table.

“It smells delicious in here,” Greta said as her stomach rumbled with hunger. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast that morning. “You must be a regular since the hostess knew who you were by name.”

“I eat here two or three times a week. It’s on my way home from work, so I usually pop in for dinner.” He didn’t bother picking up the menu.

Greta opened hers and peered at the offerings. It took her only a minute to make up her mind. The waitress, a pleasantly plump woman with a name tag that read Brenda, greeted them and took their drink and dinner orders.

“A friend of mine stopped by today and told me there have been some rough times at your place lately,” Tyler said once the waitress was gone.

“We’ve had some issues,” she replied, unsure what he’d heard and how much to tell him.

“My friend told me a lot of the issues seem to revolve around you.” He held her gaze intently.

Greta sighed. She’d been raised to keep family matters in the family and not involve outsiders unless necessary. Certainly Mark, as her fiancé, had known some of the problems that had occurred. “Mark didn’t ever mention anything about it to you?”

“Mark only speaks to me when it serves his purpose and that’s usually when he needs money,” Tyler said drily.

The waitress returned with their drink orders, a glass of wine for Greta and a scotch and soda for Tyler. When she’d left once again, Greta decided to tell Tyler everything. She wanted him to trust in her, and who knew what kind of rumors his friend had told him? Besides, she needed to talk about it with somebody other than a family member, to vent some of the fear and uncertainty that she’d been living with for what seemed like forever.

“It all started soon after Mark and I got engaged in June. My mother was attacked in her bedroom and the doctors had to put her into a medically induced coma. Everyone thought it was some kind of a botched robbery attempt. Soon after that I received in the mail a copy of Mark’s and my official engagement picture that ran in the paper. My face was x-ed out in the photo. I thought it was probably from one of Mark’s old girlfriends, but it still made me feel a bit uneasy.”