The Rancher's Return Read online

  “I see.” He nodded. “I’ve just got to come up with something that will make him consider trusting me.”

  “Tell him you heard from someone. Make up a name. Say they told you they’d seen me and you were going to check it out.”

  “And then what? How is that going to help?”

  She considered. “I didn’t take any of the jewelry Alex bought me, but I did take this.” Slowly, she pulled a long chain from under her blouse. “It was my mother’s. Alex knows I never take it off.”

  Holding out her hand, she dropped it into his palm. “Take it. If you show this to him, he’ll have no choice but to believe that you’re on my trail.”

  “Thank you.” He tucked the necklace into his pocket. “Anything else?”

  Every time his gaze met hers, a shiver tickled her spine. She wished she had the right to ask him to hold her, to take what little comfort she could in his presence. Especially since she didn’t know how long it would be before she saw him again.

  “Are you cold?” He stepped closer.

  Ashamed and not wanting him to realize her crazy, needy thoughts, she shrugged and attempted to feign indifference. “The breeze is a bit chilly, that’s all.”

  Though the wind came from the south, he didn’t comment. Instead, he dropped his gaze from her eyes to her breasts, already pebbled with unwarranted excitement.

  Desire heated her skin. The breeze gently lifted the edge of her T-shirt, reminding her she was completely naked underneath. She waited for the familiar fear to paralyze her, but she felt nothing but an aching sort of need.

  “Kaitlyn.” Gently, he lifted a tendril of hair away from her face. Her breath caught in her throat. Every fiber of her being felt electrified as she waited to see what he’d do next.

  Chapter 11

  He moved his fingers to her shoulder. Kaitlyn fought the urge to arch her back to show him where she wanted his touch. He hadn’t come for this, and they’d both admitted the other time had been a mistake.

  Yet for the life of her, she couldn’t find the words to tell him no. Truth be told, she didn’t want to.

  When he reached for her hand, she gave it willingly.

  “Come, sit.” He walked her around the backyard to a stone bench in the middle of a small rose garden. A six-foot privacy fence surrounded them, and she tried to relax, telling herself no one could see them.

  He released her. “Please. Take a seat.”

  With a small nod, she complied. Again she took care to smooth her T-shirt down as she perched on the edge of the cool stone. The gesture gave away her nervousness, but she had to do something with her hands.

  Reed remained standing, his broad-shouldered figure blocking out the moon.

  “Believe it or not, I’ve actually sort of missed you,” she said.

  His smile flashed white. “Yeah, well. I actually kind of got used to having you around.”

  Which she guessed was as close as he’d get to saying he’d missed her, too. She nearly smiled back, then sensed she was treading on dangerous ground. He’d made it quite clear that their relationship would stay platonic, two people helping each other get what they wanted. The passion between them had been a mistake, and she knew he’d never understand how much his touch had healed her.

  “Where’s your truck?” she asked, trying to get back on normal footing.

  “I parked a block over and walked here.” His arch look told her he knew exactly what she was trying to do. “That way I knew for sure I wasn’t followed.”

  Chest tight, she nodded. He’d never know how beautiful she found everything about him, from his shock of thick, dark hair, to the muscles that rippled under his T-shirt every time he moved. The inherent strength in his features, the calm confidence he carried with him made him devastatingly handsome.

  And dangerous to her equilibrium.

  “Why are you really here, Reed? Were you able to make any real progress with Alex?”

  “Not yet.” His voice rang with confidence. “But I will. It’s only a matter of time.”

  She refused to allow herself to be swayed. “But you put yourself in danger. Both of us, not to mention Zoe and Brock. I don’t understand why—”

  “I wanted to make sure you were all right,” he interrupted, sounding quietly furious. “I was careful. I took precautions. Kaitlyn, I don’t understand, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I... Oh, hell.”

  His mouth covered hers, his kiss hungry and hot as he pulled her up against him.

  Then, just as abruptly as the kiss had begun, it ended. His expression fierce, he glanced away, swallowing hard. “No,” he said. “That’s not why I came here. Actually, I need to apologize to you.”

  Confused and aroused, she gazed at him. “Apologize for what?”

  “For that. For what happened before.”

  Ah, now she understood. “You don’t have to.”

  “I do. You deserve better.” Taking a deep breath, he shoved his hand through his hair. He appeared to be struggling to find the right words. “Kaitlyn, all your life, men have manipulated you. They wanted to own you, to possess you.”

  She nodded, thinking it best to hold her silence until he got out everything he wanted to say.

  “I will never do that to you. No matter what.”

  Then she realized what he meant. Though she felt it like a stab right through her heart, she managed to smile. “I think I understand. You want to make sure I don’t get the wrong impression just because we...”

  “Exactly.”

  And to think she’d nearly bared her soul, nearly told him how much he’d helped her find her balance, her confidence.

  “No worries, then. I completely understand.”

  He met her gaze, a muscle working in his jaw. “You came to me for help. Instead, I took advantage of you. I manipulated you when you were weak.” He stepped toward her, his hands clenched at his side. “And God help me, despite that, I still want you.”

  “I want you, too.” She barely got the words out when he turned away.

  “Coming here was a mistake, I see that now.” He continued to look at her, but she knew he didn’t really see her. “I won’t contact you again until I have something concrete to relay.”

  And with that, he strode away. Leaving her aching and more heart-sore than she should have been.

  The next morning when she greeted Brock and Zoe at the breakfast table, she didn’t say a word about Reed’s visit. She’d tell them—eventually. But right now, her emotions were too raw to bring him up and attempt to sound normal.

  Being around the newly married couple was another education of sorts. Brock and Zoe clearly adored each other and showed it with soulful looks and frequent, loving touches. This was how a relationship should be—could be. Kaitlyn watched wistfully, her heart full even as she found herself longing for a relationship like that with Reed.

  Which was all sorts of wrong.

  After they left for work, the small house felt empty. Kaitlyn spent the morning reading. She made sure to take Bentley out first and fixed herself a cup of tea before settling on the couch with a book she’d borrowed from Zoe and Brock’s shelves.

  “Hello? Kaitlyn, where are you?” Zoe’s voice. “I could use your help.”

  Kaitlyn put down her book and glanced at the clock, surprised to notice several hours had passed. She hurried down the hall to the kitchen. Zoe struggled to get through the back door, carrying a large box full of fresh vegetables.

  Kaitlyn opened the door and took the box from her. “What’s all this?” she asked, peering inside.

  “I’m on my lunch break and I stopped by the farmer’s market.” Zoe laughed. “I got so much good stuff that I’m going to have to start cooking more. This box is the veggies. I have another in the car full of fruit.” She turned around and hurried back outside.

  When she returned, she carried another cardboard box, overflowing with apples, oranges, pears, peaches and other fruits. She set it on the counter, grinning while Kaitlyn cl
osed the back door. Lifting a plump nectarine from the box, Kaitlyn inspected it. “All this looks amazing.”

  Zoe beamed. “Thank you. I got a little carried away, but we are going to be eating healthy for sure.”

  Nodding, Kaitlyn helped Zoe put away the produce, handing her the little plastic bags so she could stow in the fridge. When they’d finished, Zoe dusted off her hands and smiled at Kaitlyn. “Thank you for the help.”

  “You’re welcome. I have to ask, though, is something wrong? Wouldn’t you usually be at work right now?”

  “Wel-l-l-l...” Zoe’s smile widened. “It’s been a little slow and I’m tired of taking my lunch at my desk. Since you’re here, I think I might start coming home for lunch. It’s got to be lonely and boring hanging out here all by yourself.”

  Kaitlyn blinked. The other woman’s kindness touched her. “It is. But I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

  “Pshaw.” Zoe waved away her objections, her perfect red nail polish glinting in the bright light. “I can use a break.”

  “And I could use a friend.” Impulsively, Kaitlyn hugged her. “Thank you so much. I appreciate you more than you know. To prove it, if you’ll be coming home at the same time each day, I can make sure lunch is made.”

  Zoe’s eyes widened. “Now that sounds amazing. I have a limited repertoire as a cook.”

  “I’m actually pretty good. Give me a minute and I’ll put something together.” Kaitlyn allowed her happiness to show. “It might be simple, but it will be tasty, I promise you.”

  Zoe followed her into the kitchen. “So you like to cook?”

  Before Alex had captured her, Kaitlyn had considered making a career out of it. Now she just didn’t know. “I love it. It’s one of the few talents I possess.”

  Less than ten minutes later, Kaitlyn had put together a rudimentary lunch using ingredients she found in the cupboard.

  “That smells fantastic.” Pulling out a chair, Zoe dropped into it. “All the more so because I’m so hungry.”

  Kaitlyn dished up their tomato soup and grilled three-cheese sandwiches and took the seat opposite Zoe. “Me, too,” she said. “Tomorrow I’ll put together some salads.”

  Zoe took a bite and rolled her eyes. “This is amazing.”

  “Thanks.” Kaitlyn dug in also. “I used all three of the cheeses you had, and that wonderful multigrain bread.”

  Both women went silent as they ate.

  “Have you heard from Reed?” Zoe asked after finishing her sandwich and most of her soup.

  “Actually, yes.” Stirring her steaming soup, Kaitlyn didn’t bother to hide her despair. “He came to see me last night.”

  “What?” Zoe put down her spoon and stared. “When? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Kaitlyn gave her an amended version of what had transpired, completely leaving out the kiss and Reed’s vow that they’d never come together again.

  “Wow.” Zoe gave her a long look. “He sure went through a lot of trouble just to tell you he’d been inside Alex’s house.”

  “I don’t know. I was worried since it’d been over a week since he contacted Alex,” Kaitlyn said. “I was about to ask you if he and Brock had spoken.”

  “They haven’t.” Zoe still sounded thoughtful. “Seriously, I think it’s very interesting that Reed came to see you in the middle of the night like that. What time was it anyway?”

  “After eleven. But he did it that way so no one would follow him.”

  “I see.” Clearly unconvinced, Zoe picked up her spoon and tackled the rest of her soup. “Are you sure there’s nothing else going on between the two of you?” Her casual tone fooled no one.

  “I’m sure.” Again, Kaitlyn struggled to remain expressionless. Time to change the subject. “I don’t know if it’s a good sign or a bad one that Alex hasn’t been on the news or any talk shows lately.”

  Zoe laughed. “Be grateful for small blessings, right?”

  “I guess.” Kaitlyn worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “Though to tell the truth, his absence from the public spotlight makes me worry more about Reed.”

  Putting down her sandwich, Zoe eyed her closely. “Despite what you won’t say, you really care about Reed, don’t you?”

  Kaitlyn could feel her face heating. “I barely know him anymore,” she hedged.

  “That’s not really an answer.” Zoe smiled gently. “But in a way, I think it is. You do know him, hon. You knew him when you were dating Tim. I was in New York when all of that happened,” Zoe said. “Tim’s murder, Reed’s conviction, all of it.”

  Kaitlyn gave a slight nod and took a sudden interest in polishing off her sandwich. Zoe’s light touch on her arm startled her.

  “Look, I know what it’s like to want something you can’t have. I nearly lost Brock.” Zoe’s caramel eyes filled with tears. She blotted them with her napkin, and continued. “I was afraid and I nearly let my fear ruin both our lives.”

  “Afraid?” Kaitlyn blinked. “I’m sorry, but what were you afraid of? Was it because you didn’t want to leave your life in New York and move back to Anniversary?”

  “Partly. And also, I believed Brock deserved better than me.”

  “Better than you? You two are perfect for each other. I don’t understand.”

  Zoe took a deep breath. “I can’t have children. A man like Brock deserves children of his own. I didn’t want him to give that up for me.”

  Kaitlyn didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve learned to accept it. Especially since it turned out he’d rather have a life with me and possibly adopt.” Zoe beamed. “Which is what we’re doing. We’ve had our application in with an adoption agency for a month now.”

  “That’s amazing.” Kaitlyn took a deep breath. “I confess, I’ve had a few maternal yearnings myself. But since I’m not in a serious relationship, my focus is entirely on surviving this mess with Alex.”

  Zoe nodded, her expression curious. “What are your plans once all this is over?”

  “Plans?”

  “Yes. What kind of work do you do?”

  The question stunned Kaitlyn, mostly because she’d never thought much beyond escaping Alex and making sure he paid for his crimes. But Zoe was right. Since Kaitlyn wasn’t an heiress and hadn’t won the lottery, she’d have to figure out a way to earn money.

  “I haven’t worked since Alex captured me,” Kaitlyn answered slowly. “Before that, I was assistant manager in a retail clothing store in Town East Mall, over in Mesquite. My résumé is going to have a huge gap, isn’t it?”

  “That’s okay. You can say you worked in our feed store. Brock and I will back you up.”

  Kaitlyn stared. So much kindness from a woman she hadn’t known since high school floored her. In fact, for a moment her throat felt so tight she couldn’t speak. When she did, tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me already, and then offering to do this...”

  “No worries.” Zoe waved off her thanks. “You can repay me by babysitting sometime. Once Brock and I find our child, that is.”

  Again, her words implied a level of trust the likes of which Kaitlyn hadn’t experienced in years. The fact that Zoe believed in her, had such strong faith that she’d entrust her child with her, made Kaitlyn want to weep.

  Which led to yet another revelation. Apparently, the verbal and physical abuse she’d suffered during her years with Alex had affected her more than she realized. Lifting her chin, she met Zoe’s gaze. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

  Zoe sighed, pushing her plate away. “I didn’t mean to turn this into a serious and deep, time-to-examine-your-life type conversation. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s all right. I needed to hear this. I’ve been living in a cage these past few years. I needed a dose of reality.”

  “What do you like doing? Have you ever dreamed of having a particular job?”
>
  “I always wanted to own my own bakery,” Kaitlyn admitted. “Gourmet brownies or cupcakes or something.”

  “There you go. You love to cook, so it’s right up your alley.”

  “Maybe,” Kaitlyn said, considering. “But opening a bakery would take a lot of capital. And money is one thing I definitely do not have.”

  Zoe laughed. “So start small. Make up some gourmet brownies or cakes or whatever, and take samples around to local restaurants. Set up a web page. Take phone-in orders. If you concentrate on one item and really make it wonderful, I think you’d be a big success.”

  Again, the confidence this bright and energetic woman had in her humbled Kaitlyn. “Thank you. I’ll start thinking about working up some sort of business plan.”

  “Great.” Getting up, Zoe carried her dishes to the sink and rinsed it. “You know what? If you make brownies or cookies, I could try selling them at the feed store for you. Kind of like a test market. What do you think?”

  Kaitlyn wanted to jump up and hug Zoe again. Instead, she settled for grinning at her. “That sounds absolutely wonderful. I’ll get started today. That is...” Kaitlyn swallowed. “Is it okay if I used your kitchen? And I might need some baking supplies.” She ducked her head, feeling ashamed. “I don’t have money to buy much right now, but I can promise to pay you back as soon as I can.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Zoe said, shrugging. “What are you going to bake?”

  “Probably brownies, though I don’t know for sure yet. Before I let you take any to the store and sell them, I should practice. You and Brock can be my guinea pigs.”

  Zoe grinned. “Now that sounds like my kind of deal.” She walked over to the pantry and opened the door. “We have flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and vegetable oil. I know I just picked up a dozen eggs yesterday, and there’s plenty of milk. What else do you need?”

  “I’ll make you a list.” Kaitlyn grinned back. “I see some miniature marshmallows. Is it okay to use those?”

  “Sure. Take whatever you need. The only thing I ask is if you finish off something, write it on a list so I know to buy more.”