Читать книгу Texas Lightning - Gerry Bartlett - Страница 10

Chapter One

Someone was watching her. She could feel it. Had since she’d moved to Texas, the so-called land of opportunity. Paranoid much? Maybe, maybe not. She knew what she’d created was valuable. And today she’d finished it. Almost. Just a few more tweaks and… Anyway, it had seemed like a cause for celebration. So she’d come out of her cave to finally explore her new city.

Anna Delaney scanned the vast room around her but couldn’t concentrate. Black dots danced in front of her eyes. Her favorite pink sweater had become her enemy, itchy and so hot she wanted to rip it off and let the world see her in the last clean bra in her underwear drawer. Sweat gathered between her breasts and under her arms. Hello, Austin, didn’t you get the memo? It’s winter!

Swaying where she stood, she dragged in a breath and almost passed out. Would anyone care if she just dropped to the cool marble floor? She’d lay her burning cheeks against it and… Someone grabbed her arm.

“Move aside, make way. Sorry, ma’am.” The deep voice had that Texas twang she was trying to get used to. His grip was firm as he dragged her through the crowd.

What the hell? Anna opened her mouth to scream for help, but nothing came out. Her efforts to jerk loose were feeble. Through a blur she saw a tall man in a suit, boots, and a cowboy hat. Where was he taking her? Why didn’t anyone stop him? He shoved her onto a hard bench, his hand firm on the back of her head as he pushed it between her knees.

“Breathe.” He pulled at her backpack and Anna finally came alive.

“Get your freaking hands off of that!” She sat up and slapped at him, not about to lose the only thing that mattered to her.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He let go and held out his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t trying to steal your stuff, lady. Just trying to keep you from fainting.”

Too late. She blinked, determined not to give in as the room dipped and swayed. When her vision finally cleared, she looked him over. For a kidnapper, the man wasn’t exactly trying to blend into the tourist crowd. This big guy with broad shoulders would turn heads anywhere. He wore boots of some kind of exotic skin and flashed a gold watch worth more than her fancy computer system. His suit alone cost thousands. Her brother Chance had taught her to recognize expensive threads.

All right, so she believed him—he didn’t need to steal her stuff. She shrugged off her backpack and dropped it into her lap. When the heat got to her again, she swallowed nausea and leaned over, resting her forehead on the leather pack.

“You all right?” He hadn’t left, just sat beside her on the stone bench.

“No.” She took shallow breaths. She hated Texas. Hated the unpredictable weather and interfering strangers who wouldn’t let her die in peace.

“Stay here, sugar.” He patted her shoulder before he took off.

No problem. Anna was pretty sure if she stood she’d fall flat on her face. She was so damned stupid. This morning she could have sworn those looked like snow clouds when she’d left her apartment. It was January, cold outside. This sweater, warm and cozy, had been perfect back home. Here in Austin? It was about as useful as ice skates in hell. From now on she was checking the weather app on her phone before she went anywhere. Hindsight. Always twenty/twenty.

She didn’t know how long she’d sat there, leaning on that backpack, when she sensed he had returned.

“Feeling any better?”

Anna put a shaky hand to her face. “Um, sure. Thanks. I’ll be fine.” Big lie.

“No wonder you were about to hit the floor. You’re overheated.” He slapped a bottle of cold water in her hand. “Drink first.”

“What?” Anna swayed right into his red striped tie and hard chest. Bossy men. She’d sworn off them. But cold water… He obviously wasn’t letting go so she sipped until she steadied. She’d needed that. He took back the bottle and dropped something else into her hand before she had time to say another word. He pulled her to her feet and looked into her eyes. She tried to sit again before she fell over.

“Oh, no you don’t. I got you something.” He kept his hand under her elbow. “Ladies’ room is right across here. Take off that wool sweater and put this on, sugar. T-shirt. You’re a little thing and I had to guess at the size, but I think it’ll fit.” He smiled down at her with straight white teeth, obviously pleased as punch that he’d come to her aid.

“I, uh, you didn’t have to…” Anna studied the neon-green tee and tried to look grateful. Did he really think that would fit her? Maybe when she’d been twelve. But short sleeves and cotton! The very idea of shedding her wool had her almost dropping her pack in her eagerness to clutch the ugly shirt to her breasts. “Thanks!” She shoved away from him and wobbled.

“Easy now. Just a few steps and you can go in a stall and change. You’ll feel much better when you’re dressed right for this crazy weather.” He kept his hand under her elbow, supporting her as he guided her across the floor toward the restroom.

“It is crazy! And wrong. Where did winter go?” Anna heard the whine in her voice but couldn’t stop herself.

He just laughed and kept steering her across the vast lobby. “Don’t worry, it’ll be back. There’s probably a blue norther already headed this way.” He stopped in front of the door to the women’s restroom. “Can you make it from here?” He looked around. “Ma’am? Would you mind giving her a hand? My friend here is suffering from the heat.”

Anna stared up at him when he pulled off his hat. Dark eyes, black hair, and deeply tanned, this man was a stranger, not a friend. Where she came from you had to earn that label. Not that she would mind knowing this guy, who would have looked at home in the pages of GQ, the cowboy edition. The woman striding toward them in high heels, a red power suit, and carrying a leather briefcase stopped in her tracks. She sized him up with a smile and nodded. Clearly she’d be happy to do whatever this hunk wanted.

“Of course.” She took Anna’s arm. “What on earth were you thinking, girl? Wool? In this heat? You must not be from around here.” She threw a flirtatious look over her shoulder. “How could you let her leave the house like this?”

He shrugged and winked, silently saying that he’d never understand women.

“Well, we’ll get her squared away. Where are you from, honey?” The woman pulled Anna inside when the Good Samaritan pushed open the bathroom door.

“Boston,” Anna murmured as the door swished closed behind them. Why did everyone around here think they could call you “sugar” and “honey” like they knew you?

“No wonder! Is this your first Texas winter?” She ran water over a paper towel and handed it to Anna, who fell into the first stall and sat on the toilet seat. She hoped like hell it wasn’t wet. “Press this against your face before you try to change tops. Your face is as red as a beet.”

Anna nodded, having nothing else to say. She just used the towel to wipe her face and leaned over again. Still had her backpack, that was something. After a few moments to cool down while the other woman obviously used the facilities, she sat up and pulled off her sweater. Sitting there in just her bra was a pure pleasure.

“Feeling better?” The woman handed her the green tee. “I tore off the price tag. Men! He bought a size small. Guess he wanted you to show off your figure.” She glanced at Anna’s bra. “You sure will with that flimsy thing under it.”

“Yeah. This one has seen better days. Laundry isn’t on the top of my to-do list.” Okay, so she was being defensive. The stretched-out bra was a decade old but comfortable. Anna jerked the shirt over her head and struggled to get it down over her boobs. Of course it clung. A sudden whoosh of cool air came as a welcome relief but made her nipples put on a show. How could she go out there now? The man was probably waiting for her and she should offer to pay for the shirt. She held her pack against her chest and stood.

“Now they turn on the air conditioning. Guess they have to hit a magic number or something on the thermostat. I swear it’s over eighty outside. Even for Austin I bet it’s a record.” The woman freshened her lipstick in front of the mirror. “Blew your mind, didn’t it? Being from Boston and all. January probably means snow up there.”

“Yes!” Anna thought about dumping her sweater in the trash but figured she’d get to visit home again someday so it went into her backpack. Home. Snow, family… Oh, she’d better quit thinking about it or she’d burst into tears. She’d committed to Texas for the time being and she had to learn to love it, crazy weather and all. “Thanks for helping me.”

The woman closed her purse with a snap. “That guy your boyfriend?”

“I don’t know him. He caught me as I was about to fall over when the heat got to be too much. Nice guy.” Anna took her own look in the mirror above the sink and winced. “I’m sure he’ll take off as soon as he sees me come out of here, if he hasn’t already.”

“A gentleman, to take care of a stranger like that. Handsome too. No wedding ring, though that’s no guarantee he’s not married. I know that from experience.” She turned and stuck out her hand. “Pamela Allred, State Railroad Commission.” She pulled a card out of her jacket pocket. “Welcome to Texas, Boston.”

“Anna Delaney, Zenon Technologies.” Anna shook her hand, then leaned against the sink. “Seriously, I appreciate your help, Pamela. You like the guy out there, go for it. I’ll thank him and be on my way.”

“Zenon’s a big deal computer firm. I heard they brought some Yankees down here when they bought a new company.” Pamela smiled. “You must be a techie.”

“Yes, I’m a computer geek and proud of it. Several of us came with the buyout.” Anna washed and dried her hands and face. “It’s an adventure. That’s what I hoped for, anyway.”

“I’m sure it will be. You feeling all right now?” Pamela looked her over. “You can’t hide in here forever, you know.”

“Better, thanks. I’m going. In a minute.” Anna dug in her pack and produced her own card. She didn’t have many friends in Austin and could always use another one. Pamela seemed nice. “Here. If you’re ever out by Zenon and want to do lunch, give me a call. I don’t know a thing about railroads, but maybe we could find something to talk about.”

Pamela laughed. “The Railroad Commission deals with the state’s natural resources and the environment—energy, oil and gas, things like that. It has an old timey name we’re stuck with, but that’s Texas for you.” Pamela studied Anna’s card. “My job lately has been all about bringing our old system of keeping track of oil well production into the high-tech world. I’m one of the few women they’ve brought on board. Lunch sounds good, I’ll call you. We may have more to discuss than you realize. Now, you hide for another minute or two and catch your breath while I make a run at the handsome stranger. You okay with that?”

“Sure. Go for it. I’m more into the nerd type. This guy’s way too big, and with those boots?” Anna laughed. “I’m pretty sure we have about as much in common as filet mignon and hamburger.” She shook her head. “Obviously I’m hungry. Must be lunchtime. Anyway, we just happened to be in the capitol on the same day at the same time.” Pamela was blond and pretty, with a perfect figure and a competent air about her. The cowboy would probably put her number in his phone in a heartbeat.

Pamela raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know. He did buy you that tiny tee. That says interested to me. He could be into dark hair and blue eyes; a lot of men are.” She gave her hair a final fluff. “They say blondes have more fun but I certainly have my dry spells. Can’t hurt to take a shot though. Did you smell him? Positively yummy.” She sighed. “Anyway, give me five minutes, then come on out. You have lipstick and a comb in there?” She gestured to the backpack Anna had set on the counter next to the sink.

“Never leave home without it. My mother’s rule. I carry the pack instead of a purse but all the necessities are in there.” Though it would take more than lipstick to make her look presentable. Her hair, always unruly, had gone wild thanks to wet paper towels and sweat.

“My mama too. Guess Yankee mamas aren’t so different from Texas mamas.” Pamela grinned. “So use ’em, Anna. At least one of us should get a date out of you having a fainting fit at the feet of one good-looking guy.” She let loose the top button on the white silk blouse under her suit jacket so a little cleavage showed, then picked up her briefcase before she eased out the door.

Anna studied herself in the mirror, then rooted around for lipstick and a brush. Pamela was right. Self-respect was something her mother had drilled into her from an early age. And then there was that man’s delicious smell. She might have been a little woozy but she’d have to have been unconscious to miss that subtle hint of something he wore that made her want to see him without all those layers, lose the tie and…

So far, her life in Texas had been spent mostly chained to her computer. Once she’d arrived in Austin, it had been drilled into her that it was her program that had made Zenon’s owner spend an obscene amount of money to buy her old company. She’d been under pressure ever since. But coming to Texas had given her an opportunity for a change, an adventure, like she’d told Pamela. She’d worked hard since she got here. Zenon had certainly got its money’s worth. So it was time for her to look up from her keyboard and give Texas a chance.

Maybe almost fainting in the rotunda of the Texas capitol building was a sign. Okay, so she might not see a future with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Too Cute for His Boots, but she wasn’t about to go out there looking like she’d been dragged across that beautiful marble lobby face first either.

* * * *

King waited outside the ladies’ room and wondered what the hell he was thinking. His sister would laugh her ass off at the idea that he’d swooped in and helped a stranger like that. Of course, much as he loved Karen, he knew she’d have stepped over the body and kept walking. Not his style. But, damn it, this had made him late for a meeting. He hated to be late for anything. When his phone chimed he knew exactly what the text was about. Yeah, State Senator Derek Cutler was pissed. There’d be no arm twisting about that agricultural bill over steaks and drinks today. He’d have to let the man cool off before he tried to smooth his ruffled feathers. Now he might as well see how the little gal he’d helped was coming along.

He knew the signs when a woman was about to faint. His twin sister had gone through a spell of fainting fits when they’d been growing up. White face, flop sweat, and boom! she’d hit the deck. This woman had been steps away from him as he was striding across the vast lobby. She’d wobbled and damn if he was going to let her fall and maybe split her head open on that hard marble floor. When the bathroom door swung open, he stuck his phone in his pocket and smiled. It was the little blonde.

“She’ll be out in a minute. She’s fine. Just taking a breather. Believe it or not, she’s from Boston. Our winter warm spell was a shock to her system. She’d obviously dressed for a Yankee winter.” She laughed and pressed a card into his hand. “Pamela Allred, Railroad Commission.”

“Hey, thanks for your help, Ms. Allred.” King took the card and held out his hand. “King Sanders. I have some dealings with your commission from time to time because of the oil wells on my ranch southwest of San Antonio. Maybe I’ll see you in the office while I’m in town.”

“Oh, I hope so.” She smiled and shook his hand, holding on when he would have let go. “And it’s Pam.” She frowned when her phone chimed. “Well, shoot. Duty calls. Nice to meet you. And that was sweet what you did for Anna, buying her a T-shirt and all. She said you’re strangers.”

“Right. I didn’t even know her name until you told me just now.” King tucked Pam’s card into his pocket. “I’ll be seeing you, Pam.” He watched her stride off but his mind was on the woman still behind the restroom door. Anna from Boston. She was different. Interesting. Pam was cute but so much like a dozen other women he knew he could imagine a factory, churning them out. They worked for the state, or maybe they didn’t work at all but lived off Daddy’s money. Nothing at all wrong with them. Nothing quite right about them either. Of course, he’d had his heart bruised recently, so maybe he was just being an asshole about women. Was entirely possible.

The door to the restroom creaked open and Anna peered out. Was she hoping he’d be gone? Probably embarrassed since she’d almost fallen in front of him. He strode forward, determined to make her feel at ease.

“You look better.” He saw she still clutched that backpack like it was a lifeline. It was an expensive leather so he doubted she was down and out and it held all her earthly possessions. Her jeans were faded but he knew that was a style statement, not necessarily a sign of wear. Her tennis shoes were top-of-the-line. He bought that brand himself for when he went running. “T-shirt looks good on you. Bright color. Reminds me of new peas.”

“Um, yes. I want to pay you for the shirt. I’m much cooler now. Thank you for coming to my rescue.” She smiled. “It says ‘Keep Austin Weird.’ Is that really a slogan around here?”

“People around here are proud that Austin is known for strange happenings. Where else would you have an annual bat festival? And I’m not talking about baseball bats.” King liked that she smiled at that nonsense. He reached for her elbow and steered her away from the bathroom entrance when a herd of women came toward them. “We need to move out of the way.”

“Oh, yes.” She flushed. “About the shirt.”

“Have lunch with me. That’s how you can pay for the shirt.” He moved her toward the door to the outside. She wasn’t exactly digging in her heels, but she wasn’t making it easy for him either, trying to put space between them.

“I don’t think so.” She stopped dead and he obviously wasn’t going to move her without dragging her or picking her up. She shrugged into her backpack.

“Let me start over. King Sanders.” He held out his hand, trying not to stare at how the shirt molded to her breasts. Oh, boy. To his relief, she shook hands but was quick to pull free.

“Anna Delaney. Thank you for saving me. Really.” She dug a twenty-dollar bill out of her jeans pocket and thrust it at him. “Here. For the shirt. Now I’d better be going.”

He wasn’t about to take her money. “Look at the time. It’s after noon, and I bet you’re hungry. Hot and hungry. No wonder you were about to faint.” He ignored the bill she waved at him and stayed with her as she headed for the exit at a pretty fast clip for a gal who’d been down for the count just minutes ago.

“I’m okay now. That cold water helped a lot.” She spared him a smile but just kept going.

“Let me at least walk you to your car.” He should give it up. She wasn’t interested. He’d been shot down before. No big deal. So why wasn’t he giving up?

“I don’t have a car. I’m going to catch a bus.” She stopped next to the guard station where tourists had caused a temporary roadblock. Security guards had a protocol, running backpacks and purses through scanners similar to those at an airport before anyone could be allowed inside. They didn’t scan people who were leaving but there was still a logjam near the exits.

“You’re kidding me. A bus? Where do you live? Let me give you a ride. My truck’s just outside.” King followed her when she took advantage of a break in the crowd and scooted through. Outside, the unseasonal heat hit him in the face. He saw Anna stop and take a breath.

“Look, it’s hot. Even in that new shirt you’re going to feel it. Where’s the nearest bus stop?” He looked around. There was no way a city bus would be allowed anywhere near the building. Security was tight.

“Three blocks away.” She said it quietly, as if gathering her nerve. Her shoulders drooped but she started walking. “I’ll be all right. This shirt makes it easier. Thanks again, Mr. Sanders.”

“King. Seriously, I swear I’m not a serial killer, or desperate to abduct you for nefarious purposes. I’d just like to make your life easier. A ride. Lunch. Whatever you’re willing to agree to.” He waved over a nearby policeman who’d been stationed next to the circular drive. “Mike, can you vouch for me to this pretty lady?” And she was pretty—wild black hair, white skin that probably never saw the sun, and blue eyes the color of the sky. He’d be damned if he was going to let her get away without a fight.

“Well, I don’t know, King. What do you want me to say? I wouldn’t call you harmless, pal. You do like the ladies.” The guard grinned when King gave him a look that said “Knock it off.” “Ma’am, King’s well-known here. The lawmakers run when they see him coming because he usually wants something for that ranch of his out west and the people of the town near there. Gets it too, because he’s damned persistent. And I know for a fact that he raised a bit of hell at the University of Texas when he was there. Of course, that was a few years back. Rumor has it he’s settled down some since then.”

King laughed, then elbowed the cop with a bit of force. “Thanks a heap, Mike. You were one of the guys who raised hell with me, if I remember right.”

“Those were the days. My wife broke me of that.” Mike grinned. “Truthfully? He’s okay. I’d trust my daughter with him. Of course, she’s only five.”

Anna examined King like he was a rattlesnake who’d crawled out from under a rock. Then she smiled and he knew he’d made some progress. “I, uh, don’t know what to say about that. I wasted my college years studying instead of raising hell.” She shook her head and aimed her smile at his friend in uniform. “You’d really trust your child with him?”

“Sure would. He’s a good guy. He gives you a problem, let me know. Give me your phone.” Mike held out his hand. When Anna dug hers out of her backpack and unlocked it, he punched in his number. “There you go. Backup. I’m a Texas Ranger, a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety, at your service.” He tipped his cowboy hat as he gave her back the phone.

“Well, thanks.” Anna’s smile turned into a grin. “I guess I’ll take you up on the ride then, King. You can’t know how much I dreaded getting back on the bus. I had to change three times. It would take forever to get back to my apartment.”

“Nice to know I beat out that torture.” King laughed when Anna flushed. “Hey, I’ll take it.” He knocked fists with his buddy. “I owe you, Mike.”

“You bet you do. You two taking off now?” Mike nodded toward the truck parked at the curb. “Because if you don’t, King, I’m going to have your vehicle towed.”

“Fixin’ to move it now, Mike. Sorry it took longer than I expected. Thanks for watching it for me.” King slapped him on the back. “Come fall, you’ve got tickets to the Longhorn game of your choice. Text me.”

“I will. Never doubt it.” He waved them off and turned to talk to a man in a business suit.

“Here we go.” King eased Anna toward his truck illegally parked at the curb. It paid to have old friends in convenient places. He was lucky that way, always had been. “I was just running inside to pick up a man for lunch. That got canceled, so I’m free to take you home or to lunch then home. How about it, sugar? Will you have lunch with me?” He held his hat over his heart.

She appeared to think it over for a beat, then nodded. “Why not? I told you how bad the ride here was. Obviously I got so overheated I couldn’t even enjoy my sightseeing once I got here. And I am hungry.” Anna looked over his truck. “This is a fancy one.” Then she looked him over. “Nice suit too. So I suspect you can afford to buy me lunch.”

“I do all right.” He opened the passenger door and put out his hand, waiting while she took off that pack she guarded so carefully. “Let me help you up and in. It’s a pretty high step.”

“I can manage.” She grabbed the bar to pull herself up into the cab, obviously determined to prove something.

It was a tall order for a little woman. Not that Anna was so short, about five feet five if he was any judge. But his truck was high enough to make it tough. He got a nice view of her rounded bottom while she climbed in. He could give her a boost but figured she wouldn’t appreciate it.

He took off his suit coat and tie and tossed them, along with his hat, into the back seat before he settled behind the wheel. “If you haven’t explored Austin much, let me treat you to one of our famous downtown restaurants. Nothing fancy, just good eating.” He started the engine and hit the AC so it would blast cold air on both of them.

“What’s a Texan’s idea of good eating? In Boston it’s clam chowder or a lobster roll.” Anna still held on to that pack, clutching it to her chest. “Maybe you should just take me home.”

“Now, that wouldn’t be right. I heard your stomach growling. You admitted you’re hungry.” He grinned. He couldn’t hear it over the roar of the air conditioner but he just bet it did it again because her pale cheeks really lit up. He bet she never got out in the sun. His own skin was dark to begin with, thanks to his Mexican mama, and he was in the sun almost every day. Anna would probably burn if she spent any time next to his pool. He pictured her in a bikini and had to clear his throat.

“Not going to chicken out on me, are you? We don’t eat weird things. That’s not part of the ‘Keep Austin Weird’ slogan.”

“Okay, okay. I’m starving and sick to death of eating what I can get close to my place or delivered. So why not? I’d love to see more of Austin. What is down-home cooking here?” She finally set her pack on the floor and fastened her seat belt.

“Chicken fried steak.” King hit the gas. “Thanks for trusting me, Anna. You won’t be sorry.”

* * * *

Anna was sorry. Not that the lunch hadn’t been delicious. It had. King Sanders had clearly been determined to charm the pants off her. Unfortunately, it was working. The sad truth was that Anna had been lonely in Austin. This man, with his tall good looks and easy smile, made her want to do something foolish, like invite him upstairs when he drove into her apartment complex.

But she didn’t know him. Yes, he’d told her about his ranch and his family, even his twin sister. He’d shown a real interest in getting to know her as well. So she’d laid it on a little thick about her big brothers, all in law enforcement back home. Yes, she had a local lawman on speed dial now, but he wasn’t the only one she could call if King Sanders tried any funny business. Her brother Chance was FBI. What did King think about that? Actually, he seemed to want to know more. Like she was fascinating. Which she wasn’t, sitting at a computer all day. Crap. A handsome man totally focused on her? She was finding it downright seductive. Oh, this was trouble.

No, no, no. She wasn’t that easy. Was she? Anna gave him the gate code, then directions to her building. It was a big contemporary complex and impersonal, as different from her old apartment in an aging brownstone in Boston as it could be. The only reason she’d rented here was because it was literally across the street from her office. She’d never learned to drive, thanks to the great public transportation system back home, and she wasn’t eager to learn now. A bike was perfect for her. She kept it chained on her balcony.

He slowed the truck. “Building C? This it?”

Anna dragged her gaze from the way his hands rested on the leather-covered steering wheel. Strong, competent hands with neatly trimmed nails. Tanned, masculine. She could imagine…

“Uh, yes. Pull into one of the unmarked spaces.”

The truck jerked when he braked suddenly. “Damn it. Who lets their dog just run loose like that? I could have killed the little thing. Squashed it like a bug.”

Anna sat up straight. There were rules. Leash laws. Then a white ball of fur raced past and stopped at the bottom of the stairs to her apartment. It started barking, obviously upset.

“Oh, my God! YoYo!” She grabbed the handle and tried to open the door. Locked. “Let me out! Now!” She released her seat belt.

“What the hell?” But he unlocked the doors with a click.

Anna almost fell out as she jerked the door open and jumped down. “YoYo! Come here, boy!” She ran toward him and scooped up the dog, frantically checking him for injuries. “How did you get out?” She realized King was right behind her. “I locked up tight when I left. He was inside.”

“Which apartment is yours?” King held out his hand and YoYo licked his fingers.

“Top of the stairs. Two C.” Anna hugged the dog and started up. She could see the door was closed, just like she’d left it. This didn’t make sense.

“Stop! Stay here. The only way the dog got out is if someone let him out. You did say you live alone, right?” When she nodded, King ran to the truck, then came back with a handgun.

“Are you kidding me?” She gawked at him. “Put that away!”

“What if someone is still inside? They could be loading up, robbing you blind.” He gently moved Anna aside and started up the stairs. “Who else has your key?”

“Just a friend from Boston. She’s here for work too. But she’d never leave YoYo out in the parking lot. And I didn’t expect her. She’d text if she was coming over.” Anna stayed on King’s heels. “What are you going to do?”

“Depends on what we find. Call the police, of course. Hold the thief till they come if someone is still in there.” He looked all business, like he was ready to take on whoever had dared leave her dog at the mercy of big trucks and the heat.

“I hope they are here. YoYo could have been killed the way some people race through the parking lot. We need speed bumps.” Anna felt sick thinking about it. She reached for the trowel she’d stuck into a bag of potting soil next to the door. “Guess this is better than nothing. It’s got a good point on it.” She set YoYo down and told him to stay. Not that he’d do it. He’d flunked obedience school, twice. The poor thing was panting like he was feeling the heat and needed water.

“You should wait at the bottom of the steps, Anna. Go ahead and call the police.” King stopped like he thought she was really going to just stand meekly in the parking lot while he did his macho maneuvers.

“My phone’s in the truck, in my backpack.” Anna didn’t want to think about why someone might have broken into her place. All her work, notes, things she’d brought from home were in there, along with her computer system. They were the only things of value. “The dog’s not barking now. That’s a good sign. If someone is still here, I think YoYo would be going crazy. Look at him.”

King reached down to pat the tiny dog who sniffed his boot, then scratched against the door. “I hope you’re right. I don’t hear anything. Stand back anyway.” He tried the door and the knob turned easily. “You did lock this when you left?”

“Of course. I have a computer system worth a fortune in there. It’s my livelihood. I do a lot of work from home.” Anna stayed close. No way in hell was she just going to obey him.

“Last chance to wait by my truck.” He gave her a look, still not opening the door.

“If you’re scared, hand me your gun. I’ll use it on whoever might be lurking inside. I know how to shoot. Remember those brothers I told you about? They taught me.” Anna tried to push past him.

“Now you’re scaring me.” He threw open the door. “Police!”

Anna gasped when she saw the chaos inside. Whoever had let out her dog had obviously been looking for something. Her gaze went right to her dining room table. Her computer was gone. Her heart sank. At least she’d taken precautions with her work. But to break in like this…

King stalked through the house, gun out in front of him as he searched every room. It didn’t take long since there was only one bedroom off the living room, a tiny kitchen, and the bathroom. She heard him open the closet door before he shouted, “Clear!” just like in one of those police procedurals on TV.

“No one’s here. What’s missing?” He glanced at the empty dining room table she’d used as her desk. “Is that where your computer sat?”

“Yes.” Anna blinked back tears. “My TV is still here. No surprise. It’s not that big. My friend mocks me for it.” She trailed into her bedroom. The drawers had been pulled out from her bedside table and her chest. Underwear was strewn across the mattress, which was off the bed frame.

“They were obviously looking for something. Money?” King picked up the mattress and slid it back on the box springs. “You keep cash here?”

“No. I don’t fool with much cash. I’m all about my debit card.” Anna grabbed a laundry basket and stuffed the clothes that had been dumped on the floor into it. She shuddered as she left the room. She was washing everything that the cretins who’d invaded her space had touched.

“Stop cleaning. The cops should see it like this.” King picked up a bowl and filled it with water. His new best friend licked his hand, then drank greedily as soon as he set it on the floor. “Wish the dog could talk.”

“You and me both.” Anna picked up a sofa cushion, dropped it in place, then fell onto it. “I guess I should call the police. I have renters insurance.” Her lower lip quivered but she refused to give in to it.

“Hey, talk to me.” King slapped the other sofa cushions next to her then sat. “You want to get a hotel room? I know you probably don’t want to stay here tonight. If these guys come back…”

“What?” Anna stared at him. “Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.” He glanced around the room. “They were searching for something. Did they find it?” He gave her a penetrating look. “You’ve been guarding your backpack since before I met you. I have a feeling there’s something in there that’s valuable. To you, and maybe to the assholes who broke in here. Or am I imagining things?”

Anna took a shaky breath. She’d already figured out that King was sharp. And she hadn’t exactly made a secret of the fact that she wasn’t going to let her pack out of her sight or her reach during their time together. It had even sat between her legs at the restaurant. Thank God she was careful, because she’d be in tears, and in jeopardy of losing her job, if she hadn’t taken those special precautions before her little sightseeing jaunt today.

“No, you’re not imagining things. I’m pretty sure whoever broke in here was looking for what’s in my pack.” Anna realized that, in her fright about her dog, she’d left the thing sitting in King’s truck. Unguarded. She jumped up and ran outside her door. The truck was still there.

“Did you lock it?” She turned to him as he walked up beside her.

“No, but I will now.” He pulled his key fob from his pocket and hit the command that made the lights on the truck flash as the locks engaged. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on, Anna? Whoever broke in here knew what they were doing. They didn’t have a key, but there are no signs of forced entry. So they were professionals. You carrying gold bars in that backpack? State secrets? What?”

“You know that joke, if I told you I’d have to kill you?” Anna tried for a smile but couldn’t twist her mouth into one.

“Oh, come on. I don’t believe you.” He shut the door and turned the dead bolt. “You’re a computer geek. And I don’t mean that to insult you. What’s in the backpack? A new revolutionary program?”

“Got it in one, King.” Anna collapsed on the sofa and YoYo jumped in her lap for a cuddle. She buried her face in his soft fur for a long moment before she felt the couch move. King sat beside her again, waiting for more.

“You didn’t insult me. I’m proud to be able to create computer software. It’s what I do. And I invented a program that has the potential to save lives. It’s why that huge company across the street paid big bucks for the little Boston company I worked for, and why I had to move here.” Oh, hell. Tears. There was nothing she’d like better than to be in her mom’s kitchen right now, surrounded by her older brothers. Safe. Instead she was telling this to a stranger. Could she trust him?

Wait a minute. She didn’t believe in coincidences. Never had. So why had this man been the one to rescue her when she’d been about to faint today? And he’d been so determined to stick with her and keep her busy for hours. Was it so his buddies could break into her place and steal her computer? She faced him and looked into his dark eyes. He looked back, all innocence and interest. That in itself was suspicious. Men didn’t fall for her at first sight, and certainly not men of his kind. Rich cowboy types were as foreign to her as that lunch in the diner had been. Yes, at first it had been delicious, but now it was sitting like a greasy lump in her stomach, making her wish she’d never taken the first bite.

He still held his gun, resting it across his knees like he was just a little too familiar with it. Why? Did all ranchers in Texas carry guns in their trucks? She had no idea. But her brothers had warned her to be careful here. And her boss had cautioned her about the program she was working on. It was valuable. Worth millions, maybe more. She was the brains behind it. Which meant taking her computer could be just the first play in a clever plot to steal her software. The second play? Well, there was no play at all without her to solve the glitches in it.

“Anna?” King shook his head. “You going to tell me what’s going on? I can help you.”

“I just thought of something.” She ran into her bedroom. Was it possible the thieves had missed her hiding place? She’d brought her heavy-duty snow boots to Texas even though her brothers had teased her about it. The boots had been just right for slipping what she needed inside. Sure enough, they were where she’d left them, lying on the floor of her closet. They’d obviously not been thoroughly searched, and when she stuck her hand deep inside she hit pay dirt.

Anna walked back into the living room ready to confront King. She took a deep breath, determined to stay calm despite the nerves that threatened to make her sick and shaky.

“What the hell?” He stared at the gun in her hand she aimed at him. “Is that a .38 Special?”

“Sure is. It’s loaded, and I’m not afraid to use it either. Now why don’t you try to convince me you’re not in on this.” She waved her free hand at the mess around them. “I wasn’t born yesterday, King. It seems a little too convenient that you came to my rescue today, then managed to keep me busy while someone broke in here and stole my computer.” If he went for his gun she hoped like hell she had the nerve to blow him away. But he wasn’t a paper target and she’d never aimed at anything else. Please, God, don’t let it come to that.