Читать книгу By Request Collection April-June 2016 - Оливия Гейтс - Страница 109

“WELL, I SAY WE USE THE REST of the money to build a quarantine barn,” the gray-haired gent who owned the variety store said, his big hand almost dwarfing his beer mug.

Tucker spared him a glance, but only that. The same was true for the others. He only had eyes for one person, and it killed him that he’d had no choice but to return to his seat at the far end of the table. Since it would’ve been highly inappropriate to kiss her in the middle of the board meeting. He’d settle for staring into her gorgeous blue eyes.

“We should invest in some of them big internet sales things.” This from another old man, Cy Heber, who looked as worn as the creaking weather vane atop the Safe Haven barn. “Those ads just keep on popping up no matter what, so they’re bound to get folks’ attention.”

“Heber, that’s spam,” Jesse said, doing an admirable job of keeping a straight face. “Besides, we’re already doing two internet campaigns.”

Tucker watched as Annie finally put the check in her pocket and focused her entire attention on him. But instead of the heated glances from before, she seemed more confused than the money warranted. He would’ve liked her to smile at least, but he figured she was having mixed feelings.

He wanted her to know he was on her side. No matter what happened later with the information George gathered, where the chips fell, he needed Annie to believe that he had faith in her. That check meant something to him, as well. He never had been and never would be cavalier about his wealth, inherited or earned. Damn, he couldn’t wait until there were no more secrets between them. But for now, he hoped his gesture would ease her mind in some small way.

The older cowboy, Will, said, “I think we should hire someone who can be there for Annie so that she doesn’t have to work three hundred sixty-five days a year. A person needs to have some time off.”

That made Annie turn. “I don’t need any such thing.”

Everyone started talking at once, except for Shea, who just shook her head. In fact, she’d said very little since the meeting started forty minutes ago.

Sadie slammed her hands down on the table so hard and loud she brought the chatter to a halt. “Quiet, all of you. What we’re gonna do with that check is just what we’ve done with every other donation. Leave it to Annie. She knows better than all of us combined what Safe Haven needs. And if you don’t agree, I’m bringing this meeting to a close right this second, and you can all pay for your own damn beer.”

Finally, Tucker got his smile from Annie.

ANNIE WANTED TO HUG SADIE for stopping the free-for-all the board meeting had become. It was torture sitting with all these people. It was no picnic sitting across from Tucker, either.

The check and all it meant hadn’t truly hit yet. Big ideas like gratitude and what she could do with so much money were right beside the echo of his words, his belief in her that made her want to weep until next week.

If he knew the truth, would he have been so quick to give her anything? No, of course not. Who would? But then, his generosity hadn’t been toward Leanna Warner, and she couldn’t forget that. The whole point of staying in Safe Haven was to do everything in her power to help the cause. To hide her mistakes in a coffee can under her bed, and dedicate her days and hours to something worthwhile.

The smart thing would be to continue on as if nothing had changed. In truth, nothing had. Except for the extra-large infusion of guilt.

Oh, and wanting Tucker so badly she found it hard to breathe.

She’d agonized for hours last night and before the meeting, berating herself for kissing him when there was so much at stake. Intellectually she knew that Tucker wasn’t using his position to manipulate her, and she wasn’t trying to use their attraction for her own benefit. But the check and the confirmation that the foundation would make an independent decision took care of any lingering doubts.

Forcing herself to tie up the meeting, to actually speak to Will and Cy and the rest of the board and really listen, put more strain on her than she’d have guessed. Tucker was there, right there, and every step closer made her want him more.

Shea and Jesse lingered after the others had left, taking the time to thank Tucker and to ask him what kind of receipt he’d like for the donation.

Annie figured that would be it. Because she had a hell of a lot to do.

“You going back to Safe Haven?” Shea asked.

Annie shook her head. “I’d like to go to Kalispell and deposit the check. Tucker’s bank has a branch there. Maybe I can keep out enough money for the engine so we can order it today. Spring will be gone before we know it.”

Tucker, who’d been speaking to Jesse, joined Shea and Annie. “I could take you to the bank. Make sure you get whatever cash you need.”

“No, that’s okay,” Annie said, ordering herself not to be nervous just because he was a foot away. “I’ll have to get back to Safe Haven tonight, and you don’t want to make all those trips. Not if you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“I’m a damn good customer of that bank. If I’m with you, they’ll let you have the whole check in cash if you want.” He smiled, lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug. “And hey, maybe we could even splurge and get some dinner.”

Annie sighed, knowing it would be dangerous to go to Kalispell with Tucker. She’d already proven that she had no defense against this man, and God knew, she’d already broken almost every rule in her book. Still, the tractor had been sitting there for so long, and the kids had worked so hard on the project. She looked up at Shea. “Do you think you might be able to cover for me for a few hours?”

Shea smiled. “I know I can.”

Jesse moved next to her. “Me, too.” Then, weirdly, he nudged Shea in her side. He tried not to be obvious, but Annie saw it. Her pulse jumped when Jesse asked Tucker to join him outside.

“Maybe you should take a toothbrush with you,” Shea said.

“What!” Annie groaned. Dammit, someone must’ve seen the kiss last night. “Are you crazy?”

Despite the flush on her cheeks, Shea took a step closer to Annie and leaned in. “Maybe get some underwear. Abe’s Variety has both, you know. Then you wouldn’t have to drive back to Safe Haven.” Shea smiled. “Jesse and I can stay as long as you need us to. Honest.”

Annie could hardly believe Shea’s suggestion, and Jesse’s part in this little maneuver. She wished she’d never kissed Tucker. No. That he’d never kissed her. Did everyone in the county know about it? Could a rumor spread that fast?

What was she thinking? This was Blackfoot Falls. Of course it could. Even worse, the kiss wasn’t a rumor. It probably hadn’t helped that she and Tucker had been ogling each other during the meeting. Jeez, she’d never live this down. Never.

Luckily, what the people of this tiny town thought of her wasn’t high on her list of things she cared about. Tucker was. So was his imminent departure. God, why did she have to like him so much? Men simply did not make her heart pound anymore. Or send heat surging through her veins. But then she hadn’t met anyone like him before. In her experience, rich, powerful men didn’t give up their valuable time to help bring a foal into the world or get their hands dirty saving a helpless goat.

Even though she didn’t deserve to be with a man like him, the fact that this was it, that they’d never see each other again once he left, was eating at her resolve faster than the summer sun melted a Popsicle. Her priorities had shifted even as she tried to reason with herself. He’d already given her a check, no strings attached, and the foundation was a separate entity. One obstacle out of the way. Was that why he’d chosen the meeting to present the check? It didn’t matter. In her heart she knew…She needed tonight with Tucker as much as she needed the tractor to work.

Maybe more.

“You’re right, I should duck into Abe’s,” she said, having trouble meeting Shea’s gaze. “If you’re sure.”

“Please.” Shea rolled her eyes. “Even I could tell you guys wanted to crawl all over each other.”

Annie felt her own blush. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Hurry up. I’ll be talking to Tucker about when we should expect to hear from the foundation.”

Annie wanted to hug her, but instead she waved at Sadie across the room, then darted out the door, ready and willing to head into a night she’d never forget. And hang the consequences.

TUCKER WAS ABOUT AS PLEASED with himself as a man could be. He had an amazing woman sitting at his side and the promise of a perfect night of nothing but spoiling her rotten in every way he could think of. Mostly, he hoped, by giving her many, many orgasms.

He’d never have asked Annie to spend the night with him. At best, he’d hoped she might ask him into her cabin after the volunteers left in the evening. But then Shea and Jesse had offered their help, and Annie had disappeared into the variety store. There were enough clues in her body language to let him know she’d picked up a few essentials. When Shea said, “See you tomorrow,” the deal was sealed in his mind.

“I can’t begin to thank you for the generous check, Tucker,” Annie said as they merged onto the highway. “Your faith in Safe Haven won’t be misplaced, I swear.”

Tucker gave her a look that was a little too smug.

“I’m being sincere,” Annie said.

His expression softened at her offended tone, and he realized what she must think. “Sorry. I know you are. I meant no offense. It’s just…I’ve been caught up thinking about all the things I want to do after you take care of business. Things I want to do with you.” He reached across the SUV and took her hand. “For you.”

“Oh,” she said, after a few seconds. “Carry on, then.”

He laughed. “I intend to.” After a quick squeeze, he returned his hand to the wheel because he’d been waiting for a place to pull over. There was no traffic to speak of, and he had no trouble moving onto the shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Is it the car?”

“The SUV is fine,” he said, driving onto a patch of gravel and away from the two-lane road. “What’s wrong,” he said, killing the engine and turning to Annie, “is that I haven’t kissed you since last night.”

Undoing his seat belt, he leaned over, mentally cursing bucket seats and intrusive consoles, and slipped his hand behind Annie’s neck. He didn’t have to pull her close; she came eagerly to meet him in the middle.

She skipped tentative altogether and went straight for mind-blowing with a quick but insistent swipe of her tongue, vanquishing any doubts he’d had about the true purpose of this escape.

He couldn’t have stopped his groan if he’d tried. That he remembered her taste, that her scent had already become vital, made him glad he’d closed his eyes, because looking at her now would make him want far more than a kiss.

The moment her hand touched his chest, he gripped her more firmly, took over the kiss and slipped his tongue between her teeth. Her whimper excited his already stirring cock, and as they explored each other, the sounds of their desire filled the interior of the cab, making everything more intense.

Her roving hand reminded him that he could touch now, touch more than he’d dared last night. If the pull of actually getting her into bed hadn’t been so enticing, he might have listened to the voice in the back of his head reminding him the back of the Land Rover was roomy, and how no cars had driven by since he’d pulled over.

Instead, he cupped her breast with his left hand. Over her shirt, over her bra. And learned the shape of her, the feel of her against his palm. This wasn’t a grope and dash…it was a prelude, something to take the edge off until he could give her the perfect setting. Although his body wasn’t too thrilled with the decision.

She drew back just as he was marveling at how hard her nipple was through two layers. “We should probably go.”

Giving in, he opened his eyes, and dammit, the look of her lips, all moist and pink, was enough to make him hard. “You all right?”

“Better than all right. But I want—”

“Everything?”

She smiled, kissed him quickly on the lips, then sat back in her seat, pulling her seat belt across her chest. “Think we can do everything in one night?”

“We can sure as hell try,” he said, then he put the car in gear and turned back onto the freeway, the memory of her kisses lingering like the slow, pleasant burn of twenty-year-old Scotch.

“WHEN I WAS SEVEN, I WANTED to be a fireman.”

Annie immediately pictured him in one of those sexy calendars, wearing all of his gear except for his shirt. He’d have made the cover for sure. “What happened to change your mind?”

“Batman.”

“Really? How’s that working out for you?”

He grinned. “Great. Although the commute to Gotham is killing me.”

She turned more toward him, feeling as if she were in a dream, because this was not her life. Every time she started to sink back to reality, the one she’d find soon enough in Blackfoot Falls, she snapped herself out of it. She’d have the rest of her life for regrets. But she wouldn’t begin now. “I hope you brought your alter ego with you, because I’m thinking you’d look seriously hot in tights.”

His laughter was deep and real and made her shiver. It also made her touch him. Her hand on his. Nothing major, no groping. The last thing she wanted was to distract him from getting them to the bank. And the hotel. She really wanted to be at that hotel.

“I can guarantee that you will never see me wearing tights. In fact, you need to stop thinking about it right now.”

“Hey, tights can be very manly. All the best superheroes wear them.”

Tucker looked at her. “No, some of them wear jeans and checkered blouses.”

Absurdly, she looked down, although she knew what she’d put on this afternoon. “Stop it,” she said, meaning it. The last thing she needed to do was get mired in her mistakes again. In fact, she wasn’t going to think about herself at all. “I want to know what happened after the Batman phase.”

“That’s easy. Ranching. Riding. Learning the ropes. Literally.”

“Did you ever try the rodeo?”

“Not for long. Being thrown off a horse hurts like a son of a bitch.”

“I doubt you experienced it often.”

“Not something you should bet on.” His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I preferred playing baseball. Which I did through my sophomore year in college.”

“Pitcher?”

“How’d you know?”

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I had a feeling, that’s all.”

“Well, you’re right. I started out in Little League. Eventually I developed a decent arm.”

He flipped his hand over hers, entwined their fingers and rubbed the skin he could reach with his thumb. A tiny movement that resonated down to her toes.

“What about you? Horses all the way?”

“Mostly. I did play basketball in school. I was tall enough to be a guard, but definitely not good enough to continue past high school. The love of my life has always been horses, though.”

“No men on that list?”

She shook her head. “I lived with a guy for a few years. Thought it was love. Turned out it was more about lust and wishful thinking. Then, I don’t know. Nothing major. A few mistakes. How about you?”

“I’ve had several relationships through the years. I expected to be married by now. I’d like to have kids. Raise them on the ranch like my father raised me. But the women that have interested me the most have had busy lives and goals of their own.”

“The twain couldn’t meet?”

“Five days a week I live on the ranch. I spend the weekends in Dallas. For a professional woman, that’s a hard schedule to work around. And it would be difficult at the moment to give up my role at the ranch.”

They were getting closer to Kalispell and traffic had picked up. She didn’t want to think about him getting married and having kids. She didn’t want to think of him outside of this car.

She shifted so she could see him better. “Tell me about the hotel room. Does it have a big bathtub?”

Like the gentleman he was, Tucker let the subject turn to exaggerations about the room’s amenities. She relaxed against her seat, watching him as he spoke, studying that strong jaw of his before getting swept away by his cheekbones.

When the town came into view, she was a little disappointed. The ride had been the easiest stretch of time she’d had in so long. A snapshot of a life she’d never have.

FIVE MINUTES AFTER TUCKER and Annie walked into the Kalispell branch of Tucker’s bank, his phone rang, and the name surprised him. He answered quickly with, “Hang on, I’ll just be a minute,” then turned to Annie. “I shouldn’t be long, but I have to take this.”

“Go ahead. If I need you to get the money, I’ll wait, that’s all. No problem.”

He leaned over but ended up kissing her cheek instead of her mouth. She seemed as surprised as he was. He knew it was a reaction to the phone call, but he’d think about the reason later.

He didn’t speak to Christian until he was in the back parking lot, away from too many passersby and far from where Annie could overhear. “What’s going on, Christian?”

“That’s what I want to know,” his brother said.

The bite behind his words had Tucker stopping in his tracks. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were looking for Leanna?”

“Because I don’t report to you,” Tucker said, instantly angry both at his impudent brother and his mother. Though he still didn’t know what she’d told Christian. “Did Mom call you?”

“Yes, Irene called.” Christian often used her name to emphasize the fact he hadn’t yet forgiven her. Though he didn’t mind taking her money. “She informed me you found Leanna.”

“I’m not sure yet that I have. But if it is her, what are you complaining about?”

“I’m complaining because I had my own search going for her. I didn’t want you involved. Leanna is a dangerous woman.”

“In what way?” Tucker gritted his teeth. Getting pissed off wouldn’t help. But Annie, dangerous? “You said she was a thief. That she’d taken off with the money.”

Christian’s huff came through as impatience, but Tucker heard more than that. Underneath the anger was panic. But over what? “Look, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t see the point, but there were some very shady and dangerous people in Leanna’s life. People associated with the mob. Guys you don’t want to get too close to, you understand? They could come after you, Tucker. And Mom.”

The mob and Annie? Is that why she’d run, why she’d hidden herself away in a backwoods town near the border? Jesus, if Christian had known about it…“Why didn’t you tell the police?”

“Because I didn’t particularly want to die. I told you, these men are lethal. Hell, even if it is Leanna, you wouldn’t be doing her any favors by bringing her in. That would be as good as signing her death warrant. Leave it alone, Tucker. This is something your big money can’t fix. Trust me.”

“If you’d told me the—” Tucker cut himself short. How could he blame Christian for trying to protect himself? For protecting his family? “Fine. I won’t do anything to endanger you. Or her. If it is her.”

“Don’t say anything to anyone about this, Tucker. I’m dead serious. It won’t end well.”

“I understand.” Tucker had walked to the side of the bank, and was headed for the entrance. He poked his head inside the door and saw Annie standing in the waiting area.

“Where are you, anyway? Mom didn’t say.”

Now it was Mom. Tucker wasn’t sure why that rubbed him the wrong way, but it sure as hell did. “Flying back to Dallas. I’ve got to run. I’ll be in touch when I get home.” Tucker put the phone away, more worried than ever about Annie. And Christian, yeah, but his brother seemed to be pretty good at taking care of himself.

He’d have to wait until he took Annie to order the tractor engine before he called George, see what he’d found out. Warn him. God, he hoped he hadn’t sent George into danger. The thought made him so uncomfortable that after he helped Annie get her funds, he made another excuse to leave her to deal with the salesman at the machinery parts store. But she didn’t just let him slip away.

“Is everything okay?”

He put on a smile, hating the subterfuge. “It’s business, a fire I have to put out myself. It won’t take long.”

“I’ll be here, and I don’t mind waiting. So do what you need to.” Then she pulled his head down to meet her in a kiss.

Not just a peck, either. It didn’t matter that they were standing inside a busy warehouse. She took her time, and he let himself enjoy it. It hit him that he’d been one hundred percent right about her from the moment they’d met. No, from before that. He’d read her perfectly. Someone else was behind the embezzlement and had forced her hand. The only problem was, now that he understood the danger she was in, would trying to help her make things worse?

He pulled back to rest his forehead against hers, held her there for a long moment as he breathed her in, calmed himself down. There would be a solution to this. He would find one. Because anything else was unacceptable.

A few minutes later, he was on the phone with George, who delivered news Tucker wasn’t prepared to hear. He found a wall to lean against. “Wait. Bookies?”

“Major bookies,” George said. “These guys are affiliated with the Russian mob, Tucker. I’m sorry, but the trail is there.”

“You’re sure it leads to Christian?”

“No. I’m not,” George said in a slow, cautious voice. “But so far, that’s where things are headed.”

“George, look, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but you need to stop now. Just back off. This is far bigger than I ever expected, and I won’t have you put yourself in this kind of danger.”

“You need to trust me on this, my friend. I’m not willing to get involved in anything that could get me killed. Or you, or Irene. But I’ve got a lifetime of sources here, and a lot of favors I’ve called in. I’m fine, and I’ll stay fine. And I’m not stopping. If I can clear your brother, I will. But know this. I won’t pull any punches.”

Tucker rubbed the back of his neck. “If Irene knew, she’d be as grateful as I am. But she’d also be just as worried. No more burials, George. Not over this. Not worth it.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I’ll get back to you.”

Tucker turned off the phone, and shoved it in his pocket. Bookies. There’d been nothing in Annie’s life or financial history that would tie her to gambling of any sort. Nothing. He couldn’t say the same for Christian.

Jesus, what if…? No, he wouldn’t jump to conclusions. The idea that Christian could be involved with the embezzlement had crossed his mind before—Tucker wasn’t an idiot—but he’d dismissed the notion.

The reason for that was clear. He just hoped like hell he wasn’t going to be responsible for hurting his mother even more than she was already. In the middle of forcing a deep breath, it finally struck him why he’d been annoyed that Christian switched from Irene to Mom. Subconsciously he’d recognized it had been a tactic. Pure manipulation. To tug at Tucker’s emotions by upping the stakes. Even if Tucker didn’t care about himself, Christian knew he’d care about what happened to Irene. He’d back off then.

The question remained…why? Did Christian truly believe Leanna Warner was involved with the mob and feared for his life? Or was he afraid she had information that would prove his own guilt?

Damn, everything had just gotten more complicated. He should never have come to Montana. But if he’d never come, he’d have never met Annie. She wasn’t the dangerous woman his brother had painted her to be. Not possible.

He walked into the store and found her by the tractors. The second she took the copy of her purchase order, he pulled her into his arms and backed her away from the counter. “I should take you to dinner. You haven’t eaten for hours.”

“But…?”

He looked at her, wanting to tell her everything, wanting to hide her away where no one would ever hurt her. She wasn’t guilty; he still believed that with every fiber of his being, every inch of his soul. And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman. “Are you really hungry?”

“Starving,” she said, a slow, sexy smile lifting the corners of her lips.

He winced, but only for a second. “Want to go find a restaurant?”

“Not a chance. Where is this hotel of yours?”