First, a flight plan. He had the number for the Kalispell city airport in his wallet, and he called in for an 8:00 p.m. departure. That would give him five more hours with Annie. Which wasn’t enough time, not by a long shot.
More of an issue was how in hell was he going to tell her that he was Christian’s brother? Not this afternoon. Too soon, not enough information. He wasn’t ready. He was scared out of his friggin’ mind that she’d hate him.
He tried to imagine her reaction to his explanation, but he couldn’t get past the look of certain betrayal he’d see in her beautiful blue eyes. Even if she listened to everything he had to say, she could have her own reasons for not wanting to face what she’d left behind. He wouldn’t presume to tell her what she should do. A night of sex didn’t give him any rights.
Except it hadn’t just been sex, and that was the problem. Damn, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this powerless. Or this infatuated with a woman.
The cabin door opened, and Jesse stuck his head in. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope. I’m done making belligerent phone calls.”
“No problem. I’m here on a mission.” Jesse snorted. “I have to get the matzo ball soup out of the cooler, put it in the dark blue bowl and leave it in the microwave.”
Tucker had to laugh. “That’s a pretty serious assignment you have there, son. I was there when she ordered that soup. Messing up would not be wise.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
Tucker knew which container held the soup, so he brought it out.
“I gotta say...” Jesse found the specified bowl. “That check you wrote for Safe Haven was a hell of a gesture.”
“I consider it a great investment.”
Jesse’s faint grin spoke loudly.
“Yes, it’s because of Annie.” Tucker only felt defensive because he was already edgy. “She’s doing an excellent job here.”
“No one said you can’t have more than one reason for doing something.”
“Yeah, well, I suppose I asked for that.” Lack of sleep was getting to him. “By taking her to Kalispell overnight. Hope that doesn’t give her grief.”
“Sadie will take care of any gossip.”
Tucker liked Jesse and his unhurried, easygoing manner. “I’m concerned about the winters here. Annie being alone. You have some kind of system set up to check on her?”
“Glad you asked,” Jesse said, closing the microwave. “My brothers, me and several other nearby ranchers keep in touch. When it’s bad, we come in shifts, so we can all take care of our own stock. It kind of depends on how many animals Annie has here. We haven’t had to rescue her yet, though. She keeps up on the snow maintenance, so she has clear paths. That’s one reason we need that tractor fixed. It doubles as her snowplow in winter, and we can’t let her be without that.”
“I’ve been dealing with the drought so long, I haven’t given much thought to severe winter conditions. I’m glad to hear you all are pitching in.”
“Winter’s tricky. I’m able to fly most days. Sometimes we’ll get stuck in a cycle that shuts everything down, but the airports are well maintained. If you ever want to fly back, give me a call. I’ll let you know the conditions, give you the coordinates for the private airfield I use. I checked it out already. You’re welcome there anytime.”
Tucker leaned back against the counter. “I’ll be sure and take your number. Thank you.”
“She’s the real McCoy, you know,” Jesse said, taking a seat on one of the wooden chairs. “My...Shea has been known to keep Annie in coffee when she needs it, and food. Annie’s gone without, though. Not sure how often, but more than once.”
“You don’t have to sell me on her. I’m going to do what I can to get some funding for this place. Steady funding.”
“Good enough.” Jesse kicked out a second chair. “So tell me about your plane before the women come and monopolize us. I’ve been meaning to ask you about it since you arrived.”
14
“I
DON
’
T
HAVE
THE
RIGHT
WORDS
,”
Annie said softly, watching Puff, the beautiful chocolate-brown foal, find her footing with unmanageable legs.
“You’re doing pretty well,” Shea answered. “To be honest, I only understand because of what’s happened with me and Jesse. I had no idea that people could honestly fall in love in such a short time. I’d always thought it was fiction.”
Annie jerked her head up to stare at Shea. “I’m not in love with him. I didn’t say
love.
”
Shea pressed her lips together as she lifted her shoulders. “Sorry. I know you didn’t say the word, but the way you speak about him. I guess I was wrong.”
“Really? What I said made you think...?”
Nodding, Shea met Annie’s gaze with the honesty she’d come to respect. “I can’t tell you what you feel. In fact, I’m terrible when it comes to reading people. But your body language changed when you were telling me about the way you two talked in the car. And you just lit up about him taking you to the salon.”
“Huh.” Annie thought about the past twenty minutes. After being given a rundown on Safe Haven, she’d told Shea almost everything that had happened. Not the details, of course. There’d been so much else to say. His kindness. The laughter. The way she felt connected to him. Maybe Shea was right. If things were different, Annie might have let herself think it was love. But if she went there, she didn’t know if she could bear him leaving. And how could she keep her secret from someone she loved?
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at her boots. “I want to tell him what happened. So badly, Shea, I can hardly breathe. I hate the lies and the hiding.”
“Then tell him.”
“I can’t. I’m a criminal. I’m working under a false name. I’ve lied to him from the start.”
“You’re not a criminal. You did nothing wrong.”
Annie’s head came up. “I was responsible. I was an idiot. Charities lost a lot of money because I was reckless and too trusting. How is that not doing anything wrong?”
“Okay, maybe there were mistakes, but Annie, you didn’t do anything illegal. That’s what matters. You didn’t steal a single penny. You’re not a thief.”
“Just a coward and a dope.”
“You’re not, though. You’re one of the strongest people I know. Tucker seems like a smart man. Every question he asked about the foundation was astute and reasoned, and so was every question he asked about you. Give him the benefit of the doubt.”
“I believed that about my associate in New York.” She led Shea out of the stable. “If it was only my feelings at stake, I would talk to him. But he’s basically told me he’s going to champion Safe Haven with his foundation. We have so much to lose. You know as well as I do that people can forgive a lot, but being duped, being manipulated and lied to, goes straight to their pride. Believe me. I know. Tucker’s a lot of things and one of them is proud.”
Stopping at the doors, she looked around, made sure no one was nearby. “He said it himself. When he handed me the check. He believes in me. After that, how can I tell him?”
Shea sighed. She looked sad and worried. “Where does that leave the two of you?”
“Nowhere. He’s going home tonight or tomorrow morning. I won’t encourage him to come back.”
“But—”
“That’s the way it is. I’ll be fine.” Annie didn’t quite believe that, but she hoped Shea did. “Especially now that I can talk to you. Although I promise, I won’t make a pest out of myself.”
“You aren’t a pest. You’re my friend.”
Those few words meant the world to Annie, and she had to take a moment to collect herself. She’d never expected another friend, not ever. No, she couldn’t have the man she wanted, but she wasn’t in jail, she wasn’t actively on the run and she was making a difference at Safe Haven. All in all, it was more than she deserved.
“Let’s go to the barn,” Shea said.
Annie sighed. “What’s Pinocchio done now?”
“You were only gone overnight. No one had time to do anything too terrible.”
“Ha. I’ve been at this long enough to know that all it takes is two minutes for everything to go crazy.”
“Can I just finish with one thing?” Shea asked.
“Sure.”
“Actually, two things. First, I wouldn’t rule out telling Tucker, because I don’t think he’d renege on his promises. Second, your hair looks really pretty.”
Annie wanted to believe her. The fantasy of Tucker being all forgiving and magnanimous had been floating around at the periphery of her thoughts. But every time those thoughts became too vivid, she’d shut them down. Despite the way she and Tucker clicked, they hadn’t had enough time together for a deep relationship to form, even though it felt as if it had.
Things that sounded too good to be true, were. Not remembering that basic premise had gotten her into this mess in the first place. “Thanks,” she said. “I like my hair, too.”
* * *
“I
MEANT
FOR
YOU
TO
MICROWAVE
soup for yourself, as well,” Annie said. “Why don’t you have this bowl, and I’ll get some more out.”
“I’m fine,” Tucker said. “I can have a sandwich. Or a frozen burrito.”
She smiled at him as she crossed the very short distance between them. “It was nice that Shea and Jesse were able to help out. But I’m glad they’re gone.”
The moment she was close enough, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It felt risky here, as if at any moment someone from town could walk in and find them. But who would come, and why would anyone care? She supposed paranoia was her natural state now.
Regardless, it felt wonderful to press up against him, to taste him, to have another opportunity to memorize all she could before he left.
The thought that this might be the very last kiss made her desperate, and with her lips and her tongue and her breath, she selfishly took all she could, but she didn’t care. It terrified her to think of him fading away in her memory. Even if she took the shirt he was wearing, kept it with her always, in time the scent would go, and she’d be left with a plain white Oxford that would torment her for the rest of her days.
Her frenzy must have been catching, because he became just as ruthless, running rough hands down her back, moving his muscled thigh between her legs. The pressure made her squirm. She leaned away, looked at the stairs.
“I made arrangements to fly out at eight.”
“It’s only a quarter to six,” she said. “We have time. If you don’t mind taking your sandwich with you.”
His smile did things it shouldn’t have been possible to do. “I’d never eat again if it gave me more time with you.”
“Oh, that is such a horrible lie. But I’ll take it.”
“An exaggeration, perhaps,” he said, turning her around and pointing her at the staircase. “Not by much, though.”
“Eight o’clock, tonight?”
“Sadly, yes. I know that doesn’t give us much time, but I’d like to...”
She ran halfway up to the loft before she laughed and said, “What? What would you like to do?” She scrambled the rest of the way up when he lunged for her. “Just know you’ll have to deal with the miniature shower. Say goodbye to washing anything that requires bending over.”
He reached her in record time, ducking his head just enough not to get a concussion. “Speaking of bending over.”
“Hmm. Normally, innuendos don’t get me hot.”
He paused briefly before pulling out his wallet. “I’m supposed to say something clever now, but I can’t think of anything but being inside you.”
She sighed, retrieved the condom packet from his fingers and tossed it on the bed. “That was better than clever. Now, kiss me and make me forget about later.”
Tucker kissed her the whole time he took off her clothes, except for the removal of her shirt and her boots. Everything fell where she stood, could have disappeared from the planet for all she cared. Besides, he had more buttons to undo, which she stumbled over, before he broke down and pulled the shirt out of his jeans.
She’d finally gotten everything undone, when he stepped back. “What?”
His scowl was fierce, but he wasn’t looking at her. “What the hell is it with the boots? Why don’t we wear sensible shoes that we can toe off while we’re walking?”
“Loafers on horseback? I don’t know, I think there’d be complaints.”
“Only from people who don’t have a beautiful woman who is currently naked and inches from the bed.”
She giggled. God, what was wrong with her? She never giggled.
He paid attention to the task at hand, while she fussed with her comforter. She remembered the fantasies she’d had about having him between these very sheets. It hadn’t dawned on her that it could be something real.
She decided to appreciate the gift, and let any other expectations go. He was here. Now. And now that his frustrating boots were off, he kicked his pants so far they caught on the railing.
He swept her up, then. Onto the bed, where they touched each other with trembling fingers and eager lips. Nothing fancy happened, and that was fine with her. Great, in fact, because she wanted him inside. Deep. She wanted to squeeze his arousal, make him remember what it felt like. Not just the wet heat, but what she sounded like when she moaned, and how her hand felt in his hair as she pulled him down to kiss her.
They rattled the headboard and banged up the back wall, and if the coyotes didn’t hear them when they came, the pack must have moved to Canada.
When they found their breath again, the air was filled with their mingled scents, earthy and primal, and she almost wept that she couldn’t freeze the moment, keep this as the only time instead of the last time.
* * *
T
HE
SHOWER
WAS
AN
ABOMINATION
.
Annie had been right. Bending over was a joke. He supposed it beat not having any shower, although he could argue the point.
At least he was no longer sticky. Unfortunately, he also no longer smelled like sex. That wasn’t something he’d ever felt bad about before. He pulled on his clothes and avoided thinking beyond the next few minutes. They’d eat, then he’d head back to Kalispell. Damn it.
After he opened a can of soda, his cell rang. He didn’t even bother taking a sip because it was George. Tucker considered calling him once they’d eaten, but he couldn’t. They hadn’t talked all day, not since Tucker had left him a voice mail close to noon. There was too much at stake to put this conversation on the back burner. He answered, talked long enough to tell George he’d call back in three minutes, then hung up.
Annie was up next for the shower, so that would work out well. He smiled at her, aching already from missing her. “I’ve got to make a phone call. I’m going to step outside, but I won’t be long and then we’ll eat.”
She pulled him into a kiss that ended too soon. “I’ll be out of the shower when you get back.”
He nodded, waited for her to pick up the clothes she’d stacked on the table. Once she’d closed the bathroom door behind her, he went outside. There were no volunteers at the sanctuary this evening, and after he was gone Annie would need to do the evening chores. He’d like to do them with her. Instead, he hurried behind the stable, away from the path.
When George answered, Tucker wasted no time. “You have news?”
“Yeah, I’ve got news.”
At the tone of his friend’s voice, a lump rose in Tucker’s throat. “Sounds like this is going to be painful.”
“You’re not wrong. Christian did leave the country.”
“I know. He’s on vacation.” This wasn’t news. He’d left that information in his voice mail for George.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not why he went. I’m sorry, Tucker, but he used a false passport.”
“How do you know this?”
“I had someone tailing him,” George said without hesitation, though Tucker’s brain was on pause. How had George had the time to have someone follow Christian? “He packed heavy enough to pay over a hundred bucks in extra fees. My associate was able to get a picture of the passport, and she said it’s first rate. Had to have cost Christian five grand, at least. Especially if it came with social security card and internet traceability.”
“Jesus, how much money did my mother give him?”
“That kind of passport doesn’t happen in a day or two. We’re talking months. Many months. He’s been preparing for his departure for a while.”
“Since the money for the charities disappeared?”
“Possibly.” George sighed. Tucker heard the sound of a pop-top opening and wished he’d brought his drink with him.
“You got my voice mail, what, around noon? You couldn’t have worked that fast putting someone on Christian and finding out all this information.” Tucker put the words out there, but he already knew.... He may have been myopic about Christian, but George had clearly had his suspicions.
“No,” his friend admitted. “I set up a tail yesterday after I learned of the bookies.” He exhaled sharply. “I really hate this. Irene is going to fall apart, Tucker. I wish we didn’t have to tell her. She could just think of him taking a vacation.”
“She’ll find out eventually.”
“His cell phone’s gone dark. If you tell the authorities, they’ll search his place, but they won’t find a damn thing. I know. I looked. I also called an FBI agent I know in Jersey, and he hooked me up with a local agent who really knows what he’s talking about. He knew exactly which bookies I meant and has a file thick as a dictionary on the way they work. They’re heavily into breaking bones, kidnapping loved ones and any other kind of blackmail they can find, but they’ve also been linked to at least four murders. Never been convicted. No one ever testifies against them, and they don’t leave a trail.”
“Is there any connection you could’ve overlooked between them and Leanna?”
“None. In fact, the closer I’ve looked at her, the more I’m convinced she didn’t know a thing.”
“Wait,” Tucker said, his pacing kicking up dust and gravel. “Just to play devil’s advocate here, let me run this by you. For a minute, let’s assume everything Christian told me was accurate. He had no idea about the missing money. Then the D.A. comes after him and the only thing my brother can think is that Leanna stole the profits. There’s no evidence to the contrary. Nothing points to either Leanna or Christian. He hears rumors about Leanna getting tied up with some bad guys, gets scared, makes arrangements for a passport, a quick exit.