“Thanks for inviting me to lunch, Chelsea,” Erin said as she sat across from Chelsea Hunt in Royal’s number one new resort, The Bellamy. “This place is amazing.”
Erin didn’t know Chelsea well, but she’d heard that Chelsea had been the latest of Maverick’s victims. She’d been secretly photographed in the TCC locker room and those images had emerged on a popular internet site causing quite a splash. It had been a bold move on Maverick’s part, to hack a hacker, Chelsea being the CTO of Hunt and Company. Her friendship with Max St. Cloud and Will Brady culminated in their being tasked to investigate the crimes. Erin’s heart went out to Chelsea. It must have been so awful being violated like that.
“Yeah, I thought the two of us could use a break and I’ve heard The Glass House has incredible food.”
The entire resort was something out of a modern tech dream and this restaurant, made of more windows than walls, looked out upon beautiful lush greenery mingled with colorful fall flowers. Inside the restaurant, everything from the napkin rings to the delicate chandeliers over each table was made of the finest handblown glass.
She and Chelsea had bonded one day over tall lemonades while playing with little Faye Brady on the Flying E Ranch. Erin missed her little eleven-month-old charge.
She was out of a job, too. With a ton of time on her hands and no prospects. Will had insisted on keeping her on his payroll until the end of the year and so she figured why not go to a five-star resort and splurge a little?
The little buggy voice in her head hollered, Remember the last time you splurged?
She’d splurged alright, on adventure at the Dark Horse Saloon and ended up having a one-night stand with a man that had topped her list as a forever kind of guy. A guy who took great care with animals. A man who didn’t say much, but allowed his actions to speak volumes. A man who had treated her with the utmost respect.
Dan.
She sighed. It had been two weeks since their night together. And though she felt the loss of him all the way down to her bones, she didn’t plan on splurging like that anytime soon. She’d stick to splurges like hot fudge sundaes at the Royal diner, or fifty-dollar lunches at a swanky resort.
Opening the menu, she glanced at all the choices. “Wow. I can’t decide. It all sounds delish.”
“If you like seafood, I recommend the scallops in lobster sauce.”
The thought of it made her stomach clench. “I’m not really a fish person.”
She was, sometimes, but today a meal doused in all that sauce didn’t sound appealing. “I think I’ll stick to something basic, like chicken.”
They ordered their meals and sipped iced tea through colorful straws. While they were chatting, she caught Chelsea sighing and staring out the window a few times.
“And so the cat howled at the moon and the dog turned green.”
Chelsea turned to face her, shaking off whatever it was in her head. “What? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
She smiled. “You went somewhere.”
“Yeah, I did. Forgive me.”
“It’s okay. I think I know what it’s about.”
Chelsea stared into her eyes for a second and then shook her head. “I still can’t believe some creep actually snapped nude photos of me in the club’s locker room and posted them on Skinterest of all places. I’m no wilting willow, but I’m floored by his or her audacity. This Maverick has been causing havoc at TCC for months now and we’re no closer to finding out who it is than the day it all began.”
Erin sympathized with her. She hadn’t had nude photos displayed to the world, but she had been involved in a scandal in Seattle, and she knew how violated she’d felt when it all came down. She softened her voice. “Will shared some of that with me. Gosh, I’m so sorry. For a while, didn’t they think they’d found the jerk doing this?”
“Yeah, there was some evidence pointing to Adam Haskell, even though the man hadn’t any keen knowledge of computers, certainly not enough to cyber attack the residents of Royal. But it became obvious after Mr. Haskell died in a car crash that it wasn’t him. Evidence had been planted in his car, making him a victim of Maverick too.”
“Poor man.”
“Yes, that’s why I seem so distracted today. Those photos that surfaced are proof that the cyberbully is alive and well, and who knows what else he’ll do.”
“Chelsea, I’ve got nothing but time on my hands right now. I would love to pitch in and help in any way I can to help you find this guy. I’m not as tech oriented as you or Will, but I can come at it from a fresh perspective. Maybe find something hiding in plain sight.”
“I think that’s a great idea. I’ve been splitting my time between the investigation and working at the family business. I could really use the extra help. But are you sure?”
“Believe me, I’m sure. I know a little of what you’re going through. That feeling of being betrayed and the helplessness that settles around your heart.”
“Oh, wow, Erin. Sounds like you’ve had man trouble. Recently?”
Well, Chelsea was perceptive. And Erin wasn’t going to hold back any longer. She didn’t really have anyone here in Texas to talk to, and Chelsea had already shared so much with her. Fair was fair. Besides, Erin could use a friend and her inner voice was telling her she could trust Chelsea Hunt. “Yes, back in Seattle. It was an awful situation. I was involved with a man named Rex Talbot. Have you heard of him?”
“Vaguely, but I don’t know much other than he runs a megacorporation. He keeps a low profile.”
“Yes, well, when I met him, it was at a private school’s music program. I’m a musical director and teacher by profession and initially I thought he was the father of one of the students. He was charming and lovely. My interest in him had nothing to do with money. It was the furthest thing from my mind, and I truly liked him. After our first date, he confessed that he was the school’s anonymous benefactor. I was over the moon thinking I’d met such a kind and generous man. He told me he wasn’t married and had no children and I had no reason not to believe him. He wasn’t over-the-top, we did low-key things that didn’t warrant any sort of glamorous news. I fell for him and we had an intimate relationship for months.”
“And don’t tell me, then his wife showed up?”
“Yes. Cliché, isn’t it? I never thought it would happen to me. I was blinded by his charm and had no clue he was lying to me. But his wife, who had been out of the country the entire time, returned with a vengeance and found out about our relationship. As low-key as Rex was, his wife, a socialite from birth, made all kinds of noise in the local school district, thinking nothing about scandalizing my good name, blaming me, of course, for homewrecking. It was humiliating and the situation brought the school undue negative attention.”
“Oh, wow. I’m so sorry, Erin.”
“Thanks. But if there was a silver lining, it was that the school administration was wonderful, sticking up for me and defending my reputation. They asked me not to resign my position, but at that time, I was distraught and embarrassed for myself as well as the school. I appreciated their support more than they’ll ever know, but I just couldn’t stay on.
“The worst of it was that Rex didn’t stick up for me. He crawled back to his wife and threw me under the proverbial bus. My judgment was way off and I made a big mistake.”
“Honey, don’t you dare put the blame on yourself. He lied to you. He led you on. He was a jerk. That’s a fact.”
A chuckle escaped her mouth and she grinned. “You’re right. I am so over Rex Talbot now. I figure the two of them deserve each other.”
“For sure,” Chelsea said. “I take it Will’s job offer came at a good time for you?”
“It did. I needed change. Will’s a good friend who went through a terrible loss when his wife died. We were both at loose ends, and so because he believed in me, he hired me as Faye’s nanny. Oh, I loved taking care of that little doll. When Will’s job brought him here to Royal, I came along as her nanny.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad we’ve met. And if you’re available to help with the investigation, I’m actually going to the club’s main office tonight. My big brother was supposed to meet me, but something came up and he had to cancel. I plan on diving into some files. If you’re free, you could help me. I know it’s short notice and—”
“Of course. I would love to. What time?”
“Can you meet me at nine?”
“I’ll be there.”
* * *
That evening with a renewed sense of purpose, Erin entered the main entrance of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, and showed her guest pass to the attendant at the front desk. It was late at night and the place, normally bustling with both men and women, now that the club allowed both sexes in equally, was nearly empty but for a few people walking out of the facility as she was walking in.
She strode past the dining area and secondary lobby, and walked down a long corridor of offices until she came to the door at the end of the hallway marked Texas Cattleman’s Club and underneath, Staff Only.
She was ten minutes early and anxious to get started. She didn’t mind the wait. This was the most exciting thing going on in her life since her ride on that bull and her encore ride—showing much more endurance with cowboy Dan—later that night.
She’d giggle and think it funny, but it wasn’t a laughing matter. Not only did she miss the cowboy, not being able to get him off her mind, she’d also missed her period two days ago and she was normally right on schedule, month after month. Stress could mess up a woman’s schedule, and it had only been two days, after all. She filled her lungs and steadied her breathing.
At least she could assist Chelsea in finding the sleaze who’d posted those pictures of her. Erin was glad she’d asked for her help. She’d been just about ready to throw in the towel and scurry back to her studio apartment in Seattle with her tail between her legs, as discouraging as that notion was.
On habit, she pulled out her cell and studied her phone messages, checking to see if Chelsea had texted. Then she heard the definite sound of footsteps on the floor, getting louder and heading her way.
She dumped her phone back into her purse and turned to face Chelsea.
Only, it wasn’t Chelsea, it was a big tall handsome beast of a man, wearing a black Stetson, jeans and a tails-out white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up, hugging his biceps to distraction.
She blinked.
“Erin?”
The low timbre of his voice did crazy things to her, reminding her how he’d whispered her name over and over while making love to her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
His eyes were so blue, so amazingly bright right now, she wanted to throw her arms around him, but she also wanted to thrash his hide for not pursuing her, even a little.
“I’m, uh, meeting a friend,” she said. “What are you...?” Then it dawned on her like some insanely wicked twist that maybe this wasn’t a coincidence. Oh no. “You’re not Chelsea’s brother, are you?” she squeaked.
“You know my sister?”
Erin’s eyes blinked shut. She couldn’t believe this. She leaned her back against the door so it could hold her upright, rather than having her limbs crumble to the floor. She managed a nod.
“How?”
She opened her eyes. “We have mutual friends.”
Dan moved in on her, his presence surrounding her like a fortress, his lime scent reaching her nostrils. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes blazed with some sort of relief. He put his hand up to touch her face, but then let his arm drop down before making contact. His gaze stayed on her and she didn’t know which emotion to cling to, which emotion to believe: the one that wanted to invite Dan to touch her, because oh how she craved it; or the one that poured acid into her stomach, warning her not to go near him again.
“I went back to the Dark Horse the next night looking for you,” he confessed.
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I say very little, but what I say means something.” He spoke with enough authority to sway any nonbelievers.
She stared into his eyes, captivated by the honesty she saw in them. “Why?”
“Why?” He smiled then, an apologetic smile that touched something deep in her heart. “I wanted to see you again.”
“Because?”
She wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. Even if she had to pry the words out of his mouth, she wanted to know what he was feeling.
“Because... Well, hell. I just did, Erin. We weren’t through.”
She gulped. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t recall you asking me a ton of questions before.”
“Yes, well...I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Are you glad?”
“Are you?” she asked.
“Damn glad. I should’ve never let you go that morning. Not that way.”
Those were words she’d been dying to hear. Words she never thought she would hear, because she didn’t think she’d ever see Dan again. “Are you apologizing?”
“For the best night of my life? No. Can’t apologize for that. Don’t think you’d want me to, either.”
Her face flushed from his blatant admission. Dan wasn’t holding back. And somewhere deep inside she knew that this cowboy wasn’t smooth or polished. But he was real. And he’d just paid her a compliment.
“I am sorry I didn’t get your full name and number, Erin.”
“Why didn’t you?” After what they’d shared that night, she’d been baffled at his noncommittal attitude in the morning. She hadn’t pegged Dan for a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of man. Sure, Dan said he hadn’t thought it smart for her to ride that bull, and then she’d blathered on and on about being from Seattle, losing her job and wanting to do something Texan. “Did you think I was a...” God she hated to say it. “A bimbo or something?”
Dan’s smile only lifted half his mouth. “Exactly the opposite.”
She shook her head. “I don’t get it?”
The sound of footsteps rushing forward stopped Erin up short.
“I am so sorry I’m late.” Chelsea reached the two of them at the door. She wore a fitted trench coat and an apologetic expression. “Erin, thanks for coming. I see you’ve met my brother Dan already. Good.” Then she faced Dan. “Why are you here? I thought you weren’t coming tonight, big guy. You had a date you couldn’t get out of or something.”
“I got out of it.”
“You broke your date?”
Erin put her head down. This was awkward. Was that why Dan hadn’t pursued her? He was dating someone. Her stomach squeezed at the slice of jealousy wedging tight inside.
“It wasn’t a date, Chels,” he said, slightly irritated. “You needed me, and I’m here.”
“Thanks, bro. I appreciate it.”
Then she turned and punched five numbers into the keypad on the wall and pressed a button. “Here we go.” She opened the door before Dan could get to it and breezed into the room. Dan held the door for Erin and they followed inside, the door shutting closed behind them.
Erin immediately felt his big presence engulf them in the twelve-by-twelve room.
There were a few chairs and one good-sized desk in the middle of the room, while a dozen tall metal file cabinets lined three of the walls. The usual decor at the Cattleman’s Club was spacious and generous with tall ceilings and an air of openness now, especially since the remodel after a tornado had swept through causing some destruction, but this out-of-the-way room reminded her of something she’d seen in an old detective movie, small, stuffy and dingy.
“This is where all the paper files are kept for the Cattleman’s Club members,” Chelsea said, removing her sleuthing coat. “Most records are digitally input now, but the club makes a habit of keeping all the original files. Some date back since the club’s founding.”
“So, what are we looking for exactly?” Dan asked, his brows doing that adorable bunching again.
Erin took a hard swallow and turned away, pretending interest in a file drawer labeled A-C. Dan hadn’t mentioned that he knew Erin and she’d been too taken by surprise to correct Chelsea’s assumption that they had never met each other. She was feeling guilty about that, but she couldn’t very well blurt out now that she and Dan had hooked up for one wild night and then hadn’t spoken again.
“Since all of Maverick’s victims are members of the club, we’ve been given special permission to check into these files. The board and all the members don’t like the negative publicity. It’s hurting the club’s reputation and we all want to catch the creep, sooner rather than later. We don’t want him hurting anyone else, that’s for sure.
“We’re looking for anything that strikes you as odd. Something that would spark this guy’s rage. Formal complaints registered against the club or a member. Anything that doesn’t add up. Marriages, divorces, births. The computer files have been scoured already, but maybe something important didn’t get input. We can’t afford to skip over anything.
“The files reflect parties given at the club, including any violations or disturbances, tennis and golf lessons taken, holiday stuff. There’s a lot to go through. And if we get anything substantial, we’ll take what we find to the authorities to follow up on. I know it’s a lot of work and I appreciate your help.”
“Chels, you know I have your back,” Dan said.
“I’m happy to lend a hand too, Chelsea.”
“We’re going to catch that asshole,” Dan said forcefully.
Chelsea smiled. “I hope so. Either way, I appreciate you both for helping. Erin, my brother runs Hunt and Company, our family business and he also has a poor man’s version of an animal rescue on his ranch at Hunt Acres. The man has a heart of gold and picks up strays faster than—”
Dan cleared his throat, loudly.
“Okay,” Chelsea said, getting the hint. “My big bro is too humble. He doesn’t like me expounding his virtues. So I won’t. But, Dan, you should know that Erin is in between jobs right now,” Chelsea seemed compelled to explain. “And she insisted on helping. She, well, she knows a little about what I’ve been going through from past experience.”
Dan turned to look at Erin. One brow arched, his expression deeply curious. “Yeah?”
A cold shiver ran up and down her body.
Don’t go there, Chelsea. I don’t want to explain to Dan.
“None of your beeswax, big bro,” she said, giving Erin a big smile, letting her know she wouldn’t betray her.
Dan shot a mock frown at his sister. But Erin could see the determination in his eyes. He was ready to protect his sister, no matter what.
“Let’s get down to business,” Dan said.
“Sounds good,” Chelsea said. “Dan, why don’t you and Erin look at the files together? You can double-check each other, since we’re not sure what we’re fishing around for.”
She turned to pull out the very same A-C drawer that Erin had focused on before. A stack of manila folders ten inches high landed on the desk in front of her. “Here you go.”
Erin batted her eyes a few times and slowly lowered into a chair. Dan took the seat next to her at the desk, grinning at her behind Chelsea’s back. She did a mental eye roll.
She was trapped in this tiny room with a man who made her pulse race.
“I’ll take on the next batch,” Chelsea said, reaching into the file cabinet again and didn’t miss a beat, taking the chair opposite them and opening the first file in her huge stack.
Erin tried to concentrate on the words on the page. There were dates and information about spouses—very detailed records. In a way, she felt like a Peeping Tom, privy to strangers’ lives, reading about things that were highly personal. Yet, she had to remember that somewhere in these files they could find clues to Maverick. Chelsea’s ordeal made it more personal for her, as a woman. No one had the right to violate a woman’s privacy that way. No one had a right to secretly stow away to take nude photos and then publicly humiliate someone.
Just thinking about it, ticked her off all over again.
“It just isn’t fair,” she whispered.
Dan’s head snapped up. She couldn’t believe she just blurted that out. “If I catch the guy—” he started to say.
“Dan,” Chelsea said. “Thank you, big brother. But I don’t want you getting thrown into jail for assault.”
“More like murder.” A tick worked at Dan’s jaw and the set of his chin made him look dangerous.
“Dan!”
He shook his head. “Kiddin’.”
He gave Erin a quick glance and winked. She’d bet her entire bank account, tiny as it was, that although Dan would love to give the jerk more than a piece of his mind, he wouldn’t resort to any sort of violence.
“You better be kidding,” Chelsea said, “and believe me, I appreciate the support.”
After going over dozens of files, Erin’s eyeballs burned and she glanced at her watch. It was almost midnight and immediately as if her body clock was rebelling, she yawned. Chelsea caught her in the act and yawned, as well. “You know what? We should call it a night. Dan gets up at dawn and it’s later than I realized.”
They’d made a bit of progress, piling up a stack of member files that they could rule out. The initial process of elimination was a good start, but it wasn’t near enough.
“I can come back again anytime,” Erin offered. She liked being a part of something and having a purpose again.
“Count me in too,” Dan said.
Of course Dan wanted to help, but didn’t he have a big mega ranch to run? It baffled her how she hadn’t put two and two together when she’d first met Dan. Hunt Acres. Hunt, as in Chelsea Hunt. Hello.
“That’s great,” Chelsea was saying, “but I have that darn convention in Houston tomorrow. I’ll be gone for a few days. Unless,” she said, narrowing her eyes at her brother, “you step in for me and represent the ranch.”
Dan shook his head. “Not a chance in hell,” he said. “I’m no good at that stuff.”
“Kidding,” Chelsea said. “But that means we can’t get together again until the weekend.”
“Give me the key code to this room, Chels. I’ll come back as often as it takes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I shouldn’t. But you are a long-standing member and you’d be under my authority,” she teased.
Dan snorted, and the sound echoed in the boxy room.
Erin giggled, a nervous little laugh that she sometimes couldn’t control. Both sets of eyes turned her way. She gulped air. In for a penny, in for a freaking pound. “I’m available too.”
She couldn’t look Dan in the eye after that comment, yet she sensed his gaze piercing her. All that blue heading her way could make a girl dizzy, so she ignored him and nodded to Chelsea. “There’s a lot to still go through.”
“True. Thank you. I’ll leave the details to Dan and you can work it out with him. If that’s okay?”
“It’s...fine,” she said, finally looking at him and relaying in unspoken words that this didn’t mean anything. She would work alongside him to help Chelsea with her investigation. Period.
“Fine by me too,” he said in a clipped tone.
And then gave her a solid look that said something much different.
* * *
After saying good-night to Chelsea, Erin headed across the parking lot toward her car. Dan walked beside her, and no amount of arguing could convince him he didn’t need to escort her. The parking lot was lit like the Fourth of July, but Dan wouldn’t take no for an answer and rather than make a scene in front of Chelsea, she shrugged her shoulders, aware of the big man slowing his strides to keep pace with her shorter steps.
“It’s a good thing you’re doing, helping my sis,” he said, breaking the ice. But with Dan it wasn’t idle small talk. Dan meant it. She could give him that. He was loyal to his sister and obviously loved her very much.
“It was horrible, what Chelsea went through. I’m happy to do what I can.”
“She appreciates it. And so do I.”
They took a few more steps together before Erin asked, “How’s Lucky?”
The dog had been on her mind lately and she couldn’t very well ask Dan about him while they were in the office with Chelsea. Caught off guard and with bad timing, neither one of them had volunteered to Chelsea that Erin and Dan had already met. Looking back on it, it was a mistake. They could’ve made something up quickly to keep the deception to a minimum. Erin liked Chelsea too much to hide the truth from her, but it was sort of too late now.
“He’s doin’ well,” Dan said.
“That’s good to hear. He’s such a sweet boy. I’ve been thinking about him a lot. Are you keeping him?”
“Unless someone comes to claim him. I’ve put out word.”
Erin kept on walking. Only ten more feet until she reached the little Toyota that Clay Everett had generously provided to let her drive while staying in Texas. Not only had he and Sophie put a roof over her head in an adorable cabin in their ranch, they’d given her wheels too. The Everetts had been gracious hosts to Will and now to her too. They’d taken southern generosity to a whole new level.
When they reached her car, she finally gazed up at Dan. “Well, this is me. Thanks for walking me.”
A small acknowledging grunt pulled from his throat. There was more in his eyes, something he wanted to say, but until he made up his mind to say it, wild horses couldn’t drag it out of him.
“Good night,” she said, turning to unlock the door.
“Erin.” The way he ground out her name and the slightly desperate tone of his voice had her turning back around.
“Yes?”
“I’m no good with—”
“I get it, Dan. You’re forgiven for whatever you think you need to explain to me. You and I had one night. It was pretty terrific,” she said, granting him a small smile. For a minute there, she thought he was going to say something different, something she secretly wanted to hear. “But it ended and—”
He cut her off by stepping close and cupping her face in his hands. Taken by surprise, she sucked in oxygen and the next thing she knew, Dan’s lips were all over hers, firm and demanding and oh wow, almost desperate. She didn’t even try to stop him. It would be futile. He was a man of action, not words, and right now he was telling her things she wanted to hear.
He was sorry he hadn’t called her.
He really liked her.
He didn’t want this to end.
She heard all that in his kiss. In the way he pressed her body up against the car and roped his arms around her shoulders, closing the gap between them as he moved in. She heard it in the relieved breath he took between kisses and the small but convincing things he was revealing to her. “I’m no good with words, sweetness,” he whispered. “That’s what I wanted to say.”
As his kisses deepened, she broke out in goose bumps, her entire body standing on end. It was the same ridiculous magnetic pull they’d had the other night.
When she couldn’t stand it another second, little tiny whimpers rose from her throat. Those sounds hopefully relayed to him that she understood, that she wanted more also, that she really liked him too. Because she couldn’t say those words aloud yet. She couldn’t trust in what she was feeling. But she wanted to, and that was progress against Rex’s ultimate betrayal and the scars he’d left her with.
It was obvious they had something going. Maybe it was simply lust. Maybe it was real chemistry. But maybe it was something more. They could barely keep their hands off each other. Here they were in a deserted parking lot, kissing like two teenagers who had snuck out without their parents’ permission.
She was taken by surprise when Dan broke off the kiss, took hold of her shoulders, gave a squeeze and backed away from her. She already missed the comfort of his body, felt the cool midnight November air hit her like a pack of ice.
“I think we should call it a night,” he said on a big sigh. “Get a little breathing room.”
She blinked. Was he backing off again? What kind of game was he playing with her, kissing like his life depended on it and then shutting her down? Her engines were running hot and she was ready to unleash her fury.
Then Dan spoke again. “I want two things. To find whoever did this vile thing to my sis, and to get to know you better. I don’t want to meet you in some stuffy office tomorrow night.”
“What do you want?” she asked, truly curious and not sure where he was going with this.
“Dinner, with you. And then work at either my place or yours. Are you interested?”
“Dinner, as in a date?”
He nodded.
“Are you asking me out?”
Amused, he smiled. “What’s your last name?”
“Sinclair.”
“Erin Sinclair,” he said, as if tasting her name on his lips. “Yes, I am asking you out on a date. Would you like to have dinner with me?”
“Well, now that you put it that way, Dan Hunt. Yes I would.”
His next smile was of relief. “Thank you.”
“And work at my place, afterward,” she added.
She wanted to be on her own turf, in case things went sour. She wasn’t sure where Dan’s head was at, but she had a feeling their kiss tonight was as good an indicator as she was going to get from him. “But how will you get the files?”
“I have the pass code and permission, remember? I’ll double back and grab the next batch of files and we’ll look them over after we have dinner.”
“Are you sure?”
“You might not know this about me, but I eat dinner all...the...time.” He grinned.
She laughed, her mood lightening up considerably. Dan had a sense of humor, after all. And she wondered what a real date with Dan Hunt would be like.