At Wolf Ranch (10 page)

“Something like that. But I still live here, and her picture of our life still didn’t match mine. Although I still wanted the wife and family, the life my parents showed me, I didn’t believe her smile.”

“I know the one.”

“I bet you do. Men probably smile at you all the time and want only one thing.”

“Two. Money and sex. The first is a great aphrodisiac for the second to some people.”

“How many men have asked you to marry them?”

“None. I rarely date someone more than a few weeks and never let things get that far. Like you, I never quite believe the smile.”

“The pictures on TV prove you hardly ever stay home alone.”

“Partners in fun are one thing. A partner for life is quite another. Love is dangerous. It makes people lie to make someone else happy, but in the end it only hurts them more when that person discovers the truth.”

“Exactly what Stacy did.”

“It makes people grieve so hard when they lose it that they’ll do anything to get it back.”

“Your mother.”

“She loved my father so much, she couldn’t live without him. The vows say till death do us part. My mother believed that in death she’d be with him again.”

“Were they happy together?”

“They were made for each other. They smiled and meant it every day.”

“Don’t you want that for yourself?”

“My life is complicated. They met before all the money came into play. I’ve got that and an uncle who wants me dead.”

She pointed to the mantel. “Home. Family. Seems I don’t have either anymore. My family is all dead, and I can’t go back to my house in New York where my sister died.”

“We’ll find the evidence you need to put that bastard behind bars, so you can go home.”

Funny, she didn’t want to go anywhere. She liked it here. Even with everything hanging over her head, she still felt life was simpler here.

“Um, I hope you don’t mind I borrowed your computer.”

“Help yourself. Lord knows everything on there is a whole lot of nothing now.”

“Your projections and business plans are well thought out.”

“They won’t be executed. Not in the same way. I’ll have to figure out what to do with my limited resources.”

He stood and took two steps away, ending any further conversation about how much this place and reaching for more had cost him.

He turned back to face her. “I got you a present.”

Surprised, she opened her mouth, but closed it again.

He shook his head. “It’s nothing big, just something you need.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You might not like it.”

“Gabe.”

He closed the distance between them, reading in her the importance of what she wanted to say. He crouched in front of her, one hand on the arm of her chair and the other on the desk.

She leaned in close because the moment called for it. “Thank you for saving me out on that road and letting me stay here. I don’t know what I would have done without your help. You’re a good man, who didn’t deserve any of this.”

His steady gaze told her he understood she meant what Stacy and her uncle both did to him. His hand clamped on to her leg, and he massaged his way up over her knee to her thigh and hip. Heat spread like wildfire through her system.

“You’ll be okay.”

Hearing him say it made her feel better. A spark of belief flamed to life.

“You’re tough. You’ve had to be to grow up without your parents, just you and your sister, no one else to rely on or help you when you needed it.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because your uncle killed your sister for something as stupid as money.”

“It’s a lot of money.”

“Nothing is worth taking someone’s life.”

“Yeah, well, I want to kill him for what he did to her.”

“I know you do, but you’ll do what is right and make sure your sister gets the justice she deserves.”

“I’ll make sure you get the justice you deserve. He shouldn’t have made that deal with you.”

“Stop worrying about me.”

“I can’t,” she confessed.

His eyes narrowed and blazed with heat. He leaned in close, or maybe she leaned into him. No, they’d met in the middle, that strange connection between them pulling them in. Their faces remained an inch apart. His breath whispered over her skin, smelling of the wintergreen mints he kept in his truck. She thought he’d kiss her and held her breath.

His big hand reached up and held the side of her head, and he pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes like it hurt to be this close to her. He stood, breaking the intimate spell, and stared down at her with the same need she felt reflected in his eyes. He didn’t give in and neither did she. They let the moment, the feelings and emotions simmer.

“I’ve got to bring the stuff in from my truck.” He turned back before he went out the door. “Can you cook?”

“I can make reservations and order take-out.”

He laughed. “City girl. I’ve got to feed the horses and do some chores. I’ll make you something to eat when I get back. You must be starving.”

“I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Damn, honey, I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault. I wasn’t really hungry anyway.”

“I know you’re grieving for your sister, but you’ve got to eat. Especially if you’re taking those pain pills.” She shrugged that away. “You didn’t take them, did you?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Why don’t you take them?”

“I don’t like them. They make me feel not myself. I don’t like feeling that way.”

He tilted his head and studied her. “You’re not what I thought you are.”

“Ditsy spoiled rich girl?”

“I think that’s just another lie you let people believe.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m talking about.” With that bombshell hanging between them, he walked out the door, a blast of cold air and snow blowing and whipping the door shut.

So, he’d decided the news reports he’d seen about her and Lela that morning might not be all true. Most people didn’t look close enough, or care one way or the other. Her close friends laughed at what reporters said about her. Lela used to think the absurd stories were funny.

She used Gabe’s cordless phone and called the penthouse staff extension.

“Wolf residence.”

“Mary, it’s Ella.”

Mary knew her and Lela better than anyone. She’d cooked for the family for years and had become more like an aunt to her and Lela. Mary sniffled and stammered out, “Ella, do you know? Has someone told you?”

“Yes, Mary, I know all about Lela. I’m so sorry you were the one to find her.”

“I can’t believe someone murdered my beautiful girl in her own home. Your uncle is going insane looking for you. Where are you, dear? Come home. We’ll get through this together.”

“I can’t. Not yet. Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Uncle Phillip you spoke to me.”

“He asks about you every five minutes.”

“Please, Mary. It’s important.”

“Why are you calling?”

“I need you to do something for Lela.”

“Anything, dear.”

“I want you to tell Uncle Phillip you’d like to oversee the funeral arrangements.”

“Come home. We’ll do it together.”

“I can’t. Not yet. Write this down.” Ella rattled off the names and phone numbers for the funeral homes in New York and Crystal Creek, along with her selection for the casket. “In my closet near the back is a navy blue garment bag. Inside is our mother’s white lace dress. The one she wore on her honeymoon with Dad. Lela cherished that dress. Grab the pretty glitter You You Louboutin heels in her closet. Lela always loved those shoes.”

“I know the ones. She wore them to her graduation.”

Ella sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, thinking of all Lela accomplished, but never got to see bloom into her bright future. A future that had been snuffed out, never to shine again.

“Yes. Please take her things to the funeral home so they can prepare her for burial.”

“I know just what to do. I did the same for my mother just last year, remember?”

“Yes. I do. I’m so sorry to bring up sad memories and ask you to take on this task for me.”

Mary sniffled back tears. “She was a beautiful girl with a big heart. So tragic to see her die that way. I hate what they are saying about you on those tabloid shows and in the news. It’s disgusting the way they make up stories and tell lies. They don’t know you or her.”

“What is Uncle doing?”

“He’s holed up in his library with that detective. Those two have been going back and forth about something since this happened.”

Gabe walked in with bags of groceries gripped in both his hands, a dusting of snow covering his black ski cap and wide shoulders. He smiled and gave her a questioning look, wondering why she stared at him so intently. She couldn’t help herself.

“Do you need me?”

Yes
stuck on the tip of her tongue, but she shook her head no. Gabe must have sensed her indecision and hesitated a moment longer before turning and walking into the small kitchen.

“Mary, please, just do as I ask, and delete this call from caller ID too. I don’t want Uncle to know where I am or how to get in touch with me.”

“I’ll do all you asked. What about your sister’s funeral? We need to make plans. People are calling, asking about the service and you.”

“I’ll prepare a press release. The funeral will be private. Family only. A memorial will be held later.”

“But, Ella—”

“That’s what I want. You’ll understand why soon. Trust me, Mary, what I’m asking is necessary. Uncle Phillip cannot be trusted.”

“I have to go. Your uncle is bellowing for me. Take care, my dear. I’ll do everything you asked. You can count on me.”

“I always do.”

Ella put the phone on the desk and scrubbed both hands over her face. When she finished, she stared at the box and bag Gabe set in front of her.

“What is that?”

“Your present.”

“Gabe, you really didn’t need to—”

“I really did. Open it.”

She smoothed her hands over the shoe box, caught the edge, and lifted the lid, revealing the pair of black boots. Sturdy. Warm. Perfect for the winter weather and the snow.

“Your foot should fit in there with the brace. When you lace them up, they’ll give you extra support for that ankle until it heals. The best part, they’re waterproof. For the most part. Believe me, you spend any length of time in the snow, they’ll get wet. But they should do the trick for the next few days while you’re here.”

“Trying to get rid of me so fast.”

“Yeah, that’s why I bought you shoes to wear here. You’ll look ridiculous in New York with those and your designer slacks.”

“I love them.”

“You mean you’ll tolerate them while you’re here.”

“No. I really love them. They’re perfect. Thank you.”

He gave her a skeptical look, but reached out and handed her the bag. “This one I owe you.”

“What is it?”

“You’re really bad at opening presents. You’re supposed to tear into the thing.”

She held the paper sack and pulled the tissue out, tossing it up in the air with a touch of flair. Gabe smiled and shook his head. She reached inside and pulled out the contents and set them on the desk and just stared at the pretty sweaters he’d bought for her.

One, a soft, thick cable knit with a V-neck in a deep purple. The next, a softer knit with a V-neck in a turquoise blue. The last, a tunic much like the one she wore but heavier in weight, in a beautiful raspberry pink. She loved them and let it show in the way she ran her hands over the material, admiring the texture.

“I hope I got the size right. I didn’t know what you’d like, and they certainly don’t cost anywhere near what your sweater probably cost, but I thought they’d look nice on you.” Gabe could barely look at her, nervous and unsure of his purchases and whether she’d like them.

She couldn’t help it. The tears glistened in her eyes. No one had ever done something so nice for her for no reason. Spontaneity won out over propriety and she leaned up and gave him a quick kiss. This time the kiss was much different than the one she’d pushed on him earlier. That time, she’d let her anger rule her emotions. This time, she felt the heat spread through her whole system. Everything inside her wanted to dive in for another, deeper kiss. After the way he’d reacted the last time she kissed him, she stuck to the present and not the tension crackling between them.

“Thank you. I love them.” She didn’t really look at him, but picked up the pink sweater and held it to her chest, checking the size and admiring the way the material hung just so to the tops of her thighs. Perfect.

Acutely aware of Gabe standing motionless beside her, she glanced up and sucked in a deep breath. The intensity in his eyes made her hesitate.

“Gabe, really, I love them. Thank you so much. You didn’t have to do this, but I appreciate it so much.”

“I ruined your sweater.”

She reached out and grabbed his bare forearm. His warmth seeped into her skin and set her body ablaze. She leaned in, but caught herself before she rubbed up against him. “It’s no big deal. You didn’t have to buy me anything.”

“I wanted to.” His words came out soft. His gaze fell to her hand on his arm. She pulled it away. Something in his eyes told her he wanted her to touch him again. More. The heat of his stare pulled her in, but he turned away first and walked over to the boxes he’d dragged in while she was on the phone. He took the long, thick down coat from the top of them and came back and handed it to her.

“I pulled this out of one of the boxes from your mother’s closet. I didn’t think anything from yours would fit after all these years. You probably don’t want to wear your mother’s clothes, but I thought this jacket might suit you. You need something better than the one you brought. Plus it’s another thing that got ruined in the snow.”

She took the deep purple coat and held it to her chest, smelling it and rubbing her hand over the material. She remembered her mother wearing it, cheering and clapping her hands together as Ella raced Lela down the mountain on sleds.

“Thank you. Purple was my mother’s favorite color.”

“I gathered that from your parents’ room.”