At Wolf Ranch (18 page)

He grabbed the condom out of the bedside drawer, tore it open with his teeth, and sheathed himself. He shifted on top of her and she welcomed him into her arms, pulling him down for a searing kiss. His cock’s thick head pressed against her entrance and she shifted her hips to take him in. He sank into her in one long, slow, fluid motion, and with his whole body pressed to hers, something inside him shifted and aligned and felt so damn right he lost all thought, but to have her. Keep her.

“Ella.”

He kissed her and made love to her like he’d never get the chance to do it again. He needed to prove a point. What he wanted to show her, he didn’t know for sure, but he had to get her to understand what he couldn’t seem to think or say with any amount of clarity. His body knew what it wanted to say. He took possession and loved and caressed every inch of her.

Her open response drove him on. He thrust deep, and she met him, holding him close, her hands sweeping over his heated skin to soothe and coax him on. He took his time loving her, soaking up the connection they shared and the feel of her against him. He needed only her. Lots more of her.

Her fingers dug into his hips and pulled him closer. He grinded his hips to hers, and she bit her bottom lip and moved against him. He loved watching her expressive face. He pulled out and sank back into her again, making that same move. Her body contracted around his, and he did it again, this time thrusting faster and harder. She planted her heels in the bed, and he rocked against her. She tightened around his hard shaft, and he let himself go. Her nails bit into his skin, and she pressed her head into the pillow and exploded beneath him, taking him over the edge.

He collapsed on top of her, lying in her arms, her fingers tracing circles on his back. He breathed heavily into her hair and neck and kissed her softly. Completely content to stay right here for the next fifty years of his life. She shifted under him, in pain from his weight pressing on her hip. He slid his hand down to her bottom, held her tight, and rolled to his back, taking her with him. Not exactly a smooth move, she settled mostly on top of him, her leg over his hips, her head on his chest. He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. She snuggled close like a contented cat, curling up for a nap. When she yawned, he remembered she’d barely slept last night at all.

He brushed his fingers up and down her arm, hoping she drifted off to sleep. She never slept long or well. He wanted her to relax and sleep all she needed. Besides, it kept him from having to say anything. He didn’t know what to say after everything they shared.

His fingers brushed up her arm to the soft skin between her shoulder and neck. She cocked her head and giggled at the light tickle. He did it again. She laughed harder and pushed against his side to get away. He held her close.

“I love it when you laugh.”

She laid her chin on his chest, staring up at him, her eyes bright with mirth. A pretty smile on her face that withered with the sheen of tears filling her eyes.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“I feel so guilty for being this happy.”

“Ah, honey, you have nothing to feel guilty about. Your sister loved you. She wouldn’t want you to give yourself over to grief and never find any happiness for yourself.”

“I’m supposed to be finding the evidence, not falling into bed with you.”

He shifted away, feeling like all they’d shared hadn’t meant half as much to her as it did to him if she thought it was just a distraction from her real purpose here. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands braced at his sides. He gripped the mattress and stared down at his feet.

He tried to stand, but she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and locked her hands together at his chest, holding him down. Her chin settled on his shoulder, her breasts pressed to his back. Warm. Soft. Her flowery scent wrapped around him. Damn if he didn’t inhale her scent and feel that much more connected to her. But she didn’t feel the same.

“Wait. Don’t go. I’m sorry that came out wrong. What I meant is, you make my heart feel so full, but at the same time, it’s still so empty.

“Everyone I’ve ever loved is gone. Taken away from me far too soon. I watched him kill my sister. He swore he’d see me dead too. What if he makes that happen and there’s nothing I can do to stop him? What if he finds me here? I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you because of me.”

And there was the real truth. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I will not let anything happen to you. Don’t you get it? I can’t imagine a world without you in it.”

“Then you know how I feel about you.”

Her forehead pressed to his, and he reached up and cupped her face in his palm, her tears wet against his fingers.

“I am so afraid that what I feel for you will only lead to something terrible.”

Meaning her uncle might hurt him to hurt her. “You know me. I hold on. I’m holding on to you.”

“For how long?”

He laid her back onto the bed, their foreheads still pressed together, his body covering hers. “I’ll hold on as long as you want me.”

“I do want you.”

The depth of emotion in her eyes told him just how hard that admission was for her to make. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear—he wanted more—but he’d take it for now. They had something worth keeping, and he’d hold on to it, and her. Forever, if she let him.

Chapter 20

“H
ow the hell is she sending emails when she isn’t even here? Why can’t you trace her?” Phillip demanded of the head of the IT department. He’d forgotten the guy’s name, but remembered Ella and Lela had promoted him after Ella worked in that department for some months, until she got bored.

“Mr. Wolf, I can assure you the police and our team have checked the system and at this time are unable to determine her location. It changes from server to server all over the world. She’s purposely concealing her location.”

“How is that possible?”

“She’s savvy, or she’s hired someone who is to help her do it. It isn’t difficult if you know what you’re doing.”

Phillip had a feeling this man was hiding something, like he might be the one helping Ella get into their systems. Why? What did she have planned?

He didn’t know, and the not knowing was driving him crazy.

“Has she opened the email that has the tracking program the police gave you?”

“No.”

“How is that possible? You concealed it as an ordinary file, right?”

“I did, but unless she opens the file, or clicks on the link, there is nothing else I can do.”

“So she knows it’s a trap.”

The IT man didn’t answer the implied question, telling him without words their ploy to find her wouldn’t work. He also didn’t say he’d tipped her off.

“You’re still working with the police forensic team?”

“Detective Robbins asked them to stay and go through all our systems, but the legal department stopped them. Unless and until they present a warrant, I’ll provide them with information regarding Ella’s email account and her access to the company system, but that is all.”

“That is not all. You will give them access to everything so they can find her.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but the legal department determined that access is too broad. We are a privately held company. Our records are proprietary and contain information that could be leaked to our competitors. Legally, without a warrant, we don’t have to tell them anything.”

“I want you to tell them everything you find out about her interactions with the company.”

“I’m sorry, sir, I’m following the legal team’s advice. If she’s done something illegal and there is documentation of that in the system, you don’t want to open the company to a lawsuit.”

Phillip considered that, wondering if that warning was for him specifically. The longer this went unresolved, the more paranoid he became that everyone was working against him, and at any moment this could all fall apart, and he’d end up in jail. He couldn’t let that happen.

“Keep at it. Find a way to track her down.”

“We’re doing our best, sir.”

Yes, but was he doing his best to find Ella, or hide her?

Chapter 21

E
lla slept beside him. Gabe indulged his need to stay close, brushing his fingers through her long hair, feeling her skin pressed to his as she lay down his side, her leg thrown over his, and her face snuggled in the crook of his shoulder and neck.

Like most every time she slept, she had a nightmare. Her body went rigid and still beside him, her breath caught and stopped, and she let out a distressed sound and suppressed scream. Her hand curled in a ball on his chest, and she mumbled incoherently. The only word he recognized was Lela’s name. He wished he understood the rest, so he could find a way to help her cope.

He folded her into his arms when the worst of the nightmare took hold. She woke with a start, the words “the cave,” sputtering from her lips before her eyes went wide. She pressed her hand to his chest to push him away, but stopped the second she realized it was him and not her uncle trying to hold her down before she flailed herself right out of bed.

Someone pounded on the front door three times. Both of them stilled. Eyes wide and filled with fear, she stared at him. Her body shook down the length of his.

“Stay here. No matter what, do not come out of this room. I’ll see who it is.”

The front door slammed, making him less nervous. In fact, he had a feeling one of his brothers had come calling. He kissed Ella, rolled out of bed, and snagged his jeans off the floor and pulled them on. He stuffed his feet into his boots without putting on his socks and found his shirt lying on the floor, half under the bed. Dressed, he went to his open bedroom door and turned back to stare at Ella in his bed, the blue sheets and tan blanket pulled up to her chest, covering all that beautiful soft skin.

“Gabe,” Blake shouted from the front room.

“I’ll be right there, Blake.”

Ella registered his brother’s name and fell back into the pillows with a sigh of relief. He couldn’t leave her without some reassurance. He walked back to the bed, leaned over, and kissed her again. He rose up far enough to see her expressive green eyes.

“I’ll get rid of him. Stay here.” He tugged the sheet down just enough to plant a kiss between her breasts, right over her heart. “I’m not done with you yet.”

She gave him a soft smile. Satisfied the last of the nightmare and fear had faded, he left her in his bed and went to kick his brother out of his house. He didn’t know what brought Blake here, but he needed to get rid of him fast. He felt like if he didn’t, the outside world would intrude and the fragile balance they’d found, which hadn’t had nearly enough time to settle into a solid foundation for what he wanted to build with her, would crumble.

“Have you seen this?” Blake tossed a newspaper and two tabloids on the counter. “Were you asleep? Your hair is all messed up.”

“No.” Gabe wasn’t about to explain the woman in his bed had a thing for running her fingers through his hair when they made love. He raked his fingers through the disheveled mess and put it back to rights—mostly.

Gabe moved closer and scanned the many photos of Ella from her nights out with friends in the city, to vacation photos of her in sundresses and bikinis on gorgeous beaches. The scenery didn’t hold his attention. He knew every inch of that body now, and he craved it with every breath he took. He tossed the tabloids aside and stared down at the photos of her friends standing outside the police station, looking their best in dresses and suits. The caption read, “Ella Wolf’s longtime boyfriend, Michael Henry, and friends meet with police to discuss Ella’s innocence and demand the police investigate her disappearance.”

He wanted to tear the paper to shreds and never look at the man who claimed to be Ella’s boyfriend. The thought of him touching her, kissing her, making love to her burned in his gut.

“Did you know about this? Lela died the day after you met her.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“I saw Joel in town. He said her body is at the mortuary. What the hell is going on? You meet Lela, she tells you to stay away from her ranch, someone murders her, they think her sister killed her, and you send me an email that the deal is off. What the fuck is going on?”

Gabe paced into the open living room, turned, and took two steps back. Blake turned to keep track of him.

“Phillip Wolf signed the contract with me to sell the house and property. I transferred the money to an escrow account. On March twelfth the deal was supposed to close.”

“Right. What changed? You have a contract with him.”

“He doesn’t own the property and can’t sign off on the sale unless Lela and Ella Wolf are both dead. Which is exactly what he plans to make happen so the deal can close on that date. Their birthday. The day they turn twenty-five and take over control of their inheritance and the company.”

“Are you shitting me? You think he killed Lela. But the papers suggest Ella killed her.”

“I have no doubt Phillip killed her.”

“That is some fucked-up shit. So Phillip’s signature isn’t worth spit on the contract?”

Gabe shook his head no. “Someone also transferred the money out of the escrow account.”

“Where the fuck is it?”

“Gone.”

“Gone. Did you call the real estate agent who brokered the deal? Did you call a fucking lawyer to sue his ass?”

“No. I’m handling it.”

“You’re handling it,” Blake parroted him again. “Phillip offered a reward to find Ella. Why? So he can kill her.”

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do? What about the cattle you bought? Not to mention the hundred head of cattle you already have here. The money you’ve put out? The horses you’ve got stacked up in that tiny barn you’ve got outside. You can’t fit all of them on this place.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“That asshole royally screwed you.” Blake put his hands on his hips, shook his head, and frowned. “You don’t have the money to pay back the loan. You’ll have to sell off the cattle and most of the horses at a loss. You might lose this place. This will ruin you, Gabe.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Why aren’t you going out of your mind? Why aren’t you as mad as I am about this?”

“Because he knows I’ll make it right.”

Gabe stepped to the side and stared past his brother, who’d blocked Ella, standing in the kitchen door, her shoulder propped against the frame, arms crossed under her breasts. She’d dressed and combed her hair. He noted she stood on her good foot, the other tucked into the brace. Since he carried her back to the house half naked, the purple sweater still lay on the floor in the stables, and she’d put on one of Lela’s blouses. She looked pretty and fresh from her short nap. She’d taken a minute to clean up to meet his brother. It made his heart melt a little that it mattered to her.

Blake turned his back on Ella again and faced him. “You’ve got Ella Wolf stashed in your house.” He glanced at Gabe’s head again and added, “You slept with her after what her uncle did to you? What the hell!”

Gabe walked past Blake and took Ella’s hand and drew her into the kitchen with him. He put his arm around her and faced his brother. “Blake, meet Ella Wolf. Ella, my brother Blake.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ella said, but Blake just stood there staring at her, disbelief clouding his eyes. “You two get angry exactly the same way. You crinkle up your brows and start cussing.”

“You’re about to lose everything, and you’re still willing to hide her here?” Blake asked him.

“I won’t let anything happen to her. Ever.”

“You’ll give up everything? For her?”

“He’s not giving up anything.” She turned back to Gabe, the paper in her hand as she read. “Ella Wolf enjoyed lavish parties and vacations. Her extravagant lifestyle afforded her entry into the most exclusive circles in New York and L.A. Known for her chic style, she graced many best-dressed lists from coast to coast. Her friends say she’s warm and funny with eclectic taste in movies, music, and art. They defended her, saying she could never kill her beloved sister.”

Ella turned the paper to show him and Blake. “I sound like some brainless Barbie. I have an MBA. I graduated summa cum laude. Half these pictures are of me at charity benefits. This picture of me shopping is at the cosmetics boutique I own.”

She shook her head at the paper and looked up at him with a silent plea to understand the dichotomy of the life the press made it seem she lived versus the private life she actually lived. No one wanted to see past the sparkle and shine of her public life to discover the true woman she’d become over the last few years. She’d changed, grown, and didn’t fit that mold the press, her friends, and even her uncle wanted to keep her in.

They were talking about a woman who didn’t exist.

Gabe gave her the only words he had to make her understand he got it. “I know you.”

He snatched the paper from her and pointed to the photo of the guy he wanted to destroy and the caption below. “This is just another lie, right?” He didn’t really need to ask. She’d never cheat on a boyfriend, or use him to abate her grief, but he needed to hear her say it.

Ella read the line he pointed to and smiled. “He’s gay and getting it on with my hairdresser, Mario. Neither of us was interested in dating. He’s hiding his true identity so his very staid and old-fashioned father doesn’t disinherit him. We pretended to be together when we went out to make things easier on both of us. He’s a really nice guy with a closed-minded father, who cares more about money and appearances than his son’s happiness. He and Mario are really cute together.”

“Is there anything about you that’s real?” Blake asked.

“Stick around. Find out. Ask me a question, and I’ll give you a true answer.”

“Are you going to let your uncle screw my brother out of everything?”

“No. Gabe will get everything he wanted and more.”

“More? Ella, what are you talking about? I just want my money back.” Well, Gabe wanted to keep her too, but didn’t know how to make that happen. Or if he could make it happen at all.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that?” Blake asked. “You barely know this woman. Sleeping with her doesn’t mean she’s telling you the truth.”

Gabe slammed both hands into Blake’s chest and shoved him back two steps. “Don’t. Not with her. You don’t know her. I do.” He grabbed the papers and tabloid rags off the counter and scrunched them in his fist and held them between him and Blake. “This isn’t her. Not the way it looks, or how they say it is. She came here to find the evidence to prove her uncle is a dirty, rotten bastard and put him away. She could have hired a dozen high-priced lawyers to do it for her, but she did it for her sister and parents, and the legacy they left her, and she’s trying to protect and preserve. She’s hiding from a man who wants her dead. So shut the fuck up, get a beer, sit down and get to know her, or get the fuck out of my house. She’s got work to do, and I aim to help her and keep her safe until she gets it done.”

Blake gave him a knowing smile and pulled out his phone and hit a number. He put the phone to his ear and said, “Hey, Mama. Gabe’s fine. He met someone. Yeah, the ranch deal fell through, but looks like he might have something better going.” Blake glanced at Ella, who nodded her head up and down.

“Ella, what are you going to do?” Gabe asked. Several times she’d alluded to making this right in some way, but she never said how. He wanted the property and the dream, but he’d settle for getting his money back. It’d go a long way to helping him settle somewhere else. He’d done some backbreaking work and rodeoing to get that money. He’d earned it with his sweat and blood.

“You’ll see. Trust me. A couple of phone calls, and I’ll make everything right.”

“I just want my money back.”

“You’ll get it,” she promised with a soft smile.

“I’m hanging with Gabe and his girl for another hour or so, then I’ll head home,” Blake said to their mother. He held the phone out to Gabe. “She wants to talk to you.”

“Thanks.” Gabe took the phone and shoved Blake again. Nothing but brotherly love and ensuring Blake remembered the pecking order. He was the oldest and Blake would pay for putting him on the spot like this.

“Hey, Mom. So you got my message and sent Blake to check on me.”

“I didn’t like the way you sounded. I worry about you no matter how big and grown you are.”

“I’m sorry I made you worry. Tell Dad everything is fine. The deal went south, but I’m working on getting the money back. I’ll probably have to sell the cattle at a loss, but I’ll figure it out.”

Ella sat at the table in front of her computer again. Her head came up and she shook her head side to side.

“Or maybe something else will come along,” he said, with more of a question in his voice directed at Ella. She smiled and nodded yes.

“Who’s the girl?” his mother asked.

“Her name is Ella.”

“Just like the girl all over the news.”

“Yeah. Her.”

His mother didn’t understand he literally meant her. “How’d you meet her?” His mother tried to sound casual, but a hint of more than curiosity filled her voice.

“I found her on the side of the road and decided to keep her.”

Blake had his beer bottle to his lips, taking a deep drink. He choked and coughed, but managed to swallow.

Ella laughed and shook her head at him again.

“It’s a long story. You’ll like her.”

“I get to meet this one?”

“I hope so,” Gabe said, giving away far too much to his all-knowing mother. Those simple words told her everything she needed to know, because the only girl he’d ever brought home to meet his parents was Stacy after he asked her to marry him.

Maybe he should take a minute and think about what that meant. But he didn’t and went with his gut and the pull that tugged at him even now to close the distance between him and Ella just so he could be close to her.

“What’s she like?”

“She’s beautiful. But when you tell her that her eyes fall away because she’s been told that her whole life and doesn’t really believe it.” Ella’s gaze fell away from him, but snapped back when he added, “She’s got a beautiful heart. She loves her sister the way I love my stupid brothers. She believes in doing what’s right, even when it’s hard—or dangerous. She’s really smart. She’s got an MBA and runs her own businesses. She’s got this cosmetics company that makes all these botanical lotions and perfumes and makeup. She smells really good.” That made his mother and Ella laugh. “She blushes and the faint freckles on the top of her cheeks stand out. She makes a killer cup of coffee and can drive a combine tractor. She talks to the horses like they’re people. She’s got a drive and determination that makes Dad and all four of us boys look lazy.”