Cowboy Rescue [Men for Hire 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (11 page)

“Then why’s he still after Maria? If he fell in love with Torrie, aka Sharron, why does he care that the photo wasn’t hers? Sharron’s a bitch, but she’s pretty. And that’s who he’s been talking to, so she’s the one he fell in love with.”

“Nope. He doesn’t care about their conversations. It seems he loves Maria because she reminds him of an old love that died a few years ago. He went on and on about her green eyes and her long, dark hair.”

“But why would Sharron give him Maria’s email if she wanted him for herself?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe he talked her into it or maybe she decided that she’d cause problems for Maria through him. That’s just my guess anyway. And that may have happened after Sharron pleaded with him to meet her.”

“Wow. She’s not only a bitch, but a desperate one.”

Brad motioned for Mike to check the hallway. He didn’t want Maria to overhear their conversation. “So you’re not sure that they met up?”

“I’m working on finding out. I figure that he must’ve started communicating with Sharron through her home e-mail. Everything else on the Friends Place page came to a grinding stop.”

“Then we need to find Sharron. She might be able to tell us where to find him.”

“That might pose a problem.”

Crap.
He hated whenever Fletcher said there was a problem. “Why?”

“I figured that’s what you’d want to do, and I tried to track her down. As of late last night, she’s off the grid.”

“What’s that mean? She was just here at the apartment.” Jack ran a hand through his hair and paced across the room only to pace back.

“It means she’s up and disappeared. I’ve checked all her usual hangouts. Then I contacted her new landlord this morning. Either she doesn’t want to be found or—”

“Someone’s made her disappear.” Brad ground his teeth together. “Great.”

“Brad,” whispered Mike before he gestured toward the hallway. “Hey, Maria. How’re you doing this morning? Ready to take on the world?”

Brad ended the call and found himself smiling at how beautiful she looked in plain slacks and a white shirt. Then his good humor died. “You’re going to work, aren’t you?”

“I am.” She held her head tall, ready for an argument.

He didn’t want to fight with her and decided that they could keep track of her at school. She reminded him of a wild filly they’d found. The horse had been too frightened to run past them, but it wasn’t about to let them put a halter on it either.

“I still think this is a bad idea. Call in for a replacement. In fact, tell them that your great-aunt Leticia passed away and you have to go out of town for a while. But going into school while that freak’s still out there? Not a good idea.”

She smoothed the front of her blouse, her brilliant green eyes flicking from Mike to Jack and finally to him again. The way she paused, her gaze lingering over his brothers, confirmed his hunch.

I was right. She’s slept with them. Damn it
.

He cleared his throat and forced that from his mind.

“I understand, but I don’t think he’s going to do anything while I’m in a classroom of twenty-five children, do you? Besides, you’re going to be outside the school all day standing guard. What could go wrong?”

She was so lovely and so innocent that he didn’t want to tell her how many things could go wrong. And if he had any say in it, nothing would.

“Fine. Have it your way.”
For now.
“We’ll be around. At least two of us at one time. I may have other business to attend to.” One of them should run by Sharron’s new address after Fletcher sent it via text message.

“Okay. But two’s more than plenty.” She scanned the disaster they’d left in the kitchen. They’d helped themselves to breakfast and, unused to cleaning up after themselves, had left plates, pots, and pans strewn over the counter and in the sink. Gabriel had two cleaning ladies that took care of the house and the bunkhouse.

“Shit. Don’t worry about the mess. We’ll take care of it as soon as we can.” He paused as he started toward the front door. “Or did you want us to round you up some food? We don’t cook much, and it’s not great, but it won’t kill you.”

She laughed, her perfect teeth flashing against a backdrop of unblemished skin. “No. thanks. I don’t eat breakfast often. And don’t worry about the, uh, cleanup. We can take care of it later.”

She moved past him, picking up her purse and leaving a fragrance of strawberry shampoo mixed with the spicy scent that was all hers to float over him. He breathed in and felt his cock come to life. If only he could drag her back into the bedroom. After all, it was his turn to feel her warm body next to his.

Easy, boy. In time.

Instead, he jumped ahead of her, taking the lead out of the apartment with his brothers following behind. The pickup they’d left parked down the block wasn’t much, but it was transportation. One door was a different color and rust decorated some of the blue on the outside, but he liked it. Next to being on a horse or between a woman’s legs—hopefully, Maria’s legs soon—the truck came in a distant third. He took her elbow, diverting her away from her Corolla.

“Let’s take our truck. We don’t want him to see your car parked at school.”

She nodded as Mike took to her other side and Jack held up the rear. Within minutes they were loaded into the pickup with Mike riding in the bed and headed for school.

* * * *

Maria walked around the edge of the classroom toward the wall of windows that looked out over the schoolyard. She stopped as she had so many times during the course of the day and searched the yard and beyond. Although she told herself she was looking for King, as she’d started to think of the e-mailer, she finally had to realize that the quickening pace of her heart was her hope that she’d see one of the three deliciously sexy men. She hadn’t seen any sign of them, but she was sure they were there. It was as though she could sense their nearby presence.

When at last, the final bell rang, she breathed a sigh of relief and herded the children outside to split off into two groups. One group waited to get on the bus that covered the small town then circled the area to drop off those who lived on the outlying ranches and farms. Other children gathered together on the sidewalk as teachers helped them into their parents’ cars. Thanking her lucky stars that she didn’t have pickup duty, she hurried back into the class and snatched up her purse. Any other day, she would’ve stayed and done more work, but she was too anxious to see the Granger brothers to even think about grading papers or working on a new bulletin board.

She almost cursed out loud when she ran into Howie. “Oops. Hi, Howie.”

“Oh. Hey.” His thin lips stretched wide. “I was hoping I’d run into you.”

“Um, I really need to get going.”

What she assumed was his smile dipped into a frown. “Oh. Are you going out with that man?”

He had her attention now. Had he seen one of the Granger men? She scanned the hallway behind him, but they were alone. “What man?”

“There was a guy that called for you earlier. You were on recess duty, and I was in the office, so I took the message for you.” Howie’s frown was now a scowl. “You need to tell your gentlemen friends not to call during school hours. Personal calls should be made on your own time and on your own phone.”

Who died and made you the principal?
“What did he sound like?”

“He was a bit different, if you don’t mind my saying so. Can’t really put my finger on why. Just a feeling I picked up on. I’m very perceptive that way. He seemed kind of cold. Like he was angry or something.”

“What did he say?” The hope that it had been one of the Granger men died. They would’ve called her cell phone before calling the school.

“He said he didn’t like the fact that you had men staying at your home last night.” Howie paused and brought up his finger as though suddenly remembering more. “Oh, he said to tell you that he was going to send a friend to pick you up and not to have those men around when he did.”

The world wavered around her.
That was King. He knows the men were at my house. And now he’s coming for me.

“Are you all right, Maria?”

Unsure of where she was supposed to meet them, she told Howie that she needed to leave, then rushed through the classroom and out the door leading to the playground. She stood outside waiting, ready to dart back into the room if necessary. They’d dropped her off at the front door of the school this morning, but she doubted they were picking her up there. She just hoped they’d see her.

She let out a small “oh” when Brad suddenly appeared around the corner of the building. “I didn’t see or hear you coming.”

He smiled, placed his hand on the small of her back, and led her away from the crowd of children, teachers, and parents. “Did you have a good day? Did anything happen that was unusual?”

She didn’t know why she didn’t tell him what Howie had told her. But it was like the news still hadn’t hit her and if she said it out loud it would make it seem all too real. She’d tell them as soon as they were back at her apartment. Besides, it wouldn’t make any difference if she told him right now. And what if he decided to search the playground or the pickup area? She didn’t want the children or other teachers involved.

“No. Jimmy Bial threw up on Stacy Havers, but other than that, it was a typical day.” Somehow her voice was steady and didn’t betray the whirl of emotions inside her.

“Poor kid. Both Jimmy and Stacy. Was he sick?” He kept his gaze moving, scanning everything and everyone around them.

She felt better about not telling him. He was already on guard. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He was the epitome of the perfect cowboy in jeans that hugged his ass without being too tight and a lean waist that was accented by the navy T-shirt he wore. His boots were so worn out, she had to wonder why they hadn’t fallen apart.

“No. He barfs up whenever he eats paste.”

His dark gaze flicked to her then away. “Why does he eat paste?”

“Because he likes it.” She laughed. Unless he was a teacher or a parent, he wouldn’t understand the workings of a young boy’s mind. Especially not the mind of Jimmy Bial.

They moved quickly, making her hurry to keep up with him. “Sorry to rush you, but we parked over on the next block so we wouldn’t get noticed.”

She nodded, keeping up with him while trying not to stare. His body was as toned and fit as his brothers’, but he was a little taller and broader through the chest.

What would it be like to drape my legs over his shoulders? Or to feel that strong face pressed against my pussy?

She was breathing hard and not just from the fast pace. If Jack had told her the truth about all three of them wanting to sleep with her, then how could she make Brad know that she wanted him, too? He always appeared so businesslike with her and interested only in the case. Did he want her? Or was Jack all wrong?

A movement ahead of her broke her attention away from Brad. Mike waved, his arm thrust outside the driver’s-side window. Brad eased ahead of her, apparently heading for the passenger door to open it for her. Exhausted and with the end of their fast-paced walk near, she slowed down, then came to a stop. Resting her hand against a light pole, she fought to catch her breath.

I know these guys are in shape, but they’re amazing. They never seem to get tired.
Heat flared between her legs
. Never getting tired could be a very good thing.

Her smile was lost as someone yanked on her arm. Crying out, she landed facedown on the torn leather of the front seat of a car.

She tried to push up, but then the abrupt forward motion of the car threw her against the seat. “Stop!” But the driver ignored her.

She fought against the lurching of the car to pull herself into a sitting position. A dark-haired man sat behind the steering wheel. His average features were fixed into an emotionless mask. If she’d seen him on the street, she might not have given a second glance.

“Stay still, or I’ll have to knock you out.”

“Who are you? What do you want with me?” Was this the man? Was this King?

A large boom exploded in her ears as something heavy landed on top of the car. She screamed and hung on to the seat then stared at the indentation in the roof.

“Fuck!”

The driver glanced into the side mirror just as Brad’s upper body hung over the side of the roof. He grabbed the wheel and yanked it to the side, but the driver held on.

But Brad didn’t let go. She didn’t know how he managed to hang on to the top of the car with half his body hanging precariously over the side. He punched out, striking the driver in the face. The man shouted obscenities and struck back, but his blows didn’t seem to bother Brad.

She tried to help him but kept getting thrown off-balance by the erratic motion of the car. The car weaved down the road, banging into parked cars then careening toward the cars on the other side. Needing to do something, anything to help Brad, she finally managed to clutch the man’s hair. He cursed her, but he still held on to the wheel.

She glanced away from him and out the front windshield in time to see the light pole looming ahead of them. “Brad, watch out!”

In the next instant, she felt her body lurch forward to slam into dashboard. The impact knocked the air from her, and, as her mind struggled to understand what had happened, she saw Brad’s body flying over the hood of the car. She blinked, trying to focus, then passed out.

Mike leaned against the wall of the hospital corridor and waited for Brad to get off the phone with Gabriel. After finding Maria slumped on the seat of the car, he’d almost lost control. His mind raged at the very thought of her lying there, blood oozing down her forehead, her arms flung over the seat, her body limp and unmoving.

At first, he hadn’t noticed that she was still breathing. His horror and fury hadn’t allowed him to do anything but take the driver by the neck and haul him half out of the window. The fact that the man was already dead didn’t register, either. He needed something to tear apart. Only Brad’s groans had kept him from pounding on the man and having more to explain to the authorities who showed up minutes later.