Cowboy Rescue [Men for Hire 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (4 page)

He paused and listened to his gut. He couldn’t have explained it, but as soon as he’d seen Maria’s name on the paper, he’d felt a yearning to meet her. Was that it? Was she one of those special women who always seemed to have men falling for them? He was glad he’d find out tomorrow.

“I still don’t see why we couldn’t go tonight.”

“’Cause, Mike, Gabriel said not to. Destiny’s not that far from here, so we’ll be there in plenty of time in the morning.” Brad stood and surveyed the land, picking up the swift movement of a fox slinking from one brush to the other. The light from the barn drew his attention, and he could see his youngest brother stroking Jumper’s muzzle. He itched to join Jack and maybe take a late-night ride.

He was just about to suggest that when Mike beat him to the punch. “Let’s ride.”

No one needed to ask him twice. He pivoted on his heel. “Keep it quiet. You know how Gabriel is about taking the horses out at night.”

“Screw him. It’s not like we can’t see. The full moon gives us plenty of light.”

“Still, we need to rest before we head for Destiny.”

Mike slapped him on the back, downed the last of the whiskey, then tossed the bottle into a nearby barrel the hands used as a trash container. He picked up speed, and, before he knew it, Brad was racing Mike to the barn.

They had the horses saddled and ready in minutes. Leading them by the reins, they took them around to the side of the barn farthest from the main house, then mounted the horses and were on their way.

Brad trotted his horse in front of his brothers and let the night air wash over him. If there was anything better than a night ride, he didn’t know what it was.

Could that something better be Maria Franklin?

He was struck by the odd thought. When had he ever wondered about a client before? But he couldn’t help it. Would she be hot? Would she dress like a schoolteacher? Whatever she was like, he’d find out tomorrow.

* * * *

Had she made a mistake in calling Cowboys for Hire? Did that mean they handled problems dealing mainly with ranches? Or horses? If so, what could cowboys do for her?

Probably nothing aside from fulfilling one of my fantasies, of course.

Maria had a fascination with cowboys starting in her teenage years. They were rugged, strong, fearless, and sexy as hell. She loved Western movies and loved the fact that Oklahoma was crawling with real, live, working-on-a-ranch cowboys. She hadn’t known many since she’d grown up in Detroit. Other than the men who put on cowboy hats and asked her to dance at the local Western bar, the only cowboys she’d known were in the movies. But the men in the bar reverted back to their suits and desk jobs once the weekend was over. When she’d found the teaching position in Destiny, then visited and seen the cowboys around town, she hadn’t hesitated to accept the job and move.

Maria glanced around her at the children in the playground. She hadn’t called in sick as Gabriel had suggested. In the bright sunshine of the morning, she’d wondered if she’d overreacted, and she hated not seeing “her kids” every day. The small town of Destiny had given her a life she’d only dreamed of, and she wasn’t about to let anyone change it. That and she didn’t want to face Mr. Hildebrand, the principal. He hated it when any of the teachers called for a substitute.

The man e-mailing her was probably just a bored husband like the policeman had suggested. And completely harmless. Maybe a little perverted when he’d said he was coming to see her, but that could’ve just been him getting angry at her for not playing along. He’d had conversations with the person masquerading as Torrie, but once the e-mail had been changed to hers, he’d found out the hard way that it had all been a lie. In fact, he was kind of a victim in the fraud, too.

Yeah. Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I might actually believe it.

She let out a squeak as someone touched her on the shoulder. “Damn it, Howie, you scared me half to death.”

Howie, the timid, short gentleman who taught fifth grade at Destiny Elementary School stepped back. Did he think she was about to hit him?

“I’m sorry, Maria. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She shook off the jitters. “No, don’t worry about it. I’m a little jumpy, is all.”

“Oh? Are you having problems? Don’t you feel safe?”

She studied the thin, older man and wondered at his choice of words. “Safe? Sure. Of course I do. We’re in the playground. What could go wrong at school? It’s not like Destiny has any crime.”

The worst thing she’d ever heard of was a string of bicycle thefts. Sheriff Tribek had soon figured out that a boy from a neighboring town was the one stealing them. The bikes were either returned in good condition or replaced by the boy’s angry father.

“Oh, a number of different things could go wrong. Like a fire starting in the kitchen. Or a man walking in and shooting a classroom of kids. It’s happened before. Even in small towns like ours.”

She winced. Howie hadn’t worked at the school long. He’d come in after the beginning of the year to take over Mr. Long’s class after he’d had a heart attack. They’d all been shocked since Mr. Long was in his thirties and in terrific physical shape. She’d gone on a couple of dates with him, but they’d decided they’d be better off as friends.

“Those are the exceptions to the rule.” She tipped her head lower as she darted her gaze at the children. “I don’t think you should talk about things like that around the children.”

“Oh. You’re right. I’m sorry.” His eyes narrowed. “Are you doing anything tonight? Going out with anyone? Or are you staying home and on your computer?”

Why does he start by saying “oh” so much of the time? Shit. Is he trying to ask me out?

She shook her head quickly, then felt a rush of guilt when the hopeful glint in his eye died. “Uh, I have a lot of homework to get through. Of the kids and of my own. I’m taking classes online for my masters, you know. So yeah, I guess I’ll be on my computer.”

Why did he ask me if I’d be on my computer?

She gave him another look. Could the man bothering her be closer than she thought? Even someone she knew?

“Oh. Okay.” His thin lips stretched into a smile. “Good. Then I’ll talk to you later.”

Damn, I hope not.
Instead, she said the appropriate thing. “Okay. See you later, Howie.”

She turned away from him, pretending to watch a group of kids who were huddled by the fence. But when she did, her heart leapt to her throat.

Who is that?

A man dressed in light-colored slacks along with a black silk shirt stared back at her. She scanned him from top to bottom, her mind going back to Howie’s remark about a school shooter. But he was unarmed as far as she could see. Unless people could kill with gold. If they could, then the amount of gold jewelry hung on his neck, wrists, and fingers could’ve outfitted an army.

Her gaze slid back to his face. The heat from his black eyes burned into her. She inhaled as a horrible sensation of ants crawling over her body slid from her head to her toes. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The sensation felt like he was removing her clothes with his eyes.

She glanced down, saw that her clothing was still intact, then couldn’t keep from bringing her gaze back at those awful eyes. When she did, she knew she wouldn’t be able to look away again.

“Maria? Maria?”

She was locked in a trance. She could hear and smell, but she couldn’t move. The biting coldness of fear swept over her.

Oh, God. It’s him.

“Maria?”

The voice, loud and filled with concern, broke through the cold wall. She blinked, turned to face the voice, then whirled back to find the man gone.

“Maria, are you all right?” Lindsey Harkins, her best friend, shook her arm. “Snap out of it, girl. Recess is over.”

Maria blinked again as she glanced around her to find the children shuffling toward the school. “What?”

Lindsey shook her arm and forced her attention on her. “Hey. Seriously, are you okay? What happened?”

“Did you see him?”

“See who?” Lindsey’s effervescent personality rose to the surface as it usually did. “From the paleness of your face, I’m guessing you’re not talking about the cute guy that jogs past the school every day. Besides, I thought he already came by during this morning’s recess.”

She did her best to shake off the chill still clinging to her. “Never mind. We’d better get inside.” Putting on as bright a smile as she could, she followed her friend toward the school.

I thought it was him. The guy on the computer. But why would I think that?

She pivoted to check one more time, but no one was there.

“Come on, slowpoke.”

“Coming.” Taking big strides, she headed for the door that led into her classroom. Halfway there, she heard someone calling her name.

“Maria.”

Go inside. Don’t answer him.

Yet she had to. She turned to find a different man standing next to the fence on the other side of the yard.

Holy crap. He’s gorgeous.

Instead of a frightening cold she’d felt before, he gave her a rush of warmth that had her taking a step toward him. She tingled all over as she took in his faded jeans, black T-shirt, and worn boots. The cowboy hat was pushed high on his forehead, giving her a good look at his dark eyes. He oozed a sensuality she could sense even from a distance. If he’d crooked her finger at him, she would’ve gone to him willingly
.

Good grief. Get a grip.

She had to make herself close her mouth. One minute she was terrified of one man, and in the next, she was getting hot and bothered over another man. What was wrong with her?

“Miss Maria Franklin?”

He’s come for me.

And yet, instead of getting alarmed, she answered, “Yes?” He wasn’t one of her children’s fathers. None of them looked anything like him. Even though some of them were ranchers and farmers, they were just plain, average men. They didn’t have the charisma pouring off the man at the fence.

Like the first man, she felt locked to his presence. Yet, unlike the first man, she wanted to get closer to him. The warmth that radiated from him made her want to reach out and skim her palm along his cheek. A cheek that led to the kind of square jaw only movie heroes had. Or ones that rugged cowboys had. His jawline was covered in stubble, and she didn’t get an impression of his being a clean-cut, all-American kind of guy. Instead, he possessed a wildness about him, a bad boy turned good that any woman with a pulse would’ve dropped and spread her legs for.

“You were supposed to call in sick today.”

She inhaled. “Are you Gabriel?”

His features lightened as though he found the idea humorous. “No, but Gabriel sent me.”

He’d made her feel safe before, but now she was certain she could trust him. “I think I saw him.”

His dark eyes somehow darkened even more. “Where?”

She pointed to the adjacent street. “There.”

“Get inside. Now.”

He moved, faster than she’d have thought possible, but then when he darted behind a building, she lost sight of him. Instead, she checked the schoolyard behind her for any sign of him or the other man, then hurried into the building. She peered out the small rectangular window and searched for Gabriel’s man, but saw nothing.

* * * *

Jack pounded on the step, making it more secure. Although he didn’t have to do any actual work, he figured, since he was playing the role of a maintenance man, he might as well be productive and fix the cracked step that led into Maria’s home. At least he didn’t have to don ugly overalls for the disguise.

He’d already gotten into his role when Brad had called to tell him that Miss Franklin thought she’d seen the man. But they hadn’t expected the man to get anywhere near her yet. Arriving early enough to watch her apartment as the sun broke over the horizon, they’d followed her to school, keeping their distance so even she wouldn’t know they were there. They’d been ready if anything had looked out of the normal. But not knowing anything about the man or his appearance hindered them. Until he made an overt move, then they’d have to stick to guarding her and waiting for something to happen.

Apartments were few in Destiny, and someone like the old lady scoping him out from the front window of the house across the street might question why he was there. Most people knew one another in small towns, so if anyone asked, he’d have to lie and say he’d recently moved to town. He glanced up and saw her watching him again. He plastered on a good-old-boy grin and waved to her. She darted behind the curtain. But he knew she’d come back and spy on him again. He chuckled as he thought that next time he’d blow her a kiss. She’d either get a little thrill from it or pass out from the shock.

Keep your mind on the job.

His thoughts went back to Maria’s predator. They’d figured the man was already watching her, so the appearance of him at the school could be him getting in a position to watch her even closer. A move which may or may not have unsavory intentions. Either way, they’d make sure he didn’t get away once he got within range.

But Brad hadn’t seen the man or been able to find him or any evidence of him after Maria had alerted him to his presence. That wasn’t good, but with any luck, the man still wasn’t aware that they were protecting Maria.

Maria. Funny how I’m thinking of her by her first name.

They always called their clients by their surname. It was simply a sign of respect as well as a means to keeping the woman from getting too personal, too affectionate, and too thankful. Yet as soon as Gabriel had handed him the full dossier on her late last night, he hadn’t been able to think of her as Ms. Franklin. No, she was definitely Maria.

My Maria.

He almost struck his thumb with the hammer and let out a curse. What the hell was he thinking? She wasn’t his Maria. Or their Maria.

But could she be the one? As brothers, they’d always planned on taking one woman to share between them. It was an unusual lifestyle, but one that many of the men who worked for Gabriel wanted.