Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) Page 12

  Zack looked at her for a long moment before brushing his knuckles across her cheek. “I’ll wait for you to say the words.” He trailed his fingers over her lips, “But you’re already mine.”

  Damnit. She pushed harder against his chest. “We’re not going there, Zack. How many times do I have to tell you that it’s not happening?”

  He drew away from her but clasped one of her hands in his. It felt strangely more intimate than any touch he could have made at that moment. He squeezed her hand and smiled. “Too late for that, sweetheart.”

  A knock at the door startled her and she pulled her hand from Zack’s.

  “Yo, Skylar?” Luke’s voice said from behind the closed door.

  “Come on in,” she said as she tried to separate herself a little more from Zack.

  Zack got to his feet, scooped up his hat, and was standing face-to-face with Luke when the man walked through the doorway.

  Sky pushed her braid over her shoulder as she tried to get her mind off of what just happened between her and Zack. “What’s up?”

  Luke glanced from Sky to Zack, his expression intensifying into a frown. “The fence was cut along the north pasture and another dozen Angus are missing. Your herd’s down to two-thirds in size.”

  Sky put her fingertips to her forehead, as if it would force away Luke’s words. She felt all energy drain from her body at the news. “We can’t afford this,” she said as she rubbed her temples. “And we certainly can’t afford to post twenty-four-hour guards around the entire perimeter of a couple thousand acres.”

  “Found these where the fence was down.” Luke reached into a back pocket and pulled out a plastic bag with a pair of wire cutters that had a red nubbly rubber grip.

  “Let me have a look.” Zack held out his palm and took the bagged tool from Luke. “Damn, with this kind of grip, our labs couldn’t begin to get a print,” Zack said. “Unless he touched the metal. But most men who know how to cut fences use work gloves.”

  Luke nodded, his mouth drawn in a taut line. “My thoughts, too.”

  “Pretty common make and obviously used regularly,” Zack said. “The rust indicates the man doesn’t take real good care of his equipment—apparently leaves his tools out in the weather rather than putting them away.” Zack turned the cutters in the plastic bag and examined the blade. “By the wear on this, I’d guess he’s right-handed.”

  “Or she,” Sky interrupted. When Zack turned his gaze to her, she gave a halfhearted smile. “Hey, I believe in equal-opportunity rustlers, too.”

  “Could be.” Zack gave her a little smile in return before he turned back to Luke. “I’ll take these pliers in,” Zack said. “I remember seeing Wade Larson using a pair like this to fix his fence a few days ago.”

  Sky frowned. Wade had told her how much he cared for her when he tried to kiss her after the dance. Even if she had told him she never wanted to see him or Zack again, she couldn’t imagine Wade doing something like this.

  “Wade wouldn’t be involved with the cattle disappearing,” she said. “He’s pushy and outspoken, but he’s just not the kind of guy who would pull crap like that. Besides, the rustlers are swiping his cattle, too.”

  “I have to admit in the past I’d always known Larson to be an honest man, even if he is a son of a bitch,” Zack said. “Anyone else having problems with these rustlers?”

  Luke shook his head. “Only Larson, according to Sheriff Wayland.” Luke hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “The rustlers seem to go for Black Angus. Wade Larson’s the only other rancher who’s lost a few head, but nothing like Skylar.”

  Zack focused on Sky. “It could be a way of striking out at you for rejecting him.”

  Her cheeks burned at the fact that Zack had brought the subject up, and in front of Luke, too. “I already said I don’t believe it’s Wade. There are plenty of other people out there who could be suspects.”

  A thoughtful look crossed Luke’s strong features as he said, “Some neighboring ranches have Angus, but most have Hereford and Brahma. None of the ranchers have reported any stock gone missing.”

  Leaning back on the couch, Sky propped her throbbing ankle on a hassock. “Maybe it’s only a matter of time.”

  “You could be right,” Zack said.

  “I’d better head on out.” Luke tipped his hat to Sky. “Got stock tanks to check.”

  After Luke was out of the house, Zack leaned over from where he was standing and brushed his lips across Sky’s forehead. A faint shiver went through her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  ***

  The following morning, Tuesday, Sky watered the houseplants on her front porch, taking care not to bump her ankle as she tried to shove thoughts of Zack to the back of her mind. And failed.

  The memory of every kiss, every touch, of him being inside her; caused her hand to tremble as she tipped the watering can. Water splashed off the spiked leaves of the spider plant and onto her blouse. She lowered the can and brushed the droplets off her breasts with her free hand, and lightly caressed her wet nipples. The material went transparent, showing her black lace bra and skin.

  Sky smiled at the thought of what Zack would think if he saw her damp shirt, and then wanted to smack her forehead. She had to get over thinking about Zack that way, because she wasn’t giving in.

  Starting fresh with Zack. Yeah, right.

  She limped on down the line of houseplants and showered the philodendron, the last plant at the farthest edge of the porch. Its green heart-shaped leaves reminded her of the gift Zack had given her their first and only Christmas together. The peridot heart pendant she’d tucked away all those years ago.

  Stop thinking about him, MacKenna!

  With a sigh, she set the watering can down on one of the plant-filled tables. She found a spot on the low porch wall that wasn’t taken over by a houseplant, and eased onto it, taking care not to bump her ankle. Leaning against a pillar, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the beauty around her for a few moments.

  She had surrounded herself by beautiful living things that she could give love to and nurture. Things that couldn’t reject her.

  Couldn’t leave her.

  Wind chimes dangling from the porch’s exposed beams made a musical tinkling sound as a light wind kicked up. The breeze teased loose strands of Sky’s hair and cooled her breasts where the water had splashed, causing her nipples to harden like diamonds. Smells of rich soil and of fall just around the corner teased the air.

  The sound of a horse’s hooves brought Sky’s attention to the front yard. A broad, imposing figure on an Appaloosa gelding was coming toward her home.

  “Wade.” Sky groaned. “What’s he doing here?”

  She gripped the edge of the low wall, clinging to it to keep her balance. Wade dismounted and looped the reins around the saddle horn. Her hold tightened on the wall.

  He strode toward the porch, his walk purposeful. His eyes were hidden by his straw western hat until he met her gaze when he pushed the brim up.

  “Skylar.” He reached the top step and paused to peruse her wet blouse and the black lace bra showing beneath it. Desire was strong in his gaze when he looked at her. “How’s your ankle?”

  “Fine.” She was relieved at his lack of commenting on her attributes, something he was prone to doing. “What can I do for you?”

  Wade paused a moment. “I came to check in on you and see how you’re doing with that bum ankle.” He frowned and braced one hand on a porch railing. “But I expected a little warmer welcome.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Even after I told you and Zack I didn’t want to see either of you anymore?”

  Wade’s mouth tightened into a frown. “Did you really mean that?”

  “At the time, yes.” Sky gave a low sigh. “Now... I just want you to understand that there’s nothing between us.”

  “It’s Hunter,” Wade stated as his frown turned into a scowl. “He dumped you, but you’re just going to take him back when he show
s up out of nowhere?”

  A slow burn flushed over Sky. “Whether or not there’s anything between me and Zack is none of your business.”

  Wade crossed his arms over his chest as he narrowed his gaze. “So that’s it. You’re screwing Hunter.”

  The burn in her body turned into fire. “I think you’d better leave.”

  “We had something, Skylar.” Wade’s gaze darkened even more. “You’re going to throw that away because that son of a bitch is back?”

  She curled her fingers, pressing her nails into the aging wood of the low wall of the balcony. “Leave.”

  Wade startled her by grasping one of her upper arms with his hand. “I care too damn much about you to see you hurt again.” His hold was tight enough that Sky felt a jerk in her gut, the fleeting thought that he might hurt her passing through her mind.

  “You’ve said enough for today,” she said as she tried to pull away from his grasp.

  He abruptly released her, causing her to falter on her perch and give her ankle a slight twist. Her eyes watered a little from the pain and she gritted her teeth.

  “What’s wrong?” Concern edged his words.

  “My ankle is hurting like hell, and I’ve got to lie down.” She could use a few glasses of wine. It was five o’clock somewhere.

  He glanced at her bandaged ankle and back to her face. “Didn’t realize you’d hurt yourself so badly.”

  “Yeah. Well. I did.” She gritted her teeth as she pushed herself up and reached for her crutches.

  He reached for her crutches, too. “Let me help you.”

  “I can take care of myself.” She grasped her crutches and positioned them below her arms. “And that goes for everything else we’ve talked about.”

  “Skylar,” he said in a rough voice as she turned away. “I’m sorry.”

  Sky grasped the door handle, then pushed the door open. “Too late for that, Wade.” She looked at him over her shoulder as she paused at the threshold, letting her crutches bear her weight. “What you said was inexcusable.”

  The look on his face turned so dark she felt a harder twisting sensation in her belly.

  He tugged down his hat, turned, strode down the stairs, and headed back to his horse.

  Chapter 16

  Tuesday, the afternoon following the too-brief intimate moment with Sky, Zack stood in his group supervisor’s office. Zack barely held back a scowl as Denning went on one of his rampages.

  Denning spit his chaw into the garbage can beside his desk before meeting Zack’s gaze again. Denning’s brown eyes were narrowed and his wiry, athletic body rigid.

  He braced one hand on his desk and the other on his belt as he continued, “So tell me, why haven’t you figured out how the goddamned smugglers are getting the cattle across the line?”

  Zack sucked his breath in through his teeth and did his best to keep from telling Denning to fuck off and just let him do his job.

  Instead, Zack told Denning, “You read my reports. Like I suspected, packaged American beef is appearing in southern Mexico, and we re working on finding out how the rustlers are smuggling it over the line,” he said. “Torres and I are meeting with an informant Agent Travers is hooking us up with. I’ll have more after we have a little conversation with him.”

  “You goddamn well better.” Denning brushed Zack off with a wave of his hand. “Now get your ass out there and I want to see some goddamned results.”

  Zack didn’t bother to answer as he turned and headed out of the supervisor’s office into the mass of cubicles, and past several other offices. He nodded to the Assistant Special Agent in Charge and wondered how the ASAC put up with Denning’s bullshit.

  As Zack walked up to his truck and unlocked the vehicle, he drew out his mobile phone. He called the assisted-living center his mom lived in, and got ahold of Theresa, Molly’s caregiver.

  “How’s my mother?” Zack asked Theresa as he opened the door and climbed into his truck. “Is it a good day to stop by and see her?”

  “Her relapse is lasting longer than any other since she’s come to the center.” Theresa sighed and Zack’s gut sank as he thought about what his mother was going through. “I don’t think she’s up to visitors.”

  Zack shut the door of his Silverado, his personal vehicle, and leaned back against the leather seat. “She still thinks my father is alive and he’s after her?”

  “Yes,” Theresa said. “She’s pretty much inconsolable.”

  Zack clenched his fist on his thigh. Damn his father, the bastard who’d done this to his mother. The son of a bitch who’d been his stepfather had compounded her condition. “Are you sure it wouldn’t help if I stop by?”

  “She wouldn’t recognize you, honey.” Theresa’s voice held the quiet comfort of a caregiver skilled in her profession. “Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for her.”

  “Yeah. All right.” Zack looked up at the ceiling of his truck. “I’ll call then,” he said before he told Theresa good-bye.

  Zack didn’t start the truck. Instead he called Cabe.

  “Goddamn,” Cabe said when Zack let him know how their mother was doing and that she believed their father was trying to kill her again. “That fucking bastard.”

  “Even after he’s dead he’s hurting her.” Zack added quietly, “That evil son of a bitch got what he deserved, Cabe. Don’t you ever think otherwise.”

  Cabe was silent for a moment. “I know he did.”

  Just like he said he would, Zack stopped by after he got off work to help Sky with Satan.

  Balancing on her crutches, Sky was standing in the entrance to the barn as she watched Zack drive up in his 4x4. The moment she saw him, her stomach did that stupid flip-flop thing that caused her to bring her fingers to her throat in her nervous habit. She mentally scowled at herself as she brought her hand down and grasped the crutch at her side.

  After he got out of his vehicle, Zack strode toward her, a frown on his strong features. God, he looked good. Why did her heart have to flutter every time she was near him? It was dangerous, too dangerous, to be around the man, his powerful presence nearly overwhelming her even from a distance.

  Seeing him come toward her, she found she hardly could catch her breath. Why was it he looked so good all in black? From his black Stetson to his T-shirt, overshirt, jeans, and boots he reminded her of a panther with its fluid, predatory movements. He was masculine perfection—even with his hard features, his bruises, and the scar on his left cheek, he was gorgeous.

  “You’d better not have started without me,” he said in a deep, rumbling voice that caused more flutters in her body.

  She clenched the handgrips of her crutches. “I keep my promises.” Before she could stop herself, she said, “Unlike you. You promised we’d always be together and you left.”

  Regret and pain flashed through his eyes and she immediately wished she could take the words back.

  “You’re right,” he said quietly. “But that’s not going to happen again.”

  Sky looked away. “Satan’s in fine form today.” With awkward movements, Sky turned, using her crutches. She moved toward the inside of the barn and tried not to meet Zack’s gaze.

  Zack moved beside her, matching her pace. They didn’t say anything, even when they reached the hay bales that Zack covered with horse blankets. When she sat, she had to admit it was a relief to get off her feet despite her crutches.

  While he worked with Satan she marveled at the progress Zack had made in a short amount of time. It was clear he had a natural ability to tame little demons like the yearling. Zack was patient and persistent. He was gentle, yet he made it clear who was boss—and it wasn’t Satan.

  Zack broke the ice that had formed between himself and Sky by asking her questions about her breeding stock and what plans she had for the future of the ranch. It wasn’t long before they were chatting comfortably, as if what she’d said before hadn’t happened.

  When Zack stopped to take a breather, he sat on the hay bale
beside Sky. He downed a bottle of water he’d taken from the small fridge by the sink in the back of the barn. She always kept it stocked with water, considering this was Arizona and it was easy to become dehydrated. Sky took a drink of her own water.

  “Did you ever finish that quilt you started with your mom?” Zack asked with a little grin as he looked down at Sky.

  “Uh, no.” Sky’s cheeks heated a little. “I’m making more squares.”

  He gave a low laugh. “Twelve years later and you’re still doing that?”

  “Thirteen.” She gave him a sheepish look. “I think I might have enough made for six quilts.”

  “Why don’t you finish it?” Zack asked, and he looked like he was genuinely interested.

  Sky shrugged. “I guess it’s because it’s a part of my mom and I just don’t want to let go.”

  “You still miss her a lot,” he said quietly.

  Sky looked down at her shoe as she swung her good foot back and forth. “It was like a flame was suddenly doused when she passed on. I keep wanting to relight it.” She sighed. “But there’s no going back and trying to change the past. All we can do is work on the future.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Zack said, and another tingle spread throughout her. She felt his body heat while she drank in his masculine scent of a warm summer’s day. His scent was almost heady.

  She stared at her bandaged foot. Desperate to change the subject, she looked up at him and asked, “How’s your mother?”

  He turned away and stared straight ahead. “She’ll never be the same after what my father did to her.”

  Sky frowned. “You mean your stepfather?”

  Zack continued staring down the barn pathway, as if seeing something Sky didn’t. “No. I mean my birth father.”

  “You’ve never said anything about him before.” Sky felt a twinge in her chest like something bad had happened.

  Zack gave a mirthless laugh. “The man who fathered me nearly destroyed my mother, and her second husband pretty much finished the job.”

  Sky reached out and touched his arm. “Whatever happened, was it in Flagstaff? Before you moved to Douglas?”