Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) Read online

Rider held out his hand and Zack shook it. The man had a strong grip. A little too strong, like he was warning Zack. They gave each other one-word greetings. “Rider,” Zack said with a nod, and the man returned it with a nod of his own as he came back with, “Hunter.”

  “Well.” Sky glanced toward the house when they’d released hands. “I’ve got to check on Blue,” she said before she returned her gaze to Zack.

  Zack glanced in the direction of the house, then back to Sky. “What’s wrong with him?”

  With a confused frown, Sky shook her head. “Last night he got sick eating raw meat, but I’m not sure where he got it.”

  “Vet thinks it could have been tainted beef that Blue got into,” Rider said as his mare stomped one hoof, “but I’m not so sure about that.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Zack said, “You think it was intentional?”

  “We think it might have been the rustlers trying to get Skylar’s dog out of the way.” Luke’s gaze was still assessing. “Find it a bit strange, though, that they didn’t give enough to kill him.”

  “Bastards.” Sky had a pained expression. “I did lose a lot of cattle last night, but from our eastern range. Why would they need to poison Blue?”

  “Hell if I know,” Rider said, “but we’re damned sure going to find out.” He held on to his mare’s halter. “What’s ICE’s involvement?”

  “We received intel that beef has been crossing into Mexico,” Zack said. “That makes it an international customs matter.”

  Rider frowned for a moment. “Got any theories?”

  “Working on it.” Zack turned his attention to Sky and took a step closer to her. So did Rider, as if he was protecting her. Zack barely bit back a snarl. Instead he ignored Rider and said to Sky, “You live alone?”

  She nodded. “Have been for the past few years, since Trinity’s been in Europe.”

  “I don’t like any of this a damn bit.” Zack focused on Sky. “You need to watch out for yourself.”

  Rider gripped his mare’s bridle as the horse nudged his arm with her nose. “Been telling Skylar the same thing.”

  “I’ve been doing just fine. Me and Smith.” She looked from Rider to Zack as she reached up to pat the S&W in its holster on one side of her jeans. “I’d better see how Blue’s doing.”

  “You be careful.” Zack tipped the brim of his Stetson, then grabbed the door handle of his SUV. “Later, Sky.”

  “Skylar.” She smiled too brightly. “See you around, Special Agent Hunter.” And with that, she strode toward the house without looking back once.

  As she jogged up the steps and crossed the porch, Zack watched her fluid movements. He had a side view, and couldn’t help enjoying it. The way her breasts bounced and her tight backside swayed. She opened the front door and then closed it behind her.

  When she disappeared behind the closed door, Zack turned his attention back to Sky’s foreman.

  Rider took the mare’s reins and swung up into his saddle so that he was looking down at Zack. “The men and I keep a pretty good eye on Skylar,” Rider said in a tone obviously meant to warn Zack.

  For a moment he just looked at Rider. “If any man hurts Sky,” Zack said in a low, controlled voice, “in any way, I’ll tear the sonofabitch to pieces.”

  Without waiting for a reply from Rider, Zack jerked his door open, tossed his Stetson onto his passenger seat, and climbed into his Ford Explorer.

  He didn’t like how Rider stayed on his horse and watched him drive off, as if protecting Sky from Zack.

  Once again, Zack found himself clenching his hands around the steering wheel before he forced himself to relax. He tamped down his anger, something he’d learned to control over the last ten years.

  Maybe Rider was just watching out for Sky.

  That damn sure better be all.

  Zack’s thoughts turned back to the kiss in the barn and heat rushed through his body straight to his groin.

  No matter what Sky might think, Zack intended to make her his woman again—this time for keeps.

  Chapter 3

  Zack Hunter. His name rippled through Skylar in silvery waves as she leaned against the closed door, her eyes shut, his image filling her mind, her lips still tingling from his kiss.

  She’d wanted to run her fingers through his sinfully black hair, touch the hard planes of his face, kiss the fine lines at the corners of his gray eyes, and run her tongue along the cleft in his chin.

  And Lord, how she wanted to explore his muscular physique, smooth her hands over his broad chest, squeeze his large biceps, and meld her body against his lean hips and powerful thighs.

  She waited until she heard his SUV start. After the sound of the engine had completely faded, she scrubbed her sweating palms on her jean-clad legs and opened her eyes.

  When he’d come barreling into the barn, it was as if her thoughts about him that morning had summoned him to her— like some demon lover come back to torment her.

  Zack. Here. Now.

  The moment she processed who he was, all she’d been able to do was stare at him. So many thoughts had flashed through her mind. In that instant, she had wanted to yell at him for breaking her heart into a thousand pieces. And then she wanted to throw her arms around him and let him hold her like he used to.

  How could she feel like that after the way he’d left her?

  Skylar hugged herself and thought about what she’d lost. What they’d lost, no matter what he’d thought at the time.

  For six months they’d been virtually inseparable. Even though he’d never told her, she’d been sure he was in love with her. It showed so clearly in the way he talked with her, held her, made love to her. Like she was the most exquisite gem on earth.

  Damn. Skylar’s eyes suddenly ached and a tear threatened to roll down her cheek. She was not going to let him do this to her again.

  She slid down the door until she was sitting on the hard tile, wrapped her arms around her knees, and pressed her face against her legs. Images of the past came to her, and her heart felt like Zack had taken it away from her all over again.

  A handsome deputy sheriff and a wide-eyed first-year Cochise College student...

  That hot, sweaty September rodeo...

  Even after all these months and years, Skylar could still taste the sawdust and salt on her tongue.

  I took the trophy in women’s barrel racing.

  And Zack took my heart. I was standing with my friends as they congratulated me, and I had that feeling. Somebody there. Somebody watching... me.

  Skylar clenched her hands to keep herself grounded as she wrapped her arms around her knees tighter. She couldn’t help but remember how she’d turned slightly and had seen him. She had caught her breath at the sight of his gray eyes looking at her so intensely, like he’d already claimed her.

  A whirling sensation had stirred in her belly, as if she were still on her mare and barrel racing. Heat had flushed Skylar’s cheeks as his gaze slowly traveled over her. Her body had responded, her nipples tightening beneath her western shirt, and that place between her thighs had tingled. Her lips parted as if she could already feel the pressure of his mouth on hers, his hands caressing her body.

  The corner of his mouth had curved slightly, an arrogant expression on his face that told her he knew exactly how he was affecting her.

  A flash of anger had had her straightening her spine and turning away from the cocky jerk.

  Trying to bring herself to the present, Skylar sighed and raised her head and looked around her living room. In one corner were hers and her sister Trinity’s trophies from numerous rodeos they’d competed in from the time they were very young until they each went on to pursue their college degrees.

  Still Skylar couldn’t get the memories out of her mind. It was as if the trophies called forth more images. Especially the trophy she’d won that night. As her gaze rested on it, she swallowed.

  “Congratulations, Sky MacKenna.”

  That was the first thing Zack ever said
to her—in a voice so deep it had caused shivers to roll down her spine. Sky couldn’t forget those words, how he’d sounded, or the way his warm breath tickled her ear as he leaned close.

  Of course, she’d turned around so fast she’d almost smacked right into him.

  Then he touched her.

  Just to steady her shoulders, but she held on to that stupid trophy like she was warding him off. As if she ever could. So tall, so virile. Her senses and hormones melted at the exact same moment.

  What chance did I have against that tall drink of perfect man?

  None.

  Not then, and not now.

  Skylar gave up and let herself slip completely back in time, to that perfect, steaming moment when her life changed forever.

  “How do you know my name?” she’d asked in a shaky voice. “And it’s Skylar, not Sky.”

  “They announced it over the loudspeakers.” The look in his eyes had a hint of amusement in them. “And you’re too pretty to be a Skylar. You’re definitely like the sky on a clear day. Beautiful.”

  She hadn’t been able to think of anything to say. All she could do was stand there, her face burning, clinging to her only lifeline, the gold-plated trophy.

  “Save a dance for me tonight, Sky,” he’d murmured, his gray eyes clearly confident that she wouldn’t deny him.

  And God help her, she couldn’t say no.

  She’d given a nod. “I-I’ve got to go.”

  The smile he’d given her was devastatingly sensual. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  She’d nodded again before she turned from him and pushed her way through her group of friends and the rodeo crowd.

  Her thoughts had whirled. She hadn’t known what had just happened. If she had known what the future would hold, she would have run hard and she would have run fast.

  Right?

  Skylar raised her face from bent knees and banged the back of her head hard against the door. She looked up at the off-white- painted ceiling. A spider had decided to make itself at home in one corner. She’d have to get the broom and take care of it—

  Why was she thinking about spiders?

  Anything to stop thinking of him.

  Zack Hunter.

  But as Skylar stared up at the ceiling she couldn’t bring herself to regret the time she’d had with Zack. It had only been six months, but it had been the most precious six months of her life.

  No, she couldn’t regret a moment with him.

  She banged the back of her head against the door again. Trying to think about something else couldn’t get Zack’s face out of her mind.

  “Goddamnit, Zack,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “Why did you have to come here? Why did you have to kiss me?”

  The room remained eerily quiet in response.

  A hard knock on the door startled the silence as the vibrations traveled through her.

  Zack?

  Another hard knock. She pushed herself away from the door, got to her feet, and faced it. Her hands shook. The brass was cool against her palm as she opened the door, then let out a breath of relief when she saw it was Luke.

  Or was it disappointment because it wasn’t Zack?

  Not going there.

  Luke pushed up the brim of his Stetson as he stood on her porch and appraised her. “Everything okay, Skylar?”

  She did her best to smile and not look rattled. “Sure. Fine.”

  He frowned and the look in his eyes told her he didn’t believe her one darn bit. “Mind if I come in?” He took off his hat as she backed away so that he could step through.

  “This Zack Hunter,” he said after she shut the door. “I got the feeling you weren’t too happy to see him.”

  The way she’d all but run Zack off her ranch, no wonder Luke was concerned. “He’s an old boyfriend.” She shrugged as if Zack appearing out of the blue was nothing. “It’s been ten years since I saw him last and he was stopping by to say hi.”

  As Luke studied her like he was deciding whether to let it lie or press her, Skylar couldn’t help but compare him to Zack. Yeah, Luke was hot, but in her mind no man had ever measured up to Zack. She had often wondered if perhaps her memories had become distorted, and that he wasn’t half the man she remembered him to be. But after today, she knew the truth.

  He was twice the man she remembered.

  Crap.

  God, seeing Zack was sending her imagination into overdrive. “Let me know if you need anything.” Luke interrupted her thoughts as he hit his Stetson against his leg. “I mean it.”

  “I think one of the best decisions I’ve made was hiring you.” Skylar had no problem smiling at his genuine concern. Luke never made her feel like she couldn’t take care of herself because she was a woman. He simply watched her back as he would for any man. She patted the cell phone in its holster at the waistband of her jeans. “I’ll call you first thing if something comes up.”

  “I expect you to.” He had two phones holstered on his belt. One was a phone she’d provided—she gave each one of her men a cell phone to make sure she could reach them at any time when they were on duty or in case there was an emergency. The other phone on Luke’s belt was no doubt for personal use.

  “Promise.” She laid her hand on his forearm as he grasped the door handle, and he paused. “Thanks for caring.”

  Luke opened the door and she let her hand drop away. “Just watch your ass, Skylar.”

  She nodded and he walked through the door and shut it behind him.

  Almost mechanically, Skylar drew the Smith & Wesson from the holster at her side. She slid it into a hidden drawer beneath an end table next to the couch. Her thoughts immediately turned from Luke’s concern to Zack and she rubbed her temples.

  She’d had almost a decade to ready herself for the possibility she’d see Zack again. But nothing had prepared her for today. He’d filled out in a hard, masculine way that made him sexier than ever. Even that scar he’d gotten from the fight with his stepfather made Zack’s features more rugged and heartbreaking.

  “Get a grip, Sky,” she muttered, and then stomped her boot on the tile, the sound echoing through her empty living room. Damnit! She hadn’t thought of herself as anything but Skylar since Zack had left her all those years ago. Only Zack had ever called her Sky. “Not Sky. Skylar, Skylar, Skylar, Skylar.”

  A combination of anger, frustration, and sadness raged through her like a dust storm. How dare he? How dare he come back and do this to her again?

  She stopped by an end table beside the rich leather couch and traced her fingers over one of her dad’s bronze Remington sculptures. She looked down at the extremely valuable sculpture named Outlaw.

  Outlaw. The way Zack had stolen her heart, he was just as much of an outlaw.

  Skylar snatched her hand away from the sculpture, feeling as if it had burned her. The heat of her anger increased and she curled her fingers into her palm. Did everything have to remind her of him?

  She pinched the bridge of her nose. The memory of his goodbye was as vivid as the images from the day they’d met.

  Her heart had ached for him as she’d gone to him at the sheriff’s department. This time he wasn’t leaving the jailhouse as a sheriff’s deputy.

  This time he’d been arrested for almost killing a man.

  His stepfather.

  The bastard who’d married and physically abused Zack’s mother hadn’t pressed charges. Instead he’d fled the state taking all of Zack’s mother’s cash with him.

  When Skylar had met Zack outside the county jail just outside of Bisbee, Zack had looked so angry that she’d taken an involuntary step away from him. Hurt, then more anger had flashed in his eyes.

  “Don’t shut me out!”

  Skylar squeezed her eyes closed at the memory of her own plea. How hard it had been to talk. How her breath left her like someone had punched her right in the gut.

  She had asked him to stay.

  Begged him to talk to her.

  And he’d walked right
past her and ignored her as she called to him. One tear after another had rolled down her cheeks as she watched him climb into his truck and drive away.

  Maybe it was then she knew she had lost him. She just would never have admitted it to herself.

  Everything had changed.

  Everything.

  Bastard. Skylar brought her fingers from her face and opened her eyes as she clenched her fists, willing the memories to leave her alone. “Go away!” she shouted out loud to the huge living room.

  But the memories wouldn’t stop.

  He hadn’t returned her calls for two days. Two days that she’d cried her heart out.

  When he finally stopped by the ranch she had run out into the driveway, flung her arms around his neck, and pressed herself against his hard body. She still remembered how wonderful he had smelled. Masculine. Spicy.

  “I love you,” she’d whispered. “I love you so much.”

  Zack pulled her arms from around his neck, took her by the shoulders, and set her apart from him.

  Instantly she’d felt the loss, a chill overcoming her body so violently her skin prickled.

  Every word he uttered in the next moment had hit Skylar like a hammer blow.

  “I’m not ready for a commitment,” Zack had said in a hard voice. “We’re both too young.” Ice had flooded her veins as he continued, “It’s best to break it off before things get serious.”

  “Best?” she’d whispered, but he kept talking.

  “I’m leaving for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. At FLETC I’ll train to be a federal agent.” His eyes had softened for the briefest of moments before he added, “I’m not good enough for you, Sky.”

  And like that, it was over. Zack had turned and walked away from her and her love.

  Skylar had stood in the driveway like a frozen statue, unable to move, unable to speak.

  He hadn’t looked back. He had climbed into his truck and driven off, leaving only a dust cloud in his wake.

  And she’d never seen him again.

  Until today.

  “Goddamn you, Zack Hunter.” Skylar wanted to scream it at the top of her lungs, but it came out hoarse and filled with pain. “I should hate you,” she added. Her voice lowered to a whisper as she repeated, “I should hate you.”