for long. Being thrown off a horse hurts like a son of a bitch.”
“I doubt you experienced it often.”
“Not something you should bet on.” His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I preferred playing baseball. Which I did through my sophomore year in college.”
“Pitcher?”
“How’d you know?”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I had a feeling, that’s all.”
“Well, you’re right. I started out in Little League. Eventually I developed a decent arm.”
He flipped his hand over hers, entwined their fingers and rubbed the skin he could reach with his thumb. A tiny movement that resonated down to her toes.
“What about you? Horses all the way?”
“Mostly. I did play basketball in school. I was tall enough to be a guard, but definitely not good enough to continue past high school. The love of my life has always been horses, though.”
“No men on that list?”
She shook her head. “I lived with a guy for a few years. Thought it was love. Turned out it was more about lust and wishful thinking. Then, I don’t know. Nothing major. A few mistakes. How about you?”
“I’ve had several relationships through the years. I expected to be married by now. I’d like to have kids. Raise them on the ranch like my father raised me. But the women that have interested me the most have had busy lives and goals of their own.”
“The twain couldn’t meet?”
“Five days a week I live on the ranch. I spend the weekends in Dallas. For a professional woman, that’s a hard schedule to work around. And it would be difficult at the moment to give up my role at the ranch.”
They were getting closer to Kalispell and traffic had picked up. She didn’t want to think about him getting married and having kids. She didn’t want to think of him outside of this car.
She shifted so she could see him better. “Tell me about the hotel room. Does it have a big bathtub?”
Like the gentleman he was, Tucker let the subject turn to exaggerations about the room’s amenities. She relaxed against her seat, watching him as he spoke, studying that strong jaw of his before getting swept away by his cheekbones.
When the town came into view, she was a little disappointed. The ride had been the easiest stretch of time she’d had in so long. A snapshot of a life she’d never have.
FIVE MINUTES AFTER TUCKER and Annie walked into the Kalispell branch of Tucker’s bank, his phone rang, and the name surprised him. He answered quickly with, “Hang on, I’ll just be a minute,” then turned to Annie. “I shouldn’t be long, but I have to take this.”
“Go ahead. If I need you to get the money, I’ll wait, that’s all. No problem.”
He leaned over but ended up kissing her cheek instead of her mouth. She seemed as surprised as he was. He knew it was a reaction to the phone call, but he’d think about the reason later.
He didn’t speak to Christian until he was in the back parking lot, away from too many passersby and far from where Annie could overhear. “What’s going on, Christian?”
“That’s what I want to know,” his brother said.
The bite behind his words had Tucker stopping in his tracks. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were looking for Leanna?”
“Because I don’t report to you,” Tucker said, instantly angry both at his impudent brother and his mother. Though he still didn’t know what she’d told Christian. “Did Mom call you?”
“Yes, Irene called.” Christian often used her name to emphasize the fact he hadn’t yet forgiven her. Though he didn’t mind taking her money. “She informed me you found Leanna.”
“I’m not sure yet that I have. But if it is her, what are you complaining about?”
“I’m complaining because I had my own search going for her. I didn’t want you involved. Leanna is a dangerous woman.”
“In what way?” Tucker gritted his teeth. Getting pissed off wouldn’t help. But Annie, dangerous? “You said she was a thief. That she’d taken off with the money.”
Christian’s huff came through as impatience, but Tucker heard more than that. Underneath the anger was panic. But over what? “Look, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t see the point, but there were some very shady and dangerous people in Leanna’s life. People associated with the mob. Guys you don’t want to get too close to, you understand? They could come after you, Tucker. And Mom.”
The mob and Annie? Is that why she’d run, why she’d hidden herself away in a backwoods town near the border? Jesus, if Christian had known about it…“Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“Because I didn’t particularly want to die. I told you, these men are lethal. Hell, even if it is Leanna, you wouldn’t be doing her any favors by bringing her in. That would be as good as signing her death warrant. Leave it alone, Tucker. This is something your big money can’t fix. Trust me.”
“If you’d told me the—” Tucker cut himself short. How could he blame Christian for trying to protect himself? For protecting his family? “Fine. I won’t do anything to endanger you. Or her. If it is her.”
“Don’t say anything to anyone about this, Tucker. I’m dead serious. It won’t end well.”
“I understand.” Tucker had walked to the side of the bank, and was headed for the entrance. He poked his head inside the door and saw Annie standing in the waiting area.
“Where are you, anyway? Mom didn’t say.”
Now it was Mom. Tucker wasn’t sure why that rubbed him the wrong way, but it sure as hell did. “Flying back to Dallas. I’ve got to run. I’ll be in touch when I get home.” Tucker put the phone away, more worried than ever about Annie. And Christian, yeah, but his brother seemed to be pretty good at taking care of himself.
He’d have to wait until he took Annie to order the tractor engine before he called George, see what he’d found out. Warn him. God, he hoped he hadn’t sent George into danger. The thought made him so uncomfortable that after he helped Annie get her funds, he made another excuse to leave her to deal with the salesman at the machinery parts store. But she didn’t just let him slip away.
“Is everything okay?”
He put on a smile, hating the subterfuge. “It’s business, a fire I have to put out myself. It won’t take long.”
“I’ll be here, and I don’t mind waiting. So do what you need to.” Then she pulled his head down to meet her in a kiss.
Not just a peck, either. It didn’t matter that they were standing inside a busy warehouse.
