They finished up the business and Wade got Cole’s signature on some legal papers. Then, with a handshake-turned-man-hug and a quick slap on the back, Wade made his way to a waiting car that would return him to the county helipad where he would fly back to Dallas.
Cole took one last look at Tallie before he followed his brother out the door into the warm night air. In the parking lot he sat in his car, his finger poised over the start button. About then Tallie and her friends walked around the corner of the building. The younger man hugged her goodbye and got in his small car and drove off. Tallie slipped inside her old Ford wagon and the older man got into his vehicle. He turned his car toward the exit. Tallie followed. Both turned right.
Where were they going? The route to the ranch was in the opposite direction. His hands on the steering wheel and foot on the gas seemed to take over as he pulled his car out behind them. Regardless of telling himself no, that he had no right to do this, he kept going.
Within three blocks the first car turned into the parking lot of a small motel and she drove in behind him. Cole had his answer. He drove past in time to see Tallie walk toward one of the rooms. His hands clenched the steering wheel while his jaw muscles worked overtime.
At the next light, he made a U-turn and headed back to the ranch.
When he got home, he closed the door and tossed his keys on the kitchen counter then made his way to the bar and poured two fingers of Crown Royal before flopping down onto the overstuffed leather sofa. The window gave him a distant view of the acres he’d purchased adjacent to the family ranch for the purpose of building the lodge and cabins for the corporate retreat project. Usually somewhere out in the darkness he could see a small glow from Tallie’s barrage of candles she’d begun to leave lit while she’d slept. There were no lights on tonight.
Cole finished the drink and headed to the bar for another. Enough of these and he wouldn’t give Tallie another thought. Maybe. Nah. With no conscious decision he opened the French door and stepped out into the evening shadows. Still no sign of any light from the shack. Was she still at the motel? He huffed out a sigh. Let it go. She’d most likely be there all night. Feeling anxious, he decided to make a quick drive over just to make sure everything was as it should be.
He pulled out his cell phone, called her number and listened to the ringing on the line.
“Hello?”
It was the deeper voice of a man.
“Sorry,” Cole said. “I must have the wrong number.”
“Are you calling for Tallie?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got the right number. She’s stepped away for a few minutes but she’ll be right back. Would you like to hold or leave a message?”
The man’s voice sounded tired, sluggish. Cole had to wonder what the guy had been doing to make him sound so fatigued. Not your business.
“No,” Cole replied. “This is Cole Masters. I had a question for her but it will wait until tomorrow.”
“I’ll let her know you called.”
Cole terminated the call. So, the good doctor had a man in her life. Good for her. He had to admit he was surprised, but why should he be? She was an incredibly beautiful woman. She probably had men lining up around the block.
Cole felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. This time he knew exactly why. He wanted her. In his mind he saw her lying back in his bed, those green eyes welcoming, calling him to come to her. He knew how she tasted and he wanted more. He wanted to again run his hands over her silken skin; he wanted to feel the heat from her body. Feel her quiver in anticipation. Anything she wanted of him, he would give her.
Damn. He had to stop this. She was obviously involved with someone. Even if she wasn’t, their time together hadn’t exactly been a whirlwind of friendship and, in a matter of weeks, she would be gone. But the governor was right. Cole needed to take care of her: see that she slept in safe, cool surroundings and had appropriate food and water. He could also try harder to find someone to help her. First thing in the morning he would put the idea into motion.
Whether she liked it or not.
He heard the ringtone on his phone. It was Tallie.
“Hey.”
“Stan said you called. Is everything all right?”
“I just wanted to make sure you were planning on sleeping at the house tonight.”
“Oh.” She sounded hesitant. If she was coming from another man’s bed, how could he expect her to sound any other way? He swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat at the thought of another man touching her, making love to her.
“Tallie, I won’t allow you to live in that shack one more minute. It isn’t good for you.”
“We can talk about that when I get back. Now, if there isn’t anything else...?”
“No. Nothing else.”
She ended the call and his anger surged. Maybe he had been a bit overbearing but she had to see it was out of concern. He glanced at the lighted dial of his watch. Ten o’clock. Why not just wait for her at the old cabin? He was sure she wouldn’t come back to the house. And he knew that if he stayed there and waited for her, he’d have a restless night.
Two hours later there was still no sign of Tallie. Was she really going to spend the night with that man? A red glaze of anger obscured Cole’s vision and, with no further thought, he got into his pickup and headed to town. He drove straight to the little motel, walked up to the room he’d seen her enter and beat on the door.
Finally, after another round of knocking, the man opened the door. He’d obviously been asleep.
“Where is Tallie?” Cole almost barked.
The man looked confused. “She went home. Rather, she went back to her dig.”
“I just came from there. Her vehicle isn’t there and neither is she. When did she leave here?”
“Right after she talked with you. She was upset.”
“She isn’t the only one.” Cole glanced at the bed. There was no indication that two people were sharing it. The unused pillow was still draped in the cheap bedcover.
“Look, man,” Stan said. “She was just here going over some pics on my laptop of my latest dig. If you feel this way about her, you really should be up front. Tell her. She was hurt once. The guy went as far as to ask her to marry him then disappeared when some woman he thought was better came along. Not even a note. Nothing. Personally, I don’t think you can find a better woman and, if my wife wouldn’t get all bent out of shape, I might pursue Tallie myself. Now, is there anything else?”
Cole muttered an apology for disturbing the man and returned to his truck. When he arrived home, he entered through the back door and trudged up the stairs to his room, shedding his knit shirt as he went. Out of curiosity, he opened the door to the bedroom he’d given Tallie the night she’d been sick. Sure enough a small glow from the lights outside showed a sleeping form. He flipped on the overhead light.
“Oh! Turn off that light,” she whispered and pulled a pillow over her eyes. “Where have you been?”
“Out looking for you.”
At that she pushed the pillow away and rolled toward him. “Why? Did I misunderstand your demand?”
“No, you didn’t. You’re in exactly the right place.”
“Then turn off the light and leave me alone.”
Cole ran his hand over his face. The entire time he’d waited for her by the shack, she had been in his house asleep. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He flipped off the light and moved toward her bed, sitting on the edge.
“Tallie.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you and your friend in a serious relationship?”
The minutes passed until he thought she wasn’t going to answer. She sat up and twisted around until she could see his face. “You mean Stan?”
“Yeah.” Cole nodded.
“I told you, Stan is an old friend.” She glared at him. “He is also married with three kids. You must not think very much of me at all to ask me that. It’s discomforting you think most of what I say is a lie.”
“Most people lie.”
“Well, I’m not one of them,” she snapped.
Cole didn’t know what to say. Once again he’d put his foot squarely in his mouth.
Tallie threw aside the covers. “I’m going back to the cabin. I should not have come here in the first place.”
“Tallie.”
“First you strong-arm me into coming here, which I only did because you were right about getting out of the heat. But I am not about to stay with a man who thinks of me that way. You are an arrogant snob. So disappointing.” She slid out of the bed and went to the bedroom closet to pull out a pair of jeans and a shirt. “And don’t you dare try and boss me around again.”
In a heartbeat Cole sprang from the bed and beat her to the closet door. Tallie looked up into his eyes and he saw the glimmer of passion in her emerald depths. Without waiting for permission, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bed.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “Put me down.”
He set her on her feet but rather than turn away, he slowly began to unbutton the tiny buttons of her nightshirt. When it fell to the floor he removed her panties and she was standing naked in front of him, the memory of a beautiful vision coming true. Her curves were more luscious than ever; roughing it in the trapper’s cabin had had no impact whatsoever on her incredible figure.