Sudden Setup

Was it?

Ella didn’t want to think. For once, she wanted to go with what her body craved...and right now, that was the blue-eyed stranger.

He pulled back. “See what I’m talking about?”

She studied him.

“I’ve needed to do that since you woke up the other day,” he grumbled. “And it’s a huge mistake.”

He had that right, she thought, as anger flared through her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing like it ever happens again,” she said.

Chapter Five (#u982c49f5-afbc-5378-bb6c-fda767e3dadb)

Ella could not, under any circumstances, allow Holden Crawford to affect her. She moved away from him and onto the makeshift bed, grateful that he’d left it intact. She needed...something—physical space, maybe—to clear her mind. What she wouldn’t do for a strong cup of coffee right now.

“I need to get a message to my family and make sure they’re okay. Whoever is doing this to me might also be targeting them,” she said, needing to redirect her thoughts and gain control of her overwrought emotions. Her attraction to him could be explained in simple terms. She’d almost been killed. Twice. He’d saved her. Twice. The magnetic pull she felt was nothing more than primal urge.

Holden studied her for a long moment. He had that wrinkled-forehead expression that made her believe he wanted to speak his mind. He seemed to decide better of it.

“Where are the twins and your sister?” he asked.

Ella couldn’t mask her surprise. She was going to have to get used to the fact that this stranger knew more about her than she did about him, reminding herself that he was one of her father’s many acquaintances. But then, it seemed like everyone knew her father or at least believed they did. She also realized that for all his antics, her father wouldn’t help someone who broke the law. Maverick Mike was many things, but he wouldn’t harbor a criminal and especially not anywhere near his beloved family or ranch. Despite complicated relationships, family was everything to Maverick Mike. His property was a close second. Her father had loved his land and everything about Texas was sacred to the man. She’d inherited his zest for family, the ranch and her home state.

“I don’t know exactly. They disappeared to get away from the media circus surrounding Dad’s death and I didn’t think to ask,” she said. “We all have places we go when we need time away.”

“Why did you stick around?” His gaze narrowed and his lips thinned.

“Someone had to stay in order to keep an eye on the business,” she stated. “An operation as big as Hereford doesn’t run itself.”

He gave her a look of concession. “Your brothers didn’t see it as their jobs?”

“As a matter of fact, they did,” she said, a little indignant. “They wanted to stay but I convinced them that they should take some time away.”

“Your arguing skills aren’t in question but I’m still surprised they agreed,” he said with a shake of his head.

“Well, they put up a good fight. But I managed to convince them.” That was putting it lightly. She’d almost had to physically force them off the property.

She looked at Holden, who seemed not to believe her.

“You may not realize it, but I can be pretty convincing when I need to be,” she defended.

“On second thought, I shouldn’t doubt that you know exactly how to get what you want,” he said with a tone she decided to ignore rather than explore. Mostly because it sent more of those unwelcomed shivers up her arms.

“What about you?” she asked, realizing that he wasn’t saying more than two words about himself.

He didn’t answer.

Shocking.

“What’s next?” she asked. Adrenaline must’ve worn off because she was starting to feel every ache and the pain was taking the fight out of her. Besides, the chemistry constantly sizzling between them was exhausting.

Holden paced. She waited.

“You make a choice,” he finally said. There was so much frustration and warning in his voice.

“I can’t go back to Hereford until I know who’s trying to kill me,” she stated. “I have no idea if this person has access to the main house, but he’s made his intentions clear.”

“It’s best to assume he does, and especially after what happened to your father on the property. I can keep you safe while the sheriff investigates the attempts on your life. Or we can figure out a better way to get you to law enforcement.”

She was shaking her head before he finished his sentence.

“If you accept my help that means going off the grid. You have to follow my rules and cut off all communication with everyone but me,” he said, and the look in his eyes said he meant every word. “You already know what it’s like to be around me. This is what you’ll be stuck with until this...issue is resolved.”

“I’m aware of your magnetic personality,” she shot back. She was also aware that he was the only one who seemed capable of keeping her alive. He might not be one to talk much, but it was obvious that he knew how to hide and a piece of her—a piece she should probably ignore—felt safe when he was around.

“Good. Being angry with me will keep us both from making another mistake like the one we made earlier,” he said, and his gaze dipped to her lips. He refocused on the patch of wall behind her head.

Did he have to keep reminding her?

“If I can’t speak to anyone else, how will the sheriff know what’s happened?” she asked.

“I’ll arrange for you to give a statement, but it won’t be in person,” he said. “Then we’ll disappear.”

She could hire a security company to keep her safe, but there was no time. She needed protection now. And it was too risky to give up her location to anyone before she could thoroughly vet the agency’s employees. This wasn’t the time to chide herself for not thinking of having a security team ready to go sooner. She hadn’t needed to consider it before now. Security on the ranch had always proved up to the task until her father...

Thinking about him caused tears to threaten.

Going to the ranch was out. Again, her father had been murdered at home, so someone had slipped past security. Either way, returning to Hereford might not prove good for her longevity.

Her father had trusted Holden Crawford. And that was saying a lot.

“I want your help,” she stated. “There are reporters everywhere in Cattle Barge and apparently—” she blew out a frustrated breath “—I’m news. If I surface anywhere, then my face will be all over the internet, on live feeds, and that will lead whoever is after me to my location. I can’t afford to be seen right now, and since you seem very good at staying under the radar, you’re my best chance at staying alive.”

His lips thinned and his gaze narrowed.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” he ground out as he walked right past her and out the door.

* * *

HOLDEN STALKED OUTSIDE and paced. The room had felt confining, like he was strapped in a straitjacket. Being in the Texas night air always gave him perspective.

Maverick Mike was dead. He’d been killed in a manner that was meant to make a statement. Sure, the man knew how to have a good time. Holden’s own father had always gotten a look of appreciation when he’d talked about his poker buddy from Texas. The annual secret game that had happened at Hereford every year was legendary but rarely spoken about. Holden was unclear as to how his father had been included, but he’d been making the trip since Holden could remember. Thinking of Pop brought a wave of anger to the surface. Holden should’ve been there to stop it. His fists clenched and that familiar sense of frustration bore down on him. Beating himself up over Pop’s death again wouldn’t change the past.