Cowboy Commando

“But they don’t know that I didn’t drive her home.”

Cutter wrapped both hands around the wheel and stretched, grimacing a bit as he rubbed his left thigh. He was probably seriously regretting his offer of help about now. Maybe he figured that six years involved in some of the Middle East’s most dangerous counterterrorism operations was enough heroism for one guy.

She lowered the window a few inches and took a deep breath, letting her lungs fill with the fresh, country air. Smells of pine mixed with wild verbena and the sweet magnolia Merlee had planted along the drive.

Julie stirred in the backseat, and Linney raised the window quickly before the sting of wind had her fully awake. Hopefully the three-year-old would sleep through the night.

“The ranch house is just ahead,” Cutter said. “I’m sure the freezer will be fully loaded but I’m not sure about perishable provisions.”

“We’ll make do until morning,” Linney said, suddenly hit with mind-numbing fatigue. “Then we’ll need milk for Julie. She’ll need clothes, too.”

Cutter rounded the last curve and brought the truck to a jerky stop in the driveway. He yanked the gear into park and turned to face her, his muscles taut and his jaw set at the same unyielding angle as when he’d told her she had to go to the police.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but this is not a permanent arrangement.”

“But—”

“No buts. The minute we hear from Dane, Julie goes home.”

“Fine.” She jumped out of the car before she said something that would really piss Cutter off. She opened the back door to get Julie.

“I’ll carry her inside,” Cutter said, handing Linney his key ring with an oversize bronze key protruding. “You get the door.”

“You’re sure no one’s here?”

“I’m sure Merlee’s in Alaska.”

Cutter unbuckled the seat belt and lifted Julie. She squirmed, raised her head, then let it fall to his broad shoulder. His hand splayed across her back. She looked even more petite in his strong arms, Linney thought. And Cutter looked…

Linney swallowed past a disturbing lump that swelled at the back of her throat. He looked strong and protective. Yet gentle. The image was incredibly seductive and not one she needed to carry into a house where she’d be spending what was left of the night with Cutter.

This was all about getting justice for Amy. Even a hint of the passion that had burned inside her six years ago could screw up her mind and make this even harder than it already was. Far better to just stay aggravated with him.

She opened the door, stepped inside and flicked on the light. The feel of the house wrapped around her like a silken cocoon. It was Merlee to the core. Comfortable. Overflowing with warmth, from the hooked rug to the large overstuffed chairs upholstered in a muted plaid the color of autumn hay.

“We can put Julie in the guest bedroom at the end of the hall,” Cutter said. “There’s only a twin bed, but it’s next to the master suite and it will be easy to hear her if she wakes during the night. The other bedrooms are upstairs.”

“I want her near me.”

“I planned on you taking the master suite.”

“Where will you sleep?”

“I’ll bunk down somewhere if I get tired. But nearby. You’ll be safe, so try and get some sleep. And by the way, there’s no APB out on you. Dane’s working a case, probably the one we heard about on the evening news. So obviously he’s fine that Julie’s with you, at least for tonight.”

“When did you hear all that?”

“I talked to Goose while I was checking out your car. I didn’t mention it then because Julie was awake.”

So that’s why he didn’t believe that it was Dane who’d fired at her. But if not Dane, then who? Someone he’d hired? Or just another dirty cop? Danger might come from a dozen directions, but she wouldn’t back off. Amy deserved justice.

Still, Linney doubted she’d get much sleep tonight.

CUTTER STOOD on the back porch of the house staring into the darkness. No night goggles the way he’d had on nights like this in the Middle East when he’d peered into pockets of danger that lurked behind every tree.

Tonight there was just a Texas moon, its silvery light filtering through the pines and painting shadows that danced in the slight evening breeze. But inside the house where he’d grown up, mere feet away, the woman whose image had haunted him night after night for the last six years was showering and getting ready to spend the night under his roof.

He’d told himself he was over her, that the skyrockets that had lit up his life for those five days and nights of lovemaking had never been as fantastic as they seemed. It was just that they followed on the heels of the endless days of BUD/S training.

Nice theory. Too bad that seeing the machine gun pointed at her head had blown the hell out of it. He’d make certain he wasn’t stupid enough to let those uncontrollable desires take hold again.

But there wasn’t a chance he’d walk away while she was in danger. Even if she went to the police or the FBI or hired a dozen bodyguards, he wouldn’t be able to retreat from the situation until he knew she was safe.

Not that danger had ever deterred him.

Like that night in Afghanistan when he’d dropped from the helicopter with two other team members. They’d carried their full packs as they’d climbed the steep grade to the spot where Henry had last been heard from.

Sweat had dripped from Cutter’s body until he was soaking wet as they’d tramped and cut their way through the heavy underbrush where one wrong step could have sent them plunging to their death.

The difference was that Cutter had understood the danger then. The threat against Linney made no sense at all. If Dane had killed his wife and covered his tracks well, which he would surely have known how to do, then why risk killing Linney just because she’d made a useless trip to the police station?

A piercing ring broke his concentration. Not his cell phone, so it was either someone calling Merlee or Linney. He hurried through the back door and found Linney’s phone on the counter.

He checked the ID. Dane Colley. Ringing phone in hand, Cutter rushed down the hall to the master bedroom that Linney was using and knocked on the door.

“What is it?”

“You have a call from Dane.”

The door flew open, but Linney didn’t make a grab for the phone. Instead, she just stood there, wearing a white T-shirt that she must have pulled from Merlee’s closet. The shirt fell off one shoulder and barely skimmed her private area.

The sight of her like that affected Cutter like a streak of lightning, all fire and hot desire. He pushed the phone into Linney’s hands.

“Answer it.”

Finally, they might find out what was going on in Dane Colley’s mind.

Chapter Four

“Linney, it’s Dane Colley. I’m sorry to wake you.”

“You didn’t.”

“How’s Julie?”

“She’s asleep.”

“Good. I’m really sorry not to get back to you sooner, but I’ve been on a hell of a case. I didn’t even get the message from the day-care center that Julie was upset until I was on my way to pick her up at closing time. Somehow I let the battery on my cell phone run out of juice.”