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Alexis watched his retreating back. She didn’t want things to end like this. “Cord, wait.”
Without a backward glance, he climbed inside and fired up the engine before stomping on the gas, spraying the area with dirt. Obviously, she wasn’t the only one unsettled by that mind-blowing kiss. But could they move past it?
Her fingers pressed to her tingling lips. She reminded herself that a kiss was just a kiss. Something she’d done in the past. She was making too much of it. Wasn’t she?
She climbed into the SUV, still wondering what had gotten into her to let down her defenses with Cord. There wasn’t a chance it could lead anywhere. They were adversaries over a very important deal. And when he realized that she was right about knowing what was best for both of them, his wounded male ego wouldn’t be able to deal with it. She’d forever be the woman who stole away his land—his heritage.
With a resigned sigh, she glanced down to fasten her seat belt and noticed something sticking up between the passenger seat and the center console. Her fingers worked into the narrow space and yanked out her camera. It must have gotten jostled off the seat.
How could she have forgotten her camera? It had to have been Cord’s sudden appearance and him bandying about threats to have her arrested that had her forgetting the main reason she’d come out here. She needed photos to send to her father. She could imagine him checking his e-mail every hour on the hour waiting for them. She didn’t have a choice. She had to get pictures. It was her job.
Until she’d set foot in Whistle Stop, she’d been fine with putting her life on hold to work her way up through the ranks at HSG. But it hadn’t worked out like she’d hoped. At one point she’d thought being in charge—being president of HSG—would make her happy, but it hadn’t. There were too many people to please and no way of pleasing everyone. With so many hoops to jump through, there was never any time left to smell the roses.
She didn’t know if it was the sense of community she’d witnessed in this small desert town or spending time with Cord, but the nagging sense of wanting more than a successful career grew each day she was here.
A trail of dust behind Cord’s truck beckoned to her, but she continued to hesitate. She’d be fine here on her own. He had already given her a stern lecture about the hazards of this place.
In all honesty, it shouldn’t be too hard to follow his tire tracks back to the main road. After all, it seemed like it was pretty much a straight shot.
She wouldn’t even be sitting here contemplating all of this if he hadn’t planted those worst-case scenarios in her mind. She was certain he’d been exaggerating—trying to keep her off his precious land. Well, she wasn’t falling for his scare tactics. She’d be fine on her own. She clutched the little camera and headed back to Haggerty. Cord’s stern warnings echoed in her mind. She stared down at the clay, watching every step she took.
She snapped pictures of the General Store, the telegraph office and the opening of the mine. She even made a point to trek over to the graveyard. This place was special with a reverent air about it. Knowing that Cord’s family was buried here, she intended to ensure it remained as is by thoroughly documenting its current state.
While standing there taking photos, she decided the chain-link fence she’d originally envisioned wouldn’t do this place justice. A high stone wall would be more in line with the landscape and would ensure privacy. She wondered what it’d take to convince Cord that she would do her best to secure the graveyard.
Her footsteps picked up the pace as she headed back to the center of the ghost town. A few more photos and she’d be on way her—most likely to the sheriff’s office, after the way Cord tore out of there. Oh well, she’d deal with him later. Right now, she had to get the rest of the pictures she’d promised her father.
She paused by the remains of the church where Cord’s ancestors had been married. She carefully checked for the snake. Not spotting it, she stepped just inside the opening.
A nostalgic feeling came over her as she snapped pictures. Her imagination conjured up images of life back in the old days. She leaned back against one of the adobe walls, resting her hand on the sun-warmed clay. What would it be like to have someone pledge their undying love and then to grow old together? A wistful sigh passed her lips.
Something tickled the back of her hand. She wiggled her fingers, causing the sensation to cease. Lost in her fantasy, she pictured the women in their prairie skirts and the men with their chaps and side arms.
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sp; The image of Cord intruded into her daydream, ruggedly handsome, all done up like an old-fashioned cowboy. She imagined he’d followed her back here. A smile tugged at her lips as she savored the thought of him making a play for her, his fingers grazing over the back of her hand as his mouth nuzzled a sensitive spot on her neck.
Once again, she noticed the tickling on her hand, and as much as she wanted it to be Cord’s fingers caressing her, she knew it couldn’t be. He was long gone, and by the sour look on his face, he wouldn’t be back any time soon. So if he wasn’t touching her, then that meant…Oh no! Could it be another snake?
She tensed. Her chest tightened. She glanced down. There sat a tan insect bigger than a half dollar with numerous legs.
A scorpion.
Its long tail lifted and curled, ready to strike her.
Panic crowded in, smothering her common sense.
A scream ripped from her lungs.
CHAPTER NINE
Cord pressed his boot down hard on the accelerator and clutched the steering wheel as the truck bounced over the rough terrain, jostling him in the seat. He seriously reconsidered his threat to have Lexi charged with trespassing. It’d certainly teach her a lesson and keep her at arm’s length, just in case he lost his mind again and decided to kiss her.
He sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was deal with the sheriff. He hadn’t been friends with Will since a fight in third grade. After all of this time, Cord couldn’t even remember what their disagreement had been about except that it had something to do with playing baseball. Things had been quiet between them for the longest time, until Cord’s ex-wife had stirred up that hornets nest of lies. Ever since then, Will had been giving him strange looks. Cord always shrugged it off. If the man wanted to think ill of him, there was nothing Cord could say to change his mind.
Cord shifted his gaze to the rearview mirror. He squinted to see through the cloud of dust. Not making out Lexi’s vehicle, he eased up on the gas pedal. As the air cleared, it only confirmed his worst thought—Lexi was missing.
Where had she disappeared to? His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. That kiss had so unnerved him that he hadn’t made sure she’d pulled out at the same time. He’d only had one thought—putting distance between them.
