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“A firm hand is needed when dealing with bad behavior, especially if it’s destructive. You must be Greg’s temporary guest.”
The emphasis he put on Greg’s name didn’t bode well for this man welcoming her on the ranch. She tried not to take it personally but couldn’t help the tight clutch in her chest that reminded her of other people who hadn’t wanted her around for long. “Kelsey Hammond, and you won’t even know I’m here,” she tried assuring him.
“Since you’ll be residing in my house, that’s doubtful, but mind the rules and we’ll get along fine. I’m Devin Fisher, Greg’s partner.”
Oh, dear. Considering the low hum of awareness spreading through her, the same response she got around Greg, the odds of the two of them getting along fine weren’t in her favor. What was it about this man that stirred her even though he made it clear he was none too happy about having her around? Whatever it was, it pushed her into goading a response from him other than that frown between his eyes. “Your partner? Greg didn’t mention you two were a couple.”
Devin blew out a disgusted breath, as if he’d dealt with that misconception once too often. “We’re not. We’re friends and business partners. Now, go away. I need to finish brushing Thor. But stay close. I’m not in the mood to come searching for you.”
Kelsey halted in mid turn to say, “Which is it, go away or stay close? I can’t do both.”
Her buttocks clenched as he narrowed those dark eyes. Whoa, where did that come from? she asked herself as the image of the man she’d watched delivering a spanking to that young woman a few weeks ago popped into her head, that stranger wearing the same expression as Devin’s face now conveyed. It was way too easy to imagine Devin treating her to the same punishment if she pushed him too far. Instead of that thought acting as a deterrent, her body tingled in reaction and with as much enthusiasm as she had to Greg’s nearness. Crap, it really is going to be a long few weeks.
“Ms. Hammond, do us both a favor by turning around and trotting out of here. Now.”
“Fine. I’m going for a walk.” She grumbled but let a small smile curl her lips. “But I’m telling Greg you were mean to me.”
Devin refused to smile as he watched Kelsey twitch her cute ass and skip down the aisle and out the stable door. She put on a good front, but there had been no mistaking the insecurity lurking in her bright blue eyes. He doubted his curt words were the cause, so why the sliver of guilt tightening his muscles? Greg had a lot to answer for and the number one infraction was not telling him their temporary houseguest was the exact body type he favored. He’d been drawn to the petite ones since puberty. There was something about their small, dainty stature that tugged at the macho, overbearing side of him. Add in Kelsey’s feisty nature that was at odds with the lost, uncertain expression in her eyes and he knew keeping his distance from Ms. Hammond would be a battle. Good thing he was adept at winning, even if he found her pixie, fey appearance and striking white/blonde hair tempting. Not to mention that look in her eyes that conveyed she wasn’t as sure of her cocky acceptance of her circumstances as she let on.
He had only to remember another pair of blue eyes, those staring lifelessly up at him as he and Greg refused to give up on trying to stop the flow of blood pumping from a nicked artery they’d failed to prevent. Even after they’d thrown their bodies over Catherine Valdez to shield her from the spray of bullets two masked gunmen aimed their way as they broke into the safe house, one bullet had managed to hit her. And one was all it took. He and Greg had each suffered three hits before taking the assailants out, and they’d learned how much more painful the guilt of losing a witness was compared to the physical agony of getting shot. The fact they’d given in to Catherine’s pleas and joined her in her bed that night hadn’t helped to ease their conscience.
Thor shoved his head against Devin’s shoulder, demanding his treat. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it right here.” He held the carrot out to the stallion, stroking his hand down Thor’s sleek neck. The three-year-old black had been his first livestock purchase two years ago when he and Greg settled here in Montana and had begun plans for the ranch. That last case had taken an emotional and physical toll on both of them, and they’d decided to retire and return home to lick their wounds and start over with a new career. The two of them had hit it off ever since middle school, grown as close as brothers and stayed that way despite living most of their FBI years in separate cities. They rarely fought or disagreed, but that might change over the next few weeks if Greg’s insistence on having Kelsey here interrupted the peaceful existence Devin had found on their ranch.
“Do you have a new guest?”
Devin turned at his barn manager’s question, waiting until Tom reached him before answering. “That was Kelsey Hammond, the girl Greg mentioned would be coming to stay for a few weeks. She’s a city girl, so if you can keep an eye on her when she’s wandering around, I’m sure he would appreciate it.”
Tom rested a hand on Thor’s flank, cocking his head with a small grin and shrewd glint in his brown eyes. “Greg’s got himself involved with a city girl?”
With a derisive snort, he replied, “Not involved other than as a friend doing a favor for a friend and she’s about as green as you can get.” And he sure as hell hoped it stayed that way. “She has instructions to stick close and since she didn’t seem overly thrilled with being near horses, I doubt she’ll venture out of the house much, except maybe to wander over to the clubhouse.”
“I’ll be sure to pass it on. I’m heading out to bring in the mounts for the fishing excursion tomorrow so I can get them saddled and ready first thing in the morning. Anything else you need before I call it a day?”
Devin opened the stall gate and slapped the black’s rump to prod him in. “No, thanks. How about a game this evening?” He and Greg often sat down to a game of poker in the evenings if they weren’t on an excursion. Sometimes a guest or two would join them, but most often it was just them, Tom and maybe a few of the cowhands.
“Sounds good. I’ll meet you at the social hall later. Be sure to introduce me to your houseguest.”
“Greg’s houseguest.”
Tom gave him a two-fingered salute off the brim of his hat and smirked as if he didn’t believe that reiterated statement. Devin scowled, watching the older man stroll back out and grab the tethered reins of his horse. For a sixty-something-year-old man, he swung up into the saddle with the ease and agility of a much younger cowpoke. The part-time manager’s job that included the upper level apartment in the barn fit into Tom’s semi-retired schedule and offered him the flexibility to hel
p out his older, disabled brother. Devin could trust him to watch out for Kelsey if Tom was nearby when she was walking around. As long as she didn’t get in his way or cause trouble, they would get on fine the next few weeks.
Kelsey delivered a kick to a large stone as she came out of the stable, trying hard not to get upset over Devin’s lack of enthusiasm toward having her at the ranch. After being abandoned at the age of five and shuffled through the foster care system for the next five years, she thought she had developed a thick skin against personal affronts. God knows she’d gotten enough practice shrugging off hurtful disappointments as an adult every time a relationship had ended without a commitment. The only people who had entered her life and stuck by her for the long haul because they wanted to were the McAllisters. Strolling past a row of small, neat cabins, she headed toward a path in the woods, admitting she wouldn’t trade Jordan and Theresa for the world, even though they pawned her off on two hunky strangers, one of whom wished she were far away from here. At least Greg seemed okay with having her around for a short time.
The late afternoon temperature had already dropped to a pleasant seventy-four degrees, but as she entered the dense, tree-shaded forest, the much cooler air drew a shiver. Making sure to glance behind her every few yards to ensure at least one of the buildings remained in sight, she followed the well-worn trail up a steep slope. The hike reminded her of the two mountain trips she’d taken with Jordan and Theresa over ten years ago. Damn, time flew by once a person reached adulthood. Where had her twenties gone? Here she was turning thirty in a month, and had nothing to show for the past decade other than earning a degree in accounting. Whoopee! Could she get any more boring or have less to show for all those years? Where was the excitement, the sense of adventure or accomplishment?
The closest she’d come to an exciting, memoir-worthy experience was that fifteen-minute, voyeuristic, eye-opening ogling episode that had landed her in trouble and then out here in the wild west. Coming upon a gurgling mountain stream, she sat on a fallen log, waved to the two men sitting on the opposite bank with fishing poles in one hand and a beer in the other, a secret grin curling her lips. Her life up to that point two weeks ago might have been dull, but she would swear those few minutes were worth the hassle of being exiled out here in the middle of nowhere. Her dreams since that night were more electrically charged and lust inducing than any of her four affairs. Sorry guys. She figured it served them right for not sticking around.
Kelsey took a few minutes to wonder what there was about fishing that some people found enjoyable. She wrinkled her nose as one man reeled in a writhing, silver fish, wrestled the hook out of its throat and then tossed the slimy critter back into its watery home. What was the point? Finding no answer to that riddle, she stood, brushed off her seat and turned back to the path that had led her to the oddly soothing spot.
As she started back toward the buildings still within her sight, her thoughts returned to those erotic scenes she’d spied on two weeks ago, and from there to her two hosts. She had no trouble picturing Greg or Devin in the roles of those dominant men, or herself as either man’s plaything. A ripple of taboo lust coursed through her at the images popping up in her head. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind being labeled a plaything for the right man, for a short time. For someone who valued her independence, that was a startling admission, but one she refused to shy away from. After all, what else did she have to look forward to for the next month other than her fantasies?
Kelsey was so immersed in her thoughts, she didn’t see the tree stump until she went sprawling over it. A quick twist of her right ankle sent a shaft of pain up her leg and brought tears to her eyes. Shit, shit, shit! Struggling upright on her left leg, she took a moment to lean against a tree, catch her breath and adjust to the ache throbbing in her lower joint. Just what I need to endear myself to the two men who don’t want me here. Shaking off her frustration, she hobbled along the path, putting as little weight on her right leg as possible.
By the time she emerged from the woods, the sun had lowered to a narrow, burnt-orange sliver on the horizon, sweat rolled down her spine and her jaw ached from keeping it tightly clenched against the discomfort. A quick scan of the surroundings showed no one was around to witness her humiliating hobble across the wide, green lawn between the cabins, barns and the guy’s cabin home. Just as she reached the steps leading to the porch, the front door swung open and Greg’s frown turned to a look of concern as he took in her awkward stance and pain-filled face.
“What the hell have you done?” He trotted down the steps and stopped to gingerly examine her swollen ankle.
