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Before I could answer, my bedroom door opened, and Miranda stood there, shaking like a leaf. Champ was peeking around her legs.
Luke gaped as he turned from me to Miranda and back to me. “Care to explain that, boss?”
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. This had just gotten a bit more complicated. I’d been hoping to keep my guest a secret for a bit longer. I didn’t want to involve anyone else, including my best friend, until I knew precisely what was going on. Looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
“Miranda, meet Luke, my head of operations on the ranch. Luke, meet Miranda, my unexpected guest and the woman that creep was just asking about.”
“Hello, miss.” Luke tipped his Stetson in greeting.
She stood there dumbstruck.
“I know there’s a lot to discuss, but I can’t right now. I have other issues to deal with first.”
He nodded. “All right. I trust you like you were my own brother, and I know you wouldn’t do anything stupid. Promise me you’ll explain everything soon.”
“I promise. In the meantime, keep your eye out for that fellow. Let me know if he comes back snooping around here, and keep the other men on it, too. I want to know what he’s up to.”
“Will do.” Luke tipped his Stetson toward Miranda again and walked out the front door, making sure to shut it behind him.
One issue temporarily resolved; time to handle the other one. I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs to deal with my anxious guest.
I couldn’t believe he had found me. After months of paying him off for Evan’s stupid mistakes, I thought I was in the clear until last week when he told me he no longer cared about my brother’s drug money owed to him, but that he had wanted me the entire time. Of course he told me that once I had pretty much paid Evan’s debt.
I balked at the thought of being with someone as sleezy as Declan Roland. He’d had sex with gosh knew how many other women, and I had heard he got off by making women scream during it, and not in the fun type of way. Ugh, I got the creepy crawlies just thinking about him and me together.
When I told him so, he backhanded me, causing me to fall and hit my head. The cut had been severe enough stitches would’ve probably been a smart idea, but I couldn’t go to a hospital. He would’ve insisted on coming with me. I knew there was no way I could convince him that we wouldn’t be a good match, so I lied and told him I’d agree to us dating, but I had to go home first to take care of some things and would be back.
He let me leave and, after applying pressure to stop the bleeding and hydrogen peroxide to clean my wound, I called my boss to let him know what was going on. I felt guilty for leaving suddenly, but there was nothing else I could do. He agreed with me. So, after saying my goodbyes to my coworker Jenny, who was the only other person I considered a true friend, I packed up my beat-up Honda Accord with all my possessions and hit the road. Driving with no destination in mind was the first time I felt relaxed in years. Until I noticed a black sedan following me three days into my trip.
It took a few maneuvers, but I finally got to see Declan behind the wheel.
I had no clue as to how he had found me. Before I’d left home, I destroyed my cell phone fearful that Declan might have some way to track me on it. Evidently, he had ways I’d never considered. I did everything I could to lose them on the highway. Finally, I managed to cut across the highway to an exit, leaving them in the fast lane, blocked from following me by a handy semi. It landed me about half a mile from Austin’s ranch. Planning to drive to a nearby place for help, I banged my head against the steering wheel in frustration when my old car gave out from all the exertion of the past few days. With my cut bleeding again, I got out and stumbled away.
As stupid as it sounded, it didn’t occur to me that Declan would double back, take the same exit I had, and search all the different roads I could’ve taken until he had found my car on the shoulder and then go searching for me from there. This guy didn’t give up, and I so desperately wished he would.
“Miranda?” Austin came into the bedroom where I was curled up on his bed again with Champ. The thought of hiding under the covers and not coming out until everything blew over was tempting, but it would never be a reality. I had to face this monster on my own or the man who had been so kind to me could get hurt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think he’d find me this quickly,” I admitted. “If you could please give me my clothes, I’ll be on my way.” I flung my legs off the bed, and my feet hovered over the floor, but he took a seat beside me and held my hand.
“You’re not going anywhere, young lady.”
His tone dripped authority and had my entire body humming. There was something so attractive about him taking charge and at the same time showing he cared for my well-being. It made what I had to do more difficult.
“I can’t bring this trouble to your door, Austin. I appreciate your generous hospitality, but it’s time for me to go.”
He held my gaze. “Miranda, I’m dead serious here. You aren’t going anywhere. I’m going to help you.”
I shook my head. What wasn’t he getting? He didn’t owe me anything, and I didn’t want to cause him any more misfortune than I already had.
“Thank you for everything,” I said as I stood up. I didn’t get far because the next instant, I was over his lap.
“Champ, leave,” he commanded, and the dog loped out the door, leaving me with my hands reaching toward the floor to stabilize myself and my ass hanging in the air.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I cried. This was ridiculous! I was a grown woman for goodness’ sake, not a child who needed to be corrected by her parent.
“Trying to put some reason into your thick skull,” he said as he placed half a dozen swats onto my bottom.
“Ouch! My skull isn’t thick!” I protested, wiggling around on his lap. He moved his leg to pin mine, immobilizing me. Even more frustrated, I doubled my efforts to get out of the position I was in.
