Regardless, we were here for two nights. It was on the second I gave into my desires and made love to Joslyn. We’d both fallen for each other fast in the few weeks I’d been assigned to protect her. We had hours during the day where it was just me and her, and it’s surprising how fast people can grow to like each other when they have nothing to do but talk. Of course, the attraction was through the roof. It only took me kissing her in her hotel room in Cunningham Falls that night after the concert to know I could probably never stop kissing her.
We’d been stupid fucking kids. Just a few weeks later, her mom had shown Joslyn the doctored reports to make it appear as if I’d cheated. Let’s face it… she didn’t know me well enough to trust in me.
I drive the rental car through the sleepy town of Cunningham Falls. It’s nearing four, and the sun is starting to hang low in the sky. It throws a beautiful shade of orange and pink over the snow-covered mountains, and I have to admit… this is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to in my life.
Joslyn hadn’t called her mom, so this is going to be a surprise visit. I’m also using this trip as a way to test the stalker. I had Joslyn schedule the private jet by using her phone and credit card rather than Jameson resources as I’d been doing, which I would bill to Joslyn later. I wanted to lay some easy breadcrumbs to see if the stalker was on the same hacking level as Bebe. She laid down some triggers on the credit card company to see if an outside source pings her information. I’m doubting this guy is that sophisticated, but there’s no telling.
I follow Joslyn’s directions out of town to Madeline’s new home. Other than conveying short and succinct sentences to me, obviously still more than a little annoyed with my behavior last night, Joslyn hasn’t been much of a conversationalist. I did learn Madeline had married a man named Darren Dawes, who is a successful cattle and sheep rancher. I couldn’t tell, though, whether Joslyn actually likes the guy as she’s not in a sharing mood.
In Montana, it’s possible to go miles and miles without seeing a house. There is no walking across the street to borrow a cup of sugar outside the city limits. We eventually come to a turn-off from the highway with a wooden arch held up by rough lumber posts that spell out—Double-D Ranch.
“Does your stepfather realize he named his ranch after a bra size?” I ask as I turn onto the dirt and gravel road.
I don’t get a smile, a snort, or a snicker. Just a bland, “I’m sure he’s been told that before.”
Yup. She’s still pissed, and I can’t blame her. I deserved the slap, and I deserve her enmity. I’m going to let her hold onto it for just a bit, but then I’m going to resolve that shit. We were both riding high on emotion, but we have something between us that needs to be evaluated.
We come around a wide curve, then cross a small covered bridge that spans a gurgling creek before the ranch comes into view. I’d checked Darren Dawes out on the plane, and he makes some serious bank. The ranch house is actually fairly modest, though. I’d guess maybe about twenty-five-hundred square feet and sprawling since it’s single story, and it’s probably more than enough for him and Madeline. I’d learned he’s about twenty years her senior and all his kids live outside of Montana.
There’s a Mercedes coupe in the driveway that’s probably a good five or so years old and a truck of about the same age. Off to the side, several more vehicles—ranch hands, I’d assume—near a two-story workshop. Beyond that, there are multiple barns and a silo. In the distance, snow-covered hills and a large butte, with lots of cattle in the immediate valley.
I pull up behind the Mercedes, then kill the engine. Joslyn lets out a pent-up breath, and I turn to face her. “You ready?”
She looks at me reluctantly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Want me to stay here?”
Joslyn shakes her head. “I sort of want the shock value of you being at my side. She has no clue I hired you a few days ago.”
“Does she know about your stalker?” I ask.
Another shake of her head, her blond waves shimmering from the movement. “I didn’t want to worry her.”
No matter what Madeline has done to her daughter in the past, she still loves her mother very much. I hope this is something they can resolve.
Reaching over, I curl my hand around the back of her neck. The first time we’ve touched since I slid my cock out of her last night—not counting the face slap. She stiffens warily. “I’m glad you’re doing this. It’s a good idea, and I’ll be right by you. You’ve got this.”