Reunited with the Rancher (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 3)

Emily wondered how many people already knew she had received an email. She knew Tom and Nathan would only tell people on a need-to-know basis, so she suspected that not many were aware of her situation.

“Simone,” Case said, recognizing Simone Parker, one of the mean girls triumvirate. There was instant quiet. Simone’s striking looks, her blue eyes and long black hair usually commanded everyone’s attention.

“I think we should have another meeting here in a month so the committee can bring the rest of us up-to-date on what’s been done. The more informed TCC members are, the better we can deal with what’s happening.”

“We can do that,” Case said. “If there are things Sheriff Battle thinks should not be made public, then they won’t be, but otherwise, we’ll meet again next month. Unless Maverick is caught in the meantime.”

As Emily listened to the other speakers’ suggestions, she looked over the club members in attendance. Once again she couldn’t help wondering if the troll was in the audience.

How would they ever catch Maverick? What had she done to make herself a target of this troll? She still couldn’t imagine someone being so angry with her that they would send that nasty message with the picture.

Finally, the meeting was over and Tom left her side to sign up for the committee. When he was done, he found Emily and took her arm to lead her out. His touch was as electrifying as ever. Why did he have that effect on her after all they had been through?

“I hope that meeting helped,” she said as they drove back to her house. “Tom, shouldn’t you go back to the ranch and check on things?”

“I will later this week. I talk to Gus several times a day and I’m available. This isn’t the first time I’ve been away from there, and it hasn’t been long yet. We’re just getting started on this. It may take a long time to catch this Maverick character, but I have high hopes in Chelsea. If I were the troll and had Chelsea after me, I would be worried. Nathan, too. Nathan is quiet and easygoing, but he’s tough and he doesn’t miss a thing.”

“I hope they can discover something soon,” she said, wondering if living with Tom much longer would make it even more difficult to part again.

“I hope so, too,” he said, but he didn’t sound too happy about it.

“Stop at the grocery and let’s pick up what we need to make sandwiches for lunch. It’s a pretty day and we can eat on the porch. I don’t even have a table.”

“Take some furniture from the house at the ranch. The guys will move it for you. Just tell me or Gus what you want.”

“Thank you. There are a few things I’d like, but in general, I don’t want to move much from the ranch. Your cook likes Snowball so much, I may leave him with her because he likes the ranch.”

“That’s fine with me.”

They bought groceries and when they were back in the car, he turned to her. “Why don’t you buy a bed while I’m with you—”

She started laughing. “You’ve always been a little more subtle in your approach than this. Getting tired of your sleeping bag, or do you think you’re going to coax me into bed?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Now that’s a thought. I might give that one a try. Seriously, I suggested a bed because I can help you get it moved where you want it. You can get one delivered and set up, but they aren’t going to move it around while you make up your mind where you would like it. As I recall on the last bed, I moved it until I wanted to put wheels on it.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” she said, knowing he was teasing her. “When I get a bed, I’ll probably go to Dallas or Midland. Though Royal has a good furniture store, so I suppose we can look here.”

“Good. Let’s look on the way back to the house. You can wait a few more minutes for lunch, I’m sure.”

“Okay. We’ll get a bed, Tom, but I still think you have at least one other motive besides helping me move it around,” she said, watching him drive and wishing they could be like this all the time.

He smiled. “I might. We’ll see if you object.”

“You usually get what you want,” she said, wanting to reach over and touch him just to have a physical connection. At one time she wouldn’t have hesitated, but again, those t

imes were over.

“That’s interesting. Why do you think I get my way?”

“It’s your good looks, your charm, your incredibly sexy body and your seductive ways, of course,” she said in a sultry voice, teasing him.

“I may wreck the car. Now I know you need to hurry up and buy that bed.”

“Don’t rush me.”

“I wouldn’t think of rushing you to bed. This is something that will take some testing and touching to see if it feels right,” he drawled in an exaggeratedly husky voice.

“Stop it,” she said, smiling. “I never, ever guessed you and I would go shopping for a bed again.”