Somebody Like You Page 25

  Her fingers played with the button on her jacket. “But first and foremost, I came to Texas to save Grandpa’s life. That has to be my priority. I can’t have some tabloid story get in the way of that.”

  Her eyes misted with tears, and he felt like the world’s biggest jerk.

  “Annie, I’m sorry. I know you love your grandfather as much as I loved mine. Losing him—well, it was devastating. I would have done anything to save him, absolutely anything. I really do understand.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Guess I let my testosterone get away from me. Started talking from the wrong part of my body. It’s just…I want you so damn badly.” He rested his forehead against hers.

  Pulling away, he said, “You know, though, there’s no way in hell that anybody, photographer or not, is getting off that elevator on this floor tonight. Not with that guy standing there. Rufus isn’t about to let anybody get close to you.” He cocked his thumb at the bodyguard who, though fully alert, had judiciously turned his back.

  His voice fell to a whisper. “At least tell me what you have on under this.” He fingered the sheer material of her dress.

  “I—”

  Without warning, he hooked a finger in the neckline and took a peek. “Very nice!”

  “Cash!” Her head jerked up, and she looked quickly up and down the hallway, her gaze stopping on Rufus, then coming back to him.

  A grin kicked up the corner of Cash’s mouth. “Darlin’, you look guilty as hell.”

  “That’s embarrassment, not guilt. Shame on you. You’re so bad!” She smacked his fingers. “If anybody should look guilty, it’s you.”

  “I’m not, though. That short glimpse of heaven was well worth the little love tap.” He laughed at her outraged expression. “I’m a man, Annie. A man who’s fraying at the edges. What can I say? And so you understand,” he said, grinning wider, “I’m not gonna feel the least bit guilty for this, either.”

  In one unhurried move, he backed her against the wall, kissed her till he wondered that the hotel’s smoke detectors didn’t go off.

  “Night, Annie. Sleep tight.” He raised his voice. “Rufus, take care of her.” With that he walked away and slid the keycard in his own door. Might be a good time to catch a cold shower. He sure as hell wouldn’t be going to sleep anytime soon.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  When the elevator doors opened the next morning, the paparazzi surged around Annelise. They’d had her staked out, waiting for the moment of attack. She kicked herself. She’d known better. Why hadn’t she ordered room service for breakfast? Dumb question. She knew why. Dottie, still excited by their adventure, had wanted to eat in the hotel’s famous restaurant, and Annie had let that sway her, cloud her better judgment.

  The cameras started clicking the instant she and Dottie stepped from the elevator. Dottie, smiling broadly, fussed with her hair when she saw them and gave a wonderful impression of a great dame. Smiling despite herself, Annelise couldn’t help compare her to the Unsinkable Molly Brown. A brash woman with a huge heart.

  At least she and Cash had the forethought not to ride down together. She could only imagine how that would have thrilled these bloodhounds. The rumors would have flown, hot and heavy.

  Rumors? Or truths? Probably a little of both.

  Giving them time to get seated in the restaurant, Cash rode down on a second, later elevator, hoping to throw the photographers off the scent. No such luck. The cameramen spied him the instant the elevator door opened—almost as if they’d been expecting it. Which, of course, they had been. They’d seen the two of them last night, talking, laughing, dancing. Leaving together. She’d made a mistake there. They should have left separately.

  What she wouldn’t give to be back on the ranch today, currying Shadow and Moonshine instead of doing a tango with a pack of wolves.

  For a split second, she read indecision on Cash’s face and realized he was trying to decide whether or not he should join them or find a different table.

  She took matters into her own hands. She refused to let the press dictate who she shared a table with. Waving at him, she said, “Mr. Hardeman, Mrs. Willis and I are having breakfast. We haven’t ordered yet. Why don’t you join us?”

  Cameras whirred and clicked, following his progress to their table. Short-tempered, he yanked out a chair and sat down heavily. “What the hell? Can’t Silas or Rufus put a stop to this?”

  “Calm down.” She spoke quietly. “Rufus is taking care of our bill and making arrangements to have our things brought down. Silas will move them along if they don’t back off on their own in a couple of minutes. It’s a fine line. If we’re rude, they’ll run a story about the uppity heiress and her lover.”

  Panicked eyes met hers. She patted his hand.

  “If we’re courteous, they’ll still run a story, but it’ll be angled differently. I’m afraid, though, either way, you’ll probably play a rather large role in it.”

  “I don’t care what they write,” he snarled. “I want them gone.”

  By the time they’d ordered and the cameras were still in their faces even Dottie lost her patience. “Mind your manners, boys, and go away.” She made a sweeping motion with her hand, dismissing them. “We’re not doing anything newsworthy here. Eating our bacon and eggs. That’s it.”

  “Speak for yourself, Dottie,” Annelise groused, thinking about the yogurt and whole-grain cereal she’d ordered and wondering if she maybe shouldn’t change it to some bacon and eggs. No, after that late burger last night, she’d best stick with something light.

  Another flash blinded her.

  Silas had had enough. He waded into the group. “Okay, guys, time to move on. Ms. Montjoy is having a private breakfast with friends. She cooperated with you last night, and you got some great shots. She let you take as many photos as you wanted at the fund-raiser. You’ve grabbed some more shots now this morning, though why the hotel allowed this, I’m not sure. I suggest you go find somebody else to pester.”

  “This is a public restaurant,” one of the more daring paps argued.

  “Yes, it is. So if you plan to check your camera, sit down, and order a meal, then by all means.” He waved toward an empty table across the room. “However, if you’re here to harass Ms. Montjoy, then it’s my job to see that doesn’t happen.”

  “Who’s the guy?” the same reporter asked.

  “What? Do I look like a Google search button?” Silas planted himself between the table and the paparazzi.

  Rufus walked in, and the cameras scattered. He winked at Annelise. “You needed the big guns.” He shot a glance at Silas and jerked a thumb in his own direction. Grinning, showing a gold tooth, he said, “And that would be me.”

  The look Silas sent him said everything.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, dear,” Dottie said. “They can’t possibly make anything out of this. Not with me here. It’s not like they caught photos of the two of you alone, having an intimate, romantic, morning-after breakfast.”

  Annelise sighed. “Sweet, sweet Dottie. Have you ever heard of photo-shopping?”

  “Oh.”

  “They can do amazing things with any picture. You might find yourself smiling from the top of a camel.”

  “I don’t like camels. They spit and growl. I saw one at the zoo. Mean things.”

  Cash hooted. “Oh, Dottie, I love you.”

  “What?” Red-faced, she said, “I know Annie was only using that as an example.” She took a bite of toast. “Eat your breakfast and be quiet.”

  *

  The trip home was uneventful. Once he was in the air, headed back to his ranch, Cash literally felt a weight lift off him. When he and Annie had talked before about her life, he’d commiserated with her, making inane remarks about understanding.

  What a load of bull that had been. After less than twenty-four hours, he’d about caved under the intense pressure. Left to his own devices, he’d have plowed a fist into one of the noses that stuck itse
lf in Annie’s business.

  Rufus and Silas had followed them to the airport and saw them off. He supposed they were on a plane headed to Boston.

  No such luck.

  After they landed, he loaded the women and their luggage into his truck, stopped at Sadler’s while Dottie picked up a few things she needed, then headed for her house. Who sat waiting for them on her front porch? None other than Rufus and Silas. They looked as out of place as a vampire on the beach at high noon.

  He pulled into the drive and got out, slamming his door. Walking around, he opened the doors for Annie and Dottie and helped them out.

  “What are you guys doing here?”

  “Our job.”

  “We don’t need you.”

  “Don’t want to argue with you, Mr. Hardeman, but that’s really not your decision to make. You’re not our boss. We’ve been hired to keep an eye on Ms. Montjoy, and that’s what we’ll do.”

  A muscle ticced in his jaw. Turning his back on them, he said, “Dottie, I’ll have one of my guys bring your car in for you.”

  “I appreciate that.” She stood on tiptoe, brushed her lips over his cheeks. Then she turned and wrapped Annie in a hug, kissing her, too. “I had the most wonderful time! I can’t wait to call Cora Mae and Tilly and tell them all about it.”

  She giggled. “I think I’ll invite them over for some iced tea and cookies. Show them my dress and some of the pictures I took. They’ll both be peacock-green with envy.”

  “I’m glad you had fun.” Annie kissed her back. “And I think you’re right. You should give your friends a call. Keep the celebration going.” She turned to Cash. “If you’ll give me a minute to change, I’ll ride out to the ranch with you. I left the Harley at Whispering Pines yesterday.”

  “You don’t need to do that, Annie. You have to be tired. One of the guys can bring your bike in, too.” He glared at the muscle-bound bozo carrying Dottie’s suitcase inside for her.

  Silas scooped up Annie’s. “Where to?”

  “Upstairs. Just set it on the landing. I’ll take care of it from there.”

  He nodded and picked up the case as though it weighed no more than a microchip.

  Annie turned her attention back to Cash. “I want to go with you. I need to work today. And you know, with the picnic tomorrow you can use another set of hands.”

  “Look, Annie.” He blew out a breath, took those hands in his, not quite sure how best to approach this.

  She beat him to the punch. “Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t you dare even consider it.”

  He read temper in her beautiful blue eyes.

  “You think you’re going to start treating me like Annelise the heiress, instead of Annie the ranch hand?” She jammed a finger in his chest. “No way, buster.”

  He laughed and slid his sunglasses onto the top of his head. “You are something else, Ms. Annelise Montjoy.”

  “That would be Annie to you, Mr. Hardeman.”

  And thank God for that, he thought. Annelise might be out of his league, but Annie wasn’t. He could touch Annie. Kiss Annie. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to keep Annie around a little longer.

  “Okay, then. Go get your wrangling duds on and stop wasting time. We’ve got work to do.”

  *

  Rufus and Silas followed them to the ranch, staying a couple of car lengths behind. Cash figured he might as well come to terms with it. And that meant no more trips to the pond for skinny-dipping. He could have cried.

  “If you don’t mind, I need to make another stop in town, Annie.”

  “It’s your dime, boss.”

  “Funny.” He checked his rearview mirror. The black Olds trailed behind.

  Her boss. Right. He doubted anybody would ever truly be the boss of Annie. She was a strong woman. Now that he’d had a taste of her world, seen her navigate it, he realized exactly how much determination it had taken for her to make this trip to Texas. She’d risked some serious ire. Some major consequences.

  Yet she’d had the guts to do it. She’d ignored the wrath of her family, the threat to her own safety.

  And she’d done it because of love.

  What would it be like to be on the receiving end of that love?

  “Cash?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Where’d you go? I asked what you had to do—twice.”

  “Sorry. Guess I got lost in my thoughts. I was making a mental list of everything we need to finish up before tomorrow.” He swore his nose grew with the lie. “I want to stop by the newspaper office. Mel ordered some fliers for me, and I need to pick them up.”

  Several people walked along Main Street, and he and Annie waved to them. Luke and Marcy, who ran the town’s only preschool, stood outside Sally’s, no doubt ready for an early lunch—one that, since it was Saturday, wouldn’t include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

  He pulled up in front of the Maverick Junction Daily office. “Want to come in?”

  “No, I think I’ll sit here and close my eyes for a minute.”

  “Okay, be right back.” He hopped out, noting the Olds idling several parking spaces away. She’d told him the truth. It would be hell to try to sneak away for a roll in the hay with them shadowing her. A guy could lose interest pretty fast, he supposed.

  He looked at it as more of a challenge. A dare.

  When he stepped into the office, the smell of paper and ink welcomed him.

  “Hey, buddy,” Melvin said. “Thought you might stop by today. Got your fliers for you.”

  As he hunted beneath the counter for them, he said, “In case you’re interested, some PI came by this morning before I barely had the door unlocked. Asked all kinds of questions about you.” He set the box of fliers on the counter. “What’d you get yourself into?”

  Cash saw red. This was because of his relationship with Annie. Somebody snooping into his business, and, so, in a roundabout way, into hers. “I’m not into anything. And I hope to hell that’s what you told them.”

  Mel held up a hand. “I gave the man nothing. Nobody else in town did, either. You know how it works. I can beat up on my brother, but nobody else better lay a hand on him. Same goes with you.” He paused. “Got some interesting pictures over the UP wire service this morning.”

  His stomach dropped.

  “Who’d have guessed that new hire of yours was an oil baron’s grandkid? A Montjoy at that. And I, for one, would never have suspected you were so light on your feet. A regular twinkle toes. The shot of the two of you on the dance floor is priceless.”

  He tossed a copy of it on the counter.

  Cash stared at it, traced his finger over Annie. She was beautiful. Gorgeous. And in his arms. How the hell could he be mad about that? Eat your heart out world.

  He shrugged. “She warned me. I suppose every newspaper in the state’s gonna run this.”

  “That would be my guess.”

  “You’re not, are you?”

  “Hell, yes. Figure I’ll sell a record number of papers today. I’m running off extras. Might even feature another one tomorrow to boost sales.”

  “Bloodsucker.”

  “Hey, pal, it’s news. Local interest stuff. Everybody in town’s interested in what you do when you fly off to the Big D.” He took a drink from the mug beside him. “Brawley was there, huh?”

  “Geez! What’d they do? Send you a blow-by-blow of the night?”

  “No, but if you’d like to provide any of the missing details—” One look from Cash and he held his hands up in surrender. “Just saying. Free press at its best.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Cash rubbed a hand over his chin. “Brawley might come to the barbecue tomorrow. I’m not so sure you’re still invited, though.”

  “Sure I am. Wouldn’t be a picnic without me.”

  “No pictures.”

  “Wouldn’t think of it.”

  “Right.”

  “Brawley’s date looked pretty hot, too.”

  With an evil grin, Cash leaned over the count
er and whispered, “Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader.”

  “Oh, man.” A look of envy flitted across Mel’s face. “She as hot as she looks in the photos?”

  “Hotter.”

  “He always did have all the luck. You tell him Doc’s thinking of retiring?”

  “Brawley’s not interested in coming back to this one-horse town. Rachel the cheerleader’s words, not mine. Believe it or not, he likes the slick city life.”

  “Where’d we fail him, Cash?”

  “I don’t know. Might be those Dallas cheerleader outfits.”

  He paid for his fliers and walked back to the truck, watching Rufus and Silas watch him. A private eye investigating him? If that didn’t take the cake. When the guy found out how boring Cash’s life was, he’d back off soon enough.

  Unless he found out about Grandma Vivi and the will. Shit!

  As he opened his truck door, he tried to throw it off. Annie didn’t need any more pressure or guilt, and she’d carry a load of both if she knew.

  *

  The bodyguards stayed in the car when they arrived at the ranch. They parked where they had a good view of the comings and goings, but stayed out of everyone’s way.

  Good thing, Cash thought, or he’d have run them off. As if Annie needed a bodyguard here on the ranch. Geez, Louise. Staubach, tongue hanging out, had barked and jumped up on him the second he’d stepped out of his vehicle.

  “Hey, boy, you’d think I’d been gone a year instead of one night.” He ruffled the dog’s head and scratched between his ears. Then he threw a stick, and his pet ran after it in fits of doggy glee.

  “Hey, son. Have a good time?” His father tipped his hat at Annie. “Welcome home.”

  Cash saw the burst of happiness before Annie had a chance to rein it in. His dad had said exactly the right thing.

  “Got a lot going on today,” he added.

  With that, the workday began.

  She’d been right about coming in to work today. They needed her. With the preparations under way for the barbecue, every hand on the ranch was busy. Rosie, her salt-and-pepper hair secured in a bun, ran around giving orders in a style that would have put General Patton to shame. She knew what she wanted and expected it would be executed exactly as she said.