Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (7 page)

“Wait a minute. I have something to say.”

Eyes blazing with hurt and anger, she swung toward him. “Haven’t you said and done enough for one day?”

Her harsh words hit him like sharp stones against his skin. “First, I’m sorry.” He sat back in his seat and raked his hand through his hair.

“Do you feel better now that you’ve apologized?” This time she moved quickly and jumped out and ran into her house.

He thought about following. It wouldn’t be a good idea. She was too mad to hear anything else he had to say. He’d give her time to cool off. Shifting gears, he drove out onto the road toward Drake’s.

What he needed right now was a cold beer, and then some hard physical labor to use up the lingering adrenaline flowing in his veins. It didn’t take him long to get to Drake’s ranch. He parked and headed toward the house.

Drake waved at him. “Wait up.” He hurried and caught Brent at the door. “Let’s get a beer and go in my office. We need to talk.”

“What, did Angie call and tell you I tried to attack her?”

“The date went that well, huh?”

“Almost.” Brent took the beer Drake handed him, and they walked to the office. Inside was cool and dim after the sunshine and heat outdoors. Brent flopped into a large lounge chair. Drake leaned against his desk.

“Mick called. You’ll want to call him back. We talked briefly. Apparently Angie and her mother arrived in Oklahoma City about twenty-one years ago. The trail runs cold before that. You were right about there being a mystery surrounding our quiet, shy schoolteacher.”

“She told me today she had lived in Oklahoma. That’s all I got out of her.”

“Did something happen between you two?”

“Sort of. We did find the land I’d been looking for to buy.”

“Where?”

“About fifteen miles southwest of here. A pretty place with good grazing land and lots of trees. A hill where I’ll build my house, and a good-size lake.”

“You’re serious?”

“I’m going to call the realtor in a minute and make an offer.”

“This is great news. I’ll call Samantha and Jackson. We’ll have a barbecue to celebrate you joining the ranks. Want to invite Angie?”

“No. I think she’d probably poison my food. I’m going to call Mick and then check about the property. Let me know what time to be here for the meal.”

Brent walked out on the back porch and pulled out his cell. He started to punch in the number for Mick when his phone rang.

“Hi, Nate, how’s it going? Did you get the information you wanted from the guy that shot me?”

“Not much. He’s more afraid of his boss, Yannell, then jail. But, I’ve been tracking Yannell’s daughter. She left town and headed west. I followed her into Oklahoma today. I know I’m grabbing at straws, but I’m looking for any lead I can get. Also, one of Yannell’s men is following me or the daughter. I’m not sure which.”

“Strange, I had Mick doing some scouting around for me, and it led him to Oklahoma." A shiver went down Brent’s spine. His intuition was usually pretty good. He had to be wrong this time. Angie wouldn't be involved with Yannell. There was no connection, and the man was one of the most corrupt men in the country. But if she did know him, she'd be smart to be afraid.

“Want to tell me what your hunt is about?” Nate asked.

“Not yet. Will you do me a favor? I’m going to put one of my men to following the daughter. If she leaves Oklahoma, I’d like you to lead Yannell’s man in another direction. We’ll keep in touch.”

“All right, but I want to know more, soon.” Nate hung up.

He punched in Mick’s number. “Hi, Mick. Drake told me you called and what you’d found out. See if you can find any leads back to the east and Yannell? If you do, phone me right away. Oh, also, Yannell’s daughter is in Oklahoma. Check with Glynes about her exact whereabouts and have one of our guys follow her.”

“Sure, boss.” Mick hesitated. “You want to tell me what I might be looking for regarding Yannell?”

“I’m not sure. See who was the mother of Yannell’s daughter to start with.”

Brent snapped the cell shut. Angie McElvaine, or whoever she was, got more interesting every day. He needed to push her harder until she told him what the hell was going on. He’d wait, at least until Mick got back to him. In the meantime, he planned to stay as close to her as she’d allow. His intuition had kicked in, and although it made no sense, it still bothered him.

* * * *

Angie burned her grilled cheese sandwich. Anger, desire, and confusion churned inside her and had her pacing the floor. Brent Terrell was driving her crazy.

His questions scared her. She didn’t want anyone to know her past. It was too dangerous for them and her. To further confuse the matter, she had a raging hunger for him. She wanted to give in and have him kiss her, touch her, make love to her.

What if he agreed to be her husband for a short time? Would she get him out of her system or never be able to forget him? And with him living nearby, and taking an active part in their child’s life, she’d go crazy. If she still wanted him like she did now.

The solution, of course, was to give in and have sex with him once. Then she'd know whether she could handle a temporary marriage to him for eighteen months or so.

She sat on the side of her bed and held her head between her hands. She didn’t know what to do. Her rational plan had turned into a nightmare. When he’d asked if she had others in mind, she’d thrown the only names she could think of at him. Daniel would lock her up for insanity if she suggested such a thing to him. He was too straitlaced for such an idea. Allen would laugh and say, “Sure, baby, but we don’t need to get married for that.” Her skin crawled thinking about anyone touching her but Brent. To be honest with herself, it was him or the sperm bank.

Her phone rang, making her jump. She grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”

“Can we talk tomorrow?”

Brent’s sexy voice curled her toes even from the distance of a call.

“Come here in the morning, early. I’m going to be breaking a mare to the saddle. You might enjoy watching. Afterward we’ll go for a ride and talk.”

“How early?”

“Be here at six, and you’ll get breakfast.”

Angie took a deep breath. She might as well jump in the deep end of the pool and hope she could swim well enough to save herself, if necessary.

“All right, six. I want a big breakfast if I have to get up that early.” She heard his deep chuckle.

“We're having sausage, gravy, eggs, potatoes, and biscuits. Is that sufficient?”

“Just barely.” She put the phone down. A thrill of excitement coursed through her body. Hopefully, she wasn’t going to take a long, hard fall.

* * * *

She arrived on time, ate breakfast with all the family, and got up from the table to help Janice clean the kitchen.

“Join me at the corral, out by the barn, when you get finished,” Brent said. He and Drake waved and went out the back screen door.

“You can go along with them,” Janice said. “I’m going to put these dishes in the dishwasher.”

“I’ll wipe the table and take out the trash. I have to do something as a thank-you for that meal.”

“Surprisingly, I like to cook. My mom always did most of her own cooking, but I didn’t really get into it until I moved to the ranch.”

“You don’t miss your high-powered job and the big city?”

“I love the countryside, and Drake. He and the kids are a big compensation.” She grinned. “And if I start getting antsy, Drake takes me to town for a visit. I have the best of both worlds.”

“I want a baby.” Angie surprised herself by blurting that information out.

“Have a husband in mind?”

“That’s the part I’m not sure about. My dad died when I was around seven. Mom remarried. It wasn’t a good example of wedded bliss. I’m not sure I’m cut out for marriage.”

“So you want to be a single mom?”

“Maybe.” Angie glanced around the kitchen. “If you don’t need anything else, I’ll go watch Brent train his horse.”

“Do. It’s something to see. That man has a way with horses. Drake says he’s the best.”

Angie waved and hurried outside. She’d opened her mouth and let out too much personal stuff. Stupid. Kicking the dirt with her boots, she started toward the barn and the corral on the side.

Brent had taken off his shirt. The morning sunlight shone across wide shoulders, and a tight six-pack. He was holding on to the reins and whispering into the mare’s ear. The horse had been shying away, but after a few minutes, she calmed. Brent swung his leg over and settled in the saddle. The mare snorted and bucked. Holding with one hand, he let his body move with her. Muscles stood out in his arms as he tightened his legs around the mare’s middle.

Angie stood beside the rail fence, her eyes riveted on the shiny chestnut horse and the beautiful man riding her bucking back. No matter how the mare moved, Brent clung persistently to her. As she tired, he leaned forward, speaking softly and stroking her mane. Sweat glistened on his tanned upper body.

Watching his hands slide across the mare, a flicker of heat caught deep inside of Angie. He slid off the horse and walked at her flank, still whispering and rubbing his hand along her shiny coat.

Angie yearned to touch him, run her hands over his sleek body, and have him do the same to her. A rush of heat spread from her center out. As though he sensed her thoughts, Brent turned his head in her direction. His light blue eyes matched the sky overhead. His mouth hinted at a smile.

“I won’t be much longer.” Moving quickly, he swung into the saddle. Immediately, the mare started to buck, but this time her resistance didn’t last as long. Again, Brent talked to her. Angie caught a word here or there.

“It’s all right, baby. You’re doing good.” His hands moved along the chestnut’s mane. His tone was seductive, as though he spoke to a woman, murmuring sweet nothings in her ear.

Angie's clothes felt hot and itchy. A tickle of sweat ran between her breast, and her bra was uncomfortably tight. She adjusted her hat, hoping the brim would hide the desire beginning to pulse through her. Damn, he was getting her excited just watching him settle the little mare down.

She glanced around wishing a swimming hole was close by. She’d love to strip naked and dive into the cool water.

As the chestnut grew calm with him on her back, Brent rode to the side where Angie stood. “I’ll rub her down and saddle our horses. Want to help?”

“Sure.” Angie walked around to the front of the barn and went in. The dim interior was cooler than outside. She breathed in the familiar odors of hay, horses, and leather. Brent came in from the back opening. He’d put on his shirt, but it hung open.

“If you want to take care of her, I’ll saddle our horses.” He handed her the chestnut’s reins and sauntered off toward several stalls on the left side.

“You’re a beauty,” Angie whispered to the mare. “You did good trying to fight him, but he’s a hard man to ignore or resist,” she said, talking as she worked. It had been a long time since she’d had an opportunity to be around horses, and was totally enjoying the work when she got the sensation of being watched. She turned just in time to catch Brent looking at her butt.

He laughed and threw up his hands. “You caught me, but you have such a sweet derriere. I couldn’t resist admiring the way those tight jeans fit over it.”

“You are incorrigible.”