Chapter 12

twelve

. . .

River

T his day was going straight to the top of my emotional whiplash list. Three different men have kissed me; one of them was stabbed, two nearly came to blows, and it wasn't even morning yet. I was exhausted just thinking back to every encounter. And then there was the envelope I had yet to open. The one Cross delivered to my room while I was swimming. I couldn't bring myself to add one more piece of this frustrating puzzle to my already overwhelmed mind. Given its size and weight, I could guess the contents. More pictures. I didn't need those images haunting me either. Not tonight, anyway.

A shower had been just what I needed, at least in terms of a time-out. It was the first time in nearly twenty-four hours that I just got to stop and be for a while, aside from my swim. Rifling through my drawers, I pulled out a pair of pajamas I'd gotten on my shopping trip this afternoon. They were soft silky cotton and the least sexy thing I could find.

That distinction seemed necessary. Sort of like battle armor. Although I wasn't sure if it was for Cross or for me. I certainly didn't want to wave a seductive red flag at the bull and agitate him even more.

Tossing my towel on the bed, I reached for the pants, but the door to my room flew open, slamming against the wall and making me drop the pajamas.

"I need you to tell—" he began, but the words seemed to dry up when his eyes landed on me.

"Don't you knock? I'm naked in here." I screeched as I snatched the towel up and hurried to cover my nudity. Cross stood in the doorway, eyes blazing, silent and fuming.

My annoyed outburst seemed to help him find his words. "Do you just stand around without your clothes on? Jesus. Get dressed. I have questions."

"It's my room. I can walk around with my tits out all I want. In fact, Danny, it's my house, so if I decide to stroll through the place in my birthday suit all damn day, I will."

"The hell you will."

I just raised a brow in silent challenge. I had zero desire to parade around naked, but I would be damned before I let this man dictate how I behaved. I'd been in charge of myself and my life since the day I left this town. That wasn't about to change now.

"They're just boobs, Danny. Are you afraid of them?"

"That's not my fucking name, sparrow. You know it."

"Pretty sure it is . . . Danny."

He stormed over to me and flung my PJs in my face.

"Get fucking dressed. This is not a damn joke to me. He almost died tonight, River."

I didn't appreciate the patronizing tone, even if the words did wash over me like a bucket of ice water. "I'm well aware. I was there."

"Which is why I need to talk to you. I need you to tell me everything you can remember about the guy who stabbed my brother."

I stared him down, twirling my finger in the universal signal for turn the fuck around and stop ogling me, you creep.

For once, he did as I asked without having to fight me every step of the way.

I started talking as I slid the pants on and then pulled on the long-sleeve button-up shirt. "It happened really fast. I didn't get a good look at the guy. He just sort of bumped into Walker, but I did glance at him because he took off without apologizing."

"Did you see his face?"

"No, just his neck."

"What the fuck good is a neck?"

"Well, smartass, the guy had a tattoo. You can turn around now. I'm done."

He didn't hesitate. He just drilled me with those midnight eyes as he demanded, "What kind of tattoo?"

"It looked like a crying angel. Hands covering her face."

"Motherfucking Russians." The words were low and menacing. "And he didn't touch you? You're okay?"

"Oh, now you're worried about me, Daniel ? I'm peachy. I never want to do that again, but I'm fine."

"Don't call me that. I'm not my father, and I never want to be him."

"Too late. You're shaping up to be an even bigger dick than he was."

A vein pulsed in his neck, and I realized I'd stepped too far. But if I'd learned anything, I couldn't back down. He'd come in here looking for a fight, and if I showed any sign of weakness, he'd walk all over me. I was not a doormat. I might have been a young girl with a crush once, but I was a grown-ass woman now, and I wouldn't take shit from him or anyone else.

"I was never nice, River. Not even when you thought I was."

"Clearly. Are we done here?" I tried to breeze past him, but he caught my wrist and pulled me back.

"We're not done until I say." He had me up against him, his height making me feel small as he searched my face for... something.

"Let go of me, Cross."

With a bitter laugh, he released me, gaze raking over my pajama-clad body. "Millions at your disposal and you still chose cheap flannel from Target?"

"Yep." I popped the p as hard as I could.

"I liked it better when it was on the floor."

Good God almighty. We are not turned on by the alpha male asshole, River. But the state of my pussy said otherwise. She was very responsive to his dickishness. Probably because she could intimately recall how it felt when said dick moved inside her.

"Anything else you feel the need to tell me, Your Highness? Or can I go to sleep now?"

He smirked. "Go on, get between those sheets, sweetheart. I'm glad I'm the last man who got a rise out of you tonight. That means when you slip your fingers between your thighs, it'll be me on your mind."

I glanced purposefully at the bulge beneath his denim. Well, well, well. Looks like I got a rise out of you too.

"Joke's on you. I already took care of business in the shower, and it sure as hell wasn't you I was thinking about."

Lies. So many lies.

A muscle in his jaw flexed, but he didn't look away. "I seem to recall you came more than once that night. Your clit was so sensitive and needy. I'm sure you can take care of business a second time. Just remember, when you whisper my name in the dark as you shatter tonight, it's Cross."

It took everything in me not to flick my eyes away from his. But I held fast. "Thanks for the reminder, Danny. Now get the fuck out."

He made a sound that could have been a growl. I could tell he didn't want me to have the last word, but with a curt nod, he finally turned and walked out.

"You could have shut the door behind you, you heathen!" I hollered, stomping over to swing it closed. Then I turned and rested my back against the wall and allowed my eyes to fall closed.

That man was going to be the death of me.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" I asked, watching Walker as he opened the tack room door.

"C'mon, darlin'. It's been two weeks. I'm practically recovered. Especially with all your tender lovin' care."

Didn't I know it? I'd been at his beck and call ever since our date. Long days spent watching movies together in his bed, playing cards, and, my favorite, reading to each other. I'd enjoyed the time with him, but it hadn't left me with any opportunities to look into Senior's files or test out the list of passwords McCreedy had overnighted to me. I also hadn't worked up the courage to open the envelope from my mysterious pen pal. Thankfully there hadn't been any others, but I knew my grace period was coming to an end. I had to deal with both of those things, and soon. I couldn't forget the real reason I was here.

Unaware of the specter looming over me, Walker tossed me a wink and a smile. "Honest, ladybug. I'm more than up for a ride. It barely even hurts anymore, and I've had worse injuries."

I would have called bullshit, except some doctor Cross had on his payroll swung by this morning and gave him the green light. Two weeks didn't seem like long enough for a stab wound to be fully healed, but it was apparently long enough for him to get back on his feet and resume ‘light work.' Whatever that meant. I highly doubted lifting a heavy saddle was considered light.

"Since Cross and Bishop are gone, you ride Hades to get him some exercise."

I still couldn't believe Cross and Bishop had taken off together. A road trip seemed like a terrible idea with the way they'd butted heads, but with Walker out of commission and the way Bishop had proven himself in a crisis, I guess it made a certain sort of sense. Though after the way they'd gone at it, a bigger part of me thought Cross might just be trying to keep Sterling away from me.

"How long has Bishop worked for you?" I asked, loading up everything I needed to get Hades ready to ride.

I didn't miss Walker's grunt of pain as he did the same. The bulky saddle alone was enough to cause strain.

"About a year. He took over when Vic went and got hurt. He couldn't work anymore, so Dad sent him off to be with his family. He's in a better place now."

Something about his intentional use of that phrase gave me the impression there was a bit more to that story. But I wasn't about to push for details.

"Do most of the ranch hands stay a long time?"

"They usually stay for life. We're a family."

I nodded because that was my recollection as well. My dad hadn't had his own ranch; he'd always worked with Senior, but I'd spent enough of my life around cowboys to understand the lifestyle.

Once the horses were ready, we led them out to the trail, the summer heat bearing down on me as intensely as Cross's heated looks always did. I was dressed in cut-off shorts, boots, and a tank top, but Walker wore his Wranglers and a gray T-shirt that did wonderful things for his shoulders. It also showed off his inked arms. I had to admit, I loved watching his muscles as he used the split reins to control Blue.

"Looks like you haven't lost your seat after all these years, ladybug. I'm impressed." Walker clicked his tongue and urged Blue into a trot. "But can you still race?"

"Walker, I don't think that's a good idea. You're still healing," I called, but he was off, working up to a gallop and not heeding my warning in the slightest.

I knew I couldn't let him go off on his own. If something happened and he reopened the wound or hurt himself, there wouldn't be anyone around to help him. "Goddammit, you stubborn cowboy," I muttered, going after him.

Hades was a massive stallion, powerful and fast as fuck, but I also wasn't used to riding him. He tossed his head, telling me exactly how he felt about having a stranger on his back. I should have eased up and given him time to get accustomed to me, but Walker was playing with fire. His stitches had only just come out, and the idiot was acting like he hadn't been attacked a few weeks ago.

Centering myself, I worked Hades into a steady lope, the two of us eating up the space between Walker and me. This was as close to flying as I'd ever get, and I'd forgotten how much I loved the feel of the wind whipping my face as we raced across the land. I closed in on Walker, who was approaching the creek, his horse already in position to jump. Jesus, he really was going to hurt himself again. I sure as hell couldn't lift him.

I held my breath as he and Blue leapt across the moving water as if they'd done it a hundred times before. Which they had. A shuddering laugh escaped me. It seemed silly to be so worked up. Walker'd been riding nearly as long as he'd been walking. He knew what he was doing, yet I couldn't shake the anxiety skating beneath my skin.

"C'mon, fraidy cat. You know how to jump. What are you waiting for?" he called, amusement and elation in his voice.

He was so in his element out here, living the cowboy life, being with his horse and on his land. It lightened something in my heart I hadn't realized had been weighing so heavily.

Leaning forward, I patted Hades on the neck and whispered, "Okay, boy, I know you can do this. Let's get him. Don't let me down."

There was no way in hell I'd leave Walker on the other side of that creek, because if it didn't happen now, it was going to later. He'd need me eventually.

"I'm coming. Keep your shirt on."

"Are you sure? I have a sexy new scar I can show off." He grinned as he reached for the hem of his T-shirt.

Digging my heels into Hades's side, I pushed him forward. We flew down the hill, and it took everything in me not to close my eyes as we made the jump. Remembering my years of training, I moved with the horse, and we landed gracefully on the other side, exhilaration rushing through me and leaving me breathless.

"Holy shit!" I said, wide-eyed as I looked at Walker, who just smiled proudly. "That was a fucking rush."

"Isn't it? It's good to see my ladybug is back. I really missed you."

"Missed me? I've barely left your side in weeks."

"Yeah, but"—he gestured to the expansive wilderness all around us—"not out here where we belong."

We were miles away from the lodge with no people in sight, just the two of us and our horses, blissfully alone together. Until right now, the thought of not having help available had sent fear through me, but I'd been wrong. He was fine. He knew his body and what he was capable of.

"Follow me, darlin'. I want to show you something."

He clicked his tongue again and took his horse up the slight hill. I followed, excited at the prospect of a surprise, but as I directed Hades to trail after Walker, the horse stamped his foot and began backing away, acting erratic and fearful. Shit.

"Whoa, there," I said, tone easy and calm even though I was feeling anything but.

It was too late. Hades let out a whinny of fear and reared back, throwing me onto the stone-covered creek shore. Pain radiated through my hip and shoulder where I collided with river rocks, and the horse bolted.

"Fuck, you asshole horse. You and Cross deserve each other! What was that about?" I sat up, assessing myself for injuries. I was sore and would likely be covered in bruises, nothing was broken.

Before I could get to my feet, I heard Walker call my name and the sound of Blue's hoofbeats as he approached.

"I'm okay! Hades is gone. Can you help me up there with you?"

He appeared over the ridge, eyes hard and narrowed on me with fury.

But he wasn't here to help me. Walker Cross pulled a gun from his side holster and trained it on me. "Don't fucking move."