LITMIR.BIZ

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      He got up, moving pantherlike to look out every window in the den of the small, three-bedroom house. What he thought he might see in the darkness, Tessa didn’t know.

      “They had ID. They had the right uniform. They almost said the right words. Almost.”

      “Almost?”

      “Almost, if I wasn’t already inclined to be cautious because of Hunt’s work. Almost, if they hadn’t followed up their song-and-dance routine by asking me where to find you.”

      She shook her head, puzzled, trying to follow Cord’s words and yet unable to think through the blinding haze of sadness.

      “They said they wanted to inform you that Hunt had died an honorable death while on a sensitive assignment. You know, the usual clichés.”

      Pain flowed through her every nerve ending at hearing the blunt words. “But if you don’t believe them—if you think they were really looking for me…” Panic rose inside her. “Are you suggesting someone wants to use me to flush Hunt out?”

      “I don’t know. And I don’t want to get ahead of myself before I get some answers out of the military.”

      He waved a hand dismissively but not with much emphasis, and Tessa realized he was exhausted. Her gaze sought the clock; it was nearly midnight. Cord would have gotten up at about four in the morning to check on his cattle. “You’re tired,” she murmured.

      Cord sent her a sharp, assessing glance. “I’m not tired.”

      She knew better. “Did you just find out?”

      He shook his head.

      “Why did you wait so late to come tell me?” He studied her, every inch of her, and Tessa’s eyes widened under his scrutiny. “Tell me. I have to know everything.”

      “I told them I didn’t know where you were.” He hesitated, watching her. “I didn’t want them to follow me here.”

      “Oh.” Tessa felt something inside her begin to unravel. Her strength, perhaps. After all the months of worry about Hunt, Cord was trying to tell her as gently as possible that not only were they not going to find out that Hunt was alive, but also that the worries were about to intensify. Unconsciously, she ran a soothing hand over her rounded stomach. Somehow, somehow I will take care of this child. I will not be afraid.

      When Cord’s weight suddenly filled the space beside her, Tessa felt her eyes begin to overflow. He put his arms around her in the most unobtrusive, supportive way—and she allowed her head to sink against his broad chest. “I have to hear everything you’re thinking.”

      “Not tonight you don’t. I can worry for both of us tonight, and in the morning, when the shock wears off some, I’ll fill in the rest of my hunch. Possibly I’ll have more concrete information then.”

      “All right.” She had no strength left to insist. All her strength was needed to nurture the child growing inside her.

      “I want you to come stay at the ranch tonight.”

      She jerked away from the warm shelter of his arms. “Why?”

      “I’d just feel better if you did.”

      She sensed something deeper, something hidden in his request. “There’s no need to worry about me. I’m fine here.” The watchful depth in his granite eyes struck her. “You’re not telling me you think I’m still in danger, are you?”

      The near hysterical question hung between them.

      “You told them you didn’t know where I am! How would they find me?”

      Cord stood, picked up his hat, settled it on his head. He gave her one long stare that shook her with its protective purpose. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to stay in my house, but I think you should go to your mother’s, at least. My gut tells me you shouldn’t be alone.”

      What exactly was his concern—her safety or her sanity? “My mother’s house is not an option,” she snapped, angered because he knew as well as anyone that her mother was disgusted by her free-wheeling relationship with Hunt Greer. He’s never going to marry you. You’re making a fool of yourself, running all over the world after him. You just wait, Tessa Draper. You’re going to find yourself right back here in Crookseye alone and that spy boyfriend of yours will never remember your name.

      The memory of her mother’s harsh words made Tessa shiver despite the velour robe she wore. Since July, when Hunt had disappeared, she’d worked in Dallas at a friend’s shop. That employment ended when her friend had to close her business. Now more than seven months pregnant, Tessa had decided to come back to the tiny house she owned, to spend the remaining days of her pregnancy in quiet solitude.

      She had no place else to go. It was doubtful anyone would hire her at this late stage in her pregnancy. It would be peaceful, at least, in her little house in Crookseye Canyon.

      So she’d thought.

      Periodically, Cord had called to check on her unobtrusively. She knew he hoped his brother would return to her safely. This apparently was not to be the case, and now the months of waiting had come to a disturbing resolution.

      “If you get your things, I’ll carry them to the truck. The snow’s getting deeper, so wear boots and warm clothes.”

      Tessa tensed as Cord’s gaze flicked to her melon-size stomach, not quite hidden beneath her robe, the months of her pregnancy no longer quite as camouflaged by her height. She knew he was right. The Greer ranch was a large spread, the house much nicer than her cottage. There would be more warmth there than in her poorly insulated cottage. There would also be security, and that was Cord’s intent. To conceal that, he was trying to keep her focused on mundane tasks, on everyday, normal, routine life like packing warm clothes. Cord couldn’t know that even the snow was a painful reminder. There had been no snow in Spain when she’d last seen Hunt. It had been pleasantly warm, a flirtatious day of laughter and happiness in a seaside café and…

      Tessa bowed her head for an instant. Cord was worried for her safety, and because of his brother, he was determined to protect her.

      The secret she held inside made her feel that she was taking advantage of Cord’s protective caring. On that last day in Spain, she had been in wonder at her pregnancy—and abjectly torn because she knew she didn’t want to marry Hunt.

      She loved him, but the minute she’d learned about the baby, her whole outlook on life had changed. She’d grown up, matured with shattering clarity. She wanted for her child what she had never had. Security. Love. A childhood free of worry. She had decided to tell Hunt she was returning home. For good.

      “What makes you think they wouldn’t look for me at your house?” she asked softly, forcing herself to focus on the present.

      He shrugged. “First off, I’m just going with my instincts tonight, Tessa. I don’t know that they weren’t telling the truth. I just didn’t feel that they were.” He rubbed a palm over his chin in a scrubbing motion. “All I do know is that if some stooges are looking for you, they can find you here and they can find you at my place. But they’ll also find me—and my father’s prized collection of rifles, any one of which has a sight on it that can target a deer’s tiniest hair at hundreds of paces.”

      Great. She’d never even held a gun, much less needed anyone to protect her with one. Tessa reluctantly rose to her feet. Hunt had said many times that if anything happened to him, Cord would look after her. She had taken his statement to indicate his strong feelings about their relationship. Despite Hunt’s top-secret job, she had always felt secure with him on many levels.

      Faster than a lightning strike, he’d disappeared, leaving her alone in Spain. With worry, with doubt, with fear.

      Tonight, his brother wanted to protect her.

      For the sake of her child, she had no other choice.

      “I AM FREEZING MY

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