LITMIR.BIZ

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of Settled Sue. Yeah, one of Chet’s. She spooked when I jumped her rider.” He listened for another minute and his devilish grin widened. “Why Ms. Archer, you have a dirty mind. Why didn’t I think of that? We’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

      With a chuckle, he clicked off the phone and reached a hand toward Kendra. “Come on.”

      When Kendra didn’t take the offered hand, he lowered his voice to an intimate level. “I only bite when I’m invited.”

      Several responses leaped to mind, but Kendra was determined to maintain control if it killed her. Reluctantly, she took his hand. She found herself on top of his massive horse before she could change her mind. Rafe was stronger than he looked. His horse had to be seventeen hands high.

      “Hold on, darlin’.”

      “To what?”

      He reached back, took her hands, and guided them around his waist. “Me.”

      Kendra resisted the desire to shove him out of the saddle. For a moment it was sorely tempting but she had the distinct feeling he knew exactly what she was thinking. His lips quirked again in subtle amusement.

      “Hang on tight.” And Rafe prodded the animal into a long, loping canter.

      Reflexively, her hands closed around his waist, finding no purchase on the slick dark leather of his jacket. Instead, she gripped lower, where the jacket ended and the rough feel of denim met her touch.

      “As much as I could really enjoy this,” he called back to her, “if you drop those fingers a few inches lower darlin’, I’ll have to assume you really are planning to become my partner.”

      Instantly, her hands let go. He captured one and placed it against his belt. Her cheeks burned at the intimacy and his knowing chuckle. She gave more serious thought to knocking him out of the saddle. Only the knowledge that she needed him stilled her impulse.

      She was glad he couldn’t see her expression. With her face pressed against his broad back, and the scent of man, horse, sweat and leather filling her nostrils, they plunged across the uneven ground while her wayward mind churned with all sorts of thoughts she shouldn’t be having.

      Penny Archer met them at the front door of the large white house. Despite Rafe’s comment about flannel pajamas, Penny was fully dressed in loose slacks and a blouse with a baggy sweater overtop. Her stylish glasses gave her an efficient look that went with the sharp intelligence in her gaze.

      “Ms. Kincade, welcome to the Smoking Barrel. I’m afraid it’s a bit early even for Rosa or Slim, but may I offer you—”

      “Nothing. Thank you. I didn’t intend to drop in this way. Especially not at this hour. I’m sorry Rafe got you out of bed.”

      Penny Archer raised cynically amused eyebrows in Rafe’s direction. “Yes, that isn’t his general sequence with women.”

      Rafe put a hand to his chest. “Another wound to the heart.”

      “It would take a cement truck,” she assured him dryly. “How can we help you, Ms. Kincade?”

      “I’m afraid Rafe spooked my horse. I need a lift back to the dude ranch where I’m staying. The truth is, I was hoping to speak with Mr. Forbes later today, but I’d planned to call first and ask for an appointment.”

      “Kendra knows all about our setup here at the ranch,” Rafe put in.

      Penny’s expression didn’t waver. “I’ll tell you what, why don’t you rest here until Mitchell wakes up? I’ll see if he can meet with you after breakfast.”

      “Oh, but—”

      “It’s no problem, really. We keep a spare room ready for unexpected guests. You can rest until Rosa starts breakfast. You’ll be welcome to join us then. Come with me.”

      “But—”

      “Cody is on his way in,” Penny informed Rafe as if everything was settled. “I believe he has something he wants you to see.”

      Rafe nodded seriously, then added a teasing smile. “Ah, Penny, here I was hoping you had something to show me.”

      “Dream on, Rafael,” Penny replied dryly. “See you at breakfast.”

      Kendra watched the easy exchange with interest. It was strange to finally meet and observe how these people interacted. Penny was as efficient as Kendra had expected, but her deft ability to handle Rafe’s teasing was interesting and unexpected. Kendra allowed herself to be led up the large winding staircase to a bedroom at the front of the house. Sturdy oak furniture graced a room done in neutral tones of beige and green. Penny Archer indicated the adjoining bathroom and left her there to “rest.”

      No key turned in the lock. That did surprise her a bit. These people weren’t fools and they had no reason to trust her. She suspected she wouldn’t get far if she stepped out into the hall. Making use of the bathroom instead, she discovered it connected to another room. A third door probably led into the hall. Judging by the few items neatly stowed in the vanity, she shared the bathroom with Penny.

      Kendra returned to the guest quarters and flopped down on the queen-sized bed. She was tired, but too keyed up to sleep. While things weren’t exactly going to plan, she was here, inside the headquarters of Texas Confidential. Now she must convince them that she could be an asset to their plan. It would have been better if she had her laptop, but in the end, it wouldn’t matter. When Rafe entered Rialto’s world, she would be with him—one way or another.

      Kendra smothered a yawn and closed her eyes. Maybe she could nap for a few seconds after all.

      INNOCENCE SHATTERED at the first dry popping sound. She tasted the dry-edged fear that left its metallic flavor lingering in her mouth. Part of her knew it was hopeless, yet she tried to call a warning to the young girl slowly counting to twenty out of sight beyond the kitchen.

      From inside the bottom of the linen closet at the top of the stairs, she had a commanding view of the steps, the main hallway, and part of the kitchen. The pretty blond woman stepped away from the stove and answered the brisk knock on the front door.

      “Why, hello. We…weren’t expecting you.”

      The shadow man entered, big and burly in his heavy winter coat, snowflakes melting against the dark material. There was a popping sound. The woman crumpled to the floor. At the kitchen table, her husband started rising from his seat. “What the—?” he began, only to slump back down in his chair as two more popping sounds came. His outflung hand struck a glass of cola, spilling the sticky contents across the tabletop. The liquid began to drip, drip, drip against the clean, white tile floor.

      In her head, she screamed a warning to the young girl who stopped counting and suddenly entered the kitchen from the dining room, innocently unaware.

      Pop. Pop.

      She fell like a broken rag doll. The shadow man stepped over her body and into the dining room.

      In the closet, she drew herself into a tiny tight ball and closed her eyes. She wished she dared close the closet door all the way, but the metal would make noise. He would see her if she made a single sound. Suddenly, he bounded up the stairs, pausing to check each of the three bedrooms before moving straight for her hiding place.

      She held her breath in terror as the closet door groaned open all the way. He rummaged on one of the upper shelves. She opened her eyes, hardly daring to breathe. A blanket fell to the floor in front of her.

      She waited in an agony of fear for him to bend and pick it up. Because then he would see her and the popping sound would come again from the strange gun with its long barrel. But he left the blanket, and a towel that landed on top of the blanket, lying there. He turned and pulled off his glove for a moment. The gun hand disappeared from her line of sight. His left hand fell to his side as he stood silently for a moment.

      A pretty red stone sparkled in the heavy gold ring he wore on his left hand. She stared at that stone until

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