Page 39 of Long Hard Road
Nate’s strong hand squeezed my shoulder as he walked past me. “I’ll be back soon.”
A simple touch had no business making my heart race like that. Every interaction with Nate Sullivan was more intense than anything else I’d ever experienced. He was under my skin. Deep.
“What the hell are you doing, Madi?” Ellison asked once Nate was gone. “That man is a stranger. You’ve known him for, what, two days? He’s a decade older than you and lives in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. And you decided to invite him into your home? Into your bed?”
“I’m sorry, are you my father?” After working with him for a couple of years, I was used to Ellison’s antics. We had formed a close connection with him acting as an older brother of sorts. It was usually sweet, like when he sent me cupcakes on my birthday or stopped by to visit on a random Tuesday when we both happened to be in the same town. It was not so sweet when he pulled his overbearing-man act.
“I’m not your father but I am your friend, Madi. I’ve spent the last year fending off your stalkers so you’ll have to excuse me if I find this recent behavior a little reckless.” He shoved a hand through his hair and sank into the chair across from me. “What do you even know about that guy?”
The only way to alleviate Ellison’s concerns would be to get him to see that Nate was one of the good guys. “Nate was born and raised in Crestwood. His family owns a ranch in the valley. Two, actually. A working ranch and a guest ranch. His brother Evan runs the working ranch and his other brother, Chase, runs the guest ranch. They have a sister, Harper, who owns the bookstore downtown. From what I’ve seen, the Sullivan family does just fine financially.”
“But what do you know about Nate specifically? Don’t you think it’s strange that the threats showed up right after you met him?”
“You think Nate is the one threatening me?” I let out a loud laugh.
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that it’s a little quick to be putting all your trust in a man you barely know.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “You don’t usually do shit like this, Madi. I’m worried about you.”
“I know you are. I appreciate that.” The reason that Ellison was so great at his job was that he didn’t just go through the motions. He actually cared about the people he was hired to protect. “Doesn’t it mean anything that a person who is so reluctant to trust anyone has chosen to trust Nate?”
“Sure. It means that he’s a cowboy with rugged good looks and you’re a woman with eyes.” He smiled so I would know he was kidding. I didn’t always pick up on his dry humor. “Look, I’m not going to fight you on this. If you trust Nate, that’s good enough for me. But I’m still doing a background check. He might not be behind the threats, but it could be someone with connections to him. Maybe a pissed-off ex-girlfriend or business associate.”
“You can check, but I really don’t think that’s what this is. I’m the one who has weirdos and perverts stalking me all the time.”
“I brought some security cameras and alarms for the doors and windows. It will be a quick setup. That should at least give us a heads up if anyone is lurking around this place.” He looked at where Nate had left his coffee mug. “Plus you’ve got your own personal bodyguard now and I doubt that he will let you go anywhere alone.”
“He’s a good guy, Eli. Promise. In fact, he reminds me a lot of you, minus the surly attitude.”
“I am not surly. I’m serious.”
That earned him an eye-roll. “You are seriously a pain in my ass.”
“Then I’m doing my job.” He pushed out of his chair. “I’m going to get started on setting everything up. Once you find a permanent place in Crestwood, we’ll look into a more advanced security system.”
“Permanent? Eli, I’m not moving here.”
He smirked and headed to the door. “Madi, the cowboy isn’t going to let you leave without a fight and you are never going to fight him on it.”
A few minutes later, Nate returned with a duffle bag over his shoulder and a bundle of fur in his arms.
“What is that?” I asked nervously.
“Relax. It’s a cat.” Nate shifted so I could see a tiny pink nose and ears nestled in the crook of his elbow. “This is Meadow.”
“You have a cat?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. I thought that cowboys had horses and dogs.
“More like I have a cat that moved in with me.” He grinned as I came closer to get a better look at Meadow. “She’s been hanging around the cabin and I felt bad leaving her out in the cold and snow. We’re roommates until the weather improves.”
Meadow lifted her head and used her claws to dig into Nate’s flannel shirt and pull herself up until her nose nudged his jaw. I hadn’t thought it was possible for him to ever look hotter than he had in my shower, but seeing him be gentle with a cat had my core clenching.
“You want to hold her?” Nate’s knowing look said that he’d caught the flash of desire in my eyes. “Or do you want me to hold you?”
“Give me the cat.” I plucked it from his arms and gasped. “Nate Sullivan, this cat is very thoroughly pregnant!”
“I’m a rancher, angel. You think I didn’t notice that?” He watched Meadow settle into my arms and then scratched her chin and she purred happily. I understood that purr completely. “We have dozens of cats on the ranch. They mostly live in the barns and keep the mice and other vermin away. When I was a kid, I always wanted to bring them inside. My parents insisted that cats were outside pets only. But now that I’m a grown man, I’ve decided to ignore that rule and become a crazy cat lady. I’m hoping Meadow pops out a dozen kittens.”
“You can’t just say shit like that,” I groaned. “How am I supposed to not take you to my bed right this second?”
“I’m not going to stop you.” He grinned and moved his hand up to my chin, drawing his thumb over my lower lip. I nearly let out a purr myself. “But I’d prefer if you wait until another man isn’t right outside that window glaring at me.”