Page 4 of Cowboy Bodyguard
“What happens now? How do I stay safe? And what about Amy?” I ask, shaking so hard I can almost hear my bones rattling.
“That part is good news. Amy’s safe. It seems she got your message about the same time as she discovered a burner phone behind the toilet tank. It rang, and when she answered she got quite an earful from Joey’s boss. She’s at another precinct, and being put into protective custody. As for you, well…, we’ve got bigger plans. We’ve enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshalls, and your going to a ranch in Wyoming for your protection.”
Chapter 5~Jack
He’s still out there murdering people, and they won’t let me go after him. Instead, they want me to babysit a stewardess. What do they think I am? A has been? I’m not old, or broken. They need to let me in on this case. It’s my partner that the piece of shit killed.
I pace the floor, and grow angrier by the minute. “Damnit! I can’t just sit here while he runs free. How many more have to die before he’s caught? This is fucking ridiculous!”
I focus on the picture on the mantel; the one of me in uniform with Max at my side. Slowly, I come to grips with the situation. The Marshalls only ask me for help when it’s really important, or someone’s in grave danger. They don’t use me if it’s simple babysitting. There’s reasoning behind the orders. Someone with a cooler head than me is making the plans, and I should be happy about it. Going off halfcocked won’t stop this mess. It appears Joey isn’t the head of the snake, and that’s what we have to find.
Calmer now, I hear the vehicle coming up the gravel road. It’s coming in the back way to the ranch, instead of from the highway. It’s either trouble, or the Marshalls. I suppose you could say the Marshalls are trouble, since they are bringing me a witness to protect.
My booted feet hit the porch as the SUV settles in the dust. An old friend, Dave, steps out to greet me. “Hey, Jack! It’s good to see you, man. I just wish it were under different circumstances. This case is huge, and we need your expertise to keep this woman safe. She’s seen the worst of Joey’s actions, and he knows it. He, and his boss will hunt her until they’re all in prison, or dead. They may find her here, so this isn’t an easy job for you.”
“Nothing, and no one will get by me. I’ll keep the woman safe. Just promise me I’ll get to look into that asshole’s face once he’s caught, and tell him what I’d like to do to him. I want him pissing his pants in fear,” I reply, and I mean every word.
“Get out, and bring in the woman. You all could probably use a drink, and a bite to eat before you take off again. Are any of you staying here to help?” I ask.
“We can’t spare the manpower. As I said, this case is huge. Everybody’s in on it, and I still don’t think it’s enough. We’ve got about an hour, then we have to hit the road. Something cold to drink sounds good, and I wouldn’t mind a sandwich,” Dave answers.
My attention is drawn to the backseat as the SUV’s doors open. Another Marshall emerges, one I don’t recognize. Then, my eyes widen in shock when a woman steps out. She’s tiny, yet curvy. She’s young; her red mane of hair blows in the breeze, and her green eyes sparkle in the morning light. She’s a gorgeous, pint-sized, sexpot, and I get hard instantly. My heart pounds, and I think it’s found it’s match. I’ve never really believed in love at first sight, but now I know it exists.
Dave waves her forward, and introduces her to me. “This is Lizzie. She’s our prize, and she’s a brave one. Not only did she dare to follow Joey into an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the night, but she caught the execution by fire on her phone’s video, and lived to tell about it. I’d say she’s earned your protection.”
“Welcome, Lizzie,” I manage to say with a tangled tongue. “You’ll be safe here, and I applaud your courage. I have a personal vendetta against Joey, so you also have my thanks.”
She smiles, and I lose a little more of my heart. Joey will never touch a hair on her head. I swear that on my own life.
“Can I go inside?” she asks sweetly. “I’m so thirsty, it hurts. And, I’m exhausted. I couldn’t sleep on the plane. It was too much like being on the job, so between the mess with Joey, and the plane ride, I haven’t slept in two days.”
“That’s right. They told me you’re a stewardess, but you’re not like the ones I’ve seen. You’re not much more than a child,” I hear myself say, and wish I could take it back.
Lizzie laughs, and replies, “I assure you, cowboy, I’m not a child in any way, shape, or form. If it’s necessary, I’ll prove it to you. Do you need help here on the ranch? I’m a fast learner, and the open spaces are just what I need. What animals do you have? I adore all kinds of creatures.”
Yep, she’s definitely the girl for me. This is going to be fun, and confusing. I’m not supposed to mix pleasure with business, but I may have to make an exception in this case. My body is reacting to her presence in a way it’s never reacted to any other woman, and I do love women. It’s not like I’m celibate; far from it. Over the years, I’ve had real relationships that didn’t end well, but this feeling is new to me. Instant attraction, and a feeling that I’ve been waiting for her all my life have me in a tailspin.
“Well, sugar, we’ve got cattle, horses, dogs, chickens, and a whole variety of wild creatures hanging out on the property; me included. If you can learn to ride a horse, then I’ll be thrilled to introduce you to all the creatures who live here. You’d best be careful around the human ones. They can get a little over excited when they see a woman with curves like yours; again, me included,” I have to say.
Chapter 6~Lizzie
His steely gray eyes are what caught my attention at first. His gaze says he’s a predator, and is ready to take me down. That should scare me, yet I’m actually quite turned on by it. It’s weird because he’s a lot older than I am. I have been giving Amy a hard time about being attracted to older men for a long time, and here I am wanting to climb this one’s bones before I’ve learned his name.
When we’re introduced, I allow my eyes to roam the rest of him, and discover there’s a great deal to desire. His jaw is chiseled, his muscles bulge in the perfect places, and between his legs is a rod standing at attention proclaiming that he likes what he sees in me.
Then, he speaks, and I’m a goner. The sexual tension we share crackles through the warm air. I ask to go inside, saying I’m tired, but it’s really to break this impasse. I’m embarrassed by my instant reaction to this man named Jack, and I want it to stop.
Before we head inside, he makes sure I know exactly how he’s feeling about me by mentioning himself as a human animal that’s excited over my curves. As he struts ahead of me, I can see that his ass is curved nicely, too. This isolation is going to be more interesting than I imagined.
After some coffee, and the men eating everything in sight, my escorts leave. Now, I’m alone with the most gorgeous bodyguard ever born. I’m not sure what to do, so I wander around the living space, and stare at the pictures on the wall.
“These are beautiful,” I say to end the silence. “Where were they taken? Who was the photographer?”
“Those are all places on this ranch, and my mom was behind the camera,” he drawls.
“Really? She’s great at it. Will I get to see some of these places for myself? I write, and these would fit into my next project easily; that is if you don’t mind me using the ranch as a setting,” I hastily reply.
“As long as I’m not in the story, and you leave out the name of the ranch, it’s no problem. But, I thought you were a stewardess, not a writer,” he retorts as if I’m a spy, or lying.