Cardwell Ranch Trespasser - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,19
it possible I really did miss you?”
“No.” He hadn’t come here for a reunion. If anything, he’d come to blackmail her.
“Look,” she said. “I will cut you in, but I need time. I don’t even know what there is here yet.”
He laughed. “You can call yourself Dee or anything else you like, but remember, I know you. You’ve staked out something here or you would be gone by now. Is it the land? Is it worth something? Or is there family money I’m just not seeing?”
“There isn’t any hidden wealth,” she said. “I’m just spending a few days here like a tourist while my cousin shows me a good time. She’s picking up my little vacation. That’s it.”
“You’re such a good liar. Usually. But I don’t get what you could possibly be thinking here. Does Hud have a rich brother I haven’t met yet?”
“Rick—”
“You’d better get back into the house,” he said, glancing past her. “You really shouldn’t be on that bad ankle too long.” He chuckled. “Don’t forget to limp or you’re going to be doing dishes with the women in the kitchen the rest of your little vacation.”
With that, he climbed into his rental car and slammed the door. She slapped the window, trying to get him to roll it down, but he merely made a face at her, started the engine and drove off.
She stood in the faint moonlight mentally kicking herself. Rick was going to ruin everything.
* * *
“ARE YOU FEELING BETTER?” Colt asked, as Hilde came out of his bathroom dressed in the sweatpants and T-shirt he’d given her.
She nodded. He’d changed into jeans and a T-shirt that molded his muscled body. She’d never seen him in anything but his uniform before. No wonder he was so popular with women.
He handed her a mug of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows floating in it. He must have seen her surprise.
“My mother used to always make me hot chocolate when I had a hard day in school,” Colt said, and grinned shyly. “I thought it might help.”
She curled her fingers around the mug, soaking in the warmth, and took a sip. She couldn’t help smiling. “It’s perfect.” She was touched at his thoughtfulness. “I don’t believe I thanked you for saving my life earlier.”
He waved her apology away. “I’m just glad you’re okay. Would you like to sit down?” he asked, motioning to his couch.
She glanced around his cabin. It was simply but comfortably furnished. He’d made a fire in the small fireplace. This time of year it cooled down quickly in the canyon.
The fire crackled invitingly as she took a seat at one end of the couch, curling her feet under her. She’d finally quit shaking. Now she just felt scared. Scared that she was right about Dee. Even more scared that she wasn’t. Had she wrongly accused the woman?
Colt seemed to relax as he joined her at the opposite end of the couch. “Why don’t you tell me about Dee?”
She hesitated, upset with herself for the scene she’d made earlier. It was so unlike her. No wonder Dana had looked so shocked. She shouldn’t have confronted Dee in front of everyone, but she’d been so upset, so scared. She’d almost drowned. If Colt hadn’t pulled her out when he had...
“You can tell me how you really feel,” he said quietly.
She took a breath. “I don’t know anymore.”
“Sure you do,” he said and smiled. “Follow your instincts. I have a feeling your instincts are pretty good.”
Hilde laughed. “After seeing that hysterical woman on the river a while ago?”
“Almost drowning does that to a person.”
She studied him for a moment. He was way too handsome, but he was also very nice. He’d saved her life and now he was willing to listen to her side of it. “What if my instincts are wrong?”
“You know they aren’t.”
Did she? She took another sip of the hot chocolate. It did help. Bracing herself, she said, “There’s something...off about Dee.”
He nodded, urging her to continue.
“I admit I was worried when Dana told me that she’d asked a cousin she’d never met to come visit. She’s paying for all Dee’s expenses. That seemed odd to me. But according to Dana, Dee recently quit her job. Add to that, no one knows how long she plans to stay.”
“So you thought right away she might be taking advantage of your friend.”
Hilde nodded. “After we picked her up at the airport, Dana was telling her all about this area. I noticed that she didn’t seem