Protector (Doms of Mountain Bend #1) - B.J. Wane Page 0,42

the way to her mouth, a closed expression replacing the pleasure she’d shown in the food. Maybe giving her time to settle her thoughts this week was the wrong thing to do as it gave her time to erect the shields he’d noticed right off.

“I don’t think so. Given my temporary stay, it’s probably not a good idea to get involved any deeper.”

“We’re already involved, so that’s a moot point. If that’s your way of saying sex is off the table, I can respect that.” He might not like it, but it wasn’t the first time a woman passed on taking things that far. Instead of pushing her, he went in a different direction. “But, that’s fine. If you haven’t visited a working ranch before, that’s something you don’t want to miss out on before returning to Phoenix. Spend Saturday with me at our place. I’ll take you riding, and we can fish for trout to grill.”

Shawn smiled, seeing the quick flare of longing and excitement on her face before she masked it and shifted her focus out the window. He wasn’t above playing dirty to persuade her. Reaching across the table, he gripped her chin, and her gaze swung back to him. “You want to, so admit it and say yes. I’d like to hear about the family Father Joe found for you to live with after I carried you away from Atkins, and what made you go into teaching and prompted you to take the short-term job here.” Dropping his hand, he buttered a biscuit, adding, “I asked Father about you several times during those first months, but he refused to say anything other than you were adjusting. You’ve kept in touch with him, so you know how close-mouthed he can get.”

“You asked about me? I thought…never mind.”

The surprise in her voice cut him to the quick. All these years, he’d thought she wouldn’t remember much about that night, including him, not enough to feel hurt believing he’d forgotten all about her. “I wouldn’t risk a kidnapping rap just to walk away without making sure you were better off. That just goes to show how little we know about each other. This time around, I would like to rectify that, wouldn’t you?”

Lisa busied herself cutting a piece of chicken breast, spearing it with her fork and waiting until she swallowed to answer, the wheels of serious contemplation going on in her head reflected on her face. He ran through his options if she refused then she finally replied, and he was able to put away the drastic measures he was considering.

“Thanks for the offer. I’d like to see your ranch. I’ve never ridden, and it sounds like fun.”

Shawn noticed she didn’t shy away from getting on a horse, and she didn’t admit she wanted to get to know more about him, but he suspected she was as curious as he. It was a start, something to build on before he could delve into what had brought her here and what caused the block she mentioned overcoming at the club.

****

Phoenix

“Gotcha,” Bruce crowed as he hung up from the sleazeball investigator he’d finally broken down and taken the risk of hiring to unearth Lisa Halldor’s whereabouts.

It had taken some doing, first finding someone disreputable enough to break a few laws getting into private records then offering enough monetary enticement to get the job done quickly without getting caught. For two weeks, he’d waited to hear back from him, all the while forced to listen to the old man’s complaints about his failure to bring him the daughter he’d ignored for most of her life.

Near death experiences apparently had a way of changing a person, his father being a prime example. No matter, Bruce thought, stalking out of the office to pour himself a drink. He would personally ensure the two never met and be there for the old man to comfort him through his grief after learning of her unfortunate demise.

Carrying his whiskey out to the veranda, he settled in his favorite chair and took in the Arizona sunset across the vast, untouched desert landscape. He wasn’t about to lose half his inheritance, which would cost him an unacceptable portion of his current lifestyle, including this property in the elite, gated community he couldn’t afford without his dad’s money. With its privacy, killer views, and top-of-the-line amenities, he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else after enjoying these luxuries for so long. Then there were his creditors breathing down his neck to