Undercover Texas - By Robin Perini Page 0,52

the creek gurgled, but he remained silent.

She couldn’t believe she’d begged him. He loved Brandon. He wanted her, but she didn’t know if he loved her. Oh, God, had she made a fool of herself?

“Forget I said anything—” she started, but he whirled to face her.

“I can’t forget it.”

She didn’t expect the depth of the longing in his eyes.

He squatted in front of her. “Erin, look, I want to come with you. God knows I want every single thing you said, but I can’t be sure my enemies won’t find me. General Miller was right when he warned us that first day about the risk of having a family. I know now that I would do anything to protect you and Brandon.” He stroked her cheek. “Even give you up.”

Erin looked away, swiping at the tears building in her eyes. So she would be alone without him. Anyone else she would meet in the future would never know the real her. The Dr. Jamison who invented incredible crazy things. The shy, naive woman who’d been seduced and loved in a way she’d never known possible. They’d only know whatever made-up identity some unknown woman was coming up with today.

Erin Jamison would be gone. The only thing besides Brandon to go with her from this life would be her broken heart.

Hunter leaned into her. He kissed away the tears from her cheek. “If I could find a way, I would, Erin. I owe the general, but I would give up my life with the team with no regrets if I could have you and Brandon and keep you safe.”

He shifted his mouth and took hers in a sweet and tender kiss.

If only he could find a way.

Her lips parted under his and she let out a low groan. He dragged her closer.

The snort of a horse burst them apart.

A large white animal crossed toward them, with Sheriff Redmond’s little boy, Ethan, sitting in the saddle. He stopped and patted the horse’s neck. “Are you two making babies? My new dad said all that hugging and kissing makes babies. I just don’t get it.”

Erin flushed, glad the kid hadn’t come by a few minutes later or he might have witnessed that baby-making firsthand.

“Are you out here alone?” Hunter asked

“No, I just rode ahead on Sugar. He likes me, but you can’t get too close. He’s ornr...ornery. That means he doesn’t like most people. He had a tough time when he was young, but he likes me a whole bunch.”

Hunter stood and helped Erin to her feet, then settled Brandon back into his front harness carrier. “Who did you ride ahead of...your parents?”

“Yep, Dad’s bringing Mom out in a car with lots of blankets. She can’t ride horses ’cause of the baby.” Ethan grinned. “It was all that kissing and hugging they did, for sure.”

Chapter Ten

The narrow Texas county road leading to the woman who would make up Erin’s and Brandon’s new documents headed straight west. A few hills, lots of open spaces and no other vehicles as far as Hunter could see. He glanced at his watch. They were cutting it a bit too close to the scheduled meeting for his liking.

By the time he and Erin had delivered Ethan safely back to Blake and Amanda, the sun had risen high in the sky. They’d grabbed a quick bite for the road and changed Brandon, and now the SUV headed to a rendezvous point in the middle of nowhere.

The woman creating Erin and Brandon’s documents was supposed to be out here. Somewhere. And she didn’t wait for stragglers. Hers was a mobile operation and she didn’t like staying in any one place too long. No exceptions.

Erin looked around dubiously. “Are you certain this is the right way?”

“According to Logan. A little farther and we should be there.”

Hunter turned the SUV off-road, and the vehicle shot dirt into the air around them. The cloud of dust would be visible from quite a distance. He’d taken a few detours along the way, and hadn’t seen a tail, but somehow the people who wanted Erin knew their location. He’d torn everything apart looking for a bug but had found nothing.

They needed to get the paperwork done and move on. Fast.

Finally, just over a small hill, he spotted a pickup truck with a nondescript tow camper behind it.

“Just like Logan described it,” Hunter commented. “This woman must be paranoid as hell. There’s nothing out here but mesquite and lizards.”

He pulled up about twenty-five feet away from