Josh (19 page)

While the voices, low with curses or high-pitched with laughter, swirled around him, his complete focus was fixed on the couple on the dance floor.

He’d seen Sierra walk in with the gray-haired cowboy and knew, from his detailed research, that her escort was Colby Conway.

It hadn’t taken her long to find a rich powerful champion, Sebastian thought with a wave of fury. By all accounts, the Conway ranch was one of the largest and most successful in the country. Not that it mattered. An American rancher couldn’t hold a candle to his family’s empire. As for power, the Delray family had wielded both power and influence for generations, long before the Conways had ever even planted a foot in Wyoming.

Wyoming
. The very name annoyed him. This was the last place he wanted to be. He hated these coarse clothes he was forced to wear in order to blend in. Loathed the crude saloon that smelled of horses and leather and sweat. Couldn’t abide the rough voices with an accent that grated on his nerves.

He had envisioned himself at the villa by now, lazing in the azure Mediterranean, with Sierra at his side. He wanted to dress in a tuxedo and head over to Monte Carlo for an evening of dinner and gambling.

He wanted, desperately, to get away from this disgusting place and these people who were so beneath him that he could barely tolerate being in the same room with them.

And all because of Sierra Moore.

Sebastian watched as she swayed in the arms of the
Conway son. Josh, the one who found lost hikers in the mountains.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the way the two of them stared into one another’s eyes, like lovestruck teens. Was this why Sierra hadn’t come to him?

Hadn’t he given her every opportunity to repent? He’d let her know that he was here, and that he was willing to forgive her. The diamonds had cost a king’s ransom, but they couldn’t hold a candle to her beauty. Yet, she’d ignored his offer of a truce. She hadn’t even responded to his offer to send a car and leave this primitive place in her dust. And then she’d done the unforgivable. She had named him in a document ordering him to keep his distance from her.

That slut had ordered him to stay away.

And now she was here, looking at some rough cowboy the way she ought to be looking at him.

His fingers tightened on the longneck the way he wanted to tighten them around Sierra’s neck, until she begged for forgiveness.

Sebastian couldn’t recall the last time he’d ever wanted for a thing that he didn’t instantly receive. And right now what he wanted, more than anything in the world, was to exact revenge.

Did this ungrateful little bitch really believe she could just walk away from him and go on her merry way, cozying up to other men, without any consequences?

She would pay. Oh, she would pay dearly.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. A man’s voice, slurred from alcohol, said, “Hey, Bremmer.”

Sebastian glowered at him. “You have the wrong man.”

“Oh. Sorry. My mistake.”

The cowboy moved on until he paused beside a tall, dark-haired cowboy just walking into the saloon with some friends.

Watching him, the germ of an idea began playing through Sebastian’s mind.

And as the loud country music blared from speakers, and the revelers around him added to the din, he retreated into his mind, turning the plan over and over, looking for flaws, until he was satisfied that it would work.

Though he yearned for champagne, he ordered another beer and slowly drained it while he watched the woman who consumed his every waking moment.

Josh led the way from the saloon. Behind him Cole had his arm around Sierra’s shoulders and moved along beside her, swaying slightly.

Josh breathed deeply, grateful to clear his lungs in the sting of cold air. “Come on, Pa. I’m parked behind the medical clinic. The walk will do you good.”

When they were settled in the truck, Josh turned the key in the ignition, eager to get home. If he played his cards right, he and Sierra could still find some time alone.

As they started along the street Cole tapped his son on the shoulder. “There’s a parking space right in front of Flora’s Diner. Grab it. I have a powerful urge for a couple of her greasy sliders with grilled onions.”

“Pa—”

“Don’t argue with me, Josh. Pull over here.”

Josh turned the truck into the empty space and turned to glare at his father. “You know what the doctor said. If Phoebe hears—”

“You’ve seen the rabbit food I’ve been eating since
the heart attack. Are you going to begrudge me this one simple pleasure?”

Josh sighed and saw the smile on Sierra’s face.

“Now how could I deny you anything, Pa? Come on. Let’s load up on calories and cholesterol.”

“That’s my boy.”

Cole was humming a little tune as he followed Josh and Sierra into the diner.

Josh quickly studied the faces of everyone. The crowd had thinned to a couple of tables, and Josh was relieved to see that he knew them all.

Cole nodded a greeting to everyone before making his way to the counter. Josh and Sierra took up places beside him.

Flora looked up from the grill and called a greeting at the open pass-through: “Well, Cole, honey, how’re you doing?”

“Doing just fine, Flora. Especially now that I’m here.”

“You hoping for some of my banana cream pie?”

“Maybe a sliver or two. But first I’ve got a powerful hankering for a couple of your sliders.”

“You got ’em. With grilled onions, just the way you like ’em.”

She turned to Josh and Sierra. “How about you two?”

They shook their heads.

“I see. Living on love, are you?” The old woman cackled at her joke, and the folks in the diner did the same.

Flora’s daughter, Dora, made her way to the back room, carrying a tray of dirty dishes from the tables outside. After depositing them she stepped behind the counter and began filling three cups with steaming coffee.

She set them down with a grin. “I don’t know if you ordered coffee, but tonight I’m handing it out to anyone who comes in. Hits the spot after a night of drinking at the saloon.”

“Thanks, Dora.” Cole gulped the coffee, then broke into a wide smile as Dora set a plate of greasy hamburgers in front of him. “Now this is what I’ve been craving.”

While he dug into his food Dora glanced at Sierra. “That great-looking guy was in asking about you again.”

Very deliberately Sierra set her coffee down and carefully schooled her features. “When?”

“This morning. He had lots of questions about the Conway ranch. How to get there, how big it is, how many people work there. What was this roundup he’d heard about. And he asked if you were still there.”

“What did you tell him, Dora?” Josh fought to keep his tone disinterested.

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear while she considered. “I hope you don’t mind, but I may have bragged a bit. After all, the Conway ranch is the biggest in the state, and that gives us bragging rights. And I told him that, as far as I knew, the pretty blonde was still there.”

“Anything else?” Josh stared into his coffee to hide the flash of temper he knew she would see if he looked at her. Beside him, he could actually feel Sierra’s body vibrating with the nerves she was struggling to conceal.

“I told him if I had to put my money on the reason she was staying, it was because of you, Josh honey.”

She caught the flush on Sierra’s face and turned to her mother. “What’d I tell you? Women just can’t resist our hunky cowboys, can they, Ma?”

“And why should they?” Flora’s laughter filled the room.

“We surely do love our cowboys.” Dora was still wiping away tears of laughter a half hour later when she picked up Cole’s empty plate, bearing a trace of the giant slice of banana cream pie he’d indulged in after devouring three sliders.

A
s the truck left the little town of Paintbrush behind, Cole leaned back, feeling mellow.

“Now that was worth driving into town for.”

His words brought Sierra out of the somber mood that had come over her since Dora’s words back in the diner. “The beer with Chester Coggins, or the food at Flora’s Diner?”

“Both. Chester’s an old buddy. He helped Big Jim out when I was just a kid, and I’ll never forget that. I owe him big-time. As for Flora, that woman can cook.”

Josh glanced across Sierra. “She sure can. Just don’t eat there too often, Pa, or your arteries will be overloaded.”

At Josh’s word of caution, Cole frowned. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention our little visit to Phoebe. She worries.”

“Worries, hell. If she knew, she’d have your hide, Pa.”

Cole threw back his head and laughed. “That’s why it has to be our little secret.”

Josh’s smile faded as he glanced in the rearview mirror. As far as he could see, there wasn’t another pair of headlights in view. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being followed.

What in hell was happening to him? First at the saloon, and now along a completely deserted stretch of highway.

He’d definitely been alarmed when Dora told them “that handsome guy” had been back, asking questions about their ranch and whether or not Sierra was still there. It told him in no uncertain terms that Sebastian was still in town, and still trying to get information, despite the order of protection.

There was no law that prohibited asking questions. As long as Delray didn’t violate the rules of the restraining order, there was nothing Josh could do except to remain vigilant.

Still, the knowledge that Sierra’s stalker was out there somewhere left him feeling on edge. Maybe that was why he couldn’t shake this feeling that something about tonight just wasn’t right.

He kept glancing in the rearview mirror. He would feel a whole lot better if Chief Fletcher could call them with a report that Sebastian Delray had left the country. For good.

Until then, he’d have to keep up his guard and keep Sierra close.

Not that he minded the second part of that. Keeping her close was exactly what he had in mind.

As the truck’s taillights faded around a bend, a sleek car with tinted windows, its headlights turned off, came to a stop under the arched entrance to the Conway ranch.

Above the vehicle, the old sign blew back and forth, creaking ominously in the wind.

Sebastian Delray stepped out and looked up, studying the letter C that was burned into the wood, along with the words
DEVIL’S WILDERNESS
.

His lips were twisted into a snarl of fury as he pounded a fist into his palm, and kicked at the tire of his rental car.

This land was uncivilized. Now that he’d actually traveled over it, he knew it to be much more primitive than he’d imagined.

He was out of his element here. If Sierra had fled to London, or Lisbon, or even Italy, he would have the advantage over her. He had connections all over Europe. But here, in this wasteland, he had a need to come up with a very detailed plan.

Today he’d managed to ride undetected across these hills, but only because the land was crawling with cattle and cowboys driving them toward pens. He’d never get away with it a second time. And he couldn’t simply drive in and carry Sierra away without being caught. The ranch house where she’d taken refuge was a fortress. It would be impossible to approach it without being spotted. Before he was halfway there, he would no doubt find himself surrounded by enough family members and wranglers to stop an army of invaders.

Not that he needed an army. He had no doubt that if he could persuade Sierra to listen to him, to really listen, she would choose to be with him again. Couldn’t she see that they were the perfect couple? Her rejection made no sense. He was wealthy, educated, and had access to every luxury imaginable. His life had been one of endless ease and comfort. As he had patiently explained to her, she
could have everything she’d ever dreamed of, as long as she continued to please him.

Was that so difficult? Was he being unreasonable?

He had generously offered her a life that most women would die for.

Die.

His eyes narrowed on the lights in the distance.

If Sierra Moore wasn’t careful, she just might blow her only chance at living the good life.

He thought about all the beautiful, glamorous women he’d had and then discarded, some of whom had thrown themselves at him shamelessly as soon as they’d learned his name. And yet this little nobody, whose background and talent couldn’t hold a candle to any of them, had walked away.

No, he corrected himself. She’d run away. Run from the best thing that had ever happened in her life. Little fool. Didn’t she understand just how much power he could wield?

He’d done his research. Her father was a small-time musician who would never become the superstar he hoped to be. Unless, that is, he happened to acquire a “benefactor” who could arrange for him to open concerts for some of the biggest musical acts in the world. As for Sierra’s mother, she had a certain amount of talent as a sculptor, but she squandered the bulk of her energy on her partner, who was spending their money like a drunken sailor in a nearby town in the Italian Alps, where his mistress lived. A collector with enough influence in the world of art could provide the exposure which would guarantee that even a mediocre talent like hers would earn her a comfortable living.