Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (6 page)

“Thank you.” Her attention strayed to the vista before them. “This is amazing country, isn’t it?”

“It’s a little different than British Columbia, that’s for sure.”

Mandy dug in her bag and brought out her camera.

“That looks like a nice camera, Mandy,” Steven said.

“Mandy’s a bit of a photo buff. She’s got a good eye, too,” Moira said, then took a long draw on her water as she gazed at the scenery.

The waves of heat shimmered over the deep orange-colored sand that covered the valley floor below. Warm wind swirled about her, wrapping her in a blanket that only Nevada could offer. From her vantage point on the rocky cleft, the desert sky was an unimpeded, intense blue.

“It’s nice to get away from the bells and whistles of the city. I love the desert. It’s not barren at all. When I look at it I see endless space, colorful cacti, and small rocks that jut from a sea of sand.”

He pulled her attention to him by laying his hand over hers. “You’re right, it is beautiful. Not enough people take a break from the strip to see it, and appreciate it.”

Her head dropped back to face the sun, offering herself to the intense heat, allowing it to consume her. Sliding down the rock to the sand, she took a handful of it in her fingers, and lifted her clenched fist. Slowly she released the warm grains, letting the wind take them at its will, pulling it from her fingers.

“Hey look,” Callie piped up, pointing at something.

In the distance, a coyote trotted across the hot ground—its legs thin and agile. It stopped and sniffed the air a couple times, and then with its nose down, resumed its trek. All along, Mandy’s shutter clicked nonstop, as she followed the creature.

The last bit of moisture had surrendered itself from every crevice. “It must be over a hundred degrees,” Moira said, and sighed as she let all her pent-up stress flow from her soul.

“More like a hundred and fifteen.” He sat down beside her and wrapped his fingers around her hand, urging her. “Drink more water, I don’t want you to dehydrate.”

“I will.”

Getting comfortable, he lay back against the boulder. “Your crew doesn’t have a problem sharing. I think in the last three hours I’ve heard everyone’s life story but yours.”

She shrugged. “I work and I write, that’s it.”

“What about your family?”

Her lips tightened. “I don’t have one,” she admitted.

He twisted to look at her. “Everyone has family.”

She played with the sand, the warmth soothing the coldness that seeped into her chest. “Not everyone, not anymore.”

“Your parents have passed?”

She nodded. “Many years ago. I had a brother, too, but he’s gone as well.” She brushed the sand from her fingers. “I was orphaned when I was ten.”

“And you didn’t have any family to take you in?”

“No, I lived in a foster home. They were very kind people. I was lucky.”

“I have a brother.” He paused. “Two, actually.”

“Are you close?”

“Dane and I are. He lives in Los Angeles, too.”

“And your other brother?”

“No.” He raised his head slowly, scanning the desert floor. “I don’t know where Kyle is. He left the family a long time ago.”

“I see.” She didn’t really, but she sensed his reserve, and didn’t want to pry.

“Well, I’m good to go,” Patti said, standing in front of them with her hands on her hips.

“You’re in pretty good shape, Patti,” Steven said, pushing himself to his feet.

He drew Patti away as if knowing she needed a couple more minutes of rest. But what she really needed was for this man to stop standing, walking, and sitting so close to her. She watched him as he spoke to Mandy and Patti. He dwarfed Mandy, and she was a tall, lanky woman. Everything on her was straight and narrow, even her deep brunette hair.

Why was he here with them? He didn’t belong, but somehow he seemed to put her crew at ease, and they accepted him right away. His powerful presence no doubt drew plenty of women, and her crew wasn’t immune to it either. She wondered who he really was. If anything, he was a good tour guide. He knew his way around and shared the history of the area’s ancient people with them. She sighed and started to push herself to her feet. Steven’s hand grasped hers, and pulled her the rest of the way, right into his arms.

“Ready to go?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.

Again, the butterflies took flight in her stomach. “I think so.”

His fingers threaded themselves through her hair. “We have a bit of walk ahead. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

“I’m not in half-bad shape for an old woman,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

“It’s the heat; you’re not used to it.”

The way he said “heat” carried a mixed message. “I’m not used to a lot of things, Mr. Porter.”

“I’m sure you acclimatize quickly,” he said as he retrieved his pack, and thrust it over his shoulder with a small grin on his lips.

She didn’t like that grin. Nope, not at all.

Their next stop brought them to the petro glyphs. High walls of swirling stone appeared fluid, rising to create a box canyon around them. They inspected the ancient markings while reveling in the shade.

Without a word, Steven took her hand, pulling her with him, away from her crew and toward the maze of paths.

“Don’t you want to rest a bit? I know I could use it. It’s hard keeping up with twenty-year-olds,” she sighed.

* * * *

“I don’t get it,” Callie quipped to the others as she watched Steven pull Moira away from them.

“What don’t you get?” Patti asked, sitting down in the sand against the massive limestone wall.

“I couldn’t get that guy’s attention once today.”

“Yeah, not like you didn’t try or nothing,” Sasha said, giving her a dirty look as she retied her blonde locks.

“Well—look at him. He’s a bloody god, and he wants Moira? I mean she’s great, but she’s, she’s…”

Marcus frowned at her. “She’s what, Callie?”

“Old,” she admitted, knowing the rest of the crew would crawl down her throat for the comment.

“Callie, you’re such a twit,” Mandy snapped at her. “Why shouldn’t he like her? After what she went through with dipshit husband number one, she deserves it.”

“I guess,” Callie admitted. She dug her fingers into the warm sand, not brave enough to look at Mandy. “I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve to be with anyone. It’s just that she doesn’t seem to care about being with anyone, especially not a guy that looks like Steven.”

“She works hard. She cares about us, and the rest of the time she’s locked in front of that computer of hers. She doesn’t spend time trolling bars like you. Besides, not all guys look at women the same way, ya know. Maybe if they just want to get laid like the guys you hang out with,” Mandy said, stepping up to the plate for Moira. “I was married to an asshole, too, so I know what it’s like.”

“I agree,” Patti said, digging through her knapsack. “Moira deserves to have someone. She’s been alone all her life. That asshole of a captain she married was a real piece of work, Callie. You didn’t know him, but Mandy and I did. He told her she wasn’t good enough to be his wife. So he dumped her for someone else.”

“Yeah, but that’s not the real reason he left her,” Sasha added.

Callie shook her head. She was the newest recruit, and she didn’t really know Moira’s history. She’d heard rumors but that was all.

“Sasha—” Mandy gave her a warning look.

“Tell me,” she said, glaring at Sasha. “It’s not fair you guys know, and I don’t.”

“It’s bullshit,” Patti growled. “I was there when that incident happened, and Moira did what she had to do.”

“Would you people stop talking in code.” She threw a handful of sand at Sasha.

Mandy shook her head at her. “All you need to know, Callie, is that Moira’s got a heart of gold, and that asshole of a husband crushed it. He was an egotistical bastard. He looked down at Moira, when he should have been looking up.”

Callie crossed her arms. “No, it’s not good enough. I’ve heard rumors.”

Sasha stood and took two steps to stand over her. “Patti just finished telling you its bullshit, now let it be,” Sasha said, locking eyes with her.

She dropped her head. “Then why do they call her the Black Magnet?” she asked, digging her foot into the sand.

* * * *

“I hope you’re dragging me off to a hidden pool somewhere,” Moira chirped behind him as he gently guided her farther into the maze of rocks and sand. “And bringing a compass.”

Once they’d walked well into one of the paths he turned, and pulled her into his arms. “The only time you really talk is when you’re nervous, and then you can’t stop.”

“What? I’m not nervous. I’m never nervous.” She cleared her throat and looked away from him.

“I think we should go back to the hotel and have a shower.” He paused, wondering if he should add—together. “And then I’m taking you out for a late lunch.”

“Well that’s good, since I’d probably shove it in like a person with an eating disorder at a buffet right about now.”

He broke out laughing and shook his head. “You’re pretty amazing with your words,” he said, grinning at her. “No wonder you wrote five best sellers.”

“It’s all BS.” She put her attention on the orange stone that surrounded them.

He didn’t miss the instantaneous change in her eyes. “They were great stories. Great love stories.” His voice rumbled lower in his throat.

“How would you know that?”

His jaw tightened, and he raised one brow. “Because I read them.”

“You? Why would you read them?”

Her hands had nowhere to go but to lie against his chest. The feel of her fingers against his abs fired a straight bearing from his brain to his toes. A cold slice of “be careful” slid into his conscience. “I downloaded them last night and did a little reading.” Telling her the small, white lie kicked at the ankles of his integrity, but he did it for good reason.

The truth was he’d read them long ago. He remembered thinking how in tune the author had to be with the human psyche, nature, and God to make the stories into believable magic, instead of falling into the bucket of the paranormal genre. She’d brought the three most important elements of mankind together in a story that left his mind bulldozing paradigms with each chapter. He loved the books, and he saw the limitless possibilities in them. His gaze strayed to the cross lying between her breasts. How strong did she hold to her faith? Would she consider breaking a few commandments with him? He suddenly realized he wanted to covet her like no one else he’d ever met.

“You’re kidding. I wouldn’t imagine they’re the type of book you read.”

“Maybe not, but I still know a good voice when I read one, and you’re a talented woman.”

She nudged the sand with her foot. “Thank you.”

“Those…uh, love scenes in particular are pretty hot,” he said, tucking a loose curl of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks flushed. He couldn’t help teasing her just a little. “Did that take research, too?” He bit down on a grin.

“Okay…” she said, trying to pull away from him.