Cullen's Bride (14 page)
Authors: Fiona Brand
A sudden vision of his house, his kitchen, replaced the gentle warmth of Rachel's.
He was going to have to make some changes. Damn, but his place was...rough. Clean, but rough. Suited to a bachelor who didn't spend any time there except to do the basics like cook, eat and sleep.
Frustration had his hands curling into fists as he gripped the wheel He didn't know anything about making a house into a home. And that house was going to take a substantial injection of funds to make it into anything that resembled comfortable.
He had money. But the farm was soaking most of it up. He had access to other funds. Funds he'd never touched, and never wanted to touch, because it was his mother, Celeste Lombard's, trust moneyâher slice of the Lombard financial empire. Because he was her only child, it was legally his.
Cullen jammed his key in the ignition and started the truck. After his mother had abandoned him, he'd never wanted a thing from her that she wasn't there to offer in person. But she could help this baby, this child. It went against everything that he was to access his mother's fortune, but he would break the vow he'd made for Rachel and the baby.
He would take the money and use it for them.
Chapter
9
9
R
achel sat at the reception desk, enjoying
the Friday afternoon sun and sipping a cup of herb tea as she used her coffee
break to sort through the salon mail.
achel sat at the reception desk, enjoying
the Friday afternoon sun and sipping a cup of herb tea as she used her coffee
break to sort through the salon mail.
Over the past few days she'd managed to achieve more than
she'd thought possible. The flowers for the church were ordered. She'd managed
to find a wedding outfit, and had organised a removal firm to shift her
furniture out to Cullen's house some time over the next week. Helen had quickly
volunteered to take over tenancy of the flat. Cole had even agreed to come to
the wedding.
she'd thought possible. The flowers for the church were ordered. She'd managed
to find a wedding outfit, and had organised a removal firm to shift her
furniture out to Cullen's house some time over the next week. Helen had quickly
volunteered to take over tenancy of the flat. Cole had even agreed to come to
the wedding.
She stopped at a letter that wasn't a bill. Curiously, she
noted that it didn't have a stamp on it It must have been delivered to the salon
or somehow slipped directly into her post office box. Picking up the paper
knife, she slit it open, pulled out a single sheet of paper and placed it on the
reception desk. It wasn't the wedding card she was expecting.
noted that it didn't have a stamp on it It must have been delivered to the salon
or somehow slipped directly into her post office box. Picking up the paper
knife, she slit it open, pulled out a single sheet of paper and placed it on the
reception desk. It wasn't the wedding card she was expecting.
Letters and words had been cut out of a magazine and glued
onto a half sheet of paper, spelling out a crude sentence: “Cullen, Logan is a
murderer.”
onto a half sheet of paper, spelling out a crude sentence: “Cullen, Logan is a
murderer.”
Rachel stared at the message, absorbing the ugly intent of
it. The nausea that was now her faint but ever constant companion roiled up.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to take deep, even breaths, sighing with
relief when the sick feeling receded.
it. The nausea that was now her faint but ever constant companion roiled up.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to take deep, even breaths, sighing with
relief when the sick feeling receded.
“Whoever has done this,” she told herself, “is cowardly and
malicious. And they've been watching too many television shows.”
malicious. And they've been watching too many television shows.”
But she wasn't going to take it as a joke. Carefully, so as
not to put any more of her fingerprints on the sheet of paper, she nudged it
back into the envelope with the help of a pen She put the envelope inside
another larger envelope before storing it in her bag. She would hand it to Dan
Holt just as soon as she could. Whoever had it in for Cullen in this town had
just made a very big mistake. Rachel wasn't about to back down from this kind of
intimidation, just as she wasn't going to let the furor of gossip surrounding
her impending marriage, and the occasional nasty comment, get to
her.
not to put any more of her fingerprints on the sheet of paper, she nudged it
back into the envelope with the help of a pen She put the envelope inside
another larger envelope before storing it in her bag. She would hand it to Dan
Holt just as soon as she could. Whoever had it in for Cullen in this town had
just made a very big mistake. Rachel wasn't about to back down from this kind of
intimidation, just as she wasn't going to let the furor of gossip surrounding
her impending marriage, and the occasional nasty comment, get to
her.
Many more people had wished her luck than had predicted
gloom and doom, and she had a room full of cards and small gifts to prove it.
The gossip was having an effect on the salon, but it wasn't the effect the
person who'd sent the glued-on message would have hoped for. She and Helen were
so busy with all the extra customers that she was seriously considering taking on
an apprentice.
gloom and doom, and she had a room full of cards and small gifts to prove it.
The gossip was having an effect on the salon, but it wasn't the effect the
person who'd sent the glued-on message would have hoped for. She and Helen were
so busy with all the extra customers that she was seriously considering taking on
an apprentice.
Helen sauntered breezily past, seeing one of their regular
clients to the door, but instead of ushering her next customer to her
workstation, she stayed at the open double doors. The quality of her silence
made Rachel look up, then join her.
clients to the door, but instead of ushering her next customer to her
workstation, she stayed at the open double doors. The quality of her silence
made Rachel look up, then join her.
“Oh, man,” Helen breathed. “Look what just rolled into town.
I think I just died and went to heaven.”
I think I just died and went to heaven.”
Rachel saw the extended-cab truck pulled up outside the
garage. Four men got out and started prowling around. A tall dark guy with
military short hair took charge of the petrol pump, relieving weedy Sal Tremaine
of the job with an abrupt, unquestionable authority. Rachel wouldn't have argued
with that man, either. The way he was filling out his cutoffs and T-shirt, she
would have given him way more room than old Sal had. A muscular blond guy
disappeared into the shop, while the two others lounged against the truck and
surveyed the town.
garage. Four men got out and started prowling around. A tall dark guy with
military short hair took charge of the petrol pump, relieving weedy Sal Tremaine
of the job with an abrupt, unquestionable authority. Rachel wouldn't have argued
with that man, either. The way he was filling out his cutoffs and T-shirt, she
would have given him way more room than old Sal had. A muscular blond guy
disappeared into the shop, while the two others lounged against the truck and
surveyed the town.
They were both tall and dark and built, and just as casually
dressed as the guy taking charge of the petrol filler. The bigger of the two had
sleek black hair caught back in a ponytail and an earring in one ear. All of the
men had a restless, edgy aura of danger about them, but the one with the long
hair kept drawing her attention. Something about him reminded her of Cullen. And
it wasn't just the hair or the restless sweep of his watchful gaze.
dressed as the guy taking charge of the petrol filler. The bigger of the two had
sleek black hair caught back in a ponytail and an earring in one ear. All of the
men had a restless, edgy aura of danger about them, but the one with the long
hair kept drawing her attention. Something about him reminded her of Cullen. And
it wasn't just the hair or the restless sweep of his watchful gaze.
She shook her head as the blond guy who'd walked into the
garage shop sauntered out with several cans of soda. She must be farther gone
than she'd thought. It was bad enough that Cullen dominated her thoughts and her
dreams; now she was seeing his face in a stranger's.
garage shop sauntered out with several cans of soda. She must be farther gone
than she'd thought. It was bad enough that Cullen dominated her thoughts and her
dreams; now she was seeing his face in a stranger's.
Â
“Yo, Blade, West,” Carter said as he tossed two cans over
the bonnet of the truck.
the bonnet of the truck.
Blade caught his, more by instinct than sight; he was too
busy looking around,
really looking,
and wondering what
the hell it was holding Cullen in this totally ordinary country town. And what
it was that had drawn Cullen into marriage and family when Blade had never known
him to indulge in anything beyond the most casual of sexual liaisons. He'd
assumed that Cullen was like himâand a lot of other special forces soldiersâdamn
poor marriage material. The very thought of commitment made Blade break out in a
cold sweat. As much as he loved womenâpluralâhe couldn't imagine settling down
with one woman, in one place.
busy looking around,
really looking,
and wondering what
the hell it was holding Cullen in this totally ordinary country town. And what
it was that had drawn Cullen into marriage and family when Blade had never known
him to indulge in anything beyond the most casual of sexual liaisons. He'd
assumed that Cullen was like himâand a lot of other special forces soldiersâdamn
poor marriage material. The very thought of commitment made Blade break out in a
cold sweat. As much as he loved womenâpluralâhe couldn't imagine settling down
with one woman, in one place.
“See anything?” West drawled.
“Uh-uh,” Blade grunted and tore the tab off the can before
drinking most of it. He wiped lingering traces of moisture off his mouth with
the back of his hand. “Do you?” he demanded.
drinking most of it. He wiped lingering traces of moisture off his mouth with
the back of his hand. “Do you?” he demanded.
West shrugged and crushed his can before making a potshot in
the rubbish tin. “Nope.”
the rubbish tin. “Nope.”
“I see babes,” Carter said, squinting toward what looked
like the local hairdressing salon.
like the local hairdressing salon.
West groaned. Blade finished his drink.
“When don't you see babes, Carter?” Ben asked drily as he
shoved the nozzle of the petrol pump back in its slot and peeled some notes out
of his wallet for the nervous old guy who was standing around staring at them as
if they were going to pull out a couple of sawn-off shotguns and start blasting.
“Nice place you got here,” he said, smiling. “Don't worry about the
change.”
shoved the nozzle of the petrol pump back in its slot and peeled some notes out
of his wallet for the nervous old guy who was standing around staring at them as
if they were going to pull out a couple of sawn-off shotguns and start blasting.
“Nice place you got here,” he said, smiling. “Don't worry about the
change.”
West shook his head sadly. “Carter's problem is he's never
been married.”
been married.”
Blade tossed his can in after West's. “He's too promiscuous
for marriage.”
for marriage.”
Ben grinned. “Not to mention ugly.”
“Ah, you guys are just jealous,” Carter returned cheerfully,
swinging into the driver's seat. “Cullen's about to have the noose tightened
around his neck, Blade's the kind of husband material that would send any sane
woman running, and you two shoulda stayed married to your guns instead of
involving those poor females in your plans.”
swinging into the driver's seat. “Cullen's about to have the noose tightened
around his neck, Blade's the kind of husband material that would send any sane
woman running, and you two shoulda stayed married to your guns instead of
involving those poor females in your plans.”
“Poor females?” Ben muttered. “Mate, I've felt safer jumping
out of an aircraft at thirty thousand feet into pitch-black nothingness than
trying to reason with my soon-to-be-ex-wife. What about you, West?”
out of an aircraft at thirty thousand feet into pitch-black nothingness than
trying to reason with my soon-to-be-ex-wife. What about you, West?”
West swung into the back with Ben and snapped the door
closed. “She kept the house. She figured I didn't need it, since I was never
there.”
closed. “She kept the house. She figured I didn't need it, since I was never
there.”
“See what I mean?” Carter drove slowly through the centre of
town, staring around, amazed. Man, there was no traffic. It was kinda creepy,
like some hick ghost town. “You guys should have stuck to
ârelationships.”'
town, staring around, amazed. Man, there was no traffic. It was kinda creepy,
like some hick ghost town. “You guys should have stuck to
ârelationships.”'
Ben eyeballed Carter in the rearview mirror. “Oh, very cool,
Carter. Are we talking about one-night stands here?”
Carter. Are we talking about one-night stands here?”
Blade indicated the next turnoff with a jerk of his thumb.
“That is a relationship for Carter,” he murmured.
“That is a relationship for Carter,” he murmured.
“Ah, go on, then,” Carter declared, taking the left-hand
turn onto a rough gravel road. “Have your fun, but the fact is, one way or the
other, you guys are all damaged goods. In the relationship stakes, I'm the only
âvirgin' left in this sorry crew.”
turn onto a rough gravel road. “Have your fun, but the fact is, one way or the
other, you guys are all damaged goods. In the relationship stakes, I'm the only
âvirgin' left in this sorry crew.”
Â
Â
Cullen heard them pull up just as he tightened the last nut
on the oil sump of his truck. He eased out from underneath, grabbed the bandanna
holding his hair out of his eyes, and used it to wipe off his hands and the
drips of oil that had hit his torso. As he walked toward the shiny new
extended-cab, he ran his forearm across his sweating face. He didn't recognise
the truck, but he knew who was in it. He'd only expected Blade, but he should
have guessed the rest of the guys would wangle their way on this
trip.
on the oil sump of his truck. He eased out from underneath, grabbed the bandanna
holding his hair out of his eyes, and used it to wipe off his hands and the
drips of oil that had hit his torso. As he walked toward the shiny new
extended-cab, he ran his forearm across his sweating face. He didn't recognise
the truck, but he knew who was in it. He'd only expected Blade, but he should
have guessed the rest of the guys would wangle their way on this
trip.
He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he watched them
all pile out of the truck.
all pile out of the truck.
Blade said, “Good to see you, Cul,” and something in
Cullen's s chest tightened up.
Cullen's s chest tightened up.
He hadn't realised how much he'd missed these guys, how much
he'd missed being part of a team. “It's been a while,” he agreed, shaking hands
all around and getting pulled into a series of hot, sweaty hugs “Hey, what is
this? Male bonding? Next thing you know you guys'll be wanting to stick your
tongues down my throat.”
he'd missed being part of a team. “It's been a while,” he agreed, shaking hands
all around and getting pulled into a series of hot, sweaty hugs “Hey, what is
this? Male bonding? Next thing you know you guys'll be wanting to stick your
tongues down my throat.”
Carter made the sign of the cross with his fingers. “Easy,
babe, just because you've snagged some poor, unfortunate woman, doesn't mean the
rest of us are that desperate.”
babe, just because you've snagged some poor, unfortunate woman, doesn't mean the
rest of us are that desperate.”
Cullen shook his head, his expression rueful. “As long as
you promise to cook, you can all stay in the house.”
you promise to cook, you can all stay in the house.”
“Carter ain't cooking,” Ben said morosely. “We all wanna be
alive when we wake up. Blade can be in charge of the food. I'll set up the
bar.”
alive when we wake up. Blade can be in charge of the food. I'll set up the
bar.”
He reached into the bed of the truck and hauled out a box of
beer. Carter grinned, grabbed Ben's face with two hands and kissed him full on
the lips
beer. Carter grinned, grabbed Ben's face with two hands and kissed him full on
the lips
“Oh, gross,” Ben muttered, wiping his mouth on one arm and
aiming a kick at Carter, before tearing the box open and tossing him a beer. “If
you've gotta do something with your Ups, man, plant them on that.”
aiming a kick at Carter, before tearing the box open and tossing him a beer. “If
you've gotta do something with your Ups, man, plant them on that.”
Blade prowled over to the truck and began hauling gear out
He aimed a pack at Cullen who caught it, staggering back under the
weight.
He aimed a pack at Cullen who caught it, staggering back under the
weight.
“What's in here?” Cullen demanded.
“Ammunition.” Blade snagged a rifle and tossed that at
Cullen, too.
Cullen, too.
“Whoa.” Cullen caught the rifle with one hand, easing the
weight of the pack over his hip. “Just what kind of wedding do you think this is
gonna be?”
weight of the pack over his hip. “Just what kind of wedding do you think this is
gonna be?”
“We're coming to the wedding, but we don't plan to stay.
After you're bagged and tagged tomorrow, we thought we'd leave you to your
privacy. We're heading north to do a little hunting.” Blade jerked his head
toward the towering, brooding bush-clad hills in the distance. “But next time we
might try out those hills of yours. That's some of the meanest country I've seen
in a long time.”
After you're bagged and tagged tomorrow, we thought we'd leave you to your
privacy. We're heading north to do a little hunting.” Blade jerked his head
toward the towering, brooding bush-clad hills in the distance. “But next time we
might try out those hills of yours. That's some of the meanest country I've seen
in a long time.”
Â
After everyone was bedded down for the night, Cullen prowled
restlessly in his room. He couldn't sleep. He wasn't going to even
try.
restlessly in his room. He couldn't sleep. He wasn't going to even
try.
Having the guys arrive like that had unsettled him
completely. They were like family to him, and he wanted to be a part of their
action, but suddenly there was this huge, yawning gap, and he didn't know
himself. He didn't know what he wanted when this situation with Rachel was over.
His career with the military had satisfied a lot of needs, but he just didn't
think soldiering was going to do it for him anymore. He didn't know what
would.
completely. They were like family to him, and he wanted to be a part of their
action, but suddenly there was this huge, yawning gap, and he didn't know
himself. He didn't know what he wanted when this situation with Rachel was over.
His career with the military had satisfied a lot of needs, but he just didn't
think soldiering was going to do it for him anymore. He didn't know what
would.
Beyond Rachel and the baby, that was.
A window shattered. The sharp report of a rifle punched
through the sound of exploding glass.
through the sound of exploding glass.
Cullen was on the move, reaching for the sidearm he still
kept in his bedside drawer, slamming the clip in place as he loped out into the
passage and down the stairs. His mind was working coldly, quickly. The sounds
had come from the south side of the house, facing the drive in. The vehicle he'd
heard just minutes before meant that someone had parked, then walked to his
house before firing a shot.
kept in his bedside drawer, slamming the clip in place as he loped out into the
passage and down the stairs. His mind was working coldly, quickly. The sounds
had come from the south side of the house, facing the drive in. The vehicle he'd
heard just minutes before meant that someone had parked, then walked to his
house before firing a shot.
As he raced out the back door in a crouch, Cullen registered
the sounds of feet hitting the floor, weapons being snapped together, and then
silence broken by the faint familiar sounds of Blade and the rest of the team
forming up in a tight patrol line behind him.
the sounds of feet hitting the floor, weapons being snapped together, and then
silence broken by the faint familiar sounds of Blade and the rest of the team
forming up in a tight patrol line behind him.
Cullen caught a flash of movement ahead and hand-signalled
back: two men. He could hear them, panting, out of breath, their boots thudding
on the gravel road. They reached their truck. One swore as he stumbled and
yanked on the door, then Cullen and the rest of the boys were positioning
themselves around the vehicle, guns brought up to bear.
back: two men. He could hear them, panting, out of breath, their boots thudding
on the gravel road. They reached their truck. One swore as he stumbled and
yanked on the door, then Cullen and the rest of the boys were positioning
themselves around the vehicle, guns brought up to bear.
“Put the weapon down,” Cullen ordered curtly. “Then get away
from the truck, real easy. Move too fast and one of us might get
nervous.”
from the truck, real easy. Move too fast and one of us might get
nervous.”
One of the men swore, his hands shooting into the air.
“Where the hell did all of
them
come from?” he snarled at
the unmistakable figure of Frank Trask. “You said it would just be
him.
And maybe some woman.”
“Where the hell did all of
them
come from?” he snarled at
the unmistakable figure of Frank Trask. “You said it would just be
him.
And maybe some woman.”
Blade stepped forward and picked up the shotgun He motioned
Ben and Carter to move in and frisk the men. “You boys are lucky it wasn't just
Cullen,” he said mildly. “We're all nicer than him.”
Ben and Carter to move in and frisk the men. “You boys are lucky it wasn't just
Cullen,” he said mildly. “We're all nicer than him.”
West and Blade covered the men, while Cullen sorted through
the contents of the truck and found a length of rope. “Anyone got a
knife?”
the contents of the truck and found a length of rope. “Anyone got a
knife?”
Four hands shot into vanous stash places and produced
gleaming blades. “Oh, man,” Cullen muttered, “don't you guys ever take a break?
I thought you were on leave.”
gleaming blades. “Oh, man,” Cullen muttered, “don't you guys ever take a break?
I thought you were on leave.”
“Bein' on leave doesn't mean we have to walk around naked,”
Carter muttered, flipping his fighting knife through the air. Cullen caught it
with smooth expertise, cut two lengths of rope, then quickly and expertly tied
the two men's hands behind their backs.
Carter muttered, flipping his fighting knife through the air. Cullen caught it
with smooth expertise, cut two lengths of rope, then quickly and expertly tied
the two men's hands behind their backs.
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