How to Rope a McCoy (Hell Yeah!) (24 page)

The
cost hadn’t been cheap. Cato thought it would be worth it, though. Hopefully
Heath would feel the same way. All that was left to do was for Cato to pack a
basket of food, let him know where to meet her and lift off into the wild blue
yonder.

*  *  *

“We’ve
been looking at this all wrong.” Zane spread out his notes. “We need to find
out exactly who Dalton Smith was and what made him tick.”

“Well,
we know he worked for different oil companies. He was one of their ‘land men,’
a contractor who is sent ahead into an area to scope out property to see who
owns what and where the best acreage is that might yield oil,” Heath answered.

“Yea,
the money we saw in his account was legit, a couple of invoices he’d billed out
came in. So, that was a dead end. And when we checked those cameras at the
libraries and museum, there was no one we recognized. Course that doesn’t mean
someone didn’t hire one of those guys to do research, but proving that will be
hard to do and time consuming.”

“What
did you say was on that thumb drive Noah found?” Philip asked again, running
his hand through his hair. “I hate to keep asking, but I’m at my wits end. I
don’t want to spend my life in prison for a murder I didn’t commit.”

Heath
squeezed his brother’s shoulder and Zane stood up with one hand on his hip.
“And I don’t intend for you to spend one day in jail if I can help it. But to
answer your question, there are thousands of documents on that drive. We have
done keyword searches and went over as many of them as possible and even though
there is information on there about the area and the mine, there’s nothing
there that clears you that we can find. What I’m feeling is that there are
puzzle pieces there, we just don’t know what to look for exactly.”

“Why
don’t I ask Cato for help? She’s used to looking at documents on this order.
She might see something we’ve missed.” Heath didn’t think she would mind.

“Good
idea,” Zane said. “I’ll have my secretary download it into a cloud for her.
Just get me an email address.”

“Will
do.”

“When
are you seeing Cato again?” Philip inquired while Zane stepped away to get a better
phone signal.

“Soon.”
Heath was evasive.

“Still
casual?”

Heath
blew out a long breath. “Damn, I don’t know, Phillip. I like her. She’s turning
out to be a good friend—smart, sweet, kind. I’m enjoying the hell out of being
with her and we’re…compatible, I guess you could say.”

“In
bed?”

“God,
yes,” Heath groaned. “But I’m still not at the point where I feel like I can
completely trust another woman and I don’t know if I ever will be.”

“And
Cato’s willing to be your friend and fuck-buddy with no strings?”

“Do
you have to be so crude?” Heath chuckled. “And to answer your question, it was
her idea.”

“Lucky
bastard.”

Heath
started to explain further, but his phone buzzed. Glancing down, he saw it was
Cato and his pulse jumped. “Hey, how are you feeling?” he answered. “With my
fingers.” She teased.

“I
want to feel your fingers on me,” Heath responded automatically.

“That
could be arranged.”

“No,
really, how are you doing? How’s your shoulder and your head?”

“Good
as new. I told you I’m tough.”

“No,
you’re not, Cato.” He knew she couldn’t hear the inflection in his voice, but
even he had to admit it softened. “You’re tender and sweet and soft.” Heath
hadn’t told anyone, but he had been calling Cato often, at least twice a day.
Not long conversations, just checking on her. He justified it in his mind
because she’d been hurt on his property on his watch, but that wasn’t all.
Heath enjoyed talking to her. He knew he was treading in deep water, but she made
him happy.

“Careful,
you’re turning me on and my batteries are dead.”

“You’d
better not be using a toy, not unless you’re planning on letting me watch.”

“On
here?”

He
saw her eyes brighten. “You’re a little bit of an exhibitionist, aren’t you,
Cato?

“Only
where you’re concerned,” she said in her sultriest voice—she hoped. “I called
to finalize our plans for Saturday, if you’re still interested.”

“Counting
the hours, doll.” There was no use lying, Heath thought. “What time can I pick
you up?”

“Early,
if that’s okay, say four
p.m
?” She gave him her
address. “And dress casual.”

“You
got it. No hints?”

“No.”
She winked at him. “Just be ready to soar.”

“Ha!
What does that mean?” The visions he had were completely sexual in nature.

“You
have to wait.”

His
face went completely serious. “I’ve thought of little else than being with you
again.”

“Me
too,” she agreed. “How’s Philip?”

He
held up a finger. “Speaking of. Would you mind looking through some documents
that belonged to the victim? See if you can pick up on anything about the mine
or clues that Zane or Philip might have missed.”

“Of
course, be glad to.”

“Thanks,
I’ll need your email address.” She gave it to him. “I’m grateful for this,
Cato.” 

 Her
expression grew tender. “Heath, I’m excited to help. Never hesitate to
ask.” 

“I’m
looking forward to this weekend, I’ve missed you.”

Cato’s
heart pounded. “I’ve missed you too.”

*  *  *

“I
have no idea where we’re going.” Heath mused as he looked out Cato’s window on the
driver’s side. She had given him directions and now they were out in the
country in the middle of nowhere. “Are you sure you’re not taking me to some
nudist colony or something?” Not that he minded seeing Cato nude. When he’d
picked her up this afternoon, she’d taken his breath away. Dressed in a short
white sundress with tiny straps and bows holding it up on her shoulders, all he
could think about was pulling that bodice down and getting his hands on her
tits or flipping that flouncy little skirt up to see what was underneath.

“No,
no nudist colony. I’d rather keep your magnificence to myself.” Cato laughed.
“Besides, I wouldn’t want to see any old guys with wrinkled…everything.”

“I
can guarantee mine won’t be wrinkled, especially after you…oh, my God!” Heath
exclaimed as what he saw ahead of him halted his risqué banter. “You didn’t!”

Cato
laughed, elated to see his excited expression. “I did. I hoped you would love
it.”

“Damn,
baby.” Heath laughed. “This is wild.” Pulling into the wide-open field, he
found a parking place next to some other cars and quickly climbed out. Cato
didn’t wait for him to help her with the door. She bounded out to join him.

“Let
me get the picnic basket and we’ll go find Mr. Dickinson. We’re taking the
Mojave. That red, orange and yellow beauty over there.”

Heath
helped Cato with the basket, insisting on carrying it. “My God, what did you
pack, a whole cow?” He was almost dizzy with happiness. Heath didn’t know
whether to stare at the beautiful woman beside him or at the awe-inspiring
majesty of the hot-air balloon waiting to take them on an adventure. He decided
to divide his time. Heath didn’t want to miss a thing. “I can’t believe you did
this.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled Cato close. “No one has ever done anything
like this for me before.”

“Good,
well, get used to it. I have three more chances to wow you before our time is
up.” With that she skipped away from him to meet an older man walking toward
them, the pilot, Heath presumed.

Before
our time is up,
Cato’s comment caught him off guard. He shook his head,
realizing he had some serious thinking to do. But right now, he had a goddess
waiting on him with hand outstretched.

“Heath,
meet Mr. Dickinson, he’ll be piloting us over Austin, the hill country and
right to the banks of Lake Buchanan at Canyon of the Eagles, if the winds
cooperate.” She turned to the other man and announced with pride. “Heath owns
the resort. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful place.”

Heath
shook hands with Mr. Dickinson and marveled at the balloon as he and Cato
followed the pilot onboard. She’d brought an afghan and he was surprised to see
the comfortable seating at the perfect height and angle for the best view of
what they would be flying over.

Mr.
Dickinson reviewed some rules and guidelines with them for their safety and
then he left to get ready for take-off. Heath sat down and patted the seat next
to him. “Come here, baby. What made you decide to do this for me?”

“I
saw a photo on the wall in your room.”

He
smiled, remembering. “The folks took us to New Mexico one fall for the hot-air
balloon festival. I’ll never forget it. I’ve went back twice since then, I love
to see a sky full of them.” He grabbed her and kissed her. “But I never
expected to ride in one. Thank you!”

Cato
was thrilled to have pleased him. “You’re welcome. I hope you’ll enjoy
everything else I have planned just as much.”

“I
have no doubt I will.” He hugged her close as they lifted off and then Heath
was mesmerized. They slowly rose into the afternoon sky and floated over
downtown Austin. He saw Lady Bird Lake, the Colorado River, the Capitol
Building and even the Tower at the University of Texas. “I’ve always loved the
Austin skyline, but this is seeing it from a whole different angle.”

Cato
held his hand as they moved on north, and soon the landscape changed from
buildings and cityscape to the rolling rocky hill country of Texas. “Gorgeous,
isn’t it?”

“Not
as gorgeous as you.”

Cato
melted into his embrace as Heath claimed her mouth as if he had a right. The kiss
was hot and sweet, and when he offered her his tongue, she opened her mouth and
met it with her own.

Heath
groaned. God, did he love to kiss her. He took her mouth with passion, tasting
her, teasing her, torturing himself.

“Hey,
I just wanted to tell you folks…oops, sorry.” Mr. Dickinson interrupted and
Heath pulled back, reluctantly.

“No
problem, buddy.”

“Anyway,”
Mr. Dickinson continued. “I just wanted to tell you that we’re cruising at
three thousand feet, we’ve got a wind that will allow us to swing west and take
you over Lake Travis,
then
we’ll head up and go over
Enchanted Rock and be right over your land, Mr. McCoy.”

“Thanks,
I look forward to it all.” Heath acknowledged the older man’s graciousness.

“Now,
I’ll leave you two alone, no matter what I hear.” With that, he winked at Heath
and left. Heath snorted, but once he was gone, he pulled Cato back into his
arms.

“I
have another surprise for you.” She gazed at him in adoration. “I want to feed
you, now.”

“I’m
definitely hungry,” he responded, although he didn’t clarify which appetite was
demanding attention the most. A breeze gently lifted her hair as she knelt
before him, digging in the picnic basket she’d prepared for him.

“I
made chicken salad with pecans, cranberries and celery. I have ham sliders,
prosciutto wrapped melon and homemade fudge brownies. Libby’s recipe!” Cato
prepared a plate, poured a glass of wine for him,
then
moved to sit between his legs. “Open up.”

When
she said she wanted to feed him, he hadn’t envisioned eating from her hand, but
he ate it up, literally. She offered him a bite, then a kiss, a bite, then a
kiss, punctuating them with sips of wine. Heath was dumbstruck. Cato was giving
of herself to him freely, generously and with exquisite grace and elegance.
Plus, she was sexy as hell. “Let’s take turns,” he murmured, taking a piece of
melon and placing it between her lips.

Cato
accepted the food from his fingers and licked her lips, relishing his touch.
With joy and laughter, they shared the food until they were sated. “The sun’s
going down, isn’t it beautiful?” Cato pointed to the western sky. For a few
moments they marveled at the first evening star to appear in the sky, the
afternoon sun’s rays playing on the waters of Lake Travis and the glinting of
the coming twilight against the pink granite dome of Enchanted Rock.

“I’ll
never forget this, Cato. Not as long as I live.”

“I
hope not.” Eagerly, she sank down between his legs. “And I certainly don’t want
you to forget this.” Every neuron in her body sizzled with needy
anticipation. 

Both
laughed as their fingers got tangled up, both trying to get his belt unbuckled
and zipper down. But Heath’s laughter faded into a growl when he saw Cato’s
face at the sight of his erection. The hunger in her eyes, the way she licked
her lips while she gazed at him was arousing as hell. “You want this.”

“Oh,
yeah, I do.” She gazed up at him, Heath was big and powerful. He had his
fingers tangled in her hair, massaging her neck. She knew in a moment, he would
guide her every move. Cato felt utterly feminine, almost small and delicate.
But she also realized another startlingly erotic fact—she was in control. Cato
knew she was the source of Heath’s pleasure and that reality increased her
arousal tenfold. She was almost drunk on the knowledge.

“Have
mercy, baby. I’m about to come just imagining your lips on me.”

With
a slight tremble, Cato grasped his thick shaft and stroked. Flicking out her
tongue, she licked the tip, teasing him. Heath reacted by tightening his grip
on her hair with one hand and reaching over to knead her breast with the other.
Knowing another person was so close, made her feel a little odd, but not enough
to stop. She needed to do this for both of them. Parting her lips, she took him
inside her mouth,
laving
the thick knob of his cock
and the sensitive glans underneath.

Cato
took him as deep as she could, in and out, her hand pumping his sizeable girth
in time with her mouth. Heath’s hips jerked sympathetically as she sucked him
off faster and faster. Glancing up at him through her lashes, she was exultant
to see the undiluted pleasure on his face. Suddenly she could take no more. “I
can’t wait,” she murmured. “I need you, Heath.” Standing up, she saw his
confusion. “Please…” she couldn’t take time to explain. Her whole body was
shaking with the desperate need to feel him inside of her. Pulling up her
skirt, she straddled his lap, pulled her panties to one side and rose up over
him. “Help me, please.”