KIDNAPPED COWBOY (12 page)

“Oh, hell.”  He jumped back, but not far enough to avoid being flattened by the incredibly sexy female peeping Tom.

“Dalton,” she gasped, trying unsuccessfully to get off of him.  She was like a turtle that had been flipped over onto its shell, flailing wildly but not able to right herself.

“Will you hold still!” he snarled past a mouthful of her hair.

To his amazement, she actually listened.  “I’m sorry.  I was trying not to crush you.”

“You should have thought about that before you laid me out flat with the trellis.”

Although he had to admit it felt pretty damn good having her body pressed against his, the curve of her sexy little backside nestled between his thighs.

“I...well, um...”

“What in the hell were you doing up there?” 

“I was checking to see if your brother was home.”

“Ever consider knocking on the door first?”

“I tried that.  No answer.”

“How about calling?”

“Tried that before I came out here and was told he wasn’t home.  So I decided to come out here and wait for him.  I noticed a light on in the window and was trying to see if he was home and just avoiding me.”

“Who told you he wasn’t home?”  Only he and Brandon live there at the house.  And she hadn’t talked to him.

Before she could reply, a section of ivy leaves on the trellis above them parted, revealing the bright blue of the sky above.  That was quickly replaced by his brother’s smirking face. 

“Need a hand?”

Dalton groaned.  He would rather lie there until the next spring thaw before asking his brother for help.  But Caitlin took the matter out of his hands.

“Yes, please.”

“Dalton?” Brandon said, no doubt waiting for his brother to request his assistance, too.

“We’re fine.”

Caitlin looked back at him pleadingly, their bodies still pressed together beneath the weight of the fallen trellis. 

With a groan, he gave in and muttered his reply.

“I’m sorry,” his brother said, leaning closer.  “I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I said yes, please!” Dalton ground out, taking in another mouthful of Caitlin’s hair in the process.

“That’s better.”  Brandon stepped away and then lifted the trellis high enough to drag it safely aside.  Once that was done, he reached down to help Caitlin to her feet.

She gave her head a quick shake, sending the pieces of leaves that clung to her hair fluttering up into the air around her.  “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” his brother replied in his usual brusque manner.

She glanced Dalton’s way, clearly expecting him to thank his brother, too.

Brandon crossed his arms, waiting.

“Thanks,” he murmured with a frown of irritation he got to his feet.  He brushed the grass and leaf bits from his jeans and then did a quick check to make sure nothing was broken.  Everything seemed to be intact.  That is, with the exception of his pride.

His brother shook his head as he stood eyeing the two of them.  “Would someone mind explaining what the hell is going on out here?”

Dalton’s gaze shifted to the house where only the weathered outline of the trellis remained and then back to Caitlin.  He wasn’t even going to attempt an explanation.  Hell, he wasn’t even sure what had just happened.

“I was trying to get your attention,” she admitted.

“Well, it worked,” his brother muttered.

Color flooded her cheeks.  “I’m really sorry about the trellis.  I’ll pay for the damages.”

“I don’t think there’ll be a need for that,” Dalton cut in.  “It just needs reattached to the wall.  Simple enough.”

“Then the job’s yours,” Brandon told him and then turned back to Caitlin.

“Do you realize I could have you arrested for trespassing?”

“Not if she had my permission,” Dalton argued.

His brother arched a dark brow.  “You gave her permission to climb the trellis and peep into my office window?”

“I wasn’t peeping,” she said in her own defense.

“She wanted to talk to you,” he explained, not that Brandon ever listened.

“Through a window?”  Brandon shook his head.  “Never mind.  I suppose we’d best continue this conversation in my office.  Something tells me if I don’t let you two say your piece, she’s gonna bring my whole damn house down.”  That said Brandon walked away.

“Thank you,” Caitlin hollered after him.  Then she turned to Dalton with a bright smile.  “Finally.”

“Are you crazy?” he demanded, his narrowed gaze shifting between the side of the house and Caitlin.  “Climbing a damned trellis with one good ankle.”

“All that matters is that I finally got your brother’s attention.”  Turning, she snatched up the crutches she’d left lying in the grass a few feet away and started off after Brandon.

Dalton caught up to her, his fingers curling around her arm to stop her from following after his brother. 

Her emerald gaze lifted, looking like polished jade under the morning sun.  “What are you doing?”

“My brother’s attention isn’t the only one you’ve grabbed hold of.”

“Excuse me?”

He plucked a piece of greenery from the red-gold strands, his hand lingering long enough to caress one of those silky strands.

Her lips parted with a sigh.

“You’ve got my attention,” he said huskily, slipping his arms around her waist.  He drew her up against him and lowered his head, covering her mouth with his own in a deep, hunger driven kiss.

Caitlin didn’t try to push him away.  Instead, she slid her arms up around his neck and leaned into him, returning the kiss.

She tasted sweet, like her favorite candy - peppermint.  A flavor that was quickly becoming his favorite as well.

He let his hands glide down her back to the gentle swell of her backside, cupping her to him. 

She moaned softly, her hips pressing into him.

The window behind them creaked as it slid open, successfully interrupting the moment.  Dalton released Caitlin, stepping away from her a mere second before his brother’s face appeared at the screen. 

“You two coming?  I don’t have all day.”

“We’re coming,” Dalton replied, casting a glance in Caitlin’s direction.  She looked as flustered as he felt, her slender fingers pressed to her kiss-swollen lips, green eyes wide.  So much female in one petite, unarguably sexy package.  One he wanted to unwrap again and again.

She bit into her bottom lip, the action making him want to drag her back into his arms and finish what they started.

It took all he had in him not to give in to his needs.  One of them had to stay focused on their goal.  And from the dazed look in her eyes it appeared it was going to be up to him.

“Come on,” he said, fitting her crutches back into place.  “The Ogre’s waiting.”

Dalton’s kiss had left her legs wobbly and her mind dazed.  Then again, he seemed to have a knack for knocking her off-balance.  Both mentally and physically.  And now here he went again. 

She’d never been kissed like that before.  Of course, she’d never had much time to do any experimenting in the make-out department.  Between working at the diner and furthering her studies, her love life was practically non-existent.  Maybe extinct would be a more fitting description.

Dalton slowed his step beside her.  “You sure you’re all right?  That was quite a spill you took.”

“I’m fine.”

It was a good thing a person couldn’t die from embarrassment or she’d have been a goner a very long time ago.  She just hoped Brandon hadn’t seen them kissing.  Her having taken down his trellis was bad enough.

His cobalt gaze slid downward as they went.  Then his dark brows creased into a worried frown.  “You seem to be favoring that ankle.”

“It’s still a little tender.”

“You might have re-injured it when you fell.  Maybe I’d better drive you into town so Doc McGraw can take a look at it.”

“Oh, no you don’t!”  She quickened her pace.  “You can just get that idea right out of your mind.  Thanks to you, I don’t think I can ever show my face in that place ever again.”

“Why?”

“Do you seriously have to ask why?”  She rolled her eyes and laughed.  “Dalton, you practically commandeered Doc McGraw’s office the last time you took me there.”

“It was an emergency,” he said with a grin.

“I don’t think the other patients that were waiting to see him considered my having twisted my ankle an emergency.  Besides, there’s no way I’m gonna miss this opportunity to discuss the retreat with your brother now that I finally managed to get him to agree to listen to what I have to say.”    

A slow grin moved across his face.  “I have to admit it’s not the way I would have gone about getting my brother’s attention.  But I guess you’re right.  It worked.”

It had worked.  Her smile widened.  Not that she had planned on taking out Brandon Barnes’ trellis.  But getting the chance to convince him to keep the retreat open was worth whatever the repair to the trellis would cost her.

“I meant what I said, Dalton.  Be sure to send me the bill for the damages.”

He waved away her offer.  “Forget about it.  All I have to do is secure it to the house again.  Unless you wanna exchange favors.”

“Favors?”

“My handyman abilities for another kiss.”

“Deal.”

“You agree to it?”

Caitlin nodded with a grin.  “Sure.  And lucky for me, I’ve already prepaid for the job with that last kiss.”  That said she started off again without him. 

He caught up to her easily.  “That kiss doesn’t count.”

“Then send me a bill,” she said as they rounded the house.

“Boy, you sure drive a hard bargain,” he said.  “Okay, consider my repair services for the trellis paid in full.  I’m sure something else will come up for you to be indebted to me for.  Then I’ll get that kiss.”

“Don’t be so certain, cowboy.”

Dalton opened the door and motioned her inside.  Then he led her down the long hallway to Brandon’s office.  “Here we are.”

She stood staring at the intricately carved panels of the closed pocket doors.  Behind them, awaiting her arrival, was the Ogre of Lone Tree.

“Caitlin?” Dalton prompted, clearly sensing her hesitation.

She looked up at him.  “Maybe I’d better go in to talk to him alone.  I’ve already caused you enough trouble.”

“Ain’t gonna happen,” he said, shaking his head.  “I’m going in with you.  And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I was born in trouble.”  Opening the door closest to him, he motioned her inside.

Gathering up her courage, Caitlin stepped into the room.

“Have a seat,” Brandon directed from behind his desk as he thumbed through a stack of papers.

Now she knew how Dorothy felt when she went in to see the wizard.  She settled onto the chair closest to her with Dalton lowering himself onto the one beside hers.

The Ogre leaned forward, folding his arms atop his desk.  Then, in a deep, commanding voice, said, “Okay, Miss Myers, you have my undivided attention.  Speak.”

She expected fire to shoot up behind him at any second.  It didn’t.  Crutches lying across her lap, she said, “I...I was hoping to convince you not to shut down Stoney Brook.”

“Too late.”

“Brandon,” Dalton cut in, “you know as well as I do that you don’t need the money.  Our father started that retreat and I think it’s a hell of a lot more important than some fancy getaway for the rich and famous.”

The expression that came over Brandon Barnes’ face as he glared angrily at his brother had Caitlin sinking back in her chair.  She had waited so long for this moment and now she was almost too afraid to speak.  To argue her case.  But, once again, Dalton had come to her rescue.

His brother pushed away from his desk and stood.  Leaning toward Dalton, he braced his hands, palms flattened, atop the desk and said in a low, controlled voice, “Are you telling me that you suddenly care about what our father wanted?  Because he wanted you to be a part of the family business and you couldn’t get far enough away from it.  Isn’t that right, Dalton?”

Dalton stood, his body taut.  “Yeah.  I left.  I wanted to get the hell out of here.”

Caitlin shot to her feet, grabbing onto the crutches before they slid to the floor.  “Stop it right now!  Both of you!”

The men ceased their angry banter and turned to her in unison, dark brows lifted in surprise.

“I didn’t come here to watch the two of you fight like a couple of spoiled children.  There are real kids out there who have nothing.  No fancy house.  No top-of-the-line thoroughbreds to ride on a whim.  No trouble deciding on what vehicle to drive that day, because they can’t afford even an old junker.  They live day to day, in and out of trouble, hungry.”

Brandon cleared his throat and turned to Dalton with a chuckle.  “Quite a temper for such a little thing.”

Dalton nodded and then broke into a smile that matched his brother’s.  “Tell me about it.  And she can be damn stubborn, too.”

One minute they were fighting, now they were making fun of her.  What happened to the discussion they were going to have about the camp?  Caitlin fumed.  Had she really expected to make any headway? 

“You don’t have any intention of changing your mind, do you?” she demanded.  He was just playing games with her at what would be the teens’ expense.  Damn him.

“Business is business, Miss Myers.”

“And heartless is heartless!”

“Caitlin...” Dalton warned.

“It’s okay,” his brother said, waving his brother’s worry off with an amused grin.  “Let her have her say.”

“You want business.  I’ll give you business.  Sell me the retreat.”  The words were out before she’d given them any thought.  What was she saying?  She didn’t have the money to buy Stoney Brook and, judging by the amused grin that moved across Brandon Barnes’ face, he knew it, too.   

“I admire your determination, Miss Myers, but I already have an investor in mind.”

“It’s plain to see that I’m wasting my breath trying to convince you to change your mind.  I just hope you can live with yourself for what you’re about to do to all those troubled teens out there whose lives might have been changed by coming to Stoney Brook.”  Turning away, she limped toward the door, her crutches thumping across the hardwood floor as she went.