RESCUE AT CARDWELL RANCH (8 page)

Once inside, he cut away from the others. The elderly couple made a beeline for McKenzie and the flyer she was handing out. He only got a glimpse of her. The last thing he wanted to do was get caught staring at her.

His plan had worked beautifully. He would wait until there were a lot of other people going through the house so he blended in. But at some point, he would have to get close enough to McKenzie Sheldon so he could look into her eyes and find out whether or not she recognized him.

Even a hint of recognition and he would get out of there. The best plan was to park a few blocks away and walk. Not that he expected her to chase him out to his car. Or even scream.

The house was no surprise. Every room was large and over the top with expensive features and furnishings. He wandered around, saw the older couple inspecting the fixtures and heard the two women oohing and ahhing over the kitchen.

As spacious as the house was, he felt claustrophobic and knew he couldn’t take much more of this. He was working up his nerve to return to the main entrance and get one of the brochures from Ms. Sheldon, when he came around a corner and almost collided with her.

She pretended the encounter hadn’t startled her, but he’d seen the terror flash in her eyes. Nice eyes, more green than blue today. Those eyes widened and for just a moment, he feared she’d recognized him. She was blocking the hallway and his way out. A fissure of panic raced along his nerve endings. Perspiration dampened his shirt and hairline.

He told himself that if she opened her mouth, he’d hit her. There wasn’t anyone else around. He’d punch her hard enough to knock her out and then he’d push her into one of the bedrooms and leave quickly. He balled up one fist and took a breath.

But she didn’t scream. The flash of terror had only lasted an instant then she’d looked relieved and relaxed a little.

“Sorry,” she said. “You startled me.”

Not as much as I did a few nights ago.
He looked right into those aquamarine waters. Not even a hint of recognition. He almost laughed since just an instant before he’d been planning to knock her senseless and make his escape.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We both must have been distracted.”

“How do you like the house?” she asked, covering her initial reaction to him.

“It’s beautiful.”
Just like you.
She blew him away. She was much more striking than her photo on the real-estate signs. There was a sweetness about her. Strength? Oh, he knew her strength and her determination only too well. Sweet, strong and successful—his perfect woman.

“You might want one of these.” She held out a flyer.

“Yes,” he said and smiled. “Thank you. Oh, and do you have a business card?”

She brightened. “Of course. I usually have one stapled to the flyers. I forgot this morning. I have one in my purse if you’d like to follow me.” She headed back toward the entrance. He followed her, admiring the part of her body he had some history with.

From under an entertainment counter, she pulled out her purse, removed a business card and handed it to him. The card was thick, nicely embossed. He rubbed it gently between his fingers. A business card told a lot about a person.

He carefully put it into his shirt pocket and folded the flyer she’d given him.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” she asked.

“No, I think I have everything.” He smiled. “But you’ll be hearing from me.”

* * *

M
C
K
ENZIE
WAS
JUST
about to ask the man for his name when the front door opened and her attention was drawn away as she saw Hayes Cardwell come through the door.

A mixture of pleasure and relief filled her at the sight of the big cowboy. He wore jeans, a Western shirt and a gray Stetson over his longish dark hair. Unlike yesterday, he looked more relaxed.

Almost instinctively, she started to move toward him, but remembered the man who’d shown an interest in the house. She turned her attention back to him. “I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions about the house or would like to see any others.”

“Next time, I’d like to bring my wife along. I’ll give you a call,” the man said, glancing at Hayes before he quickly moved off.

McKenzie turned to Hayes. She always felt she had to be “on” at open houses. Even though she loved her job, sometimes it wasn’t just her high-heeled shoes that made her hurt. Her face often ached from smiling so much.

“Decided you wanted a kitchen with all stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops?”

“Can’t imagine living without them.”

She chuckled at that. “You’re saying you don’t have them at your house in Houston?”

“I live in an unremodeled house in the older part of Houston.”

She cocked an eyebrow at that.

“I have...humble tastes.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” she said. “Excuse me a moment.” McKenzie saw a few more people she needed to talk to before they left. The elderly couple sounded interested. She gave them her business card. As she started to go look for Hayes, she saw the man she’d spoken to earlier before Hayes had come in.

The man was walking away when he suddenly stopped and turned to look back at her as if he’d known she’d be there framed in the front window, watching him. He gave a slow, vague kind of smile. She quickly stepped back out of sight, even though she feared he’d seen her. His smile had almost been mocking, as if he’d put one over on her.

She’d dealt with enough people at open houses that she had a pretty good sense of who was genuinely in the market for a house and who wasn’t. The man had seemed interested and yet he hadn’t asked any questions about the house—unlike the elderly couple. Maybe he
had
just been putting her on.

McKenzie went to find Hayes, annoyed with the man and herself. He might have fooled her once, but she would be watching for him at her next open house.

* * *

H
AYES
LOOKED
AROUND
the large residence, killing time until the open house was over. Several men came through. Any one of them could have been McKenzie’s attacker.

At four o’clock, he found McKenzie finishing up with a couple and waited as she packed up to leave.

“Dinner. You name the restaurant,” he said.

“I really should—”

“Work?” He saw her hesitate. “I figured since we both need to eat...”

She brushed a lock of hair back from her face. She’d dressed up for the open house, taking extra pains with her appearance. Probably to give herself more confidence. But under the surface, he would see that she was still running scared.

“Hayes, I appreciate what you’re trying to do....”

“
Eat?
I like to do it three times a day, if possible.”

“You know what I mean.” She sighed. “You can’t protect me forever, especially since you will be leaving soon.”

He nodded. “So that must mean I’m just hungry, don’t you think?”

She laughed. “Are you always so determined?”

“Always.” He led the way out of the house and waited while she locked up. “By the way, how long do we have on that restaurant space at Big Sky?”

“Changed your mind?” she asked as they walked toward their vehicles.

“Tag isn’t changing
his
mind.” They’d reached his rented SUV. “Why don’t you leave your car,” he suggested. “I’ll be happy to bring you back after dinner.”

“Okay. Just let me put my things away.”

He watched her put the flyers in the passenger seat and helped her place the Open House signs in the trunk. But as they finished, he noticed her look past him and frown. He turned but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“Is everything all right?” he asked.

“Hmm,” she said distractedly. “Just someone I saw earlier at the open house. He must live in the neighborhood. It’s nothing.”

They ate a nice dinner, talked about everything but her attacker. Not that it kept the man from being present. Hayes doubted the attack was ever far from either of their minds.

He’d hoped McKenzie would be staying in the cabin at Cardwell Ranch, but she couldn’t hide out, given her career. Not that a woman like her would let herself hide out forever, anyway, and the man might never be caught. Still, he didn’t like the idea of McKenzie staying in her condo alone.

He’d told his brother he was staying until the wedding. It was only a few weeks away and if they were going ahead with the restaurant, he could help out. At least that was his excuse. In truth, he couldn’t leave McKenzie. Not yet, even though she was right. He couldn’t stay forever. Maybe it was best for her to start adjusting to living with never knowing when the man might reappear in her life.

“Dinner was wonderful,” she said as they left the restaurant. “And a great idea.”

“Thanks. I’m just full of great ideas,” he said with a chuckle. “Like this one. I wish you would come back up to the ranch tonight.”

She shook her head as he pulled up behind her car where they’d left it earlier for the open house. With the houses so far apart, the neighborhood was dark in the huge spaces between streetlamps. No lights burned in the house she’d shown earlier. With the houses bordered by tall, dense trees or high hedges, there were lots of places for a man to hide, he thought.

How many houses just like this did she show alone? He hated to think. In other places, he’d heard that real-estate agents now worked in twos to be safer. But this was Montana. People felt safe here.

“Thank you for the offer,” she said. “I appreciate it, but I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

He nodded, not surprised.

She opened her car door. “Have your brother give me a call about the restaurant space.”

So that was how it was going to be? Business as usual? The woman was stubborn as a mule. She refused to take some time off, leave the state or at least town for a while. There was no way he could keep her safe and he couldn’t just walk away.

He got out and caught up to her, catching her hand to turn her toward him. “I have a favor.” She raised a brow. “I need a date for the wedding.”

“Your brother’s wedding?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head. “I’m not your responsibility. I told you, you can’t keep me safe.”

“It’s more complicated than that,” he said as he touched her cheek. “From the moment I first looked in your eyes...” His words died off. She was staring at him. He shook his head. “Maybe I can’t get you out of my mind—”

“I know what you’re up to.”

“I doubt that,” he said, and leaned toward her, his hand looping around the back of her neck as he gently drew her to him. “Because if you could see what I was up to, then you’d know I was about to kiss you.”

He brushed his lips over hers, then pulled back to gaze into her eyes. He’d been captivated by those eyes two nights ago. That hadn’t changed. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“You don’t have to treat me as if I’m made out of glass and might break,” she said. “I’m a little battered right now, but I’m resilient and strong, a lot stronger than I look.”

“Is that right?” He looped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him right there in the street between their vehicles. He kissed her like he meant it this time. Her full lips parted in surprise. Her sweet, warm breath comingled with his own. She let out a soft moan as he tasted her. Drawing her even closer, he deepened the kiss, demanding more.

McKenzie came to him, fitting into his arms as she answered his kiss with passion. He felt desire race in a hot streak through his veins. He didn’t want to ever stop kissing her.

But when she pulled back, he let out a shaky breath. “Wow,” he said and laughed.

She sounded just as breathless. She met his gaze in the moonlight. “Hayes, what is this?”

“
This?
This is crazy. Worst possible timing ever.”

McKenzie nodded agreement.

“And yet, from the first moment I looked into your eyes...”

She shook her head. “I...I really can’t.... Hayes, I’m not sure of anything right now and quite frankly, I’m suspicious of your motives.”

“My motives for kissing you? It was just a kiss, right?”

She studied him openly in the dim light.

“Quite the kiss, though, wouldn’t you say?” he asked, grinning.

She smiled at that. “Quite the kiss.”

“Glad you agree. I’m still going to follow you home and make sure you’re all right.”

She looked as if she wanted to put up a fight, but no longer had the energy to. “Thank you,” she said as she turned and started for her car. He watched her. She seemed a little wobbly on her high heels, strange for a woman who lived in them. He hoped the kiss had smacked her silly the way it had him. He’d kissed his share of women, but none had lit a fire in him the way McKenzie’s kiss had.

As she reached the car, she hesitated. He saw her glance back at him, then reach for something on her windshield. His pulse leaped. Something was wrong. He was running toward her as she took what looked like a folded sheet of paper from under the wiper blade.

Chapter Eight

McKenzie had been shaken even before she found the note. The kiss had her whirling. It had been a while since a man had kissed her. She couldn’t recall anyone who’d made her surrender so completely to a kiss before, though. She’d felt...
wanton,
and that wasn’t a word she would have used about herself. She’d also felt out of control and that scared her.

Hayes had her blood running hot. He’d sparked something in her that made her ache for more. That alone was enough to turn her already crazy world upside down. She’d been content with her career, with her life, with an occasional date. Hayes had changed all that in just one kiss. Now she wanted...Hayes Cardwell. Bad timing or not.

But she questioned whether he was interested in her as a woman. Or if he was just hardwired to protect the woman whose life he’d saved because he was a Texas cowboy and a gentleman.

When she’d found the note under her windshield wiper, at first she’d thought it was an advertisement.

Instead, scrawled words had been written on the sheet of paper.

I’m watching you.

This time you won’t get away.

I am going to miss your long hair.

The paper began to shake in her fingers. She had
felt
him watching her. It hadn’t been her imagination. He was out there and he wasn’t through with her.

She read the words again, all easily visible in the diffused light from the closest streetlamp. All her bravado fell away. The man wasn’t giving up. He was out there. Maybe even watching her right now, wanting to see her fall apart.

McKenzie slumped against her car as she looked out into the darkness, unable to pretend any longer that she wasn’t terrified. She’d thought she could go on as if nothing had happened. As if nothing kept happening.

Suddenly, Hayes was at her side, his arms coming around her. “What is it?” His gaze took in the sheet of paper trembling in her fingers. Using his sleeve, he took it from her. “Get in my car. I’ll call the police.”

She nodded and started for his rental SUV. Earlier, she’d told him how strong and resilient she was. She didn’t feel either right now. She wanted to lose herself in his strong arms. For so long she’d made her way alone, determined not to lean on anyone, not to need anyone. Right now, she needed Hayes—and more than just to protect her.

Behind her, she heard him on the phone. Her gaze swept through the dark neighborhood. A breeze stirred the tree boughs, throwing shadows everywhere. Was he out there watching her? Enjoying tormenting her?

McKenzie quickened her step, grabbed the passenger-side door handle and flung it open. She practically threw herself into the car, slamming the door behind her. Heart pounding, she tried to catch her breath. Anger mixed with fear, a deadly combination that had her wiping furiously at her tears.

She’d never felt helpless before. It was a horrible feeling, one she couldn’t bear. Somehow, she had to make it end, and falling into bed with Hayes wasn’t the answer as much as she would have liked to.

As Hayes finished his call and climbed into the SUV behind the wheel, she turned to him. “I have to find this man.”

“I’ve called the police. They’re on their way. They’ll see if they can get a print off—”

“He won’t have left fingerprints on the note he left for me. He’s too smart for that.” She shook her head. “Nor do I believe the police will find him. That’s why I have to.”

Hayes stared across the seat at her. “What are you saying?”

“I need to set a trap for him.”

He held up a hand. “Hold on.”

“No, I can’t let him continue to torment me. I have to find him and put an end to this, one way or another.”

* * *

H
AYES
DIDN
’
T
KNOW
how to tell her, but decided honesty might be the best approach. “I would imagine he will find you before you find him.” He saw her reaction to his words. “He’s fooling with you because you made a fool of him the other night. He has only one option. He needs to right this. Which means there’s a really good chance that he isn’t some psycho passing through town who just happened to see you the other night. He’s a hometown psycho who isn’t finished with you.”

Her lower lip quivered for a moment before she bit down on it. “You sound as if you’ve dealt with this kind of...person before.”

He nodded. “I’ve crossed paths with several. They’re calculating, cunning and unpredictable—and extremely dangerous.”

She leaned toward him and he was reminded of their kiss. He could smell her clean scent and remembered the feel of her in his arms. “Help me set a trap for him. I don’t want to wait until it’s on his terms.”

“It’s not that easy—”

McKenzie drew back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. You have your brother’s wedding and you’re leaving town—”

“Do you really think I can leave you now?” He thought of that strange feeling the moment he’d looked into her eyes three nights ago—not to mention the kiss just moments before. He took her hands in his, reveling at the touch of her skin against his. This woman made him feel things he’d never felt before, never dreamed he would ever feel.

“I can’t let you go after this man alone. I’m staying until I know you’re safe.” He wasn’t sure he could leave even then and that scared him more than he wanted to admit.

He thought of his brother Tag coming to Montana for Christmas and falling for Lily. Now Tag was getting married and talking about settling in Big Sky. Hayes had thought his brother was nuts to leave behind everything like that.

Hayes felt as if his head were spinning. All he knew for sure was that he had to protect this woman—whatever it took. He couldn’t think beyond that, didn’t dare.

“I won’t be safe as long as he’s out there. You said so yourself. I don’t see that I have a choice.”

A car turned onto the street. The headlights washed over them. Hayes glanced in his rearview mirror as the cop car pulled up behind them.

Hayes didn’t have a choice, either. He leaned over and kissed her quickly before climbing out with the note that had been left on her windshield. Like her, he doubted there would be fingerprints on it. Just as he doubted the police would be able to find this man, given how little they had to go on.

The only thing Hayes didn’t doubt was that the psycho would be coming for McKenzie.

* * *

T
HE
POLICE
OFFICER
bagged the note her attacker had left and promised to let her know if they found any prints. McKenzie could see that Hayes wasn’t holding out any more hope than she was.

The cop walked around the neighborhood, shone his flashlight into the bushes and trees, but to no one’s surprise, found nothing.

“He’s right,” Hayes said after the officer left and he walked her back to her car. “The best thing you can do right now would be to take a long vacation somewhere far away from here.”

They stood under Montana’s big sky. Millions of stars glittered over their heads and a cool, white moon now buoyed along among them. The June night had turned crisp and cool. This far north even summer nights could chill you. Especially if there was a killer on the loose.

“Do you really think the man would forget about me?” She didn’t give him a chance to answer because they both knew that answer. “I can’t run away. I would always be looking over my shoulder. No, I have to end this here and soon.”

Hayes groaned. “How did I know you were going to say that?”

She shrugged and met his gaze, losing herself in his dark eyes. It would have been easy to get on a plane with him and go to Texas and pretend none of this had happened.

But it
had
happened. Not to mention, she had a business here, people who were counting on her. She wasn’t going anywhere—not that Hayes had given her the Texas option to begin with.

She felt strangely calmer as she leaned against the side of her car and looked at the Texas cowboy standing by her. Once she’d settled down enough so she could actually think clearly, she’d made the decision quickly—just as she’d done with her business.

She couldn’t wait around for this horrible man to try to abduct her again and do nothing. If Hayes wouldn’t help her, then she would figure out something on her own. She’d been on her own and done all right. She wasn’t going to let one crazy psycho change that.

“I have another open house tomorrow.” She held up her hand before Hayes could argue. “As you said, he knows who I am. He also knows where I am going to be. For all I know he was one of the people who came through the house earlier. I could have talked to him.” She shuddered at the thought and hugged herself.

“I wouldn’t be at all surprised that he was one of the men who came through today,” Hayes said. “Seeing you feeds whatever it is that drives him. He likes seeing you scared. He’ll play with you until he’s ready to make his move, until an opportunity presents itself.”

She was no fool. She was still scared, but knowing that the man wanted her scared made her determined not to let her fear hold her back. “So you’re saying it could be a while before he makes his move?”

“Possibly. Unless you give him the opportunity he needs—like at an open house. You do realize this is speculation based on what I know about men like this. As I said earlier, they’re unpredictable. I could be completely off base. There is no way to know what he will do next.”

She nodded, considering this. “He feels safe because I didn’t see his face the night he attacked me. If you’re right about what drives him, he won’t be able to stay away.”

Hayes took off his Stetson and raked a hand through his thick, dark hair. She recalled the feel of those fingers when he’d taken the nape of her neck in his hand during their kiss.

“If you’re determined to do this, then I’m staying down here in the valley tonight. I’m also going to the open house tomorrow,” Hayes said.

She shook her head. “He won’t make his move as long as you’re around.”

He stuffed his hat back down on his head and stepped to her to take her shoulders in his hands. “He’s just waiting for the chance to get you alone again. He will make that happen with or without me around because he knows I can’t watch you all the time. I’ll be there tomorrow, like it or not.”

McKenzie knew she didn’t have the strength to tackle this tonight. “All right,” she agreed. She had mixed feelings about having Hayes around. On one hand she would definitely feel safer, but he was a distraction she couldn’t afford right now. She had to think clearly.

“He’ll come to the open house tomorrow.”

Hayes nodded in agreement. “That would be my guess. He’s trying to build up his confidence. Being around you and you not knowing how close he is...well, that will make him feel more in control.”

“Is there any way to get photos of everyone who comes through the open house?”

“Consider it done. I’ll also talk to the police about running the license plates of those who show up.”

She smiled at him. “I do appreciate what you’re trying to do to keep me safe.” She sobered as she looked into his handsome face. “I don’t like involving you in this. If this man is as dangerous as we both suspect—”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll follow you to your condo. But first let me check your car.”

McKenzie watched him look under and around her car before popping the hood and checking the engine. “You can’t think he’d put a bomb under my hood.”

“Not really. But I do think he might disable your car so it stalls on the way to your condo and while you’re trying to figure out what is wrong...”

She got the idea. Distraction. That’s how she’d fallen into the man’s snare the first time. A memory of the dark night at the grocery-store parking lot flashed before her. She’d been fiddling with her keys, her mind on the phone call and Gus. Gus, she thought with a silent curse. Maybe she should have called the police after she found him on her doorstep at the condo. Was this note merely him trying to scare her? Or was it from the man who’d tried to abduct her?

As she looked out into the darkness, McKenzie wasn’t sure who would be caught in the trap she hoped to set for her would-be abductor. Whoever he was, she didn’t feel him out there watching her. But he had been there. A psycho who, for whatever reason, had set his sights on her.

* * *

A
T
HER
CONDO
,
McKenzie unlocked the door while Hayes surveyed the neighborhood. He hated that there were too many places for a man to hide. Also, because Bozeman was so small, he had to assume that the man knew where she lived.

He had McKenzie remain by the door until he could check to make sure they were alone in the condo. The place was neat and clean and sparsely furnished. He got the feeling that she didn’t spend much time here other than to sleep.

The lower floor consisted of a kitchen, dining room, living room and half bath. Upstairs he found a full bath and two bedrooms. Just the right size for a single woman who worked all the time.

“Can you tell if anyone has been here?” he asked her when he returned to where he’d left her downstairs just inside the door.

She glanced around, clearly startled by the question. “I don’t think so. How would he have gotten in?”

“I didn’t see any forced entry, but if the man is someone you know and has access to your keys...”

“You mean like an old boyfriend?” She shook her head. “No one has a key to my condo. Nor can I recall anyone having access to my keys.”

“Good.” He met her gaze. “Do you own a weapon?”

She swallowed and looked uncomfortable. “I have pepper spray, Hayes.” His name seemed to come of its own volition. She appeared surprised as if she, too, had just realized that she’d never said it before. “I also have a spare bedroom, if you want to...” She looked away.

“Thanks,” he said without hesitation. He was planning to stay, whether she liked it or not.

“The spare bedroom—”

“I know where it is,” he said.

She nodded. “I can’t take being afraid all the time.”