Surrender to Temptation (22 page)

“Yes?” said a terse voice.

“This is Nikki Savoy, Dee’s sister. My mother said you wanted to talk to me. Is it true you are investigating the fire in Los Angeles and plan to prove my sister’s innocence?”

“We know someone else started that fire, and we are going to prove it.”

She loved his confidence. He spoke with a trace of an accent. Caribbean or South American. “Please, call me Nikki. And you are?”

“Rodriquez, but you can call me Rod. I’m a private investigator with LASEC. Before we continue, I’d like you to promise that you will not mention this investigation to anyone. Our client is very private and insists on keeping the investigation low key. Will you promise me that?”

“Of course. So what do you want to know?”

“Are you using a smart phone, Nikki?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m sending you a video. Take a look at the man and call me back. I want to know if you’ve ever seen him with your sister before. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll hang up now, but I’ll be waiting for your call.” The line went dead.

Chatty, wasn’t he? Her phone beeped, and she opened the link. She watched the video twice and then made the call. “I’ve never seen him before. Who is he?”

“Patrick Finch. Does his name ring a bell?”

“No.” Not that she’d know if Dee had been seeing the man. They never talked about their love lives. “Why are you checking for a connection between him and my sister when he visited Keira Higgins? Shouldn’t you be checking into
her
background?”

“We are, but our client is thorough and wants us to cover all our bases. That means eliminating those involved.”

Nikki frowned. “Does that include Mr. Fitzgerald?”

Rod chuckled. “Of course.”

“Who is your client?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Is he my sister’s boyfriend?” Nikki asked.

“Like I said, the man prefers to remain anonymous. Do you happen to know where your sister kept her old laptop?”

Nikki’s eyes went to the laptop on top of the bedside drawers. The conversation was too surreal. Who would believe her sister implicitly like that, other than a boyfriend or someone who loved and trusted her?

“Are you still there, Nikki?” Rod asked.

She sighed. “Yes. Why do you want her laptop?”

“If we could check her e-mails, we might know if she communicated with Finch.”

Nikki frowned. “Are you checking Keira Higgins’ laptop, too? Showing her family the video of Finch?”

“We are, but very discretely because they might call and warn her. However, we have someone checking into her background and going through her e-mails, and another member of my team is working on Finch’s. Like I said, our client wants us to be thorough. It’s the only way to prove your sister’s innocence.”

“Does this mean your client doesn’t believe Keira Higgins’ version of the story?”

“I’m not at liberty to answer that. Only our client can do that.”

“And how can I get in touch with him? You know, to thank him for hiring you guys.”

He chuckled. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

Nikki sighed. Instead of being suspicious, she should work with these guys. “Fine. I have my sister’s laptop. I fly back home in two days and can hand it over to you on Saturday.”

“Or you could FedEx it tomorrow. Where exactly are you? Your mother said you were on vacation, but she didn’t say where.”

“Like your client, I’m very private and don’t give out personal information, Rod. Why don’t you give your address and I’ll try to mail it tomorrow? If I can’t, I’ll send you a text.”

“Okay. I’ll text it to you.”

“Okay. And, uh, her laptop is password protected,” Nikki added.

“That’s not going to be a problem. We have people who can go around such things. It’s been nice talking you, Nikki. Text me when you mail the laptop.”

Nikki switched off the phone and exhaled. If they could prove that Dee hadn’t started the fire, she’d hunt down their “client” and kiss his feet in gratitude. She walked to the bedside drawers, picked up Dee’s laptop, and sat back on the bed. Like before, she turned it on and tried to use different passwords with little success.

Sighing, Nikki put the phone down and headed downstairs.

The kitchen was empty. Two sheets of potato wedges, perfectly sliced, spiced, and nicely arranged, were in the oven. A bowl of spices sat on the table, and beside it was another bowl with uncooked wedges. Chase. Grinning, Nikki walked to the window and saw him tending the grill. Chef Fitzgerald was definitely coming back.

She headed outside.

“Did you hijack my dinner?” she teased.

Chase looked up and grinned, but his eyes were watchful. “Just trying to help. Is everything okay?”

“Couldn’t be better. The wedges in the oven look yummy, and the steak is on the grill, thanks to you.” On the grill’s side tray were slices of vegetables—zucchini, onions, tomatoes, green and yellow peppers—on skewers. “Do you need help with anything?”

“No.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her in front of him, and dropped a kiss on her nape. “I meant is everything okay with your parents?”

“Oh yeah. They were on their way to the hospital to see my sister and wanted me to deal with something.” She leaned against him. He was tense. She rubbed his arms.

“Is your sister feeling better?” Chase asked.

Her sister was one subject she didn’t want to discuss with Chase. “Yes. You impressed my mother. What did the two of you talk about?”

“She asked questions, and I answered.”

She could feel him relax, but she didn’t stop rubbing his arms. “Like what?”

“Whether I had a wife.”

Nikki’s jaw dropped. She turned to look at him. “She did not.”

“She did.” He turned the steaks. “I thought you southern belles were more subtle about such things.”

Nikki laughed. “Not my mother. She won’t stop throwing men my way until I bring one home. Sorry if she asked too many personal questions.”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle. How do you like your steak?”

“Medium-well.”

Dinner that evening was a festive affair. The men ate as though they hadn’t eaten in days. Part of Nikki felt bad they’d tolerated her cooking, but it was worth it to see Chase in the kitchen cooking again. When Mrs. B insisted on helping with the clean-up and Nikki didn’t complain, Chase watched them with narrowed eyes.

“Do you think he’s onto us?” Nikki asked.

“Then he’ll find it hard to figure out how Winston is involved.”

“Winston?”

“I sent him to complain about your cooking this evening.”

Nikki winced. “I think I overdid it with the soup today.”

“Yes, you did, but it did the trick.” She hugged Nikki. “When are you leaving?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“You sure you can’t stay longer? We’re going to miss you.”

Nikki smiled. “I’ll miss you too, Mrs. B, but I have to go back. My life is in San Diego.” And she was trying hard to remember that, because Eagles Hill was beginning to feel more and more like home than San Diego ever did.

“Don’t go back home yet,” Chase whispered later that night, his hand stroking the curve of her stomach.

“I have to be in San Diego by Monday.”

“Then we’ll fly you back on Sunday.”

“I don’t know.”

He kissed her thoroughly and whispered, “I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday in L.A. We can travel together on Sunday.” He kissed her again.

It was tempting even though she was aware he was trying to manipulate her with kisses.

He ran his knuckles down her cheek and pushed strands of hair from her forehead. “Give me a few more days, sweetheart.”

She wanted forever. But when he looked at her with those gorgeous blue eyes as though she was the most important thing in his life, she couldn’t refuse him anything. “Okay. I’ll change my ticket.”

“No, I’ll take care of it.”

In one smooth move, he rolled her over. Nikki swallowed at the raw hunger on his face before he kissed her. There was something different in his kisses. One second soft and reverent, the next fierce as though he wanted to brand her.

He left her lips and moved lower, nibbling his way under her chin, and pausing at her neck. His hot breath on her skin was pure heaven and torture. It didn’t matter how often they made love; she couldn’t get enough of him. She shuddered, and his body echoed hers.

He rose to his knees and stared at her. His eyes blazing, he ran the tips of his fingers up and down her front, pausing to tease her nipples. “You are the most exquisite woman I’ve ever met.”

She was humbled he thought so, but she’d seen the women in his family and his ex-fiancée. Their unparalleled beauty was undeniable. She reached for him, and the kiss that followed scorched, leaving her breathless.

He moved lower to her throat, her chest, pleasuring her with his lips, tongue, and teeth. Her gasps of pleasure filled the room.

The ferocity of his kisses overwhelmed her. When he pushed her knees apart and his tongue tasted her, she moaned and trembled, her hips lifting to meet him. Relentless with his hot caresses, she clutched his hair and rocked. Her entire body jerked and quivered with each sensuous lick, until an orgasm tore through her. He didn’t stop. His tongue and mouth continued to stroke and tease her, making the orgasm go on forever.

Her head spinning, she watched him crawl up her body like a predator about to claim his victim, blue flames leaping in his eyes. “The taste of you, the feel of you, Nikki, drives me crazy.”

She answered him by claiming his lips. She didn’t think she could talk without telling him how much she loved him. Not because of what he did to her in bed, but because of who he was inside and out. She trailed her tongue along his jaw to his neck. He groaned.

“Tell me you don’t feel it, the gut-wrenching feeling of utter completion when I do this.” He entered her slowly, and his eyes stayed locked with hers. “You are mine, Nikki Savoy.”

She didn’t know if that was a declaration of love, but she loved it. “Yes.”

“Say it,” he ordered.

“I’m yours.” His body trembled above hers as he pushed to the hilt. Nikki moaned at the sensation. “You are mine, Chase Fitzgerald.”

“Yes.” Pleasure crossed his face as he rocked against her hips again and again.

Nikki ran her hands down his back and cupped his butt cheeks as he lifted his powerful body and sank into her. He dipped his head and kissed gently in contradiction to his fierce, fast strokes. She clung to him, taking and giving until they came together in one fierce moment of bliss.

Nikki held him close as he collapsed on top of her. Gently, she stroked his hair and whispered softly to him until he stopped shaking.

CHAPTER 16

The next day, Chase entered the den to find Nikki pacing. She’d texted him to come to the den, and his gut had gone cold as he imagined the worst. Had she received a call from home and had to leave?

“What happened?” he asked.

Her luminous hazel eyes met his. She laughed, jumped up, and waved him over. “It’s alive.”

The sound of her laughter eased his worry a notch. “What is?”

“Your website. Look.”

The relief that rushed through him was sweet. Instead of looking at the open laptop, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Don’t ever do that again. I thought you were going to tell me that you were leaving.”

She leaned back and frowned. “Why would I leave after I promised to stay?”

“Your sister—”

She pressed a finger on his lips. “No more talk about leaving. Sit.” She pushed him on the chair and sat on his lap. “Now search for anything, say Zeus, or Philly’s sire or dam.”

He typed Philly’s sire in the website’s search engine and a page popped up. It had the image of the mare’s sire, his lineage, and links to his home and his owner.

“This link sends you to the discussion board, where browsers can ask you questions or leave comments. If you want to upload documents on information, you do it here through the browser interface. Right now, if you type Philly’s foal, you get this.”

The page displayed a pregnant Philly, a description of her condition and her gestation days, and the words,
Philly is due any day now. Check next week
.

“Once she foals and we add the information and pictures here, when a browser types Philly’s foal, they’ll go to the foal’s page. We’ll, of course, need to update the info on the new foal and add pictures.”

Chase frowned. “I want you to maintain the website. I don’t think I can get the hang of this interface thing.” Actually he got it, but he needed a reason to have her visit as often as possible and for him to fly to San Diego. They had a good thing going here, and he refused to let it end.

“Okay. Let’s worry about that later. Do you want to look around some more? I need to make a phone call. Then I’m yours for the next few days. No more computer stuff. Oh, and your uncle sent me the privacy and legal notices. The links are at the bottom of every page.” She clicked one of them. “You should read them in case you want something changed.”

“No, I trust my uncle.”

“Then we are done. I’ll update the site after Philly delivers. I hope she does before we leave.” She combed his hair with her fingers.

He loved her simple gestures of affection. “You and I will never be done, sweetheart. Come on. I want to show you something.” He stood, grabbed her hand, and led her outside. “We’ll take the horses.”

Watching her prepare for a ride filled him with pride. She’d come a long way.

“Race you,” she called out and took off.

Once again, she’d forgotten to wear a hat. Laughing, he raced after her. When he caught up with her, he took his hat and placed it on her head, tucking her hair. “Didn’t I say never to be outside without a hat?”

She laughed and kissed him. “I know. What did you want to show me?”

“First the land.” This time, he showed her his property in its entirety, circling the boundaries, cutting through the plains, and crossing brooks in some parts until they reached the woods.

“It’s huge,” Nikki said.

He shrugged. The land meant nothing without someone to share it with. He wanted that someone to be Nikki. All he needed was the perfect moment to tell her he loved her. “Come on. We still have more to see.”

He took her to his canyon. It didn’t cover much, but it was secluded and away from the hiking trails. They tied their horses, let them graze, and walked. Hand-in-hand.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, Chase.”

It was nature at its best. Wild flowers grew in a continuous blend of colors. “I’m preserving it. No people, except me and you, and no domesticated animals.” The horses were tied at the edge of the area. “I know you love flowers, so enjoy.”

“Are you kidding? I’m not walking through the field. I might step on some.”

Ignoring her protests, he grabbed her hand and tugged her forward, careful not to step on the blooms. He found the perfect bloom and reached down to pluck it.

“Whoa. What are you doing?” Nikki asked.

“What? I can’t give you flowers now?”

“Not when you’re trying to preserve them, silly.”

He gave her a brief kiss. “I was trying to be romantic, but I apologize. C’mon. You have to see my cave and my sunbathing spot.”

The cave was well lit by a single beam of light coming from a crack in the roof. He kept it clean and even left a few cans of food under rolled-up blankets trapped by stones and a heap of sticks in one corner.

“I always make sure there are dry blankets, matches, firewood, and some canned food. You know, in case someone gets stranded out here and finds the cave.”

“You never cease to amaze me, Chase Fitzgerald. You leave a cooler, too?”

He chuckled. “No, that’s our picnic. I brought it out here earlier before going back home to get you.”

He gave her the blanket, which she spread at the mouth of the cave. Then she helped him remove their treats. He opened the bottle of wine and served them.

It couldn’t get any better than this, Chase decided.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” he teased. The pond was visible from where they sat.

Nikki eyed the pond. “Can you see the bottom?”

“No. It’s pretty deep. Come on. I’ll show you.” They packed their picnic leftovers and headed toward the lake.

Nikki studied the water and frowned. “It’s murky.”

“Where is your sense of adventure, woman?” He dropped the picnic basket, scooped her from behind, and pretended to throw her in.

Nikki squealed and hung on to his neck. “I swear if you throw me in there and Nessie gets me, I will come back and haunt you.”

He laughed and slowly lowered her down. They kissed and walked back to the horses, taking their time. It was going on two in the afternoon when they arrived back at the ranch.

Dean’s SUV was in the driveway.

“Looks like we have visitors,” Nikki said.

Chase grinned. Did she realize she’d said “we”? “That’s Dean’s.”

The words barely left his lips when Dean walked out of the barn with Lex behind him. His cousin had gone to Dillon for horse feed and offered to pick up Lex and Keira Higgins from the airport.

“Were you expecting your brother?” Nikki asked.

“Yes.” Where was Keira?

***

Nikki studied Lex Fitzgerald and decided that the Fitzgeralds were into selective breeding. It was the only explanation why their men were tall, gorgeous, and drool-worthy. Lex had to be six-five or six with broad shoulders and thighs like tree trunks. From his tailored pants and gray polo shirt to his brown hair, nothing seemed out of place.

“Chase,” a high-pitched voice called out, and Nikki’s head whipped toward the house. A familiar petite woman in jeans, cowboy shirt, and boots ran from the porch and hurled herself at Chase just as he got off Thunder. His arms closed around her.

“I couldn’t believe it when I received your e-mail,” she added.

Keira Higgins.

At Eagles Hill.

When had Chase e-mailed her? And why wasn’t he putting her down?

Keira leaned back. “I’m so happy you wanted to see me, hun.”

Hun? Nikki wanted to tell her to get off her man.

“Miss Savoy,” Lex said, and Nikki’s attention shifted. He offered her his hand. “May I?”

Chase often helped her down and then kissed her, whether they were alone or with his workers. It was their ritual. Now his arms were around his ex-fiancée, whom he’d e-mailed and invited to his home.

“Ms. Savoy?”

She glanced at Lex and smiled. Or tried to. He didn’t look like the kind of man who waited around for anyone. She took his hand and allowed him to help her down from Trinity. Up close, he was even larger and more beautiful than on the screen during their video conferences. Unlike the Fitzgerald blue eyes, his were steely gray, which suited his chiseled features. The dimple on his chin only made him look more striking.

“Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald. Please, call me Nikki.”

“Nikki. I’m Lex.” He pressed a kiss on her knuckles and held on to her hand as a breathtaking smile transformed his serious gray eyes into molten silver. He really was a gorgeous man, but he didn’t make her heart race or warmth unfurl in the pit of her stomach. Those bodily reactions were reserved for one man—Chase. So even though she appreciated his brother’s beauty, her ears were tuned in to Chase’s conversation.

“I tried to contact you, but no one would tell me where you were,” Keira said.

“I’ve been here,” Chase said, but from his voice Nikki couldn’t tell whether he was happy to see the woman or not.

“If I’d known, I would have tracked you down and joined you months ago. Look at this place. It is amazing. You didn’t lie when you described it. I want to meet everyone and the horses. Oh, and who is this?”

“Nikki?” Chase called.

Nikki thanked Mac, who’d taken Trinity’s reins, and turned to face Chase. Keira was plastered to his side with her arm around his, as if she had a right to hold him, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Nikki eased her worries.

He gently removed Keira’s arm from his then extended his hand to Nikki. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Smiling and her cheeks growing hot, she walked to his side and melted when his arm went around her waist.

“Keira, this is Nikki Savoy, the amazing woman who’s brought many changes to my life.” He smiled. “Good ones.” Then he claimed Nikki with a sweet, gentle kiss. He reluctantly stopped kissing her and looked at Keira. “Nikki, this is Keira Higgins, an old friend.”

The look on Keira’s face was comical. Nikki actually felt sorry for her. For a second. “Keira,” she said.

“Nikki. You look familiar,” Keira said, cocking her head. “Have we met before? Maybe in L.A.?”

Okay, so she wasn’t going to out her yet. Why? “That’s possible.”

“Hmm,” Keira said. She ignored Nikki and focused on Chase. “So, are you going to show me your ranch?”

“Of course.” Chase pressed a kiss on Nikki’s temple and then hugged his brother. “Thanks, big brother. Dean, don’t try to steal Nikki while I’m gone. We’re not done.” He winked at Nikki. “Entertain them for me, sweetheart. Keira and I won’t be gone for long.”

“Sure,” Nikki said, but she caught the look Lex and Dean exchanged. Nikki waited until Chase and Keira left. At least the woman was keeping her hands to herself. Why was she here? Despite Chase openly showing everyone they were together, Nikki wondered why he’d e-mailed Keira. Nikki focused on Lex. “Nice to meet you in person, Lex. Hi, Dean.”

“Hey,
gorgeous
,” Dean said and enveloped her in a hug. Then he leaned back and grinned. “I don’t care what Chase says, I’m stealing you. Mrs. B said you were done with his website.”

She nodded. “I am.”

“Can we see it?” Lex asked.

“Sure.”

Lex cocked his arm. Not to be outdone, Dean moved to her other side and took her hand. Fitzgerald men were too much. Nikki accepted their arms. “Thank you. When did you arrive, Lex?”

“A couple of hours ago and we can be gone by the end of the day,” he said.

“Why?”

“I had a reason for coming, but it doesn’t matter now.” He smiled down at her, regret in his eyes.

“Sorry,” she said.

He chuckled. “Don’t be. My brother is happy and a lucky man.” He let her go to open the kitchen door for her.

“Why didn’t Chase tell me you were coming?” Mrs. B asked when they entered the kitchen. “I would have been prepared. Now I have to send poor Mac back to Dillon to buy a few more things. Uh, Nikki, he mailed your package. The receipt is on your bed.”

“Thanks, Mrs. B.”

“Excuse me, Nikki,” Lex said, then walked to the housekeeper, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her temple. “If you don’t stop fretting, I’m going to go back to Dillon and fly home. No special food or drinks for me, okay? I’ll eat what everyone else is eating.”

Mrs. B’s eyes narrowed as though insulted. “You always call me before you fly out.”

“Then I will be more spontaneous. Just for you.”

She patted his hand. “Heavens no, dear. There’s enough of that going around with Chase and Baron. And don’t get me started on the girls.”

“Let’s go,” Dean said, taking Nikki’s arm. “He’s not going to leave her until she calms down. I want to see the website, especially the pictures. They are amazing, aren’t they?”

Modesty obviously wasn’t encoded in the Fitzgeralds’ genes. “They are.”

“You should see the ones I have of my ranch and horses, which I hope you will use on my website.” In the den, he insisted Nikki take the chair, perched himself on the arm, and studied the screen over her shoulder. If Chase were the one seated that close to her, smelling deliciously of leather mixed with a pine scent, she would not have been able to concentrate.