Surrender to Temptation (28 page)

“Yes, I did, but I had ulterior motive. Like I said before I’m not the same person I was when I came here two weeks ago.”

Chase let the saddle rest on the floor, crossed his arms, and cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, I’m listening.”

“For months, I watched Dee go through surgery after surgery, but in the back of my mind was the fact that as soon as she was able to sit and talk, she would be in court going through a trial for arson. In my heart, I knew she couldn’t have burned down your restaurant and she didn’t belong in jail.” She was talking too fast, her words tripping over each other. She tried to slow down. “But how could I prove this? The Fire Marshal had his star witness and the case in the bag. I couldn’t afford a private investigator to find out the truth, so that left finding out what happened that night on my own.”

From his expression, Nikki couldn’t tell whether he believed her or not.

“All I knew was that three people were at the restaurant the night of the fire. Three people knew what really happened that night. My sister couldn’t talk or tell her side of the story, so that left you and Keira Higgins.” She paused again and drew a deep breath. “I went to see Keira, but she refused to talk to me. That left you, but no one had seen you since the accident. Coming to your ranch wasn’t something I’d planned, but when the opportunity arose, I took it. Your uncle had just opened a branch of his law firm in San Diego, and my friend Amelia overheard that they wanted a website. I stopped by the office and dropped off a thumb drive with samples of my work, which included the website for Amelia’s law firm. I got the call, and two weeks later, I was on my way here.”

She stepped away from the door and indicated it. He didn’t move. His eyes were locked on her, his expression hard to read. Hope returned. Maybe she’d reached him.

“I had to know what you saw that night, Chase. That’s why I asked about the fire the very day I got here. But I stopped asking when I realized you weren’t ready to talk. And when I got to know you and my feelings for you started to change, it didn’t matter anymore. I figured the law would decide whether my sister was guilty or not.”

Silence followed.

“If you have any questions…”

He shook his head. “No. I’ll have a ticket waiting for you at Delta Airline’s counter tomorrow morning. One of the ranch hands will drive you.” He started for the door. “Goodbye, Nikki.”

Of all the annoying, pig-headed men… Tears sprang to her eyes as she watched him walk away. Watched him get Thunder, saddle her, and put the bridle on. Not once did he look at her as he left the barn.

“I’m not going to cry over you, Chase Fitzgerald,” Nikki vowed.

She stayed inside the barn until she was calm. Then she left the barn. The Land Rover was pulling away. Winston was driving, not Lex. Nikki watched the vehicle until she couldn’t see it anymore.

Mrs. B stepped out of the house just as Nikki stepped onto the porch. Nikki braced herself for the worst.

“Oh, sweet child,” Mrs. B said and stuck her arms out. “I’m so sorry for the horrible, horrible things I said about your poor sister.” She closed the gap between them and hugged Nikki.

“It’s okay, Mrs. B. We didn’t know the entire story.”

The housekeeper stepped back. “Everything will work out okay. You’ll see.”

Nikki smiled, remembering her first day on the ranch. Mrs. B had been optimistic then, too. “It’s okay, Mrs. B. I should go and pack.”

“You are not leaving now, are you?”

“No, Mrs. B. Tomorrow.” She was still hoping the ride would clear Chase’s head. She hugged the woman and entered the house. Upstairs, she removed her suitcase from the closet and started packing.

She was finishing when someone rattled on her door. Chase. She ran to the door and yanked it open. She took a step back, disappointment making her breath hitch. “Lex.”

“So you are running away?” He glanced at the suitcase by the door.

Annoyance flashed through Nikki. “I’m not running away. Chase made it clear that we are done.”

Lex sighed. “Do you love my brother?”

“Of course.”

“And he loves you. It doesn’t matter what he says now. I’ve never seen him this happy.” Lex stepped back until he was leaning on the rail that ran around the second floor. He crossed his arms. “Hearing about your sister on top of learning about Keira and her machination was a bit too much for him to handle. Once he clears his head, he’ll be all right.”

“I hope so.” Then something else registered. “Weren’t you supposed to leave?”

He chuckled. “If I did everything my family demanded, we wouldn’t have a family. Come on. Keep me company downstairs while we wait for Chase to return.”

“I don’t feel like—”

“You are better than this, Nikki,” Lex said, straightening his powerful body. “Moping in the bedroom? Feeling sorry for yourself?”

“Shut up.” Then she realized what she’d just said and covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

He laughed. “No, don’t be. I think my brother should come home and find you playing a game of pool and sipping wine. It might give him the kick in the ass he needs to get his act together. Men in love tend to be irrational.”

Nikki closed her door and followed him downstairs. “How would you know?”

“Before Baron got married, he acted like he’d lost his reasoning. The same with Eddie, Vince, Ken, and Ron. All raving lunatics. Vince is my sister’s husband while Ron and Ken are Ashley and Faith’s husbands. Ashley and Faith are my cousins.”

“I believe I met them when I was being interviewed. So only men act irrationally?”

He chuckled. “Oh yes. Women deal with crisis much better than men. It’s what makes your sex so interesting. You are loyal and strong and unstoppable when protecting people you love. It is awe-inspiring.”

Nikki smiled. Lex Fitzgerald would make some woman very happy some day.

***

Chase sat by the pond and stared into the cool water. Since he brought Nikki here, the place didn’t feel like his place anymore. It was
their
place now. He remembered her laughter and how she had loved the place. Even the flowers reminded him of her scent.

Chase rubbed his temples. His head was beginning to hurt from the conflicting emotions gripping him. He shook his head and got up. His cell phone dropped from his pocket. Sighing, he called Winston. Then he left the canyon. Instead of heading home, he headed toward the original homestead.

Dean and his ranch hands were finishing their evening chores. His cousin frowned as though he knew something was wrong. “Are you staying or passing through?”

“Staying. For a while,” Chase said, walking Thunder to cool her down.

“Women problems?” Dean teased.

Chase chuckled. “How did you know?”

“You have your ex and your girlfriend under the same roof. It takes balls and a strong constitution to do that.” Dean called one of his workers to take Thunder. “Cool her down, brush her, and put her to pasture.” He glanced at Chase. “Come on. I have a bottle of whiskey I’ve been meaning to open.”

Dean’s house was ridiculously huge with numerous unused bedrooms. He even had an indoor swimming pool, but the place was too quiet. There was no music. No singing. No Nikki. It wasn’t home, but it would do for now.

Dean led the way to the living room, removed a bottle of Jim Beam’s best bourbon from a cupboard, and got two glasses. He poured shots and handed Chase a glass.

“Here’s to women and why we love them even though they drive us crazy,” Dean said.

They binged the night away, Chase shifting to selective listening when Dean started talking about women. His cook, the wife of one of his workers, brought them dinner. Chase must have eaten, though he couldn’t remember what he ate.

***

Chase didn’t leave for his ranch until the next morning. When he’d left yesterday, he hadn’t taken a hat and sunglasses. The sun rode high in the sky and beat down on his head, which was pounding despite the aspirin Dean had given him. Whiskey and stupidity was a terrible combination, but he deserved to suffer.

It had taken a bottle of America’s finest bourbon mixed with beer and his cousin’s rambling about seducing women to make Chase realize he had been a fool. He didn’t want to seduce other women. He wanted to seduce only one—Nikki Savoy. The woman he loved beyond reason. Everything she’d ever done for him, helping him rediscover his love for cooking, the way his workers loved her, and helping around the ranch all confirmed she was meant to be his.

Chase rode Thunder hard. He’d called the house before leaving Dean’s, but no one had answered. He’d tried his brother’s number, too. Last night, Lex had said they’d leave early.

As the ranch came into view, Chase saw the Land Rover at the front of the house. Its hood was up. The first day Nikki arrived at the ranch flashed in his head. Winston had refused to drive her back to the airport, insisting the radiator was busted. He didn’t want to hope that the old man did it again, but…

Chase jumped down from the horse, secured Thunder’s reins, and raced to the house.

“Mrs. B!” he yelled as he entered the kitchen.

“I’m here,” the housekeeper called back from the couch.

“Where is she? Where’s Nikki?”

“She left an hour ago. What are you doing here?”

“I’m going after her.” He cut across the kitchen and was reaching for the door when what Mrs. B had said registered. He stopped. “The Land Rover is outside. What did they use?”

Before she could answer, the door from the foyer swung open and Winston stood in the doorway. “She used Trinity,” the foreman said.

“What?” Chase asked.

“The Land Rover’s radiator is not working, and I can’t drive your foreign car. Tucker and Mac are…” Winston glanced at Mrs. B.

“Not back from Duncan’s.”

Chase shook his head. “So Nikki rode a horse to the airport?”

Winston went to stand by Mrs. B. “Not the airport. Miss Nikki went looking for you, boss. Said she knew where you spent the night.”

The cave. Chase frowned. “Didn’t you tell her I was at Dean’s?”

“No.” Winston and Mrs. B said at the same time. They looked worried, until Chase grinned.

“I owe you two huge bonuses.” He whipped around and started for outside and Thunder. “Where’s Lex?”

“The barn,” Winston called out. “He was helping me with the morning chores.”

He would talk to his brother later. Right now, he had some groveling to do and a future wife to claim.

***

Nikki stood at the entrance of the cave, the exact spot she and Chase had their picnic a few days ago, and searched the canyon below. She’d already checked inside the cave and found it empty. The blanket was nicely folded, but the pile of wood hadn’t been touched, so she doubted he’d spent the night here. He knew his way around the land, so he couldn’t be lost. But there was the possibility that he was injured. The thought sent panic coursing through her.

A sound of a twig came from her left, and she whipped around. Chase. The relief was sweet. He looked okay. No, he looked better than okay. He was beautiful. Her heart pounded as she waited.

Would he tell her to leave his canyon? Ask why she hadn’t already left?

Chase stopped a few feet from her, his blue eyes serious. “I love you, Nikki Savoy.”

Nikki’s heart lifted. “I know.”

The blue in his eyes intensified. “I’m sorry for my behavior yesterday. The things I said were inexcusable. I had no reason to think the last two weeks had been a lie or that you didn’t love me, because you do. You love me, right?”

That he could doubt her love pained her. Nikki smiled. “Yes, Chase. I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”

He moved closer. “If I ever act like that again, kick me or lock me out of our bedroom for …” He frowned as though the idea was repugnant. “One night?”

She laughed. “How about half the night?”

He nodded, relief flashing in his eyes. “I can work with that.” He climbed up. For a moment, he just studied her face with a bemused smile on his lips. “I’m really sorry for yesterday.”

She touched his face. “You already said that.”

“I know. I just wanted to make sure you understood that. No more secrets, okay?”

Nikki nodded. “No more secrets.”

They kissed. Then he lowered her to the ground and just held her. Nikki inhaled the sweet-smelling air and savored the moment.

“Lex said the pilot has already logged in a flight plan,” she said when Chase seemed content just sitting. “We’re leaving at one.”

“My mother is having a picnic today.” She smiled as he talked about his family and his mother’s legendary Sunday picnics. Lex had already talked to her about them, but she liked hearing Chase’s take on them. “Do you mind if we stop in Los Angeles for a few hours before heading to San Diego? I want my family to meet you, my future wife. If you don’t want to, that’s okay. The pilot can drop off Lex at LAX and we’ll continue on to San Diego.”

Future wife? She leaned back to glare at him. “Was that a proposal, Chase Fitzgerald? Calling me your future wife in passing?” She jabbed him in the ribs. “Is that how you want me to tell our children and grandchildren you proposed?”