At least he knew why he’d had that uneasy feeling about her from the first. He didn’t want to accuse her if she wasn’t guilty, but he couldn’t take a chance on her innocence. Too much was at stake. At least now Texas Timber had a face. Misty Reynolds. Devil or angel, he’d make that final decision at some point. Sooner or later, he’d find out why she was really in town. He hoped he was mistaken about her, but he doubted it. Why else would Texas Timber send her here?
Misty raised her voice. “Yes, Audrey. I understand you’re available 24/7. I am, too. I’ll get you a detailed report tomorrow morning. And I’ll stay in touch. Good-bye now.” Misty disconnected and slipped the phone in her pocket.
“Everything okay?” Trey pretended to know nothing about her call, but his mind was racing with everything he’d learned about her. Texas Timber must be keeping her on a short leash if she had to make herself available anytime day or night. Either that or what she was doing in Wildcat Bluff was vitally important to the company.
“Sorry. I had to take that call.” She sat down at the table and took a sip of cider.
“Trouble?” He picked up his boots and socks before he sat down across from her.
“Not really. I’m on vacation, but some clients need to be reassured no matter what.”
“Christmas can affect people that way.” He rolled down the legs of his jeans. “You never said what you do for a living.”
“Didn’t I?”
“Is it stressful?”
“Not usually. I’m a troubleshooter. Corporate mostly.”
“Sounds like interesting work.” He pulled on his socks, not looking at her so he’d appear casual about his questions. But he jerked on his boots when he realized troubleshooter fit perfectly with a company harassing folks to get their land. That was the last thing he wanted to hear.
“It can be, but it’s usually pretty boring.” She drummed her fingertips on the tabletop. “Not interesting like your ranching or firefighting.”
“Guess everything can get boring after a while.”
“I apologize for—well, earlier. I’d like to make up for it another time.”
“Sure. It’s late anyway.”
“Thanks. I really like your family and friends.”
“They like you, too.” He picked up his phone and slipped it into his back pocket.
“Storm is adorable.”
“Stinker is what she is.” He smiled fondly as he lifted his cup of cider to his mouth.
“Sydney is lovely, but sometimes she seems a little sad.”
Trey took a drink, buying time. Misty was on a fishing expedition about his family. He’d give her what she could find out anywhere.
“Is it the holidays, do you think?”
“Partly, I guess. Sydney’s husband died in Afghanistan. Several years ago now. Big loss for everybody.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. She must really miss him at Christmastime.”
“She’s got Storm to fill her life.”
“I’m so glad.” Misty smiled over the rim of her mug.
“Brock was one of a kind. Cowboy first. But he got a hankering to serve his country. He joined the U.S. Army and became a Ranger.”
“Impressive.”
Trey ran a hand through his hair. He missed Brock and felt it more than usual at Christmas. Misty had an angel’s way of bringing out a man’s pain and helping heal it. But she had a devil’s way of using it to suit her own ends.
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories.” She reached out with her palm up.
He squeezed her hand, feeling the now familiar heat blaze a trail up his arm toward his heart, but he shut it down. He needed to know a whole lot more about her beside his physical response. “Why don’t you come out to my ranch tomorrow?”
“Really?”
“We could make more plans for the benefit. And I’d like you to see how the other half lives.”
“I’ve never seen a ranch. I’d enjoy it.”
“Great.” He could well imagine how much she’d like to see the ranch she was trying to hand over to Texas Timber.
“What time?”
“Will around eleven in the morning after my ranch work suit you?” First he’d boot up his laptop and find out more about her.
“That’s fine.”
“I’ll cook a couple of buffalo steaks.”
“Sounds delicious. I’ve never eaten bison. What do you want me to bring? Dessert?”
“Just your pretty self.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He patted her hand before he got to his feet.
She stood up, too. “Really, I’m sorry about—”
“Don’t be.” He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Gives me a good reason to get you out to the ranch.”
“I’ll need directions.”
“Too tricky.” He wanted her completely in his control tomorrow. By then, he might have a few questions to put to her. In any case, he wanted her to see what she was trying to destroy. “I’ll pick you up.”
“But—”
“No buts.”
“All right. I wouldn’t want to get lost.”
“Not gonna happen.”
She carried her mug in one hand as she walked over to the brick path. “Could we look around a little on your ranch? I’d like to see it.”
“Sure.” He shook his head at her request. She was digging her ditch a little deeper all the time. No doubt she wanted to reconnoiter for Texas Timber. Let her. She’d see Wildcat Ranch was getting along fine no matter how much was thrown at it. Maybe he could convince her—and Texas Timber—that he and his family would never sell their heritage.
“I’m excited about going to your ranch.”
“I bet you’ll like what you see.”