“I like her, too. Probably too much. The thing is, I’m not really ready for a family. I’ve got some personal issues I need to deal with. I’ve got to get the ranch up and running, and I have no idea how long that’s going to take.”
“I don’t think we’re ever really ready for the things life throws in our path. Sometimes we have to make adjustments.” He glanced up the aisle toward where Tory sat. “She might be worth it.”
Josh made no reply. He loved having Tory in his bed—no doubt about it. He liked her and her sweet little girl way more than just a little. But he wasn’t ready to go beyond that, and he didn’t think Tory was either. She was still reeling from her disastrous relationship with Bridger. Josh could give her a little stability, give her time to get grounded, centered.
But more than that . . .
He wasn’t ready to go there.
“I want you to keep me updated on this,” Linc said. “Okay if I ask Temple to keep me in the loop?”
“Absolutely. Ask Ross Townsend to email you anything new that comes up on Bridger. No way to know where this is going. I might need your help again.”
Linc just nodded. Done with their conversation, he unbuckled his seat belt and returned to his seat beside Carly while Josh sat back down next to Tory.
When she looked up at him, those bright green eyes held so much trust his chest clamped down. Josh found himself reaching for her hand. It occurred to him that he wasn’t just protecting Tory because she needed his help.
He was doing it because he didn’t want to lose her. It wasn’t a feeling he’d ever had before.
It was a dangerous feeling.
*
They were back on the Iron River Ranch. Tory had returned to her daily routine, housekeeping, home-schooling Ivy; plus she had a new project she found interesting and challenging—building a website for the ranch.
When the horses Josh was training were ready to be put up for sale, the website would be a terrific way to advertise them.
She planned to set up social media: Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, anything that would help. Designing the site appealed to her creativity. Plus, using her years of experience and expertise seemed the perfect way to repay Josh’s kindness.
In the afternoons sometimes, she brought Ivy out to the pasture to watch the horses—from a safe distance, of course. Of all the animals, Star was Ivy’s favorite. He was just such a magnificent creature.
And the stallion was definitely making progress. Tory and Josh had been going into the pen with him, though Josh insisted they stayed close to the gate.
Everyone was working long hours, gearing up for the barn raising. Lots of folks from the community would be there to help, as well as Carly and Linc.
That morning, Tory refilled Josh’s coffee cup while he sat at the kitchen table eating his breakfast. He was almost finished when his cell phone rang. Digging the phone out of his jeans, he checked the screen and his face lit up.
“Hey, Coy. Man, it’s good to hear from you. It’s been way too long.”
Tory smiled at how excited he was. Then his smile slipped away.
“What?” He set his fork back down on his plate. “You’re kidding. When did it happen?”
She couldn’t hear the reply but her pulse started thrumming. The look on Josh’s face said something was terribly wrong.
“Jesus, I can’t believe it. Do the cops have any leads?” Josh leaned back in his chair. “That’s rough, man. How’s Dolores holding up?” He blew out a heavy breath. “When’s the funeral? Okay, just let me know and I’ll be there. I’ll see you then.” He hung up the phone and just sat there.
“What happened, Josh? What’s wrong?”
His face looked pale, his expression grim. “That was Coy Whitmore, a vet friend of mine. He called to tell me one of the guys I served with in Afghanistan was killed, guy named Pete Saldana. Pete was murdered, shot dead in some back alley outside a place called Buzz’s, a local beer joint where Pete hung out. Cops haven’t got a clue who did it.”
“Oh, Josh, I’m so sorry.”
“Funeral’s this week. Coy’s going to let me know what day.”
“You want me to come with you?”
He shook his head. “Ivy needs you. Pete lives—lived—with his wife in Fairfield. It’s only a couple of hours away. I’ll be down and back the same day.”
“Are you sure? I could ask Mrs. Thompson to babysit again.”
“I’ll be with friends. Noah and Cole will be here to keep an eye on things, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I’m worried about you, not me.”
His gaze went to hers. “I’ll be fine.” Shoving up from his chair, he left his breakfast unfinished and walked out of the house.
Tory’s heart went with him. She thought of the story she had read, “Ultimate Hunter,” thought of the men who had fought and died beside him in the war. He was out of the military now, but he was still losing friends.
It didn’t seem fair. But then life was never easy. It was a lesson Damon had taught her.
*
Damon was feeling the itch. The clawing need that burned deep in his belly. He needed a woman. Badly. But not just in his bed. Ever since he’d abducted Lisa and held her prisoner, nothing less than having a woman completely at his mercy would do.
As far back as high school he had sensed this unnatural need in him. Back then it had frightened him. By the end of his senior year, he’d accepted that he was different. He’d begun to explore that difference, allow himself to enjoy it.
Hurting things, both animals and people, having them in his power was a soaring high and fiercely sexually arousing. He’d read about people like him, how they’d been abused as kids, how their perverted parents had messed up their heads.
That wasn’t his story. Aside from losing his mom, he’d had it good as a kid. Nothing to complain about. Nothing that would explain his behavior. He was just unique. In a way he was proud of it, though by necessity it had to remain his secret.
Over the years, he had learned to control his needs, keep himself in check. On the surface he lived a normal life. People accepted him, even liked him. Women loved him.
Tory had been the flash point. He had fallen in love with her, had believed he might actually become the normal man he seemed on the surface. But the urges never really left him. The night he had beaten her into submission, he had felt such an unbelievable thrill, he’d been forced to accept completely who he really was.
Lisa had added fuel to the fire burning inside him. Taking her, using her, had made him feel like a king. He understood now what he had to do, the only thing that would satisfy this craving that never went away.
He needed a woman. It was Victoria he wanted, but she was in Texas with Cain. He had plans for Cain, but he didn’t have time for that now, and the hunger refused to let him wait any longer.
He’d considered going to a prostitute, but a woman soiled by so many men disgusted him. He would find a redhead, someone who looked like Tory. A substitute for his fantasies. He would lock her in his basement prison and force her to submit to his will.
Anticipation poured through him, so sweet he could taste it on his tongue. Images appeared in his head, and beneath the fly of his trousers, he went hard. He needed to start searching, find the right candidate.
Looking forward to the challenge, Damon leaned back in the chair behind his desk. And he smiled.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tory rose early the day of the funeral. Clearly upset, Josh hadn’t come over last night. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have stayed. It bothered her, but spending the night had to be his decision, and it didn’t look like that was going to happen anytime soon.
Dressing hurriedly, she got Ivy ready for the day, fed her a bowl of Cocoa Puffs, her favorite; then they went over to the main house to make breakfast for Josh before he left for Fairfield.
She heard the screen door slam behind him as he came in from outside and set his plate of bacon, eggs, and toast on the table. He sat down to eat, but mostly just toyed with his food, swallowing without much interest.