“What about a gun? I know you have weapons.”
“Fine, I’ll start carrying, but if I do, I’m teaching you how to shoot.”
“I know how to shoot. I bought a .38 revolver when I got to Houston and took gun safety classes. Unfortunately, in Carlsbad I started thinking I was safe—big mistake—and hocked it when I got low on money.”
“Wow. You know how to shoot. You manage to keep on surprising me.”
Tory wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “Good for me.”
Josh laughed. “I’ll carry the tools for you.”
She let him. But with every step he took toward the back of the house, she scanned the area behind him. She thought of the funeral in Gainesville. Those men were soldiers, too, and someone had killed them.
For the first time she realized she wasn’t just enamored of Josh, she was in love with him.
Since she was pretty sure he was only in lust with her, loving him was a stupid thing to do.
He set the tools down on the ground where she showed him and took a look around. “Good spot,” he said. “I’ll get some chicken wire in town and put it up around the perimeter so you won’t have to worry about deer and rabbits. I’ll pick up some soaker hose, too. That should work to keep it watered.”
“That’d be great.”
He looked down at her, hands on his hips, looked back at the patch that would soon be a garden. Something shifted in his features, flickered in his eyes. He glanced back at the garden. A muscle flicked in his jaw the instant before he turned and walked away.
Tory’s heart started pounding. She knew that look on a man’s face, knew exactly what he was thinking. She ran to catch up with him and grabbed his arm, snaring his attention.
“What?” he asked.
“The garden. It’s not what you think. I’m not . . . it doesn’t mean anything. I’m not trying to trap you. We said as long as it was what we both wanted. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
The muscles loosened across his shoulders, but didn’t completely relax. “Hey, it’s just a garden. A ranch needs a garden, right? Let me know if you need anything else.” He started walking, didn’t look back.
She should have realized how permanent it would seem, a garden that she would take care of. As if she assumed she would continue to be part of his life. As if they were more than just friends with benefits.
Her throat felt tight. She thought of Damon. She had believed he cared about her, even loved her. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
She needed to start planning for the future, find a place where she could make a home for her and Ivy. She couldn’t continue to rely on Josh. She’d been a fool to let her guard down.
She looked over at the patch of ground where she’d imagined the perfect little garden and swallowed past the lump in her throat.
All she saw now was a barren patch of dirt.
*
Josh called Linc later that afternoon. “It’s Friday. I was wondering if you and Carly are coming out to the ranch this weekend.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “Haven’t decided. Why?”
“I need to fill you in on a couple of things. Rather do it in person, but if—”
“We’ll be there. Why don’t you come over to the house for supper? We’ll pick something up and bring it with us. Say about eight?”
“That’d be great.”
“You bringing Tory?”
He wanted to. And that was what bothered him. He wanted to be with her all the time. When he wasn’t with her, he was thinking about her. He wasn’t ready for a family. He had goals, things he needed to do. And what about his nightmares? He needed to deal with the past before he could think about the future.
He told himself he had no choice but to bring her and little Ivy with him. The thought of leaving them alone with all the trouble swirling around made his chest feel tight.
“Tory and Ivy, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. I’m just about to convince Carly to go off the pill. Might as well get used to the patter of little feet around the house.”
Josh chuckled. He was getting way too used to the sound himself. “I’ll see you at eight.”
He disconnected and went in to tell Tory not to worry about making supper. He found her out in the garden, turning over soil with a shovel. He didn’t like the feeling that moved through him as he watched her: desire, and a surge of protectiveness so strong his back teeth clenched together.
“Hey, babe, we’re invited to supper at Blackland Ranch. We can pick Ivy up on the way.”
She leaned on the shovel, her forehead glistening with perspiration. “I didn’t know this was going to be so much work.”
“Maybe you aren’t cut out for ranch life, after all,” he said, but as the words spilled out, his stomach knotted.
“Maybe not,” she said. She carried the shovel over and leaned it against the side of the house, walked back to where he stood.
“I don’t want to get in the middle of a family dinner. Ivy and I can just stay here.”
He shook his head. “Too much going on. I don’t want to leave you by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine.”
No way was he leaving her. “Linc and Carly want you to come.”
She hesitated, seemed surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” And I want you to come. But he didn’t say that. He needed to take some time, figure things out. “I won’t worry if you’re with me.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
He wished he didn’t feel such a wave of relief.
He wished he knew what the hell to do.
*
Supper was over. Chinese food from some fancy restaurant in Dallas that cooked specialty items just for Linc. Carly, Tory, and Ivy were sitting in the living room. Josh could hear them laughing as Linc led the way down the hall to his home office so they could talk.
His brother walked behind his wide, dark oak desk and sat down, pulled open the bottom drawer and took out a bottle of Stagg Kentucky Bourbon, the expensive whiskey he favored. He poured two fingers neat into each of two crystal glasses and handed one to Josh.
Sitting in one of the dark oak chairs on the other side of the desk, Josh accepted the drink and took a sip.
Linc sipped his own drink and leaned back in his chair. “What’s going on?”
“FBI came to see me. Your friend Quinn Taggart. Turns out my buddies may have been killed because they fought in Afghanistan.”
Linc straightened. “How’s that?”
“Taggart seems to think the guy who shot them might be involved in the same terror cell that’s been plaguing half of Texas. Same group you and Beau each dealt with at one time or another.”
“I thought those guys were all either dead or locked up.”
“Apparently, one of them’s still on the loose.”
“What’s it got to do with you?”
“Pete Saldana and Coy Whitmore were both special ops, both deployed in the Middle East at the same time.”
“The same time as you?” Linc asked, already a step ahead.
“I was there then, too.”
Linc leaned forward, shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows. “So Quinn thinks this guy could be coming after soldiers who fought in Afghanistan?”
“It’s possible.”
Linc leaned back. “Well, after that story they wrote about you, half of Texas knows you were there, that you’re back home now, and where to find you.”
“Unfortunately.” The story hadn’t been his idea. One of the military higher-ups thought the book would be good military PR.
“You’ve talked to Cole and Noah? Told them to watch for this guy?” Linc asked.
He nodded. “They’re on alert. I’ll talk to Ty Murphy in the morning. The thing is, the guy could have already left the state. Even if he’s still in Texas, there are other guys he could target.”
“Don’t forget the book,” Linc said darkly.
“Hard to forget the damned book.” Josh took a drink, let the burn roll through him. “The good news is Taggart thinks they’ll have the guy in custody fairly soon.”
“Let’s damn well hope so. You need some extra men?”
“I called a couple of vets I know who work security in Pleasant Hill.” The next town over. “They’re going to keep an eye on the house and grounds at night.”