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She stood there dripping wet.
And very, very naked.
As awe inspiring as that sight was, however, the revolver held steady in her hands, barrel pointed right at the middle of his chest, demanded his full attention.
“You owe me an explanation,” she said. “Better make it a good one.”
Everything he thought to say died on his lips.
She lowered the gun and in the next instant apparently became aware of her state of undress. “Don’t you dare leave,” she said scowling and, turning gracefully on bare heels, strode back into the bathroom, banging the door behind her.
Hell, he wouldn’t have left for a million dollars.
A belly laugh rolled up his throat and erupted. It died a second later when the bathroom door flew open and Elle reappeared, still frowning, this time wrapped in a towel with her fair hair combed back from her freshly scrubbed and stunning face. She looked impossibly healthy and so alive she burned up the room.
She’d also apparently left the gun in the bathroom.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped.
“I thought I was searching your cabin,” he said, but it was hard to talk. Somehow, and go figure this one out, she looked more naked with a towel on than she had without it. But maybe that was because the image of her glistening nude body had burned itself into his brain. Her breasts, smaller than he’d thought they would be, but perfectly formed. The smooth skin of her belly. The curves between breasts and hips. Her legs—
His hands almost itched with the desire to stride on over to her and—
And what? Good grief, get a grip. You’ve seen naked women before.
“Are you always so careless?” she asked, moving toward the closet. She picked up her purse and threw it on the bed, then reached for her robe. Turning her back to him, she pulled it on as the towel puddled around her bare feet. By the time she turned, she was belted into blue terry cloth and much easier to talk to.
“Not usually,” he said, lowering his hands.
“Breaking and entering—”
“Your door wasn’t locked. Technically, no breaking.”
She frowned as though thinking, then perched on the edge of her bed, crossing her legs, studying him.
“Why?”
“Did I toss your place?”
She nodded.
“Because the boss wants you to fly you out with us tomorrow. I had to make sure you are who you said you were.”
“He is?”
“Yep. I told you the wet T-shirt was a no-brainer.”
“What about the boys in security?”
“They’re slow. Must be a backlog.”
“And are you satisfied now?”
“Yeah.”
“Just from looking through my purse?”
“Just from looking through your purse. Of course, I’m a professional.”
A smile broke unexpectedly, curving her lips, lighting her eyes. It transformed her face and he felt a grin tug at the corners of his own lips in response. It was like that sensation he’d had earlier, about there being two Elles behind the eyes.
As the smile fizzled, she said, “Are you worried that I’m the one sending death threats to Alazandro?”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” he said truthfully. “Of course, up until a few minutes ago, I didn’t know you packed a gun.”
“I grew up on a ranch.”
“Which explains the horse riding and artillery skills.”
“That’s right.”
He tilted his head and stared into her eyes. Now that he knew to look, he could see the tiny curved edges of her contact lenses. He said, “Alazandro was right, Ms. Medina. You are full of surprises.”
“Damn right.”
“Peg Stiles doesn’t want you to leave. She’s pretty sure Alazandro is out to corrupt you.”
“What do you think?” she asked, pulling the edges of her robe together. They’d fallen apart to reveal a creamy patch of thigh and he took a steadying breath. It wouldn’t do to start feeling all sexy towards Alazandro’s current conquest-to-be.
He said, “I think Peg is right.”
Elle’s smile was back, not quite as illuminating. “So do I.”
“So, we’re back to square one,” he said, “although it is odd how cool and calm you are after finding me searching your cabin. Most women wouldn’t confront a man stark naked, you know.”
“That’s true. But you already knew I was a brazen hussy.”
“Yeah. But you didn’t know it was me when you barged out of the bathroom.”
“I didn’t barge, I crept. Besides, it didn’t matter who it was. No one should have been here. Period.”
“Do you always take a gun with you when you shower?”
“Not always.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to lock your front door?”
“Would that have stopped you?”
“No,” he admitted.
“Anyway, why am I explaining myself to you? You’re the bad guy, here.”
“You need a passport,” he said.
“I have one.”
He looked around the cabin and said, “Where?”
“None of your business.”
“It’s in your car, right?”
“I repeat, it’s none of your business.”
“You know, most women wouldn’t sit around in a skimpy robe talking to a virtual stranger, either.”
“You look harmless to me,” she said.
“Ouch.”
“Except for the gun you carry in back under the vest.”
“I hardly ever shoot beautiful women,” he said, smiling.
“That’s reassuring.”
He stepped forward and extended a hand, which she took. He pulled her to her feet and then against his chest. She came without resistance. Wiping a wet strand of hair away from her soft cheek, he lowered his voice and said, “I don’t know what you’re up to, Elle Medina, but you’re up to something. I’m going to be watching you.”
She didn’t even blink. Part of him wanted to rattle her. Was she always this controlled?
“So you’re not going to tell Alazandro I’m unsuitable for the job?” she said.
The woman was a one-note song. He had a feeling he could light the curtains on fire and she’d ask about Alazandro and a job while the place burned to the ground around her.
Why?
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “Hell, no, I’m not going to tell him that. From what I’ve seen, you and he are perfect for one another. If the security boys say you’re okay, you’re in.” And with that, he dipped his head and claimed her mouth.
What had he expected? A slap, a shove, an oath?
She kissed him back, in force, her lips as soft and luscious as he’d known they’d be, her terry-wrapped body a perfect fit against his, her hands gripping his arms, the cleanly washed scent of her enveloping him like perfume.
He told himself he was winning her over to his camp in order to use her. As the kiss grew longer and he felt his soul slipping away, he reminded himself that wars create causalities.
She pushed him away at last, looking a little less composed than she had a few moments earlier.
“I should smack you for that,” she said, brown eyes stormy.
“But you won’t,” he said and, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, swaggered out of her cabin like an actor in a B-grade movie.
Chapter Three
After her last lesson, Elle helped Mike groom and bed down the horses. She’d miss Mike, she realized, and she’d miss the horses. As careful as she’d been to avoid putting down any roots while biding time at Tahoe Stables, roots had grown all on their own. She’d even miss Peg.
Elle finished wiping down Majordomo’s back, the bay gelding dancing around even more than usual. Maybe he sensed her mood. More spirited than Corky, he made a more interesting mount for an able rider. He looked at her over his shoulder and she patted his white blaze, crooning to him a little. Then she unhooked his lead from the post and led him to his stall.
“I want you to have my car,” she told Mike as she unhooked the lead from Majordomo’s halter and closed the stall door. “I have to use it tonight but, after that, it’s all yours.”
Mike looked up from pouring oats into Corky’s feed bag. “Your car? I can’t—”
“Sure you can,” she said. “It leaks oil like a sieve and needs new tires. Half the time it won’t start. It’s not that big a deal.”
“But you’ll need it when you come back from Puerta Del Sol,” Mike said, replacing the lid on the barrel they used to store grain.
“How do you know about that?”
“The big blond guy told me. He was asking questions about you.” Mike cast her a grin and added, “Don’t worry, I told him I’d never seen you fall off a horse before today.”
She hung the lead from a nail as she said, “Thanks. Well, anyway, I’m not coming back.” Her voice sounded serene. She was a good actress.
For a second, it seemed she might never be herself again.
But that was stupid. The trouble was she was too much herself. She couldn’t seem to stop responding to things. To Peg’s disappointment in her, to news of the judge’s arrival, and lordy, lordy, to Pete.
He made her feel she was on fire inside.
First the verbal teasing, which she’d enjoyed, then that kiss. A man like that didn’t kiss a woman for the hell of it, he’d been prying into her life with that kiss and she’d let him.
And she’d enjoyed it.
She smiled to herself. The naked part hadn’t been planned, but it sure had caught his attention. She’d gotten out of the shower, heard a noise, grabbed the gun from the cabinet behind the sink and entered the room without hesitation. Along with her passport, she hid papers under a loose floorboard. Papers about her family’s murders, about the suspects, about Alazandro.
The expression on his handsome face when he turned around had been priceless. And admit it, she’d enjoyed the sensations his strong body pressed against hers had aroused. His lips, the flicker of his tongue.
The flames leaped.
She reminded herself of her goal: get close to Alazandro. And then she added a new goal: keep away from Pete.
“That’s a cool job,” Mike mused. “You must be real excited about it.”
She nodded and smiled. She was kind of excited, which was dumb. She wasn’t going there to play with the horses and make a great stable. She was going to discover the truth about Víctor Alazandro and bring him to justice—dead or alive.
That sobering thought wiped the memory of Pete’s playful banter and kiss right out of her thoughts.
Mike grabbed the broom from against a wall and started sweeping the walkway. As he rambled on about his plans for the future, uncomplicated plans Elle envied, she decided she had to get Peg to understand that Mike deserved a chance. He and Peg would make a good team. Peg’s savvy, Mike’s personality. They could make a go of whatever remained after Alazandro got finished with them.
Wait, an additional goal: ruin Alazandro before he could ruin Peg.
