“Hey, Pard, you look like death warmed over,” Wilmington said as he watched his friend. He’d relieved Vin Tanner just after lunch and knew about Larabee’s sleepless night.
“Thanks, Buck, you don’t look too bad yourself,” the blond said, a hint of humor in his voice.
“Seriously, Chris, why don’t you grab some shut eye?”
“I will...soon as Anne calls.” Larabee shifted in his seat and rubbed at his throbbing temples.
“Headache?”
“Yeah...”
“Did you take anything for it?” Wilmington asked, concern evident in his voice.
“No...not yet...damn pills knock me out.”
“Good, because that’s just what you need right now. Sleep, come on, I’ll get your pills and wake you when Anne calls.” He smiled as the phone rang and Larabee grabbed for the small cell.
“Larabee...”
“Hi, Sweetheart.”
“Hi, everything okay?” He nodded so Buck knew who it was, wincing as his long time friend left him alone.
“Yes, it is...I received flowers today...”
“From who?” the blond asked, slightly jealous, yet trusting her to be true to their relationship.
“Richard...”
“Sonofabitch! That bastard!” Larabee swore, the headache that had been tolerable intensifying as nausea rolled through his stomach.
“It’s okay, Chris...”
“How can you say that. That arrogant...”
“Chris, listen to me. He’s gone...he checked out this morning.”
“What?” Larabee asked as he calmed his breathing down.
“He sent the flowers as an apology...I threw them out...”
“Good...you sure he’s gone?”
“Yes, I called the front desk. He was gone before lunch.”
“Anne, do you want me to come to Denver?”
“Chris, I’m a big girl. I can look after myself.”
“I know, Honey, it’s just...”
“You miss me...”
He heard the soft, sexy whisper and knew she missed him as much as he missed her. “Yeah, I do. I’d like to wrap my arms around you and make love to you this minute.”
“Me too...God do I wish that. Just think of what we can do when I come home. It won’t be long and I’ll be there.”
“I know,” the blond said, smiling wistfully.
“So, have you been behaving?”
“Don’t I always?” he heard her soft laughter at his question and was glad he’d been able to ease her tension.
“You forget I’ve been there when you’re hurting. I know all about those famous words... I’m fine. Now how are you? Any more headaches?”
“Yeah...got one now...”
“I thought so. Look, take a couple of your pills and lie down. I’ll call you tomorrow night after the conference meetings.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Chris. Tanya’s here and she’s planning on being my guard for the rest of the conference.”
“Good, tell her I said hello.”
“I will...Go...take your pills, lie down and sleep! That’s an order, Larabee!”
“Yes, Sir...Ma’am,” the blond said and turned off the cell. He placed the phone on the table as pain flared behind his eyes and the nausea he’d fought to control threatened to empty his stomach. He rubbed at his temples with the tips of his right hand as Wilmington returned.
“Here, Chris,” the ladies’ man said softly, holding out a glass of water and two pills. He knew Larabee was suffering more than he let on when the blond took the pills and swallowed them without arguing.
“Thanks, Buck.”
“You’re welcome, Pard. Come on, why don’t we get you into bed and hopefully those pills will help you sleep?” He watched as the lean body rose stiffly from the chair and headed towards the door. He followed behind, knowing Larabee was probably suffering a concussion induced headache. He stayed close as they made it to the master bedroom and opened the door.
Chris felt as if the world around him was fading in and out of focus as he made his way to the backroom. He looked at the bed and sighed as he walked across the room and sat on the edge, closing his eyes as he felt the darkness closing in on him.
“Lie back, Pard,” Wilmington whispered, knowing how bad the blond was feeling.
“...okay...” the injured man answered, laying back as the rogue eased his feet up on the bed and removed his shoes before covering him with a thin blanket.
Wilmington smiled as he heard the whispered thanks and closed the heavy drapes before leaving the blond alone. Nothing new turned up on the attack on his long time friend and he wondered briefly if it had been a random assault after all. Taking one last look at the fading bruises he turned away and closed the door behind him.
Chris awoke a several hours later feeling stiff and sore. The pounding in his skull had settled to an annoying throb and he shifted his legs over the edge of the bed and finally stood up. He sat for a few minutes, waiting for the nausea to pass before standing and walking into the washroom. He eased his arm out of the sling and opened the shower door. He reached in, turned on the water and adjusted it until it was a little hotter than normal. He reached for the wrap to put around the cast on his wrist and made sure no water could get into it. Moving slowly he pulled off the rest of his clothes and climbed into the shower.
The water slid down his body, easing aching muscles and soothing away some of the tension he felt since hearing about Richard Fischer’s presence in Denver. He reached for the soft musk scented shower gel and lathered it into a cloth before washing it over his body. He winced as he washed it over the healing wound in his side, glad that it wasn’t nearly as bad as earlier in the week. The hot water washed over his hair, sliding down his naked torso, washing over his buttocks and groin before rinsing away the trail of soap left on his legs.
Buck eased the door open, smiling as he heard the water running in the bathroom. He’d spoken to Vin and told the younger man to take the night off, and that he would stay with Larabee. The tracker seemed relieved that there’d been no sign of the attackers and told Wilmington to call him if anything came up. The next day being Monday, they both knew Larabee would want to come into the office. The rogue smiled as he remembered the conversation with the sharpshooter and how Larabee was a lousy patient when it came to his own health. He neglected to tell Tanner about the headache, knowing the man would just worry about his friend.
Buck heard the water being turned off and hurried back into the kitchen. He’d made sandwiches for the two of them, placed them on a tray, and put them in the fridge. Retrieving the tray and a couple of plates he walked out to the patio and set them on the table. He returned to the kitchen once more and grabbed the pot of coffee and two cups.
Chris stepped out of the shower and grabbed a small towel. He wrapped one around his trim waist and took another one for his hair. He rubbed brusquely at the too long strands and knew it was time to get it cut. He rubbed at the steam on the mirror, and winced at the half healed cuts on his body. The long thin one on his side looked better than the one over his right eye. The stitches had been removed and it reminded him of a train track. He reached for the electric razor and easily rid his face of the new growth of whiskers. Finally finished he removed the towel from around his waist and walked into his bedroom. He spotted a pair of black short on the chair in the corner and made his way towards it.
Wilmington looked up as Larabee appeared clean shaven and dressed in a simple pair of shorts and form fitting t-shirt.
“Hey, Stud, you look almost human again.”
“Thanks...I think,” Larabee said, moving to the table and taking a seat.
“You forgot something,” the ladies man said, pointing to the blond’s left arm.
“Oh, hell, I’ll get it later.”
“That’s okay, Chris, I’ll get it,” the ladies man said and hurried to get the missing sling.
Larabee shook his head at his friend’s obvious mother henning, yet it felt good to know Wilmington was there. He looked up as the dark haired man returned with the sling and helped ease his arm into it.
“How’s that?”
“Better...thanks, Buck.”
“You’re welcome. Now how about something to eat...don’t worry, I didn’t cook, just made sandwiches,” the rogue said, smiling as Larabee looked relieved. The two men settled back to enjoy the afternoon, a set of blue eyes vigilant as he watched the surrounding area, intent on sensing danger should it come.
Anne wiped the silent tears from her eyes as she thought about the horror of her final days with Richard Fischer. The man had been so sweet and gentle before she agreed to marry him and became a sadistic, control freak after she said yes. She remembered the arguments, the beating, and the subsequent stay in the hospital as if it was yesterday. She also understood these memories were part of the reason she couldn’t quite commit to Chris Larabee the way she wanted to. She knew the blond understood, and someday they would take their relationship that extra step, for now it was enough to just know they loved each other. She stood up and hurried to wash her face as a knock came on the door.
Anne walked to the door and looked through the peephole, smiling as she spotted her friend on the other side. She disengaged the bolt lock and pulled it open.
“Hi...Anne, what’s wrong?” Stevens asked as she saw the red rimmed eyes.
“Nothing...”
“Don’t give me that,” Tanya said, stepping through the open door. “What’s happened? Is Chris okay?”
“Yes, Chris is fine...” she said closing the door behind her friend.
“That other bastard been around?”
“No...he sent flowers...”
“What? Where are they?”
“I threw them in the trash.”
“Good, maybe we should see about getting you a different room...or you could come stay with me,” the blond suggested.
“There’s no need...he’s gone.”
“Are you sure?” Steven’s asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Yes, positive.”
“Good, but how can you be sure he’s gone?”
“His card said he was going back home and that he was sorry for what he did,” Sheridan explained.
“And you believe him?”
“Not about him being sorry, but I called the desk and he checked out. He told them to forward his messages to his home in Reno.”
“Well, that’s cause for celebration. Get dressed and we’ll find a place to do just that...my treat!” Stevens said, relieved that her friend did not have to worry about her ex anymore.
“You’re on!” Sheridan agreed, smiling as the tension drained from her body.
Fischer sat on the bed in his new hotel room, scanning the numerous pictures spread out on the blue down filled comforter. Some of them were from his relationship with Anne Sheridan, showing the two of them on the cruise that was the beginning of the end for them. He still blamed her for the break up, his loss of medical school, and his time in prison, but he could forgive her all of those if she would just take him back. Only one obstacle stood in his way. He reached over the older pictures and picked up the one showing her with the new man in her life.
Picking up the red ink pen he marked an X through the handsome blond’s face before stabbing the pen through both of Larabee’s eyes and reaching for the next one. Over and over he repeated the procedure, his voice soft as he planned his revenge.
“I can’t allow you to look at her, Larabee. You don’t deserve her! You can’t give her what she needs! You don’t love her as she deserves to be loved! I’m the only one who can take care of Anne! The only one who knows how to love her...to care for her...and make sure she understands who’s in charge!”
He picked up the picture that showed him and Anne together on the deck of the cruise ship. His arm was wrapped around her shoulder, and they gazed into each other’s eyes.
“See, she loved me then and she’ll love me again, Larabee! All I have to do is make her see that you’re not for her! That I’m the only one who can make her life worthwhile!” He grabbed a picture of Chris Larabee. The man was riding a beautiful horse, but Fischer only had eyes for the lean form in the saddle. He ripped the picture to shreds, cursing the blond each time he tore the paper.
The days dragged by for Chris Larabee as his body healed and his frustration mounted. A week and a half after she’d left he told his men there’d be no need for them to stay with him, that he was strong enough to handle anything that happened. He sat at his desk listening as they tried to convince him otherwise.
“Chris, you may feel better, but that knife wound and those ribs are not one hundred percent,” Jackson told him.
“I know, Nathan, and I don’t plan on doing anything to set it back. I just don’t see the point in you boys giving up your free time to stay with me.”
“Chris...” Wilmington tried.
“Buck, there’s been nothing new since the attack and I want to get things back to normal before Anne comes home...”
“Mr. Larabee, Miss Sheridan would be rather unforgiving if we let anything untoward happen to you,” Standish said.
“Nothing’s going to happen. The police haven’t found anything new on Brennan, Richardson, or Rideout, have they?”
“No, they haven’t,” Sanchez told him. “But that could mean they are laying low, waiting for the right time...”
“Or they’ve skipped town,” Larabee said, reaching for the coffee in front of him.
“We don’t know that for sure, Chris,” Dunne said.
“I know, JD, but they certainly haven’t been spotted around Billings. Look, boys, if they do show up they’ll be brought in for questioning. I can handle myself...”
“Never said you couldn’t, Chris, but you’re not...”
“Fully recovered,” Larabee finished for the medic. “Nathan, I’m not gonna do anything stupid. I just can’t sit back and let them dictate how I live my life. I’m not gonna take any chances, but I don’t need to be protected anymore. I can handle things, besides if anything happens, Vin’s close at hand.”
“Guess we can’t convince you to let one of us stay with you until Anne gets back,” Wilmington said.
“No, nothing at all, although I’m sure one or two of you will stop by to help me with the chores around the place,” Larabee said with a grin.
“You got that right, Chris. There’s no way in hell you’ll be able to feed Pony and clean out the stalls,” Jackson warned.
“I know, Nathan,” the blond said.
“And don’t you dare try to ride that animal no matter how tempting it is. Give yourself another week before you even try to mount him!” the medic warned emphatically.
“Damn, Nathan, I think you read his mind,” Tanner said, grinning at the chagrined look on his best friend’s face.
“Wasn’t hard, he’s been itchin’ to ride Pony since he got out of the hospital,” Jackson agreed.
“Shoot, Nate, you’re as bad as Vin,” Larabee told him.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” the medic laughed, before returning to the files on his desk in the outer room.
“You boys have nothing better to do than sit in here?” Larabee asked, smiling as each one went back to their own desk. He wasn’t surprised when the tracker remained where he was.
“What’s wrong, Vin?”
“I’m not so sure we should stop surveillance, Chris. Something tells me whoever is behind the attack on you is still around, just waiting for you to let your guard down.”
“I’m not letting my guard down, Vin. I’m gonna keep alert for anything out of the ordinary. If I spot anyone around the ranch I’ll just give a holler,” the blond smiled at the younger man.
“Guess I’ll have to take your word for it, but Chris...”
“I know...don’t do anything stupid,” Larabee said.
“Yeah,” the sharpshooter said, standing and walking to the door. He knew Larabee understood their worry, and also knew the blond would be careful. He suddenly realized he’d feel the same way about being under constant surveillance if he was in the other man’s place.
Chris watched him leave and rotated his neck and shoulders. The headaches were not as bad as they’d been earlier in the week, but sometimes his neck and shoulders were stiff. He looked at the pictures on his desk and smiled. One held a photo of him, Sarah and Adam at a small rodeo outside Billings. Adam’s face was covered in chocolate ice cream and he’d been kissing his mother. Chris remembered Buck snapping the picture just as the ice cream dropped from the cone and landed between Sarah’s breasts. He remembered there amusement as Adam’s face lit up with laughter.
The second picture was of him and Anne Sheridan at the ranch, taken two months after their return from Washoe. The temperature had been unusually hot for that time of year and the boys had been out for a BBQ. Buck, Vin, Nathan, and JD brought dates with them and the day was one he remembered fondly. He’d been lazing around most of the day, sitting on a blanket and relaxing in the sun when Anne grabbed a bucket of water and doused him with it. The others laughed as he chased her and finally pulled her down to the ground. He shook his head, spraying water from his blond hair and tickling her as she squirmed underneath him. Their eyes met and suddenly he felt himself lost in her gaze as their body’s relaxed and their lips met. Wilmington shouted his name and when they looked up, the rogue snapped the picture. The look of surprise on his and Anne’s face was perfect, relaxed and soft. The phone on his desk rang, startling him with it’s shrill sound.
“Larabee.”
“Chris, it’s Bob Miller.”
Larabee sat up straighter and listened attentively. “Tell me you got something.”
“Two officers just picked up Richardson and Rideout...”
“Where are they?”
“On the way to the station right now. I figured you’d want to be here...maybe you can ID them...”
“I’m on my way,” Larabee told him, hanging up and reaching for his denim jacket. He walked into the outer office and looked at the six agents seated in semi-relaxed poses.
“What’s going on, Chris?” Sanchez asked before the others had a chance.
“That was Miller...they’ve got Richardson and Rideout. I’m on my way to the station now.”
“I’m coming with you,” Tanner said, grabbing his tan leather jacket and standing up.
“Alright, Vin. The rest of you make that meeting with Travis. Tell him I was called away,” Larabee told them as he and Tanner left the office.
Chris pulled the black Ford king cab into a parking spot near the entrance to the police station. He turned off the ignition and climbed out, hurrying towards the building. Tanner opened the door and he hurried inside, greeting the officers he saw there.
“Chris, Vin, come this way,” Miller said and led them towards his office. “How are you doing, Chris?”
“Better, Bob,” Larabee answered.
“Good...are you sure you’re up to this?” the policeman asked, knowing even the strongest victim’s could be intimidated by a line up.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” the blond assured him.
“Alright, follow me,” Miller told him and led the way to the room with the two way mirror. He knew the men he’d be looking at were being held in there.
Vin watched the blond carefully, knowing the man was still not completely over the trauma of the beating. He watched and listened as Larabee stepped up to the window. It was a moot point in having the line up as Larabee knew what the two men looked like, but the blond needed this sort of closure. He listened as his friend pointed out the two men involved, his voice filled with a confidence that had been lacking during the past week and a half.
Chris turned away from the window and smiled at the younger man’s worried frown. He understood the tracker’s worry, but would not give voice to it.
“Any sign of Brennan, Bob?” Tanner asked.
“No...nothing. I was just about to question these two. If you boys want to wait in my office, I’ll let you know what I find out,” Miller answered.
Larabee nodded and made his way to the captain’s office. He stepped inside and sat in one of the two chairs beside the desk. Sighing heavily he rubbed at the itching wound in his side.
“You okay, Cowboy?” the sharpshooter asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Vin. I just hope Miller can find out why they did this?”
“If they don’t maybe Bob will let us have a few minutes alone with them,” the tracker said, grinning at the older man.
“Yeah...maybe,” Larabee thought, feeling the familiar throb of an encroaching headache. He resisted the urge to rub at his eyes, knowing it would only add to his best friend’s worries. Tanner’s next question made him realize how futile it was to try and keep things from him.
“Headache back?”
“Yeah...not bad yet...”
“Got your pills with you?” Tanner asked, his voice filled with concern.
“Left them in my desk,” the blond said sheepishly.
“Why don’t we head back to the office? Bob can call us if he finds out anything new from those two.”
“No, I’d rather wait here,” Larabee told him. He knew the tracker was watching him closely and finally gave in to the need to rub his throbbing temples. He felt a slight touch on his shoulder and smiled gratefully as Tanner placed a glass of cold water in his hand. “Thanks, Vin.”
“You’re welcome.” He settled into the chair next to the older man and waited for Miller’s return.
Anne sat on the edge of the bed, and eased off her shoes. She’d spent the morning on a tour of the University of Colorado Hospital’s ICU and was impressed with the modern efficiency and well run unit. Her feet throbbed and she rubbed the soles, wishing the meetings and tours were over and she could return home to Billings.
‘Home,’ she thought, wondering when she’d come to think of Billings, Montana as home. The answer came quickly and her smile broadened as she thought of the green eyed Adonis who managed to capture her heart. Her heart beat faster at the thought of his hands on her breast and she shook herself before she gave into the daydream.
“Shit, Girl, you’ve got it bad,” she murmured before standing and going into the bathroom. She turned on the water and waited for the tub to fill up. Finally satisfied with the water level and temperature she finished undressing and slid into the tub. Sighing heavily she let the water ease her aching muscles and lay back against the edge of the tub before closing her eyes.
Almost immediately her mind wondered back to the first night she’d made love to Chris Larabee. The scent and feel of his lean body held tightly to her brought an instant response from her body. She relaxed further into her dreams and let her mind continue this train of thought.
“Chris...Bob’s coming this way,” Tanner said. He’d been worried about Larabee since they entered the office almost an hour ago. The blond was paler than he’d looked in days, and the sharpshooter knew he was suffering another concussion induced headache.
“Thanks,” the blond whispered and smiled thinly at his friend. He looked up as Miller came into the room.
“How did it go, Bob?” the tracker asked.
“Richardson wasn’t much help, but Rideout keeled over as soon as I mentioned you were here,” the policeman said, his steady gaze on Larabee.
“What did he say?” the blond asked.
“He said Brennan gave him and Richardson a hundred dollars each to help him work you over,” Miller explained.
“Why? I don’t even know Brennan,” Larabee told them.
“He doesn’t know...All he said was Brennan told them he was paid to work you over and that he’d share his win fall with them if they helped him out.”
“So it wasn’t personal,” Tanner said. “At least not where Brennan and these guys were concerned.”
“No, they were hired muscle,” Miller told him.
“That means whoever hired Brennan is still out there somewhere,” the tracker said, worried about the pale man seated beside him.
“Vin, Brennan could’ve lied about someone hiring him. We only have Rideout’s word that there is someone else involved,” Larabee said, trying to ease his queasy stomach.
“Well we’re charging these two with assault, but there’s not much we can do until we find Brennan.,” Miller said. He could tell Larabee wasn’t feeling very well and knew he was probably working too hard.
“Yeah, thanks, Bob for letting me know about these two,” Larabee said.
“What’ll happen to Richardson and Rideout?” Tanner asked.
“They’ll be arraigned tomorrow morning. I don’t think they’ll be able to make bail even if the judge grants it. They’ve both got other charges pending against them as well,” Miller answered.
“Thanks, Bob,” Tanner said, knowing he needed to get Larabee back to the office and get him to take the pain medication.
“You’re welcome. Chris, think maybe you’d best get some rest,” the concerned policeman suggested.
“I’m okay,” the blond assured him, standing and shaking hands with the man.
“Sure you are,” Miller said, shaking his head as the two men left his office.
Vin held the door for Larabee to climb into the cab of the truck, and knew how bad the headache was when the blond didn’t protest the maneuver. When he saw the older man squinting against the bright sunlight he removed his sunglasses and placed them on the concussed man.
“...thanks, Vin...” Larabee mumbled tiredly.
“Sure,” the tracker said, closing the door gently and hurrying around to the driver’s side. He got in behind the wheel and glanced at the other man.
“...I’m fine, Vin...” the blond assured him.
‘Sure you are,’ Tanner thought as he drove towards their office building. It took nearly fifteen minutes to make it back to the office and the tracker pulled the truck into Larabee’s reserved parking spot. He turned off the ignition and reached across to waken Larabee.
“Hey, Cowboy, we’re here,” he said softly, so as not to startle the blond.
“Huh?”
“We’re at the office. Come on, let’s get you inside and find those pills.” The tracker didn’t wait for an answer. He opened his door, climbed out and came around to the passenger side to help the blond from the truck.
Chris kept his head down, grateful for the younger man’s support as they headed into the building and finally the elevator. By the time they reached his office, his head felt ready to explode and he accepted the pills Tanner placed in his hands. He took them and drank the glass of cold water, before lying back on the comfortable couch. Closing his eyes, and mumbling thanks, he waited for the medication to ease his throbbing skull.
Vin closed the blinds and turned out the lights before leaving the blond to sleep through the worst of the headache.
Over the next week, the seven members of The Firm worked on the files and paperwork that never seemed to end. It was late Thursday afternoon and Vin Tanner and Buck Wilmington were on stakeout for the Preston case. One that bothered Chris in that it supposedly involved a lovers triangle, the type of case he hated working on. Nothing was as simple as it seemed and even the wife, who hired them in the first place, was not completely cooperating. It felt as if there was a lot more to this than the woman was letting on, and Chris thought she wasn’t as worried by her husband’s behavior as she should have been.
Shaking his head the blond walked to the coffee maker and poured himself one. The only person in the outer office was JD Dunne and Chris smiled as he heard him say the other person’s name. He turned back to his desk as the younger man hung up and came into his office.
“Problems, JD?” the blond asked, smiling at the troubled look on the kid’s face.
“Not really, Chris. I’m just trying to figure out what to do for Casey.”
“Is something wrong with her?”
“No...not really. See we’ve been seeing each other for nearly a year...Hell, it will be a year next Saturday...”
“Ah, first anniversary.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
“I want to give her something special. Something that’ll show her what she means to me.”
“And chocolates and flowers are not Casey?”
“Right...I mean she likes to get them, but I want this to stand out. I want to show her I’m not gonna be predictable.”
“Okay, kid, what you need to do is figure out what she likes best. What’s she into?”
“Well, she started going to school again. You know she wants to be a doctor?”
“Shoot, JD, between us we’ll have our own hospital.”
“Yeah,” Dunne smiled. “Between Anne and Casey neither one of us would get away with anything.”
“Exactly. Okay, so she’s in school and looking to be a doctor. What do you give her? What would it take to make her realize you’re not just another handsome face?” Larabee asked, smiling as JD blushed slightly.
“That’s my problem, Chris. I can’t think of anything. I thought maybe a stethoscope or something like that, but she’s got most of it.”
“What about a dinner and show? A little wine, romantic music...”
“Was gonna do that anyway, but I wanted to give her something from my heart...Heart...that’s it!”
“What?” Larabee asked as he watched the young man’s face light up.
“I’ve got something at home that’s perfect.”
“You gonna tell me what it is?”
“Y...yeah...oh, sure. See, when I was little my Mom always said a token shaped like a heart is from the heart. I’ve got my Mom’s earrings at home and I think they would suit Casey. She don’t wear much Jewelry...don’t need any fancy doodads, but these are not fancy. They are gold hearts with a shell design in the center. My Dad gave them to Mom on their first anniversary...not wedding...the anniversary of their first date. Casey collects hearts...do you think she’d like them, Chris?”
Chris looked at the young Bostonian and saw the wonder in the dancing eyes. ‘Sounds to me like she’s already collected yours, Son,’ he thought.
“JD, I think she’ll love them.”
“Really?”
“You know her better than I do, Son, and you know what she likes.”
“Thanks, Chris,” Dunne said, his voice filled with excitement.
“I didn’t do anything, JD, you just needed a reminder about what’s in your heart,” Larabee assured him.
“So, is Anne coming home tomorrow?”
Chris felt his own heart skip a beat at the mention of his lovers name. He smiled at the dark haired youth and nodded.
“Yeah, she gets in around five tomorrow. I’m meeting her at the airport.”
“Ah, guess that means we’re not supposed to come out to the ranch this weekend?”
“You got that right, Kid. You boys just remember I’ve got that gun you gave me for my birthday last year and I’ve been practicing.”
“Now, Chris, would any of us think about interruptin’ you and your lady love?” Dunne asked, batting his lids at the blond.
“You’re cruisin’, JD.”
“Ah, come on, Chris. I’m just teasing.”
“I know,” Larabee said. “Just do me a favor, JD.”
“Anything, Chris.”
“Keep the boys occupied this weekend,” Larabee told him.
“How?”
“Get them to help you search for a gift for Casey...”
“But I already got one...Oh...I get it. You want me to have them in my hair so they stay out of your hair. Right?”
“Something like that,” the blond said and smiled as the younger man nodded his head in agreement. He watched as the kid left the office and turned his attention back to the last file.
Fischer smiled as he drove along Logan Street. He knew Tanya Stevens would be returning to her home within the next few hours and he wanted to make sure everything was ready for her. He smiled as he looked at the darkened house, knowing he’d be waiting for her when she did come home. He’d make sure she paid for everything she’d said to him. She would not be around much longer, and Anne would be going back to Billings the next afternoon.
‘We’ll be together soon, Anne,’ he thought, feeling the ticket held securely in his inside jacket pocket. He’d be leaving for Billings on the morning flight and be at Larabee’s home before the couple returned. His plans were simple. He would park his car in a secluded area and walk to Larabee’s ranch. He’d already found a perfect hideaway and as soon as he had his hands on Anne Sheridan, Chris Larabee would be made to suffer for attempting to take her love from him. It was only a matter of time before he felt her warm and willing body nestled close to his own. He moaned as the thought of her made him hard and he pulled down the zipper, releasing his penis from its confinement. One hand held the wheel while the other found its way between his legs, to fondle his aching balls. A snarl left his throat as he thought of the woman he owned, lying in Larabee’s arms and he vowed to make the blond watch as he took back what rightfully belonged to him.
 |
 |
 |
 |