The Whisperers: A Three Book Box Set Page 24

  “That’s all there is?”

  “Don’t know. Kinda wanted to explore the possibilities but don’t know if she is. She doesn’t seem too interested in relationships.”

  “Well damn, she’d be the first woman on the planet who isn’t.”

  Jesse laughed. “Don’t I know it? Yeah, she’s a breed all her own. Seems like someone holding onto a lot of secrets and maybe some old pains. Whatever the case, she let me know pretty quick she isn’t opposed to no-strings sex but anything else just isn’t in the cards.”

  “And you didn’t take her up on that?”

  Jesse stood. “Guess your and Jake’s turnaround are rubbing off on me. Life seems to be pretty good for you and so far the family curse—“

  Jed’s throat clearing had him changing his words. “Oh yeah, I forgot, no more calling it a curse. Well, the family–uh, condition hasn’t seemed to hurt you all so maybe there’s a chance for me, too. Truth be told, I’m getting a little tired of the love’em and leave’em life. Settling down has its appeal.”

  “Amen to that. And it’ll happen. Just give it time.”

  “All I can do.”

  “Yep. Okay, let’s shake a leg. Mik’ll have my hide if dinner isn’t ready.”

  Jesse laughed and slapped Jed on the back. “Whipped already big brother?”

  Jed scowled at him in mock fierceness then grinned. “And loving it.”

  Jesse laughed and followed Jed inside. Yeah, he thought he could handle finding a woman of his own and experiencing happiness like his brothers had found. Trouble was, the only woman he’d found of interest was the one woman who wanted to have nothing at all to do with love.

  Chapter Two

  Dalton stared at his Aunt’s image on his phone. Since he’d talked her into getting more current with technology, she’d started using the video chat feature to communicate.

  “Are you sure it’s Deidre’s men?” He asked.

  “Positive. Remains of three men were found in a burned car in Georgia, south of Atlanta. The authorities identified them and it was the men she hired to shoot you and Alex Morgan.”

  “Which means we have nothing on her.” Dalton felt his blood-pressure rise. Seemed that no matter what he did, Deidre was always a step ahead. “Damn, that bitch. Every time we gain an inch we lose two.”

  “I know it feels that way, but I promise you that we will force her out of Manning Enterprise and get you back where you belong, in the CEO seat. Look at the progress we’ve made. She forced me off the Board but I’m once more fully ensconced and my influence is growing daily. We will see things set to right.”

  “I know you mean that, Aunt Henrietta and I love you for all your support, but what are we possibly going to do?”

  “You leave that to me, dear. I still have a few cards up my sleeve and I promise you that we will see her not only removed from the company but behind bars.”

  “I hope you’re right because I’m completely out of ideas.”

  “I am, trust me. Now, switching topics. I think someone needs to let the Nash family and Alex Morgan know about this turn of events and I think you should be the one to tell them.”

  “Why me?”

  “Goodwill? They are not our enemy. Remember that.”

  “You’re right. I’ll tell them. In person.”

  “Thank you, my dear. I will speak with you later.”

  The screen went blank and for a few moments, Dalton stared at it. He didn’t know how Henrietta could force Deidre out of the company much less see her behind bars. She had been a plague on his family since she walked into his father’s life.

  He wished that he had the balls to just shove her head in a toilet and drown the bitch.

  But he wasn’t about to rot in jail so he had little choice but to hope that the cards Henrietta had up her sleeve were strong.

  *****

  Carly turned at the sound of an engine, looped the reins of her mount over the corral fence, and headed in the direction of the noise. She wasn’t expecting anyone and as far as she knew, there were no deliveries scheduled today.

  She passed her ranch foreman, John Stillman. He and two other of the ranch hands, Tom and Mike were on horseback and headed toward the gate. He reined his horse to a stop beside her. “Talked to the guy in Columbia this morning about that mare you’re interested in. He came down twelve hundred on the price but he said you have till the end of the week to decide.”

  “Well that’s tomorrow.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Okay.” She considered it for a few moments and as she was thinking saw the truck pull up to the house and stop. She didn’t recognize it, but was pretty sure whoever it was would make themselves known shortly so she turned her attention back to the matter at hand. She was convinced the mare would be a good choice to breed with the new stallion she’d added to the stable. “Fine. Tell him it’s a deal if he throws in a vet check and up to date vaccinations.”

  “I think he’ll go for that.”

  “Good. Thanks, John. I’ll have a check waiting on you in the office when you get back. Oh, while you’re out, Colton said he spotted a weak fence post in the southern pasture near the creek. How about checking that and if it needs to be replaced get someone on it?”

  “I’m on it.”

  “Thanks John. I’ll talk with you later.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Carly looked back in the direction of the house and standing beside the truck was Jesse Nash. She mentally cursed herself for the excitement that swelled inside her at the sight of him. Jesse was one of the finest looking men she’d ever seen. Smart and funny and sexier than sin. And that was the problem. He was too damn sexy. He might think he wanted what his brothers had but a man like him was not going to be the type to be content with sitting home every night.

  She knew from being at Nationals when he claimed the title of All Around Cowboy that he had belt buckle bunnies after him all the time. She was willing to bet it wasn’t just the bunnies. He probably attracted women like flies to manure. Still, he was damn nice to look at, and could definitely inspire some lusty fantasies.

  “Hey,” he said as she walked up to him.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  He turned and opened the passenger door of his truck. “I brought you a house warming gift – from everyone at the ranch.” He pulled out a big cardboard box. It was loaded with supplies. Potatoes and meat wrapped in butcher paper along with homed canned beans and corn, two big wrapped loaves of bread and several jars of jam and various other staples like salt, pepper, oil and seasonings.

  “That was really nice. And I’m sure Colton and Memory will appreciate it. I’ve been mooching off them ever since I got here.”

  “I’ve got something else but why don’t I take this inside for you, first?”

  “Sure.”

  She led the way into the house. Jesse put the box on the kitchen table and she started unloading. “Be sure and tell your family how much I appreciate this.”

  “I will.”

  “So, how’ve you been?” She asked as she grabbed a stack of the wrapped portions of meat and put them into the freezer.

  “Doing better every day.”

  “I heard about that mess with Mik’s sister. Man, you were lucky that place had surveillance, but did you find out who it was that was trying to set you up?”

  “Yeah, the police have the man’s name who did the shooting but so far he’s in the wind.”

  “Sooner or later he’ll screw up and they’ll get him. Or a bounty hunter will tag his sorry ass and drag him in.”

  “Maybe. I’m just glad to be free of it.”

  “So, how’s Mik’s sister? Alex, right? Hey, how about a glass of iced tea?”

  “Sounds good. And yeah, it’s Alex. She’s still in a coma. Teddy, the other sister – who’s now married to Jake, talked with Ellie and her brother and from what I hear, Eldric is going to come up and see if he can get through to Alex.”

  “So your f
amily buys into all that Fae business?”

  Jesse shrugged. “I tell you, between my family, Mik’s and yours I’m to the point that I’m pretty damn sure my bead on reality is damn narrow.”

  Carly nodded. “I know what you mean. Still, I don’t know what Eldric can do. Other than look good.”

  “Oh? You got a thing for Eldric?”

  “Not in a million years. But he fine as frog’s hair split four ways. Anyway, Colton tells me you have the ranch back on its feet pretty good now.”

  “Yep. It was touch and go for a while, but we’re doing okay.”

  “You back with the sheriff’s department?”

  “No, I decided to stick with ranching.”

  “Why? If you don’t mind me asking.” She finished putting up the last of the supplies and fixed two tall glasses of iced tea.

  “Well, I guess it’s because we pretty much live for what we do. I mean, money pays the bills, so we do what we have skills to do to earn a living.” He accepted the glass she offered. “Thanks. But there’s more than just earning your bread and butter.”

  His gaze locked with hers. “Everyone has a passion and in the end, it’s the passion that matters.”

  Carly was in the process of taking a drink from her glass. The look on his face distracted her, so much that she choked on a chunk of ice. Literally. Choked and spewed.

  Jesse put his glass down and ran over to her. He turned her around and thumped her on the back. It nearly drove her into the kitchen counter. “Oh, damn. Sorry. Are you okay?”

  She wasn’t. She was still trying to catch her breath and not having any luck. The thought flashed through her mind that she sure hated to die this way. Local rancher dies from choking, precipitated by acute onset of horniness.

  Jesse lifted her arms out and up and wrapped his arms around her. Oh god, he’s going to do the Heimlich! She would have protested if she were able, but it was taking everything she had to suck in air.

  One swift hug and a chunk of ice shot out of her mouth, hit the kitchen counter and bounced. Carly sucked in oxygen in a big greedy gulp, then another.

  “You okay?” Jesse didn’t release her but leaned down over her shoulder to look at her, his breath sweet and warm against her face.

  She turned her head, tilting her face up and their eyes met. Oh! Something when “click” inside her. Something strong and hot. Something that had been slumbering for so long that its awakening was like a summer storm, full of energy and power.

  Jesse’s blue eyes darkened a shade and for a moment, they were frozen in place, looking at each other. His hand moved up and one finger stroked softly down the side of her face. A sizzle of fire sped from the point of contact, clear down to her toes. He blinked and cleared his throat. “You okay?”

  Hell no she wasn’t okay. She was embarrassed as all get out and so worked up she felt like throwing him on the floor and raping him. But she wasn’t about to say that so instead she nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”

  “Okay. Okay. Good.” He released her and stepped back. “So, I still have something for you. Out in the truck.”

  She could have hugged him in relief for not making a big deal out of what had happened. “Well, let’s go see. I do love surprises.”

  He chuckled and followed her outside. She stopped at his truck and he went around to the back, lowered the tailgate and unfastened the bed cover.

  “No way!” She gaped at what she saw.

  “Yeah.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Your family is giving me this?”

  “No. I am.”

  That shocked her. “You? Jesse this has to be worth a fortune.”

  “Actually, I made it.”

  Carly couldn’t have been more surprised if he had suddenly sprouted horns. The object of discussion was a hand-tooled saddle. “You made it?”

  “Yeah. I’ve always been interested in learning and all that mess with the shooting made me realize that life’s damn fragile and short, so maybe I should stop putting off the things I want to do. I found a guy down in South Carolina, in Lancaster, not far from the ranch, who still makes saddles. He’s an old guy, close to eighty. Anyway, I paid him into letting me apprentice with him. This is my first.”

  “It’s beautiful, Jesse.” She wasn’t lying. It was a beautiful piece of work. She’d never owned a saddle so beautiful. She ran her hand over it and then looked at him. “You sure you want to give it away?”

  “No, I want to give it to you.”

  Carly knew it was a mistake the moment his gaze locked with hers. Daydreams of hot sweaty sex danced in her mind, making her grow far warmer than the temperature warranted. “I—I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about, thanks Jesse.”

  Gratitude helped minimize some of the hold the hunger had on her. “Thanks, Jesse. I’ll treasure it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He gave her a smile and then hoisted the saddle from the truck. “Where you want it?”

  She pointed across the way to the tack barn and they fell into step beside one another. “So, you had a chance to get out and about since you’ve been here?”

  “Nope.” She pointed to the side door of the barn. “Right there. Been pretty busy.”

  “You free this weekend?”

  She stopped and looked at him. “Free?”

  “To go out. Maybe dinner and some dancing, or a movie?”

  “Like a date?”

  Jesse laughed. “Well yeah, I guess. Or two friends out to have a little fun.”

  “Friends? Is that what we are?”

  Jesse’s smile faded and the look that replaced it had her wanting to snatch that saddle from his hands, push him down on the ground, and have a long hard ride. God the man had too much sex appeal for his own good.

  “For now.” He finally answered.

  “For now?”

  “Yep.”

  “And what about later?”

  His grin was back. “Well that’s the fun part about it – figuring out what comes next. But friends is a good place to start. You can’t have too many, you know.”

  Carly almost argued that point, almost told him that it was pointless for them to go out for any reason. She wasn’t looking for love and he’d made it plain back in Vegas that he wasn’t interested in hooking up just for sex.

  But she couldn’t make herself speak those words because the truth was part of her wanted to go through that process and see where it might take them. God only knew she had a miserable track record and probably would screw up whatever they might possibly have, but maybe somewhere in the past decade she’d earned enough good karma that if nothing else, she’d at least be able to build a solid friendship with him.

  “You got that right and yeah, I’m free on Saturday if that works for you. But you don’t have to take me to dinner. I mean, you pretty much just delivered it. Why don’t I cook? And after we can take a ride and I’ll show you the place. Besides I’d like you to meet this new mare I’m getting tomorrow. You can use those Whisperer powers and tell me what you think.”

  To his credit, he didn’t get offended or put off by her referring to his abilities. Instead he smiled. “That sounds good to me. Six work for you?”

  “Indeed it does. Now let’s get my prize saddle put up and then I’ll treat you to a beer to celebrate.”

  “Okay, but what are we celebrating?”

  “Having a friend generous enough to bring me all that food and make me a saddle. I’d say that’s a lot to celebrate.”

  “I’m with ya.”

  Carly grinned, suddenly feeling ten years younger. Maybe Colton was right, maybe here was where she really could start over.

  Chapter Three

  Jesse found Mik and Jed in the kitchen when he entered the house. From Jed’s stance, it was clear that whatever was going on it wasn’t a happy moment. He didn’t want to get in the middle of a marital spat so he pivoted on his heel to head back outside.

  “Hold on!
” Mik’s voice stopped him.

  “Look, whatever is going on here is your business and I don’t think I should get involved.”

  “We’re not fighting, Jesse. Just trying to figure something out.”

  “Oh, okay, what’s up?”

  “It’s about Alex.”

  “What about her? Has something happened?”

  “No. There’s been no change and that’s the problem. Teddy is convinced that Ellie’s brother Eldric Whitehorse is the answer, that he has the ability to reach Alex.”

  “Well, why does she think that?”

  “She says it’s something she felt when they were here and she held that scroll. She thinks he can touch Alex’s mind.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “I don’t know. I mean look at us.” She cut Jed a quick look. “At you. You can project feelings like a laser guided missile, and you can sense feelings and emotions. I can – well you know what I can do and the point is, to people who can’t do what we do, it probably seems impossible or as Jed calls it “woo woo”.

  Jesse laughed but quickly sobered at the look Mik cut him. “Sorry. But—never mind. Your point?”

  “My point is that I’m not convinced that Eldric can do anything but everything medically that can be done has been and we’ve run out of options. And if Teddy is that convinced – well maybe we should listen to her.”

  “Or maybe it’s just setting her up to be hurt,” Jed said.

  Jesse looked over at him and Jed continued. “Look, I’m not saying Eldric is or isn’t anything — or from another realm or whatever, but no one has said anything that lends weight to the idea that he can reach inside Alex’s mind and bring her out of a coma. And if he can’t then Teddy …” He paused and looked at Mik. “You know what happened when Alex was shot. I just don’t want to see her go over the deep end again if you get my drift.”

  “Neither do I, and I get what you’re saying and even agree with it but if we don’t try…”

  “She’ll blame us for not trying everything we could to help Alex,” Jesse said and directed his next words to Jed. “Color me acting with my own interests at heart here, but I really don’t want to go through another episode with Teddy. And I’m sure Jake would feel the same. I say we go along with it but Mik—“He looked back at Mik. “Mik, you’ve gotta prepare her as best you can that there’s no guarantee.”