Chapter Seven
Micah sat at the table in the kitchen. He was going over a file on Bart Melbourne.
The man had a criminal past and a record a mile long, but it wasn’t for anything that landed him in prison for a long period of time. So, what made him do White’s bidding? Money? Micah would look into his financial records and clenched his jaw as he thought about this bastard getting a hold of Patsy. If White was paying him, he’d kill her in a heartbeat.
His cell phone buzzed, and he looked over to see Coby’s face. He was glad Coby kept him in the loop. He picked up the phone and answered.
“What’s up, Coby?”
“Good news and bad news. We just arrested three of White’s men, but Melbourne wasn’t one of them.”
“What about Dowling?”
“No.”
“Shit,” Micah muttered.
Coby blew out a breath. “Sorry I don’t have better news.
“Some is better than none. We’ll get them. I just want to find out why Melbourne is doing this since he’s not one of White’s men.”
“I’m wondering if Dowling got him involved in this.”
“Could be, since we can’t seem to get to either one of them—White could have them both following her. Patsy didn’t pick Dowling out as one though,” Micah said as he stood and stretched then walked to the window.
He looked out at the yard. The sun was shining down brightly although it was calling for rain later in the day. His thoughts ran to Patsy and their night together. Damn, she was amazing in bed. Hot didn’t seem to measure up to what she was, and she didn’t hold back either. The woman gave as good as she got. He’d woken her up twice more last night and if he didn’t stop thinking about her, he’d be waking her up again.
Turning away from the window, he moved to sit at the table again.
“I’ll see if I can find out more about Dowling,” he heard Coby say in his ear. “I know the men have looked into him, but I want to go over his file.”
“I’m going to be heading into the office in a while. I need to talk to Hodges again. I want to look into Melbourne’s finances.”
“See ya when you get here.” Coby disconnected.
Taking a deep breath, Micah stood and headed for the bedroom. He pushed the door open and saw Patsy snuggled deep under the covers. The top of her head was all he could see. He quietly moved to the bed and sat down on the edge of it and put his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her. The blanket lowered and he looked into those beautiful brown eyes. She smiled at him.
“I’m heading into the office to talk to my boss. I shouldn’t be long. I’ll set the alarm when I go out.” He leaned down and kissed her lips.
“Okay. Maybe I’ll just wait right here.”
Micah grinned, liking that idea. “That will definitely make me get back here quicker. See ya later, pixie.”
He pushed to his feet and walked out the door. After setting the alarm, he entered the garage, climbed into his car then drove to the office. The alarm would set within thirty seconds. Patsy would be fine while he was gone.
Once at the bureau, he walked to Hodges’s office and knocked then entered when he was told to come in. He took a seat in front of the desk and waited for Hodges to lift his head from the paperwork he was looking over. Finally, Hodges put his pen down and removed his glasses then looked at him.
“What now, Turner?”
“I’d like to take a few more days off,” Micah answered.
“Is the world coming to an end? ”
Micah couldn’t stop the grin. “Not that I know of, sir.”
“Take as long as you need. Anything else?”
“I appreciate that and while I’m here, I’d like to look into Melbourne’s finances.”
Hodges ran his hand around the back of his neck and sighed. “I don’t suppose it would hurt. It’s not like you’re doing any good around here.”
“Excuse me?”
Hodges laughed. “I know that if you were at your desk working on White’s men, you’d still want to make sure Miss Murphy stays safe.”
“True. I’m not sure if Dowling is involved in this but if he is, I don’t like the two of them out there when she’s alone at the house. I appreciate you allowing men to watch the house but I worry those two could get in and get her before the men would see them.”
“I agree, but I can’t spare more men for this. It would be easier if she’d go to a safe house.”
“She won’t. I asked her. She says she feels…safer with me since we know each other.”
“All right, take more time off.”
“As long as I need?”
He nodded but scowled. “When you feel safe coming back here and leaving her alone, I suppose. ”
“Hell, that might not be until Dowling and Melbourne are caught.”
Hodges waved his hand. “If that’s what it takes. We’re not in the protecting witnesses’ business but she trusts you, so I can’t see abandoning her. You have more than enough vacation days coming to you—use them. But I swear to Christ, Turner, if this comes out, I will say I knew nothing about her being at your house and you protecting her.”
“Yes sir.” Micah stood and moved toward the door then looked back to his boss. “Thank you, sir. I’ll get out of here once I see if Melbourne has had any big deposits. White might be in prison but he still has a shitload of money and someone is controlling it.”
“Yep.” Hodges put his glasses back on and picked up his pen again.
Micah knew he’d been dismissed. Making his way to his desk, he pulled his chair out and took a seat. He wanted to get some information on Dowling and Melbourne but he also wanted to let Coby know he’d be out a while longer.
An hour later he closed his computer down and headed for Coby’s desk and took a seat. Coby glanced up at him.
“I can’t see where Dowling has visited White in over a year,” Coby said.
“I’m taking more time off. I have almost three weeks of vacation due me, and I’m taking what I need of them. I don’t like leaving Patsy alone, especially if both Dowling and Melbourne are out there trying to get to her.”
Coby sat back and stared at him. “Hodges good with this?”
“Hell, it was his idea to use my vacation days. I could be back before then if Melbourne is found. I still think Dowling is somehow involved. Call it a gut feeling but…” He shrugged.
“Your gut has never let you down before.”
“Yeah, but there’s a first time for everything, I suppose. It seems that Melbourne has had a lot of deposits lately. I couldn’t find any finances for Dowling—which is strange.”
“That is strange.”
“Coby, if Joyce asked you to quit…would you?”
Coby’s eyebrows rose. “In a heartbeat…why?”
“Vanessa stopped by recently and I’m wondering—”
“No. That didn’t work out because she wasn’t the right woman for you. She’s beautiful but a real bitch and you know it.”
Micah shook his head and laughed. “Yeah, I do.”
He pushed to his feet.
“I’ll see you soon. Keep in touch with me on anything you find. I’ll check in when I can.”
“Be careful, Micah.” Coby stood, stuck his hand out to him and Micah shook it .
Turning on his heel, he walked out of the office and took the elevator down to the parking garage. After climbing into his car, he fired it up and drove toward home. On the way, he called Patsy to let her know he was on his way, so he wouldn’t scare her when he entered the house.
“Bring home Chinese, please,” she said.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t be a smartass, Agent Turner.”
“What’d I say?”
“You know exactly what you said. That yes ma’am shit doesn’t get it with me. Makes me feel old.”
“Trust me, darlin’, you don’t feel old.” He grinned when she burst out laughing. “I’ll be there as soon as I can…with Chinese.”
“Good. Get a little bit of everything. Bye Agent Turner.”
“Bye pixie.” He hung up and stuffed his cell into his pocket then drove to his favorite Chinese restaurant shop.
When he entered the house, she wasn’t in the living room. He set the food down on the kitchen table then walked down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
“Patsy?”
“I’ll be right out,” she called from her bedroom.
“All right. I’m going to change then we can eat.”
“Sure.”
Frowning, Micah stared at her door then moved on to his bedroom.
He opened the drawer to his dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants then grabbed a T-shirt.
He stripped out of his suit then pulled on the sweats and shirt. Walking out of his bedroom, he noticed her door was still closed. He knocked on it.
“Patsy? Are you coming out? The food is getting cold.”
The door opened, and she stood there staring at him. He could tell she’d been crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He frowned. Women . “I’ve known women long enough to know that when they say nothing, it’s usually something. What is it?”
“I said it was nothing.”
Patsy walked past him and headed for the kitchen. He grabbed her arm and spun her around.
“Let go of me,” she said between clenched teeth.
He raised his hands away from her. “Fine, but you could at least tell me why you were crying.”
“I am sick of being in this house, all right? I hate it. I can’t go anywhere or do anything. I can’t talk to my friends or family, and I need to hear their voices. I know Bella is worried sick about me and you’re keeping me prisoner here!”
He shook his head. For the life of him, he would never understand women. Before he came home, she seemed fine. She was laughing with him on the phone and now she was shouting at him.
“I am not keeping you prisoner. I’m protecting you! You were fine not thirty minutes ago, now you’re yelling at me. Make up your fucking mind,” he shouted at her in frustration more than anger.
“I had a text from Bella telling me she’s worried about me and it just hit me that I haven’t been out of this fucking house in almost two weeks. I’m going stir crazy, Micah.”
He reached for her, but she slapped his hands away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Leaning his face down close to hers, he stared into her eyes.
“That’s not what you said last night,” he murmured then moved his face to her neck.
“Stop it,” she growled and pushed him away.
Micah stepped back and narrowed his eyes. “You came to me for my help and now you’re throwing it back in my face. If you don’t like it here, go to a damn safe house.”
“I want to go home,” she shouted.
“You want to die? Because you will without protection. Victor White wants you dead and if you won’t think of yourself then think about your friends in Dry River, because you’ll be putting them in danger too.”
“I hate you! ”
“Like that’s news to me. You’re a real piece of work, pixie—”
The slap across his cheek shocked him, and he reared back then grabbed her arms and pushed her against the wall. He held them above her head and put his body against hers.
“Don’t ever hit me again,” he said through clenched teeth. Now, he was angry.
“Why? Will the big bad FBI agent hit me back?”
“Looks like I need to shut you up, Patsy,” he whispered, his anger dropping away with her weird endearment she liked to use.
He lowered his lips to hers.
She fought him for less than a second then she wiggled her arms, but he didn’t let go.
He held her wrists in one hand while he moved his other hand down over her T-shirt to cup her breast.
She moaned, and he smiled knowing he’d won.
He moved his mouth to her neck as he moved his hand down to her lounge pants and slipped his hand inside to her panties.
Rubbing the back of his fingers against her stomach, he moved his lips back to hers when she whimpered then he dipped his finger down between her legs and into her slit where he rubbed his knuckle against her clitoris.
Her moans were setting him on fire.
He let go of her wrists, dropped to his knees, and put his face against her belly while pulling off her lounge pants and panties.
Her hands clutched his hair as he moved his mouth down to her strip of curls and pushed his tongue between them to her clitoris.
He sucked on her as he moved his finger inside her.
Soon her breathing became heavier and her legs trembled then she cried out his name.
Micah stood and shoved his sweatpants down and lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist.
“Shit, I don’t have a condom,” he muttered in utter frustration.
Patsy burst out laughing. “You’re going to ravage me against a wall and you don’t have a condom?”
“Christ, you are a smartass. I had no idea I was going to ravage you against a wall .”
“I’m on the pill. Come on, Agent Turner, I need you inside me.”
He blew out a breath. He never had sex without a condom but damn, he had to have her. Gritting his teeth, he thrust into her making her gasp loud.
“Did I hurt you?” Wondering if he’d been too rough, he stopped.
“No, just fuck me.”
Micah laughed. What a woman . “Yes ma’am.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she held on while he pounded into her.
She rocked her hips against his and he had to clench his jaw so he wouldn’t come too fast.
He wanted her there again.
Moving his hand between them, he rubbed her clitoris and a gasp tore from her.
When she nipped his neck with her teeth, he groaned and moved harder and faster against her.
He could feel her clenching around his cock right before she cried out and it threw him over the edge and he came so hard he thought he was going to black out.
Breathing hard, his legs barely holding them, he leaned his forehead against hers.
“God, that was great,” she said between deep breaths.
He nodded in agreement, steadied himself then stepped back and let her down but kept his arms on her waist.
“Are you all right?” he asked her.
“Yes, but I need a shower now.”
“Right…go. After I wash up, I’ll put the food in the oven to keep it warm for you. I’m going to eat though. I’m starving.”
“Worked up an appetite, huh?”
“Yep.”
He pulled his sweatpants up, entered the hall bathroom, washed off then reentered the hallway and had turned to walk toward the kitchen.
“Micah?” He turned to look at her.
“I don’t hate you.”
He grinned. “I know. Go get your shower or there might not be any food left.”
Micah left her standing in the hall. If he didn’t get away from her, he was going to carry her to his bed and say the hell with eating.
*** *
Patsy smiled as she picked her lounge pants and panties up from the floor then turned and entered her bedroom before heading to the bathroom.
Too bad Micah didn’t want to share a shower with her.
She couldn’t seem to get enough of him.
The smile left her face when she thought about the text from Bella.
She had expressed her concern over why Patsy couldn’t tell her what was going on or answer her messages.
She was worried.
She’d told Patsy she was but the less Bella knew the better.
Patsy refused to put her best friend in danger.
Bella had a family and if anything happened to them because of her, she’d never forgive herself.
She was just so bored sitting in this house day in and day out.
At least, Micah got out of the house even if it was just to run to the office or pick up some food for them.
She was afraid to even step out onto the deck out back. What if Melbourne was out there just waiting to take a shot at her?
Reaching inside the stall, she turned the water on then pulled her T-shirt off over her head and tossed it to the floor then stepped into the stall.
The hot water sluiced down over her, and it felt amazing.
Shaking her head, she couldn’t believe she’d told Micah she hated him.
Her feelings were far from it.
She’d been better off when she told herself she did.
The man was so sexy, and he didn’t even have to try at it.
As much as she’d never been into a man in a suit, she had to admit he did look good in it.
He looked even better out of it.
With nothing on at all.
Moaning, she quickly washed then grabbed a towel and dried off.
After dressing, she headed for the kitchen.
She could smell the Chinese food as she entered the living room.
Micah sat in the recliner with the footrest up and watching TV.
She gave him a smile then entered the kitchen to get some food.
Once she had a plate piled high with fried rice and sweet and sour chicken, she returned to the living room and took a seat on the sofa and looked at the TV.
“Can you horseback ride?” Micah suddenly asked her then picked up a piece of chicken with chopsticks.
She chewed what she had in her mouth and swallowed.
“Yes, why?”
“If you want out of the house for a while, I can take you riding tomorrow.”
“Really?” She sat up and stared at him, not sure what she heard was real.
“Yes, really.”
Patsy set her plate down, stood, and walked over to him. He stared up at her. She leaned down and pressed her lips to his.
“Thank you,” she murmured against his sexy lips.
Micah grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Making her way back to the sofa, she picked up her plate then sat .
“Where?”
“My dad’s ranch. He has a few horses we can use. He won’t be there though since he’s in Casper at the stock sales.”
“Absolutely, I can’t wait to go. I don’t have cowboy boots though. I suppose I can wear my hiking boots.”
She looked to him for confirmation. She didn’t want him changing his mind because she didn’t have boots.
“Those will be fine. My boots won’t fit you.” He winked at her.
“Oh hell no. I wear a five and you wear what?”
“Thirteen.”
“Hmmm, big feet, big…” She laughed.
“Are you telling me it’s not true?”
“Hell no. Baby, I’ve seen what you’ve got.”
“Done more than see it, sweetheart.”
Patsy snorted. “True.”
She took a bite of fried rice and groaned. “This food is amazing.”
“I can get us a picnic lunch for tomorrow if you’d like.”
“I’d love it. Are we riding on the ranch?”
“Yeah, Dad has over a thousand acres, so we can ride up to the north pasture. I’m sure he has the cattle up there, but they sure won’t bother us. We can picnic by the pond.”
“Sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to get out of here for a few hours.”
“We could stay overnight, if you want.”
“Your dad won’t mind? ”
“Not at all. He won’t be home until Monday. In fact, we could stay the weekend if you want. Up to you.”
“We could come back here.” She smiled.
“If you’re sure then we’ll come back. I have no doubt you’re getting cabin fever staying here but it’s for your own good. You did come here so I could protect you, after all. What did you think you were going to do? Just come in here, tell me about it, and then leave?”
“I honestly don’t know what I was going to do. I thought you could arrest him or something.”
“Not until he does something. We can’t even prove he was following you. We need to find him soon though. Did you see anyone else following you?”
“No. Just him. Why?”
Micah shrugged. “Another one of White’s men is still out there. We’ve arrested the others.”
“Should I be worried about the other one? Are they working together?”
“No idea. If you haven’t seen him, the odds are they aren’t together. I’d just like to know where they both are.”
She would too, and she hoped there weren’t two men out there following her. One was bad enough and she just wanted this to be over so she could go home.
Glancing over to Micah, she wondered what would happen when she did leave. Would she see him again? She didn’t do long distance relationships. They never worked. She’d tried it when she first left Oregon. Roni had tried it with her ex-fiancé when she first moved to Dry River from Colorado. Only she’d met up with Lincoln Cole again and fell back in love with him. She’d had a crush on him when she was younger and broke his heart when he asked her out. Being one of the bad boys of Dry River, she’d told him not in this lifetime and then regretted it. Then she returned to Dry River years later, engaged to a man who refused to move with her but had believed it was just a phase she was going through, and that she’d return home to him. She didn’t. She fell for Lincoln and recently had married him. Patsy was so happy for her new friend but the whole situation proved long distance relationships did not work.
Now looking at Micah, she thought she might be willing to try it if he wanted. He’d never mentioned what happened once she did leave. Dry River was a long way from Cheyenne.
Sighing, she’d suddenly lost her appetite. Sitting back on the sofa, she tried to focus on the TV but couldn’t. Her stomach was in knots at the thought of leaving Micah Turner behind. Realizing now it had been a mistake to have sex with him, but she’d continue to do it because she couldn’t deny herself. She was in too deep .