Chapter Eighteen
The fact that Ben thought it unsafe for Sarah to stay at home alarmed her, and she was already distressed.
The ranch was her childhood home. She couldn’t imagine being in danger in this little corner of the world.
The ebb and flow of a rural property, where they raised livestock and grew things, held its own peace and fulfillment.
Yet, she must trust Ben’s judgment. This was his business and he was the expert. Reluctantly, she went into her room.
Observing from the doorway, he oozed impatience. His sharp eyes followed her every movement, and she knew he wanted her to move faster. Rushing, she packed several outfits, toiletries, and cell phone charger into a large carry bag.
Within five tense minutes, she’d also stuffed her handgun and knife inside and was ready to go. The bruise on her temple was giving her a headache, and on the lumpy sofa she’d passed a restless night. She didn’t feel well, and the prospect of a long flight to a strange city wasn’t appealing.
They didn’t stop for breakfast or perform any chores. Ben barely gave her time for a cursory goodbye hug to a sobered Big Jim. When Ben drove them away, dawn’s mists still eddied in the morning air. His eyes continually swept the roadway and made frequent glances into the rearview mirror.
“I have to say goodbye to Milly,” Sarah said.
“Sarah, I’ve made flight reservations. And we don’t want anyone seeing us leave. We can’t go into town.”
“Just drive me down the alleyway behind the diner. Milly lives upstairs. I’ll call her.
Whether she’s still upstairs or already working in the diner, and I bet she is, she’ll come into the alley.
Nobody will see me there.” Sarah would not be denied.
She was going to hug the woman she thought of as her mother, and now her best friend.
Ben sighed. “Just for a minute.”
As they skirted the town square, they saw new banners had been strung across the street in glittery letters advertising Mountain Wood’s Annual Rhubarb Festival!
Artificial flowers had already been woven around several lampposts.
It seemed as though they might miss the festivities, coming in only a week.
She hated that. The Rhubarb Festival was something she’d been looking forward to.
Mayor Beekins had done his level best to try and convince her to be the parade’s marshal, but she’d firmly refused. No more focus on her. Period.
However, she did want to celebrate with her friends and family, see the 4H pigs and lambs, eat barbeque, drink a cold beer.
It was a day everyone loved, the shopkeepers most of all, as a good deal of business would be conducted.
It was an annual win-win for everyone. Sarah felt annoyance, even anger at her stalker for making her miss out.
By the same token, she knew Ben would be glad. He was a man who didn’t like crowds.
As the truck coasted quietly down the alleyway, an already-aproned Milly waited. On her feet were shiny gold lamé high tops. She came to the truck and Sarah opened the door. They hugged and Sarah said, “When I come back, we’ll get started on your makeover, okay?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve been having second thoughts anyway.” She looked at Ben with fierce blue eyes. “I know you’ll take care of our girl.”
“I will,” he promised. “Now, don’t tell anyone where Sarah’s going. No one. You and Jim are the only two in the know. I told Chief King I was taking her away, however, not to where.”
“I think she went down to Borneo to hunt for a tribe of long-lost pigmies.” Milly raised her hands. Then, she tapped her head. “No, wait. That’s not right. She decided on some invigorating helicopter skiing in Canada.”
Sarah smiled. “I’ve always dreamed about excavating a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the Black Hills of South Dakota’s Badlands.”
Milly snapped her fingers. “Maybe that’s where she went!”
Ben slid the truck’s transmission into drive. “I don’t care what you tell people as long as you don’t tell them the truth.”
Milly grew serious again, squeezed Sarah’s hand. “Take care of yourself, honey. I’ll keep an eye out for your dad, don’t worry.” Stepping away from the vehicle, Milly crossed her arms tightly across her full bust and watched them go.
Sarah waved until she could no longer see her. “When’s our flight take off?”
“Soon as we get to the airport.”
Sarah slanted him a look. “I thought you said we had reservations?”
“I chartered a private plane and a pilot,” he told her. “So that could technically be called reservations.”
She eyed him balefully. “You wanted me to hurry.”
“Damn straight.” He was unapologetic. “I’m getting you out of here.
Now. We would have left last night, but I didn’t want to make a move in the dark.
This morning, I checked my truck thoroughly for any tracking device someone could have attached and found nothing.
” Again, he glanced in the rearview window.
“Currently, we are in the clear. I’d damn sure like to keep it that way. ”
****
The charter flight was uneventful, the pilot polite, and the plane small. It lacked the luxurious amenities Sarah had been accustomed to on private planes during her time in the limelight. She didn’t say a word. Surprising herself, she slept the entire flight.
Several hours later, it was early afternoon by the time they went wheels down. When she woke, her headache had faded. Ben had arranged for his car to meet them, and as soon as they stepped off the plane, a dusty SUV rolled up. The driver tossed Ben the keys and they were off.
“You’ll stay with me,” he told her. “In my condo. There’s a guest bedroom and it’s all yours. But during the day, I have to work. You’ll go with me. If you need a nap, there’s a couch in my office. Sorry, I can’t leave you home alone. I can’t leave you anywhere.”
“That’s okay,” she said.
“Besides, a security company is the safest place for you right now.”
She smiled. “I’m curious about your business anyway. “Maybe I can even make myself useful to your office staff. Like doing the filing or something.”
“How’s the bruise?”
“My headache’s gone. I’m just a little lethargic.”
“You’ve had a head injury. It’ll take a few days, but soon you’ll be a hundred percent.”
“If you say so. Right now, I’m starving. Neither one of us has had anything to eat or drink all day. Can we stop for something?”
“Like fried chicken?” he asked. “I know a great place.”
“Does it have mashed potatoes?” she said with relish. “I have to have mashed potatoes.”
He grinned. “You’ve got it.”
Ben called in an order and within twenty minutes they stopped at a restaurant and their food was delivered to his car. In seconds, the cab filled with delicious scents of chicken.
“We’ll eat at the condo,” Ben told her.
She scowled at him. “How far away is that? I’m not sure I can wait.”
“Not far, a few miles. Smells great, huh?”
****
Ben’s condo was compact, utilitarian, and clearly occupied by a bachelor, with no houseplants, no art, little furniture except a huge flat screen TV and a black leather couch.
There were no flowery throw pillows, no colorful vases, no curtains.
She couldn’t spot a single thing that might reveal a woman’s touch.
“It’s not fancy.” He watched her scan the living room. “It’s just me here and I don’t need much.”
“It’s great,” she said, her manners automatically rising to the surface.
He placed his keys and the sack of food on a console table by the door. Turning around, he fiddled with a complicated keypad by the door. “While we’re here, and each time we leave, the security system will be activated. Now, I’ll show you around.”
They passed a sleek kitchen of white subway tiles and stainless appliances and headed down a hallway, which led to two bedrooms. On the right, he opened the door to show her the master bedroom featuring a king-sized bed with a white comforter and attached bathroom.
“This is my room,” he said, “but it can be yours, too. Say the word.” Reaching out, he ran a slow hand down her braid.
Sarah wasn’t sure what to make of his very direct offer. Although he was only touching her hair, the tug of his big fingers gently smoothing the plait she’d fashioned that morning felt intensely intimate. She smelled his unique scent, like hay bales and ranch breezes. He smelled familiar and good.
Still, she hadn’t changed her mind. “Um, where’s the guest room?”
“You sure you want to know?” He pinned her with his gaze. “This room’s pretty terrific.”
“Oh? What’s so terrific about it?”
“Me. I’ll be in here.”
She gulped and stepped back. “And the guest room?”
He heaved a regretful sigh. “Down here.” He gestured her farther along the hall to a smaller room.
She tossed her bag onto the bed. Her room was almost across the hall from Ben’s, and only steps away she’d be sleeping and showering. At the ranch, he’d slept near her, but that was different. Big Jim had been close.
Here, it was just her and Ben.
He remained in the doorway. Suddenly, he said something she’d been thinking about yet never imagined he’d say out loud.
“I want you, Sarah,” he said, low and rumbly.
He perused her with unblinking intensity.
A thrill shot up her spine. Ben’s blood ran hot, she already knew that.
He was strong, virile. Making no follow up pronouncement, he fell silent, allowing her to absorb his comment.
Clearly, he wanted her to consider him as a lover.
Shocking herself, she did.
Images of the two of them entwined on his white comforter spiraled through her mind. Ben would be slow, deliciously gentle, unfailingly solicitous. She knew all those things by the careful way he’d kissed her. In his tender touch, she’d felt his deep regard.
He wanted her and made no excuse. The sensual pull of such an attractive, quietly competent man desiring her with such depth held its own unique power.
It wasn’t just a sexy kiss in the barn she’d happened to react to. No, this was deeper than that. Much, much deeper.
She wanted him too.