Chapter 46
Claire
Cole’s visit and Cheyenne’s wedding preparation kept me busy enough that I didn’t have much time to think about Vance’s absence. But when the ceremony was over and I was no longer needed for maid-of-honor duties, I snagged a glass of champagne and slipped away from the reception for a moment alone.
Then Vance’s absence hit hard.
I sat dejected at a table underneath the stars while everyone else danced the night away on a temporary dance floor set up by Rhett and Cheyenne’s pasture.
They’d known from the beginning that they wanted to get married on the land that belonged to them.
The land where they’d fallen back in love again.
The wedding was beautiful. Cheyenne looked stunning in her white long-sleeved dress, her new sparkly blue cowboy boots poking out underneath the bottom. They were a gift from me —her something blue for the day she promised forever to my brother.
I wore a matching pair. A grownup substitute for friendship bracelets, something practical but fun that would always remind us of this day.
Cheyenne had told me to wear anything I wanted for my role as her maid of honor.
I’d found a shimmery dress that faded from emerald green to navy blue.
The skirt hugged my hips, then flared out at the bottom—a mermaid dress, the saleslady had told me.
I’d bought it before Vance had forever linked that word to him, picking it primarily because it came with a matching sweater I could wear to the reception to keep me warm when the sun went down.
But now, the mermaid dress did nothing but remind me of him.
I picked up my champagne glass and downed it, then snagged two more from the tray the caterer carried past my table.
“Sorry I’m late.”
My entire body went tight at the sound of that warm, sexy voice. His hand dropped, resting lightly on my shoulder, as his thumb gently stroked the nape of my neck.
I whirled around, nearly dropping my champagne at the sight of Vance.
He was here. Here. And he looked like James freaking Bond in a gray tuxedo .
“What are you doing here?” My face lit up with a smile. “I thought you flew to New York yesterday.”
He grinned. “I did. And as soon as I got there, I realized there was somewhere else I’d rather be.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m so glad you’re here. So, so glad.” I threw my arms around his neck, trying not to think about the future. About how he’d leave again.
He was here now, and that was all that mattered.
His arms wrapped tightly around my waist. “Can I have this dance?” His voice, low and sensual in my ear, sent shivers down my spine.
“Yes,” I said breathlessly. “God, yes.”
He led me to the dance floor, then took me back into his arms. I closed my eyes, sinking into the feeling of being held by him.
Home. The word vibrated through my very being, shocking me so that I opened my eyes.
Cheyenne was staring at us, her face lit up in a dazzling smile. She gave me a questioning look and I just shrugged.
I didn’t know and didn’t care. Didn’t know how long he would be here, or when he was going back, or how we would make this work. I wouldn’t let thoughts of the future ruin this moment with him.
“Don’t you want to know why I came back?” he asked, like he could read my thoughts.
“Doesn’t seem to matter much right now,” I answered, half drunk on the feeling of being back with him.
He chuckled. “Odd for you to not be nosy. I figured you would start peppering me with questions the minute you saw me.”
I pulled back so he could see my smirk. “Bold of you to think you have me figured out.”
His head tilted, giving me the point, as his lips twitched into a smile. “Nosy or not, I’m going to tell you anyway.”
I sighed dramatically. “Fine, then, since you obviously want attention. Why did you come back?”
His gaze turned serious. “Because I want more.”
My heart railed against my ribs. “Define more.”
“More everything,” he said simply, before twirling me, bringing me even tighter against him when I spun back.
“I thought I needed to take the job in New York to prove that I was as good as my dad. And I thought I needed to be like him—to live by his mantra. No distractions. That’s what made him good. ”
I bit my lip.
“But that’s not what makes me good,” he said before brushing his lips softly against mine. “And I don’t want a life like his.”
I nearly came apart right there on the dance floor.
“We’re good together,” he continued.
“Yes, we are.” So good together.
He whispered into my ear. “So I have a proposition for you.”
“Oh?” I asked, feeling weak.
“I was late because I didn’t come straight here. I stopped to have a conversation with my father first.”
I pulled back and blinked. “Okay.” This was not where I’d thought this conversation was going.
“I used the FBI offer as leverage to get a better one from him.”
My heart soared. “Wait, what? You mean you’re staying in Wyoming?”
“Yes.” He sent me for a spin, then brought me back, clasping me tight against his firm body. “I also convinced him that he needs a second center of operations—here in Wildwood.”
My eyes went wide. “How did you do that?”
“By showing him the possibilities and the benefit of having a safe house for his clients that’s far off the grid and out of the busy tourist zones.”
“So you’re going to live here in Wildwood? Seriously?” I was almost dizzy with excitement.
He grinned. “I am. And he gave me full hiring capability. So here’s my proposition: be my partner.”
“Your partner?” I blinked again. “At the security firm?”
“Yes. At the security firm and … more.” He brushed his lips against mine again, then dipped me.
When he pulled me up, I realized my entire family was staring at us. Mom was beaming. My brothers were staring Vance down.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re amazing,” Vance said, grinning as he took in the sight of everyone watching us.
“That’s not why they’re staring,” I whispered, flushing red.
“I don’t care.” He nipped my neck with his teeth, earning a death glare from Jonathan.
“Stop,” I laughed, pushing him away. I dragged him from the dance floor back to the table where we could talk. “So let me get this straight. You’re offering me a job.”
“Yes. Claire, you’re too good for the sheriff’s office. You know you’ll never be happy there.”
“True.” And it had been even worse since this investigation. Even with Trey gone, things remained awkward between me and Sheriff McGrath. My days there were numbered and I knew it.
He gave me a piercing look. “I’m offering you a job where you can do more. Where you can color outside the lines. Where you’ll never have to answer to people who don’t understand how valuable you are to the team.”
“So you’re saying you’d be my boss?” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“No.” He shook his head. “Partner, not boss. You’d be an independent contractor. An equal. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
My heart soared again.
“That sounds very tempting,” I admitted. More than tempting. I’d already made up my mind to take it, but what he said next sealed the deal.
“SAR is your passion.” He grabbed a glass of champagne for himself and tasted it, shooting me a surprised look of approval.
“The firm will understand and work around that. In fact, we plan on utilizing it. I had a long discussion with my father about that very thing. He’s been searching for someone who has those abilities.
I told him about you and he’s as convinced as I am that you’re the perfect addition to the team. ”
“Wow,” I said, shaking my head. “This is … amazing.”
“There’s more,” he said, grinning.
“How can there be more?” This was already everything I could ever hope for.
He leaned in, his lips tantalizingly close to mine. “My first assignment is in Florida. I’ll be there for December and January.”
“We’re spending the winter in Florida?” I squealed.
“We are.” He gave me a sultry smile. “Can you come for a drive?”
I nodded.
I’d go anywhere with him.
Twenty minutes later we pulled into a field. He jumped out of his SUV and motioned for me to follow him.
“What are we doing?” I asked, pulling my sweater tight to shield against the cold breeze.
He stopped. “Wait for it,” he said, glancing at his watch.
Seconds later, I heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter and shot him a questioning look.
He just smiled.
“What is this?” I asked when the chopper landed in front of us.
He slipped an arm around my waist. “ That is the new Sage County Search and Rescue helicopter.”
“ What ?” My jaw dropped.
“Crazy thing. My father mentioned that he was looking to sell this one and get an upgrade.” Vance grinned.
His excitement was adorable. “As the final part of my contract negotiation, I convinced him to donate it to the SAR team instead. It’s a tax write-off and great publicity for him.
Plus, I told him it would probably convince you to accept the job. ”
“Hell yes it does!” I hiked up my dress and jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. I kissed him feverishly, not even caring that the helicopter pilot could see us.
Vance didn’t care, either.
When we finally broke apart, he gave me a cocky smirk. “I take it you’re in?”
“I’m in.” I grinned.
In for all of it. The job, him… Everything we could have together.
Then I blurted out a thought. “I’m not good at relationships.”
He laughed, stroking a lazy hand up my spine. “That’s okay. We’ll take it slow.”
I smiled coyly. “I’m not exactly good at slow, either.”
“ You ? Not good at slow? I’m shocked.” He rolled his eyes.
I bit my lip and gave him a devilish grin. “Your cabin is still empty. How about we steal a bottle of scotch and go take things fast, instead?”
His smile became a smolder. “I knew I liked you, Claire Hawkins.”
“It’s too bad I can’t stand you.” I winked.
The following March
I slapped at my phone, trying to stop the incessant buzzing that disturbed my sleep.
“You should answer it,” Vance murmured before nipping my neck with his teeth.
I smiled lazily, stretching a hand behind me to feel the glorious body that wrapped around my own. “It’s my day off.”
He grabbed my phone from the nightstand. “It’s Beth.”
“Shit.” I yanked the phone out of his hand and sat up, answering it. “Hello?”
“Claire, we need you.” Beth’s voice was frantic.
“What? Why? What’s wrong?” I rolled out of bed, grabbing the bra and panties that had been discarded on the floor the night before.
“It’s Jonathan.”
My heart stopped. “What happened? Is he hurt?”
A million things could go wrong on a ranch.
“No. He’s … gone.”
“Gone?” I blanched, looking helplessly at Vance.
He pulled the phone out of my hand and took over while I threw my clothes on. “Beth? It’s Vance. Tell me what’s going on.”
He listened, saying little, as I stuffed my feet into my boots and grabbed my keys. He made a motion for me to wait for him.
I paced frantically, wanting to rip the phone back out of his hands.
“We’ll be right there,” he finally said. Then he hung up and put his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe.”
“He’s missing,” I said, pain stabbing my chest. “I have to—”
“No.” He shook his head. “He’s not missing.”
“What do you mean? Beth said he’s gone. He—”
“He pulled a Rhett,” Vance said calmly, letting go of me so he could pull his jeans on.
“A Rhett?” My jaw dropped. Rhett had left in the middle of the night over ten years ago, breaking all of our hearts in the process.
Vance nodded. “A Rhett—and a Cole, for that matter.”
I sank onto the bed, his words becoming clear. “He joined the military.”
“Yep. Didn’t tell anyone he was doing it. Left them a letter. He’s safe, but your mom is a wreck. We need to head over. Beth asked us to stop at Travis’s on the way.”
“Why?”
“She said he’d take the news better coming from you.”
“He doesn’t know yet.” My stomach clenched.
This would kill Travis. Jonathan was his right-hand man running the cattle side of the ranch. Travis was already overworked and stretched too thin.
Plus, he’d take it personally. Feel hurt that Jonathan hadn’t cared enough to stay. He’d already lost two brothers that way—Cole, Rhett.
Then Missy had left him too, taking his beautiful girls with her.
This would wreck him.
“Alright,” I said, swallowing hard. “We stop by Travis’s on the way.”
Not that it was actually on the way. We were back in cabin four, the guest house Mom kept available for us while we looked for a place of our own. We were a quick jog from the family home, but we’d have to drive to Travis’s cabin. It was all the way on the other side of the property.
But I understood. They were right.
He’d take it better coming from me.
I knocked on Travis’s door, a sinking feeling in my gut.
He didn’t answer.
I knocked again, then hollered. “Travis, it’s me. Open up!”
Footsteps slowly came toward the door. He pulled it open an inch. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked like he hadn’t slept a wink. “What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you about something,” I said, trying to push the door open.
He held it firm. “This isn’t a good time.”
“This is important. Make time.”
“Not now.” He tried to push the door closed.
“Travis, what the hell—”
Then I saw movement behind him.
“Hi, Claire.”
Travis groaned and let the door swing open.
Missy, his ex, was standing in his living room, looking pensive.
And wearing nothing but one of his long flannel shirts.
I gaped at her, then looked back at my brother.
“What the actual hell, Travis?”
He scrubbed his face. “It’s a long story,” he muttered.
Thank you for reading Shadow Sabotage !