Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Seduce Their Woman [Wyoming Warriors 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 2

  Montlief had been put down on a blanket. She watched as Sahale hooked up an IV to her dog, took a syringe, and put medicine into the IV drip.

  “Are you all always so prepared?” The men around her grinned.

  Sahale glanced at her. “We try to be. I’d asked them to bring some of the supplies I keep on the plane.”

  Suddenly the SUV turned left, throwing Ellen to the side. One of the men had started to catch her, but Sahale was there first. He pulled her into his arms and sat against the front wall of the vehicle. “Hold on. I think your friends are trying to stop us.” She jerked in his arms. “Don’t worry. They won’t. Ethan’s driving, and no one beats him.”

  “I’m all right.” Ellen tried to sit up away from his hard, enticing body.

  His strong arms pulled her back. His legs surrounded her. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “Relax, little one. I’m not letting go.”

  Heat from his warm breath and his words set a fire running through her. She was so hot, and her breasts were tight in her bra. Part of her wanted to run far, far away, and part of her never wanted to leave his side.

  She wasn’t certain which she was more afraid of—the men coming after them, or the man holding her in his arms.

  Chapter Two

  They’d lost the men in the van, and the SUV had slowed down a fraction. When they arrived at the airport, the plane was ready for takeoff.

  Two of the men gently carried Montlief aboard. Ellen and Sahale followed close behind. Once all the men were inside, the door was shut and the plane taxied down the runway. As soon as the light came on to release seat belts, Sahale and his assistant started to walk to the back of the plane to work on Montlief. Ellen stood to go with them.

  “Stay here. I’ll let you know how he is doing after I’ve checked him over. On this plane we’re equipped to handle any type of medical emergency. He’ll be well taken care of, believe me.”

  She frowned, but reluctantly sat back in her seat. Daren crossed to sit by her.

  “Are you all right? Sara’s been worried.”

  “I’m fine. Why did you all think these men would come after me?”

  “They see you as an extension of us now. Whoever wants you taken expected he’d get valuable information out of you.”

  “But”—she started to say she didn’t know anything about them. But on her last visit with Sara and Morgan, with their husbands’ permission, they had shared some information. Ellen now knew they were both married to two men, which Ellen had begun to suspect. They also told her about the men having unusually well-developed senses and strength. “Would the little I know harm you all?”

  “Maybe not, but they’d keep trying to get more out of you. They wouldn’t have believed that’s all you knew.”

  She shivered. “I’m glad Sara and Morgan are so happy. Still, when you and your men came into our lives it turned them upside down.”

  “True, and right now you feel like the last man out.”

  “I’m not jealous. I just miss them.”

  Daren nodded. “Maybe we can find a job for you on the ranch. If Mitch agrees, we might make an exception and let you stay. If you’d like to live there.”

  “I don’t know what I want, except I want Montlief to be all right.”

  “Fair enough. You can give me an answer anytime.” He stood and walked down the hall in the direction Sahale had taken.

  Sahale and Daren returned shortly before the time to land. Sahale sat beside her. “Montlief is doing much better. I did some blood work and gave him more medicine. By tomorrow we’ll know if he’s going to make it.”

  She nodded and looked out the window. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she hated for people to see her cry. Sahale’s hand wrapped around hers.

  “When things settle down, I want to show you some of the ranch you haven’t seen. I think you’d like to see some of the bluffs and the wild horses.” He talked quietly to her as she fought to get her composure. He didn’t ask questions or try to comfort her other than holding her hand. He was just there, a solid, warm wall blocking her from the others’ view.

  How did he know just what she needed? If he’d said words trying to comfort her, she’d have lost it. Instead, his voice, as he talked of the ranch, rolled over her like a warm blanket. Her body gradually relaxed, the tears went away, and her strength returned.

  After the landing, the door was opened and the men hurried down the steps to their cars. The night was dark and cool.

  Daren came to her side at the bottom of the steps. “Sahale is going with Montlief to our animal hospital. You’re coming with me. Sara will have a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you.”

  “Thank you for everything.”

  Daren put his arm across her shoulders and guided her to his truck. “That’s what family is supposed to do, take care of each other.”

  * * * *

  Jack Talisman walked across the yard and down a dusty lane to the back of the animal hospital. He’d heard Sahale was back, and knew he’d be there. Jack had wanted to go straight to the main ranch house where Daren had taken Ellen, but it was too late for a visit. He’d have to be patient and wait for morning. He opened the door and went into the first exam area.

  “Sahale, how’s her dog doing?”

  “Better. I’m running some more tests to try and determine what he ingested.”

  “How’d they get to him locked inside Ellen’s apartment?” Jack stood beside Sahale watching him work.

  Sahale raised his head. “That’s what I’d like to know. But they had to have had a key made. The same as me. There was no evidence of a break-in.”

  “I’m glad it was decided to send you to keep an eye on her.”

  “Yes. They’d have taken her tonight. While she was packing I slipped into her guest bedroom. It faces the street. They’d started to cross over to her apartment. I turned on the light and let them see my shadow. They turned and went back to the van.” Sahale looked across at his assistant. “You stay with Montlief tonight. I’ll have someone relieve you in a few hours.” He turned, took off his gloves, washed his hands, and led Jack to his office. “I think they called whoever the boss is, and he must have told them to wait it out, expecting me to leave.” Sahale sank into his chair.

  Jack poured them both a cup of coffee, closed the door, and sat across from him. “What do you think?”

  “You were absolutely right. She’s the one for us. As soon as she opened the door, her scent floored me, strong and sweet.”

  “That’s what I noticed when I went to take care of Morgan. She came in with the lab results, and thankfully Morgan had all her attention. I almost leaned over to sniff her hair. My reaction felt like the description I’d heard from friends when they met the right woman. I wasn’t certain, because I had little time with her.

  “She’s not going to be easy to convince that we’re the men she should marry. I did have time to notice she had protective walls up high.”

  “We can break them down. I had the advantage of having her alone when she couldn’t leave. I invaded her space a few times as an experiment to see how she’d respond. I kissed her. As far as I’m concerned, she’s going to be our wife. We just have to slowly seduce her around to our way of thinking.”

  Jack grinned. “That should be fun. I’m going to the ranch house first thing in the morning to renew our acquaintance. You going with me?”

  “I’m going to get some sleep on my cot over there and stay here until her dog is out of danger. I’ll let you have the fun in the morning. She’ll come to me soon enough. In fact, why don’t you bring her for a visit in the morning? She’s going to want to see Montlief.”

  “What a name for a dog.”

  “Yeah, funny. She loves him. Which shows she has the capability to love. Right now, for some reason, she’s directed it all on him. I’m going to find out who or what sent her into her protective shell.”

  “See you in the morning.” Jack put his empty cup down and left the facil
ity. He took long strides back to the large cabin he and Sahale shared. Well, usually one of them was gone, so it wasn’t often they were home at the same time.

  He lay on his bed and closed his eyes, remembering when he’d last seen Ellen. He’d told her he’d see her again. She’d gone all frosty on him and said she doubted it. He wasn’t going to sleep anymore tonight. His thoughts were too much on her and how she’d look when he greeted her in the morning.

  * * * *

  Surprisingly, Ellen had slept. When she opened her eyes, sunlight was coming around the sides of the drawn curtain. Wow, after she drank the hot chocolate and ate the sandwich Sara had given her, she’d gone to bed and straight to sleep.

  Montlief? She jumped out of bed. She had to check on him. She’d shower, dress, and get Sara to take her to him.

  She hurried, and it was barely seven thirty when she came out of her room and walked toward the living room. Sara had pointed out the kitchen and told her, if she was up first, to go there for breakfast.

  Ellen took long strides into the big, sunny kitchen. A woman was stirring something in a large pot.

  “Come in. I’m Tessa, the cook. Have a seat at the table by the window. You can join Jack for breakfast.”

  Jack? Ellen glanced around the woman at a small table set in an alcove surrounded by windows.

  “Good morning, Ellen.” Jack had stood. “I told you we’d meet again.”

  Ellen hesitated before walking across the room to the table. The doctor she’d met briefly when Morgan had been drugged was standing by the table. Something about him had bothered her. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. When he’d stepped up to her at the door that day she’d been annoyed. He’d warned her not to speak of what she’d seen. Like she was a gossip and would go out and tell everyone.

  But more than that had worried her. Her heart rate had sped up at his nearness, and when she looked into his eyes she’d felt a response in her body. She’d almost run out of the building.

  Reluctantly she walked toward him. His dark blond hair fell over his forehead, sherry-colored brown eyes looked deep into hers, and her body tingled with the same unusual awareness.

  “I won’t bite,” he said in a whisper when she got close. He leaned down to her. “Or at least not unless you ask me to.”

  A shiver went down her spine. She forced herself to straighten and glare at him. She slipped into the seat across from where he’d been sitting. He sat back down.

  “What would you like to eat?” Tessa broke into the silence surrounding them.

  It took an effort to remove her attention from him and look at Tessa. “I don’t want much. I’m going to find my way to the animal hospital. I have to see my dog.”

  “She’ll have the same as me, Tessa. I’ll take you to see— Montlief, is it?”

  “How do you know his name?”

  “Sahale and I are good friends, distant cousins, actually. I checked with him last night. Montlief was doing better. Sahale was still running tests. He slept at the hospital in case Montlief’s condition changed and he was needed. Montlief is in good hands. You need to eat.”

  “We’ll put some weight on those bones,” Tessa teased. She put two plates in front of them loaded with bacon, eggs, potatoes, and biscuits.

  “I’ll never be able to eat all this,” Ellen protested. But the food did smell wonderful. She started eating and didn’t stop.

  Tessa smiled. “No one can resist my cooking.” Satisfied, she went back to her stove.

  Ellen sat back and took a sip of her coffee. Jack smiled at her. His smile and twinkling eyes set her heart racing. “Don’t you have work to do?”

  “Trying to get rid of me? It won’t be that easy.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I don’t want to interfere with your plans.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to see our hospital? It’s modern. We have all the most up-to-date equipment and a full staff. I’m one of the internists.”

  “You seem young to have all those qualifications.”

  “I’m thirty-two. I’ve been back home here doctoring since I was thirty. Sahale’s been doctoring animals the past three years. He’s got all the qualifications, and an innate sense about what they need.”

  She glanced away and noticed Tessa had left the kitchen. Uneasy, she moved her legs and bumped into Jack’s.

  “Sorry.”

  “You’re uncomfortable now that you’ve noticed Tessa isn’t here. Who made you frightened of men?” His brow had creased and he leaned toward her.

  “I’m not frightened. I just don’t trust most men.” She hoped he’d leave the subject alone. She wasn’t one to tell her life story to strangers. She hadn’t even told her two best friends.

  She hadn’t realized she was twisting her hands until Jack reached across and put his hand over hers. Her heart jumped. She tried to pull back, but he held onto her.

  “You can touch me and Sahale. I know you don’t believe me, yet. You will learn that we’ll always protect you.”

  “Always is a long time. I’ll be gone soon. And men’s promises only last until they want to end them.” This time when she yanked on her hands, he let them go, and her heart sank. To hide her confused feelings, she jumped up and took her dishes to the sink. She rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher.

  Jack came and stood beside her while he rinsed his. His tall body and wide shoulders dwarfed her. She was as tall as, or taller than, many men. None of them, even the ones taller than her, had ever made her feel feminine. Only Sahale and Jack gave her the sensation of being smaller, and very much a woman.

  Ellen raised her head, not realizing how close Jack was to her. She stared into his eyes as his face came closer and his mouth lightly moved across her lips. An ache of need and desire sharpened in her lower abdomen. She jumped back and put her arms out.

  “Stop. What do you think you’re doing?”

  His mouth curved up on one side. “Kissing your sweet mouth.”

  “Don’t. We’ve only just met. Back off.”

  He stepped back, but his laughter rang out in the kitchen. “Oh, honey, you are going to be so much fun to seduce.” His voice dropped into a sexy whisper when he said the last word.

  Ellen ran out of the kitchen.

  “I’ll be waiting out front to take you to see Montlief.”

  His words followed her as she hurried down the hall to the room Sara had given her for the night.

  She sat on her bed and tried to calm down. She was shivering, but she wasn’t cold. Her body was hot and jittery. Deep breaths would help. He was waiting. If she only knew where the animal hospital was, she’d slip out the back and go by herself. Finally, when she had regained most of her control, she walked out the front door.

  He leaned against the rail. Sunlight glinted off of blond hair, and his brown eyes shone with mischief. He looked the picture of a cowboy in his jeans, open-neck blue shirt, and boots, with his hat tilted back on his head. A large horse was tied to the rail behind him. Surely he didn’t expect her to ride on his horse, with him?

  “Feeling better?” His words taunted her.

  “I’m fine. Where’s your truck,” she asked, hoping it would materialize.

  “Devil will carry us both.”

  “What kind of name is that for a horse?”

  He shrugged. “Better than Montlief for a dog.”

  “I’ll have you know Montlief is a fine name.” She’d moved closer without realizing it. She poked her finger at his hard chest as she finished speaking.

  “Devil earned his name when I was training him to the saddle. He was fiendish in his determination not to give in.”

  “But he did.”

  “Oh, yes. When I make up my mind, I don’t give up until I have what I want.”

  She swallowed and tried to ignore the warning. “We can’t both ride one horse. Tell me where the facility is and I’ll walk.”

  Jack swung into his saddle. She was surprised, thinking he’d g
ive her more of an argument.

  “Put your foot on my boot.” He reached down toward her. “And give me your hand.”

  Ellen crossed her arms. “No. Tell me where to go.”

  “It isn’t going to happen. You can stay here and wait while Sara takes care of Caitlin and has time to drive you to the hospital, or you let me put you up here in front of me. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Torn between not wanting to give in and her desire to see Montlief, she finally put her hand out. In a second, he had her seated.

  “You can ride sideways like this, or throw your leg over and ride facing the front.”

  Thinking she could lean forward and not be quite so close to him, she threw her leg over. When they started riding she knew she’d made a mistake. There was no way she could keep away from him. Every movement of the horse sent him against her. She breathed in his clean, outdoorsy scent. His arm had circled her waist and held her tight against his hot body.

  When the edge of his hand brushed the lower part of her breast, she trembled with desire. Moisture seeped out of her pussy. What was happening to her? First her reaction to Sahale, and now to Jack. Where had her control gone?

  “Relax honey,” his words brushed across her ear. “I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Safe from what? I think I need the most protection from you.”

  “You might be right, honey.” He nibbled the lobe of her ear. “But I promise I won’t do anything you don’t want or that I can’t talk you into.”

  His reassurance didn’t comfort her at all. He was the devil, not his horse.

  Chapter Three

  Montlief raised his head when she went into the room where he had been sleeping on a bed made of soft blankets. He stood on his legs and slowly walked to her.

  “Oh, Montlief, you are better.” She knelt and hugged his neck as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I was so worried about you.” As though he understood, he licked her face.

  “We’ll keep him a few more days. Apparently he didn’t eat much of the poison, and threw some of that up. A full dose would have killed him,” Sahale said.