Page 38 of Rawhide and Ransom

“I understand.” She thanked him for the information, not bothering to tell him that she didn’t actually want the old number back. “Guess that was a dead end,” she muttered to herself.

“Sorry to hear it, Detective Gilbert. Is it anything your bodyguard can help out with?”

Hawk’s voice made her jump. She hadn’t heard him approach. She honestly hadn’t been paying any attention at all to her surroundings. A detective she most certainly was not!

She spun his way. “You know how I canceled Miley’s old cell phone number?”

“Yep.”

“I called the service provider to see if they could reconnect it.” In hindsight, it sounded like a dumb plan.

“Why?”

“Because whoever the thief is may have killed my husband. Then she or one of her associates ran me off the road, burned down my home, and tried to erase the Gilbert family off the face of the earth.”

“Which brought you into my life,” he reminded, stepping behind her to encircle her with his arms.

“I’m not complaining about that,” she assured him, leaning her head back against his shoulder.

He gently steered her toward his workshop. Once inside, he shut the door behind them.

She glanced around the cluttered work space in search of her daughter. “Where’s Miley?”

“In the cabin taking another shower. She didn’t say why, only that it wasnecessary.” He sounded amused.

“Ah. Girls.” Annalee could easily guess what was going on. Miley was probably on her period. “Sorry about your water bill these days.”

“My property is on a well,” he reminded. “Even if it wasn’t, my higher water bill would be a small price to pay for having two of the coolest ladies on the planet in my life.”

She stepped eagerly into his embrace again. “Boy, do we have you fooled!”

“I’ll be your fool anytime, any day.” He backed her up to his work table and lifted her to sit on it. “I’ll be anything you want me to be, Annalee.”

She ran a hand through his shoulder length hair, loving the silky feel of the strands. “How does best friend sound to you?” she teased.

“As long as it comes with a few extra benefits.” He leaned his face into her hand.

The raw, unfettered adoration in his gaze never failed to make the ground shift beneath her. “Like this?” she asked softly. Then she leaned ever so slowly his way, bringing their mouths closer.

“I take back everything I’ve ever said about you being nice.” His voice grew wicked. “You’re a cruel, cruel woman, Annalee Gilbert.”

“Maybe this will change your mind.” She closed the remaining distance between them to touch her lips to his.

His hard mouth grew still against hers. Then he kissed her back. Slowly. Tenderly. Reverently.

The sweet fire springing between them brought tears to her eyes.

“Don’t cry.” He started to draw back, but she cupped a hand around his neck, holding him there.

“Don’t stop.” She needed this, needed him. Only him.

He nipped her lower lip, as if unable to resist. “Are you sure about this? Because I don’t do anything halfway.”

“I’m sure.” She was finally ready to let him the rest of the way into her heart. He knew she was still a wreck, but he’d already accepted that part of her.

His mouth hovered over hers. “I’m in love with you, Annalee. If you’re gonna let me kiss you, you’ve gotta let me love you. It’s the only way this will work.”

“Then love me, Hawk.” She wept out the words, knowing there would be no turning back from this moment.

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