The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret (8 page)

He knocked again. “Are you in there?”

“Yes,” she managed. “I was asleep. What’s wrong?” While she couldn’t afford to be too ungracious, she’d only gotten a little more than an hour of sleep. She imagined she looked as if she’d been run over by a truck. She certainly felt that way.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, sounding close, despite the metal separating them. “We’ve got a big breakfast waiting up at the house, if you’re interested.”

Groggy, she stared at the door. Instead of kicking her out, he was inviting her to breakfast? Her stomach growled, but she was more interested in sleep.

“I know you have an article to write and a deadline, so I thought we could get started on that. I don’t want you photographing the horses that have burns, but I’ve got several others you can take pictures of.”

Her cover. Right. “When?” she asked, rubbing her eyes and hoping he’d give her enough time to down at least half a pot of coffee, liberally spiked with her favorite energy drink.

“Right after breakfast,” he said. Then, to her horror, the trailer door opened and Matt stepped inside.

Gaping at him while her traitorous dog bounced around greeting him with effusive joy, she dragged a hand through her hair and winced.

Now he smiled. He looked so damn handsome her body came instantly awake. Of course, her mouth went dry as she thought of the kiss they’d shared.

Damn.

“You don’t look like you’ve slept too well,” he pointed out. She had to bite her tongue to keep from making a sarcastic reply.

“I didn’t,” she said instead, eyeing him and hating the way she felt as if she were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He waited, his silent gaze challenging her to say something. Defiantly, she tossed her undoubtedly horrible hair and crossed her arms. Damned if she’d say it first.

“What were you doing in my room yesterday?” he finally asked, as nonchalantly as if discussing the weather.

Swallowing hard, she mentally cursed her lack of a believable answer. “I’m a journalist,” she finally said. “I was looking for hints to the true you.”

Lame, but the best she had at the moment. And closer to the truth than he’d ever know.

One dark brow arched. “You’re not writing an exposé,” he pointed out. “You are doing a story on my Arabians, right?”

“Yes, of course.” Indignant—and that not entirely faked—she sat up straight. “But the article is also about you as a breeder and rancher.” Swallowing, she managed what she hoped was a contrite expression. “I was wrong to search your room without your permission. I promise it won’t happen again.”

He eyed her for a moment, as though considering. When he finally gave a slight nod, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Just see that it doesn’t. Now, about the photo shoot...”

Round one to him. “When did you want to do that?” she asked.

“I was going to suggest we start after breakfast.” He smiled at the horrified look she gave him. “But since you’re so obviously not awake, how about you meet me in the big outdoor riding arena in an hour? Will that work?”

She struggled to focus on what he was saying, trying not to stare at his mouth and wonder if she could kiss him again.

“I’m sorry, what?” she asked, knowing he’d blame it on the sleep fog that still must have been clouding her brain.

“I asked if you could meet me in an hour at the big riding arena.” He dropped his gaze from her face to her chest, almost as if her thoughts had telegraphed themselves to him.

She nodded as a rush of heat suffused her. Like before, she suddenly became super conscious of the thin cotton of her shirt and her braless state, made even more evident by the fact that her nipples had decided to stand at attention, practically waving at him to notice them.

“That I can do,” she said with a touch more enthusiasm than necessary. “I’ll have to pass on your kind invitation to eat, but I’ll be there.”

Still he stood there, as if torn between leaving and climbing into bed with her. She felt an instant burning desire to lift the sheet in invitation. Horrified, mortified and more turned on that she should be, instead she pointedly glanced toward the door.

Finally he got the hint. Turning, he grasped the handle and pushed the door open. “Don’t be late,” he said, delivering his parting shot before shutting the door in her face.

Damn. Next time, she vowed, next time she wouldn’t let him come in. He could talk to her through the metal or not at all.

Breathing hard, she staggered into her tiny bathroom and splashed water on her face. Then she started the pot of coffee, and while it was brewing, she jumped in the shower.

Later, clean and dressed, with her hair still damp, she checked her watch. Chugging her second cup of coffee, she grabbed her secure cell phone from her backpack. She had time to make another report before meeting Matt.

Punching in a number, she waited until her boss answered.

Tersely, she relayed an abbreviated account of the events of the previous night, sticking strictly to the facts. Which were, basically, that she’d found nothing.

After she finished making her report and received the standard “Good job, keep looking,” she concluded the call and went into the small bathroom to dry her hair and put on a touch of makeup. She didn’t wear much, just mascara and lip gloss, so she was ready well before an hour had passed.

Stepping out into the bright sunshine, she inhaled, hating that the smoke and soot smell still lingered in the air, even overriding the normal earthy scents of a working horse-and-cattle ranch.

She hurried down toward the big outdoor arena, which meant she had to pass by the ruins of the barn. When she reached it, she stared at the charred beams—all that remained of the once beautiful structure.

The yellow crime-scene tape waved in the breeze and one or two investigators or fire department staff still picked through the rubble.

Skylar lifted one hand in a wave but didn’t stop to talk. Since she had her camera, she snapped a few quick photos before going on her way.

The big outdoor riding arena was just past the barn, though she had to cross a small paved parking lot and the ranch office. Inside the arena, Matt lunged one of his mares, so intent on his activity that he didn’t notice her approach.

Leaning on the railing, she watched. He wore jeans and a Western shirt, along with a Texas Rangers baseball cap. She’d be the first to admit he looked good, like every woman’s dream cowboy. Focused on the horse, he moved in unison with it, turning and waving the long whip just enough to keep the animal moving forward.

A wave of longing swamped her. Oh, how she’d missed this. There was a beauty to a horse’s gait, poetry in the flowing movements, legs and body and neck and head, pure grace.

With an aching that surprised her, she wondered if Matt would let her ride. She needed more than a stolen trail ride in darkness. She wanted to circle the arena and put the horse through all of its paces. Just once or twice, long enough to remind her of happier times.

For the first time, she realized she’d been able to think of the past without the sharp stab of pain.

She wanted to ride. She’d ask him later.

“Hey.” Noticing her, he flashed a smile and dipped his chin. “This is my newest mare. She’s a roan, which is rare among Arabian horses.”

Dutifully, Skylar raised her camera and began snapping pictures. She thought she got some good shots—she’d check them later when she reviewed the camera’s display.

Finishing with the lunging, Matt had the horse stop and then led her over to Skylar. “Glad to see you made it,” he said, smiling. Though the corners of his eyes crinkled and, for a heartbeat, her mouth went dry, she sensed something edgy inside him, as though he were trying to be in two places at once.

Shrugging this off—when would she ever stop this ridiculous romanticizing of him?—she gestured toward the old barn across the parking lot. “I thought you’d have a bunch of employees out here, leading out the horses for me to photograph. Sort of like putting on a show.”

“Nope.” Still cheerful, he turned and began leading the mare toward the old barn. “This morning it’s just you and me. Come with me. You can pick the next mare.”

Following him, she was struck by the contrast between this barn and the newer one that had just burned down. The new one had been huge and modern and efficient. But this one had...character. Stone walls made up half of the exterior, and lumber made up the rest. The openings to the horses’ stalls were large, and she could see there’d once been runs on this side. They were still attached on the other side, and it looked as if a few hasty repairs had been made.

Still, this barn was half the size of the other.

“What’d you do with the remaining horses?” she asked.

“I had some runs with three-sided lean-tos. I put the rest of them there.” His smile turned into a frown. “I’m trying to get the insurance guy moving, but since it appears to have been arson and they’re going to do a formal investigation, it looks like I’m just going to have to start construction on a new barn in another spot on my own.”

“Seriously? Then what, get reimbursed later?”

“Maybe.” He put the mare in her stall and turned to face her. “Or just have two barns. I’m lucky I can afford to build another without waiting for the insurance.”

Just like that, the warm, fuzzy feeling she’d been having about him vanished. Of course he had the money. He was a criminal, after all.

“Must be nice,” she quipped, careful to keep her voice warm and hide the coldness that had iced through her.

Moving past him, she stopped at a stall and began stroking the head of a beautiful gray horse. “I’d like to see this one next, I think.”

“Good taste!” Offering her a quick smile, he took down the halter hanging outside the stall and put it on the horse. Clipping the lunge line to it, he led the horse out.

“Why do you say that?” she asked, curious.

“Because this is another of the horses I plan to make the cornerstone of my breeding program, along with Saint. She came all the way from Egypt. She’s won numerous awards in the show ring, and now we’ve bred her to Saint. I have high hopes for her foal.”

Outside in the bright sunlight, Skylar realized the mare was even more beautiful than she’d looked in the stall. Once they’d reached the lunge arena, a circular, fenced-in place, and she began to move, she appeared to float through the air.

Heart in her throat, Skylar raised her camera and began snapping. She didn’t know if her rudimentary photography skills could even begin to do the majestic beast justice, but she’d certainly try.

Especially since
Today’s Arabian Horse
magazine had agreed to consider publishing any article she wrote, as long as she was amenable to heavy editing.

This precaution had been taken in case she’d needed to prolong her cover story.

For the next several hours, she stayed with Matt as he lunged horse after horse. He kept up a running commentary, and she took notes as he gave her the bloodlines of each horse, the awards and standings in the Arabian Horse Breeders Association, and little tidbits about their individual personalities.

She liked this part best. And when she realized she’d relaxed and was back to actually liking Matt again, this time she decided to simply postpone judgment and go with the flow.

Finally, he’d finished up with the last mare in the barn.

“Are we moving on to the others?” she asked eagerly, surprised at how quickly the time had flown.

Slowly he turned to stare down at her. All traces of friendliness had vanished from his face. “No, I thought this would be enough. These are my best horses, the ones I want featured in your magazine.”

Though she wasn’t clear on what had happened, she managed to nod. “Okay. I’ll just write up what I’ve got, put the photos with it and let you read it for approval.”

“Email it to me,” he said.

That sounded... “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said slowly. “You don’t want to stop by my trailer tomorrow or the day after and take a look?”

“No.” His gaze shuttered, he looked away. “Because you won’t be in your trailer. I’m afraid with all that I’ve got going on here, I can’t spare any more time for you. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Chapter 7

S
tunned, Skylar eyed his back as he turned to walk away. While wanting to send her away was reasonable, perfectly understandable considering everything that had happened, why had he messed with her earlier and let her believe she could stay?

It didn’t matter. She couldn’t let him kick her off the ranch. This would blow her assignment. All because of one extremely foolish move along with an even more stupid kiss.

She couldn’t fail. Not now. Her job was all that she had, and the potential for promotion would vanish if she blew this job. On top of that, her departure would only make things worse for him. The ATF would send somebody else.

She had to get him to change his mind. There was too much at stake.

“Wait!” Calling after him, she hurried to catch up. When she reached him, she was slightly winded and sounded breathy, which she hated. “The agreement was for ten days.”

His unfriendly look would have made a lesser woman cringe. Instead, Skylar simply straightened her spine and continued to look him in the eye as though daring him to renege on his promise.

“True,” he finally allowed. “But now I’m thinking that might have been a little excessive. Come on. Do you really need ten days? You’ve taken enough pictures and an entire notebook full of notes. I think I’ve already given you everything you could possibly need for your article. All you need to do is write it.”

With the ball back in her court, she desperately tried to think of an excuse. Hell, she realized with a sinking feeling it looked as if she was going to have to ramp up her game. Because he was absolutely correct. If she
had
been writing an article, she would have at least written the first draft by now.

Thinking fast, she swallowed. She needed to give him some other reason to keep her around. But what? Her stomach dropped at the only thing that occurred to her. Hell. Her boss might have been right. She was going to have to try harder to seduce him.

She thought of the women he usually dated, with their lithe model’s bodies and beautiful skin, and wondered if he’d even take her seriously.

Still, she had to try.

“Wait,” she called. Hurrying after him again, she snagged hold of his arm. Though he stopped, the look he gave her was still far from friendly.

With an effort, she smoothed out her expression, hoping she could manage to sound professional. “Okay, you’re right. I am almost done with the article. But something is missing.”

Still silent, he waited.

“I tried to write a first draft last night,” she rushed on, trying to think like a real writer. “But something’s missing. Some spark. While it’s true I have all the information about your horses and your breeding program, I need a bit more.”

Now she had his interest. He cocked his head, studying her. “Like what, exactly?”

Hoping she didn’t sound entirely ridiculous, she continued, “Personal flavor.”

His gaze narrowed. “Personal what?”

“You. You’re the owner, the mastermind behind the breeding program. That’s what I was looking for yesterday. Something’s missing. I’m not sure what yet. But I’ve found interviewing the owner adds depth to the piece.”

He crossed his arms. Not a good sign. “So interview me, then.”

Crap. “Not right now,” she said smoothly. “I’m still working up the questions. How about tonight? Maybe we could have a drink together before I go?”

“Tonight?” He frowned. “I was hoping you’d be out of here by this afternoon.”

Was that squeezing emotion she was feeling
hurt?
Surely not.

“Well, what harm could one more night be?” Laughing lightly, she pressed closer. “That’s all I need. I promise. One more night, to let me finish the interview. I’d like to have a drink with you, maybe dinner. Just the two of us.”

Tilting her head, she hoped she hadn’t overdone the huskiness she’d put in her voice.

He considered her, his expression still unreadable. But his eyes had darkened, going cobalt, pupils enlarged. His chest rose and fell and she could hear the harshness of his breathing.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Taking heart, she moved a tiny bit closer. However he might try to hide it, he
was
attracted.

As for herself, that tingle of heat, the way her body felt heavy and hot, well, it had to be nerves. Still, she forcibly didn’t try to throttle the wave of desire that made her nipples pebble beneath her bra.

“Please?” she asked, swallowing hard as she gazed up at him through her lashes, privately wishing she was a bit more experienced at this seduction stuff. “Just one more night?”

When he didn’t immediately respond, other than a slight hitch in his breathing, she continued pressing her advantage. “One final evening.” She practically purred the words. “Then no more of your time. I already have some of the questions written up. I can finish the rest in an hour.”

Truthfully, she didn’t have anything, but how long would it take to whip up some interviewer-type questions?

Eyes narrowing, he stared at her. “Fine,” he said, his voice harsh and not sounding happy about it at all. “I’ll grill us a couple of steaks or something.”

“Oh, thank you.” She stood up on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

For a moment he froze, as though her kiss had stunned him. Then his mouth twisted into what could only be described as a cross between a grimace and a smile.

“Be there at six,” he ground out.

She nodded, thinking furiously as she tried for a tremulous smile. “Just the two of us, okay? Some of these questions are kind of personal.”

“I don’t do personal,” he growled. “But yes, I’ll send José home. And I can manage a simple dinner without my household staff tonight.”

Before she could form a reply, he turned and strode off, leaving her standing there feeling inexplicably foolish and aching for something she knew she could never have.

* * *

Blood pounding in his groin, more aroused than he had a right to be, Matt called himself all kinds of an idiot as he walked away from Skylar. When she’d told the blatant lie, he’d felt a surge of anger so potent he felt as if he were drowning. As a knee-jerk reaction, he’d asked her to leave. This was done out of a sense of panic more than anything else.

Nothing was going the way he’d thought it would. He never expected them to come here and threaten him—this still made absolutely no sense to him. As far as they knew, he was just some Texan who wanted to get richer by selling them ammunition.

Yet for some reason, someone in the cartel wanted to send him a message. He still didn’t understand what they were trying to say. That things weren’t moving swiftly enough? Or had the powers that be learned of Diego Rodriguez’s plans to forge his own cartel?

Either way, something had gone wrong. If he wasn’t more careful, his meticulously laid plans would come crumbling down around him.

Despite both his and José’s assumptions that one of the cartels had set the fire as a warning not to sell the ammo to the upstarts, they hadn’t received any sort of message like they’d expected. So what was the point?

José’s contact was still off the grid, and the tension was about to drive Matt insane. Skylar in her thin Dallas Cowboys T-shirt with her perky breasts and come-hither gaze hadn’t helped. Her lush mouth begged to be kissed. Hell, he found himself growing hard every time he even so much as looked at her.

Unexpected and unwelcome. But lust he could deal with. The uncertainty of not knowing if Diego would walk into the trap Matt had so carefully set he definitely could not.

If things weren’t so close to the edge, he’d have welcomed the distraction Skylar brought. The several hours he’d spent with her, showing off his horses and watching her as she snapped photo after photo, had only made him want her more. Her tight little behind in her faded Levi’s, the cute way she bit her lip when she angled her head trying to get that perfect shot.

She got to him, but that was to be expected. He’d always had a thing for gorgeous women.

Too bad everything about her was false.

Even this. He grimaced, unable to believe she was willing to go this far.

A private dinner? Drinks? What then? Seduction? Ignoring the part of him that would be ready, willing and eager to take her up on that, instead he tried to make himself despise her. The only problem was that he knew better than most how far someone could be willing to go to gain the means to an end.

But for her, it was just a job. For him, it was his entire existence.

Still, he found himself actually curious to see how far she would go.

Slamming into the kitchen, he began rummaging in the freezer to see what he had that he could grill.

“What’s up, amigo?” José wandered over, biting into an apple.

“I just asked Skylar to leave.”

José’s dark brows rose. He took another bite, chewed and swallowed before commenting, “Are you sure that’s wise?”

“She invited herself to dinner tonight to try to talk me out of it.”

A slow grin spread over his friend’s face. “I see.”

Though one corner of his mouth twitched, Matt ordered himself not to smile back. “Alone,” he elaborated.

“Her idea or yours?”

“Hers.” Matt shook his head. “She was insistent about that.”

José laughed. “So are you going to let her
persuade
you?”

Growing serious, Matt shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably not. I don’t need the complication right now.”

“Yes, but you sure could use a distraction.”

Since his friend had no way of knowing exactly how distracting Matt found the ATF agent, Matt went back to perusing the freezer. “I could have sworn I had a couple of T-bones,” he muttered.

“You do.” Reaching around him, José pulled out two thick steaks. “Here you go. Sounds like a really nice dinner for someone you don’t even like.”

Matt shook his head. “I didn’t say I don’t like her. I do. Sort of. But I’m worried she’s going to get in the way if and when Diego Rodriguez decides to make a move.”

“Skylar?” José smiled. “She seems clueless. If I didn’t know her background, I’d think she was new to this type of thing. I’m actually starting to like her.”

“I promise you, she’s a crack shot. And she did a hell of a job helping me get the horses out of the barn. She must be good at what she does to be sent undercover. So who knows? Her bright-eyed, innocent thing could be an act.”

“Maybe.” José shrugged. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she was playing you.”

“Me, either,” Matt agreed darkly. “And that’s partly why I asked her to leave. I don’t have time for these stupid games women play.”

“But now you’re reconsidering?” José watched him closely.

Again Matt lifted his shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “The enemy we know is better than the one we don’t. If I send her away, the ATF will send someone else. They could be more interfering.”

“Or worse, they could trump up some fake charges and raid us. Claim you were operating as a gun dealer without a license, like they did to that guy in Dallas.”

“Damn. I’d forgotten about that. I think I will allow Skylar to persuade me to let her stay.”

José sighed. “Just be careful. I know she’s
muy bonita
and all that, but you need to think with your head instead of your dick.”

Matt couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re just jealous because you haven’t gotten any tail lately.”

Flipping Matt the bird, José reluctantly grinned back. “How can I, bro? These days everything’s about our little operation.”

“You want a day off? Take one.” Matt gestured at the door. “But before you do, I still want you to try to get word to Diego. Again. Tell him we’re ready. The sooner we can try to get the ball rolling, the better.”

“Agreed.” José pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Let me make a few calls. I haven’t heard from my contact in a while. I need to try to reach him. We’ll talk later about me taking a day off.”

While José tended to business, Matt wandered outside. One of his trainers was working one of the show mares in the large outdoor arena. Perched on the fence, Skylar had her camera up and appeared to be taking more photos.

He wondered if, as part of her undercover persona, she really was writing a story about his Arabian horse-breeding operation. If so, he imagined her efforts would all go to waste, which was kind of sad.

Matt’s horses were one of the things he actually cared about. They ran a close third, after his quest for Diego and his friendship with José. He would love to actually see them, and his breeding program, featured in a reputable Arabian horse magazine.

Skylar swung her camera around as he approached, apparently taking a few snapshots of him. The uncomfortable feeling of her using them for a future police lineup made him wince, but he kept his expression pleasant.

“Hey, there.” Greeting her quietly, he climbed up beside her on the fence. “Sorry about earlier. It’s been a rough morning.”

She cocked her head, her expression quizzical. “No worries. Do you want me to bring anything to dinner tonight? I can run to the store and get some cheese or bread or wine. Whatever you’d like.”

Damn. She talked as if they were friends simply having a potluck or something. Or maybe neighbors—he didn’t know. One thing for was for sure—she confused the hell out of him.

“Nothing,” he said. “You don’t have to bring anything.”

Her smile faltered slightly at the harsh tone of his voice. Then, apparently still determined to appear lighthearted, she dialed up the wattage until she was practically beaming. “Okay, then.”

Jumping down from the fence, she lifted her camera and pointed it at him. After taking a couple of shots of him refusing to smile or pose, she lifted her hand in a carefree wave and took off.

Though he hated himself for doing so, he watched her until she disappeared from view.

* * *

“Well, that went well,” Skylar told herself, trying not to feel foolish as she strolled—her pace deliberately casual—toward her trailer. She’d tried to kill him with kindness, but instead of reacting the way she’d figured a typical male would, Matt had seemed to see right through her and refused to act the same way.