One Night with the Wealthy Rancher Page 7

  The one he had held in his arms while she’d cried.

  “Okay, Darius, what’s going on in that brain of yours? Lance said you still don’t want to believe that Montoya was behind that fire.”

  Darius studied the contents of his beer bottle before glancing over at Justin. The two of them were best friends to the Brodys. Justin was Mitch’s best friend like he was Lance’s.

  In a way, Darius felt guilty. He hadn’t been thinking about Montoya and the fire, and he really should be. He had been thinking about Summer. But now that Justin had brought it up…

  “I’m just not as convinced as everyone seems to be. Like you, Montoya is a shrewd businessman. Always on top of his game. Smart as a whip. I can’t see him being stupid enough to set fire to his enemy’s refinery, not when all fingers would point his way. He has no motive.”

  Justin shook his head. “Sure he does. You just said it. He and Lance are enemies.”

  “But that’s just it, Justin. They have been enemies for years. That’s nothing new. According to Lance, that goes as far back as high school. Competing against each other every chance they got.”

  “Yes,” Justin said, “and they are still competing against each other today, in practically everything. The only reason Montoya decided to join the TCC was to be a deliberate thorn in Lance’s side. On top of that, Montoya is friends with Paulo Ruiz, and everyone knows that guy has underworld connections and is as shady as they come. For all we know, Ruiz may have been the one to arrange the fire for Montoya.”

  Darius nodded, but he still wasn’t convinced. “Well, all we got now is circumstantial evidence that wouldn’t hold up in court. Unless there is valid proof, then—”

  “I’ll get it,” Justin said, interrupting Darius.

  Darius raised a dark brow. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

  Justin smiled. “You’ll find out when I lay all the evidence you need at your feet.”

  Hours later on the drive away from the TCC, Darius couldn’t help but reflect on what Justin had said over dinner. Granted, he didn’t know Montoya as well as the others since he hadn’t lived in Somerset all his life, but he couldn’t help but admire someone who had worked hard to propel himself from rags to riches. He’d heard that Montoya had once been a groundskeeper at the club.

  And Darius had a hard time believing that someone that driven to succeed would risk losing it all in a situation where he would automatically be labeled the guilty party. Darius was convinced that if Montoya had been involved in the fire, he would have done a better job of covering his tracks. The man didn’t even have a valid alibi, for crying out loud. Definitely not the stance of a guilty arsonist.

  Darius decided that before going to bed he would go back over the information he had collected so far, especially his interviews with a number of employees who had left the company within the past couple of years on bad terms. He then cursed under his breath when he realized he’d left the file with his notes back at the shelter.

  Darius turned on the radio, deciding he needed to hear some music. He let out a deep breath as he recognized the song as one that had been playing earlier today at the café while he and Summer had shared lunch.

  The image of Summer sitting across from him as she tried to put the pain of losing her aunt behind her flooded his mind. He’d liked her aunt and thought it was tragic how the woman had lost her life. He could just imagine what Summer had gone through during that time. But he really didn’t want to think about that. Then why was he? Why did he have to constantly remind himself that he couldn’t—and shouldn’t—care?

  He glanced at the clock on his car’s console. It was close to ten. Tomorrow he would spend the day at the refinery, checking out a few things and questioning a number of the employees, including one who claimed he saw someone fitting Montoya’s description in the refinery’s parking lot the night of the fire.

  The moment he stopped at a traffic light, his cell phone went off. He quickly slid it open. “Yes?”

  “Darius, this is Walt. I got a message that you called.”

  Darius smiled. Hearing his old partner’s voice reminded him of working as a detective in Houston. They’d had some good times together, despite Walt’s miserable attitude. “Yes, Walt, how are things going?”

  “Pretty much the same. I’m sure you heard that Smothers finally retired. We were all glad about that.”

  “Yes, I heard.” John Smothers was a tough detective who should have retired ages ago.

  “So, what’s up? You said you needed my help with something,” Walt said.

  “I’m investigating a case of arson here in Somerset and need you to do a background check on one of the company’s employees. I heard from another employee that the man used to work for a company that burned to the ground a few years ago in Houston.”

  “Sure, what’s the employee’s name?”

  “Quincy Cummings,” Darius said, hoping Walt would be able to obtain information about the guy.

  “I’ll let you know something in a day or so,” Walt said.

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “So, what’s been going on with you, Darius? The last time we talked was over a year ago. I thought you were calling to let me know you had gotten married or something,” Walt said in a joking tone. But for some reason Darius was annoyed by Walt’s words—they had definitely hit a nerve. It could be because Walt had been the one to tell him about Summer and the things she had said about him.

  “Not hardly. I plan to stay single for the rest of my days,” Darius said, wondering why each and every time he talked to Walt, his marital status came up.

  “Same here, man. Women are nothing but liars. None of them can be trusted. Hey, remember that good-looking broad you had the hots for when we were partners? The one who dumped you for some rich old man when you were out of town? I don’t recall her name but I—”

  “Summer,” Darius cut in, trying to keep his tone from showing the irritation he felt.

  “What?”

  “I said her name was Summer. Summer Martindale,” Darius said, ready to end the call.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s right. I wonder what happened to her after she left Houston. If she and that old man she ran off with are still together.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” Darius said shortly, deciding not to mention that Summer was now living in Somerset and he had not only run into her but had kissed her again. “Look, Walt. I appreciate you calling me back. Let me know if you find something out on that employee.”

  “Sure thing, pal.”

  Darius hung up the phone. Walt was the kind of man who believed misery loved company and had always seemed miserable, mainly because he’d had a tough time when it came to women.

  Deciding he needed that file he’d left back at the shelter, he made a turn at the next traffic light. A few moments later, he was pulling into the parking lot and was surprised to see Summer’s car in the usual spot. Why was she still here?

  It didn’t take him long to get out of his car and walk toward the shelter’s entrance. The security guy named Barney recognized him but followed security procedures before allowing him entry.

  “Is Ms. Martindale in her office?” he asked the man as he stuffed his ID back into his wallet.

  “Yes, sir, and I did as you asked and walked her to her car last night.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  Walking toward Summer’s office, he stopped at the night-duty secretary’s station. He had met the
older woman, Raycine Bradley, the evening before. “Good evening, Ms. Bradley, is Ms. Martindale meeting with someone?” he asked.

  The woman smiled at him. “No. I think she’s packing up to call it a night. Finally.”

  Darius nodded, thinking Summer should have done that long ago. “I think I’ll go hurry her along,” he said, heading to the corridor that led to Summer’s office.

  Moments later he knocked on her door.

  “Come in.”

  He stepped into her office and closed the door behind him. She was standing at a table with her back to him sorting out papers. Without looking his way, she said, “I promise I’ll be leaving in a few minutes, Raycine.”

  Darius crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the closed door. “That’s good to hear. I intend to do everything in my power to make sure that you do.”

  Summer swirled around and stared at Darius in surprise. From the look on his face, he wasn’t a happy camper. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I need to ask you that same thing,” he said in a curt tone, moving away from the door to stand in the middle of her office with his hands braced on his hips.

  Now she knew what had him upset. He didn’t like the fact she was still there. She couldn’t help wondering why he was making it his business. “I had a lot to do for tomorrow’s meeting with Mr. Novak. In addition to that, a new woman checked into our facilities today.”

  She saw the look of concern that immediately showed on his face. “How is she?”

  “She was a lot better once we got her settled in and assured her that if her husband showed up here, we wouldn’t let him near her.”

  Darius shook his head. “It’s sad that any woman has to worry about something like that.”

  Summer sighed deeply. “Yes. Been there. Done that.”

  But she didn’t have to remind him of that since he’d been a part of that particular drama in her past. She had truly believed a restraining order would keep Tyrone away from her. He had proven her wrong. She didn’t want to think about what might have happened if Darius hadn’t shown up when he did, putting his life on the line for her.

  Not wanting to think about Tyrone any longer, she asked, “So, are you going to tell me why you’re here?” His gaze stroked her like a physical caress she couldn’t ignore.

  “I left something I need for tomorrow. I forgot to mention that I won’t be back here until next week, when I start setting up the billing account.”

  “Oh.” She should have been thrilled that she wouldn’t be seeing him for the fourth day in a row but a barrage of emotions she couldn’t explain tried to engulf her. She fought them back.

  “I’m working on a case that requires my attention elsewhere,” he added.

  She wanted to tell him that he owed her no explanation. Instead, she said, “Sounds real serious.”

  “It’s a case involving arson. You probably read about it in the papers a few weeks back. A fire at the Brody Oil and Gas refinery.”

  “Yes, I do recall reading about it,” she said, leaning against the table. “And you think it was deliberately set?”

  “It looks that way. I’ve been asked by the Brody brothers to find out who did it.”

  Summer eyed Darius. She recalled how much he’d enjoyed his job as a detective. Once in a while he would tell her about a particular case he was trying to solve. “Got any leads?” she asked.

  “Not enough to suit me, which is the reason I need to spend a day at the refinery.” He moved over toward her. “So, what do you need me to do?”

  She straightened her stance. “About what?”

  “About helping you pack up and get out of here, like you should have done hours ago.”

  “I told you why I’m still here.”

  “But your reason isn’t good enough. I can see you staying over for an hour or so, but damn it Summer, it’s going on eleven o’clock and knowing you, you’ll be back here first thing in the morning.”

  “Of course. My meeting is at eight.”

  Darius wondered how she would feel knowing he had just finished playing a game of pool with the man she would be meeting with. And now Kev knew she was someone from his past, someone who had once meant a lot to him. His friend knew how much she had hurt him, as well. “So, what can I do to help?” he asked.

  When Darius came to a stop in front of her, Summer released a resigned sigh. It wouldn’t do any good to argue with him. Besides, she was too tired. “I guess you can help by stapling these papers that I’ve already sorted.”

  “Okay.”

  She tried to scoot over when he joined her at the table but their arms touched nonetheless, and she felt it—a spark of sensations that swept through her. She inhaled a sharp breath.

  He glanced over at her. “You’re all right?”

  She breathed in deeply before saying, “Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “No reason.”

  There was a reason and they both knew it. Memories filtered through her mind of a night she just couldn’t forget. There was no way she could deny that over the years she had lain in bed missing a warm, hard body beside her, and being awakened by the taste of a desire so potent it could blind you.

  “If you’re meeting just with Kevin Novak, why are you making all of these handouts?”

  His question cut into her thoughts and she glanced over at him. “For the other members of the TCC, for him to share with them. I want everyone to know what’s going on here at the shelter, that we’re benefiting the community and that I’m competent enough to handle things.”

  Darius reached out and touched her arm. “You’re worried for nothing. If they thought you weren’t competent enough to handle things, you wouldn’t be here.”

  “But what if—”

  He reached for her. “For crying out loud, woman, you worry too much.”

  She should have seen it coming and backed away from him. But the moment his mouth touched hers she knew she could not have moved an inch. And now that her stomach was contracting with desire, there was no way she wasn’t going to enjoy it while it lasted.

  That was one thing she was truthful about, the fact that Darius knew how to kiss, even during those times when he should be doing something else. Like now. He had offered to help her, not seduce her. Awareness, bold and daring, raced through her, made her acknowledge that Darius was the only man who could ever make her purr in his arms. The only man who’d made her feel she’d been cheated out of many more nights with him.

  If only…

  She didn’t want to think about if only. She only wanted to think about now, not what did or didn’t happen seven years ago and during the years in between. She didn’t even want to think about why being in his arms felt natural, like a place she should be. A place she belonged. His mouth felt in sync with hers, also totally natural, connected to hers while kissing her so perfectly.

  When he finally ended the kiss, she couldn’t do anything but pull in a deep breath, still tasting him on her lips. She didn’t bother giving herself a mental shake and questioning why she had let him kiss her. She knew very well why. She wouldn’t do as she’d done the last time, pretending she hadn’t wanted any part of it since, like before, she hadn’t resisted. She doubted that she could have even if she’d wanted to.

  But she didn’t want to talk about it. Without saying anything, she turned back to the table and gathered up what was left of the papers she had sorted. She was full
y aware that he was watching her, but following her lead, he didn’t say anything, either. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him neatly stacking the handouts she’d made. They turned at the same time and their gazes locked for a mere second before simultaneously, they stepped into each other’s arms again.

  It seemed what was happening at the moment was Summer’s mind was refusing to remember the bad times, only the good. And there had been good times, as good as good could get. They had only shared a bed once but before then, they had shared companionship, although she’d found out later he’d had an ulterior motive for doing so. But she wouldn’t dwell on that now. The only thing she wanted to dwell on was the way his mouth was taking hers, with a hunger she could feel all the way to her toes, with an intensity that had her stomach churning as they were enjoying this kiss to the fullest.

  It didn’t even bother her that he was holding her in a possessive and intimate way, with his hands cradling her backside to fit her pelvis snugly against the front of him. She could feel the muscled tone of his body and his erection, hard and strong, pressed against her.

  Taking his cue, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he sank deeper into her mouth, sending points of pleasure all through her. She felt sensations in her fingers as she caressed the back part of his neck, and through the material of her skirt where she was making contact with his denim-clad thigh. And she was very well aware of when he changed the angle of his mouth to position hers more to his advantage.

  His efforts had her mind reeling, filling her with an urgent need to recognize and accept what was taking place, giving her the resolve to simply stand there, indulge and take it like a woman. And she was. She was taking it like a woman who needed every stroke of his tongue, every bit of his taste and every mind-blowing, tantalizing sensation his mouth was making her feel.

  When the kiss ended moments later, she couldn’t resist placing a lingering heated kiss on his jawline. Nor could she resist taking the tip of her tongue and tracing along his upper lip before finally taking a step back.