Baby I'm In (Honky Tonk Angels #3) Read online

  “My brother sided with him and told him that he could control me with Landing. Threaten to take Landing from me. That’s when he decided I couldn’t ride Landing and stole him from me. Sold him to Wes.

  “And that’s my sordid tale.”

  There was utter silence when she finished, silence that stretched on so long she started to wonder if he’d left at some point in her recitation and she hadn’t noticed. Then she felt his hand on her knee and she looked up.

  “Did you love him?”

  “What?”

  “Your husband.”

  “Yes. I did.”

  “Do you still?”

  Liz slid off the tailgate to face him. “Yes. He was my first love. I’ll always love him and what we had. Is that wrong?”

  “No, it’s right. Very right.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will.” He took her hand. “Come on let’s sit by the fire. You’re shivering.”

  The temperature had dropped and the warmth from the fire felt good as they sat down on the sleeping bag. Kyle picked up a stick and poked at the fire. Liz wondered what he was thinking and what he’d meant.

  “I was in love once.” He said quietly.

  She looked up at him but didn’t speak so he continued. “I enlisted in the Army the day after I graduated. Thought the military would make a man out of me – get rid of my lack of confidence and shyness.

  “Somehow I ended up in Special Forces and the idea of spending a few years in the service turned into more. I did multiple tours in the middle east. On my last tour our mission was to root out a terrorist cell in this squalid little village.

  “It was hard to believe there would be a cell operating out of such a place, but intel said it was true. I met someone there. A woman. She was in her early twenties and had two small children, under the age of three. Her husband had been killed. It was an arranged marriage and she hadn’t loved him, but when he died she had no one but his family and they weren’t very kind.

  “I started taking her food. Her kids were hungry. We grew close. I fell in love with her. We were there for six months. Six months in that place and we couldn’t find any terrorists. I didn’t care. I was in love. She got pregnant and I started trying to figure a way to get her out of the country and back here. Her and her kids.

  “Then it all went to shit. Intel paid off. There was a cell and smack in the middle of it was her husband’s family.”

  Kyle turned his head to look at her. She could see the tears in his eyes and it broke her heart. She took his hands. “Tell me. Please.”

  “It all went to shit. The order was given. We were to take them out and to hell with collateral damage. I tried to get to her, but her husband’s family took her. They tried to bargain for their freedom with her and those kids.

  “The United States doesn’t negotiate with terrorists.”

  He fell silent and the look on his face had tears springing from her eyes. “Kyle…”

  “I shot two of the family before the father-in-law slit her throat. The kids died in the explosion from the bomb wired to his chest.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “I resigned after that and came home. My folks decided they wanted to move to Oklahoma, to be close to my mom’s people. They gave me the ranch. I sat there for a year doing nothing. I was mad and hurt and felt nothing would ever be right.

  “Then JD Weathers brought a horse to the house, one that had been in a fire. It was a mess. He left the horse with me. I helped the horse heal and he helped me.

  “I’m not a player, Liz. I just couldn’t let myself get emotionally involved. I watched the mother of my unborn child die, along with her children. I couldn’t save them. A man who can’t protect the people he loves isn’t much of a man.”

  “Kyle you can’t think that way. War is— “

  “I know. I get it. Finally, I get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “That being afraid to love is letting those bastards win. I’m never going to not love her, or ever forget her, but if I don’t let myself feel then they really did take everything from me.”

  Liz smiled up at him, heedless of the tears that streamed down her face. “I’m so glad. You deserve to be happy Kyle.”

  “So do you. So do we. Together. So, you’re coming back with me. You and Traveler. We’ll face whatever your father throws at you, and god as my witness, if he comes he better come armed for fucking bear.”

  That declaration was so staggering she could barely speak. “I – I… god, I – I can’t let you do that, Kyle. You don’t know him. He’ll— “

  “Cut your throat while I watch?”

  Liz jumped at the rage that blazed from his eyes and the harshness of his voice. “No, but— “

  “Then he can’t hurt me. Come back with me Liz. I know we’ve danced around this thing between us, hell I didn’t even want it to be there, but the truth is, there’s something there. And I think we deserve to figure out what and how deep it is. Don’t you?”

  “Oh god, I want to. I do. But I don’t know if I can face losing— “

  “I don’t go down easy, sugar. Trust me. If he comes for me, he better bring an army.”

  There were so many things she wanted to say, so many protests and so many words of thanks and gratitude, but she couldn’t say any of them. She could only wrap her arms around him and hold him tight.

  When his arms went around her, she felt it. Something that felt safe and right, something she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  She pulled back to look up at him. “I’ll go under one condition.”

  “What?”

  “If the police show up, I’m going to tell them you had no idea who I am. You have to promise to go along with that.”

  “Why?”

  She gave him a smile. “Because I’m going to need someone to rescue me and you can’t do that if you’re handcuffed in the back of a police car with me.”

  “Oh so I’m going to rescue you?”

  “Well, aren’t you?”

  Kyle smiled at her. “Any time, any day. Just whistle, darlin’ and I’m there.”

  Liz puckered up and whistled then smiled at the confused look on his face. “Uh, it’s just you and me, Liz. What do you need rescuing from?”

  “My clothes.”

  “Right here?”

  “Unless you have a better idea.”

  “No, actually that’s the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”

  “Then what are you waiting for, cowboy?”

  The smile he gave her was so sexy she was ready to rip his clothes off right then. “We’ve got all night, sugar.”

  He ran his hands back through her hair, tilting her head back. His lips were soft and warm against her skin as he worked his way over her neck, pausing to nibble one ear lobe then move lower. Liz reached for him, her fingers clutching at his shirt.

  Kyle paused as he reached the neckline of her shirt and released her. He unbuttoned the shirt and eased it down over her shoulders, his lips caressing the skin that was revealed. When he dropped the shirt onto the sleeping bag beside them, he gathered her breasts in both hands, his thumbs tracking gently over her nipples.

  Liz bit her lip against the groan of pleasure and tugged at his shirt, eager to feel his bare skin. “Slow down, baby.”

  “I want you.”

  “Then let me love you, Liz. Slowly and completely. Give in and I promise I’ll take you there.”

  “Take me where?” His promise inspired desire of a kind she’d never felt. She’d always taken the lead.

  “Wherever you want to go, sugar.”

  What was it in his tone, in the look in his eyes that had her wanting to give in, to surrender to him? She’d never felt this kind of allure and on some level she recognized it. She’d always been the alpha in her relationships with men. She called the shots and set the pace.

  Liz had never, not even in her marriage, fully surrendered to a man. But this man made her want to.
>
  “Show me.”

  “With pleasure.”

  Pleasure was an apt description for what came next. Pleasure like she’d never dreamed. Kyle wasn’t a lover to rush. He delivered what he promised. He took her there.

  Repeatedly.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was half past ten when they pulled out of the campground. Liz was still yawning. They’d gotten less than four hours of sleep. Not that she was complaining. Last night had been one of the best of her life. She’d known she was falling for Kyle, now she’d completely taken the plunge.

  Making love with him was beyond good. She now understood why all those women were so eager to get into his bed. Kyle was that rare man who genuinely wanted to please his lover. And his ability to read what made a woman tick was damn near magic. There was no doubt left. Kyle was the one.

  It was a shame it was happening at such a screwed up time in her life. She tried to remain positive and hoped Cooper’s plan would work, but going up against her father was not a small thing. People with a lot more power and money had tried and failed. Could she and Cooper pull this off?

  Her phone rang and she picked it up. Cody. She hit the speaker button.

  “Okay, look, I know it’s none of my business and you can tell me to butt out, but I think it’s wrong for you to leave and it’s not just because I think there’s something going on with you and Kyle.”

  “Morning, Cody.”

  “Morning. Where are you?”

  “On my way back to Kyle’s.”

  “For real?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh thank god. So how long till you’re there?”

  “I’d say an hour.”

  “Can I come over? I need to tell you something and it needs to be face-to-face.”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there.”

  Liz ended the call and turned her thoughts back to Cooper’s plan. She’d told Kyle they had a plan and he’d encouraged her to do whatever she needed to do. He also balked when she said she had to go to San Antonio and meet with Henderson. He didn’t want her to have anything to do with John Henderson. He didn’t even want her in the same room as the man.

  She liked that he felt that way and the truth was, she didn’t want to go. She’d do her part to help, but she honestly didn’t think she could pull off having interest in Henderson. She thoroughly disliked the man.

  All the way to Kyle’s she thought about it, trying to come up with an alternative. By the time they arrived she still didn’t have another plan. Cody’s truck was parked in front of the house. She pulled on by and stopped at the barn.

  Kyle parked and met her at the back of the trailer. “It’s nice. Why don’t we put Traveler in the paddock?”

  “Sounds good.”

  As they unloaded Traveler, Cody walked up. “So, you talked her into coming back.”

  “Yep.” Kyle gave her a smile and watched Liz walk Traveler to the paddock.

  “I’m glad.”

  “Me too. So what brings you here?”

  Cody looked at Liz, walking toward them. “I need to tell Liz something.”

  “So tell.” Liz said as she stopped beside Kyle.

  “I—“ Cody looked at Kyle and then back at Liz. “Maybe we could go to the Creek House and talk as you unpack.”

  “Whatever it is, it’s okay to say it in front of Kyle. The time for secrets is over.”

  “Oh! Well – okay. But before I tell you, I want you to please try to understand that I was trying to help.”

  “Help what?”

  “Okay, here’s the deal. I asked Jo for help, to find out what she could about your dad and Landing and – and you.”

  “You did what?” Liz’s bark was sharper than intended and anger might have gotten the best of her if Kyle hadn’t put his hand on her shoulder.

  “Hear her out, Liz.”

  Liz nodded and waited. Cody cleared her throat and spit out what Jo’s researchers found out. It was nothing Liz hadn’t already told Kyle and not nearly as much as he knew. Still, it bugged her that Cody and Jo had gone behind her back to have her investigated.

  “Why did you do that? Have Jo do that, I mean?”

  “I – because – because I wanted to help.”

  Liz believed that. Cody wasn’t someone who acted with malicious intent. “I know. And I appreciate you wanting to help, but please believe me that you don’t want to be involved in this. In any of it. My father is ruthless, Cody and I don’t say that lightly. If he even thinks someone poses a threat – no not even a threat, but an inconvenience to his plans, he thinks nothing about destroying them. And we all know that with enough money you can ruin almost anyone.”

  “But he doesn’t even know I exist.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Liz looked at Kyle. “See, this is why I didn’t want to be here. He’s not stupid, he’ll already have people checking things out. Every friend I’ve made, every person I’ve come into contact with here will be on his radar.”

  “Then maybe you need to step up whatever plan you have to stop him.”

  “You’re right.” She looked back at Cody. “Look, I know you were trying to help and honest to god I love you for that. But I don’t want you ending up collateral damage and he’ll do that Cody. Without a second thought. So, please, please promise me you’ll tell Jo to back down. If he gets wind that someone’s snooping around, he’ll go after her, her family and even the cable network.”

  “Well, it’s not like he could hurt the network.”

  “He could buy it without blinking, Cody. Please, listen to me. If you think Herbert Pursell has power, then multiply that by a hundred, no a thousand. My father owns the third largest energy company in the world. Do you have any idea how many billions of dollars he’s worth? Hell, I don’t and don’t care, but I do know that with that much money comes power and powerful contacts. You don’t want to be in his crosshairs and I don’t want to see anyone here get hurt because you’re trying to help.”

  “Can he really be that bad?”

  “Yeah, he can.” Liz grabbed Cody in a hug. “You’re a good person and a good friend. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  “Well, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  “Then let me deal with this, okay?”

  “Sure, but if you need— “

  “I’ll yell. I promise. Now, I really need to call my brother so will you excuse me?”

  “Sure.”

  Liz looked at Kyle and he nodded. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away, pulling out her phone.

  Kyle watched her walk away and then looked at Cody. “Kyle, do you believe what she says about her father?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So what do we do?”

  “Just what she asked. Her brother has a plan so let them work it. They know their father better than anyone, so they stand the best chance of dealing with him.”

  “And if they can’t?”

  “Then we do what we have to.”

  She regarded him for a few moments. “Something happened, didn’t it? Between you and Liz?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you think she can win? What if she just gave the horse back?”

  “I don’t know, Cody. I don’t know that she can. It’s complicated and not my story to tell, but things between Liz and her father aren’t good. He’d have her tossed in jail just because she bucked him. And she’d go to jail rather than cow down to him. I’m afraid it’s gone too far for a peaceful resolution.”

  “But what if she doesn’t win?”

  “We’ll face that if we come to it. Right now, I have things to attend to and I need to talk to Wes to see where things stand with Landing.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll leave you in peace but you’ll call if you need me, right?”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  “Okay, see you later.”

  Kyle watched as she got in her truck and left. He then turned to look at Liz. Sh
e stood at the paddock fence. Tapping one foot and holding her phone. He got the feeling she was impatiently awaiting a call. He wouldn’t interrupt. She’d tell him what he needed to know once she was done.

  The assuredness he felt about that surprised him. He’d gone from wondering who she was and being mistrustful of her to having complete confidence in her honor. That was damn near a miracle.

  But then so was realizing that he was in love.

  *****

  Liz answered before the first ring completed. “Coop. Listen I wanted to talk to you about the plan.”

  “Forget what I said. We’ve got to move up our timetable.”

  “What happened?”

  “Mom.”

  “Mom?”

  “She called. She knows about the geological report.”

  “That’s impossible. She’s not involved in the oil business and— “

  “She knows Liz. And if she knows, she got the information from someone, so she’s not the only one.”

  “Oh hell. If Dad finds out— “

  “He’ll bury us. Me anyway.”

  “Coop, you’ve got to get Wes on board. If we can get him to agree I know people who may be able to help.”

  “Help how?”

  “Convince others to jump onboard with us.”

  “Us? So you’re in? I mean in.”

  “Yeah. Time I started putting that education to work. But we need to move Coop and I mean like yesterday.”

  “I’ll call Wes now. Can you come to— “

  “No. Forget me coming to San Antonio. You come here. To Cotton Creek.”

  “Liz, if Wes’s father finds out I’m there— “

  “He won’t. Come to where I am.”

  There was a moment of silence before he agreed. “Okay, but first I have to get up with Wes. If he agrees I’ll drive down this afternoon.”

  “He’s going to agree.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “I’m going to convince him.”

  “You think you can do that?”

  “Yes. I do. Go ahead and call though. I’ll call you back within the hour.”

  “Okay, but be careful Liz. We can’t let Herbert get wind of this.”