“You got me, but I bet he threw a lot of money away buying it. I need you to find out who he is and what he’s doing here. Something about him is spookin’ Kip, and I wanna know what it is.”
Boone nodded. “I’ll get Griff on it and let you know.”
“Thanks.” Trace kept his eyes on his girl until she moved to the next table.
Kip was nervous and afraid. He was determined to find out why and fix the problem, whatever it was. She was going to be his, so she might as well understand one thing from the start. He could be all fun and games most of the time, but when it came to protecting what was his, he didn’t play.
CHAPTER 3
Silas Holt sipped his coffee and watched Kip strut from table to table like being a fucking waitress in a sorry town like Wilder was something to be proud of. And for some godforsaken reason, the town loved her. He hated this town and everyone who lived here. Including her.
He’d been trying to fit in here ever since he first arrived. All he wanted was a fresh start after getting out of jail. The very thought of it filled him with rage. It hadn’t been his fucking fault. He’d been railroaded by a woman three counties over for allegedly sexually assaulting her.
Stupid bitch enjoyed everything he’d done for her, and he’d done a hell of a lot—right up until he tried to take something in return. When he tried to claim what was rightfully his, she clawed his face and called the sheriff. He’d spent six months in county jail, and now his name was on a fucking registry for predators.
So, he’d gotten a new name and moved to Wilder to work for Jack Clark on the Three Eagles Ranch. After busting his ass for years, he’d finally made it to assistant foreman. Three weeks ago, he nearly got the chance to run the entire ranch, a once in alifetime opportunity ruined when the stupid fucking waitress spilled coffee everywhere.
It had been going great before that. He’d had old man Clark eating out of his hand. But that stupid girl messed up more than just the table. The meeting had gone to shit after that. Clark decided to give the job to someone else. He was done with women ruining his life. Kip Harper was going to pay for what she’d done to him.
Then, out of the fucking blue, he spotted her picture online the next day. Turned out a powerful man named Reynaldo Rios was offering a hell of a lot of money to find out where she was, and even more to get her back. There was a phone number, which Silas called. To get things started, all the man wanted was a picture to prove Silas knew her location.
Getting that picture was as easy as waiting outside the saloon in his car that next weekend. The stupid woman hadn’t even noticed him snapping the photos as she left work. He got the girl without anything that let Rios know where she was. That way, the man couldn’t cheat him out of the reward. He’d texted the picture to Rios within minutes. Now he was waiting for just the right moment to grab Kip.
It better not take much longer. He didn’t get paid until he delivered her. When he got his hands on all that money, he would tell old man Clark what he could do with his fucking ranch.
CHAPTER 4
It was lunchtime before Trace stepped into The Broken Bridle the next day and sauntered to his regular booth. Kip occasionally tried to seat him at other tables, but he always headed to the fourth booth on the opposite wall from the door. Everyone in Wilder knew that booth was his. It let him keep an eye on the door and every booth and table in the restaurant.
The stranger was in the saloon again this morning. The man’s eyes were black as coal and just as flat. More important, they followed Kip every step she took. Trace had a bad feeling about the man, but Boone hadn’t gotten back to him yet. Not that it mattered. If Kip had a bad feeling, that was reason enough to check him out.
Almost all the tables were in use, which wasn’t unusual. Hank ran a good saloon with good food. During the day, a steady stream of traffic frequented the saloon because the food was good, and the prices were fair. It had more of a diner than a saloon feel until around seven in the evening when the kitchen closed and the drinks flowed.
There hadn’t been time to even take off his coat when a cup ofblack coffee, a bowl of streaming hot chili, and a giant cinnamon roll clattered to the table. Kip stood there, her eyes daring him to tell her that wasn’t what he wanted. “Ah, darlin’. You know me well.”
Her lips twitched. “It’s not like you haven’t eaten the daily special every day for the past six months. I thought I might go out on a limb and bring it out.”
“Foxy, you are such a good girl. It smells delicious as always,” he said with a wink. Rosy, gorgeous color rose to her cheeks. Did she know he used to only stop by the saloon occasionally before she started working there? Probably not.
Someone had a praise kink. Interesting. He’d keep that need well met once she was his.
While he had her attention, he got to the real reason he’d stopped by. Well, other than his desire to spend every moment he could with her. “Kenzie organized a small party for tonight out at the ranch, just family and close friends. It’s been a year now since Joy and Tildi joined our ranch family, and Kenzie’s always looking for a reason to get people together. I’d love for you to join us, too.”
Interest sparked her eyes for a second, quickly replaced by sorrow. She shook her head, tussling the waves of scarlet hair so it looked like flames dancing. “I’m not part of your family.”
“No,” he answered without hesitation. “But you’re a close friend, though not as close as I’d like you to be.”
Her eyes widened enough to show him the longing there. Enough to see it die. “I, ah…have to have to check on my other customers. Sorry, I wish I could. Please give everyone my best.”
“Uh-uh-uh, little fox. Naughty girls who tell lies get their mouths washed out with soap.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How did you… I wasn’t ly?—”
“Now, I’m gonna stop you right there before you get in even more trouble because I happen to have an extra toothbrush in my truck, and I know there’s liquid soap in the bathrooms just perfectfor washing out a naughty little girl’s mouth. I also know where Hank keeps the schedule posted in the kitchen. I couldn’t help but notice yesterday that you get off work at one o’clock this afternoon.”
Her lips twitched. “Couldn’t help but notice, huh?”
“Nope. I’m observant that way. That gives us time to stop by your place so you can change clothes and be at the ranch in time for you to take a nap before the fun starts.”
