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Determined to keep him at arm’s length, she fought the waves of sexual magnetism that always existed between them. “Sometime between eight o’clock, when I left for town to set up my lunch service for my food truck,” she confirmed. “And when the sheriff’s department notified me at around five o’clock, to let me know there had been a break-in.”
Which left a huge nine-hour window.
His big hands paused over the keys. “A customer reported it?”
Aware she was suddenly feeling shaky again, Lulu moved around the island in search of a place to sit down. “Lucille Lockhart came out to buy some honey. She hadn’t read my social media page advertising the location of my food truck today, so she didn’t know I wasn’t here.” But the thieves likely had.
Sam made a low, thoughtful sound. “And everything was gone when Mrs. Lockhart arrived?”
She settled in the high-backed stool next to him and swiveled to face him. The sincerity in his gaze was almost as unnerving as his unexpected, unrelenting kindness. “The entire apiary was emptied, and so were the storehouse shelves. Panic-stricken, Mrs. Lockhart tried to call me, and when she couldn’t reach me, she notified the sheriff. We don’t know much more than that right now.”
“Actually, we do.” He swiveled toward her, too, and braced one elbow on the counter next to his laptop. His other hand rested on his rock-hard thigh. Nodding tersely once again, he added, “I put out the word when we got here. I’ve heard back from almost all our members.”
She caught her breath at the worry in his eyes.
“Apparently two trucks were spotted on the farm-to-market road that goes by here around one o’clock this afternoon. They seemed to be traveling together and were headed north. One was a white refrigeration truck, the other a flatbed loaded with two off-road forklifts.” His lips compressed, and his gruff tone registered his disappointment. “We didn’t get an actual license number, but someone noticed the plates were from Wisconsin.”
Hope mingling with dread, Lulu laid her hand across her heart. “They’re sure it was a refrigeration truck?”
“It had the cooling unit on top of the cab.”
Relief filtered through her. She didn’t know whether to shout hallelujah or sob with relief. In truth, she felt like doing both. “Oh, thank heavens,” she whispered finally.
“That’s important?” Sam guessed.
Lulu swallowed around the ache in her throat. “Very. The bees wouldn’t survive in their boxes if they were transported a long way in this kind of heat.” She ran her hand over the side seam of her denim skirt. Sam’s glance followed her reflexive move. Realizing the fabric had ridden up, Lulu did her best to surreptitiously tug it down. Yet, maddeningly, the hem remained several inches above her bare knees.
Knees he had once caressed with devastating sensuality.
Pushing aside her rush of self-consciousness, she added, “Moving bees is hard on them as it is.”
Sam lifted his glance and locked eyes with her yet again. He regarded her with the respect of a fellow rancher. “Makes sense they’d do better if they were kept cool.” He rubbed his jaw. “That kind of truck will also make the thieves easier to find.”
Glad he had taken it upon himself to help her, even when she had preferred he leave her to handle everything on her own, Lulu drew a breath. It would be so easy to lean on him again. Too easy, maybe, given how acrimoniously they had once parted. “So what now?” she asked quietly.
Sam sobered, the corners of his lips slanting down. “I’ve already notified the sheriff’s department with all the information I was able to compile, and they in turn have put out an APB and will be checking with truck stops and weighing stations for any vehicles fitting the description.”
Feeling her first concrete ray of hope, Lulu asked, “You really think we might find them?”
He nodded. “Trucks like that can’t stick to country roads without drawing a lot of attention. On the highway, they’ll be a lot easier to find. Hopefully, we’ll know something soon.”
He shut the lid on his laptop and stood.
Feeling surprisingly reluctant to see him go, Lulu rose, too. “Sam...” She touched his arm, delaying him. He turned to gaze down at her and her heart rate kicked up another notch.
“I really... I don’t know how to thank you,” she continued sincerely. “A few hours ago, I had very little hope I’d ever see my beehives again. Now, well.” She struggled to put her gratitude into words. As she gazed up at him, she pushed through the wealth of conflicting emotions suddenly racing through her and tried again. “I never would have expected you to...help.”
Something dark and turbulent flashed in his eyes. “Well, you should have,” he said, as if fighting his own inner demons.
The next thing Lulu knew, she was all the way in his arms. His head was lowering, his lips capturing hers. His kiss was everything she remembered, everything she had ever dreamed of receiving, everything the wildly impulsive and romantic part of her still wanted.
From him...
Because the truth was, no one had ever affected her like Sam did. No one had ever made her want, wish, need... And as his lips ravished hers, she moaned at the sweet, enervating heat. The touch of his tongue against hers sent her even further over the edge. Wreathing her arms about his neck, she shifted closer. Nestling the softness of her breasts against the solid, unyielding warmth of his broad chest. His hand swept lower, bringing her even nearer. And, just like that, the walls she’d erected around her began to crumble and her heart expanded, tenfold.
One kiss melded into another. And then another...and another. Until he had her surrendering to the firm, insistent pressure of his mouth as never before. She clung to him, soaking up everything about him. His strength, his scent. His warmth and tenderness. Years of pent-up emotion poured out of her as she rose on tiptoe and pressed her body even closer against the hardness of his.
And still he kissed her. Slowly and thoroughly. Softly and sweetly. With building need. Until a low, helpless moan escaped her throat. And she recalled everything that had once brought them together...and had ultimately torn them apart...
* * *
Sam hadn’t meant to kiss her. Hadn’t thought he would even come close. But when Lulu had looked up at him with such sweet surprise in her expression, well, it triggered something in him. Something primitive and hot and wild.
It had made him want to claim her again.
As his woman.
As his...
He cut off the thought before it could fully form. Knowing there was no way either of them could go back to that tumultuous period of time, even if the hot, intense connection that had always been between them was definitely still there. And she knew it, too, as he felt her begin to tense the way she always did when she began to have second thoughts.
With a sigh, he drew back. Sure of what he was going to see.
She gazed up at him, eyes awash with the kind of turbulent emotion that had always signaled trouble for them. Lower lip trembling, she flattened her hands over his chest and pushed him away. “We can’t do this again.”
And once again, the need to possess her got the better of his common sense.
“Why not?” he demanded gruffly.
“Because we already proved it will never work between us,” she whispered, the shimmering hurt back in her pretty eyes, “and I really don’t want to go there again.”
* * *
To Lulu’s relief, after a moment’s consideration, Sam seemed to concede it wouldn’t be wise to complicate their situation any further.
And when he greeted her at the door of his sprawling ranch house the following afternoon, his manner was appropriately circumspect.
Which left her free to forget about the heady aftermath of their passionate embrace and concentrate on the changes made to the Hidden Creek cattle ranch since she had last been there.
The thousand-acre spread was as tidy and filled with good-looking cattle as ever, the barns, stables, bunkhouse and other buildings meticulously well kept. He had updated the main house with dark gray paint on the brick, white trim and black shutters. She admired the beautifully landscaped front lawn and the circular drive directing guests to the covered porch and inviting front door. A quartet of dormer windows adorned the steeply pitched roof.
Most arresting of all, though, was the ruggedly handsome rancher who ushered her inside. The corners of his sensual lips lifted in an appraising smile. He came close enough she could smell the soap and sun and man scent of his skin. “A little early, aren’t you?”
Her heart panged in her chest. “I wanted to make sure I was here when they arrived, but if you’d like me to wait in my SUV...” Aware she was fast becoming a bundle of nerves, she gestured at the Lexus in the driveway.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He ushered her inside.
Aware the atmosphere between them was quickly becoming highly charged and way too intimate, Lulu turned her attention elsewhere. There’d been a lot of changes since she’d been here last, she noted as she followed him. The ecru walls and dark wide-plank wood floors were the same, but the fancy upholstered pieces and heavy custom draperies favored by his late mother had been exchanged for large leather couches, mahogany furniture and modern plantation shutters. A lot of the knickknacks and elegant paintings were gone, replaced by a handsomely redone white brick fireplace and mantel, a complete wall of built-in bookshelves and a state-of-the-art entertainment center.
His gaze dropped to the hamper in her hand “Planning a picnic?” he drawled.
Lulu’s hands curled around the wicker handle. “I’m open to whatever the kids need, although I don’t really know what to expect when they do arrive.” Which was one of the reasons she was so uncharacteristically on edge.
Evidently that was something they had in common. Sam sighed. “Me, either.” He led the way down the hall to the back of the ranch house, where changes also abounded. The kitchen’s flowered wallpaper and frilly curtains were gone, replaced by stainless steel appliances and concrete countertops and sleek white walls washed in sunlight. The breakfast room table and eight captain chairs were the same, although all had been refinished with a glowing golden-oak stain. The family room had become a work space, with file cabinets, a U-shaped computer desk, scanner/copier phone and printer.
He squinted at her. “Meet your approval?”
With effort, she met his probing gaze. She set the hamper on the island—also new—in the center of the large square kitchen. “It’s very nice. You’ve outdone yourself,” she said.
He shrugged, all affable male again. “Can’t take all the credit. My sister Lainey is an interior designer now, so she helped. Tara, the computer expert, set up all my business systems for me. Liza, the chef, taught me how to cook. Betsy, the innkeeper, showed me how to properly stock a pantry and freezer.”
Like the McCabes, the Kirklands always had each other’s backs. “Your sisters are scattered all over now, aren’t they?”
“Yep.” He lounged against the counter, arms folded. “I’m the only one left in Texas.”
Trying not to notice how well he filled out his ranching clothes, she asked, “You miss them?”
His gaze skimmed her appreciatively. “They visit.”
Not an answer. But then, he had never been one to own up to anything that hurt. He just moved on.
As he was about to do now...
He inclined his head. “So what’s in there?” he asked.
“I wasn’t sure what you had on hand or what they were sending with the kids, so I brought some toddler favorites like applesauce and kid-friendly mac and cheese for their dinner, just in case.”
Another nod. “Thanks,” he said, as a big, sleepy-looking Saint Bernard came around the corner. The brown patches of fur over the pet’s eyes and back and chest contrasted with the fluffy white coat everywhere else. An extremely feminine flowered pink collar encircled her neck.
Lulu watched the big dog pad gracefully over to stand beside Sam. She sat down next to him, pressing her body up against his sinewy leg and hip. Tail wagging, she gazed up at Sam adoringly. Waited, until he petted her head, then let out a long, luxuriant sigh that Lulu understood all too well.
Pushing aside the memory of Sam’s gentle, soothing touch, she asked, “Who is this?”
“Beauty. As in Beauty and the Beast.”
Unable to resist, Lulu guessed, “And you’re the Beast?”
Although he tried, he couldn’t quite contain a smile. “Very funny.”
Lulu chuckled. “I thought so.”
Although, the moniker fit. The 120-pound dog was absolutely gorgeous. And not really the type of canine she would have expected a rough-hewn rancher like Sam to choose.
“When did you get her?” Lulu smiled and made eye contact with Beauty, who appreciated her right back.
Tilting his head, Sam paused, calculating. “A little over four years ago.”
“As a puppy?”
“She was about six months old at the time.”
Lulu paused. “I didn’t know you wanted a dog.” He certainly hadn’t mentioned it when they were together. Back then, all he’d talked about were horses and cattle. And of course the importance of keeping one’s commitments. Which he definitely did not think Lulu had done.
He smiled as his dog stood again and then stretched her front legs out in front of her, dipping her tummy close to the floor in a play bow. “She’s not mine. She belongs to my sister Hailey.”
Hence, the romantic pet name.
Lulu turned back to him, confused. “But...you’re keeping her?” She watched Beauty rise again and turn back to Sam for one last pet on the head.
His big hand sank into the soft, luxuriant fur on the top of Beauty’s head, massaging it lightly in a way that made Lulu’s own nerve endings shudder and her mouth go dry.
“It was never the intention,” Sam admitted, oblivious to the effect his tender ministrations were having on Lulu. “But Beauty was too big for Hailey’s apartment, and she suddenly had to travel internationally for her job. Constantly boarding Beauty didn’t seem fair. My sister asked me to help out temporarily, since I have plenty of room. I agreed.”
Lulu observed the free-flowing affection between man and pet. “Looks like you made the right decision.”
And possibly, Lulu thought as Beauty lumbered over to stand next to her, the right decision regarding the three kids, as well.
Because if Sam wouldn’t turn out a dog who had come to live with him, she knew he would never abandon three little orphaned boys. And that meant if she was going to form a permanent, loving connection with Theresa and Peter’s triplets, she would have to forget the difficulties of their past and find a way to forge an enduring, platonic connection with Sam, too.
The next twenty minutes passed with excruciating slowness. Sam settled down to do something at his desk while Lulu paced, looking out one front window, then the next.
Finally, a large dark green van made its way up the lane. It stopped next to the ranch house. The doors opened. Hiram Higgins and three other adults stepped out. And even though there was no sign of the children they were going to care for just yet, Lulu’s heartbeat quickened.
“Sam! They’re here!” she exclaimed.
He rose and strode briskly through the hall to her side.
Together, they walked out the front door and down the porch steps. Hiram introduced his wife, Winnifred, a kind-faced woman with gray hair, and Sandra and Jim Kelleher, the thirtysomething couple who had been looking after the triplets.
Seeing that Lulu and Sam were chomping at the bit to meet the kids, the Kellehers proceeded to unfasten safety harnesses and bring the children out, one by one. All three were holding stuffed animals and clutching well-loved blue baby blankets. In deference to the shimmering June heat, they were wearing blue plaid shorts and coordinating T-shirts, sandals, plaid bucket hats and kiddie sunglasses. All appeared shy and maybe even a little dazed. As if they’d been napping and were still trying to wake up.
“This is Theo,” Winnifred introduced the most serious-looking toddler.
Sandra brought forward the one with the trembling lower lip. “And Ethan.”
“And Andrew,” Jim said, shifting the weight of the only one starting to fidget.
“Hello, Theo, Ethan and Andrew,” Lulu greeted them in turn.
They simply stared at her, then eventually turned away.
Her heart sank. She was a McCabe. She’d been around children all her life. Not once had one responded to her with such indifference.
But then, these children had been through hell. It was probably no surprise they’d become...numb.
Hiram retrieved his briefcase and inclined his head at Sam. “We probably should sign the papers first and then unload the belongings they brought with them today.”
“Lulu,” Sam said, “you want to take them all on in?”
“Sure.” She led the way inside as Sam and Hiram adjourned to a corner of the front porch. Winnifred and the Kellehers took a seat in the living area, a child on each lap. Once they were all settled, Lulu sat down, too, and they got down to business.
“I brought a folder with me of everything I’ve been able to piece together about the children’s previous routines, plus everything that did or did not work for us, in terms of their care,” Sandra said.
Jim exhaled, then turned to look at Lulu. “I hope Sam has better luck with them. It’s good you’re going to be helping out, too.”
Winnifred chimed in, “Hiram and I can both attest to that. They can be a handful.”
Suddenly feeling a little unsure they were up to the task, Lulu nodded her understanding. Had she and Sam underestimated the task of helping the orphaned triplets?
Sam and Hiram walked in. After Sam set the papers on the entry table, Jim handed the still-fidgety Andrew to Lulu and all three men headed back outside. Short minutes later, a trio of car seats, travel beds, booster seats, suitcases, and a big box of toys were stacked in a corner of the living room.
“Probably best we be on our way,” Hiram said.
Lulu expected the kids to wail in protest at the impending departure of yet another set of guardians. Instead, they took it stoically in stride. Too stoically, in fact, to be believed.
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