Hiding Out At The Circle C Read online

  "Haley." He touched her shoulder and she jerked back, eyes wide, until she saw him. The way she sucked in her fear both fascinated and infuriated him. He reached over and switched off the vacuum. "You never ate breakfast," he said inanely. Never ate? Who was he, her mother?

  "I'm not hungry." Leaning forward, she reached again for the vacuum, but he stopped her.

  "It's hard to talk with that on."

  Without a sign of the smile he'd hoped for, she said, "I know."

  "Are you all right?"

  "Of course." But she avoided his gaze as they wrestled over the vacuum. "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "I don't know, but I wish you could tell me." She chewed her lip, silent, and he tried another tactic. "I'm going into town. Come with me?"

  "I have work."

  "It'll wait."

  "I don't think so," she said quietly. "Thanks."

  So polite, so distant. So hurt. He turned her toward him, aching a little at the turmoil he sensed just beneath her surface. Surprised at the surge of tenderness and protectiveness she somehow invoked, he found he couldn't let go of her. "Haley, we need to talk."

  She'd stiffened at his touch. "About?"

  Start slow, he warned himself. Real slow. "Your salary and hours, for one. We never discussed it."

  "It doesn't matter."

  "It should. What you're doing here is important to us, and we want to make sure you get compensated. And I don't want you working all hours of the day."

  She looked at him then. "What I meant was, I'd work here for free."

  Touched, he reached up and caressed her jaw. "We're that great, huh?"

  She shook her head, a little noise of wordless amazement escaping her. "You have no idea what you have here, do you?"

  "What do you mean?" His hand slid to her lovely neck.

  "Your family," she said, closing her eyes when his thumb played with the sensitive spot at the base of her neck. Her pulse fluttered wildly, flattering him. "You take them for granted," she whispered. "You shouldn't. They are … wonderful."

  "Yes, they are." Because he couldn't help himself, he bent his head to the spot he'd touched and tasted her. Her hands came up to grip his shoulders hard, but she didn't push him away. He took his time, cruising his mouth over her jaw. When he looked at her again, those incredibly blue eyes had turned cloudy with confusion, and with what he hoped was arousal.

  "You're a part of this family now," he said, meaning it. "We want you to be."

  "You don't even know me."

  "I know," he admitted, sliding his lips softly across hers once. The touch electrified him, and her, too, if that husky catch of breath was any indication. "But I want to. Let me know you, Haley. Trust me."

  She shook her head but still didn't draw back. "I'm not ready for that. Please…"

  "Please what?" He kissed her softly again, biting back his moan at her incredible sweetness.

  "I think," she said shakily, stepping away, "we should go to town now."

  He smiled past the ache of her inability to trust him, relieved she'd agreed to come. "On the way you can tell me how much you want in wages."

  She looked uncomfortable. "I told you. I don't care about that. You're already giving me room and board."

  "You must need money, Haley," he said gently. "Come on, you can think about it while I drive."

  "Fine. But I'm only going with you because there're some things I need," she warned. "So don't get any ideas." She pushed him aside lightly.

  "What kind of ideas?" he asked, all sorts of wicked ones dancing in his head before he could stop himself.

  She blushed. "Oh, just forget it."

  They were in his truck before she spoke again. "Since you insist on paying me," she said in that haughty, sexy voice he loved, "I think you should know—I don't come cheap."

  He threw back his head and laughed. "I never thought so, Ms. Williams. I never thought so."

  After that, he let her sit quietly, as she seemed to want to do on the long drive into Colorado Springs. Once there, she refused to accept his company, insisting that he drop her off at a minimall while he went on to the lumber store. Though it roused his suspicions again, he really had no choice. She was entitled to her privacy and distance.

  He needed his distance, as well. He had no idea what was happening to him, but it had to stop. There could be nothing between him and Haley. Nothing. At least not until he knew what she was hiding.

  * * *

  Haley glanced longingly at the cash machine outside the grocery store, wishing she could get the money she needed. But fear was a heavy motivation.

  It would lead them—Alda?—straight to her.

  Alda. Haley struggled to remember a sane world, and the kind, caring woman Alda had always seemed. But that led to worry about what she should do next, and since she hadn't a clue, she gave up. She had to stay hidden or she'd find herself as dead as Bob. Or worse, rotting away in a South American jail cell. If she could just stay safe until Alda made a mistake. If only she hadn't panicked on the USGS call, she might have learned more. If, if, if.

  With a heavy sigh, Haley turned around, trying to decide how far the twenty dollars she had would take her. There were some things she needed she just couldn't bring herself to ask Nellie for. As she moved toward the automatic doors of the store, her wandering gaze collided abruptly with a medium-build, dark-haired man who stood across the way. He leaned against a pole, staring at her.

  No big deal. Just a curious stranger. Absolutely nothing to worry about. But he watched her intently, and her heart pumped triple time. This as ridiculous, she told herself, even as she dashed into the store and decked behind one of the newspaper stands, shaking. Ridiculous, she repeated to herself. But she made herself walk down two long aisles before venturing back out again.

  The man had disappeared.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, Haley studied the minimall carefully and spotted a bakery. Surely she deserved a doughnut after that scare. Heading down the walk toward the bakery, she stopped to admire the delicious, flaky-looking croissants in the display case. She was hungry. And she'd forgotten to eat, again. No wonder her head and stomach hurt. Yep, she was going to splurge and buy herself—

  A shadow fell across her, blocking out the sun. Reflected in the window, and standing directly behind her, was the same stranger.

  With a strangled gasp, Haley moved quickly, racing down the walk and slamming into the first store she came to.

  A video store.

  Haley dashed down an aisle of videos. Trembling behind a life-size cardboard cutout of Tom Cruise, she looked around. What should she do? What if he came in here and grabbed her? She'd scream like hell, that was what!

  No one came. Huddled behind the huge poster, she began to feel relieved. Then incredibly foolish. Of course, no one came—because no one was after her.

  She had to stop these panic attacks. They did nothing but annoy her ulcer and make her head ache. Her fear was totally unfounded. She'd left no clue, no trace. And who could possibly guess that Dr. Haley Whitfield, head of EVS's team of geologists, was now doing duty as a housekeeper on some ranch in Colorado? No one. Encouraged by that, she straightened and left the store. The man had disappeared.

  Eager to be on her way, Haley slipped into the bakery, almost desperate now for food. Her head throbbed, her stomach grumbled and hurt. Nothing like panic to stir an appetite.

  "I'll have one of those croissants," she said politely, bending over the display and pointing.

  "Sure thing, ma'am."

  Haley raised her gaze and froze. Behind the counter was her stranger. The man who'd been following her. Their eyes met—his cold, hard and knowing—and she whirled.

  Running, blinded by fear, Haley expected to be grabbed any moment. Or shot. Her skin crawled. Her breath escaped her in sobs as she fumbled with the door, and for a second, she thought she couldn't get out, that he'd caught up with her and was holding it shut. As she fought and clawed at the handle, her heart slammed each