“In a good way.”
“A very good way.”
He pulled her hand away from him and tugged down her pants, which slid away. He smiled at the delicate white panties and kissed her stomach and the tender skin above the lacy waistband.
Impatience seemed to drive him as he rose, tugged off his boots, and removed his pants. “Later it will be slower.”
“Later. Fast now,” she said.
He tugged down her panties and laid over her, his erection pressing against her. Instinctively she parted her legs for him.
He studied her face as he slowly positioned himself. Another hesitation. And another chance to back out. She kissed him and whispered, “Yes.”
He kissed her again, hard on the lips, and then pushed inside of her.
She sucked in a breath as she lay savoring the feel of him inside her. Slowly he began to move back and forth. The sensations grew and for a quick moment all the darkness and sadness skittered away leaving her with only light, hope, and the building pressure of desire.
When he ground into her, every nerve in her body exploded. She tipped over the edge and plunged through layers of isolation. It was mere seconds before the storm passed, but she was left sweaty and breathless underneath him.
He collapsed against her and burrowed his face into the hollow of her neck. His heart beat strong and steady, thumping through his shirt and against her bare chest.
“You all right?” He rose up on an elbow and smoothed wisps of hair from her eyes.
She moistened her lips, wishing this moment could be bottled and saved forever. “I’m good.”
“Just good?” he teased with a crooked smile.
Laughter rumbled in her chest. “Okay, great. It was great.”
He kissed her on the lips. “That’s more like it.”
She’d had moments of feeling good, almost human, over the last decade. When the vineyard was ripe and full and the farmhands began to pluck the grapes from the vines. When she and her aunt had completed the big room that would house the winery next year. Yes, there’d been happiness, but she’d not allowed herself to bask or enjoy.
Now, however, she clung to the pure joy making her heart beat fast. She should shove away the peace and happiness, but she just couldn’t.
“I can feel your body tensing,” he said. He stared at her with his signature intensity warming her soul. She sensed he wanted to peel back the layers and read her mind.
“I’m not used to feeling good.”
He smoothed his hand over her forehead as if he didn’t tire of touching her. “It’s time to let yourself out of prison.”
“But . . .”
“But nothing, Greer. You’ll honor your brother more if you live your life.”
Tightness banded around her chest as unspoken words begged to be voiced. “I want to be happy.”
A gentle smile tugged the edge of his lips. “That’s a good thing.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. Not a thing wrong with it, darlin’.” He kissed her on the lips as his hand cupped her breast. “Not a bit wrong.”
She relaxed into the kiss and let the pleasure pulse in her like a heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her hold, kissing him with all the pent-up emotion and denied desire she’d stored.
Another growl rumbled in his chest as he opened the front of her bra and kissed her breast. She accepted him willingly.
Winchester’s search for Michael Sycamore proved to be frustrating. Sycamore’s secretary had had no luck finding him, and a GPS search of his cell had come up empty. It took a handful of calls before he was on the phone with Donald Shepard, the managing partner of Michael’s firm.
Winchester learned Sycamore had made a name for himself in a prestigious accounting firm and at thirty was already on partner track. Men like that did not just vanish. They stayed in touch with their companies.
Winchester paced his office. “Mr. Shepard, I’m Brody Winchester with the Texas Rangers.”
“Yes, sir, what can I do for you? I hear you been raising holy hell with my staff.” The drawl was deep and long and very Texas.
“I’m calling about Michael Sycamore. I’ve spoken to his secretary but she tells me she can’t find him. Just don’t sound right to me you’d lose a potential partner so easily.”
A heavy pause. “I don’t discuss my employees.”
“Let me remind you I’m working three murder cases right now and if I find out you’re holding back, I’m not going to be happy.”
More silence. “What do you need to know about him?” Hesitation in the man’s voice hinted at a bigger issue.
“How about you tell me where I can find him.”
“I don’t know where he is.”
“He works for you.”
Still another hesitation. “Not as of two weeks ago.” “Why’s that?”
More silence and then a sigh. “I fired him.”
“Why?”
“He embezzled from several clients. Once I found out I let him go. He denied it of course, but I had the evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Financial statements that showed the paper trail leading to him.”
Michael’s first suicide attempt had been triggered when he’d been caught stealing. And now he’d been caught again.
Winchester rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Has anyone seen him since he’s been fired?”
“Not that I am aware of. I’ve had to do some fancy talking to keep this information quiet. It would ruin my company if it was discovered.”
“When was the last time you saw Michael?”
“The day I kicked him out.” Anger threaded through the statement.
“He’s not answering his cell.”
“Likely hiding with his tail tucked between his knees like a old hound dog.”
“I need to find him.”
“Has he stolen from someone else?”
“My call isn’t regarding a theft. People he once knew have been murdered and I need to talk to him.”
He sighed heavily. “Hold a moment and let me buzz my secretary. That woman is the pulse of the company.”
“Sure.”
The man put him on hold and Winchester paced. Michael could be his killer but he’d bet money the man was dead.
A second later the man came back on the line. “Ranger?”
“I’m here.”
“Michael has a cabin about seventy miles north of Austin.”
Winchester moved to his desk and jotted the address. That would put him in easy striking distance of the murder victims. “And no one has seen him in two weeks?”
“Not according to Marge, my secretary.”
“If anyone hears from him, I need to know about it.”
“Will do.”
He checked his watch. If he hurried, he could be at the cabin in an hour.
Bragg hated leaving Greer. She’d felt warm and soft in his arms and he could have stayed in bed with her for days. But he couldn’t stay locked away from the world and neither could she. They both had work. Minutes later, he dressed. As he stood at the door holding her hand, he gave her a list of warnings and cautions, reminding her to keep her cell phone close.
She smiled up at him, her gaze warm and inviting. When he added emphasis to his warning, she’d pretended to listen and then smiled. He’d given up and kissed her one last time before he left her standing on the front porch of her house.
The call from Shady Grove Clinic came fifteen minutes after Bragg left Greer. He drove out to the facility annoyed that it had taken days to get the list of campers.
He pulled into the tree-lined drive and parked by the entrance, took the front steps two at a time, and rang the bell. This time laughter didn’t drift from the woods. A solemn quiet had settled on the place.
The slim woman, who’d greeted him before, opened the door. She eyed him and stepped aside. “Ranger Bragg. Dr. Leland is waiting for you in his office.”
&n
bsp; “Ma’am.” He followed her down the long hallway, his boots clicking against the wood floor. He found Dr. Leland sitting behind his desk, frowning, tapping his index finger on a slim manila file.
“I’m not happy about this,” the doctor said.
“I don’t care,” Bragg said, moving toward the desk.
The doctor glared up at him and then lifted the file, extending his arm barely so that Bragg had to reach out and take the file. He opened it and scanned the names. Quickly he saw Rory, Jennifer, Greer, Sara, and Michael, the one person in the pod yet to be found. He flipped to the boy’s profile and studied Michael’s sullen headshot. He scanned Michael’s bio, which confirmed much of what Greer had told him. He’d been seventeen when he’d entered the clinic and been assigned to Greer’s pod. Michael had landed in Shady Grove because he’d tried to shoot himself.
“I’m counting on your discretion,” Dr. Leland said.
“I’ll do what I can.” If he could, he’d keep this quiet for Greer but he didn’t give a damn about this place or the doctor’s good name.