Under Threat by B.J. Daniels (reading the story of the .TXT) 📕

“Is it any wonder that I haven’t been able to stop loving you?” he asked.

Their gazes met across the narrow space between them. He could feel the heat, the chemistry. He reached over and cupped the back of her neck, pulling her into the kiss. He heard her breath catch. His pulse quickened. A shaft of desire cut through him, molten hot.

Mary leaned into him and the kiss. It felt like coming home. Chase had always been a great kisser.

As he drew back, he looked into her eyes as if the kiss had also transported him back to when they were lovers.

“You’re just full of surprises today, aren’t you,” she said, smiling at him as she tried to catch her breath. She loved seeing Chase like this, relaxed, content, happy, a man who knew who he was and what he wanted.

The cowboy who’d left her and Montana had been antsy, filled with a need she couldn’t understand. Just like he’d been only minutes ago when they’d gone looking for his father.

He needed to find him. She would help him. And then what?

“You have work to do, and I’m keeping you from it,” he said. “We can have lunch another day when you feel better and aren’t as busy. I’ve already taken up too much of your morning.”

She shook her head as she met his gaze. “If I didn’t have this report due—”

“You don’t have to explain. You took off this morning to help me. I appreciate that.” His smile filled her with joy as much as his words. “We have a lot of lunches in our future. I hope you know how serious I am about us, about our future. I’ll do whatever it takes because I know you, Mary Savage. I know your heart.”

She felt her eyes burn with tears at the truth in his words. “Tomorrow. Let’s go talk to the other two men tomorrow morning.”

“Are you sure?” Chase asked. “I don’t like keeping you from your work.”

She managed to nod. “I’m sure.” Swallowing the lump in her throat, she reached to open her door. If she stayed out here with him a minute longer, she feared what she might say. Worse, what she might do. It would have been too easy to fall into his arms and take up where they’d left off and forget all about the report that was due.

But she climbed out of the pickup, knowing it was too soon. She had to know for sure that Chase wouldn’t hurt her again. Her heart couldn’t take being broken by him again.

As Chase was leaving, he glanced toward the coffee shop. Was Lucy working? He swung his pickup around and parked in front of Lone Peak Perk. Getting out, he told himself to play it cool. He had to see her again. He had to know. But just the thought that he might be right...

As he walked in, Lucy looked up. Surprise registered in those dark eyes. Nothing like Fiona’s big blue ones. Still, he walked to the counter. She looked nervous. “Is it possible to get a cup of coffee in a real cup?” he asked. “Just black.”

She looked less nervous, but that too could have been his imagination. He wondered what he’d been thinking. The woman looked nothing like Fiona and yet... She was much skinnier, the gapped two front teeth, the short dark hair, the brown eyes. What was it about her that reminded him of Fiona? Mary was right. He was obsessed with the disturbed, irrational woman.

Lucy picked up a white porcelain coffee cup and took her time filling it with black coffee. “Can I get you anything else?” she said with that slight lisp, slight Southern accent. Nothing like Fiona. She flashed him a smile, clearly flirting.

He grinned. “Maybe later.” He took the coffee cup by the handle over to an empty spot near the door. Sitting with his back to her, he took a sip. Coffee was the last thing he wanted right now. But he drank it as quickly as the hot beverage allowed.

Taking advantage of a rush of people coming in for their afternoon caffeine fix, he carefully slipped the now empty cup under his jacket and walked out. He’d expected to be stopped, but neither Lucy or the other barista noticed. When he reached his pickup, he carefully set the cup on the center console and headed to the marshal’s office.

He would get Hud to run the prints because he had to know what it was about the woman that turned his stomach, and left him feeling like something evil had come to Big Sky.

Lucy couldn’t believe that Chase had come back into the coffee shop. She smiled to herself as she whipped up one of the shop’s special coffees for a good-tipping patron. As she finished the drink, she turned expecting to see Chase’s strong back at the corner table. To her surprise, he’d left during the rush. He’d certainly finished his coffee quickly enough. She frowned as concern slithered slowly through her.

It took her a moment to realize why the hair was now standing up on the back of her neck. The table where Chase had been sitting. His empty porcelain cup wasn’t where he should have left it.

She hurriedly glanced around, thinking he must have brought it back to the counter. Otherwise...

Her heart kicked up to double time. Otherwise... He wouldn’t have tossed the cup in the trash and she could see from here that he hadn’t put it in the tray with the few other dishes by the door.

Which left only one conclusion.

He’d taken the cup.

Why would he—

The reason struck her hard and fast. He had recognized her. Warring emotions washed over her. Of course he’d sensed her behind the disguise. She hadn’t been wrong about that. It was that unique chemistry that they shared. But at the same time, fear numbed her, left her dumbstruck. She could hear the patron asking her a question, but