Blackhawkâs Betrayal
Barbara McCauley

This book is dedicated to Jennifer Stockton,

Chef Extraordinaire! Thanks for all your help

and expertise, sweetheart. Your secret for

chocolate mousse is safe with me.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Coming Next Month

One

She should be in Paris.

Sighing, Kiera glanced at the yellow-lit dial on her rental car dashboard. Nine thirty-two, Texas time. If she had got on her plane this morning, she would have landed at the Charles de Gaulle Airport two hours ago. At this very moment, she would be checking into her room at the hotel ChÃ¢teau Frontenac. Ordering room service. Sipping espresso while she nibbled on a navettes. Sinking her exhausted body into a Louis XVI four-poster bed.

Instead, she sat in the cracked asphalt parking lot of Sadieâs Shangri-La Motel and Motor Lodge.

Welcome. Park Your Cars Out Front, Your Horses Out Back, flashed the pink neon vacancy sign.

She didnât know whether to laugh or cry, so she dropped her head into her hands and did both.

âDamn you, Trey,â she said through clenched teeth. âDamn you, damn you, damn you.â

She let herself rant for a full ten seconds, then wiped her tears and flipped the visor down to study her face in the lit mirror. Scary, was her first thoughtâdeal with it, her second. Mumbling curses again, she dug through her purse and pulled out a compact of cover-up, then carefully blotted the fading bruise beside her left eye. Not perfect, but the best she could do unless she put on her sunglasses, which, considering the fact that it was pitch black outside, just might draw attention to herself.

And that she certainly didnât want to do.

Adjusting her bangs and the sides of her hair to hide the fading bruise, she stepped out of the car and stretched her stiff muscles. She was too tired to care that her skirt, a pristine white ten hours ago, now looked like tissue paper pulled out of a gift bag. Nor did she care that her sleeveless blouse, a clean, crisp green when sheâd left the ranch this morning, currently had the appearance of wilted lettuce.

It is what it is.

A double-trailer big rig rumbled past the motel, jarring her out of her thoughts. She slung her purse strap over her shoulder, sucked in a breath, then made her way to the motelâs front office. Heat from the sweltering day lingered, and the humidity clung to her like wet plastic wrap. Shower, she thought, drawing the heavy, damp air into her lungs. She needed one desperately. A long one to wash off the grime and sweat of the dayâs travel.

When she opened the glass door, a buzzer sounded overhead and the scent of coffee hung heavy in the air. The desk clerk, a well-endowed petite blonde with Texas-size hair, stood behind the counter, hands on her voluptuous hips and her gaze locked on the screen of a small corner television.

âBe right with yâall,â the woman said without even glancing up.

Kiera held back the threatening whimper. Born and raised Texan, she knew what âbe right with yâall,â really meant: sometime between the near future and next Christmas.

Living in New York the past three years had made her impatient, she realized. Sheâd become accustomed to the frantic rush of people, the swell of city traffic, skyscrapers and closed-in spaces. A delicatessen on every corner.

The thought of food reminded her she hadnât eaten today. Sheâd kill for one of those deli sandwiches right now. A ten-pound ham and cheese, with lettuce and tomatoes andâ

âNo!â

The shout made Kiera jump back and clutch her purse. The desk clerk threw up her hands in disgust, which set the strands of silver circles on her earlobes swirling.

âI knew I couldnât trust those two,â she exclaimed, gesturing angrily at the TV. âFor eight weeks she carries Brett and Randyâs scrawny, lazy asses and what did it get the poor girl? What?â

Kiera wasnât certain if the womanâMattie, according to the plastic badge on her white polo shirtâreally wanted an answer, but she doubted it.

âA boot in her butt, thatâs what. Lower than manure, thatâs what those two jerks are.â Shaking her head, Mattie grabbed the remote and lowered the volume, then turned and stretched her bright red lips into a smile. âYou checking in, honey?â

Kiera hesitated, briefly considered taking her chances that she might find a room at a hotel in town. Someplace not quite so far off the beaten path. Someplaceâ¦safer. Then she remembered how much cash she had and shook off her apprehension. âThe sign said you had a vacancy.â

âSure do.â Mattie moved to a computer monitor behind the counter. âSingle or double?â

âSingle.â

Mattieâs long, glossy red nails clicked over the keys. âKitchenette?â

Kiera didnât really plan on cooking, but, then, she hadnât planned on being here, either. âSure.â

âHow long yâall staying?â Mattie asked.

âIâIâm not sure.â God, this was a bad idea, she thought. A really bad idea. âMaybe a week or so.â

âName?â

Kiera shifted uneasily. She didnât dare use her real name. At least, not her last name. âKiera Daniels.â

The desk clerk entered the name into her computer, then printed out a form and slid it across the counter. âCredit card?â

She thought about the name on her credit card, the fact that she could easily be traced back here if she used it, not to mention the fact that the name might raise questions. âIâd, ah, like to pay cash.â

Lifting one penciled brow, Mattie glanced up. âIâll need two nightâs deposit.â

âAll right.â She pulled out her wallet and opened it, felt her heart sink as she remembered most of her money was in francs, which obviously wasnât going to help her now. She counted what usable money she had, then tentatively laid out the amount that the desk clerk had entered on the printed card. If she was very, very careful, she might last two or three days before she ran out of cash.

Mattie stared at the bills Kiera had so carefully and reluctantly counted out, then looked up again. Kiera shifted uncomfortably when the other woman studied her face.

âHusband or boyfriend?â

âExcuse me?â

âHoney, I know it ainât none of my beeswax,â Mattie stated flatly. âBut itâs hard not to notice that shiner you got there.â

Instinctively, Kiera reached up and pulled her hair forward. So much for makeup. âNoâIâItâs not like that. I fell off a horse.â

Sympathy softened the harsh edges of Mattieâs eyes. âLike I said, itâs none of my beeswax. But a woman comes into my motel late at night, alone, looking like sheâs been chewed up and spit out, and I canât help it, itâs my Christian duty to ask.â

Do I really look that bad? Kiera thought, biting her lip. She glanced down at her rumpled clothes, knew her eyes were probably still red from crying, and she realized that she did look that bad.

âIf you need an ear or a shoulderâ¦â Mattie went on ââ¦I know a few things about men. I hear thereâs a few good ones around, but, honey, my experience is most of them are asses.â

At the moment, Kiera might tend to agree with that assessment but decided against encouraging the topic. âIf I could just get my key.â

âSure.â Mattie shrugged a shoulder, dropped the money into a drawer, then held out a key. âRoom 107.â

âThanks.â

âYou know,â the desk clerk said when Kiera turned. âIf you decide to stick around for a while and need a job, theyâre hiring at the hotel in town.â

âThank you, butââ

âI could put a good word in for you,â Mattie offered. âMy sister, Janet, is head of human resources. Iâm sure she could find a spot for you.â

âIâm really notââ

âYou donât even have to have any experience,â Mattie continued. âThey got all kinds of jobs open since they expanded. Between conventions and conferences and the new wedding chapel, the place is packed most of the time. I hear the new owner, Clair Blackhawk is great to work for.â

Blackhawk?

The name sucked the breath out of Kieraâs lungs. She stared at the desk clerk, had to swallow before she managed a weak reply. âBlackhawk?â

âWell, that was her name, but she got married a few weeks ago, so Iâm not sure what her last name is now. Oh, waitââ Mattie snapped her fingers ââitâs Carver. Clair Carver.â

With her heart clamoring so loudly, it was hard for Kiera to concentrate. The name Carver meant nothing to her. But Blackhawkâ¦God, was it possible? It was all she could do not to grab the desk clerkâs arm, ask her point-blank ifââ

âYou okay, honey?â

Kiera blinked, watched Mattieâs face come back into focus. âWhat?â

âYou look a little pale. You feelinâ okay?â

âItâs just been a long day.â The longest of my life, she thought, and forced a smile. âI appreciate your concern, but, really, Iâll be fine.â

Mattie nodded. âYouâre the last room on the left, just past the ice and vending machines. You need anything, just give me a call.â

âThanks.â

Knees shaking, Kiera turned and walked back to her car. She wasnât certain how long she sat there, dazed, staring blankly into the deep shadows of the poplars edging the motel. As a child, sheâd always been afraid of the dark, knew that ferocious monsters lived there, waiting to swallow children whole.

At twenty-five, maybe she was still a little afraid of the dark, she realized.

When she walked back into the motel office, Mattie glanced up from the TV.

Kiera closed the door behind her. âAbout that jobâ¦â

When Sam Prescott made his morning rounds through the lobby of the Four Winds Hotel, bellmen straightened their shoulders, desk clerks smiled brighter, valets hustled. The entire staff of Wolf River Countyâs largest and most luxurious hotel knew that nothing slipped past the general managerâs penetrating gaze. The white marble floors and vast expanse of glass windows had better sparkle, the chic black uniforms be crisp, the massive floral arrangements fresh.

The sharp, sculpted planes of Samâs face and the hard angle of his jaw played well with his thick, dark hair and deep brown eyes. It was a combination that made grown women sigh and young girls giggle. Even with his football playerâs chest and lean waist, Samâs six-foot-four inch frame wore Armani well.

A few lucky women knew he wore nothing at all even better.

Joseph McFearson, the Four Winds doorman, tipped his hat when Sam approached. âMorninâ, Mr. Prescott.â

âMorninâ, Joseph.â Joseph was one of the few employees whose heightâand eyesâdirectly met Samâs. âHowâs Isabel?â

âOn a rampage our boys donât call more often,â Joseph groused. âSays they got their fatherâs cold heart.â

Sam grinned. Everyone knew Joseph had a heart of gold, just as everyone knew that his wife adored him. âGive her my best.â

âWill do.â Joseph nodded, then added when Sam walked by, âCall your mother.â

I probably should, Sam thought, realizing he hadnât talked to her for a while. Maybe heâd just send flowers. Last time heâd called her, all heâd heard was, âSamuel, youâre thirty-two years old, when are you going to stop living in hotels and give me more grandchildren?â

âSoon as I meet a girl like you,â heâd say to placate her. He had no intention of changing his bachelor status any time soon, but he knew his mother needed hope, so he gave her that much.

His rounds complete, Sam stepped into a mirrored elevator, noted the quiet, instrumental version of McCartneyâs âBand On the Runâ playing overhead. He had a ten oâclock briefing with Clair, an eleven-thirty lunch meeting with the publicist for the Central Texas Cattlemenâs Association, then a two oâclock appointment with the city council and the Department of Building and Safety. The FourWinds had already outgrown its original tower, and the proposal for a second, taller tower and conference center had been submitted two weeks ago.

The elevator doors had nearly closed when a hand slipped in to stop them. Long, slim fingers, no rings, short but neat unpolished nails. Automatically, he pushed the open door button.

âSorry,â the woman muttered a bit breathlessly and stepped inside, her head down while she rummaged through a white purse.

She was taller than average, maybe five-nine, slender. Shoulder-length hair, shiny as polished coal, swept softly across her shoulders. Her suit was pale pink, the lace-edged camisole under the jacket lime-green. Sheâd turned away so he couldnât see her face.

Damn, she smelled good.

âWhat floor?â he offered, lifting a hand to the button panel.

âIâve got it.â

She started to punch a button on her side of the elevator, then pulled away when she saw it was already lit.

âSix?â Turn, he thought. Just a couple of inches this wayâ¦

She didnât. âYes, thank you.â

There was no smile in her voice. More of an I-can-handle-it-donât-bother-me polite tone.

Discreetly, he watched her in the mirrorâit was, after all, he reasoned, part of his job to notice the people in his hotel. She seemed tense. Her shoulders and back just a little too straight, the grip on her purse a little too tight. The sixth floor was all offices, which probably meant she was here for business of some sort.

He started to introduce himself when the cell phone in his jacket pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID. Clair.

The elevator doors opened smoothly and the woman hurried away. Sam stepped out, watched her walk down the hall, enjoyed the gentle sway of feminine hips and purposeful stride of long, sexy legs. When she paused at the door to Human Resources, he sighed. Too bad. If she was here for a job, his fantasy of soft black hair sliding over his naked chest was shattered.

Rule Number One: He did not date employees.

When his phone vibrated again, he flipped it open. âMorninâ, Boss.â

âYou can be boss today, Prescott. In fact, I think Iâll just give you the Four Winds and crawl back to my bed.â

Sam frowned. âWhatâs wrong?â

âI think the bug my nephews had last week decided to visit me, too,â she said weakly. âWill you ask Suz to reschedule my appointments?â

âSure.â He noticed the woman was still standing outside Human Resources, though it seemed a bit odd she had put her hand on the doorknob and not moved. âYou need soup or something sent over?â

âPlease,â she groaned, âdonât mention food. And Jacobâs home today, so if Iâoh, God, not again. Bye.â

The line clicked dead. Poor kid, Sam sympathized, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He could think of much better ways to spend a day in bed.

That thought drew his glance back down the hall. The woman was gone. He could still smell her, though. A soft, pretty fragrance that seemed to whisper in his ear.

Damn.

Heâd never even seen her face.

Heaving a sigh, he glanced at his watch and headed for his office, hesitated briefly outside of Human Resources, then kept going. Since Clair had cancelled their morning meeting, this would be a good time to get a jump on the end-of-the-month reports. At the rate the Four Winds was growing, he could barely keep up with the paperwork. He didnât have time to traipse after beautiful, mysterious women.

Halfway down the hall, he stopped.

Oh, hell, why not?

Even if she was applying for a job, she wasnât an employee yet, he figured. He turned back around and headed back for Human Resources. He might as well satisfy his curiosity while he had the chance. No harm in putting a face to that sexy body.

He stepped into the office and glanced around. Janetâs secretary was not at her desk, and the door to the inner office was closed. The waiting room was empty.

Damn. Heâd already missed her.

Slipping his hands into his pockets, Sam wandered closer to the closed door.

âI see youâve had some restaurant experience, Miss Daniels,â Sam heard Janet say. âAnything in particular?â

âHostess, waitress, bussing,â the woman replied. âSome kitchen training.â

âAre you available nights, weekends and on call?â

Sam waited for the woman to mention a husband or children, but she didnât, simply answered that she was available whenever she was needed.

âMiss Danielsââ

âPlease, call me Kiera.â

âKiera, you havenât listed any references on your application. Could you give me your last place of employment?â

âNo, Mrs. Lamott. IâIâm sorry, but I canât.â

No references? Sam lowered his brow. Janet couldnât possibly hire the woman without references.

âKiera.â Janetâs voice softened. âMy sister explained your situation to me, which is why Iâm meeting with you so quickly.â

Situation? Sam leaned closer to the door. What situation?

âI appreciate it, and I assure you, Iâm a hard worker and learn quickly.â Desperation edged the womanâs voice. âIâll work any hours you ask, do whatever you need me to do, but please just give me a chance.â

Sam narrowed his eyes and frowned. He didnât care what the woman looked like, or what her âsituationâ was. The Four Winds was not a charity. It was a business. They hired people based on qualifications, not because they said please.

Rule Number Two: Hotel policies applied equally to the entire staff.

Sam wished like hell he could see what was going on inside the office. He could hear both women speaking, but theyâd lowered their voices and he couldnât make out their words. His ear was all but touching the door when he heard Janet speak again.

âCan you start tomorrow?â

What? Sam raised his head, then stared at the door and frowned. Janet had actually hired this woman without any references at all?

âYes, of course I can start tomorrow. Thank you.â The womanâs voice trembled. âThank you so much. You wonât be sorry, I promise you.â

âGo downstairs to the lower lobby employee entrance and ask for Francine. Sheâll fit you for a uniform.â

He rarely interfered with the head of a department, but there were times it was necessary. Anything that took place here at the Four Winds was ultimately his responsibility, and that included hiring and firing. He straightened, set his jaw and prepared himself to face both women. Janet might not like it, but if he had to supersede a decision, then sheâd just have toâ

The door opened, and his mind simply went blank.

Her face was everything heâd imagined and quite a bit more. A sensuous, delicate sculpture of high cheekbones, straight nose and wide, full mouth. Smooth, sun-bronzed skin against deep, smoky-blue eyes. Eyes that considerably widened when they met his.

The faint tinge of black and blue next to one of those bewitching eyes was like a sucker punch in his gut.

âSam, I didnât know you were here.â Smiling, Janet moved to the door. âThis is Kiera Daniels. Kiera, Sam Prescott, general manager of the Four Winds.â

âMr. Prescott.â Kieraâs smile never made her eyes. âHow do you do.â

He took the hand she offered; it was as soft as it was warm. âWeâre not formal here, Kiera. Just Sam.â

âI hired Kiera for the lunch shift at Adagioâs,â Janet said. âSheâs on her way downstairs to see Francine.â

âWelcome to the FourWinds.â He realized he was still holding the womanâs hand and reluctantly let go. âIâm headed in that direction. Why donât I show you the way?â

âI wouldnât want to trouble you.â Kiera hitched her purse a little higher on her shoulder. âI can find my way.â

âIâm sure you can.â He kept his gaze steady with hers. âBut itâs no trouble at all.â

He saw the resistance in her eyes, knew she wanted to refuse his offer but, under the circumstances, couldnât. Heâd cornered her, and she countered with a lift of her chin and a nod.

Janet looked at Sam. âWas there something you needed?â

Something he needed? Oh, right. He had been lurking outside her office, hadnât he? âI want to take some stats into my lunch meeting with the Cattlemenâs Association. Iâd like to reassure them we have the staff to handle a convention their size.â

âNo problem.â Janetâs gaze shifted to Kiera and softened. âIf you have any questions, or if you need anything at all, please donât hesitate to call me.â

Sam set his back teeth. Obviously, Janet had let her heart rule her decision, not her head.

Rule Number Three: Do not get emotionally attached.

Which he wouldnât. But what he would do, at least for the moment, was trust Janetâs decision.

And keep an eye on Miss Kiera Daniels himself.

âI know how busy you must be,â Kiera said politely when he walked with her in the hallway. âI hate to trouble you.â

âNo trouble.â He pressed the elevator button, slipped his hands casually into his pantsâ pockets. âMy ten oâclock meeting was cancelled.â

Her lips pressed into a tight smile before she turned away to adjust the strap of her purse. With her attention elsewhere, he allowed himself the pleasure of drawing her scent into his lungs, held it there for a long moment.

And for reasons that had nothing to do with hotel policy, wished like hell Janet hadnât hired her.

âIn factââ he followed her onto the elevator when the doors slid open, made a decision he was certain heâd regret ââsince Iâm free for the next hour, why donât I give you a tour?â

Two

Kiera was certain she hadnât heard him right. She cleared her throat and calmly met his eyes. Dark, intense eyes, that seemed to bore straight through her. âA tour?â

âEvery person on the staff needs to know their way around the hotel.â He pushed the elevator button. âBut if you havenât the timeâ¦â

âNot at all.â Why would he do this? Sheâd worked in hotels before, knew perfectly well that the general manager didnât take new employees on a tour. She also knew perfectly well she couldnât refuse. âNow is fine.â

âGood.â

The smile he gave her made her pulse jump. Something told her that very few peopleâespecially womenâever said no to Sam Prescott. He had aâ¦presence, she thought. Not just his height, or the broad stretch of shoulders. Not even those lethal eyes, strong jaw and thick, espresso-brown hair.

No, it was much more than the way he looked. The first time sheâd stepped into the elevator with him, sheâd felt it.

Power.

The air inside the elevator had sizzled with it. Sheâd intentionally kept her gaze turned from him, even when sheâd felt the gripping pull to look. Perhaps for self-preservation, perhaps to prove to herself that she could resist. She hadnât even been able to breathe until sheâd stepped out of the elevator.

And here she was again. Same elevator. Same man. Same sizzle.

Trey had told her on more than one occasion that she was naive. When theyâd argued before sheâd left the ranch, heâd told her again. So maybe she was. But she wasnât so naive to think that Sam Prescott standing outside Mrs. Lamottâs office door was an accident. And she wasnât so naive to think that this tour he wanted to take her on was hotel policy.

She certainly hadnât done anything to attract this manâs unwanted attention. As far as he knew, she was simply a new employeeâa waitress. There was nothing about her that should warrant interest from a general manager.

Unless he suspected she wasnât being completely honestâ¦

Oh, good grief, Kiera, she silently chided herself. Youâre being paranoid. Of course he doesnât suspect anything. How could he?

This has to be the slowest elevator Iâve ever been on.

âYouâre not from around here,â he said flatly.

She hesitated, decided that the best way to avoid questions was to offer information. It might be useless information, but she hoped it would alleviate any apprehensions he might have about her. âI was born and raised in East Texas. Have you heard of a town called Rainville?â

âCanât say that I have.â

âItâs not exactly a tourist spot.â It wasnât exactly where she was from, either, though it was close. âUnless youâre interested in honey.â

âHoney?â

âRainvilleâs claim to fame.â When the elevator finally slid to a stop, she stepped forward. âThey raise bees.â

âReally.â

When he pressed the button to keep the doors closed, then leveled those piercing eyes at her, Kieraâs stomach twisted.

âWhat happened to your eye?â he asked.

Her eye? Confused, she stared at him. Oh, her eye. Sheâd forgotten about that. She released the breath sheâd been holding, waited a moment for her pulse to slow down. âI fell off a horse.â

His frown darkened. âIâm not asking to be nosy. If you have a problem that might become this hotelâs problem, I need to know.â

So thatâs what he was suspicious about, she realized. Not because he knew who she was or that she lied but because of her black eye. Relief poured through her. âEveryone has problems, Mr. Prescott,â she said evenly. âBut I assure you, whatever mine are, they will in no way affect my job or this hotel.â

He stared at her for a long, nerve-racking moment, then removed his finger from the button. âSam,â he said and straightened.

The elevator doors opened and he stepped out.

On unsteady legs, she followed.

The decor at Adagioâs Ristorante was elegant and contemporary. Crisp white linens, airy palms and high ceilings invited diners to relax, while the menu invited them to indulge. Homemade fusilli, a carpaccio sauce that made even the most hardened critic shed tears and âthe best crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e on the northern continent,â according to one reviewer, had made the restaurant legendary in the few short years it had been open.

The fragrant scent of warm spices and fresh bread mixed with the clink of tableware. The lunch crowd was always louder than dinner, and the animated voices of hotel guests and local business owners filled the softly lit room.

Sitting in a corner booth, Sam speared a bite of the steak heâd ordered, chewed attentively while Rachel Forster, publicist for the Central Texas Cattlemenâs Association, discussed her schedule.

âIâll be sending out a press release to all the local newspapers within a hundred-mile radius, and I have a photographer coming out next Tuesday,â Rachel said. âIâll have him call to set up an appointment.â

It was more information than Sam really needed, but the blonde sitting across from him, young, extremely efficient and heavily armed with pages of notes, seemed determined to go over every minute detail of the upcoming conference.

âIâd also like to write an article for The Dallas Register on the Four Winds chef. I understand heâs won the Hotelierâs Choice Award three years in a row. I thought maybe I could tie that in with some kind of a Texas beef angle.â

âChef Bartollini is on hiatus for the next six months.â Actually, heâd flown home to Italy for a family emergency, and, unfortunately, no one knew when, or if, the man would return. âChef Phillipe Girard is with us until then.â

âWould it be possible for me to meet him?â she asked.

Not a good idea, Sam thought, but simply smiled. âIâll see what I can do.â

âIâd appreciate that, and oh, I was wonderingââ she pushed her black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose and scribbled on her notepad ââIâd like to meet the new owner and get some background so I can write a story about her, as well.â

âSheâs out of the office today.â Sam doubted that Clair would consent to an interview. Even though most of the people in Wolf River knew her family history, Clair wouldnât want it printed in newspapers across the state. âWhy donât I have her secretary call you?â

When the publicist moved on to the next item on her list, transportation issues, Sam listened patiently. Well, half listened, anyway.

He glanced across the crowded restaurant to the serving station, where Kiera busily filled water glasses with ice. Francine had already fitted her with Adagioâs standard uniform: white, long-sleeved shirt and tailored black slacks. The only variation the restaurant allowed for the servers was their personal choice of tie. Kieraâs was silver, with thin stripes of white and black. Sheâd knotted her dark hair on top of her head and secured it with shiny red chopsticks. The style not only revealed her long, slender neck but gave her an exotic look, as well.

Unwanted, restless, something stirred in him.

The tour heâd taken her on had included the lobby, conference rooms, employee gym and wedding chapel. Sheâd paid attention and asked several questions regarding hotel policies but had kept a stiff, polite demeanor. In itself, that wasnât odd, he reasoned. New employees were usually nervous around him. But with Kiera, she hadnât seemed nervous as much as simply reluctant to be anywhere near him.

Especially when heâd questioned her about her eye.

I fell off a horse.

Who the hell did she think she was kidding with that line? She might as well have said sheâd walked into a doorknob, for Godâs sake. And why the hell should he believe her problems wouldnât follow her here? Because sheâd said so?

She was hiding something, that much was obvious. For now, he decided heâd simply keep an eye on her.

Which was exactly what he was doing, he thought, watching as she hefted the tray of water glasses. When she moved smoothly toward a table of noisy businessmen, the silver in her tie shimmered.

Dammit. Why the hell did he think that tie looked so damn sexy?

âWill that be possible?â

Sam realized the publicist had asked him a question, something about the banquet meals, and he snapped his attention back to her. He had no idea what the woman had said, so he flashed a smile. âIâll personally work with the catering department to see that your every need is met.â

âOhââ Flustered, Rachelâs face turned rose-pink. She fumbled through her papers. âWell, thank you. Ah, now if we could go over the local publicity Iâve planned, Iâd like to be sure it meets with your approval.â

âOf course.â With a silent sigh, Sam dragged his mind off the woman serving water several feet away and back to his job.

âHey, babe, I need two iced teas and one soda at table six, one coffee, one soda at eight, refills at ten and eleven.â

Kiera quickly memorized and filled the order, didnât bother to take the time to be annoyed that Tyler, the server sheâd been paired with her first day, had pretty much called her everything except her name. She understood there was a pecking order in every restaurant, and as the new girl she was going to have to take her share of hits. Sheâd been there before and she could handle it.

What she couldnât handle, she thought, hefting the tray of drinks, was Sam Prescott.

Heâd been watching her from that corner booth for the past hour. He hadnât been obvious about it, but, nonetheless, sheâd been very aware that heâd been keeping track of her. As if it wasnât difficult enough that this was her first day on the job and she had to not only learn the staffâs names, the layout of the restaurant and the stations, but keep her orders straight so Tyler-honey-baby-sugar-darling wouldnât be on her back.

While she smiled and dropped off the first order of two iced teas and a soda, she casually glanced in Samâs direction. He sat with a cupid-faced blonde who wore thick-framed glasses and a tailored pantsuit the color of buttered toast. They appeared to be having a serious conversation, although the woman was doing most of the talking, while Sam simply listened and nodded.

She knew he didnât trust her, and that tour heâd taken her on had been more of a fishing expedition than anything else. Even his questions hadnât been all that subtle.

Have you been in town long? Not really.

Will your husband be joining you? No.

So what brings you to Wolf River?

Sheâd wanted to say, âA car,â but managed a response that was much more vague and certainly more polite. Her answers hadnât satisfied him, but something told her that Sam Prescott was not a man who was easily satisfied.

She knew all about men like that.

His gaze suddenly lifted and met hers. The knot of stress in her stomach twisted a little tighter, but she managed to curve her lips into what she hoped looked like a smile, then moved on and finished delivering her drinks. She hadnât even dropped off the tray in her hands before Tyler thrust another one at her.

âTake these salads to table ten. One chicken barbecue and one Caesar. And hurry it up, will you, toots? Table six is waiting for more bread.â

Toots? Kiera ground her teeth, bit the inside of her lip, then turned with the tray.

And froze.

Trey?

Kiera stared at the man talking to the hostess. His back was turned to her, but it had to be Trey. Same wavy devil-black hair, same broad shoulders, same bronzed skin. That all-too familiar stance of arrogant authority.

Oh, God. She felt the blood drain from her face. How had he found her?

âMove it, sweet cheeks.â

Startled at the sudden voice behind her, Kiera swung around too quickly and knocked the tray into Tyler. To her horrorâand Tylerâsâthe food went down the front of him. The tray and salad plates crashed to the ground.

âYou idiot!â Tyler hissed under his breath while he swiped at the bits of shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes clinging to his white shirt and burgundy tie. Barbecue sauce dripped from his collar.

Every head in the restaurant turned her way, but Kiera only cared about one. She glanced back toward the hostess desk, locked her gaze with a pair of curious dark brown eyes.

Oh, thank God.

It wasnât Trey.

Even as Tyler continued to berate her, overwhelming relief swam through her. Relief that quickly dissipated when Chef Phillipe Girard stepped through the double kitchen doors.

Her first thought was he looked like a rutabaga, round at the top, narrow at the bottom. Fleshy cheeks framed an oversized nose and underscored pale, deep-set eyes. A tall, black chefâs hat sat like an exclamation point on top of a sand-colored ponytail. He had a knife in one hand and an onion in the other.

Kiera had heard about the man from a couple of the other servers. Sheâd been warned, âStay out of his way,â âDonât make him madâ and double-warned, âDonât mess with his food.â

In the span of less than thirty seconds, sheâd managed to do all three.

Based on the chefâs ominous frown, Kiera had the feeling heâd like to dice and chop more than onions. He glared down his large nose at her.

âClean this mess up immediately,â he snarled, then he turned and swept back into the kitchen.

Releasing the breath sheâd been holding, Kiera bent and picked up the tray and broken salad plates.

âYouâve done it now, miss butterfingers,â Tyler hissed, still brushing bits of green and red from his shirt. âHeâll take it out on all of us and God only knows what hell heâll putââ

âTyler, thatâs enough.â

Kiera looked up and met Samâs somber gaze. She couldnât quite read his expression, but when he shifted his attention to Tyler, Samâs mouth hardened.

âIt wasnât my fault.â Tyler pursed his lips. âI was justââ

âNever mind. Go change your shirt. Christine can cover for you until you get back.â

âYes, sir.â Tyler tossed a look of annoyance at Kiera as he flounced off.

A busboy appeared with a trash bag and hand broom. When Sam cupped a hand on her elbow, Kiera pulled away. âIâll finish here,â she said anxiously, still picking up chunks of broken plate. âI can help with those tables, too.â

âNot necessary.â Sam wrapped his fingers around her arm, tighter this time, and pulled her up. âCome with me.â

Every bone in her body, every cell, vibrated in protest. Terrific. Just what she needed. One more lecture. He released her arm and turned away. Because she didnât want to make a sceneâagainâshe followed Sam through the restaurant, down a hallway of offices, then outside to a shaded back alley.

An air conditioning motor whirred and blew hot air over her feet; in the distance, church bells chimed the three oâclock hour.

She lifted her chin, prepared herself to be fired. A perfect end to the perfect day.

âWhat happened in there?â he asked.

âI tripped.â

He frowned at her. âHas anyone ever told you that youâre a lousy liar?â

Trey, she thought. And Alexis and Alaina. But she sure as hell didnât need this man telling her. Still, common sense overrode defiance, and rather than speak she pressed her lips firmly together and stared blankly at him.

âYou didnât trip, Kiera,â he said evenly. âI was watching you. Something spooked you.â

âMaybe it was you watching me.â

He lifted an eyebrow. âDo I make you nervous?â

âItâs not unusual to be nervous when the boss is staring at you.â

âYou have an interesting way of avoiding a direct answer to a direct question.â He studied her face. âDo I make you nervous?â

Yes, dammit, she thought. But she had no intention of admitting it. She glanced over her shoulder. âI really should be getting back to work.â

âYou turned white as your blouse when you looked at Rand,â Sam replied, ignoring her comment. âDo you know him?â

âRand?â she asked calmly, but her heart skipped a beat. Sam had obviously seen her staring at the man who looked so much like Trey. âWho is Rand?â

âThere you go again.â Sighing, he shook his head. âRand Blackhawk. He moved back to Wolf River a few months ago, got married. Heâs rebuilding the family ranch outside of town.â

She gave him her best Iâm-really-not-interested expression, but her heart was beating fast. âFascinating story, but Iâve never seen him before.â

Sam moved closer. âBut he looks like someone you know, doesnât he? Someone youâre worried might find you.â

He was too close, not only in his estimation of her situation, but physically. Close enough she could see the subtle but fierce striations of deep brown in his irises, the web of lines at the corners of his eyes, the thick fringe of lashes. His scent was pure male, and the female in her reluctantly responded.

âNo one is looking for me, Mr. Prescott.â For once, she could answer a question truthfully. At least, she prayed it was true. âNow if youâre going to fire me, then fire me. Otherwise, Iâd appreciate it if youâd let me get back to work.â

He stared at her for a long moment, then stepped back. âIâll speak to the chef. I know he can be difficult.â

She knew that Chef Phillipe would only dislike her all the more if Sam said even one word to him about her. âThank you, but thatâs really not necessary.â

Somehow she managed to walk away without stumbling or without looking back. In the employee restroom, she let out a long breath, shook off her jitters, then washed her hands and returned to her station. The spill had been cleaned up and Tyler had changed into a clean shirt and tie. His surly attitude, however, remained the same. He glared at her and gestured to a pitcher of iced tea.

âRefills at ten and twelve, miss grace, if you think you can manage without spilling anything.â

Enough was enough.

Narrowing her eyes, Kiera moved in close to the server, stuck her face nose to nose with his and pressed a fingertip against his bony chest. âMy name is Kiera. Got that? Kiera. Next time you call me anything else, next time you insult me, next time you even look at me with disrespect, youâre going to be wearing more than a few scraps of lettuce and barbecue sauce.â

Smiling, she smoothed a hand over the startled serverâs clean tie, then turned and picked up the iced tea. Red-faced, Tyler moved out of her way.

So much for keeping things low key, she thought while she refilled glasses. Rand Blackhawk. She glanced at the man now sitting in a booth with a pretty redhead, then quickly looked away before she did something stupid.

Too late, she thought with a sigh, then watched Sam walk back into the restaurant.

Way too late.

Three

With the Fourth of July only two weeks away, the town of Wolf River had already tuned up to celebrate. Red-white-and-blue bunting adorned the two-story brick storefronts down Main Street, patriotic slogans welcomed tourists, posters announced an upcoming rodeo and carnival. The holiday would bring in tourists from across the country and locals as far away as Houston.

It might be a small town, but it was a busy small town.

And growing every day, Sam noted as he strolled down the sidewalk. On Main Street, the city council had carefully kept Wolf Riverâs country charm through strict building ordinances, but off the main drag they had slowly allowed the big city in. Three-story office buildings, two fast-food restaurants, a small water park, a multiplex theater and the most recent addition, a country-western dinner house with live entertainment and nightly line dancing. Sam had heard the rib-eye steaks were as thick as a phone book and tender as warm butter. He made a mental note to check it out for himself soon.

âGonna be a hot one,â Fergus Crum said dryly. The old man had been pushing a broom across the sidewalk in front of the hardware store, but he stopped and rested his arthritic hands on the broom handle when he spotted Sam coming his way.

âCome by the bar after work,â Sam said as he passed. âHave a cold one on me.â

âIâll do that.â Fergus was never one to turn down a cold beer. Or any beer, for that matter. âHow âbout some of those onion thingies, too?â

âYou got it.â

Sam nodded at a local rancher coming out of the barbershop and the man touched the brim of his cowboy hat. Even though Sam knew most of the locals, he didnât come into town very often. He had no reason to. Most everything he needed he could get at the hotel. Food, clothes, even a car. He had few personal possessions, considered them a hindrance when it was time to pick up and move on. He kept his lifeâprofessional and personalâsimple.

Exactly how he liked it.

His two-year contract with the Four Winds had been up for two months now. Clair had been pressing him to sign a new one, but heâd put her off. He figured it was about time to start putting out feelers for his next job. His entire life, heâd never lived more than three years in one place. He had no intention of breaking that record any time soon.

âHey, handsome, where you headed?â

Sam smiled when Olivia Cameron pulled her sleek red Camaro up to the curb alongside him. The stunning redhead owned Vintage Rose, one of the antique stores in Wolf River and sheâd also done the interior design on the lobby in the Four Winds.

He leaned into her open car window and gave her a kiss on the cheek. âOn my way to the courthouse, gorgeous.â

Her green eyes sparkled. âYou finally going to apply for our marriage license?â

âJust say the word, Liv.â Theyâd gone out on a couple of dates, but the chemistry hadnât quite been there between them, so theyâd settled into a more comfortable, flirtatious friendship. âWe could buy one of those tract homes theyâre building in Oak Meadows. Have a half dozen kids and join the PTA.â

Olivia winced. âIâll get back to you one of these decades. Want a ride?â

He straightened and patted his stomach. âWalk will do me good.â

âAs if you need it. Every woman in this town knows you work out from five to six-thirty every morning in the Four Winds gym.â Olivia gunned her engine. âWhy do you think there are so many females in there at that ungodly hour?â

With a wink, Olivia shot away from the curb.

Grinning, Sam watched her disappear around the corner, wished there had been chemistry between them. Like him, the woman wasnât looking for a commitment or a picket fence. They could have simply enjoyed each other, without worrying about the theatrics or complications of a messy breakup. Olivia could have been an enjoyable distraction.

And Lord knew, right now he certainly needed one.

Heâd spent the past three days watching Kiera. Watched her effortlessly memorize the menu and wine list. Watched her skillfully serve a heavy tray of dishes without fumbling or getting an order wrong. Watched her astutely make recommendations, then offer suggestions for a complimentary wine. Already, she not only had people asking for her station but actually waiting for her.

Heâd never seen anything like it.

Butâto his annoyanceâhe hadnât just been watching her. Heâd also been thinking about her.

At the most unexpected times, heâd suddenly find himself wondering what the womanâs story was, who or what she was running away from. If she was in some kind of danger.

The bruise next to her eye had nearly disappeared, but he couldnât get the image out of his mind. Couldnât stop the raw fury that knotted his gut every time he thought about it. The idea of some man raising his fist andâ

Realizing he had balled his own hand into a tight fist, he stopped in front of the barbershop, stared at the swirling red-white-and-blue pole. He loosened his fingers, then shook off the anger bubbling through his blood. Dammit! A walk through town on his day off should have cleared his mind and relaxed him, and here he was, barreling down the sidewalk as if he were looking for a fight.

Maybe I am, he thought with a sigh. Lord knew the woman had frustrated him enough. It was obvious she had a problem, obvious that sheâd been scared to death when sheâd looked at Rand Blackhawk. Obvious she was lying about something. When heâd asked her if Rand looked like someone she knew, the answer in those smoky blue eyes of hers had obviously been yes.

And obviously, she hadnât wanted his help.

So fine. Why should that bother him?

He waited for a truck to pass, then crossed the street leading to the courthouse. As long as her problem didnât become the hotelâs, then heâd keep his nose out of her mess. Lord knew heâd already given Kiera Daniels way too much time and thought. He was a busy man. With the upcoming conferences and events, not to mention the impending construction on the hotel, his focus needed to be on his job, not a pretty waitress.

And then suddenly that pretty waitress was walking out of the glass courthouse doors.

Surprised, he stopped beside a hedge of white blooming roses. Good God, he thought with annoyance. He couldnât even get away from her here.

Head bent, loose-limbed, she moved down the courthouse steps, her eyes focused on a piece of paper in her hand. She wore denim as if it had been invented just for those endlessly long legs of hers. Her jeans, low on her hips and snug, were faded in all the places a man liked to look. And touch. Her white tank top dipped demurely across her collarbone and hugged her breasts, then rose just high enough from her hips to show the barest hint of smooth, flat stomach.

A drought settled in his throat.

It took a will of iron to drag his gaze upward from that enticing glimpse of skin. A frown drew the delicate line of her eyebrows together and settled into a somber line across her mouth. Her hair flowed like a black river down her shoulders. The sun glinted off the dark strands.

For a split second, he didnât even know where he was.

He blinked hard, watched her fold the piece of paper and shove it into a black tote bag as she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

He argued with himself, lost, waited a full twenty seconds, then followed her.

The mouth-watering scent of grilling hamburgers drew Kiera toward the coffee shop on the corner. The exterior of the restaurant, shiny chrome, sleek lines and wraparound windows reminded her of the â57 Chevy that Mr. Mackelroy, her high school principal, used to drive. Even the color was the same, she thought. Sorbet-blue.

When she stepped inside, life-size cardboard cut-outs of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe greeted her with a sign that said Welcome To Pappa Peteâs. Kiera closed the door behind her, barely heard the jangling of the bells over the drumming of a Beach Boys song playing on an overhead speaker and the lively conversations from the lunch crowd. Locals, Kiera thought, noting the mix of families, town workers and ranch hands.

A tall, thick-boned, platinum blonde carrying four plates of burgers on one arm and two plates of French fries on the other bustled by Kiera. âSet yerself down anywhere you like, honey. Something to drink?â

Kiera smiled. âLemonade, please.â

âHey, Madge, what about me?â A slumped-back cowboy sitting at a counter stool held up his coffee cup. âIâm still waiting for a refill.â

âYouâre still waitinâ for brains, too,â Madge shot back. âEveryone knows you were in the basement when they got handed out.â

âYeah, well, everyone knows you were at the front door when tongues got handed out,â the cowboy quipped, which brought a round of laughter from the patrons.

âLeast I got something in my skull that works.â Madge plunked the fries down on a table. âIf your thinker was a mattress, an antâs feet would stick off the sides.â

âThatâs not all I heard was ant size,â someone in the front hollered, setting off a fresh round of laughter and a volley of replies. Red-faced, the cowboy got up, snatched a coffeepot from behind the counter and served himself.

While the wisecracks continued to fly, Kiera sat down at a Formica-topped table next to a window in the back. A teenage boy who hadnât quite grown into his long legs and arms set a glass of pink lemonade in front of her. She smiled and thanked the busboy, who turned beet-red, then turned and stumbled over his own big feet. One of the ranchers teased the boy, which set in motion a new volley of quips.

If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine she was in her own hometown, sitting in the Bronco Cafe, adding her own two cents to the banter and good-natured fun. Even the smell was the same. Burgers, grease and pressed wood paneling. A good smell, she thought. Familiar. Comfortable. Since graduating college, then working her fanny off at restaurants across the country, she could probably count on one hand the times sheâd even been back to the Bronco in the past six years.

Living in a small town could be difficult, she knew. The gossip, the politics, certainly the lack of privacy, all of it was a major pain in the butt. The closest city with a mall had been three hours away, the only theater showed movies two months old and the few dates she had been on had felt more like going out with a best friend or a brother.

But the camaraderie, knowing that there were always people who would pull together and help if you needed them, people who really gave a damn, was worth not only the isolation sheâd often felt at Stone Ridge Ranch, but the aggravation of everyone knowing her familyâs business.

And now the question was, did everyone know?

She certainly hadnât.

With a sigh, she pulled the piece of paper out of her bag and spread it on the table in front of her, stared at the obituary, felt every word etch into her brain like acid.

William Blackhawkâ¦local rancher, businessman and community leaderâ¦died in a small plane crashâ¦survived by his son, Dillon Blackhawkâ¦services to be held Thursday at Wolf River Community Churchâ¦

That was two years ago.

Two years.

She closed her eyes against the fresh wave of pain coursing through her. If sheâd known then what she knew now, what would she have done?

She honestly didnât know.

âMind if I join you?â

Jolted out of her thoughts by the question, the terse âyesâ on the edge of her tongue nearly slipped out. Her pulse jumped when she looked up.

Sam.

She prayed her hands werenât visibly shaking as she folded the piece of paper and slipped it back into her bag. Despite the fact that she would have preferred to be alone at the moment, she couldnât very well tell her boss to take a hike.

And since he had already slid into the booth across from her, he really hadnât given her much of a choice, anyway.

When she glanced around the room, several curious eyes quickly looked away. Terrific. No one in the diner knew who she was, but everyone in the place surely knew who Sam Prescott was. Before the day was over, Kiera had no doubt that rumors of the Four Winds general manager having an afternoon rendezvous with an unknown woman would be burning up the phone lines.

Sam followed her gaze. âYou expecting someone?â

âNo.â She looked back at him, took in the street clothes he wore. Sheâd thought him handsome in a suit. Confident. Absolutely unwavering and completely sure of himself. But it had nothing to do with clothes, she realized, taking in the stretch of black T-shirt across his broad shoulders and muscled arms. Apparently, the rumors sheâd heard about him working out in the gym every morning were true. âI was just running errands and stopped in for something to eat.â

âYou picked the right place.â He leaned in close and whispered, âBest hamburger in town, though if you tell anyone I said so, Iâll deny it.â

The smile on his mouth disarmed her, had her whispering back, âI think I can manage to keep a secret.â

âYeah.â He studied her for a moment. âI think you can.â

She stilled at his comment, arched an eyebrow and settled back in her chair. âYou sure you arenât here for fish, Mr. Prescott?â

Smiling, he settled back in his chair, as well.

An unseen cook in the kitchen dinged three times on a bell to signal an order was up.

Round one, Kiera thought absently.

âSo howâs it going?â Sam asked.

âI assume youâre referring to my job.â

âOf course.â

She picked up her lemonade, sipped. âWhy donât you tell me?â

âOkay.â He folded his hands on the table and straightened his shoulders. âYour ratio of tables to gross and time are in the ninetieth percentile and an initial review of customer comments is exceptional.â

In spite of the deep, official tone of his voice, Kiera saw the glint of a rogue in Samâs eyes. âSounds like I should ask for a raise.â

âIâm afraid that request would be denied. Youâve had two complaints filed against you.â

âWhat!â Lemonade sloshed over the rim of her glass and ran down the front of her tank top; a sliver of ice slid under the cotton neckline and into her bra. Frowning, she grabbed a napkin.

He signaled for the busboy. âTyler says youâre difficult to work with.â

Tylerâs an ass, she nearly said, but managed to bite her tongue. Sheâd worked with jerks like him before. He was a good waiter, but he kissed up to the manager and chef, patronized the rest of the staff and gossiped worse than a tabloid columnist.

She had nothing to gain by defending herself or acknowledging the waiterâs complaint had even the tiniest bit of merit. Nor did she have anything to gain by retaliating. Sooner or later, Tyler would have to face retribution.

Too bad she wouldnât be around to see it.

âHey, Mr. Prescott.â The busboy appeared beside the table. âYou want coffee orââ

Sam watched the dazed expression fall over the teenagerâs face when his eyes dropped to the front of Kieraâs damp tank top. The boyâs jaw went slack.

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