Read Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite) Online
Authors: Larie Brannick
Tags: #horses, #obsessed psychopathic killer, #Colorado high desert, #Romantic Suspense, #veterinarian, #contemporary romance
Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite) (20 page)
Taking her hands, he told her about the security tape and how they figured out Monty and Philip were the same person. Then he wrapped his arms around her again and whispered against her hair, “I was so scared. When I saw him drag you into his car, I didn’t know if you were alive.” His voice grew thick. “I couldn’t stand the thought that I might have lost you after waiting my whole life to find you.” He shifted and pressed a warm kiss to her mouth. “That’s when everything became clear to me, Meg. The only thing that mattered was getting to the woman I love.”
Meg swallowed and stared back. “Love?”
He dipped his head again and kissed her. He slowly ate at her mouth, and when he pressed his tongue against her lips, she opened and invited him inside. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, tilting her head slightly so he could thrust his tongue deeper. She met him stroke for stroke with her own and was breathless when their lips finally parted. Jake caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“Yes. Love. I love you, Meg. I want to be with you. Wake up with you every morning and make love to you every night.” He searched her eyes, a wide grin breaking across his face when he saw them sparkle back at him.
“I love you too, Jake.”
Jake let out the breath he’d been holding and swooped her up in another embrace. His hold loosened when Alex slapped him on the shoulder.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’re about done here. Can I give you a lift anywhere?”
Jake kept his hold on Meg and nodded. “I left my truck at the other gate. You can drop us off there.”
Epilogue
Six months later…
Meg was putting the finishing touches on the small lab she’d had built at Dolly’s Draw. With pride, she looked around at the tables filled with rock polishers and saws, microscopes and display trays. It was almost ready for the first group of students she was bringing out for a field trip next week, and she was nearly bursting with excitement to finally see another one of her dreams coming true.
She had decided not to build a house here now that she and Jake were married, but wanted a place for her students to come and study. All the exploration that Philip had started was ended. She wanted to keep the land unspoiled. Even though her cousin had intended to kill her in order to claim her inheritance, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. What would his life have been like if he’d had a loving family to raise him? His ‘investor’ had neatly disappeared after being questioned about his involvement in her cousin’s scheme, and Philip was awaiting trial for kidnapping and attempted murder.
The BLM had agreed to work with them to get an adoption program started for the wild mustangs, and Jake had managed to coax the Bay stallion he’d been watching when they first met into taking treats out of his hand.
Meg didn’t think life could get any better.
Jake brought the last of the boxes in and deposited them in one corner. He came up behind her and snuggled up against her, nuzzling her hair and inhaling deeply. He nipped at her neck and sucked lightly, making her tremble when he whispered in her ear, “I’ve finished all my homework teacher. Can we play now?”
Laughing, she turned in his arms. “You have been a very good boy for helping me so much. There is one other thing I’d like you to do for me, though.”
“Only one?”
She slapped at his chest. “Remember the cave I told you about? The one I used to play in when I was little?” Jake nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I’d like to take the kids there on the field trip, but I want to check it out first. There’s still a part of it I’ve never been in because I’m too chicken to do it alone. Would you go with me?”
“A chance to be with you all alone in the dark? What are we waiting for?”
Meg didn’t waste time grabbing flashlights and pulled Jake along behind her as they made their way up the hillside. Crawling inside, they switched on the flashlights.
Jake whistled. “This is awesome. It looks like we’re surrounded by stars.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? I love it in here.” She showed him around, and he peeked into the smaller rooms then she took his hand and led him to the opening at the back of the cave.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “You want to go in there?”
Meg nodded. “My grandfather told me it was too dangerous for me to go poking around all by myself when I was a kid. But now I’m not alone, and I’m all grown up.”
Jake put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. “You’re definitely all grown up. You sure there’s nothing else you’d rather do?”
She gave him a wicked smile. “Later. Come on.”
She aimed the flashlight into the crevice, and Jake squeezed through with Meg behind him. They crept through a narrow passage about five feet long and entered another larger cavern.
The walls sparkled as they shined the lights around, but Meg noticed something at the base of one and stepped toward it. It was a small, wooden crate similar to the ones she’d seen her grandfather use to store his supplies in. She knelt in front of it and carefully lifted the lid. Jake was on his knees beside her, and they both pointed their lights inside. There were some old rags covering a smaller box, and Meg tried to lift it out, but it was surprisingly heavy. Jake lifted it out and set it on the ground. He opened the top, and Meg gasped as what she saw. Gold. The box was filled with gold nuggets that ranged from pea-size to larger ones about an inch in diameter.
Noticing an envelope lying in the bottom of the crate, Jake took it out and handed it to Meg. She took it and carefully ran her fingers across the lettering on the front. ‘
Dolly
’. With trembling hands she opened the envelope and pulled out the single sheet of paper inside.
Megan,
You know you’ve always been the light of my life, and I want to give you back a small bit of the sparkle you’ve given me. I’ve found these nuggets while wandering around the hills over the years, and I’ve been saving them for you.
You are my real treasure, Dolly. You’ve brought more richness to my life than any amount of gold ever could. Take this now and go live your life. I know you’ll find your own treasure, too.
Love,
Grandpa
Meg’s eyes misted over, and she clutched the letter to her chest.
Jake pulled her close and pressed kisses to her hair. “He loved you so much.”
Meg nodded. “I loved him, too. I loved both of them. They gave me so much, and it makes me happy to know that I gave them something, too.” Jake tilted her head up and kissed her gently.
“And now you found your treasure.”
Unable to hold back tears of happiness, Meg wrapped her arms around his neck. “I found my treasure already, in you.
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Acknowledgments
Writing this book has been an adventure unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. So many people are involved in something that started out as a solitary endeavor.
I would like to thank my friends and fellow writers at Colorado Romance Writers. Your encouragement and support have meant the world to me. CRW is an amazing group, and I appreciate all of you.
Thank you to David Waite from the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office for explaining how probate law works and answering my questions about the juvenile system. Your help was invaluable to me, and any mistakes in this work are my own.
I have to thank my sister for forging the trail into “Authordom”. You took the plunge into writing and gave me the courage to follow my dream. We did it, Sissy Fin!
Thank you to my husband and sons for putting up with a cluttered house, dirty dishes, and nights of cold cereal for dinner when I couldn’t tear myself away from writing this book. You’ve always had my back, and I love you guys.
J
And a huge thank you to one of my very favorite people, Jen Maitlen, who just happens to be a damned good writer. Love ya. Couldn’t have done it without you!
About the Author
Larie Brannick is a country girl, born and bred. She and her husband live in a small town in the Colorado mountains. When not writing, researching, or thinking about romance, she works for two busy orthopaedic surgeons.
Brannick has two grown sons and is still getting used to the idea of not having kids at home. So far empty-nesting is everything she and her husband hoped it would be!
Her Desert Treasure
is Brannick’s first book.
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