Luke: Armed and Dangerous (7 page)

Her dress pulled against her breasts as she stretched her hand toward where the duffel
rested on the floorboard, and one nipple popped free. It felt cool and erotic rubbing
over the leather seat of the Mustang as she reached for her bag. Her thong slid into
her folds, pressing harder against her.

Maybe what she needed was a good orgasm. It had been at least a couple of weeks or
longer since she’d had sex with Race. He’d been tired from work one week, and the
next had been an inconvenient time of the month for her, and then she’d left for the
States a few days ago.

Then came an image of Luke, his big body spreading her thighs before he thrust hard
and deep inside of her...

Trinity leaned forward and banged her forehead against the steering wheel. And then
again.

It didn’t work. The big, tall cowboy just wouldn’t get out of her mind.

“Yeah, I figure Joyce Butler knows Guerrero pretty well.” Noah Ralston punched off
his cell phone and stuffed it into his back pocket. He glanced around the main floor’s
sunroom, as if he was checking for anyone who might be listening. “And yeah, that’s
why I’m here with her, to see what she might share with me, for old time’s sake.”

Luke nodded and scuffed one boot heel against the hardwood floor. “At least that makes
sense. Once I met her—well, she just didn’t seem like your type.”

“Back in the day, Joyce wasn’t all bad. Mean as hell, insecure, but she had her reasons.”
Ralston’s eyes got a little unfocused. “We used to be friends, Joyce and me. It was
never more than that, even though she tried. I’ve just been thinking lately, seems
like the lady could use a friend again.”

Luke took a slow breath, sorting that statement out the best he could. The whole space
smelled like a mixture of Christmas and chlorine from the hot tub under the sun roof
and the decorated tree where Ralston was standing. Ralston didn’t seem inclined to
say much more about Joyce Butler, but Luke assumed the man wouldn’t hold back anything
essential.

Luke jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Butler had a few words with Nevaeh a few
minutes ago, after Butler insulted Trinity MacKenna.”

The corner of Ralston’s mouth quirked. “If I know Nev, I’d say she probably came out
on top of any cat fight.”

Luke grinned. “Would’ve laid into the b—, er, woman, if not for a little restraining
on my part.”

Raising an eyebrow, Ralston said, “I take it Joyce’s gone.”

“Just left the party. Guerrero tried to calm her down, too, but she wasn’t having
any of it.”

“Good thing we drove separate vehicles.” Noah sighed and shook his head. “She always
did have a hell of a temper, but she came by it honest. Her mother was a flat-out
spitfire before she died, and her dad—crooked politician, no time for the girl, except
to run her into the ground.”

“Is that why she took up with Guerrero? Some sort of daddy-payback thing?” With a
wry smile, Luke added, “Sorry to interrogate you, but after I sided with Nevaeh in
the fight, it’s not likely I’ll get anything out of Ms. Butler.”

“I’d say that depends on what you’re willing to give her in return.” The CBP agent
folded his arms across his chest.

“No thanks.” Luke shook his head. “That one’s definitely not my speed, either. Butler’s
full-throttle, damn the curves, and I’m thinking she doesn’t much care what she drives.”

Ralston’s sigh said a lot. “It’s sad, but that’s how Joyce operates. The lady doesn’t
like spending nights alone.”

Luke waited and watched Ralston shift through different emotions. The man’s face finally
settled into an expression that told Luke his loyalty to law enforcement was winning
out over old friendships.

“To answer your question, no. I don’t think Joyce planned to use Guerrero to jab at
her father. I think she just wanted his company, his attention—but I get the feeling
she got into something. Something way over her head. I think she’s scared of the bastard
now, but she won’t admit it to me.” Ralston’s color darkened. “Even if she did admit
that, I’m not sure she’d tell me why.”

Luke took this in and waited some more, because gut instinct told him Ralston had
a little bit more to say.

Ralston’s frown turned deep and Luke got his first glimpse of a side of the man that
wasn’t laid-back at all. “I’ve got reason to believe Joyce knows a little about how
Guerrero’s getting his goods across the line—that she may have been helping him round
up UDAs to use as mules. If he even needs mules.” Ralston gestured to the door of
the sunroom. “Hell, Joyce’s family owns half the borderland in these parts. Guerrero
could have tunnels on one of those properties.”

Hooking his thumbs in his Wranglers, Luke rocked back on his heels. “Joyce Butler
would have agreed to something like that?”

“Not if she had a choice—she’s not stupid.” Noah raked his fingers through his dark
hair and grimaced. “But since Guerrero showed up, women I’ve known for years have
left, or changed, or gone squirrely like Joyce. I wish I could figure that bastard’s
angle. I don’t know how he gets them on his hook, or how he keeps them—but I know
one thing for sure. Francisco Guerrero doesn’t seem to give women many choices at
all.”

Gina Garcia, the pretty blond doing all she could to give her kid a good start in
the world, drifted by the sunroom, looking as lost and frightened as a woman could
look. Luke studied her wide eyes, her pale face, and the way she seemed cut off from
anything safe and comfortable. “Yeah,” he said to Ralston. “I’m beginning to get that
impression.”

The knot in Trinity’s belly grew tighter as she drove closer to the Flying M Ranch.
She’d changed out of the wild made-for-Nevaeh- and-not-Trinity outfit, and into a
pair of worn Levi’s, a royal blue scoop-necked T-shirt, thick socks, and Nikes. She’d
even taken a moment to tone down the blush on her cheeks with a tissue. Didn’t have
to worry about the lipstick—Luke had eaten that off.

Shivers skated along Trinity’s skin at the mere thought. Cripes— when would she be
able to push that kiss and that man to the back of her mind?

She guided the Mustang onto the dirt road leading to the MacKenna ranch. It’d been
over four years since she’d been home. Four years since she’d stormed out and told
Skylar she didn’t care if she ever saw her again.

It had taken Trinity a long time to realize that Skylar had done the best job she
could in raising Trinity. Sure, there were only a few years between the two of them,
but Skylar had been there for everything when their mother died and their father drew
away from them.

In Trinity’s immaturity, she had seen only that Skylar had what she didn’t—beauty,
talent, intelligence... But one day, long after she’d established herself with Wildgames
in Europe, it had hit Trinity that she did have all that Skylar did, she had just
needed to recognize her own self-worth. Skylar had tried to tell her that time after
time, but Trinity had let envy—jealousy—cloud their relationship.

Eventually, when Trinity had moved to England, she’d sent Skylar a letter, chatty
and friendly, trying to reestablish their relationship. Skylar had been warm and receptive,
just as always.

That had been a couple of years ago, and now, Trinity had come home. It really was
time to make amends. To say the things she should have said long ago.

And to finally bury the old, insecure part of herself she should have laid to rest
with her troubled childhood.

Meaty MacKenna...

Countless memories unraveled in Trinity’s mind as the Mustang’s wheels rattled over
the cattle guard. She slowed the car down as she drove toward the house.

Toward her home.

She’d spent her entire life at the Flying M, up until her two years at the university
and then the last four years in Europe. She’d practiced calf roping and barrel racing
in those corrals to the northeast of the ranch house. Despite darkness shrouding the
ranch she could easily make out the split-rail fencing and the water trough made from
a fifty-gallon steel drum.

And over there, in that huge old barn, was where they kept Dancer, Trinity’s mare.
Farther out back she could even see the bunkhouse where most of the ranch hands lived,
and she smiled. When she was growing up on the ranch, she’d certainly had her fair
share of crushes on hot cowboys.

At the thought of cowboys, one particularly tall and good-looking one came immediately
to mind. Amazing—she’d finally been able to forget Luke Rider for all of what, three
minutes?

As she brought the Mustang to a halt in front of the house and switched off the ignition,
the knot in her belly rose into her chest, making even breathing difficult. Why was
she so anxious about getting together with her sister after all this time? Maybe it
was the combination of seeing Skylar, and what had happened earlier with Luke.

After she took a couple of deep breaths, Trinity climbed out of the car and slammed
the door behind her. A dog barked from inside the house and the tawny glow of lights
spilled through the kitchen’s curtains.

She paused for a moment to look up at the now almost clear star-spattered sky. Wow.
She’d missed the sight of all those stars. It was so dark out here in the middle of
nowhere that stars were far more plentiful and brilliant, and the Milky Way was like
white cotton candy spun across the universe.

Dirt and rocks crunched under her shoes as she made herself walk toward the house.
Rain-fresh desert air filled her senses, along with the instantly familiar ranch smells
of cattle and horses. The weeping willows and oaks had sure grown in the past four
years.

Wooden stairs squeaked as she jogged up them to the plant- crowded porch, thick enough
that it looked like a small jungle.

A porch light flicked on as Trinity reached the front door, and she blinked away the
sudden brightness. The rattle of the doorknob caused the knots in her belly and chest
to double. Then triple.

The door swung open, but Trinity couldn’t make out the shadowed figure in the entrance,
until the person stepped onto the porch.

Skylar.
She hadn’t changed much in four years—if anything she was more beautiful than ever.
Her auburn hair flowed around her shoulders, her skin as flawless and perfect as it
had always been.

Only she seemed happy. Happier than Trinity remembered ever seeing her.

“Yes?” Skylar cocked her head, a puzzled smile on her pretty face. “Can I—” Her jaw
dropped and her eyes widened. “Trinity?”

Trinity gave her sister a little smile, pleased that Skylar had remembered to use
that name and not Madeline. “Hey, Skylar.”

“You
brat!
” In the next moment Skylar had her arms wrapped around Trinity, hugging her so tight
that the air whooshed out of her lungs. Skylar still smelled of orange blossoms, and
her embrace was warm and loving. “I missed you so much, knothead,” Skylar whispered,
her voice choked with emotion.

Trinity pulled away and smiled, swallowing hard and fighting back tears that she’d
never expected. “I missed you, too, string bean. I didn’t realize just how much till
now.”

“You look so—so different.” Skylar shook her head as she held Trinity by the shoulders
and looked her up and down. “I thought you had to be someone who’d gotten lost or
something. Until I saw your eyes. You have Mom’s eyes, you know.”

A dog barked as though in agreement, and Trinity reached down to pet the black-and-white
Border Collie. “That’s Blue,” Skylar said as Trinity rubbed the dog behind his ears.

“What a gorgeous boy you are,” Trinity crooned.

“Think you might like to let her in out of the cold, Sky?” a masculine voice asked.
Only one man had ever called Skylar “Sky.” Trinity’s gaze shot up to see Zack Hunter
standing just behind Skylar.

“Zack?” was all Trinity could manage as she stood straight and looked at the man who
had once been her sister’s boyfriend— about ten years ago.

“I was saving this as a surprise, for the next time we talked.” Skylar grinned up
at Zack before looking back to Trinity. “Come on in and say hello to my husband.”

“Your husband?” Trinity stumbled across the threshold as she followed Skylar, Zack,
and Blue into the ranch house, and let the door swing shut behind her. “You’re married?”

“Almost two months.” Skylar held up her left hand, the marquis stone in her wedding
band glittering in the light. To each side of the diamond a peridot was set in the
gold band. “It happened too fast to send out invitations and do all the formalities.”

“Wow.” Trinity sighed with admiration at the ring. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Welcome home.” Zack settled his arm around Trinity’s shoulders and gave her a quick
squeeze. “Sky, why don’t I leave you ladies to catch up while I head to the study?”
he said as he released her.

“To watch the end of the football game no doubt.” Skylar grabbed him by his shirt
collar and reached up to brush her lips over his.

“Watch it, woman.” Zack’s voice rumbled as he wrapped his arms around Skylar’s waist.
“I might just throw you over my shoulder and cart you off to the bedroom, reunion
with your sister be damned.”

“Mmmm,” Skylar murmured against his lips. “Promises.”

Zack gave Skylar a smoldering look that reminded Trinity of the way Luke had looked
at her earlier. Hot, sensual, and possessive. The kind of look that curled a woman’s
toes.

I’ve. Got. To. Stop.

No more. No more about Luke.

Zack gave Skylar a hard kiss and then winked at Trinity before walking past the enormous
Christmas tree and striding down the hall toward the study.

For a moment Trinity had to stand and absorb the living room of the place that had
been her home since her birth until she left for Europe. There had been some changes
in the past four years. Lots more house plants filled the room that was decorated
in a Southwestern motif. Navajo rugs were scattered across the tile floor and the
walls were covered with a combination of Southwestern oil paintings and family portraits.
Skylar still had all the pictures of Trinity and other members of the family on the
end tables, as well as lots of new ones that she’d have to spend time looking at later.