Honey Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #2) by Verna Clay Page A

shielded from
voyeurs."
    "Okay, give me a few minutes to retrieve
it."
    "I'll be waiting."
    Five minutes later Jackson punched the number
Alligator had given him a couple years back, saying it was private and asking
him to store it away. Jackson knew his friend worked for the government and
since he was always so hush hush about his work, he figured it had to be with
the FBI, CIA, or something of that sort.
    Alligator picked up. "Okay, buddy, tell me
what's up."
    "Like I said, I've been robbed."
    "How much?"
    "Fifty thousand."
    Alligator whistled. "When did it
happen?"
    "Eight days ago. I've been to the bank and
they said the transaction originated from my own computer. They're doing their
own investigation. Before I make a stink, I want to see what they come up with.
I know you have inside contacts so maybe you can give me some advice."
    "Tell me exactly what happened."
    Jackson detailed everything he knew. "Annie
said no one came to the house that day. I guess people can figure this stuff
out from a remote site," he finished.
    "Er…Jackson, I think you need to sit down
for this."
    "What? Tell me what's on your mind."
    "I know you have feelings for Annie–"
    "What the hell does that have to do with
anything?"
    "Let me finish."
    "Okay. Okay."
    "When I came to visit and you introduced me
to Annie or Ann Hackstetter, the name seemed familiar. After I got back to New
York, I pulled some files. I could only get the basics because my clearance
isn't high enough…but it was enough to find out what I suspected. Anyway, are
you sitting down?"
    "Shit, Alligator. I'm sitting down. Spit it
out."
    "Ann Hackstetter goes by the handle,
'Hack'. She's a genius at hacking computers. She was a member of an elite
organization called HFH, which stands for Hackers from Hell. You don't
join that organization unless you're invited…and you have to be the cream of
the crop to be invited. It's her. I saw her picture."
     The cell phone went silent.
    "Are you still there, Jackson?"
    Silence.
    "Do I need to call the paramedics?"
    Jackson croaked, "You're bullshitin' me,
right?"
    "Wish I were."
    "How long have you known this?"
    "I finished my investigation about a week
ago."
    "Were you ever going to tell me?"
    "Yeah, I was just waiting for the right
time."
    "Looks like you found it."
    "Yeah. I'm sorry. I'll alert my
supervisors. They'll probably have someone from the Denver office pick her up
for questioning."
    "No! Don't alert anyone yet."
    "What! You've just been ripped off of fifty
G's and you've got a notorious hacker living under your roof who can steal with
her eyes closed, and you don't want to do anything? Are you sleeping with
her?"
    "No! I just need time to think. Promise me
you'll keep quiet until I give you the go ahead."
    "You are one love sick puppy. Okay, my lips
are sealed for now. Of course, that puts my job on the line if anyone finds out
I'm withholding info."
    "I don't know what to say, except
thanks."
    "I'll expect a call every couple days so I
know what's going on."
    "I understand. I'll talk to you soon."
Jackson terminated the call and ran a hand through his hair. What the hell
am I going to do?
     

Chapter 14:  Mud Madness
     
    Ann glanced at the ominous sky. Swirling clouds
released droplets that splattered her forehead as she rushed from her cottage
to the main house. She'd forgotten the bag of snacks she'd promised Spike. Maybe
she could grab them before the rain came down full force.
    A thunderbolt ripped the clouds open when she
unlatched the gate and sprinted toward the back door. Hurrying through the mud
room, she pushed the laundry door open and grabbed the kitty snacks. As an
afterthought, she decided to check the refrigerator for eggs to see if she
needed to bring a carton from her cottage in the morning. She entered the
kitchen and stopped dead.
    Jackson, bare-footed, naked to the waist, and leaning
against the island, gave her a startled look. His belt was gone and his Levis
road low on his hips. Standing beside