Soul Deep by Pamela Clare Page A

He stopped to
take a drink of water. “I already had Chuck make up a list of the
dozen men who went with me. I faxed it to the detective this
afternoon.”
    So he’d already been thinking along those
lines.
    Smart man.
    The conversation drifted from the shooting to
working out and then to music. By the time they were finished, she
was sweaty, and her arms felt like linguine, endorphins humming
through her veins, where they collided with a healthy dose of
pheromones.
    “That’s the second thing you’ve done today
that you haven’t done in a while. How did it feel?” He turned off
the iPod, the room going silent.
    “It felt terrific.” She wanted so badly to
kiss him.
    No, kissing wouldn’t be enough. She wanted to
rip his clothes off and make good use of the weight bench. Then she
remembered why she couldn’t have sex with him, or why it would be
very awkward and possibly mortifyingly embarrassing if she tried,
and her good mood plummeted.
    “I should shower,” she said.
    Then she turned and walked back to her
room.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Jack showered and dressed, then called Nate
to give him an update.
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to come home?
They’ve reopened the highway. Megan and Emily can last a few days
here without me. She’s got her brother and his posse nearby if she
needs anything.”
    “No, son, there’s no need for you to head up
the canyon. Sheriff Rove seems to have it all in hand.”
    “Sheriff Rove is an idiot, and you know it.
That man is so fat and lazy he probably hasn’t seen his own dick in
twenty years.”
    That was true enough.
    “His detective sergeant, a young man by the
name of Taylor, seems to know what he’s doing. He came and
photographed the whole thing and interviewed all the men
yesterday.”
    “I think I should be there.”
    Jack hadn’t wanted to come out with this, but
he could see he didn’t have a choice. “Truth is, son, I’ve got
company, and the privacy has been good.”
    A long pause.
    “Are you entertaining a lady friend, old
man?”
    Nate had never been stupid.
    “As a matter of fact, I am. Do you remember
Janet Killeen?”
    “Isn’t she that pretty FBI agent you tossed
off the property last winter?”
    Had it really been that bad?
    “She was on her way up to the Forest Creek
Inn in Scarlet when she went off the road about a mile from the
turnoff to the high pasture. She spent almost twenty-four hours in
her car. CDOT had all but buried it by the time I found her. I
brought her here, and we’re having a good time.”
    “I see.” The tone of Nate’s voice left no
doubt as to what exactly he thought Jack meant by “good time.”
    “Not that kind of good time.” Not yet,
anyway, but Jack wasn’t in a hurry.
    “She was badly wounded, wasn’t she? I heard
she might not walk again.”
    “She is walking, though she uses a cane.
Being here with the horses has been good for her.” He didn’t share
with Nate the fact that Janet was suffering from nightmares. That
was her personal business.
    “It’s just the horses that are good
for her?”
    Smart ass.
    “She grew up on a farm, and today we got her
up on Buckwheat. It was the first time she’d ridden since being
shot. She’s a good rider and has a natural touch with horses, even
Chinook.”
    “I’m happy to hear that.” Nate truly did
sound pleased.
    “I’m glad I have your approval.” Jack meant
it as a joke, but he truly did feel relief at his son’s
reaction.
    Nate and his mother had been very close. It
was one thing for Nate to encourage him to date. It was something
else for Nate to feel comfortable with Jack bringing a woman into
their home.
    “What I don’t like is some shooter walking
around on our land while you’re busy with the lovely Ms.
Killeen.”
    “We’re keeping the horses indoors and
exercising them in the riding barn. I’m not taking any
chances.”
    “How’s Luke working out?”
    “He is