Wind River Wrangler (Wind River Valley #1)(69)

He gave her an understanding look. “We’ll find out, Shiloh. I’m here for you. I hope you know that. You’re worth caring about,” he said, and he moved a few strands of hair off her cheek, his fingers sliding down her shoulder. “Let’s take this one day at a time. If you want to share my bed, show up at my door like you did tonight. And if you don’t, that’s fine too. The last thing I want to do is make you feel pressured. What we have is good. And it’s up to you as to what you want to do about it.”

Some relief trickled through her. “Thanks for giving me that leeway, Roan. Until this stalker issue is closed, I just can’t focus. I’m scared. Yesterday, I felt like I was back in my apartment. I felt trapped. Terrorized. And I don’t know who this guy is. That’s the worst of it.”

Roan tucked her head beneath his jaw, holding her tightly. “I’m on this, Shiloh. I’m not going to let you be hurt by this bastard. I’ve not gotten black ops training for nothing. Tomorrow, when I drive into town, I’m going to see Sheriff Sarah Carter. She’s in charge of the Lincoln County sheriff’s department. I’m going to talk to her, get ideas, maybe some intel.” He kissed her hair. “But you and I need to have a plan.”

She roused, feeling safe for the first time since the stalker had entered her life. “A plan?”

“Yes. We each carry a cell phone on us at all times. I want you, if you EVER get that threatening warning again, to call me immediately. But as you call me, go to John’s office. And he’ll call the sheriff. We need to catch this guy. If you get that warning, it means he’s nearby and most likely on ranch property. After John makes that call, he’ll take you to their house and you’ll remain out of sight and safe until a deputy arrives.”

Shutting her eyes, Shiloh felt a quiver of fear. “He’s really here. God . . .”

“It’s different this time around, Darlin’. I’m with you. You have every employee on Wind River Ranch who will be told what’s going on and we’ll have a lot of people watching this situation. More eyes, more chances to nail this son of a bitch.” Roan pulled her back enough to look at her. “That’s the plan. Does it sound good to you? Anything to add to it?”

A chill worked through her even though Roan was holding her. No place was safe from her stalker. “It works,” she agreed quietly, resting her head against his shoulder, wanting the world to go away as it had before in Roan’s arms. “What am I supposed to do in the meantime, Roan? Am I prisoner in this house? Do I go over and spend most of my time in John’s office, instead?”

He slid his hand down her arm. “No. Continue what you’ve been doing, Shiloh. Just be more aware. Know the situational area and who is in it. That’s all. The rest will take care of itself.”

“Sometimes you’re miles away, Roan. You’d never get back to the main ranch in time.”

“That’s why it’s important to go to the main office as soon as you can,” he said. “It’s the safest place. John always keeps a firearm in his desk drawer. He’s licensed to carry a concealed weapon and he sure as hell knows how to use it if things got out of hand. Most stalkers aren’t that brazen, Shiloh. They sneak. They hide in the shadows. And most likely, this one isn’t going to be bold, either.”

“Okay, that sounds doable. I just don’t want to become a prisoner like I was in my apartment, Roan,” she said, and she looked up at him, pleading with him because she hated those six terrible months where she felt like a convict.

Roan kissed her brow. “I’ll always be nearby, Shiloh. I’ll talk to Maud and request that she utilize me closer to the headquarters area for now. I won’t be that far away. I think she’ll agree to the plan without a problem.” He searched her face. “Does that make you feel a little better?”

She moistened her lips. “Yes, a lot better.” And then she blurted, “But what if he kills you?”

Roan smiled a little and squeezed her tightly for a moment. “If he’s a black ops dude, I’d be concerned, but I’m sure he’s not. That doesn’t mean I’ll underestimate him, Shiloh. But there’s damn few men who can get a drop on an operator. It would really have to be a special set of circumstances. And I am on guard, Darlin’. I have your back.”

“That makes me feel good,” she admitted. Just being in Roan’s arms, against his powerful, warm, hard body, gave her a sense of safety she’d never felt. Shiloh had never felt happier.

He eased her out of his arms. Adjusting the pillows, Roan lay down. He brought her on top of him, settling her thighs against either side of his hips. “Come here,” he growled, folding her against his length. “Your turn to be my blanket.”

She smiled warmly, eagerly stretching out, her breasts lightly grazing the hair across his chest. “Mmmm, I like this.” As she settled her core against his growing erection, her smile increased and she drowned in the glittering gray in his eyes. “You know what? I think you’re a consummate strategy-and-tactics kind of guy. There’s more than one reason for you wanting me as a warm blanket across you.” She saw a feral look cross his shadowed features and she gloried in the sensation of his thickening erection against her moist core. Already, heated signals were racing up through her.