Panic set in so intensely that she started fidgeting with her purse and slunk lower in her seat.
“Ma’am…Miss, Miss. I’m coming to the end of the Market Square.” She’d been so wrapped up in fear of what was to come that it took her a moment to hear the driver.
“Fine. Okay, let me out.”
“That’s fifteen twenty.”
“Okay,” Hope grumbled, pulling a twenty from her bag, then she jumped out, unwilling to look back.
As soon as she began walking around the square, she looked for the large tourist shop. It had been farther than she remembered, but once inside, she picked up a tank and a hoodie with San Antonio emblazoned on them in dark blues. She was a pink kind of girl, so she hoped that the color would make her less obvious to any of the men hunting for her. Next, she picked up a large beach bag with the “Don’t Mess with Texas” branding on it. This would work perfectly to add a couple of extra shirts. The last things on her list were a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap. After half an hour, she paid for her clothes and accessories and walked over to the restrooms.
A quick change later, she didn’t look like a prissy runaway but rather a tourist, ready to go. She hoped they wouldn’t be able to recognize her.
“Now to get a bite to eat and then find a way to get out of town.” She didn’t have a cell phone, so she needed to find another waiting cab to take her to the bus station.
Chapter Four
The ranch ran smoothly with everything in order. Needing to place some orders in San Antonio, Gage planned to meet some friends in law enforcement for lunch in the city just to shoot the breeze since he had a little extra time to kill that day. Most of the property had been upgraded to handle at least two hundred cattle, even if Gage had no intention of adding more than fifty, which he had gotten at the auction. Bill proved he was capable of handling the men he picked out.
After setting up the orders, he got a text from CJ to meet up at a bar and grille at the Market Square. He parked his SUV in the parking garage across from the main entrance and walked toward the restaurant. Two minutes into his walk, he sensed eyes on him. Could it be one of the guys? They liked to goof around like any good-natured people, so he stepped to the side and took a peek. What he didn’t expect was to have a small woman watching him over the top of her shades.
Yes, he was a handsome man, and women often took a couple of glances and even approached, but this was different. She was different. Gage felt a shift in him that shook him to the core. He even forgot to breathe for a second, catching himself with an unexpected gasp. From across the street, she stared at him until his gaze fell hard on hers.
He had no idea why his heart suddenly started acting up. It couldn’t have been because of the woman, he presumed. Perhaps the heat had gotten to him, but since it was spring and only eleven, the sun hadn’t started baking yet. He shook off the feeling in his chest and focused on her. She blanched and pretended to be looking down at a large sign next to her.
Gage moved around to get closer to the woman in the blue tourist getup to get a better look and to test her motives. She stole glances his way as if she was worried he was onto her. Gage had never had someone trailing him, but he associated with a bunch of guys in law enforcement who had crazies willing to attack their families and friends, so he was bound to end up on the radar of some nutcase.
As he got closer, she moved away, but he was close enough to take in her beauty. With slender curves and a head of shiny red hair that appeared natural, she was bringing out a side of him he hadn’t seen since his dad’s betrayal. Lust shot through Gage’s veins as he imagined what happened once they finally met. If she was genuinely stalking him, he had to say he was tempted to let her catch him. His body craved hers in a way he never expected. In fact, he made the choice to stalk her instead. Psycho or not, he craved to see if she tasted as sinful as she looked.
Gage began following her around the Market Square, staying about ten feet back to surveil her. He should be meeting with the guys right now, but he couldn’t seem to give himself a reason to head toward the restaurant. Unfortunately, the choice was made for him. She got away when a large crowd of drunk spring breakers exited the bar. Yep, she was probably up to no good, but if he saw her again, he’d stop at nothing to get to the bottom of her surveillance of him, and her under the sheets.
Surrendering, he walked back to the cantina and stepped inside where Alex Savage and CJ Royce were sitting down.
“Ah, there you are. No job and still can’t show up on time.”
“Sorry, I got distracted,” he muttered, taking the seat that faced the front windows of the cantina.
CJ’s brows narrowed and lips twisted into a smirk as he repeated, “Distracted? Like a hot-chick distracted?”
“How old are you, sixteen?” Gage overreacted, giving the guys the answer they needed. Internally, Gage had felt a shift in him that resembled his need to drop law and move on to ranching. She sparked life into him with just a simple, light stalking.
“Ah, so it was a woman?” Alex laughed. He knew all about that, having had his heart taken by a woman that he almost lost.
“Fuck you both.” Gage grabbed the menu and grumbled as he looked for something light. His stomach suddenly didn’t feel settled. “I’m ready to order.” He set down his menu with both men looking at him expectantly. “What?”
“Well, who the hell is she? And did you get her number?”
“I have no clue who she is, and no, I didn’t get her number. I lost her in a fucking crowd of drunk shitheads.”
“Drunk at this time? Must be spring breakers.”
“Shit, if I didn’t have to go back in, I’d have a beer or two,” Savage added, sitting back in his chair. The waitress came over after the men put down their menus and took their orders.
“Damn, that’s all you’re getting?” CJ asked Gage after he only ordered a couple of steak tacos.
“You do realize that you need to eat more if you’re going to be working in the sun.” CJ snapped his fingers when he saw Gage wasn’t paying attention. He kept looking out the window. “I said you need to eat more.”
“I get it. I heard you the first time, but I’m not hungry. Besides, I’m not getting shit together for a while. The ranch is set up for the next round of cattle to arrive next week. So thanks for the advice.” Gage had bought more after the auction from a rancher who was selling off his property.