Hiding Out At The Circle C

Now her vision wavered behind her unshed tears. She'd lied to him, hurt him, and what he cared about most was her safety. Well, she cared about his, too. 'I'm sure.'

He didn't move, as if he knew she was on the very edge and would fall apart if he so much as took a step toward her. 'How come you're telling me now?'

'You- You're not like anyone I've ever met.'

His gaze heated and her body reacted similarly.

'Why, Haley, I do believe that was a compliment.'

'It was.'

'Thanks for listening to me before,' he said softly. 'I didn't realize how much I needed to talk.'

'I'm glad I was here.' But she winced at the breathy sound of her voice. She gripped the doorjamb, feeling as though his gaze pinned her to the spot.

'Maybe I could return the favor,' he suggested. 'You could tell me more. About you.'

'Cam-'

He just shook his head at the warning in her voice. 'I'm not trying to push, Haley.' Grimacing, he shoved a hand through his hair in an unusual show of frustration and said, 'Okay, maybe I am. I want to know more.'

And after what she'd just found out about him, she could understand why. She certainly understood his edginess at how she refused to be honest. It hurt him, and made her feel ashamed.

'It's the first time in a long time for me,' he said. 'I want to know everything.'

What was he saying? That despite it all, he was still attracted to her? It was hard to believe that he felt anything more than a passing fancy. Or perhaps she didn't want to believe, because the thought was more than a little terrifying.

'Do you understand?' he asked, gingerly holding the wet, squirming puppy. 'I want to know more about you. You're a geologist, for God's sake. Tell me more.'

'Why?'

'Because I care about you.'

Oh, Lord. Her stomach went all fluttery. Had anyone ever said that to her before? 'It's only been a couple of days.'

'My caring is not a death sentence,' Cam said, a little smile playing about his lips. Only his eyes showed the lingering hurt from what he'd told her about his wife. Or had she caused that?

'Letting me get to know you won't hurt all that much.'

She laughed nervously. 'Don't be too sure.'

* * *

She'd called her old apartment. The knowledge caused a smile. After searching for her for days-days-waiting for her to make a move, she had.

Now there was proof that Dr. Haley Whitfield was indeed alive.

That little fact would have to be remedied. Soon. As soon as her location was pinpointed.

* * *

Sleep was impossible. Haley gave it up at dawn. She showered, dressed and opened her front door to admire the gorgeous fall morning. Dark still prevailed, but to the east she could see the sharp outline of the mountains as the sky above them lightened perceptibly. The trees rustled noisily in the early wind. Somewhere a rooster crowed. Another minute passed. The sky turned purple, then red, then a glorious yellow as the sun appeared over the tops of the peaks.

Taking a deep breath of the crisp, clear air, Haley found herself smiling at the glory of it. How often in her life had she taken time for sunrises? Never.

Wrapping Cam's denim jacket more tightly around her, she started walking toward the big house. The air seemed to vibrate with the sounds of birds and insects, and since the path was heavily lined with fallen leaves, the ground crunched pleasantly beneath her feet. Her breath crystallized in front of her. Soon it would get even colder and snow would come.

Would she still be here? Silly to hope so, but she did. And hard to believe she felt so content with this life after the one she'd left-or was it?

It wasn't until she was nearly to the ranch house that she realized she hadn't once used her ulcer medicine. Yes, she still suffered from insomnia, but the headaches that had plagued her for years had gone, too.

Amazing what a week keeping house in the country will do for stress, she thought wryly. Now, if she could just stop thinking entirely, she'd probably he able to sleep more.

But she'd never been able to turn her brain off. She thought of the journal she'd stayed up all night writing in. A waste of time, she knew, but she'd actually enjoyed the emotional outlet so much, she couldn't bring herself to stop. She'd described Cam's kisses as if she were a love-struck teen.

She felt like one. Haley-the-Virgin had gotten serious weak knees over the cowboy's kisses. Had he been able to tell how inexperienced she was? Oh, well… she hadn't known how to cook, either, and she'd done okay.

A distant drone cut through the quiet morning air. The birds went silent, and so did everything. Haley froze as a plane came into view, making a slow, lazy circle overhead.

They'd found her.

This time, it was real. She'd been found. Knowing what they were capable of, and knowing everyone she cared about lay sleeping in the big house, she took off running.

By the time she'd gotten to the side door, the plane had made another slow sweep of the area and was coming around once again. Chest heaving, Haley threw herself at the back door, yanking it open with fingers that didn't want to work.

She sprinted through the empty kitchen and into the long hallway, giving a passing thought to using the telephone to call for help, but she had to warn everyone first, before it was too late. Cursing the sheer size of the house, she ran through the living room, pausing at the foot of the stairs to drag a breath into her screaming lungs.

Head down, she lunged up the stairs, taking them two at a time. She opened her mouth to shout a warning, but as she lifted her head, the only thing that came out was a squeak.

At the top of the stairs, wearing nothing but white boxer briefs that hugged his muscular flanks, stood Cameron.

'Haley?' He ran a hand over his face, looking rumpled and groggy with the sleep from which she'd obviously woken him. 'What's going on?'

She'd skidded to a halt at the sight of him, but the sound of the plane brought her back to reality quickly enough. 'The plane,' she huffed. 'It's coming.'

Giving her a strange look, he meandered-so slowly she nearly screamed-over to the floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the upstairs hallway. Tipping his head back, he studied the plane for a long moment, then turned and gave her another strange look. 'That's Tex. Our neighbor. He's checking his herd. Does it once a week or so.'

Not again.

She hadn't really made a fool of herself again, had she? As the now familiar heat flooded her face, she turned away from his curious gaze, but he merely came forward, took her hand and wordlessly started walking down the hall.

Her resistance was met with more stalwart silence. When she dug in her heels, he merely tugged harder, and when she opened her mouth to protest, he spared her a glance over his shoulder. 'Shush, darlin', or you'll wake the house up.'

The thought of them all witnessing this spectacle was enough to keep her quiet as he pulled her into his bedroom and shut the door.

Leaning back against it, he studied her. She did the same to him, then wished she hadn't. He stood there, completely unconcerned with the fact that what precious little he wore hid absolutely nothing, only enhanced. And man, oh, man, did it enhance. The man stood there, practically, deliciously, nearly naked. Haley's mouth went dry and she tried to drag her gaze away, but she couldn't.