“Goodbye, Daniel,” turning she goes to his bedroom and closes the door quietly. Her suitcases and garment bags are packed and ready to go. The box of books is hidden in his closet with a note to be mailed to her home after she's gone.
He watches her limp away and his heart is screaming at him to follow, but he will not put her in any more danger. “Goodbye, Delta,” he murmurs and grabs the whiskey from his cabinet.
“Stupid cowboy!” Delta grumbles. “I can’t believe this.” She mutters and Sasha whines, watching her pace in the big room. “He can’t seriously think I’m going to walk out of his life that easily?” Tomorrow she will put her plan into action. Daniel believes that if she leaves, then Melody will leave him in peace. The truth is that she is a demented human being. What about Chase? Abigail? No one will be safe until this girl is caught. “I have to help them. I can't leave it like this. What if something happens to them?” Delta’s voice breaks, “I’m not going to bury another man I love…” eyes wide she sits down heavily on the edge of the bed, shocked at how easily that came out of her mouth. “Love?” Sasha nudges her with a paw. “Is it possible for the heart to fall so quickly?” With Daniel, she feels cherished, respected, and more. “We need time to explore this, Damnit.”
In her heart, she knows he's trying to protect her, but a part of her is afraid that he doesn't feel the same way. A radiant smile spreads across her face. She knows how to test that theory. Slipping into her green silk chemise, she walks as quietly as she can into the darkened kitchen. Delta doesn't bother to turn on any lights, she knows how the security system works. It will pick up any movement inside the house and alert Daniel.
She opens the refrigerator and grabs a water bottle, illuminating her in the fluorescent glow. Closing the door, she almost screams when a strong hand seizes her upper arm. “What do you think you are doing?” Daniel glares at her.
“Damnit! You nearly gave me a heart attack, Daniel. I, I… was just getting a water.” Her voice lowers, and her heart begins to pound harder now. His eyes devour her body, and he releases her like she is contagious. A tear forms in the corner of her eye drawn from her heart, it threatens to rip his soul to pieces. She has her answer. “I'm sorry,” she whispers hoarsely.
Turning to go, Daniel stops her with a hand to her bare arm. Confused, she looks up at him just as he lowers his lips to hers. “Delta,” he murmurs, and her breath hitches. Every nerve in her body hums to life, and his hand slips into her wavy hair and tilts her further into his body. He deepens the kiss, demanding she feels what he does. Heat boils between them, and she opens her mouth to him, allowing him to taste her. Daniel growls and pushes her away from him.
“Go to bed, Delta,” he demands and stomps back upstairs. Delta nods and walks back to the bedroom. Now she has her answer. “There's no way in hell, I'm leaving him.”
Chapter 13
Sleep did not come easy. Daniel was up early and gone before Delta. He had two horses being sold to a rancher across the country and another mare ready to have her foal. Spring was a busy time for him. Delta's flight left two hours ago, and with any luck, Melody would try to contact him once she becomes aware that Delta is gone.
“Looking good,” he hears his dad call out to the stable workers as he makes his way through to his son’s office. “What’s going on with Abby? She called me this morning, upset, son.” Daniel sighs and looks at him.
“Abby will be spending another week with her mother. It was easy enough to change her flight, and she has another week of spring break. I want to keep her safe as long as possible, Dad.”
Chase glares out the window. “This is ridiculous. How can she turn our lives upside down like this? Do the police have any leads yet?”
Daniel can see the toll this is taking on his father in the depth of his wrinkles and fear in his eyes.
“None. Dad, maybe you should consider…”
Chase glares at him and snarls, “Don’t you even say it!”
“Damnit, I can’t be everywhere.” Daniel tosses his Stetson on the desk.
“No, you can't. The best thing to do is wait.” Chase glances at his watch, “What time was her flight?” Chase asks softly. He doesn't need to say Delta's name, they both know who he's thinking about.
“Two. She should be arriving in Carolina in another twenty minutes,” Daniel snaps.
“I don't blame you for protecting her Son, maybe when this is over, you can see her again.”
“Maybe, but after everything she's been through, I can't imagine that she would want to see me again.” Daniel thinks about the way she tasted, how she felt in his arms last night, and sighs.
“Let’s go to the bar and get a drink,” Chase demands.
Daniel locks up and follows him to his truck. “Sounds good.” A few minutes later they are sitting in the quiet bar at the main lodge and sipping on a beer. The wedding party had checked out, and things are quiet for the moment.
“I can’t keep Abby with her Mom
