Chapter 8

“Do I look okay?” Bonnie asked nervously, turning before a closet mirror. Brad whistled, sweeping his eyes up and down a silvery, clinging sheath. The dress covered her from neck to ankles, but there was a split up one side that exposed a substantial portion of thigh.

She turned her back to him. “Zipper?”

“Who normally does this, Mizz Independent Woman?” he asked, carefully pulling up the zipper when she pushed her long ponytail to one side. He fastened the small hook, then slid his hands down to the angular flare of hips. Bonnie clipped a thin belt of gold links around her waist.

“I manage, sometimes with a hook on the end of a wire ... but having a man handy is nice.”

Brad cupped her breasts, fondling nipples through the silk gown. “Hummm. No bra! So is a handy man,” he quipped, peering over her shoulder at their reflection in the full-length mirror, both made aware of the difference in their height.

“You want me to wear flats?”

“With that dress, heels would be more appropriate,” he suggested, stepping back to admire her. “Beside, heels will put those lovely hooters about level with my face.”

She punched his arm. “Dog, I’m already nearly five inches taller than you.”

“Ah, but I’m not easily intimidated, and you’ll draw attention away from me,” he said, grinning. “Besides, I’ve decided I like tall and sexy.” He admired the diamond pendants hanging from pierced ears, then said approvingly, “you put on a little makeup.”

A little,” she admitted. Eyeliner, blush, a touch of lipstick.”

“What flavour?”

She grinned back at him and stuck out her tongue. “Raspberry. I’ll wear flats out to the helicopter,” she said, selecting an expensive pair of silver heels after slipping into the other shoes. “I packed my tote with some clothes and underwear.” She gestured at the gym bag on her bed. “Should I wear a jacket?”

“Frisco does get chilly at night,” he said, nodding, pointing into the open portion of closet. “That silver fox will go nice with the dress.”

“Okay, but are you going to wear jeans and scuffed boots?”

“I’ll dress up decent when we get to the ranch house,” he told her, then grimaced. “I hope the princess remains sulking in her room. We can expect an encounter before boarding the plane. Please, if you can, just politely ignore her?”

She arched brows at him. “I’ll be a quiet, retiring pussycat.”

“In my dreams. Mor like a tigress.,” He laughed, helping her slip into the fur jacket before picking her Gucci tote off the bed. In the kitchen, she took her cell and charger, stuffing both into her purse. With her heels and tote in one hand, Brad opened the trailer door. She locked up, then took his arm out to the waiting helicopter.

Tango was already gone her mare looking forlorne, head over the corral gate. Andrew and another large man stood outside, watching them in the dying glow of sunset.

“Good lord!” she whispered. “That man is huge!”

“Ex Recon Marine,” Brent told her. “Pilot is Eddie. Other guy is Andrew, my head of security. Please don’t give him shit. He was just doing his job.”

He introduced her, noting that both men eyed her with wary approval. Andrew actually bowed over her hand. At a word, Eddie ushered her into the left front seat, placing a set of intercom phones on her lap. Before he could move to help, Bonnie had clipped in to the five-point harness. Moments later, Brent tapped Eddie on the shoulder. His pilot flipped toggles. Starter motor began whining, the turbines quickly spinning up to a howl.

They lifted swiftly, angling to the northwest. In less than ten minutes, they were approaching an orderly compound with manicured yards, houses, barns, corrals and stables. Bonnie goggled. Floodlights were already on, illuminating various areas. They swept over a large, modern ranch house and more out buildings.

“We won’t be landing near the homestead,” Brad said over the intercom. “Don’t want to upset the animals.”

“Some homestead,” Bonnie said into the mike.

“A bit much,” Brad agreed. “The original soddy caved in over a century past. A log cabin replaced that in my grandfather’s time, but it burned down decades before I was born.”

In another few seconds, she saw landing lights flanking a lengthy, paved airstrip. They banked, then settled on a brightly illuminated concrete apron. Nearby, an enormous hangar was innocuously tucked into a gap between low, rounded hills.

When quiet settled, Bonnie removed the earphones and released the five-point harness. Taken aback, trying to absorb everything, she stared around. “I never realized there was so much development so close to my property. A lot more than expected. Not just an ordinary ranch.”

“Life can get complicated, but this is still a working ranch,” Brad replied, giving her a hand down from the cockpit. He held out her heels. She kicked out of flats, slipping into the heels, fastening ankle straps. Brad took her shoes and gave her an arm. Now an additional two inches taller, she clicked across to a waiting Ford Expedition just beyond the helipad.

As they pulled up, a stormy, very classy woman emerged from the ranch house. Chin up, glare intense, she stepped off the granite porch and bore down on the Expedition.