A Bride By Summer: The Texas Ranger's Bride / From Best Friend to Bride / Once Upon a Bride

Terrified she might give in to the impulse to kiss him and humiliate herself, she got up from the couch. “Thank you. There should be a better way to tell you how I feel, but I can’t think what it is. Please get that arm examined.” Before she blubbered all over the place, she left the living room and hurried up the stairs.

She wished she could go with him, but that was ridiculous. He was a Ranger and had business to take care of. He’d just taken down one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals. Cy had done his job and needed to finish up.

Kellie sank down on the side of her bed. The trouble was, she’d come to look at him as someone much more than an officer of the law. They’d agreed to a fictional marriage to trap the killers, but tonight she didn’t feel like a fictional character.

You’d like to be his real wife. Admit it, Kellie.

Appalled by the admission, and shocked that her feelings could run this deep so quickly, she phoned her parents. They were thankful Cy seemed to have accomplished a miracle so fast, and both were overcome with emotions. After they hung up, she got into bed, hoping she could fall asleep. When the phone rang again, she was surprised to discover it was already seven thirty.

She glanced at the screen on her cell, but there was no accompanying ID.

It was the stalker. He’d left a message. She listened to it.

“You’re still lying about having a husband. I saw the police drag my brother out of your garage to their van. You’re all going to be so sorry for what you’ve done. Just wait and see what I’ve got planned.”

He’d been watching the whole time.

She phoned Cy immediately, but it went to his voice mail. She told him about the stalker’s message before hanging up.

At this point she was wide-awake. The man who’d invaded her space in Pendleton was still out there, and now it was Cy who wouldn’t be safe. Her fear for him was greater than ever.

While she waited for him to call back, she showered and washed her hair. After a quick blow-dry, she put on jeans and a plum-colored cotton sweater. Once she’d pulled on her cowboy boots, she was ready for the day.

As she went downstairs, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was Cy!

With a racing pulse, Kellie clicked on and heard “Good morning.”

“The same to you. Did you get any sleep?”

“A little. How about you?”

“Don’t worry about me. I heard your message. It means he was hiding behind the fence. Don’t leave the town house. I’ll be over as soon as I can.” She heard the click.

Kellie put the phone on the counter. She needed something to do and started to fix breakfast. In case he hadn’t eaten yet, she made enough for both of them. Before long she heard the garage door lifting and ran to open the kitchen door for him.

He levered himself from his car wearing a brown Western shirt and jeans. Kellie had a hard time keeping her eyes off his hard-muscled physique. As he came inside, she could smell his soap from the shower and noticed he was clean shaven. Those deep blue eyes zeroed in on her. His piercing gaze sent warmth through her body. “Something smells good.”

Yes, it does. That’s you.

“It was my turn to fix breakfast for us. Sit down at the table and I’ll serve you.”

“I won’t say no. I’m starving.”

“Since I know you haven’t had any sleep in twenty-four hours, you need food to keep you going.” She got them started on eggs and bacon, topping it off with toast and coffee.

“This is delicious. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Let me look at the bite on your arm.”

He flashed her a lazy smile before rolling up his sleeve. She was relieved to see a dressing had covered it. “I told you I watch out for myself.”

“I’m glad you had a doctor look at it.”

He rolled the sleeve back down. They were both being polite, but it was like trying to avoid the elephant in the room. He eyed her over the rim of his coffee mug. The gold wedding band on his ring finger gleamed in the overhead light, bringing her straight to the point.

“Cy? We have to talk about our situation.”

“Agreed. You go first.”

She took a deep breath. “That call this morning made me realize that you and I don’t have to pretend to be married any longer. The whole point was to flush out the stalker. Now that he’s been arrested and his brother watched what went on—probably from behind the fence—there’s no more need for you to stay here.

“Last night my dad said he’s going to hire some bodyguards for me as soon as tomorrow. In the meantime I’ll let the landlord know I’m moving to my parents’ ranch, so my condo will be available for a new renter. That will free you to get on with other Ranger work. We have no idea when the stalker will strike again, let alone when he’ll be caught. It could take a long time and you’re needed for other important cases.”

When Cy didn’t say anything, she drank more of her coffee. “It’s fortunate that no one knows your name, so no explanations are necessary. After the second brother is arrested, then I’ll post the truth about the twin brothers on my blog and explain that the fake marriage was announced to lay a trap that worked brilliantly.”

Starting to get unnerved by his silence, she took the rings off her finger and put them on the table. “Take these back to headquarters along with any equipment you’ve left here. And please thank the other men in your crew for protecting me. They’ll never know how grateful I am.”

He went on drinking his coffee. Why didn’t he say something?

Since they’d finished eating, she got up and cleared the table before putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

“Kellie? If you’ve said everything you wanted to say, come and sit down while I tell you what I’d prefer to see happen, but it’s up to you.”

What did he mean? The hairs on her neck started to prickle as she did his bidding.

“I was in a meeting early this morning with the captain. I’m still assigned to your case until it’s solved. There’s no work more important for the department than for me to put away another killer on the list of America’s most wanted. Though we’ve caught one killer, his twin is on the loose and more dangerous to you than ever.

“Since he knows his brother has been arrested, he’s angrier than ever. Until he makes his move, and I expect it will be sooner than later, it’ll make my job easier if we stay married so I can be your bodyguard. At this point I want us to be visible like any married couple. It will taunt him so much, he’ll make a mistake. That’s what I’ll be waiting for. But if you’d rather your father hired bodyguards who would take turns living here, our department will provide backup. The decision is yours.”

Kellie didn’t need to think. His suggestion thrilled her so much she could hardly find words. But how to tell him without giving herself away?

“Since you already have a plan, let’s not deviate from it now.”

She struggled for breath. “Only if you’re sure.”

“Give me your hand.” When she extended her arm, he put the rings in her palm. “Put these back on.”

Her heart started to run away with her. Not only because of his touch, but because it meant she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him. Not yet anyway...

“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to stretch out on the hide-a-bed and get some sleep. To put your mind at ease, Lyle and the crew are outside and will remain on watch until tomorrow.”

He got up from the table. “Later today we’ll drive out to your parents’ ranch and go riding together. I want to watch the famous Kellie Parrish in action. When our stalker phones again, and I know he will, let him leave messages and I’ll listen to them later.”

And with that, she watched him leave the kitchen, feeling more comforted than ever that her Texas Ranger was here.

Chapter Six (#uad94e372-a267-56c2-801d-4b5cb3f10f14)

Cy walked into the living room, where he took off his cowboy boots. When he’d proposed that Kellie announce their marriage on her blog, he’d thought she would never agree to it. But she went along with the plan and had her parents’ blessing.