Page 27 of Easton’s Claim

“Tracking device,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“Someone’s been following us.”

“Out here?” They were miles away from Sugar Hollow. She glanced around nervously, seeing nothing but quiet sidewalks and driveways up and down both sides of the street. “For how long, do you think?”

“Don’t know, but someone must have planted it at the last place. My guess is when we were checking out the acreage behind it. Dammit, I should have checked before.”

That was already a few hours ago now. “But there’s no way they could have found us unless they’ve been following us for a while.”

He nodded once, jaw tight. “Yeah.”

Piper wrapped her arms around her ribs and stared through the windshield, suddenly chilled. “Do you see anyone suspicious?”

“No. I’m betting they’re long gone anyway. They wouldn’t have expected me to look for, let alone find the tracker, so they probably assume we’re oblivious and think they’ll be able to follow us electronically.”

An even more disturbing thought occurred to her. “What if they’ve been following us before this? What if they know I’ve been to your dad’s place?”

“It’s okay,” he said calmly. “We’ll handle it.

She was horrified. “God, I’m sorry—”

“Stop.” The sharp tone made her go silent. “This isn’t your fault. It’s Greg’s, and whoever the asshole is who took him.” He used his hands free device to call Wyatt, then his father, and updated them. “Just keep an eye out and call me if you see anything suspicious. We’re on our way to the police station to drop off the tracker. Piper’s gonna have to cancel her remaining showings and then we’ll be home.”

She shook her head as he ended the call. “I can’t go to your dad’s place again, not if they know I’ve been there.”

“We’ll talk to the cops first, see what they say.”

“I won’t put you guys at risk. I’ll find a hotel or—”

“No.” Before she could argue further he reached across the console and took one of her hands, closed his fingers around it in a firm grip. “If they’re following you then anywhere you go you’ll be at risk. At least at our place you’ll have me, Charlie and my dad to look out for you. Maybe Wyatt, too, if he wants to stay for a few days.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he said, squeezing her hand once before bringing it to his lips and pressing a quick, reassuring kiss to the back of her knuckles. “We’ll go to the cops, then you’re coming home with me.”

Chapter Nine

Hours later, Easton swiveled atop his horse to look behind him, and smiled. Piper was a dozen yards away and closing in at a trot on the gentle mare he’d just saddled for her. “Stirrups okay?”

“Yes, perfect,” she called back.

He reined his horse to the edge of the trail so she could come up alongside him, admiring the sight of her in the saddle. It had been too long since he’d been on horseback and it felt damn good to be out riding. And he could see Piper relaxing, so this had been the perfect idea to help her escape and steal some time alone with her.

The investigation on Greg had stalled. Even the Feds had no further leads. They were trying to trace the tracking device to find out who had planted it, but so far they hadn’t been able to find prints or an origin for it.

When he’d first found it he’d been tempted to ask Charlie to see if she or her team of computer wizards could trace it, but had opted to take it to the cops because he wanted to cooperate fully with the locals.

Greg might be a fuck-up, but he was still the former sheriff and the locals wanted to get him back alive. They were more motivated to find him than anyone else assigned to the case. While Easton didn’t much care if Greg came back alive, his death would upset Piper and that was reason enough to want him found safe.

Piper slowed her mount to a walk as she came up beside him. She looked so damn pretty with her hair loose around her shoulders and the touch of pink in her cheeks from the cool bite to the air, her round breasts bouncing ever so slightly with the horse’s gait.

Did she have any idea how hard it had been for him to keep his hands off her all day? Watching her strut around earlier in those sexy heels and the snug pencil skirt suit that showed off her ass and legs had been torture. That and not bringing up last night had just about killed him. He didn’t think she understood how much she affected him.

They rode across the northern pastures and through the woods bordering the far end of the property, then through the swinging gate and continued on the trail into county-owned land.

Gradually the groves of oaks and maples gave way to grassland that sloped down the hill, where the creek ran over the rocks through the glade in the hollow. The gentle rush of water grew louder as they approached the spot he’d picked out, and soon the creek came into view, meandering through the trees and into the pasture beyond.

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