Page 14 of Cowboy Under Siege

He swung his attention back to the door. Reaching out, he engaged the lock with a fingertip before riveting his focus on her.

“I’m glad I caught you before you left,” he said.

“How did you find me anyway?”

He pointed at the window overlooking the parking lot and her vehicle. “Your truck doesn’t exactly blend.”

“Well, I won’t be here much longer.” At least she didn’t think she would be. During the Uber ride back to the motel last night, she’d pondered exactly what her next plan of action was.

She didn’t move on with the rodeo because after three months of traveling with them, she’d grown weary of all the time spent on the road. She needed a rest.

Stone Pass, Montana seemed as good a place as any.

Except the residents—at least one of them—seemed a little too nosy when it came to her personal life.

Jaren cocked his head and pinned her in his heavy gaze. “Look, Trinny, I’ll get right to the point. I’m here to check on you.”

She swept her hand over the room. “You can see I’m fine.”

“I know who you are.”

His words punched her in the gut. She leaned forward, air forced past her lips. Feeling the cup slip in her hand, she hurried across the room to set it on the dresser with a half-dozen white rings from other cups set there before.

“Trinny.” His tone plucked at her nerves.

She held up a finger to let him know she needed a minute—or ten.

Oh god. He knew who she was? How and why?

Her mind spun with possibilities. Distant family members searching for her in hope of hitting her up for more cash, her so-called friends who only saw her as their personal bank after she received the inheritance after her mother’s passing.

A wall of heat washed over her spine. She didn’t need to turn her head to know Jaren was standing close to her.

Her chest heaved. “How do you know who I am?”

“Your picture’s plastered all over the news sites.”

She whirled. He stood so close that her breasts rubbed across his chiseled chest.

Snapping her arms over her chest, she gaped at him. “Why wouldmypicture be in the news?”

“You got some notice when you saved that boy.”

“Oh god.” She issued a low groan and dropped her face into her hands. How could she have been so stupid? Her idea to hide in plain sight with a crowd that was far from her norm was totally dashed. Now she could never return to the rodeo friends she’d made because they’d allknow.

And start expecting things from her.

Jaren’s warm fingers wrapped around her wrist and he gently lowered her hand from her face. “After seeing the news, my team did a check on you.”

She sucked in a gasp and darted out from between him and the dresser. Rushing to the door, she prepared to cut and run. She could pick up again, start fresh. That was the beauty of having money—she could go anywhere and be anything.

“Your team? What team? Are you cops?”

His eyes narrowed, almost flattening at the corners where she’d seen tiny creases of amusement appear the night before . “Do you have reason to fear the cops, Trinny?”

She scrabbled for the door handle, found it and flung the door open. “Get out!”

His shoulders slumped. “I’m trying to help you, Trinny.”

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