Page 64 of Night and Day

She nodded and pulled the radio off her belt. “This is Tessa. Everett, are you there?”

A moment later, the man’s voice crackled across the radio. “What do you need, Tessa?”

“There’s a dead deer on the path to the cabin. Can you bring an ATV?” She paused. “And ask Caden to come too.”

There was a longer beat of silence. “Roger that, Tessa. On our way.”

“How could someone do this, Ro?” She pressed a hand to her face.

“Hey, we aren’t hurt.” I took her hand and led her a little away from the dead animal. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

She whirled and threw her arms in the air. “This isunbelievable.” Twin flags of color filled her cheeks. “They killed aninnocentanimal. What did they hope to achieve? The sale of the hotel is done. They can protest that you’re the new owner all they want, but it makes no difference. Unless you get fed up and want to sell the place.”

I touched her arm. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “We have to stop this person. They’re going to hurt someone.” There was worry all over her face.

This saboteur had almost hurt her, but of course she was always worried about everyone but herself. “Trust me, Caden will find this person.”

Her gaze narrowed. “He’d better do it before I do.”

I hid my smile. So fierce.

“God, you had calls to get back to.”

“It’s fine. I’ll reschedule.”

She gave me the side eye. “Who are you, and what have you done with Ambrose Langston?”

I smiled and tugged her against my chest.

She rested her face against my shirt. “You’re not letting this person run you off?”

“No one runs me off.”

“There’s your billionaire-boss tone.”

“My what?”

She looked up at me. “You get this crisp, forceful, bossy tone. It really irked me when I first met you. Although, the hand annoyed me more.” She held up her palm and got a haughty look on her face.

I grinned and ran my fingers down her cheek. “And now?”

Her lips parted, her gaze on my face. “It’s…less irksome.”

I felt it. That tug. That irresistible pull toward her. Tessa Ashford was a tempting, annoying, vibrant package, and I no longer had it in me to fight it.

The drone of an engine came from down the hillside. She stepped back. “It sounds like the cavalry is here.”

Two ATVs came into view, roaring up the path. I recognized Everett on one and Caden on the other.

They pulled to a stop on the other side of the deer.

“Everyone okay?” Everett asked, his gaze moving to Tessa.

“Yes, although poor Bambi isn’t.” She looked down at the animal, sorrow on her face.

Caden took in the deer with a swift glance, then met my gaze.