Zane took the wiring from her hands. “Goddamn it, Cal. How could you do that? It won’t work. I’ll just get it fixed, and I’ll be out of here by sunset.”
“Where?” She held her cell up, mocking him. It was pink with little fake diamonds all over it. It was ridiculously feminine, like Callie, and just like its owner, it could do far more damage than one could imagine. “I already called all the mechanics in town who might be able to do the work. They won’t have a place for you for weeks. They’re already calling their buddies in Del Norte and Creede. You’ll have to get that bike to Alamosa if you want it fixed, and no one will tow it for you. Good luck pushing it a hundred miles down the highway.”
She turned. Zane’s hand shot out, hauling her back. Nate stood back. Zane wouldn’t hurt her physically, but Nate was ready to beat the crap out of him if he pressed her further emotionally.
Zane had dropped the playboy act. His anguish bled through his eyes. “It won’t work, Callie. Damn it, can’t you see I’m doing this because I love you?”
A shadow crossed her face. “No, you don’t, Zane.”
“I am willing to die for you.”
“I know, but you’re not willing to live for me. That’s what I need. I’m just some fantasy to the two of you. I’m not real.” Her shoulders slumped as she turned. “I found us a place to stay until you figure all of this out. It’s well protected, and no one can sneak up on it. It’s on high ground in an old fort, but the group has kept it up. We have rooms there. One for each of us.”
Nate crowded out Zane and reached for her now. Why was he getting punished? He wasn’t the one walking away. “Callie, I told you I’m not hiding our relationship.”
“No, you’re just planning a life with a woman I don’t know,” she accused softly. “Zane is right. I’m never going to fit in where you need me, Nate. It’s best if we call it all off now. I think the two of you should stay in Bliss until this group is caught. After that, Nate can head to wherever will give him the best salary, Zane can sit in a bar and drink himself to death, and I can move to Denver and go back to school.”
A savage anger swept over Nate. If he thought he’d been pissed at Zane, that was nothing compared to what he felt now. He had to force his hands to relax or he would bruise her. “You’ll go with me when I leave, darlin’. Make no mistake about it.”
The wary look on Callie’s face satisfied him. It didn’t match her words. “I won’t.”
Zane pushed against him. “Babe, you have to let me go.”
“I will. When you’re safe, you can go wherever you like. You see, I love you, Zane. It doesn’t matter that you don’t love me. It doesn’t matter that neither of you loves me. I’ll keep you safe if it’s the last thing I do, and then we can all move on.”
“I have no intention of moving on without you.” Nate growled the words. Damn it, he wasn’t moving anywhere without either one of them. He needed them. He needed Zane for friendship and Callie as his lover. They were his soul mates. Somehow he’d gotten two, and he wouldn’t lose either one.
Her eyes were clear now, though Nate could read the steady strength in them. “It’s not your choice. We’re playing by my rules now. We should get going. We need to meet with the director so he can go over the community guidelines. We’ll stay there while we sort this out. I’ve called a town meeting for tonight at eight. If some biker gang is threatening us, then we need to get the town involved.”
She pulled away from him, her arm twisting and burrowing into her side. He checked the need to haul her into his arms. He wanted to show her that he wouldn’t be dismissed. He wouldn’t go down easy. There was time for that when she’d calmed down. He had zero intention of sleeping alone tonight, but arguing wouldn’t help. He’d have to get physical. She was responsive. She wouldn’t be able to turn him down if he turned her on. “Where is this safe place?”
She turned at the doorway, her brown eyes slightly humorous. “The safest place I know—the nudist colony.”
Nate groaned. He was never going to survive the day.
Chapter Ten
The big office was exactly as she remembered it. It had been almost a year since she’d been in this office. The pool, the grounds, that was a different story, but she’d seen very little of the inside of Mountain and Valley Naturist Community.
“Hello, Callie, it is so good to see you again, sweetheart.” Bill Hartman opened his arms, and Callie walked right in. He enfolded her in a hug. She heard Zane’s gasp, or maybe it was Nate’s. Probably Nate’s, she decided. After all, Bill Hartman was completely naked as he hugged her.
Callie ignored him. It didn’t matter what either of them thought. They were going to leave her, so she didn’t have to care about what upset them.
“You, too, Bill. I’m very grateful you could accommodate us.” She broke off the embrace and stood back, taking in the man her mother had loved. He had never lived with them, but he’d funneled money their way. He’d been the reason her mother was comfortable in her final days.
He pulled away. Bill’s clear blue eyes gazed down on hers, and Callie felt a bit strange. She was wearing clothes in a place where she had always felt comfortable being herself. Now she warred with the instinct to keep her armor tightly in place. She didn’t want to be naked in front of Nate and Zane. Naked in front of them meant something different.
Bill nodded as though coming to a decision. Callie was pretty sure she knew what it was. He was going to let her choice to be clothed go for now. Callie felt infinitely grateful. Bill took a step back and walked around to the chair behind his desk. He sat and indicated she should as well. There was only the heavy leather couch, and Nate and Zane were already there. They had left a spot for her in the center, but it would be tight. She sat down gingerly, trying to maintain her own space.
“I’ve informed our security team to keep a watch,” Bill began.
Zane’s arm slid across the back of the sofa. Callie sat forward, avoiding his touch.
“We appreciate it,” she said politely.
“What kind of security does a nudist colony need?” Nate asked with all the subtlety of a bull.
“Naturist, please, Sheriff,” Bill corrected with not a drop of condescension in his voice. Callie knew he was very used to people belittling his lifestyle. “We’re a small community, but we need the same things others need. We’ve beefed up our security recently. We now have cameras at every entrance, and we’ve made very certain that our living quarters are safe. We’re isolated. That has advantages and disadvantages. It gives us the freedom to live as we choose but leaves us open to those who would take from us. We’re a wealthy community. We must protect ourselves.”
Beside her, Nate was now sitting up straight as an arrow. “You said you recently upped your security. What’s gone on that made you feel the need?”
Bill shook his head. “Times change, Sheriff. It was merely time to reevaluate. Rest assured that we can protect Callie and your friend. Our position on the mountain is unassailable. We know if someone sets foot anywhere close to the actual living area of our community. We own about two thousand acres of land on and down the mountain. Our closest neighbor is a horse ranch where the former sheriff lives. He has good security, as well, so we watch out for each other. My point is that as long as you stay on the grounds, we should be able to protect you.”
“Exactly how will you protect us?” Nate’s voice took on a harsh, suspicious air.