The Rancher Returns by Brenda Jackson

long.”
    She tilted her lips stubbornly. “I will fight you on that with my last breath.”
    â€œAnd I suggest you save that breath for that explosive orgasm you’re going to have.”
    Layla opened her mouth to blast out a resounding retort but then she closed it without responding. What was the use of arguing with him about something she knew for a fact wouldn’t be happening, no matter what he thought? So what if his touch warmed her to the core? She would put him out of her mind. She had more important things to be concerned with. Like who’d removed her marker and why. No matter what Gavin might assume, she was not imagining things.
    â€œMy marker was removed, Gavin.”
    He rolled his eyes. “We’re back to that again?”
    â€œYes. The dig is why I’m here. Why I crazily agreed to your deal. If you didn’t remove the marker, then who did?”
    * * *
    Gavin drew in a deep breath, trying to hold his aggravation and frustration at bay. He knew for certain she was not incompetent. So someone had removed the marker like she claimed.
    â€œHere, hold this,” he said, handing Flipper’s camera to her. He then began walking, studying the ground. He slowed when he saw footprints he knew weren’t hers or his. He crouched down and pressed his finger to one, touching the indention in the earth. It was cold. The tracks looked fresh, as if they hadn’t been made any more than forty-eight hours ago. Whose prints were they? One of his men? Possibly, but for some reason he doubted it. All his men had been working in the north and west pastures for the past few days. None had any reason to come to the south pasture.
    It appeared more weight had been placed on the left leg as that impression was deeper. He also noted the sole of the right shoe appeared more worn than the left.
    He stood and backtracked to where Layla said she’d parked her vehicle when she’d come out here. He walked, looking down and around the entire time. When he’d gone about thirty feet he stopped. Crouching down again he studied the earth and that’s when he saw the small plug where the marker had been. He glanced to the right and the left, studying the ground. Again he saw footprints. The same ones.
    He stood and slowly walked back to Layla. Without saying anything, he took the camera out of her hand. “Thanks.”
    She raised a brow. “Well?”
    She hadn’t asked what he’d been doing. She was smart enough to figure things out. He was using his skill as a SEAL to determine if there was proof that the marker had been removed.
    He met her inquisitive expression. “I saw footprints. I also saw where the marker had been. You’re right. The marker was removed.”
    â€œWhy? By whom?”
    â€œDon’t know, Layla.” He honestly didn’t have a clue. The Silver Spurs was private property. And although there were numerous ways to get on the property, he couldn’t imagine anyone having a reason to come to this particular area. The one thing he didn’t see was tire tracks. But the person could have parked elsewhere and walked.
    â€œI planned on using this camera to scan the area,” he said. “I suggest you make a list of anyone who might have a reason for wanting you not to succeed in your dig. And make sure you take me off the list. I told you my position and I’m sticking to it.”
    And without saying anything else, he walked off.

Eight
    I told you my position and I’m sticking to it .
    Later that day, Layla paced the floor. Gavin Blake was bullheaded, stubborn and full of himself. He was crazy if he actually thought he could get her to bend to his will. No way. No how. So why was she pacing the floor, wearing out both herself and her shoes?
    She had watched him use that high-tech camera, but she hadn’t been impressed with his findings. Gavin agreed there was something buried in the area but he refused to