Claimed by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 4) Read online

  In school they both had been forced into music lessons by their parents, Isla the drums and Tyler the piano. So to rebel, they’d started a garage rock band that lasted about as long as the idea had. At least thereafter their parents had backed off and allowed the girls to focus on other things, like boys, instead of music lessons. Later, they both switched to drama and loved the stage. Isla had become a music teacher at the local elementary, and Tyler, well, she’d pursued her dreams and failed.

  She couldn’t remember a day as a child when Isla wasn’t at the Posey house. When she married last year in Vegas, Tyler was there as her matron of honor, and now that her bestie was pregnant, Tyler planned to be there as another generation took shape.

  “My hubby’s good friend from the firm is still available if you find yourself too lonely.”

  Isla was always after Tyler to settle down, but her luck with men had only gotten worse after she’d left Bohannan, and Kace. She’d met and dated a few men over the last fifteen years, but Fin had been the closest she’d gotten to a long term relationship. He’d been there for her when Susy passed, but a short time after, things seemed to fizzle.

  “Not every person who is single needs fixed up on a blind date,” Tyler said.

  “He’s successful, nice looking and ready to settle down. That’s a lot better than most women can find these days.”

  “Thank you, but no thank you.”

  “Okay. I’ll back off, except I do need to ask. Why aren’t you staying at the ranch?”

  “I’m just not ready to see my father. I saw Rogue last night though.”

  “I know you’re upset, sweetie, but eventually you’re going to have to work things out with Johnny. You weren’t the only one who lost someone. People grieve in all different ways. Keep that in mind.”

  Going back inside, she leaned against the counter. “We’ll see. I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  After clicking off, she reached for the carafe to pour another cup of coffee while she stared through the window, not seeing anything but into her wayward thoughts. Isla wasn’t convinced that she didn’t still have the hots for Kace. Sure, she’d be mighty lucky to have that firm jaw scraping her sensitive skin as those plush lips kissed a seductive path southward, but they had a history that had been a roller coaster to say the least. Caught up in her thoughts, she moved her hand and sloshed coffee all over the front of her shirt. Grabbing the towel from the hook, she wiped the stain and frowned. Just like her to be so clumsy.

  It didn’t help that her insides were jittery from seeing Kace.

  She’d just have to get over it.

  Chapter 4

  PULLING UP IN front of the small two story with black shudders, Kace turned off the engine to his truck and moseyed up the front walkway and knocked. When he didn’t get an answer, he opened the screen a few inches and poked his head inside. “Tyler?”

  “Help! I’m up here,” she called out from upstairs.

  His heart skipped a beat and he instantly went into lawman mode as he took the stairs two at a time. Coming to a skidding halt outside of the bathroom he took in the scene and bit back laughter. Tyler was on all fours, dripping wet from water spraying out from under the sink. The steady stream was squirting her in the face and puddling on the floor around her. Her hair was matted to her head and her eyes pleaded for his assistance. “I’m not strong enough to turn the knob on the pipe. Can you help?”

  He hesitated in the doorway. He didn’t like the idea of getting all wet, but he wasn’t a sugar cube. Taking off his belt and hat and placing them on the floor in the hall to stay dry, he stepped into the bathroom, holding up his hands in front of his face against the attack of water, but everything else was soaked within a matter of seconds. Dropping to his knees, he reached under the sink and twisted the rusty knob.

  Kace looked at Tyler through wet eyelashes. “What the hell?”

  “I-I don’t know what happened. I turned on the faucet and the next thing I knew water started splashing everywhere and I couldn’t twist the knob.” She let out a throaty sigh that sent heat skittering down his chest and stomach to settle into his balls.

  Although the cold water seeped through his jeans, the temperature didn’t deter his body from reacting to how beautiful she looked. Her cheeks were pale pink and her naturally swollen bottom lip trembled. Her thin shirt clung to her breasts—bra-less breasts to be exact. Somewhere he’d lost the ability to breathe and his head had grown as well as other parts of his anatomy. He wanted to be ashamed, but it was very difficult to think of morality with his zipper stretched.

  Her blue eyes were on him, unblinking.

  Naughty thoughts of licking, touching, caressing her body burst through his woozy head. The blood in his veins scorched and his lungs tightened, making breathing almost impossible.

  Her tongue came out to smooth across her lip and the hair on his body erected. How the hell did she do that? Touch him without even touching him. There was just something magical about her.

  She stood and laughed as she looked down her soaked body. “Looks like we’re both wet.”

  His mind careened down a narrow path of naughty. Yeah, he hoped she was wet. Clearing his throat, he stood which was difficult when his body stretched the denim to capacity. It didn’t help that the damp jeans gave little room for flexibility. “Just a tad bit.” Shit! His voice cracked like a prepubescent boy. He cleared his throat again, refusing to allow this beauty to take control of him like a puppet master. Although, his gaze naturally dipped to where her erect nipples were pressed against the fabric of the too-thin T-shirt and he didn’t mind staring a little too long.

  “Get those clothes off,” she demanded.

  His mind blinked rapidly. Did he hear right? “My clothes? Off?” He was back to being that inexperienced teenager again who couldn’t get his mind out of the gutter long enough to see straight.

  She laughed and her eyes dazzled. Wet strands of hair were clinging to her flawless, rosy cheeks. “I can’t send you anywhere dripping wet, can I?” One groomed brow came up over humored eyes. “I’ll stick them in the dryer and they’ll be done in no time at all.”

  “Yes. I mean…no, I guess I need them dried.” Should he tell her that he had a change of clothes in the back of his truck? Suddenly, the thought of staying awhile and catching up sounded like a damn good time. “What about all this?” He enveloped his hands through the air.

  “I’ll tackle that by throwing down some dry towels. You can use my bedroom to strip down, and take this,” she opened a cabinet and tossed a towel into his chest. When he just stood there, she said, “Of course, if you’re comfortable you can undress here. It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked.” Her eyes were dazzling blue gems that beckoned him.

  What the hell had come over him? He was in a daze. Popping out of the cloud that encompassed him, he smiled. “Let’s just say the boy you remember is no longer here.” He winked, turned and headed out of the bathroom. His boots squeaked as he walked down the hallway, but at least they were waterproof.

  “Last door on the right,” she yelled after him.

  Just how he suspected, her room smelled like a flower garden and the queen-sized bed with the thick white comforter invited him, but he refused. He didn’t want to snuggle alone. He dragged off his hat and glanced around the space. Boxes were stacked in one corner, probably needing unpacked, a yoga mat was rolled and leaning underneath the wide window, which gave him a boatload of X-rated thoughts as he imagined her body stretched in different poses. He wondered, did she do yoga nude? Or maybe she wore those tight little pants that fit a woman’s bottom like butter.

  Damn. He’d been in a woman’s bedroom before so why was he acting like the ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ boy? That was because he was wet behind the ears. No part of him remained dry.

  With the door closed, he toed off his boots and socks, then peeled off his uniform shirt and jeans, and even his boxers had to go.

  Wrapping the towel around his waist, h
e knotted it, checking to make sure it was secure since he didn’t want to flash Tyler and meandered over to the vanity to look at the picture wedged between the mirror and frame. It was of her and Susy as teenagers. They were smiling and happy. Something foreign reached in and clasped his heart, twisting. He couldn’t imagine losing one of his siblings, and if one did die tragically, there wasn’t anything that could stop him from finding out what the hell happened. He’d hunt down the perpetrator and nothing could save them from his wrath. So he understood why Tyler couldn’t just accept that her sister’s death was a suicide. In fact, he respected that she made it her top priority to help her sister even after she was gone.

  This surged him into looking at the case differently. Maybe he did need to investigate further. He didn’t have a lot of time, but he’d find some. He’d even give up a few nights of sleep if needed.

  Lowering his curious gaze, he looked at the row of bottles lining the top of the vanity. He didn’t know what half the bottles and brushes were for, but he did know that Tyler didn’t need anything because she was naturally beautiful.

  Picking up a bottle of lotion, he brought it to his nose and sniffed. Mm. Sweet vanilla cupcakes. Putting it down and picking up a red tube, he popped off the top and looked at the pink substance. Melon. He liked watermelon. Watermelon on Tyler’s mouth was even more enticing.

  He smiled and replaced the lid and dropped the lip tint back into the caddy.

  Then he saw it. The bubble gum machine ring he gave her when he was eighteen. Thinking back to that day, he remembered they’d been riding horses on his parent’s ranch and stopped to watch the sunset when he’d pulled out the ring. It was a bit hokey as he looked back now, but she’d placed the ring on her finger and worn it every day until one of the fake diamonds popped out, then she said she’d keep it safely at home. Well, here it was, just as she’d promised.

  Lifting the ring and dropping it into his palm, he felt a flow of emotion. Recalling how much he’d loved her almost knocked him off his feet. He’d wanted to spend forever and a day with her and dreamed of having kids that looked like her.

  Growling, he chastised himself for being so damn gullible back then. He was no longer that kid who had hopes and dreams and foolish wishes.

  Dropping the ring back into the small cup, his large hand hit one of the containers and clumsily he tried to catch it, but it was too late. Like a dominos effect, they all tipped, and a perfume bottle fell off the edge of the vanity and hit the floor with a crack.

  “Shit!” He bent and picked it up, seeing a very small break in the glass, but at least no perfume was leaking out. However, if Tyler was anywhere close, she had to hear the avalanche of bottles and she’d know he was snooping through her things.

  He knew he’d better get out before he did any more damage.

  She was bent over on the bathroom floor when he stepped out of the bedroom and he stopped dead still in the middle of the hallway. The frayed hem of the jean shorts were hiked high up on her firm bottom, showing off a good bit of rounded ass. As she scoured the floor with a towel, her hips moved and her bottom tilted higher as she reached to wipe an area next to the tub.

  Holy hell. He gave his head a shake, feeling his body jerk alive. He was going to make a big damn fool of himself if he didn’t stop acting like a desperate asshole.

  She looked at him over her shoulder. A few strands of hair had fallen loose from the topknot and she blew them off her face. Her cheeks were flushed and that smile…the one that could win wars was back on her sexy lips. “Which did you like best?”

  “What?” Had he missed something?

  “The vanilla scented lotion or the orange flower petals and cedarwood perfume? It was a Christmas gift.”

  And he was busted.

  “Is it expensive?”

  “Only a hundred an ounce, but who’s counting.” Her eyes turned a shade lighter as she laughed. “Glad to see the towel fits.” She swept her gaze down his bare chest, all the way down to his toes.

  “Need any help?” He could name at least ten ways he could help her.

  “Nope.” She stood and swiped her hands down the back pockets of her shorts. “I’m as wrinkly as a prune. I’ll call a plumber and let them handle the rest.” Her gaze settled for a long three seconds on the towel that he knew didn’t hide his attraction for her. There was nothing he could do at this point to pretend like he didn’t have an erection. She brought her eyes back up and the telltale flush of her cheeks and trembling bottom lip certainly didn’t help matters. “Are you still on duty?”

  “Always.”

  “Then instead of offering you a shot of something strong, how about a tall glass of something cold? You still like raspberries in your tea? I haven’t been able to find anyone who makes sweet tea like your momma.”

  After all the salivating he’d done since he’d arrived, he was a bit parched. “Sure. I’ll take a glass.”

  “Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I better get out of these wet things and get your clothes in the dryer.”

  That was his cue to leave and, like a zombie, he handed over his pile of clothes. “You sure you don’t mind drying these things?”

  “It’s my fault that you were soaked and I owe you. I’d need a boat right now if you hadn’t come along like you did.”

  “Glad I could be of assistance.” He smiled, feeling his body relax some. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” He grabbed his belt and hat, and took the stairs one at a time, happy he could walk.

  “Hey, Kace? You mind grabbing the tea and berries from the fridge?” she called from the top of the stairs.

  “Will do.”

  In the kitchen, he did as she requested, placing the pitcher and vat of fresh berries on the counter. By the time she swept in, now wearing a bright pink T-shirt and running shorts, he was sitting at the table and his body had loosened up only to feel a familiar rising threatening his man parts.

  “Clothes are in the dryer. Now for the tea.” She sashayed her way across the tiled floor to take down two mason jars from the cabinet, dropped in some ice then poured the tea. In a bowl she mashed the raspberries. “Speaking of your momma, just so you know, I plan on visiting her and your Pa soon. I haven’t seen them in forever, not since the funeral. They came all the way just to pay their condolences, of course you already knew that, didn’t you?”

  He worked his bottom lip, not answering.

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. “Come on, you didn’t think I would notice you sitting in the back wearing that grizzly frown? Rather rude of you not to say hello.” She went back to smashing and with each movement her hips swayed.

  “That yuppie seemed to comfort you just fine,” he said grumpily.

  “Believe it or not, you two had a lot in common.” She brought the fruit covered spoon to her mouth and licked.

  “Yeah, two long lost brothers.” He sniffed. Because he couldn’t take much more swaying and licking, he turned his gaze and concentrated on the old antique clock above the doorway. A woman dressed in nineteenth century garb was painted in the center and her arms were the hands and the numbers were baked goods. “How old is that clock?”

  She laughed and set a glass in front of him. “Belonged to Maryanne Weaver who lived here before. Remember her?”

  “She always wore her silver hair in a bun and dressed in gray dresses. Her shoes squeaked when she walked.”

  “Yes, that’s her.” She reached into a drawer and took out a book, placing it next to his glass. “This is Susy’s diary.”

  He picked up the leather journal, running his finger over the worn and frayed edges that proved it had been read a hundred times. Opening it to the front page, he read… “Property of Susannah Posey.”

  “Don’t lose it. Okay?” A sadness crawled over her features.

  “Tyler…”

  “I know. You can’t promise anything.” She picked at a paper towel. “I’m just appreciating that you are taking the time to read
it. There are times I’ve questioned if I’m just wanting to find reasons which aren’t there to help me in believing she wouldn’t have taken her own life. My instincts tell me, though, that something isn’t right in this, but if you tell me I’m not seeing things right, I’ll trust you. Dad and Rogue have told me enough that I should learn to let go.”

  Her expression was so soft he had to force breath into his lungs. “You’re doing what any sibling would do.” He set the diary back down and gulped down half the tea.

  “Are you uptight?”

  “No,” he said a little too loud and faster than intended.

  She snickered and leaned forward. He could practically feel her warmth across the table. “I seem to make you edgy.”

  ~~**~~

  “You’re wrong.”

  Tyler smiled and eased back into the chair. “You can’t hide your frustration from me, Kace. You never could.”

  “I’m not hiding anything except it’s a bit odd me sitting in your kitchen wearing only a towel.” The grooves in his forehead deepened when he frowned.

  She didn’t mind one bit. A woman could get used to having Kace Cade sitting across from her at the dinner table. “Maybe we should talk.”

  “We are talking.”

  “About the past.” Although she hadn’t planned to bring up their history, she also didn’t want things to be awkward between them.

  “There’s nothing to say.” He shifted and the chair creaked.