Claimed by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 4) Page 9

  When he returned with a water bottle, she’d managed to gather some of her control and she didn’t feel like she could cry at any minute.

  “Here you go. It’ll help.”

  She uncapped the water and drank, not realizing how parched she was until now. “Thank you.”

  “Are you sore?”

  “Just my knees.”

  He took the cloth that she placed on the table and he sat down next to her, patting his lap. She lifted a brow. “Lay back and put your legs up here. I wasn’t quite finished.”

  With no hesitancy, she shifted her body on the couch and stretched out, laying her legs over his lap. The feel was familiar and it would be easy to forget that years divided the two of them. He pressed the soft cloth against her knee so lightly as if he was afraid he’d hurt her. How was it possible a man his size with all that masculinity could be so gentle? He’d always been tender.

  She watched him, admiring his strong profile and his large hands, one that was now laid on her ankle and the other moving the cloth over her wound to clean it out. “You don’t have to do this, Kace.”

  He looked at her, dimples bracketing his famous Cade smile. “No, I don’t have to, but call it part of the job.”

  So, he did this because it was his duty? That dulled some of the shine, although she couldn’t complain. Having his hands on her not only soothed her physically, but emotionally as well. She could wonder what it would have been like if she’d stayed in Bohannan. Would she and Kace have married? Had a couple of kids now? Living on a ranch somewhere? He’d talked about his dreams when they were younger, but he’d never talked about his emotions.

  Watching him for a long minute, she cleared her throat. “Who do you think did this?”

  “Without investigating, I’d only be guessing.”

  “I’m keeping you from doing your job, aren’t I?”

  He shrugged. “Remember what I said. This is part of my job.” There it was again. Was he trying to squash any hope of her feeling special? Why did she feel so vulnerable? So needy? “Okay.”

  “I should go and take a look outside while things are still fresh. Will you be okay?”

  “Yes. Sure.” She scooted her legs off his lap and brought her knees up to her chest where her heart skipped several beats. Her knees stung some, but she could handle a few scratches, but what she couldn’t handle was being near Kace without sliding back to the girl who wanted to challenge him just to see those dimples.

  Once he took his leave, she got up off the couch and hurried—or rather limped—

  upstairs where she checked herself in the bathroom mirror. Her stomach dropped into her toes. Oh, for heaven’s sake. She looked like she’d taken a bath in a barrel of ashes. And her hair…oh wow.

  Why did she care what she looked like at a time like this? Because she had a Greek God in her backyard. One who always looked good.

  Speaking of…

  She hurried into her bedroom and looked out the window into the backyard where Kace was bent over examining something in the grass. Footprints maybe? If anyone could find out who started the fire, it would be Kace.

  Watching him stand, he seemed completely engrossed in looking at the still smoking embers. He moved to the back of the smoking pile and she left the window to wash her face. She’d need a long scrub in the shower, but for now, a clean face and a hair brushing would go a long way.

  Chapter 9

  RAVISHING. THAT WAS the word that came to Kace’s mind when he came back into the house and found Tyler standing at the sink rinsing out a cup. She’d washed her face and pulled her hair up into a top knot that exposed the delicate length of her neck. He remembered all too well how she liked to have that part of her body kissed…as well as many other parts.

  His body hardened. His chest tightened.

  Sure, now you want to respond when the chances of having sex are slim.

  She lifted her chin and looked at him over her shoulder and the question and insecurity he saw in her baby blues made his heart catch. He was at a cross between needing to do his job and wanting to keep her safe. Knowing someone came onto her property and set the fire drilled anger and disbelief into his body.

  “What did you find?” She dried her hands off on a towel.

  “A few things.” He rubbed his forehead. “I took a picture of the footprints. Unfortunately, with the firemen putting out the fire they could have easily left some on the scene. I’ll have to compare prints to see if I can narrow down one that doesn’t belong. I put the gas can in my truck. I want to take it back to the office and have it tested for prints.”

  “So you don’t think this was just a couple of teenagers causing trouble? Jake thought maybe…”

  He swiped a hand down his face. “Even an unskilled criminal doesn’t leave so many obvious clues at a crime scene.” He let out a long exhale of breath.

  “It sounds like what you’re saying is that you believe whoever started the fire wanted it to be known that they did it on purpose.” Her skin paled some. “Why would someone want to set my shed on fire?” Her eyes widened. “Oh…it’s someone who doesn’t like that I’m here. Isn’t it?”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Although he’d thought the same thing. After his conversation with Mansfield at the diner and the Mayor today, it all didn’t settle well in Kace’s gut.

  She stiffened and he guessed she must have sensed his suspicious thoughts. “It’s not a coincidence.” She tossed the towel onto the sink and crossed her arms over her chest. “I hope you nail whoever did this.”

  “That could be a problem.” Might as well just give it to her straight.

  “Why?” She dropped her arms to her sides.

  “Arson cases are very difficult to prove. All the evidence is in the ashes.”

  “But you said you had a footprint and a gas can.” If it was possible, her eyes were blazing.

  “And as I said, the scene has been contaminated. That could have been anyone’s print and the can could have been there before the fire.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Are you kidding me?” She turned to look out the window.

  “No, I wouldn’t kid about a subject this serious. Yet, before you go shooting me with those invisible lasers, why don’t you hear me out. I agree, this isn’t a coincidence. That doesn’t get us any closer to nabbing the person who did this, but it does give me more reason to believe that someone is feeling the heat with your presence and that’s probably because I’ve reopened your sister’s case.” Hearing her sniffle, he stepped over to see her face. Streaks of tears marred her cheeks. His gut clenched. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m happy to be here in Bohannan, but it also scratches off the scab of my sister’s death. In the end it isn’t going to matter whether she took her own life or someone did this because nothing will bring her back.” She swiped away the tears.

  “Don’t do that. You were bound and determined for me to look at this case, and now that I’ve decided to do some investigating you can’t bail out.”

  She lifted her chin, nailing him with blood shot eyes. “Are you in agreement that something’s not right about her death?”

  Damn! His gut instincts warned him something wasn’t right when it came to Susy. The fact that she’d been into drugs and carrying on with the wrong crowd didn’t mean she didn’t deserve justice. If anything, he wanted to help Tyler find closure. He could only imagine how torturous it must be to wonder what really happened to a loved one. Either way, whatever they found she would have to accept the facts and move forward. At least she’d know that she did everything she could to find answers. “I definitely think this case needs another look.”

  He didn’t expect what happened next. She took the three steps that brought her to him and she wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling closer. “Thank you, Kace. I knew I could count on you.”

  As he held her against him all he could do was compare how her soft curves took him back to how g
ood she felt years ago. Even better now. Her firm breasts pressed against his chest, alerting him to the fact that he could be happy just holding her. Damn. She felt so good. Her breasts were bigger. Had to be if he could feel them through their clothes. Not that it mattered. He never put too much thought into whether a woman was stacked up top. He liked breasts—big or small.

  She nestled her head on his shoulder and one hand slipped down to rest lightly on his bicep.

  “You have to promise me, no matter what we find, you have to accept it and move on,” he said with a shaky voice.

  Her face came up, blue eyes staring up at him and he gritted his teeth to keep from doing what his body yearned to do.

  “I can promise, but I know in my heart she didn’t commit suicide and we’ll find the proof. I feel it’s out there, just waiting to be found.”

  “We? Don’t you mean you as in I’ll find the proof?”

  A devilish shine entertained her eyes. “I know you probably don’t need a junior detective at your side, but I want to help, Kace. I want to be a part of this.”

  He swallowed hard. The thought of spending the amount of time together with her that it would require made his balls tighten. How could he keep his hands to himself if he had her alongside him all the time? However, a bigger part of him didn’t mind the idea that she would be close. He wasn’t against getting to know her again, but that’s where it ended. Sure, she talked a good game when it came to buying the theater and living in Bohannan, but Kace wasn’t convinced that this wasn’t a one-pump dream. After she found the truth to her sister’s death,

  she might want to skip dodge and go back to where gourmet coffee shops stood on every corner and entertainment included all those theater shows and plays she loved. Here in the small town of Bohannan they considered a Friday night best spent under stadium lights and the early morning only good for two things. One of those fishing and the other is something he’d wanted to do with Tyler since she came home.

  ~~**~~

  Tyler had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Not only did she see the tension in his expression, but she felt the strain against her stomach. He couldn’t hide the fact that his body liked having her close, even if he couldn’t say it in words. Thankfully, he couldn’t see how her body responded underneath her clothes. If he had X-ray vision he’d see her erect nipples. The butterflies in her stomach. The moisture between her legs.

  The uncertainty clouding his blue eyes made her quiver. She knew that look and he wanted to kiss her. He craved her. Would he deny himself? No way in hell would she deny him, and she could make a move, but she also wouldn’t press her luck.

  “You just want to control the investigation.” Although his voice sounded steady, she caught the tiny change in the octave. “That can’t happen.”

  Her inner thighs trembled and all those neglected parts that hadn’t felt a hand or a mouth in far too long scattered with goosebumps.

  Trouble. She was in a whole lot of it and didn’t care to pull herself out.

  During those tense seconds, Tyler took in all the wonderful things she was feeling inside and out. The hard muscles under her palms. The solid strength of his chest and flat stomach. The wide, silver belt buckle and the hard bulge prodding her. His hands were on her now, caressing her back, then lingering on the indentation of her hips before lowering even farther to caress her bottom. Promising heat accosted her. She inhaled his scent, loving the mixture of leather and virility. The scent belonged to him solely. To a man she’d never forgotten and certainly had never gotten over.

  And there was the blatant, hard truth. As much as it hurt to admit, it was high time she did.

  “What if I promise that I won’t try to control anything?”

  He stiffened and stepped back.

  “Kace?”

  His jaw worked. “Tyler, I…”

  “Just say it,” she encouraged.

  “If I don’t leave, I’m going to end up doing something that we’re not ready for. Something that we’ll both regret.”

  Chapter 10

  THE KNOCK CAME on the door of the trailer and Frankie looked up from his line of coke and swiped the back of his hand across his nose. “Go away,” he muttered.

  Another pounding knock came and the man growled. “Hey, piece of shit! You’re going to wake up—” His words fizzled once he opened the door to find a stranger standing on his stoop.

  “Are you Frankie Lutz?” The stranger took one last drag of his cigarette and flicked it into the gravel.

  Frankie stared blankly. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Are you Frankie?”

  “Listen, dipshit. I don’t talk to FEDS.” Frankie started to slam the door, but the other man was faster. He pushed through, knocking Frankie’s head against the table, upsetting the empty beer bottles, mirror and powder . Several things cracked as they hit the floor. He swiped at the stream of blood on his forehead. “What the fuck! Get the hell out of my place before I fuck you up!”

  The suited man bent down close to Frankie, a grin carving his thin lips and pockmarked expression. He pulled back his fist and struck Frankie hard in the cheek.

  Frankie came to, not sure how long he’d been out, but long enough that when he awoke his hands and feet were tied to a chair. Through blurred vision he focused on the suited man standing across the cramped space. Frankie had to blink several times until he could finally see things clearer. The man had put a hurting on his face. “I-I don’t know where you’re from, but I’ll call the cops.”

  “What criminal keeps evidence? Better yet, what jackass leaves evidence at the scene of a crime?” The suited man threw a pair of black gloves drenched in gasoline into Frankie’s chest and they landed in his lap.

  Everything was starting to make sense. “I-I did what the old man asked. I waited for her to get home and then I set the building on fire. I thought I was supposed to make it an obvious arson?”

  The suited man turned on the gas stove. He picked up a steel bar leaning against the wall and placed it into the flame. “The boss hates thieves,” the man, a short stocky, ugly bastard, swiped his chin. “But what he hates more is a clumsy thief.”

  “What are you talking about?” Frankie stuttered. “I didn’t steal anything.”

  “Cut the BS, my friend. You went into her house and she came home. That’s why the job was botched. You were in a hurry to set the fire. You were supposed to wait until she was in the building.”

  “No one said anything about wanting her dead, just scared.”

  “Yeah, that’s right. He wanted her to feel the heat to get the point across. Boss trusted you. Gave you the opportunity for a better life, and what did you do? You decided to stray from the plan. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” The suited man clicked off the burner and lifted the red-hot branding poker.

  “What is that, man?” Frankie squirmed in the chair, pushing against the ropes that bound his hands and feet. “Get the hell away from me with that thing. I didn’t do anything.” Tears filled his eyes as the suited man held the hot brand close to his face.

  “This is what happens when Boss’ people betray him.”

  “I-I didn’t betray him. I did what I was supposed to. I only went inside her house because I was curious. I didn’t take nothing. I swear!” The tears now streamed down his face. “I know I made a mistake by leaving the can, but I didn’t leave behind any prints.”

  “Don’t waste your breath. Good news is Boss wants to give you another chance. Beats me why, but that’s why I’m here.” The suit man brought the iron close to Frankie’s eye.

  “Get the fuck away from me with that thing. Fuck you.”

  “Are you listening? I’ll only say this one time. We have a place for you, but it comes with a requirement.” The man jerked his head toward the branding iron. “Boss will own you, and like all his livestock, you’ll wear a brand as a reminder that you breathe, eat, and even take a piss when he tells you to.”

  “Wh-what? Are you fucking crazy?”


  “You can say no, my friend.”

  “Then I say no.”

  “Is that really your choice?” The suited man pulled back his jacket a few inches, exposing the handle of a gun.

  “I’ll leave town. He won’t see me again!” he squealed.

  “That’s not part of the deal, Frankie. Make the decision, partner, or I’ll make it for you.”

  Several minutes passed. “Fine,” Frankie muttered.

  The suit man grinned and his eyes lit as if he enjoyed the power he held. “Take it like a man.”

  Frankie closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. The branding iron pressed against his skin and he jerked as the pain shattered through his body. Sizzling sounds and the acrid smell of burning skin filled the camper. Frankie moaned, his teeth clenched and his body convulsed as the iron melted his flesh. The wetness of his urine covered his legs before everything went black.

  ~~**~~

  Standing in the center of the stage of her theater—her theater—Tyler felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. Although owning a theater in Bohannan, Wyoming had not been on her bucket list, she couldn’t be happier with the way her life was heading. Her acting career didn’t pan out, but she loved drama, loved theater, and she had big plans to restore the historical building.

  She’d already contacted contractors to give her estimates, and as she sat underneath the bright spotlights on the stage she jotted notes into her notebook. The sound of the heavy metal front door opening and slamming shut made her jump. “Hello?” she called out.

  No answer came.

  Dropping her pen and paper, she left the stage, exiting on the right-side set of stairs and started for the aisle when she saw a silhouette standing in the entryway.

  “Hello?”