Page 9 of Seized by the Lawman

Then he remembered the shit mess he was in. Her dad was the boss. No man, no matter how he ranked on the proverbial ladder, screwed with the head honcho’s daughter. It was an unwritten rule across every language and country, and he’d fucked that up. He hadn’t even been on the job for six months. In his defense, he didn’t know who she was when he met her, but to be honest, he wasn’t sure he would have resisted her even if she had “boss’s daughter” tattooed across her forehead. This woman, with her long beautiful hair, big blue eyes that were almost too large for her face, and the pale pink pucker of lips that tasted like a sweet morsel from heaven made him realize how utterly self-absorbed he’d been over the years.

Collecting himself, he needed to keep a straight face, but would she out them? Would she confess to her daddy that she had seduced Nix? He’d have to wait and see. “I don’t think we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” He held out his hand, hoping she played along with anonymity.

She looked from his stuck-out palm to his face, squaring her shoulders and staring him straight in the eye. “No, we haven’t,” she ground between her clenched teeth, and pressed her slender, soft hand into his, the same hand that had been wrapped around parts of him and he’d been an idiot to think his body wouldn’t respond like he was a wet-behind-the-ears teenager.

What was only about two seconds actually seemed like a decade as he held her hand, using the pad of his thumb to glide down her delicate knuckles as an electrical jolt awakened all the nerves in his forearm and bicep. She slipped her hand away and, although the touch was disconnected, the spellbinding sensations in his muscles remained.

His gaze automatically dropped to the front of her shirt where her hard nipples imprinted the thin material. It was a sign that she was just as affected by the innocent touch. If her father wasn’t standing three feet away, watching closely, they probably would have been a whirlwind of limbs as they came together ripping off each other’s clothes. The connection between them couldn’t be denied. Nix’s body would have been hard if he hadn’t heard Carson clear his throat.

Shame flooded Nix that he had allowed his mind to wander down a dead end. He brought his head back on track. “Nice to meet you.”

“I can’t believe Bo and I have been buddies for as long as we have, been at each other’s houses a time or two, and you two kids have never met.” Carson’s voice broke through Nix’s thoughts and he blinked. He’d been so enthralled by Melly that it took him a bit to come back to the moment, but he wasn’t left unscathed. He was suddenly overcome with wanting to ask her why she’d left him without a goodbye, and why she’d called him earlier. Had she wanted to meet up for a repeat?

“I guess we’ve just missed each other.” Nix cleared his throat, hopefully getting the huskiness out before he blew this all to hell.

Carson stepped behind his desk. “I’m sure you must be wondering why Cade is here, Melly.”

She tore her gaze from Nix and spun to look at her dad. “Is he here because of me?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Nix forced his gaze from the woman who smelled like a ripe peach and turned as Carson dropped down into his chair, motioning for his daughter and Nix to sit too. He heard Melly’s drawn exhale and he slightly wondered if she’d refuse, but she finally took a seat.

Letting his thoughts travel, Nix tried to put the pieces together in his head as if this was a case to solve. If Carson knew what happened between his daughter and Nix, he had a good feeling the man would be wanting to beat Nix’s ass and not invite him to show her the ropes.

“Yes, he does. He has everything to do with you,” Carson said, looking down at his desk a good three seconds before looking back up.

“Wait…why?” Melly demanded.

Carson leaned onto his elbows. “You and I have been discussing your take over at the ranch—”

“After all, it is my ranch.”

With the patience of a father, he said, “But your mother left it to me with the stipulation that I sign it over when I feel you’re ready for the responsibility. She didn’t want you saddled down with the burden too soon.”

Nix watched her shift in his peripheral. He didn’t exactly know what the relationship was like between father and daughter, but he had guessed by Carson’s explanation that it wasn’t great. However, the obvious disconnection was palpable. The last thing Nix wanted was to be wedged between a sparring match.

“Okay, and you have. Now I’m ready.”

“As you’ve said.” Carson nodded. “I’m not so sure.”

Her exhale of breath told a deep story and Nix’s blood heated.

“I’m an adult. I’ve made a small nest egg for myself. I’ve explored life and now I’m ready to plant some roots. I thought you’d be happy.” There was a tightness to her voice and Nix wanted to look at her to see if her expression showed her emotions, but he didn’t dare. “If I were a son, you’d have already handed over Shy Brooke.”

Carson didn’t even hesitate. “I am happy that you’re finally showing some interest in becoming an adult, but it’s my job to be sure that once the ranch is yours you will understand the responsibility, the gravity of owning the place, and how much work it takes.”

A second passed. “You don’t remember that I lived there and worked the ranch right along with my mom?”

Nix wasn’t skilled in reading into words, but there was something obvious here that reached back in time.

“For the first ten years of your life, Melly, and then it seemed you lost interest. You weren’t old enough to see the financial burden it placed on your grandfather, on your mother. On me. Monica…” His words faded as if he couldn’t say what as on his mind.

“She didn’t die because of the burden.” Melly’s voice shook. “She had cancer.”

Nix shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe I should just—”

“Stay still,” Carson barked. “I’ll get to the point.”

Please do. Nix’s ears were burning.

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