Page 30 of Claimed by the Lawman

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 good 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?”

---