Page 5 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 2

CLOSING THE FOLDER on a recently solved case, Kace placed it in the file cabinet with the rest and locked the drawer. He glanced at the clock and sighed. Ten fifteen. Another late night on the job. Since he’d taken over as Sheriff he’d spent many an evening on the old, worn couch in his office. Looked like he’d be testing out the springs again tonight.

Getting up from behind his desk, he strolled into the outer office and over to the coffee maker, poured a cup of the brew and sipped. It was ice cold. With a disgusted growl, he emptied the cup in one gulp, grateful for the caffeine to get him through another folder or two.

Back at his desk, he sat back down and eased his body into the cushions of the worn leather chair, staring at the stack of folders that still needed reviewing. His gaze automatically found the pile of sticky notes Mildred had left for him. Picking the top half from the heap, he sighed and then filed through each of them…all twenty, and all from Tyler Posey. She was hell bent on getting his attention.

Maybe he should just call her.

That was his job. To make sure townspeople were happy and safe.

He tossed the sticky notes back onto his desk and massaged his aching temples with his thumbs. An image developed in his mind as it had done hundreds of times over the past fifteen years. Petite brunette. Pale blue eyes backdropped by silky olive complexion. Body like a curvy back road. Nice and tight. He gave his head a disgruntled shake. The thought of her as “the one that got away” had faded some over the years and now a memory of a girl who’d left town to pursue dreams remained like an old battle wound. It had healed, but when the weather was bad, it smarted like a mother fucker.

Leaning back in the chair, he closed his eyes, feeling a stab in the middle of his chest as he revisited the memory of the last night he spoke to her—the night that changed the course of his life. She’d looked lovely with her long black hair pulled up in a messy top knot, one spaghetti strap had fallen down her shoulder, and her bare feet dipped in the water. She hadn’t looked lovelier with the rays of the sun turning her beautiful eyes surrounded by a thick fringe of dark lashes into thieves of hearts. And that smile. Oh brother…it had made him weak in the knees. The yellow dress she wore that landed mid-thigh had driven him crazy.

That summer they’d spent night after night making love under the moon and stars. He’d learned her body, her mind, and her soul. He’d never shared so much with one person.

That one night had been different though. He was getting ready to leave for the Navy and he’d wanted to make her his girl. He’d been nervous as hell and had checked the velvet case in his pocket at least a dozen times, waiting for the perfect moment to ask for her hand in marriage. They’d been young, too young and inexperienced for some peoples’ tastes, but he knew he wanted to spend his life with her. Knew that he wanted to build a life of memories with her. He’d never been good at telling anyone his feelings, but he’d wanted to confess everything to her and vow to never let her go. He’d been a ride or die cowboy…made for one woman.

Damn, he’d been a fool.

Before he could drop to one knee, she’d dropped the bomb that she was leaving town and planned to live in New York…and nowhere in those plans did it include being hitched to a good ol’ boy like himself.

Sure, she’d promised that she’d return one day. Probably said at least twenty times that things wouldn’t pan out in the big city and she was wasting her time going, but she wanted to audition for a part in a major play. Up until then, she’d been playing roles in the local theater while working on her family ranch. In that moment, the future he’d wanted, dreamt about, was soiled. After all, what could he offer that would compare to New York? He’d wished her well, put on a strong front, and that was the last time he saw her…well, the last time they’d been together.

He’d gone onto the military, deployed in all parts of the world, fighting for his country, and Tyler had gotten the part in the play, and many more to come. What she didn’t know, he’d visited New York once, even saw her on stage. He never cared much for Shakespeare but watching her had kept his interest. She owned the stage, stealing hearts with her role, and he’d planned to see her after the show …until he saw her receiving two armfuls of red roses from a man who she thanked with a kiss.

Kace made a quick exit out of the theater, giving the daisies he’d bought for Tyler to an elderly woman who was very appreciative, then he headed home where he belonged.

She’d visited Bohannan a few times over the years from what Johnny and Rogue told him. Kace had been retired from the military by then, working for the Wyoming DCI for a while, also for the FBI a short spell until he finally decided he wanted a more hands on approach to the law. He liked being Sheriff, liked knowing the people he helped. Seeing the differences he made.

Living in Bohannan now, he’d eventually have to see Tyler. He wanted to remain indifferent, distant. Was it possible?

He’d gotten over her. He’d gone on with his life, enjoyed living as a bachelor and all that entailed, so he should thank her for cutting the ties long ago. He could be hitched to her wagon for life, and then what? Wake up with the same woman every morning who expected him to make it for dinner every evening? Kiss her anytime he wanted? Make love to just her for the rest of his life? He shifted and adjusted his fly.

Yeah, who wanted that life?

He blew out a long breath. He sort of did.

Giving his head a shake in hopes to dislodge the errant train of thought, he’d have to man up—way up—and keep his head on straight. He didn’t have time for Tyler or any woman…except for Sadie Mae who didn’t have any expectations outside of the bedroom.

He’d just steer clear of Tyler, then there’d be no chance of her getting into his head.

Who was he kidding? Bohannan wasn’t big enough to curse a cat without choking on fur let alone dodge Tyler Posey. She could be a force to be reckoned with. That’s how she earned the nickname Sassy.

If he knew her, and he did, or at least he did once upon a time, she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted. Three years ago, when her sister, Susannah, was found dead at her boyfriend’s house, Tyler had come home to help make arrangements for her funeral. It had been a devastating time for her family and Kace had been too chicken shit to see her, although he had gone to the funeral services and sat in the very back, his eyes naturally staying on her, wishing he could have comforted her in some way. She hadn’t been alone though. Another man’s arm had been around her, some guy who drove a BMW and wore an expensive suit that screamed “yuppie”. She’d traded in a country boy for a rich bastard. Figured. What had he expected? She was a beautiful, talented woman. The man backstage at the play and the yuppie from the funeral were probably only two of the men she had on a string.

If that wasn’t enough to convince him that she didn’t belong in Bohannan, cowboy capital of Wyoming, then he wasn’t sure what would. She’d always had big dreams of being in the spotlight and he liked everything low key. She was outgoing, and he was introverted. She talked about having a big house, and he liked small. They were completely different.

Point was, he could lay low during her visit if he really tried. He’d once hidden a whole week in Kosovo on assignment without anyone the wiser. From his special ops missions, he’d learned the skill of hiding in the most obvious places. Yet, he wasn’t on assignment and he wasn’t about to go out of his way for her. He was Sheriff, and if she wanted to find him, she could.

However, she’d have to get used to the idea that she couldn’t waltz back into town, ring up his phone, and he’d dropped everything to reopen her sister’s closed case.

Kace understood Tyler’s dismay. No one wanted to believe that a loved one would take their own life, but he couldn’t investigate clues for a homicide where the facts just weren’t there. He’d read over the file and it was an open and shut case.

Realizing he wasn’t going to get much more work done, he got back up and went over to the couch, dropped down onto the lumpy cushions that squealed like a pig in heat and placed his loaded gun on the nearby table. He laid his arm over his eyes and had quickly fallen into a dream of dark hair, bewildering blue eyes, and a sweet little body when a noise in the outer office brought him wide awake and to a sitting position. He had his gun in hand and was off the couch, taking three long strides across the room, just as a loud clanking noise sounded again.

Kace stepped out of his office, gun aimed at the floor as he glanced across the shadowed room. Seeing a silhouette in the cell, he growled. What the hell?

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