Page 19 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 5

ZIPPING THE FLY on his worn jeans, Kace looked from the lit-up screen of his new phone to the frowning expression of Sadie Mae who was roughly tugging the hem of her hiked up mini skirt down her hips. By her pinched expression she was never going to let him live this one down.

The familiar phone number of the missed call made his gut tighten. He’d have to speak to Mildred about giving his number out to ex-girlfriends, even if they were Tyler Posey.

He’d tried his best to ignore the interruption, but when his body failed to respond, his only choice was to call it a day and hit the road. He’d never had this problem before…the pipes not working.

Shit! He was definitely going to pay for this later.

“Who does this? What is wrong with you?” She threw his shirt into the middle of his chest and he caught it.

“Sadie Mae, it’s not like I planned this.” He dragged the shirt onto his shoulders.

“It’s that girl, isn’t it? The one that has a guy’s name. After hearing that you’ve been spending time with her, I should have known she’d become a problem.” Her pert nose wrinkled and her crimson lips twisted.

Kace didn’t need to ask who she was referring to. The entire town knew that Tyler was back home and rumors were flying. “I’ve reopened her sister’s case. It’s natural we’d be spending time together.”

“Since when does a family member of a victim work with the Sheriff?”

“Since when do you give a shit?” He watched her slide her feet into her red stilettos and then she looked away as if she couldn’t bear to look at him any longer. He buttoned his shirt and took several steps toward the driver’s side of his truck. Since he and Sadie Mae had started the fling, he’d made it a habit to come out to the quiet, country location to take care of matters, but tonight he’d ended a good run. She was bound to never see him again.

Hell, maybe it was best they broke things off. In truth, after almost a year of having sex and he never invited her to his house and he rarely accepted the invitation to hers, obviously things weren’t going anywhere. Not that he ever thought they would. He’d miss her—or rather, his body would miss her. She was built like a brick house and could certainly make him sweat, but when it came to matters of the heart, that part of him was closed.

“What man in his right mind walks away from a ready and willing woman? Don’t think this opportunity will come up again.” She crossed her arms over her chest and heaved a sigh that brought her large breasts almost spilling out of the low-cut blouse. He’d never complained before about the way she dressed, but now he found her lack of modesty a bit off-turning. What the hell was wrong with him?

He had a clue, but he couldn’t even go there…

“Sadie Mae—”

“Do you realize who you’re turning down? Do you know how many men would love to take your place?” When he didn’t answer, she huffed, “Well, do you?”

“I’m guessing quite a few,” he mumbled, sliding into the driver’s seat and sticking the key in the engine.

She stomped around to the passenger side and flung open the door. He looked across the seat at her, watching as her chest rose and fell and her eyes filled with anger. Her nipples were hard and her bottom lip trembled. He realized she was hoping he’d climb back out of the truck and take up where they left off, but it was no use. His mood was spoiled, and truth be known, he didn’t much like her temper tantrum.

“Look, you know how it is for me. If someone calls and needs my help, it’s my job to go. Tyler and I go way back. She’s been through a lot since her sister passed and if she needs me, I’m going to go to her, and nothing,” he slid his gaze affectively down her curvy body, “is going to stop me.” He turned the key and started the engine as a deep moan escaped Sadie Mae’s throat. “Now let me take you home.”

For a second or two he thought she’d tell him to “fuck off”, but she climbed into the passenger seat, slammed the door and stared through the side window the entire trip back into town.

When he pulled up in front of her house, she slid out and turned, and after seductively running her tongue over her perfectly white teeth, she smiled in a way a woman would if she was about ready to crush his balls. “Dream about me, Sheriff, then remember these lips will be wrapped around another willing man before that Posey chick will give you the time of day.”

“Don’t be angry. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to leave because duty calls. Are you just jealous because it’s Tyler?”

“Consider this a choice you’ve made, Kace.” She pressed her hands to her wide hips. “No one puts me in second place. I hope Miss Innocent will go down on you in an elevator and bend over this damn rusty truck when it suits you.”

“This is bullshit, sweetheart. Let’s not end like this.”

Her mouth formed a perfect O. “Really? Answer one question. Why do you never invite me to your place?”

“I don’t invite any woman to my place.”

“So, I’m good enough to fuck in this heap of metal, but I’m not worthy of sleeping in your bed?” Her eyes flashed something dangerous.

“I thought you liked when we had sex outside? You said the stars added something primal.”

“I’ve just realized I deserve better.” As if to push home the finality of her words, she slammed the door, turned and waltzed her way up the sidewalk to her front door.

He made sure she made it inside okay, and he even found it in himself to smile when she flipped him off as he pulled away. He headed toward Lolli’s, the bar and grill was usually hopping on a Friday night, and tonight was no exception. It took him three circles through the jam-packed parking lot before another car vacated a spot and he took it, grateful there were two smaller vehicles on either side of the space so he could manage getting his Dodge in.

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