Page 23 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 6

THREE DAYS LATER he was sitting at his desk staring at the notes he made from Susy’s diary, and Kace could only think of Tyler. Although he hadn’t seen her since they sat down together at Lolli’s, she remained on his mind…and under his skin.

The door was open to his office and he looked into the outer room where Deputy Payne had his head lowered filling out paperwork. Kace liked the younger man, respected his skill at investigating cases, so why did the thought of him and Tyler having dinner rip through Kace like a dull knife blade? Hell, thinking of any man touching her made him cringe.

Turning away from the door, Kace stared through the window at the bright blue sky that reminded him of Tyler’s eyes. Every time he turned around he thought he heard her soft voice or melodic laughter. In the clouds he could see the sexy tilt of her head as she gave him that amazing smile, the one which always made him weak.

He blew out a frustrated breath. He was annoyed. Frustrated. He could use a long, cold shower.

Tossing his pen onto the desk, it rolled onto the floor.

She was his old girlfriend—not only his old girlfriend, but the one who broke his heart. Truth be known, he had scars. He had no business traveling down the same endless road he had been on fifteen years ago. In fact, he should steer clear of Tyler like the bubonic plague, and yet he wanted to go see her. Wanted to dance with her again. Kiss her lovely soft lips.

What he needed to do was exhume her completely from his thoughts and from his dreams, stop thinking about her plush lips and ample cleavage that always got him.

If he didn’t do something soon he was going to explode.

Picking up his phone, he dialed a familiar number. When it was picked up, he said, “Can I see you? Are you home?” He clicked off, left his office through the back door and made his way quickly down the stairs, his boots thudding heavily on the cement floor similar to how his heart was beating heavily against his ribs.

He’d never been a man who allowed things to get him all riled up. Discipline was his middle name. Kace had always prided himself in being level headed and owning the skills of being able to see beyond all the madness and use facts and logic. The wayward emotions that were cascading through his body were foolish and illogical. Ridiculous. These were the feelings of a boy, not a man who had experience under his belt. He’d once allowed his body and heart to go on an excursion back when they were young and look where that got him. No way in hell would he travel down that road again.

The day Tyler told him she had dreams to pursue, he woke up to reality, realized he needed to concentrate on his own dreams. That meant the Navy and then a career in law, following in the footsteps of his brothers, father, and grandfather. He wanted to focus on things he could figure out, and Tyler couldn’t be figured out, at least not from his angle. He liked getting his hands on tangible things, putting pieces together. Dealing with emotions and feelings weren’t among the things he liked handling, or was any good at it. Having a relationship ended last on his list of priorities.

Over the years he’d kept every woman at arm’s length, selective on who he associated with and making sure each of them understood that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. He hadn’t put much thought into marriage and kids, not since Tyler, and he figured his clock was ticking. But when he thought about having those things, no woman came to mind except for Tyler, and there laid the problem. How could he share his life with any other woman when he still fantasized about her…imagined her walking down the aisle toward him.

That’s why he needed to see Sadie Mae, although he’d sworn it was best he stay away. She’d been there for him to relieve his needs. They could call each other to destress. She understood him, knew what he liked, how he liked it. They had the perfect set up with a direct line to great sex and no commitment. She’d forgiven him for his indiscretion the other day. He’d make it up to her and that meant he’d go to her house.

Pushing through the exit door, he marched across the street to his truck, feeling a lot better about life after he’d convinced himself that he needed to see Sadie Mae and continue his life just the way he liked it. No ties.

“Sheriff Cade, just the man I was coming to see.”

Kace stopped on the sidewalk and silently groaned. Swiveling on the heels of his boots, he met the smiling expression of Mayor Wilkes. The sternly, slender man wore an expensive suit and fancy shoes that seemed out of place here in the town of Bohannan. “I was just heading out, Mayor.”

“It’ll only take a moment, Sheriff. Walk with me,” the shorter man said.

“Sure.” Kace didn’t have anything against the Mayor and they’d always gotten along okay, although he suspected Wilkes cared more for his material belongings than the wellbeing of the town. Kace wanted to shrug the man off but reminded himself that being an elected official meant needing to rub elbows with his counterparts. Over the last year he’d had to hold his tongue a number of times just to keep the peace.

“Coffee?” the Mayor asked as he handed over a bill to the street vendor.

“No. I’m good.”

Once the sugar and cream were added to his cup, Mayor Wilkes started walking again and, with a silent curse, Kace followed.

“How’s the job going?” The Mayor headed for the bridge that led to the park.

“Busy, but good.” He stuffed his hands into his front pockets. “Sir, were you just stopping by to check on things or is there something you need to discuss with me?” Kace didn’t have time for this.

The man stopped and looked at Kace with scrunched brows. “I hear Susannah Posey’s sister is back and causing a lot of trouble.”

Kace should have figured this conversation would happen. “Who told you that?”

“Doesn’t matter who told me. Is it true? Is she hounding you about the closed case?”

“She asked me to look into some new revelations. Right now, that’s where I’m at. I haven’t promised her anything.” Kace thought it best that he didn’t go into too much detail.

“Look, Cade, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but we don’t have the manpower to dredge up old cases just because we have a connection with the victim’s family.” Wilkes plastered on a fake smile and waved at several passersby.

“My job as Sheriff is to uphold the law, sir. If something was missed, or overlooked, we have a duty to fix that,” Kace said.

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