Page 49 of Claimed by the Lawman

“I’m not a sugar cube. I won’t melt,” she shot back.

“Get in the truck. I’ll take you home.”

“Like hell you will. No way am I climbing back in there with you!” She didn’t even bother to look at him.

Reaching out, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him, her bottom fit into the cradle of his hips. His body hardened almost instantly. He couldn’t resist the need to brush her hair with his nose, inhaling her heavenly scent. She was wearing the perfume that he bought her, and it enticed him. He kissed her neck, darting his tongue out to lick her sweet skin, moaning at the rush of emotions in him. He could feel her tremble in his arms, but her muscles relaxed. She laid her head against his shoulder.

“Come here,” the words scraped his throat as he reached for her hand and led her to stand between two buildings where no one could see them. There he pressed her up against the rough wall and pushed his body against hers. Their faces were within inches, their breath mingling.

“You can’t just walk away after what I’ve told you,” he whispered.

“How would you like me to respond? I felt rejected by you for years.” Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m an idiot. I’ll never live it down.” He exhaled roughly. “Now that you’re here, with me, I can’t let you go. Please don’t ask me to ever let you go again.”

She lifted her fists, pummeling his chest, but he didn’t feel a thing. “This is unfair. How dare you sweep in and try to steal my heart again! You don’t have a clue how much I loved you. How my heart was broken by you. I would have stayed here and given up everything if you’d asked.” Her voice shook with emotion. “Now let me go! Let me go, Kace.”

Hesitantly, he took a step back. “I’ll not give up,” he said in an unwavering voice.

She didn’t respond. She raced out of the shadows and he watched her head down the sidewalk at a fast pace. He made a promise to himself that he would have her again, and this time he’d never let her go. He’d spend the rest of his days showing her that she was his world.

~~**~~

“Your company just left.”

The woman motioned for the man to come in and she closed the door behind him. “Have you been watching me?”

“I was waiting like a good little boy.” Mansfield pulled his tie loose from his collar and snapped the silk material between his hands.

“Who was the man who had his paws all over you?”

“You’re not jealous, are you?”

He laughed. “I don’t own you. Are we alone now?” He glanced around the empty room.

“Yes.” She sashayed past him, going to the mini bar in her apartment at the back of the business. “Care for a drink?”

“Sure.” He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, clutching her firm double Ds in his palms. She whimpered and he growled, squeezing harder.

Dropping ice into two tumblers, she poured in some Scotch, turned and handed him one glass. “I’m glad you came. I hear that we have a problem.”

“A problem?” He snapped up a thick brow.

“That dead girl’s sister is in town, asking questions, causing a stink.”

Mansfield sipped and swallowed. “We don’t have to worry about her.”

“Yeah? Well what about that new Sheriff? I don’t want him coming here…”

Shrugging a stocky shoulder, Mansfield downed his drink and swiped the back of his hand across his mouth. “I’m not worried about him either.”

She snorted. “I hear he’s something to be concerned about. Now that you’re no longer law in these parts puts me and my girls at risk. Not to mention, if Boss—”

“Listen, darling, you don’t need to worry.” He reached for her, but she took a step aside. He blinked and went to pour himself another drink.

“I have a working business here. The last thing we need is some woman with a vengeance sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. We’ve had that happen before and look what happened to her. I thought you said the suicide was foolproof? Apparently not. Is it true they have her diary?”

He placed his glass back onto the bar and dragged his jacket off his shoulders. “The plan was foolproof.”

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