Page 6 of Claimed by the Lawman

He switched on the overhead light and had to blink twice to make sure what he was seeing was real and not just leftovers from a dream. Sure enough. He wasn’t alone. “What the hell are you doing?” He shoved his gun into the waist of his jeans and scrubbed the sleep from his eyes.

The petite brunette, the one who’d caused him lots of grief time and again, stood in the center of the cell, one palm on her slanted hip and the keys to the jail dangling from the hook of her finger. She wasn’t laughing otherwise he’d think this was a joke. They’d tipped enough cattle and egged enough bridges in the past that he could see how she might find this funny. He’d grown up though and wasn’t in the mood for any funny business.

“Answer me, Tyler. What in blue skies are you doing in my jail?” He planted his palms on his hips as he took in the image before him. From her wavy, shoulder-length hair, across the bare skin exposed in the off-the shoulder white blouse, down the length of her long, tanned legs to the tops of her cowgirl boots. She looked just like she had fifteen years ago when she made his world turn and his tires spin. How was it possible that she hadn’t changed a bit? Not one wrinkle. Not a damn thing to prove that she’d aged. How could it be that even now he felt a familiar tension behind his zipper and a stitch in his heart. Hell no. This couldn’t happen. He wouldn’t let it happen.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” She lowered the keys and that flared hip tilted west.

“It looks like you’ve gone and lost your mind. Now get out of my cell,” he growled.

“No, I will not, at least not until you hear me out.”

“Fine.” He tore his hand through his hair. “I’ll hear you out.”

“Good—”

“When I’m fully awake and it’s light outside. Until then, take your exit.” He stabbed a finger toward the door.

Her chin jutted, and she crossed her arms over her chest, her pale gaze narrowing into slits. “Do you think I’m going to trust anything you say after you’ve ignored every single one of my calls since I came back into town. I refuse to be ignored, Kace Cade.”

He’d heard that a time or two…or three or four or fifty times. All from her.

Remembering how she’d left town without a concern for his feelings made him want to unleash, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction or have her believe for a second that he still cared. Sure, he thought about her now and again, even liked that fantasies about her kept him warm on lonely nights, but he enjoyed being a free man. Enjoyed Sa…hell, what was her name? He frowned. “I’ve been a little busy fighting crime,” he said a little too harshly.

“I have a crime for you to solve. As an elected official whose salary is paid by townsfolk, it’s your duty to hear what I have to say.” Her tone took on a stubborn lilt.

“Paid townsfolk I was elected by, Tyler. You don’t live here any longer.”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. I’m now a citizen of Bohannan again. Aren’t you going to welcome me?” She could have easily reached up, grabbed a handful of stars and planted them in her eyes.

The wind left his lungs. This was the last thing he wanted or needed. “No.”

“Don’t be a bear, Kace.”

“Did you get tired of the fancy parties and gourmet coffee shops?” He snorted. “Or are you running from the bad reviews you got from the last play?” Yeah, he hit below the belt and once the words were out he wanted to fish them back. What the hell had come over him?

“Wow, you certainly seem to know all about my life considering I haven’t spoken with you for…how long has it been? Fifteen years?” She whistled through her teeth. “Now, about my sister—”

“Your sister’s death was ruled a suicide and the case is closed. I know it’s difficult—”

“You knew her, Kace. Your entire family knew her. She’d never take her own life. Sheriff Mansfield prematurely closed the case because he didn’t want to bother with her. He thought she wasn’t deserving.”

He tore a hand though his hair, realizing he was overdue for a cut. Mansfield had done a lot of things that had pissed off townsfolk and why he’d lost the election, but on this particular case, Kace couldn’t agree that it’d been neglected. “Yeah, I knew her. The old Susy had a million reasons to be happy and live, but when she got caught up with the wrong people, she took on bad habits, made terrible choices and things changed. She wasn’t herself. You can’t honestly tell me that anyone really knew her, even you, at the end.” She blinked, maybe to blink back tears, but he had no choice but to stick to his guns. He had an entire cabinet full of cases that were left with loose threads. “Now go home.”

“Have you even read her case file?”

“Yes, I have.” Susy’s case had been one of the first he’d read when he’d become Sheriff.

“You don’t think it’s suspicious that her boyfriend, Troy, overdosed three months after her?”

“He was mixed up in the same criminal behavior, with the same group, doing the same drugs. There was nothing suspicious about his death.” He blew out a long breath. “I told you, we can talk tomorrow.” He lowered his head and rubbed his forehead.

“Fine.”

“Great. Let’s get you out of—” He brought his head up to find her fluffing the pillow on the cot. “What are you doing now?”

“I’m staying.”

“You can’t stay here.”

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