Page 13 of Sheltered by the Lawman

Chapter 4

WHAT THE HELL?

The offer came out easily and there was no fishing it back, no matter if it crossed every boundary known to man.

Cull hadn’t planned to ask, but he couldn’t let her out of his sight either. Although he should be more concerned with turning her into Deke, that wasn’t the reason why he felt the need to protect her. After the detective classified the fire as an arson, that meant one thing. Monica had been struck on the head and the attempted murderer had gotten away. If the killer realized he’d botched the job, would he be back to finish it right way?

Damn, he wished he’d caught the bastard, or at least gotten the license plate number if the assailant hadn’t been smart enough to remove it.

Cull needed to investigate further. He’d eventually catch the shooter, but Monica might be the only one who could help. Her memory would come back, and when it did, he wanted to hear what happened at her apartment. Did she see the man’s face?

Yes, that’s why he needed to keep her close.

“It’s not the Hilton, but it has a roof, running water and a bed. And the only flaw is it’s a one-bedroom apartment over my parents’ garage.” Should he tell her he’d called it home for the last year?

Her mouth gaped open. “Wait, you don’t even know me.”

“Well, something tells me you’re not a serial killer, so I think it will be okay. I’m offering a place for you to stay for the time being, not a wedding proposal.” Her cheeks pinkened and he smiled. For someone who wouldn’t seem to be modest, she was and he admired that about her.

“Oh…I…didn’t—” She clamped her mouth shut.

“I know you didn’t.”

“Are you sure about this?”

Not really. “I don’t usually invite,” he paused, “strangers to the family home, but my Ma would skin me alive if she thought I didn’t help a woman in need.”

“But won’t they mind you bringing home…” Something flashed in her eyes. “Someone like me?”

“Someone who’s found herself in a pickle?”

“I was going to say a stray.” Her bottom lip puckered slightly. “I’m not the type of girl a man should want to take home to meet his parents.”

He wasn’t sure why, but that expression needled straight into his heart. He’d been accused of not having a heart by some, mostly women who wanted more than a good time, but whatever the reason his was now beating rapidly and his palms were sweaty. The feeling could only be described as awkward, unfamiliar—one that proved he was out of his comfort zone with this woman. “Now you’re just being too hard on yourself, trust me. We Cade men tend to act like cavemen at times, and I’m sure we’ve scared off a few along the way. I promise that as embarrassing as we are, as outspoken as we can be, we do have some manners and my siblings won’t bother you…too much.” He winked.

She laughed, and it wasn’t just laughter, it was a melodic tune that he found pleasant. It was closer to the woman in the photo, but the brightness didn’t quite reach her eyes. “If they all look like you, I’m sure I can’t complain too much,” she said with a teasing tilt to one hip.

He could almost forget that he had an ulterior motive for staying close to her. Clearing his throat, he shuffled from dusty boot to boot. “Well, just don’t let them fool you. They’re all rowdy to the bone, except for me.”

“If it’s not too much of an inconvenience I’ll stay. How can I ever thank you?”

“My mom loves guests, and if you can tolerate her doting on you, then that’ll be thank you enough.”

****

“It’s a little chilly in here. I’ll start a fire,” Cull said. Monica watched him cross the room to the antique stove, his boots clicking the wood floor. He opened the door, knelt and filled the belly of the stove with the wood he’d brought in from outside. “This thing is real easy to use. Just like starting a fire in a fireplace. Stack your wood, put in a few pieces of kindling and use the lighter. Simple. Just don’t forget to open your flue, otherwise you’ll be smoked out of the apartment.”

Was he talking to her because she couldn’t concentrate on anything but how his T-shirt stretched across his broad back and the way the pockets of the jeans hugged his firm bottom. She felt a little embarrassed ogling him, so she turned away to examine the interior of the apartment, hoping she wasn’t as flushed as she felt. He wasn’t kidding when he said the place was small, but it was comfortable and modestly decorated. Hanging on the wall were a couple of framed photos of horses and cowboys, which seemed quite fitting here on a ranch. She didn’t get to see much except a white fence that surrounded acres of green pasture and several red barns in the distance. “Is this one of you?” She pointed to the photograph of the young man sitting in the saddle, his Stetson pulled low on his forehead. She’d recognize that broad jaw and full lips anywhere.

Cull glanced over his shoulder, smiling. “Yeah, that’s me. I was eighteen and cocky as hell, as if you can’t tell. Call it a genetic flaw.” He stood and swiped his hands together. “Those are my brothers and sister.” He pointed to a picture hanging at the end of the row. “We all were handed that particular gene.”

The picture was of five young men, all looking similar, surrounding a beautiful young woman with dark hair and striking good looks. They were all gorgeous. Monica would say that none of them had many flaws, at least physically. From one handsome face to the next, the brothers all had arresting blue eyes, high cheekbones, and broad whiskered jaws…and muscular bodies. Large, toned physiques that screamed hardworking masculine men. She swallowed against the constriction in her throat and resisted the urge to squirm.

Cull leaned closer, his body brushed her arm. “From left to right. Kace, Phoenix, Zander, Nix, Kiersten, and that sexy, irresistible man there is me.” He grinned and two deep dimples bracketed that sexy pout. She’d give it to him, he definitely was sexy, and he certainly was cocky, but there was also something very sweet and sincere about him. Endearing. They’d had small talk on the drive from Cheyenne, which helped her get to know him a little better. She learned that the Cade men were all lawmen, and so was their sister. Law ran through their blood…another “flaw” as Cull had described it. From the conversation, she gathered he was close with his siblings and although they were scattered and were busy with their lives, they still made time for each other. She also knew that Cull loved horses, of course, had served in the military and was in a self-proclaimed “slump” in his life. What that meant she wasn’t completely sure, but she could relate and why was the mystery.

Because Cull had told her so much already about the family ranch, she felt like she knew a lot. His father Bo and mother Beatrice had lived here all their lives, raised the family on the land, and were now retired.

Noticing a pair of old cowboy boots sitting next to the sofa, she asked, “Uh, I think someone left their boots.”

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