Page 20 of Trace's Passion
Chapter 6
Trace
Working on nothing all day was boring. And while the break-ins hadn’t ended well, they at least got the guy.
It had been a puzzle. And it was exciting to try to figure it out. Now it was back to paper work, slow drives through town and rescuing animals from trees.
And in the winter, they would go around and shovel the walks for those who weren't able.
Trace truly loved his job and while it wasn’t always exciting, it made him feel like he was making a small difference in people’s lives. Besides, it led him to find Sienna again, and meet Emery.
She made him smile. With her fiery personality in her tiny package. He'd never met a woman like her before.
He wanted to kiss her and hold her close again. Kissing her perfect lips was not something he expected but damn did he love it.
He knew she was meant for him, and while that thought was shocking, he knew it was what he'd been searching for.
He sat back in his chair and looked out the window at the town square.
His phone rang and he picked it up, “This is Deputy Barker.”
“Deputy, my name is Kian Collins. You met my sister yesterday? Emery?”
He raised one brow, but said, “I did. She was struggling to get the boxes out of her car. She almost fell, and I caught her.”
“That’s nice and all, and I'm sure she is grateful, but she moved to get away from a guy, not meet a new one.”
Trace felt his stomach take a dive. “What does that mean exactly?”
Kian sighed, “It means she caught the eye of a stalker. One that frightened her so badly that she changed her entire life. And she left our town to move in with our grandmother because of it.”
Trace nodded, “Did she date this person?”
“No, he found her online shop and sent her disgusting stuff. Wanted her to make him things and tried to put his claim on her. Found her number and sent her pics of him doing things to her picture. It was a lot for her to take. My older brother Reid and I have tried to protect her from men her entire life and one slipped through the cracks.”
Trace sucked in a breath, “I guarantee that Emery is safe with me. I'm the Deputy and have been for over two years. I know how to protect my town and my woman. You don’t have to worry about her Kian.”
Kian went silent. “What did you just say? Your woman? What the hell does that mean? You just met her yesterday.”
Trace wanted to chuckle at his indignant tone, “I know I just met her yesterday, but I know in my gut that she is meant for me. And if you don’t like it, then you better try to find a way, because I’m not leaving her side.”
Kian growled, “Damn it all to hell. We leave her alone for a few days and this? Seriously? What in the hell?”
Trace had a feeling that wasn’t meant for him, but said, “I don’t know what to tell you. She is a grown woman and knows her own mind. Knows what she wants and if that is me, then I am going to hold onto that with both hands and never let go, and if it isn’t? Then I will let her go and watch her from afar. You don’t have to worry about me hurting her, ever. She quickly became my entire world and I don’t even know her favorite color or her favorite flower, but I know she's mine.”
Kian sighed, “God damn it. Why? Just why? Couldn’t you be like an asshole or something? Come on man, I’m doing my best to not like you.”
Trace barked out a laugh. “Sorry. But I'm not going anywhere. Unless it’s to be by her side.”
Kian let out another breath, “Fine. If you hurt her, my brother and I will kick your ass. Deputy or not. Why did you have to be a cop?”
Trace laughed again, “I don’t know. Sometimes the right career just picks you. And being a cop picked me. Kian, I will do everything in my power to protect her from her stalker. Can I get more information about him so I can be prepared?”
Kian chuckled, “Just like Reid and I. I wanted to not like you. Really, I did. Geez. This is not like me.”
He blew out a breath and let it out, “Fine, if you want to help keep her safe, then I'll lay off...a little. Here are the details I know about him.”
Kian told him everything they had on Emery’s stalker and he wrote it all down. He ran his name through the system, but nothing came up.
