Page 37 of Ranger Honor

His lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Gavin’s strong fingers wrapped around her wrist. His palm was warm. He gently tugged the ice pack away from her elbow. His gaze swept over the injury, causing a burst of heat to blaze through her veins. “It’s swollen. Are you sure you don’t want to have that x-rayed?”

“I’m sure. It’ll be a wonderful shade of purple tomorrow, but I’ll survive.”

He didn’t release her wrist. Instead, he stepped closer, his gaze lifting to her face. An emotion she couldn’t quite place was buried in his eyes. It made her breath catch. The bustle of the room faded away.

“You scared me, Claire. That move isn’t one they teach in the academy. What on earth were you thinking?”

“Saving Ian’s life. It’s why we’re in this job, right? To protect people, even from themselves sometimes.”

He sighed, then leaned forward to brush his lips across her forehead. It was tender. Sweet. Claire leaned into the touch, wrapping her uninjured arm around his narrow waist. The familiar scent of his aftershave calmed her racing mind. Gavin’s lips brushed against her hair. The steady beat of his heart thumped against her ear.

Claire wanted to sink into his embrace and never let go. But that wasn’t possible. There was unfinished business between them. Now wasn’t the time to address it, but it had to be soon. Her heart couldn’t take much more of this.

She released Gavin under the guise of picking up her coffee. She took a sip and winced. “Yikes. They should put a warning sign on that machine. Drink this if you don’t want any stomach lining left.”

He arched his brows. “You’re spoiled by that fancy machine in the sheriff department’s break room.”

“Yes, I am. What’s the point of being in charge if I can’t have decent coffee?”

They both laughed. Through the large glass windows overlooking the parking lot, Claire spotted the mayor marching up the walkway to the entrance. Heather, Ian’s wife, hurried after him in sky-high heels. Her designer purse banged against her thigh.

Claire jutted her chin toward the door. “They’re here.”

Gavin turned, gaze narrowing. Claire straightened her uniform shirt. This conversation had to be handled carefully. If Ian’s accusation was correct, Mayor Patrick Scott was a killer. But they had no hard evidence implicating him. Claire needed to ask questions, but she didn’t want Patrick to realize he was a suspect. Not yet.

She also had to consider that Ian could be lying. He might’ve killed Stephanie after learning she’d accepted his father’s money. Love and hate were often two sides of the same coin, and betrayal could turn deadly.

The main door swished open. Patrick’s gaze swept the waiting room, zeroing in on Claire as she moved to intercept him. His face was flushed, his suit jacket hanging open, tie askew. “What on earth happened? Where is my son?”

Heather joined them. She was faintly out of breath, her shoulders turned inward, and complexion pale. “Is he all right?”

“Ian will be fine.” Claire pitched her voice low. “He’s suffered a minor injury, but should recover. He’s with the doctors now. Please come with me so we can discuss what happened.”

She led the way to a conference room. A large table took up the center of the room, surrounded by faux leather chairs. The scent of stale pizza lingered in the space. Claire waited for everyone to traipse inside, and then closed the door behind her. She took a deep breath. “Ian attempted to commit suicide.”

Heather sank into the nearest chair, hugging her purse to her chest. She appeared stunned.

Color rose in Patrick’s cheeks, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s preposterous. I will not tolerate you lying about my son. First that horrible newspaper article and now this.”

“Stop right there.” Gavin’s tone brooked no argument. “Claire isn’t lying. In fact, she saved your son’s life. You should be thanking her.”

Patrick’s mouth popped open and then shut again. His jaw worked. Heather placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “You have to forgive the mayor. He loves his son deeply, and this news is disturbing to us both. It’s difficult to wrap our minds around.”

“Heather’s right.” Patrick shook his head. “Why on earth would Ian attempt suicide?”

“He was distressed over Stephanie Madden’s murder.” Claire kept her attention locked on the mayor. “Are you aware, sir, that your son and Stephanie had a secret relationship?”

Heather paled further, but there was no flicker of surprise in her expression. She’d known about the relationship. Or at least suspected. Claire remembered Heather had been standing next to the mayor in the photograph taken at the campaign event. The same picture that caught Ian and Stephanie flirting.

Patrick stiffened slightly. “Yes, I was aware of their relationship, but they broke up before her death.”

“Ian says you paid Stephanie $100,000 dollars to leave town and never speak to him again. Is that true?”

Heather’s eyes widened, but she remained silent. Claire could practically see the wheels turning in her head. She was wondering where they were going with this.

“I did what was necessary to protect my son.” Patrick jutted up his chin. “Stephanie was after his money. I knew it from the beginning, but Ian was…foolish. He couldn’t see the wicked woman for what she truly was. Manipulative. I offered her cash, and she took it.”

“Hold on.” Gavin pitched forward. “You gave Stephanie $100,000in cash?”

---