Lingerie and Lariats (Rough & Ready#7) (7 page)

Renee leaned back in the seat of Dan’s SUV, feeling exhausted and drained. “What a day,” she murmured.

Dan reached across the console and squeezed her hand. “Are you all right?”

She met his gaze and smiled as he held her hand. “Yes. Thank you for everything.” It had been a long day and she was ready to drop. “Thank you for getting my clothes, my cell phone, and the rest of my belongings from Jerry.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to press charges?” Dan frowned. “Nelson physically harmed you. Not to mention the seventy-five thousand he stole. That’s a hell of a lot of money.”

“I just want him to go away.” She sighed. “If I never hear from him again, that will be repayment enough.”

Dan released her hand to put both his hands on the steering wheel. “Do you mind if I ask how you ended up with Nelson?”

“I don’t mind.” She thought back to the first time she met Jerry. “He was charming and thoughtful, and came across like he had it all together. Flowers, cards, calls… I needed it then and I fell for it all.”

Dan glanced at her. “Sounds like he caught you at a vulnerable time.”

She pulled at the bottom of her T-shirt as she spoke. “My mother had passed away and then my stepfather died, and I was alone. I didn’t know what to do with the inheritance or the business that was left to me. Jerry helped me organize my finances, sell the business, and assisted me in making other decisions. I relied on him.”

She was quiet for a moment. “Things started to change about two months after I met him, when most of my finances were settled. He started to get angry at little things, or if something didn’t go his way, or if I didn’t fall in line. And then he would be just fine and I’d excuse his actions by telling myself he must be under a lot of stress.”

Dan let her talk without interruption and it made it easier to let it all out.

“It got to where I was afraid of his temper. My life would be miserable.” She looked out the window, away from Dan. “Jerry kept his life mysterious. I couldn’t ask questions of him—he just said business wasn’t something he liked to talk about when the day was done. He rarely went into the office but he was on the phone a lot and took frequent short trips. He took me a couple of times but I always stayed in the hotel while he left to conduct business. Often our plans would be interrupted in the middle of dinner and his mood would change ranging from mild irritation to almost rage. And it just got worse from there.”

She brought her fingers up to her bruised face and winced when she touched the sensitive skin. “It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Almost. He’d been showing the signs of a split personality, and now I realize any kindness he’d shown had been fake. He’d been using me to get to my money, I’m certain of that.”

She returned her gaze to Dan. “How could I be so stupid?”

“You weren’t stupid,” he said. “It happens to vulnerable women. You’re kind, sweet, trusting, and you were vulnerable.”

“I thought I’d found the right companion who would put me first.” She shook her head. She felt an ache behind her eyes. “More and more over the past few weeks I’ve felt trapped and I haven’t known what to do. I thought the trip out here might give us a chance to renew our relationship and start fresh. But I finally realized there was never any true relationship to save. More proof of that is the fact that he embezzled money from me.” She reached up and touched the side of her face. “I’d already decided to leave him before he hit me.”

Dan’s gaze narrowed. “I’d like to teach that sonofabitch a lesson.

“He’s not worth it,” she said quietly

“From your descriptions,” Dan said, “I believe that the two men Nelson met with at the café are suspected drug dealers.”

Renee’s eyes widened. “Drugs? You think Jerry bought and sold drugs?”

“For all we know Nelson could be a user, too.” Dan gave her a grim look before he turned his attention to the road. “I did a little research on those parking tickets. They were all for the same location in Philly, where a suspected big-time drug dealer, a guy named Stewart, lives. I talked to someone at the Philadelphia P.D to get more background.”

Renee’s eyes were wider than ever. She felt incapable of speech.

Dan glanced at her again. “They know more about Stewart than they do about Nelson. They think that he’s Nelson’s boss and is real bad news. Nelson was outside the main circle but believed to be involved with the group. It was still early in the investigation when Nelson left for Arizona. It was suspected he was doing some of his own deals and got caught up in this group. Real bad guys.”

“Jerry?” Renee asked with incredulity. “You think Jerry is working with some big time drug dealer?”

“Law enforcement in Philly believes this Stewart guy is connected with the Mexican cartel. I believe that Nelson was out here to connect with them for the Philly dealer. It’s all speculation but that’s what it appears to be.”

Stunned, Renee felt like she was collapsing as her body went limp. Jerry using, buying, and selling drugs? Possibly involved with the Mexican cartel?

Flashes of Jerry went through her mind as she spoke. “Sometimes he’d stumble into my home at night and tell me he was drunk when he could have been high. He’d tell me he’d had a few too many drinks. I’d notice his pupils were dilated and he acted odd, but not quite like he was drunk.”

She paused before continuing. “He said he was a financial advisor and went to meet with clients. He never looked like he was dressed for it though and didn’t have an office. He said with fewer and wealthier clients than in the past, he didn’t need an office. He went to see them.

She continued, “There were times when he’d be free and generous with his cash and other times we went out on my money.” She looked at Dan. “There were signs, I just hadn’t read them right or I was blind to them.”

“It’s hard to see the signs in people we care about,” Dan said. “It’s easy to be blind to their faults.”

“That’s true,” she said.

He looked grim as he glanced at her again. “I want to beat that sonofabitch for hitting you.”

She shrugged. “Like I said, he’s not worth it.”

Dan changed the subject, seeming to know that she didn’t want to talk about Jerry any longer.

“You came over with the Camerons to my family’s ranch back when we were kids,” Dan said as the SUV kicked up dust on the dirt road they were now on.

“Yes.” She looked out at the grasslands. “I remember that.” She glanced at him. “You had a border collie named Sass.”

“Sure did.” Dan gave her a grin. “She was one hell of a ranch dog and a boy’s best friend.”

The SUV’s tires thrummed when he drove it over a cattle guard as they went through a set of iron gates with scrollwork. Dan pulled the vehicle up to a two-story home and parked beside a big white truck. Set back behind and to the right of the home was a barn and corrals that held horses and cattle.

There appeared to be a riding ring, too. It all felt familiar, but it had been so long that she really didn’t know what might have changed since she was a little girl. The trees certainly seemed bigger than they had before. Considering how long it had been, that wasn’t a real surprise.

As he helped her out of her side of the SUV, she asked him, “How do you manage a ranch and handle all of the duties of a county sheriff?”

“I don’t.” He gave her a quick grin. “I have fifty head of cattle and two part-time ranch hands who take care of business when I’m not here. The rest of the land I lease to other ranchers.” He glanced at the outbuildings and corrals. “After my parents passed away,” he said, “I thought about selling the place, but even though I’m in law enforcement, ranching is still in my blood. I keep it up and running and plan to get back to ranching when I retire from law enforcement.”

He continued, “When I was a kid I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be a policeman or a rancher. Guess I have the best of both worlds.”

She smiled. “I think you do.”

He gave a nod in the direction of the house. “Let’s get your things inside.”

She had already stuffed everything she needed to back into her purse and she slung the strap over her shoulder. Dan took her suitcase and carried it toward his house. The two-story house was white with dark green shutters and trim. It had a covered wraparound porch as well as an uncovered wraparound balcony on the second floor.

Sycamore trees shaded the house and there were mesquite trees and native oaks at either side of the home.

She looked over her shoulder and saw that the sky had darkened considerably to the south.

“Looks like we’ve got a chance of finding ourselves in the middle of a monsoon storm,” Dan said as he followed her gaze.

“I’ve missed Arizona’s monsoon season.” Renee walked up the stairs beside Dan. “There’s something electrifying about the storms.”

He gave her a teasing look. “’Other than the thunder and lightning?”

She smiled. “I can still remember the charged feeling in the air and the fresh, rain-washed sky when the storm was over. And the wonderful smell of rain after the storm. I loved it.”

Dan opened the front door to his home, which was even larger inside than it appeared to be on the outside. They entered a big living room with a huge entertainment center at one end containing a large TV and a stereo system. The overstuffed leather chairs and couches looked comfortable enough to take a nap on. She hadn’t realized just how tired she was until she looked at those couches.

He headed toward a staircase. “The room you’ll be in is upstairs.”

She followed him across the wood floor and her belly flipped as she thought about being alone with Dan in his home. Her thoughts strayed to what it would be like to be in his arms, his large, muscular, naked body pressed to hers…

Stop it.
She bit the inside of her lip, bringing herself back to the here and now. It was too soon to even consider going to bed with another man. She followed him, two of the steps creaking, the banister polished and smooth beneath her palm.

When they were upstairs, Dan paused in front of a door that he opened and held open for her. “This is what my mama called the quilt room.”

“This one is beautiful.” Renee ran her hand over the quilt on the bed. “So colorful.” She looked at quilted wall hangings and curtains with a quilted valance that matched the design of the quilt on the bed. “I love this room.”

He set her suitcase on the floor. “Feel free to use the drawers and the closet for your things.”

“I probably won’t be here that long,” she said. “But thank you.”

He hitched his shoulder up against the doorframe as he studied her. “What are your plans now that things have changed?”

She pushed away strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. “I’m not sure. It’s all happened so fast.”

“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to.” He hooked his thumbs in his pockets as he watched her. “Giving any thought to moving to this area?”

She gave a slow nod. “A lot. But I believe that before I jump into anything I need to think long and hard about it. It’s a big decision.”

“It sure is.” He pushed himself away from the doorframe. “I’ll give you a chance to get settled.”

She nodded and set her purse on top of her suitcase. “Just give me a few minutes to freshen up.”

“Take your time,” he said with a smile then turned and headed back toward the stairs.

She watched him until he walked down the stairs and vanished from sight. With Dan she felt that what she saw was what she got. He wasn’t trying to pretend to be someone different than who he was. He wasn’t trying to show off or impress her. He was just Dan. A down to earth, good man.

Thoughts of Jerry tried to invade her mind, but she pushed them away. She’d have time to deal with her thoughts and feelings about him later. Right now she just wanted to relax and spend some time with Dan.

Lightning cracked the sky followed by the boom of thunder and the bedroom’s windowpane rattled. Fat raindrops started pelting the glass in a sudden rush.

Renee listened to the storm for a moment and smiled. Being in Arizona in the middle of a desert monsoon brought back so many childhood memories.

A bathroom was attached to the guest room. She took her time as she showered, blow-dried her hair, then slipped into a light blue summer dress with tiny white daisies on the fabric. She left her hair down and it tumbled to her waist in long chestnut waves.

Not bothering to put on sandals, she headed down the stairs, the wood smooth and cool beneath her bare feet. Part of country life was running around barefoot all over the place. At least that’s the way the little girl inside her remembered it.

The kitchen was just off the living room and she entered it, sniffing the air as she walked in. The most delicious smells were coming from the stovetop.

“What’s for dinner?” She peered around Dan’s shoulder and saw him making a sauce that was growing brownish-red from the chili powder he was putting into it.

“It’s enchilada sauce.” He gestured to the corn tortillas, a small brick of cheese, an onion, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and four eggs. “Making them Sonoran style.”

“Mmmm.” She looked around the kitchen with its marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and the copper bottom pans hanging from a rack over the center island. “I’ll start with the cheese. Where is your grater?”

Outside, the thunderstorm raged. Through the kitchen windows, Renee saw the rain pouring down and every now and then the flash of lightning. Rain poured from the gutters and wind gusts slammed rain against the windowpanes.

Dan told her that Zane had called earlier, while she was freshening up, to see how she was doing.

After she finished with the cheese, she tackled the onion, chopping it into small pieces. Her eyes stung and moistened and she blinked back tears. For some reason, crying over onions made her feel stronger. She hadn’t cried over Jerry and she didn’t plan to.

When everything was ready, Dan dipped the tortillas in sauce then layered everything with the cheese, tomatoes, and onions. He fried the eggs over easy and put two each on their enchilada stacks, Sonoran style. They sat at the small kitchen nook table to eat.

“I’m in loooove with your enchiladas.” Renee closed her eyes as she took another bite and savored it.

She opened her eyes and saw that Dan had an amused expression. “I aim to please.”

“Who’d have thought?” she said. “A sexy sheriff who can cook.”

The moment she said sexy, her face burned. Damn. She hadn’t meant to say that, it just sort of popped out of her mouth.

He gave her a quick grin. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should.” She gave an embarrassed smile. “The enchiladas are terrific.”

Over dinner they talked more about their lives over the past years and Renee felt as if a strong bond was growing between them.

They didn’t talk much about the future. Renee wasn’t ready to think that far ahead and Dan seemed to understand. When she tried to think about what she should do with her life and about Jerry, what could happen when he got out, even her relationship with Dan—everything just jumbled inside her and she could feel herself almost growing paralyzed.

She’d have time enough to work things out. Right now she just needed to relax and enjoy Dan’s company.

When they’d finished dinner and washed up the dishes, she walked with him to the living room. They paused and stood in the center of the room as he studied her and she met his eyes. Her belly flip-flopped at his intense gaze. He looked her as if she was a treasure he wanted to protect.

But at the same time he looked at her like a man who wanted a woman. A look of passion and need was in his gaze that couldn’t be disguised.

He reached up and ran strands of her long hair through his fingers. “I want to kiss you, Renee.”

She bit the inside of her lip as her own need expanded inside her. She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and offered him a smile. “I want you to.”

His warm breath feathered across her lips as he lowered his mouth to hers. The intensity of the moment was filled with a kind of fire that made her burn inside.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as he brought his mouth to hers, and it was like magic sparked between them when their lips met. She felt as if her mind was spinning and stars glittered behind her eyes. She fell into the kiss, her head whirling, her heart pounding.

His taste made her want more of him and she made sounds of need and pleasure. He deepened the kiss and she gave a soft moan.

She reveled in his embrace, the feel of his hard chest against her breasts and the warmth and comfort of his arms around her. She strained to somehow get closer to him, to become a part of him.

A deep, rumbling groan rose up in him and he kissed her hard before drawing away. He still held her in his embrace and she loved the feeling of security she experienced in his arms.

She opened her eyes and stared up at him, her lips moist from his kiss, her breathing a little fast.

He gently brushed hair from her cheek as he looked down at her, and his expression turned serious. “I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you at the Cameron’s place, but I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want to take advantage of you in a vulnerable state.”

For a long moment she looked up at him, studying the sea green of his eyes. “When I was a young girl, living with the Camerons, I had the biggest crush on you.”

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “Is that so?” he said in a lazy drawl.

She returned his smile. “When you saved my life, you became my hero as well as my crush.”

 “I thought you were pretty cute.” He slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “And you’ve grown up to be one hell of a beautiful woman.”

She placed her hands on his chest, reached up on her toes, and kissed him. His lips were firm and he returned her kiss, his kiss as hungry as hers. Searching, longing, and filled with desire. She gripped his shirt in her hands as she pressed her body tight to his. She didn’t think she could get enough of him.

Judging by the hard ridge she felt against her belly, she knew he was as affected as she was by the moment.

He drew away again and she felt his rapid heartbeat against her palm and his chest rose and fell with the increased pace of his breathing.

“It was a mistake to kiss you because it only makes me want more. A lot more.” He slid his fingers through her long, glossy hair. “I want so much more of you than that. But it’s too soon.”

She closed her eyes, letting her breathing slow. When she opened them again she found him watching her. Her voice seemed a little shaky. “You’re right, it’s too soon. All of this with Jerry has been so emotional. I’m feeling everything right now… Hate and anger for him, and strong feelings for you. But I shouldn’t take things so fast no matter how right it feels with you.” She brushed her fingers along his shirt collar. “And Dan, it feels so right.”

“It feels unbelievably right.” He lowered his head and gave her a firm, hard kiss then stepped back. Her palms slid down his chest and then he took her hands in his. “How about watching a movie and getting our minds off of certain things?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Not that she thought she could get her mind off of wanting to experience more with Dan. She gestured to the front door. “Why don’t we watch the storm first?”

He took her small hand in his big one and they went outside onto the covered porch and closed the front door behind them. Patches of warm yellow light spilled from the house onto the porch.

The sky was dark, the occasional crack of lighting illuminating the trees and outbuildings for seconds before everything went dark again. The air smelled fresh and clean as wind pressed her clothing against her body and her hair rose up off her shoulders. A gust of wind sent a mist of wetness onto the porch and she smiled at the feel of warm summer rain on her skin.

As they watched the storm, he squeezed her hand and looked down at her. She met his gaze and smiled. They stood on the porch a while longer and she watched bolts of lightning slicing the sky as thunder rolled across the valley.

After they stayed out for a while, they went back into the house, still holding hands.

“How about some popcorn and something to drink to go along with the movie?” he asked as they walked inside.

“Wonderful,” she said.

They made buttery popcorn on the stovetop and took big bowls of it into the living room along with beer for him and a wine cooler for her. He had an enormous TV that looked to be fun to watch a movie on. They picked out an action flick—he had plenty of action movies, which she loved. The movie they selected was the first Bourne movie. She’d always had a thing for Matt Damon, but as far as she was concerned, he didn’t hold a candle next to Dan.

She sighed as the thought went through her mind. She was utterly and totally infatuated with the man. Was that all it was? Infatuation? Or was it something more?

They sat on the overstuffed love seat as they watched the movie, the lights off and his arm around her shoulders as she rested her head on his chest. It felt comfortable being with him. It felt right. The rain continued to pour down outside making her feel even more like snuggling against him.

He made her feel so good. She didn’t feel like she had to watch what she said or did. She felt like she could be entirely herself with him.

When the movie’s one love scene came on the screen, her cheeks felt warm as she felt a connection with Dan unlike anything she’d ever felt before, with any man. The kind of connection where she could imagine spending the rest of her life with him.

The thought gave her pause. This was happening too fast, too soon. She needed to slow down, take a deep breath, and give it all some time.

When the movie was over, neither of them was ready for sleep. Renee was afraid they’d end up tumbling into bed together and Dan seemed to have the same feeling because he suggested a second movie. That would probably keep them out of trouble.

This time she rested her head in his lap as they watched an older comedy, “There’s Something About Mary,” which had her giggling a lot during the movie. She sat up to take a drink of her wine cooler and then they rearranged themselves on the couch so that he was resting on her. She liked the feeling of his weight on her. It was something she could get used to.

She could get used to a lot of things about Dan.

By the time the second movie ended, the day had caught up with her and she was exhausted. Once the lights were turned off downstairs and they’d picked up what mess they’d made, they headed up the stairs and then walked into the quilt room.

Just because the movies were over, she didn’t want the night to end. She didn’t like the idea of being in the guest room alone, left to think about Jerry and everything that happened. It left her cold with a queer sensation in her belly. It was as if he might come into the house in the middle of the night and steal her away.

“Dan…” She swallowed before she continued. “Will you stay with me? Not to have sex,” she hurried to add. “I don’t want to be alone and I’d just like you to hold me. Do you think that would be okay?”

“You’ll be testing my willpower.” But he said it with a smile. “But I’d like that.”

She wondered what in the world she was doing as she went into the bathroom and changed into a silky shortie nightgown that she’d bought for the trip but hadn’t worn yet. She loved lingerie but Jerry could have cared less, so she’d bought it for herself.

As she walked out of the bathroom and Dan got a look at her, she was certain it had been a mistake to wear the sexy nightgown. He looked at her with a hunger that matched her own.

She was playing with fire.

He was stripped down to his boxer briefs. It was the first time she’d seen him out of his clothes and she swallowed as she looked at the cut of his body. He’d looked muscular before, but she’d never realized how sculpted he was.

“Do you workout in the gym?” she said then realized there probably wasn’t a gym around for a good seventy miles. “Or maybe you’re just designed to look like…that.”

“I have a workout room here in the house.” He gave a pained smile as he watched her. She noticed the bulge in his boxer briefs and thought again that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea at all.

On impulse she grabbed a silky shortie bathrobe out of her suitcase and hurried to put it on. “Okay, I’m ready for bed,” she said when she’d tied a knot in the robe’s ties.

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need to protect yourself from me. You have my word I won’t take advantage of you.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she mumbled as she walked to the bed, pulled the covers down, and slid beneath them.

She tugged the covers up to her chest as she looked at him. “Turn off the light and sleep with me.” She smiled. “I promise I won’t take advantage of you.”

He gave her a sexy grin before he switched off the light and slid into bed with her. She turned onto her side and he spooned his body to hers and put his arm around her waist. His erection was hard against her backside. She knew he couldn’t help that, just as she knew he had no intention of doing anything she didn’t want.

Exhaustion finally overtook her. Feeling safe and secure she slipped away, into dreamland.