by Elle James
“Let’s start with backgrounds.”
“I prefer to stick to as much of the truth as possible,” Dallas said. “That way we don’t have as many lies to remember.”
“Agreed,” Viper said. “I can start. I grew up in Malta, Montana. That’s on the other side of the state. No mountains, but a lot of grasslands. I’m one of four brothers. My parents are alive and well and still living near Malta.”
“Why didn’t you go home after you left the military?” Dallas asked.
“Hank offered me the job. I took it, and here I am.” He smiled. “Your turn. I know your father raised you, but where? Any siblings? Favorite ice cream? Favorite flower?”
“Texas. Siblings…zero. I was an only child. Ice cream…rocky road. Is there any other flavor? Flower…Mountain laurel because it smells so good and reminds me of home in the hill country of Texas. But if you’re talking flowers from a florist, I like daisies because they’re cheerful.” She’d received daisies from an unknown donor while she’d recuperated from the amputation at Walter Reed. With no family to visit her, the flowers had come when she’d been at her lowest.
“What about your dad?”
Pain knifed through her heart. “Dead of a heart attack while I was in basic training.”
Viper shot a frown in her direction. “I’m sorry.”
“So was I.”
“No other family?”
“None.” She shot him a sharp glance. “I don’t need your pity, Viper. I’ve been on my own for years. I’m doing fine.”
“Fair enough,” he said, his gaze on the road ahead. “If the planner asks, Hank will walk you down the aisle at the wedding.”
Dallas swallowed hard on the lump forming in her throat. Not that she’d thought about getting married, but her father had been so much a part of her life, she would have wanted him to be the one to give her away.
Again, she had to remind herself this wedding was fake. She wasn’t really getting married. Still, her eyes stung and her chest hurt. She stared out the side window at the mountains, the trees and the blue sky. As she passed a dark stand of lodge pole pines, her face was reflected in the window. So was Viper’s. He looked at her, a frown wrinkling his brow.
She blinked back tears and forced herself to focus on the road ahead. What else could she do? Looking back only brought pain.
* * *
Once they reached Eagle Rock, Viper glanced at each of the buildings, searching for the courthouse with the directions Hank had given him.
“I believe the courthouse is by the sheriff’s station up ahead.” Dallas pointed to the old stone building next to another with patrol vehicles parked out front.
“After we get the license, I’d like to get an update from the sheriff about the wedding attacks,” Viper said.
“Won’t visiting the sheriff’s office give away our cover?” Dallas asked.
“I think we’ll be okay. Since I was first on the scene of Taz and Hannah’s crash, I think it’s reasonable I would ask for an update.”
Dallas nodded. “Right.”
Viper parked between the courthouse and the sheriff’s office, climbed down from the truck and hurried around to help Dallas down.
“I can do this myself,” she muttered, but she caught her foot in the hem of her dress and nearly fell.
Viper was there to catch her around the waist and transition her from the truck to the ground.
She straightened and smoothed the hair out of her face. “Thank you.”
He waited until she turned toward the courthouse before he grinned.
Dallas was a stubbornly independent woman.
Viper found that he liked that. Her attitude challenged him to teach her it was all right to be independent and to accept the courtesies of the gentleman his mother raised him to be.
The more Dallas resisted, the more Viper liked to show her how good he could act.
Inside the courthouse, they followed signs to a middle-aged woman with dyed black hair wearing a leopard-print cardigan and black leggings. She sat at a desk, typing on a keyboard.
When Viper stopped in front of her, she turned her attention from the monitor to Viper’s belt buckle and her gaze rose up the length of his torso. The woman’s lips curved upward. “Well, well, what can I do for you, honey?”
He glanced at the nameplate on her desk and gave her a smile that probably melted her panties.
Viper’s smile had that effect on Dallas, as well. That he was directing it toward another woman didn’t make the gesture less potent.
“Irene,” he said. “I’m Vince Van Cleave.” He turned to Dallas. “And this is my fiancée, Dallas Hayes.”
“Let me guess,” Irene said. “You’re here to apply for a marriage license.” She sighed. “The good-looking guys are always taken. If I was twenty years younger…” She pulled a form from a drawer and placed it on a clipboard. “Fill out this application and bring it back to me with cash for the fee listed.” She laid a pen on top of the clipboard and nodded toward the chairs lined against the wall.
Viper handed the clipboard to Dallas.
Dallas took a seat and filled in the information she could and passed the form to Viper.
When they’d both completed the form and signed their names, they approached Irene. Viper pulled bills out of his wallet and handed over the form and the money.
She took the bills and the paper and keyed the information into the computer. A few short minutes later, she printed out a marriage license on cream-colored parchment paper and handed it to Viper. “After the ceremony, you both sign this document and have the wedding official who conducted the ceremony sign, as well. You’ll file this document here at the courthouse.”
“Thank you, Irene.” Viper slipped his arm around Dallas. “Ready, darlin’?”
He could feel Dallas stiffen at his side. Then she leaned into him.
She nodded. “Ready.”
As Viper turned toward the door, with Dallas pressed against his side, he could almost believe this fake wedding was real. Which was ridiculous. Everything they would do, up to and including the actual wedding itself, was fantasy. A way to lure an unpredictable suspect out of hiding.
Dallas would never marry a guy like him. Hell, she didn’t need anyone else in her life. At least, that was what she’d told him.
Somehow, deep inside, Viper knew better. Dallas needed others in her life more than she’d ever admit. She missed her father terribly. He’d been the only family she had. The thought of Dallas lying in a hospital fighting to stay alive and recover from the loss of her leg made Viper sad. That she’d had to go through the recovery alone broke his heart.
“By the way,” Irene said from behind them.
Dallas glanced over her shoulder.
Irene give a tip of her chin toward Dallas. “Love the dress. It’s perfect with your coloring.”
A blush rose in Dallas’s cheeks. “Thank you.”
Viper liked that she was slightly uncomfortable with the compliment. She wasn’t full of herself. He liked that about her.
Outside the courthouse, Dallas paused on the steps and glanced around. “Did you suppose Irene could be the one?” she whispered. “Middle-aged, probably single—I didn’t see a wedding ring on her finger.”
Viper couldn’t imagine Irene tampering with the brakes on a limo. “I don’t know, but we’ll add her name to the list for Hank’s computer guys to check into.”
Dallas nodded and continued down the steps, moving slowly.
Viper hooked her arm in his hand just as the shoe on her prosthetic twisted sideways, causing Dallas to stumble.
He pulled her against him and slipped an arm around her waist. “Those shoes take some getting used to?”
“I never thought I’d use this foot they gave me for wearing high heels.” She snorted. “But here I am. I prefer my running foot. I suppose I could hide it beneath the wedding dress.”
“You bet.” Viper agreed. “Along with your running shoes. You’ll be just as gorgeous.”
He bent and pressed a kiss to her temple.
Her cheeks reddened, and she touched a hand to where his lips had been. “Why did you do that? No one’s watching.”
He smiled down at her but his words were serious. “We don’t know who is watching and from which direction. Everything we do could be under scrutiny now that we’ve applied for the marriage license.”
“Oh, good.” She smiled, though it appeared tight and forced. Then she cupped her hand to his cheek and leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. “There. How was that for a show?” And she gave him a cheeky grin.
The warmth of her lips on his spread throughout his body, pooling low in his loins. “Pretty good. But I think you can do better.” He swept her into his arms and crushed her lips beneath his.
She opened to him, and his tongue slid along the length of hers.
She didn’t fight or resist. Instead, her hand slid up his chest to weave into the hair at the back of his neck.
Minutes later, he set her back on her feet and waited for her to stand steady. Then he took her hand, pressed a kiss to the back of her knuckles and led her to the sheriff’s office.
The color in her cheeks was bright, and her eyes appeared a little dazed.
Viper fought back a huge grin.
Dallas had a few things to learn about kissing, and he enjoyed teaching her.
Once inside the building housing the sheriff’s department, Viper asked for Sheriff Barron.
Before anyone could go get him, the man stepped out of an office and strode toward them. “Mr. Van Cleave,” he said and stuck out a hand. “Glad to see you this morning. I just got off the phone with the state crime lab. They didn’t have to look far to see the brakes on that limo had been tampered with.”
Viper clenched his teeth as images of the limo skidding off the road and over the edge of the drop-off resurfaced in his mind. “They were lucky a tree was there to stop the limo.”
The sheriff’s lips thinned into a straight line. “Yes, they were. Viper barely got the bride, groom and driver out of the limo before the tree snapped.”
“Damn,” Dallas whispered. “Thank God he was able to get them out safely.”
“The accident could have been a lot worse,” Viper said. “Other than the limo rental company, did anyone else have access to the vehicle before or during the wedding?”
“I asked the rental company. They staged it in Eagle Rock overnight and moved it to Brighter Days Ranch the morning of the wedding.” The sheriff crossed his arms over his chest. “Anyone could have tampered with it during the night.” He dropped his arms to his side, and his grim face changed to a warm smile. “I hear congratulations are in order for you and Miss Hayes.”
Viper’s lips twisted. “Good news travels as fast as bad in these parts.”
“I’ll take all the good news we can get. It helps balance the bad.” The sheriff stuck out a hand to Dallas. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I heard about it from the local news reporter, Trish Sweeney. Said she got a call from Sadie McClain that the two of you were gettin’ hitched next weekend.” The sheriff’s eyes narrowed. “Sure you don’t want to put off the ceremony until we have a better handle on who’s ruining weddings around here?”
Viper’s arm circled Dallas’s waist again. He liked the way she fit against him, and she wasn’t as stiff as the first time he’d held her close. “No. We’re pretty set on the date. We’ll take our chances.”
“As long as you play it safe. Want me to schedule one of my deputies to attend the wedding, for security?”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Dallas said. “We could use all the help we can get to make sure the ceremony goes off without any trouble.”
Viper tipped his head toward Dallas. “What the little woman said. You know, happy wife…happy life.”
Dallas dug her elbow into his side and stretched a tight smile across her face. She nodded toward the lawman’s left hand sporting a bright gold wedding band. “That’s right. I’m sure the sheriff knows all about keeping the peace in his marriage.”
Sheriff Barron chuckled. “I sure do. My sweetheart means the world to me. I’d do anything to make her happy.” He winked at Viper. “But she’s really good about making me happy, as well.” He clapped his hands together. “Well, I wish you two the best.”
“Do you mind if we stop by occasionally for an update on the case between now and the wedding?” Viper asked.
“Not at all. If I were in your shoes, I’d want to know, as well.” The sheriff touched Dallas’s arm. “Take care of yourselves. I don’t want anyone else hurt.”
“We will,” Dallas responded. “Thank you, Sheriff Barron.”
Viper guided her out of the building, ready for her anger, knowing she would have taken offense at his comments.
But when she cleared the door and didn’t lay into him, he thought he’d dodged that bullet. Not until he’d helped her into the truck, slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door did she address him.
“Don’t ever call me the little woman,” she commanded, in a low, dangerous tone.
He grinned. “I wondered how long you’d take to say something.”
“It was all I could do not to punch you in the throat.”
His smile broadened. “I’m impressed. You kept your cool throughout. Well done.”
She drew in a deep breath and forced a smile as a deputy walked past her window and into the sheriff’s office. “Don’t patronize me, partner. Thank God, this is only a fake marriage. You wouldn’t last a day the way you’re going. I thought your mother taught you better.”
“At least I got a rise out of you.” He held up both hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist getting your goat.”
“Oh, you got it, okay.” She smiled again as another deputy left the office and strode to his patrol car.
Viper reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips. When Dallas tried to pull it free, he held on tighter. “I’m sorry. I won’t tease you again.”
“Good. Now, let go of my hand,” she said through gritted teeth.
“I will,” he said, his grip tightening. “After I show you how sorry I am.”
Dallas froze, her gaze on the hand he held as he lifted it to his lips.
“Dallas, darlin’, I’m sorry.” Then he turned over her hand and pressed his lips to the soft skin of her palm. He hadn’t planned on kissing her, but he was sorry he’d made her mad. Besides, he really wanted to kiss her again. With the console in the way, he was forced to be satisfied with pressing his lips to her hand, not her mouth.
This kiss was too brief, when he wanted so much more, but it would have to sustain him until they could be closer. Viper curled her fingers into her palm and looked up into her rounded eyes. He was more shaken than he ever thought he could be. After Emily died, he was certain he never would feel anything for another woman.
And Dallas was so very different from Emily, he would never have considered her. But the kiss they’d shared earlier and the feel of her palm against his lips made him look at her in a completely altered light. The flood of blood-pulsing desire rushing through him was nothing like the warm, comfortable love he’d had for Emily.
Perhaps he was doing Dallas and Emily both a disservice. They couldn’t be compared. And he wasn’t being loyal to the memory of his dead wife.
Guilt roiled in his gut, reminding him that he’d had everything. Why was he considering Dallas in any other capacity than as his partner?
Because she was badass, determined and made him feel again.
Damn it!
She’d made him feel again.
Chapter 7
Dallas led the way into the diner, her gaze scanning the occupants. She wondered if the wedding saboteur was one of the patrons, watching and listening to determine his or her next target.
A brown-haired waitress nodded toward them. “Take a seat where you like. I’ll be with you in a moment.”
“Is that Daisy?” Viper asked.
> Dallas shook her head. “Sadie said Daisy has blond hair.”
“Are you Dallas and Vince?” A petite young woman with bright blond hair and blue eyes stepped out of the kitchen, smiling.
“We are,” Viper said.
“I’m Daisy.” She nodded. “I’ll be with you in just a moment.” Then she turned to the brunette. “I’ve got these two, Lisa.”
Lisa’s eyes narrowed momentarily before she shrugged and turned to help other customers.
Dallas led Viper to a corner booth at one end of the diner. She sat with her back to the wall and waited for Viper to take the seat opposite her.
He smiled and chose to sit beside her, instead of across, forcing her to scoot along the bench.
“Another seat is available,” she whispered.
“We’re engaged and about to get married,” he whispered back, smiling as if she hung the moon. “And we want Daisy to sit across from us during our planning session. Besides, I like sitting with my back to the wall, too.” He winked and lifted the menu. “And I like sitting next to you.”
Dallas had difficulty concentrating on the words on the laminated card. Viper’s thigh pressing against hers made her warm all over and scrambled every one of her brain cells. Not only could she not put two thoughts together, she could barely catch her breath. What was wrong with her? Surely, she wasn’t so attracted to the man she’d lost her friggin’ mind?
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” The pretty blonde stopped at their table and pulled a pad out of her crisp white apron. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have coffee,” Viper said.
“I’ll—” Dallas squeaked, cleared her throat and started again. “I’ll have ice-water. Sadie McClain sent us. She said you could help us with planning our wedding?” She gave the woman a weak smile.
A grin spread over Daisy’s face as she slid into the seat across from them. “Yes. Sadie called and said you two were planning a wedding for next weekend.” She blew out a quick breath. “Wow, that’s a tight timeframe.”
“We’re sorry for the short notice,” Viper said. “But Sadie was sure you could help.”
