by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne
They started slowly down the street to the cheers and claps of the townspeople, throwing candy as they went. “Hey Kincaid,” a voice called from the side. “You gonna run for sheriff?”
“Yes,” Weston hollered at the same time he said, “We’ll see.” Their mixed response drew laughter and applause.
“I met Lawson just now,” Travis muttered under his breath. “Dottie was right, the guy’s a total douchebag.”
“So, run already.”
Travis threw some candy to a group of little girls. “I was saving that money to restart the ranch someday.”
“So ask for donations then. People would give you money in a heartbeat.”
“No,” he gritted through a plastered-on smile. “I can’t ask them to support me when half these folks don’t have jobs right now. Not. Happening.”
“So you’re saying you’d rather Lawson be your new boss?”
“Fuck you, asshole.”
“Just callin’ it like it is.”
“Travis! Hey, Travis!”
Travis turned in the direction of Dax’s voice, smiling for his favorite seven-year-old. Dax stood jumping up and down, his new Transformer clutched in his hand. Seeing the boy with a genuine smile on his face warmed him. “Hey there, buddy. Want some candy?”
Dax nodded eagerly, but it was the indulgent smile from the woman behind Dax that heated his belly. He tossed a handful of candy in Dax’s direction as an idea popped into his head. If only Elaine would agree to it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
By the time the parade and cleanup were over, and the participants had scattered, it was nearly lunchtime. Dottie’s food truck was sure to be hopping. “Meet you back at the station?” Travis asked Weston. “I’ll grab us lunch.”
Weston arched a brow. “You’re in uniform. Make sure that’s all you grab.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” As if he’d ever grab Elaine’s ass. Well, he would if they were dating, but only at home, and since they were never going to date, it was a moot point. He flipped a middle finger over his shoulder as Weston’s laughter carried through the air behind him.
In spite of Weston’s constant badgering, he had to admit he felt pretty good about today. He’d seen genuine hope on people’s faces as he and Weston had ridden down the street. And he was damned glad he’d played a part in that. Prairie had been a nice small town before the tornado, but the blank canvas of rebuilding had triggered people’s imaginations. There would be new shops and restaurants in a year. And a clinic. Prairie was poised to become a great town. A shining example of what happened to places when people pulled together.
His mood darkened the second he laid eyes on Elaine looking terrified and shrinking from a leering Steve Lawson. The only time he’d seen her look that scared was the afternoon of the tornado. He never wanted to see her looking like that again.
Seeing Lawson crowding her space unleashed something deep and dark inside him. His stomach hardened into a tight knot as his legs propelled him forward quickly and silently. His chest burned, sending adrenaline down to his fingertips, which made his palm itch like it did before he squeezed the trigger on a kill target.
It took everything inside him not to punch the guy’s lights out. Instead, he ground his teeth together and forced his mouth into a smile. As soon as he reached Elaine, he placed a hand on the small of her back and pulled her close, positioning his body so he stood between her and Lawson. Then he bent and kissed the top of her head. She shivered and leaned into him.
In the course of half a second, his senses were flooded with the faint aroma of her floral shampoo, and awareness shot right to his dick. Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but he wanted to make sure Lawson got the message loud and clear that Elaine was off limits. Maybe it was testosterone, maybe it was adrenaline. Who knew? But he wasn’t about to leave Elaine in the clutches of this asshole, and if it helped to kiss her head, he’d do it. But that didn’t mean he’d ever let things go further between them. “Something I can help you with?” He zeroed his attention in on Lawson.
Lawson’s facade slipped a fraction as his eyes went cold. Travis had to hand it to him. The guy was a pro. He wouldn’t easily be provoked into doing or saying something stupid. The fake smile was back, as was the politician’s voice. “I was just introducing myself to the lady. Good opportunity to meet the people of this great town. You probably saw this morning that I’m running for sheriff.”
Travis’s stomach churned at the way the lie slipped out of the man’s mouth. He could stomach a lot of things, but lying wasn’t one of them. “I know who you are,” Travis answered, letting his voice get steely and focusing his gaze on the man. “I should have introduced myself this morning. I’m Travis Kincaid. Prairie’s police chief, and your opponent.”
Lawson’s eyes widened slightly, just enough to give away his surprise. Although, of the three of them, Travis was arguably the most surprised at the bomb he’d just dropped. What did Dottie always say? In for a penny, in for a pound? His stomach felt just like it had the first time he’d jumped out of a plane at twenty-thousand. He was damn well gonna make sure he landed in one piece. He gave Elaine a reassuring squeeze. “And this is Elaine Ryder, my treasurer.”
She squeaked and stiffened.
“Elaine, is it?” Menace flashed in Lawson’s eyes, and then, just as quickly, disappeared.
Every cell in Travis’s body went on alert. Lawson was trouble. He knew it. So much so, he’d double down on his last dollar at a poker table with the Sinclaire brothers.
Lawson took Elaine’s hand, bowed slightly, and kissed the back. “A pleasure meeting you, Elaine.”
Revulsion slithered through Travis, and he clenched his fist at his side, refraining from forcefully removing the man only because he’d gone and jumped into a political campaign without thinking about the consequences. Not his best moment.
Lawson turned to him, his eyes glittering points. “I’ll see you on the campaign trail, Kincaid. Good luck.” He spun on his heel and stalked off, not bothering to meet the people.
Elaine turned to him, eyes sparking in anger, cheeks pink. He should be thinking of how to fix this, but instead the air in his lungs turned to ash and he couldn’t breathe, let alone think. He’d never seen Elaine this way, all riled up and intense. Awareness shot through him leaving a trail of fried synapses on the way to his cock. Holy smokes, did his cock like this side of her.
Elaine was the kind of woman who hated to be the center of attention. And for two years, she’d done an excellent job of blending in with the decor at Dottie’s. If he had to guess, he bet half the folks who came into the diner didn’t even know her name. Of course post-tornado, everyone knew who Elaine and Dax were, and he’d seen her discomfort at the attention. Seeing her outraged and not caring who saw, was a revelation.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
He couldn’t help smiling, even if it made her madder. She was so damned cute.
“Running for sheriff?”
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “And apparently, I’m your treasurer,” she answered, lower lip jutting out. “How about you explain that?”
Her tone was meant to intimidate. She was as puffed up as an angry prairie chicken, and the only effect it had was to heighten his desire. Tingles raced down his spine, and he could only focus on that sweet lower lip.
“Well?” She tapped her foot.
Pull yourself together, asshole.
“Dottie and Weston both mentioned you’re a whiz with numbers, and I need a treasurer to file.”
“Then find somebody else.”
“But I want you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as his words sank in. Then went dark as her mouth opened enough for her tongue to slip out and wet the lower lip he couldn’t stop staring at.
Shit.
As the silence spun out between them, the reasons why he was the world’s biggest idiot came at him like bullets on a live fire range. What was he thinkin
g? He should have thought this through. Anyone but Elaine. What happened to his rule about mixing business and pleasure? Relationships with townspeople? Fuck. His tongue had a mind of his own. Or maybe it was his cock. “I want you…” He swallowed, willing the words to form in his brain. “To be my treasurer.”
Elaine rolled her lips together, shaking her head. “I don’t have time.”
It was for the best. At least one of them was thinking with the right brain. “Dottie can give you all the time you need. And I can pay you.”
Great. There went more of his nest-egg.
“Oh?” A hungry look entered her eyes.
An ache hit Travis in the throat. Sure, they’d had it tough growing up. But they’d never gone hungry. He raked his eyes over her, stomach rumbling at the thought of going hungry. She looked healthy, and Dax did too. Likely thanks to Dottie – the woman was a saint.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “It won’t be much, but if you can be my treasurer and… er… help me with campaigning, I could pay you.” How much did someone pay a person? He had no idea. “Two thousand dollars a month for the duration?”
“Two thousand?” Her voice pitched high at the end.
“Is that enough?” Shit. He raked his fingers through his hair. Getting her to say yes suddenly meant everything. “I know it’s only for a few months, but I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with your work for Dottie.” Especially if Dottie was feeding them. Elaine looked torn, and the air squeezed from his lungs. Surely she wouldn’t turn him down?
Regret filled her eyes and she shook her head. “That’s very generous of you… but no. I’m sorry.”
“Three thousand.” This was the dumbest thing he’d ever done. He should be relieved she turned him down. But the ache in his chest only grew.
She shook her head and giggled. A bubbly, sweet sound that went ricocheting through his body like sparks of electricity. Lighting him up. “It’s not about the money.”
Damn. Was it him? His stomach sank. “What is it?” He was almost afraid to ask. But he had to know.
A pained expression crossed her face. “I… it’s just…” She sighed heavily, shoulders sagging. “I don’t know anything about politics, except that I don’t like politicians.”
Oh, that. Relief washed over him. “That makes two of us. You’re smart, and we can learn together.” He reached for her hand, encasing it in his own, struck by how tiny it was. But his eyes were drawn upward by a faint pattern of light, feathery scars on the inside of her left forearm. His insides tilted. He’d seen marks like that before. But usually red and raw. What had happened in her life that she’d cut herself? He traced a finger over the pattern, a knot of nails poking at the base of his throat.
“Travis, I–” She tugged on her hand.
He should walk away right now. Ask Bob the accountant, or Anders from the Feed ’n Seed. Anyone but her. “Please, Elaine?” He reached for her hand again, unable to keep himself from touching her. “I want you… your help,” he added lamely. Someone put an out of order sign on his brain. At least Weston wasn’t here to laugh his ass off at him while he was making a fool of himself.
“I… let me think about it.”
“Can you let me know at the fireworks tonight?”
“Tonight?” Her eyes grew wide. “But we’re not going.”
“Why not?” Everyone went to the fireworks. Why wouldn’t she, especially with Dax? “Dax would love them.”
A flush started at her neck and crept up, flaming her face, turning her eyes to embers. She yanked her hand back. “The fairgrounds are two miles outside of town on unsafe roads. How exactly am I to get there?”
Right. What an idiot. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Not a good trait for a man running for sheriff,” she snapped, eyes still sparking.
He liked her inner firebrand, even as he scrambled to dig himself out of the idiot hole. Then it hit him. “I have to be at the fairgrounds at four. Meet me here and I can have Jeanine take you. Unless you don’t mind riding in the police car.”
She blew out a breath and scraped the dirt with a toe. She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. But a little smile tilted up the corner of her mouth.
“Sure. Why not? I’m sure Dax will be delighted.” She sounded more resigned than excited, but he’d take it. Warmth rushed through him. And triumph. God, he felt like he’d just scaled a mountain.
“Elaine?”
There was that small smile again. The one that made his heart beat irregularly. “Yes?” Her voice had gone husky.
“Thank you.” Before he could stop himself, he traced a thumb down her jaw and paused. Her chin tilted ever so slightly up. Blood pounded in his ears. It would be so easy to bridge the distance, so easy to give into the desire pumping through him and take a tiny taste. Her eyelids fluttered.
Smothering a groan, he pulled himself back from the brink and dropped his hand, turning away before he did something really stupid like kiss her. “I’ll see you at four,” he tossed over his shoulder as he headed for the station.
Coward.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The afternoon passed in a blur. For the first time since the tornado, Elaine was grateful she wasn’t doing more than bussing tables and refilling drinks. She’d gone cold as ice when Steve Lawson’s red convertible drove down the parade route, and she still hadn’t recovered, even with the heat of the day. Her luck couldn’t be worse. Steve Lawson was the worst kind of cop. Sneaky. Manipulative. And worst of all, vindictive. She’d been given a chance at a fresh start here, and he could bring it crashing down around her. Her stomach churned at the thought.
Thank God Dax had been at the playground when he’d come prowling around the food truck. He’d have recognized her for sure, even without pink hair. As it was, Travis had pretty much saved her, but given the pissing match she’d witnessed between the two men, Lawson would be back. Especially now that Travis had announced he was running for sheriff. Lawson never lost, and the look of menace in his eye had been more frightening than the sound of the tornado when she’d been huddled in the diner’s storeroom.
She should turn down Travis’s offer. Put as much distance between them as possible. Maybe it would keep him safe from Lawson. Although who was she fooling? That wouldn’t stop Lawson from going after Travis. Travis had thrown down the gauntlet, and Lawson wouldn’t stop until he’d won. And if Lawson remembered her, it wouldn’t matter how far away she went, he’d still figure out a way to make her life a living hell.
From that standpoint, maybe accepting Travis’s offer was a good idea. Lawson only backed down because Travis had rescued her. Lawson might leave her alone if Travis was around all the time. A shiver rippled across Elaine’s shoulders as she carried a pile of plates to the trash bins. She chewed on the corner of her lip as she wiped down a table. Two-thousand dollars a month. The air whooshed out of her lungs just thinking about it. Even if she only worked for him one month, she’d be able to exhale a little more easily. And after two? Maybe she could go to community college after she earned her GED. For the first time, she wouldn’t have to rely on the principal’s charity for Dax’s school supplies. Maybe she could even buy a phone.
There was only one big problem with that fantasy.
Travis.
Her knees turned to rubber when he’d kissed her head. She’d almost fainted when he nearly kissed her mouth. She’d been so close to melting into him, overwhelmed by the scent of him. How could she work with him when the effect he had on her was so powerful? She’d make a math mistake. Or do something dumb, like throw herself at him. Her shoulders sagged as she moved to wipe down another table. No, she’d have to turn him down. It didn’t matter that he said he’d wanted her. A jagged ball of regret formed in her stomach. She’d never be so lucky in life, or in love. People like her never got what they wanted anyway. She’d have to content herself with pouring Travis coffee every day.
“Is Travis here yet?” Dax came bounding up still clutch
ing his Transformer.
“No, sweetie. He’ll be here soon.”
A moment later, Elaine felt a presence behind her. Without turning to look, she knew it was Travis. How did he do that? Sneak up so quietly? Wiping her hands on her jeans, she took a fortifying breath, bracing for the onslaught of attraction that would sizzle through her body when she turned.
“You ready?”
She started when his hand landed on the small of her back and sent sparks zinging up her spine. She turned, the greeting she’d prepared sticking in her throat when he smiled. His aviators were tucked in his pocket, and he was close enough she could see the gold flecks in his hazel eyes. Heat flickered in his eyes, and her nipples tightened and pebbled in response. She went still, unsure of what to do next.
“Travis!” Dax bounded up, and Travis stepped back, dropping his hand.
He turned his megawatt smile to her son. “I see you’ve brought your friend with you.”
“His name is Travis.”
A look of confusion, then surprise flashed across Travis’s face.
Oh, God. She shut her eyes as heat crawled up her neck. “In case you weren’t sure about your superhero status.” She smiled faintly.
Travis chuckled, then squatted down, ruffling Dax’s hair. “Hey, that’s great. Maybe you should call him T, so I don’t get mixed up.”
“Okay.” Dax shrugged, and flew his Transformer in front of him.
“How would you like to ride in the back of a police car?”
“Yeah!” Dax crowed. “I wanna ride where the bad guys go.”
“Well, come on then.” Travis stood and turned the weight of his gaze back to her, making her insides swim. “All set?”
