Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 172
Wade stalked forward, his bearing confrontational. “What did you want to question me about?”
“I have evidence of theft.” Harper moved his gaze to her.
Wade shifted into the sheriff’s line of sight. “You wouldn’t be talking about a pair of ladies underwear, would you?”
Harper’s startled look gave him away before he stared hard at Wade.
She stared at Wade as well and then it dawned on her. Wade said Powell tried to blackmail him. It must have been with the panties she’d left behind the other night and when that didn’t work, he claimed theft. “Sheriff, I don’t think there is any reason to bring Wade in. The fact is, I left those panties behind.” She wrapped her arm around Wade and let out her breath when he reciprocated.
Harper’s face turned red and he cleared his throat. “Be that as it may, someone has filed charges and Mr. Johnson will need to come with me if he wants to clear his name.”
“I can come too.”
Harper’s face lightened. “That would be fine.”
“No, you stay here.” Wade turned her to face him. “You have guests. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He stared hard at her and she closed off all expression.
“Good point.” She looked over her shoulder at Harper. “Sheriff, if you need a statement from me, I can come down anytime when my manager is here.”
“Let me get my shirt.” Wade pulled away and strode into the tack area.
She approached the sheriff. “I’m sorry for this misunderstanding. I’ll send Wade out to the golf cart in a minute.”
Harper appeared ready to argue, but there really wasn’t anything he could say. “I’ll be right here.”
She forced a smile. “Thank you.”
As soon as he turned, she ran to where Wade tucked in his shirt. “It’s Harper.”
“What’s Harper?”
“He’s my saboteur. He’s been using Powell to do his dirty work. I’d bet money on it.”
Wade eyed her shrewdly. “You may be right. There was something Powell said last night that reminded me of a kid parroting a parent. It was like something Harper would say. Do me a favor and call Dale and tell him where I am in case we are dealing with a crooked sheriff.”
“I will. I will also be interrogating a certain security guard.”
Wade pulled her close. “Wait for me to be with you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Including losing my business?”
“Kendra.”
She put her finger on his lips. She was still angry with him for not supporting her nude guests, but her fear he might end up in some desert wash with a bullet in his back overwhelmed her. If Harper was a bad cop, that could very well happen. “Be careful.”
He gave her a kiss that left her lightheaded. “I will.”
*
KENDRA PUT DOWN the phone and leaned back in her chair, relief making her shake a little. Her fear had escalated as the hours ticked by and she’d come to one clear decision. She loved Wade Johnson more than a poker player loved his chips and she needed to find a middle ground between her resort and him.
“What happened?” Adriana leaned forward in the wingback chair on the other side of the desk, oblivious to her own nakedness.
“Dale said Wade’s safe and he’s not in jail.”
“And…?”
Kendra sat forward, feeling more settled than she had in the last two weeks. “Harper is now being investigated by Internal Affairs and has been suspended.”
“That’s a bit harsh for a trumped-up theft charge.”
“Oh, it’s much more than that. The electric company discovered the pole had been halfway cut with a chainsaw and since no accident report was ever filed, it clearly pointed to the sheriff. Wade also told them about Game and Fish having to come out here because of Harper. When Wade also promised them a witness, the department decided to take it seriously.”
Adriana’s eyes grew round with curiosity. “Who’s the witness?”
“Powell. But we haven’t spoken to him, so keep that under your hat.”
“Of course. So have you decided if—”
A knock on the door interrupted Adriana.
Kendra’s stomach clenched. She couldn’t handle any more suggestions from guests right now. “Come in.”
Leonard, Lucinda’s husband, poked his head in and Kendra stood, making herself smile. “Hi, Mr. Richards. What can I do for you?”
He frowned. “I was sitting on the patio of my casita, enjoying a drink when I noticed someone working on the bridge across the creek. We have friends joining us in a few days and I was just wondering if it would be repaired in time for them to cross over.”
Someone working on the bridge? There was nothing wrong with her bridge. A shiver rode up her back. “Oh yes. The bridge is new. We are simply making a few small adjustments. In fact, I was just heading down there now to see how it was going.”
Leonard broke into a smile. “Great. I thought so, but the Mrs. was concerned so I thought I’d better check.”
“No problem. I’m glad you asked.” She kept her smile until Leonard had nodded and closed the door.
“What the hell?” Adriana stood. “That bridge is brand new. It doesn’t need repair.”
Kendra grabbed her hat. “You and I both know that. I’m going to investigate.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No!” At Adriana’s stunned expression, Kendra lowered her voice. “No, I need someone here to be sure none of the guests venture down there until I find out what’s going on.”
Adriana scowled. “Fine. But if you’re going alone, take your gun.”
“I don’t think I need a gun.”
Adriana’s hands found her hips. “Yes, you do. Do you remember those college boys from town who decided to graffiti the garage after it was built?”
Kendra’s throat closed. She’d already forgotten that episode, mainly because she didn’t want to remember the hateful sayings on the metal structure. “Good point.” Bending, she opened her bottom drawer and pulled out her Smith and Wesson 9mm. She’d learned early in her career that winning money meant attempted robberies. She just never expected to have to use it once she owned her own spread.
Slipping the gun into the pocket of her skirt, she moved past Adriana. “Remember, don’t let any guest come down to the bridge. I don’t need this place being known for vandalism.”
“Okay.”
Once down the hall, she was glad she didn’t have to talk to any patrons as she exited the building. She felt as if she held the winning hand in a high stakes game and the fire alarm just went off. Jumping into her golf cart, she drove down the path, being sure not to send up any dust. She didn’t want anyone to know what was happening except her.
A part of her wished Wade was back, but the other part was happy he was making sure Harper never bothered them again. As the bridge came into view, she could clearly see a man in jeans and t-shirt using a sledgehammer on the bridge.
“Fuck you. You bastard.” Rage tore through her as she drove around the corner losing sight of the man for a moment. Adrenaline rushed through her veins while she contemplated whether to shoot to kill or just wound. The former was her preference. Fuck. If she shot him, all the guests at the resort would know something was wrong.
Gritting her teeth with frustration, she turned the corner on the last switchback and lessened the pressure on the pedal, letting the quiet golf cart roll to a stop. Deciding surprise was her best move, she slowly left the cart, never taking her eyes off the man.
Just then he moved to angle the swing of the sledgehammer and she couldn’t contain her surprise. “Harper?”
At the sound of her voice, he turned, missing his mark with the tool. “You.”
He dropped the sledgehammer and bounded toward her. His face was drawn with rage, appearing almost skull-like, his breathing harsh.
She slipped her hand into her pocket just as his hands bit into her upper arms. “You.” The
black of his pupils had blotted out the color of his eyes. “You ruined my career, my county, my nephew.”
She had the gun in her grip but kept her hand in her pocket. “What? What are you talking about? You sabotaged my resort.”
“A naked resort,” he spat. What had been an annoying, pathetic sheriff was replaced by a zealous fanatic. “It took me awhile to put it together, but I finally figured it out. You built this place for orgies. All that talk about nature and shit, was you pretending to the planning committee. We don’t want your kind in our county, messing with our kids’ heads, twisting their morals. I looked into your background. You’re just a piece of white trash with big boobs.”
The old words didn’t hurt anymore. She was done with being judged for a childhood and anatomy she’d had no control over. Screw him. With her arms pinned, she couldn’t slap him, so she spit in his face.
He laughed, throwing his head back, allowing her to see around him and catch movement on the path behind him. Wade.
When Harper finished laughing, he sneered at her. “You white cunt. You want to trade spit with me that bad?”
Without warning, his mouth came down on hers, bruising her lips. Fury rose in her throat as he forced his tongue into her mouth.
She bit it…hard.
He jerked his head away. “God damn slut.” Letting go of her arm, he lifted his hand to slap her even as she pulled her weapon from her pocket.
Chapter Eleven
‡
HARPER SCREAMED, GRASPING his leg as he crumpled to the ground before Kendra could pull the trigger.
Wade stood behind him, the sledgehammer in his hand.
She relaxed her finger. “Thanks for the help.”
He pointed to the gun in her hand and raised an eyebrow. “Would you have killed him?”
She looked at the sheriff, his leg at an odd angle and blood already seeping through his jeans. She searched her heart for the answer, Harper’s words, his kind, had etched a scar deep in her soul. “Maybe.”
“Glad I arrived when I did.” He lowered the sledgehammer, his gaze going to the gun still pointed in his direction. “I’d rather you didn’t go to jail.”
She tried to change her facial expression, but she couldn’t. “For killing a crooked cop?”
Wade shrugged. “He’s still a cop…at the moment.”
Her anger and disgust at Harper loosened its hold on her and she returned the gun to her pocket.
Wade glanced down at the unconscious sheriff and stepped around him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. He wasn’t the first to treat me like that. My first boss taught me early.”
Wade’s hands curled into fists and she stared at them. Taking one of his hands, she kissed it. “It’s okay. Haven’t you heard, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
“Ah shit.” Wade’s arms came around her in a tight hug and the defensive shell around her emotions split.
She hugged him back with all her strength, the wonder of being comforted too new to process at once. It simply felt good.
He leaned back to look at her. “Hey. I’m proud of you.”
“Why?”
The right side of his lips lifted just a bit. “You are one strong woman.”
She shrugged, not feeling very tough now that she’d melted into him. She rested her face against his chest, inhaling the scent of masculine soap and hay.
Harper moaned and Wade sighed. “Guess I’ll be running a certain sheriff back to the department, though I may have to stop at the emergency room first. I’m sure at least one leg is broken. He’s lucky. I actually aimed for his head, but was so angry I couldn’t see straight.” He gave her a self-deprecating smirk. “Will you be okay while I’m gone?”
She nodded against his chest, but she didn’t want to move away from him. He was everything that was good and for once she believed she deserved that.
He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She sighed, unwilling to let him go. “That’s fine. I have guests to see to.” Finally, she lifted her face and gazed into his warm eyes.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her gently. She opened to him, loving his tender exploration of her mouth.
He pulled away too soon. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She gave him a tentative smile. It was hard. “Yes. Now go.” She made herself step away from him. “Adriana is going to be worried sick and I need to get Billy down here to assess the damage, so we can repair this right away.”
He took her hand and walked her back to her golf cart. “All right. I’ll fill in the sheriff’s office on this incident. Are you going to want to press charges?”
She got in and looked up at him. “You bet I will.”
“Good.”
She squeezed his hand still in hers and let him go. “I’ll see you when you get back.” She made herself start the cart and turn away from him. She had a lot to do and a very important decision to make. Hanging around with her perfect cowboy only delayed the inevitable.
She made her way up to the resort, trying to focus on her to-do list, but she couldn’t stop thinking of Wade’s comforting hug. Damn, she was pathetic.
*
ADRIANA SMILED. “YOU’RE going to keep your hat and boots on, aren’t you?”
Kendra tensed. “Yeah.” She had changed into her tall cowboy boots, which should hide most of her damaged calf. There was no way she’d take them off.
She glanced at the clock. Wade still hadn’t returned, which made her less comfortable with what she was about to do. She would have liked to give him a heads-up. “Thank you for doing this with me.”
Adriana winked. “My pleasure. I’ll go see if everyone is finished with dessert while you undress.”
“Sounds good.”
After the door closed on her naked bartender, Kendra stood. She’d learned she wasn’t quite acceptable soon after receiving the coyote bite. Whether it was her trailer trash childhood, her deformed leg or what she did for a living, she would always be an outsider. Besides, going nude was far too beyond the pale for Wade to accept. This was her problem and she preferred to stand on her own two feet anyway. So if she wanted her dream to live, she would have to get naked. Then, somehow, she would have to remember to smile and react while being incredibly embarrassed.
She shook herself. One problem at a time. First, she had to get naked.
“This is for you Buddy and Ginger.” Quickly, before she lost her resolve, she stripped off her shirt and bra. Dropping the brown skirt she’d worn to greet the guests, she stepped out of it. Without hesitating, she pulled her panties down over her boots and threw them on her chair. They were a new pair, with pretty pink lace edging. She’d have to remember to retrieve those tonight. It was bad enough she had one traveling pair of underwear. She didn’t need two.
The door opened and Adriana bopped in, closing it behind her. “I had a brilliant—whoa, look at you. You’re stacked!”
Heat started in her cheeks and moved down her chest. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.” She picked up the towel she would sit on in the great room.
Adriana moved closer. “Honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. It’s just that you would have made a fortune in a brothel.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thanks, I think.”
“I’m not helping, am I? How about this?” Adriana pulled a deck of cards out from behind her back.
“We can’t play strip poker, Adriana. We don’t have any clothes on.”
“No, no, no. I have them interested in playing Texas Hold’em. When I told them you were Night Owl Lowe, they couldn’t wait for me to find a deck of cards.”
Texas Hold’em? If she was playing poker, she wouldn’t have to react. “You are a genius.” She hugged Adriana to her then stepped back quickly. “Okay, that was weird.”
Adriana grinned. “Not for me. Men, women, multiples, even handcuffs, I’m game for anything.”
“Okay, too much information. Le
t’s just stick to poker. We’re going to need chips to bet with. I refuse to take money from my guests.”
Adriana grinned. “Not a problem. Selma made a new batch of churros and I have Lacey cutting them into thin slices. If guests happen to eat their money, it’s not our fault.”
Kendra was so grateful she wanted to cry, but that wasn’t exactly the reaction her friend was looking for. “Thank you for all this. I couldn’t have come this far without you.”
“Just remember me when you become famous…again.” Adriana winked and sauntered toward the door. “Are you ready? Do you have your towel?”
She took a deep breath, clasping her towel close to her chest. “Let’s do this.”
Adriana opened the door and they made their way down the short hall toward the great room.
If Lacey had finished making the “chips,” she would be gone as would Selma. Billy always retired right after dinner and Wade wasn’t back, which left only Powell. If the security guard did his job tonight instead of snooping where he didn’t belong, then none of her staff would see her, except Adriana.
As they turned the corner, she scanned her eight naked guests. Two men stood by the cold fireplace chatting with drinks in their hand. One woman showed another how to play poker and a couple counted out the churro chips. Lucinda and her husband approached. “I thought I recognized you from somewhere. Now I know. I can’t believe you’re the Night Owl. You know you’re much prettier in person.”
Kendra pasted on a smile and moved her weight to her right hip. “They do say TV adds ten pounds.”
Lucinda patted her tummy. “Menopause will add more, but as long as Leonard is happy with me, I’m happy.”
Leonard looked at his wife like he would give her the moon if he could.
Kendra’s smile started to feel real. “I think, Mrs. Richards, you are a very lucky lady.”
Lucinda batted her hand, but Leonard wouldn’t let her off the hook so easily. “Don’t let her fool you, Ms. Lowe. I was very lucky to meet Lucinda. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here today.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’d be alone in a nursing home somewhere and worst of all, I’d be dressed.”