“No.”
Once they were seated at the bar, both with plates filled high with chicken, cole slaw, and pickled beets, Kiersten munched and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Okay, now that I have you alone, what’s the deal between you and my brother?”
Wynn half expected that this was the direction things would head. She understood though. The protective sister wanting the lowdown only seemed right. “Let’s see, long story short, I moved in next door to him and he took it upon himself to help me out of some tough situations.”
Kiersten stared with narrowed gaze. “Come on, it was obvious you two weren’t upstairs playing board games.” Her smile softened her words.
“I know you’re probably concerned—”
Kiersten scoffed. “It’s none of my business, really, but I’m just happy to see he’s over that witch of an ex. That was one screwed up relationship from the very start. I tried to tell him, but you know how men are. They can’t see past the point where their being fed.” Realizing what she said, she lightly smacked herself in the forehead. “Oh my. I just said that aloud, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, it is. I know about Sam, and I know about their tumultuous relationship. But, I can’t say that he’s over her. He and I…well…” she looked toward the door, “I’m not sure I’m here to stay permanently.”
“Oh, things are difficult?” she popped a piece of chicken into her mouth.
Wynn picked at her own chicken. “To say the least. They were complicated when I moved to Wyoming.”
“I hope things work out. What I can say in all truth, Zander is a great brother, friend, and gentleman. If you need help, he’ll certainly be there to help you. Just remember underneath all those tats and scowls, he has a heart of gold.”
Wynn didn’t respond. How could she?
~~~**~~~
“Are we good?” Zander asked Rudy who was sitting in the passenger seat of the truck.
“After you kept part of the investigation from me? Sure.” He shrugged. “After I thought about it, I saw your point.”
“Glad we’re past that.”
“Lanie likes Wynn,” Rudy said.
“Great.” Zander stared at the window of the trailer they were watching.
“I think she’s great too,” Rudy added.
“Awesome.” There was a long hesitation. Zander looked over at his friend sitting in the passenger seat. “Since you demand that we talk while on this surveillance, what are you truly asking?”
“What do you think of her?”
Swiping a hand down his whiskered jaw, he reached for the Styrofoam cup from the console and gulped down coffee, which was already cold. “Why does this interest you so much?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Maybe because you seem different.”
Zander resituated his Stetson. “If you say so.”
“You should admit you find her attractive.”
Snapping his head up, Zander pierced his buddy with a frustrated stare. “What are you? Oprah?”
Rudy laughed. “Lanie thinks you two would make a perfect match.”
“She also thought I’d make a perfect match with her second cousin and the cashier at the corner market. It appears I have many perfect matches.”
“Try to pull that stick out of your ass, buddy.”
Zander opened his mouth, but snapped it shut. He couldn’t argue. He was a bit uptight. He hadn’t seen Wynn for two days and all he could think about was having another crack at making love. He’d gone home for a few hours to get a few winks of shuteye and when he’d stopped by her house, she wasn’t home. “Has she been working on the nursery?”
Rudy chuckled. “Yeah. She’s partway through.”
He didn’t realize he was squeezing the cup so tightly until the lid popped off. A strange tightness took residence in his chest. The image of Wynn filled his head, her beauty, how responsive she was to his touch on her naked skin. How her breasts had quivered, and her nipples beaded into succulent nubs. He shifted in the seat, hoping to adjust his fly before the situation became dire.
Rolling down the window, he inhaled the sweet scent of oxygen after a heavy snow had fallen, filling his lungs and hoping the ache in his body settled some. Not only was he as tense as a bee, but she’d made it clear to him that she didn’t want to make any plans for the future—or rather, with him.
Not that he was vying to make a claim on her with a ring, but truth be known, he did see her as long term and not just a fuck. Why was it that he was lectured at least three times a week on the importance of settling down, getting over the ex, and then he finally met someone who intrigued him into thinking about his future only to discover that she wanted a friend with benefits? Figured! He’d found himself in the middle of a shitty mess.
Most men would be all into a sex affair without any expectations, and if it were any other woman, so would Zander, but why was the petite brunette with the wild ringlets different? His chest swelled and he became dizzy. He recognized this feeling…and it didn’t end well for him the last time. In fact, he couldn’t remember it being this strong before.
He needed to get his brain back on track. “Run me through the suspect again.”
“His name is Dane Townsend. He’s been in and out of prison for crimes from aggravated assault to car theft.”
“And he was seen on the camera at our last victim’s place of employment?”
Rudy nodded. “Co-workers say he came in almost every day asking her out, and she finally had to demand that he leave her alone. One of her co-workers said he became angry and knocked over a display on his way out. He’s almost thirty years old.”
“You think he’ll be willing to speak to us?” Zander asked.
“He’s still on probation so I’d say hell no, but we’ll have the element of surprise on our side.”
“Looks like it’s ride time.” Zander jutted his chin toward the car pulling up in front of the trailer. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
Both men slipped out of the truck. Zander took out his gun, grasping it with both hands and held it at his side as they approached the front door. He made a hand signal to Rudy who took the steps and Zander swept around the side of the small porch, gun lifted and targeted at the door.
“Townsend, it’s Sheriff Graham.” Rudy yelled through the door, then knocked once, twice, but no answer. “We know you’re in there, Townsend. Open up. We just want to talk.” He tried the doorknob, but it was locked. After several more knocks, and still nothing, Rudy gestured for them to move in.
Zander saw movement in the window. Rudy was preparing to kick in the door…
“Rudy…move!”
The other man reacted, but not quick enough. The blast exploded through the metal door and Rudy went flying back off the stairs. Zander fired, then all hell broke loose.
~~~**~~~
The man dropped his coins into the machine, pressed a button and reached through the door and took out his candy bar. He felt he deserved it as celebration. He almost found it funny that he got by with another slaying and no one was the wiser. He knew he was smarter than the Sheriff, but he’d thought Cade might be wiser, but both men were stumped. And they’d almost been blown away by the wrong suspect. This chaos made things more delicious, and his desire to find another victim was almost unbearable.
Too bad the Sheriff wasn’t dead. His poor pregnant wife looked devastated sitting in the lobby. He almost felt sorry for her—almost. Although, he didn’t have anything to do with her stupid husband following the wrong lead.
The man had been clever when he sought out his victims. He knew Townsend had berated the last victim to the point that she’d been frustrated enough to call the Sheriff’s department to make a report. That’s how he’d met her.
Just as he suspected, Townsend was on the security tapes.
He bit into his chocolate and started to back away when he caught a glimpse of a delightful breath that just swept in. She was radiant, ju
st like the others. Her beauty stood out without her trying. His feet were frozen as he watched her, and his limbs tingled. His fingers ached to touch her, to hear her plead for her life. His thirst grew and he knew he wouldn’t be able to ignore the addiction boiling in his blood…
Lanie Graham greeted Wynn and accepted the coffee she offered her. Yeah, the man knew just how sweet Wynn was, and how she would satiate his thirst…
CHAPTER 19
ZANDER SETTLED INTO the wicker chair on his porch and stretched his legs, hooking them on the rail as he uncapped the whiskey bottle and drank, squinting as the fire rolled down his esophagus. He usually didn’t sedate his problems with alcohol, but today his good buddy was injured. Thankfully, the bullet proof vest had saved his life, but he had broken ribs and was shot in the leg, which required surgery to mend.
He chugged another drink, then capped the bottle and stuck it between his legs just as he saw movement in the shadows. He lifted his chin just as Wynn stepped into the dim light spilling onto the porch. As always, she looked amazing and made him feel better with just her presence. Her hair was pulled back away from her face, but he could see the worry in her expression.
“Hi, Zander,” she said in a soft voice.
“Hi, Wynn.”
“I just left the hospital. Lanie said I had just missed you.”
“I was there with him for a while.”
She took the steps up to the porch and sat down on the chair beside him. “I heard a little of what happened. Rudy will be okay though. How about you?”
He gave a small shrug. “I’ve been in situations like this before, many times, and still they get you right here.” He patted the center of his chest. “The bastard Townsend didn’t give me any choice but to shoot him.”
Wynn placed her hand on Zander’s arm and he flexed. He caught her gaze, holding it before he asked, “Would a woman like you be capable of falling for a man like me, you know, who wears a star and uses his gun?”
Her tongue came out to moisten her bottom lip. She didn’t remove her hand. “Many women could fall for a man like you, Zander. What you do, it’s valiant…and dangerous, and yet lawmen still dedicate themselves to helping others. Just like you said, that man who shot your friend didn’t give you any choice.”
“Do you forgive me for being MIA the last few days?”
She laughed and tucked a misbehaving tendril of hair behind her ear. “I’ll have to think about it.” She tapped her chin with her finger. “Okay, I’ve thought about it and I forgive you. In fact, I’ve been busy myself with the nursery. I think that’ll be on hold a few days, at least while Rudy is in the hospital.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was staying away on purpose.” He placed the bottle on the floor next to his chair.
“I won’t lie, it did cross my mind.” She shifted back into the chair and brought her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees. He watched her pluck at the frayed hole in the knee of her jeans. His body tightened and what he wouldn’t give to have her plucking his invisible frayed edges.
Following impulse and not logic, he reached out, took her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss her palm. “You should know that I’ve thought about you, and what we shared, at least a hundred times every hour.”
“Are you teasing me?” Her cheeks flushed.
“Hell no! I don’t want to come on too strong though. After all, you did tell me you just want me for sex.”
Her eyes twinkled. “’That’s not true. I said that I didn’t know what my future holds. I was being…considerate.”
“Considerate? Come here.” He patted his thigh. She smiled and the gesture reached in and touched every nook and cranny of his body. She hopped over onto his lap and her bottom settled nicely in the spoon of his hips. He should be embarrassed that his body hardened, but she didn’t seem to mind as her eyes twinkled.
Taking a tendril of her satin hair, he entwined it around his finger, then brought it to his nose, inhaling her sweet scent. “Thank you for coming here. That means a lot to me.”
She cupped his cheek, kissing the other. “Where else would I be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. At home painting. Chopping wood,” he teased.
“Yeah, because those things are so much more fun than being near a stud cowboy who wears a badge…and has the sexiest dimples and tattoos.”
She waved her face dramatically. “You like the tats, do you?” He lifted a brow as he moved his fingers through her hair, knocking out the pin that tumbled forgotten to the floor.
“Honestly, I like everything. And I do mean everything.” She kissed his neck, his ear lobe, and his cheek.
“Sweetheart, you keep that up and things are going to get hot and heavy very quickly.” He could barely draw oxygen into his lungs. This woman had a hold on him like nothing he’d felt before, one that made his bad day seem less challenging. He guessed that’s what he always wanted in a partner. Someone who understood what challenges he faced each day and feeling like he could share his feelings. And the same for his partner. He wanted a woman to feel comfortable in coming home and laying all her worries out so they could work together to make everything better. Yet, even as he grew closer to her, his internal wall crept up, a reminder that they’d made no promises to each other. She’d made her feelings clear that she wasn’t thinking of a future with him.
However, logic didn’t deter the mesmerizing sensations rocking his insides. He couldn’t resist her—didn’t want to resist her.
“I’m here for you.” Her mouth lowered to the neckline of his T-shirt where she rolled her tongue along the neckline, grasping the material with her teeth and tugging it teasingly.
His cock jerked and stretched to capacity. He felt like he’d explode soon if he didn’t get out of the jeans. He had an idea that she was working intentional magic.
“How about we take this upstairs?” he whispered next to her ear.
“I think I like how you’re thinking.” She smiled, and he savored in how it made him feel good.
She started to shift from his lap, but he held her steady and easily stood with her in his arms. He propped her on one knee, opened the screen door and stepped over the threshold. They worked together by her closing the door and he locked it. Carrying her up the stairs, he stole a few kisses on her cheeks, the corner of her lips, and her cute ears before they reached the landing.
“How is it possible that you just carried me up a flight of stairs and you didn’t even break a sweat? I’m on the treadmill for five minutes and I’m huffing and puffing.”
“You have asthma. I don’t. And you weigh nothing.” He nuzzled her hair. She smelled so damn good, like a vacation to a beach.
Inside of his bedroom, he placed her on the bed and he couldn’t imagine wanting anything, not even his next breath, as much as he wanted her.
~~~**~~~
He slammed his mouth over hers, tongue warm and tasting like whiskey. She moaned and he responded with one of his own.
“Yes, this is much better than painting or chopping,” she murmured.
“This is better than anything I can think of,” he said between kisses.
“I’m glad I came.” She threaded her fingers into his thick, satin-smooth hair.
He reached under her shirt and found her breast. She gasped at his touch and an electrical jolt flashed through her body as he kneaded the mound to his palm. He tweaked the nipple through the lace of bra, gently, then firmer until she arched her back, biting back a moan. He inched his caress down her stomach and when he reached the waist of her jeans, he loosened the button and undid the zipper. She held her breath as she anticipated his touch on the part of her that ached in need. When he slid his hand downward and cupped her mons through the thin cloth of her panties he let out a growl that spoke of his internal frustration.
“So wet. So warm,” he muttered.
“You do that to me.”
“You make me feel like a giant, sweetheart.”
She gasped when h
e glided his fingertip over her clit, already swollen and sensitive. “We have to get these things off you.” He lifted on his knees and tugged the jeans down her hips and she lifted her bottom to make it easier. Once they were off, he blew out a long breath. “Damn. Red’s my favorite color.”
He was beside her, spreading her legs. She easily spread for him as he ran his fingers along her seam. Her puffy lips trembled, and her clit tingled. Gyrating her hips against his hand, she silently begged for more.
He kissed her throat, nibbling a moist path to her earlobe and swept his tongue over the flesh. He suckled and licked until her breathing came out in raspy pants and her fingers dug into his shoulders. She whimpered and quivered, relishing in how good his mouth felt, imagining by the time he reached southern parts of her body she would explode on his tongue.
Zander didn’t take pity on her growing need. He continued to worship her with his mouth and tongue, sweeping long glides over her skin as he dipped one finger under the elastic seam of her panties, his callused finger meeting her slick scorching heat. His rumble of satisfaction was more like an erotic moan. He used his fingers to drive her closer to the edge of the abyss.
Her southern lips pulsated, flashes of warmth traveled through her from roots to toes. When he claimed her mouth again, he suckled in her tongue, reminding her of having his mouth on her center and how he’d suckled her to orgasm. Each thread of sanity frayed, and fireworks shot off in her belly.
“I want you to come for me, sweetheart. Come all over my fingers.”
“I-I’m close. So close.” Tremors captured her and she ground her clit against the heel of his hand. Trembling, she dragged in a deep breath, squeezing his shoulders tighter as the chasm grew closer. She could no longer hold back, even if her world came tumbling down, she’d be here witnessing first hand an amazing orgasm. Her cry swept through the room and down the hall, and nothing else mattered.
~~~**~~~
Lowering his night goggles, the man stood in the bushes outside of Wynn’s house, although she’d gone to Zander’s house hours ago. The man smirked. Let the lawman enjoy his pussy because soon the adrenaline rush would belong to him. He took out a cigarette from the pack and lit it, drawing it in and blowing out a ring. He should leave, but he liked being here, close to his prey. He ached to walk next door and watch the two fuck, but there were cameras everywhere outside of the house. The man believed this was a combination of the years Zander had spent in the military and DCI. Hell, every officer was paranoid. It came with the star.
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