by J. M. Madden
“But he was outside the vehicle,” Savannah said. “How do you charge him with DUI when he wasn’t even in the car?”
“Well, he’d broken down at the side of the road, and his keys were in the ignition. When he called for help because he broke down, he basically said his car broke down while he was driving it. He was drunk when I got there, so I arrested him.”
She still seemed like she wanted to argue.
“Look at it this way,” he said. “If we had put gas in his car for him and let him go while he was drunk, then he drove through a stop sign and killed someone, we would be responsible for that.”
She nodded her head, understanding in her eyes. “Interesting.”
That kind of became their thing, then. She would ask him what cases he was working on and she would puzzle out what she thought he needed to do, then he would explain to her what he was legally required to do. It turned into a good challenge for Sheridan as well as Savannah.
And Grace made him laugh until his gut hurt. When he got a late afternoon call for a fatal crash investigation on Friday, Cheyenne and the girls stayed at the house. When he returned, his normal parking spot on the driveway had been outlined in purple chalk. There were yellow stars all around the space, and a paper sign had been mounted on the exterior of the garage door. Sheriff Lane Parking ONLY. All others will be bit by the guard dog, Wulf! There was a big, slobbering dog mouth on one side of the paper. Then she’d drawn big footprints up the sidewalk. Apparently that was where he was supposed to walk. He was chuckling as he entered the house and it was exactly what he’d needed after that horrendous call.
Well, that and the aroma of Italian food he could smell on the air. He had to step over the vicious guard dog to get to the kitchen, but he managed it without waking Wulf. Cheyenne looked up from a sink of dishes and smiled at him, her beautiful hair curling in the steam of the water. She wore a casual t-shirt and shorts today, obviously ready for the weekend.
More than anything else, seeing her brought his mind right back to where he needed to be. If he’d felt more daring right then, he would walk across the expanse of tile and kiss her on the cheek, but he was too afraid of this perfect moment in time being shattered by her pulling away.
Sheridan knew he was possibly opening his heart to being irrevocably hurt, but he couldn’t help himself. He knew Cheyenne and the girls were only staying for as long as they needed to to get away from Wade, but it was hard to separate the fantasy from the reality. If he thought Cheyenne would be willing, he would move them in permanently, and he would marry her in a heartbeat. She was incredible.
“Oh, you look worn out,” she said, coming up to him. Then, shocking him completely, she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. Sheridan held completely still as her soft lips landed oh, so close to his own, but he didn’t dare move. She was like a doe in the woods. He didn’t want to spook her by reacting too fast.
Cheyenne brushed her hand down his chest. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll set your dinner out?”
Sheridan blinked, wondering how the hell he could drag the world to a halt and just stay right in this moment. “Okay.”
But he didn’t move, his boots were planted. He just stood there looking down at her. Cheyenne’s creamy skin flushed, and he realized she hadn’t removed her hand from his front yet. Her fingers had curled around some of the slack in his shirt, at the buttons. Sheridan wished he could feel it, but he had a bulletproof vest on underneath, shielding him from her touch. Damn it.
“I like greeting you when you walk in the door,” she said softly.
Sheridan’s throat tightened, and he had to clear it before he could respond. “I do too. It’s been a long time since anyone cared to.”
Her big blue eyes turned luminous, but he didn’t want her feeling bad for him. He pulled back and forced a grin. “Did you see Grace’s welcome?”
She shook her head, curling her arms around herself.
“You ought to go look at the driveway.”
She padded across the room, also stepping over the vicious guard dog, and let herself out the front door. When she saw the artwork, she laughed and shook her head. “The girl has such an imagination.”
Grace came running around the side of the house, Daisy tight on her heels. She skidded to a stop beside her mother and held out a little white pansy. “Here, Mom. I love you.”
“Love you too, baby!”
But Grace was already gone again, racing on around the house.
“Thank you for the artwork, Grace,” Sheridan called.
“You’re welcome!”
They laughed, and Cheyenne slipped the little flower behind her ear. “She’s super excited because it’s officially summer for her now. Mom’s summer school requirements are a drag.”
“Ah, yes. I understand now. There’s so much running and flower picking to do this summer.”
Cheyenne lifted a brow at him and nodded, serious-faced. “You know it.”
Then she sighed. “I do have a few things planned for their summer, but it’s hard to know what to do with Wade hanging around.”
“What did you have planned?”
“Well, Savannah is supposed to be leaving for a summer camp at Kemp Lake next week. And Carolyn has been invited to Aspen with a friend from school. I know the parents and trust them with her.”
Sheridan frowned, trying to think how a possessive asshole would think. “They’ll probably be fine, don’t you think? If anything they’ll be safer away.”
Cheyenne nodded. “Perhaps you’re right. I just hate to let them go right now.”
“Well, you’re their mother, so it’s completely up to you.”
She was quiet as she returned to the house and Sheridan could tell she was thinking. It was a good time to slip into his room and change.
Sheridan stripped down and took a moment to put his Glock into the gun safe. He’d gotten out of the habit since Olivia had gotten older, but there was no risking younger hands getting on his weapon. Then he stepped into the shower.
When you were on a fatal traffic scene, it tended to be messy. And even though he hadn’t physically touched any part of the victim, the air had been full of smoke and ash. The vehicle had been consumed when it hit a tree at the bottom of the bank, and had burned for a long time. By the time the fire department had put it out, the entire scene was destroyed. He was waiting on dental records from the coroner to positively identify the victim.
In the days to come, he hoped someone would call looking for their lost brother or cousin, whoever the man had been to someone. And then they could narrow their investigation and try to figure out what happened. Loose ends in any case bugged him.
Maybe that was why he was feeling tense. Wade was running around free, and Cheyenne was walking around like she was waiting for the hangman’s noose to slip around her neck.
Maybe they needed to spur things on.
He wondered what Wade would do if it became known that Cheyenne was with someone. They were heading into the weekend. Maybe Sheridan would take Cheyenne on a date.
The thought of even asking her was thrilling, but it also made him feel guilty. Asking her on a date would serve to stir Wade up, but it also sent a bolt of excitement through Sheridan. He hadn’t been on a date in a long time, and definitely not with a woman as beautiful and kind as Cheyenne Lowell.
He doubted she would even agree to the ruse.
Sheridan slipped on shorts and a t-shirt, planning on mowing the grass after he ate. When he returned downstairs, Cheyenne had set a plate of lasagna and salad at the island, along with a tall glass of iced tea. Until he saw it, Sheridan didn’t realize how thirsty he was. He tipped the glass back and drank the thing down.
Before he could even set the glass down, Cheyenne was there with the pitcher to refill.
“I think Wade was a colossal idiot for ruining what he had with you.”
Cheyenne smiled. “Yes, he was,” she agreed.
The food was amazing, as always
, and he made sure to tell her that as she puttered around the kitchen. When the girls tromped into the kitchen in their bathing suits, she cautioned them to be safe.
“You can go with them,” he told her.
Blinking, she shook her head. “Nah. I’ll just watch for now.”
Sheridan cleaned up his mess when he was done eating and put the plate and utensils in the dishwasher, then he wiped down where he had eaten. It was the least he could do for the amazing meal she’d just fed him. Slapping a ball cap on his head, he headed for the garage and his lawn mower.
Chapter 12
From the safety of her chaise lounge and her dark sunglasses, Cheyenne could watch Sheridan as much as she wanted to. The green tractor he drove was not full-sized, but it was big enough to handle both the big yard and Sheridan’s size. Time after time he looped the yard, circling around trees and bushes, until he finished, then he headed for the front yard, which made her sad, because she couldn’t watch him any more. The sun was setting and the lights flicked on in the pool.
It was truly a beautiful setting and as she rested her head back against the lounge, she could feel the tension of the week easing from her.
Cheyenne apparently dozed off, because when she next opened her eyes the pool was glass smooth and there was a light blanket draped over her legs. Sheridan sat in the chair beside her, playing on his phone.
Cheyenne smiled and stretched, feeling refreshed. And if Sheridan was here she knew the girls were okay. “I guess I was sleepy.”
Sheridan nodded, putting his phone on a side table. “I guess you were. I’m amazed the kids didn’t wake you up.”
She snorted. “Oh, believe me, they can be quiet little sneaks when they need to be.”
“They’re inside watching a movie right now.”
“Grace, too?”
“Yup.”
That was good.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, Cheyenne.”
Uh oh. She sat up, focusing on his face. “About Wade?”
Sheridan shook his head and removed the ball cap so he could run his hand through his sweat-darkened hair. He dropped the hat to the ground beside him.
“In a way.”
He gave her a long look. “I’m thinking about doing something that might make him move. This waiting game is probably making us more tense than him, so I want to change it up. What do you think about going out with me?”
For a moment her heart took off into a gallop, then she realized the direction he was going and she had to look away to hide the hurt in her eyes. “You think if we go on a date and be seen, it will get back to him?”
Sheridan gave her a single nod. “And it might make his possessive side howl.”
Cheyenne took a deep breath, thinking about what he said. He was probably right. “Okay.”
“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a long time. But this isn’t the way I wanted it to happen.”
Her heart bolted into overdrive again, and she felt like she was going to pass out. She was very glad she was sitting down. “You wanted to ask me out?” she repeated faintly.
He gave her a crooked smile. “I’ve wanted to ask you out for a long time, Cheyenne but I knew you’d say no.”
Wincing, she gave him a narrow-eyed look. “You’re probably right, but that’s only because I haven’t dated anyone since Wade. I’ve told everyone no.”
His mouth dropped open a little and she could tell he was stunned. She shrugged uncomfortably. “I just didn’t want to.”
Blinking, he turned to look out over the pool and yard. “Well, we can nix the dating idea then.”
“No,” she said quickly. “I think it’s sound.”
His gaze searched her face, as if looking for truth. “Really?”
“Yes. And just so you know,” she whispered, “you’re the only one I’ve wanted to date since Wade.”
The creases around his eyes deepened as he smiled. “Well, that makes me feel better then. Maybe we’ll go on the ruse date this weekend, then a real one when he’s gotten it through his thick head that you’re not coming back to him, and it will just be for us, no one else.”
Tears flooded her eyes again and she felt ridiculous, but he knew what she needed. “So, where are you going to take me for this awesome date?”
Laughing, he sat back on the chaise. “I’m not sure. Is Sophia’s too easy?”
“I’m not sure,” she laughed. “I know I need to talk to Mama and Daddy about all this, especially if we’re going out like this. I don’t want them getting the wrong idea.”
“What’s the wrong idea?”
“That we’re doing it for any reason other than to fish for Wade’s reaction.”
Sheridan shrugged. “Even if it is for him I plan on enjoying myself at least a little bit. You can tell them why we’re doing it, but I wouldn’t let anyone else know. Would it embarrass you to be seen with me?”
Heat flooded heat through her cheeks. “Of course not! I just … don’t want you to be locked into anything you don’t want to be.”
Frowning, Sheridan turned to face her again. “Did you not hear me say I’ve wanted to date you for a while now? Years, in fact. And if the ruse date leads to a real date, then possibly more, would that be so bad? I’m not going to lie, Cheyenne, living with you and the girls this week, and coming home to you tonight, has been amazing. I loved being married to my wife when she was here, and I miss that. Don’t you miss having someone to rely on and talk to? And love?”
A tear rolled down her cheek, then another and another, until she couldn’t dash them away fast enough. When Sheridan’s strong arms wrapped around her, she let herself lean on him. “I do miss that,” she whispered.
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad or anything. I’m just trying to get you to leave your options open. Okay?”
She nodded against his chest, and eventually pulled back. Sheridan used his thumbs to wipe her cheeks, then leaned forward a pressed a slow, gentle kiss to her lips. Then another.
Cheyenne gasped, her heart thundering in her chest as she finally tasted Sheridan’s soft lips. Oh, he was lovely. In spite of herself, Cheyenne turned her head the tiniest bit, asking for more.
A strong hand cupped her head, and for a moment there was a split second of panic. He was so very strong. He could probably snap her neck like this if he wanted to.
Sheridan was not that kind of man though. The strength in his hands was used for good, and putting criminals away. And playing with her girls and throwing balls for the dogs. She needed to remember that. There was no way he would ever hurt her or the girls.
For the first time in years, she actually let herself go. Opening her mouth, she invited him inside, something she never thought she’d do with another man.
Sheridan groaned and for one wild moment, he let himself go as well, kissing her as deeply as he could, licking at her, nibbling. Then, so reluctantly she could feel him quiver, he pulled back. Making sure she was steady in her seat, he also let her face go.
Cheyenne licked her lips, learning— and loving— his taste.
“That escalated quickly. Sorry.”
Sitting back in his chair, he crossed one ankle over his knee, then leaned on his elbows. Cheyenne thought perhaps he was hiding himself from her, and she fought a smile.
Payton was right. People are sexual creatures.
Olivia wasn’t wild about the babysitting idea, but when he promised to take her driving next week sometime, she became much more agreeable.
“Besides,” he told her. “It’s during the day. It’s not like you’re missing seeing your friends or anything.”
Sheridan and Cheyenne had decided on a lunch date at Sophia’s, on a Saturday afternoon, a notoriously hard time to get into the restaurant. Saturdays were social days for the people of Honeywell. The farmer’s market on the square would be open, which always drew a lot of people, and yard sales were usually going on.
“So, you’r
e going on a date with her,” Olivia murmured.
He’d wondered if this would be a stumbling block.
“Yes, I am. What are your thoughts?”
Olivia swung her hair over her shoulder and tipped up her chin. They were sitting on her bed downstairs. She wore a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt adorned with printed feathers of all shapes and sizes. This year her face had gotten lean from volleyball practice, and Sheridan could see what a beauty she was going to be when she matured. She would look very much like Eleanor.
Blinking, she rested her head on her upturned knee. “I guess it will be okay.”
She gave him a sidelong look. “It’s probably been a while since you got laid.”
Sheridan chuckled. “Not something I’m going to talk to you about.”
She grinned and shrugged. “Cheyenne is okay. I like the girls, although they’re kind of irritating.”
“You’re a teenager— that makes everyone irritating.”
“Yeah, true. And I guess they aren’t as irritating as some.”
Sheridan supposed that was as much approval as he was going to get. Leaning over he pressed a kiss to her head and pulled her in for a squeeze. “Thank you, O patient one. I love you, love bug.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
As he stepped through the door Olivia called him back and he ducked his head in.
“Dad? I think Mom would have liked her too.”
Sheridan clenched his jaw at the wise words from his teen. “Yes, I think you’re right. Night, honey.”
Olivia fought the tears in her eyes. It was hard missing someone so much. It seemed like there was no ease to it, it just kept going on.
Her mom had been gone a long time. Years. But it felt like it had been yesterday. Olivia could still feel her mother stroking her hair as she lay in bed, and the feel of her hugs. She had so many questions she wanted answered about life, death, love, the future… but she didn’t have anyone close enough to ask. Her dad was great, really but such a guy, she wanted to talk with a mom sometimes. The grandparents were okay, but she didn’t get a chance to see them much. One set had moved to Houston, and the other Florida. There had been mention about going out to see her mother’s parents in Florida this summer, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath. Seemed like there was a lot of other stuff going on right now.
