Boone

by Lori Foster

  Damn, news traveled fast in Buckhorn. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Is it true?”

  Tucker shrugged. He had a strategy, but he didn’t yet know how it was working. “We’ll see.”

  “Huh. I’ll take that as a yes.” Moody straightened. “Never really known Kady to date.”

  He eyed Moody. Apparently, he was the only one under the misconception that she’d gone out often with men. He’d have to rethink his impressions. “Did you ask her?”

  “Me and every other guy with a heartbeat.” Moody stood, but propped a hip on his desk. “She shuts down just about everyone. Figured she was more interested in growing her career, you know.”

  Or waiting for the right guy. The idea that he’d be the right guy teased him, making him edgy.

  Now that he’d decided to go for it, he wanted another kiss.

  And more. A whole lot more.

  But he still had his lame arm to contend with. It was better, but short of inviting Kady to straddle his lap, he wasn’t sure how physical he could get. And given her insistence of inexperience, he couldn’t see putting the work on her. At least not their first time.

  A few more days, Tucker thought, and he’d be able to lose the sling.

  Overall, he’d wanted to wait to see Kady again until he’d lost all restrictions. It had been a good plan—until her relatives waylaid him.

  Half a dozen of them had managed to run into him—circumstances he was sure weren’t coincidental—where questions about the wreck had led to more personal questions.

  It wasn’t until Amber, Morgan’s daughter who was recently married and a very lovable busybody, had egged him on by saying she planned to introduce Kady to a friend of hers.

  A male friend.

  He’d taken the bait like a big dumb carp. Even knowing she did it on purpose, he hadn’t been able to resist, and before he knew it he’d admitted to her that he planned to ask Kady out himself.

  Satisfaction had glowed in her face, a silent knew it shining in her eyes. True enough, Amber did seem to have a sixth sense when it came to matching up couples. She’d been instrumental—or so she liked to claim—in marrying off several family members, including quite a few cousins, and her brother. Once Tucker had made up his mind, he’d found it prudent to forestall further interference from her family.

  He’d found the elders all together in the diner and wrangled an invite to join them.

  The varying expressions of expectation on their faces had been nearly comical. Gabe, particularly, had given him a hard stare as Tucker drew over an extra seat and ordered a coffee.

  Tucker respected them all, with good reason. In his midsixties, Sawyer Hudson still ran his medical practice out of his house. He was the quintessential small-town doctor, and at one time or another had probably treated everyone in Buckhorn, young and old.

  Morgan Hudson, the imposing second son, had once been the sheriff himself, but was now the long-standing mayor. Also in his sixties, but still built like a brick wall, he relished his tough-as-nails reputation. Tucker had already learned his bark was worse than his bite.

  Jordan Sommerville, their half brother, a veterinarian who had a magical way with animals, was the easiest to reason with—unless you hurt an animal. He had zero tolerance for cruelty and didn’t mind making it known.

  Their mother, who’d been widowed, then divorced, which explained the different last names, was still married to Gabe’s father, Mr. Kasper, but they lived in Florida. Tucker had met her only once, and liked her a lot.

  The brothers might have had different fathers, but Tucker had never known men to be closer. If he hadn’t found them all together in the diner, he had no doubt they’d have shared his news within the hour.

  At the time, though, Sawyer had folded his arms on the table and asked, “Something on your mind, Sheriff?”

  Seeing no reason to beat around the bush, he’d replied, “Kady.”

  Jordan’s brows had climbed. “I suspected as much.”

  “Did you?” Morgan turned on his brother with a scowl. “You didn’t say anything.”

  “You’ve been out of town, if you’ll recall.”

  Gabe had leaned forward. “What about my daughter? She’s okay?”

  “Far as I can tell,” Tucker had said with a direct look, “she’s perfect.”

  There were general remarks of “Ah,”

  “I see,” and “Well, well,” from the others. But Gabe hadn’t blinked.

  Tucker had proceeded to tell them he’d been interested for a while, that he suspected that to be true of most men, but that they collectively had a way of discouraging interest.

  They tried to deny that, all except Sawyer who shook his head and called his brothers thickheaded.

  “She likes me,” Tucker explained. “And I’ve decided she’s more than worth any trouble the bunch of you might cause, so I’m letting you know now.”

  There were more denials, which he ignored. “I’m not asking permission,” he said. “Kady’s a woman with a mind of her own. She’s smart and independent—but she loves the lot of you.” He shrugged. “I just figured it’d be nice if I could avoid any hassles.”

  “Well.” Gabe sat back, looked at each of his brothers and then frowned.

  “Give it up,” Morgan said to Gabe. “She gets it from you, going after what she wants.”

  Jordan said, “I seem to recall you chasing Misty pretty hard.”

  Sawyer smiled. “She’s Gabe’s daughter through and through.”

  Which made Gabe wince. “If I’m supposed to be complimented, I’m not.”

  Morgan snorted. “Should scare you to death, actually.” He softened that by adding, “She is like you, but she’s circumspect like her mama. And Tucker’s right. She’s smart enough to know what she wants.”

  In the end, Gabe had seemed pleased by the conversation. However, Tucker hadn’t expected him to talk to Kady about it.

  But given Kady’s reaction after the shoot at the Jenkinses’ farm, that’s exactly what had happened. Which meant she probably wouldn’t wait until tomorrow to see him again.

  Despite his well-laid plans, anticipation crept in. He wasn’t sure if seeing her tonight would be a good thing or not, but he hoped she’d show up anyway.

  If nothing else, at least he could get another kiss.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  AFTER WORK, KADY tried to bide her time. Unfortunately, she wasn’t a patient woman. She took a long shower, washing and drying her hair, then dressed in her favorite shorts and cami—and all the while her thoughts were on Tucker. He should have talked to her first, instead of her family. She was still irked about that, and she wanted to give him hell for it.

  She sighed.

  He probably had no idea of the firestorm he’d started, and honestly, it’d serve him right to figure it out the hard way.

  But she didn’t want him scared off.

  After doing some laundry and eating her dinner, she gave up. Obviously she knew her family a lot better than he did, and she couldn’t in good conscience let him walk into their masses tomorrow without first warning him.

  When she decided to head to Tucker’s, she considered changing into a dress. He had said that he liked her in dresses. That would be so obvious though—when she’d already been very obvious. So instead she stepped into flat thong sandals, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed out the door.

  Was he home by now? It was nearing eight o’clock, so he should be off work. Did he have other plans? Would he be glad to see her?

  She wasn’t timid, wasn’t reserved, yet misgivings flogged her determination on the drive over—only for her to find that he wasn’t yet home.

  Damn.

  How desperate would it look if she waited? No, not desperate. She wouldn’t let it seem that way. After all, she was a Good Samaritan, here to
clue him in.

  She saw no point in going to the kitchen door when he wasn’t home, but neither did she want to sit in her hot car. The front porch, at least, was shaded. She took a seat on a step, her legs stretched out before her, one shoulder leaning against a post, and watched the squirrels running around the yard, up and down the trees.

  The minutes slipped away, and by the time he finally pulled into the drive some thirty minutes later, she’d worked herself into a major pique.

  Tucker saw her at once, of course, and even behind those blasted sunglasses he wore, she knew he was frowning.

  How could a man be even more handsome with a scowl? She wasn’t sure, but he was. Of course, when he laughed, it gave her goose bumps, and when he stared at her so intently...well, somewhat like he was doing now as he closed his SUV door and started toward her with purposeful strides, her pulse raced.

  Getting to her feet on the step, she stuck her hands on her hips and got the ball rolling.

  “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?”

  He kept walking.

  “You blabbed to everyone. Before you’d even discussed it with me!” He was closer now, almost to her, and he took off his sunglasses, showing her his fiercely direct gaze. Her heart began to thunder, and she tried to rally. “You might not realize it, but my family will be all but marrying us off now, and I’ve only kissed you the one time—”

  “Let’s correct that,” he said when he reached her, and bent his mouth to hers. His left arm was in the sling, caught between their bodies, but with his right he pressed the small of her back, keeping her close.

  Scorching surprise caused her hands to drop from her hips. Seconds later, while his lips played over hers, her palms crept to his chest—so warm and firm—and then up and over his shoulders. She remembered his injury and resisted the urge to squeeze him tight.

  “Your shoulder,” she murmured.

  “Can’t even feel it.” His mouth opened, his tongue touching her bottom lip until she opened hers, too. He tilted his head for a tantalizing fit, and the kiss changed in a way she hadn’t known was possible. Hot, uncontrolled and so possessive she wanted to melt right there in his front yard.

  She realized that she wasn’t really kissing him back, that she just stood there accepting, enjoying.

  Loving.

  Just as she started to get with the program, he eased up, his mouth slowly retreating with small nibbles until he was gone. A little devastated, she continued to lean on him for support.

  Her lips tingled, as did other parts of her body, and she breathed, “Oh.”

  His gaze remained serious, but he gave her a small smile. “I know your family, Kady. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

  Don’t worry...? That brought her around really quick, and she stepped back with a frown. “Tucker—”

  “The dog will want out.” He took her hand and led her up the steps to the front door. “You can’t stay, though.” He glanced at her. “Maybe only long enough for me to kiss you a few more times. Then you need to head home.”

  She started to ask why, but he continued.

  “While you’re here, you can help change out the bedding for the pups. With my shoulder, I had a bitch of a time getting the blanket under there in the first place.”

  The door opened, and he gestured for her to go in.

  Talking about his injury effectively diverted her from her annoyance. “I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me.”

  “Not because of you.” He closed the door, removing his hat to hang on a coat tree and setting his keys on a console table. “Because of an idiot who broke the law.”

  If that idiot had slammed into the back of the van, Tucker could’ve been killed. “I hope they lock him up for a very long time.”

  “At the very least,” Tucker promised her, “he’ll lose his license for a while.”

  The dog came running out with a single bark, saw them, and with her curling tail swinging, headed for the kitchen door and the backyard.

  So smart. “She’s adjusted amazingly well.” Kady trailed along behind man and dog.

  “She has,” he agreed. “She seems so tame, in fact, Jordan asked around for me just to make sure she wasn’t someone’s pet. A few people said they’d seen her with vacationers back in the spring.”

  “The spring?”

  He nodded, going out to the stoop while the dog raced around his backyard, watering various plants and trees. “I spoke with Garrett, too. He thinks the dog was abandoned.”

  Her cousin was a smart man, so if he thought it, it was probably true. “Why?”

  “He remembers her with a couple who didn’t have her on a lead. They were at the boat dock, got in a boat and almost left without her.” Tucker narrowed his eyes. “The bastards were probably trying to ditch her even then.”

  “Oh, how awful.”

  “Garrett said the dog kicked up such a fuss, running along the dock and barking, that another vacationer flagged them down and there was uncomfortable laughter as they said they’d just forgotten her.”

  Bastards, indeed! Kady touched his arm and found it rigid with suppressed anger—for a dog. Was it any wonder she loved him? She smiled, leaning into him. “Luckily she found you.”

  He looked down at her, his eyes so green, so intense. She thought he’d kiss her again, right there at the side door, but the dog returned, trotting in past them, and the moment was broken.

  A few minutes later, Kady was on her knees beside Tucker’s bed, reaching underneath for the pups, aware that her rear end was in a most undignified display.

  She tried not to think about it as she stretched to get the last tiny dog.

  “Kady?”

  His voice sounded deeper than usual. “Almost done.” She crawled back, and as she emerged, she realized he was staring at her behind. A mix of embarrassment and pleasure flushed her face. She said quickly, “I had thought about wearing a dress, since you said you like them—”

  “I like the shorts too, believe me.” He took the little dog from her and put it in the box with the others. The anxious mama watched with concern, constantly circling.

  Kady quickly pulled out the soiled blanket and put it in a laundry basket. Going under the bed again, she arranged the fresh folded blanket in the same spot.

  The dog darted under to investigate. From her bent position, Kady watched with a smile. “I think she likes it.”

  “How can you tell?”

  “She’s kicking it around, nosing it this way and that. I guess getting it the way she wants it.”

  “Good.” Tucker began passing the puppies back to her, and finally the little family was all settled again.

  Kady stood. “Where’s your washer?”

  “In the basement.”

  “You have a basement?”

  “The door is off the kitchen. Most people think it’s a pantry.” He tried to take the basket from her. “I can do the wash.”

  “Nonsense.” She wanted to extend her time with him, not cut it short, so she carried the basket out of his room and sailed down the hall to the kitchen. Her flip-flops slapped the floor with her hurried pace.

  When she opened the basement door, Tucker—who was right behind her—reached past her and turned on the light. Then with no effort at all, he took the basket from her.

  She tried to protest. “I can—”

  He surprised her by saying only, “Careful going down. The steps are narrow.”

  Lit by a single overhead bulb, his small basement was dark, with concrete floors, bare walls and open rafters. Taped boxes had been stored in one corner on pallets. In another corner, Tucker stored his tools along a workbench.

  A utility tub, washer and dryer sat beneath a narrow window.

  Tucker went to start the laundry, but as he did so, he said, “Tell me why you’re a virgin.”
>
  She almost tripped over her feet. He said that so casually that he’d taken her off guard.

  Turning, his uninjured arm braced on the now-churning washer, he lifted a brow.

  “I, ah...” She frowned at him for putting her on the spot, then lifted her chin. “I already told you that I wasn’t that interested in dating or anything. But then when I was turning twenty, you became the sheriff.”

  “That was almost five years ago.”

  “I know how long it’s been—because I spent all that time trying to get your attention.” She added in a grumble, “As did my sisters and every other female in Buckhorn.”

  Like a physical stroke, his gaze moved over her, weakening her knees. “You had my attention on day one, but like you said, you were only twenty.”

  “And since then?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Should I admit I was an ass?”

  Kady wasn’t at all sure what he meant. “Sure, go for it.”

  He gave a rough laugh. “I told you once already that I thought you were a flirt.”

  “I remember.”

  “Truth is, I wanted you all along but I convinced you—and myself—that I didn’t because I didn’t know you were that interested in me. I thought I was one of many—when I wanted to be a lot more.”

  “Do you remember I called you obtuse?” She smiled sweetly.

  Tucker laughed, then held up a hand. “I agree, I might’ve been a little obtuse.”

  “A lot obtuse,” she argued, but then added softly, insistently, “I’ve only ever wanted you.”

  A smile curved his mouth. “I like how you do that.”

  Now her brows went up. “Do what?”

  “Show your determination.” He pushed away from the machine and started toward her. “Your shoulders square up and your chin lifts, and you get a very stubborn look in your eyes.”

  “Well.” She wasn’t sure what to say to all that. “I had already explained—”

  “Why me?”

  She scowled in indignation on his behalf. “Is that a joke?”

  “Tell me.”

  Without giving it a lot of thought, she blurted, “Because I...” But the words caught in her throat. Wondering if she dared tell him that she loved him, she chewed her lower lip. No, not yet. So she said instead, “Why not you?”