Welcome to bland town, he thought with a grimace.
Not soon enough, he pulled into the parking lot of the bus station and killed his engine. The sun had set long ago, casting the road in darkness. The bright, fluorescent lights outside the bus terminal blinded him as he got out of his car and headed for the building. Once inside, he identified the security office and headed straight for it. A middle-aged man whose gut hung over his uniform belt sat at the desk, playing on his phone and completely ignoring the security monitors. David cleared his throat, but the man’s focus was firmly on his phone.
“Excuse me?”
“Ticket booth is over there,” fatty said with a nod of his head.
The guy’s thumbs rapidly moved over the small screen. Texting or playing a game, David didn’t care. In no mood after driving over ten hours, he slammed his badge down on the counter. Fatty jumped in surprise, dropping his captivating phone.
“Chicago PD.” That got his attention. “Someone from here sent us a tape from a few days ago.”
“A t-t-tape?”
The man stuttered like an idiot. He seemed to be surrounded by them lately.
“A security tape. There was a woman on the footage. She was at this station approximately three days ago. She’s wanted for murder.”
Fatty’s eyes widened. “Oh, right. Let me check on that for you, sir.”
The pathetic excuse for a security guard fumbled though some paperwork on his desk as he waited with rapidly waning patience.
“Here it is.” The guy held up a memo triumphantly. “Yeah, it looks like one of our guys was reviewing tapes to catch the person who’s been vandalizing our soda machine.”
He could give a flying fuck about their soda machine.
“He found the video of your suspect and sent it your way.”
Fatty beamed at him as if he had just given David the secret to eternal life. Dumbass hadn’t told him anything he didn’t already know.
“Did anyone happen to know where she went after she left the station? Do you have outside cameras?”
The chubby head shook.
He couldn’t keep his growl of frustration quiet. The guard jumped at the sound. Big guy was so easily startled. How the hell did he get into security work?
“Um, we don’t have any cameras outside the terminal, but the drug store down the street has outside cameras. Maybe they caught a shot of your suspect.”
Without a parting word, David turned and headed out of the terminal in search of the drug store. He could see the lights from the parking lot so left his car at the bus station. He needed the walk to let off steam anyway.
As he wrenched opened the drug store door, he noticed they did indeed have outside cameras, inside ones as well.
An electronic bing alerted the cashier to his presence. A young, skinny male, the kid couldn’t have been more than twenty with an acne pocked face and big, wide eyes that grew wider as David approached the counter.
“Can I help you, sir?”
At least this worker seemed to know what a goddamn job meant. “I’m Officer David Tyler of the Chicago PD.” He flashed his badge. “I need to see your outside security footage from three days ago.”
The employee leaned around him to yell at someone in the back of the store. “Mr. Garret, there’s a police officer here. He needs our camera footage.”
David turned to see a man, probably in his late fifties—judging from the graying hair at his temples—coming up an aisle toward him.
“Officer David Tyler, Chicago PD.” He showed his badge to the older man.
“Bruce Garret, manager and owner.” He sniffed, rubbing a finger across the bushy moustache that hung over his top lip. “You need to see our security footage?”
“Yes. There was a woman at the bus station the other night. She’s wanted for murder. Their footage showed her leaving the station, but they have no outside cameras. I was hoping to check out your footage. She might have walked by your shop. It would give us a lead on where she went next.”
“You say she’s a murderer?”
“Killed in cold blood.”
Garret turned, waving for him to follow. “Come on back. We’ll check it out. I’ll be in back with the officer, Evan,” the owner called to the pocked-faced teen.
“Yes, sir.”
They wound their way through the aisles, passing through a door marked Employees Only. Garret offered him a seat in front of an old computer that looked like it had seen better days.
“What day did you say she was in town?”
“Three days ago.”
The older man started to cue up the footage.
“I hate to trouble you further, but I’ve been driving all day. Could I get a cup of coffee?”
He needed the caffeine fix, but he also needed to watch the tape alone.
“Sure.” Garret finished clicking at the computer and rose. “Need something to eat, too? I ordered a pizza for the staff today. Think there’s still some left.”
“That’d be great, thanks.”
“No problem, officer.”
What a good Samaritan. David smiled to himself as the old man left the room. Being a cop had perks, and he knew how to use every single one of them.
Once Garret was gone, he clicked to the file of the day he needed and started running through the tape. Four views split the computer screen, one outside and three inside the store. It wasn’t long before he spotted Kayla hurrying along the sidewalk.
Bingo!
His lips curled in triumph as he watched her entered the store. Even better. He shifted his attention from screen to screen as he followed her movements. She made her way down the aisles, picking up things as she went. He observed as she grabbed a T-shirt, a box of hair dye, and a pair of scissors. Then, she went to the front, paid for them, and left the store.
The bitch thought to change her appearance? Shit. She was making this harder for him. With the way she anticipated things, it almost felt like she had experience running from the cops. He knew she didn’t. Kayla was annoyingly lawful. Must be all those stupid crime shows she watched with Jen. Hollywood didn’t know dick about real police work. Those shows were a joke.
So, she colored and cut her hair. Didn’t matter. He’d still find her.
“Here you go, officer.” Garret returned with coffee and a plate piled with three pieces of pepperoni pizza in hand. “You find what you were looking for?”
He stood, blocking the older man’s view of the computer while pressing the keys to delete the footage.
“No. Unfortunately, it looks like your footage of that day is missing.”
Bushy gray brows drew together. “Damn, again? I’m sorry, Officer Tyler. Our system is older than dirt, and it gets bugs from time to time. There’s not much crime here. I really only use it as a deterrent.”
The guy was actually buying it and apologizing. Everyone in this town was dumb as shit.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
He accepted the coffee and pizza with a smile. “Not to worry.” Suppressing a gleeful chuckle, he took a small sip. “You’ve been very, very helpful.”
Kayla might be on the run, but he was closing in on her. Soon, she would no longer be a problem.
Chapter 14
The smell woke Ryder—the sweet smell of warm femininity. He leaned his head down, brushing his nose against the crown of Kayla’s head, enjoying the fragrance unique to her. It was strange, since she had been staying here with him she’d been using the guest bathroom stocked full of his sister’s products. Ergo, she should smell like Julie, but she didn’t.
The lilac shampoo smelled distinctly different on her. The lavender body wash conjured up images in his head of Kayla lying in a field of wildflowers, completely naked. Ready and waiting for him. Definitely not the same thoughts that came to mind around his sister.
And it was an odd experience waking up with his arms around a woman. He didn’t date much. In his youth, he’d been too busy trying to take care of
his mother and sister. Now, he was so wrapped up in his job taking care of the town, he never had much time for more than a quick release. Staying the night with a lover rarely happened. There had never been anyone he cared enough about to make the time.
Until now.
He opened his eyes. Kayla lay on his chest, out like a light. Her hair was a mess of soft tangles. The silky strands tickled his bare skin. Her arms were loosely wrapped around his neck, clutching him like a lifeline, even in her sleep. With one leg draped over his hips, her entire body was plastered tight to his side. Incredible.
This brave, beautiful, strong woman, who had well-reasoned trust issues, was completely relaxed in his arms. She’d been through hell, had every right to keep on running, but she didn’t. She’d put her faith in him, in the assurance that he could help her. It humbled and terrified him. He could not let her down.
She let out a soft moan in her sleep, a sexy little sound causing him to examine their position once more. With him in pajama pants and Kayla in nothing but a thin nightshirt, his body quickly realized the opportunity this situation presented. Much as he would love to take advantage of said situation, he knew she was still too vulnerable. Sex would be amazing and a great distraction, but he didn’t want to be her distraction. When they got together—and they would—he wanted it to be because she wanted him.
Unfortunately, his brain forgot to tell his body that little moral tidbit. His mind wasn’t the only thing awake and alert. There was a pup tent situation happening that would get real embarrassing for both of them if she woke up and moved her knee about two inches north.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, he shifted her off of him and onto her back. Her mouth opened wide in a jaw-cracking yawn.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
Her eyes shot open. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. It was so cute he wanted to laugh. Instead, he bent down and brushed a kiss on her forehead.
“Did you sleep well?”
Lips pressed together firmly, she nodded.
“No more nightmares?”
Mouth still closed tight, she shook her head.
“Good.” He toyed with a strand of her hair. “Up for some breakfast?”
Again she nodded, not speaking. A sinking feeling settled in his gut. Had he made her uncomfortable by staying all night? Should he have left before she woke? Was she upset with him, embarrassed? He stayed because she asked him to. Also, secretly, because he needed to hold her.
Never one to shy away from a problem, he went for the direct approach. “Kayla? What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, trying to hide under the covers.
Like hell.
She couldn’t ask him to comfort her, trust him with her secret and pain, and then hide from him. He wouldn’t push her sexually, but she didn’t get to retreat emotionally.
“Sweetheart, what is it?” Tugging on the quilt, he asked the question he feared, “Are you upset that we slept together? Nothing happened, you know that right? I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do.”
She nodded, rolling her eyes at him like he was crazy for saying that. The knot in his stomach loosened. Okay, so she wasn’t upset because he held her all night. Then what was it?
“Come on, talk to me.”
Scowl firmly in place, she gave a resigned sigh. Holding a hand over her mouth, she mumbled, “I just woke up.”
He stared in confusion. “I know.”
Her beautiful hazel eyes rolled again with annoyance. “I haven’t gotten a chance to brush my teeth, and I didn’t want to gross you out.”
Relief flooded him. Women, they thought a little thing like morning breath would put a guy off. Shoot, half the time his breath smelled like onions and feet. Never embarrassed him much, but he could see how it would bother someone as polite and sweet as Kayla.
Gently pulling her hand away from her mouth, he bent his head down. Ever so slightly, he brushed his lips over hers. He didn’t want to rush her, but he knew he couldn’t last another minute without tasting her. He kept it brief. If he didn’t, he risked losing control, and that was the last thing she needed.
“Nothing you could ever do would gross me out, sweetheart. Trust me.” He pulled back and saw the shock in her eyes. There was something else there…heat. She wanted him, too. Not enough though, not yet.
“I’ve helped castrate a bull before. Once you do that, a little morning breath is nothing. Besides, I just woke up myself. I’m sure my breath could knock out a Clydesdale at fifty paces.”
She laughed. “Have you really castrated a bull?”
A shudder passed through his body at the memory. “Yup. This is ranching country, and the sheriff has to help out whenever necessary. It was an experience I hope I never have to repeat.”
She smiled, and the beauty of this woman, once again, struck him. An inner glow seemed to shine from every pore of her being. Shit, she was turning him into a freaking poet.
“I have to go into work today.”
Her breathing hitched, and fear entered her gaze. He hated seeing that; it cut like a blade to the chest.
“I don’t want you staying here alone, just in case David picks up on your trail.” And also because he didn’t want her getting scared again and running, but he kept that part to himself.
“I was thinking it might be fun for you to spend the day at the Denning ranch. You remember Lizzy, the woman we ran into the other day?”
She nodded, expression blank.
“Well, she and her business partner live on a ranch with their fiancés.”
“The brothers?”
“Yeah. What do you think?”
She worried her bottom lip. Ryder had the urge to dip his head and capture that poor, bruised lip with his mouth, soothe the worry with his tongue, but he’d already set her off guard enough for one morning. Keeping his thirst in control around this woman was getting harder and harder. She tempted him like no other.
“Sure,” she said after a moment of thought. “That sounds like it could be fun.”
He grinned at her abysmal attempt to look enthusiastic.
“I know Lizzy can be a bit…much. But she’s great, and so is Maggie. The guys are real stand up, too. Plus, they have a whole mess of ranch hands. You’ll be safe. I promise.”
She nodded, but the worry still shone plain on her face.
“I better let you get dressed.”
At the mention of clothes, or lack thereof, she blushed. Ryder chuckled, rising from the bed, unashamed of his partial nudity. Thankfully, his body had calmed down enough that “little Ryder” wasn’t making himself obvious anymore.
“I need to check on Wind Chaser, then I’ll make us a quick breakfast. Then we’ll head out.”
Kayla nodded, but her gaze was wide and glued to his chest. His pride puffed up at her look of unmasked desire. Perhaps she wanted him more than he thought.
“Give me about thirty minutes, okay?”
She shook her head, mutely, her gaze still eating up his naked flesh. Shit, if he didn’t leave soon that heated stare of hers was going to make him forget his promise to take things slow. There was a spark, hell, damn near fire, but he didn’t want to rush anything. The whole situation was a muddled mess at the moment. They needed time to sort through everything and make sure they were both on the same page. Now was not the right time…but soon, very soon.
Quickly, before things got even harder, he stepped out of the room and into his to change. After seeing to Wind Chaser’s morning needs, he took a quick—and very cold—shower, and set out a breakfast of hot oatmeal and toast.
Kayla—dressed in a pair of her new jeans and a green sweater that set off her eyes perfectly—joined him at the table. They ate in silence. It was strange, but not uncomfortable. In fact, the whole experience felt quite pleasant.
He helped her bundled up against the cold, and they got in his truck.
The Denning ranch was on the outskirts of town, like his own pl
ace, so Ryder didn’t need to drive into town to get to the ranch. Thankfully, the roads were clear, and it only took about ten minutes to get there.
He pulled the truck up into the driveway, spotting Colton and Dade immediately. They noticed him right off and walked toward the truck as he turned off the engine.
Kayla twisted her hands nervously.
Reaching across the seat, he pried her fingers apart, taking them in his own and gently squeezing. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. These are good guys. I promise.”
“Yeah?” She bit her lip; poor thing would be bruised from all the abuse she gave it.
“Trust them with my life.” More importantly, he trusted them with hers.
She took a deep breath, letting it out with a firm nod of her head. “Okay.”
He knew this was hard for her, trusting men she didn’t know with her safety. It had to be hard to trust people given what she had gone through in less than a week. Damn, she was an amazing woman. Every moment they spent together, his admiration for her grew.
“Hey, Sheriff.” Colton Denning grinned as he approached, grasping his hand in a quick shake as Ryder left the truck. “What brings you to our neck of the woods? Did my brother forget to pay a parking ticket again?”
“Shut up, Colt. That was one time.” Dade shoved his brother slightly.
“Lock him up, Sheriff. We can’t have these delinquents running around ruining our town’s good name.”
Dade rolled his eyes at his younger brother’s antics. “Hey, Ryder. What can we do for you?”
Used to the brothers’ playful banter, he moved around the side of the truck. “Guys, I want you to meet my friend Kayla. Kayla, this is Colton and Dade Denning.”
Colton’s face lit up with recognition. “Oh yeah. Lizzy was telling us about you the other night. She met you in town?”
She pressed herself to his side meekly. “Yes, she was very…nice.”
Dade, who had been studying her with an intense stare, laughed loudly. “You mean pushy and nosy. I know my fiancée. She can be a bit overwhelming when you first meet her, but she grows on you.”
Love on the Risky Side Page 9
