Shane

by Vanessa Devereaux

  He grinned. “I was going to add that I find it kinda cute.”

  “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

  “Visitors to my county are my priority.”

  “I’m not a visitor. I’m a new resident.”

  “Then you’re even more a priority.”

  Was that the only reason? Would he be sitting in the room of a guy who’d drunk a little too much? She wasn’t going to worry about that now because she felt like crap and needed to concentrate on recovering. Lacey held her head. She was convinced there was a band warming up in there.

  “I’m guessing you’ve got the mother of all headaches. Can I get you something for it?”

  A gun.

  “I have some tablets in my bag, which is on the countertop in the bathroom.”

  “I’ll be right back with them.”

  Lacey watched as he headed in there. She heard him open up the bottle. He walked back with the pills in his palm and a glass of water in the other hand. He sat on the bed and handed them to her. She put them on her tongue. Holy shit, her head even hurt when she swallowed. She was never drinking like that ever again.

  “I think you need something to eat to soak up all that booze,” said Shane.

  The thought of getting tidied up and going out didn’t appeal to her.

  “You’re probably right, but I don’t think I can drag my body out the door.”

  “No problem, I can bring you in something. In fact, I know the perfect place to pick up some great sandwiches.”

  She reached across for her purse. He must have placed by the nightstand when he brought her inside because she had no recollection of it being there. “I’ll pay you.”

  “No need, just think of it as a welcome to Timber Creek, courtesy of its sheriff.” He stood. “I’ll be back in about twenty minutes. I’ll lock the door on my way out.” He walked toward it.

  “Sheriff Malone,” she called out to him.

  He turned to look at her. Those beautiful eyes looking more appealing with each passing second.

  “I’m sorry for throwing up on you, but most of all sorry for grabbing your…grabbing your penis.”

  A grin broke out on his gorgeous face. “Like I said, I’ll be back shortly.” He winked and was gone.

  ****

  Once out of the door, and heading back to his truck, he let out the laugh he’d been holding in. The word penis had always sounded so clinical, but coming out of Lacey’s mouth it was slightly risqué. And she didn’t have to be sorry because he’d loved it. He wished she’d do it again, this time when he wasn’t wearing jeans and his boxers.

  He slid into the driver’s seat, started the ignition and pulled out of the motel parking lot. He guessed he shouldn’t get any ideas about the two of them getting physical because when he’d gone to get her the pain relievers, he’d seen a round dispenser of birth control pills on the counter. She wasn’t wearing a wedding or engagement ring, but he guessed she must be involved with someone.

  Whoever he was, he was lucky. She was cute even if she was a tad irritating.

  He suddenly liked irritating.

  Shane pulled the truck in front of his mom’s café, got out, and then headed inside. He knew exactly what Lacey needed.

  ****

  Lacey had splashed her face with cold water, brushed her teeth, combed her hair and changed into her sweats, but she still looked like a woman who less than five hours ago had consumed way too much alcohol.

  She thought about taking a quick shower but then heard a knock on the door. She walked toward it and looked through the peephole. He even looked drop dead gorgeous through the fisheye that made most people look like something from a Halloween party.

  Giving her hair just one more tidy up by running her fingers through it, she opened the door to him.

  “You check the peephole?” he asked stepping inside. “This is basically a safe community, but it still pays to be careful.”

  “I sure did.”

  Whatever he had in the brown paper sack smelled delicious or maybe she was so damn hungry the paper bag itself might taste like gourmet food.

  “Shall we eat here?” he said pointing to the table in front of the window.

  “Sure.”

  Now realizing he was going to be joining her for supper, she pulled up two chairs as he sat the bag on the table and took out two round containers, two items that looked like sandwiches wrapped in paper, and two coffees.

  “I know you’ll love this, it’s all homemade, and you won’t find anything better for miles around here.”

  Lacey unwrapped the paper from the sandwich and saw that it was overflowing with slices of roast beef. “Sorry to say that I’m a vegetarian.”

  He looked at her like she’d just announced she had a bomb or something.

  “I’m only kidding,” she finally said.

  “Glad to hear that because these things are too good to be missed.”

  She took a bite. He was right. The meat melted on her tongue.

  “Montana raised beef, the best in the world,” he added before he took a bite.

  “Don’t tell me these are some of the cattle I saw you moving this morning on my drive into town.”

  He leaned back and smiled. “So you did recognize me?”

  She nodded while taking the lid off the round container in front of her. By the look of it, inside sat the most welcoming mushroom soup she’d ever seen.

  “So are you part-time sheriff and a part-time cowboy?”

  “Just helping out my brothers. And the café where this food came from belongs to my mom.”

  Lacey took a spoonful of soup, suddenly remembering her outburst when he’d mentioned the job there. She guessed she was blushing, but maybe he’d think it was due to the heat from the soup.

  “It’s great, thank her for me,” Lacey finally said.

  “You can do that tomorrow when we have breakfast there.”

  “And what if I have other plans like looking for a job?”

  “Either way you’re going to need a good meal to start your day.”

  ****

  The next day Lacey was looking one hundred percent better. Not that she’d looked bad yesterday, but at least today she had some color back in her cheeks. This morning she’d put on black pants, and an off-white sweater that she’d accentuated with a black suede belt. All she needed was some cowboy boots, and she’d fit right in Timber Creek.

  She glanced back at him and smiled as he waited in the doorway for her to get her jacket, and his heart melted. He was here to help her settle into his community, and nothing else.

  Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, buddy.

  He leaned against the doorjamb as she fetched her purse. He’d fallen for an out of towner once before, and it hadn’t ended well. Besides, the birth control told him that she was probably off-limits anyway.

  Keep reminding yourself of that, cowboy.

  “You are in for a real treat,” he said, opening the truck door for her.

  “If it’s as good as the sandwiches and soup I’m sure I am.”

  He closed the door and then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. He remembered the last time they’d been in the vehicle together. She’d grabbed his crotch. He could still feel her hands on him and just recalling it, almost gave him another hard on.

  “I noticed on your resume that you’ve done some graphic design and illustrating.”

  That’s it. Keep the conversation neutral and your thoughts away from hands on body parts.

  “Yeah, and you probably saw that’s what I have a degree in.”

  He backed out of the lot and headed down the road. And one of the reasons I didn’t think you were right for the job. “One of my brothers draws and paints. You’ll have to check out his work some time.”

  “I’d like that. So are you married?”

  “Me, nope, well besides to my job.”

  He looked at her and then she turned away quickly.

  “So you d
on’t have a boyfriend back home or anyone who’s going to miss you?”

  “Nope, well, besides my parents and a brother and a sister.”

  He tapped the steering wheel. Maybe the birth control pills weren’t for birth control after all, but a medical condition. Geez, these female things were all too much to think about. However, it meant he was back in the game. Shane turned into the parking lot of the café and turned off the ignition.

  “Timber Creek Café,” said Lacey glancing out the window at the sign Rory had designed for their mother.

  “Yeah, Mom’s owned it for the last ten years.”

  They got out and walked toward the door which Shane held open for her.

  His mom was at the counter bagging two muffins for a customer. She nodded to him. “I’ll be right with you.”

  Shane waved to her. He put his hand on the small of Lacey’s back to encourage her to go ahead and sit in one of the booths. He said hello to a few people he recognized, and then slid in opposite Lacey.

  “It smells wonderful in here, just like one of the old homemade bakeries back in Boston,” said Lacey.

  His mom headed their way with a coffee carafe in her hand.

  “Mom, this is Lacey Metcalfe. Lacey, this is Marie Malone.”

  She held out her hand to Lacey, and they shook.

  “I have to thank you for the sandwiches and soup.”

  “I hope they helped you feel better. Shane mentioned you were coming down with a bug or something, and I thought the soup might be just what you needed.”

  Lacey glanced at him and he winked hopefully without his mom seeing him. A woman had a right to be drunk without everyone knowing it.

  “I thought it might be a cold, but I guess your soup stopped it in its tracks,” said Lacey.

  She kicked him under the table.

  “Coffee for both you?” asked his mom.

  Shane turned over the mug on the table and let his mom fill it and then Lacey did the same.

  “Now do you want to see the menu or will you just go with the usual special?”

  “I will, how about you Lacey?” asked Shane.

  “I don’t know what exactly the special is, but I’m going to trust your son’s judgment and order it.”

  “Two specials it is. And I’ll have Emily bring you some biscuits and jam too.”

  His mom walked away.

  “The coffee is also perfect,” said Lacey taking a sip.

  His niece headed their way with a basket of biscuits and a pot of jam.

  “Emily, I’d like you to meet Lacey who’s new in town. Lacey, this is my niece, Emily. She and her dad, Flynn, live on my parent’s old property about a mile out of town. Flynn and my other brother, Rory work the ranch together.”

  “Hi,” said Emily putting everything on the table. “I made this jam from the huckleberries in my gran’s yard.”

  “Huckleberries as in Huckleberry Finn?” asked Lacey.

  “Wait till you try it, right Emily?” said Shane.

  Emily put her thumbs up. “The bears love them too.”

  Lacey smeared some on the biscuit she’d cut in half, and took a bite. “Bears have good taste, this is delicious.”

  “We sell it if you want some to take some home with you,” said Emily. “I like it on toast too.”

  Shane smiled. Flynn’s daughter was quite the entrepreneur. And his mom had made a wise decision to let her help out in the café because she loved chatting with everyone and they loved her.

  “Then I’ll be sure to buy some before I leave today.”

  “Okay then, I got to go help Gran.”

  Emily left, and Shane took one of the biscuits and ate it as is.

  “So you have two brothers. Are you the youngest, oldest, or what?”

  “The youngest. I have been since our baby brother died about three years ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Shane nodded. One of the worst times for the Malones and not something he liked to think about. “And you mentioned, what two siblings?”

  “Yes, an older sister and a younger brother.”

  “And you’re not going to miss your family?”

  “I might. It depends on how busy I get. I mean if I had a job. If someone would give me a chance to be a trainee deputy.”

  “I’ll find you a job that you’ll like even more.”

  His mom brought their breakfasts to the table and set the plates down in front of them. He hoped Lacey liked his choice of food; sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, and toast.

  ****

  “Wow, I might have to exercise for a long time to burn off all these calories,” said Lacey, pulling the knife and fork out from inside the rolled napkin.

  He thought of one particular physical activity that they both could do, but decided not to go down that road. At least not while they ate.

  “Enjoy,” said his mom before she walked away.

  Lacey took a bite of the sausage. He didn’t need to ask her if it was good, he could see pure bliss written all over her face. He picked up his coffee mug, drank, and watched her over the rim as she took another bite. Yeah pure bliss all right. He bet she had a tough time faking orgasms. He wondered if she’d ever had to. How he’d love to give her one. Yeah, when he was done with her, she’d have signs of permanent bliss written all over her face.

  “You look like you’re up to no good,” she suddenly said.

  Shit, he didn’t have much of a poker face either.

  “Nope, just enjoying my breakfast.”

  And dirty thoughts of you.

  “So what other jobs do you have in mind for me?”

  He almost choked on his coffee, turning her innocent question into something downright naughty.

  “I’m going to ask around. And don’t get all uppity with me again, but my mom’s a great lady to work for. And you’d get to know a lot of locals working in here which could lead to a job you’d really like.”

  So far so good. She hadn’t thrown anything at him.

  “Can I think about it?”

  He nodded as his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his jacket pocket and pressed the call button.

  “Hello Sheriff Malone speaking.”

  “Hi Shane, it’s Ruth.”

  “Hi, trouble someplace?”

  Lacey glanced over at him.

  “Sure is, hunting accident. Three guys out shooting, one thought he was taking aim at a deer, but it was actually his buddy. Guy didn’t make it. The body’s in the woods off of Highway 34.”

  Shane bit his lip. That was never good news. “I’m on my way.” He pressed the end call button. “There’s been an accident, and I’m needed.”

  “How about I come along with you and learn the ropes?”

  He slipped his phone back into his jacket. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You just won’t give me a break here will you?”

  “Believe me what I’m going to deal with isn’t for amateurs, and personally I don’t think you’d want to see it. Will you be able to walk back to the motel?”

  “Sure, I could do with some air, and it will give me a chance to look at some other stores, other than the bar.”

  He stood, placed some money on the table and winked at her.

  “How about I ask around for possible work for you?”

  “One of those better include deputy trainee.”

  She was persistent—he’d give her credit for that. He put his cowboy hat back on and headed out of the door knowing full well she was watching his butt again.

  ****

  Lacey turned around so she could see him walk outside toward his truck. Cutest butt she’d ever seen. If he wasn’t so damn arrogant and let her at least have a chance at the job, she’d do anything he asked. The image of her wearing handcuffs and tethered to the headboard in her motel room sprang to mind. Obviously the full effects of the alcohol hadn’t worn off completely. She was still in a naughty, playful sense of mind.

  “
Can I top up your coffee, honey?”

  Lacey jumped, like a child caught red handed doing something her parents had told her not to.

  “Sure. And the food is wonderful.”

  “Glad to hear that. Has my son stood you up all of a sudden?”

  “He got called out to an accident.”

  “Oh dear, I hope it’s nothing too serious.”

  “So how long has Shane been the sheriff?”

  “The last ten years. He was the deputy before that.”

  “Really?”

  Marie nodded. “He never wanted to be a rancher like his Daddy or brothers. Always wanted to be the Timber Creek sheriff. When he was young he’d even wear a badge. His dad gave him an unloaded gun, and he’d go around arresting other kids for stealing things like apples off the neighbor’s trees.” She laughed. “He used to write us parking and speeding tickets too.”

  Lacey smiled. She wondered if he’d been just as cute when he was younger. “I’m sure being sheriff doesn’t leave him much time for a social life. I mean like dating.”

  Had that come across as a little too obvious? And after all, this woman was his mom and she might tell him that Lacey was asking if he was seeing anyone, and he’d put two and two together. Yeah, he’d know there was some interest.

  “If that’s your way of asking does he have a girlfriend, then the answer is no. It’s a small community, so everyone knows everyone’s business, and we don’t mind if you come out and ask directly.”

  “I’ll have to remember that. So let me try it again. Does Shane have a girlfriend?”

  “Now would you be asking because you’ve got an interest in him, because if so you couldn’t do any better. However, don’t love him and leave him. I wouldn’t want to see him get his heart broken again.”

  She walked away without saying anything else.

  So he’d probably been dumped. Well, now she knew they had one thing in common. However, she very much doubted he’d been dumped in quite the same way as she had.

  Chapter Four

  Shane pulled his truck up over to the shoulder. He took a deep breath. Death whether it be natural or not was the worst part of his job. In fact, it was the only part that he actually hated. Informing the next of kin, usually people he knew and had often grown up with, was personally devastating. The last death had been that of a young runaway from Idaho. She’d gotten herself mixed up with the wrong crowd who’d been making meth, and paid the price.