With new resolve, she shrugged into her jacket, grabbed her purse then headed out to her car. Before running errands, she needed to go to Chandra’s home and see her friend for a few minutes. Anna had to tell Chandra that she’d gone out on a date with Mike before Chandra heard it from someone else.
Anna blew out her breath. She would let Chandra know that she didn’t intend to see the sheriff again. It had been one night with a drink and appetizers, and that was it. Anna certainly wasn’t going to let her friend know about the kiss.
The day was cool and overcast, the sky filled with dark gray clouds, and Anna wondered if it was going to rain. The drive to Chandra’s house was only five minutes and Anna had her answer to her question as fat drops of rain splattered her windshield.
When she reached Chandra’s home, she parked and hurried out of her car to the covered porch that ran the length of the front of the house. Her ankle boots thunked against wood as she headed up the steps.
Before she could press the doorbell, the door swung open. For a moment she couldn’t tell who had opened the door because the screen was too dark to see through. Chad pushed open the screen door and gave her a smile that struck her as smarmy. He had a glint in his eyes that made her uncomfortable.
“Good morning, Anna,” he said, the look in his eyes made her feel like he believed he shared a secret with her.
“Hi, Chad.” She stepped into the house as he closed the door behind them.
She looked around the elegant living room with its rich wood flooring. The room was filled with antiques and a collection of Lladro figurines in a huge lighted curio with curved glass. The Johnsons were wealthy and it showed in everything they owned.
“Chandra should be downstairs in a few.” Chad took a step closer to Anna. As he moved in closer, her only thought was that this wasn’t going to be good.
“So you got up close and personal with Sheriff McBride last night,” Chad said and Anna’s skin prickled. “Kissing the enemy.”
How did he know? “I’m not planning on seeing him again,” she stated.
“You’re not?” He raised his brows. “I think you need to reconsider.”
She narrowed her brows. What game was he playing at? “I don’t see that it’s any of your business what I do.” She tried to keep her voice even.
“But it is my business. I want you to get close to McBride.” Chad’s voice hardened but he kept it low. “I want you to get on the inside of his campaign. Not only can you get to him personally but you’re also an event planner. You can volunteer for his campaign.”
Her jaw dropped. “You want me to spy on the sheriff?”
“You either help me,” Chad said in a dangerous tone, “or a call might just be made to the authorities.”
She felt blood drain from her face. “You’re blackmailing me?”
“Let’s don’t call it that.” He gave his politician’s smile. “Let’s call it an incentive.”
“You—you—” She’d been about to say bastard, but the look in his eyes had her clamping her mouth shut before she said, “What will Chandra think?”
Chad glanced over his shoulder and she looked past him to see Chandra coming down the stairs. He faced Anna again. “She’s not to know.”
“Chandra is my best friend.” Anna stared at him with incredulity. “You expect me to go over to your political enemy without her knowing why I would choose the sheriff over you?”
“You’d better believe it,” Chad said. “Tell her nothing.”
“How would I explain it to her?” Anna asked. “If I even agree to this?”
“You will agree, or else.” His words had a finality to them. “You’ll think of something to tell Chandra.” He smirked. “Just tell her the sheriff asked you out and he makes you hot enough to fuck him.”
The heat that flushed through Anna this time felt like it was burning her from the inside out. “You sonofabitch,” she hissed, barely able to keep her voice down or her hand from slapping his face.
“You’d better watch it,” Chad cautioned. “You never know how word can get to the authorities.”
She clenched and unclenched her hands. With a smile that she now found sickening rather than attractive, he turned and headed into the Johnsons’ extensive library.
“What’s wrong?” Chandra’s voice brought Anna’s attention around to her friend.
“Wrong?” Anna tried to school her features. “Nothing’s wrong.”
Chandra shook her head, her platinum blonde hair swinging above her shoulders. “You can’t fool me, sweetheart.”
Anna tried to think fast. She had no choice but to go along with Chad’s blackmail. She took a deep breath. “I was attempting to think of a way to tell you that I had drinks with Sheriff McBride last night.”
Chandra blinked. “You went on a date with him?”
“Yes.” Anna dug the card out of her purse and showed the back to Chandra. “He gave me his personal cell phone number yesterday and I called him.”
Chandra’s eyes had widened. “And you’re planning on seeing him again?”
Anna hesitated and then jumped into the role. “Yes. He said he wants to see me again and I’m going to go out with him. He’s nice, and like you said, he is gorgeous.”
“You’d go out with Chad’s opponent?” Chandra’s features were tinged with pink. “How long have you known me? How long have you known Chad?”
Anna felt close to tears. “I’m sorry.” Damn Chad for putting her in this position.
Chandra straightened her spine. “Go ahead and date the sheriff. Just don’t expect me to give you my blessing.”
“Chandra,” Anna said in a pleading voice.
Her face flushed with color, Chandra stepped back. “I’ve got things to do.”
Anna opened her mouth to tell Chandra to wait, but her friend turned and marched toward her kitchen then disappeared through the archway. She didn’t stop to look back once.
Chad returned to the living room from the library, carrying a book. Even though his lips didn’t show it, a smile was in his eyes. “See you around, Anna.”
Tears burned at the backs of Anna’s eyes, but she tilted her chin up and refused to cry. Damn you, Chad Johnson. Damn you.
Spine rigid, she turned her back on him and walked out of the house.
Anger burned through her as she headed down the stairs and then down the sidewalk to her car, not caring about the raindrops pelting her. She jerked the door open and slid into the driver’s seat before slamming the door shut.
She gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her hands ached as water trickled down the side of her face. Drops splattered her windshield, blurring her view of the house.
That bastard. She started her vehicle then sat for a long moment with the rain coming down and her car running, while different scenarios played through her mind. The problem was that all but one scenario ended badly. The one that didn’t was the only acceptable option—she had to go along with Chad’s blackmail.
Of course her only choice was not really a choice, and she could hurt other people in the process, so it could end badly, too. Her best friend was already upset and felt like Anna was a traitor. What if Anna did get close to Mike and hurt him, too?
She could sit in her car, fuming over Chad’s blackmail, or she could go about her day and plan on seeing Mike again.
With her jaw clenched, she flipped on her windshield wipers. The car’s tires spun in the crushed white rock in front of the Johnson house as she backed up. Her car shot forward as she put it in drive. With her jaw set, she headed toward her first stop. All she could do was go on with her day.
And plan on spying on Mike.
* * * * *
“Freddy Victors was murdered in prison?” Mike turned the news over in his mind as he listened to his brother.
“We think Jesus Perez ordered the hit in retaliation for his brother’s murder and the killings of two of his top men,” John said. “Can’t say the world isn’t better off wi
thout Freddy.”
John had good reason not to mourn Freddy Victors. The man had set up John’s fiancée for a murder she didn’t commit, and Freddy had come close to killing her, too.
“Perez’s foothold in the drug trade is firmer than it’s ever been,” John added
“That was pretty much established when Freddy was arrested and convicted of murder.” Mike blew out his breath as he stared out the internal window of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, YCSO, his gaze drifting over his assistant and other staff members.
“Yep,” John said. “Freddy still had men who we believe he was able to communicate with from prison. That certainly won’t be the case now.”
Mike shifted in his office chair. “Any new intel on Perez?”
“No more than we discussed the last time,” John said. “He’s still a suspect in smuggling illegal immigrants into the area as well as drugs.”
“Let me know if you get anymore and I’ll do the same,” Mike said.
“You’ve got it,” John said before he disconnected the call.
Mike hung up his office phone and his thoughts turned to Anna. Damn but he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind since last night. His gut tightened. That kiss—she’d tasted sweet as he’d inhaled her scent and felt her petite body close to his.
It had been some time since he’d been with a woman, but old hurts had healed and he was ready for a relationship with the right woman. Anna could be the one.
Whatever the case, he knew he had to see her again. He un-holstered his mobile phone and brought up the number she’d given him last night. He felt like a teenager as he dialed the number, hoping she’d pick up.
“This is Anna,” she answered in her sexy voice.
Mike smiled. “How’s your day going?”
“Hi, Sheriff—Mike.” She sounded hesitant. “It’s going well.” She sounded a little off, not as warm as she had been last night.
“If this isn’t a good time,” Mike said, “I can call you later.”
“Oh.” Her voice changed so that it was more upbeat. “Now is good.”
“Thanks for meeting me last night.” He leaned back in his office chair. “I enjoyed your company.”
“I liked spending time with you, too.” She had a smile in her voice.
“Are you free sometime this weekend?” He gripped his phone. “You mentioned an event on Friday. Does Saturday or Sunday work?”
In his mind he could picture the delicate smile on her heart-shaped face, her long dark hair falling down her back and over her shoulders. “Yes, I have a wedding in Phoenix on Friday. The rest of the weekend is clear.”
“How about Saturday?” he asked.
“I’m free any time that day,” she said.
He felt unusually pleased, in a way he hadn’t felt with another woman. “I’ll pick you up at noon.”
A smile was in her voice. “Are you going to give me a clue about where we’re going?”
He gave a low chuckle. “You might want to wear jeans and comfortable shoes.”
She laughed. “I’ll be ready and I’ll bring your blazer.” After she gave him her address, there was another hesitation before she said, “If you’d still like me to work with you on your campaign, my schedule frees up on Monday.”
“Perfect.” His desk phone rang. “I’ve got a call to take. I’ll see you Saturday.”
“See you,” she echoed.
He couldn’t help smiling as he disconnected the call and reached for his desk phone.
Chapter 5
For a long moment Anna stared up at the ceiling when she woke late Saturday morning. Her head ached from exhaustion and her belly twisted with both excitement and worry. The exhaustion came from yesterday’s event in Phoenix, the excitement to do with her date with Mike today—and worry about Chad’s blackmail and her family’s safety.
The wedding had been a real challenge with the mother of the bride, Mrs. Smyth, finding fault in everything and anything to do with the event. Mrs. Smyth had fluttered around exclaiming how the flowers weren’t the exact shade of pink she’d wanted; the wedding bouquet wasn’t big enough; the cake wasn’t cream filled but raspberry filled—even though Anna knew the mother had ordered the raspberry filled white cake; the chairs weren’t set up exactly right; the wedding photographer took too long; the music wasn’t to her taste; she hadn’t liked the food, and the list went on.
Anna scooted up in bed and stretched while letting out a yawn. She had, of course, been patient with Mrs. Smyth. With the exception of the fussy mother, the wedding truly had gone on without a hitch. Mrs. Smyth would have complained about everything, no matter how perfect it might be. The wedding would have been perfect without the complaining woman. But from experience, Anna was no stranger to brides’ mothers. Anna was almost always complimented for the events she pulled off, thanked for her work, and well tipped.
Then there were people like Mrs. Smyth. In this case Mr. Smyth had apologized for his wife and had given a handsome tip “for having to put up with the woman,” as he put it.
Anna slid out of bed and turned her thoughts to today. She couldn’t help the excited little thrill in her belly at the prospect of spending time with Mike. Not only was he a gorgeous cowboy, but he was intelligent, interesting to talk with, and had an easy way about him that drew her in.
Anna wandered into the bathroom and took a long shower that felt good after the long day yesterday. She dressed in jeans and a three-quarter sleeved blouse as well as cute but comfortable and sturdy leather shoes.
When she left her room, she found Josie and Pablo watching cartoons in the living room and she smiled and told them good morning. Tito and Maria were both at work. The only days her aunt and uncle took off were Sundays when they had their family rituals. First they would go to Sacred Heart Catholic Church where Anna sang in the choir. Afterward they always enjoyed a big Sunday lunch that Anna helped Maria cook.
Often on Sundays they would rent a movie and watch it in the evening while eating stove-popped popcorn and homemade candies like the ones Aunt Maria used to make when she and Tito had lived in Mexico. Sometimes they would have Mexican coconut sweets called cocadas, candied walnuts called nueces garapiñadas, or a milk fudge-like candy called jamoncillo de leche. She also made other Mexican desserts like tres leches cake and different varieties of flan. Aunt Maria had a sweet tooth, with a waistline that showed it, and the rest of the family happily ate whatever she made that Sunday.
After checking on the kids, Anna ate a light breakfast of one scrambled egg with a slice of toast and a small glass of orange juice. It wasn’t that long until noon and she wasn’t sure if she and Mike would be eating somewhere for lunch.
Carmen, the babysitter, showed up at eleven forty-five and immediately engaged the kids, who loved her. Carmen was in her mid-sixties and had retired from cleaning houses to babysit and she had a full schedule.
Two minutes before noon the doorbell rang. Josie shouted, “I’ll get it,” and Anna heard the five-year-old girl’s shoes against the tile floor as she ran to the door.
With a frown, Anna worried her lower her lip. She wasn’t sure if she should have let Josie answer the door, but there was no changing the fact that she was doing just that.
Anna squared her shoulders, straightened her spine, and walked into the living room, a smile coming easily to her lips when she saw Mike crouching in front of Josie, at her eye-level, listening to her. He glanced at Anna and his smile and penetrating gaze warmed her before he turned back to Josie who was chatting animatedly.
Mike’s presence filled the room, making the large space seem small. She watched him talk to Josie and she drank in the sight, the comfort and ease Mike had in speaking with the little girl. He looked so good in his Stetson, a long-sleeved blue western shirt, dark blue Wrangler jeans, and broken-in brown boots.
Anna took in his tanned skin, his carved features, and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes when he smiled. His eyes, the color of polished oak, had an a
mused glint in them as he spoke with her young cousin.
“Josie.” Anna found herself smiling, too. “I think you might be talking off Sheriff McBride’s ears.”
The girl giggled and Pablo walked up to them. Mike stood and extended his hand to eight-year-old Pablo who accepted it with a solemn look on his features. Mike introduced himself and Pablo told Mike his name. It was hard to believe Pablo was already eight—he’d grown so much in the past year. He was so serious lately, as if he needed to be a man of the house. Anna wondered if it was because his parents worked so much that they were rarely home.
“Pablo, Josie,” Anna said as Mike and Pablo released hands. “Listen to Carmen. Only two hours of TV and one hour playing video games.”
Pablo looked reluctant but said, “Yeah. Sure.”
Josie smiled at Mike again before looking at Anna. “Okay, Anna,” Josie said. She had an innocent expression backed with mischief that told Anna that her instructions were going in one ear and out the other.
Anna hugged Josie and squeezed Pablo’s shoulder before she moved closer to Mike. She caught his scent, so spicy and masculine.
“Grab a jacket,” he said. “It’ll be cool this evening.”
She nodded and took her jacket out of the closet before picking up her small purse from the table beside the front door. “Hold on a sec.” She smiled at him and hurried to his room, returned with his blazer, and handed it to him. “Thank you for loaning it to me.”
He took it from her. “Anytime.”
Anna gave the kids and Carmen a smile. “I’ll have my cell phone on if you need me.” She gave them a wave goodbye before she and Mike stepped out of the doorway and Mike closed the door behind them.
“Your cousins look like great kids,” Mike said as they walked down the front porch steps together.
“They are.” She glanced up at Mike and wondered how he’d react to the truth about the children’s parents.
Her thoughts darkened as she looked away. What had she gotten herself into?
Belong to You Page 4
