“I should go with them.”
“Why? Don’t you trust my brother?”
“That’s not it.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
“Something’s got you troubled.” He reached out and ran a fingertip over the lip she’d just scraped. “What’s wrong?”
Kendall blinked, and then let out a long sigh. “It’s Audra.”
“I wondered why she didn’t come with you. Is she sick?”
“We had an argument. She’s upset with me because I paid the entry fee so she could sell her pottery at a booth at the Founder’s Day Craft Fair.” Kendall wiped her hands over her jeans. “I should get home, talk to her a little more.”
“Give her some time.”
“But . . .”
“Maybe you’re just afraid to stay here and be alone with me.”
“I came out here today because you wanted to spend time with Marissa.”
“Can’t I also want to spend time with you? Just you?” He waited a beat. “You used to want to spend time with me.”
“I still do.” Her sigh had the muscles in his stomach going tight. Before she could say or ask anything more, he urged her into his arms and kissed her.
She was so warm and responsive, while her body, compact and thin, fit against him. Her arms wrapped around him, held him close as her mouth answered every demand he made—as she gave and gave and gave.
With the sun, fresh air, and distant odor of animals, he felt whole in a way he hadn’t felt in years. Because Kendall held him, kissed him, wanted him.
He heard the low hum in her throat, felt the flood of pride at knowing she wanted him. He indulged the taste of her, the way her hands stroked up and down his back. Another day, another night—and hopefully more than one of each—he’d want more, demand more. Take more. But for this moment he cruised on the liquid slide of building desire and passion.
“Logan, Marissa might see us.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“Yes. No.” Breath hissed through her teeth when he nipped at the spot behind her ear. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I need some time.”
“I can wait,” he murmured as his lips returned to skim over hers, as he lingered for a longer taste. “Not much longer, so catch up will you, Kendall?”
“How can I catch up when you keep knocking the breath out of me?”
She stared up at him, her lips moist from his, her cheeks flushed, and her usually steady eyes bright with something that had the first sign of nerves jumping in his gut. This was not his childhood friend, a respected cop, or even the mother of his child. This was a woman, passionate and strong.
He had no idea where they were headed, and he still had to answer the question of just how long they’d have. Too many questions, too many uncertainties threatened to blunt the pleasure of this moment. They would all have to be answered with care.
Kendall was too important to him—had always been too important—to risk hurting her in any way.
Chapter Six
“YOU WANTED TO see me?”
“Have a seat,” Sheriff Owens told Kendall, his attention remaining on the papers before him. With a resigned shake of his head, he scrawled his name on the bottom of one page. Closing the file, he leaned back in his chair and considered her.
Nerves zinged along her arms like an electrical current, but she held the Sheriff’s gaze.
“Do you honestly believe,” he began, “that Robbie Patterson is somehow involved in Lloyd Miller’s operations?”
“No, sir,” Kendall replied. “You know how Robbie’s Asperger’s impacts his decisions. I think Lloyd Miller is taking advantage of Robbie’s naivety and eagerness to please for his own purposes.”
“Which are?”
“I’m not sure. Yet.”
Sheriff Owens rasped a hand across his forehead. “Damn it, Kendall. Lloyd Miller isn’t the kind of man you should be tangling with.”
“I’m a cop. He’s a criminal. It’s my job to tangle with him.” She leaned forward. “I saw him slap Robbie.”
“According to your report.” Sheriff Owens used a finger to nudge another file on his desk. “Robbie claims what you saw was an accident.”
Kendall seethed inside—at the injustice more than the Sheriff’s clarification. “You and I both know that Robbie’s learning disability makes it easy to mislead him.”
“And Lloyd Miller is smart enough to know how to use that for his own purpose. He’s been smart enough to avoid arrest since he came to town, and before that, from what my sources have told me. So, what makes you think you can bring him down?”
“Are you ordering me to refrain from observing and investigating Lloyd Miller’s activities where they pertain to Robbie?”
Sheriff Owens sat forward, bracing his arms on his desk. “Kendall, I trust you, both as a cop and as someone I’ve known since you were a young girl.” He smiled a little, a small slant of his lips on the left side. “I like to think I had some influence on you becoming a cop.”
“You did,” Kendall said, her irritation softening as she remembered the man who’d always taken the time to answer her questions or offer advice.
“I imagine it hasn’t been easy for you, coming back here, raising your daughter in the shadow of your daddy’s church. I feel responsible for that since I’m the one who offered you the job.”
“A job I took without hesitation.”
“Maybe. Still, I’d feel better if you had some family here to fall back on and help you out when you need it.”
“I grew up without any family.”
Sheriff Owens nodded. “God knows, there’s a sad truth.”
He’d been the one, Kendall recalled, as a young officer, who’d wrapped her in a blanket while she had to sit, alone, in the back of the cruiser outside the convenience store where her mother had been shot.
“I want you to remember that, remember how it felt to grow up without anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d hate to be the one who has to tell that little girl of yours that she’s got no one.” But she does, Kendall thought, even as the Sheriff’s words had a chill coating her heart. “I want you to know that I’m talking to you as more than just your superior, Kendall. Be careful where Lloyd Miller is concerned. Be very careful.”
AN HOUR LATER, Kendall walked into Patterson’s Drug Store, her gaze immediately going to the prescription counter. She’d hoped by coming during her dinner hour, one of the female employees would handle her request. Today, however, Mr. Patterson manned the counter.
After a moment’s hesitation, she straightened her shoulders. She was a grown woman. There was no reason to be embarrassed about having a prescription for birth control—despite the fact she’d had no personal relationship in the past five years.
It looked like that might change soon.
“Deputy,” Mr. Patterson addressed her when she walked up. “What can I do for you?”
Swallowing down her apprehension, she slid the thin plastic case toward him. “I need a refill.”
“This will take a few minutes,” he said and turned to walk away.
Kendall roamed the aisles for a short while, speaking with a few people before she decided to go back to the pharmacy waiting area.
“Hey, Robbie,” she said, changing her direction when she spotted the young boy slumped in one of the chairs. Kendall had to smile; he looked so like Marissa when she was pouting. “What’s going on? You look kind of sad.”
“My good friend Lloyd is mad at me.”
“I can’t imagine anyone being mad at you. Maybe you misunderstood. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“Lloyd asked me to deliver a package to someone, but I told him I had to come here, like my dad told me.”
&n
bsp; Suspicion and a gut feeling created an itch between her shoulder blades. “What kind of package was it?” she asked, hoping Robbie’s propensity for telling the truth would give her something she could take back to the Sheriff.
“It was a rectangle, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string, approximately two-and-a-half inches by six inches.”
Kendall found Robbie’s attention to the specific dimensions of the package amusing despite the circumstances. While there was any number of suspicious contents the package could hold, what mattered most was the fact that Lloyd had tried to get Robbie to make the delivery.
“You don’t know what was in the package?”
He looked up at her, then quickly back down at his feet. “How could I know what was inside if it was wrapped?”
“True.” She considered. “Do you know who you were supposed to deliver the package to?”
“He didn’t tell me because I told him I couldn’t do it. He was really mad then.”
“Robbie, Lloyd didn’t hurt you because you couldn’t do what he asked did he?”
He shook his head. “Lloyd is my friend.”
“Here you go,” Mr. Patterson called from the counter, slipping her case into a small bag. “Would you like to pay here or up front?”
She hesitated. Both as a friend and as a sworn officer, she felt an obligation to ask Robbie a few more questions and even mention her concerns to Mr. Patterson.
“Deputy?” Mr. Patterson asked, his voice conveying annoyance. “I have other prescriptions to fill.”
Not wanting to cause Robbie any trouble, she stood. “I’ll take it up front.”
She retrieved her package and turned back, only to discover Robbie was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Patterson went back to his shelves of pills and liquids. Mulling over the information, she walked down the aisle and turned a corner.
“Watch it.”
Kendall felt the bump of bodies. “Sorry,” she said, realizing she’d walked into someone. A male someone.
“Now isn’t that just my luck?” a male voice asked.
Kendall looked up into the smiling face of Dwight Davis. It had been quite some time since she’d seen his smile look so relaxed.
“I finally get you in my arms and you’re sorry,” Dwight said.
She swatted his arm as she stepped back. “As if. You’ve only had eyes for Kathy since you were both in middle school. How is she doing?”
“Better.” Some of his smile dimmed, but he didn’t seem as burdened with worry as he’d been of late. “The doctors think this latest round of chemo is all she’s going to need. It’s been good for her to sit outside and watch Logan working with Brittany,” he went on, telegraphing that he didn’t want to discuss his wife’s medical condition. “Kathy and I appreciate that he’s been willing to bring all his equipment to our place. Saves me time and, like I said, Kathy can watch them.”
“Logan says Brittany’s a natural.” Kendall smiled, genuinely happy to hear Kathy Davis was improving. “He also said she’s more of a hard taskmaster than his basic training sergeant.”
“He’s great with her. I hear your little girl is horse crazy also.”
“Yes, it’s all she talks about lately.”
“You should let him work with her. He seems really good with kids.” He lifted a hand in acknowledgement of Mr. Patterson calling his name. “I should get going.”
“Give Kathy my best,” she said to his departing back.
The conversation repeated through her mind as she paid for her purchase and stepped outside. And there, on the main street in the town where they’d both grown up, was Logan. In the expected jeans, western shirt, and cowboy hat, he had a protective hand balanced on the shoulder of her daughter.
“Mamma.” Marissa broke free and ran to her.
Kendall knelt down to fold her in her arms. Her gaze, however, stayed locked on Logan’s.
“Surprise,” Marissa declared.
“This is the best surprise.”
She wondered why Logan hadn’t moved, why he didn’t say anything. Instead he continued to stare at her with the heated intensity that was still new to her. Her legs began to tremble, and she knew it had nothing to do with her precarious balance as she stayed at Marissa’s level.
“Mamma.” Taking matters into her own hands, Marissa placed her small ones on either side of Kendall’s face to get her attention. “We’re going to eat dinner with you.”
“You are?”
“Uh, huh.” She shook her head up and down. “He said so.”
“Is that so?” She drilled fingers into her daughter’s belly, delighted by the giggles as Marissa tried to dance out of reach. “I thought I was the boss.”
People had to circle around them, some calling out a greeting as they passed by, a few slowing long enough to bounce a stare between her and Logan with open speculation.
“C’mon,” Marissa urged, dragging Kendall by the hand.
“Where’s Audra?”
“I gave her the night off.” Logan studied her. “She said you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not. I just wondered what she was doing with this unexpected free time.”
Now Logan grinned. “She mentioned working on her inventory for the Founder’s Day Craft Fair that, and I quote, ‘Kendall pushed me into doing.’”
“I did push her into it,” Kendall said, her fingers tightening on the prescription bag she held.
“If you want my opinion, I think she’s more excited than nervous.”
“Can we go now?” Marissa asked.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought the diner, if that’s okay,” Logan said.
“Fine.” Kendall swept a hand over Marissa’s curls as she looked at him. “Would you mind if we walked around the square rather than cut across here? I can patrol store windows and doors along the way.”
“Fine with me.” Logan winked down at Marissa. “Means I’ll have room for pie after dinner.”
“I’m going to eat a hot dog and macaroni and cheese.”
“Better you than me, kiddo,” Logan said, tapping a finger on the tip of her nose.
They walked with Marissa between them. Traffic was steady as businesses closed for the day and people began heading home. Most of the shops in town maintained authentic western fronts and names to promote tourism interest. At a couple of stores that remained open later, Kendall left Logan and Marissa outside while she checked to see if anything required her attention. This personal part of the job often was the best part of her shift. Today, however, she found herself anxious to be done with the pleasantries and return to Logan and Marissa.
“It must be strange,” she said to Logan at one point. “To be back in so small a town after some of the places you’ve been.”
“This feels good right now.”
For how long? stuck in Kendall’s throat.
At the door to Edith’s General Store, Kendall turned to check the doorknob. When Marissa complained about being tired, Logan swung her up into his strong arms. Kendall’s heart squeezed as hard as her hand. Seeing her daughter being held by Logan had her wishing for more than was wise.
“Everything okay?” Logan asked.
“Yes, of course.” She released the doorknob and faced him. “Logan,” she began, surprised to see Marissa had lowered her head to Logan’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Kendall still lowered her voice to a whisper. “I know you want to spend time with her. At first, I admit I insisted you check with me about visits and stuff, but I like to think we’ve gotten past that.”
“Thanks, but that’s not what I meant. The prescription?” he asked when she frowned up at him.
“Oh.” Heat burned her cheeks. “It’s just a refill for something I take every day.”
&
nbsp; “Like an allergy pill?”
“No.” There was no point in pretending. They both knew where this was headed. This time at least, she wasn’t naive enough to believe he could love her. “Birth control,” she explained as they stopped in front of the diner. She shivered when his gaze all but stripped her bare. Then she trembled at the thought of his hands, and mouth, on her exposed skin. Oh yes, they both knew exactly where this was headed.
“You said you weren’t involved with anyone.”
“I’m not. But I don’t repeat mistakes, Logan.”
“I thought you didn’t think of Marissa as a mistake.”
“I wasn’t talking about my feelings for her.” Hoping to avoid a deeper examination of her traitorous thoughts, she glanced at Marissa. “Who’s hungry?”
Marissa’s head popped up from Logan’s shoulder. “Me, me.”
“Then let’s get inside.”
It was almost comical the way conversations paused when the three of them entered the diner. Gazes tracked them as they settled in a booth, Logan sitting across from her and Marissa. Then it was Kendall who paused when she realized her little girl no longer needed a booster seat.
“Look at you,” she exclaimed, pressing a hand to her chest at this latest reminder of how quickly her daughter was growing up.
“I’m big,” Marissa declared, her smile lighting up her face.
“Before long,”—Logan set his hat on the bench seat beside him and winked at Marissa—“she’s going to be taller than you.”
“I always hated being short.”
She started a little when, under the table, she felt the hard length of Logan’s leg press against her. “I remember you being just right. In all the right places.”
She couldn’t believe he was flirting with her—in the diner where they’d already attracted attention. And yet his words, delivered in a low intimate tone, had a warm thrill running through her.
“Well, now, isn’t this a nice picture.”
Cowboy On Her Doorstep (Montgomery Brothers Book 1) Page 9
