“I think a kiss would be a good idea. There’s one thing we need to get straight before any lips touch, though. I don’t know how long I’ll be here in Harper. It could be weeks, months, maybe years. But when this is over, my plan is to go back to Florida to my family and friends. My life is there.”
“Fair enough.” He nodded. “I appreciate the honesty. Let me be honest right back. I want you. This past week has only built the attraction I felt for you the first night. If I promise right here and now, under these stars, to never ask you to stay in Harper, will you explore this thing between us? I think we could have something good. While you’re here, that is.”
“You’d really promise that? What if we fell in love?”
“I’ve never been in love.” Seth shrugged. “Maybe I’m not the type. But, yes, I’ll promise. When the time comes, love or no love, the decision will be up to you. I won’t ask you to stay.”
It was what she needed to hear although somehow the words managed to hurt her heart a tiny bit. He’d made the promise easily enough and she should be grateful. He understood where she came from and where she was going. This time in Harper could be a pleasant interlude for both of them.
She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck, pulling him down for their first kiss. Her palms were sweating and her heart was galloping as arousal flew through her veins and fizzed in her abdomen. She’d been fantasizing about this moment for days and it was here.
Nothing prepared her for the first touch of his lips. She felt the heat crackle between them, his mouth pressed to hers. His tongue demanded entry and she opened to his exploration eagerly, consumed by sensation. Seth’s kiss wasn’t tentative in the least. The kiss was like Seth himself, confident and controlled. Her fingers gripped his shoulders and she lost herself in the taste of him. He was a mixture of coffee and something spicy and she couldn’t get enough, instantly addicted to his flavor.
She was so immersed in the kiss she was dumbfounded when he threw her to the ground, covering her body with his and pushing the breath from her body. He was heavy and she struggled to breathe, but he held her down easily, his strength far superior.
“Stay still,” he commanded.
“What in the hell,” she hissed but then heard loud popping noises not far away. She immediately froze, holding her breath until the sounds stopped. He lifted himself up slowly, pressing her shoulder down with his hand and looking around cautiously.
He held a finger up to his lips and shook his head. She nodded in understanding. She’d stay quiet while he investigated. He crawled on his hands and knees a few feet away so he could see beyond the hay bales. When he came back, he helped her sit up.
“Let’s get you in the barn where there are more people.” He kept his voice soft but the thread of steel was instantly recognizable. Suddenly, it became clear as to why Evan had trusted Seth to protect her. His eyes were narrow and hard, his expression cold and calculating, and every muscle in his body on alert. He was in warrior mode. Just that quickly, her passionate lover had turned into a soldier.
He lifted her to her feet and quickly hustled her into the barn area. He was looking side to side, his arm still around her, holding her close to him. She leaned into his strength, happy to allow him to be in charge at this moment.
“I’m going to check out the noise we heard.” He looked over her head and then nodded, turning her around and navigating her through the crowd until they were next to Alex and Eliza. “Stay here for a few minutes while I take a look around. Don’t move, understand?”
He was gone in a second. Eliza and Alex were looking at her with their mouths hanging open. It must have sounded strange to hear Seth talking to her in that way, but it couldn’t be helped. She certainly couldn’t tell them he was only trying to protect her because someone wanted her dead. She tried to joke it away.
“He’s so protective, you’d think I didn’t have a lick of sense.” She laughed and their expressions relaxed slightly.
Alex frowned. “Where is he going?”
Presley licked her dry lips, tasting a trace of Seth still lingering there. “We heard noises that sounded like gunfire. Seth went to check it out.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “Probably a bunch of cowboys who had too much to drink tonight. Seth will be rounding them up to sleep it off in the county jail.”
Presley hoped it was exactly as Alex described. She didn’t want to think she’d been found.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Alex asked.
Presley dragged her gaze away from where Seth had disappeared and nodded. “Thank you, that would be great. A root beer?”
Alex headed to fetch her drink, but Eliza had a shrewd expression on her face. “What’s going on? I’ve never seen Seth so riled up about gunfire before. Heck, every home in this county owns at least one gun. Something is going on.”
Presley tried to appear relaxed. “The gunfire was too close. Someone could have been hurt, or even killed. You know how Seth is about the safety of his town.”
“I guess,” Eliza conceded. “He seemed very worried about you. His face went pale. I’ve never seen him like that before.” Eliza’s face lit up. “Oh! I’m such an idiot. You and Seth. It’s perfect.”
With her lips still swollen from his kiss, it would be stupid to deny it. She didn’t like lying anyway. “Are you really okay with it?” Presley chewed her lip. “I didn’t plan this, it’s just…”
Eliza waggled her eyebrows. “It’s just there’s sexual chemistry between you. If I had been paying attention I would have seen it at the diner that first day. I’m fine with it. You’re just what Seth needs, someone to jerk him out of his comfortable routine.”
She didn’t have time to respond before Alex returned with her root beer. They were all chatting when Seth strode back into the room with an angry expression.
“It was a bunch of drunk as skunk cowboys from the Perry ranch blowing off steam way too close to the barn. They could have killed somebody. I’ve got Hank rounding them up but I need to help him.” Seth blew out a breath. “I was planning to drive you home, but I need to do this. Can you get a ride home with Eliza?”
Alex raised a hand. “We’ll see that she gets home. Don’t worry.”
Seth nodded. “I appreciate it.” He turned to Presley. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, be safe.” She was talking to his retreating back.
“Is it always this exciting at a barn dance?” Presley asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Alex grinned. “This may be the most exciting thing to happen all year in Harper.”
She could only hope and pray it was true.
Chapter Six
Seth turned up the volume on his truck radio and relaxed back in the warm leather seat, listening to Blake Shelton. He loved this drive through nowhere. It was the time he needed to get his thoughts straight and his mind quieted down. Last night had been scary as hell for a few moments when he thought Presley was being shot at.
It had turned out to be drunken cowboys, but it brought home the reality of getting involved with a woman people wanted dead. Hopefully everyone would keep thinking she was dead and they would be left in peace. In the meantime, he needed to tighten the security around her. He’d been far too lax in the last week. Letting her go to the city with only Eliza had been a huge mistake, no matter what Evan said. Evan wasn’t here, but Seth was. He was the only thing standing between Presley and an assassin.
The weather was holding nicely for the hundred-mile drive and he was almost regretful when he pulled into a parking spot at the roadhouse off 90 and headed inside. The building was closed on a Sunday at ten in the morning but it still smelled like the night before. Stale beer, cigarettes and sweat permeated the air. Seth was glad the lighting sucked as he sure as fuck didn’t want to see what made his shoes stick to the floor as he found the rest of the guys seated around a couple of tables pushed together.
“You’re late.” Tanner Marks grinned, pushing
a can of soda his way. The other men chuckled in agreement. Seth flipped Tanner the bird before shedding his heavy coat and sitting in the last empty seat.
“I’m right on time.” Seth tapped his watch. “You’re all early and a bunch of assholes. Call this meeting to order. I’ve got better things to do than hang out with a motley crew of lawmen on a Sunday. The Broncos are playing today.”
Griffin Sawyer pounded the table twice with his fist. “I think you’re the asshole but I’ll call this meeting to order anyway.” He grinned at the assembled men. “First up is old business. Logan, do you have an update on the suspected drug traffic through your town?”
Logan leaned back in his chair and stretched out his long legs. “From what I’ve been able to find out, they’re using our back roads to traffic drugs from Miami up to Canada. Unfortunately they’ve decided to make a stop along the way. Drug related arrests have tripled in my town in the last six months. We’ve even had two drug related fatalities.” Logan leaned forward, his expression intent. “It’s like chasing shadows, for fuck’s sake. Just when I think I have a lead, it’s gone.”
Reed Mitchell nodded in understanding. “Although we’re over a hundred miles away from you, we’re also feeling the effects. Drug related crime has gone up a hundred and fifty percent in my town. As soon as I round ’em up, another set comes in and takes up where they left off. It’s getting so I can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys.”
Jared Monroe pursed his lips in thought. “I have a buddy at the DEA I can call in if it’s that bad. He might be able to put someone in undercover. From what he says, that’s usually the only way they can be brought down. From within.”
Seth took notes as the discussions continued. This group of sheriffs had been meeting once a month for the last four years and the information sharing was invaluable. Logan had played football against Seth in high school. Somehow Logan knew Jared, but Seth didn’t remember how. Jared knew Reed, who knew Griffin or Tanner, or some shit like that. No matter. When they’d decided to team up and share information, their ability to fight crime and keep the peace had grown exponentially. They always had each other’s backs and Seth could truthfully say these were five men he trusted with his life.
When there was a break in the discussion Seth asked, “Are you guys still seeing the work of the vigilantes? Has anyone in your jurisdictions been killed? Harper’s been quiet this last month.”
Tanner shook his head. “Fuck, yeah. I arrested a man for domestic abuse. Never made it to trial. He ended up with a blunt object to the back of the skull. Wasn’t his wife. She’s still in the hospital where he put her after the assault. This is the third one in the last three months. I don’t like people taking the law into their own hands.”
Logan shrugged. “Seems to me your taxpayers were saved some money. I wouldn’t complain, personally.”
Griffin straightened in his chair. “Shit, Logan. What if the guy was innocent?”
Logan raised his eyebrows. “Was he, Tan? Was the guy a choir boy?”
Tanner swore. “No, we caught him doing it. Neighbors called it in. It took two of my men to pull him off her. The guy had a list of priors as long as my arm. But, fuck it, he still deserves his day in court.”
“And he would have been out in less than six months beating the shit out of her again. Or worse, he would have killed her the next time. It sounds like the karma bus pulled up in front of his house, that’s all.”
“Man, you are stone cold, Logan,” Seth said. “I don’t want vigilantes interfering in my town. I’m the fucking law.”
“I’m the fucking law in my town, too, Seth,” Logan argued. “But, shit, I’m fucking tired of perps waltzing out of jail on some technicality or because of prison overcrowding. They come back and wreak havoc and people get hurt. I’m tired of trying to keep the peace with one arm tied behind my back. If someone wants to help me, well, I’ll take the help. Doesn’t mean I won’t arrest them, if I catch them. It just means I don’t think they’re the most evil things we face every day.”
Jared held up his hand. “Enough. These fucking vigilantes got us fighting with each other. That’s just what they want. We have to stay together on this.” He turned to Seth. “We haven’t heard any updates from you, Seth. Anything to report?”
Seth shook his head. As much as he wanted to talk about protecting Presley with these men, he couldn’t. He’d promised Evan and Seth never broke a promise.
“Nothing really. Perry had some cattle stolen and a few mutilated last week but it’s getting that time of year when the crazies come out and sacrifice a fucking cow for harvest festival or some shit like that.”
Reed groaned. “Shit, we had a group of, I don’t know, tree hugging, hippie types come through and I’ll be damned if they didn’t picket all the ranches. Apparently they’re worried about the souls of cows. I couldn’t eat meat for a week I felt so guilty.”
The idea of any Montana cowboy feeling guilty about eating meat made Seth laugh. Tanner slapped Reed on the back. “Did you get over it or are you a vegan now?”
Reed snorted. “Shit, I don’t even know what a vegan eats. This is cattle country, for fuck’s sake.”
“Did you run them out of town?” Griffin asked.
Reed shook his head. “Naw, we let them picket and when we didn’t give them any attention they moved on.” Reed shook his finger at the group. “Your town could be next,” he laughed.
The ribbing continued until Tanner looked at his watch and grimaced. “Shit, I need to get back to town. I’m on duty tonight. Same time next month, gentlemen? And I use that term loosely.”
The men nodded and Seth headed for his truck. He needed to see Presley and make sure she was safe. It was an irrational need because he was sure she was fine, but he needed to see her for himself.
Besides, they never got to finish the kiss.
* * * * *
Presley lounged back onto the couch, her feet propped on the arm. It was Sunday, which to her usually meant brunch with the girls, but here in Harper there really wasn’t a restaurant to go to for brunch. The diner was closed on Sundays, although the Chinese take-out place was open. There was a barbecue joint that opened at noon so she could put some shoes on and head there, but eating by herself really didn’t appeal to her. She was going to sit here, watch television, and feel a little sorry for herself.
She missed her friends. They were probably sad she was dead. Would they raise a glass to her passing today? Would they shed a tear or simply move on with their lives? She didn’t want anyone to mourn for her, but she didn’t want to think her life hadn’t touched anyone else’s either. The pounding on her door broke her out of her reverie. That authoritative, impatient knock could only belong to one person. She swung her legs down from the couch.
“I’ll be right there, Seth! Hold your horses.”
She flung open the door, as Seth was ready to pound the wood again. He scowled. “How did you know it was me? I could have been someone here to hurt you.”
She opened the door wider to let him pass. “Criminals rarely knock. Besides, I don’t know that many people in town and you do have a certain something that made me think the battering my poor door was taking was from your fist. I thought you were going to call me.”
Seth tossed his cowboy hat onto the kitchen counter. “How do you know what criminals do? Have you been around quite a few? And I was going to call you. I decided to skip that and just stop by.”
She gestured toward the couch and he sat down. “As far as I know, I’ve only known one. My homicidal boss. Of course, he did knock so I could be completely wrong.”
She headed over to the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of sodas. “Soda?” He nodded and she settled next to him. Not too close, but still close enough to smell his aftershave and feel the warmth from his body. She felt a pang of regret their kiss had been interrupted the night before.
He popped open the can and contemplated it for a moment. “You know, I really don’t know
anything about you other than your life is in danger.”
“You told me not to talk about myself, remember?” She leaned back into the cushions.
“To others, not to me. I was just wondering about your life, that’s all. For example, how old are you?”
She giggled. “Are you worried you kissed jail bait last night? I can assure you I’m of age. I’m twenty-six. In my family, that’s an old maid.”
He didn’t look any more comfortable or happy. “I’m older than that. I’m thirty-six. Well, almost.”
Presley shrugged. “Okay. Am I supposed to be horrified? That doesn’t seem all that old. I had a psychic tell me once that I was an old soul. So there, I guess that makes me older than you.”
He finally smiled. “You look like a teenager today in your sweats and T-shirt.”
She took a sip from her soda. “I haven’t been a teenager for several years. So what else do you want to know? My life, what there is of it, is an open book. Do I get to ask you questions as well?” He looked unsure and she had to laugh. “If I’m going to talk about me, you have to talk about you.”
He shifted on the sofa. “I’m not very interesting. I was born here, I grew up here, and I’ll probably, God willing, die here.”
“Your parents really like Elvis Presley. That’s pretty interesting.”
His cheeks went red. “That’s them, not me.”
“You don’t like Elvis?”
“I like Elvis fine, but I’ve never felt compelled to build a shrine to him in a spare room. Dad’s convinced Elvis is still alive.” Seth rubbed his chin, frustration written in his expression. Seeing Seth with his mom and dad, it was clear he loved them dearly. But love didn’t preclude being embarrassed now and then. She decided to have some fun with Seth. Her eyes went wide and her voice as sweet as sugar.
“Elvis is still alive.” Presley smiled. “He’s in the Witness Protection Program just like me. It’s one of the secrets they tell you when you’re in the club.”
Cowboy Command Page 7
