Anywhere with You

by Debbi Rawlins

  “Look, Gracie, I didn’t say we couldn’t get a handle on this nonsense. Talk blows in and out of this town like the wind.” He must’ve sensed Sadie’s murderous glare and darted a nervous look at her. “This doesn’t have to ruin your chance at replacing Noah. I can help you. But first you gotta promise to stay away from that Ben fella.”

  “Actually, no, you can’t help.” Grace slid off the stool, not knowing if she should laugh or cry. Clarence was her biggest obstacle to being elected. No reasonably intelligent person took him seriously. Tempted as she was to just come out and tell him that, she knew she’d regret it later.

  “Good God Almighty, Clarence, you wouldn’t know how to find your own ass with four hands and a mirror.” Sadie snorted with disgust. “You’d best worry about your own re-election. The only reason you’re still mayor is because no one else ever runs. Who knows? Maybe this year that’ll change.”

  Clarence flushed all the way to the bald spot.

  Grace knew Sadie was only trying to help, but she shouldn’t have said that. While Grace didn’t need her uncle’s pseudosupport, she didn’t need him viewing her as a liability. Which she might have no choice about, since he was glaring at her instead of Sadie.

  “By the way, Mayor...” She paused and adjusted her ball cap. “It was Wade, not Ben,” she said. “Wade is responsible for the rumors.

  “You know what,” Sadie said, sounding suspiciously perky. “I just might run for mayor. I bet I’d get a whole lot of votes.”

  Grace caught the stunned look on her uncle’s face just before she turned for the door. And bit her lip to keep from laughing.

  At the sight of Ben, she immediately sobered.

  He stood just inside the doorway. How long had he been there? Why hadn’t the damn hinges squeaked? Sadie must’ve seen him. Why hadn’t she given Grace a signal?

  Jeez.

  “Hey.” She gave him a tentative smile, then waited for him to drag his gaze away from Clarence, who was oblivious. He’d taken Sadie’s bait, and Grace could almost hear him sweat. “Come on, Ben.” She tugged at his arm, hard with muscle, and was startled by how easily she could picture him stark naked. “Ben, please.”

  “He’s an asshole,” he murmured.

  “Yes, he is. Let’s go.”

  As soon as they were outside, Grace glanced down both sides of Main Street. Fewer people were out and about than earlier. The others were no doubt gathered at the diner, gossiping about her. “How did you know I was at The Watering Hole?”

  “I saw your truck. And you weren’t in the diner or the office, so I figured I’d check the bar.”

  “You didn’t happen to see Wade, did you?”

  “Did you hear him screaming like a little girl? Are my knuckles bloodied?”

  “Ben.” She gave him a stern look.

  He smiled. “You look cute in that ball cap.”

  “Cute?” She sighed. “Not what I was going for,” she said, then got nervous when he glanced around. She knew exactly what he was thinking, because she wanted to kiss him, too. “I’m still on duty. Okay?” The way his gaze fixed on her mouth sent excitement zinging through her veins. Damn him. “Nod once if you understand.”

  Nearby laughter drew her attention. Two older women she knew only by sight had just walked out of the fabric store across the street. The second they saw her, they exchanged glances.

  “I came by last night,” Ben said. “I knocked.”

  “Did you?” She saw the speculation in his eyes and had to look away. “I don’t feel comfortable standing out here. Lots of talk making the rounds.”

  He waited for her to look at him again. “It’ll die down.”

  “I know. Sadie said the same thing.” Grace started for her truck with Ben beside her. “In the meantime—”

  “You’re coming with me to the Sundance tonight.”

  Grace shook her head, trying to ignore the dilapidated green pickup that had slowed down. The elderly driver stared openly at her. She’d never seen him before. Judging by the load of supplies he was hauling, he didn’t visit town often. And yet he’d already heard?

  “Come on, it’ll do you good to get away from here. Mom’s cooking Mexican food...homemade tortillas and everything.”

  “Look, I’m a big girl,” Grace said, her paranoia growing. What foolishness. She was still new to the area and the first woman deputy, so there would be stares no matter what. “I’ll be fine. Spend time with your mom.”

  “She specifically invited you.”

  A cowboy leaving the barber shop was busy brushing off his shoulders until he spotted Grace. He did a double-take just as Ben’s words sunk in.

  She looked at him. “Why would she invite me?”

  “Good question,” he muttered. “Now that I think about it.”

  “You’re still leaving day after tomorrow, right?” She held her breath waiting for his answer. Stupid. Very stupid.

  He nodded, his gaze lowering to her mouth. “You don’t belong here.” His unexpected remark stunned her.

  Not that she hadn’t thought the same thing a hundred times. “What happened to the pep talk?”

  “Hell, you can do this job with your eyes closed. But you’ll be bored. You need diversity, the challenge a big city can offer.”

  She couldn’t think about that. If the rumors didn’t sink her, she couldn’t afford to write off this move as a mistake. Things hadn’t died down in Arizona so her options were limited. Ben knew that, so there was nothing for her to say.

  They walked in silence to her truck. She’d initially planned on stopping in the office but reconsidered.

  “People bad-mouth LA,” Ben said as if there’d been no gap in the conversation. “But there are some nice outlying areas.”

  Startled, her hand paused on the door handle. He seemed a bit uncomfortable. Probably just realized how that sounded. “I told you, I’m over the whole Disneyland thing.”

  He smiled. “Tonight. I’ll come get you at five,” he said, and when she opened her mouth to object, he added, “Get in the truck, Grace, or I’ll kiss you in front of the whole damn town.”

  18

  DINNER AT THE Sundance wasn’t just dinner. It was an event, an experience all by itself. Loud, exuberant and wonderful. Crazy as the thought seemed, Grace never knew families like this existed. There were no rules or expectations. With maybe one exception. Grace got the feeling that if Hilda set a sampler plate in front of you, you didn’t dare refuse.

  “What did you think of the chile relleno?” Jamie asked. She and Cole were sitting across the table from Grace and Ben.

  Grace liked Jamie, despite the fact that her eyes were sparkling with mischief. Probably because the dish was so spicy, it about blew the top of Grace’s head off. “It was...good.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Thankfully, Hilda and Barbara had just disappeared into the kitchen.

  “Want another helping?” Rachel asked as she rose from the table.

  Grace whimpered softly.

  Chuckling, Ben slid an arm along the back of her chair and whispered, “Don’t worry, you won’t hurt my mom’s feelings.”

  Her cheeks heated as his warm breath caressed her face. Ben had been circumspect, which she appreciated, but when he was this close, he wasn’t the problem. She wanted to lean into him, to feel his arms around her.

  She shifted her gaze and moved just far enough that she wouldn’t feel his heat. And found herself looking at her boss. Thankfully, he was busy talking to Jesse.

  Noah was the only other person here who wasn’t family. A heads-up that he was coming would’ve been nice. Though Ben hadn’t known in advance, either. But that didn’t solve the problem of whether she should say something to Noah about the rumors. It wasn’t the time or place, but she’d never have a
better opportunity.

  “Don’t listen to Rachel,” Trace said as he tried to pass his sister his plate. “She gets grumpy when it’s her night to do dishes.”

  “Yeah, like I’m going to fall for that.” Rachel grabbed two empty pitchers and muttered, “I don’t even live here anymore, you moron,” before she pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen.

  Ben let out a loud laugh. “Fifteen years and you two are still at it.”

  Overwhelming agreement was expressed around the huge table that sat eleven of them quite comfortably. Nikki, Trace’s fiancée, was working at The Watering Hole, and Rachel’s husband, Matt, was away on business. The only people Grace hadn’t really spoken to were Jesse and his fiancée, Shea, because they were seated at the other end of the table.

  Barbara poked her head in from the kitchen. “Are we ready?”

  Trace muttered a curse. “Just a minute, Mom,” he said while he scrambled to gather the dirty plates.

  Grace got up to help, but Ben touched her arm. “It’s okay,” he said. “We have a system.”

  He stacked their plates on the empty serving platters in front of them, then passed everything down the line to Trace. Everyone seemed to know the drill. In seconds, the table was clear.

  Barbara had lingered in the doorway, her pleased smile aimed at Ben and then extending to Grace before she disappeared. It seemed that everyone was glad to have him back in the fold. Tonight was like reliving old times, and they hadn’t pulled any punches when it came to childhood stories about him. But it was all in good fun.

  Trace got rid of the dishes they’d collected. Then Hilda and Barbara carried in carafes of coffee. Rachel followed behind them, balancing a cake that she set carefully on the table in front of Noah.

  It was shaped like a gold marshal’s star with red lettering that Grace couldn’t make out from where she sat.

  Noah stared at it a moment. “You are three of the most hardheaded women I’ve ever known,” he said, shaking his head. “I asked you very nicely not to make a big deal out of me leaving.”

  “We canceled the party, didn’t we?” Rachel glared at him. “Damn killjoy.”

  Ben leaned over for a better look at the writing. “I know who made the cake.” He grinned at Rachel. “You spelled ‘hasta luego’ wrong.”

  “I’m so glad you were here to point that out.” With a sniff, she turned to Noah. “I started to write ‘adios,’ but I just couldn’t. I love Alana. I love seeing the two of you together, but I hate that you’re leaving. We finally have Ben back and now you’re...” Rachel’s voice cracked.

  “Ah, come on, it’s not as if I won’t be coming home to visit,” Noah said, pushing back in his chair. “You’ll see more of me than when I was in the army.”

  Grace glanced at Ben to see his reaction to Rachel. After all, he was only visiting. When his expression remained eerily blank, she risked a peek at Hilda. She was also focused on Ben.

  “Hell, Rach,” Trace said, frowning at her. “You pregnant or something?”

  She blinked at him. A single tear fell, and she dabbed furiously at it. “You’re such a jerk, you know that? I have no idea what Nikki sees in you.”

  “What?” Trace seemed genuinely perplexed and looked around for support. “She’s getting all emotional. What am I supposed to think?”

  His brothers were shaking their heads and trying not to laugh. Noah had pulled Rachel into a hug while giving Trace a deadpan look over her head.

  With a collective sigh, Barbara, Hilda and Jamie started pouring coffee.

  “I’m getting a beer,” Trace said. “Anyone else?”

  Turned out all the guys wanted beer, so Noah went with him to the kitchen. And Rachel got to work cutting the cake.

  Grace’s offer of help was politely refused just as it had been earlier.

  Ben seemed lost in thought until Cole asked him a question about a pair of chestnut colts. Only then did she realize Ben had been staring at her. She met his gaze, and he smiled before turning to answer Cole.

  She didn’t mind them discussing business. They’d talked before dinner about the type of stock Ben would be purchasing and the most efficient means of transportation. She liked listening to them, but mostly she loved hearing the excitement Ben couldn’t keep out of his voice. He desperately wanted to help the McAllisters, even if he wouldn’t admit it. The satisfaction of giving back would go a long way toward healing old hurts.

  What bothered her was her own foolish heart. Just because Ben might be making trips back to check out stock had nothing to do with her. She’d be an idiot to get her hopes up. Sure, he’d probably call her when he was in town. But that was it. He’d be coming for business purposes and to see his mom. Not to see Grace.

  She felt a slight squeeze on her thigh and smiled. Ben had reached under the table while talking to Cole. She was about to return the favor when Hilda set a mug of coffee in front of her.

  Grace leaned back and moved her leg. “Thank you.”

  “You want cream?” Hilda asked, her eyes bright with amusement. So she’d seen them playing under the table.

  “Black is fine.”

  Hilda surprised her by taking the vacated seat next to Grace. “So, you’ve been living here for three weeks?” She spoke with little accent.

  “Pretty close.”

  “You like Blackfoot Falls?”

  Grace hesitated. “It’s different from Arizona, but I’m getting used to it.”

  “I had trouble when I first arrived,” Hilda said. “But that was many years ago.”

  Grace nodded, then worried she’d given away too much when curiosity narrowed Hilda’s gaze. Was she wondering how much Ben had told Grace?

  She smiled and leaned close. “I was hoping my son would find a nice girl here. And a sheriff, too.”

  “Oh, no. We...” Grace stammered. “Um...”

  Rachel leaned between them and set two pieces of cake on the table. With a wink at Grace, Rachel inclined her head at Hilda. “Is she planning your wedding yet?”

  The older woman snorted at Rachel. “This one was more trouble to raise than all four of the boys.”

  Just when Grace decided to slide under the table and crawl to the door, Ben turned to them. He lifted his brows at Rachel. “And here I’ve always blamed Trace for being the troublemaker.”

  “Oh, he is. I’m just better at getting away with it,” she said and grinned at Grace before moving on.

  Okay, they were joking.

  Grace hoped. Ben hadn’t actually smiled. And this wasn’t the first time someone implied they were a couple. All Grace needed were more rumors to circulate. About how she would pine away over Ben once he left. She trusted the McAllisters would never spread gossip, but sometimes jokes had a way of becoming overblown.

  Trace and Noah returned, loaded with six-packs of beer. They took them straight to the wet bar in the den, where, according to Ben, everyone tended to congregate to talk or play pool.

  After the cake was eaten and cleanup was done, sure enough, there was a migration to the den. Cole had another question for Ben, and Grace saw Noah standing alone. She was trying to decide whether to approach him when Trace came from the back.

  “Come on, Sheriff.” He motioned with his beer. “I might as well beat you first and get it over with.”

  Noah snorted a laugh. “In a minute,” he said, glancing briefly at Grace before telling Trace, “I’d better make it twenty. You need the practice.”

  Trace had a choice word for him before heading to the back.

  “Grace, you mind if we talk business for a few minutes?”

  Her stomach lurched. This was the opportunity she wanted, but it wouldn’t be easy. “I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk.”

  He glanced around. Cole and Ben were still in the dining
room. Rachel and Jamie were returning china to the hutch. Noah gestured to the empty living room. “I won’t keep you long.”

  “I wanted to say something earlier,” she began. “About the rumors going around town. They aren’t true.”

  “I know that.”

  Grace blinked. The man was ace at keeping his face blank. But then she saw the momentary disgust in his eyes. “It’s Wade. You showed him up, and he’s steamed.”

  She stared at the gleaming hardwood floor. “I’m partly to blame. I wasn’t just showing him up...I was showing off.”

  “I heard about that fancy shooting.”

  She looked up. “How?”

  “Danny can’t stop talking about it.”

  Grace winced. “Great.” That ought to keep Wade foaming at the mouth. “I screwed up. I shouldn’t have—”

  “When I offered to cover the phones while the four of you went to the range, you think I didn’t know what would happen? Granted, I was hoping that seeing you in action would shut Wade up. I pegged that wrong.”

  Grace frowned. “Why did you think—” She paused to organize her thoughts. Glen from Internal Affairs had crafted a nice, tidy exit profile for her file, geared toward qualifying her for this job. So as not to raise questions about why she’d accept a job as a small-town deputy, it played down her task force role and commendations for marksmanship. “What do you know about—”

  “I know enough,” he said with quiet certainty. “I had a word with Wade, and he won’t be shooting his mouth off anymore. Unfortunately, what’s already making the rounds, I have no control over. Trust me, Grace, you have people in your corner. You can weather this crap.”

  “You mean Clarence?”

  Noah laughed—whether at the suggestion or her just-shoot-me expression, she wasn’t sure.

  “Okay.” She still wanted to know what Noah had dug up on her. His information hadn’t come from Ben. No way she’d believe that. She glanced over her shoulder. Cole was gone, and Ben was focused on his phone. He didn’t seem particularly happy. In fact, he looked worried.