by Donna Grant
After she was done with the sandwich, Skylar washed and put away her plate and cleaned the area while Abby carried Hope upstairs for a nap. Skylar then wandered around the downstairs, looking at the family photos that were displayed all around the house. Her mom had always been snapping pictures to put into albums or frames. Skylar couldn’t remember the last time she’d put a photo into a frame, but it was something she should do instead of keeping them on her phone.
When she moved from the foyer to the living area with its arched windows, a fireplace that soared high to the ceiling, and comfortable sofas, she found even more pictures that she’d missed the night before. She hadn’t been that observant the previous evening, but she was remedying that now.
She looked at every photo on the tables, mantel, and even the ones hung on the wall. When she finished, she turned to find Danny standing there with his cowboy hat in his hands.
He wore the black coat he’d let her borrow the night before, dark jeans, and his cowboy boots. She could just make out a white button-down shirt between the unzippered sides of the coat. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there, but there was no ignoring the jump of excitement that went through her when she saw him.
“Hi,” she said with a smile.
His lips turned up at the corners. “Hi. You doing okay?”
“I slept until one,” she said with a shake of her head as she walked toward him. “I haven’t done that since college.”
He moved to her, meeting her halfway. “I’m glad you were able to get some rest.”
There was a stretch of silence, and Skylar clasped her hands behind her back as she cleared her throat, trying to think of something to say. “I know you don’t want me to leave the ranch, and I don’t intend to, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Thank you. I suspect Matt will stay in town for a bit.”
“What’s going to happen next?”
Danny took a breath and released it. “He’s officially been charged. His lawyer arrived at five this morning.”
“That’s early,” she replied with a frown.
“He took a helicopter in.”
Unease slid down Skylar’s spin. “Matt makes good money, but I don’t think he has that kind of money.”
Danny didn’t respond to that. “I sent my report on the incident to the State Attorney’s Family Violence Division last night with a request that Matt be prosecuted. An assistant district attorney has already gotten back to me and agreed that a crime was committed against you. Matt’s arraignment happened an hour ago. He entered a plea of not guilty and is out on a five-hundred-dollar bond.”
“What?” Skylar asked, shocked. “Not guilty? You can’t be serious. You saw it. I saw it.”
“I know. Unfortunately, it’s his first offense. Reported, anyway. He also has one of the best attorneys in the state. One of my deputies overheard Matt’s lawyer and the ADA scheduling to meet up later today to talk. No doubt Matt’s attorney will put a deal on the table so this doesn’t go to trial.”
“Why such a small amount for bail?”
Danny shrugged. “Like I mentioned, it’s his first offense. The amount is standard.”
“So, he’s out, walking around?”
Danny’s hazel gaze lowered to the floor as he turned his hat in his hands. Then he swallowed and met her eyes once more. “Yes.”
She’d known that Matt would be released, but that didn’t make any of this better. “I see.”
“Why didn’t you tell me who he was?” Danny asked, a frown creasing his brow.
Skylar shook her head, not understanding. “I didn’t know I needed to give you his last name. You were arresting him, so I thought you’d get that information from his driver’s license.”
“I mean, who his family is.”
Now she was thoroughly confused. “His family? I met his younger brother once, but his parents are dead.”
“No, they aren’t.”
As if her world weren’t already upside down. She reached out to grab something to hold onto, but there was nothing. Until Danny took her hand.
“Easy,” he told her.
She looked into his eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. “His parents aren’t dead?”
“They’re hale and hearty. And one of the richest families in Houston. They’re in oil.”
“Matt said he made his money from learning the stock market from his father.” Her stomach churned. “Was everything a lie?”
“Have you ever heard of the Gaudets?”
Skylar shot him a flat look. “Of course. Everyone in Houston has. And I asked him about it, but Matt told me they were no relation to him whatsoever. I believed him.”
What a fool she was.
Chapter 7
Each time Danny thought he had his anger at Matt under control, something new happened. “It’s not your fault.”
Skylar gripped his hand tightly, just as she had the night before. The ground kept tilting beneath her feet, but he would hold her steady. He liked that she kept reaching for him, seeking his comfort.
It might be nothing more than him being a cop, but he liked her touch too much to care. She had been all he’d thought about all night, and he had gone to the ranch as soon as he was able.
Just to see her.
Though he wished he had better news.
Danny drew in a deep breath before he released it. “You should also know that Matt claims you and I set all of it up last night so I would arrest him.”
She rolled her eyes, anger replacing her shock. “That asshole. Any good detective will sort out that you and I haven’t spoken in years.”
“My deputies already have. However, it means that I have to stay clear of the case so it doesn’t look as if I’m tampering with anything.”
The worry was back in her blue eyes. “I see.”
“It’ll be fine, I promise. It’s just a move they made to delay things, but it didn’t do anything but make them look stupid. I’ve already been cleared, so there’s no worry there.”
She swallowed loudly. “But Matt has money, which means they can make all of this that much harder. Right?”
“It was never going to be easy.” When she raised a brow, he twisted his lips and nodded. “But, yes, it’s going to be even more difficult now.”
She pulled her hand from his and walked to the sofa, where she sank onto the cushions with a frustrated sigh. “He’s going to get away with all of this. I’m going to have to change my name, move, and do all those things I said I didn’t want to do.”
“No, you aren’t,” Danny said as he walked to stand before her. He perched on the edge of the square ottoman between the sofas. “You’re safe here.”
“Not forever. I don’t mind hiding for a week or two, but I want my life back.”
“And I’ll make sure you get it.”
She gave him a dejected look. “You can’t watch me 24/7, and I don’t expect you to.”
The idea of being there to protect her appealed to Danny in a way that nothing else had in a very long time. He set his hat aside and leaned his forearms on his thighs. “You should start the paperwork for a restraining order against Matt.”
“Yes, I agree. Anything else?”
“You need a lawyer.”
Skylar gripped her hands together. “From here? Or Houston?”
“It depends on where you want to file the protective order. I would suggest doing it in Baxter County since you’re here now, and that’s where he was arrested.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do. Besides, I don’t want to go back to Houston just yet.”
That made Danny ridiculously happy to hear, but he didn’t let it show. Skylar needed him as a sheriff and friend, nothing more. He had to remember that before he made a fool of himself.
“I know a few good ones,” he told her. “Clayton does, as well. If you need money—”
She shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ve got that part covered. And it’s my money, not Matt’s.�
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“The offer is there if you change your mind.”
“The car is mine, as well,” she stated.
Danny glanced away as he gave a nod. He’d run the VIN on the car to check for himself that it belonged to Skylar. “I know.”
“You checked, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, no anger in her gaze. “It’s your job. I would’ve checked, too. Especially after learning that Matt comes from a wealthy family. But he didn’t buy the car for me.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that he did.”
“It’s fine,” Skylar said, holding up a hand to stop him from saying more. “Really, Danny.”
He looked down at his hands and wished that was all he had to tell her, but unfortunately, there was more.
“You can tell me whatever it is.”
Danny lifted his gaze and stared into her azure eyes. They reminded him of lake water reflecting a cloudless sky during the summer. Bright, open. Welcoming.
No one deserved to be in her situation, but Danny wished with all his might that he could take advantage of his position and ensure that she got the justice she deserved. But it wasn’t in him to put her case in jeopardy just for peace of mind.
“Danny?” she asked, her eyes growing more troubled the longer he remained silent.
He cleared his throat, hating that he had to deliver such news. “Matt intends to remain in town until all of this is solved.”
“What?” she asked, her voice a shocked whisper as she slowly sat back against the cushions.
“My guess is that he knows you’re still here, which is why his attorney informed us of the decision.”
She shook her head, no words coming forth.
Danny wanted to take her hand again, but he fisted his instead. “My techs found two tracking devices in your vehicle. One under the driver’s seat, and another under the car. If Matt went to such lengths to keep track of you, then there’s no doubt he put something on your phone.”
“We shut it off last night.”
“That doesn’t always stop things. I had Clayton take it from the ranch. I have a friend who owns a mobile phone store. He’s working with your company to get you a new mobile with your old number but free of any malware or anything that Matt could use to listen to your calls, read texts, or track you.”
She inhaled, and her face settled into hard lines. “I’d rather have a new number, please. I know how to get in touch with anyone I need to contact. I don’t want to chance anything.”
“I’ll make sure it’s done. The phone will be delivered sometime today.” Danny watched her, noting how she was grappling with everything. Regrettably, this was all just getting started. “You need to prepare yourself.”
“For?”
“Anything. Matt and his attorney seem the type that’ll use anything they think they can to either make you look bad or turn the tables on you. If you know of anything that might come up, you need to tell the deputy in charge of your case. His name is Glen Wilson.”
She wrapped her arms around her middle and nodded. “Is Glen good?”
“Very. He’s young, but don’t let that get in the way of trusting him. Wilson is smart and a natural at the job. He was on the scene the night Matt was arrested, so Wilson knows everything.”
“If you trust him, then I will, as well.” Skylar turned her head to the side, her gaze distant. “Matt is going to lose his mind if I’m able to get the restraining order.”
Danny could no longer go without touching her. He put his hand on her knee. “He can’t hurt you here.”
Her head swung to him. “How long before he has you followed here? How long before he discovers that you and Clayton are good friends? How long until he threatens anyone who has helped me?”
“I feel sorry for him if he does.” Danny smiled then. “Matt isn’t from this area, so he wouldn’t know how well-respected the Easts and Harpers are. Not to mention, Clayton was a Navy SEAL, Brice was a Marine, and Caleb a Green Beret in the Army. Cooper was a special operations Combat Control in the Air Force, and Jace was in the Marines and the MARSOC special-ops. All those men grew up shooting, and then they joined the military and were trained to kill. In other words, no one should fuck with them. Abby, Naomi, and Audrey can all shoot, as well. Matt isn’t going to bother any of them.”
Skylar put her hand over his. “I would never forgive myself if the children were harmed.”
“Trust me, no one will ever get close enough to Clayton and Abby’s children to do them any harm.”
“Matt will discover I’m here.”
Danny shrugged, his lips twisting. “Eventually. But he won’t be able to bother you.”
“You don’t know him.”
“Based on what you told me, he’s skilled in spying on you. That means this isn’t the first time he’s done this. What we need to do is find a few of his past girlfriends and see if we can get them to talk.”
For the first time since he’d walked in, Skylar gave him a smile. “I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think they would stand against him?”
“It’s certainly an option we should look into. The sooner, the better.”
Her smile suddenly dimmed. “If Matt’s family has the money you say they do, then they might have made sure those women don’t talk.”
“If that’s the case, that will be uncovered, as well. I became a cop because I wanted to help people and deliver those who have broken the law to the justice system so they could pay their dues. Our system doesn’t always work. I’ll be the first to admit that. But I’m going to make damn sure we do everything we can.”
Her fingers tightened on his hand. “I’d like to think I’m special, but the boy I knew in school never would have been unfair to anyone. And I can guarantee the man he’s become wouldn’t either. You tell everyone that you’ll do everything you can because that’s the kind of person you are, Danny Oldman. It’s why I’ve always liked you.”
“I will fight for you.”
“I’ve never doubted that, and I never will. If anyone else but you had shown up last night, I wouldn’t have told them anything.”
He frowned, confused and worried. “Why? You obviously needed help.”
“Because I’ve become a scared woman. I don’t like it, but it’s the truth.” She glanced down at their hands. “When I saw you, I remembered how you used to make me smile, how you always looked after others. It’s been many years, and I had no idea how you might have changed, but I knew how you used to make me feel. That unlocked something inside me. As soon as I started telling you about Matt, I felt some of the fear recede. It was … amazing.”
His lips curved in response to her shy smile. God, she had no idea what her words did to him. Despite what Skylar said, he knew she was strong enough to take care of herself. She had made the decision to leave Matt. That was a huge step in and of itself. But he liked that she saw him as someone who could—and would—help her.
“The more I’m with you, the more I see you are still very much like you were when we were younger. It’s no surprise at all that you’re sheriff,” she said.
Danny chuckled and shook his head. “I’m just doing my job the best I can.”
“And you’re still humble.” She laughed, her eyes brightening. “You are one in a million.”
Danny’s body heated, his blood pumping through him as hot as lava. The need, the rampant desire came over him so quickly, he was dizzy with it. His gaze dropped to Skylar’s lips, and he desperately wanted a taste of them. It was worse than the crush he’d had on her in school.
He returned his gaze to her eyes and was unable to look away. No matter how much he wanted her, he couldn’t do anything now, not while he was helping her with Matt. It would be a conflict of interest, and if—no, when—Matt and his attorney found out, they would use it against her.
Danny wouldn’t be the reason she continued to fear for her life. He could maintain control of himself, keep the burning desire that consumed h
im in check. He had to. There was no other choice.
“Why didn’t you ask me out when we were younger?”
Her sudden question took him aback, but it made him realize that he’d always wanted her. Always. “I saw all the other guys going after you, and you rejecting them. I didn’t want to be like the others. And I liked being your friend.”
When he saw the flash of disappointment in her blue eyes, he quickly said, “But if I’d thought I had a chance with you, I would’ve asked you out.”
“I really wish you had.” She slipped her hand beneath his so their palms touched.
“You were out of my league.”
She smiled softly. “I think it’s more that you were out of mine.”
“Never.”
“After all these years, we find ourselves together again, with you looking out for me.”
He rubbed his thumb across hers. “You were always strong enough to take care of whatever came your way. You faced the future with your head held high and determination in your eyes. Something that I found remarkable. I saw that and tried to do the same.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You mean, I did something you thought was remarkable?”
“Skylar, I thought everything you did was astounding. You had an outlook on life that none of those our age did. You were so open and accepting of everyone, no matter what. And you were kind.”
“I followed your example,” she replied.
He frowned, his head jerking back. “Mine?”
She laughed loudly. “I’ve surprised you. Good. But, yes, to answer your question, it was your example. You stopped to help a younger kid that had been pushed down by bullies. After you told the bullies off, you picked up the kid’s books and chatted with him as you both walked down the hall. All the rest of us watched while this poor kid was being tormented by the older kids. You were the only one who had the guts to stand up to them.”
Danny lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I just did what I thought was right.”
