by Donna Grant
Danny couldn’t stop smiling. “It sure does feel good.”
“So, this thing between y’all, is it a fling?”
“Not on my part.”
“Well, I can honestly say I don’t think it is on hers either. That makes me happy for you, my friend.”
Danny put on his coat and hat. “I’m pretty damn happy, as well.”
Clayton frowned. “You leaving already?”
“Got called in. The Gaudets’ vehicle was vandalized.”
“Yeah, you better get down there.”
Danny set his hat on his head. “See you later.”
Clayton held up his mug of coffee and smiled in response.
The sunrise was striking, and Danny wished he was showing it to Skylar. He chuckled as he got into his SUV. Every time he thought of anything, Skylar was in his thoughts. And it felt damn good.
He was still smiling when he arrived at the station. Not even the sight of the Gaudets could dim that. The moment they spotted him, they turned to him, talking over each other.
Danny slid his gaze to the side to find Spencer sitting in one of the chairs on his phone, seemingly unperturbed about it all. Odd that there hadn’t been any sign of the eldest son, Michael, during all of this. Then again, he wouldn’t be caught anywhere there was a scandal involving his family.
“What are you going to do, sheriff?” Sean Gaudet demanded.
Danny tipped back his hat and glanced at the counter where three deputies watched, relief to have someone other than them taking the brunt of the Gaudets’ obvious disdain clear on their faces. “I’m going to do what I do with every person who comes in to file a report. I’m going to give it to a deputy to handle.”
Michelle’s eyes narrowed. “We deserve better than to be handed off.”
Danny took a deep breath to stay calm. “Mrs. Gaudet, you’re a visitor in this county, and that gives you the same rights as everyone else. Unless you saw who did it, we will write up the report for you so you can give it to your insurance to handle.”
“Have you even seen the vehicle?” Sean demanded.
“I haven’t.”
“Perhaps you should.”
Danny glanced again at the deputies, but none of them would meet his gaze. With no other choice, he said, “Let’s go have a look.”
Michelle crossed her arms over her chest and turned away, leaving Sean to take Danny outside. The two of them exited the building and turned to the right. Since Danny had parked at the back of the building, he hadn’t seen anything upon his arrival. But now that he was outside, there was no missing the tow truck that had the Escalade hooked up.
The black vehicle had SCUM spray-painted in red on both sides. A metal pole had been pushed through the windshield and was embedded in the driver’s seat. All four tires were slashed, and the other windows were also broken.
Whoever had done this had been in a rage. If Matt were still in town, Danny would’ve hedged his bets on him.
“Is this what your visitors can expect here?” Sean asked.
Danny shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like this done in my county, Mr. Gaudet. It could be in retaliation for what you and your family have been doing to Miss Long.”
“I knew you were going to bring that up.” Sean glared at him as if he were the Devil himself. “You’re supposed to be impartial, sheriff, but I see where your loyalties lie.”
“My job is to protect the citizens of this county, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. That means even you, despite the harm you’ve caused.”
“I’ve caused harm?” Sean said, taken aback. “You can’t be serious. This was done to my family!”
Danny wasn’t going to get drawn into a debate about it. “Your son was arrested for physically assaulting an individual. And I witnessed the entire thing. It’s even on video if you’d like to see it. You can lay the blame on others if you want, but you can’t get away from the truth.”
A muscle worked in Sean’s jaw. “What are you going to do about my vehicle?”
“Exactly what I said I’d do. Until the culprit can be identified and located, you should get a rental car.” Danny turned to walk away, then hesitated. “And you might want to be nicer to folks. No one around here gives a shit how much money you have or what your family name is. Respect around here is earned.”
Danny strode back into the station. Spencer was still playing on his phone, and Michelle glanced at Danny as she talked to someone on hers. He ignored both as he made his way to the front desk.
“Someone go take some pictures of the Gaudet SUV immediately. Detailed pictures, both in and outside the vehicle. Get the report done ASAP so they can get on with things.”
“Yes, sheriff,” the three deputies replied in unison.
Thanks to the Gaudets, Danny’s mood wasn’t as sunny as before. He walked through the door to the back of the station and his office.
He sank into his chair and closed his eyes as he thought of Skylar. It didn’t take much to bring the smile back to his face. When he opened his eyes, he decided to get as much done as he could so he could get out of there early and take Skylar to dinner.
With Matt gone—and hopefully his family soon, as well—there was no reason they had to hide their relationship. Danny’s stomach quivered at the word.
Relationship.
He couldn’t believe he was thinking it, especially when he’d resigned himself to a life alone. Then, out of the blue, Skylar had shown up and changed everything—for the better.
Danny called Jace to see if he had seen anyone damaging the Gaudets’ vehicle, but they had been watching the hotel, not the SUV.
Danny then went through some case files from other deputies, all the while fully expecting the Gaudets to demand to see him again. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.
A few hours later, he was on his way to get some coffee when Deputy Carlos Pena called him into an office. The deputy had been working a case that had stalled out. Danny went over the evidence and read the statements by the witnesses, as well as the recorded video of the two suspects that had been brought in for questioning. While he did this, Pena went out and got them lunch.
Danny and Carlos brainstormed ideas regarding who Carlos should focus on next as a suspect as they ate. Pena even asked Danny if he wanted to ride along to find their suspect.
It wasn’t something Danny was going to pass up. He glanced at his watch and gave a nod before they headed out together. In three hours, they had found the suspect and spent an hour questioning him and gaining new information.
“Thanks, sheriff,” Carlos said after they’d let the suspect go.
“Anytime.”
Danny checked his watch, happy that it hadn’t taken all afternoon. He sent Skylar a text asking if she wanted to go to dinner, and she replied with an immediate YES.
He texted her a time he’d be by to pick her up, and then Danny went back to his office. He checked his emails and phone messages to make sure there was nothing pressing. On his way out, he spotted Wilson.
“How’s it going?”
The deputy shrugged, his lips twisting ruefully. “Ms. Gross is set to go before the judge in the morning. She still hasn’t admitted to Matt abusing her.”
“She probably won’t. Well, we can’t say we didn’t try.”
“I’m not done trying to get it out of her,” Wilson said. “I think she’s afraid of the family.”
Danny grunted. “No doubt that’s true. Maybe use that next time. If she believes the family won’t harm her, she might give us what we need.”
“Will do, sheriff. You outta here for the day?”
“I sure am.”
Wilson smiled. “You deserve it. Go have some fun.”
“I think I will.”
Danny’s steps were light as he walked to his truck and drove home. He took a long shower, then took his time shaving. He actually used the aftershave he usually ignored. Then he stood in his closet, looking at the two clean—and nice—shirts he had.
It had been a while since he’d replaced any of his clothes. Maybe it was time to do some shopping.
But that would have to wait for another time. He had other plans for tonight.
Danny chose the olive green button-down and tore it out of the dry-cleaning package. Then he dressed, even going for his nice boots instead of the everyday ones he wore for work.
With one last look at himself in the mirror, Danny put his weapon on his belt and settled his hat atop his head. Then he slipped into his coat and climbed inside his vehicle. He started the engine and backed out of his drive.
He had gone a few miles when he looked in his rearview mirror and spotted a truck behind him, which didn’t mean anything. But Matt had followed him recently, so Danny decided to take the long way around the town to see if he was being paranoid or not.
Turned out he was. The truck turned off after a few miles. Danny then did a U-turn and headed back toward the ranch. He could barely contain his excitement. He was going on a date, and that hadn’t happened in a couple of years. But more than that, he was taking out the woman he’d been in love with for years.
He grinned. Yep, he was in love. He could hardly believe it, but there was no denying it. In fact, he’d been in love with Skylar Long since high school, though he hadn’t realized that’s what the emotion was at the time. He’d thought it was just lust or infatuation.
When he thought of all the years they could’ve spent together, it made him sad. But he also truly believed that this was their time. Had they tried it at any other time, it likely wouldn’t have worked.
But it would this time.
Danny pulled up at the ranch and turned off his engine. He got out and went to the door, but he didn’t get a chance to knock. Clayton and Abby’s eldest, Wynter, held it open for him.
“Hey, Uncle Danny. You look nice. And you smell nice, too.”
He gave her a wink as she stared up at him with her big eyes. “Thank you.”
“You should see Miss Skylar. She looks beautiful.”
Something out of the corner of his eye caught Danny’s attention. He lifted his head and saw Skylar. Her blond hair fell free about her shoulders. She wore a thin cream sweater and cream pants, along with matching heels. Around her shoulders was a cream, taupe, and black plaid wool shawl.
“I told you,” Wynter said before walking off.
Danny only had eyes for Skylar. He walked to her as her smile grew. He stared into her blue eyes. “You look amazing.”
“You look pretty hot yourself,” she replied. Then she frowned. “Are you sure we should be doing this?”
“Definitely.”
She then flashed him a bright smile. “Then I’m game.”
“You two kids don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Clayton said.
Danny looked over to find Clayton and Abby and their three kids all watching. Danny laughed and held out his hand for Skylar. She took it, and with one last wave to his friends, they walked from the house.
Chapter 26
To go from such a low period to this! Skylar couldn’t remember being so happy or content. Through one of the roughest, darkest months of her life, she had come through the other side to find where she truly belonged.
She wasn’t naïve enough to think that things with Matt and his family were over yet, but she believed they were on the downhill side of things. And that was just fine by her. Skylar wanted that part of her life to be well and truly behind her while Danny and their future together were before her.
Tonight was a turning point for them. Their relationship had been unconventional to say the least, but she wouldn’t change a thing. It didn’t matter that they’d had to hide things for a little while. Now, they were going to show the world.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Danny asked, glancing her way as he drove.
She smiled and nodded. “I am.”
“Good, because I am, too.”
“You surprised me, though.”
Danny laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I like being able to do that. Does steak sound good?”
“Sounds perfect. Did you have a good day?”
“It started off amazing because I was in bed with you.”
Skylar grinned at him. “You weren’t there when I woke up.”
“I’m sorry about that. I got called in.”
“I hope it wasn’t serious.”
He grunted and shrugged one shoulder. “Someone vandalized the Gaudets’ SUV. The rage was apparent in how they destroyed the vehicle. Even going so far as to put an iron rod through the windshield and into the driver’s seat.”
“Damn,” Skylar murmured. “Could it have been Madeline Gross?”
“I thought of her, but she’s still being held in the jail. I also thought of Matt.”
“It could be him.”
“I never got a chance to tell you last night. He left town.”
Her eyes widened as she grinned. “Really?”
“Yesterday, he went back to Houston and straight to work, but I still think the security system on the house is a must.”
“I agree.” Skylar frowned as she thought about the case. “I’m glad he’s gone. That makes things easier for us, and for me. However, that doesn’t leave you with a lot of suspects for the vandalism, does it?”
“It has to be someone from my county. I know the community doesn’t particularly care for the Gaudets or their treatment of you, thanks to the articles in the paper and the pieces on the local news, but I never would have thought anyone would do such a thing.”
“People react different ways to different things. Maybe the Gaudets did something to someone that you don’t know about.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged again and pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. “We might be far from city life, but we still have crime here. I shouldn’t be bothered by such an offense, but I am.”
She waited until he turned off the ignition before she said, “You’ll find out who did it.”
“I hope so. The Gaudets sure are hell-bent to find out who wronged them. They’re used to people in Houston deferring to them, and that doesn’t happen here.”
“No, thank goodness.”
They shared a laugh and exited the vehicle. They then walked hand-in-hand into the restaurant, where they were led to a table. Skylar wouldn’t have cared if they went to a sandwich shop, she was just glad to be out with Danny.
“If we’re going public, does that mean that you don’t fear Matt returning?”
Danny raised a brow. “I didn’t say that.”
Skylar shook her head. “We’re holding hands and eating dinner together. If you thought Matt was coming back, we wouldn’t be here. Not to mention, you don’t seem too worried about his family seeing us.”
“There are a lot of restaurants in the area,” Danny responded. “What are the odds of the Gaudets eating here? Besides, they’re in the next town.”
Skylar was disappointed in his words. “So, you’re still concerned?”
Danny leaned forward, his arms on the table. “Honey, let me put it to you this way. Ten, twenty years from now, I’m still going to be looking for Matt to come back into your life.”
“He won’t bother us anymore. He’s gone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left.”
“I wish I had your confidence. I’ve seen too many crime scenes.”
She took a deep breath and opened the menu. “I’ve found that to make something real, you have to believe it’s going to happen.”
“Well, I imagined you as mine for long enough,” he replied with a smile.
Their talk paused as they ordered. Once they were alone again, Skylar said, “Now I know why Abby and Clayton kept asking me to stay longer. I’ll stay at the ranch for a couple of days, but I can’t stay there forever, especially now that I bought the house.”
“I still can’t believe you bought it.”
“As soon as I walked in, I knew it was meant to be mine. It’s perfect,” she said, hearing t
he dreamy tone in her words.
Danny gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m glad.”
“I wanted you to see it with me, but I couldn’t wait. The offer was past my lips before I even realized it.”
“And the sellers agreed that quickly?”
Skylar scrunched up her face. “Well, I made it worth their while. We also agreed to a short-term lease so I could begin moving in before the papers are signed.”
Danny nodded, concern on his face.
“I learned a lot about real estate from my boss. Well, old boss now,” she said with a laugh. “He’s brilliant at it, and when I asked him to teach me, he agreed. And before you ask, Clayton showed me a couple of security systems today. He also called his people to go take a look at the house to give their recommendation. They’ll give it to us tomorrow.”
Danny glanced down at his mug of beer. “That doesn’t surprise me at all. I’m really glad you’re taking your safety seriously.”
“I don’t want to be scared again. I don’t care how much the system costs, I’m going to get the best one there is.”
“It would be just like Clayton to pay for it, you know.”
“I don’t need him to do that,” she said.
Danny chuckled. “Get used to it, honey. Clayton, Abby, and that whole gang are some of the most giving people I know.”
“You’ve surrounded yourself with great people.”
He thought about that a moment before nodding. “Yes, I have.”
“I didn’t do the same,” she lamented.
“You are now.”
She smiled then because it was the truth. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.”
Danny winked at her as she rose and walked away. On the way to the toilet, all she could think about was how happy she was. It didn’t matter what she had suffered at Matt’s hands. Not anymore, at least. Not when she had someone like Danny.
Skylar finished and walked from the restroom, only to have a man step in her way. “Excuse me,” she said and tried to walk around him, but he prevented her from going.
She looked into his dark eyes and angry face, and without having to be told, she knew this man was somehow affiliated with Matt. The happiness she’d felt was gone in the blink of an eye.
