The Sheriff (6 page)

Son of a gun.

He was more interested in this fascinating woman than the murder and the disappearing body. He pivoted and headed into the back.

“Ten minutes. That’s all I need for a shower.”

“
I
could eavesdrop?”

“Get back to your writing, Honey.”

“Yes, sir.”

The door slamming had nothing to do with his actions. They’d been meaning to fix the mechanism that slowed the heavy door from crashing shut. He hadn’t thought about it until the loud crash echoed in the concrete hallway. He threw his stuff into the locker and jumped under an icy spray, not giving the water time to warm.

Holding cells and the jail were on a different floor. He needed to put some effort into this case. His thoughts were centered more on Andrea’s relationship with Homeland Security than getting his notes together for the investigation or why someone would steal the body of a dead man.

He’d offered to try to identify the missing man but had been specifically instructed not to even print pictures from the camera. Normally, he hated being shut out and treated like a wet-behind-the-ears rookie. Today, it had hardly crossed his mind. But it had, and soon after, he’d copied the pictures to a memory stick and stuck it in his pocket.

On the flip side, he couldn’t
stop
thinking about Andrea Allen. He had no reason to book her and no criminal record he could find. DHS had just asked her to be held until they arrived.

Who was she? Where was she going after the observatory? What was her life like? Where had she been? How had she gotten that jagged old scar under her chin and the small one just above her collarbone?

Three weeks wasn’t a long time to get the answers. Might be even less time. She’d mentioned three weeks total but had never mentioned how long she’d been here.

Pete toweled off and stuck his legs in his pants as quickly as a surprised rattler about to strike. He wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to speak with the officer when he left. He considered shaving, but it would take too much time.

Looking in the mirror one last time, he shoved his hair straight back and caught movement behind him. His weapon was still secure in his locker, so he spun, ready for— “Andrea? How’d you get back here? I didn’t hear the door.”

“Some of us know how to close one without slamming it. They probably heard you come through it on Proxima Centauri.”

“Prox what?” He leaned against the sink, crossing his arms and just enjoying how she could look so dang sexy even in teddy bear scrubs. The meek, insecure side of the woman he’d been admiring was gone. Spunky, speak-your-mind PhD candidate was approaching him one sure step at a time.

“It’s the nearest star to earth, with the exception of our sun, of course. But it’s not my favorite.”

“The sun? I’m sort of fond of it.”

“As I can see by your tan. No, Proxima Centauri. It’s such a stuffy name.”

She halted within arm’s distance. A dangerous distance. Close enough to see his attraction reflected in her soft blue eyes. The desire to put a hand on each of her hips and draw her to him was tremendous. He had to clear his throat to think of something other than the pink lacy bra he’d seen earlier.

“I should go speak with the DHS officer.” He took a step to move past her and ended with a slender hand on his chest.

“The Commander’s gone to the scene. He said to stay put until he returned. Looks like you’re stuck with me, Sheriff Morrison.”

“
Acting
sheriff. Why don’t you call me Pete.” Was he insulted? Or too dang excited he didn’t need to dart off to talk shop?
Excited.

“I need to show you something.”

“I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

She threw back her head, laughing. He barely heard it as he admired the bend of her neck. “Silly. Do you have any gel?”

“Huh?”
Silly
wasn’t the word filtering through his mind.

“Styling gel.”

“I used it already.”

“Not enough to do anything.” She reached around him, brushing his arm as she squeezed goo into her hands.

Stunned into silence? Choking on his words? Cat got his tongue? He didn’t know which, and if she asked, he couldn’t hear her. He was focused on her hands rubbing together and then her arms lifting to reach his head.

“Get shorter.” She tapped the inside of his bare feet wider apart, leaving enough room between them to breathe without touching.

“So, what
is
your favorite star?” he asked, closing his eyes and enjoying her fingers lightly massaging his scalp as she liberally put gel on every strand. He couldn’t look.

“Wolf 359. Isn’t that an awesome name for a star?” She took the tube a second time. “Just a bit more. Your hair’s really thick and wavy.”

He was dang lucky he’d put his pants on quickly. If he hadn’t...

“See?”

All he could see was the roundness of each breast under the thin layer of hospital garb.

“All you have to do is squeeze some on your hands and rub it around like this. Then it should stay looking deliberately messed up all day.” She wiped her hands on his towel and admired her handiwork. “That will look much better later when it’s dry.”

She twisted one last piece of hair and placed her hands on his shoulders. It seemed like the most natural gesture in his memory for his fingers to move and span either side of her waist. Drawing her closer to him was just as easy.

They were forehead to forehead. Her slow, warm exhale smelled sweet like the cola she’d insisted on before the officer had arrived. She’d called it her wake-up drink of choice. He, on the other hand, loved coffee and lots of it.

Concentrate on the job. What job? All he had to do was hang around here, keep her in sight till she was someone else’s problem. Maybe even escort her home.

“I’m not a rule breaker, Andrea.”

“Then why are your hands still around me?”

Kissing her was destined as soon as she’d told him they’d never get along. “What’s about to happen probably shouldn’t. But you won’t find me apologizing for it later.”

“You better not, Pete. Bad first kissers don’t get a second chance.”

He liked her. A lot. Too much. Too fast.

He leaned his lips to touch hers for the first time. Soft and wet, they parted just enough to encourage him. His hands spread up her back, noticing the firm muscles.

There wasn’t anything between them now except a thin layer of cotton. He stopped himself from getting the shirt out of his way. This was their first kiss but sure didn’t feel like it.

Their lips slid together, teasing, seeming to know their way without conscious effort. A perfect fit? Practiced. Confident.

He wanted his hands to wander but forced them to stay put. Andrea’s arms encircled his neck, shifting her body next to his. Her tennis shoes snuggled next to his size-thirteen feet. That one layer kept him both sane and drove him crazy at the same time.

He wanted it off. Wanted her bare skin under his flesh. Wanted to forget exactly where they were and remember everything much too late.

The attraction turned to mutual pure hunger and he liked her even more.

Chapter Six

Maybe it was defying her father, the Commander. Maybe it was a bit of the rebellious daughter in her that forced the need to push him at every turn. Or maybe she saw something in this man that she recognized as rare. A part of him that was wise beyond his years.

Attraction or defiance. It didn’t matter for Andrea. Not at this moment. She was totally enthralled by Pete’s kissing abilities. Something she hadn’t experienced in a long time, if ever.

“Did I pass?” he asked when they came up for air, continuing small kisses and nips down her neck.

“I think you’ve earned a second audition.” She tilted her head back to give him better access.

A few light touches of those incredible lips across her shoulder where the large scrubs top fell to the side and then he stood straight. She was close enough to notice the tiny gold flecks in his dark brown eyes. Hard chest, hard shoulders, hard biceps. This man was all man, yet playful. And those dimples were just killer.

She liked him. He was perfect for her plan to ignore her father.

“And just when is this second audition to take place?” he asked, his voice rich with the desire displayed in his eyes.

“How long does it take to get back to the observatory?” She had to entice him into taking her home.

“I thought you were ordered to stay put?” His hands slid under her loose top, warming her bare back and exposing her belly as the top inched higher.

“Technically, but I’d be safe with you. We came to an understanding.” She did a little of her own exploring, dragging her nails across his well-sculpted muscles.

“I think you may have gotten the wrong impression about me.” He gently circled her wrists with his fingers and returned their hands to their sides.

“Why do you say that?” Andrea painted the words with innocence.

He took a couple of steps backward and opened the door. “Honey?”

“Yes, Pete?”

“Did the Commander leave any parting words?”

“You mean when he said, ‘I expect my daughter to be here when I return’? That’s pretty much everything.”

When Pete smiled a really healthy smile that made it all the way to his eyes, he had dimpled cheeks to match the one in his chin. She truly was a sucker for dimples. He let the door close, crossed his arms and leaned that bare back against the gray paint. “So he’s your father. How did you understand those specific instructions to include a drive up the mountain?”

“Are you going to let him order you around? You aren’t in the Navy. Technically, he doesn’t have any jurisdiction. He’s only here because I’m involved.” Her dad was assigned to the Customs and Border Protection Office, reporting directly to the DHS. He had every right to ask the local sheriff for cooperation in a case. But he hadn’t. And forcing her to stay at the county jail wasn’t about any case. It was about controlling her life.

“To use a word you seem to love—
technically
he’s with Homeland Security. I haven’t been filled in yet, but he does have some authority around here. Your dad wants you to stay put and be safe. My dad wants me to stay put and see that you are.” He pushed off the door, twisted the combination on a lock and lifted the latch of a locker. He pulled out a crisply starched uniform shirt and shoved his hands through the sleeves.

“Your jerky movements may be revealing your true feelings. Or they could be showing me your true nature.”

“Maybe I just failed the second audition.” After turning his back, he pushed the tail of his shirt inside his pants.

“I know my rights. You can’t keep me here against my will. You certainly can’t use the excuse
her daddy made me do it
. It will all be on you when I sue the county.”

“At the moment, I’m too tired to care. I’ve gone without sleep for a couple of nights and haven’t had the privilege of napping like you. So let me spell this out real plain like. You have two choices. Spend your time here in protective custody locked in a cell or walk down the street and have breakfast with me. Simple. You choose.”

“You won’t change your mind about that audition?” She added a wink, teasing him.

“I’m too hungry to change my mind.” He stretched his neck, swiveling his head from side to side.

She made a grand gesture to follow him. “Lead on.”

“Be right there. I walk better in my boots.”

If she could get through the door before he buckled his gun around his hips, she might have enough of a head start to ditch the impromptu bodyguard her father had assigned. Then what? Downtown wasn’t filled with public transportation and there certainly wasn’t a taxi waiting on the corner.

The heavy door to the restricted area slammed behind her. She’d at least wait in the comfy chair in his office. Getting far away from his dimples seemed a good idea. The more he smiled at her, the more she was willing to change the venue of his
audition
.

Who was she trying to fool? Pete had already passed any audition with flying colors. She had one more Saturday night in West Texas and hoped this was the last time she thought about being bored.

Before she could sit, the restricted door slammed again. Pete scooted through, one boot on and one boot in his hand. With the office door open, she could watch his head turn, searching and landing on the receptionist.

He looked straight at her, let out a deep breath, showing his relief, and pulled on his second boot. “Good. I’m too tired to run.”

“Don’t get comfortable. There’s been a disturbance near Doug Fossen’s place. A burning vehicle on the side of the road near the state park.”

“That’s Davis County jurisdiction. Give Mike Barber a call.”

“They know that but think you need to see it.”

“Send Griggs, then.”

“He hasn’t reported in this morning and they’re asking for the sheriff. That’s you.”

“What the...” He took a piece of paper from the woman. She looked a lot like the receptionist who had been at the front desk when they arrived. “Honey, please call Peach and see if she forgot to give me a message about Griggs.”

“Pete, you know she didn’t forget. I can get Joe to write Griggs up if you don’t want to do it. But right now we have a problem at the Fossens’.”

“I have babysitting duty.”

Andrea stuck her head out the office door. “Don’t mind this baby. I can sleep in that nice jail cell you suggested. I’m sure the Commander would prefer me safe and sound, guarded by a senior citizen.” She nodded toward the receptionist. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Honey said, bringing the ringing handset up to her ear. “Presidio County Sheriff’s Department.” Honey wrote more notes. “We’ll get someone out there shortly, Mrs. Fossen.” She waved the slips in the air.

“I’m not heading anywhere, Honey. I smell a mess brewing and there’s no way I’m taking anyone with me on a call.” Pete reached for his hat on a nearby desk. He almost shoved his hair off his forehead. He stopped, tapped the styling gel now hardened in place and then scratched the bridge of his nose.