Jake staggered back. “Did you just get relationship advice from numb-nuts here?”
Colton laughed and jumped from the truck. “I may be younger, and I may not have fought overseas, but you know what? I’m right.”
…
Juliet brushed her hair, satisfied with her sparkling-clean apartment. The tiny, three-room apartment above the gallery was both quaint and easy to maneuver. She tried not to wriggle on the seat of the vanity in her bedroom.
Her rear end hurt. Mainly from the darn horse ride, but her hips showed slight bruises from the sheriff’s grasp.
The thought brought a smile to her face. The man was passionate and explosive, and he’d stopped treating her like glass. Thank goodness.
The phone rang, and her fingers trembled before she answered. Was the sheriff calling?
A throat cleared. “Um, Juliet?”
She exhaled. “Hi, Sophie. What’s up?”
“Um, well, don’t freak out, okay?” Sophie said.
Juliet’s blood pressure rose. “Okay.”
“The good news is that the Western Pacific Art Council is sending dignitaries to the art showing, and if they like the paintings, they’ll give us a grant for the gallery,” Sophie said, her words rushing together.
Hope bloomed in Juliet’s chest. “That’s amazing. How did you—”
“The bad news is I told them we could have the showing Saturday in order to meet the deadline for the grant process,” Sophie interrupted.
Panic cut off Juliet’s breath. She wheezed out. “Saturday is in three days.”
“I know, but I’ve finished all the paintings, and even the charcoals are ready to be hung. We can do this. I promise,” Sophie said.
That was crazy. But a grant from the WPAC would guarantee the gallery remained open, even if Juliet had to leave. Sadness compressed her lungs—she thought she’d have more time with Quinn. She sucked in air, sprinkled with courage. “Okay. We can do it.”
Sophie’s happy squeal ripped through the line, and Juliet held the receiver away from her ear. “We need to get to work.”
“After the trail ride today, I promise we’ll come help you hang the art. We can also send out an e-mail blast and make some flyers for town,” Sophie said.
Juliet shook her head, even though nobody could see. “I’m not riding today.”
“I know. Quinn asked me to pick you up, and we’re on our way now. His mom and I are driving up to the lodge for the picnic. Wasn’t that sweet of him?”
“Humph.” Yes, it was sweet to get her a ride, and now she could relax. But she was still uncomfortable about the sheriff. “I’ll be outside in a few minutes.” After saying good-bye and hanging up the phone, Juliet finished with her makeup. She couldn’t leave town until after the showing, but a few days wouldn’t make a difference.
The phone rang again, and she rolled her eyes. What bombshell would Sophie ring down now?
“Hello?” Juliet chuckled.
Silence.
“Hello? Sophie?”
More silence. Then something shuffled. Somebody breathed. Heavy and somehow ominous.
Juliet cleared her throat. “If this is Tommy Nelcome, your mother told you to stop making prank calls. I’m calling her right now.”
The caller hung up.
Okay. That was just a kid. Nothing to worry about. Though he’d been calling a lot lately. Juliet dialed her neighbor, Judy Nelcome, to rat out Tommy. Unfortunately, Judy reported that Tommy was visiting his grandparents in Oregon, and they’d gone to the ocean for the day. So the caller wasn’t Tommy.
Juliet hung up and took several deep breaths. Just because the caller wasn’t Tommy didn’t mean another kid wasn’t goofing off. She’d been careful, and she was safe. Her family couldn’t find her. An illogical and disastrous need filled her to call the sheriff and ask for help.
It was just a prank call, for goodness’ sake. Yet another prank call.
She yanked on cowboy boots, pleased they matched her long skirt. Since she wasn’t riding a raging beast, she didn’t need to change. After adding several pieces of silver Celtic jewelry, she whipped through the apartment, grabbed her purse and coat, and headed down to the gallery. Tucking her arms in the sleeves, she stepped outside the main door, making sure to secure the locks.
A chilly wind scattered leaves down the quiet street. Their rustling scraped against crumbling asphalt.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled. She glanced at the still storefronts. Her breath burst out in pants. There was nobody there. Her mind was playing tricks on her from a silly prank phone call. An SUV turned the corner, and she sighed in relief at Sophie in the driver’s seat, her blond hair up in a ponytail.
Loni Freeze, Quinn’s mother, waved from the passenger seat.
Juliet waved back and jumped into the backseat. “Thank you for picking me up.”
“Of course. You look lovely today, Juliet,” Loni said.
“Thank you.” Juliet fought to keep from blushing, considering Loni’s son had bent Juliet over a table the other day and made her see stars. “So do you.”
Loni smiled. Definitely petite, it was a surprise the woman had birthed and raised three large sons. Quinn had inherited her dark eyes and angled Native American features, but his size must’ve been his father’s.
Sophie signaled and pulled into the street. “Sorry about the huge car. I wanted to bring the smaller one, but you know how Jake gets.”
“Yes.” A pang of jealousy smacked Juliet between the eyes. What would it be like to have an overprotective husband who cared so much? Sophie had been in a car accident a couple of months ago, and Jake was a bit obsessive about making sure she drove around in something close to a Sherman tank. “This way we get to stretch out, anyway.”
Loni laughed and glanced out the window. “A storm is coming. I hope the rain misses the riders today.”
Juliet followed her gaze as they drove through an intersection. A black SUV waited at a stop sign, the windows tinted. She focused, seeking the license plate. There wasn’t one.
The vehicle pulled into the road behind them.
Chapter Seven
Juliet kept her eye on Sophie’s cell phone, just in case she needed to dial for help. They arrived at the lodge within record time. While Sophie drove a big car, she apparently still believed in speed.
The black SUV had disappeared at the base of the mountain.
Maybe her imagination was going crazy. The SUV might’ve been new, or perhaps a tourist had been in town. There was no indication somebody dangerous had been tailing them.
Juliet slipped from the vehicle.
As a unit, Quinn and his brothers stalked out of the cedar-sided lodge. She swallowed. As a force, they were something to notice. All three stood well over six foot, muscled, and somehow graceful. Dressed in faded jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and cowboy boots, they were every girl’s vision of a bad-boy cowboy. Where Quinn and Jake were dark, Colton had deep blue eyes, and a myriad of colors made up his thick hair.
He grinned and kissed his mom on the cheek. “You’re late.”
Juliet flushed and shuffled her feet. The last time she’d seen Colton, she’d been naked and hiding under the covers.
He leaned in and brushed her cheek with a brotherly kiss. “Hi, Juliet.”
“Hi.” Her heart warmed.
“Get away from my woman,” Quinn growled, a slight grin tipping his lips.
Surprise filtered through Colton’s eyes that matched Jake’s lifted eyebrows. That was a bit of a claim, now wasn’t it? Juliet frowned.
“My brother is right—for once. You look very pretty, Juliet.” Quinn stepped into her space. Then he kissed her. In full daylight, in full view of his family, the sheriff grasped her chin and captured her mouth. His lips slanted over hers, while heat cascaded off his hard body. He took her under, exploring, taking his time as if he had every right in the world to do so.
Liquid lava shot through her, and reality disappeared. It came cra
shing back all too soon. Her hands flattened against his chest and shoved.
He paused and lifted his head. Darker than midnight and just as mysterious, his eyes focused on hers. “Did you just push me?”
The spit in her mouth dried up. She swallowed. “Yes. We’re in public.”
“I believe that was the deal.” His hold tightened imperceptibly on her chin.
She glanced around, nearly sighing in relief that everyone had gone inside. They’d probably hurried just to escape the inappropriate public display of lust. “Well, we’re alone now.”
“And?” His thumb swept along her jawline.
“We don’t need to pretend.” Irritation battled with her unwelcome desire. She needed to distance herself from the sheriff before he discovered her secrets. Or broke her rapidly beating heart.
He frowned, his large frame blocking the weak sun. “What’s eating you, darlin’?”
“Nothing.” She pushed, and might as well have been trying to shove a cement wall out of the way. “Back off, Sheriff.”
He studied her, his gaze serious. “No.”
Did he just refuse? Not the polite, follow all the rules, stickler of a sheriff. “Excuse me?” She jerked her head, dislodging his hold.
Her triumph was short lived. Quinn stepped into her, and her butt hit the car. Trapped. “I. Said. No.” He rested a hand against the roof. “We’ll stay right here until you tell me what has you tangled up.”
A roaring filled her ears. “Forget you, Sheriff.”
“Juliet.”
The low, commanding tone rippled across her skin. Her gaze lifted involuntarily, a shiver wandering down her spine. She blinked twice. Who was this man and where was the easygoing sheriff everybody thought they knew?
“Now.” He leaned even closer, his minty breath brushing her nose.
She wanted to refuse his demand. Maybe kick him in the shin. But that wasn’t who she was, or how she solved problems. So she wiped all expression off her face and graced him with a kind smile. “I apologize, Sheriff Lodge. I’ve been a bit out of sorts today, although I’m feeling better now. But I’m cold. Let’s go inside and join the others.”
His upper lip quirked. “I have a confession, Juliet. When you try to blow me off with that high-society tone, all I want to do is turn you over my knee and spank you to orgasm.”
She gasped, and her eyes widened.
He leaned even closer. “Want me to show you?”
“No.” The word emerged strangled, while a fluttering heat wandered down her torso. The man would. He’d actually show her right there outside the lodge. “No.”
“Hmmm. Then now’s your chance to tell me what’s going on.” He brushed a stray strand of hair off her forehead.
She jumped. “Um. I don’t like lying to your family.”
“We’re not.”
“Yes, we are. You just kissed me, and we’re acting like we’re really dating.” She’d stamp her foot if she were anybody else. Though a lingering panic kept her in place.
“After the other night, Juliet, we are really dating.”
She shook her head. “No.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s not what has you wanting to kick me. I have all day, and I can wait.”
The man was impossible. A very unusual temper began to swirl at the base of her neck. “Fine. I just, I mean, I know this is temporary, and I don’t want to start acting like it isn’t.” Darn it. The words slipped out.
He cradled her face, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I’m a jerk.”
She crossed her arms. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Yes. She’d put out her lip and pout if she could. The man drove her crazy.
“Too bad.” He grasped her wrists and tugged her arms free, sliding them around to clasp at her back. “We need to discuss this further.”
Panic heated through her. No discussion. Plus, pinning her hands was the final straw. She tossed her head, and a satisfying thunk echoed when she nailed his chin. Flaring her nostrils, she glared into his dark eyes. “You’re messing with the wrong woman here. Back the heck off.”
Anger flashed across his face. She’d never seen him mad, and panic had her mouth opening to apologize.
His mouth took hers, shoving the words back down her throat. Then he took. Hard, raw, even angry, he kissed her with a passion that weakened her knees until they trembled. His hands and body kept her trapped, while his mouth destroyed any resistance she might’ve mustered. With a low sigh, she kissed him back, lost in the electricity generated by a man much more dangerous than she’d realized.
They both breathed heavily when he lifted his head.
She licked her bruised lips, enjoying the flare in his eyes. “I’m sorry I hit your chin.”
“I’m sorry I made you feel like this was a short-term, one-night stand.”
But it was! She breathed out. “Okay. We’re good now.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so.” He frowned.
“You are the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
“I’ve heard that before.” He released her wrists and rubbed a finger across her throbbing mouth. “You mean a lot to me, Juliet. I would’ve asked you to stay the night the other night but, I, ah, can’t sleep with anybody.”
She stilled, curiosity taking over. “Oh. Why?” Maybe he snored.
He grimaced. “I have nightmares, and sometimes it takes a little while for me to remember where I am. I can’t take the risk of hurting you.”
“Nightmares about what?”
His mouth opened and closed. He cleared his throat. “About my time in the service. Things I saw and did.”
The man was confiding in her. She shouldn’t like it so much. “Like PTSD?” She’d heard about the diagnosis from movies on television, but she’d never really understood the concept. Feeling for him, she tucked her hands at his waist.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever explained that to somebody you wanted to sleep with?” She ran her palm along his whiskers. His five-o’clock shadow was undeniably sexy.
“I haven’t wanted to stay all night with anybody. Until now.” He slid an arm around her shoulders and tugged her toward the lodge. “It isn’t an excuse. I haven’t found anybody I liked enough to explore the situation with—so it just seemed easier to get out of Dodge. I’m willing to give it a shot now, however.”
Hope flared inside her to be quickly quashed. They couldn’t have more than right now, because she was out of Maverick as soon as the art show concluded. “Thank you for confiding in me. Now I understand, and I won’t push you again.”
He exhaled heavily. “Juliet? You’re using the high-society tone again.”
…
Quinn held Amy at arm’s length through the dance, fighting the urge to step on her foot and break it. What kind of a woman asked a man who clearly had come with a date to dance? For a split second, he’d considered refusing. But the governor had been watching, and his mama had raised him right, so he’d accepted.
This was the longest damn song on record.
He glanced around. Someone had decorated the sprawling room with green balloons and purple streamers, lending a party atmosphere to the rough wooden decor. A hand-carved bar made up one wall, a dance floor the other, and tables scattered throughout. A DJ played a collection of country tunes, and a general festiveness filled the air.
His gaze caught on Juliet. Kissing her when she’d arrived hadn’t been his plan, but the second he saw her, he’d wanted a taste. The graceful redhead chatted with Colton by the bar. Quinn’s heart thumped. Sure, he always figured he’d fall for somebody, get married, and have a family. But his feelings for the woman hit him like a bucking bronc. He figured his ideal mate would be someone suited to the ranch—at least somebody who could ride a horse. Maybe a member of the Kooskia Tribe. Nothing had prepared him for soft Juliet Montgomery, a woman who lost her temper and still didn’t swear at him.
He liked her kindness, her gentleness, her odd, inherent classiness.
/>
Confiding in her had been almost too easy, and his heart felt lighter since he’d trusted her with the truth about his nightmares. Had his taking her home the other night hurt her feelings? God, he hoped not.
Maybe he was ready to take a chance with her. But what if he woke up from a nightmare and hurt her? He’d never forgive himself.
Without question, he wanted Juliet Montgomery in his bed—all night. Maybe it was time to trust not only her but himself.
Though she was keeping something from him. He was well trained, and he had excellent instincts. The fact that she didn’t trust him hurt. In fact, it damn well pissed him off. The woman was going to come clean and soon.
She met his gaze and raised an eyebrow at Amy, who was attempting to plaster herself against him. Juliet rolled her eyes.
His instant smile felt good. Damn good.
Amy tried again to muscle closer. “You smell as good as always, Quinn.”
Her perfume choked him. He much preferred Juliet’s natural citrus scent. “Thanks.”
“Why did we break up, anyway?”
“We didn’t exactly date.” One foolish night after a fund-raiser for Montana forests last year didn’t count.
“Why not?” Amy batted thickly mascaraed eyes.
The song ended, and he stepped back. “Thank you for the dance.” He made it to Juliet’s side just Colton finished telling a joke. He flashed her a grin. “Juliet, we’re dancing.”
Juliet pursed her lips. “Loni? Your son is incredibly bossy.”
Loni grinned. “He gets bossiness from his daddy and his stepdaddy. I’m an angel.”
Colton coughed beer up his nose. “Yeah, Mom. An angel.”
“Where are Leila and Tom?” Quinn frowned.
Loni shrugged. “Leila told Tom she hadn’t had any Grandpa time lately and was feeling…what was it?”
“Abandoned,” Jake said wryly.
“Yeah, abandoned.” Loni reached for a glass of wine. “You know Tom—he’s a softy. So they planned a day of shopping, an early dinner, and a movie about lost puppies in the city.”