by Kadie Scott
Instead, she went with what she’d bought for her granddad’s funeral two years ago—a conservative black dress with a swishy skirt that ended below her knees, a high neckline, and three-quarter sleeves made from a delicate black lace. She paired it with no-nonsense black ballet flats and her black wool peacoat. Not much she could do other than her usual blow-dry for her short hair, and her makeup she kept to a minimum. After all, she wasn’t dressing to impress anyone. Certainly not a certain flirtatious cowboy.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. “I look like a librarian at a funeral.”
A sharp wrap sounded on her front door. A quick peek at the clock told her that had to be Autry. Too late to do anything about her choice of dress now.
She stuck her tongue out at her reflection, then grabbed her purse off the bed and went to answer the door. An instant wave of humidity hit her the second she opened her door. The rain had stopped, but low clouds held in the moisture.
At least, she blamed the humidity for the sudden warm flush under her skin. It couldn’t be the man on her front porch wearing charcoal suit pants with a white button-down shirt and a navy tie. Only his shiny black dress boots gave away that he was a rancher. That and the buff-colored felt Stetson she’d bet he only ever pulled out for weddings, and apparently court dates, which he held in one hand.
“Hey.” Beth gave him her sunniest smile. This couldn’t be easy. Plus, guilt still sat heavily on her shoulders that he wouldn’t be dealing with this if it hadn’t been for her.
Only Autry didn’t answer right away. His gaze skimmed down over her from top to toes and back up until he stopped at her eyes. “Hey.”
Holy Toledo, that was a look guaranteed to set a woman’s heart thumping. Only Beth was determined not to show it. “Ready?” she chirped, proud that her voice came out normal. Even better when he shot her a confused frown. The same one he’d worn last night when he’d stood in her bathroom, showing off his intimidating body, and she’d forced herself to not react and walk away.
Hiding her satisfaction, Beth stepped outside, forcing him back, and turned to lock the door, then dropped the keys in her purse and headed down the stairs, not waiting for Autry. Thanks to his long-legged stride, he still beat her to the truck and opened her door for her.
Beth paused with her foot on the rail. “We’re not on a date, you know.”
His lips quirked. “I would definitely be slipping if I took you to the courthouse for a date. Besides, my mama would tan my hide if she knew I hadn’t held the door for a lady friend.”
So… they were friends now? She would not let that cause any weird warm stirring inside her. Beth hopped inside, careful to negotiate not flashing too much skin as she climbed into the tall truck. Since she drove the same kind, she was used to it, and maneuvered it just fine.
Autry went around to his side and got in, and she turned to him with her nose wrinkled. “We definitely didn’t get all the skunk out.”
The smell was not overwhelming but still unmistakable.
He chuckled as he threw the truck in reverse. “So my family told me. A lot.”
“It’s better than yesterday,” she tried to offer.
“Yeah.”
The drive the couple blocks to the courthouse and the walk inside they conducted in silence, but not awkward silence. More like they were strangely comfortable with each other and didn’t need to talk right then. They were directed not to a courtroom, like Beth expected, but to a room on the second floor that more closely resembled an office.
The courthouse was old, and still boasted the original white and black marble flooring and oak paneled walls. The room was small with a round oak table that sat four in the center of the room and way over air-conditioned, which meant freezing. Beth suddenly wished for pants and a jacket.
Mr. Reisen was already there along with a man Beth hadn’t met before. A handsome man with light brown hair and warm brown eyes that crinkled at the corners as he shook her hand. She glanced down. No ring. Was he single?
“This is Jason Trask, who is a new county attorney for La Colina, and is the assigned prosecutor for this case.”
“Oh.” Beth couldn’t help how her face fell.
Jason laughed. “I promise I don’t bite.”
“That’s a relief to hear,” Autry said from behind her in a voice Beth could only describe as bland, except she still caught his irritation. He pulled out a chair, the one across the table from the CA. “Beth?”
She tipped her head at his odd behavior. Rather than argue, though, she took the seat he offered, even more surprised when he scooted his own chair around the table a little closer to hers. However, the lawyers didn’t seem to notice, so maybe she was being oversensitive.
“This shouldn’t take too long, I don’t think,” the young prosecutor started off. “I’ve reviewed the statements from all parties.” He took the time to go over the details with them and asked if they wanted to add anything. Neither of them did. “In that case, I don’t think this needs to go to court. A fine of two thousand dollars and time served is standard.”
Autry shot forward in his chair. “Two thousand—”
Beth put a hand on Autry’s arm to cut him off. “Um. I might have a suggestion, Mr. Trask…”
All three men turned to her with varying degrees of interest and surprise tugging at their expressions.
“Yes?” Mr. Trask asked.
“I understand that, rather than a fine, community service can be used as a… errr…” She glanced at Autry. “As a punishment.”
“When did you learn this?” Autry murmured low.
She shrugged without looking at him. “I maybe searched the internet last night,” she murmured back.
The lawyer across the table managed to remain fairly stoic. “That’s a possibility,” he agreed slowly.
Beth sat forward. “And it won’t stay on his record if he does that right?” she prompted.
“That’s correct, but the state isn’t offering—”
“Well, you should.” She was at the edge of her chair now. “None of this would have happened if Dan Fogelman hadn’t been trying to drown that skunk. Are you charging him with animal cruelty?”
The lawyer suddenly shuffled his papers, eyes lowered, the same way her students would when they got caught doing something they shouldn’t. “There’s not enough evidence.”
Beth’s hands clenched on the tabletop. “An eyewitness isn’t enough evidence?”
“Not without proof that he deliberately left the animal there to die and that it was, as you said, on your property.”
Dang. Still, Beth narrowed her eyes. “I’m very disappointed to hear that.”
Jason Trask cleared his throat. If she wasn’t so determined, she would’ve felt bad for making such a fuss. Beside her Autry, shifted in his seat. If she didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn Autry was hiding a grin.
“It seems to me,” she continued, “that the state owes a bit of leniency in this case.”
Jason shuffled his papers before looking her directly in the eyes, expression resigned. “What do you do for a living, Ms. Cooper?”
What did that have to do with anything? “I’m a teacher.”
He smiled—a nice smile that made him suddenly more approachable. “You might’ve missed your calling as a lawyer.”
Beth did not smile back. “Does that mean you’ll consider it?”
His smile faded and he regarded her with thoughtful intent. “Do you have a particular service in mind?”
“Actually, I do.”
“You do?” Autry asked.
She kept her focus on the lawyer. “I have a student who is orphaned and currently living in foster care. I think he could use a positive male influence—like a big brother sort of program.”
Jason rubbed a hand over his jaw. “And you think a man arrested for public fighting would be a positive influence.”
Beside her Autry stiffened, though she doubted Jason even cau
ght it. But she did.
She tipped up her chin and stared Jason Trask down. “A man who saved a skunk from a flooding river and tried to defuse the fight before it started and was only defending himself and me from a known bully? Yes, I do.”
Autry tugged on her arm. “Are you sure?” he asked quietly. Almost as though he didn’t expect anyone to stand up for him. Given his family—who she knew to be supportive, fine people—a frission of disbelief buzzed through her.
But she didn’t have time to deal with what appeared to be an odd chip on his shoulder, so she gave him a fierce glare. “Zip it, buster. I’m trying to help you out here.”
“Right.” He mimicked pulling a zipper closed over his twitching mouth. “Carry on.”
She turned back to Jason who’d watched their byplay with interest. “So?”
Jason laced his fingers and laid his hands on top of the table. “You realize that if I offer this deal to Mr. Hill, I have to offer it to Mr. Fogelman as well.”
This guy caught on quick. “I thought of that, too.”
“When, exactly, did you do all this thinking?” Autry wondered.
Another warning glance and he closed his mouth.
“Community service is fine, but I think the same number of hours that you give Autry should be served somewhere else.”
Jason gave her a cockeyed glance. “Why do I get the impression you probably already have something in mind?”
“The local dump should be appropriate.” She gave the lawyer her most pleasant, expectant look.
Jason choked a laugh off. “I’ll take your suggestion into consideration.”
Beth leaned forward, eager now. “You will consider it though? I mean the community service.”
Jason leaned back, regarding her as he thought about it. “Fifty hours of community service. If the county foster system doesn’t agree, Mr. Hill serves in the same job as Mr. Fogelman who will get the same number of hours. Does that sound agreeable to you, Ms. Cooper?”
“And his record?” That was the other important bit.
“I take it back,” Jason said as he stood and gathered his things. “I’m glad you ended up in teaching. I wouldn’t want to have to face you as a lawyer.”
Beth grinned and stood as well. “So, no record?”
“No record,” he agreed.
Mr. Reisen stood as well and offered the prosecutor a hand to shake. “I have no idea why I needed to be here.”
Beth blushed. “Sorry.”
She thought he smiled under that thick beard. “Perfectly all right, young lady.”
“Stay here while I draw up the paperwork. It’ll take about ten minutes.” Jason left the room.
“I need to make a phone call. Excuse me.” Mr. Reisen left the room, too.
As soon as the door clicked closed behind them, Autry gave a whoop and swung her up into his arms to spin her around. “You did it, honey. You got me out of it.”
He stopped and, once her feet touched the ground, Beth had to catch her breath. From the spinning, of course. No way could it be the way he held her or the twinkle in his eyes as he gazed down at her or the memory of his mouth on hers.
But before she could convince herself of that, he swooped down and planted a quick kiss right on her lips. He went to pull back, wide grin infectious even as she was still recovering from that fly-by kiss. He paused, hazel eyes suddenly going a darker green, the smile slipping from his face.
“I should thank you properly,” he murmured.
She should bolt. Now. Except she didn’t want to.
Slowly, giving her enough time to protest or pull away, gaze intent and focused entirely on her in a way that had her body clenching in anticipation, Autry lowered his lips to hers. Beth tossed aside logic and the need to prove that she wasn’t like every other woman in La Colina County and leaned closer letting her eyes drift shut. Holding her breath, she waited for him to close the last millimeter of distance between them.
And he did. Slowly. Softly.
His lips were warm and firm against hers in the sweetest, slowest kiss. Like he was taking his time to savor the moment. Beth, at least, was savoring. Heat surged through her as he pulled her in closer and her hands fluttered to his shoulders, the muscles hard under her fingertips. No tongue and no urgency but, man, did she feel every brush of his lips against hers—all the way to her core. As though a drug had taken over her bloodstream and she was addicted to the feel of him, the taste of him.
Autry gave her one last, light brush of his lips over hers then paused and put his forehead against hers. Something she appreciated as she needed that second to compose herself, too.
Oh, my God. I just kissed Autry Hill. Again. Good-time-having, panty-dropping, lover of all things female Autry freaking Hill.
Slowly she opened her eyes to find him watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite place. The heat from the kiss was still there, banked in his darkened eyes, but his brows were pulled down like he wasn’t quite sure what just happened.
Reality crashed down over her head in a darn hurry. No way was he actually interested in her. No way was that kiss anything but an in-the-moment thing that meant absolutely zero. And I don’t want him to be interested.
She’d work on believing that glaring lie later. Right now, she needed to salvage her pride. “You’re welcome?” she tried for a nonchalant grin and stepped back.
Except Autry’s frown only deepened as he dropped his arms and let her go. “Beth, I—”
Jason Trask chose that moment to walk in the door and suddenly she was super glad she’d put space between herself and the cowboy still frowning at her.
It took time to deal with the paperwork, and Autry figured out pretty dang quick that he’d be paying Cash back for the bail, which they wouldn’t get back. Mr. Reisen left for another meeting, but Jason Trask kindly walked them back downstairs and outside where the three of them paused on the uneven sidewalk outside.
Beth expected Jason to walk back inside, except that was not what he did.
Instead, he stood there. After a second, he glanced at Autry, who’d stopped with them, a little too close, if anyone asked Beth.
A weird look passed between the two men, one Beth didn’t want to interpret. She wasn’t sure if they were sizing each other up, warning each other off, or issuing a challenge. Either way, Jason dismissed Autry by turning to her.
“This might sound forward, and fast, but would you be interested in going out to dinner with me sometime this week?”
Beth had to keep herself from choking on her shock. An offer for a date had been the furthest thing from her mind. Wow. Even Beth had to admit it took guts to ask a woman he’d just met for a date in front of a man whose relationship with her was still in question.
“What if we were dating?” Autry cocked his head to ask. He must’ve had the same thought she had.
“Are you?” Jason didn’t ask Autry, he directed the question at her.
“No,” she answered honestly.
He gave her a soft smile in return and Beth supposed a flutter of attraction should’ve struck her about then. He was undeniably attractive—tall and lean with dark eyes and surprisingly full lips. He was also young, new to town, and in a respectable profession, which would peg him as a major prospect in the area for all single women. Her included. “I’m flattered—”
“Guess that’s that,” Autry said. “You ready, Beth?” He took her by the elbow and tugged.
Except Beth tugged back. “I wasn’t finished.” She spared him an irritated glance. Yes, they’d kissed, but he had no claim on her. What was his problem? She turned back to Jason. “I’m a teacher, which means weeknights are out, but Friday night would be fine.”
“You can’t,” Autry jumped in.
“Why not?” she gritted through clenched teeth, probably looking like a shark about now.
“Because you’re having dinner with my family Friday night.” He tossed the words down like he was throwing out a winning hand at poker.
“Remember?”
Beth’s eyebrows shot up. “Holly was joking about that.”
“I wasn’t. I think it’s a fantastic idea. They’ll believe you about what happened yesterday, and I bet they’ll want to thank you for today.” His expression turned from expectant to tragic faster than the lightning could flash last night. Almost comically so. “You owe me for the skunking.”
Beth sighed. “I just got you out of jail and a big fine. I’d say we’re even.”
Autry shook his head. “Nope. Today was for getting me sent to jail in the first place.”
Righteous indignation swelled in her chest. “I did not—”
“But my family still needs to know this one wasn’t my fault. Come on, honey. Please?”
It was the please that did it. Because somewhere in the course of the conversation, he’d dropped the affectation, the show he put on for everyone else. This was the real Autry asking. He really did want her there. To help him.
Her heart gave a little thump.
“Right.” She turned to face Jason because she didn’t want Autry to see that his being sincere, or the way he called her “honey,” had affected her in any way. “I guess Friday’s out.”
“Saturday?” Jason asked, persistent despite the exchange he’d just witnessed.
Beth shook her head. “I have a thing with my sisters Saturday.”
“I’m not giving up.” He flashed her a smile that could almost rival Autry’s in the charm department. The guy had remarkably white teeth. “How about today. You’re off for the day, right? Lunch?”
Beth bit her lip as she debated her answer. She and Autry weren’t technically on a date of any sort. However, her mother had taught her that, unless the guy was a total jerk, she should always go home with the cowboy that brought her.
Only did that rule count if the cowboy in question brought her to court?
Probably not. Besides, she hadn’t had a date in a while. Why the heck not? “Lunch sounds lovely.”
Jason’s smile widened. “Fantastic. Give me five minutes?”
“Sure.”
As soon as he was inside, Autry put a hand on her arm to spin her toward him. “I should see you home.”