Burn on the Western Slope (Crimson Romance)

by Smith, Angela

  Reagan wasn’t at all what he expected.

  Not loud, obnoxious, or overbearing, but shy, though that could be her way of manipulating a man, or maybe she was so involved with this crooked cop guy that nobody else interested her.

  Or hell, it could be because he didn’t interest her.

  She was beautiful. Damn, she was beautiful, and she was an assignment. An assignment he didn’t want, an assignment he didn’t need.

  Attraction lolled in his stomach like an agonizing hangover. His usual means of conquering chemistry was a quick roll in the hay, providing the woman was willing. Which usually in his case she was. He couldn’t do that with Reagan and he couldn’t avoid her and hope it would fade with time. It didn’t matter how long it lasted, it was an intensity he couldn’t break if he tried.

  An intensity he couldn’t afford. Not with an assignment. Not with a woman he may have to ultimately arrest.

  Not with a woman involved with his archenemy.

  His mom believed in soul mates and promised he’d find his one day, but he believed the opposite. If his mom and dad had been soul mates, his dad would never have slept with another woman. But then again if he hadn’t made that mistake, Chayton would never have been born. His mother had forgiven his father and reminded Garret that, if his father hadn’t cheated, Chayton would never have been born.

  Garret had never known Chayton’s real mother. Chayton had only been eighteen months old when she left him on their father’s doorstep. She’d left details, nothing specific enough to trace but enough for him to know his Native American roots. She left him a picture of her and enough money to get him started in a life, but no reason why she left.

  Garret had been seven years old. He remembered his own mother, finding the baby on the doorstep, panicking that someone would leave such a sweet bundle outside but thankful she was home at the time. He remembered her reaction when she found a copy of the birth certificate, discovered this child was her husband’s son. She’d taken in and loved Chayton as if he were her own.

  “Yowzer,” Chayton said as he continued to sip his lime water. He was still on the job, and he didn’t drink on the job. “Our new neighbors are hotties.”

  Garret grunted. It only made his duty harder, so to speak.

  The moment he’d seen Reagan walk into the bar, his libido drifted off course with his mind. The moment he looked into her golden brown eyes, he knew he couldn’t be near her without eventually acting on his impulse to kiss her, unless he had a good reason not to. Marriage was a good reason to keep his hands off. He didn’t mess with married women. Being under investigation for a crime should have been a good reason, but damn if he could convince his other body part.

  “I don’t know what your intentions are, but I hope you don’t plan on hurting Reagan,” Chayton said.

  “Now why would I do that?” Garret downed his beer and plunked the bottle on the bar. Chayton had no idea she was involved with a mafia family, and Garret wasn’t about to tell him.

  “Because I know what kind of man you are.”

  “And what kind of man am I?”

  “A man who can’t commit to anything other than his job.”

  “Oh, yeah, speaking of my job … ”

  Chayton hunched his brows together as he waited for Garret to continue.

  “I don’t want them knowing about my job.”

  “And why is that?”

  Garret couldn’t tell Chayton about his investigation, or the fact he was investigating their new neighbor. “Because, I don’t want to talk about it, I don’t want them to know about it, and sometimes being a federal agent really sucks.”

  “You think?”

  Garret knew how his brother felt about his vocation. He blamed the entire judicial system for their father’s death.

  Their father had preferred the charm of Tanyon and wanted to raise his sons in a small town. He commuted ninety miles one way to Helena and worked as an investigator with the police department. Sometimes days passed before they saw him, but when he was home they did everything together.

  He was all set to retire and work with the small police department in Tanyon as a patrol officer when he’d been killed. His partners hadn’t been there to back him up, they hadn’t been there when he was shot, and no one had taken responsibility.

  The trial had been a disaster, the verdict a not guilty. The defense attorney even went so far as to blame his dad for the catastrophe that claimed his life.

  So Chayton blamed everyone. The lawyers, the cops, the judges. Chayton lived on the right side of the law but had no respect for it. Not since their dad was killed.

  He’d almost disowned Garret when Garret pursued a career in criminal justice, but Garret couldn’t be swayed. And now, sometimes, he wished he might have been.

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Chayton said. “But I’m warning you right now not to hurt her. Don’t use her. Don’t even think about bedding her. She’s Ray family, that makes her family.”

  “Okay. What about her cousin?”

  Chayton grinned. “I have dibs on her cousin.”

  Chapter Four

  “What am I doing?” Reagan paced, clutching Dr. Till, her snow boots clumping against the wood. She halted beside the couch where Naomi sat painting toenails.

  “You’re going snow sledding with a hot guy.” Naomi didn’t glance up from her handiwork. Reagan puffed out a breath, mocking a panic attack, which she might have at any moment. She needed attention right now from her cousin, who wasn’t giving her the time of day. Naomi’s attention was too focused on applying bright pink polish to her toenails.

  “Why?” Reagan whined.

  “Because you’re a sexy single beautiful woman who deserves to have a good time. You’ll find that good time with this guy.”

  “I don’t need — ”

  “You’re gonna go and love every minute of it.” Naomi slammed the nail polish brush into the bottle and closed it, finally focusing her attention on Reagan, her bright blue eyes intensified by a turquoise sweater.

  Naomi was always in control of things. Well, except for relationships. With immaculate hair and a complexion radiating joy even when she didn’t feel joyful, Reagan couldn’t see the bruise on her cheek. She got paid to dress celebrities and knew how to act in every situation.

  Reagan only knew how to cause disaster.

  “I can’t go like this. Look at my nails.” For added measure, she stuck her fingernails in Naomi’s face, though they’d never been a problem before. As a graphic designer, she was either too busy with a sketchpad or her computer to worry about manicures.

  But now … now she had someone to impress.

  Naomi took her hands. “So they’re a little blemished. Nothing we can’t fix later. You’ll be wearing your gloves, and if he didn’t notice last night, he won’t notice today. And if he does notice.” Naomi shrugged. “Oh well.”

  “Oh well?” Reagan screeched. “That’s not your usual philosophy.”

  “You’re not paying me for my philosophy.”

  Reagan thrust out her hip and lowered her chin, throwing Naomi a teasing glare. “And if I was paying you?”

  Smiling, Naomi nabbed Dr. Till from her arms. “I’d tell you to fix your nails.” With that, she ran down the hall toward Reagan’s room. “And you can’t take your moose with you!”

  “Naomi, be careful with Dr. Till.”

  Naomi peeked out the bedroom door. “Yes, dear. I’ll tuck him in bed where he’ll be safe.”

  Checking the mirror one last time before donning a coat, hat, gloves, and scarf, Reagan stepped out the door and took the elevator down. Dressed in layers, she thought to be warm and cozy and protected, but she felt the cold even in her eyeballs.

  Vapor steamed from her breath as she exhaled. The sun shivered through a thin layer of clouds and snow dotted the trees like an aqueous coating of gloss on paper. Her bulky parka crinkled as she waddled her way to Air Dog, where she would meet Garret. He stood at the entrance, l
eaning against an upright sled as he chatted animatedly with another man. A black and green ski hat covered his head and protected his ears from elements that jagged into her skin.

  She paused, but when he glanced at her and waved, she knew she couldn’t change her mind and run. She gritted her teeth, smiled, and waved with a pitiful attempt to look at ease. As she walked toward him, he continued to talk to his friend and her heart continued to race along the tracks of her insecurities.

  “Hi,” she said, stopping far enough away so she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by his presence. Didn’t matter. Even at this distance, her limbs quivered. He smelled like pine and leather sprinkled with a dash of musk and spice.

  “Hey, Reagan. This is Andy.”

  “Good to meet you,” Andy said as they exchanged awkward handshakes through beefy gloves. His garments made it impossible to see anything but a smooth face and gray eyes. She wondered if he planned to join them on their sledding adventure. “Catch you later, Gar,” he said, answering Reagan’s question.

  “Yeah, man.” Garret popped him on his upper arm. “We’re on for tomorrow.” Turning to Reagan, he asked, “You ready?”

  She eyeballed the bright orange saucer. “What is that?”

  “It’s our sled.”

  Reagan knew her eyes were wide, but she couldn’t contain her terror. She’d lived in many areas, had grown up moving, but her parents preferred salt water and warm coastal towns.

  “Technically it’s not a toboggan. Most people call it a slider, or a glider.” He bunked it on his shoulder and glanced at her. “You okay?”

  She nodded as refuting thoughts ran through her mind, and she chased them away with positive affirmations. She could do this. She enjoyed water sports. This couldn’t be much different. Right?

  “If you feel sick, let me know,” Garret said. “Some people are affected by the altitude.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, unsure if her statement was true. Dizziness slammed into her. Garret’s nearness incited a terror that had nothing to do with the heights.

  “I figured we’d walk to where we’re going if you’re okay with that. It’s not far.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “I’ll take you to the back of Air Dog first. You won’t want to miss the view.”

  He carried the sled and a backpack as they hiked to the back of Air Dog. The club’s backyard held a covered deck and picnic tables overlooking a view that tripped her pulse. Caution signs advised many hazards. Watch your step. Watch for ice. Watch for drops.

  No warning to watch your heart.

  Steps led from the deck to the snow-packed ground. The ground dipped into a trail of white leveling into a valley of more white below. A powder packed trail soared to meet majestic mountains towering into more tiers. From here, she could see people enter the ski lift and climb a mountain that appeared near even to the naked eye.

  “This is like a Christmas postcard,” she whispered.

  “Ice skating is just down the street.”

  Reagan quickly shook her head. Ice skating was a good way to show her lack of balancing skills, and she wasn’t ready for that yet.

  “You want to go first?” Garret asked, holding the sled out to her.

  Reagan glanced below her and at the people nearby. Nobody paid them any attention. They were too busy making their own fun. Still, she felt she was the one in the way. “Here?”

  “Might as well start right here. That’s a nice small hill to start with,” he added as he nodded downhill.

  “No.” She stepped away from the bright orange flare of the slider. It taunted her, intimidated her, and it was just a silly little thing for her to sit in so she could slide down a ferocious mountain.

  It wasn’t that ferocious.

  Still, she wasn’t sure if the chill skating up her skull was from the thought of spiraling down the mountain on that contraption or being so near this man.

  “I mean, I would rather you go first,” she continued, this time a little calmer.

  He smiled a beaming, accommodating, amusing smile as if he couldn’t wait to show her how silly she was to be afraid. He plunked the sled on the ground. “Okay.” With no effort, he climbed in and slid down the hill before she had a chance to catch her breath.

  Anticipation shot through her as she watched him reach bottom. She pinned her hand to her mouth, chortling like a child and doing a little dance-jump. He waved and began to scale the path to where she stood, her rickety legs threatening to fold under her as he came closer.

  “That looks like a lot of fun.”

  “You ready to give it a try?” he asked as he approached and handed over the sled.

  She managed to control her fear and get on, screaming the entire three-second run downhill. Excitement erupted into a giggly spear of laughter when she slid to a stop at the bottom.

  She glanced up at Garret. He waved and before she knew it, he was sliding down the hill on his butt.

  She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God.”

  “Come on,” he said as he stood and reached for her hand. “I have some other places to show you. If you don’t mind the walk.”

  “No. I don’t mind.”

  Her clothes swished as they hiked. Garret wasn’t kidding, it wasn’t far, but she had to keep her breath steady and focused so as not to pant like an idiot.

  After a while, he stopped and linked his heavily gloved hand to her heavily coated arm. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Don’t push yourself if you think you’re getting altitude sickness.”

  “I won’t,” she agreed, though being near him even on stable ground made her irrational. That could explain her attraction to him. Wasn’t she looking for new adventures?

  Within minutes, nothing but mountainous valleys opening into wide-open skies, white peaks, and looming trees surrounded them. She could no longer see the town or the ski lift. They climbed a small knoll that bent and swayed to level ground. Mountains stretched out like jaws, open and ready to devour her. One look made her fear she would fall, and she wasn’t anywhere near the cliffs.

  They took turns sledding down, and she watched him sideswipe trees and bypass craters. After a few runs, he retrieved a camera from his pack and shot pictures of her as she trekked up the hill she’d previously plummeted down. Her calves burned, her lungs hurt, and her mind raced at what Garret must be thinking.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking pictures,” he answered. He snapped another picture and let the camera fall, a cord keeping it attached around his neck. “Of you.”

  Was he flirting with her? He’d removed his shades and placed them on his forehead to get a better view through the camera lens, but it gave her a better view, too. Pink tinted his crystal clear complexion. The artist side of her appreciated the sharp angles and lines and shades on his face.

  His eyes held the universe in their depths, as if his pupils had absorbed the colors of everything surrounding him and emitted the energy back out into the world. When he looked at her, her body absorbed that energy and left her warm and fuzzy. Warm as if his presence was a snuggly soft comforting blanket. Fuzzy as if his presence was the aftermath of a powerful storm buzzing along her spine.

  What an understatement.

  “Oh,” she replied as the sled slipped from her fingers and fell to the snow. Stepping closer to him, she tussled with the camera around his neck. The cord stuck in the crevices of his parka.

  Placing his gloved hands over hers, he helped remove the camera. The gloves made things awkward as they both struggled with the strap. Laughing, she dropped her hands and let him deal with it.

  Her body tingled as his breath lightly cupped her cheek.

  Why, after her first night here, did she have to meet someone so captivating? He handed her the camera, and she chased away the awkward oh please kiss me feeling with a smile.

  “My turn,” she said as she raised the camera. He grabbed the sled and slipped down the hill, his broad
shoulders making the orange gadget appear smaller. Her nerves stretched and quivered as she watched him.

  Reagan sucked at relationships. Kyle dreamed of being police chief one day and was a safe anchor as they both focused on their careers. But he’d been a selfish lover. That must explain her knee-jerk reaction to Garret.

  Kyle’s affair no longer bothered her once she realized she wasn’t in love with him, but she wouldn’t mind proving she was not only able to turn on a man, but to fulfill that desire as well.

  Garret came to mind as a possible candidate for her experiment. She snapped pictures of him, the unexpected flash like a lightning bolt warning of a bad decision. He was her next door neighbor and she didn’t want things to get awkward. When it didn’t work out — and it wouldn’t — they would resort to avoiding each other. She didn’t want a reason to leave.

  A relationship was not on her agenda for this trip. Sex, maybe. Definitely. Eventually, if she got up the nerve. But a relationship?

  She took another picture as Garret sideswiped a tree and almost hit another dead on, stopping in the middle of the two. She ran down the hill after him, practically tripping and tumbling as she slid, giggling, into a heap beside him.

  “You okay?” he asked, his eyes flashing.

  “Yeah. You?”

  He gazed at her, a smile on his face like it belonged and he was perfectly happy with it. Like he didn’t have any worries, cares, or concerns except how to get to his next adventure. She forgot where she was, what she was doing, and the goals she set for this trip. Have fun, but remain realistic. Don’t get too comfortable, but don’t balk at every opportunity.

  She had a feeling with Garret in the picture, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting too comfortable.

  He leaned against the tree. Reagan snapped a picture of him sprawled on the snow against the tree, his hat askew, the sled beside him.

  She’d have to get copies of the digital pictures later so she could ogle him every night. Or use the photo as a basis to sketch his portrait. Yes, that was her plan. She wasn’t a crazy psycho stalker woman to obsess over him and flutter at his every move.

  No matter how much she wanted to.