by Sharon Kay
“Best keep my distance from that one, then,” Mr. Turner chuckled. “Well, nice to see you. Take care now.”
“You take care too.” Shane nodded to the older man and turned to Becca with an arched brow. “Bingo police?”
“Not really.” She laughed. “Some of the games get pretty heated.” They reached the reception area. “I’ll step outside with you for just a minute.” She blinked in the bright afternoon sun. “Thank you so much for coming over. I-I’m really glad you did.”
Shane grimaced. “This letter is bullshit. I’m gonna find out who did this.”
“Shane…” She reached for his hand. “It was in the newspaper. Anyone in the county could have seen it. Anyone could know this.”
“Yeah, but who knows where you work? To most of the busybodies who read the arrest reports, those names are just that—names. Not people they know.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I have a buddy in evidence. I’ll take this to him, see if he can detect anything special about the ink, the paper, the envelope… I don’t know. Anything at all.”
She gazed up into his blue eyes. Behind him, the endless sky matched them. “That would be wonderful. You’re the best.”
A gentle breeze swirled around them, blowing her hair into her face. He grasped a stray lock and tucked it behind her ear. “You wanna just call it a day? Go home and chill?”
She shook her head. “I need the hours. Plus, we have bingo at three, and I’m helping.”
He grinned. “Should be wild and crazy.”
“It’s fun! Some of the ladies get so into it and have three cards going. And then some can’t hear the numbers. We actually started using a dry erase board to write the numbers really big, since so many of our folks are hard of hearing.”
“You’re something else, Becca.” He leaned close. “I’d kiss you, but you’re at work and…” He nodded his head. “We have an audience.”
“Oh my god.” Becca swiveled to see Mrs. Ansez and two other ladies in wheelchairs watching them. “Um… I’ll take a rain check.”
“I’ll call you tonight.” He winked and walked to his car.
Becca would take a rain check for anything from him, anytime. She could only stare and wonder how she got lucky enough to fall down in front of him. Best most embarrassing moment ever.
Chapter 24
Shane tossed a pile of junk mail into the recycle bin in his garage. Better to try and look somewhat civilized when Becca got here, even though she’d already seen the place. After deciding there were no good movies out, and Sundown-Marmion High was playing an away game, he and Becca had decided to go out for a drink at the Bar and Grille. It would get crazy like it always did on Friday nights, but Shane planned to have Becca back here before the bar got into full swing.
Friday. Forty-eight hours after he’d brought that damn letter to Ted, and his friend had just called to share what Shane had already suspected. The paper and envelope could be purchased anywhere, same with the printer ink, and the font was nothing special. None of the fingerprints on it came up in the police database.
He knew it hadn’t been much to go on, but he had sorely wanted to put a face to the cowardly act. It better be a weird fluke. Maybe some citizen really did have a hard-on for spilling news that wasn’t theirs to share. Who knew.
He stalked back into the house and set his hands on his hips, wishing like hell he had better news for his pretty brunette. She didn’t deserve this.
Denver’s collar clinked in the front room. Shane glanced at the clock. Becca was probably here. He walked to the living room to find Denver, paws up on the bay window, tail wagging. Becca was now more than approved. Not that he ever thought she wouldn’t be.
Shane couldn’t help but grin as Becca parked her tiny Prius at the curb and walked up. He went to the door, Denver trotting ahead of him. “It’s Becca,” he said, to help put a vocal with the scent that the dog already knew. Shane pulled open the door.
Would she ever not take his breath away? She wore that jean jacket again, over a light blue top that dipped in front. Maybe not as much as what she wore to the game last week, but there was no prayer of ever hiding those breasts. She wore skinny jeans that showed every curve of her legs, and tall black boots with metal buckles on them. They just drew his attention to her sexy calves.
“Hi.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The boots had heels so her mouth was closer to his.
Hell. He didn’t bother trying to speak, just slipped a hand around the indent of her waist and pulled her close. Her pretty pink mouth parted on a smile, and he dipped to kiss her.
“Mmm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close. Her tongue tangled with his as he drank her in. It had been too many days since he tasted her.
Thump, thump. Denver’s tail knocked against the door. Shane pulled back. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, and I like getting kissed like that when you miss me.”
“I’m not the only one who did.” He stepped aside and Denver pressed his nose to her leg.
A delighted smile tilted her lips up and she patted Denver on the head. “Hi, Denver. Did you miss me too? You’re such a good dog.”
Denver panted happily and shook his head back and forth. Becca glanced to Shane. “I didn’t think he would, like, really know me already, especially since I don’t feed him or anything.”
“He knows you. He associates you with me.”
“I like that association.”
“Me too.” More than he realized. “Wanna come in?”
“Sure.” She stepped over the threshold. “I left my bag in the car.”
A bag again. He rubbed the back of his neck and decided to go out on a limb. “You know, you can, uh, just leave some stuff here…”
“Yeah?” She beamed.
“Yeah.” Damn. When she inhaled, her breasts swelled. Too tempting. He cupped her jaw and leaned in for another kiss. She sighed happily into him. He made himself stop before she completely derailed his thoughts. “I’m thinking we have time for one drink before it starts to get packed.”
“Sure.” She nodded. “Unless they make them really good.”
“Well, my sister’s on tonight, so you can ask her to make anything, any way you want it.”
Surprise flickered across her eyes. “Oh, that’s cool.”
“You’ll love her.” Rosie had technically seen Becca the first night he had run into her at the Grille, and Brenda had relayed that Shane was “flirting,” as she put it. And that led to Rosie asking regular questions about “that girl” he met.
“Okay. Um…” She peeked up at him. “Any news from your friend about that letter?”
“Oh.” Shit. Her arrival had drop kicked everything else from his mind. “Yeah.”
A shadow darkened her eyes. “Your tone tells me everything.”
“I’m sorry, Becca. I wanted to be able to have something to trace this guy with.”
“All dead ends?”
“The paper, the envelope, everything—it could have been bought anywhere.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders sagged. “Well, I really appreciate you trying to help.”
He sifted a lock of her hair through his fingers. “It’s the least I could do. And it turned out to be a damn dead end.”
Big green eyes gazed up at him like he’d done something helpful, when in fact, he hadn’t done shit. All he had to do was figure out who sent a letter. It shouldn’t be that hard, and yet the US mail provided just enough anonymity for whatever asshole did it. Frustration built the more he thought about it, but suddenly, her soft hand reached for his, and it was like popping a bubble. Slender fingers wrapped around his, bringing him back from his knee-jerk anger.
“On that note, let’s get a drink. Think we both could use one,” she murmured.
He blinked. “Hell, yes.” She was here, with him for the night, maybe for the weekend—he’d take as much as she would give. Blocking the whole world out sounded perfect.
Chapter 25
After a five-minute ride in Shane’s truck, Becca found herself walking into the Sundown Bar and Grille, holding Shane’s hand while Denver trotted at his other side. The surrealness wasn’t lost on her. Just about a month ago, she’d gawked at Shane’s hulking sexiness in this very bar.
Now, she was his date. He held her hand like he’d done it for years, and even Denver had been happy to see her.
This was never, ever where she thought her life would lead. She still didn’t know exactly what the future held for them, but that was a nebulous, distant thing. The here and now involved a man she wanted to lose herself in.
The place was busy but not yet super crowded, and Shane led her all the way around the bar to a gap at one side, near what Becca guessed was the door to the kitchen. Denver padded behind the bar like it was the most natural place for a dog to be. A pretty blond bartender smiled and bent to scratch Denver’s ears while his tail wagged wildly.
“Hey there.” The blond stood and greeted Shane with a quick hug.
Shane said something, and the woman turned to Becca with a smile. He stepped to her side, placing a hand at the small of her back. “This is my sister Rosie. Rosie, this is Becca.”
Becca reflexively stuck out her hand, struck by the woman’s sky-blue eyes that were a perfect match to Shane’s. Rosie surprised her, gripping Becca’s hand in both of hers. “So nice to meet you.” She dragged out the last word like everyone seemed to around here. It was familiar and friendly, not obnoxious. “My brother doesn’t tell me anything, so I’m glad he had the sense to bring you here.”
“Thanks. It’s good to be here. Top off a crazy week.” Becca took in Rosie’s easy smile and long blond hair. A lined pad of paper stuck out from a pocket in her half apron. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Well, go on and get settled.” Rosie leaned a hip on the bar. “Drinks are on the house—and don’t argue.” She leveled a sisterly stare at Shane.
He chuckled. “We’ll see.” Leaving Denver to chill with Rosie, Shane guided Becca to two empty bar stools.
“There’s no doubt you two are related,” Becca murmured.
“Yeah, everyone says that. She’s a good sister.” He angled himself on his seat so he faced her. “How about you? Any siblings?”
“My brother Evan. He’s a lawyer.”
Shane’s eyes twinkled. “The one you had on the phone the first day I came over?”
“Oh, yeah, that was him.” She winced. “I must have looked like a total nut, answering the door with my lawyer on speaker.”
His reassuring smile warmed her down to her toes. “Well, that was something I’d never seen before.”
Her cheeks heated.
“But all things considered, it makes sense.”
Rosie walked over. “Do you guys know what you want?”
“Crown and Sprite,” Becca said. Rosie nodded and slid a glance to Shane. “Draft?”
“Yup.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be right back.” She went to get the drinks.
Becca traced a circle on the worn wooden surface of the bar. “Evan was really great, advising me on everything.”
“I’ll bet. Most people say they hate lawyers, but they love it when they need one and already know one.”
She guessed he saw a lot of lawyers at the courthouse along with all the personnel, the elected officials like Kirk, and his cop friends. A new thought flashed in her mind. “Wait, you said your friend in evidence was Ted? The one we met at the football game?”
“Yeah, why?”
“He…” Mortification crawled up her skin. “If he saw that letter, he knows what I did. Before, I was just a girl that you knew. Now, I’m… he…”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He took her hand in his. “First off, he’s a friend for a reason. He keeps his mouth shut. Second, he’s a total forensics geek. He was way more interested in the paper and ink of that letter than what the actual words were.”
“But he knows, and he’s your friend.”
“He’s not gonna blast it on social media.” Shane frowned. “In fact, I don’t even know if he’s ever on those sites.”
“I just worry that your cop friends will think less of me.” She gulped. “Or of you for being with me.”
Now he took her other hand. “Becca. My friends don’t judge. Everyone has a past. Just not everyone advertises it.”
“There’s a difference between a past and a criminal past.”
“And there’s a difference between one mistake and an established pattern of behavior.” Blue eyes regarded her with so much sincerity that tears threatened. “You’re not a criminal or a bad person.”
She managed a weak smile. “Okay. Thanks for sayin’ that.”
“It’s the truth.”
She took a deep breath, wishing she had a fraction of his strength and confidence. Well, maybe she could borrow his for a bit.
“Drinks are ready,” Rosie called from a few feet away, getting closer, as if she was taking her time approaching to give them privacy.
“Thanks.” Shane kept hold of one of Becca’s hands as Rosie set the drinks down.
“Want anything to eat?” Rosie asked. “George is serving the original wing recipe tonight.”
Shane arched a brow at Becca. “Hungry?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” Becca smiled at Rosie, happy to switch the topic from herself. “And congratulations. I hear you have a new baby.”
Rosie’s face lit up like a brilliant summer morning. “Thank you. We’re kinda sleep deprived, but she’s so worth it. And actually…” She paused, as if debating with herself. “Do you mind if I show you a picture? You can say no.”
“Not at all,” Becca said, appreciating Rosie’s thoughtfulness. The woman didn’t know what Becca had been through, unless Shane had filled her in. And Becca guessed that, for others in her own shoes, seeing baby pictures might bring sadness. But Becca believed in her doctor’s words that her body was healthy and that her losses had been flukes.
She’d have a baby one day, with the right man.
“Okay. This is cute and crazy at the same time. I just have to show you.” Rosie pulled out her phone and glanced side to side. “Emma wet through her diaper tonight, and Cruz changed her outfit.” She scrolled through images on the screen. “The poor girl—look what he put on her.” She turned the phone around to show them a photo of an adorable blond baby wearing a black onesie with a white skull and crossbones on the front, and pink and purple polka dot leggings.
“That’s one for the photo books.” Shane grinned. “Don’t know who’ll be more embarrassed—him or her.”
“She’s beautiful,” Becca said.
“Thanks.” Rosie beamed. “She’s such a good baby.”
“How old is she?”
“Seven weeks,” Rosie said. “Let me guess—this one wasn’t sure about that important detail?” She jabbed Shane’s arm with one finger.
“Um…” Becca grinned, not wanting to implicate Shane.
“Hey, I know what I need to,” Shane said. “She doesn’t have teeth yet, so I can’t give her meat.”
Becca and Rosie both laughed. “You look amazing.” Becca noted Rosie’s slender figure, belly flat in her tight black top. “For having a seven-week old.”
“Oh.” Rosie blinked and paused. “Well, thank you. But I can’t take too much credit. We adopted her.”
“Oooh.” Becca dragged it out with a smile on her face, as if it were the sweetest thing she’d heard all day. She was all for the adoption process. Heck, she might be taking that route one day. Curiosity reared up and made her wonder why Rosie had, but it was none of Becca’s business.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, it all went pretty smooth.” A smile lit Rosie’s face and she dropped her gaze to the enormous diamond glittering on her left hand. “We’re lucky—ooops.” With a swish of blond hair, she glanced to her left where some customers were signaling her. “Gotta go.”
Becca sipped her drink and turned to Shane. “I like her.”
“Good.” Shane winked “You’re gonna like her husband too. They’re having a thing at their house coming up some weekend soon. We’ll stop by.”
“Oh?” She arched a brow, but giddiness surged in her tummy. He hadn’t asked, but had just stated it like it was a given. She was totally on board. Meeting the family. “Sounds good. And if you’re the overprotective uncle. I bet you were the same as a brother.”
He took a gulp of his beer. “Yup. They weren’t interested in my opinion though. But Cruz is good people. Denver knew it right away.”
A tall, middle-aged man ambled up and laid a hand on Shane’s shoulder. “Evening, Sergeant.”
“Hey, Gene. Good to see you.” Shane half-turned on his seat. “And Howard. May the best man win tonight’s bet.”
Becca took another drink as the men settled on two stools and fixed their eyes on the TV. “Friends?”
“Brothers, and fixtures here.”
“Do you know everyone in Sundown?”
“Probably. If I don’t know ’em, Rosie does.” He laid a hand on her knee. “And a lot of folks in Redemption County, in general. That’s why I’m surprised you were running around here your whole life, hot as an August night, and I never met you.”
Becca’s breath caught. His warm hand and the swirl of alcohol buzz made her want. “Likewise.” Her eyes dipped to his full lower lip and square jaw. “It’s like we were moving in circles around each other all this time.”
“Hell.” He shook his head. “Been here all my life. Thirty years. Well, there were five years in the army.”
“And I was engaged.” She shook her head. “No. Don’t wanna go there.”