Boone

by Lori Foster

  In her opinion, Jordan Sommerville was the best veterinarian in Buckhorn. Heck, in Kentucky.

  Maybe the best ever, anywhere.

  He was the third son, a changeling to hear the family tell it, with Uncle Sawyer the eldest, then Uncle Morgan, and her dad the youngest. The family could be rowdy, especially her dad and Uncle Morgan, but Jordan was the quiet type, with a voice that could melt the hardest heart, or soothe the most frightened animal.

  She loved them all, so, so much, but a big close family meant that someone was always in her business. Jordan, at least, was a little more subtle than the others.

  It wasn’t uncommon for him to do a house call, especially for a friend, and she supposed they all considered Tucker that. She’d been relieved to know the dog and her babies were okay, but she really could have used more alone time with the sheriff before family intruded.

  But intrude, they had.

  She’d been summoned to Uncle Sawyer’s house for a family gathering tomorrow, which was code for we want to know what you’re up to and none of your secrets are safe.

  Her family had tried a more casual approach, first with her dad dropping in with the suspicious pretense of checking up on her after her “ordeal.” Ha. Tucker was the one injured, not her. It had taken all her finesse to dance around his barely veiled curiosity.

  Then Morgan and Sawyer had caught her at lunch where they’d tossed out multiple baited questions about her job and whether or not she had enough free time.

  Since then, her cousins had sent her various texts inquiring about the upcoming craft bazaar, and the community picnic after that, and the skiing competition...always wanting to know if she’d be bringing a date.

  So frustrating.

  She knew she’d be the topic of conversation at Uncle Sawyer’s house, and she didn’t like it. Oh, it was all fun and games when someone else was in the hot seat, but things were still so uncertain with Tucker.

  Other than that one kiss, the man hadn’t shown any interest at all.

  “You have steam coming out of your ears,” Cleets said as he pulled down the long drive to the Jenkinses’farm. “Problem?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  He gave her his big boyish grin and said, “Liar. But I won’t pry.”

  “Clearly, you’re not related.”

  “What’s that?”

  Kady shook her head. None of her family minded prying, and to be fair, she’d been the same on numerous occasions...when the curiosity involved a different relative. She knew they were motivated by concern, and that they wanted only the best for her.

  Would any of them agree that Tucker was the best, even though Tucker himself needed convincing?

  “Best get your game face on,” Cleets said. “It’s almost time to go on the air.”

  They’d been sent out to the Jenkinses’farm to do a small feature piece on the damage done to the barn after that last big storm. Nothing new in that—they often filled the weather reports with local news bits. And while she usually loved doing them, today her heart wasn’t in it.

  That was, until she saw Tucker’s SUV parked in the front drive.

  Well, well, well. His presence brightened her day.

  Then she noticed that he was talking to not only Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, but her dad, too.

  “Why’s Gabe here?” Cleets asked, as he parked the van.

  “I don’t know.” Surely her dad wasn’t grilling Tucker...though he did wear a serious frown. She knew he was overprotective, and she had dodged his questions, but that didn’t give him the right to intrude.

  The more she thought about it, the more irate she got until she was suddenly very anxious to interrupt their possible confrontation.

  She climbed out the van and slammed her door, her strappy sandals slipping on the loose gravel drive as she started forward.

  Both Tucker and her dad looked up. Tucker said something, her dad nodded, and then Tucker grinned.

  Kady pulled up short still a good distance away. Why was he grinning? That made her even more suspicious than her dad’s frown had.

  Cleets almost bumped into her. He was a big man, a gentle giant in her opinion, and somewhat clumsy. The quick halt had him juggling his camera and tripod, as well as the pack of other equipment on his back.

  Now they’d drawn everyone’s attention!

  “Hey.” Cleets scowled at her once he had everything securely held. “Are you trying to trip me?”

  Impatient, she turned her back on the men and whispered, “Why is he grinning?”

  Cleets narrowed his eyes at her, then looked beyond her. “The sheriff? Who knows? Maybe Gabe said something funny.”

  Possibly...but then why did it feel like she was the topic of the conversation? “They’re looking at me.”

  Cleets snorted. “When aren’t you the center of attention?” He nudged her forward. “Think you’d be used to that by now.”

  Stumbling from his push, she glared over her shoulder at him. “If you’re insinuating that I—”

  “Not saying you do it on purpose—though sometimes you do.” He winked when her glare darkened even more. “But looking like you look, and being an outgoing sort, people are naturally drawn to you. No way you don’t know it.”

  She supposed she did. Being bold had always been her defense against relationships. Whenever she drew back, showing any vulnerability, guys approached her and that was awkward for everyone. As long as she appeared to embrace her freedom, they tended to leave her be.

  That was easier than turning them down.

  Seeing no hope for it, she tried her best to look serene and sauntered onward as if she didn’t have a care.

  “Dad,” she called, sending him a familiar, silly wave and hoping she didn’t sound suspicious. “What are you doing here?”

  Gabe nodded to the damaged barn roof. “Giving an estimate for repairs, though it looks like a teardown to me.” He pulled off a backward ball cap, ran a hand over his fair hair and stuck the hat back on. “Sometimes it’s cheaper—and smarter—to start over.”

  Mr. Jenkins groaned. “What am I supposed to do with the animals until then?”

  When Gabe started to answer, she held up a hand, stopping him. “Wait! This would all be good for the camera. Let us get rolling first.”

  Mr. Jenkins groused, but Mrs. Jenkins, who was all decked out in one of her better housedresses, preened in excitement. She even wore lipstick, a first as far as Kady could remember.

  They were a sweet older couple who still ran their very small farm alone. The barn animals consisted of chickens and a rooster, two cows, an ancient horse and a very sweet mule. The animals were in a temporary enclosure at the moment, but close enough to be included in the shot.

  Kady looked pointedly at Tucker. “Are you joining us on air, Sheriff?”

  His slight frown lifted in surprise, and he stepped aside. “No.”

  Kady tracked him as he moved to a tree farther away, but near enough to still watch.

  Cleets, who had been setting up the camera, came over to Kady and did some quick adjustments, pulling up the strap of her dress that had gone askew on her shoulder, smoothing back a long curl that sprang free of her chignon and guiding her to a slightly sunnier spot a foot to her right.

  She could feel Tucker staring at her, his gaze almost tactile—and if she didn’t miss her guess, a little disgruntled. She also felt the impatience of Mr. Jenkins along with her dad’s amusement.

  They went live with Kady talking first about the past storm and the upcoming forecast, then about the damage that had been done around the area. She’d worked many times with an audience, but never before with Tucker standing so close, taking it all in. His presence disconcerted her, and at one point, she even lost her train of thought.

  Her dad, of course, was a natural, stepping in smoothly to keep the flow, an
swering her questions about the repairs and at the same time appealing to the locals to lend a hand to neighbors hurt by the storm.

  Nothing flustered Gabe Kasper, ever.

  In that respect, she was her father’s daughter, usually just as unflappable. But not around Tucker. The sheriff had a way of turning her upside down.

  What would she do if he never returned her feelings?

  “Is that it?” Mrs. Jenkins asked, her wide eyes locked unblinking on the camera that Cleets held.

  Kady nearly jumped, then found her professional smile. “Yes, that’s it for now.” She went on with her usual sign-off spiel until Cleets gave her the all clear.

  “I want to talk to you before you go,” Gabe said. “Stick around.” Then he walked Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins to the barn to finish going over his estimate.

  Cleets started for the van to store the equipment.

  And that left her with Tucker. Cautiously, Kady turned to where he stood leaning against a large shade tree. He had his left arm in the sling, his right hand resting on his holster and dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.

  Keeping her confident smile in place, she strolled over to him. Her heart beat faster with every step she took. As casually as she could manage, she said, “I’m surprised to find you here, Sheriff.” She couldn’t see his eyes, but a corner of his mouth lifted. “There aren’t any lawbreakers lurking about, are there?”

  After two beats of silence, he replied, “Actually, I heard you were shooting live and came to watch.”

  Never, not in a million years, had she expected that. “You did?”

  He nodded once. “You look nice, Kady.”

  Oh, that pleased her. The husky way he’d said her name, the admission that he’d come just for her.

  “You look great in dresses.” He tilted his head just a little. “If I had my druthers, though, you’d wear your hair down.”

  She reached up for the wayward curl that kept drifting loose. “I have to be professional and...” Her explanation faded away. “You like my dresses?”

  He still wore those blasted glasses, but she knew he looked her over, from the wide straps of the sleeveless dress, down to the nipped-in waist and then to the hem of the soft, flaring skirt that landed just above her knees.

  “I’m alive, aren’t I?”

  With the suggestive way he said that, her breath constricted and her skin warmed. She looked up at him, desperately wishing she could see his eyes. Was he flirting?

  Making an admission?

  Oh, she hoped so.

  They stood in heavy silence, the air pulsing around them. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she wasn’t sure...

  “Am I interrupting?” Her dad stepped up next to her, his heavy arm going around her shoulders in a familiar, protective way.

  His protectiveness was one of the things she loved most about him. Even though he and her mom had been married a very long time, her dad still doted on her. He’d see Elizabeth Kasper—though he called her Lizzy—in a room and he’d look at her as if she were the only woman alive. Gabe might tease other women, especially his sisters-in-law, but no one could ever doubt his dedication to his wife.

  Or to his daughters.

  She, April and Briana had grown up knowing their dad would do just about anything for them...but he hated for them to date. He trusted no one with his “little girls,” so naturally it was a chore to get him to accept a boyfriend. April and Briana took it as a challenge, dating often—though neither of them had gotten serious with anyone.

  But Kady, for the most part, had been happiest to concentrate on her education and then her career. Until she’d met Tucker, no one had interested her much anyway.

  Uncle Sawyer said it was Gabe’s own misspent youth that made him so untrusting of young men and their motives, and her mother always backed that up.

  Uncle Morgan, who was known to be blunt, claimed that Gabe had sowed his wild oats throughout all of Kentucky...until he’d met her mom.

  Well, her dad would just have to accept that Tucker was to her what Elizabeth had been to him, and—

  “Not at all,” Tucker said to her dad.

  For the life of her, she’d forgotten the question.

  “In fact,” Tucker continued, “I wanted to ask you about tomorrow.”

  Kady went still, her breath held, her thoughts tumbling. She’d be going to her uncle Sawyer’s house tomorrow. All the family would be there. “What about tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  He...what?

  “You don’t mind that I invited him, right?” her dad asked.

  “You invited Tucker?” She squeaked over her faux pas. “I mean, the sheriff?”

  Tucker pulled off his glasses, giving her the full impact of those direct green eyes. And he smiled. “Yeah, I’m invited.”

  No and no. When she finally got a chance to really talk to Tucker again, it couldn’t be with all of her family hovering around. She needed some privacy. She needed—

  Tucker turned to Gabe. “Can I bring anything?”

  Her dad was looking far too...smug? Yes, that’s exactly how he looked. “But...”

  He said, “Thanks, Sheriff, but we’ve got it covered.” He steered Kady around and started her toward the van. “Cleets is waiting for you.”

  She looked back over her shoulder at Tucker, but he stayed by the tree, his body relaxed, the glasses back on, his mouth still tilted in that sexy little smile.

  “Watch where you’re stepping, honey.”

  “What? Oh.” She moved around a clucking chicken, pecking at the ground. “So.” She sought the right words.

  “Hmm?”

  Kady cleared her throat. “You invited the sheriff?”

  They reached the van. Cleets was around back by the cargo area, puttering with something, but she heard him closing the doors.

  Gabe said gently, “Course we did.” He waited until she slowly pivoted to face him, then added, “Once he told me you two would be dating, it seemed like a good idea.”

  Once he told me... As the words sank in, her jaw loosened and her mouth fell open.

  “We expect you there bright and early.”

  Kady gathered her flagging wits and snapped her mouth shut. She knew she was glaring—something she rarely did to either of her parents—but this was serious stuff! “What do you mean that he—?”

  “Told me you kissed him.” Gabe gave her a speculative look, waiting, but when she only pinched her mouth tighter, he continued. “Apparently, he liked it, because he said he’d be asking you out and he didn’t want any surprises with the family.”

  She looked past her dad to see Tucker talking with Mrs. Jenkins. As if he’d felt her attention, he glanced up.

  Oh, how she’d like to go set him straight right now. How dare he discuss things with her father even before he discussed them with her? Shouldn’t she have been the first to know his intentions? But no. He’d been avoiding her; she was sure of it.

  “Yes, I kissed him,” Kady stated in defiance. “I’m old enough to go after what—or who—I want.”

  “Yes, you are.” He cupped her shoulders in his hands. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

  Did he honestly think she could go through life without a few bumps in the road? “I can take care of myself, Dad.”

  He nodded. “I know, but I’m your father and I like taking care of you. So if you ever need me, for anything, I’m here.”

  Good grief. She laughed. “I’m not going off to war, you know.” Aware of Tucker still watching them, she turned and opened the passenger door. “It’s just a date,” she said with a careless shrug. “Not a big deal.”

  “Tell me that if you want, but don’t fool yourself, okay? I went down that road of denial once, and it wasn’t fun.” After that bit of solemn advice, he stepped back and clo
sed the door.

  Through the open window, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad.”

  “Looking forward to every minute of it.”

  She watched her dad walk away, and wondered why the words had sounded like a warning.

  * * *

  “NICE GIRL,” MR. JENKINS SAID.

  “What’s that?” Tucker brought his attention back to the elderly man.

  “Kady Gasper. She’s real nice.”

  “Pretty, too,” Mrs. Jenkins added, her expression knowing.

  “Yes, she is. Very pretty and very nice.” He pulled off his sunglasses, hanging them on the open front of his shirt. “She’s also good at flirting.”

  The Jenkins couple stared at him.

  “You’ve seen her, right?”

  “I’ve seen her be real friendly,” Mr. Jenkins said. “She’s pretty much that way to everyone.”

  And that was the problem for him. He didn’t want Kady to see him the same as everyone else...because he saw her differently.

  “And helpful.” Mrs. Jenkins nodded. “She’s a people person. Outgoing. Friendly.”

  “All true,” he agreed. He already knew everyone around Buckhorn adored her. And why not? As Mrs. Jenkins had just said, Kady was considerate of one and all.

  “But I can’t say I’ve ever seen her flirt.” The woman’s brow wrinkled. “In fact, can’t say as I’ve ever seen her date, either.”

  Hmm. Tucker wondered if he’d misread things, if perhaps his feelings for Kady had colored his perception. Entirely possible since most of his focus with Kady had been in resisting her. Now that he’d given up that idea, maybe he needed to better inform himself.

  “She’s special,” he said, and got smiling nods from the elderly couple.

  After he wished them a good day, he headed back to the station. Deputy Egan was there, doing some paperwork. He was the same age as Kady and had known her for a lot longer, so Tucker approached him, wondering how to bring it up.

  He didn’t have to.

  Moody saw him, sat back in his chair and grinned. “So you and Kady, huh?”