Gun Shy

by Diane Saxon

  His wicked smile focused her attention on his mouth. His next words cleared her mind. “I think you need to let me get back to work, honey.” His gaze steady on hers, he persuaded her limp body from where she blocked his way and whipped outside leaving her to slump back against the door and slither to the floor in one boneless move.

  God but the man could kiss. She touched a hesitant finger to her swollen lips while she recalled the feel of his hard, determined mouth when it met hers. She knew it had been based on fear and frustration, but the desire that had pumped through his hard, overheated body had been more than evident. She’d had a good hold of him, a sound of surrender had vibrated through her throat when he’d moved her aside and burst out the door like the hounds of hell were on his tail.

  To him, she probably was one of the hounds of hell. His worst nightmare. A relationship waiting to happen, because if she wasn’t mistaken, they already had a relationship. Whether the reluctant sheriff wanted one or not. No man kissed a woman with such passion unless he wanted her.

  She pushed herself to her unsteady feet and flicked a light switch on. She wasn’t familiar enough with her apartment to walk through it in the dark. Besides, the dark conjured up images of Jack. A man who was no good for her.

  She sighed as she thought of the long, poor night’s sleep ahead of her.

  »»•««

  As he climbed into the police vehicle, Bill surveyed him with a sharp, critical eye. He must have been gone longer than he’d realized because she looked as though she was about to give him hell.

  She scrubbed her hands through her short, spiky hair and glanced at him sideways twice more before she spoke. “Shit, Jack, what did you do?”

  “What makes you think I did anything?”

  She reached out and snapped on the interior light. “I’m an officer of the law. You tell me you did nothing and I’ll be obliged to arrest you for talking bullshit.”

  He squinted in the bright, white light flooding the interior of the car. “You can’t arrest me, kid. I’m your superior.”

  Bill snorted and poked him in the shoulder “You’re not superior, Jack. You just happen to outrank me. Now, don’t try and change the subject, just tell me what the hell you did to make your skin flush up and your eyes go all squinty.”

  He could have done without his cousin’s prying, but the best he could do was reach up to snap the light back off again.

  He rubbed his hands over his face and then leaned his head back, disgusted with himself.

  “I thought she should know what danger she was in. She’s only a delicate little thing.”

  The memory of Kate squaring off to him the first time they met pushed its way into his consciousness. She wasn’t so delicate.

  He glanced at Bill, just able to define her features in the darkness of the car, grateful she hadn’t turned the light back on. “I kissed her.” Shadows formed in the furrow of Bill’s forehead. She might just shoot him, rather than arrest him, but he knew he had to tell her. “It was frustration at first.” Guilt rolled over him. “I wanted her to understand how vulnerable she was.” He lifted one hand up to his forehead and rubbed away the creases with a weary sigh. “But she already knew.” He still had the taste of her on his lips. “She was soft all over.” He better shut his mouth before he said too much. He stared back at the apartment. She’d turned on a light, but the blinds were closed. At least she’d moved. At least she was safe away from Buddy and Dwain, but he’d been as bad. Almost. The difference was, he’d taken without asking when her defenses were down. She’d not said no. He’d never given her the chance. “She should have thrown me out. I was supposed to be there to protect her, but I took advantage of her vulnerability.”

  “Well hell, you’re irresistible to females.” At his deep frown, Bill gave a careless shrug. “Perhaps she knew she wasn’t in any kind of real danger from you. What’s a little kiss? You’re a pussy-cat.”

  Bill had no idea. He could quite easily have given in to his desires and taken the sexy doctor right there and then against the door, after all she appeared to have the same kind of lust pounding through her as he had.

  Stupid. It wasn’t the kind of conversation he should have with his cousin, but who else did he speak to about it? After all, Bill was a woman. She’d understand. He chewed his lip as he studied his deputy. Maybe not.

  Bill turned to start the ignition, but Jack stalled her with a hand to her arm.

  “I should apologize.”

  Bill turned the key, fired the engine, and patted his knee like his grandma would, if she wasn’t wringing his neck for his lack of self-control.

  “Not tonight, Jack. That would be a bad move. Give both of you time to cool down. Go and see her in the morning, take muffins. The woman likes to eat, and she makes good coffee. The best.”

  He rubbed his hand across his eyes and down over his mouth.

  As his adrenaline slumped, he leaned back in his seat and rested his head. He’d seen the result of Buddy’s attention. The guy’s wife had been into the sheriff’s department several times sporting black eyes and bruised cheeks. The moment they told her they were going to press charges, she’d say it had been an accident and scamper back off home before Buddy found out where she’d been. It was probably the only reason his brother kept Buddy on at the ranch. That and the fact he was one of the best goddamned wranglers around. One of these days, Buddy’s wife, Susan, was going to press charges and get out from under his dominance. Until then, there was only so much they could do.

  He puffed out a breath and settled himself deeper into the seat. It was a good thing he worked the nightshift because there was no way he would be able to sleep. The memory of Kate’s cool lips, parting to allow his tongue access to her mouth, kept the heat rolling through his veins. The soft, sweet scent of her filled his senses and feathered at the edges of his mind. The way her body molded to his as he’d pressed hard against her was enough to drive a perfectly sane man over the edge.

  He let out a low regretful groan while he stared out of the window at the passing shadows. Goddamn it, he’d wanted to kiss that pouty little mouth of hers since the moment she’d first walked into his office. He’d just gone over the edge tonight.

  No excuses. He needed to apologize.

  »»•««

  The impatient knock at the door had her grumbling. The coffee hadn’t quite percolated as she stood barefoot in the kitchen wearing nothing but an old England Rugby shirt she’d acquired from her brother.

  Her eyes were gritty after the predicted poor night’s sleep, and she wasn’t in a particularly sociable mood. She pretty much knew who it was going to be. The mere sound of the demanding thump was a dead giveaway.

  She peered through the peephole just to make sure. One dangerous-looking man stared straight back at her like he already knew the exact moment she put her eye up to the peephole.

  She scrutinized him. She could ignore him and return to the kitchen for her coffee, but he held up a brown paper bag and gave it an inviting waggle.

  Curiosity got the better of her, and she pressed her warm cheek closer to the cool wood of the door. “What is it?”

  “An apology.” He removed the bag from sight and replaced it with a broad grin at the peephole.

  “Apology accepted.” She had no idea why he thought he should apologize. Was he sorry he’d kissed her? Insult clenched her stomach. “Leave it on the doorstep. I have work.”

  “I know. I checked with the hospital to see what time you start. You’ve time enough for breakfast.” He raised his face, sniffed the air. “I can smell coffee, Katie. Let me in and I’ll share these with you.” He dipped his hand inside the bag and pulled out an enormous chocolate chip muffin. “If you share with me.”

  She slapped her hand over her mouth, but the pitiful wail still escaped, loud enough to have his grin spread wider.

  Kate chewed her lip. It may not be wise to let him back inside her apartment. It wasn’t him she didn’t trust. It was herself. She
tipped her head to one side and stared at the muffin. Delicious perhaps, but was that all he wanted to share?

  “Come on, let me in, Katie.”

  “It’s Kate, not Katie.” She rolled her eyes heavenward as her mother’s voice came out of her mouth.

  “Kate.” He held the muffin closer, gave it a slow turn. The chocolate chunks stood proud, and despite the door between them, she could almost taste them. When he sank his teeth into the muffin, closed his eyes, and let out an appreciative groan, her legs turned to wax. The man had sexy down to a fine art.

  She couldn’t resist the smile as he licked crumbs from his lips and took another bite, his square jaw flexing as he chewed. If she’d been wearing panties, he may well have just melted them off her.

  On his third bite, she gave in to the temptation. “Are they double chocolate chip?”

  “Uh-uh. Triple chocolate chip.” He nibbled one edge and then held it up for her to get a better look. “And I do believe I can taste mini marshmallows too.”

  She swung the door open.

  His eyes shot wide. He sucked his breath in through his teeth and then choked on the mouthful of cake he still chewed on, spluttering a few crumbs in her direction. Served him right. He wasn’t the only one who could serve up temptation.

  He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe in an over-exaggeration of coolness. One hand still held the muffin, and the other hung onto the paper bag by his side. He never made an effort to move, but the muscles in his cheek flexed as he chewed. His gaze tracked from the tip of her vibrant pink-painted toenails, up her legs, scorching her skin, when he stopped momentarily at the hem of her rugby shirt at just above mid-thigh. He cleared his throat. Despite the melted wax in her legs, she refused to tug the shirt lower while he continued his inspection over her hips. As his gaze slid higher, she crossed her arms underneath her breasts and then realized it made it obvious she had no bra on.

  His slow perusal never paused, it continued until his dark gaze met hers. Dangerous was probably an underestimation of him. The wild flutter in her heart reminded her why she shouldn’t have opened the door to him.

  He pushed off the doorframe and wandered past her, as though he hadn’t just made love to her with his eyes. In a casual move, he sniffed the air as he went by. Frozen to the spot, she considered if it was safer to put herself on the outside of the door. Safer for him possibly. If there was anything more appealing than a broad-shouldered cowboy, it was one in uniform carrying muffins as a peace offering. The hunk was lickable, and he’d just made it obvious he liked the scent of her.

  He sauntered into her small kitchen, his voice floated back to her. “Coffee smells good.”

  With a little tug of resentment, she snapped the door shut. It wasn’t her aroma he’d been attracted to, just her coffee. Of course it wasn’t her. He’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in a relationship. If a man could run any harder, she’d be impressed. He’d probably called around to make sure she didn’t report him for sexual harassment.

  Kate padded through to the kitchen as he rummaged in her cupboards as though it was the most natural thing for him to do.

  Without a word, she bumped him out of the way with her hip and smiled to herself at his sharp intake of breath. His voice may say he wasn’t interested, but she was pretty good with body language, and his body definitely said something different.

  She flipped open a cupboard door to his left, drew out mugs and plates, conscious as she reached for them of the slight hitch as her rugby shirt slid higher up her thighs. Doubtful he would notice, she turned and caught the smolder in his gaze. The man was going to drive her crazy with his mixed messages.

  Blood pumped fast and furious through her veins to flush her naked legs a vibrant pink good enough to match her toe polish. She shouldn’t have let him in, she should have resisted the temptation of his handsome lips and his invitation to a sugar rush.

  She tugged her shirt into place as she sat, and allowed him to pour the coffee.

  She’d made a fool of herself the night before. She’d gone all squishy and compliant on him. He was probably only there to warn her off again. Although the sight of the muffins as he pulled them from the bag and placed them on their plates confused her. He confused her. The man was a contradiction.

  She reached for a muffin, idly picked a chocolate chip off the top and nibbled at it while she waited for him to speak. He took a sip of his coffee, never taking his gaze from her.

  “I’m sorry about last night, Kate. I should never have kissed you.”

  She was glad she hadn’t taken a big bite of the muffin—she probably would have died of asphyxiation. He lowered his mug to the table, his brows pulled low, and her heart dropped to her cold, naked feet.

  She placed the muffin back on her plate and brushed a few crumbs from her fingers. He could take his muffins and shove them.

  He scrubbed his hand through his thick, lush hair and leaped up, almost upending his chair. He took three paces across her tiny kitchen and then turned to pin her with his intense gaze.

  “You frightened the shit out of me last night.”

  It didn’t sound like an apology to her. It was an accusation—one she wasn’t prepared to take.

  “And I told you, it wasn’t my fault. I thought we had that straight.”

  He took another slug out of his mug and turned to top it off from the percolator.

  “Look, Jack, I’m not naïve, I’ve seen the results of women being attacked, abused, raped. I’m not a complete innocent. You can’t be when you do a job like mine. Just as you deal with the bad side of humanity, I also see the results. I’ve seen what happens when people have too much alcohol, or drugs, or they’re simply bad tempered with no off switch.”

  His brows drew down into a deep frown as he listened in silence.

  “So, I do know the dangers, and in my experience it doesn’t always come from strangers, but more often than not from people you know and trust.”

  He paced back to his chair and swung it around so he could slump into it. “I do know Dwain and Buddy. Dwain’s just a butthead, but Buddy I wouldn’t ever trust.”

  She nodded.

  He leaned forward, reached out, and took her hand in his. “I was out of order, but too blind with worry to know.”

  His unexpected touch shot heat through the palm of her hand, and his admission tightened her chest so her breath came in short hitches. “I appreciated you looking out for me, I was truly terrified.” She couldn’t resist giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

  He smiled back, raised her hand, gently rubbed his lips across the back of her knuckles, and sent her pulse rate spiraling.

  “Just for the record, I need you to know, Kate, you’re not at any risk from me.” He had no idea. Of course she was. She was in dire peril of losing her heart. “I have never raised a finger to a woman in my life—my grandma would beat the living crap out of me if I did.” The perverseness of his statement brought a genuine smile to her face. “But I was out of order because I took advantage of your weakness when I kissed you.”

  Kate whipped her hand from his grasp as heat coursed over her skin. Weak. He was mistaken. She never had a moment of weakness in her life. She tilted her chin a notch and met his gaze with a supercilious one of her own. Deliberately curled her lip.

  “I’m not weak, Sheriff. I could carve your heart out with my scalpel and not blink twice.”

  A deep crease formed between his eyebrows. “A scalpel. Is that another type of heel?”

  “No. It’s a scalpel.”

  His face cleared as a wild grin broke out and nearly knocked the breath from her. It wasn’t fair he could do that.

  “You know that’s illegal, don’t you?”

  “Not if it’s under anesthetic.”

  “And with written permission.”

  “Who’s to say when the body disappears in the morgue?”

  He wagged his finger at her, but his eyes were filled with reluctant admiration. “You’re a dan
gerous woman.”

  “Which is exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you. If I hadn’t wanted you to kiss me, Jack, I promise you, you would never have even gotten near, scalpel or no scalpel. I have tried and tested methods of beating off the hordes of men who’ve attempted a first kiss.”

  Amusement lit the dark chocolate of his stare.

  She forced a laugh and distracted herself by picking up her muffin. He stole her breath every time she looked at him. Heat moved up her neck, and she knew if she didn’t break his spell, she would end up doing something entirely stupid. Like begging him for another kiss, even if they both regretted it again after.

  The truth of it was, she needed to get rid of him before he made a liar of her and she truly showed him where her weakness lay. “We’d better eat up, I need a shower before I go to work.”

  He narrowed his eyes as though he wanted to say more and then picked up his own muffin. “Can I help?” he suggested with a twitch of his eyebrows.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “In that case,” He came to his feet. “I’d better go.”

  She brushed the crumbs from her fingers and stood. “Thank you for the muffins.” She walked with him to the door and then stood in awkward silence as he stared down at her, his dark expression filled with indecision.

  He raised his hand and twisted one of her errant curls around his forefinger, giving it a little tug as his lips curved with regret.

  Reluctant to draw away, she gave a small shrug. “I’d better get ready.”

  He dropped the curl and turned toward the door, but instead of opening it he put a hand against it for a moment before turning back.

  “You know, Kate, I hear what you say, but I still feel bad about last night.” Her pulse ratcheted up as he took her by the shoulders and gently guided her around until her back was against the door, echoing their positions from the night before. “Not about the kiss.” He swiped the hair back from her face and cupped her cheeks in the wide palms of his hands. “But because I don’t feel I gave you the choice.” She knew if she protested he would let her go instantly.

  He dipped his head slowly, affording her every chance to say no. His breath whispered over her skin. “Kate, can I kiss you?”