My Kind of Trouble

by Becky McGraw

  He woke up and rolled over grabbing her wrist. "Whatcha doing, honey?"

  "You're bleeding again...be still so I can take a look and make sure you haven't ripped your stitches."

  He groaned a little when she tugged the tape off of his skin and she said, "Don't be a baby...you were shot and didn't whine, so don't whine now over a little tape."

  She felt the vibration of his chuckle rumble under her fingers and smiled. He was playing her. Lifting the edge of the gauze she took a peek at the raw red wound which was wound tight with black thread. Nothing had broken loose that she could see, but blood was seeping out from the corner. "You need to take it easier, Luke. You didn't tear the stitches loose, but you're bleeding. Let me go get my supplies and I'll fix you up."

  "Thanks, darlin'," he said then sniffed. "Is that hamburger I smell? I'm starving."

  "Yeah, Cole went and picked us up lunch. Go ahead and eat, I'll be right back."

  Cassie walked back into the living room and stopped short. Cole and Sabrina were sitting on the sofa next to each other, sharing his lunch. He'd split the cheeseburger in half and had divided up the fries. They were talking quietly and seemed to be engrossed in whatever they were talking about. Cassie smiled, and walked behind them to go to the kitchen and get Luke a glass of tea, then she walked over to the sofa table and picked up the pharmacy bag and her own lunch then went back to the bedroom. They hadn't even noticed she'd walked in front of them.

  Luke was just shoving the last bite of his hamburger into his mouth, his face a picture of bliss. "Damn, either that was fantastic, or I was starving."

  "Probably both," she laughed and walked over to sit on the bed beside him. She handed him his tea, then set the pharmacy bag down and opened her lunch bag. Her stomach rumbled loudly. "I know I am."

  Careful not to spill on her bed, Cassie unwrapped her chili dog and took a bite and moaned. "Mmm...this is good," she said around her bite, and looked up at Luke. His eyes were heated and he licked his lips.

  "Stop that!" she said laughing, she knew that look, and it always made her insides quiver.

  Giving her an innocent look he said, "What?"

  "Looks like Cole is really liking the scenery here in Phoenix."

  "Oh, yeah? Not surprising, he's a hound dog," Luke grumbled putting his hand on her thigh. "As long as he ain't looking at your scenery, I don't care."

  "He didn't even notice I was in the living room a minute ago...neither did his new friend Detective Roberts."

  Luke hooted, "What the hell?"

  "She came over to bring me the papers James stole, and he came back with lunch..."

  "And?" Luke asked and stole one of her french fries to pop it in his mouth.

  "From the minute his eyes latched onto her, he was like a bird dog on point."

  "Interesting..." Luke smiled at her then said, "She was pretty cute."

  Cassie grumbled and stuffed the rest of the hotdog into her mouth then slugged him on the shoulder. "Hey!"

  "Just sayin, darlin'..." he laughed shrugging away from her. "But she's not nearly as cute as you are." He helped her put her trash back in the bag, then pulled her to him for a hug. "Not anywhere close."

  Cassie snuggled into his chest for a second, enjoying being held. "I have some things to do at the office this afternoon. I'm meeting with Betsy, a Realtor friend, to talk about selling her what's left of my business."

  "Is it really that bad?"

  "Well, the good thing is it hasn't hit the paper, and hopefully I can keep that from happening, by getting that money back in the bank fast. Sabrina said that James hasn't been offered the plea deal yet...the D.A. is fighting to take it to court."

  He groaned, "Awww shit, I'm sorry, darlin'."

  "I'm going to call and talk to him. You probably could too...."

  "Get me his number, and I sure will. That bastard James isn't going to keep me from getting you back to Bowie," he growled and hugged her again.

  "I'll call my lawyer too and see if he can put some pressure on the D.A."

  "Great idea," he said then asked, "You want me to go with you to the office?"

  "No...you are staying right here, Luke...I've got this."

  "I know you do, darlin', but...."

  "No, buts, Luke. If you want to help you can make that call to the D.A...I'm not gonna be gone long."

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  It took a week more in Phoenix to get everything settled. Luke's call to the D.A. convinced him to go ahead and offer a plea deal to James, but it came along with a hefty jail term. Sabrina said James' attorney had put the screws to him to accept it, because he faced forty years in prison instead of twenty, if it went to court and he was convicted.

  Reluctantly, James took the deal. The final result satisfied Cassie, but Luke still wanted to kick his ass before they left town. She assured him that James would probably get plenty of ass-kicking once he got transferred to where he was going.

  Her meeting with Betsy had worked out well, although her friend was sad to see her leave, or so she said. Cassie doubted that, because she had definitely been competition to Betsy in the local market. Without hesitation, the woman had agreed to her terms, and had even agreed to assume her building lease.

  As for James' portion of the business, she had her attorney filing a civil suit for damages against him, in the exact amount of his interest in her business, plus court costs. The attorney had wanted to go for more, but she thought it was useless. James didn't have funds of his own, he'd been leaning on her for years. After the suit was filed, she was going to have the attorney contact James in jail and offer to settle with him by signing over his part of the business to her.

  When she met with Betsy, she'd also given her the listing on her home. To Cassie's surprise the market value turned out to have appreciated almost double since she'd bought it five years ago. That's why she'd bought in an 'up and coming' neighborhood, she had a feeling it would be a good investment, but she'd never expected that much in so little time. Betsy assured her it would sell quickly, and that she would be in touch soon.

  The judge had released the money James had stolen, and she closed out all her business and personal accounts. She was walking away with a good amount to start her new life and new business in Bowie. More than enough, she thought, and walked up to load the last lamp in the back of the truck. The moving people had loaded up most of her stuff in the moving van, but she'd kept a few things to haul in the back of Luke's truck, so she would have at least some things to get started while she waited the week it would take her other things to arrive in Bowie.

  When he wasn't out with Sabrina Roberts, Cole had been a huge help. He'd packed boxes with her, moved things around, and helped her keep Luke resting. Cassie was glad he'd come to Phoenix, she couldn't have done all she had without his help.

  She thought Cole was glad he'd come too, or he wouldn't have met Sabrina Roberts. It seemed like Luke's friend really liked the lady detective. His sullen mood today, because they were leaving, pretty much said it was true.

  "That's it, I think..." Cassie said smiling at him where he stood at the side of the truck on his cell phone. If men pouted, he was as much in that mode as he could be. Cole ended his call then grunted and stomped off to the house. She giggled watching the big handsome man storm into the house.

  Yep, he had it bad...and he'd given Luke such hell about her, he deserved it.

  Cassie had left one chair inside the house, so Luke could sit there while they finished loading up. Walking back inside, she saw Cole help him up then he yanked the chair from under him.

  "Hey, easy there..." she said breathlessly as she went to Luke's side and took his arm. He didn't look any happier than Cole. Oh, this was going to be a lovely ride back to Bowie, she thought, sandwiched in between two men in a snit.

  She had to do something to get their mood improved, and fast. "I know a great BBQ place near the city limits...let's get going so we can stop there on the way out."

  Like little boys
, both broke out in grins, and her heart flip-flopped at the sight. "That's better....let's go," she said and turned Luke toward the door. Cole brought up the rear with the chair. She stopped at the porch and got a little choked up when she closed the door of her little house for the final time. She swallowed hard and put her key in to throw the deadbolt, then sucked in a deep breath.

  "You okay, sugar?" Luke asked with his hand on her shoulder.

  "Yeah, it just all hit me...I'm really doing this," she told him putting her hand up on the door and leaning on it.

  He moved up behind her and put his arms around her waist, then kissed the top of her head. "It's going to be great, darlin'" he told her then leaned next to her ear and said in a fierce whisper, "I love you, Cassie Bee."

  "Would you two quit with the dramatics and get your asses in the truck?" Cole spat behind them. Turning she saw him standing there with his hands on his jean clad hips, his lips pinched.

  "Why don't you call Sabrina and have her meet us at the Pig-in-a-Poke on Pima Freeway?"

  Cole's eyes brightened, then his shoulders slumped. "She was supposed to come by here before we left, but she got a call. She probably won't be able to."

  "You won't know until you call her...so do it!"

  He gave Cassie a wry grin and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, then dialed a number and turned his back to walk toward the truck. She jumped a little when he whooped loudly after he disconnected the call. Country boys and their whooping, she'd never get tired of it. A grin spread over her face when he turned back around to face them with a grin of his own. "She'll meet us there."

  Cassie snorted. "Thank, god...I don't think I could have looked at your hang dog face for a thousand miles." Luke put his arm around her and they walked to the truck and got inside. Cole followed her directions to get to the interstate, then put the hammer down once they merged into traffic. He looked like he was definitely in a hurry to get to the Poke. But she knew it wasn't the BBQ he was hurrying for.

  "Slow down, Cole, what's on fire, other than your breeches?" She teased him and he shot her a hot look.

  She laughed enjoying needling him immensely. This was going to be fun, she thought, and Luke elbowed her. Oh, hell no, she wasn't done with him. "Think she'll bring her handcuffs?"

  He shot her another look, then his lips flattened and he looked back at the road.

  "Maybe you could let her check out your...gun." Luke chortled beside her then put his hand on her thigh and squeezed a warning.

  Cole grated between his teeth, "You done yet?"

  "Not nearly, sugar...." she told him and chuckled.

  "Cut the shit, okay?" he demanded, pinning her with glittering green eyes.

  She held his gaze and then laughter overflowed and she doubled over with it, and Luke joined in then grabbed his side and groaned. She sobered immediately, "Sorry, darlin', I'll be good."

  Luke snorted. "Not likely...but I like it," he told her with humor still sparkling in his eyes.

  It took them about twenty minutes to get to the Poke, and they were inside at a round picnic type table with delicious sweet teas in front of them, when Sabrina walked in. Backlit by the bright sun outside, her skin practically glowed when she came inside, and a halo formed on the top of her shiny hair. The door shut behind her and she pulled off her mirrored sunglasses then squinted and searched around the restaurant for them.

  When he spotted her, Cole gasped then stood up and smiled. Sabrina's face lit up when she finally saw him across the crowded restaurant, then she wove her way through the tables, without breaking eye contact with him. When she reached them, he put an arm around her waist and she leaned up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  "Glad you could make it, darlin'," he drawled and pulled out a chair for her beside him, then sat down again himself.

  "Me too--thank goodness it was just a B&E and we got it wrapped up pretty fast," she looked up at him and her gaze lingered a moment, then she dragged it away.

  "Lots of excitement here in Phoenix...most of my calls are about cattle in the road," Cole chuckled and waved at their waitress.

  "Too much excitement sometimes," she admitted then huffed out a breath. "I'd almost welcome a cattle call," she said laughing, then she looked over at Cassie. "Get everything packed up?"

  "Yeah, the movers finished up this morning," she said then took a sip of her tea. "We should be back in Bowie sometime tomorrow night."

  "You have any room for a stowaway in the back of that truck?" her voice was teasing, but Cassie saw in her eyes she was only half-joking.

  "You're welcome down at my daddy's ranch anytime...just call me. We've got plenty of room."

  "That might be darlin' but you're going to have a lot less real soon," Luke said close to her ear and flicked the lobe with his tongue. She shivered, then looked at him. "Oh...we haven't talked about that yet, have we?"

  "No, but we have a thousand miles to work it out," he said, and she knew they weren't going to be living apart once they made it back to Bowie. And that was more than fine with her. Either way, with her daddy, which would be more convenient, or at Luke's cabin, they weren't going to be apart anymore.

  "Even with you around, there will be plenty of room for guests, darlin'," she told him and snuggled into his shoulder, then kissed his cheek.

  Cassie looked back at Cole and Sabrina and saw them chatting quietly. The star struck look on Cole's face, as he listed intently to whatever she was saying was pretty darn cute.

  "You have any vacation time coming, Bri?" Cassie asked her. Sabrina had asked her to call her the shortened version of her name the last time they talked.

  The woman dragged her gaze from Cole's then said, "I have about three weeks accrued. I have to plan thirty days in advance if I want to take it. Why?"

  "I could probably use some help getting things set up at the farm, once I get Titan and the mares delivered. I just wondered if you'd want to come down and help me." Cole's eyes met hers shining with gratitude and a small smile kicked up the corner of his mouth.

  Sabrina sucked in a breath and her hand flew to her chest. "I'd love to...I can't believe you're asking me. I used to ride, but I'm as green as grass these days...I don't know how much help I'd be."

  "You'd be plenty help...and you can refresh your riding skills while you're there."

  "When do you think you'll have all your stock there?"

  "Oh, I'm planning to have them all there in a couple of weeks. I have the money now to go ahead and buy the mares," she said and smiled widely at Luke. "And my darling husband-to-be gave me the most magnificent stallion on earth as a wedding gift."

  Luke swallowed thickly then gave her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yes, I did, darlin'. But he's not nearly as magnificent as you are," he leaned down and kissed her heatedly.

  When Luke lifted his head, Cassie felt Cole's eyes on her and she glanced over at him and winked. "He and Cole are gonna buy out my daddy's beef cattle herd as soon as we get back to Bowie."

  Cassie felt Luke stiffen beside her and saw a little smile kick up the corner of Cole's lips, right before he hid it behind his glass to take a sip of his tea.

  "Wow!" Sabrina said and looked at Cole. "Cattle ranching and Sheriffing...you sure keep busy, don't you."

  "You have no idea," Cole admitted and shook his head.