by Sophie Oak
Her face flushed. He could plainly see that it wasn’t the greeting she expected. Her voice was strained when she replied. “I’m fine, Sheriff. Nice to see you.”
Rye Harper slapped his hands together. “Well, then, I leave you in good hands, Sheriff.” He was at the door in a shot as though he couldn’t wait to get the hell out. “You call me if you need anything, Callie. And be sure to explain about the nudists. There’s a science fair the Farley twins are planning to enter. Some idiot relative bought them a chemistry set. We’ll be lucky if they don’t blow up their barn. Oh, and we’re coming up on Nell and Henry’s annual protest. I think they’re planning on chaining themselves to a tree or something.” The former sheriff looked damn happy he wouldn’t be dealing with those problems. He grinned and was gone in a second.
And Nate was left alone with the only woman he’d ever loved.
He was going to kill Stefan Talbot.
“I didn’t know your last name.” She was quiet, but he heard every word. The station was empty other than the two of them. It was a far cry from the DEA office. And it was so far from the field.
So she was surprised, too. “Sorry. If I had known”
Her eyes grew wide. “What? You would have warned me?”
The truth popped out of his mouth. He’d forgotten how to be polite. “I wouldn’t have taken the job.”
The blood left her face. “Well, all right then.” She took a deep breath.
He spoke quickly, taking a step toward her. “Callie, it’s not like that. I just wouldn’t want to hurt you again.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t hurt me in the first place, Sheriff. We had a fling. That was all.”
Damn, she wasn’t any better at lying now than she was then. The hurt was written all over her face. He wanted to pull her into his arms. He kept his distance. “Callie, it’s been a long time. Can we just try to work together? I need this job. Harper said you can help me fit in around here.”
“You need a job?” Confusion was plain in her voice.
“No more trust fund.” He’d admit that much to her. He hadn’t had any control over that. He hoped she never found out about the rest. “Bad investments. My father’s company is gone. I’m going to work out the former sheriff’s term, and we’ll take it from there. I promise to treat you as professionally as the last sheriff.”
She snorted, and a little smile curved her lips. “That wouldn’t be hard. The last sheriff used to pull my pig tails when we were babies. It’s hard to keep it professional when you grew up together.”
He hated Rye Harper. “Well, I’ll be a good boss. Now what was he talking about?” Maybe if he just acted in a professional manner, she would go along. He had no idea how he was supposed to work with her. The idea of seeing her everyday and having to hear about her husband or boyfriend…he couldn’t do it.
Callie’s hands went to the buttons of her sweater. She fingered them as though she really wanted out of the garment. He remembered that Callie felt more comfortable naked. Nate felt his cock swell. Well, at least it still worked.
“Don’t worry about it. I already talked to Nancy Farley. She’s keeping an eye on the boys. As for the rest of it, well, it’s nudists’ retreat time. Sometimes they scare the tourists.”
What the hell kind of town was this? “Well, if I catch them, they can spend a little time in an orange jumpsuit. It’s illegal to walk around like that. They need to keep to their place.”
Callie stood up a little straighter. Her eyes lit up, and her hands were suddenly on her hips. “I think you’ll find that a little tolerance will go a long way in Bliss, Sheriff Wright.”
His tolerance was long gone. He hadn’t been here fifteen minutes, but he could already tell the former sheriff had been very lax. “If I find someone breaking the law, I’m going to arrest them.”
Callie’s arms were crossed, and her lips pursed. “That should make for a very interesting change then, Sheriff. Now, if you like, I’ll show you around.” She waved her hand. “That’s around. There’s your office. Your uniforms are hanging on the back door. Your deputy’s name is Logan Green. He’s on his lunch break. I’m going to lunch, too. I’ll be back at two.”
She was leaving? He just got here.
“Try to not arrest the whole town while I’m gone.”
She walked out, and he was alone again.
* * * *
Callie tried not to cry, but as she shuffled down the street, the world swam in front of her. Why hadn’t Stef warned her? Seeing Nathan Wright after all these years had just about floored her. When he’d walked in, her first impulse was to throw herself into his arms and plant a big kiss on those sensual lips of his. Then she caught sight of the coldness in his blue eyes. He hadn’t smiled once. What the hell had happened to the man she’d met?
If he’d known she was there, he wouldn’t have come. Knowing that made her feel smaller than she ever had. Her heart constricted. She wouldn’t go back. She would just call in and quit over the phone. She felt someone fall into step beside her. As though she’d conjured him, Stefan Talbot glided alongside, measuring his step to match hers. He’d probably been waiting outside the station house watching for her. Callie turned away and tried walking faster.
“Callie,” Stefan’s smooth voice practically begged her.
“Go away, Stef.” She knew he played deep games from time to time. She just never expected he would play them with her. Betrayal burned through her. It hurt, maybe even worse than Nate. She had no illusions that Nate loved her.
“I can’t. You should just stop and talk to me, or I’ll follow you around until you do.” There was no threat, just a simple promise. Stefan was used to getting his way. When he didn’t, he tended to do whatever it took to force things to fall into place. Stefan liked a well-ordered house. “Let’s go to Stella’s. I’ll buy you lunch and explain why I didn’t tell you Nate and Zane were coming to town.”
She stopped in the middle of the street. “Zane’s here, too?”
“I suspect, though I haven’t seen him. I doubt Nate would have left him behind.”
“I don’t want lunch. I want to go home for awhile. If you follow me, you better tell me what you know, Stef.” She gave Stefan her sternest look. Her best friend was a good foot taller than she was and every inch the elegant man. He had a face that made every woman who saw him sigh. Callie knew he was gorgeous, but all she could see was the brother she should have had. Stefan Talbot was one year and two months older than she was. He had watched out for her almost all of her life. She wanted to know why he had stopped now.
“I thought you would quit.” He had a habit of knowing what she was thinking.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you were in love with Nate and Zane. Because you never got over those two.”
And he knew her better than anyone in the world. Tears welled up again. When would she get that hard outer shell so many people got? When would she be able to contain her feelings? She turned and started back down the street toward the little cabin she’d lived in all of her life.
Stef was right beside her. His hand found her back. “I think he needs you. I don’t know about Zane, Callie. I don’t know him the way I know Nate. I know Nate has been through a lot. His job went poorly. Zane was injured, and Nate blames himself.”
“Is Zane all right?” The thought of big, gorgeous Zane being hurt made her ache. Did he have some woman holding his hand? She hoped so. She hoped he was being taken care of. She wished she was the woman but wouldn’t have him be alone for anything in the world.
“I think he’s back on his feet.” Stefan was silent for a moment. “I think Nate needs this place.”
Callie began to slow. Stef had reasons for not telling her. She might not agree with them, but he hadn’t meant to hurt her. He slipped his hand into hers and pulled it to his chest.
“Please don’t be mad at me. I can’t stand it when you’re mad at me. You and Rye and Max are my whole world.”
&nb
sp; Poor little rich boy. She couldn’t help but smile. Stef had given up a lot to keep his handpicked family together. “You’re a jerk.”
“I know.” His smile was slightly sad. “So you’ll stay?”
“For a while.” It was all she could promise.
* * * *
The door to the small cabin came open, and Zane slammed down the book he had been reading. Was it really that late? He looked out the window, and sure enough, it was getting dark. Damn, he’d gotten lost. It was the story of his life lately.
“Zane?” Nate’s voice rang through the cabin. It wasn’t hard. There were only three rooms and a single bathroom. Zane got up from the small desk that dominated the bedroom he’d chosen for himself and walked into the main room. It was small, but served as both living room and kitchen. He took a deep breath because he hadn’t done any of the stuff he’d promised he’d do. He’d been reading a lot since he got out of the hospital. It took his mind off…well, everything.
He rushed into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Sorry. I’ll have dinner ready in a minute.”
Nate held up a bag. “Don’t worry. I got burgers. The burger joint is supposed to be first class. I figured you’d forget.”
Zane hated the feeling that rolled through his system. Useless. He was completely fucking useless. His legs worked again, but he was still half a fucking man. He couldn’t even remember to cook dinner.
“Don’t worry about it,” Nate said as though reading his mind.
But he would. He pulled two beers out of the fridge. If Nate could put on that pansy ass uniform and play at being a sheriff, he could at least open the beer.
Nate was already plowing through his burger when Zane sat down. “Bad day?”
Nate shrugged. He was shut down, but Zane expected that. They hadn’t talked, really talked, in months, not since long before he came out of the coma. Zane was okay with that. He didn’t really want to talk, either. It wouldn’t help anything. Nate’s eyes slid off to the side when he started to look Zane in the face. “It was fine. It’s a shit-ass job. Nothing to it.”
“Did you…” How did he ask it? Damn, but he wanted to know. “Did you hear anything about her?”
Nate let the burger fall out of his hands. He reached for the beer. “If you want to know if she’s still here, you should go into town.” Nate stood and stalked off to his room, his dinner half-eaten and forgotten.
Zane didn’t touch his. Damn it. It was still there. Callie Sheppard was still between them. How was he supposed to tell Nate that he wouldn’t go after her? The man should know. Fuck. Callie wouldn’t want him now. All it took was one look in the mirror to know no woman would want him now.
Zane stood up and walked to the front door. He pushed through the screen door and walked out onto the small wooden porch. The previous owner had left behind a couple of crappy lawn chairs. He lowered himself into one, hoping it would hold his weight. He had a sudden vision of three Adirondack chairs side by side by side. Three places for three people to watch the brilliant sunset. He took a long swallow of beer.
Why wouldn’t Nate just put him out of his misery and tell him whether or not Callie was still in this little mountain town? Was she married? Did she have a couple of kids? Did she think of him fondly, or wish she’d never met him?
He settled into the chair, which showed no signs of faltering. The night air was cooling off. The beer was cold as it flowed down his throat. Everything was still here and yet in constant motion. It was odd. The world moved, but he could be still and nothing forced him to run. He could finally fucking think in this place.
What did he want? He sure as hell didn’t want to be a burden to Nate for the rest of his life. He knew Nate blamed himself for what happened. If Zane had been in the same situation, he would have made the same call and yet…
Nate wasn’t the one who had to look in the mirror every day and see a monster staring back at him. Nate wasn’t the one who knew just how fucking mortal and helpless he could be. Nate wasn’t the one who had broken.
Zane’s eyes slid to the motorcycle that stood beside Nate’s beat up truck. He could get on it and just ride off. He could go anywhere and never have to be responsible again. No one would know him or care about him, and there was a certain amount of temptation to the idea.
But he owed Nate. He needed to make sure Nate was going to get his life back on track. He would make sure Nate was settled down here in Colorado.
Then he could disappear.
Chapter Four
“How much longer you planning on keeping me locked up, Johnny Law?”
Nate gave serious consideration to killing his one and only prisoner. It was two weeks into his new life, and he’d thought about going out of it with a bang.
The station was quiet, with only Nate, his deputy Logan, and the prisoner currently occupying the neatly kept rooms. Nate leaned on the reception desk and considered the man in the small cell. Bliss County Jail was a tiny operation with two simple cells. If he could catch a serious offender and shove him in there with Max Harper, he might be able to solve a major problem. If said prisoner shivved the mouthy horse trainer, then Nate wouldn’t have to put up with the son of a bitch. Nate stared over at his deputy, Logan Green. The lanky too-young-for-a-uniform boy had his nose in a comic book. All in all, it was a long way from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
When Stefan had offered him the job of Sheriff of Bliss, it seemed like the perfect place to start over. Of course, Stef hadn’t mentioned that he’d have to deal with Max or crazy-ass Mel, who insisted daily that the aliens were coming. No one had mentioned that he would be the law enforcement liaison to a nudist colony, or that once a year the new agers came in to soak up the vibrations or some shit that Bliss gave off. It was a weird town, and he was rapidly getting fed up with it.
“Damn it, Max.” Callie walked into the sheriff’s office, pushing her cute little glasses up her nose. She was so adorable, Nate wanted to walk up to her and hug her. Of course, hugging would lead to rubbing, and he just knew if he laid a hand on her, he’d end up humping her leg like a dog. She was such a sweet armful. Even dressed in a denim skirt and blousy shirt, she was sexy as hell. Why hadn’t Stef bothered to mention that the woman of his dreams would be his secretary? Stef sure as hell hadn’t forgotten that he had a past with Callie. He just didn’t seem to care.
Callie completely ignored him. She blew past him, her hands on those curvy hips of hers, and plowed toward Max Harper. Callie never did anything without a great deal of energy. It was one of the hottest things about her. Callie was always moving, but Nate remembered a time when her energy had been spent, and all she could do was sigh. He’d give anything to get her underneath him again. But she was still off-limits.
Harper’s boots tapped against the floor. “Now, Callie, don’t you yell at me. Talk to that tight ass boss of yours. He’s pulling people off the street for no reason. He should be impeached. Rye would never have done something like that.”
Nate came off the desk, prepared to defend himself. He’d heard an awful lot about how the old sheriff handled things. Nate wondered if he would ever come out of the man’s shadow. Everywhere he went, he was compared to Rye Harper.
He couldn’t see her face, but he knew Callie was rolling her eyes. She just had that sarcastic stance. He’d learned an awful lot about reading Callie’s body language in the last two weeks. “Rye didn’t arrest anyone because he was as lazy as the day is long. I could barely get him to write a ticket. Sheriff Wright is an actual, honest-to-goodness cop, and not just some high school kid who didn’t want to work at Stella’s Diner.”
Logan’s head came out of the latest issue of X-Men. “Stella works too damn hard, if you ask me. This place is way calmer than the diner, what with all the tourists and having to deal with Nell and Henry’s protests. And seriously, have you seen what happens when you get that guy’s order wrong?”
Harper slapped at the bars of his cell. “I like my burger dead, man. Hal tries to cu
t corners by shoving a live cow in between two buns and calling it a burger. You want to arrest someone, Sheriff? Go arrest Stella’s short-order cook.”
Logan nodded as though happy to have confirmation of his life choices. “You see what I mean? Being a deputy is way less dangerous than working at Stella’s. And I graduated three years ago. Stop calling me a high school kid. At least move me up to college. Speaking of college…I’m thinking about taking one of those online courses. You think I could use the computer here?”
Nate narrowed his eyes, and Logan suddenly bolted out of his chair. “I’ll go catch some speeders. That’s a good idea.” Logan was smashing his hat on his head as he nearly ran out the door.
“Will you stop scaring the crap out of your deputy?” Callie frowned Nate’s way as the door literally hit Logan’s ass on his way out. The deputy yelped. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to get someone to agree to this job? This is a whole town full of antiestablishment hippies. They weren’t lining up to put on a uniform.”
Nate shrugged. Scaring the piss out of Logan was one of the highlights of his days here in Bliss. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Callie.” He attempted his most angelic look.
Now he could actually see the eye roll. It was an expression she used a lot on him. “Sure you don’t. I heard you recounting all of your so-called kills to him. Do you want to give that boy nightmares? And you…” She whirled back around to face the man in the cell. “What is your wife going to say?”
Max Harper grinned arrogantly. He wore jeans, a western shirt, and boots. He was all cowboy, all the time. “She’s going to say nothing because once I get my phone call, I’m calling Rye. He won’t tell Rach anything. I have too much on him. We’ve got a nice, mutually assured destruction balance going on.”
Nate sighed, a genuine sense of pleasure running through his system. This might even be better than giving Logan Green a bunch of baloney stories. This one was real. “Don’t worry about that phone call, Harper. I took care of it for you. Your wife said she’d be here as soon as she…what were her words? Oh, yeah, she’ll be here as soon as she sharpens a knife so she can cut your balls off.”