“Right.” The way she looked tonight, he’d have trouble remembering his own name, much less hers. “There’s bottled wine coolers and beer over there. If you’re inclined.”
“Are you having any?”
“One beer’s my limit.”
“Same here.”
They made their way to the beverage station, Cliff returning a dozen hellos and howdys. He selected two beers from the ice chest and left a donation in the money basket. Unscrewing the cap on the first bottle, he handed it to Ruby.
She raised the beer to her lips and took a sip. Cliff stared. And stared.
“Something wrong?” she dabbed delicately at the corner of her mouth.
“Nothing.” Nothing an hour alone in the dark with her wouldn’t fix.
“I haven’t square danced since I was in grade school.” Her glance wandered to the large empty area in front of the stage that had been cleared for dancing.
“Can’t say I’ve done it recently, either.”
“But more recently than grade school, I’m sure.” Her fingers sifted through that mink-colored hair and lifted it off her smooth neck.
Did she have any idea how she looked?
Cliff guzzled half his beer in one swig. He was quite certain he’d never been out with a sexier woman.
Except this wasn’t a date. Not really.
He finished the rest of his beer rather than reach for her. The line he shouldn’t, couldn’t cross was becoming blurrier by the second. Slamming back a beer hadn’t helped.
“Let’s sit.” He escorted her across the room to the table where his family sat. With them around, he’d be forced to behave.
“Hi, Scarlett. Cliff.” Maeve greeted them warmly and patted the empty folding chair beside her. “Have a seat. We were just beginning to wonder about you.” She smiled up at Ruby. “That’s a great dress.”
“Thank you,” Ruby muttered. Left with no choice, she sat next to Cliff’s cousin, clutching her purse self-consciously in her lap.
Cliff slid into the seat across from her. “Where are Erin and Ellie?”
“Playing with Sam and Annie’s girls.” Maeve wrestled with Evan, who, at the sight of Ruby, tried to launch himself from his mother’s lap into hers. “Sorry,” Maeve apologized when Evan squealed.
“It’s all right.”
To Cliff’s astonishment, Ruby set her purse on the table and opened her arms. “I can hold him if you want.”
“You sure?”
“Hiya, handsome,” she said in response.
Evan toppled head first into her lap. Ruby didn’t object when he pushed upright, wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a kiss on her mouth. Ruby laughed and used her fingertip to wipe a lipstick smear off his lips. “Look what you’ve done.”
For the first time in his life, Cliff was jealous of a two-year-old.
He caught his aunt looking at him and grinning knowingly. Was he that transparent? Better get a grip on himself and fast.
With the help of Evan, Ruby relaxed, and conversation flowed. Cliff’s aunt was eager to update everyone about the Mega Weekend of Weddings. Her persistence had finally paid off. A TV reporter from a Reno station was coming out the following Wednesday and two more from Vegas the week after. Three new couples had registered, bringing the total to fifty-six.
She kept shooting Cliff glances, as if to say he could bring the total to fifty-seven. A brusque head shake from him didn’t dissuade her.
The loudspeaker abruptly crackled to life and Cliff’s uncle, who was head of the town council, boomed, “Evening, folks. Thank you all for coming. We’ve got quite a crowd.” After several mandatory announcements about the location of trash receptacles, shoes being required on the dance floor and thanking the decorating committee for doing such a stellar job, he said, “Dinner will start in ten minutes. Dancing commences at seven, so be ready to grab your partner and do-si-do.”
“I’d best take this young man to the restroom for a hosing down before we eat.” Maeve removed Evan from Ruby’s lap. “For the life of me, I can’t figure out how he gets so dirty.” She looked around. “Where are the girls? Sam and Annie must have had their fill by now.”
Evan resented leaving Ruby’s lap and squawked loudly. Cliff commiserated.
“I’ll go with you.” His aunt sprang from her chair. “I could use with some freshening up. Scarlett, why don’t you join us?”
Her intentions were about as subtle as an elephant trumpeting.
“Um...” Ruby sought out Cliff.
He nodded reassuringly. “I’ll hold down the fort.”
The trio of women and one fussy little boy navigated their way through a maze of people and tables. Cliff hoped his aunt behaved. Ruby could handle herself, but his aunt gave new meaning to the word pushy.
“Hey, pal.”
Cliff felt a firm hand clapping his shoulder and turned. Will sank into the seat Ruby had just vacated.
“Where’s Miranda?” Cliff asked.
Will had married his love this past March, to the delight of the entire town. Miranda owned and operated Harmony House, an elder-care group home. She would soon be opening a second Harmony House, this one for special-needs foster children.
“Over there.”
Cliff followed his friend’s gaze. The four senior residents currently in Miranda’s care were seated at a table. She fussed over them with the dedication of a mother hen. He imagined she took care of Will with the same dedication.
“You’re a lucky man,” he said.
“Tell me about it.” Will broke into a huge grin. “Miranda’s pregnant.”
Cliff grabbed Will’s hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake. “No fooling!”
“We found out a few weeks ago. She wanted to wait before telling anyone. Make sure everything was okay and that the baby’s healthy.” He grinned again. “Doc says it is.”
“Congratulations.”
Cliff’s elation at his friend’s good fortune couldn’t be more genuine. Few folks knew that Will had struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for years after his parents’ deaths. He’d overcome it only with Miranda’s help. No one more than him deserved to be happy.
“Thanks.” He paused, his smile dimming. “Hey, look. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about before Scarlett gets back.”
“What’s that?” Cliff guessed Will’s concerns had something to do with the volunteer fire department or his duties as the town’s EMT.
“She’s been acting funny lately.”
Okay, not about the fire department. “How so?”
Of course, Cliff knew exactly how so. He didn’t mention that to Will, however.
“Can’t pinpoint it exactly. She seems distracted a lot. Kind of nervous. Asks a lot of strange questions.”
“Strange?”
“About things she and I discussed last week. Or where equipment is. Equipment she was the last to use. And Sam’s acting funny, too, where she’s concerned. He’s pulled her off of the trail rides. And when I needed her to drive into town to pick up some horse pellets at the feed store, he told me to send Luis instead.”
“Huh.”
“It’s none of my business, but you and I are friends. If the two of you are having a fight—”
“We’re not fighting,” Cliff said in a tone meant to shut Will down. It did.
“All right.” He scooted his chair back and rose to leave. “Like I said, none of my business.”
“Hold on a minute. It’s not that.”
Will sat back down.
Cliff debated what to say. Ruby didn’t need her boss analyzing her every move. The right answer from him would prevent that. “She’s having some family issues. A problem with her sister.”
Will appeared almost hurt. “W
hy didn’t she tell me?”
“It’s personal.”
“But she told Sam.”
“She didn’t have a choice.”
“I’m on her side, Cliff. I happen to think she’s a good wrangler.”
“I’ll talk to her about including you.” Actually, Cliff didn’t think it was a bad idea at all. Especially if Crowley or one of his hired men showed up.
“If you’re sure.”
Cliff caught sight of Ruby, his aunt, Maeve and Evan returning from the “hosing down” and “freshening up”. Ruby’s features were drawn tight. Great. His aunt and probably Maeve, too, must have drilled her for information.
“This problem of Scarlett’s, it’s going to resolve itself soon. Hopefully in a week or two. Can you cut her a little slack until then?”
“Sure.”
“And congratulations again,” Cliff said as the trio of women and one surly toddler approached. “That’s great news.”
“What’s great news?” Cliff’s aunt asked.
It was exactly the distraction Cliff had hoped for. The moment Will said that his wife was pregnant, Cliff’s aunt and cousin were all over him, clamoring for details.
He tilted his head toward the serving tables and said to Ruby, “Why don’t we get in line?”
She was beside him in a flash.
“We’ll be along in a minute,” his aunt called after them.
Cliff was counting on it being several minutes. “Were they tough on you?”
“Not so much tough as blunt.” She peered at him through lowered lashes. “Your aunt really wants you to get married.”
“She does have that idea.”
“According to her, she gets that idea from you.”
He didn’t have an answer for Ruby. Being a husband and father were indeed in his future plans.
“Is that why you were pursuing my sister?”
The topic was a sticky one for Cliff. “I liked your sister, but we’d only dated a few weeks. It was way too early to consider marriage.”
“I’m sorry about Demitri.”
“All for the best.”
“What are you going to do when she comes back? You can’t keep pretending...”
Was Ruby really curious about her sister? Or did she want to know what Cliff would do when she left?
They fell into line behind the manager of the general store and his wife. Cliff dipped his head close to Ruby’s so as not to be overheard. “She and I will just have to break up.”
“And if she and Demitri have another falling out? You and Scarlett could pick up where you left off.”
Not going to happen. Scarlett wasn’t the one for Cliff, regardless of Demitri. He’d learned that much these past few days.
Neither was Ruby the one for him. Not while she was under his protection and her safety threatened.
That didn’t change how much he wanted her, however. Sitting near her, dancing with her—it was going to be a long night.
Chapter Eight
“Did you have a good time?”
Ruby smiled at Cliff. “I did.” In fact, she had a far better time than she’d anticipated.
“Told you, square dancing isn’t that hard.”
“It’s not exactly easy, either.”
“But after a few ‘swing your partners,’ you got the hang of it.”
What would it be like to dance with Cliff in a honky-tonk? Where they could two-step or, better yet, slow dance? He hadn’t held her tonight except to promenade.
She could imagine their fingers linked. His other hand pressed into the small of her back. Their bodies swaying in rhythm to the music.
Whoa! This was not the direction her thoughts should be going in.
They were walking from his SUV to her trailer. His question had broken a lull that had stretched during the entire drive home. Strange. They’d had no trouble talking all evening, except for that one little bump when Cliff’s aunt and cousin had cornered her in the restroom.
She wasn’t mad. They cared about him. Everyone in town cared about him. That much had been abundantly clear. Cliff wasn’t just their sheriff, he was their friend. They wanted him to be happy. And if Scarlett made him happy, they would gladly welcome her into their fold.
Only Ruby wasn’t her sister, and she wasn’t Sheriff Dempsey’s girlfriend. She was a fraud. A stranger who was planning on leaving soon.
“Key?” He held out his hand.
“Right.” She removed it from her purse and gave it to him.
On the other side of the door, Sarge barked, then whimpered with excitement when Cliff inserted the key and turned the knob.
“Wait here,” he instructed.
“Of course.” After three days, she was used to this.
Sarge bounded outside the moment the door was opened. After a well-deserved petting, he trotted off to investigate the nearby trees and bushes while Cliff searched the trailer.
“All clear,” he called from inside.
“Here, Sarge.” Ruby clapped her hands.
The dog was slow to respond. He stood staring off into a darkened stand of ponderosa pines on the corner of the property.
Cliff came to the door. “Something wrong?”
“Just Sarge. Maybe he’s spotted a squirrel or something.”
Cliff’s brows formed a deep V. Just as he shoved past Ruby, Sarge suddenly turned and returned to the trailer, his tongue lolling in a silly dog grin.
“Guess it was a squirrel after all,” she said.
“Yeah.” Cliff’s tone was skeptical. “Come inside.”
He followed close on her heels.
“You staying?” she asked.
“Just for a few minutes.”
“I’m fine, Cliff.” She tossed her purse on the coffee table. “You can leave.”
“I will. Soon.”
Was it possible he didn’t want to go?
It was entirely possible she didn’t want him to go.
“Can I get you something?” She wasn’t thinking of water.
Neither was he. Heat flared in his eyes. “I’m okay.”
She liked it when he showed emotion. Liked it a lot.
Seconds ticked by. Neither of them moved.
This was stupid, Ruby thought. Any relationship they had was doomed from the start. Her home was in Vegas. His in Sweetheart, three hours away. She was evading a stalker and would probably be a material witness in his upcoming trial. One of them needed to be the adult.
“I’m pretty sure the coast is clear,” she said.
“You’re right.” He inched slowly away.
She buried her frustration. What did she expect? For him to sweep her into his arms? Hadn’t she just admitted the pointlessness of that?
“Call me before you go to bed,” he instructed.
“Not necessary. I’m heading straight there.”
“Call me anyway.”
Because he wanted to talk to her as she was slipping beneath the covers?
He hesitated on the porch. “I had a nice time tonight.”
Her heart skipped. That was the kind of remark a man made to a woman at the end of a real date. Not a pretend one.
“Me, too.”
“Yeah?”
“I did.” She gazed up at him, wondering what his touch would feel like.
He was obviously adept at mind reading for he brushed a lock of hair from her face.
Ruby’s skin tingled in the wake of his fingers. Unable to resist, she closed her eyes. Then, it happened. His lips brushed hers.
Nice. Sweet. Tender. So different from the harsh, cold kiss of that first day.
He drew back, and Ruby opened her eyes. Sadly, the moment was over.
Only it wasn’t over. The next instant, Cliff grabbed her by both shoulders and hauled her up onto the tips of her toes. Their faces were inches apart.
“Is this for show, too, Cliff?” The intensity of her voice surprised her, considering how utterly weak she felt. “Because I doubt anyone’s watching.”
“Hell, no.”
His mouth covered hers in a kiss that rivaled all others. Ruby surrendered to the power of it. The fire. The raw passion. This was no pretense. Cliff was kissing her. Ruby. With a desire that left no doubt she was at the center of his every fantasy.
Rocking against him, she reveled in the sensation of his solid frame and the unmistakable response to her he couldn’t hide. This was how a man and woman were meant to fit together. Melding perfectly, like two halves to a whole.
Sounds escaped them both. A low groan from him, a thready sigh from her. Cliff’s arms circled her, creating a lock from which there was no escape. Ruby’s hands ventured on their own quest, climbing his arms to his broad shoulders, then upward to cradle his cheeks. The slight bristle of his five-o’clock shadow tickled her palms.
She sighed again and pulled him deeper into the kiss. After that, Cliff took control, and his skills didn’t disappoint.
The insanity—she could think of it as nothing else—ended too soon. He, and not she, had come to his senses first.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, his breathing harsh.
“You’re right.” Her head felt light. The result of an intoxicating kiss from an utterly incredible man.
“I won’t let it happen again.”
Too, too bad. “That’s probably wise.”
“Call me before you go to bed,” was all he said before taking his leave.
As if she could go to sleep after the last ten minutes.
Ruby locked the door, leaned her back against it and smiled ridiculously wide. Mistake or not, kissing Cliff had been mind-boggling. Earth-shattering. And so worth it.
She went to the window and eased back the curtain. Cliff was only just leaving. She watched until the red taillights of his SUV disappeared completely.
“Good night, Cliff,” she said to herself. “Thank you for the lovely time.”
In the hall, Sarge blocked her path. He wore an inscrutable expression on his face.
MOST ELIGIBLE SHERIFF Page 10