She brought her hands up to cup his jaw. “You did it again, dammit.”
Dare gave her a long suffering sigh. “What did I do this time, baby girl?”
“You got us off the subject again. I want to know about the murders. Talk and don’t change the subject until you’re done.”
“I only have preliminary information to go on until the autopsy, but it appears that Haines was shot in the chest at point blank range, maybe a .38. That blood spatter is near the middle of the room from what I observed, but Yardley’s was closer to the door. His entry wound appears to be in the back so I’m guessing he was running away possibly after seeing Haines shot.”
“They trusted each other,” Rayne murmured, trying to picture the scene in her head despite not being there today. “It doesn’t sound like Haines was afraid.”
“If they were partners and money was involved, they should have been. There’s little honor among thieves as I told you before. Clearly, someone wanted to keep it all for themselves.”
“But this is it, right? Tanner saw four bank robbers and now three of them are dead. That leaves one.”
His lips twisted as he ran his warm hands down her spine to rest on her bottom. “Theoretically, yes. But they could have other partners who weren’t with them at the bank. I can’t say for sure that the bloodshed is over.”
“So what happens now?”
“I investigate Haines and Yardley. Their friends, family, enemies, business dealings. Anything and everything. I want to know their favorite food and what fabric softener they used. Somehow I need to find the connection to the fourth man. When I do, I’ll find him and the money.”
Dare sounded exhausted, his eyes bloodshot and not from drinking too much last night. This case was wearing on him and Rayne wasn’t sure how to make him feel better. She only knew she wanted to fix everything for him. She’d never had that urge before, and to be honest it scared her. He had become that important in her life.
If that wasn’t love she didn’t know what was.
“You will.” She ghosted her lips across his, bringing a smile to his face. “It’s only a matter of time.”
His hands slid up under her t-shirt while the other palmed the globe of her ass and his mouth began to explore the curve of her jaw. It was quite a compromising position to be found in and that was exactly where Sophie saw them when she burst into Dare’s house, calling for her brother.
Rayne froze, her eyes wide as Sophie stood in the middle of the living room taking in the lascivious scene, her own mouth hanging open in shock.
“Um, is there something you want to tell me, big brother? Are there going to be little Dares and Raynes running around soon?”
Christ on a crutch, Rayne wasn’t ready for that. Being in love was a big enough adjustment.
Dare’s fingers crept into the neutral territory of her middle back, and he seemed to swallow hard before answering his sister.
“I can explain. I mean, we can explain. It’s not what you think.”
That was news. “It’s not?” Rayne asked. “I thought it was.”
He shifted uncomfortably, a dull red suffusing his cheeks. “Well…it is…but it isn’t. What I’m saying is…it’s not just physical.”
He was cute when he was embarrassed and she simply couldn’t keep her mouth shut. He’d probably kill her later but she only lived once and perhaps the deputy would protect her.
“Really? I’m just here for the hot sex. You’re a big stud, Dare Turner.”
From the growl he emitted, she’d poked the bear.
Again.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Would this day ever end?
Dare was beginning to think that he was caught up in some never-ending loop and that he would be dealing with the women in his life over and over until he passed out from sheer mental and emotional overload.
Rayne had climbed off his lap and into the easy chair next to the couch while Dare stood to greet his little sister and try to repair whatever damage to her psyche had been inflicted by seeing her brother get to second base with his girlfriend.
But Sophie didn’t look all that traumatized. She looked pissed off.
She shook her finger at him, a scowl that looked a heck of a lot like his on her face. Clearly she’d inherited the ability to convey displeasure with the lift of an eyebrow. “You kept it a secret from me and everyone else. That’s not a respectful way to treat a woman.”
Dare looked at Rayne, who had her hand clapped over her mouth trying not to laugh, and then back at his militant little sister. She didn’t understand the situation but damned if he wanted to explain it. It was his life and he didn’t owe anyone reasons for his actions.
“You’re brother treats me just fine, Sophie. It was my idea too.”
“See,” he challenged his sister. “No complaints. I’m a perfect gentleman.”
Rayne snorted loudly and he knew she was thinking of his drunken visit to her doorstep last night. “Perfect? That’s a stretch.”
“Maybe perfect wasn’t the right word,” he allowed. “How about we just say that I’ve treated you well?”
Rayne’s smile was way too amused. “Was that before or after you dumped me? I just want to be sure we’re both talking about the same thing.”
A gasp from Sophie had Dare hanging his head in shame. Shit, a guy makes one mistake and no one ever forgets. “I apologized for that. It was a mistake. A big one.”
“Dare Turner, did you hurt this poor woman’s feelings?”
Rayne held up her hands, still giggling at Sophie’s indignation. “It’s okay. He explained and apologized.”
“I would hope so. He’s lucky to have someone like you in his life. Not like those airheads he’s dated in the past.”
“They weren’t that bad.” Dare wasn’t sure why he was defending himself since he didn’t disagree with Sophie, but he didn’t like that his baby sister was the one pointing it out.
“Really?” Sophie sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs. “How about that Gloria? She was a brain trust. She thought Canada was part of the United States. Or we could talk about Sienna and her plan to become a life coach. Never mind that she was broke, living with her parents, and had never actually achieved anything. She thought it would be a job where she’d have a lot of free time.”
Dare’s cheeks were hot with embarrassment and he’d had about enough of this entire conversation. “I get it. My previous taste in women left something to be desired. But your taste in the opposite sex isn’t much better, sis. Tim Wallace is a loser. He can barely hold down a job.”
Sophie’s brows pulled down and her countenance turned stormy. “He’s not like that. He’s just figuring out what he wants to do with his life, that’s all.”
“By the time I was his age people were shooting at me in a hot desert. I didn’t have the luxury of just quitting and walking away when others were counting on me.”
Crossing her arms, Sophie pressed her lips together. The universal sign that she was done listening. “You don’t have to be an ass about it, Dare. The fact is you’re not dating him so you don’t have to like him. I’ll be leaving here for Denver soon enough and then you never have to see him or me again.”
Dammit, this conversation was going entirely the wrong way. He didn’t want her to leave, he just wanted her to see Wallace for what he really was.
Not good enough for her.
“That reminds me that we need to have another talk about Denver. I understand if you want to go to school but I don’t like the idea of you living with him. Maybe you could get a nice girl as a roommate.”
“Like a nun? Isn’t that what you mean? You don’t want me to have sex but I bet you and Rayne do it all the time.”
“Not all the time…” Rayne was trying to help but this might not be the moment. “I do have a job, although I haven’t been doing much of it lately.”
A banging on the door had Dare pivoting on his heels, thankful to be distracted by something – a
nything – else. Brothers and sisters were not meant to discuss their respective sex lives. It was wrong in about eight different ways.
He yanked open the front door and his relief died immediately. Tim Wallace stood on the other side of the threshold, a grin on his face that didn’t falter when he saw Dare. If the young man had a lick of sense he’d be terrified, but he appeared blissfully unaware of Dare’s animosity.
“Hey, Sheriff. I’m here to see Sophie.”
Dare growled an incoherent response and stepped back for the boy to pass. He had to quell the urge to take out his service revolver and march Wallace back to his truck with the directive to never darken this door again.
Sophie hopped up from the sofa and threw her arms around her boyfriend. The young man had the audacity to kiss her, slipping her the tongue right in front of Dare. He was about to rip them apart when Rayne insinuated herself between him and the young lovers.
“Can we talk in the kitchen for a minute?” she whispered. “Let’s leave them alone.”
She led the way and he followed reluctantly, not sure it was the best idea to give Sophie and Tim any privacy. Dare’s house had a pantry too.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked him right in the eye. “Dare, I’m going to give you some advice. If you don’t lay off Tim, you’re going to push your one and only sister away. It doesn’t have to be like that but you have got to respect some boundaries. She’s eighteen and I can tell you from experience that a first love is a powerful thing. If he’s what you say he is, sadly, the only way she’s going to figure that out is the hard way. I know you’re trying to save her from a broken heart but it doesn’t work like that. She has to find out for herself.”
“She was giving me advice. She said I didn’t treat you respectfully. But it’s wrong to give my opinion on her relationship? That doesn’t seem fair.”
She sighed and slid onto one of the barstools at the kitchen island. “She said her opinion, you refuted it, and she dropped it. End of story. You said your opinion of Tim, she said you’re wrong, now it’s time for you to drop it.”
Dare looked over his shoulder where Tim and Sophie were in the living room locked in an embrace. “Tell me you think that guy is good for her and I’ll leave it alone and never say another word.”
Propping her chin in her hands, her lips turned down. “I can’t say that, Dare. He does seem to lack ambition but I’m not sure that’s a totally fair evaluation as I don’t know him very well. He is sweet to her and I haven’t heard anyone say he cheats. I guess he does drink and play cards too much and that does worry me. But I don’t get a vote, babe, and neither do you. It’s up to Sophie.”
Dare rubbed his temples to sooth the blooming headache that was beginning to pound beneath his fingers. “Fuck. This is so messed up. I’d make a lousy father.”
“You’d make a wonderful father.” She slid her hand around his waist and pulled him closer. “Because you really love her and want the best for her. You’re going to be an amazing dad, Dare.”
Images of Rayne and himself playing with their children in the park swamped his senses and he had to put out a trembling hand and grab onto the counter for support. He’d never thought of himself as a family man but the urge to build that with this woman was overwhelming. His stomach heaved and rolled and he wasn’t completely sure he could keep down the protein bar he’d wolfed down in the truck.
“I didn’t have much of a role model but thank you. I think you’d make a good mother too.”
Looking up at him, she dug her tiny chin into the spot over his heart. “Aren’t you a sweet talker? Be careful there, Sheriff, we might actually start talking about the future and all that icky stuff.”
They were going to have that discussion but after the murder and bank robbery were solved and put to bed.
“We can’t have that now, can we?” He let his hands explore the soft skin just under her t-shirt. “You know what? You make me happy.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath and then unshed tears sparkled in her eyes. “You make me happy too, my big grouchy bear. Deliriously so.”
It was more than he’d ever thought possible.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dare shoved his phone back into his pocket. They’d finished a late dinner after ordering pizza for the four of them plus Deputy Billy outside guarding the house. Rayne and Sophie were loading the plates into the dishwasher while Tim and Dare argued about who had the best team in the NFL. It had almost been friendly between the two men and Rayne was proud of Dare for trying to be nicer to the young man. Of course, the fragile peace was broken when Dare’s cell interrupted reminding him that there was still a case unsolved.
“I have to get back to the office. They’re talking about doing the two autopsies tonight. I’m sure I’ll be late. Will you be okay here?”
Nodding, Rayne dropped a kiss on his lips. “We’ll be fine. Deputy Billy is on duty and honestly, I’m in for the night. I’ll watch some television and then go to bed.”
Dare’s attention turned to his sister and her beau. “About time for you to get going, isn’t it, Tim?”
Sophie rolled her eyes and pressed closer to Tim’s side. “Relax. Tim and I are going to watch a movie, and then he’ll go home.”
Muttering under his breath, Dare nodded and snagged his keys from the counter where he’d tossed them earlier. “I’ll call and check on you a little later. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need anything.”
Rayne walked with him to the door and helped him on with his jacket. The temperature had fallen quite a bit after sundown. “We’ll be fine but you be careful. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He gave her a smile that was just for her. “I’ll try not to wake you when I get home.”
It felt private and intimate, as if they were a couple that slept together every night. It was…nice. Her heart contracted in her chest and she let herself gaze into his blue eyes, getting lost in their depths until he reluctantly pulled his gaze away. “I better go. They’ll get started without me.”
He walked outside and stopped to say something to Billy before climbing into his truck and driving away. Sad that he was leaving but happy that she would still be here for his return, she headed back into the kitchen to finish the dishes.
Sophie closed the dishwasher with a flourish. “All done. You’re really the guest here.”
“I like to help. Standing around letting people wait on me would seem strange.” She leaned her hip against the counter. “So what movie are you guys going to watch?”
“Anything you want. I don’t have a preference.”
“Fast and Furious,” suggested Tim with a grin. “Damn, I love that movie.”
Rayne was fine with it so they all three settled into the living room – Tim and Sophie on the couch and Rayne in the easy chair – and watched the film. About halfway through her mind began to wander and she went into the kitchen to grab a soda. Popping open the can, she dug into her purse on the counter and pulled out a copy of the tattoo drawing that had led Dare to the abandoned gold mine.
She pulled out a chair and settled at the kitchen table, studying the second half of the drawing, a circle that looked slightly like a dart board. If the first half of the design meant something, what did the second half mean?
“Are you okay?”
Sophie was standing in the doorway, her forehead wrinkled with concern. Rayne lifted up her soda can as if to make a toast. “I got thirsty. Don’t you like the movie?”
Giggling, Sophie sat in the chair across from Rayne. “I love it. At least I did the first dozen times I saw it. It’s Tim’s favorite movie so we watch it a lot.” She reached out her hand and turned the paper so she could see the design. “What’s this? Did you draw it?”
“It was the tattoo design that Patrick Moulson wanted but never ended up getting. The first half here,” Rayne pointed to the pot of gold, “turned out to be the logo of the mine company where the two bodies were found. But the second
part is still unknown. It has to have some meaning but I don’t know what.”
“Um, ladies,” Tim stood in the doorway, wearing his jacket and shifting from one foot to the other. “I was thinking maybe I should take a soda out to Billy. He’s been sitting there all by himself and he must be thirsty.”
Rayne blinked a few times, her brain trying to shift gears from studying the drawing to a seemingly everyday request. “Of course, that’s a good idea. Just grab one from the refrigerator. It’s a sweet thought and I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
“You’re so thoughtful,” Sophie cooed, reaching out to brush his hand as he walked by them. Tim quickly retrieved a can and shuffled out of the kitchen. Her smile turning to a frown, Sophie held the paper close and examined the design. She pointed to the quasi-dart board symbol. “Is this what you’re questioning? This right here?”
“Yes, we don’t know what it means.”
Sophie looked up at Rayne, her eyes wide with shock. “I think I might know. I’ve seen it before.”
Excitement raced through Rayne’s veins and she grabbed Sophie’s hands, squeezing them between her own. “Oh my God, I wish we’d shown you this before. Where have you seen it?”
“There’s an old cave about twenty miles from here. You take the main road out of town for fifteen miles then turn right at the Carlson’s old red barn and follow that dirt road for another five miles. It’s a huge rock formation. You can’t miss it. Honestly, the only reason I know it is because that’s where some of the high school kids in this area go to drink beer and party. This symbol is painted on one of the rocks. If Dare knew I had been out there drinking he’d have a stroke.”
A rush of euphoria had Rayne so light-headed she had to close her eyes for a moment. “We have to call your brother. He’ll want to go out there right away.”
She dug in her replacement purse while Tim rejoined them in the kitchen, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jacket. “Listen, I couldn’t help but overhear. Why don’t I have Billy call Dare on the cop radio? That way you’ll be sure he’ll answer and if he wants backup or something he can organize it right away.”
Justice Inked (Cowboy Justice Association 7) Page 22