by Stacey Wilk
She was certain smoke came out of Gage’s ears. She almost felt sorry for him wanting to control every situation and not being able to. “Can you hang out a few more minutes? I’m sure the sheriff has some questions he’d like to ask both of us.”
“I’ll stay for you.” Justin plopped down on the drop cloth over the couch.
She turned on her heel and marched away, hoping Gage followed. She passed through the kitchen and out onto the deck. The pounding of his boots echoed behind her.
“Before you say a word about that kid in your living room, I meant what I said about Izzi. Don’t make plans with her unless you check with me.” He closed the door.
“She’s old enough to make plans of her own. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is I don’t want you to be friends with my daughter. And why would you want to? You’ve made it perfectly clear how you feel about me.” He crossed his arms over his powerful chest.
That wasn’t the truth. She had battled her feelings for him for years. She’d lost her best friend and her parents all in a matter of seconds. She couldn’t be with Gage anymore, but it didn’t mean she didn’t want to. She had chosen to show the anger that surfaced in order to keep herself safe from thoughts about the loss in her life. Thoughts that she had all the time.
“I’ll stay away from your daughter.” The words tasted as if they were made of dust. She would never take anything out on Izzi, but he thought she would. She had wanted him to stop loving her, and he had. She should be grateful.
“Thank you. Now why did you drag me out here?”
“Because I didn’t want Justin to hear us. Why do you have to be so obstinate all the time? Do you realize teenagers will give you a lot more information if you don’t talk to them as if you are their prison guard?” She tilted up her chin. She wanted to stand on a step stool and take away his height advantage.
“Why is my daughter hanging out at your place talking with that punk?” He inched closer.
She backed up into the deck railing. “He’s not a punk. He’s a kid. He’s well behaved and has manners. He’s never disrespectful of Izzi or me. Not every kid is bad.”
“Because you’ve seen it?” He smirked.
Her hands collided with his hard chest, and she shoved him. Afraid her fingers would remember their way across his body, she yanked her hands back. His mouth fell open, but she hurried to speak before he could say anything.
“I think Justin is trying to change his circumstances. Kids like him want a better life off the reservation all the time. You need to lighten up on him and Izzi. Otherwise, you’ll send her right into his arms and his bed.”
“Whoa.” He put his hands up in defense. “That’s my little girl you’re talking about.”
“She’s not that little, Gage. She’s a young lady, and she’s beautiful, smart, and funny.” So much like her father it took Calista’s breath away.
“I don’t want her seeing him. That’s my final word. I don’t need any more parenting advice from you.”
The words pummeled her. He was right. She had no place telling him what to do with his child. She had no place in his life, and that’s how she had wanted it. Why did the separation hurt so much more now? “Still as stubborn as ever.” She shook her head and laughed. “You won’t be able to stop them. They’ll find a way to be together.”
He cleared the space between them in two steps. She had to look up to meet his smoldering gaze. Heat rolled off him and through her thin shirt.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I know my daughter better than anyone. She will listen to me, and she will not waste her life on a guy like him.”
“Like what? Like your grandfather who bought a ranch and turned it into something special?”
He stepped back, but the set jaw remained. “That kid is nothing like my grandfather. They’re not the same just because they come from the same reservation. Don’t you dare compare them.”
“You’re upset because you caught them doing some heavy petting. You’re being a dad before a sheriff. You have nothing to go on that points to Justin as the criminal. Not to mention you will smother your daughter if you won’t allow her to make some of her own decisions. The world doesn’t have to live by your rules.”
“My rules keep her and everyone in this town safe. As long as she’s under my roof, it’s my rules. And as long as you’re in my town, you’ll do yourself a favor and follow my rules too.”
“Or what?”
“I can arrest you.” He crossed his arms over his chest again.
“Is that a threat, Sheriff Ryker? Because I don’t believe the law protects harassing sheriffs.”
“Go ahead and report me.” He narrowed his eyes and curled his lip.
He was enjoying this. She would not give him that satisfaction. “I may just do that. You can’t abuse your power.”
“Deputy Sheriff Pearce is on call this evening. Do you want his number?” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone.
She turned her back to him. “Get out of my house, Sheriff. Your business here is done.”
She closed her eyes and held her breath. She wanted him to come back across the deck and put his strong hands on her shoulders. She had wanted that for a long time, but she sealed her fate when she slapped him in front of everyone sixteen years ago.
She hadn’t been thinking straight in that moment. Ajay had pulled a gun and pointed it right in Ava’s direction. Ava had screamed at him to put it down. Ajay said something about her moving, but she walked toward him. The gun fired. Ava’s hair fell over her face as she looked down. Calista couldn’t see if she’d been hit, but Ava’s legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground as if she were a graceful dancer.
Calista searched for Gage. She couldn’t find him. No one was going to Ava. Someone was screaming. She found out later the screaming came from her. When everything was over, and the bodies had been taken away, Gage dragged himself over to her, covered in blood. Tears were in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Sorry for what, she wanted to know. Sorry that he hadn’t tried to save Ava first? He’d run to Ajay instead. He opened his mouth to respond, and she slapped it shut. Her palm hitting his face and the cracking sound it made still haunted her at night.
Now Gage closed the door without another word and left her on the deck.
Untouched and alone.
Chapter Eight
Gage cursed under his breath while he stood in Calista’s kitchen. That woman could get under his skin like no one else. How dare she tell him how to be a parent? What did she know about raising kids? His job was to keep Izzi safe. It was the most important thing he would ever do, and he wouldn’t fuck that up. No way.
He glanced out the door at her, still giving him her back. He wanted to walk over and pull her in his arms. He needed to get his shit together. The feel of her hands on his chest when she pushed him away still burned on his skin. That tilt of her chin when she didn’t want him to have the upper hand only provoked all his blood to his groin. Still. Her fearlessness and determination were the first things that had attracted him to her. She didn’t take anyone’s crap. Especially not his.
Calista was the past. Where she belonged. His present situation required him to interview the punk in her living room and drive his daughter home with a reminder to stay away from Justin whatever the fuck his last name was.
He found Justin in the same spot they’d left him. At least the kid was trainable. He took a spot near the door so Justin couldn’t make a run for it without going past him and so he could glance outside. Izzi sat slumped in the cruiser. Her face was planted in her phone.
Justin stood. He cocked his hip so one shoulder fell lower than the other, as if he were relaxed and talking to a law enforcement officer was nothing more than a stroll in the park.
“What’s your last name?”
“Crow.” Justin’s eyes gave him away. His gaze bounced around and landed on his, then fo
und something more interesting to look at.
“Where do you live?”
“I live with my brother and my two cousins.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he scratched at the underside of his arm.
“Where?”
“My cousin has an apartment in Little Lake. We’re crashing there for now.”
The kid was couch surfing. Many Natives did it because they couldn’t afford housing of their own. Families would never allow their relatives to go without a roof over their heads, so they offered what little they had. His grandfather had told him many stories about life on the reservation when his granddad was a child.
“How come you don’t live on campus?”
“Can’t afford it.” Justin raised his chin and met Gage’s gaze.
“Where are your parents?”
“Why do you want to know?”
Because he wanted to know if anyone was paying attention to this kid so Justin would stop paying attention to Izzi. “Why don’t you live with them?”
“That’s none of your business, sir. I haven’t done anything wrong here. I’m done answering your questions. If you’re going to charge me with something, then do it, but if not, I have to go. Could you please move?” Justin pointed at the door.
He didn’t budge. “Wait a second. I’m going to dig further on you, and if I find a hint that you’re connected to these two burglaries in any way, I swear I’ll nail you. So if you have anything to tell me that might prevent that from happening, I suggest you do it now.”
Justin said nothing.
“Stay away from my daughter.” He slammed the door on his way out.
****
Gage pulled into the gravel parking lot of Kennedy’s Pub and turned off the truck’s engine. The lot was full with the evening crowd. After he’d brought Izzi home, he stood in a cold shower to numb Calista’s burning touch on his chest and called Kace to meet him for a drink. He needed the drink to get the day off his mind because the shower had done shit to ease what ached him.
Kace’s black, shiny Mustang sat horizontally across two spots. Kace didn’t like anyone parking next to him and wasn’t afraid to say it. Gage pushed out into the warm night filled with the smell of lake water. People packed Kennedy’s back deck to get a view of the lake. She should charge extra for that view.
Kennedy’s was the best place to come for a drink or a burger. The scent of grilled beef met him right inside the door, and his stomach rumbled. He hadn’t eaten anything since lunch. Not even one damn donut.
The oval wooden bar took up the left side of the room. Every stool was full. Tables and booths were cluttered with people on the right. Two pool tables saw plenty of action across their felt. The back of the pub was ready for whoever the musical act of the night was.
He scanned the room a second time for his brother. He should have known. Kace sat at the far end of the bar in deep conversation with a pretty lady on his left. He had discarded the greasy baseball cap. Gage was glad to see that. But Kace’s eyes never left Kennedy Stark while she ran from one end of the bar to the other, pouring drinks from the tap or shaking them up in silver shakers.
He stopped short. Calista moved behind the bar with ease and grace, as if she’d been there for years. The sight of her scraped away at his gut. Her long, brown hair was pulled back. Her black, sleeveless top outlined her breasts and flat middle. It also showed off her sculpted shoulders and the tattoos on each. Her shoulders had been one of his favorite parts before the tattoos. They looked pretty good with the ink too.
Calista and Kennedy exchanged words. Calista’s face broke into a smile, and she bumped hips with her friend. The look of joy on her face ran the heat in his body south. He used to make her smile like that.
He weaved through the crowd, offering a few hellos and waves. He kept his gaze straight. Pain built behind his eyes. A crowded bar had been a bad choice. Too many beers might only make him mad. If he got mad, he would regret a decision or two. He needed the quiet to stop the crashing thoughts of Calista.
The stoic peace of the mountain above him, a star-filled sky, and the whisper in the wind would heal what was hurting him. He should have pitched a tent on their acreage or grabbed a sleeping bag and joined Silver Bell in the barn. He could turn around and sneak out before Kace caught him. He’d send a text from the truck. Kace would understand.
“Gage, over here.” Kace stood and waved him over.
Too late, then.
“Hey.” He sidled up to Kace.
“Gage, I’d like you to meet Lori. She’s visiting our beautiful little town from Billings with some friends. Lori, this is my oldest brother and our esteemed sheriff, Gage Ryker.” Kace waved a hand in the air with the flair of a Broadway actor. He flashed Lori the smile that had a slew of ladies following Kace Ryker around as if he were the Pied Piper.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Lori leaned over Kace to shake his hand.
He didn’t miss the hooded glance pretty Lori gave Kace.
“I follow Kace on the circuit. I never dreamed I’d ever meet him.” She leaned back but left a lingering hand on Kace’s shoulder.
Kace held a modicum of celebrity from racing cars. He drove in smaller races that didn’t get the notoriety of the bigger ones, but he was good on the track—attractive and full of personality. He could probably have any woman he wanted. He just didn’t seem to want to stick with any.
“Then it must be your lucky night.” He turned to Kace. “Look, man, I think I’d better get out of here. I’m no good for company tonight.”
Kace leaned in and whispered, “Don’t leave me with her.”
“Not your type?” He smirked.
“She wants me to go back to her hotel with her. That’s not happening. If you stick around, she’ll get the hint. Please, man. I need to be rescued.”
“You’re buying.” He slid onto the barstool that opened up.
Kace slapped him on the back. “You are the best. Thanks. Lori, I have one hell of a big brother.”
“Is he available?” She gave Gage the once-over.
Christ. Kace would owe him more than a beer if his groupie started draping herself all over him.
“Him?” Kace laughed. “I wouldn’t waste my time. He hasn’t dated in sixteen years. In fact, all the Ryker men are bad news. Not one of us is marriage material.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Maybe you haven’t met the right woman.”
He leaned over Kace. “He’s met all the women. Tried on most of them too.”
Lori wrinkled her nose. “I better go check on my friends.” She took her drink and slid away.
“Thank you.” Kace waved Kennedy over. She gave him the one-minute sign and mixed a Jack Daniels and ginger ale for a lady at the other end of the bar.
“She’s got to bust my nuts every chance she gets.” Kace shook his head.
“Tonight it’s me.”
Kennedy came over and placed a napkin in front of him. “What can I get your brother, Kace?”
“Hey, Kennedy. How about a Sucaba?” He answered for Kace.
“I’m out. I’ve got Last Stout. That’s good enough for you.”
If she could, Kennedy made a point of giving him the cold shoulder. She had sided with her best friend sixteen years ago when he and Calista broke up, and she made sure he knew it. They had found a way to coexist in their small town, and out in public when he was in uniform, she showed him the respect his badge earned. But in her place of business, she turned on the ice and froze him out. Some women kept very good score of the past. He also assumed he was the reason Kennedy rebuked Kace’s advances. She didn’t want to get involved with Kace and have to put up with him on a regular basis.
She put the bottle down and walked away without another word. He raised the bottle to Kace. “Here’s to women, and why the hell do we get tangled up with them?”
Kace raised his glass. “Because nothing is sexier than a smart, confident, beautiful woman looking up at you when you hold her close.”
&nbs
p; His brother was right about that, but the only woman he ever really wanted doing that was Calista. He hadn’t had time for long-term relationships after he got divorced. He had to spend all his available time raising Izzi. Still, nights got lonely from time to time. And the summer season afforded him plenty of women who wouldn’t make roots in Backwater. He had taken advantage of a few summer flings, but there was security in knowing the season would end and so would the relationship.
Every year Calista came to visit he’d been able to avoid her. As long as she didn’t come up to him, he could keep going on with his business. This time had been different, and just standing close enough to get a whiff of her sexy, female scent blew up all the walls he’d kept in place. She stayed at the opposite end of the bar helping customers, and he was glad about that. At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
Kace nudged his arm, knocking him out of his thoughts. “Stop staring.”
His gaze dropped back to the beer. “I’m not staring.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
Kennedy called out to Calista, and she turned in his direction, giving him a view of her face and the lip gloss across her full lips. She never wore a lot of makeup, and he loved the natural side of her. She would hike right into the mountains with him or take a ride with the horses. She used to pitch a tent as fast as he could.
She could also wear a black dress covered in lace that showed off her legs and made him as hot as those nights lying in his barn.
“When I told my new friend Lori that you weren’t worth getting involved with, the part I didn’t say was because you were in love with someone else.”
“I’m not still in love with her. We’re ancient history.”
Kace turned on the stool, putting his back to the bar. Three guys grabbed the instruments set up to play. One guy sat behind the drums. The lead guitarist tuned the strings.
“Here’s what I know. You take care of everyone. Me, Jett and Lock, Mom, of course Izzi, Silver Bell, and this whole damn town. What you don’t do is give yourself the time to enjoy your life. You’re not getting any younger. You might want to walk right over to that woman and tell her how you feel because you sure as hell aren’t listening to my advice to stay away from her.”