Cowboy Cool: Book 5 (Cowboy Justice Association) (19 page)

“Tanner Marks.”

“Hey, it’s Reed. You got a minute?”

Sheriff Tanner Marks was the most senior of all the lawmen that Reed met with on a monthly basis. Not old enough to be a father figure but he had a few more years under his belt plus some adversity that had toughened him up. When anyone had a serious problem, they usually ended up talking it over with Tanner.

“Sure. I’m on duty but it’s a quiet night. What’s up?”

Tanner knew nobody would be calling him this late just to chat but nothing in his voice gave him away.

“A couple of things really. First, I’m going to have to call Logan tomorrow morning and tell him that there was an attempt on Kaylee’s life tonight.”

Reed assumed Tanner knew all about Kaylee and her stalker as the men gossiped worse than the women sometimes. Besides, Tanner was Logan’s best friend so it was certain he had discussed Kaylee’s problem.

“Is she okay?” Tanner asked sharply. “Are you injured?”

“Other than a cut on my head and some nasty bruises, I’m fine. Kaylee’s okay too. A car tried to run her down tonight but I pushed her out of the way.”

Tanner whistled at the news. “More escalation. Logan told me you were in Illinois dealing with a stalker. Did you catch him?”

“No, he was gone before we scraped ourselves off the pavement. No cameras as it’s a residential neighborhood. But I did get a decent look at the car. A late model four-door sedan, dark color just like what was seen speeding on Kaylee’s street after the brick landed in her house. Asshole had on his brights so I couldn’t get a look at the front license plate.”

“I can tell Logan for you if you like,” Tanner offered. “But I hope he keeps this from Ava. Her blood pressure is already in dangerous territory from what I’ve heard. They’re threatening to put her in the hospital.”

“I’m sorry to hear that she’s not any better but that’s not what I’m calling about, actually. I’ll call Logan tomorrow and tell him myself.”

Reed could practically hear the wheels turning in Tanner’s head. “I’m listening.”

“It’s about a woman.”

“It always is but you’ve never been one to care. What’s different now?”

“She’s different.” Reed was beginning to wish he’d never made this call. He didn’t want to hear what Tanner was going to tell him but it was too damn late now. “She makes me…happy.”

“Well, damn her all to hell,” his friend chuckled. “How dare she?”

“Fuck you, asshole. I don’t like this at all. I don’t want to care about what happens to her. I don’t want this to be personal.”

“Then leave. Pack your shit and hit the road. I’m sure the police can protect her or she could hire security. This isn’t on you. It’s not your problem.”

The thought of leaving was more nightmarish than staying but only by a small margin.

“Logan and Ava made it my problem,” Reed argued. “They asked me for a favor.”

“Logan is desperate to keep Ava happy and calm so they won’t put her in a hospital sixty miles from Corville. He’d promise her puppies on every holiday from here to eternity if it meant keeping her safe. As long as Kaylee is protected does it really matter who is keeping her that way? If Jared had been on vacation instead of you, he’d be in the hot seat right now.”

For some reason, the idea of Kaylee and Jared spending time together pissed Reed off.

“You’re doing that reverse psychology Jedi mind-shit, aren’t you? We both know I can’t leave.”

“We both know you don’t want to,” Tanner retorted. “I know you and you can’t delegate a damn thing so how are you going to let someone else protect a woman you care about? And yes, I used the c-word. You care. Get over it. It had to happen eventually. Personally I was hoping you’d work up to it. Maybe start with a plant and then get a goldfish but I guess a woman is good too.”

If Tanner only knew that Reed had once cared very much. More than cared. And he’d failed miserably at it.

“You’re not helping,” Reed groused. “I called you for advice.”

“I’ve given you some advice but you don’t like it. I can’t help that. What I’m trying to say to you is that you do indeed have a choice. You don’t have to stay there. I can call in a few favors and have a private security team there by eight tomorrow morning. Just say the word and I’ll make the calls.”

Reed didn’t know what to say to the very clear-cut choice Tanner had given him. His brain was telling him to get away from Kaylee and this situation as quickly as possible but his instincts and emotions had other ideas.

“I’m staying,” Reed finally said. “I want to see this through.”

“And Kaylee? Does she
care
about you?”

Reed knew she did. She didn’t try and hide her emotions from him although if she had a shred of self-preservation she would. When she looked at him he could see the respect and admiration in her eyes. It was a heady feeling to have someone look at him like that. Had he forgotten what it was like or maybe this was the first time? It had been so long he couldn’t remember.

“Yes, and that’s a problem too. I should set things back on a more business-like level.”

Except he didn’t want to. The thought of never kissing or making love to Kaylee again made his chest squeeze painfully.

“It would probably be best,” Tanner agreed. “Don’t be angling for a woman’s love and respect if you don’t intend to return it. That’s not what men—good men—do.”

There was a warning tone in Tanner’s voice and Reed knew his friend meant well. It wouldn’t be easy to put distance between himself and Kaylee but he needed to do it. When all this was over and her stalker was found, Reed wouldn’t be hanging around, sending flowers, or even keeping contact. He’d move on with his life. Alone.

“I hear what you’re saying. It’s going to hurt her though.”

“Better now than later, I would imagine. Unless you’re thinking that this
caring
thing might turn into something more? Something with a future?”

“No way,” Reed answered grimly. “She’s a sweet woman but that’s not in the cards. I’ve already told her that.”

“Sounds like you have a plan. Find the asshole that’s making her life a misery and then get the hell out of there. For her sake if nothing else. I’ll be honest with you, Reed, there’s nothing better than the love of a good woman but you’re in no condition to be the man in anyone’s life. You’re not in the headspace to do it. Your past owns you lock, stock, and barrel. I’ve never pried and I’m not going to do it now. But until you make peace with whatever demon rides your ass you don’t have any business inflicting yourself on some unsuspecting female.”

Reed rubbed his temples and stifled a groan at Tanner’s plain speech. “You’re right, of course. I’d fuck up her life.”

“I’m sorry I had to be so blunt.”

“No, it was a good reminder. I’d make her miserable. I’m not planning on changing. This is who and what I am.”

“You’re a damn good cop. Go find the guy and finish your vacation. Sit on a beach. Fish or something. By the time you get back to Montana you’ll have forgotten all about this.”

Reed could only hope that was true.

*   *   *   *

Reed wasn’t joining Kaylee in the bathtub or even coming upstairs. Stepping into a pair of flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt, she ran a comb through her damp hair and padded down stairs in her bare feet. Reed wasn’t in the living room or kitchen so she traveled to the office at the end of the hall and peeked around the corner.

The room was dark except for the desk lamp and he had spread all the reports and evidence on the desktop. It looked like he was settled in for the night with a bottle of water and a few cookies at his elbow.

“Hey, it’s late. Are you coming to bed?”

Since the first time they’d made love, Reed had slept in Kaylee’s bed. He still kept his clothes and belongings in the spare room, but when the lights went out they were together.

He twisted in the chair so he was facing her. “I want to go over all of this again, see if there’s something I’ve missed. You go on up. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

He was putting distance between them. She’d felt it earlier after the car had tried to run her down but she’d hoped it had been a figment of her imagination. But it was real. This was the beginning of the end.

“I’ll stay up and help you. Two sets of eyes are better than one,” she offered, knowing he was going to turn her down. He was looking for a way out. The going had gotten tough—and dangerous—and she was more trouble than he’d bargained for. So now he was going to leave.

The pain of betrayal was unbearable, almost sending her to her knees with its all mighty strength. How ironic that her stalker had sent a picture of a knife plunged into a heart but it was Reed that had actually done the deed. Hot tears pricked the back of her eyes and her stomach twisted into angry knots.

She’d believed in him. Trusted him.

Now he was setting the stage for his escape. By tomorrow morning he’d probably have a call from a buddy or maybe from work saying he was needed back at home.

She ought to make it easy for him but something inside of her rebelled at the thought. No, she’d make him do this all on his own. She wanted him to own up to what he was and what he was doing. She’d spent her life making things too easy for the men she cared about. It stopped today.

“I’ve got this,” he said just as she had predicted. “Get some sleep. You’ve got to be exhausted after tonight. We’ll talk in the morning.”

He had to be tired as well but he showed no signs of moving from the desk. She could already hear the words he was going to say when they spoke again. He’d tell her she was great and that it had been fun, but he needed to go home. He’d check on her of course…

Except that he wouldn’t. She would never see or hear from him again.

“I am tired.” She congratulated herself on how normal she sounded instead of a voice that was thick with tears. This night stood in such stark contrast to when the brick had come through her window and he’d held her all night long in comfort. “Good night.”

“Night, honey.”

She quickly pulled the door shut and jogged down the hall and up the stairs until she was safely in her room behind a closed door. Pressing a hand over her mouth, salty tears began to run down her face and her body shook with sobs as she sank down on the bed. She’d let Reed Mitchell in and managed to get herself hurt all over again. Only this time it was worse.

She’d let herself depend on someone for the first time in years. She’d been taken in by a handsome face and gorgeous body, forgetting everything she’d learned the hard way. She couldn’t afford to forget ever again.

Chapter Eighteen

R
eed wasn’t very proud of himself. After Kaylee had gone to bed, he’d remembered how scared she’d been the night the brick had broken her window. After what had happened at the party she had to be even more terrified now. Whether he liked it or not, she needed comfort and care from him. He’d set aside the evidence and joined her upstairs in the bedroom.

She’d already fallen asleep, but her features weren’t relaxed and serene. Her cheeks were shiny with leftover tears and her forehead was scrunched as if she was concentrating even while she dreamed. Reed didn’t know if she was crying because someone tried to kill her or because he was a giant asshole. Either way she deserved better. He’d crawled into bed and cuddled close to her already warm body. If she woke in the night or had a nightmare, he’d be there for her.

But she hadn’t woken until morning. He’d closed his eyes and feigned sleep as she’d carefully slid out of bed trying not to disturb him. It had honestly seemed easier to let her sneak away from the bed than to deal with all the tension between them. It couldn’t be ignored forever but this morning he’d take the reprieve with relief.

“Coffee?” Reed held up a mug when Kaylee entered the kitchen. She’d taken a shower and her long auburn hair was wild around her shoulders, a stark contrast to her pale features. She was studiously avoiding looking in his direction but she nodded as she took in the French toast in the frying pan.

Adding sugar and cream to her coffee, she sat down at the table, her fingers wrapped around the mug. The tightness in his chest was back as he gazed at her dejected form. Her shoulders were hunched and even her lips drooped. He hated to see her like this, scared and morose. He loved it when she smiled and laughed, her sunny nature filling every nook and cranny of this home with her happiness.