Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (18 page)

“Good idea.” It took a while for Dugan’s nerves to settle down. When they did, he realized he’d had a couple of hours where Kate wasn’t in his head. As he thought on the situation, he gave a chuckle. Yeah. He had to admit it. Jan
had
looked as dead to him as Tobias had.

It wouldn’t be easy to fill out this report. Dugan’s stomach growled. He decided to brave the gossip at Molly’s today instead of ordering in. He wasn’t in a hurry to get back to the office. But as soon as the diner door shut behind him, conversation stopped. He smiled at Molly, waved at the ladies crowded into a booth in the center of the diner. Conversation resumed.

He sat at the counter.

“I hear you had quite a bit of excitement out at the Hooper place.” Molly chuckled.

Dugan glared in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Who told you?”

“Honey called. Told me to fix up a couple of to-go dinners. Told me all about it. I think she was a little upset.”

“Honey was no more upset than I was.” The story would be all over town before tonight. He’d never hear the end of it. “Did she say why Jan wouldn’t wake up? The damned phone rang a hundred times.”

Molly chuckled. “Sure did. Seems Jan has insomnia. When she can’t sleep she takes sleeping pills. Last night her insomnia was so bad she lost track of how many she took.”

“Could’ve killed herself,” Dugan complained.

“Honey thought the same. She’s packing Jan up and taking her to San Antonio.” She paused and looked at Dugan. “You did the right thing—a good thing. Now Jan can get the help she needs.” She patted his hand. “You’re a good sheriff, Dugan Callahan. Now, what’ll you have today?”

“Give me the special.” He didn’t dare look around. There was no way he would answer questions about him and Kate. And they’d have to put a gun to his head before he’d repeat the story about the fiasco at the Hooper place.

What would he say about Kate anyway? That they’d made love for hours, but it didn’t mean a thing?

“Odds are up you and Kate will get back together,” Molly whispered.

“
What?
Why?”

Molly grinned. “More than one person saw your car parked at Grace’s when half the town knew she and Ed left town. Sadie was walking her poodle when she saw you leave. Have you and Kate resumed your romance?”

“Damn!”

“Odds are sixty-forty now that wedding bells are in the future.”

He lifted his head. “Tell me they’re not taking bets.”

“They are now.” She laughed as she poured him a cup of coffee, then hurried to the kitchen before Dugan could spit out how he didn’t appreciate their brand of nosiness.

He drank his coffee in two large gulps, his appetite gone.

“Ask Molly to wrap it up again, Amy,” he said wearily.

Amy gave him a small, sad smile and did as he asked, then also wrapped a treat for Piper. Dugan wondered which side she’d bet on. Then wondered if he'd wonder that about everyone he saw today.

Chapter Sixteen

By early afternoon, Dugan couldn’t stand the turmoil curling inside him. He had to talk to Kate. He picked up the phone and dialed her home office.

What would he say? He wanted to know about this commitment phobia she seemed to have. Could he ask? He had to. Had to know why she was so hell-bent on ruining both their lives. “Kate,” he said. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.”

“Did Grace get her cast off?”

“She did. Doc Pullman warned her to be careful for a while.”

“Good.”

“Dugan—”

“Kate—”

They laughed. “You first,” Kate said.

“Ed will be with Grace tonight, so why don’t you have dinner with me?”

Silence.

“Not at Molly’s.” The townspeople would go nuts. “At my place.” It wasn’t large. Just a bedroom, bath, small kitchen, and living area. Enough for him, since he didn’t do much there besides sleep.

“You’ll cook?”

He chuckled. “Don’t trust me?”

“You make good eggs, but when did you learn to cook real food?”

He laughed. “Self-preservation. I can grill a couple of steaks.”

She paused.

“C’mon, Kate. I want to see you again.”

****

His voice was like a whisper that sent shivers where they shouldn’t go. She did want to see him. Just thinking of last night made her body flood with warmth. But was this a good idea? Should they stop now before this got out of hand?

She should do what was right and cut it off now before one of them got hurt. But when a little voice whispered
once more won’t hurt
, she asked, “What time?”

She knocked on the door at six-thirty. The soft beat of salsa music washed over her. Dugan always did like his music as hot as his food and as fiery as sex. No wonder he didn’t hear her knock. She opened the door, walked in, and let the scent of food lead her to the kitchen. His place was a bare-bones bachelor pad. A recliner sat in front of a fifty-inch TV, a table beside it. Nothing hung on the walls. There wasn’t a single decor piece in the room.

In the kitchen there was a small table with four chairs. Dugan stood before the stove, his back to her. His shirt wasn’t tucked in, but hung over his cute butt. A butt that twitched every so often in time to the music. He was gorgeous. She grew warm just watching him. No shoes. How could bare feet be so sexy? It was almost more than her senses could endure. A quick flash of need made her legs weak, her will even weaker.

She let her eyes feast on this man who had the power to make her lose her senses—make her break her promises.

Was she crazy?

How could she ever leave him again?

She should leave now. Before this became even more complicated.

Maybe she could sneak out. He wouldn’t know she’d been here. She turned to leave. Standing him up tonight wouldn’t be as bad as continuing this charade.

He took that second to turn. “Kate. I didn’t hear you.”

His eyes turned a deeper green when his gaze washed over her. When she saw his shirt open almost to the waist—his arms held wide, she walked right into them. The jolt of being locked in his arms was so familiar it sent a shiver clear down to her toes. Just being held by him was a sensual experience. Her heart beat like a drum in her ears. Her legs almost buckled. How could he do this to her? She’d leave later. Right now, she would just enjoy him. She might pay for it later, but that would be later.

“You look wonderful,” he said, holding her inches away.

She was glad she’d worn a soft skirt that hit her mid-calf, a blouse that dipped a little low in front and strappy sandals.

“So do you,” she countered. She leaned into him again, back to that wonderful space in his arms.

“Dinner’s ready.”

“It smells good.”

His sweet smile almost broke her heart.

He leaned close, kissed her lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“So am I.”

Kate shut her eyes, leaned into the kiss. He took her in his arms, kissed her like she wanted to be kissed. The hunger that swept over her wasn’t for food. “Dugan?” she asked, between kisses. “Can we eat later?

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kept his lips on hers as they staggered the few feet to the bedroom. They all but ripped off their clothes, then tumbled into bed in a flurry of hurried kisses and groping hands.

His body was pure pleasure, she thought as her hands roamed over his shoulders, down his chest—then lower. When she got to the part she’d so intimately rediscovered in the shower she gasped with pleasure. She held him in her hand now, and reveled in her power when he trembled as she trailed her fingers up and down his beautiful body.

They slid into their old rhythm. The sameness gave her pleasure. The knowing, confidence.

His lips took hers with an urgency that hadn’t been there before. Hunger for the known and the unknown had her wrapping herself around him, allowing the pleasure his body gave her to close her mind to everything except the two of them.

Dugan touched her lips with his, withdrew, and touched again until she was writhing beneath him in an agony of want. Her breath hitched as her arms locked around his neck, her legs around his waist.

How could he do this to her? Again?

She couldn’t help herself. The perfect union of their bodies was so sweet it brought an ache to her throat.

She closed her eyes, let her lips urge him on until he thrust inside her with a moan of pleasure.

Her head reeled as she held him tighter, matching thrust for thrust in a wild union that was new and breathtaking.

“My God, Kate.”

His voice was low and thick.

Her eyes flew open only to see the fierceness on his face and the determination in his eyes.

Their fingers linked as he poured himself into her.

“Kate,” he said after they both fell from the peak and into each other’s arms, his voice guttural to her ears.

“Yes?”

“You’re amazing.”

“Shhh,” she said, putting her finger over his lips. She didn’t want him to voice his thoughts or feelings. Hers were too close to the surface. Too compelling and too frightening.

What she wanted was to stay in his arms for a while and glory in the aftermath.

But she couldn’t let this become a habit. It wasn’t good for either of them no matter how wonderful it was.

“I’m starved,” she said a while later. Lie. She’d rather just lie in his arms and make love again.

He kissed her hard, then tugged her up from the bed.

“I want you again.” He grinned. “But if you’re hungry…”

By the time they finally got around to the food, it had grown stone cold. Neither cared.

“Thank God for microwaves,” Dugan said as he took Kate’s plate out and put it in front of her.

A couple of minutes later he sat beside her with his own.

“Here’s to more nights like this,” he said picking up his glass of wine.

Kate’s smile wobbled, but she picked up her glass, touched his.

She picked at her food, unable to enjoy what Dugan had prepared. All she could think was that this wasn’t right.

The sex had been more than wonderful. It always was with Dugan. But it would be foolish to think they could keep this up.

“You’re not eating.”

“I’m thinking.”

“About?”

She might as well lie. This whole thing was just pretend anyway. Pretending their relationship could stay as it was now. Pretending that somewhere down the line, if he should ask her to marry him, she would say yes. She sighed, knowing if it happened she couldn’t trust herself not to run. “The trial.”

“Rita’s guilty, Kate.”

“No, she’s a battered wife who barely saved her own life.”

Dugan put down his fork. “I think she planned to kill her husband.” He shook his head, picked his fork back up. “Most likely, she’ll get away with it.”

“You think I’ll get her off.”

“Probably. We can’t come up with any evidence other than the insurance policy. But you can bet the prosecution will hammer that to death.”

“I’m ready.”

He ran a hand down her cheek, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The simple touch made her want him again.

She had to get out of here before they ended up back in bed. “I have to go, Dugan. It’s late and Gram is probably worried.”

“Grace isn’t worried about you, Kate.”

“I have to go, anyway.” She stood, hurried to the door. “Dinner was wonderful.”

“You were wonderful.” He stood, took her in his arms and kissed her hard and long. “I’ll walk you home.”

“No. Someone is bound to see us. Can’t you just hear the tongues wagging tomorrow?”

Dugan chuckled. “Let them talk. Odds are they saw you come here anyway.”

“I hope not. Too much gossip already.”

He chuckled. “We can’t stop it.”

“I know. But really, it’s only a few blocks to Gram’s and it’s nice out.”

Despite all the bad things happening in the world, Oaktree was a relatively safe place to live. Tobias Johnson’s murder had been only the second since Dugan took office.

“All right, then,” he said, dipping his head for another kiss. “I’m invited to the ranch Sunday for dinner. Would you come with me?”

Her stomach did a somersault. First step, family dinner, the next an engagement ring. She was
not
going there.

“The trial starts Monday. I still have to prepare. But tell everyone I said hello.”

“If you change your mind, the invitation stands. Good night, Kate,” he whispered against her mouth. “Sleep well.”

****

The perfect weather didn’t last. Monday morning, storm clouds threatened rain. Kate prayed it wasn’t a bad sign.

Her stomach harbored a flock of butterflies as she walked into the courtroom. She hoped the armor she’d put on, a black skirt and tank top along with a dusty rose jacket and high heels showed confidence instead of the uncertainty clawing at her. She’d never argued before a jury before. That had been Erik’s expertise. She told herself all of the people filling the seats were just that—people like herself—and that she’d seen and heard Erik defend dozens of clients. No amount of reasoning helped.

The jury had been picked Friday. At the time, she thought she had picked well. Now she wasn’t so sure.

She looked around. Where had all these people come from?

She looked for Dugan, but didn’t see him. Perhaps she’d missed him in the crowd. She wanted to look again, but didn’t want to be obvious about searching him out.

Every eye followed her to the front where she took her seat next to Rita.

“I’m scared, Kate.”

So am I.

But Kate didn’t want Rita or anyone else to know just how frightened she was. Not only was this her first criminal case to try alone, and Rita’s future was at risk, but the town was here to watch. She would succeed or fail with an audience. Talk about wanting to run…

Gram and Ed had wanted to come. She’d talked them out of it. But she expected Dugan. This
was
his murder case.

She scanned the room one last time. The back door opened and Dugan walked in. He looked good. Dressed in khakis, a Western shirt, his Stetson in his hand, boots on his feet, he looked the sheriff he was. Her heart kicked up a notch. Just having him so close was a comfort. He nodded, as if he could see how her insides shivered with fear. She smiled to herself. He knew her so well.