�ż Shut Up and Kiss Me @page { margin-bottom: 5.000000pt; margin-top: 5.000000pt; } Shut Up and Kiss Me Christie Craig LOVE SPELL NEW YORK CITY PUBLISHER’S PLEDGE Shut Up and Kiss Me Dear Reader, There’s just something about a man in a pink bathrobe. He put it on after the V8 bath. After the skunk sprayed him. After he crashed his car. After he was forced to return to the Podunk town where he left his one true love. �śWait, WHAT?” I hear you say. Welcome to the world of Christie Craig. Not that Jose is our hero. Heck, Sky’s about three thousand times sexier�"just ask Shala. But she would have fallen for Jose’s brother anyway, even if the Native American lawman wasn’t so hunky or protecting her from a killer. It was fate. That’s what you get in a Christie Craig novel: sexy guys in (and out of) uniform, wacky hijinks, and best of all, genuine emotion. There’s a reason why critics love her and she’s been compared to Janet Evanovich and Susan Andersen. Dorchester’s Publisher’s Pledge program is our way of identifying particularly special books by giving readers a risk-free guarantee. We feel so strongly about Shut Up and Kiss Me, we’re willing to pay a full refund to anyone who doesn’t find it everything they want in a contemporary romance. Christie’s got a backlist you might not have seen yet. And I’m betting her books and Lay’s potato chips have something in common: you can’t stop at just one. Happy glomming! Christopher Keeslar Senior Editor A PRECIOUS WELCOME �śBo must have given you terrible directions,” the voice said. Shala squinted into the darkness. �śIt took you twice as long to get here as it should have.” �śBo told you I was coming?” �śI’ve been answering calls about you all night. Tommy Crow called while flipping burgers and said some hot chick was looking for me. Harvey at the Shop and Go said you sounded desperate�"and you must have been, to actually walk into the Funky Chicken. Most weekenders stay clear of that place. But you lucked out when you found Bo. There’s nothing Bo wouldn’t do for a beer and a dance. Bo said�"” �śI’m not interested in what Bo said, Mr. Gomez. I get the point. Everyone in town is loyal to you.” Which meant they either liked him or feared him. She touched her purse and felt for her Mace. A growl echoed from behind the swing. Shala saw two big dogs stretched out behind her camera thief. She stepped back. �śDon’t worry, you’re safe,” Sky said. Shala couldn’t help but ask. �śFrom the dogs or you?” To my husband Steve Craig for taking over kitchen duty while I was superglued to the computer keyboard writing about skunks, fire ants, fistfights, and love. And to my son Steve Craig Jr. for eating his dad’s cooking without complaining more than twice a day. Table of Contents Cover Page Title Page PUBLISHER’S PLEDGE A PRECIOUS WELCOME Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE CHAPTER THIRTY CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS RAVE REVIEWS FOR CHRISTIE CRAIG! Other Love Spell books by Christie Craig: Copyright CHAPTER ONE �śIs that war paint or love paint he’s wearing?” a female voice rang out from behind Shala Winters. �śDon’t care,” another woman replied in a Texas drawl. �śBut I see why they call this town Precious now.” There came a burst of raucous laughter. Shala would have rolled her eyes if her gaze weren’t snagged by the group of hard-bodied, almost-naked males entering the arena wearing only headdresses and loincloths. A drop of sweat rolled down between her breasts. Too bad she wasn’t in the mood for hard-bodied, almost-naked men�"hadn’t been for a couple of years. In fact, she wished she’d passed on this powwow altogether. If she’d known photos were outlawed, she’d be in her air-conditioned hotel room right now, washing drool and God only knew what else off her jeans from that humping dog she’d encountered at the park. Dad-blast it, she needed photographs for her PR project to work. But according to the sign posted at the ticket booth, cameras were adamantly prohibited. In fact, she was supposed to have left hers at the gate. Right. Like she would leave a piece of eight-thousand-dollar equipment with strangers. Shala readjusted her shoulder bag, camera included. Why hadn’t Mayor Johnson warned her about this? �śExcuse me.” A blonde with poufy bleached hair, followed by a tall brunette, pushed into the crowd’s front line. �śLook at that,” said the brunette. �śI always loved playing cowboys and Indians. Now I know why.” More raucous laughter erupted. �śNative Americans,” Shala corrected. �śHuh?” the brunette asked. �śThat’s what they prefer to be called: Native Americans.” �śHoney, I’ll call them anything they want,” said Blondie. �śThis is better than a strip club. Look at those abs.” Shala bit her tongue. For someone to be educated, they needed to be willing to learn. Focusing on the arena, she let her gaze slip to the men and their abs. Okay, she couldn’t blame the women for enjoying the view. Just because she wasn’t in the mood, that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate eye candy. However, a fine line existed between appreciating and gawking. According to Mayor Johnson, this was the reason the tribe had only recently opened their powwows to the public: people came to ogle, not to educate themselves in the Chitiwa tribe’s culture or history. The town’s economy depended on tourism, however. That was why the tribal council had changed its mind. Precious, Texas, was 65 percent Native American or Native American–Hispanic mix, so they had a vested interest in seeing Precious survive. And now, so did Shala. The town was paying her well to make sure it did. Not that everyone wanted her here. That point had been driven home by the mayor, and frankly, it made her a tad uneasy. Mayor Johnson had suggested she wait for her second visit to set up a meeting with the tribal council, hoping time would soften their opinion of her efforts to increase tourism by publicizing their tribal events. Several of the councilmen moved to the center of the arena and explained that the next exhibition was the �śDance of Love, a ritual meant to lure soul mates together.” One of the men, long gray hair flowing down his back, scanned the crowd. His eyes stopped on her, or so it seemed. �śI’m already in love,” said the blonde beside Shala, pointing. Shala’s gaze shifted to the dancers and then back to the councilmen. The one who’d singled her out seemed to nod in acknowledgment. A breeze picked up his hair, but his eyes stayed fixed on her. Did he know who she was? That stare was intimidating. Shala’s breath caught. A lull hit the audience, a reverent pause. The gray-haired man looked away, and Shala drew much-needed air into her lungs. With fresh oxygen recharging her brain cells, she wished again she hadn’t come. Heat, hunger, and memory of that overzealous dog kept her from appreciating the show. The smell of grilled meat, onions, and buttered corn blew past. While the breeze was too hot to cool her, the aromas made Shala’s stomach growl. The hamburger she’d bought for lunch had been snatched by her unwelcome and amorous friend at the lake. Just like a man, that canine had been all about sex and food. Glancing around, she considered wriggling out to the concession stands, but then she heard a low thumping in her ears: drums. Her gaze shifted. The councilmen had left, replaced by the dancers. The drums grew louder. The crowd grew tighter. She could swear the temperature increased ten degrees. A sigh escaped her lips. The sun hung low in the horizon and painted the sky a bright pink and purple. Her gaze eased back to the dancers. The drum tempo increased and the men began to move, tall and proud. The golden sunset cast a glow on them and begged for a photograph. Shala’s fingers itched to capture the image. She reached into her heavy tote�Śthen remembered the sign out front. �śStupid rule,” she muttered, deciding to address it with the mayor. Powwows would be a big draw for Precious, but visitors would want images. Her aggravation melted as a low, strange chant filled the air. Sweat continued to collect between her breasts. The line of dancers moved her way: six men, though one stood out. Third to the left. He was eye candy at its best. �śMy gawd!” said Blondie. �śHow much does one of them cost for a night?” Shala attempted to ignore her, and yet, as another drop of sweat ran from beneath her right breast down into her navel, the trickle of dampness sent a sensual shiver through her body. A shiver she hadn’t felt in a long time. For a damn good reason, she reminded herself. The brunette’s drawl carried through the crowd. �śCan we shove dollar bills in their loincloths?” Shala shot her an eye-rolling glance, then refocused on the dancer. Hard. Unrelenting. Muscles corded his arms and legs. His body moved to the pulsing drumbeat. Black hair hung loose, flipping up and down with his motions, and his headdress, with rows of white feathers, shimmered in the sunlight. His skin, the color hinting at his Native American heritage, caught the sheen of the setting sun. It appeared oiled. Oiled. Oiled, slick male skin. The thought took her back to the time she and her husband had ruined a good set of sheets with a bottle of baby oil. Her body recalled with clarity the feel of her oiled body parts moving across his. The experience had been worth the price of good Egyptian cotton. Too bad her marriage had gone the way of the sheets�"into the Dumpster. �śGood God, check out his loincloth,” Blondie said. Shala’s gaze lowered without thought. The drums continued, and the erotic sound got under her skin, into her blood. Thump. Thump. She was staring at that strip of white cloth, vaguely aware of behaving as badly as the two women beside her. Shala closed her eyes. When she reopened them, the man had danced closer. Glancing up, she saw high cheekbones, lips almost too beautiful to be masculine, a chiseled nose�" Her breath caught. His hawklike eyes were on her, and not in a good way. Had he caught her ogling his loincloth? A blush heated her face and she glanced away, but not before she saw his intimidating scowl. She stared off into the crowd as if looking for someone, despite the fact that she didn’t know a soul. Never mind that ever since she arrived she’d had this weird sense of being watched; that was small-townitis, no doubt. But chills ran down her spine. She was an outsider. According to the mayor, an unwelcome outsider. This dancer’s stare was different, though. She could still feel his gaze eliciting strange emotions from her, like loneliness. How could she feel alone when surrounded by a crowd of over three hundred people? Easy, her mind shot back. You don’t let anyone get close. Especially men. But being alone was a small price to pay for emotional safety. �śHey.” The brunette elbowed Shala. �śHe’s staring at you.” Shala ignored her but braved another glance at the dancer. She regretted it. His scowl had grown angrier. Panicked, she dug through her purse�"a reason to look away without appearing to be a coward, which normally she wasn’t. None of this was normal, yet she couldn’t put her finger on why. The beat of the drums changed, and she sensed more than saw the dancers turn. Tempted though she was to check if the man’s backside rivaled his front, escape appealed more. �śLook at those tight asses,” the brunette said. Guffaws broke out. Without looking or laughing herself, Shala swung around, but the strap of her canvas bag caught the brunette’s elbow. It slipped off her shoulder, and her eight-thousand dollar Nikon made a break for the ground. �śNo!” Shala dropped to her knees. Picking up the camera, she checked the lens for cracks. No visible damage, thank God. She pulled the camera up close to inspect it and in the corner of her vision saw a flash. Lowering her Nikon, she saw the brunette drop a point-and-shoot into her purse. More concerned with her Nikon than the woman’s illegal photo op, Shala refocused. Sudden gasps echoed from the crowd. Half-standing while raising her gaze from her camera, she found her nose almost against a loinclothed crotch. She swallowed a lump down her throat and rose the rest of the way. Although she stood only chest high on the man, she tried to appear unaffected, as if she regularly found her nose stuck in men’s crotches. Before she could rationalize why the dancer was there, he yanked her camera from her hands. Stunned, she watched his backside�"it was equally impressive to his front�"disappear into the crowd. Reality hit. Someone had just run off with her eight-thousand-dollar camera. �śStop that man!” she screamed, and took off after him. An hour later, standing in the hot night air outside the ticket booth and still sweating, Shala teetered on the edge of sanity. Redfoot Darkwater, the tribesman with long gray hair who’d eyed her in the arena, seemed unaffected. He was the fourth councilman paraded down to discuss her missing camera. Discuss? Ha! The first three had all stood there like rocks, studying her like a high-school biology experiment, not saying more than six words between them. Redfoot was no different, his arms crossed stoically over his chest. She wanted to poke him to make sure he wasn’t one of those cigar-shop statues she’d seen as a kid. �śLet me say this one more time, sir. I need my camera.” He didn’t blink, but at least he moved. He pointed to the sign. �śYou read the rules. Yes?” He talked! �śYes. I read the rules, but I didn’t take a picture. I just didn’t want to leave my�"” �śSky says you took a picture.” Sky? Oh, Mr. Eye Candy. �śWell, Sky’s lying. I didn’t take a picture. The woman beside me took the picture.” �śBut you did have your camera. Rule says all cameras must be left at the gate, and if found will be confiscated for one week.” Shala held her breath and wondered if she should tell him who she was and why she was here. Oh, goodness, this wasn’t how she wanted to be introduced! �śLook, I accept that I broke a rule, and I’m sorry. But I didn’t take the picture, so if you could give me my camera�Ś” �śCan’t give you camera. Sky has the camera.” �śWhy does he have the camera? Who is Sky?” �śHe handles these things. You talk to Sky.” Shala was dying to let loose with some seldom-used language, but being raised by her grandparents had instilled in her a respect for her elders, even uncooperative, stoic ol’ farts. Realizing she wasn’t getting anywhere, she decided to be completely honest. �śLook, I’m here in Precious, Texas, at the request of your mayor. I’m working for the town to increase tourism. He wants me to find your town �Śprecious,’ and this�Śthis missing camera fiasco isn’t. Do you understand?” Redfoot’s brow creased. �śYou wait one week. You talk to Sky. You offer donation and he will probably give you your camera. The film, however, I’m sure he’s already destroyed.” �śFilm? Donation?” She took another deep breath, seeking a calm that didn’t currently exist anywhere in her emotional zip code. �śMy camera is digital, and every picture I’ve taken for the last three days is on it. If that man does something to my memory card, I�Ś” She exhaled. �śCan I talk to him? Please. Please. Pleeaassse!” The old man looked tempted. Almost. �śOne week. You tell Sky you want your camera. Sky is a fair man. He will return your camera. Maybe he ask for donation. One woman shine his boots to get camera back. You do what Sky asks, and he will be fair.” Fury bubbled up inside her. �śI won’t be here next week. I need my camera, and I need it now. And I am not going to polish any man’s boots. What I’m going to do is call the police.” �śThis is Indian land. Police no good here. But you know this, don’t you?” She did, but during conniption fits she often forgot things. And she was smack dab in the middle of one. Why else would she be butting heads with the very people whose cooperation she needed to win? But it was too late. She’d patch up things later. Right now, she needed her camera. �śLook, I’m not going to shine anyone’s shoes to�"” �śThen you do not want your camera very bad.” Redfoot turned to walk away. Shala called his name, hoping she remembered it correctly. �śPlease. I really need my camera.” As the man faced her, she could swear empathy filled his faded gray eyes. �śPlease,” she repeated. �śYou are confusing woman. You seem like nice girl, but you do not obey the rules. You say you not take a picture, but Sky does not lie. You say you want your camera, but you say you won’t work to get your camera back. I hope I am right about you, Blue Eyes.” Blue eyes? And right about what? The man talked like a Native American fortune cookie and Shala suspected it was partly an act. �śIt’s my camera. I shouldn’t have to work to get it back.” His gray hair stirred in the hot breeze. �śAll this land was ours, and now the white man is angry because we do not pay taxes on the small piece we have left.” Shala blinked. Somehow her camera had gotten caught up with ancient peace treaties gone bad. She knew then she couldn’t win the argument, not with Redfoot, but giving up wasn’t in her genes. �śLook�"” �śYou, Blue Eyes, need to learn to follow the rules. I’m sure Sky will teach you.” Shaking his head, Redfoot walked away. Shala turned back to the teenage boy who’d called down all four of the elders to talk to her. He leaned against the counter, his mouth agape, his eyes on her boobs. His attention shot up, but her effect on him didn’t go unnoticed. She sent him a smile, not above flirting to get what she needed. �śCan you please call�ŚSky? I want to talk to him.” The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed. �śMr. Gomez has left. Come back next week. Like Redfoot said, Sky’s a fair man.” Okay, the boy was probably in obstinacy training. That, or she’d forgotten how to flirt. Considering she hadn’t flirted in years, the latter could be the case. Then she realized: �śSky Gomez? That’s his name?” The boy took on the pinched expression of a fish out of water. He started to say something, but Shala didn’t stick around to hear. �śSky Gomez,” she repeated as she hurried to her car. Precious, Texas, wasn’t as big as a freckle. Somehow, some way, she was going to find this man and get her camera back. That, or she’d bury him in the nearest compost heap. CHAPTER TWO The kids at the fast-food joint pretended they didn’t know a Sky Gomez. The guy at the convenience store downright refused to talk to Shala. The telephone operator said his number and address were unlisted, and when she asked the woman at the drugstore directions to his residence, the clerk patted her on the shoulder and told her she’d best kiss the camera good-bye for at least a week. Was the entire town in cahoots? At almost ten, after failing miserably to get someone�"anyone�"in this godforsaken freckle to tell her where she could find the man, she turned to desperate measures. She drove her Honda Accord down Highway 301 to the last place she wanted to go: the town’s only bar. And what a fine establishment it appeared to be. The watering hole looked like a cross between a biker bar and a dilapidated barn. Of course, the huge demented chicken painted on the metal roof, beer in claw, gave it that real touch of class. But then, the drunken, crazy-eyed fowl did reflect the establishment’s name: the Funky Chicken. Of course, someone had painted over the N with a C. Shala was about to walk into the Fucky Chicken. She’d passed the establishment several times during the day and put it first on her gotta-do-something-about-it list for the mayor. Hey, she appreciated unique hangouts. Tourists loved them, but this place’s appearance wasn’t �śquirky.” Instead, it had that you-take-your-life-in-your-hands-when-entering air. And she was about to enter. It was for a good cause, she reminded herself: her Nikon. She’d used her inheritance from Nana to buy that camera, and Shala wanted it back. It might sound stupid, but she viewed the Nikon as her grandmother’s way of still looking out for her. Yeah, it was sad for a twenty-eight-year-old to still want to be looked after, but everyone had a few flaws, right? As she pulled into the parking lot, a pair of headlights appeared in her rearview mirror. She turned to see a dark-colored sedan that she’d seen earlier. The car pulled to the side of the lot and stopped. Could it be Sky Gomez? Now, wouldn’t that be funny. Not. Getting out of her car, she approached her stalker. Two steps closer, the car sped off. But as it passed under the streetlight, Shala got a glimpse of the driver�"a big guy with short light-colored hair. Not her camera thief. So who was it? The mayor’s warning rang in her ears: Some people in town, especially the Natives, don’t want us turning to tourism. Don’t be surprised if you run into some unfriendly folks. But just how unfriendly could they get? �śUnfriendly enough to steal my camera,” she muttered. Then, armed with fake courage and determined to get back her Nikon, she hotfooted it into the Fucky Chicken. Shala pulled up in front of Sky Gomez’s log cabin a short while later. The moon hung eerily low. If she hadn’t been so downright pissed, she’d have found the place quaint. Instead, the cabin, nestled between live-oak trees, had creepy music playing in her head. Leaning against her steering wheel, Shala noticed golden light leaking from the window on the left side of the porch. A truck was parked beside the cabin. Someone was home. He was home. An image of the scowling, loincloth-wearing man flashed through her mind. A shiver climbed her spine. She glanced up and down the dirt road, seeking another light from a nearby home. Nope. Sheer darkness. It was just her and her camera thief, her gorgeous camera thief whom she knew nothing about. He could be a serial killer. He didn’t look like a serial killer, but it had been a while since she’d run across one�"a while, as in never�"so she might have missed the resemblance. She checked her rearview mirror. At least the sedan hadn’t shown back up. She could leave, she told herself, but she hadn’t endured that visit to the Funky Chicken to back out now. The bartender had laughed at her twenty-dollar bribe. Honey, it would take about fifty of those to warrant pissing off Sky. And if she’d known what she’d end up paying to Bo Eagle, the bar’s owner, she might have considered the bartender’s offer a better deal. It had taken two beers before Bo even admitted knowing Sky. Another to sort of recall where Sky lived. But the ultimate price of the exact address had brought her down to a new level. A little more sweet talk, and one dance, and then I’ll cough up Sky’s address. Bo’s words bounced through her head like a Ping-Pong ball with spikes. Sort of like how the man danced. She’d have sweet-talked him until the cows came home hungover, but that dance would haunt her. And not in a good way. Who knew disco wasn’t dead? Shala stepped out of her car. The hot night clung to her skin. A hope of sweet-talking her camera from Sky Gomez flitted through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Something told her he didn’t like women. Or maybe it was just blonde, blue-eyed, all-American chicks ogling his loincloth. Fate wouldn’t create a man that drop-dead gorgeous and make him gay, would it? Oh, yes, fate would. Not that she thought Sky Gomez was gay. Or cared. And him liking her or not liking her? That didn’t matter, either. She had one objective: getting her camera. Stiffening her spine, prepared for this to get ugly, she hugged her bag. If she had to call in the cops, she would. She’d lost her patience back on the dance floor when Bo had flung her between his legs. Taking a deep breath, checking her bag for her can of Mace, she walked up to the dark front porch. One deep breath later, she knocked. When no one answered, she knocked again. �śPlease be home,” she muttered, rapping her knuckles against the thick wooden door a third time. �śDamn it, I had better not have discoed for nothing. Be home.” �śI’m home.” Shala jumped and bumped her head against the doorframe. The voice had come from the right, the dark side of the porch, and she aimed her gaze that way. �śBo must have given you terrible directions,” the voice continued. �śIt took you twice as long to get here as it should have.” �śBo told you I was coming?” She squinted into the darkness, only to make out the shape of a man sitting on a porch swing. A very nice shape that she hoped wore more clothes than earlier. �śI’ve been answering calls about you all night. James Stone’s son at the ticket gate. Moonshine, Cougar, Wolf, and finally Redfoot. Redfoot had nice things to say about you.” She knew she’d liked Redfoot best. �śLook, I want�"” �śYou managed to meet the entire tribal council tonight. Congratulations.” �śLook, I’m here�"” �śTommy Crow called while flipping burgers and said some hot chick was looking for me. Evie, at Walgreens, told me to be nice to you. Harvey at the Shop and Go said you sounded desperate�"and you must have been, to actually walk into the Funky Chicken. Most weekenders stay clear of that place.” �śI wouldn’t know why,” she sassed. But she wasn’t here to discuss tourism. �śI’m not here to�"” �śEduardo, the bartender, said he turned down your bribe. But you lucked out when you found Bo. There’s nothing Bo wouldn’t do for a beer and a dance. Bo said�"” �śI’m not interested in what Bo said, Mr. Gomez. I get the point. Everyone in town is loyal to you.” Which meant they either liked him or feared him. She touched her purse and felt for her Mace. A growl echoed from behind the swing. Shala saw two big dogs stretched out behind her camera thief. She stepped back, having reached her limit of humping for the day. Between the dog and then Bo�" �śDon’t worry, you’re safe,” Sky said. �śFrom the dogs or you?” �śBoth.” He patted the porch swing. �śHave a seat.” �śI’d rather stand.” Silence rang out. She noticed he wore jeans and a button-down shirt. �śYou know, it would have been easier if you’d just agreed to talk to me.” A hell of a lot easier if he just hadn’t taken her camera in the first place. �śEasier for whom?” He shifted. The porch swing creaked, then was drowned out by the intimate silence. �śFor both of us. I wouldn’t have had to run all over town, trying to bribe people. And you wouldn’t have had to be disturbed with calls.” He crossed his arms over his chest. The pose made him appear solid, strong. Unapproachable. �śI wasn’t disturbed. They’re my friends. I enjoyed every conversation. And I think they enjoyed your attention. I know Bo did. You’re the first woman who’s danced with him in three years.” Shala cringed as she remembered a move that brought back memories of the humping dog. He chuckled. �śI would have paid to see that.” A sharp ringing pierced the night. Sky pulled a cell phone from his shirt pocket and answered. �śYeah?” Pause. �śShe’s here.” His gaze moved over her, up and then slowly down, as if to intimidate her. It worked, but she’d be damned if she’d let him know. �śShe is that.” He chuckled. The deep throaty sound somehow eased her fear but built her aggravation. He pulled the phone away and looked at her. �śBo says hi.” Then he refocused on the conversation. �śDon’t worry, I can handle her.” He hung up, and his dark eyes settled on her again. �śI’m not easy to handle,” she seethed. �śI’m willing to give it a shot. But if you prefer Bo, I could call him back.” He smiled. Really smiled. That confident expression rubbed every bad nerve she had. And a few good ones she didn’t want rubbed. She let go of a deep breath. �śI’m here about my camera. If you don’t mind�"” �śIs that all?” �śAll what?” �śAll you’re really here for? From the way you were looking at me at the powwow�Ś” She blushed. �śThat’s all I want.” �śWas it you that wanted to know if you could stuff dollar bills in my loincloth?” Shala felt her face heat. �śNo! That wasn’t me. I need my camera,” she managed to say. �śIf that’s all you came for, you discoed with Bo for nothing. I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been said. You were asked to read the rules before you bought the ticket. You broke the rules.” �śI didn’t take a picture!” �śThe evidence says different.” �śWhat evidence?” �śMe. I saw you.” �śYou saw a flash. It wasn’t mine.” He stood up, and the porch swing creaked again. �śDo you take me for a fool, Ms. Winters?” So, he knew her name. He probably knew why she was here, too. Chances were, he was one of the men who didn’t want her here. Was that what this was really about? He took a step forward. Fighting the temptation to reach for her Mace, Shala put on a brave front. �śMaybe not a fool, but you are jumping to foolish conclusions.” �śYou think I didn’t hear you and your friends?” �śFriends?” She took a step forward, angrier than embarrassed, angrier than frightened. �śFirst, I wasn’t with anyone tonight at the powwow. Those women beside me were crude and obnoxious, but I had no part in it.” He actually appeared to be listening. �śSecond, the flash you saw wasn’t from my camera. It was from theirs. Third�"” �śBut you had a camera, which is all the reason I need to take possession.” She clenched her jaw. �śThird, you know who I am, so you obviously know why I’m here. So hand over my camera so I can do my job.” �śCan’t do that.” Standing this close, Shala realized something was different about Sky Gomez. His hair, she realized. Either he’d cut it, or it had been a wig earlier. �śIt’s an expensive piece of equipment.” She took another step, moved so close she could smell his skin. Freshly showered, he smelled of spicy men’s soap and something she couldn’t put her finger on. Whatever it was, it made her inhale deeply. It made her long for a shower herself. �śCome back in a week and ask nicely, and we’ll see if we can’t come to an agreement.” �śI don’t have a week! I’m leaving in two days, and I�"” �śThat’s a shame.” And just like that, he stepped to his front door and walked inside, shutting it and leaving her outside, alone in the dark. Alone and furious. Alone and�" A deep growl filled the dark silence. Okay, not completely alone. �śGood puppies,” she murmured. When the dogs didn’t attack or fall in love with her leg, she let go of her fear but not her anger. �śScrew you!” she shouted. She started for her car, got halfway there, then recalled dancing with Bo. She swung around, shot up the porch steps, got to the door, and almost knocked. Instead�"what the hell�"she reached for the doorknob, expecting to find it locked, but it turned easily in her hand. She stepped inside and found Sky sitting on a tan leather sofa. A lamp perched on an end table cast an orb of golden light. Quickly, she allowed herself one look around his place. An open floor plan. The great room held the kitchen and living area. Wood. Lots of wood. Wood furniture, wood floors. A large rock fireplace, and a few colorful rugs. Quaint. Cozy but still masculine. Like him. With his dark hair and devilish dark eyes, he reminded her of one of the Ordó�ąez brothers, Spanish bullfighters. Only Sky Gomez looked even more daring. His attention stayed fixed on her, seemingly unsurprised. Almost pleased. His dark gaze whispered down her body the way a man’s did while he mentally stripped a woman naked, and she shivered. He moistened his lips. �śAre you sure the only reason you’re here is that camera?” His voice had acquired a husky quality that sent sensual shivers down her spine. �śI’m positive.” All the moisture evaporated from her mouth as she studied him. With jeans and a white button-down shirt, he looked like a clean-cut, self-confident kind of guy who women fantasized about. But, damn it, she didn’t care what he looked like, or that he oozed testosterone. Or that he had just mentally stripped her naked. Well, she cared, but she couldn’t control what he did in his mind. �śLook, I want my camera. I need my camera. I have dozens of shots in its memory that I have to have to complete a work assignment. If I can’t complete that assignment, I don’t get paid. If I don’t get paid, I can’t pay my rent. I’m trying to be reasonable about this, but I’m not leaving until I get it.” She reached into her canvas bag and pulled out her cell phone. He held up his hands. �śWait.” She wasn’t waiting. She opened her phone. �śYou either give me my camera or I’m calling the police. Right now. This is my last warning.” His expression didn’t change. �śWell, as luck would have it, we’re sort of a one-horse town, and I don’t think the chief is on duty tonight.” �śThen I’ll get him back on duty.” Luckily, Sky Gomez’s house wasn’t on the reservation, and she was tired of being nice. She’d given that up the second time Bo tried to toss her under his legs. Sky’s eyebrows arched. �śI can assure you that the chief will agree with me. Let’s just say we’re�"” �śI guess we’ll have to see for ourselves, won’t we?” she snapped. With the mayor having hired her, the chief would be on her side. Oh, God, please let him be on her side. Sky crossed his arms over his chest again. His wide chest. She remembered how he’d looked without a shirt on. Not now! she screamed at her reawakening hormones. He reached up and unbuttoned his collar as if he could read her mind. �śDo you need the phone book, or would you trust me to give you the number?” She frowned. �śI’ll dial 911.” �śWell, that’s one way.” He shouldered back on the sofa. The small action drew her attention to his body again, to the way his shirt sleeves molded to his biceps. After visually nibbling on that image, she noted the way his jeans hugged his thighs. Realizing she was staring, and at what, and how that might appear, she forced her attention all the way back up him to the shit-eating grin of a man who knew that a woman found him attractive. Ah, but finding a man attractive didn’t mean diddly-squat. Hell, she hadn’t given in to her desires in almost two years. Okay, she hadn’t had any desires for two years. When her heart broke, her hormones had followed suit. And while their choice now to rear their ugly heads was an unwelcome surprise, she could handle it. No way, no how, was she giving in to this egotistical camera thief. In fact, if she had her way Mr. Sky Gomez would be spending the night in jail. She’d see how smug he looked in handcuffs. �śPut the phone down and let’s talk about why you’re really here.” His hand rubbed the back of his sofa as if he was inviting her to sit beside him. The hum of sexual awareness buzzed louder in her ears, and that buzz spread to parts that hadn’t been buzzed in a long time. �śI don’t think so.” That look was so coming off his gorgeous face. She dialed 911. �śYou really don’t want to do that.” She glared at him. �śOh, I do.” He ran his palms up and down his jean-covered thighs. �śYou realize that if anyone has broken a law here tonight, it’s you. Trespassing and�"” �śI came to get my�"” The voice on the line stopped her dead. �śPrecious Emergency,” a woman said. Somehow, the two words didn’t seem to go together. Before Shala could gather her wits, the voice continued, �śMs. Callan, if this is you again, I’m telling you, being out of Twinkies is not an emergency! Wait, this isn’t your�"” �śNo,” Shala managed. �śI need a police car here now. Someone has stolen my camera, and I’m at the house of the thief, and he still refuses to hand it over.” �śOh, my!” said the woman, as if she hadn’t really dealt with a 911 call before. �śLet me see, let me see. First I’m supposed to make sure that this is a real emergency. Is this really an emergency?” she asked. �śA 911 emergency?” �śYes! He stole my camera and he refuses to return it. And he’s�Śhe’s making me nervous, if you know what I mean.” �śHow is he making you nervous?” the woman asked, sounding more curious than concerned. �śAs if he might�Śtry something.” Mr. Gomez’s eyes widened as if calling her a liar. �śOh, my!” said the woman. Well, it wasn’t a lie. Her body was getting all sorts of messages from him, and not one of them was decent. Every second that passed, in fact, she was finding those messages more disturbing. Or more tempting, a voice whispered in her head. Oh, hell. She really needed the police to hurry. �śOkay,” said the woman on the line. �śI’ll contact the chief. But only if you really think it’s an emergency. He doesn’t like to be disturbed on his days off.” �śIt’s an emergency,” Shala snapped. �śOkay, can you stay on the line? I’ll get him, and then I’ll get your information.” �śYes.” She glanced up, offering Mr. Gomez a little smile of victory, but her camera thief had picked up a newspaper, feigning total disinterest. Damn him for being so cool. Damn him for making her feel�Śalive, at least sexually. She didn’t want to feel alive. That fuzzy feminine sensation had led her to saying �śI do,” and �śI do” led to her heart feeling as if it were stomped on by sharp stilettos, stabbed by an ice pick, and given to baby crocodiles for a teething toy. A ringing filled the cabin. Dropping the paper, her thief reached over and picked up the phone on the coffee table. His eyes met hers. �śChief Gomez,” he answered, in his deep, sultry voice. Then he had the audacity to grin and wink at her. CHAPTER THREE Shock filled Shala Winters’s baby blue eyes, and Sky couldn’t help enjoying that any more than he could help enjoy looking at her. While she measured slightly below average in height, nothing else about her did. Her breasts were large, her waist small. She had enough leg encased in that soft, formfitting denim to pull off wearing a short tight skirt, and wispy blonde hair a man might pay to run his fingers through. On top of all that, she had the face of an angel. Not that faces fooled him. Angels didn’t look at men the way she’d eyed him at the powwow. He might believe that she wasn’t with the other two women, but she couldn’t deny the heated way she’d looked at him. �śSky? We have an issue. Some woman called 911. I have her on hold but�Ś” It was Martha, his nighttime 911 operator and daytime secretary. Martha excelled at two things: taking care of her Cadillac and talking. While Martha jabbered, Sky watched Shala. She hadn’t moved. He questioned if she even breathed. Normally, he wouldn’t have minded being blatantly checked out by someone who looked like her, but tonight was a prime example of why the elders in his tribe didn’t want the public invited into their private world. Outsiders took something culturally meaningful and turned it into a gawkfest. And this woman was one of the gawkers. She was supposed to be different, supposed to be here to help prevent this very thing. And damn it if he hadn’t been the one to talk the tribal council into accepting her. Of course, that was before Redfoot claimed to have had a wacoi�"the sacred word�"a spirit-sent dream that foretold the coming together of two soul mates. Sky honestly didn’t blame his foster father as much as he blamed the chili the man ate before he went to bed. However, Redfoot started spouting off about Shala Winters being Sky’s soul mate. Since he couldn’t argue with Redfoot, there was only one way to keep the man’s nonsense about visions from getting out of hand. Stay away from Shala. �śSky? Are you listening to me?” Martha’s voice brought him back to the issue at hand. �śI’m listening,” he answered, but honestly his mind wasn’t on the conversation. Instead, it was on the distance he’d sworn he’d keep from Shala and on their close proximity right now. And damn it if he didn’t want to be even closer. Unfortunately, knowing the gorgeous blonde was off-limits made her that much more appealing. Covering the phone, he offered, �śYou can sit down if you’d like.” Shala ignored him. He thought watching her from a distance had been hard, but coming face-to-face with her tonight took things to a new level. As chief of police�"the only law in Precious besides two occasional state troopers�"it was Sky’s job to make sure her visit to Precious didn’t bring out any of the local antitourism crazies. Tonight had him second-guessing his earlier protourism stance. After he’d snagged her camera, he’d been tempted to tell the tribal council he’d made a mistake. But he couldn’t tell the tribal council that. The woman standing before him was the only thing that was going to save Precious, she and other members of the press. The fates of the town and his people were dependent on tourism. But Sky would be damned if he’d let anyone walk onto the reservation and all over his culture. Even Shala Winters. �śSky?” �śYes, Martha?” �śWhat do you want me to tell her?” Martha asked. �śIf�Ś” Sky waited for Martha to take a breath. �śIt’s okay, Martha. She’s here.” �śThere? She�Ś? You mean the caller.” Martha lapsed into silence, which spoke volumes. As one of the mostly white city council, Martha never hesitated to put in her two cents, whether it was wanted or not. Not that he didn’t like Martha; he did. �śYes, the caller. She’s here. I’m the one who took the camera away from her�"at the powwow. I just haven’t had the time to properly introduce myself yet.” �śOh, God, please tell me she’s not Shala Winters. Oh, God have mercy on us.” Martha sighed. �śIt’s her, isn’t it? The mayor is going to skin us alive. First he’ll skin you and then he’ll skin me. Then he’ll go after my Cadillac.” He was going to get the speech again. The one where she pointed out that he had to keep the ways of his people separate from his job. What he’d told her�"what she never heard�"was that there was no separating who he was from what he did. He was part Native American, part Mexican, and part white, and he was chief of police. But they were all the same man. �śSky, this is one of those times�"” �śI know, Martha. I’m taking care of it.” �śYou’re going to give me my camera back?” Shala asked. He looked up and raised a finger, asking for patience. Not that it looked as if she had much. �śThe mayor left strict orders,” Martha continued. �śWe are supposed to do everything we can to make Miss Winters happy. �ŚHappy as a lark,’ he said.” His eyes returned to the pretty package in front of him, curvy in all the right places. Make her happy. He had a couple of ideas of how he’d like to make Shala happy. �śSounds like a good plan.” �śGive her the camera back, Sky! Give it back right now.” That wasn’t what he meant. �śCan’t do that, Martha.” �śOh, yes, you can. The wrath of hell will fall down on us if you don’t.” His middle-aged secretary just happened to be the Baptist preacher’s wife. �śI’ll deal with that when she shows up,” he replied�"if hell’s minion wasn’t already standing right in front of him. Shala would get her camera back in one week and not a minute before. Rules were rules. �śLook, Martha, I’d better go.” He hung up and dropped the phone. Shala stood frozen, cell phone still clutched in her fist, staring at him. �śYou’re a real jerk, aren’t you?” she asked. He wiped a palm over his mouth to hide his smile. She dropped her cell in her canvas bag and swung around, and he watched her hotfoot it to his door. Against his better judgment, he savored the view. Damn, but why had Redfoot started with all that soul-mate nonsense? Then it hit him: why the heck did it matter? Sky knew he wasn’t soul-mate material. He’d out and out told Redfoot as much. About ten times. So why had avoiding her seemed like the best plan? Just because they were both single and he found her attractive didn’t mean they’d hit the sheets. And if they did�Śwell, they were adults, and if they saw fit to get naked together, there wasn’t a darn thing anyone could do. There! He’d said it: Shala Winters wasn’t off-limits. Part of him hoped her gut-wrenching attraction would evaporate into thin air. But as he continued to stare at her cute, heart-shaped backside, that evaporation didn’t happen. She placed her hand on the doorknob, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He needed to come to terms with what he thought about Shala Winters, against what his gut was telling him now. But when he saw her open the door, he did an emotional U-turn. �śYou don’t have to go,” he said. �śGood night, ol’ man!” Redfoot looked away from the piece of pine he whittled and at Maria Ortega. The young woman was his foster daughter, but she would be his daughter-in-law if only his biological son, Jose, came back home and did the right thing. Jose and Maria belonged together. �śIt’s Friday night, and you spend your time in bed instead of out with friends, and you call me old?” He hoped she’d go out so that he could do the same. �śI’m not going to bed alone. I have a good book.” �śYou would rather read about the made-up lives of others instead of live yourself.” �śI have a life. Matt’s just out of town.” �śAgain?” Redfoot asked. Maria ignored him. He saw a flicker of concern as she leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his brow, though, and Redfoot could feel echoes of sadness in her touch. Matt had little to do with them. Maria mourned not just for Jose, but for the baby she had lost. Sometimes Redfoot wanted to knock some sense into his son. Next time he saw him, he might just do it. �śMatt can stay out of town,” he muttered. He’d bet his best carving knife that boy was up to no good�"probably dipping his wick in another candle. He’d never warmed up to the young man’s light eyes. True, Redfoot’s feeling probably stemmed from his belief that Maria belonged with Jose, but that didn’t change the fact that Matt Goodson had no-good scoundrel written all over his pale white ass. Maria shot him a look. �śStop it, viejo! Matt is a good man.” �śGood as Monopoly money down at the five-and-dime.” What was wrong with his son? How could Jose walk away from this soft woman who loved him? And how could Maria give this white boy a second look? �śDon’t start.” Maria looked at the newspaper on the end table. �śDid you read that mustard is good for burns?” She pointed to an article. �śWhat does mustard have to do with Matt?” �śNothing.” She sighed. �śI was trying to change the subject.” She walked off. Redfoot pressed his knife into the pine and removed a good chunk of frustration along with the wood. Since he was already ranting about the young folks, what in damnation was up with Sky? Why couldn’t that boy accept that fate had sent him a gift? Was the kid blind? If Redfoot were ten years younger, if his heart weren’t already half-taken, he’d go after Winters himself. Half the young men at the powwow tonight had tents in their loincloths from seeing her. Nope, Redfoot simply didn’t get young people today. Sometimes he wondered if his inability to understand them meant he was getting old, or if they were just as stupid as he thought. He let that question sit and finally decided they were just stupid. And fate didn’t have much patience. Fate was about to kick ass; Redfoot felt it. From the dream he’d had last night, someone was going to try to hurt Blue Eyes. In his dream, it had been a bulldog. Wolves had come to her aid, but there had been blood spilled. Lots of blood. �śLove you, viejo,” Maria called from the bedroom. �śI’m too mean to love,” he called back, then, �śLove you, too.” And he meant it. He loved both Maria and Sky as much as he loved his biological son. Not that it had always been that way. Bringing in the foster children had been his wife’s idea. A nurturer at heart, she had longed for a big family that fate had not given them. But a few months after getting Sky, Redfoot had realized Estella was right. Then, years later, Estella had gone out and done it again. A year after she found Maria, the spirits had taken his woman home. Sometimes Redfoot wondered if Estella brought Maria into his life because she knew she was going and wanted her family to have a woman’s touch. He wondered, too, if she’d known their only son would abandon his people’s ways to become part of the white world. That was a choice Redfoot understood but resented. But maybe Estella had been more like her son than she cared to admit. His gaze shifted to shelves filled with the fine pottery she’d made, pieces the world called art. How much more would his woman have become if she, like their son, had abandoned Precious? �śDid you take your medicine?” Maria called. �śDon’t I always?” he answered. And he did, but he hated it�"hated that he needed to take the medicines of white men to keep him going. There was only one pill he appreciated, and he took that only when his neighbor Veronica Cloud was in the mood. While it had been over ten years since he’d lost his wife, every now and then Redfoot would think about her position regarding him and Veronica. But then he could see her in his mind, smiling down and saying You are not dead yet. Not yet. Sometimes�"like tonight, feeling the passion steaming off Sky after he confronted that Winters gal�"Redfoot almost felt young again. And Veronica had been there, dressed in bright colors and looking younger than her sixty years. Her smile had goosed his sixty-six-year-old heart. Maybe, after Maria got settled in, he would go see how Veronica felt. He usually got lucky on Friday nights. He waited several long minutes, then got up and pocketed his knife. Moving past the hall, he saw Maria’s door ajar. �śGoing to take a walk,” he called out. �śThinking I might stop off and see Cougar and play a hand of poker, beat him out of some coins.” This wasn’t a lie: he had indeed thought about it. Personally, he considered it silly that he had to hide his visits with Veronica, but every time he brought it up, the woman got mad enough to chew leather. No way did she want her children or grandchildren to know. And to her that meant his children should not know, either. Redfoot did not like keeping secrets. �śI hope you get lucky,” Maria called back. �śSo do I.” He grinned, knowing she was talking about poker, but he had hopes for another kind of luck. Starting out the door, he stopped, remembering. Smiling, he went back to collect his bottle of little blue pills. CHAPTER FOUR Sky continued to stare at Shala. She stayed frozen for several moments, the door half-open in front of her. Then she shut it, pressed her forehead to the wood, and sighed. He didn’t mind; the view of her backside remained nice. He heard her suck in deep gulps of oxygen, saw the tension slowly ease from her muscles. Still facing the door, she finally spoke. �śAll I want is my camera. Is that too much to ask?” �śNext week, it won’t be. But right now? Yeah.” She swung around. The tension may have eased from her body, but anger brightened her blue eyes. �śI’m not leaving. I’m staying here until you hand over my camera.” She stomped over to his leather recliner and dropped down. She crossed her arms over her chest. Now, that he minded. He’d rather liked observing the flesh filling out her white tank top. For the last two months, he’d spent every free moment working on the powwow committee, and since his last fling had been flung about a month before that, he’d been without a woman for more weeks than he cared to count. �śI mean it. I’m not leaving until you give me my camera.” He bit back a smile. �śOkay.” Her wide eyes widened. �śOkay, you’re going to give me my camera?” �śNo. Okay you can stay. We’ll probably be tired of each other before the week is up, but have it your way. I’m not prone to telling beautiful women they can’t stay in my house�Śor in my bed for that matter.” �śYou’re a real jerk. You know that, don’t you?” �śSounds familiar.” Standing, he stared down at her. She looked good at all angles: back, front, above�"and he’d surely like to see her from below. �śSince you plan on staying, can I get you something to drink?” He walked into the adjoining kitchen and opened the fridge. The cool air hit him in the face, and for a second he wondered what the hell he was doing. Even if they hit it off, things always went south eventually. Martha was right: the mayor would skin him alive. And don’t forget Redfoot’s whole vision issue. If he thought his foster father was giving him hell now, imagine if he and Shala actually got involved. Were a few rolls in the hay worth the cost? The image of her heart-shaped backside flashed into his mind. �śI’ve got beer. Might have a bottle of wine,” he called out, glancing back at her. �śNo,” she snapped. �śYou hungry? Because I’m about to fix myself something.” Her eyes cut to the left. �śNo.” He recognized the lie. �śI make a mean omelet. Cheese, a little ham�Śmight even have mushrooms.” When she swallowed, he said, �śI’ll take that as a yes.” She didn’t contradict him, so he grabbed the eggs from the fridge and snagged a bowl from the cabinet. �śSo, you’re from Houston, huh?” When she didn’t answer, he looked. Her cute rear end remained planted in the leather recliner, and her arms continued to cover her breasts. A shame. �śWhat did you do,” she asked, �śhave a background check run on me? Maybe see if I’ve taken other illegal photographs?” �śI’m the police chief. What do you think?” he asked, and couldn’t resist a grin. He considered what all he should divulge, then decided what the hell. �śYou’re divorced. You live in a small house northwest of Houston. You have a brother who lives in California with a couple of kids. You have a thing for long baths and lavender candles. You have a quirky sense of humor, and you love animals�"cats more than dogs, which was evident on the porch and during the little incident out by the park.” He laughed. �śThough I have to admit that dog seemed crazy about you.” Her blue eyes narrowed, and for some reason he regretted teasing her. That’s when he recalled what else he knew, the thing they shared. �śYou lost both your parents when you were a kid. You and your brother were raised by your grandparents, who unfortunately have also passed.” She stiffened. He’d clearly overstepped his bounds. Feeling bad, he went for something less personal. �śYou’re damn good at your job. You’ve helped put over a dozen Texas towns on the tourism map.” She shook her head. Her hair stirred around her shoulders. He itched to touch it. Her frown deepened. �śSo you hit my website, read some of my published essays, probably my Facebook page, and checked a few references. Is that supposed to impress me?” �śI was hoping.” He smiled. She didn’t respond, so he cracked several eggs in the bowl and reached in a drawer for a fork. �śI actually was copied on all the e-mails between you and the mayor, which had your personal references. I was forwarded links to your essays by�Śothers. But I did check out your website and blog on my own. I’ll have to try your Facebook page. Will you friend me?” She didn’t answer. He beat the eggs into a nice yellow froth. The silence hummed. Funny how his cabin seemed quieter now than when he was alone. Which probably explained why he preferred being alone�"or at least why he was better at it. Anything more than a casual affair felt like a pair of handcuffs. �śThis is a small town, Shala. Your coming was frontpage news. By now I’ll bet my mailman has checked out your website.” He knew for certain the tribal council had. She stood, and her arms dropped from her breasts, offering that nice view again. �śSo you know who I am and what I’m doing here, yet you’re still pulling this�Śthis ridiculous stunt with my camera.” �śIt’s not a stunt.” He reached into the fridge for the grated cheddar cheese, mushrooms, ham, and a bag of grapes, then glanced back at her. �śThe rules were posted. You broke the rules.” He rinsed the grapes, dropped them in a bowl and popped one into his mouth. The tart sweetness burst on his tongue. Anger brightened her eyes again. �śI didn’t take a picture!” �śMaybe you did. Maybe you didn’t.” �śDid you check? Did you even look at the shots?” �śNot yet. But either way you broke the rules.” �śYour rules are stupid. Tourists coming to the powwows are going to want to take pictures. Not that I took one. I just didn’t want to risk leaving my expensive camera behind.” He walked to where she stood, halfway between the living room and kitchen. �śTourists coming to the powwows should respect our rules. You obviously have a problem with that. If you’re planning on winning over the tribal council, that’ll have to change.” �śMaybe I shouldn’t be working for Precious,” she said, not giving an inch. He held his temper in check and a grape to her lips. He couldn’t stop her from walking out on the job, and come hell or high water, he wouldn’t give her camera back until next week. But he hoped she wouldn’t walk out. The mayor wouldn’t be happy. Hell, neither would half the town. And neither would he. He tapped her lips with the grape. �śTake it, it’s sweet.” Almost against her will, her mouth opened, and he slowly pressed the fruit inside. He studied her soft pink lips and wondered if kissing her would be stupid. It might possibly scare her into leaving. But wouldn’t that be best? He needed to think, to figure things out. So, no kissing, not now. Not yet. He took a step back. Her expression changed as if she’d had some unpleasant thought. �śHow did you know about the dog by the park?” He could lie, but given the choice, he always preferred the truth. It was a bad habit he’d learned from Redfoot. �śI was there. By the picnic tables. I was coming to your rescue, but you made it to your car first.” �śYou just happened to be there?” She looked suspicious. �śNo. I’ve been keeping an eye on you since you got here.” He reached for a skillet under the cabinet. �śSo you’ve been stalking me.” She studied him as if confused. �śWas it you in the sedan?” �śSedan?” he echoed. �śNo. Has someone been following you?” When she didn’t answer, he put the skillet on the burner, turned that on, and reached into the refrigerator for butter. �śKeeping an eye on you isn’t the same as stalking. Has someone�"?” �śSo says the stalker,” she interrupted. He dropped butter in the pan. �śLook, some people in town are less than thrilled you’re here.” �śAnd you head up that committee, right?” �śActually, I headed up the pro-Winters side.” When their eyes met, something told him she believed him. �śI wasn’t stalking. I was making sure you weren’t bothered while you did your job.” �śAnd you couldn’t have just introduced yourself?” Not without causing all kinds of talk about visions and soul mates. But he couldn’t tell her that, so he offered a different truth. �śI guess that would have been better, huh?” He reached for the bowl of eggs and offered her another grape. She took several. They stood there, eating grapes and staring at each other. The melting butter in the pan sizzled and popped. The air between them did the same. Redfoot took off down the street, his pills in his pocket and his son and Maria on his mind. How could he get Jose to come home before Maria did something stupid and committed to the wrong man? As he turned the corner onto Veronica’s street, he heard an owl. Tonight, when he went to sleep, he would ask the spirits for guidance. Before taking the path cutting between houses, heading to Veronica’s back door, he made sure no one saw him, but a flash in the lodge window across the street caught his attention. He stared, thinking maybe he’d just imagined it, but the circle of light flickered across the window again. Someone was inside the lodge, someone with a flashlight. Why, when the lights worked just fine? Redfoot remembered the nine thousand dollars in cash in the safe from the powwow. He took off at a dead run. CHAPTER FIVE Shala watched Sky turn and pour the eggs into the pan. Her gaze lowered to his backside, and she remembered how it had looked in just a loincloth. �śWhere is it?” she asked, determined to stop thinking about his body parts. He looked over his shoulder. �śWhere is what?” �śMy camera.” �śIt’s safe,” he said, and retrieved a spatula from a drawer. �śYou realize how ridiculous this is.” He turned. �śWhy don’t you put in some toast for us? Toaster’s on the counter.” He gestured with the spatula. �śBread’s in the pantry.” Shala closed her eyes, fighting the need to scream. �śYou do realize, when the mayor gets back in town he’s going to chew you up and down for this.” �śYup, I know that,” he said. �śAnd he’s going to make you hand over my camera.” �śThat I don’t know.” He gestured again to the pantry. �śI’m cooking the omelet. You could do the toast.” She stood there staring at him, trying to decide whether she should (a) go bat-shit crazy on him, (b) storm out of his house, or (c) try to talk some sense into him. Maybe because she could smell the eggs and her stomach was tired of sucking on her backbone, she chose (c). And maybe it was because in spite of how insane it felt, she had accepted the truth: she’d been a little wrong. When she took her camera into the powwow, she’d broken a rule. She just had to get him to make this situation an exception�Śand perhaps convince him that the rule needed to be axed altogether. Wasn’t that part of her job, to make the town more tourism friendly? Befriending the town’s chief of police would help. But to do the job she’d been sent to do, she needed her camera. Surely he could see that�"or he would once they both calmed down and she got him to see reason. Finding a loaf, she popped bread into the toaster. The aroma made her mouth water, and her stomach rumbled. She looked at Sky, hoping he hadn’t heard. He grinned, damn it. �śYou like cheese, ham, and mushrooms, right?” �śYes.” He pulled out a cutting board and started cutting. The man knew his way around the kitchen. She’d never known a man who could or would admit to being so domesticated, especially one so outwardly masculine. Maybe that’s why he could do it. It sure wasn’t hurting his macho image. She studied the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt as he chopped, then shifted her gaze to his straight black hair resting above his collar. �śDid you cut your hair, or was that a wig you were wearing?” �śIt’s part of the headdress,” he answered. �śThe plates are in the cabinet.” He pointed with his knife. She opened the cabinet door and stared at the row of plates. Top shelf. She had to push up on tiptoes to reach them. �śHere. Let me.” He stepped behind her. �śI didn’t realize you were so short.” �śI’m not short.” Feeling him against her, she stared into the cabinet. �śOkay, petite. It wasn’t meant to be an insult.” His words brushed the back of her right ear, hot breath against the tender skin. He didn’t reach for the plates. �śI’m five foot three. That’s not petite,” she said, almost afraid to move. With him behind her, several inches over six feet, she did feel petite�Śand feminine. �śAm I picking up on a Napoleon complex?” He chuckled. �śNo.” Okay, maybe a little, she admitted to herself. She’d always longed for a few more inches of height. Fighting the sensations caused by their proximity, she considered which way to step to avoid physical contact. Then his chest moved against her shoulder as he reached for the plates. The warmth of his body invaded her space. She held her breath, and his nice clean scent tickled her nose and made her wish she’d had the chance to shower. Not that her deodorant was failing, but standing this close made her want to be�Śfresh. That’s when the absurdity of this entire freaking situation smacked her right in the face. She’d come to retrieve her camera, not to have the man cook her dinner and for them to play house. What was she doing? Redfoot reached the door. The lock had been broken. He pushed inside the lodge and moved as quietly as he could through the darkness. The scent of rosemary filled his nose. Maria, who did the accounting for the tribal council, constantly burned scented candles at her desk. He could see a flashlight moving across the floor in the next room. Was this some wayward teen? Maybe one of his own tribe. In the bad economy, people got desperate. Desperation drove people to do bad things, and so Redfoot’s gaze shot to the safe beside the desk. A safe in plain sight. A safe that appeared untouched. What was the thief looking for, if not money? Pulling his carving knife from his pocket, Redfoot took another step. A loose piece of pine flooring creaked. Shifting, he bumped a wooden chair. He caught it, but books on the seat tumbled to the floor. The orb of light in the next room shut off. The thief had heard. Redfoot’s hold on his weapon tightened. He hoped the intruder was one of his people, someone he could convince to walk away, nothing taken, no harm done. But standing straight, prepared to defend himself, he felt every one of his sixty-six years. The intruder shot toward him. Redfoot raised his knife and stared. The man wore a ski mask. His large body did not seem familiar, but for some odd reason Redfoot remembered his dream of a bulldog. The man shifted, and Redfoot noticed pale skin where the intruder’s collar met his mask. This wasn’t one of his people. The man’s hand rose, and Redfoot realized his mistake: never bring a knife to a gunfight. He remembered his dream and all the blood. What he hadn’t realized last night was that the blood spilled would include his own. CHAPTER SIX What the hell am I doing? The question bounced around Shala’s head. Sky’s proximity as he reached for the plates had every one of her nerve endings standing on its head, kicking its feet in glee, and singing �śGod Bless America.” She could smell him. She could feel him. Oh, mercy, could she feel him! His chest brushed her shoulders, his knee pressed against her thigh. His pelvis fit against her backside. Finally, he had the plates in his hand. He lowered the dishes for her to take and then stepped away. Shala drew in a mouthful of mind-cleansing oxygen. What the hell am I doing? The question ricocheted back at her. The oxygen must have worked, because somehow she answered. My job. That’s what she was doing. And right then she decided to stop acting like a schoolgirl around a star quarterback and more like Shala Winters, owner of Winters Tourism. Owner and entrepreneur who, in spite of insinuating that she might walk out, needed this job almost as much as Precious needed her. The bad economy meant small towns were looking to tourism to keep them afloat. Unfortunately, the bad economy also meant fewer towns had money to throw around. And plain and simple, she didn’t come cheap. Not that she wasn’t worth it. As Mr. Gomez implied, she had a good résumé. Another gulp of oxygen, and she decided she could do this. She was smart, a good communicator, and she excelled at negotiating. Standing a little taller, she set the plates on the oak table. �śSilverware?” she asked, looking back at Sky to catch him studying her. She completely ignored his hooded gaze. Yup, best to ignore that. �śTop drawer.” He focused on the stove again. She focused, too. Hopefully, over dinner she could establish a reasonably pleasant, purely platonic relationship with him�"one that led to his returning her camera. Yes, that was a damn good plan. Aware of the silence, and remembering something he’d said earlier, she pulled utensils from the drawer. �śWere you actually in favor of my coming to Precious?” �śYes,” he replied. �śReally?” His right eyebrow arched, as if he didn’t like to be questioned. �śIt’s not as if I don’t believe you. I just know Mayor Johnson said most of the Native Americans were against my coming.” �śI’m not most of the Native Americans.” �śRight.” She smiled but wasn’t sure it came off well, because he didn’t react. Her nerve endings started to twitch again, so she turned around and went to work collecting the toast. �śI appreciate dinner. I’m starved.” �śYou should taste it first,” he said. �śIt smells wonderful. Do you want butter? For the toast?” She glanced back and tried to smile again. He nodded. �śIt’s in the fridge.” She retrieved the butter�"real butter, not margarine�"and set it on the table. The silence grew awkward, and she realized it was easier being angry with him than playing nice. But damn it, she could and would do this. �śShould I get us something to drink?” She put a hint of cheeriness in her tone. �śThere’s milk.” He leaned against the counter and continued to study her. �śGlasses are in the cabinet over the toaster.” She got the milk, poured it, and set the glasses on the table. Uncomfortable with his perusal, she looked around. �śYou have a nice place. Did you decorate it yourself?” �śYou’re not getting your camera back tonight.” He picked up the frying pan and delivered half an omelet to one plate and half to the other. Putting the pan in the sink, he faced her. �śYou think I’m just being pleasant to get my camera back?” �śNot only do I think it, I’d stake my right eye on it.” He dropped into a chair and motioned for her to do the same. �śNot that I’m complaining, but I wanted to be upfront.” �śPerfect.” Maria Ortega read the last line of the last page, sighed, and closed her book. She smiled and set it on the bedside table beside the six others waiting to be devoured, then fell back on her pillow. Her day job of running a small accounting business often gave her plenty of reading time. Other than creating pottery, books were her favorite pastime. Okay, so she might be slightly addicted to romance novels. Yet considering her heritage and past, there were worse things to be addicted to. A lot worse. And it wasn’t as if she honestly believed in happily-ever-afters; life had already disproven those. She placed a hand over her navel, where she had once carried a child. Jose’s child. Don’t go there. She pressed a hand to her forehead. Letting go of things she couldn’t change, she sat up and reached for another novel, thumbed through the pages. No, life wasn’t perfect. Not that she expected it to be. But was it too much to ask for it to be pleasant? Was it too much to ask that she find someone who wanted the same things in life as she did�"a home, someone to lean on when the not-so-perfect times came crashing down? Maria remembered Redfoot and his wife Estella before her brain aneurism. They’d been happy, their love good. Maria hoped she and Matt could find the same kind of happiness. Thinking about Matt, she eyed the clock. Matt sold tools to engineering companies, and his job required lots of travel. But�Śon the weekends? No! she told herself. She had to trust him, didn’t she? Yes. But it was late. He’d said he would call. Had he gotten busy with his client? Did he miss her? Did she miss him? She closed her eyes and saw his green-eyed smile. She missed him. She knew Redfoot didn’t like Matt, but her foster father wouldn’t like any man she brought home. Which was too bad. Redfoot was going to have to accept Matt. The relationship was going places. Her cell phone rang. Rolling over, she snatched it up. �śIf you were here, I’d have you naked so fast you wouldn’t know what happened.” The answering chuckle made her feel fuzzy inside. �śWhat if it hadn’t been me?” �śOh, is this Matt?” she teased. They chatted about silly things, like what Matt had eaten for dinner, and then she told him about Shala Winters and how Sky had confiscated her camera. �śDoes Redfoot still think she’s Sky’s soul mate?” Matt asked. �śI think so,” she replied. �śDoes he ever have dreams of us being soul mates?” Matt paused. �śWait, don’t answer that. He probably has visions of scalping me.” �śMatt!” �śI know, bad joke. Sorry. I just don’t know what he has against me.” Maria knew: Matt wasn’t Jose. Redfoot had been so sure that she and his son would come together. And they had, only it hadn’t meant anything to Jose. Maria also knew that sooner or later she needed to tell Matt everything. He had a right to know, but�Śnot now. She could only hope it wouldn’t change things between them. The front door opened and then slammed. A loud thud followed, as if someone hit the wall; then the light in the hallway went out. �śHold on a second,” she told Matt. �śSomething doesn’t sound right.” �śViejo?” she called to Redfoot. When he didn’t answer, she got up to go see. CHAPTER SEVEN Sky watched Shala drop down in a chair. �śYou know, I thought we could talk about this in a reasonable manner. Obviously I was wrong.” He took a bite of omelet and studied her. The spark of anger in her eyes was back. Much better. Not that he liked angry women, but her play-nice routine had been as believable as a sock-stuffed bra on a bearded crossd-resser. And knowing that he could rile her so easily was thrilling. He wondered if she was as easy to rile in the bedroom. �śYour omelet is getting cold,” he pointed out. She pushed her plate away. �śI’m suddenly not hungry.” �śThat’s a shame. I make a mean omelet.” �śLook, Mr. Gomez. I’m in town to do a job. I can’t do that job without my camera.” �śI can see how that might be difficult.” �śIt wouldn’t be if you’d just�Ś” She closed her eyes. �śIf you’d just accept my sincerest apology for overlooking the rule.” He picked up his toast. �śI can’t do that.” Her eyes popped open. �śYou mean you won’t do that.” He considered. �śYou’re right. I won’t do that.” Her mouth tightened. �śYou are impossible. It can’t be legal to just steal someone’s camera!” �śI didn’t steal it. I confiscated it, just as the rules stated I would.” His cell phone, still on the coffee table, rang. Sky decided to just let it go to voice mail. Fighting with Shala was fun. �śSeriously, you should eat before it gets cold. Nothing’s worse than cold eggs.” His home phone rang. He debated answering, but the woman with fury in her eyes tempted him more. The answering machine picked up and played his outgoing message. Then a frightened voice spilled out. �śSky, answer, damn it! It’s Maria. Redfoot’s hurt. Bad! Oh, God, there’s so much blood.” Sky shot out of the chair so fast that it slammed backward onto the floor. He ran across the room and grabbed the phone. �śMaria? What happened?” �śSomeone broke into the lodge. Redfoot caught them.” �śChrist! Have you called an ambulance?” �śHe won’t let me. He said to call you. He keeps muttering about having to tell you something.” �śHow bad is it?” Terror constricted Sky’s chest. �śI don’t know. He’s conscious, but�Śthere’s so much blood.” �śI’m on my way. I’ll call the ambulance.” He dropped the phone and ran across the living room, snatching up his keys and cell phone and dialing 911. �śPrecious Emergency. Ms. Winters, is this you again? I’m�"” �śMartha, get an ambulance over to Redfoot’s. He’s been hurt. Get it there now!” He flipped the cell phone closed before his secretary had a chance to ask him any questions, then started out the door. �śDamn!” he swerved around as he remembered the silent woman at the kitchen table. �śI’ve got to go.” She nodded, eyes wide. �śI understand. I hope he’s okay.” She stood up as if to leave.” �śI have to go,” he said again. �śI�ŚI’ll call you.” His gaze shot to the food on the kitchen table. �śFeel free to finish eating.” Shala stood in the same spot until she heard Sky’s truck start and the sound of his tires slinging dirt outside. She noticed the omelet. Her stomach grumbled, but her mind shot to the old man she’d just met, and she tried to imagine him hurt and bleeding. She also remembered getting a call very similar to Sky’s from her grandmother’s neighbor. Nana had fallen. Before Shala got to the hospital, her grandmother had died. Shala’s chest clutched, and she hoped Sky’s emergency ended better than her own. Then she wondered who Redfoot was to him. Was he family? Picking up the two plates, she emptied the food into the garbage and put the dishes in the sink. She didn’t feel comfortable enough to clean much more, but at least he wouldn’t come home to a dirty table. Putting the butter back in the fridge, she emptied the milk from their glasses and rinsed them out. Then she went to the living room. Shouldering her purse, she got halfway to the door before she remembered why she’d come. To get her camera. Sky slammed his truck into park and jumped out before the vehicle came to a full stop. As he made his way to the front door of the home he’d lived in since he was twelve years old, the memory of his arrival hit hard. He’d been full of anger and resentment back then, certain Redfoot and Estella would grow tired of him like the two foster homes before. They hadn’t, even when Sky made their lives hard. Estella hadn’t given up on him because she was too kind, and Redfoot had hung in there because�Śwell, he’d said he was too stubborn to let a twelve-year-old boy win a battle of wills. In so many ways, Redfoot had been right. It had been a battle. Not so much because Sky hadn’t wanted them to love him, but because he hadn’t thought they could. �śMaria?” He heard voices coming from the kitchen and took off almost at a run. Logically, he knew Redfoot couldn’t live forever, but he hadn’t come to a place where he could let the old man go. Not yet, he prayed, and especially not at the hands of some murderer. Rage filled him. �śIn here,” Maria called. Redfoot sat at the kitchen table. Maria sat in front of him, her hands gently separating the old man’s hair. He pushed her hands away. �śI am fine. Leave me be.” Sky’s gaze shot to the blood-soaked towel in Maria’s hands. �śYou’re not fine,” he said. Then, to Maria, �śAn ambulance is on its way.” �śI’m not getting carted off in some noisy van like a cripple!” �śYes, you are. I don’t care if I have to handcuff your ass.” �śStubborn ol’ Indian,” Maria muttered. �śI do not need an ambulance.” Redfoot waved Maria’s hands away. When a new stream of blood flowed down his forehead, she pressed the cloth back to his brow. �śHow bad is it?” Sky asked. �śNot as bad as I thought,” Maria admitted. �śBut he needs stitches and to be checked for a concussion.” She gazed down at her foster father with tenderness and concern. �śI am not a child to be coddled!” Redfoot’s gaze shifted to Sky. �śWe have bigger problems than the scratch on my head. This person who broke in, he�"” �śWhat’s important is that you’re okay.” Sky moved closer, but his gut clenched as he thought about the work he and the others had put into the powwow and their plans for the money in the lodge safe. No doubt that was what the intruder had come for�"and had probably taken. But did he want to rub salt in the old man’s wounds by discussing it? �śI need to get dressed,” Maria said. Sky noticed her nightgown for the first time, and thought of the woman he’d left at his house. �śWatch him,” Maria commanded. �śI’m going to change before the paramedics show up.” She handed her towel to Redfoot. �śKeep that on that cut to slow the bleeding,” she said, then tenderly touched his cheek. As Maria walked out, Sky sat down in her chair. �śDo you feel up to telling me what happened?” he asked. The money didn’t matter, but catching this creep did. �śI was walking and saw a light through the window of the lodge.” �śWhy didn’t you call me?” Sky asked. �śBy the time you got here, they could have robbed us blind.” �śIt’s just money. Your life is worth more than that.” Redfoot pulled the towel from his head. �śThe intruder was not there for money. This is about Blue Eyes.” Sky flinched when he saw a stream of blood flow down the old man’s face. �śWhat about her? Why don’t you lie down?” �śI’m fine. I told you of my dream of the mad bulldog? For some reason, I think this man is that dog.” Redfoot had gone on and on about the dream that afternoon. It hadn’t made sense then, and it still didn’t. �śWhy do you think this has anything to do with her?” Sky took the towel and pressed it to Redfoot’s head. �śBecause the thief wasn’t there for money. All he wanted was Blue Eyes’s camera.” �śHer camera?” An ambulance siren sounded in the distance. �śHe asked me where we keep the cameras we take. I pointed to the cabinet. We still have two small ones that people never came back for, but he opened the cabinet and got mad. He said he wanted the one from today.” Sky tried to wrap his mind around all this. Had Shala gotten someone to steal her camera for her while she distracted him? The thought rolled around his brain but he didn’t believe it. She’d come to him looking for the camera, and she hadn’t known he was chief of police. Sky supposed someone had seen her with it and, knowing its value, had simply wanted to steal it from the lodge. �śDid he take anything?” he asked Redfoot. �śNothing.” �śThe money?” Sky pressed. �śThe safe was in front of him. He was big enough he could have carried it out with him. He didn’t. I’m telling you, he came for her camera. That’s all he wanted.” �śI guess it’s good that the camera wasn’t here,” he said, almost to himself. �śI know.” Redfoot swayed a little in his chair. �śYou need to listen, Sky. Your woman, she needs you. This man is after her.” Why would anyone be after Shala Winters? Because of her work bringing tourism to Precious? He recalled the troublemakers in town trying to stop the Chamber of Commerce from hiring her. �śDid you get a good look? Recognize him?” The sirens seemed to stop in front of the house. �śHe wore a ski mask. Big guy. Light eyes. Don’t think he’s from around here.” The doorbell rang. Sky got up to answer. �śI’m not getting in that noisy�Ś” Redfoot’s words faltered, and Sky looked back. His foster father had stood up. �śSit down!” he ordered, but too late. Redfoot stumbled. Sky managed to catch him before he hit the floor, and said, �śI got you,” but when he laid the old man down, he realized Redfoot was unconscious. Maria came running into the room. �śWhat’s wrong?” �śHe passed out,” Sky replied. �śDios!” Maria said, and Sky saw her tears. �śOpen the door,” he ordered. �śThe paramedics are here.” When Maria ran off, Sky looked back at Redfoot. The man had been more than just a foster father; he’d been the only real father Sky ever knew. His chest swelled with emotion, and for the first time ever he wondered if he’d actually told the man thank you. Had he ever said the words I love you? Probably not. �śRedfoot, don’t you dare die on me.” CHAPTER EIGHT Shala felt the moral heaviness in her chest expand, but this wasn’t wrong. It was her camera, damn it! In the kitchen and pantry, she found all sorts of cooking appliances, but in spite of searching every nook and cranny, she didn’t find her Nikon. She did, however, learn the man had a fixation on Lucky Charms cereal. Three boxes made it a fixation. Considering her cabinet at home held two�"she’d just finished one�"she couldn’t judge. With the kitchen deemed Nikon-free, she searched the television armoire in the living room. In there, she discovered Sky’s DVDs. She expected to find a few porn flicks, but nope, adventure movies, mostly. Amazingly, she’d seen all but two. By the time she got to the computer room, she’d made up her mind to only take the memory card if she found her camera. She should have asked him for that in the first place. She would have, too, if she hadn’t been so distracted. This way, she could still download the images and get some work done. She’d even eventually pay the fine to get her camera back, though, come hell or a freaking huge tsunami, she would not shine his shoes. None of this meant she felt Sky had any right to keep her camera, but she didn’t feel right searching his house for it while he was gone. Closing her eyes, she sent up a small prayer that Redfoot would be okay. She remembered how he had called her Blue Eyes, and she liked the idea that he’d given her a nickname. Her granddad had called her Pumpkin. Her dad, when he was alive, had called her Princess. Something about being called by a nickname made her feel special. She vaguely remembered asking her ex if he had a nickname for her. He’d laughed and said, �śYes�"my fuck bunny.” And she hadn’t even been his only fuck bunny! Pushing the past into a mental Dumpster, she poked around the computer room. Lots of drawers and file cabinets, lots of places to hide a camera, but they held only documents and old files. She didn’t take the time to check each out; her goal wasn’t to snoop. However, shutting the desk, she accidently jarred the computer awake. She heard it yawn, spit, and come alive. The screen lit up with a picture of her. Well, not just a picture of her, but her web page. He hadn’t been lying about visiting her site. He’d definitely done his own checking out, so maybe she shouldn’t feel as bad about searching his place. The Internet isn’t the same as rummaging through his home. She ignored the nagging guilt and bounced out of the chair. As she turned to leave the room, she spotted framed photos on a shelf: pictures of Sky with a family. Shala looked closer, and she realized the man in the picture was Redfoot. Was he Sky’s father? Again her heart clutched with hope that everything turned out okay. Shala next found herself standing in the door of the master suite. She could smell him here. The scent of sleepy male skin filled her nose, and light from the hall sprayed inside. Her gaze caught on an unmade king-size bed with dark tan sheets and a darker, mussed comforter. For just a second, she allowed herself to imagine Sky in the bed. Her imagination took it one step further and she saw herself in that bed with him. Oh, hell! What in freaking frack was wrong with her? Had being humped by that dog turned her into a divorcée on the make? Shaking off her desire, she stepped into the room. �śIf I was a camera where would I be?” But her gaze stayed on the bed. The low lighting created an intimate setting. Did Sky bring a lot of women home? I’m not prone to telling beautiful women they can’t stay in my house�Śor in my bed. That’s what he’d said. Of course Sky brought a lot of women home. �śIf I were a camera, I wouldn’t be in that bed.” She hit the light switch, hoping to chase away her lascivious thoughts. Like the rest of the house, the room’s decor stood out�"not like an interior decorator had spent time pulling it together, but the owner was a person of good taste. Forcing herself to get it over with, she went to the pine chest of drawers and opened the top. It contained underwear, socks rolled into balls, and a box of condoms. The second drawer held folded shirts and shorts�"neat, but not to the point of obsession. None of the other compartments held her camera, either. She next attacked the dresser. There she found some sweats and another box of condoms. Okay, the man liked sex. She’d already figured that out, thank you very much. Slamming the drawer, she stood straight and faced herself in the dresser mirror. �śIt’s my camera I’m looking for. And I just want the memory card.” Shaking off her sense of guilt, she headed to the bathroom. All sorts of dirty little secrets lurked in a man’s bathroom. Standing inside it, she glanced around. He clearly had someone who came out and cleaned his house. Men didn’t keep house this well. She checked below his sink. Only cleaning supplies. No condoms. What, he didn’t keep them in every room? Opening the medicine cabinet, she stared at a row of over-the-counter meds. Aha! Finally. She knew the man couldn’t be perfect. There, between the Advil and peroxide, rested a tube of athlete’s foot cream. Then she looked at the john and found his second flaw. The seat lid was up. Arrest the guy right now. She knew he couldn’t be perfect. That’s when it hit her, and hit her hard. She hadn’t been looking for her camera in here. Damn! Damn! Damn! She stormed out of the bathroom, ready to storm out of his house and out of his life, eager to outrun the crazy feeling that her emotional insurance was about to be tested. She almost got out of the bedroom before she spotted the closet door. �śIf I were a camera, that’s where I’d be.” She pulled open the door. Clothes hung in neat rows, more jeans and casual shirts than dress clothes, but the three pairs of Dockers, dress shirts, and two blazers said Sky Gomez wasn’t afraid to get dressed up. On several of the hangers hung plastic covers, as if he used a dry cleaner regularly. Then her gaze hit a box tucked in back. It seemed unlikely that he would have hidden her camera there, but then again, who knew? She found the light switch and got on her hands and knees to retrieve the box. Pulling it away from the wall, she removed its top. Her breath caught as her eyes lit on a metal object inside. Not her camera, a gun. An old gun, resting on some old photographs. Why the weapon surprised her, she didn’t know. Sky Gomez was the chief of police. She started to close the lid when one of the photographs caught her attention. Reaching in, she pulled out the faded image of a family of three: mother, father, and young son. Sky? She studied the boy’s face. Yes, Sky. The boy still had a baby face. Probably no more than four, he clutched the hand of his mother. The father, whom Sky mostly favored, stood a foot apart. There seemed to be some meaning to the distance. Shala studied the father, who looked part Hispanic and part white. The mother must have been where Sky got his Native American heritage. Reaching back into the box, she pulled out the next image. This one was of just Sky, older, maybe seven, posing beside a new bike. A Christmas tree stood behind him. Shala stared at the young boy’s eyes and saw happiness in his expression. He’d really liked that bike. She recalled that the year before her parents died, she’d gotten an Easy-Bake Oven. Somewhere at her house she had a picture much like this, a smiling girl thinking everything in the world was perfect because she’d gotten what she wanted for Christmas. Her next foray found not a photograph, but a clipping from a newspaper. The image was of a firefighter, arms tight around a struggling child. The boy had dark straight hair and the saddest eyes she’d ever seen. Sky’s eyes. Shala read the article beneath the photo. Desperate young boy attempts to save parents from fire. Paramedics had to restrain the ten-year-old to keep him from running into the flames. Unfortunately, the recovered bodies of both father and mother showed that the cause of death was not by fire but gunshots. Police suspect a murder-suicide. Shala’s breath caught, and a knot crawled up her throat. She stared at the gun, then again at the image of Sky. How did a child get past something like that? He didn’t, she realized. To this day she remembered being pulled from the car, still remembered walking behind that curtain to see doctors and nurses trying to bring her parents back to life. Dropping the photographs and newspaper article back into the box, she shut the lid and scooted as fast as her backside would go out of the closet. She stood up and hugged herself, wishing she hadn’t gone in there. Eager to leave Sky’s bedroom, eager to leave his house, super eager to shake the feeling that she’d done something really wrong, she forced herself into high gear. She shot down the hall, grabbed her bag from the sofa, and headed for the door. Her hand gripped the knob just as she heard the dogs’ insistent barking from outside. Great. All she needed to do was get mauled or humped again. Then she heard the sound of a car engine. Light beams sliced though kitchen windows, and the engine cut off. Was Sky already back? Guilt flashed through her. Should she confess what she’d done? Apologize? She hurried to the window to see if it was Sky’s truck. Nope. It wasn’t even a truck, but a dark sedan. A dark sedan just like the one she’d seen following her earlier. Okeydokey. Panic fluttered inside her. A man got out of the car, reached back in, and pulled out something else. An article of clothing? A ski mask. He pulled it over his face. And since Shala felt certain Mayor Johnson would have mentioned a ski resort if one existed in Precious, and since the heat index of a hundred precluded any snow in the forecast, her flutters of panic changed from butterflies to bats. The man started toward the porch. The dogs started some serious growling. Shala’s stomach stopped fluttering and all the wings seemed to bolt up her throat. Sky pulled into the ER parking lot five minutes after the ambulance. Fear of losing Redfoot had been sitting shotgun as he drove the six miles to the hospital. He’d stayed behind at the house to call Jose, then run by the lodge. When he found the lock on the door broken, he’d called Pete, one of the state troopers who assisted him, to come and park by the lodge to make sure whoever had shown up wasn’t coming back to finish the job. As Sky made his way to the hospital entrance, he thought about Jose. He didn’t judge his foster brother’s need to leave Precious. Small-town life wasn’t for everyone. And that was without even factoring in the reservation. As one of the elders’ sons, Jose was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. Only problem was, Jose wanted an entirely different path. An architect, he wanted the glitz and glamour of the big city. In the last two years, Sky’s foster brother had come home twice, both short visits. But at least he’d come back. In addition, he’d sent plane tickets to Redfoot to visit him on three different occasions. Redfoot had packed a bag and gone to New York to visit his son, but Sky saw the hurt in the old man’s eyes every time Jose’s name came up. Redfoot wanted his son home. Of course, Redfoot wanted a lot of things for other people’s lives. As much as Sky loved his foster father, he knew the old man’s expectations were often too much. Walking into the hospital, Sky spotted Maria sitting in the corner looking extra worried. She shot up and across the room, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pillowed her head on his chest. The woman was a hugger, something Sky had to continually work at accepting. �śHow is he?” Sky feared the tight embrace meant bad news. Maria pulled back. �śThe doctors haven’t announced anything yet. The paramedics said he has a concussion. He came to on the way here. I thought they were going to have to strap him down when he realized he was in an ambulance.” Her brown eyes welled up with tears. �śI tried to go back with him in the ER, but they wouldn’t let me. I’m scared. I love that old man so much.” Sky pulled her in for another hug. Not for him, but for her, though he’d be damned if he didn’t find some comfort in it. He closed his eyes and let himself hope that everything was going to be okay. Then he stared at the door toward the back, wanting to storm through it but knowing he’d only be in the way. �śWe have to believe he’s going to be fine.” He released Maria, but she held on for a second longer. Like him, Maria had known hard times. Unlike him, the experience had made her needy. �śDid you call Jose?” she asked. He nodded. �śAnd?” �śHe’s booking a flight. Supposed to call and let me know when he has a time. Someone may have to pick him up at the airport tomorrow.” �śCan’t he just rent a car?” Maria asked. Sky saw the emotion in her eyes. �śHe didn’t mention renting a car, but don’t worry, I’ll pick him up.” He moved Maria back to her chair. Of all the flaws of his foster brother, this one stuck in Sky’s craw. Maria had been in love with the boy a week after she arrived to live under Redfoot’s roof. Jose, nineteen to Maria’s sixteen, hadn’t given Maria the time of day. He’d gone off to the university the next year, coming back on summers and holidays. While Maria remained crazy about him, he’d treated her like a sister, though Maria never missed the opportunity to point out that they weren’t blood related. Jose remained aloof, parading his college girlfriends home to meet the family, almost as if to discourage her. When Sky asked Jose about it, his foster brother got his nose all bent out of shape, protesting a little too much, in Sky’s opinion. And then the summer before Jose moved to New York, Sky noticed looks passing between Maria and Jose. He had no proof, but he’d wager that the baby Maria lost had belonged to Jose. His foster brother didn’t know how damn lucky he was that New York wasn’t a few hours away. There had been a night or two Sky might just have driven to Jose’s uppity high-rise apartment and beaten the holy shit out of him. Not just for Maria, but for Redfoot. Sky figured that if he suspected the truth about Maria’s child, so did the old man. The only thing that kept Sky from removing a couple of the boy’s lower body parts was that he didn’t think Maria had ever told Jose about the baby. She had avoided ever seeing Jose on his visits back to Precious. �śSky?” Sky turned to see Ms. Gibson, a nurse and a friend of his secretary, walking out of the back. �śHow is he?” he and Maria asked at the same time. �śDoctor just got to him. But he keeps fading in and out of consciousness.” �śOh, Dios.” Maria reached out and clutched Sky’s arm. Sky didn’t blame her. He didn’t care for the nurse’s tone, either. CHAPTER NINE Air caught in Shala’s throat. She hated jumping to conclusions, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think of one damn good reason anyone would be wearing a ski mask when just a few hours ago you could smoke a roast on the pavement. Okay, she could think of one reason, but she didn’t like it one iota! The reason being, the man didn’t want anyone to recognize him because he was about to do something bad. Something illegal. The dogs’ growls grew louder. She could hear footsteps moving up the walkway and slapped a hand over her mouth to stop a scream from spilling out. Her gaze cut to the door, which was unlocked. Dropping on her hands and knees, she crawled forward and turned the latch. The sound seemed to clatter through the silence, and she prayed the stranger hadn’t heard. �śOh, shit,” she muttered under her breath. Breathing wasn’t coming easy. �śThink,” she added. She remembered her cell was in her bag. Her bag was on the chair in the living room. But if she ran now, he might see her through the window. For some reason, staying hidden felt safer. Of course, if he decided to break a window or kick the door down, her little hiding place wouldn’t be so safe. The dogs’ growls intensified. Shala’s gaze shot to the purse in the living room, which held her phone and her Mace. She remembered Sky’s phone on the counter beside the pantry. That was closer. Every instinct in her five-foot-three frame screamed for her to run to Sky’s phone and call 911, to insist once again that this was a Precious emergency. Footsteps thudded onto the porch. Along with a couple other people, Sky and Maria sat in the ER lobby and stared at the TV. It had only been ten minutes, but it seemed longer. Sky studied the door leading into the back and fought the urge to storm back there. He could tell Maria felt the same way. �śIf they’re going to put a TV in a waiting room, why don’t they give us a remote control to change the channels?” his foster sister fumed. Sky eyed the screen�"the Tonight Show played�"then Maria’s worried face. �śIsn’t that the senator who they say is going to announce his candidacy for the next presidency?” he asked, hoping conversation would help ease the wait. �śYeah, I think so,” Maria replied. �śBut I don’t like the looks of him.” Sky glanced back at the screen. �śI’ve read some good things,” he offered, not caring particularly but glad for the distraction. When he wasn’t thinking about Redfoot, he was thinking about the woman he’d left at his place. �śI’ve heard �Śgood things’ about Hitler, too,” Maria said. �śHe’s got one of those faces. Reminds me of the guys my mom used to date. All talk, no substance.” Maria glanced back at the ER door. Sky reached over and squeezed her hand. �śI agree,” offered the woman sitting across room. �śHe has one of those faces. I could swear I saw that same weaselly face on a man pumping gas today.” Maria offered the woman a smile, and then said to Sky, �śWhat’s taking them so long? Maybe we should go check.” Right then, the door into the back swung open and Dr. Henry Michaels walked through. Sky and Jose had gone to high school with him, and Sky liked knowing Henry was looking after Redfoot. Both he and Maria jumped up, and Maria clutched Sky’s arm. �śRelax.” The doctor seemed to read their faces. �śHe’s fine for now.” Maria let go of Sky’s arm, and Sky had to remind himself to breathe. They sat. �śI’m not going to lie to you. It could still be serious,” Henry amended. �śHis blood pressure’s low. We know he has a concussion. I’m going to get some CT scans to make sure there’s no bleeding in his brain. Whoever hit him wasn’t playing around. It could have killed him.” Sky felt his own blood pressure rise. �śRedfoot’s no spring chicken.” Henry hesitated, then offered them a smile. �śThen again, I thought he was going to kick my ass when I told him that.” �śStubborn ol’ coot,” Maria snapped. Sky grinned. �śI think he did that once, didn’t he?” Henry laughed. �śYou mean the time he caught Jose and me getting into his whiskey? He didn’t lay a hand on me, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.” The doctor paused. �śAnyway, once we have the results from the scan, I’ll know more.” He stood. �śOh, he’s asking for you, Sky. He won’t let the nurse undress him, and he says he’s not getting the test done until he sees you.” �śWhat about me?” Maria asked. Henry offered her a sympathetic gaze. �śHe said just Sky.” The sound of the dogs’ snarling seeped through the door. �śMotherfucker!” a deep voice rumbled. �śYou bite my ass, I’ll kill you, too!” Too? A large popping noise sounded. Shala jumped. Oh, God, had the man shot one of Sky’s dogs? It could have been a car backfiring, she told herself. She forced herself to shift ever so slightly, to look out the window. The man, dressed all in black with his matching ski mask, stood staring at Sky’s two dogs, and in his hand was a�ŚWell, it sure as hell wasn’t a backfiring car. But both dogs were still snarling. The larger beast glanced in the window at her. Shala slammed back against the wall and heard her heart thump in her ears. In all her twenty-eight years, she’d never danced once with the grim reaper. To whom, she wondered, did she owe the pleasure of this dance? The mayor’s warning rang in her ears: Some people in town, especially the Natives, don’t want us turning to tourism. So don’t be surprised if you run into some�Śunfriendly folks. Did trying to kill you fall under the �śunfriendly” umbrella? Her knees gave way and she slid down the wall like a scoop of flung ice cream. The growls grew closer as the dogs got between the door and the man. Was this really happening because she was trying to bring a little tourist economy to Precious? Was that really worth killing someone over? Was it worth dying over? No! It didn’t matter that she needed the money. She’d eat beans and rice for the next six months if she lived through this. She would renege on her contract. She’d send it and the fat little check back to the mayor wrapped up pretty in a pink bow. If she lived through this. If! Redfoot lifted his head off the narrow hospital bed as Sky walked into the room. �śLet’s get your clothes changed,” Sky said. �śThen you’re going to let the doctors do their tests. You got that?” Redfoot leaned on one elbow. �śCome closer.” The old man dropped something in Sky’s hands. �śTake this stuff home.” Sky stared at the bottle of pills. �śWhat’s this?” �śMedicine I had on me. Just put it away,” Redfoot insisted. �śTake it to my place. Don’t want it mixed up with what they give me here.” �śThey may want a list of medications.” Sky turned the bottle over in his hands. �śPut that damn medicine away and help me change my clothes! The nurses keep coming for me.” Sky saw the seriousness in the old man’s eyes, so he stuffed the pills in his jeans pockets and then helped Redfoot sit up and remove his shirt. A few minutes later, Sky was tying the back of Redfoot’s gown. His foster father reached over and squeezed Sky’s arm. �śNow, go find Blue Eyes. I saw her again when they were bringing me here. She’s in trouble. Your woman needs you.” Shala refused to die. She needed a weapon. She thought of the gun she’d seen in Sky’s closet, but was it loaded? Remembering the knife Sky had left in the sink, she crawled to the kitchen counter. Behind her, she heard someone trying to open the door. She rose to her knees and reached into the sink. Something heavy hit the front door, like a big shoulder or foot. Panicking, she felt her hand close around what felt like a knife, and the blade sliced into her palm. Well, it passed the slice-through-human-skin test. Ignoring the pain, she pulled it toward her. �śGod damn!” Screams came from the porch, along with a loud thud like something heavy falling. Something heavy, as in a big man wearing a ski mask. Feeling brave�"or maybe just stupid�"Shala stood and ran to the window. The intruder lay on his back, kicking violently at Sky’s dogs. Finally, he rolled. The dogs moved after him, growling, their lips curled and their teeth bared. Shala saw what looked like the gun lying behind them. The man rolled off the porch. One of the dogs followed. The man scrambled to his feet and took off back to his car. Shala stood frozen, holding her breath, the knife still gripped in her hand. The car fishtailed off the curb and sped away down the dirt road. Collapsing against the wall, Shala kept her eyes on the porch, where the second dog joined the first. Both beasts turned around. Two pairs of eyes met hers, two pairs of bright gold eyes. Shala had never come face-to-face with a wolf, but she’d seen enough pictures to recognize one. These animals on Sky Gomez’s front porch were more wolf than dog. They’d saved her life, but she wasn’t eager to confront them. Not after seeing them in action. A question derailed those thoughts: how had this hardened criminal learned where she was? He hadn’t followed her here tonight; she’d been looking out for him. She remembered Sky Gomez’s sudden supposed emergency that had left her here alone. Sure, he’d said he was on the pro-Winters side, but hadn’t Mayor Johnson claimed most of the Natives were against her? If he was on her side, why was he taking her camera? Something wet and warm oozed down her palm. Blood spattered the wood floor. Sky bit back the retort that Blue Eyes wasn’t his woman. Arguing with the old man now would be futile. Then they took Redfoot away, and it was almost an hour before Henry came back and informed Sky that his scan was clear. But to be safe, they were keeping Redfoot overnight. �śHe’s sleeping now,” Henry explained to both Sky and Maria. �śBut there’s a cot in his room if someone wants to stay with him.” �śSince you’re picking up Jose, I’ll stay here,” Maria offered. Jose had called right after Redfoot was carted off to be tested. He’d be flying in at nine A.M. While his foster sister stepped off to call her boyfriend, Sky peeked in on Redfoot. The old man was asleep. Sky eased toward the bed, remembering his thoughts when the old man had passed out in his arms. �śLove you,” he whispered. He was a step out the door when he heard, �śMe, too. Now find Blue Eyes.” Shaking his head, Sky started out to his truck. Emotion filled his chest, but when he climbed into his cab, he leaned his head back and relaxed for the first time since he’d received the call. Now find Blue Eyes. He remembered leaving Shala at his place. Remembered wanting to kiss her. Remembered wanting to do more than kiss her. Then his mind hit instant replay, and he recalled something she asked: Did you check? Did you even look at the shots? He’d been damn sure at first that she was the one to take the picture, but he hadn’t seen her take the shot. Then, three minutes after she insisted on her innocence, he’d believed her. Reaching down to the floorboard of the passenger seat, Sky lifted Shala’s camera. It took him a few minutes to figure out how to see the images. He didn’t find any shots of the powwow. It felt good to be right. Not that this made her entirely innocent. She’d still broken a rule. Of course, looking at the expensive Nikon, he could almost understand why. Especially since someone had broken into the lodge to steal it. Maybe he should bend the rule for her. Maybe. He’d see if she played nice tomorrow�"real nice, not the fake approach she’d tried before he left. Yeah, he’d make his decision tomorrow when he saw her. Anticipation stirred in his chest. But would he have time to see her? Between investigating an attempted robbery, picking up Jose, and checking in on Redfoot, could he fit her in? I’m not leaving. I’m staying here until you hand over my camera. He hoped she hadn’t been lying. A vision flashed through his mind, of finding her naked in his bed, warm, willing. It was a very nice vision. His body reacted, but shouldering back in his seat he gave his libido the soul-crushing news that it wasn’t happening. If by some farfetched chance she was still at his place, she’d probably be sleeping on his sofa�"if she was sleeping and not waiting for him with murder and her camera on her mind. He headed home to see. He hadn’t gotten down the block before his cell phone rang. �śHello,” he answered, his head and heart already back on Redfoot. �śSky, it’s me.” Sky recognized his friend Sal’s voice, the owner of the one and only hotel in Precious. It should have put him at ease, but it was after midnight. Since Sal had married Jessie, late-night calls weren’t his thing. �śWhat’s up, Sal?” �śThere’s trouble. That Winters chick stormed into the office and woke me up squawking about how someone broke into her hotel room. I checked, and they really did a job on it.” �śDamn it!” �śShe said she found her room like that, but she was bleeding pretty bad and I’m not sure if she’s telling me everything. Maybe she caught whoever was breaking in.” �śHow bad is she hurt?” Sky couldn’t help but remember Redfoot’s warning. �śI don’t know. She wouldn’t let me touch her. I think it’s just her hand, but she left a trail of blood in and out of my office. I gave her another room.” �śI’m on my way.” �śUhh�Ś” Sal sounded nervous. �śI’m not sure that’s a good idea.” �śWhy not?” Sky asked. �śBecause when I said I was calling the police, she went wonky on me and said if you showed up without her camera, your ass was hers. She said all she wanted was a different hotel room and her freaking camera back by morning. As she left she said that Precious could �Śfreaking figure out how to bring tourists here on its own.’ And while she did say �Śfreaking,’ she looked mad enough to eat her young.” It hit Sky that whoever had gone after Shala was the same asshole who’d broken into the lodge and hurt Redfoot. He made a quick turn toward the hotel, glancing at the camera on the seat next to him. The thing was expensive, but was it worth this much effort? He didn’t think so. Sal continued. �śI’m guessing her camera was stolen in the break-in�Ś? Not that she was making sense, but she muttered something about being trapped by a pack of wolves and �ŚI’m not finding Precious so precious.’” Wolves? Redfoot’s vision? Damn, he didn’t believe in all that shit. Unless�ŚHis dogs. Had Shala had a run-in with Butch and Sundance? �śI gave her the key to a different room, and she shot out of here like a chicken with its feathers on fire and a stick of dynamite up its butt. I hope like hell the mayor hasn’t given her a check yet, �Ścause I’m thinking, when she’s out of Precious, she’s not coming back.” Sky didn’t want to think about her leaving. He looked at her camera. Suddenly, handing it over to her didn’t seem like a good idea. �śI’m on my way,” he said. �śJust do me a favor and keep an eye on her room. Make sure no one gets to her.” �śShit, man. You think someone is after her? I mean, I was thinking this was just a random break-in. Kids or something. Hey, maybe it’s someone who signed the petition. Or even Charlie, the guy who’s heading the whole campaign. He showed up here six times trying to convince me to sign the damn thing. He’s got a temper on him, too.” Sky snapped, �śJust watch her, okay? I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He had a sudden thought. �śSal, do you think she’s hurt bad enough to need an ambulance?” �śAmbulance? No. But with that much blood, I’d be surprised if she doesn’t need stitches. I offered once to take her to the hospital, but the look she gave me�ŚWell, I didn’t offer again.” When he reached the hotel, Sky circled until he spotted Sal leaning against a light post. He grabbed Shala’s camera and his Glock from the glove compartment, and parked. �śWhich room is she in?” �śThirteen.” Sal motioned a couple doors down and studied the camera in Sky’s hands. �śIs that hers?” �śIt’s hers. I’ll explain later, but for now do me a favor and put this in your safe.” He passed Sal the Nikon, tucked his gun into the the back of his pants, and pulled his shirt out to cover it. �śWait,” Sal said, as if he’d just figured something out. �śThis is the camera you confiscated tonight, isn’t it? I didn’t see who you snagged it from.” �śYeah.” Sky walked toward Shala’s hotel room. Sal followed. �śBut why did someone break into�"?” �śMaybe they thought we gave it back to her. I don’t know.” Sky needed a couple of hours to mentally go through everything. �śNo wonder she went wonky when I mentioned you.” Sal chuckled and elbowed him. �śYou know this isn’t any way to treat your future wife and mother of your kids.” Sky scowled. Damn it, he’d known that sooner or later that whole soul-mate thing would leak out. If Sal’s wife had the word, the whole friggin’ town would be talking about it by noon tomorrow. �śI’m armed,” Sky muttered. �śDon’t piss me off.” Sal’s grin widened. �śOkay, pretend I didn’t say anything. I just thought you should know what’s blowin’ in wind.” �śSo Jessie knows, huh? Where’d she get her information?” Sal shrugged. �śShe and Maria had lunch yesterday. But don’t blame my woman. Gossiping is her only sin.” Sky shook his head. Damn it, Maria knew better. Sure, she and Jessie were friends, had been since high school, but one word spoken to Jessie and even the Pope in the Vatican would know it in less than an hour. �śBut just for the record,” Sal added, �śyou could do worse. She’s hot. Then again, after seeing her all worked up�Śshe might be a handful.” When Sky stopped at the door to Shala’s room, Sal said, �śLet me know if you need anything.” Then he stepped a few feet away and waited. The first thing Sky noticed was the bloody handprint on the outside of the door. His gut clenched as he envisioned Shala bleeding, and he hoped like hell she was okay. Leaning forward, he knocked. �śShala? It’s Sky. Can you open the door?” When he didn’t hear anything, he knocked again. �śShala?” �śDo you have my camera?” came the reply from the other side. Sky looked back at Sal, who moved her camera behind his back. �śNo, I don’t have your camera. But I need to talk to you.” �śI’ll talk to you tomorrow when you give me my camera. It’s late. I’m tired and I’m already dressed for bed.” Sky leaned his head against the door. �śShala, there’s blood out here and Sal, the hotel manager, said you were bleeding. Please open the door so I can check on you.” �śI’m fine!” came her sharp reply. �śYou’re not fine. Open the door.” �śOkay, let me put it this way. I don’t trust you. I don’t know who is behind this�Śthis attempt to get me to leave Precious, but it’s working. I’m leaving tomorrow. But I swear to God, you are going to give me my camera back or I’ll get a lawyer and bring the wrath of God down on you.” Sky closed his eyes in frustration, then walked over to Sal. �śAnd here I thought you could talk your way into any woman’s hotel room,” his friend joked. Sky wasn’t laughing. �śGet me the key.” �śReally?” Sal asked. �śJust do it!” Sal headed for the office, and Sky edged back toward Shala’s door. �śListen to me, lady. I’m the chief of police. It’s my job to make sure you’re okay. I’m not �Śbehind’ anything. Let me in so that I find out what happened.” When she didn’t answer, he frowned. �śShala, you were at my place tonight. If I was behind this, wouldn’t I have done something then?” �śYeah, but it happened at your place. Who else knew I was there?” �śWhat happened at my place?” he asked, confused but desperate to make sure she was okay. �śShala, seriously, I need you to open the door.” �śHe didn’t follow me to your place, because I was looking. So someone had to have told him I was there.” Sky ground his teeth. �śWho didn’t follow you?” He put a few of the pieces together, but�Ś�śIf you think just because something happened at my place that I’m behind it, you’re wrong. And let me remind you, you told half the town that you were looking for me.” When he didn’t hear anything, he added, �śCome on. Open the door. Do you really think I’m behind this?” Sal’s footsteps sounded at the same time Sky heard Shala releasing the lock. He thrust out his hand to keep Sal away. CHAPTER TEN The door inched open. Shala’s eyes were puffy and wet. She’d been crying. Damn, if that didn’t send tremors right to Sky’s gut. �śCan I come in?” he asked, respecting the fact that while her suspicions made as much sense as fat-free butter, to her they made sense. She hesitated, then eased back. Sky stepped into the room and shut the door. She wore boxer-bottom sleepwear with pink hearts and a matching tank top. They weren’t indecent or overtly sexy, but they made his knees weak. The cotton material fit her curves to a T, and the thigh-length boxers gave him his first peek at her shapely legs. Then he spotted the bloodstain on her shirt and, rightfully so, his libido was sent packing. She had a washcloth wrapped around her right palm. �śCan I see your hand?” he asked. �śIt’s fine,” she replied. �śPlease let me look at your hand.” She extended her arm, and he carefully removed the washcloth. He saw a two-inch slice across her palm. �śHow did this happen?” �śA knife,” she said. His gut went hard again. �śSomeone came at you with a knife?” �śNo. I cut it going for a knife to protect myself.” �śTo protect yourself from who?” �śWell, darn.” Some sassiness returned to her tone. �śI didn’t introduce myself, and neither did he. But it obviously has to be someone who doesn’t want me working for Precious.” Sky would deal with that accusation later. Meeting her eyes, he brushed his thumb over the back of her injured hand. �śAre you hurt anywhere else?” �śNo.” Okay. He believed her. �śWhat happened?” �śA guy with a ski mask and gun tried to break into your place.” A ski mask. So it was definitely the same guy who’d attacked Redfoot. But what exactly did that mean? He looked back at her hand and pulled carefully at the cut to see how deep it went. The deep gash oozed blood. Frowning, Sky wrapped the washcloth back around her hand and commanded, �śGet dressed. I’ll take you for stitches. You can tell me everything on the way to the hospital.” She pulled her hand back. �śIt’s not that bad.” �śIt needs stitches.” �śI don’t think so. It’s a straight cut. It will heal.” �śIt’s on your hand. Every time you move, that cut will open up.” He looked around and spotted her jeans on the back of a chair. Picking them up, he handed them to her. She tossed them on the bed. �śI don’t think I need stitches.” He let go of a deep breath. �śShala, change your clothes. I’m taking you to get your hand sewn up. This is not a debate.” �śBut�"” �śFine. You want to go in your pajamas.” He put his hand on her back and nudged her toward the door. �śThey actually look rather nice.” She put on the brakes, digging her heels into the tan carpet. Sky’s gaze flew to her feet, which were bare, petite, feminine. Her toenails were painted a soft pink and the big ones had daisies. �śYou have pretty feet.” He wasn’t sure why he said it, but he did. She looked down at her toes. After a pause she asked, �śDo you really think it needs�"?” �śYes.” He ran a finger along her chin and raised her gaze back to his. �śYou need stitches.” She sighed. �śBut it’s so late, and I’m so tired and hungry, and all I want to do is go to sleep.” She paused. �śI’m sounding pretty pathetic, aren’t I?” He chuckled. �śTerribly so.” Food sounded damn good. And a bed�"not necessarily to sleep. Inhaling, he got a whiff of clean woman, kept his two fingers under her chin, and grinned. �śDon’t make me toss you over my shoulder and drag you in.” �śYou’d do that?” A hint of tease touched her tone. He winked. �śI’d probably enjoy it.” He sure as hell enjoyed touching her right now. Deep down he knew he should be thinking about getting information about the attack and not about how soft she felt. He should be mentally trying to solve this mystery, not measuring how his hand would fit the curve of her waist. He should be pondering why all this went down, not wondering how she would taste if he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. And Heaven knew he shouldn’t be thinking about those sexy naked feet running up his bare leg. She rolled her eyes and she gave the tiniest of smiles. �śWell, we certainly wouldn’t want you to enjoy anything, now, would we? Let me change clothes.” He gave her cheek one more brush with his index finger, then pushed a couple wispy strands of hair behind her ear. Maybe because she was tired or scared, he didn’t know which, she’d let her guard slip. He wasn’t above taking advantage of it just a little. Something told him it wasn’t going to be easy to get this close again. He stared at her mouth and considered�Ś That would be pushing it. Wouldn’t it? Maria eased open the door to Redfoot’s hospital room, careful not to wake him up. She still couldn’t reach Matt. When she’d first found her foster father, in a state of panic she’d told Matt she would call him back, but now his phone kept going to voice mail. �śHe’s still not answering your calls, is he?” Redfoot asked. His tone implied more, but Maria refused to let the old man make her start doubting. Matt cared about her. She believed that. Okay, she’d admit his frequent business trips often left her wondering, but she trusted him. She moved to the edge of Redfoot’s bed. �śYou should be asleep.” �śI would be if I was home. I’ve slept on rocks more comfortable than this bed. Tell you what: you go see if you can find out where that nurse hid my underwear, and you and I�"” �śYou’re staying, viejo.” �śCome tomorrow, woman, I’m going home. I don’t care if I have to walk out of here and cross the town square with my bare ass winking at the entire Precious community.” Maria grinned. �śAnd risk sending what little population we have left for the hills?” �śMy ass won’t run anyone out of town. It might convince a couple to stay.” Maria chuckled and rested her palm on his hand, which was gripping the bed rail. �śGet some sleep.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. �śHe’s not good for you, daughter.” Maria hesitated. �śHe makes me happy.” �śIs that happiness making that wrinkle in your forehead?” Maria sighed. �śI’m just worried because I can’t reach him.” Redfoot sighed. �śI know what you worry about. And I believe your worries have merit. You should listen to your heart.” �śMy heart says you should be sleeping,” she said. �śYou and Sky both fight this devil, but in different ways. Sky runs from things because of his past. You run to things.” She sighed. Was Redfoot right? Did she rush into things? Was she pushing the relationship with Matt? As much as she wanted to deny it, his words hit home. Hadn’t she run too fast to Jose? She sure as hell had jumped in his bed the first time she saw him look at her differently. For some reason, she’d assumed sleeping with him would change things. It hadn’t. When the job offer from New York came, he’d jumped on it like a hungry kid on ice cream. The day she realized she’d missed her period and went to tell him her concerns, she’d found him packing his bags. He’d said he intended to tell her before he left, but tell her what�"good-bye? She gazed at Redfoot. �śOkay, wise one, tell me: what do your dreams say I should do?” He reached up and touched her cheek. �śI have had no dreams of you. It is�"” �śAh, but you’ve had visions of Sky,” she teased, hoping to escape the subject of Matt. �śI always knew you loved him more.” Redfoot frowned. �śI have no control over my dreams. It is with my heart that I know you are on the wrong path.” �śAnd is your heart as reliable as your dreams?” �śNo,” he admitted. �śBut your heart should be. Listen to it.” �śGo to sleep now.” She moved to the cot and sat down. Her cell phone was still in her hand. What was her heart saying about Matt? She closed her eyes and remembered him walking her past the jewelry-store window. Which one would you pick for yourself? he’d asked her. She could still remember how solid he’d felt standing behind her, solid like someone she could always lean on or count on, someone unlike her own parents. But was he? Or was she just rushing into things again, feeling things she wanted to feel? Was reading romance novels filling her head with silly dreams, blinding her to the truth and maybe Matt’s flaws? If she’d had her eyes open with Jose, she wouldn’t have made the mistakes she’d made. Maybe it was time to take a new look at Matt. �śChange your clothes, Blue Eyes.” Shala blinked those sky-colored orbs at him, which were full of concern. She reached for the jeans on the bed. �śI’m so sorry. With everything that happened I forgot to ask, how is Redfoot?” �śHe has a concussion but is going to be okay. They’re keeping him overnight at the hospital. Maybe we can peek in on him while we’re there.” �śHow did he hurt himself? Did he fall or something?” That reminded Sky of his need for answers. �śI’ll explain on the way.” He motioned her to the bathroom. �śGo.” When she emerged a few minutes later, Sky realized how right he’d been about her guard being down only temporarily. One look showed her emotional barriers had been reerected. He had his own, so hers shouldn’t have bothered him. But they did. She glanced at the door, then him. �śIt just occurred to me how silly this is. There’s no earthly reason why you should have to take me. It’s late. I can drive.” �śYour hand is cut,” he pointed out. �śI drove back from your place. I can make it to the hospital. Seriously, I’m fine by myself. I can�"” �śShala,” he interrupted. �śThere’s no reason why�Ś” She didn’t stop talking as he snagged her purse, pushed her out the door and all the way to his truck. Half of what she said didn’t even make sense. Jabbering was either naturally part of her personality, or she was extra tired or nervous. He hoped it was the latter. Sky would walk uphill naked and barefoot through the snow and a bed of porcupine needles to avoid a jabbering woman. As he crawled behind the wheel, she lapsed into silence. He glanced over and saw she had tears in her eyes. Real tears. Those beautiful baby blues of hers were glassy and sad. He leaned over and put his arm against the back of the seat. �śYou okay?” She shook her head, blinked, bit her lip as if fighting a battle over tears, and then nodded yes. He didn’t like tears, but he could handle those a hell of a lot better than jabbering. It hit him then. The woman had been attacked tonight. If jabbering made her feel better, he could endure it. He’d be an asshole not to. �śCan you talk about it?” She shook her head again. �śNo.” She’d gone from jabbering to silence, and he needed her to talk. �śI have to know what happened tonight. You’re going to have to tell me.” �śOh.” She blinked a few more times. �śI can talk about that.” What? If tonight’s events weren’t what had her in tears, what the hell had? He almost asked but stopped himself. �śSo, what happened?” She pulled her purse into her lap. �śThe dogs started barking. I heard a car pull up. When I looked out the window, I saw that black sedan that’s been following me.” He recalled her mentioning the sedan and realized he should have asked about it. But he’d followed her most of the day and hadn’t noticed anyone. �śWhen did you first see it?” �śWhen I left the railroad museum.” That had been after Sky left to get ready for the powwow. �śAnd again when I was driving to the Funky Chicken.” He had to tell her she probably shouldn’t go there. It was a rough place. �śWhat time was it when the car showed up tonight?” She bit down on her lip, and her brow crinkled. �śAfter you left.” He sighed. �śI know it was after I left. How much after?” �śI don’t know exactly.” Why was he suddenly getting the feeling she was fudging the truth? �śHow soon after I left did you leave?” Something close to guilt flashed in her eyes, and just like that, he figured things out. �śYou went looking for your camera, didn’t you?” She nodded. �śI was just going to take the memory card!” Sky started his truck and pointed it toward the hospital for the second time that night, not sure how he felt about her searching his place. But he needed to get the facts about the attack. He’d chew on the other details later. After several blocks of listening to the sound of the wheels against the pavement and watching her squirm, he asked, �śSo was it maybe an hour after I left?” �śAround that,” she agreed. �śAfter you heard the car pull up, what happened?” She went through her story while he drove. Sky’s heart raced, realizing how close she and Redfoot might have come to dying. But why? Apparently, someone wanted Shala’s camera. But again, why? It wouldn’t bring that much money at a pawnshop. Could it be someone wanted to stop her from doing her job? Yes. But Redfoot hadn’t recognized the man. Granted, Redfoot didn’t know everyone in town. And why, then, would the guy be set on getting Shala’s Nikon? When she paused, he asked, �śDo you know of anyone who might have a vendetta against you?” She snorted. �śHalf of Precious, from what Mayor Johnson said.” �śNo, I mean someone personal,” Sky explained. �śNo.” �śWhat about a boyfriend?” �śNo.” He smiled. �śNo, you don’t have one, or no you don’t think he’d try to take your camera?” �śNo to both.” Something akin to relief stirred in his chest. A new thought occurred to him, though it was kind of crazy. Could Shala have taken a picture of something or someone, and that was why someone wanted the camera? It didn’t seem likely. Precious wasn’t without crime, but in the three years he’d been chief, he’d had one accidental shooting, a dozen break-ins, and his all-time least favorite, a rash of domestic-violence cases. Ninety percent of his workload involved dealing with DUIs or fights at the Funky Chicken. �śSo, back to tonight,” he said, realizing he’d lapsed into silence. �śWhat happened after you heard that gunshot?” She must have been terrified. �śAt first I felt paralyzed, but then I got mad.” He chuckled. �śGunshots do that to me, too.” �śThat’s when I went for the knife,” she said. Tension thickened her voice, and she gripped her hands together. The white washcloth wrapped around her palm turned red. It could have been a lot worse, Sky reminded himself. If his dogs hadn’t taken a disliking to the intruder, the woman beside him could have�ŚHe made a promise to himself that he’d catch the asshole and make him pay. Knowing he needed to keep his emotions in check to do his job, he focused on the case and not his need for revenge. Shala continued. �śHe must have dropped the gun on the porch when the dogs attacked him. He couldn’t get to it, so he ran to his car. And then�"” �śWait!” He pulled into the hospital parking lot and hit the brakes. �śHe left the gun on my porch?” �śYour dogs�"or I should say wolves�"chased him away.” �śOnly part wolves,” he muttered, and asked his question again. �śAre you saying�"?” �śAren’t they dangerous?” Sky frowned. �śWhen you left, was the gun still on the porch?” He pulled his cell phone out to call Lucas. It was after midnight, but before he’d gotten sober the man had hauled Sky’s butt out of bed numerous times to drive his drunken ass home from the Funky Chicken. Paybacks were hell. �śNo, I put it on top of the refrigerator. I was afraid the dogs might somehow shoot themselves.” �śThat’s good.” Although he hoped like hell she hadn’t messed up any prints. Also, he worried the perp might go back looking for it. Dialing Lucas’s number, he explained briefly to his neighbor about his needs, the attempted break-in, and the gun, and he told Lucas to watch his back. Not that Sky worried too much about the man. �śCall me once you get there.” He hung up the phone, parked, and cut the truck engine. Half-turning to Shala, he asked, �śYou ready?” Her gaze shifted toward the hospital, her blue eyes rounded with fear. �śHave you never had stitches before?” Her frightened gaze flipped back to him. �śOf course I have.” Her face paled, making her blue eyes even bluer. �śThey numb you before they stitch.” Funny, after all she’d endured tonight, this was the most fear he’d seen from her. �śI know that.” But she didn’t move to get out. �śLet’s get this over with. Come on.” He reached over her to open her door. Unintentionally brushing his chest against hers was a thrill. Pushing the door open, he leaned back and tried not to enjoy it too much. �śLet’s go.” She got down and took baby steps around his truck. When she finally met up with him on the other side, she looked up with huge, doelike eyes. Given the right situation, those eyes could bring a man to his knees. Staring at her hand, she said, �śI’m just not sure I need stitches. Honestly, if we bought some of those butterfly bandages, I’ll bet�"” Sky chuckled, put his hand on her back and nudged Shala forward. �śI’ll give you a bullet to bite on. Seriously, it doesn’t hurt that much.” She didn’t move. �śI’m not afraid of stitches.” �śRight.” This time he latched his arm around her shoulders before pushing forward. �śFor real, I’ll hold your hand. And you can squeeze it as tight as you want. I promise not to call you a scaredy-cat. Meow,” he teased. She came to sudden stop. Her tennis shoes scraped against the pavement. �śI�"I don’t like hospitals,” she admitted. �śBecause they give stitches?” He chuckled. �śOr is it the needles?” �śIt’s not because�"” �śCome on, I’ll make sure you get a sucker when you’re done.” He forced her onward. �śI don’t like hospitals, because when I was eight, I watched my parents die in one.” Her voice was tight, from anger or angst he didn’t know. Sky’s footsteps faltered, his chest grew heavy, and he felt like an insensitive jerk. The look on her face was one of alienation and pain. He’d known those feelings since the day his father killed his mother and then turned the gun on himself. Life had changed when he went to live with Estella and Redfoot, but the loneliness never completely went away. He tightened his arm around her shoulders. �śI’m sorry. I thought�"” �śI know what you thought.” She moved out of his reach and walked through the hospital doors. CHAPTER ELEVEN Jose Darkwater blinked, forced his eyes open, and wished he’d grabbed another cup of coffee at the service station a few miles back. After he’d gotten off the phone with Sky, he’d called the airline back and learned they had a late flight going to Houston. He could fly there, rent a car, and drive into Precious. What Jose had forgotten was that he’d been pulling a week of late nights at the office, and driving while exhausted was inadvisable for one’s health. When he spotted the Precious sign proclaiming the population to be 893, he almost pulled over to close his eyes. Eight ninety-three? He’d bet it was less. They probably hadn’t counted the two or three deaths of the old-timers he’d been informed of by his father. Jose just hoped like hell the number didn’t drop again. With his ass-backward ways and beliefs, Redfoot drove Jose crazy, but in every way it counted, Jose could never have had a better father. Problem was, he wasn’t sure Redfoot was similarly proud of him. No doubt about it, he’d disappointed his ol’ man. To remedy that, he’d have to change everything he wanted in life and become a carbon copy of Sky. And while he respected his foster brother, he also knew he could never become him. In fact, he resented the hell out of him�"resented the relationship Sky had found with his father. At the same time, he was thrilled Redfoot had someone close by. If not for Sky and Maria, he would never have been able to leave. Being stuck living in Precious was about as pleasant as stepping in a bed of fire ants. Jose looked at his speedometer. Seventy. He glanced at his watch. He’d made good time. But at almost one in the morning, he wondered if he should go straight to the hospital or to his dad’s place to get some sleep. He’d called the hospital after landing, and a nurse had said his dad seemed okay. Maybe a nap and a shower were the better option. His thoughts shot to Maria. She’d avoided him on his last several visits, so he hadn’t seen her in two years. That hurt, but he’d also been relieved. Jose’s mind created a snapshot of Maria. As always, thinking about her brought a mix of lust, love, and something akin to shame. God knew she wasn’t blood, so being attracted to her wasn’t a cardinal sin, but his mother hadn’t seen it that way. And the very last conversation he’d had with his mother had been about Maria. No doubt his mom had noticed the way he and Maria looked at each other. She’s family, son. And you’re older than her. Promise me that you won’t do something to cause a ruckus. Jose had promised, never realizing it would be the last promise he’d ever make to her. And he’d kept that promise to his mother until two years ago when, somehow, he’d convinced himself that they were older now and all bets were off. But they weren’t. And it sure as hell had caused a ruckus. He’d gotten the call about the job in New York only a month after throwing caution to the wind with Maria, and the day she found him packing and he’d told her about it had made two things crystal clear. The first was that he loved Maria, loved everything about her: her smile, her positive outlook, her sweet nature�"and damn him if he didn’t love her hot little body. But loving Maria was like stepping in concrete, tying him to Precious the rest of his life. To Maria, the town was home. He suspected she would have come to New York if he’d insisted, but she would have hated it for all the reasons he loved it. So Jose had done the right thing. Well, it had felt like the right thing. After two years of comparing every woman he dated to Maria and having them all fall miserably short, he sometimes wondered if he’d been wrong. A loud popping filled the darkness�"a front tire, possibly. His car swerved. Fishtailed. He jerked the steering wheel to the right and he thought he had it under control, but when he looked up, all he saw was a tree coming right at him. He slammed on his brakes. Too late. He prepared himself for the impact. Shala, heart pounding, walked to the front of the emergency room. The semitransparent glass window opened. �śCan I help you?” a middle-aged woman asked. It took Shala a second to be able to talk. �śYes, I�ŚI need a doctor.” The woman’s brow wrinkled. �śAre you hurt? Sick?” Shala didn’t appear in any distress, which meant she had missed an opportunity in life: she should have been an actress. Because frankly, she was a millimeter from a full-fledged, fall-to-the-floor, cry-your-eyes-out panic attack. She raised her hand, pulled off the bloody washcloth, and held out her palm. Several steady drips of red oozed onto the counter. The woman shot backward in her seat as if she’d never seen blood. �śOh, my! You walk around back and we’ll get that taken care of.” Shala felt someone beside her. Sky. She didn’t say a word but moved toward the door. He dogged her footsteps, so she turned around. He looked serious and apologetic. A lump the size of a small frog took up residence in her throat, but she managed to say, �śI can handle it from here. Thank you.” �śBut I�"” �śI’m fine.” She pushed away through the door. The desk clerk stood at the end of the hall, putting on rubber gloves as if afraid she might get blood on her just by showing a patient to the examining room. Shala walked toward her, listening to see if Sky had followed. He hadn’t. Relief whispered through her. She wasn’t angry with him. She really wasn’t. Unfortunately, with an emotional storm threatening to engulf her sanity, she didn’t have the capability to deal with him. Not when she had to deal with the past. Oh, God, the smell. That antiseptic scent, with a hint of Lysol�"it threatened to take her back. She drew in a deep gulp of air that suddenly felt thicker. Forcing herself to keep moving, to put one foot in front of the other, she kept her gaze on the woman’s face. Just her face. Because if she dared look around, Shala knew what she’d find. The details would be same. This small-town emergency room would look just like the one she’d found herself in at eight years old. �śRight this way,” the receptionist said. Shala followed the woman into a curtained-off space just like the one she’d been in at eight, alone. Just like the one her dying parents had occupied a few curtains down. �śI’m going to get our insurance person to take your information here. We wouldn’t want to get her office bloody.” Shala nodded. The woman motioned toward the bed. �śThe nurse and Kelly from insurance will be right in.” She looked at Shala’s hand. �śThat’s a nasty cut. What happened?” �śA knife.” �śCooking?” �śSort of,” Shala answered, not wanting to explain. �śOkay, deary. We’ll have you fixed up lickety-split.” She walked off, her footsteps tapping against the tile floor, and left Shala alone. Alone. Just like before. Shala stared at the bed and tried not to see the curtain. Tried not to remember getting off the bed and moving two sections down, pulling the curtain back. Tried not to remember seeing her mama’s and daddy’s bloody bodies lurching off the tables as doctors filled them with electricity. Shala’s heart thumped against her chest bone. Feeling the fuzziness of panic, she had one of those good old-fashioned come-to-Jesus talks with herself, the kind Nana had been famous for dishing out whenever necessary. Damn, but she missed Nana. Blinking, she swallowed the lump in her throat and continued talking herself down. She told herself it had happened a long time ago. That it was time she moved past everything. Get over it! Yeah, her parents had died, and yeah, she’d seen something an eight-year-old shouldn’t, but she wasn’t eight anymore. Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, she moved to the bed, sat down, and stared at the bloody cloth around her palm. Footsteps sounded. They stopped at her curtain. Looking up, she expected the nurse. Sky Gomez stood there, arms crossed, posture hard. He stared sternly down at her as if daring her to tell him to go. The hospital cot was about as comfortable as camping out. Maria hated camping out. After an hour of tossing and turning, she fell into a semisleep. The sound of the hospital door swishing open pulled her back. The nurses came in and out, though, checking on Redfoot, their footsteps soft and their voices feminine. She didn’t have to acknowledge them, she told herself. The sweet darkness of sleep lured her back. But as she rolled toward the wall and almost drifted back into slumber, something tickled her awareness. A hand brushed over her shoulder. A warm comforting hand. �śMaria?” A masculine voice whispered in her ear. �śI came back. I had to make sure you were okay.” He’d come back? An image of Jose filled her sleep-hazed mind. He’d left her. Hurt her. She’d lost his baby and maybe her ability to ever have a child. Now he wanted to know if she was okay? Wasn’t it too late for that? �śYou awake?” The soft baritone and the comforting touch weren’t Jose’s, she realized. Rolling over, she threw her arms around Matt. He smelled the way he always did. His soap always left a hint of something like rosemary and the earthier scent of fresh-cut hay. She pressed her face into his shoulder. For the first time that night, she felt everything would be okay. It felt so good when he held her. Like home felt after you’d been away too long. Then she recalled having thought he was Jose, and guilt flashed through her. She sat up. Matt sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. �śYou’re okay,” he whispered. �śThank God, you’re okay.” She brushed hair from her face. �śI tried to call you.” �śI’m sorry. You scared the shit out of me when you hung up without explaining what was happening. I got in my car and left right away. I was an hour out of Dallas before I realized I’d left my phone. I pulled over at the pay phone and tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.” �śI didn’t know that was you. I didn’t take the call.” He brushed a hand over her cheek. �śI was so worried. All you told me was that the lights went out. And then right before you hung up, you screamed something about someone breaking in. I didn’t know what the hell was happening.” �śI’m fine. Someone broke into the lodge. Redfoot caught the intruder in the act and was hurt. He made it back to the house, but he fell against the wall and hit the light switch. I panicked. I’m sorry I didn’t explain better�Ś” She leaned against him and was enjoying every moment until she remembered the talk she’d had with Redfoot. Hadn’t she warned herself to stop feeling so much and start thinking? Maybe even ask some questions about Matt’s business trips to Dallas? But he was here. He’d driven all the way home just to make sure she was okay. That meant something, didn’t it? �śHow is the old coot?” Matt asked. �śThe old coot is fine!” Redfoot called gruffly from his bed, and Maria had to put a hand over her mouth to stop from giggling. �śWhich is why you, Maria, should go home, now.” �śSorry. Did we wake you?” Maria went and stood by the bed. �śActually, the squeaking of that cot keeps waking me up. I know you want to stay for me, but if you’d go home I’d be better off.” Maria frowned. �śBut�"” �śDon’t �Śbut’ me! Go home.” Maria sighed. �śLet me check with the nurses, and if they think you’re fine I’ll consider it.” Looking back at Matt, she motioned for him to follow her out. �śNo,” Redfoot said. �śHe stays behind so I can have a word with him.” Matt’s eyes widened. Maria shook her head. �śNow isn’t the time, Redfoot.” �śFeels right to me.” Matt stood up and winked. �śIt’s fine, Maria. You go talk to the nurses, and I’ll be out in a minute.” Maria admired Matt’s courage. Redfoot had a way of instilling fear in people. She just hoped Matt knew Redfoot’s bark was always worse than his bite. Of course, the people who got bit never stuck around to compare. Then again, if she and Matt were really going to make it, Matt would have to learn to deal with Redfoot. Difficult and stubborn though he was, her foster father was family. And family was sacred. The lump in Shala’s throat returned, but she would not cry. �śI apologized,” he said, and stepped into the room. �śI know.” The stinging in her sinuses increased. After a few deep breaths, she added, �śI’m not mad.” �śGood.” He slipped into the room. For some crazy reason, she got the impression he didn’t apologize often. Maybe he didn’t have to. She recalled rummaging through his house, assessing him as perfect. Well, near perfect, with the exception of having athlete’s foot. Her gaze slid to his feet, and that’s when she remembered what else she’d found�"that newspaper clipping. She continued to stare at Sky’s feet while a wash of empathy cascaded through her. At last she felt brave enough to glance up, and the emotions in his eyes seemed to mirror her own. Her gaze shifted to his chest, which looked ideal to lean against. She imagined him wrapping his arms around her, offering comfort as she did the same in return. Realizing she stared, she shot her gaze back to his feet. �śSomething wrong with my shoes?” he asked. �śNope. Just safer to look at.” Oh, hell. Had she really said that out loud? �śSafer?” His cell phone rang. From the ensuing conversation, she assumed it was the man Sky had asked to go to his place and retrieve the gun. �śGreat,” he said into the phone. �śI’ll pick it up in the morning. Thanks.” He hung up and eyed Shala without speaking. After a moment, the silence felt intimate. Luckily, a woman came in to get her insurance information. Instead of talking to Shala, though, her attention found Sky. �śHow’s your foster dad doing?” Foster father? Even feeling half out of it, Shala was able to file away that information. When the woman asked for Shala’s insurance card, Sky pointed to her injured hand and then her purse, lifting an eyebrow. She nodded. While she answered questions, she noticed Sky flipping through her wallet, looking for her insurance card, but paying particular attention to the pictures. Oddly, she didn’t mind, yet it felt odd having him peek into her personal world. Then, as she recalled her search of the man’s home tonight, turnabout seemed fair play. The insurance woman left and the doctor walked in. �śSky? I thought that was you. You like hanging around here, or what?” Sky introduced Shala to Dr. Henry Michaels. The doctor smiled at her. �śI think Redfoot mentioned you.” �śHe did?” Shala asked. �śYeah.” Sky shot the doctor an odd look. �śHe got hit pretty hard on the head. Was talking a lot of nonsense.” �śNonsense about me?” It seemed better to concentrate on this conversation than on her tragic history with hospitals. �śAbout everything.” Sky continued to stare at the doctor. The doctor, still smiling, reached for her hand. �śI just went to check on him. He’s sleeping, and his blood pressure is normal. I think he’s going to be fine. Should go home tomorrow.” The doctor gently removed the washcloth from Shala’s wound. �śOuch,” he said. After cleaning the gash and making sure none of the ligaments were cut, he had the nurse bring in the needle and sutures. Amazingly, that’s when Shala realized she’d managed to get through being in a hospital without falling apart. Of course, her final experience had been worsened by the news that Nana was dead. That hadn’t been a good night. Shala had been alone. Unlike tonight, she realized. Her gaze went to Sky. Had his presence helped? He turned his head, his dark eyes meeting hers. �śI’m going to deaden it first,” the doctor announced. �śIt might hurt for a few minutes. You ready?” Shala lay back on the bed, held out her hand, and closed her eyes. She felt the first stick of a needle, and pain shot up her arm. She tried not to flinch, then she felt a masculine palm slip into her other hand and squeeze. She almost pulled away, but Sky’s hand felt so warm, so comforting, that she decided that for just this little bit, she’d allow it. Just for this little bit. CHAPTER TWELVE Redfoot watched the white boy edge up to his hospital bed. He hit the button to raise his mattress and turned on the light. Redfoot had seen himself earlier when he’d taken a piss, so he knew how he looked. One eye was bloodred; both eyes had shiners. The boy’s green eyes widened in surprise. �śWow, you must have taken quite a hit,” he said. �śYeah, but I’m tough,” Redfoot replied. The white boy needed to know someone was watching out for Maria, someone who would whup his ass if he hurt that darkeyed little angel. Sky would do it and so would Jose if he asked either of them, but Redfoot planned to take care of it on his own. �śMaria is special,” he said. The white boy smiled and a donned a goofy, lovesick expression. �śI know that.” �śToo special for you.” Redfoot glared at him. �śIt’s best if you move on down the road, if you know what I mean. �ŚCause nothing is worse than pissing off an Indian daddy.” Matt actually took a step back. Good, Redfoot thought. �śThat’s all I have to say.” He pressed the button to level out his mattress. �śBut it’s not all I have to say, sir.” Matt moved to the bedside. �śI care about your daughter. I’m glad we’re having this talk, because I’m thinking�"” �śI don’t give a dog’s chapped ass what you’re thinking about. Maria is�"” �śMaria is special. And I care about her,” Matt insisted. Redfoot didn’t like it, but he respected the boy’s courage. Not that respect made him right for Maria. Jose was Maria’s soul mate. �śI’m not perfect,” Matt said. �śBut�"” �śMaria deserves someone perfect. Not some guy who’d rather spend his time doing God only knows what in Dallas every few weekends! And from the guilt flashing in your eyes right now, I would say that God doesn’t want to know what you’ve been up to in Dallas!” �śSir, it’s�"” Maria walked back through the door. Her gaze shot to Redfoot, then Matt, then back to Redfoot. �śWe can go,” she said. Redfoot knew Maria didn’t like the fact that he’d had a talk with her young man, but Maria hadn’t liked it when he wouldn’t let her stay out past midnight at seventeen. She hadn’t liked it when he’d forbidden her to wear those itsy-bitsy bathing suits the guys always liked. Point was, sometimes fathers had to do things that didn’t make their daughters happy. Jose pushed the air bag out of his face and sat there for a good five minutes assessing every twinge and pain he felt. He could taste blood, but he was pretty sure it was dripping into his mouth from where he’d hit his head. Reaching up, relieved he could move without agony, he felt his scalp. From what he could feel, the cut was small, the goose egg not so much. But he hadn’t passed out. He didn’t feel dizzy. Probably no concussion. He moved all his limbs, and nothing felt broken. �śDamn lucky,” he muttered, realizing he’d ended up about twenty feet into the woods. He opened the car door. The entire car leaned to the left. Still dazed, he half-rolled out of the vehicle and landed in a patch of thick vegetation. He pushed himself up, perched on his hands and knees, and stayed like that for a second, making sure his back and neck weren’t hurt. No serious pains shot through his body. Then he felt it: a stinging in his ankles. A burning sensation that crawled up his pant legs. �śShit!” He recognized that pain. Leaping up, he kicked off his shoes and started slapping at his legs. Luck would have it that after a damn car accident he’d find himself belly-up in a freaking fire-ant bed. He took off running, stopping every few steps to slap at his calves, hoping to stop the ants from moving upward�"ants that were at this moment sending shots of painful poison into his skin. The stinging made its way up his thighs. Sneaky bastards traveled at amazing speeds in tight places. Not wanting to suffer the bites to his crotch, he started shucking his pants. Unfortunately, his foot got caught in the leg of his jeans. He fell. Hard. Landed facedown in a briar bush. Luckily, the thorns missed his eyes, but his nose wasn’t so lucky. And that’s when he heard it: a slight rustle in the bushes right in front of him. He pushed up on his elbows and came nose to nose with a pair of beady eyes. The animal did a half circle in a flicker of a second. Jose recognized the black-and-white markings. He screamed and rolled over three times, landing on his back, but it was too damn late. The skunk spray got him and got him good. He closed his eyes to fight the nausea. When he opened them, he saw the town’s water tower lighting up the sky like a beacon. He read the words painted upon it in huge purple letters: WELCOME TO PRECIOUS Jose dropped his head back in the dirt. Lying there with thorns sticking out of his nose, his head bleeding from what could have been a fatal crash, his pants around his knees while fire ants munched on his balls, he tried to not puke from the smell of the skunk. His gaze shifted back to the water tower. �śGood to be home,” he seethed. Sky studied Shala in the passenger seat, her head leaning back against the headrest, her eyes closed. He couldn’t tell if she was sleeping, but he didn’t doubt it. She’d had a hell of a day. They’d given her a pain pill to help her sleep. Remembering her earlier remark about being hungry, he’d dropped about ten bucks in the vending machine and gotten chips, cheese and crackers, a candy bar, and a pack of cookies before they left the hospital. Shala had devoured the cheese and crackers before they even got to his truck. He remembered the dog snagging her lunch at the park, and he wondered if she’d eaten anything all day. She hadn’t eaten the omelet he made her. Too bad the closest all-night restaurant was an hour’s drive away. Feeling the hole in his stomach, he opened the Snickers bar, ate, watched Shala, and drove. Admittedly, he did more watching her than anything else, which caused him to almost run one of the two stoplights they had in town. But damn, she looked sweet sitting there. He fought the urge to reach over and pass the back of his hand over her cheek, fought the idea of driving her back to his place and insisting she stay with him. He’d sleep on the sofa, if she wanted. Not that the other option wouldn’t be a lot more fun. He’d bet she wouldn’t be in the mood, though. Women weren’t like men, who’d never let something as small as twenty-six stitches get in the way of sex. Especially first-time sex. A man could lose a foot and still be up for some first-time action. And if it was good, he’d be up for more. Realizing his thoughts were affecting him more than he wished, he adjusted the crotch of his jeans and attempted to push back his inappropriate lust. But his gaze caught on Shala again, asleep, warm, soft, and so damn touchable, and he decided that maybe he should cut himself a little slack. It was�"he glanced at the radio’s clock�"two A.M., and beside him slept a woman who was hotter than Helios. Considering he hadn’t had sex in months, he deserved some slack. And she found him equally attractive. Wasn’t that a good thing? But again came that voice from earlier, the one that said he was playing with fire. And his concern didn’t all stem from Redfoot’s soul-mate nonsense, but also from how easily and powerfully she’d gotten under his skin. His phone rang. Shala’s eyes shot open and she sat up, looking disoriented. He touched her shoulder and then grabbed his cell. �śJust my phone.” He glanced at the clock again. Who would be calling at this time? He’d checked in with the nurse before he’d left, so he doubted the call involved Redfoot. �śDamn.” The caller ID said it was Martha on the 911 number. Jose, wearing one shoe, with a cloud of stench following him, his lower extremities on fire from ant bites, and his forehead bleeding, made his way the mile and a half to Redfoot’s home. There, he rang the doorbell and prayed. No one answered. Thank God and hallelujah. As he’d hoped, Maria had stayed at the hospital. Walking off the porch, looking for the fake rock in the flower bed, he removed the spare key from its hidden compartment. It had lain in the same rock for sixteen years. His mother’s idea. God, he still missed his mother. She’d been the one sane thing in the otherwise-crazy life here. Letting himself in, he headed right for the kitchen and prayed his dad’s liquor cabinet was stocked. He pushed the Jack Daniel’s, the tequila, and the expensive bottle of scotch to the back and thanked the heavens when he spotted the V8. But there were only two bottles, not nearly enough to kill the skunk stench. Damn. He started to close the door when, on second thought, he grabbed the whiskey, unscrewed the top, tossed it across the room, and took a big gulp. It didn’t burn near as bad as his balls. Stumbling to the master bathroom, he stood staring at the shower. He needed a tub. He needed to soak in what juice he had to get the smell off. Thus, he turned around and headed to the bathroom with the tub: Maria’s. One step into her room, his gaze shot to the bed where they’d made love numerous times. It had been good, too. A smile threatened to wipe the scowl off his face when he spotted the romance novels on her nightstand. She’d never change. He moved into the bathroom and stripped off his clothes, stuffed them into the plastic bag that lined the garbage can, and tied it in a knot. He hoped like hell he could find some of his old clothes, or he’d be making the hike back to his car wearing the pink nubby housecoat that hung on the door. Two measly bottles of juice he had to bathe in. He needed more. At last he remembered hearing another remedy for removing skunk smell: women’s douche. Something about the vinegar and odor eliminator. Desperate, he looked toward the cabinets. Maria had regularly used one after having sex. What was the chance she’d have some now? Was she having sex? Even though he could really use the stuff to remove the stench, he hoped like hell her cabinet was douche-free. He opened the first cabinet and smiled when all he saw were tampons and her makeup case. He moved to the second. His smile took a hike, and he took a swig of whiskey. There, lined up like soldiers waiting for action, were six Summer’s Eve bottles, in the Sweet Romance fragrance. The real kicker, however, was tucked in the back: a thirty-six pack of extra-large strawberry-scented French-tickler rubbers. Extra large? Who was the bastard? Jose considered all the men living in town that he thought were available. Couldn’t be more than six possibilities. Then the craziest thought shot through his head. Sky? No, Sky wouldn’t do that. Sky was her foster brother. �śJust like you are, idiot!” He took a two-shot swig of whiskey, then another when he saw his reflection in the mirror. What a fucking reflection. Leaning against the counter, he touched the blood-streaked goose egg on his head. Ouch! Both his eyes had half-moon bruises, and he counted at least a half dozen thorns sticking out of his face. He tried to pull one out, but that seemed to only push it deeper. He needed tweezers. He’d just started to search the bathroom when he remembered he really needed to get the skunk off him. Grabbing all six douches, he tossed them beside the tub and placed the whiskey down, too. He set the stopper in the tub and climbed his bare ass inside. Opening the V8, he poured one bottle of juice and then the other over his head, then scrubbed it into his scalp. He didn’t know if it was cutting the smell or not, but he wished he had a shot of vodka, celery stick, and a lime. He reached for a bottle of douche, found the whiskey instead. Good enough. After two more good long swigs, he leaned back in the tub and started thinking about Maria again. Was her relationship serious? Shit! He hadn’t decided that trying to patch things up was right, but he’d sure as hell wanted the option. Realizing how egotistical that sounded, he downed another long drink. The buzz of the whiskey through his veins made the fire-ant bites on his legs and balls hurt less, so he downed a few more swigs. Remembering what he was supposed to be doing, he grabbed the first bottle of douche and squeezed the fresh-scented liquid over his chest. It actually smelled pretty good, so he went for the second. That’s when the bathroom door swung open, and Maria and some white boy with sandy-colored hair�"obviously the extra-large-tickler-condom wearer�"stood gaping at his naked ass soaking in a half-inch tub of V8 juice, holding a bottle a Jack in one hand while squirting himself with Sweet Romance–scented douche with the other. Oh, and don’t forget the thorns in his nose or the black eyes. From the cleaning materials the pair held over their heads, he figured they expected to find a rabid skunk and not a naked man. Maria dropped the mop, but white boy held tight to his broom. Jose drew the whiskey back to his lips. Welcome to fucking Precious, he thought. Sky stood two feet away from Shala, who stood in the hotel parking lot staring at the smashed windows of her Honda. He expected her to start crying at any minute. Not that he considered her weak or an easy crier, but she’d come close several times, and this just might be what tossed her over the edge. Sal’s wife Jessie had called 911 when she saw what was going down in the parking lot. Martha had called Sky. Sal was now standing a car length away, as if scared Shala would turn on him for having allowed this to happen at his hotel. Who’d known his friend was a wuss? �śYou okay?” Sky asked Shala. She continued to stare, her arms folded tight across her chest. She slowly met his eyes. �śWhoever named this town Precious needs to friggin’ be castrated.” Maybe it was the blue fire in her eyes, maybe it was the emotion she put in the word friggin’, but odds were, it was probably the word castrated. Sky instantly decided Sal was simply being cautious. Shala took a step toward Sky, and it took courage not to retreat. If looks could kill, he wasn’t sure anyone would find enough body parts to identify him. �śI want whoever did this to pay!” she said. �śI want him caught. I want him arrested. I want him castrated right along with the person who named this town!” Yup, it was definitely the word castrated. As she spun and shot off toward the hotel, it might not have been smart, but he caught up with her. �śShala, we need�"” She stopped so fast that her shoes probably left skid marks. She swung around to face him. Her arms remained locked around her middle, which had to hurt, considering the stitches in her hand, but maybe the tight grip held her together. If she stopped hugging herself, she might fall apart. �śLook,” he said. �śNo, you look. It’s two in the morning. Today, I’ve been stalked, robbed of my camera, vandalized, almost killed, twirled around a dance floor in an establishment named the Fucky Chicken by someone who thinks he’s Travolta, and�"oh, yes�"I’ve been leg-humped by the very same dog who stole my hamburger.” She drew in a deep breath. �śIn case you don’t get what that means, my point is, I’ve had it! I’m not dealing with this right now. Tomorrow, when you give me my camera back�"which you will do�"I’ll fill out a report or sign a statement or whatever it is that I need to do to have this bastard put away for life. But right now�Śright now I’m going to bed.” She turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs. Sky watched her go, and while he saw the fury in her, he also didn’t miss the vulnerable little girl who needed someone. And damn if he didn’t want to be that someone. Not forever, he amended. He simply wasn’t the forever kind, but maybe for longer than usual. He walked back to Sal, but before he could ask questions, his friend started in. �śSee, that’s what I saw this afternoon! Seriously, man, you give that woman even a mild case of PMS and she’s Lorena Bobbitt.” �śGive her a freaking break,” Sky snapped. �śShe’s had a hard day. As hard as they come.” Sal studied his expression. �śWell, I’ll be damned. Redfoot’s right. You’re already in love with her.” �śGod damn it, Sal!” Sky growled. �śStop it” His friend shook his head. �śDon’t worry, I’m shutting up now. Everyone knows that once two people have been selected as soul mates, God forbid the poor sap who tries to come between them. Forget I said anything bad about her. Go for it. Like I said earlier, she’s hot�"even if she’s a real handful.” �śWould you please�"?” Sal belted out laughter. �śIf there’s anyone who can handle her, though, it’s a man who’s always locked and loaded. That’s you, man. Just don’t expect us to have you guys over for Sunday dinner.” Sky clenched his jaw. �śShut. Up.” �śI’m just sayin’, if you love her like I love Jessie, then I get it, man. You got my blessings.” Sky shook his head to clear it. �śWhat happened here? Did you even see the guy who did this?” He’d almost asked what kind of a joint his friend was running, but he knew the answer. Sal and Jessie ran a small-time hotel that barely paid their electric bills, and Sal also ran housecleaning and eBay businesses on the side. �śIt’s just like I told you on the phone.” �śYou didn’t make a damn lick of sense on the phone,” Sky growled. �śOkay, I may have been shaken up. That asshole nearly killed me.” Sal paused. �śI got this call from some guy wanting Shala Winters’s room number.” �śTell me you didn’t give it to him.” �śNo. I never give out room numbers unless�Śwell, let’s just say I don’t do it. Anyway, I heard the train rolling by, and that’s when I realized that I could hear the train on the phone, too. Don’t ask how I knew, but I got a feeling the guy was calling from here. I stepped out of the hotel and saw this man on the phone standing next to your chick’s car. And I could see the broken glass. I yelled and started walking over. He jumped into a running car and�"” �śWhat kind of car?” Sky asked, though could have guessed. �śA dark sedan. I hoped to get the license plate, but damn if he didn’t aim right at me, full throttle and everything. I swear, his bumper was kissing my ass when I climbed up that there tree.” He pointed to an oak with low-hanging limbs. �śWe really must be related to chimpanzees, because I instinctively knew how to climb, and I never did that as a kid.” Sal leaned close and added, �śDon’t tell a soul, but I had to change my shorts.” Sky glanced up at Shala’s hotel room. The lights were still on. He doubted she’d let him in this time. Not that that was going to stop him. Whoever was after her camera had gone to extreme measures, and Sky doubted he would stop now. He wasn’t about to let the asshole get close to Shala again. �śDo me a favor, Sal. Give me her room key and bring me her camera.” �śRoom key? You sure you want to do that?” Sal asked. �śWith her talking about castration? I’d let her cool off.” �śJust do it!” CHAPTER THIRTEEN Maria paced from one side of the living room to the other, questions, concerns, and emotions doing somersaults in her chest. �śCalm down,” Matt said. �śCalm down?” Maria snapped. �śMy house smells like skunk and he’s being impossible. He needs to be seen by a doctor. He looks as bad as Redfoot. You saw his black eyes!” �śI wish that was all I saw.” Matt laughed. �śThis isn’t funny!” Matt wiped his smile off his face. �śMaria, you can’t force him to see a doctor.” �śHe’s just like Redfoot: stubborn, hardheaded, and�"” �śIs this normal for him?” Matt asked. �śIs what normal?” Maria’s head and heart swam. �śThe drinking,” Matt explained. �śWhat? Because he’s Native American, you just assume�"” �śNo.” Matt held up his hands and stepped back. �śI didn’t say that, Maria.” �śYou implied it,” she accused. �śNo, I didn’t imply it. I’m asking because he’s obviously drunk off his ass right now.” Matt shook his head and studied her. �śWhat’s wrong? You’re supersensitive and acting crazy.” She shook her head, torn in so many ways. She could still remember her talk with Redfoot. She could still remember admitting she needed to ask Matt about his weekends in Dallas. She remembered how good it had felt when he wrapped his arms around her at the hospital. But on top of that, she had to deal with Jose. About Jose not knowing about her pregnancy or the miscarriage. About Matt not knowing about Jose. About Matt not knowing that she might be infertile. �śYou know, I think it might be best if you left.” �śLeft?” His eyebrows shot together. �śYou asked me to stay.” �śIt’s just�Śawkward.” He stared at her. �śWhy is it that I get a feeling that when you say awkward, you mean more than just your brother smelling like a skunk, being drunk and naked in your bathroom, and bathing with your douche?” The denial lay on her tongue but she couldn’t lie. Not when she knew sooner or later she would have to tell him. But not tonight. Not when she couldn’t understand whatever her heart was telling her. She needed to think before she spoke. She needed Jose far away when she came clean. �śWhat is it you’re not saying?” Matt asked. �śI’m saying we need to talk. I�Śneed to tell you things, but not now.” �śWhat things? What are you saying?” He glanced down the hall toward her bedroom. �śYou know, I really wish you would explain, because my head is coming up with things that I don’t like.” �śPlease, let’s talk later.” He raked a hand through his hair. �śI drove like an idiot to get back to you, and now you send me off as if�ŚThat isn’t your brother, is it? Who’s in your bedroom, Maria?” Her patience snapped. �śWhat did you leave in Dallas? Or who? Who did you leave?” He stood stunned. Emotion played on his face�"oh God, was it guilt? His expression echoed what she felt inside. Tears came to her eyes. �śIt’s true, isn’t it?” �śI don’t know what you’re suggesting,” he said, but his voice was fraught with meaning. �śI’m suggesting the same thing you are.” Matt shook his head. �śWho is he?” �śIt’s Jose. There is no blood between us. But he is Redfoot’s son.” �śSo what you’re saying is�"” �śGo!” she ordered. He did. Although she’d asked him to go�"insisted he go�"when the front door slammed behind him, Maria felt her heart crash against her breastbone. Pain exploded in her chest and she felt certain her heart curled up in a mangled mess and died. Oh, God, what had she done? �śI think I love you,” she said to the slammed door. She moved to stop him, but before she even got to the door his tires were spitting gravel out in the drive. She ran to the phone, ready to call him to come back. Then she remembered Dallas. Walking to the sofa, she dropped down and let herself just sit there. The emotional pain was almost too much, pain like on her fifteenth birthday, as she’d watched her mother pack her bags to go to Vegas with her new boyfriend with no intention of coming back. She recalled that look in Matt’s eyes when she’d asked about Dallas�ŚOh, God, did it have to hurt this much? Of course it did. Didn’t it always? Hadn’t it when her mother walked out? When Jose walked out? Why would Matt’s leaving be easy? And why the hell had she expected it to end any differently? Because you believe in the fantasy. No more. That was it. She was throwing away every romance novel she had. �śYou don’t look too good,” said a deep voice. Maria looked up. Jose stood before her, whiskey still in hand. �śNeither do you. You’re drunk off your ass.” �śNah, I’m not drunk. I’m working on getting that way, but I’m not there yet.” �śReally? Then why in the hell are you wearing my robe?” He looked down at the pink terry cloth and laughed. �śMaybe I am drunk.” His gaze shifted around the room and he whispered, �śIs Monsieur Le Tickler still here?” She frowned. �śYou need to be seen by a doctor.” �śNot happening,” he said with defiance. Then he gave her that bad-boy grin Maria remembered so well. The one she’d watched him offer to other beautiful women when she was young. The one she’d swooned over when he finally offered it to her. Of course, with his beat-up face, it didn’t have quite the same appeal. He took a step closer. She took one back. He still smelled of skunk�"which meant so did her robe. He waggled his brows. �śWhy don’t you just take care of me?” �śWhy don’t you go to hell!” She shot up from the sofa. �śI already have,” she heard him say as she walked away. �śI’m in Precious. And the only thing precious about this place is you.” Maria slammed her bedroom door. �śShala?” She heard Sky at her door and rolled her eyes. Slipping her pajama top on over her head, she frowned when saw blood on it and went to grab a clean set from her suitcase. �śGo away!” She got dressed. �śI can’t.” Maybe if she just ignored him, he’d leave. She went to the bed. But just as she had the covers pulled back, she heard her door opening. She swung around, seeing the chain dangling on the door, which she hadn’t locked. Duh! She had a crazed stalker after her and she hadn’t even taken precautions. Not smart. So not smart. Sky stepped into the room. She got over being angry with herself and focused on him. �śYou can’t just walk into my hotel room!” �śI think I should stay here, in case this guy comes back.” Shala shook her head. �śI’m dead tired. I’m going to sleep. You can’t stay here.” He looked around the room. �śThe chair looks comfortable. You won’t even know I’m here.” She closed her eyes for a second. God, she was so tired. Probably, it was the pill the doctor had given her. Opening her eyes, she studied him. �śI can take care of myself.” �śYou didn’t even have the door bolted.” �śI’ll do it right when you leave. You can stand out there and listen,” she offered. �śThat wouldn’t stop someone who really wanted to get in.” �śSo why did you chastise me for not bolting it?” she snapped. �śBecause it should be a clue that you’re in no shape to take care of yourself.” She knew he was right, but�Ś�śCan’t you stay in the room next door?” �śI’ll feel better in here.” �śBut I won’t. If this were any other town, I could call 911 and have you arrested.” �śYou already tried that, remember?” She dropped back on the bed and pressed her hands into the mattress. Pain flared in her stitched palm. Sky sat in a chair and pulled another close to put his legs up. �śI will ask for a pillow, though.” She turned her head so she could see him. �śYou’re serious?” �śOne hundred percent.” He paused. �śJust go to sleep. But don’t snore.” Even in her exhaustion she noted the way he looked at her�"with heat�"and she felt the stirrings of desire. She tossed him a pillow. He caught it and stuffed it behind his head but didn’t stop looking at her, and she didn’t stop feeling looked at. His gaze dropped to her feet. She recalled him complimenting her feet earlier. She stared down at her toes and found herself happy she’d gotten a pedicure before coming to Precious. Realizing what she was thinking, she spotted her purse beside the bed and rolled over to pick it up. She dug into the bag with her left hand, grabbed something, and held it out for him to see. �śI swear to God, if you try anything, I’ll Mace you.” Then she set the can and her purse on the nightstand. �śI’ll remember that.” He adjusted himself in the chair, tilted back his head, and stared at the ceiling. She reached over and turned out the light. Then she rolled all the way to the edge of the bed, as far away from him as possible. Closing her eyes, she heard him shuffling around, standing up, and unloading his pockets. The chair creaked as he sat back down. Staring at the ceiling, she just listened to him breathe. She had to admit she felt better not being alone. The day’s events were rolling through her head, her heart beating like the drums at the day’s powwow. She recalled seeing Sky for the first time, the way he’d moved to the beat of the music. Then she recalled the way Sky had held her hand as the doctor stitched her up. �śThank you,” she said into the darkness. �śYou’re welcome.” �śI mean for holding my hand at the hospital.” �śI know.” His voice was soft. A minute later he said, �śShala?” Her eyes fluttered open. �śYes?” �śI’m sorry about your parents.” Yours, too, she almost said. But she wasn’t supposed to know that. �śThanks.” Sky continued to stare at the ceiling, his mind flipping through the images he’d seen on her camera earlier. She’d done an excellent job of capturing the town. Blue Eyes was a damn good photographer. Of course, he’d known that from her website. He hadn’t seen one image someone would be willing to kill for. And yet, his gut told him that it was there. Tomorrow he’d retrieve the camera from the safe where he’d had Sal store it again, and he’d comb through the images. He also needed to get that gun from Lucas, run a check on its serial number, and dust for prints. He heard the bed shift. He sat up, leaned his elbows on his knees, and studied Shala. She wore a different pair of pajamas, but the same style. Her blonde hair lay scattered on the pillow. She rested on her side, and the soft curve of her waist made him yearn to run his hands over her. She was asleep; he could tell by the way she breathed. Leaning back, he turned away and tried to reposition his pillow behind his neck. Christ, he must be getting old�"there had been a time he could sleep standing up. Or maybe it wasn’t his position keeping him awake. He took another deep breath. The soft feminine scent of lotion filled his lungs. He turned his head and eyed her again. She looked so small in that bed, he couldn’t help but imagine her against him. Under him. On top of him. His body responded, the crotch of his jeans felt like it shrunk, and damn if his balls didn’t feel cramped. He pulled at the inseams of his jeans and loosened another button on his shirt. Cursing under his breath, he stood up and removed it. Before he realized, his habit of stripping naked to sleep had taken over and he’d unzipped his jeans. He stopped, glanced at her, and remembered her feeling comfortable in her boxer pj’s. Oh, hell, he could at least lose his jeans. She probably wouldn’t even know. He’d set his phone’s alarm to go off at six. He’d be up and decent before she ever rolled over. But then what? Would she be okay here by herself? Would the asshole who tried to run down Sal and who’d hurt Redfoot come back? Dropping his jeans beside his chair, he recalled he had to pick up Jose at the airport. How easy would it be to convince Shala to go with him? And how hard would it be to convince her to stay in Precious while he tracked down the culprit? He recalled her saying something about leaving in the morning with her camera. Would she leave without the Nikon? If keeping her camera meant she’d stay, that’s what he’d do. But what if she decided to go back without it? And what if whoever was after the camera followed her home? He recalled how lonely she’d looked walking into that hospital last night and walking up to this room afterward. Alone, she’d be easy prey. Somehow he had to keep her close to protect her. He sat back down and closed his eyes, intending to sleep, but his body longed to be horizontal. Almost an hour later, he turned his head again and studied her unconscious form. She was only taking up only a few inches of that king-size bed. But damn, he needed some rest. He saw the fancy tubelike pillows she’d tossed from the bed against the wall. Picking them up, he lined them down the middle of the bed, creating a barrier. If she got mad, he’d deal with it in the morning. After he’d had a couple hours of sleep. CHAPTER FOURTEEN An odd sensitivity tickled Shala’s mind, while something else tickled her backside. A warm body lured her closer, seeking safety and comfort. The back of her arm found skin. A slight movement against her hip brought a new thought wiggling into her half-slumbering brain: it felt like�ŚShe hadn’t felt one of those in a long, long time. �śGet that thing away from me!” She bolted straight up, standing on top of the mattress. Sky Gomez, shirtless, jerked into a sitting position, uncovered, staring at her with unfocused eyes. His gaze shot to the door as if someone had broken in. �śWhat is it?” He wiped his palm across his face. That’s when she noted that in addition to being shirtless, he was also without pants, wearing only boxers. And poking out of the slit was his bald-headed hermit! The dang thing had decided to come out to play and was standing at attention. It had been knocking on her shorts, no doubt thinking Shala’s boxers might be his ideal playground. �śWhat is it?” he asked again, dazedly. �śThat!” She pointed to his crotch. His gaze shot down. While he grabbed for the covers, she sprinted across the bed, jumped to the floor with a loud thump, and attempted to arm herself with her Mace. Unfortunately, she bumped the nightstand. The Mace, a gun, and some other stuff all went tumbling to the floor. Dropping to her knees, she latched her injured hand around the Mace and pointed it up at him. �śWhoa!” He held up one hand and shifted to the other side of the bed, making sure to keep himself covered. He peered down at her. �śI wasn’t trying anything. I swear to God.” �śYou got in the bed!” �śYeah�Śwell, the chair wasn’t as comfortable as it looked.” He motioned to the mattress. �śIt’s a king-size bed, and you didn’t take up a fifth of it.” She frowned harder. �śAnd�Ślook,” he searched the mattress and held up one of the oblong bed pillows up. I even put up a barrier.” When she held the Mace higher, he frowned and said, �śIf you’ll notice, I was still on my side. You broke over the barricade.” �śYou didn’t have a side!” �śMy point is that I wasn’t�Śuh, wasn’t trying anything. So just put that down.” She nervously shifted the can. �śShit, Shala, can you at least let me have a cup of coffee before I get Maced? Come on, put it down. Please.” �śYou took off your pants.” �śI couldn’t sleep with them on. But I wasn’t trying anything.” �śThat’s not how it appears.” She motioned to the tented blanket over his crotch. He brought his knee up to hide the evidence. �śIt’s morning. That happens. Besides, I’m wearing the same thing you are. Minus the shirt.” �śWell, I manage to keep my body parts inside my clothes.” The shock of waking up to�Śthat was beginning to wane. She recalled drifting off to sleep last night actually thinking he was a decent guy. She also recalled shifting closer to him when she first woke up. As more of her early-morning fog cleared off, she saw he was telling the truth. He hadn’t been trying anything. Which meant she didn’t have a good reason to Mace him. Not that she had to admit that. Not yet. �śAre you giving me my camera back?” she asked. �śWe need to discuss that.” She raised the Mace higher. �śDamn it, put that down,” he growled. �śPromise me you’ll give me my camera back.” �śI don’t make promises I can’t keep. But if you spray me, I swear I’ll�"” �śYou’ll do what? Bring out your bald-headed hermit again?” His eyes widened. �śPut it down.” She shifted, and her knee hit something that rolled across the floor. She looked down and saw a pill bottle. Her eyes widened. She snatched it up and�ŚYup, it read just what she’d thought it read. She pointed to the covers. �śIf you’ve had that problem for over four hours, you need to call a doctor.” She threw the bottle at him. �śWhat do you mean�Ś?” He looked at the pills and went pale. �śOh, hell no!” he said as she retreated into the bathroom. �śThese aren’t mine!” She slammed the door and locked it. Standing frozen, she stared at herself in the mirror. Her face was bright red, her pupils dilated. She recalled with clarity that brief, half-asleep moment when she’d felt him against her and she’d wanted to give in to her body’s desire, to answer the tapping on her boxer shorts and let him play all he wanted. Her gaze shot to her cell phone, which was on the bathroom counter. Picking it up, she saw she had a voice mail message. Lillian, her neighbor. Why would Lillian be calling her now? Calling her voice mail she heard, �śHi, Shala. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when I walked by your house tonight I saw your front window was broken. I called the police. They said it must have been a burglar, but something must have scared them away, because the only thing it looked as if they got was your computer.” Shala gritted her teeth. �śOnly my computer?” She had homeowner’s insurance, but what was this, Crap on Shala Week? Was the universe trying to do her in? What had she done to it? Remembering her reason for storming into the bathroom, she pushed down her pajama shorts and dropped onto the toilet. Only the seat wasn’t down. She dropped her ass right into the toilet bowl of cold water. If it was just cold water. Who the hell knew if he’d even flushed? Seething, she stood. �śI should have Maced you!” she yelled at the door. �śI really, really should have Maced you!” �śThey’re not my pills!” he yelled back. Sky grabbed his pants, poking his legs inside them as fast as he could. �śThey aren’t mine!” he said again. He heard the shower start and frowned. As luck would have it, he had to piss like a racehorse. Hence the hard-on that persisted even after she threatened to Mace him. Right then his phone rang, and the damn thing was somewhere on the floor with all the stuff Shala had sent flying as she went for her Mace�"a huge overreaction, if you asked him. It wasn’t as if she’d never seen a penis before, right? �śBald-headed hermit, my ass!” he muttered. He moved the clock radio and saw the time. Five forty-five. Who the hell would be calling at this ungodly hour? Snatching up his phone, he answered before even looking at the number. �śSky, you need to do something.” He recognized Maria’s voice, and his thoughts shot to Redfoot. �śWhat’s wrong?” �śHe’s passed out on the floor wearing my robe, which isn’t tied securely, thank you very much, and he still stinks.” �śSay what?” �śYou heard me,” Maria snapped. Sky dragged a hand down his face. �śI’m sure I didn’t. Redfoot’s in the hospital. Aren’t you at the hospital?” �śNot Redfoot. Jose! Redfoot made me leave last night. And I was going to go back to the hospital, but my car’s there because Matt drove me and was going to take me back this morning, but then we found Jose in the bathtub and then Matt left.” Sky tried to make sense of it all, but nothing computed. He heard sniffling. Was Maria crying? He shook his head. �śMaria, Jose’s flight doesn’t come in until nine.” �śWell, then, he just had Scotty beam him down, because he was here when I came home last night. Actually, he had Scotty beam him into my bathtub with V8 juice, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, and my douche.” She took a few deep breaths and sniffled. �śOh, and he said he hit a tree.” �śHe hit a tree while being beamed down?” Sky scrubbed his palm over his face to make sure this wasn’t one of those crazy dreams that didn’t make an iota of sense. �śI need my suitcase,” Shala yelled through the bathroom door. �śWho’s that?” Maria asked. �śNobody.” Sky looked around the room. He spotted the suitcase beside the closet and grabbed it just as Shala yelled again. �śEither get out of my room or pass me the suitcase. And for God’s sake, get your clothes on!” �ś�ŚNobody’ sounds pissed,” Maria remarked. Frowning, Sky set Shala’s bag beside the bathroom door and covered his phone’s mike with a finger. �śHere’s the suitcase. By the way, those aren’t my pills,” he said one last time, just in case she’d missed it. When Shala didn’t answer, he backed away from the door and moved his finger. �śSo, Jose’s there?” �śWhat pills aren’t yours?” Maria asked. His finger must have been in the wrong place. Sky groaned and watched Shala’s hand creep out to snag the bag. �śIs Jose really there?” �śYes. So, can I stay at your place for a few days?” Sky had entertained the notion of Shala staying there, but Maria was family. �śLook, I’ll be there in�"” His mind wrapped around something else she’d said. �śHe’s wearing your robe?” �śYeah. Probably because his clothes are ruined. But now my robe is ruined.” �śWhy are his�Ś? Never mind. I’ll be there shortly.” He hung up and called the hospital to check on Redfoot. The news was good. He’d just gotten off when Shala came out of the bathroom and tossed her suitcase onto the bed. Unable to wait any longer, he darted into the bathroom. Shala was stuffing her pajamas into her suitcase with her injured hand as he came out, putting her shoes on with the other. She looked great. The shorts she wore fit her backside like a glove, and her sandals showed off her painted toenails. She caught him staring and frowned. �śBet you didn’t lower the seat this time, either,” she muttered. He shook his head. �śDon’t tell me. You’re definitely a morning person.” �śBite me,” she growled. Sky considered doing just that, studying the back of her neck where she’d pulled her hair up into a ponytail. Realizing that his thoughts would get him nowhere, he asked, �śWhat are you doing?” �śI’m packing.” He had to stall, had to think up something fast. �śWhy?” �śWhy? Because I’m getting the heck out of town. But don’t think for one minute that I’m not coming back for my camera. As God is my witness, if you don’t give it to me, I’ll�"” �śI have a problem with that.” His mind reeled. �śIt’s my camera!” she almost shrieked. �śNo, I don’t have a problem with that,” he explained. �śGood, then you can give it back now.” He shook his head. �śNo. I mean, I can’t let you leave just yet.” Her eyes narrowed. �śWhy?” Why? That was an excellent question. �śBecause�Śbecause you haven’t filled out any reports about what happened.” That had some truth to it. �śI told you what happened.” �śBut it needs to be official.” �śAnd what makes it official?” �śA report signed at the station, and probably more questions. And�"” �śYou already asked me questions.” �śI’m sure I’m going to have more.” She was shaking her head. �śThen let’s go to the police station and you can ask your questions. Since my car window is broken and it’s going to get hot, I’d like to do most of my driving before noon.” She did up the latches on her suitcase. Sky let out a deep breath. �śSomebody tried to kill you,” he reminded her. �śYeah. That’s why I’m getting the hell out of Dodge. You don’t want me here.” �śYes, I do.” The moment he said it, he knew it was true. �śNot you. The town, or whoever, doesn’t want me bringing in tourism.” �śI don’t think that’s what this is about,” he remarked. �śThen what is it about?” �śIf I had to guess, I’d say it’s about your camera.” �śMy camera? It’s not worth killing for. It’s not that expensive.” �śWhich is why I think that it’s something you have in it.” �śIn it?” �śYou took a picture of something that someone doesn’t want exposed.” That made Shala stop and think. �śThe only thing on my camera is what I’ve taken while here in Precious or on my way here.” �śI know, but you took the shots, and I need you to stay in town until I figure it out. To go through the pictures with me.” She studied him. �śYou don’t mean for just another hour or so, do you?” �śNo. Give me a couple of days. Give or take.” He got a vision of her standing over him on the bed, and couldn’t help but imagine many different kinds of giving and taking. �śYou’re joking, right?” �śNo, I’m very serious.” She shook her head. �śNo. You can call me with your questions. I’ve got a problem at home that�"” �śWhat if whoever wants that camera thinks you have it when you leave?” She eyed him. �śI’ll put a sign in my rearview window. �ŚSky Gomez stole my camera!’” �śGet real, Shala.” �śI am real. The mayor said people didn’t want me here. Chances are, the person doing this is trying to scare me into leaving. And the truth is, they’re doing a damn good job. I want to go home and you can’t stop me.” She moved to her suitcase and closed it. He didn’t really want to play this card. Truth was, it was a wild card. Oh, it was a real law, but he was about to bend it to hell and back. For Shala’s own good, of course. �śThat’s where you’re wrong. I can keep you here. You’re part of an ongoing investigation, and as the chief of police I can�"” �śI freaking don’t believe this,” she muttered. �śYou’re arresting me.” CHAPTER FIFTEEN �śNo,” Sky explained, in what he hoped was a calming voice. �śI’m not arresting you, I’m detaining you. There’s a difference.” Shala shook her head. �śDo you have any idea how much I’m growing to hate this town?” �śYeah, Precious could really use some work on its image,” he joked. �śGood luck with that. I quit.” She flinched, looking guilty. �śDon’t worry, I’ll return the town’s check in full. And I’ll be happy to give you the number of one of my competitors.” He didn’t want her competitors. He wanted Shala�"in more ways that he wanted to admit to her. So he decided to ignore the whole quitting issue. Later, he hoped to change her mind. �śI want you to go through your pictures with me, but first I’ve got to take care of something. And I need you to come with me.” �śWhat? Why?” She dropped down on the bed as if worn out. He spotted smudges of exhaustion under her eyes, a fatigue which his own body echoed. She let out a deep huff. �śIf I’m detained, I think I’ll go back to bed. Alone this time.” Alone? What fun was that? �śThe problem is, I don’t know if it’s safe for you to be alone.” �śSo it’s not safe for me here alone, but you won’t let me leave town.” Shala nodded as if it all made sense. Then she said, �śWould you explain that to me again?” Sky exhaled in frustration. �śShala, this is more than someone trying to scare you out of town.” �śYou don’t know that.” She sounded hopeful. �śNo, I don’t,” he admitted. �śBut let’s look at what’s happened. He went looking for the camera at the lodge. There’s no way he thought you would have been there. He broke into your car. It’s your camera he’s wanting. And whoever did this knows who you are. Thanks to your Internet presence, all it takes is a few clicks to find out your home address. If you leave Precious�"” �śCrap!” she said. �śWhat?” �śNothing.” Her brow crinkled. �śWhat?” he asked again. �śI’m sure it’s just a coincidence.” But Shala’s face looked grim. �śWhat’s a coincidence?” �śI had a message on my phone. My neighbor called last night. On top of everything else, my house was broken into yesterday.” This announcement sent a jolt of alarm through Sky. �śAnything taken?” �śShe said it looked as if it was just my computer.” �śSee! Your pictures are digital. You save them on your computer, don’t you?” �śYes, but I’m not there,” she said. �śDon’t you ever e-mail the images home?” �śYes, but I haven’t sent�Ś” She frowned. �śWhy is this happening to me?” She stood up and hugged herself tight, the way she’d hugged herself last night. Was this foreshadowing another mini-meltdown? �śI friggin’ can’t believe it. What the heck could I have taken a picture of that is worth all this? For someone to go this far, I must have caught something really bad on film. But I didn’t notice anyone burying a body or anything. I think I’d have noticed that.” Yes, it was another mini-meltdown. But by the time she finished, her eyes looked sane again. She just looked tired. He hadn’t seen anyone burying a body in those pictures last night, either, but they’d go over them again. �śWhatever it is,” he promised her, �śwe’ll figure it out together.” He really liked the last part. She flopped back down on the bed and shook her head. �śStaying in Precious doesn’t solve anything. They could get to me here just as well as at home.” �śLike hell,” he rumbled. �śI’m here. I won’t let anything�"” �śI can go to the cops in Houston,” she interrupted. He growled inwardly. �śSmall towns come with perks that big cities don’t have. I can make you my personal project. The most a Houston cop’ll do is send someone by your house every eight hours.” �śYou don’t know what a Houston cop will do,” she accused. �śYes, I do. I worked for almost a year in San Antonio until this job came open. I know how big-city cops work. They don’t have time to really watch out for one person.” Unless said cop was single and took a personal interest in Shala. His inner growl deepened. �śBut I need�"” �śYou need to stay here.” He studied her. �śThis guy isn’t playing. He wants your camera, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. If my dogs hadn’t intervened last night�Ś” No, he didn’t want to say that. �śHe nearly ran down Sal with his car. He could have killed Redfoot and�"” �śWhat?” Shala’s eyes widened. �śRedfoot was hurt because of this?” Sky realized he hadn’t told her those details. Seeing the sympathy in her eyes, he wasn’t above using it a little. �śHe caught the guy breaking in. The guy was after your camera. Look, Redfoot really likes you. He’s worried.” But he wasn’t going to explain how his foster father felt Shala was future family. She looked apologetic. �śI’m sorry. He’s going to be okay, right?” �śYes. I thought we might go by the hospital to see him after I�Śafter I take care of this other problem.” �śWhat other problem?” �śFamily,” he said. Because for the life of him, Sky still didn’t understand the details of what was going on with Maria and Jose. �śI know Redfoot would like to see you. Then I need to go to Lucas’s place to get that gun and see if I can get any prints off it. I figure by lunchtime we can go to the police station and start going through your Nikon.” She bit her lip as if considering. Encouraged, he said, �śStay. Please.” She sighed. �śPromise me it’s only for a few days.” �śI’ll do the best I can.” It was the first straight-out lie he’d told her�"or anyone�"in a long time. Yet he didn’t think she could handle the truth right now. He was just coming to terms with it himself. The truth was that Shala Winters intrigued the hell out of him. And not just in a sexual way. She triggered a �śprotect and serve” instinct that went far deeper than the one that had got him into law enforcement in the first place. Not for one second did he buy into all that soul-mate crap, but a few days would never be enough with her. �śYou ready?” He offered his hand. She hesitated, then slipped her uninjured palm into his. When she stood up, he didn’t let go and she didn’t pull away. The feel of her palm against his gave him a shot of confidence. She met his gaze. �śWhy are you doing this?” �śWhat?” �śMaking me your personal project.” Yeah, why are you doing this? He pushed back the feeling that the answer had layers of truth and told her what he wanted to believe. �śI’m chief of police. It’s my job. And when you’re not trying to get me arrested, aiming Mace at me, or talking about castration, I find you sort of likeable.” She smiled. Then, looking down at their locked hands, she lost that smile and released him. That’s when he recalled another matter that needed clearing up. �śAbout this morning.” �śI’m trying to forget that.” She took a step, then spun, her expression defensive. �śWhich, by the way, won’t happen again. You’re not staying in my hotel room.” He nodded, hoping she’d relocate to his place. Guessing that humor would maybe help the mood, he offered, �śWas it really that bad?” She cut him off with a glare. But while those blue eyes said �śDon’t go there,” they also said �śCome get me.” He wondered if she knew what she wanted. He knew that he did. He held out his hands. �śI really wasn’t trying anything.” When she didn’t appear convinced, he added, �śCome on, you were married. You have to know that men in the mornings have a tendency to�Ś�Śget up’ before they get up.” �śYou shouldn’t have gotten in bed with me,” she replied, �śor removed�"” �śOkay, I’ll admit that I might have crossed a few lines. I wasn’t thinking.” �śReally?” Her voice held a teasing quality, which made him happy. �śThe almighty Chief Gomez admits he wasn’t thinking.” �śI made a mistake,” he agreed. �śI don’t have a problem admitting when I’m wrong. Not that it happens a lot.” He grinned. Nothing beat being in the presence of a witty and beautiful woman�"except perhaps being in the presence of a witty and beautiful naked woman. But give that time. �śRight.” She grabbed her purse and started for the door. �śOther than your athlete’s foot and toilet-seat issues, you’re perfect.” �śWhat?” �śWait.” She glanced back, her blue eyes twinkling. �śI’m forgetting about your ED issues.” Then she walked out the door. He grabbed his phone and followed. �śMy�ŚOh, hell, I do not have erectile dysfunction!” Sky would have done just about anything�"including dance naked in the street with a party hat over his privates�"to take his words back. Jessie, Sal’s wife, the gossip queen of Precious, stood right outside. She was grinning from ear to ear, and mentally he could see her rubbing her hands together in glee, desperate to announce to every man, woman, and child in Precious, their brothers, sisters, and probably their pet guinea pigs, that Sky Gomez had been discussing his inability to get it up. Redfoot woke with a start, and the dream pushed him to focus. Where the hell was he? His mind tried to absorb the white room. Had the spirits taken him? No, he was in the hospital. But pieces of a dream flashed in his head. He closed his eyes, trying to capture it. The bulldog had reappeared, bigger, more powerful than before, but after that the images were fuzzy. Obviously the sleeping pill had made his dream harder to remember. He saw images of Jose and Maria, but then the white boy, too. Why was Matt involved? He couldn’t grasp enough to understand the spirits’ entire message, but another part of the dream was crystal clear: the river of blood, Shala Winters standing nearby. Blue Eyes still wasn’t safe. And she hadn’t been standing by the river alone. Others were in danger, too. But who? Trying to wipe the smile off her face, Shala watched Sky gaze around the parking lot as they walked to his truck. Did he really expect the crazed ski-masked man to appear in broad daylight? Not smiling suddenly became easier. �śYou enjoyed that,” Sky accused as they slipped into his truck. �śEnjoyed what?” she asked innocently, knowing full well what he meant. �śYou know,” he growled. �śYou embarrassing yourself with your erectile-dysfunction comment in front of that hotel owner? Maybe a little.” She smiled again. When she looked at him, his black hair glistened in the sun and his dark eyes showed frustration but amusement. Damn, if his smile wasn’t the type to jump off a man’s face and curl up inside a woman’s heart. The kind that made a woman want to run her fingers across a man’s lips, the kind that made a woman feel the expression was for her alone. It was the kind of smile that made a woman answer, �śYes, hell, yes!” without considering the specifics of the question. �śI hope you enjoyed it, because I’m going to pay.” He shook his head. �śBy lunch today, this whole town will be thinking I can’t�Śman up when I want to. The only time Jessie isn’t gossiping is when she’s sleeping or has her mouth full of food. Wait. I take that back. At the community picnic, she gossiped while eating a hot dog.” Shala’s gaze fell to Sky’s chest, appreciated the way it filled out his white button-down shirt. She remembered seeing him without it, stretched out on the bed like a lover. She could also remember that fraction of a second where she’d wanted to lie down on top of him and feel the heat of his body against hers. Inside hers. Her heart did a little tap dance, clickety-clacking her down the path toward a real, full-fledged attraction. It was a place she hadn’t been in so long, a place she wasn’t sure she was ready to visit. And yet for the life of her she wasn’t ready to call it quits. Not that she’d stay around for the long haul. No way was she planning on losing her head, her heart, or even her clothes. But was it so wrong to just enjoy flirting? To enjoy feeling alive? Sky sighed. �śThat woman can get information passed around town faster than the five o’clock news.” �śThen why didn’t you just explain, tell her it was Redfoot’s medicine?” Shala asked. He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. �śYou knew they were Redfoot’s pills all along? So why were you giving me such a hard time?” �śI’m not responsible for your hard time. You got that all by yourself.” �śYou know what I mean!” She did, but she was having fun. She shrugged. �śI saw his name when I picked them up, but just because they were prescribed to him doesn’t mean you don’t take them to�"” He squinted and made another growling sound, one that reminded her of an angry bear waking up after a long winter, and she almost laughed. �śOkay, I probably did it because it was funny, and because you deserved to be teased for taking off your pants and climbing into my bed. But you have to admit�"” �śI admit nothing. Redfoot handed me the pills last night and asked me take them home. I sure as hell didn’t know what they were. I didn’t even know he was�Śin a position to need�Śhappy pills. And I couldn’t tell Jessie, because then she’d go announcing that to the world. Knowing Redfoot, he’d kill her, and then I’d have to arrest him.” �śSo you’ll allow people to think you have ED to protect Redfoot?” Her question was humorous, but she found his affection for his foster father touching. Sky’s gaze shot to the hotel office. �śGod, I’ll bet she’s already on the phone.” He shook his head. �śMaybe Redfoot’s method is better. I could kill her and you could help me bury her body.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and then started the truck. �śI seriously don’t see what Sal sees in that woman.” Shala grinned. �śShe’s pretty.” �śShe’s a menace to society.” �śShe seems sweet.” �śShe is,” he admitted. �śAnd I’m going to feel guilty killing her, but I think I can still do it.” Shala laughed wholeheartedly. Sky turned to look at her and stared. The frustration melted from his expression and he said, �śDamn, you’re beautiful when you do that.” Was she so desperate for a man’s attention that one little comment could send her high-stepping it up to the clouds? Yes. The compliment, delivered with heat both in his gaze and voice, sent Shala’s heart soaring. But while the trip to that light and fluffy feel-good place was fun, God knew falling could hurt like hell. Caution flags started waving in Shala’s head. She really, really needed to stay grounded. Maria sat on the bed, tapping her foot on the carpet and waiting. She wanted out of the house before she had to face Jose again, before she lost her temper and did things she had no right to do�"such as blaming him for the death of a child he knew nothing about. Realistically, she knew Jose held no responsibility for the baby’s death, but a part of her dealt in feelings, not facts, a part which believed that if Jose hadn’t left for New York, she wouldn’t have miscarried. But she couldn’t just trust feelings. Take Matt for example. Her feelings swore they had something special, yet last night he’d walked out on her. He hadn’t offered any excuse for his long stays in Dallas�"probably because his reasons weren’t excusable. He’d wanted her to explain Jose, of course, but she hadn’t done that only because it felt wrong to talk about Jose while he was there. And while Matt might have assumed the worst, he would have been wrong. Although�Śhe would have been only a shade off. The truth was, at one time she had indeed been having an affair with him. But that didn’t mean she didn’t care for Matt, and it didn’t mean she was cheating on him. Instantly, she questioned if her own assumptions about Matt were faulty. Could he have a reason for staying in Dallas that might not include a lurid affair? Her heart said yes, and she let the possibility take a few laps around her head, but then she reminded herself that she was at it again. She was letting her feelings guide her. Her cell phone rang. Hoping it was Sky, she checked the caller ID and almost didn’t answer. She wasn’t in the mood for one of Jessie’s gossip sessions. Then again, sitting around thinking about Matt held zero appeal as well. �śHello,” she said. �śYou are never going to believe this,” Jessie began, giggling. �śWhat?” Maria asked. She really didn’t have to; Jessie would have told her either way. Jessie loved telling things. The only way the woman wouldn’t blab something to hell and back was if she pinky-promised not to. Not that Maria asked for any pinky-promises from Jessie. Not lately. Not since the miscarriage and her secret affair with Jose. Her relationship with Matt had never been a secret. She hadn’t cared if the whole world knew they were together. �śHe stayed the night with her at the hotel,” Jessie said. Maria’s heart clutched. �śMatt stayed at your hotel with some woman?” �śMatt?” Jessie repeated. �śNo, not Matt. Sky stayed at the hotel with�ŚAh, Dios. Something happened between you and Matt.” Maria let out a deep breath. �śI’m not ready to talk about this.” But the words came out anyway. �śJose came home.” Jessie gulped. �śDoes he know about the baby?” �śNo,” Maria said. �śIt’s just�ŚIt was unbelievably crazy and I must have been acting guilty, because Matt somehow knew Jose is more than just my foster brother.” �śYou need to tell him,” Jessie announced. �śTell who?” �śBoth, chica. Tell Jose so you can move past this. Tell Matt so you can stop feeling as if you are lying to him.” Maria closed her eyes. �śYou know you can’t repeat this, right?” �śI promise on my pinky,” Jessie said. �śAre you okay?” �śNo, I’m not okay,” Maria growled, and tears filled her eyes. �śI’m pretty sure it’s over.” �śBut you told me yesterday that you thought he was the one! If he loves you, he�"” �śI guess I thought wrong.” Maria wiped her eyes and tried to pull herself together. �śReally, I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” �śOkay, but you know that when you are, I’m here for you.” �śYou always are,” Maria said. �śAnd I love you for it.” There was a pause. �śNow, do you want to hear about Sky’s shenanigans?” �śSure,” Maria said. �śWhat did he do?” Jessie began with the whole hotel break-in and her husband’s near-death experience with the black sedan. She ended with something about Sky having erectile dysfunction. Maria didn’t believe it, but the delivery was funny and she found herself pushing her own problems aside to laugh with her best friend. �śI’m cleaning their room now. The bed is messy�"” �śSky left?” Maria asked. �śJust a few minutes ago.” Maria breathed a sigh of relief. �śGood. But you have to let me go so I can get Redfoot’s things together.” After a few more words, the two women hung up. Maria tiptoed down the hall to Redfoot’s bedroom. With luck, Jose would stay incapacitated until she left for the hospital. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Sky hadn’t explained where they were going or what �śfamily issue” he needed to fix, and Shala didn’t ask. She wanted to, but those caution flags kept waving in her head. Sky Gomez, with his mouth-watering body and wit, his bedroom smile, and his caring approach to life had her working overtime at putting up barriers. Oddly, she hadn’t worried about barriers before. She hadn’t needed them. It wasn’t as if the men weren’t knocking on her door. They were, but sending them packing had been a piece of cake. She hadn’t even needed barriers. Until now. �śYou okay?” Sky asked. She cut her gaze toward him. �śFine.” �śYou got quiet,” he said. �śWhere did you go?” �śI have a lot to think about,” she answered vaguely. �śYour hand’s not hurting, is it?” �śIt’s sore is all.” She looked at her bandaged palm, remembering the fear she’d experienced while huddled on the floor at Sky’s house. �śWhat’s the chance of this freak just giving up?” Sky’s right eyebrow rose. �śNot knowing exactly what it’s about, it’s hard to guess. But my instinct says that he’s gone to too much trouble to just throw in the towel.” Her stomach gurgled with frustration. �śWhat the hell could I have photographed that’s worth hurting people over?” �śI don’t know,” Sky said, �śbut we’ll go over your pictures and maybe find something.” �śAnd if we don’t?” He frowned. �śThen we catch him when he tries his next move.” His gaze softened, and he reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. �śI won’t let anything happen to you, Shala. I promise.” His words rang so sincere, his touch was so tender, but as she felt herself warming to him, common sense kicked in and immediately she went back to barrier-building. They drove past the arena where the powwow was held, onto the Chitiwa reservation. Shala had driven around here yesterday while trying to get a feel for the place. It mostly consisted of well-kept middle-class homes, although she’d spotted a share of empty or rundown buildings, early signs of a town’s downhill slide. According to the mayor, more and more of the younger Native Americans were moving away. The bad economy was blamed for the tribe’s losing its sense of community and culture. Shala figured it was the way of the world for the youth to move on, but a bad financial situation was hardly enticement to stay. Yet with just a little cooperation from the locals, Precious could really turn its economy around. The town had so much to offer vacationers. With several lakes and a river, the town center’s quaintness, the historical buildings, Precious had so much promise. Add the appeal of tribal history, and with just a little work, she really could see the town becoming a weekend vacation spot as popular as Fredericksburg. She remembered one of the questions she’d wanted to ask the mayor, and it slipped out of her mouth. �śDoes Precious have an art community?” �śCommunity?” Sky echoed. �śLocal artists, galleries, studios?” �śWe have lots of artists. No galleries. As for studios�Śit depends on what you mean. Most of the locals work out of their homes. Estella, Redfoot’s wife, was well-known for her pottery before she passed away. She had shows everywhere, including New York. She even had exhibits in Paris. She used to teach classes at the lodge. Maria still does a class every summer.” Shala heard the hint of grief in his voice. �śHow long ago did Estella pass away?” �śTen years ago.” He paused. �śBut it seems like yesterday. She was one hell of a lady. Redfoot knew how to pick them.” Shala smiled. �śPrecious should promote this, maybe open up a few studios for tourists. Offer weekend art classes. Make it a memorial to her.” He glanced over, and a satisfied smile tickled his lips. �śThat’s a wonderful idea. Maria still does some pieces, and she paints. I personally think she’s as good as Estella, but she hasn’t tried to sell anything. Do you want me to tell Maria to get a meeting of the local artists together, so you can speak with them?” The question reminded Shala that she’d told him she was quitting. She’d been serious about that, hadn’t she? �śWho’s Maria?” A Maria had called Sky last night when Redfoot was hurt. Was the woman Sky’s girlfriend? The thought stung, but only because he’d been flirting with her. Not because she was interested. Keep telling yourself that, a voice whispered in her head. �śShe came to live with Redfoot and Estella when she was sixteen, as a foster child. She still lives with Redfoot.” Shala nodded, relieved if not wanting to admit it. Then other questions formed. Personal questions. Yet if she asked too much, Sky might question the source of the information she’d obtained while snooping through his house. Then she remembered, �śThe nurse at the hospital last night called Redfoot your foster father. Is�"?” �śYes.” Sky looked out the side window, as if to escape any more questions. A minute later, he parked in front of a white brick home. �śActually, you can ask Maria about the art community yourself.” �śMaria?” Sky called out as he and Shala stepped into Redfoot’s entryway. It smelled strongly of air freshener and scented candles. �śIn Redfoot’s room, gathering a few of his things,” came a very quiet reply from down the hall. �śI’ll be ready in a snap.” Sky’s gaze went to the huge mirror in the hall and studied his reflection. Shala stood next to him. Damn, if she didn’t look good there. He was dark; she, light. His solid frame contrasted with her curvier one. And while he had a good ten inches on her�"the top of her head only came to his shoulders�"something about her size felt perfect, as if she’d been molded to fit his body. He’d never been particular about a woman’s size before, but suddenly he wondered if he’d overlooked a fetish for petite girls. Her gaze locked with his in the mirror. He recalled how quickly she’d shut down when he’d complimented her in the truck. Right then, he knew there was more than just her camera standing in the way of them getting close. Or getting naked. His gaze lowered to the cotton-covered breasts filling her pink T-shirt. There was nothing petite about those. Looking back at her eyes, he saw their warning: Don’t come any closer. But while Shala Winters kept herself locked away, he was good at picking locks. Their staring had reached the awkward stage, so he looked away from the mirror and directly at her. Their gazes met and locked again. �śWhy don’t you wait in the living room while I speak to Maria,” he suggested, motioning to a room down the hall. �śOn the shelves are some of Estella’s and Maria’s pieces. Feel free to check them out.” Nodding, Shala walked away. He enjoyed the view of that perky ass. Her shorts hugged all the right places. But when he felt his body responding, he forced himself to move down the hall. When had he reverted to instant hard-ons? Since you haven’t had sex in a month of Sundays, he told himself, not wanting to think it had everything to do with Shala herself. Moving down the hall, he found Maria gathering a clean change of clothes into a bag. �śHey,” he said. His foster sister turned, and the moment he saw her face, he sensed that whatever was going on was more serious than he’d feared. �śYou didn’t wake him up, did you?” she asked. �śWake who up?” She rolled her eyes. �śJose.” �śNo.” Sky took a few more steps. �śWhat’s going on, Maria?” �śHe still stinks,” she replied. Right then, another smell, one that lingered beneath the air freshener, penetrated Sky’s senses. �śIs that skunk?” �śLovely, isn’t it?” Maria snapped. �śYou’re going to have to deal with him, because I just can’t.” �śWhat the hell happened?” �śLeave it to Jose to come back and screw everything up.” �śScrew what up?” Sky had never really seen Jose as a troublemaker. �śEverything.” Tears filled Maria’s eyes. �śHe screwed up everything.” She came barreling at him, Redfoot’s underwear clutched in her hand, and wrapped her arms around him. When Maria needed a hug, she didn’t ask, she took. When she thought you needed a hug, she gave without permission, too. Fighting it was like fighting Mother Nature. So Sky just endured. �śI can’t stay here while he’s home,” she sniffled. �śPlease tell me I can hang out at your place.” �śOf course you can.” Visions of Shala danced in his head, but he simply couldn’t tell Maria no. Of course, an idiot with a gun had gone to his place. His home might not be safe for Maria or Shala. But he also had a lot of stuff to work through, and he really didn’t have to time to stand here hugging his sister in a skunked-up room. He’d just opened his mouth to speak again when a scream from the other room split the air. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Shala had been admiring the pottery on the entire wall when her foot bumped into something, but she was so awed by the glazed pottery that she ignored it. These were gorgeous pieces with smooth rising lines. Sky’s foster mother had indeed been an amazing artist. Or were some of them Maria’s? But then that something her foot had struck�"or rather, that someone�"wrapped a hand around her ankle. It was a dark-haired man, eyes closed and stretched out on the floor. He wore only a woman’s pink bathrobe. And�" �śHoly moly!” For the second time that morning, she found herself staring at an erection. And while Shala had no problem with male anatomy, having gone visually penis-free for so long, the sudden wealth of phalluses was a shock to her system. She jerked her leg, but the grip tightened. The man opened his eyes and glared up at her. She loosed a scream and took off in a dead run�"not an easy task when someone has a death grip on your ankle. Before she knew it, she found herself facedown on the carpet. The man still held her ankle, so she kicked, hard. Her foot made contact. The hold on her ankle fell away. A few choice words sputtered out behind her, but she didn’t look back. On her hands and knees, Shala crawled like a baby on speed across the living-room floor. She moved at such amazing velocity that she plowed right into another pair of jeans-clad legs. She didn’t even bother looking up, but barreled right between the knees and took a sharp left into the hall. The front door was now in view, so she lunged to her feet and took off. But she didn’t make it. Someone snagged her arm. �śWhat’s wrong?” Sky. Her heart hammered in her throat, and she couldn’t answer. Swinging around, she pointed to the living room. �śWhat?” Sky asked. The near-naked, cross-dressing ankle-grabber lay hidden behind the sofa. �śOh this is freaking great!” said a dark-haired woman behind Sky�"Maria, Shala assumed. She stood with her hands on her hips, frowning toward the living room. Something about her expression said she knew what had Shala so panicky. �śPlease, stop yelling.” The ankle-grabber stood up, holding both his palms over his ears. Blood was running from his nose. Unfortunately, with both his hands being used as earmuffs, he couldn’t hold the ill-fitting pink robe over his privates. At least the thing wasn’t still standing at attention. �śFor Christ’s sake, Jose!” moaned Sky. �śCover yourself.” The man flinched, then lowered one hand to pull some pink material over his crotch. �śJust stop yelling and”�"he pointed at Shala�"�śkeep her away from me.” He wiped his other hand under his nose. Slowly, bloodily, he moved past them down the hall. It couldn’t exactly be called a graceful exit. Not just because each step appeared to pain him, but because with the robe pulled tight in front, the back of the pink robe rode up above his naked buttocks. And right before he stepped out of view he muttered, �śWelcome to fucking Precious.” Sky frowned at Shala, who quickly explained. �śHe grabbed my ankle and wouldn’t let go. I was trying to get away. I didn’t mean�"” �śStop,” Sky said. �śI’m not blaming you.” He placed an arm around her shoulder. �śYou okay?” �śI’m fine.” She noted the easy manner with which he touched her, and questioned if she should step away. �śI wasn’t the one bleeding.” �śYeah, but he scared the crap out of you.” Sky stared down the hall. �śWhat’s he thinking, running around like that?” Shala shot him an accusing look. �śNow nudity is a crime?” �śYes. Indecent exposure. But I’m talking about that pink robe.” Then, as if just realizing her meaning, he added, �śThis isn’t the same thing as the hotel.” He raked a hand over his face and looked at his foster sister. �śWhat the hell is going on, Maria?” �śYou tell me, then we’ll both know. He’s pretty much been like this since I found him in my tub, bathing in douche.” �śDouche?” Shala gasped, certain she’d misunderstood. �śYes. I’m sorry. My name is Maria, and I swear my house isn’t normally occupied by hungover, nearly naked men giving peep shows. And it doesn’t always stink like a skunk, either.” �śSkunk,” Shala repeated. She caught herself inhaling, and past the air-freshened scent she picked up a hint of stink. �śOh, my!” �śTerrible, isn’t it.” Tears filled Maria’s eyes. �śIt’s been a hard night.” Shala nodded. Awkward silence filled the room, and then Maria offered, �śHave you guys heard that mustard is great for burns?” �śYellow mustard?” Shala asked, not knowing what else to say. �śYes. I read it in the paper a few days ago.” �śWhat the hell does mustard have to do with this?” Sky asked. �śNothing,” Maria snapped. �śI was just hoping to break the awkward silence.” Shala grinned. �śYou didn’t get that?” �śNo, I didn’t, but I’ll let you guys discuss mustard on your own.” Sky moved around the two women. �śExcuse me just a minute.” He walked down the hall and disappeared into the same room as the ankle-grabber. Jose heard someone moving down the hall, and his head pounded in unison. Those footsteps sounded like a jackhammer striking concrete. He just managed to pull the front of the robe over his dick before the door swung open. He blinked, causing extreme pain to his eyeballs�"who knew eyeballs could hurt?�"and stared at Sky in the doorway. �śI’ll give you twenty bucks if you don’t slam the door,” he begged. His foster brother apparently wasn’t in the same financial straits as during his teen years, because he slammed the door and yelled, �śWhat the hell is going on?” Jose held up a hand. �śI think I drank too much.” �śYou think you drank too much? What was your first fucking clue�"your headache, smelling like the bottom of a whiskey barrel, or waking up wearing pink lingerie and attacking an innocent woman?” �śI didn’t attack her. I thought she was Maria and I was just going to�ŚI wanted�ŚOh, hell, I had a wreck and then there were fire ants, and thorns, and then that skunk came out of nowhere. Then I found out Maria is sleeping with some white boy with a big dick. Then the dick and Maria came in, and I was naked and almost drunk. I guess I didn’t see the point in stopping then.” Sky just stared. Jose didn’t blame him. If he hadn’t experienced it all, he’d think the whole story was a crock. He scowled. �śHell, I’ve still got the ant bites on my balls, if you care to check. I’ll bet you can still find a few thorns in my nose, and the damn house still smells like skunk. And don’t forget the car. You’ll find it over by Old Man Jacobs’s place, wrapped around a tree.” �śYou were driving drunk?” Jose ground his teeth. Sky looked ready to pull out a pair of handcuffs and drag his ass to jail, and that pissed him off. Sure, he didn’t carry a badge and protect the good people of Precious, he hadn’t stayed behind to be the son of Redfoot, but he designed friggin’ buildings that each alone could house more people than populated this town. Didn’t that count for anything? Why did Jose always feel as if he stood in Sky’s shadow? �śI wasn’t drunk when I hit the tree,” Jose said. �śI was rushing home to check on my father.” Sky shook his head. �śWell, if you plan on seeing Redfoot this morning, you’d better clean up your act and fast. Even suffering from a concussion, he sees you wearing that pink robe and he’s likely to kick your ass and ask questions later.” Jose clenched his fist. Maybe it was still the whiskey, but damn if he didn’t want to pound Sky Gomez’s face in. How dare his foster brother come in here and explain his father? Just because Jose and Redfoot were nothing alike didn’t mean Jose didn’t know his old man. �śJust leave,” Jose snapped, his shoulders slumping in defeat. The tension faded from Sky’s expression. �śI don’t mean to start shit, Jose, but damn it, you�Ś” He raked a hand down his face. �śDon’t you want a ride to the hospital? I think Maria said Redfoot has the only keys to his car.” �śI’ll find my own way.” Sky stood there as if intending to argue, but his cell phone rang and he pulled it from its case and checked the caller ID. A worried expression crossed his face as he answered. �śWhat is it now, Martha?” he asked. The tension in Sky’s posture had Jose listening. �śNo!” Sky bit out and turned around and leaned against the wall. �śHow serious is it?” Sky paused. �śDamn it, this is my fault!” He leaned against the wall. �śI’m on my way. Call Pete and Ricardo and get them over there.” He pulled his phone from his ear. Jose’s heart leaped in his chest. �śWhat is it? Dad?” Sky turned, and the look on his face was grim. �śNot Redfoot,” he said. �śIt’s Jessie.” �śJessie Lopez, Maria’s friend?” Jose asked. Sky nodded, turning toward the door. �śWhat happened?” Sky glanced back. �śShe was shot. And it’s my damn fault. I should have never left the camera there.” Shala sat between Sky and Maria, both of whom were giving off so much tension and fierce concern that it filled every nook and cranny of the truck, making it hard to breathe. Jessie had been shot. She didn’t really know Jessie, and the few encounters the two had shared were short, but Shala could still recall the smile the woman had worn this morning when Sky made his ED comment. She recalled Sky’s frustration about her being a gossip, but even then, Shala had heard genuine affection in his voice, as if Jessie were a family member who drove him crazy but he tolerated because, deep down, he cared. Yup, Shala had heard that in his voice. She’d almost envied it, too. It had been a long time since she’d had a circle of family and friends. She accepted that her solitary lifestyle was her choice. After the divorce, most of her friends had pulled away�"some because they were more Brian’s friends, and others because�Śwell, because they were married and having a single friend, bitter about men, wasn’t good for their own relationships. Then came Nana’s death, and after that the new business. It had just seemed easier to focus on work than on outside relationships. Easier, but lonely. Glancing from Sky’s scowl to Maria’s soulful expression, she felt the guilt blossom twofold in her chest. People Sky cared about were getting hurt. Was it her fault? �śI’m so sorry,” she muttered. �śI swear I have no idea why this is happening.” �śThis isn’t you,” Sky said, and continued to make his way through the traffic, doing about seventy miles per hour. �śIf anyone is to blame, it’s me. I should never have left that camera at the hotel.” �śNo one is guilty but the person who shot her,” Maria said. Sky had given her a short synopsis of everything they knew. �śWe just have to believe that everything is going to be okay. Jessie is going to be fine.” She cupped her hands together, and her eyes grew moist. Shala turned from Maria to look at Sky, and what he said suddenly sank in. �śMy camera was at the hotel?” �śIn Sal’s safe.” She felt terrible asking, but the camera did hold an emotional connection to her Nana. �śDoes this mean it was stolen? I mean, I know it’s not really important now, but�"” �śI don’t know,” Sky said. �śFrom what Martha told me, Jessie was shot while cleaning your room. So I don’t think so.” �śMy room�Ś” Shala stared at her lap. Deep down she’d been hoping this would turn out to be about something else. Such hope was shattered. �śGod, first Redfoot and now this.” She closed her eyes. �śI should just take the camera and go back to Houston. Let the police there try to sort this out.” �śLike hell,” Sky said. �śI don’t want anyone else hurt!” �śSo you’re going to go off and get yourself killed?” he asked. �śI won’t get hurt. I’ll go straight to�"” �śDamn right you won’t get hurt, because you’re not leaving.” The mixed emotions in her chest found a leader: anger. Anger at Sky. �śYou can’t force me�"” �śThe hell I can’t. I told you earlier, you’re being detained. If you try to leave, I’ll arrest your ass.” Shala scowled right back at him and then looked at Maria. �śIs he always so downright, frustratingly, overwhelmingly, pigheadedly difficult?” �śGosh, could you have thrown in a couple more adverbs?” he asked. Maria raised her eyebrows, glancing at Sky and then Shala as if making an assessment. �śNo, he’s not always that way. Only with people he really cares about.” They drove the next five minutes in silence. Sky chewed on everything he knew about the shooting, and on everything he didn’t know. He needed more information and to make some decisions. Maria leaned forward to look at him. �śI thought we were going to the hospital.” Sky parked in front of Sal’s hotel. When he saw both the black-and-white cruiser and Ricardo’s red Chevy, he found he could at least breathe a little better. He glanced at Maria, saw the worry in her eyes. Damn, if he didn’t know just how she felt. The weight of the world was on his chest right now, a big part of it guilt. He’d totally screwed up by leaving Shala’s camera. �śI need to stop by for just a few minutes. Can you two wait here?” He wanted to be able to keep them in sight. God forbid, the asshole who’d shot Jessie was still around. His gut said that was next: if the perp couldn’t find the camera, he’d go after the photographer. �śCan’t you drop me off at the hospital?” Maria asked. �śI need to do this, Maria. I won’t be�"” �śNothing you can do here is more important than Jessie.” Tears filled his sister’s eyes. �śI’ll only be a few minutes.” �śWhy now?” �śIt’s my job,” he explained, careful to stay patient. He’d already lost his cool with Shala. Later, when some of the pressure had eased, he’d apologize for sounding harsh about her wanting to leave. But protecting her was his job, damn it! �śPromise me you two will stay right here,” he demanded. Maria and Shala both nodded. Maria’s sorrow cut deep, but he didn’t have time or the words to console her. As he got out of his truck, however, he saw Shala reach over and take Maria’s hand. He stood beside the window and stared, unprepared for the emotion swirling in his chest. He wouldn’t let this nutjob get to her. �śSky?” called Pete, one of the state troopers. Sky headed across the parking lot toward him. He didn’t waste time on idle chitchat. �śYou got it closed off? Where’s Ricardo?” �śHe’s up there checking out the crime scene. It’s ugly. Lots of blood. But yeah, we got it shut off.” That was Jessie’s blood all over the hotel room. Sky’s gut clenched. He let out a deep breath and said, �śDo me a favor. Keep your eye on this truck. Shala Winters is in there with Maria. If this creep is still around, he might go after her.” �śYou got it.” As Sky started to turn away, Pete added, �śHey, you think this is going to end up a murder case?” He actually sounded excited. Sky clenched his fist. It would have felt damn good to let loose on Pete, but deep down he knew the person who deserved to be on the receiving end of his fury was the guy who pulled the trigger. Besides, Pete lived in the next town over. He didn’t know Jessie. To him, this was just another case. �śI don’t know.” �śYou calling the rangers to do the crime scene?” �śYes.” He didn’t like the idea, not even when the ranger he’d call was a friend, but Sky knew his limitations. He couldn’t do around-the-clock protection of Shala and also work this case correctly. And this creep needed to get caught. Not that he planned to stop working the case. �śHey,” Pete said, motioning. �śIs it true that Shala Winters is a sight to behold?” �śJust watch the friggin’ truck!” And Sky left before the man earned himself a black eye. As he walked up to the hotel room, he pulled out his phone and called Lucas. �śHey, I need you to come over to the hotel,” he said when his neighbor answered. �śLike, now.” �śWhat’s going on?” �śI need you to keep something safe for me.” He gave Lucas the lowdown on the camera and on Jessie’s getting shot, then he hung up and made his next call. Part of him hated doing it, knowing he’d lose most of his control on the case, but damn it, a smart man knew when he needed a hand. Sky needed help. Phillip Freeman, senior captain for the San Antonio department of the Texas Rangers, answered on the third ring. �śIt’s good to see your number on my phone. You planning another poker game?” he asked. �śThis is business.” �śDamn. You know I hate business.” �śWe got trouble in town.” �śSomeone run your traffic light?” he teased. �śThere’s been a shooting,” Sky replied in total seriousness. �śOkay, let me make it easy for you. If the person is married, look at the spouse. Marriage makes people want to kill each other. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d kill my ex-wife.” �śIt’s not like that.” Sky bypassed Ricardo and entered Shala’s hotel room. The blood on the wall had his gut in knots. �śAnd it’s someone I know.” �śSorry. Was it a murder?” Sky closed his eyes. �śThe victim is in the operating room. From what I heard, it could go either way.” From all the blood, Sky was afraid to hope. �śDo you have a suspect?” �śThis is where it gets weird.” Sky filled him in on Shala and the camera. �śDamn, you got a mystery on your hands!” Philip sounded glad to help. �śJust tell me what you need, and you got it.” �śFor starters, I need someone to do the crime scene.” �śIt will take me a few hours to get the van and my people there. I’ll give you a call when I get close. You can meet me.” �śYeah. I’ll be at the hospital.” �śSky,” Philip said, �śbe careful. If this guy’s shot one person, he won’t hesitate to shoot another.” His big-city friend sounded worried. �śBelieve it or not, Phil,” Sky said, �śI figured that one out myself.” CHAPTER EIGHTEEN �śOpen your eyes and tell me you’re okay, you stubborn old Indian.” Redfoot felt a soft, feminine palm against his face, and his first thought was of Estella. When he opened his eyes, he found Veronica. �śOh, my. Your eyes are both black.” Redfoot’s pride cried out, You should see the other guy! But that was a lie, so instead he said nothing and just looked at her. He took in her soft brown eyes, concern swirling in their watery sheen, and right then he knew that although Veronica would never take Estella’s place, somehow his heart had grown her a separate location. She belonged there. She belonged with him. Now, if he could just convince her of that. He understood that her husband had been gone only two years, but two years was a long time to be lonely. And while Veronica swore that her reservations were because of her children, sometimes Redfoot wondered. If rumors were true, she had reasons not ever to commit herself fully to another man. But for several months now, she had given him her body. Now he wanted more. He wanted her to stand beside him, not just lie with him a few nights a week. He wanted her heart. And he was tired of keeping their relationship secret from his family and friends. �śAre you okay?” she asked. �śI’m not okay,” Redfoot answered. �śI had plans last night to be with a beautiful woman, and instead I had to sleep alone in a cold hospital bed.” She grinned, but it faded. �śI didn’t hear until this morning. I waited for you last night.” But she hadn’t called. He knew, because after Maria left last night he’d checked his messages. The reason she hadn’t called was probably because she was afraid Maria would answer. Afraid someone would discover they were seeing each other. He patted the bed. �śLie beside me and remind me what I missed.” He gave her hand a tug, but she resisted. �śThere’s not enough room.” �śI’ll make room.” She grinned like a schoolgirl. The bright blue of her blouse made her look young, as did the scoop neck that hinted at her figure. For a woman her age, she had beautiful breasts. Redfoot stared at the tiny buttons�"at least ten�"that held the blouse together. His mind created the image of her taking it off. �śYou are a crazy man. What if someone comes in and catches me in bed with you?” �śThen I’ll smile really big and pretend we were just resting.” She rolled her eyes. �śYou know I can’t.” He frowned. �śIf you’re not careful, I’m going to think you are ashamed to be seen with me.” �śI’m not ashamed!” �śThen why don’t you want anyone to know about us?” She took a step away. �śWe’ve discussed this, Redfoot. I just�ŚI can’t.” �śI mean so little to you.” She moved back toward the bed. �śNo. I care for you. More than I should. It’s my children.” �śYour children are not in this hospital, Veronica,” he pointed out. �śAs a matter of fact, when I look around, I see only us.” He patted the bed again. Shala sat in the waiting room, her hands in her lap, watching everyone pace. Over a dozen individuals had shown up, a mix of family and friends. Jessie, obviously loved by many, was in surgery. Shala had heard someone say it was touch-and-go. Tears filled everyone’s eyes. Even Shala’s eyes burned. Having fought off the sorrow, Shala now tried to breathe through her mouth so that the hospital smell wouldn’t get inside her senses and start messing with her head, wouldn’t take her back to the past. Whenever she felt panic inch closer, she told herself to grow up. This wasn’t about her; this was about a woman who’d been shot in part because of something Shala had done�"even if that something was taking an unintentionally wrong picture. It was still her fault. She also knew that if it had been her in that hotel room, it would have been her in that operating room. This waiting room would be empty�"no friends, no family close enough to show up. Her gaze moved around the crowd and she wondered what it would feel like to have so many people in her life. She heard her name. When she looked up, Maria waved. Someone must have asked who she was. Suddenly Shala felt as if she didn’t belong here. She was a stranger, the outsider to everyone but Sky. Closing her eyes, she recalled arguing with him about staying at the hotel. His pigheaded demand had probably saved her life. Opening her eyes, Shala looked for him. When he’d returned from the crime scene, he hadn’t said a word. Shala surmised it had been emotionally difficult. Coming here wasn’t an easy feat, either. She’d watched him flutter from person to person. He’d approached the most anxious people, touching them, offering words of comfort. Whenever anyone extended him the same courtesy, he pulled away. No, Chief Sky Gomez could give comfort, but he couldn’t accept it. Was it just for professional appearances, or was there something more? She remembered how Sky had approached Sal when they’d first come into the hospital. Sky had worn guilt like a second skin. Sal, with tears in his eyes, had shaken his head, and while Shala couldn’t be sure, she felt certain no blame had been assigned. Remembering Sky’s past, the newspaper article in that box at his house, that ten-year-old Sky struggling against the firefighter’s hold, it somehow made sense that Sky would want to save other people because he hadn’t been able to save his parents. She wondered if he somehow blamed himself for their deaths. While her own past had left Shala with a boatload of emotional issues, guilt wasn’t one of them. The fault lay in the hands of a drunk driver. Nana had made sure Shala and her brother understood. Shala could still remember how, less than a week after her parents’ funeral, her grandmother had marched her and her brother into a courtroom. They’d faced the drunk driver and the judge, and guilt had been clear. If not for Nana, there was no telling how much more of a basket case she and her brother would have been. It occurred to Shala that Sky had gone into the foster program, which meant Sky hadn’t had a grandmother. He hadn’t had anyone to ease the transition from loved child to orphan. She couldn’t fathom dealing with her parents’ deaths and also a relocation to a home with strangers at the same time. Empathy for Sky filled her chest as she searched the crowd again, wanting to make sure he was okay. He wasn’t there. Had probably stepped outside to take another call. She’d heard his cell ring at least four times since they arrived. Leaning back in her chair, she stretched her neck, hoping to relieve some of the tension building in her shoulders. The sound of the intercom calling for a doctor filled her ears. Shala closed her eyes, and instead of thinking about her past, or even Sky’s past, she tried to remember the different photographs she’d taken in the last few days. What could she have caught on film that had brought this on? Someone’s hand moved between her tightened palms. She popped her eyes open. Sky sat in the empty chair next to her. Her heart swelled at the sight of him, and she had to fight to keep from hugging him. Not so much to hug the stubborn and difficult man he’d grown to be, but the boy she knew he’d been. He stared at her, looking almost as guilty as when he’d faced Sal. �śI’m sorry,” he muttered. �śChrist. I completely forgot.” He took her left hand in his. �śForgot what?” �śYour aversion to hospitals. You okay?” �śI’m fine.” He ran a finger over her cheek. �śNo, you’re not. Come on, let’s take a walk.” Pulling her up, he laced his fingers through hers and led her across the room. Shala didn’t have any will to deny him the touch. Not just because she needed it, but because she felt he needed it, too. Jose lay in bed, fighting his headache and berating himself for everything he’d done since he crossed the Precious city line. When he heard Sky and the others leave, he picked himself up and went in search of a pain reliever and clothes. He found some aspirin in the cabinet and a box of his old clothes in a closet. The jeans felt a little loose; he’d obviously lost a few pounds living the city lifestyle. The room in his jeans was a good thing, since he’d be going commando. There’d been no underwear in the boxed clothes, but that wasn’t altogether a bad thing, because he had at least seven fire-ant blisters on his family jewels. Finally armed with clothes that weren’t pink, feminine, and didn’t smell like Maria, he almost felt human. Almost. Sitting down to make a few calls, he rang the hospital to check with the nurses about his dad. Next, he contacted his insurance company, and then Ramon’s Service and Wrecking Company. Ramon was an old high-school buddy from a few houses down who now owned and ran one of the two mechanic shops in town. Sky had already called and asked them to bring in Jose’s car. Leave it to Sky to take care of things. Jose knew he should be appreciative�"and damn it, he was�"but his foster brother’s ability to always do the right thing made him feel inadequate. �śWho’s going to be driving the wrecker?” Jose asked. Ramon paused. �śI am, as soon as my other employee comes in.” �śIs there any way you could swing by Dad’s place and give me a lift to the hospital?” �śYou bet,” Ramon said. �śHow is Redfoot? Mom told me this morning that he caught some guy breaking in and got hurt.” �śYeah. According to the nurses on his floor, he’s doing fine. They said he’ll probably come home today.” Jose had yet to actually talk to his dad, preferring to do that in person. He knew he was procrastinating, but his dad never failed to mention his moving back home, and Jose never failed to feel guilty. With Redfoot hurt, his guilt would reach new heights. �śI’m glad he’s okay. I’m sure Sky is going to catch the bastard.” Jose pressed a hand to his throbbing temple. �śYeah, that’s Sky for you.” �śDid you hear about Jessie getting shot?” Ramon asked. �śYou know Sal and she got married last year. He’s crazy about her, too. I know he’s in a world of hurt right now.” Jose remembered her. She’d always been vibrant. �śDidn’t know they got married, but I heard about the shooting. I hope she’s okay.” �śMe, too. I just can’t believe this shit is happening here. Did you bring some of that big-city crime with you?” �śI hope not.” Jose’s mind shifted gears, and he wondered about the blonde with Sky. Who was she? He’d made a complete jackass of himself in front of her. Reaching up, he touched his nose. Damn, she could kick. �śHey, is Sky seeing anyone?” he asked. �śHe was here this morning with a blonde.” Ramon’s laugh spilled out of the phone receiver. �śFunny you ask. My sister dropped by this morning with a wild-ass story about him staying at Sal’s hotel with the tourism specialist that’s in town�"the one Redfoot claims is his soul mate. Not that I blame Sky for going after her. She’s wet-dream material. I saw her at the powwow. She brought her camera in and took a picture, and Sky yanked it right out of her hands. Then, damn it, he goes and gets lucky with her!” �śSky’s soul mate?” Jose scoffed. �śHe beds and leaves ’em.” �śYeah. Though from what my sister said, he’s got a problem with the bedding part. Supposedly he was talking to the blonde about erectile dysfunction.” �śSky?” Jose chuckled. Was it terrible of him to take pleasure in the almighty Police Chief Gomez having trouble getting it up? Yeah, it was terrible, but it soothed his ego just a bit. �śYeah, Sky. But you know how those rumors go. It probably doesn’t have a lick of truth. Next we’ll hear he’s into cross-dressing.” No, that will be me, Jose thought dispiritedly. �śHey, Jimmy’s here. I’ll be over there in about ten minutes.” Jose hung up the phone and went to collect Maria’s robe to toss in the washer. It was the least he could do. But when he walked by her room, he stopped and stared at the bed. He recalled how she’d looked last night: soft, sexy, unchanged. But no. She had changed. She used to look at him with so much affection. Damn it, he still loved her. Was she serious about this new guy? Did he stand a chance of winning her back? Hell, was winning her back even the right thing? Had two years changed anything? Was she still determined to stay in Precious? He was still determined to leave. Wasn’t he? Sky, his heart swimming in guilt, entered the elevator with Shala. How in God’s name had he forgotten her issue with hospitals? Sure, he had a hundred things on his mind, but if anyone could understand how difficult this was for her, it was him. To this day, the smell of smoke turned him inside out. The doors to the elevator closed and low classical music filled the space. He recalled seeing Shala sitting there in that chair, apart from everyone else, and again he’d been hit by her vulnerability�"and by his need to make it disappear. He gave her good hand a squeeze, hoping she understood she wasn’t alone. �śSeriously, I’m sorry. I should have remembered.” She stepped in front of him and rested her hand on his chest. The touch, completely innocent, sparked a sensation that bordered on pain. �śYou don’t have to do this. You can stay with your friends. I’m doing okay. I’m dealing with it.” Without thinking, he cupped the back of her head and brought his mouth to hers. They’d barely touched lips when she tilted her head back. Her big blue eyes blinked up at him. �śI don’t think that’s a good idea.” �śIt seemed like a good idea to me,” he said, aware that her hand remained on his chest. The pain had faded, and now the touch was simply warm, comforting, and he found himself wishing that he could feel her fingers on his skin. She shook her head. �śI could name ten reasons why it’s a bad idea. For starters, I’m just in town for a while and�Ś” She rattled on, and he heard something about an ex-husband before he stopped listening. The moment a woman started talking about her ex, he shut off. �śShh.” He pressed a finger to her lips. She kept talking. Those sweet lips moved against his finger. God help him, she really was a jabberer. He really didn’t like jabbering woman. But that didn’t stop him from wanting her. �śShala?” �śWhat?” She inhaled deeply as if she’d forgotten to breathe. �śStop talking.” She didn’t listen but went right back to jabbering. When she mentioned her ex again, which he had no desire to hear about, he noticed two things. First, the elevator wasn’t moving. They obviously hadn’t hit a button. Not that he minded. He could and would use it to his advantage. Second, while she worked awfully hard telling him they shouldn’t kiss, her eyes told him just the opposite. Added was the fact that her sweet palm remained against his chest. �śShala?” He tapped his finger on her ever-moving lips. �śWhat?” she asked again, but didn’t wait for him to answer before starting another sequence of jabbering. �śWould you please? Just�Śshut up and kiss me.” He leaned down and claimed her mouth again. He could taste the toothpaste she’d used this morning. And he tasted more: he tasted her. Intoxicating. Like good wine or ripe, exotic fruit. Something to be savored. She didn’t resist this time. The kiss wasn’t meant to be pure lust, and it wasn’t. It was soft. It was giving. And it was more intimate than he wanted to admit. Not that lust didn’t enter into it. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and she moaned. Her breasts, soft mounds of flesh, pushed against his chest right above where she kept her hand. Her nipples were hard, begging for attention. He felt himself thickening. Yet lust still placed second in what was happening here. Sky didn’t even completely understand it, but the experience had something to do with wanting to help her, to soothe her, to chase away the nightmare he knew existed in her head about her parents and about hospitals. A deep clearing of a throat sounded. Since Shala’s lips were occupied, as were as his own, it had to be from someone else. How he’d missed the sound of the elevator door opening, he didn’t know. Yet now they had company, so he had to pull away. And he would. In just�Śone�Śmore�Śsecond. Okay, two seconds. Pulling back, he was rewarded by Shala’s sweet weight falling against him. He smiled. There was nothing like knowing you’d turned a woman’s knees to jelly. He took her by the shoulders to steady her before focusing on the uninvited guest. It was the frowning, stern face of a balding man that watched them through the open elevator doors. Shocked but refusing to be intimidated, Sky nodded. �śMayor Johnson.” Shala didn’t bounce back as quickly. Her eyes widened with panic. Her mouth, swollen from his kiss, opened, but when no words came out, she closed it. Then she opened it again. Then she closed it. Words finally spilled out, not that they made much sense. �śHi�ŚI was�ŚSky and I were�ŚI mean, Mr. Gomez and I were�ŚWe were�"” Knowing Shala could go on babbling for a good ten minutes, and God only knew what excuse she might produce for them kissing, Sky intervened. �śHave you and Ms. Winters been officially introduced yet?” The mayor glared at Sky before seeming to come to his senses. �śOnly on the phone.” Sky watched Shala and the mayor shake hands. Then the mayor’s all-consuming frown was again aimed at him. �śCan I have a minute of your time, Chief Gomez?” he asked. �śJust one,” Sky insisted. �śWhat the hell are you doing?” the mayor seethed in the first second of his minute. He had only a minute�"Sky was timing him. Sky glanced from his watch to Shala, who was standing beside the elevators a good thirty feet behind him, looking as if she wished to fade into the hospital’s white walls. He needed to get her out of here. Or kiss her again. Then she’d forget her embarrassment. The second option was more appealing. Sure, kissing her might appear inappropriate to some, but he’d kissed her for the same reason he’d hugged Maria: to give comfort. �śDo you have something to say, Mayor? Because your time is running out.” Sky tapped his watch. Phillip would be calling soon. �śDo I have something to say?” he bellowed, then lowered his voice. �śYou have an attempted murder, three breaking-and-enterings, one attempted burglary, one attempted vehicular homicide, an important tourism specialist�"who is our last chance at saving this town�"and what are you doing? Playing kissy-kissy with her in the elevator.” Sky frowned. �śAs I already told you on the phone, I have Pete and Ricardo standing guard at the crime scene. The Texas Rangers are on their way. I have the gun that was found last night waiting to be checked for prints.” He motioned down the hall toward the waiting room. �śThe woman in that operating room is my friend, and as soon as I get the update on her condition, I’m going to be combing though Shala’s images again, trying to figure out why this is happening.” The mayor started to bluster, but Sky checked his watch again and kept talking. �śI’ve secured a place for Shala to stay in case this asshole comes after her again. I’ve spent the last twelve hours running around town dealing with all the crap that you just pointed out, while also trying to keep her safe. Unlike you, I haven’t been playing golf with a bunch of buddies, claiming to have a family emergency while you’re supposed to be working. Still, if you have comments about how I do my job, I’ll be happy to listen to them later. But my personal life is�Śpersonal.” �śYou can’t be�Śseeing a victim. It’s against policy.” �śThing is, I was seeing her before she became a victim. Now, if you want me to resign�Ś?” �śSeeing her before? She’s only been here two days.” �śI work fast,” he said. �śBut as I said, if you want�"” �śNo.” The mayor groaned, but Sky knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t back down completely. �śYou’re good at your job�"that’s why I hired you. But Ms. Winters is�ŚDamn it, Sky, you’re going to mess this up for us. Your �Ślove ’em and leave ’em’ ways are going turn us into a ghost town. We don’t need you breaking her heart and then�"” �śYour minute’s up. I’m taking her out for fresh air. I’ll be right outside the hospital if you need me.” He started back toward Shala with the mayor’s warning, along with a few of his own, echoing inside his head. However, one look at Shala and the warning faded. They were adults, damn it! �śAm I fired?” she asked as they stepped back into the elevator. �śHell, no.” Sky pushed the down button. �śHe’s just jealous that it wasn’t him in the elevator. He’s been drooling over that photograph of you in your bathing suit with your essay on kayaking since he hired you.” �śYou’re joking.” She looked appalled. �śNope,” Sky answered truthfully. �śHe even printed it out. Not that I blame him. My printer is broken or I’d have done the same.” Smiling, Sky brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. She caught his hand. �śDon’t even think about kissing me again.” The elevator doors opened. With a hand on her back, he ushered her out. �śI don’t think either of us can forget about it.” �śWatch me,” she said. �śI will.” He fitted his palm to the soft curve of her waist. �śWatching you is one of my favorite pastimes.” Her pace slowed. He gave her a little nudge, leading her outside through the hospital’s automatic doors. While it was only nine in the morning, the heat radiating from the pavement promised the day would see record highs. Sky gave the parking lot a once-over, looking for black sedans. There weren’t any. His cell rang, and he checked the number, worried it was the mayor. �śIt’s Maria,” he told Shala, and his gut tightened. Keeping one arm around her, he answered the call. �śPlease tell me it’s good news.” �śShe’s out of surgery. The doctor said it looks good.” �śThank God!” The weight in his chest faded. He smiled at Shala, who smiled back. �śI’m going to grab a breakfast sandwich from the deli,” he told Maria. �śSee if anyone else needs anything and I’ll bring it up.” �śWhy don’t you bring a dozen doughnuts?” Maria said. �śOh. Have you told Redfoot about Jessie yet?” �śNo. Didn’t want to worry him. But speaking of Redfoot, I’m going to have to meet someone in a little while, so can you get him home?” �śYou bet. See you in a few minutes.” �śSo, Jessie’s going to be okay?” Shala asked when Sky hung up. �śDoctor said it looks good.” He nudged her forward again. �śCome on, there’s a diner across the street that sells breakfast sandwiches. You hardly ate yesterday; I’m sure you’re starved.” He glanced at his watch. �śUnfortunately, we’re going to have to wolf them down. I need to get you situated and going through those images while I meet the Texas Rangers at the crime scene. They’re going to want to take the camera, so I need copies on my computer before they get here.” �śGet me situated where?” she asked. �śA friend of mine, military and an ex-cop, lives a couple miles from my place. He’ll be keeping an eye on you while I work.” She frowned. �śDo you really think that’s necessary?” He arched an eyebrow. �śDon’t start.” Although she continued to frown, he saw her mentally throw in the towel, so he promised, �śHe’s a good guy.” At the sidewalk, and between the sounds of birds and chatting people, he heard a car’s engine revving. Turning, he saw a silver SUV barreling right at them. CHAPTER NINETEEN Shala saw Sky turn, and then she felt him swing around, hard and fast. His forearm, thick and corded with muscle, smacked right across her abdomen. It knocked the air from her lungs and hurled her several feet off the ground and across the sidewalk. Her back slammed against the ground before she felt another blow�"something heavy smacked on top of her, then rolled off. Wait. Not an it�"a he. Sky rolled off of her. The roar of an engine rang in her ears, followed by the squeal of tires. The smell of exhaust made her aware of how close the car had come to hitting her. She gasped for air, but the oxygen wouldn’t travel down her throat. Sky was scrambling to his feet and pulling something from inside his shirt. A gun. He pointed but didn’t shoot. �śGod damn son of a bitch!” Sky’s words bounced around inside her head. Then the realization hit: someone had tried to make roadkill out of her. Still gasping like a fish out of water, she saw Sky towering over her. At last her lungs cooperated, and she sucked in much-needed oxygen. She probably sounded like a strangled elephant. �śYou okay? NJ6328. NJ6328�Ś” Breathing got easier, but talking was not yet feasible, so she just nodded. �śNJ6328,” he repeated. �śThe tag number was NJ6328. Can you stand up?” He knelt down, concern flickering in his eyes. �śI think so,” she managed to say. He helped her up and pulled her against him. Tight. She sensed people milling around. She didn’t care, only wanted to stand there and absorb Sky’s strength. �śIt’s okay,” he said. �śI know,” she whispered, then realized he wasn’t talking to her. �śI’ve got it handled,” he told the gathering crowd. �śMove away. It’s handled.” He appeared calm. She knew better; she felt the tension in his body. His heart thudded in his chest, right where her cheek rested. He continued to hold her, and she continued to let him. She felt him shifting one arm and heard him pushing a number into his phone. �śMartha, it’s Sky. I need a license number pulled. NJ6328. Call me as soon as you have it. Just do it! And call Ricardo and Pete and have one of them head out toward the hospital looking for a silver SUV with that plate. Just do it!” he repeated. Hanging up, he gently raised her face from his chest. A huge scowl beetled his eyebrows. �śChrist. You’re bleeding.” A coppery taste filled her mouth and she remembered. �śI bit my lip when I landed.” �śCome on, let’s have a doctor look at you.” He had his overbearing, in-charge voice going. She stepped out of his embrace. �śI’m fine. Look.” She pulled her lip out to let him see. He pushed a hand down his face, then started moving her toward the hospital. �śI hit you hard, Shala.” He wore guilt like a cloak again. �śYou knocked me out of the way of a speeding car. Having a bleeding lip is a small price to pay. And it does not warrant being seen by a doctor.” He didn’t stop moving until the hospital doors swished closed behind them. �śYou swear you don’t hurt anywhere else?” �śI swear.” He looked back out the doors. �śDo you need to go after him?” she asked. �śNo, he’s gone by now. And I got a trooper out looking for him.” �śThat’s disappointing,” she said, hoping a bit of humor would help the tension. �śWhat is?” She grinned. �śIt’s just that the cops in the movies�"you know, Hollywood cops�"would chase them down on foot, commandeer a motorcycle or a Porsche, and after an exciting high-speed chase, they’d jump on top of the moving vehicle and get their guy.” Humor flashed in his eyes. �śYeah, I was going to do that, but I didn’t want to show off. We just started dating.” �śFunny,” she said. But just as suddenly, her amusement faded. As he moved her to the elevator his words replayed in her ears, the feel of his hand on her waist tingled down her body, and the memory of their kiss played like slow music in her brain. The music came to a screeching halt as she heard another of her emotional barriers crash to the ground. She couldn’t do this. She pulled away from his touch. �śWhat’s really funny is the lie about us dating.” �śWhy is it a lie?” he asked. �śI told you why.” She stared at the closing elevator doors, attempting to close the doors to her heart. �śI must have missed that. Was it right before you kissed me?” She stared at him, her emotions running amok. �śYou kissed me. I didn’t kiss you.” �śSemantics.” He moved closer, and his arm brushed hers. Leaning down, he touched his lips to her temple. �śBecause you enjoyed it as much as I did.” �śSays who?” she snipped. He was right, but she’d never admit it to him. Or to herself. Yup, lying to oneself was often recommended by the surgeon general. Or at least it was favored over cigarette smoking. �śMe. I say so.” Sky laughed. �śAnd I’ll bet if you ask the mayor, he’ll agree.” �śSee, is this so hard, woman?” Redfoot asked Veronica, craning his neck to lock eyes with her. It had taken almost an hour to talk her into his bed. �śFor one minute only. I swear, if someone catches us I’ll say you forced me.” �śYou would not.” He smiled and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss lingered, the kind that told a man a woman wanted him. That she cared. He moved his hand up to her breasts. Her lips tasted sweet, like a woman should. He moved his mouth to her neck. And damn if he didn’t feel things moving down south in an appropriate way. Maybe he didn’t need the pills anymore. Maybe with his feelings growing into something more than lust, his body would cooperate. As his fingers began to toy with her nipple, she removed his hand from her breast. �śI think your minute is up, viejo.” He laughed and gave her cleavage a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly to her breasts. �śYou are such a bad man, but you make me feel young and daring.” �śWe are young and daring.” He went to pull back, but his hair had gotten tangled in the tiny buttons on her blouse. �śRedfoot, I should get up before someone comes in.” �śI would let you, but I think you have my young and daring hair caught in your buttons.” She pushed him up, but the hair tore at his scalp. �śWait,” he said. �śLet me get on top and then you can see to pull it free.” He rolled on top of her, and the cool air of the room bathed his bare buttocks as the covers slipped off. �śRaise your head,” Veronica said, and giggled. �śI’m showing my ass,” he complained with a laugh. �śIt’s not a bad ass,” she teased. �śRaise your head a bit.” He tried, but the hair was too tangled. He dropped his face back to her breasts, then tried again. �śNot yet.” Her fingers worked in his hair. �śNow try.” She gently pushed him up, but the pain quickly brought his nose back to her cleavage. She tugged him up; he pushed back down. If he didn’t feel certain that the game would leave him bald, he would have enjoyed it. And that’s the position they were in�"ass showing, pushing up and down, both of them muttering and giggling and occasionally groaning�"when the door swept open behind them. Redfoot reached to conceal his posterior with a blanket. Unfortunately, this brought his head up, tearing hair from his scalp, and he immediately pushed back down. Veronica tried to wriggle away from him, but with half his hair attached to her bosom, there was no escape. �śMom?” A voice echoed in the room. Veronica froze, and Redfoot heard words he’d never heard her say before. �śDad?” Another voice sounded, and Redfoot recognized his own son. �śLeave!” Redfoot bellowed out. He heard a scramble of retreating footsteps. Veronica, using what only could be described as maternal force, pushed him off her, removing a good portion of his scalp. She lunged out of bed. �śMy son!” she accused. �śYou said he would not be at the hospital! Now he sees me and�Śhe knows. Oh, my. What have you done to me, Redfoot?” Jose looked at Ramon, who was standing stunned outside Redfoot’s hospital room. �śTell me we didn’t just see that. Tell me it didn’t happen.” Ramon had his hands over his eyes like a child forced to watch a scary movie. �śI don’t know what I saw. But I swear I didn’t see that.” Jose closed his eyes, hoping it might help. But the vision of his old man’s ass moving up and down like a bad porn flick played in his head. Then the humor of the situation bubbled up inside him. He opened his eyes. �śI’ll make you a deal. You poke my eyes out and I’ll poke yours.” Ramon looked up. �śPoke my eyes out? I’m blind. I’ll never see again.” Jose laughed. �śI tell you�Śit’s good to know that we can still do that at that age. Did you see them going at it!” �śNot funny,” Ramon said. �śYes, it is,” Jose crowed. �śThey were going at it like rabbits!” Only then did he note what little humor had existed on Ramon’s face was gone. �śThat’s my mother, damn it! I’m going to kill your father.” His friend took a step toward the door. �śNo. Leave them be.” Jose grabbed him by the arm. Ramon turned, and his expression was ugly. Sky had just hung up with Lucas, who was waiting for them at the emergency-room exit, when Martha called. The silver SUV belonged to Dr. Henry Michaels. Sky didn’t for one moment believe the doctor was behind this. �śThat asshole must have stolen Henry’s car.” �śI don’t want to sound un-Christian,” Martha said, �śbut if he touches my Cadillac, I’m personally sending him to Jesus to have a talk.” Dropping Shala off with Lucas, Sky combed the hospital parking lot. There he found a black sedan. The rundown on that vehicle told him the car was stolen yesterday right outside of San Antonio. While that gave him nothing further on the perp’s identity, it did give him a time frame. The man couldn’t have gotten into town until midmorning yesterday. So if it was a picture taken by Shala that had caused all this mess, it had to have been taken after that�"unless this guy wasn’t the one in the photograph, but hired by the one who was. Shit, this wasn’t doing him any good. Sky just prayed the vehicle had a fingerprint that would lead somewhere. He called Ramon next. The mechanic was somewhere in the hospital, because his wrecker was parked not two cars away from the black sedan, with what Sky assumed was Jose’s smashed rental car. Ramon didn’t answer, but Sky ran right into him as he walked back into the hospital. �śHey, I just tried to call you.” �śAnd I didn’t answer for a reason.” Ramon kept walking. Sky followed him back into the parking lot. �śWhat’s up?” �śYour fucking dad’s up, that’s what. And I’m telling you right now, if that old man thinks he’s gonna do wrong by my mother, he’s got another think coming.” Sky started to speak but didn’t have a friggin’ clue what to say. �śI�ŚWhat?” �śYour ol’ man is banging my mom, that’s what, and Jose and I just got to witness it!” �śWhoa.” Sky held up a hand. His mind didn’t want to wrap around those words, or the visual they created. �śWhat?” �śYou heard me. He’s banging my mom in his hospital bed! While you might not be able to get it up, your old man doesn’t seem to have a problem.” �śWhat? I don’t have a probl�"” The rest of what had been said filtered through his brain. �śRedfoot would never�Ś” Words failed Sky again, though he continued to walk beside Ramon. �śLook, I’m sure there’s been some mistake, and right now I need you to do something for me.” �śYeah, well, I’m not feeling very cooperative right now,” Ramon snapped. He pulled his keys from his pocket. �śJust ask Jose.” �śNo,” Sky said. �śI need you to drop the car you’re carrying and take that one”�"he pointed to the black sedan�"�śdown to police headquarters. You can come back for this one later.” �śLike I said, I’m not feeling very cooperative,” Ramon repeated. �śIt’s important,” Sky said. �śIt’s about Jessie’s shooter.” The fury faded from Ramon’s expression. �śFine. But I swear to God, Sky, the next time I see your ol’ man, I’m belting him.” �śWe’ll work that out later,” Sky said. He’d knock the shit out of anyone who touched Redfoot, Ramon included. But he couldn’t help but assume some huge misunderstanding had taken place. Sky suddenly remembered the pills Redfoot had passed off to him last night. Well, maybe Redfoot and Ramon’s mother were sharing company. But no way would Redfoot be having sex in a hospital room where anyone could walk in. The man was too private. Ramon started his wrecker and set the release on the car. When he got out to unhook the Mustang, Sky asked, �śIs this Jose’s rental?” �śYeah, and when you see him, tell him I’m sorry for punching him. He’s not responsible for Redfoot.” Sky shook his head. Jose was having a hell of a bad day. CHAPTER TWENTY �śSon of a bitch!” Jose muttered, eyeing himself in the hospital bathroom mirror. His forehead sported a gash and a goose egg, and he had two black eyes. His nose still exhibited splinters from the thorn bush and was bruised from the blonde’s Reebok. Now he had a swollen lip. And the vision of his dad humping his neighbor. He splashed some water on his face. �śWelcome to fucking Precious.” After drying off with paper towels, he stepped out of the bathroom and eyed his father’s room down the hall. Not knowing if Ramon’s mother was gone, he decided to shoot back up to surgery to check on Jessie and see if he could find Sky. He sure couldn’t face his old man now. The only positive side to this was that they’d have something to talk about other than his moving back to Precious. So Dad, how’s sex in a hospital bed with ol’ lady Cloud? In the surgery waiting room, he didn’t see Sky or Maria, but he got some strange looks. He knew by name most of the people he saw, though others he just recognized. Growing up in the same small town, he’d seen them dozens of times at the grocery store or diner. Spotting Cheryl, another friend of Maria’s and Jessie’s from high school, he asked about Maria. �śI think she said she was going to the café on the third floor to grab something to eat,” Cheryl said, staring at his face. �śWhat happened to you?” �śJust bumped into something,” he said. She grinned. �śIt looks as if you bumped into a lot of somethings.” She motioned at the blood on his shirt. Ignoring her, he headed for the cafeteria. When he stepped out of the elevator on the third floor, he saw Maria standing in front of a window, her nose pressed to the glass like a kid looking into a candy store. Wanting to get past the awkwardness, he went and stood beside her. She didn’t even turn to look at him, just stared at the baby sleeping in the bassinet. �śIs that the kid of someone we know?” he asked. She jumped and faced him. He saw the emotion in her eyes. Having already heard that Jessie was okay, he knew something else had made Maria so sad. �śYou okay?” he asked. �śFine.” She swiped at her cheeks. Her gaze shot to the blood on his shirt. �śWhat happened to you?” He shrugged, not sure he could say it aloud. �śYou wouldn’t believe it.” A crease appeared between her eyes. �śI don’t know. After what I witnessed last night and this morning, I’m not sure it would take a stretch.” Okay, he deserved that. Sighing, he shoved a hand into one of his pockets and started fingering his keys. �śI guess I owe you an apology.” �śYou think?” �śI’m sorry.” Her gaze shot back to the nursery window and more tears filled her eyes. �śFor what, Jose? What are you apologizing for? For last night, or for two years ago?” He held his breath, not sure he was ready to have this conversation. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say. Should he ask for a second chance? Or was he kidding himself that he had any chance at all? If one thing had been made clear in the past twelve hours, it was that he and Precious didn’t mix. Still, he knew this was a necessary conversation. �śWould you have come with me if I’d asked?” he blurted. She stood quiet, as if the question didn’t make sense. Finally, she answered. �śI don’t know. But I guess what you’re saying is that your job was more important than me.” He shook his head. �śI didn’t say that.” �śBut it’s true, isn’t it? You chose New York over me.” �śI chose New York over Precious. It’s more than the job, Maria. It’s this place. I hate Precious. I hate its smallness, I hate its heat. I hate being expected to be a carbon copy of my old man�"that I need to put on a costume and perform stupid rituals that I don’t believe in. I hate disappointing my father while watching you and Sky do everything right.” A tear rolled down her cheek. �śDon’t you dare blame us for your relationship with your dad.” When she turned to walk away, he grabbed her. �śStop. I didn’t mean�ŚI don’t blame you and Sky. I blame myself, and being here just reminds me of it.” He pulled her into his arms and held her. Damn, if it didn’t feel a hundred different kinds of right. He buried his nose in her soft black hair. �śMaria, you have no idea how many times I picked up the phone to call you and ask you to join me. But I didn’t think it was fair. To ask you to give up this place when I know how much it means to you. So I waited to see if you would come on your own.” She answered without pulling away. �śYou were the one to leave. Why should I come after you?” He swallowed down the knot in his throat while the answer vibrated in his head. Because then I would have known that I meant more to you than Precious. But he couldn’t say that. He pressed his hand to the back of her hair. He didn’t have an answer he could tell her, but one thing he knew: she felt good in his arms. He heard the ringing of the elevator opening its door. Footsteps sounded, but he wasn’t ready to let her go. She pulled out of his embrace. Jose looked up and saw the man at the same time he heard Maria’s breath catch. It took him a second, but then he realized that the sandy-haired guy staring daggers at him was the same one who’d caught him naked, drunk, and bathing in Summer’s Eve last night. Without saying a word, the man turned to walk away. Maria watched him take a few steps. Jose’s heart rejoiced that she didn’t go after him, but he rejoiced too soon, because seconds later she took off. �śMatt?” she called. You were the one to leave. Why should I come after you? Jose remembered what Maria had just told him. That rule must not apply to Matt, because Maria chose to give chase. The elevator doors opened again. An elderly gentleman walked out as Matt went in. Maria followed. When the doors closed, Jose was left alone. And for the second time that morning, he felt as if he’d been coldcocked. Maria’s heart thumped against her breastbone. What was she doing? She’d told herself that it was over with Matt, that he obviously had another woman in Dallas. That she’d been a fool to hope. But she’d seen the way he’d looked at her with Jose. She’d seen the hurt in his eyes. He was wrong about her and Jose. Was it possible that she was wrong about Dallas? �śI heard about Jessie,” Matt said, without looking at her. �śI thought you might need me. I forgot you had someone else.” �śIt’s not how it looks,” she said. �śThen how is it?” He frowned at the elevator doors. Why wouldn’t he look at her? �śIt’s over,” she said. �śIt’s been over for a long time.” But even as she said that, it felt like a lie. And just like that, she knew why: it wasn’t over yet. Before it could be over, she had to tell Jose the truth. Jessie had been right�"she had to tell Jose about the baby. It was the closure she needed. Then she had to tell Matt. She had to explain that she’d lost Jose’s baby, and because of it she might not be able to have another child. Maria suddenly realized that Matt was staring at her. He stared as if trying to read her thoughts. �śYou’re right,” he said. �śIt’s not how it looked. Because from what I just saw, it didn’t look over.” �śHe hugged me. That’s all.” That much was truth. Matt shook his head. �śI’ve been through this once. I loved a woman who loved someone else. I paid the price. I’m still paying, and I refuse to go through it again.” �śIt’s not like that,” she repeated. �śReally? Look me right in the eyes, Maria, and tell me you don’t love him. Tell me that he doesn’t matter to you anymore.” She opened her mouth to say those words, but they didn’t come out. Jose mattered. She wasn’t in love with him, but could she really say she didn’t love him? Her feelings for Jose were so mixed up. There were two Joses in her heart: Jose, the man, and Jose, Redfoot’s son. Could she explain to Matt when she didn’t understand it herself? Her time ran out. The elevator doors opened, and Matt walked out. Maria had the feeling he wasn’t ever coming back. Jose reached his father’s floor the same time Maria walked out of the other elevator. She’d been crying again. �śEverything okay?” he asked. She looked at him with a mix of anger and grief. �śNo, it’s not okay, Jose. It will probably never be okay.” Was she talking about Matt? Jose wasn’t sure if he felt happy knowing they had possibly broken up, or if he felt guilty for instigating it. He followed her down the hall. �śI didn’t mean to cause problems.” When they got to Redfoot’s room, she reached to push the door open. He grabbed her arm. �śKnock first.” She rolled her eyes. �śWhat’s he going to do? Come answer it?” �śUh, it just seems like a good idea,” he replied, giving a knock. �śCome in,” Redfoot called. Jose and Maria walked in. Redfoot nodded at them. Jose nodded back. Silence followed. �śYou look like day-old crap,” Redfoot finally said. �śSo do you,” Jose answered. �śI just love the way you two show your affection. Men.” Maria gave Jose a shove. �śGive your father a hug.” Jose did as Maria said. The old man’s arms reached up and awkwardly squeezed him. �śI didn’t know you were coming down,” Redfoot said. �śWhen I heard about the accident, I was worried.” �śIf you lived here,” Redfoot said, �śyou wouldn’t worry so much.” Well, hell. Jose thought catching his old man screwing his neighbor would have at least bought him a few minutes’ reprieve. Obviously not. �śHave they said when you’re getting out?” Maria asked. �śDoc just left. I got my walking papers. He said I was fit as a fiddle. Up for anything.” �śI could have told him that,” Jose said. Maria gave him a strange look before returning to Redfoot. �śDid he restrict you from any activities?” �śIt’s too late if he did,” Jose muttered. When Maria turned and stared, he shrugged. �śI’m just saying he looks as if he could�Śhit one out of the ballpark.” �śYou just said he looks like crap.” Jose glanced out the window. �śYeah, well, that’s after he told me I look like crap.” �śI wasn’t �Śhitting one out of the ballpark,’” Redfoot spoke up. �śI was stuck.” Jose choked. Maria’s gaze shot back and forth between the two of them. �śStuck where?” �śI’ve never heard of anyone getting stuck,” Jose said with difficulty. �śWhat are you talking about?” Maria asked. Redfoot slapped his hand on the mattress. �śWould someone get me some pants so I don’t have to show my ass as I walk the hell out of here?” Jose snapped. �śYou didn’t worry about showing it a few minutes ago.” CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Sky had gotten Shala’s images copied to a flash drive and then got her settled at Lucas’s place with his laptop to start combing through her images. He was confident that she was safe. Not that he hadn’t called to check on her four times. �śWhat? You afraid I’m going to make a play for her?” Lucas had joked. Sky hadn’t considered the possibility until Lucas mentioned it. Then he found himself feeling territorial. That was new for him. Sure, no man wanted a guy trying to steal his woman, but jealousy? He didn’t do that. Not that he was even doing it now. It was just that he hadn’t gotten started with Shala yet, and it would be easy for some other guy to step in and put an end to his start before he got to the finish. The finish? What was that? His thoughts ricocheted around in his head. We don’t need you breaking her heart. The mayor’s warning rang in his ears. Sky didn’t go around breaking women’s hearts. Most of them listened to him in the beginning. Most of them knew from the get-go that he wasn’t long-term. He and the ladies enjoyed each other’s company, and when the fun was over, one of them walked away. The fact that he usually walked first didn’t mean anything. You afraid I’m going to make a play for her? He dialed Lucas again. �śHey,” he said when his friend picked up. �śYeah?” Lucas said. Sky heard laughter in the background. �śWhat are you guys doing?” �śPlaying Scrabble.” �śYou finally got someone to play Scrabble with you?” Before Lucas sobered up, every time he got drunk he’d begged Sky to play. The man loved word games. �śI have to tell you, your woman cheats.” Your woman. Sky’s territorial feelings relaxed. �śHow does she cheat?” Sky figured he needed to know this information for future reference, but he wished like hell it wasn’t coming secondhand. He wanted to be discovering all these little things about her himself. �śShe’s trying to convince me that stanky is a word. I told her that word is what’s stanky.” �śWhich confirms it’s a word,” Shala called out in the background. She laughed again, and Sky remembered how she looked while doing it. His pangs of jealousy might have evaporated, but he was up to his eyebrows in envy. He wanted to be the one seeing her laugh, making her laugh�ŚHis gut said she didn’t do it near enough lately. He wanted to be the one to change that. �śHas she gone through the photos?” Frustration rang in his voice, and he hated it. �śAll freaking day. I’ll bet she’s got over five hundred shots. I made her take a break.” Sky wanted to be the one taking care of her, insisting she needed breaks, being her hero even if she’d pointed out he didn’t hold a candle to the Hollywood cops. Who could know pushing her out of the way of a moving car wouldn’t be enough? Yeah, he’d seen she was joking, but it had dinged his ego just the same. �śBefore you ask: yes, I fed her dinner.” �śGood,” Sky replied, and forced himself to stop acting like an idiot. �śI’ll be finished here in a bit. See ya then.” Sky almost told Lucas to have her wait up for him but stopped. The only stupid thing he hadn’t done was to call Shala himself like a swooning teen. He heard Lucas disconnect, and tucked his cell back in his pocket. What the hell was wrong with him? He told himself it was the case. For eight hours he’d been working with Phillip and the rangers, and for what? Nothing. Eight hours of trying not to think about Shala and their kiss, and about how much he wanted to kiss her again. And he wanted more. How long had it been since he’d wanted a woman this badly? How long since he’d wanted more than simple sex? Sure, he wanted sex with Shala, but he looked forward to simply getting to know her, learning what she liked to eat and cooking it for her. Before, all the getting-to-know-you periods had been steps on the road to sex, or to keeping the sex. Now he was actually looking forward to the journey. Which led him back to his original question: what the hell was wrong with him? �śEverything okay?” Phillip asked. Sky nodded. �śLate night last night.” �śA woman?” Phillip guessed. �śNot what you think,” Sky replied, in no mood to share. �śWhy don’t you head on out? I don’t think we’re going to get anything this go-round, either.” They’d returned to the hotel to give the room one more check. But after ten minutes of milling around, even the two eager CSI guys looked bored. The only thing that had turned up today was Henry’s car. Without prints. The black sedan and the gun had yielded nothing, too. Whoever this creep was, he’d managed to do a few things right. Which meant he was either professional or lucky. And since his cars were impounded, the guy was either running around on foot or had stolen something different. Or he could have someone working with him. Questions. A lot of damn questions and no answers. Sky’s gaze flickered across the bloodstain on the wall. The sight still made his gut churn, though less now that Jessie was going to live. His eyes shifted to Shala’s suitcase. Sky knew Phillip wouldn’t allow anything out of the room right now. Which meant Shala would need to go shopping. He imagined going with her, learning what she liked�Ś Dear God, when had he ever wanted to go shopping with a woman? Then he realized she wouldn’t even have a toothbrush tonight, or anything to sleep in. That was a visual he liked: her, soft and sexy in bed, an artfully arranged sheet�" �śWe’re going to want to talk to Winters tomorrow,” Phillip said, interrupting Sky’s daydream. �śI’ve had someone go through those images, looking for the obvious. Nothing’s jumping out. I’ll go through them tomorrow morning myself, and then I’ll call you with a time to meet.” �śFine,” Sky answered. �śDo you want me to bring her to the station, or do you want to go to her?” �śWhere did you say she was staying?” Phillip asked, eyeing the blood and frowning. �śWith a friend of mine.” �śIs this guy able to protect her if he has to?” �śHe’s ex-military, ex-cop,” Sky explained. He didn’t mention the present job, which was for the government�"supposedly training special-ops, but Lucas remained vague with the details. Whatever he did those few weeks every six months, it afforded him his rather nice toys. Along with those boats and cars, it had also turned him into a drunk until he pulled himself together last year. �śWhy don’t you bring her down to the police station?” Phillip suggested. �śUnless you’re worried she’ll be followed.” �śI’ll bring her.” Shala would probably be getting cabin fever by then, and he couldn’t keep the woman locked up forever. As long as he or Lucas was with her, she was safe. Sky looked at his watch�"it was almost nine o’clock. He still needed to go by Redfoot’s and his own place before he could get back to Shala. �śI think I’ll head out.” He nodded his good-byes and walked out to the truck Lucas had loaned him just in case the perp had decided to track Sky’s. As he did, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID. For a crazy moment he hoped it might be Shala needing to talk to him�"or better, just wanting to talk to him�"but it wasn’t. It was Maria. His foster sister had called a couple of times already today. He’d already dropped the bomb about her not being able to stay at his place because of the danger. She hadn’t whined, but she’d told him the tension at Redfoot’s was thick enough to serve over pancakes. And neither Redfoot nor Jose would explain. Obviously, being around Jose was difficult for Maria. Which was a prime example of why Sky wanted no part of the everlasting kind of love that Maria had set her heart on. Well, not the prime example, he admitted. That honor went to his parents. Shala watched Lucas play his last two letters and declare himself the winner. �śYou don’t give a girl a break, do you?” �śJust because you’re female?” While probably the same height, approximate weight, and only a little older than Sky�"meaning around thirty-five, over six feet tall, and carrying close to two hundred pounds of lean muscle�"this was a very different man. Lucas’s build reminded her more of a football linebacker, while Sky’s seemed more suited to baseball or soccer. �śI stopped giving girls breaks when they started getting equal pay. Plus, I hate losing at Scrabble.” Lucas laughed and ran a hand through his hair. The thick mane was short and chestnut brown. His eyes were hazel, where Sky’s were black. But there was no question that Lucas’s charming grin, a little crooked, only added to his good looks. �śI never would have guessed,” Shala teased. She liked Lucas�"felt comfortable around him. Safe. Unlike how she felt with Sky. Not that Sky didn’t make her feel safe physically. Hell, the man had saved her life twice: getting her out of the hotel room when that wannabe camera thief came calling, and then getting her out of the way when the SUV called back. No, the unsafe feelings she got around Sky involved desire. Kissing, touching�Śwanting to reopen herself to romance and love. But that meant opening herself to the possibility of being hurt again. Was she ready to go there? Her cell phone rang inside her purse. Her heart felt a little yank and tug, hoping that it might be Sky. He’d called Lucas several times but hadn’t called her, even though he’d gotten her number before he left. Not that she expected him to call, and not that she wanted him to. Okay, she did want him to, just like she wanted his kisses and all the stuff that went alongside falling head over heels for a guy. Because she was falling, damn it. She was falling for Sky Gomez. In spite of how unsafe it felt, in spite of the fact that she hadn’t known him long enough, she wasn’t sure she could stop herself. For that matter, she didn’t know if she wanted to stop herself. �śHello?” She answered without looking at the number. If it was Sky, maybe it would be a sign that she should take a leap of faith. �śWhat size underwear do you wear, Blue Eyes?” Sky’s voice made her smile. Then she realized what he’d asked. �śWhat?” �śI didn’t know there were so many types of panties.” �śWhat the heck are you doing?” Shala saw Lucas stand up and motion to the front door, indicating he would give her some privacy. �śI’m at Wal-Mart, trying to pick you up a few essentials before they close.” �śCan’t you bring my suitcase?” �śIt’s evidence, and it will be at least a few days before they release it.” He paused. �śDo you wear bikinis? Thongs?” His voice was husky. She grinned, imagining him standing there daunted. �śDon’t tell me you’ve never bought a woman underwear before.” �śSure I have. Just not at Wal-Mart.” �śSo you’re more a Victoria’s Secret kind of guy?” she teased. �śIs that where they sell the kind that come in flavors?” Their laughs spilled through the line at the same time, and she pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them. Her mind was full of unexpected and erotic images. Her heart rate increased, and she felt her cheeks burn. She fought back the images. �śI wear a size four.” �śWhat type? There’s the high tops, the low tops, the boy cuts.” �śI’m not picky.” �śYou’ll wear a thong?” His voice was husky again. She hated thongs. Deplored them. �śWill you?” Heat laced his voice. �śSure.” As soon as she answered, she smacked herself on the forehead. Then his low growl had her smile spreading into her chest, bringing on a giddy feeling. �śOkay, now the next problem. What size bra?” �śYou’re getting personal,” she teased. �śOkay, let me guess. I’d say�Ś” He paused. �śWow, I like this one. Will a red one do?” She chuckled again. �śRed’s fine, but not if I’m wearing a light-colored top.” �śI’ll get one of each. This size looks right. Thirty-four C. Right?” �śAmazing. You’re really good at that,” she said honestly. �śDo you guess birthdays, too?” �śYours is November fifteenth,” he said. �śBut I found that online. Oh, I already picked you out something to sleep in.” She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger. �śI’m afraid to ask.” �śYeah, I saw a few things I liked, but I was good�"picked something similar to your other pajamas. But this one is blue to match your eyes.” �śLucas told me he’d loan me a shirt,” she spoke up, realizing her bank account was a tad thin. �śYou’re not sleeping in that man’s shirt. I’ll bring one if that’s what you prefer.” Was that jealousy? A little was good, because she’d already felt a pinch herself. How many women had worn flavored underwear for Sky? �śI was also going to pick up a pair of shorts and shirt, just to get you by. Hopefully, I can take you tomorrow to pick out some things for the next few days.” Next few days? That brought her back to reality. She only had a few days. She and Sky only had a few days. She lived almost two hundred miles from here. Was she ready to jump headfirst into involvement with Sky Gomez, willing to do a long-distance relationship? And what if she got involved with him and things went south? �śThey have some khaki shorts and tank tops similar to what you wore yesterday. Is that okay?” �śThat’s fine, but nothing too expensive. I’m on a budget.” �śThese are gifts,” he said. �śYou shouldn’t be buying me gifts.” �śAre you always so difficult?” he asked. �śAre you?” she countered. �śProbably,” he admitted. �śMe, too.” He chuckled. �śI’ve got to go by Redfoot’s place and mine, but I’ll see you as soon as I can.” A silence followed. �śIf you’re in bed, do you want me to�Ścome in?” �śTo talk?” she verified. �śDid I push myself on you last night?” he asked. �śDo I need to remind you of what happened?” He chuckled. �śI’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.” �śOkay,” she said, then wondered what she’d agreed to. There was an awkward silence, as if something else needed to be said. Something, as in �śI miss you” or �śHurry home” or �śLove ya,” but none of those fit. Obviously their relationship was in a strange place. If it even was a relationship. Had she made up her mind that it was? �ś�ŚBye,” he said, as if he felt the uncomfortable pause. �ś�ŚBye,” she replied. She hung up and hugged her legs even tighter. The awkwardness faded, leaving her with only a sense of giddiness. That’s when the absurdity of it hit: she’d been stalked, had her camera taken from her, barely escaped death twice, had to have her hand stitched up, had to deal with being in the hospital twice, and yet she felt happier right now than she had in years. Amazing, what a little human contact could do for one’s spirits. That, and a prospective romance. She’d forgotten how much fun it was to flirt. Forgotten what it was like to feel sexy. The front door opened, and barreling in with Lucas came Sky’s two dogs. Correction: Sky’s two wolves. Shala drew her knees up closer. The dogs stopped and stared at her. �śHow did they get here?” she asked. Lucas glanced from her to the dogs. �śThey’ve been here all day. Sky probably told them to watch out for you.” Shala chuckled nervously. �śRight. He said, �ŚGo on over to Lucas’s place and protect Shala,’ and they just came barreling over.” His eyebrow rose. �śYou don’t think they understand English?” He called out several commands�"sit, lay, and roll over�"and the pair complied to his every request. �śThey’re smart dogs.” �śYou mean wolves?” �śPart wolves,” Lucas agreed. �śThis one here is Sundance.” He pointed to the lighter of the two. �śAnd that one is Butch. And they are so smart that right now, they know you’re scared.” �śAnd for a good reason. They’re part wild animals.” Lucas dropped down beside Sundance and patted his flank. �śYeah, but don’t all of us have a little wild animal inside?” �śI’m pretty tame. Isn’t it against the law to keep them as pets?” A shiver tiptoed up her spine as Butch’s golden eyes met hers. �śI’ve never heard of that law.” �śI’ll bet Sky has,” Shala muttered. �śI’m surprised he didn’t think before taking in these mixed breeds.” Lucas stood up. �śMaybe he did it because he’s a mixed breed himself.” Shala swallowed a lump of embarrassment. �śI haven’t thought about it like that.” �śIt’s okay.” Lucas smiled. �śDon’t worry. I think for the most part, Sky has his wolf under control.” �śI didn’t mean�"” �śI’m teasing you,” he laughed. One of the dogs approached her. No doubt, Lucas saw the uneasiness in her eyes. �śHold your hand out and let him sniff you. He’ll be your best friend before you know it.” �śI was bitten by a big dog when I was young,” Shala said, feeling the need to explain. �śToday, when I stepped outside, I got shit on by a bird. But I’m still going back outside tomorrow.” Shala laughed and carefully extended her hand. Both Sundance and Butch eased up to her. Their noses were wet, and their fur not as wiry as it appeared. �śSee, they like you.” Sundance pushed Butch out of the way to get petted. Shala laughed. �śI guess they’re not as scary as I thought.” �śThings generally aren’t.” Shala bit her lip, wondering if a relationship with Sky would be less scary if she let him closer. �śSo you and Sky�Śare close?” Lucas, now in the kitchen, poured some dog food into two bowls and placed them on the floor. Both dogs ran to be fed. �śI like Sky. Respect him. Don’t know if I’d call us close.” Shala grinned. �śIs that because of him or you?” �śGood question,” he said, but didn’t offer a good answer. �śHow come I get the feeling that you don’t like a lot of people?” �śI like plenty,” Lucas said, chuckling. �śIt’s the respect part I have a hard time with.” �śBut you respect Sky?” She realized that she’d already begun to respect him, too. �śYeah, I do.” Lucas stared at her. �śBut I’m a guy.” �śWhat does that mean?” she asked. He looked away. �śNot a damn thing.” She wanted to ask him to explain. She wanted to ask more questions about Sky, but Lucas didn’t seem like the type to dish out information, and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. He was being more than kind just to let her stay here. She stood up. �śI think I’ll go look through some more of my pictures until I fall asleep.” �śI left a new toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom off of your room, and one of my shirts to sleep in.” He picked up a crossword-puzzle book and dropped into a leather recliner. �śI’m not running you out of your bedroom, am I?” she asked. �śNo, I have three bedrooms. I’ve always slept in the back one.” Three? So when Sky showed up, he didn’t have to share the room with her. That realization left her with mixed emotions. She started toward the bedroom but turned around. �śLucas?” He looked up. �śYes?” �śThanks for letting me stay here, and for being good company. I had fun tonight.” He smiled. She got a strange feeling he was a loner like herself. And like Sky. She remembered seeing Sky at the hospital, surrounded by people, and then with Maria and Lucas. Funny how even while surrounded by people who cared about him, people he cared about, he still came across this way. But perhaps being lonely was a state of mind. Perhaps it was time she changed her mind. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Sky eased himself into the room where Shala slept. The bedside lamp was left on, but she was out cold. Even his laptop in the bed with her had fallen asleep. He dropped the bag of his purchases on the room’s chair and then just stared at her. She slept in the same outfit she’d worn all day, but he spotted her bra folded on top of the second bedside table. He could smell soap, as if she’d showered. Too bad he hadn’t gotten here in time to give her the pajamas�"or maybe the red bra and matching thong. Then again, he’d purposely taken his sweet time arriving. When he’d gone home and found the light in the closet on, and the box with his childhood things pulled out as if someone had gone through them, he remembered she’d searched his house. It pissed him off to know she’d gone though that box. Not that the past was some big secret. Hell, half the town knew�"but that pissed him off sometimes, too. And the town hadn’t gone snooping through his things. He didn’t like snooping women. He didn’t like jabbering women. Shala Winters wore both those labels, and yet he liked her. Liked her too much. That’s when he realized that, more than angry, he was feeling scared. All Redfoot’s babbled nonsense about soul mates for the last month must have messed with his head. Why else would he be staying away from a woman who’d spent five minutes on the phone taking about her underwear with him? A gorgeous woman who was sleeping alone and admitted to liking thongs. With one knee on the bed, he carefully closed his laptop and set it on a bedside table. He removed his shoes, shirt, and jeans. Glancing down, he gave his new underwear a quick inspection, making sure all the buttons were secure. He sure as hell wouldn’t have picked this pattern for himself, but Wal-Mart had a limited supply of button-fly boxers. His gaze went to Shala, looking so damn sweet. She’d practically said he could sleep here. Okay, it had been slightly vague, but considering he didn’t plan on trying anything�ŚHe pulled back the covers and climbed in beside her. Reaching over, he turned out the light. The darkness enhanced his sense of smell. He inhaled a breath of freshly showered woman. Damn, if he didn’t want to pull her to him. I didn’t try anything last night, he’d told her. Which implied he wouldn’t tonight. Sky worked hard at keeping his word. But give him just a little more time and he’d stop making those implications. Redfoot lay in his bed at home, staring at the ceiling. Veronica hadn’t returned any of his calls. Part of him wanted to stomp over to her house and force her to admit to herself and the world what he believed to be the truth: she cared about him as much as he’d grown to care about her. Any of his forefathers would simply have gone to her teepee and brought her back, fighting, screaming, and most likely loving it. In the old days it had been an honor to be carried off by a man who loved you. Today’s women didn’t play along. But there had to be a way he could convince Veronica to openly admit she cared about him. If not that, then how could he steal the woman from her teepee without Sky coming after him with handcuffs? His mind and heart went to Sky and Blue Eyes. Tonight, when the boy came by, he’d had that look in his eyes. Love had that boy by the neck, which fit nicely with his predictions. But the rest of his dream still weighed on Redfoot’s mind. Sky had to watch his woman carefully, for the dog still waited. Sky had listened to this advice, as Sky always listened, but listening and believing were two different things. Redfoot knew that Sky did not believe in the ways of the spirits. But unlike Jose, there was a part of Sky and even Maria that remained open. They might not embrace it, but they did not turn their backs on their heritage, either. As he closed his eyes, Redfoot’s mind went to Jose. His heart ached for the distance he felt growing between them. He thought about Maria and the sad weight that both she and his son carried on their shoulders. How could he help these two find their way to each other? At least it appeared that Matt had run off. The boy was wiser than Redfoot had imagined. The spirits never looked kindly on anyone trying to stop the union of two soul mates. While so many people tried, love could not be overlooked. How could he make these young people�"Veronica, too�"understand that romantic love was what life was about? Alone, a person’s soul grew old and sad, but with the love of another person it grew. It found laughter instead of sadness, answers instead of questions. One had soft touches instead of loneliness. Love meant hope. Without love, life held no promise. Folding his arms over his chest, Redfoot willed the spirits to help him. A dream would show him the way. Maria rolled off her bed, her heart and head twisted in so many painful directions. Standing in the middle of her room, she toyed with the hem of her nightshirt. She’d promised herself she would tell Jose about the baby. To find the closure she needed. That she deserved. Some promises were hard to keep. She’d sat in the living room tonight across from Jose and Redfoot, both men with black eyes and bruises, neither of them speaking, both wallowing in their self-made worlds of misery. Maria had stared at the television, not really watching. Her heart was breaking for Matt, the man she thought she loved. It broke for Sky, who had jumped out of his skin at the mere mention of Shala Winters’s name. Obviously, Redfoot was right: Sky was already half in love with the woman. Knowing his past, Maria knew her foster brother would fight it. But mostly, Maria’s heart broke for Jose and Redfoot�"a father and son who loved each other, but whose lives led them down different paths. She kept hearing Jose tell her, I hate Precious. I hate its smallness, I hate its heat. I hate being expected to be a carbon copy of my old man. That I need to put on some costume and complete some stupid rituals that I don’t believe in. I hate disappointing my father while watching you and Sky do everything right. In all these years, she had never once imagined that her presence and Sky’s had made Jose’s life harder, but it had made the differences between him and his father more obvious. She also realized how much Jose was like his mother. Estella had loved Redfoot, her town, and her family, but she had hungered for more. Estella’s art had assuaged her hunger. Jose had no outlet. Estella had understood him, but with her gone, Jose had lost the one thing in Precious that made him feel accepted. More importantly, he’d lost the bridge to his father. Not that any of this changed Maria’s circumstances. However, it did explain her infatuation with Jose. She had always loved Estella’s zest, her flair, and Jose exemplified those. Add his sexy male body to the mix, and how could she not want him? Yet Jose had been right today. She could have gone after him when he left for New York. She hadn’t. Not just because he’d been the one to leave, but because going would have meant leaving Precious, Redfoot, and home. It would have meant leaving the very first place she’d ever felt safe and loved. The truth hurt, but she hadn’t loved Jose enough. Understanding was good, but she still had to tell the truth about the baby. Putting on a silk robe and tying the sash around her waist, she went to face the music. She got to Jose’s bedroom door and stopped. Her heart pounded in her ears. Would he be angry? Didn’t he have the right to be angry? Her hands started shaking, and she hurried away down the hall. When she got to the kitchen, headlights flashed in the front window. Matt? She went to peer outside, hoping and praying. Instead, she saw Ramon Cloud getting out of his car. He brought a suitcase and dropped it at the front door, then left. She recalled that Jose’s suitcase had been in the car Ramon had towed. Ramon left, and she collected the suitcase. On the way back to her room, she set it outside Jose’s door. Tomorrow, she’d talk to her foster brother. Tomorrow, she’d have more courage. Jose pulled the pillow to his face. He wondered if Maria had slept on it, because he could smell her. As much as he loved her scent, he wished he were back in New York, in his own apartment, using his own pillow, living his own life. Missing her had been hard, but seeing her hurt worse. When she looked at him, he saw only anger and disappointment. Before he went to New York, she’d always looked at him with affection, desire, and warmth. Acceptance. He punched the pillow with his fist. He wanted that back. He wanted her back. Was it even possible? Not if you don’t even fucking try, he told himself. But what if she said no? When had he become such a wuss? A surge of courage shot through him, and he decided to act. Now. Jumping out of bed, he shot across the room, flung open the door, burst through, and tripped and fell. Face forward. Floundering, he tried to catch himself, but only air stood between him and the wall. He hit headfirst, hard. The impact jarred his brain and instantly blinded him. Wait�Śnot blinded him. Blinking, he saw and felt a chalky substance fluttering around his eyelashes. Only then did he realize his position. He stood on his knees, his head completely punched through the Sheetrock. It took a moment to regain his bearings. Bracketing his head with his hands, he pulled himself out of the wall. Spitting chalky substance from his mouth, he looked right and left. He saw his father armed with a baseball bat and Maria holding a vase of flowers over her head as if ready to throw. �śWhat the hell happened?” Redfoot asked. �śOh, my.” Maria lowered her weapon at the same time as her foster father. �śI think your nose is bleeding again.” She turned on the hall light. Jose looked down. �śWho put this friggin’ suitcase in front of my door?” �śI did,” Maria said. �śRamon brought it. I thought you’d see it in the morning.” �śWell, I didn’t.” Maria covered her mouth and giggled. �śI’m sorry. It’s not funny, but you should have seen yourself with your head inside the wall. And now the hole in the Sheetrock is the same shape as your head.” �śThat’s because my head went through it!” he snapped, not seeing the humor. His face was covered in powder. He even had some on his teeth. Redfoot let go of a laugh. �śLook.” His father pointed to the outline in the Sheetrock. �śYou can even see his nose.” Maria laughed and waved a hand between them. �śViejo, you can’t laugh too hard. Both of you look like you’ve been beaten with an ugly stick.” Jose wanted to get mad, but his gaze slid to the hole in the Sheetrock, and damn if he didn’t see the shape of his head and nose. A chuckle spilled out of him. Then, there in the hallway, all three stood and howled until they had tears in their eyes. Maria was the first to retire, but only after she made Jose move his neck to make sure he wasn’t seriously hurt. Her concern and the gentle touch on his chin felt wonderful, and that reminded him why he’d left his room. But it was too late. He and Redfoot watched her leave. His dad clapped him on the shoulder. �śIt’s good to see you, son.” Jose reached up and covered his father’s aged hand with his own. �śIt’s good to see you, too.” They stood there and looked at each other for several seconds. Jose couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this close to his old man. Then he grinned. �śYou know, Maria is right. We both look as if we’ve been beaten with an ugly stick.” �śWe should have a picture made,” Redfoot suggested. �śSo we can laugh at this later.” �śWe will,” Jose said, and gave his dad’s hand one more pat. �śSon,” Redfoot said as he turned. Jose looked back. �śYes?” �śWhat you thought you saw today at the hospital�"” �śDon’t worry, Dad. Mom’s been gone for a long time. You’re an adult. And I don’t think Ms. Cloud can get pregnant.” �śThat’s just it, son. What you thought you saw wasn’t�Śwhat you saw.” Jose had never known the old man to lie, and if he hadn’t been there, he might believe his father hadn’t been having sex with the woman. �śAs I said, Dad, I’m fine with it. Ramon, on the other hand, isn’t.” He rubbed his chin. �śI’d stay away from him for a while. He throws a mean right.” �śYou fought with Ramon?” Redfoot asked. �śHe was upset and said he’d�ŚWell, never mind.” �śHe threatened me?” Redfoot asked. �śYou took a punch because of me?” He grinned. �śI’m sorry, but I’m also proud.” Jose’s chest expanded. He couldn’t remember his father ever saying that before. Maybe it wasn’t because of his career, but it still felt damn good. �śI’m sure you’d have done the same for me.” �śYou know I would,” Redfoot agreed. Jose walked back to his room, and for the first time since he’d arrived home, it felt good being there. Sky had been awake for an hour, but he hadn’t moved. It was morning. Shala lay still, her head pillowed on his chest, her uninjured hand resting low on his belly. It felt like heaven. It also felt like hell. What he wouldn’t give to slide her hand down inside his buttoned boxers. What he wouldn’t give to slip his hand underneath her tank top and touch the soft flesh and pebbled nipple that rested against his ribs. All of a sudden, she flinched. He heard her catch her breath and felt her lashes flutter open against his chest. He crooked his neck to see. Her blue eyes were open, and she stared down at her hand and probably the bulge beneath his underwear. �śDon’t panic,” he whispered in her ear. �śI bought the boxers with buttons.” CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE He caught her as she started to pull away. �śPlease don’t,” he said seriously. �śJust give me a few more minutes.” Her warm breath spilled out on his chest, and she didn’t pull away. �śLucas has a third bedroom.” The huskiness of sleep laced her voice. He could tell from her lack of tension that she wasn’t angry. �śYeah, there was a little problem with it.” �śWhat was that?” �śYou weren’t in it,” he answered. �śYou’re terrible.” She shifted to look at him. The slight shift in position brought her breast and that nipple pressed tighter to his side. He really liked how it felt. �śTerrible because I want to be close to you?” He met her sleepy blue eyes, and his gut tightened with a sudden realization. Never before Shala had he slept with a woman who wasn’t his mother and not had sex. Never would he have wanted to, either. �śWhy didn’t you wake me up when you came in?” �śBecause you looked exhausted. And�Śbecause I was afraid, even though you’d sort of agreed to let me sleep here, that you’d tell me I couldn’t.” She leaned up on one elbow. �śDo you always tell the truth in hopes it will get you out of trouble?” He considered that. �śProbably.” He smiled. �śA bad habit I picked up from Redfoot.” She grinned, and it was the prettiest sleepy smile he’d ever seen. �śBad, aren’t you?” �śNot all bad.” He stared at her. �śYou do mornings well.” He ran a finger over her chin. �śWhat?” �śMornings. I was a little afraid after yesterday�"you know, waking up with Mace aimed at me�"that you’re one of those nasty chicks when you first wake up.” Her gaze shifted down to his boxers. �śWhat is that?” He laughed. �śIf you don’t know, I’m not telling.” She slapped his chest. �śI meant, what’s that printed on your boxers?” �śNope.” He pulled her against him and rolled atop her. �śThat’s not going to happen,” he said, placing an elbow on each side of her head. God, it felt good being on top of her. �śWhat’s not going to happen?” she asked, wriggling. Damn, if that didn’t feel good, too. �śNo making fun of my shorts.” Her eyes lit up, and she craned her neck again. �śThose are little devils, aren’t they?” �śIt was devils or hearts. Wal-Mart doesn’t carry a large selection of button-up boxers. I think these are left over from Valentine’s Day.” When she laughed, he stared at her. �śYou’d better stop that.” �śStop what? Making fun of your little-devil underwear?” �śNo. Stop laughing.” �śWhy?” �śBecause it makes me want to do this.” He leaned down and took her lips with his. There wasn’t a moment of hesitation; she opened up, and her tongue slipped inside his mouth. Her kiss said yes. Her kiss said, Go for it. So he did. Adjusting his weight, he slipped his hand underneath her tank top. His palm moved over the softest skin he’d ever felt, up over her tight little abs until he found the pleasing weight of her breast. He sighed and rubbed his thumb back and forth over her tight nipple, and his mouth started moving south, needing to taste the treasure he’d found under her shirt. He kissed the curve of her neck. Her pulse fluttered against his lips. He ran his tongue up and then down the column of her neck. The sound she made�"half sigh, half moan�"gave him courage. He lifted himself and pulled her shirt up toward her face, slowly, teasing both of them. Uncovered, he saw his right hand on her breast. His skin was dark compared to hers. Her nipples were light pink, tight peaks that begged to be touched and tasted. He lowered his mouth and took one of the sensitive nubs in his mouth, circled it with his tongue. He felt her hands move down his back, then up to his shoulders. Soft hands, exploring. She touched with pleasure; she touched for pleasure. And she gave it. But he knew where he wanted those hands next. Pulling away, he slipped the tank top over her head and took a second to look at her. Holy hell, but he loved what he saw. Her breasts were perfectly shaped and large. His gaze shifted to her face. Her blue eyes looking up at him were filled with need, desire, and passion. Her mouth appeared soft and still wet. What else was wet? He leaned down again, pressed his lips to hers, and felt her hips rise up to slightly brush against his swollen cock. �śYes,” he muttered into her mouth, and slipped his hand down her abdomen past the waistband of her shorts. He nudged his fingers under her silky underwear, past the triangle of hair and lower, at last finding the softness of her sex. Exploring the folds of her tender flesh, he found the moisture he craved. He growled and slid his finger down into that tight little core in which he longed to bury himself. �śI want to taste you.” Pulling his fingers out, he left a trail of dampness over her lower abdomen. Unsnapping the waist of her shorts, he lowered the zipper. He had one side of her shorts off her hip when he heard, �ś�ŚJeremiah was a bullfrog! Bom-bom-bom!’” Since the words were sung in a deep baritone and off-key, he pretty much knew it didn’t come from Shala. �ś�ŚWas a good friend of mine.’” Sky shut his ears and went back to concentrating on getting Shala’s shorts off. But in the back of his mind he made himself a promise: if Lucas’s little song came between him and getting Shala naked and satisfied, the man had sung his last. He caught the top of Shala’s shorts, was about to lift her to remove them and her panties in one swift move, when she caught his hand. �śSky?” �śWhat?” he growled. He hoped Lucas had his will signed, sealed, and delivered. �śI can’t�ŚI�ŚLucas is up.” �śI’ll get rid of him.” Sky bounced up and off the bed. She called his name, her tone impatient. �śSky, this is his house. You can’t throw him out of his own house.” �śWatch me.” He took another step. �śPlease.” He stopped and raked a hand over his face. The musky scent of her made his already stiff cock as hard as petrified wood. �śPlease what?” He kept his eyes closed, knowing without question what she was going to say, but he had to hear it before he could begin to accept it. And acceptance wasn’t going to be easy. �śI can’t do this. Not now.” He turned around. She held her shirt up over her breasts. She looked mortified, her face flushed, her shorts unzipped and open. The look suited her. She was sexy as hell. �ś�ŚJoy to the world!’” sounded outside. There’s no joy in my world, Sky thought. He’d been robbed. He fought the desire to walk into the kitchen and permanently remove his friend’s voice box. Instead, he went over to the bed, sat down, and flopped back on the mattress. He didn’t move, just stared at the ceiling and waited for the blasted ache in his cock to subside. It was going to take a while. �śYou aren’t mad, are you?” Shala asked. He felt the bed jiggling. She was obviously putting her shirt back on. �śFurious, but not at you.” He flung his arm over his face. When he smelled her scent again, he moaned and changed arms. �śIt’s not Lucas’s fault,” she said. �śI should have stopped you earlier. I’m not quite ready to�ŚI mean, we barely know each other. What’s it been? I mean, I know we’ve been through a lot, but�Ś” God, she was jabbering again. Nope. There was no joy in his world. He waited until she took her first breath, so he wouldn’t come off like a total ass, but then he popped up. �śI’m going to take a shower.” Ten minutes later, the water still hitting him in the face, he realized what a complete jerk he’d been. He’d crawled into bed with her last night knowing he’d practically tricked her into agreeing to let him sleep there. He’d told himself it was okay because he wouldn’t push her, that just sleeping beside her was enough. Obviously, it hadn’t been. He’d taken a chance, seen her good mood, and turned it into something more. She’d given him a little taste of heaven, and when they’d gotten interrupted�"which wasn’t her fault�"he’d just up and walked out, left the room without so much as a hug or an �śI liked what I saw, can I have a rain check?” Yup, he was an ass. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to think. Damn, he had zero ideas on how to get out of this mess, zero knowledge of how to get out of jams with women, because he’d never tried to get out of one before. Not because he hadn’t been in any; he just hadn’t cared about getting out of them. When a jam arrived in a relationship, that’s when he knew it was walking time. But it wasn’t walking time with Shala. He had to find a way out. He cut the water off and pushed back the shower curtain to stare at the bathroom door. Was she waiting out there to lash out at him? God, would she start jabbering again? He deserved it, he supposed. This time he’d sit there and take it. He got out of the shower and eased the bathroom door open a bit. She wasn’t outside. A big pain hit his gut. Was she so angry that she’d run to Lucas to complain? Was she at that very moment squawking to his friend about how much of an ass he’d been? Was she asking Lucas to help her leave town? Oh, hell. She couldn’t leave. Rushing out of the bathroom, scrubbing the towel over his chest as he did, he hurried to his clothes on the chair. At the clearing of a throat, he turned around. Shala sat at the tiny desk behind the bathroom door, laptop open, one hand now covering her eyes, but her two middle fingers had a wide vee of separation and one blue eye was checking him out. He let her look a few seconds before moving the towel from his chest to his crotch. �śI looked out and didn’t see you. I thought you’d stepped out,” he explained. She moved her hand. �śStill here,” she said. A blush turned her cheeks a pretty pink color. He studied her expression, blush and all. Was she not angry at him? She glanced back at her laptop. �śI wanted to show you a few things I found when I went through my pictures. I’m not sure if it’s anything but�Śit might be something.” He wrapped the towel around his waist, moved closer. �śShow me.” He leaned down, put his hand on her shoulder. Emotion churned his gut just from the contact. It hurt like hell, but it also felt wonderful, because she was still there. And obviously she wasn’t furious with him, either. Or was she just hiding it? �śLet me find it again.” She clicked through the images. He leaned down close, his cheek pressed against hers. �śI’m sorry, Shala.” Her fingers on the keyboard stopped moving. She glanced over, uncertain. �śFor what?” �śFor being a jerk just now.” �śYou weren’t really a jerk.” �śYes, I was. I thoroughly enjoyed what happened.” He waved toward the bed. �śYou’re beautiful, and I really would like to enjoy it again�Śand enjoy more. Instead of telling you that, I got frustrated and ran.” Her blue eyes studied him. She bit her lip, as if debating her next words. �śI enjoyed it, too.” She held up her unbandaged hand, her fingers pinched close together. �śI just need a little more time.” �śAnd maybe some privacy?” He looked toward the door, beyond which Lucas had started another song. �śThat might help, too.” She smiled. He kissed her. Her mouth was warm and sweet. Careful not to let things progress to a place where he’d end up apologizing again, he pulled back. Shala went back to flipping through the images. He remembered he’d already apologized to her twice before: once in the hospital, when he’d been giving her a hard time about being afraid of stitches, and again when he’d forgotten about her hospital issue. All three times she’d accepted his apology without giving him grief. All three times he might have deserved a little grief. Which meant Shala Winters wasn’t the type to hold grudges. Not very many women managed that. It was a nice quality. It somehow made up for the jabbering and snooping. �śHere’s one of them,” she said, and pointed to the screen. �śI’d stopped off on my way to Precious to get a few shots of other accommodations around the area. I think this shot is around Bueford�"I could check my notes and tell you for sure. But the Chambers gave me directions to a few of local cabins that are rented out. They said I couldn’t take shots of the inside because a couple of them were leased, but I could take a few outside shots. Look in the car parked in the driveway. I didn’t notice it when I took the shot, but look, it has two people, and I don’t think they’re just talking, if you know what I mean.” He shifted to study the picture. �śI mean, it’s sort of odd that they’ve got a whole cabin and they’re doing it in the car, but�Ś” Her hands started tapping some keys. �śLet me blow it up and you’ll see.” Then she looked up at him. �śI thought maybe someone is cheating and think I’m like a PI or something. I know it’s not much, but�Ś” He smiled. �śAs you said, it’s more than before.” �śThere are three others.” She tapped a few more keys. An image taken at nearby Cypress Pond appeared. A couple of men were fishing, and to the right was a family having a picnic. It was a very serene portrait of Precious. �śThis is the one I got the most excited about.” �śIt’s a great picture, but I don’t see�"” �śHere,” she said, and pointed to a small area in the background that showed the parking lot. �śDo you see the car?” Sky moved closer. �śThe black sedan?” He kept his tone even. He didn’t want to disappoint her, but a picture of the car wasn’t going to do them any good. �śBut look when I blow it up,” she told him, and the screen filled with the section that contained the car. �śIt’s not the clearest shot, but look.” �śAt what?” he asked, thinking she meant the license plate. Hadn’t he told her they had the car? That they�" �śLook at the guy standing to the right of the car. I’m pretty sure that’s him. That’s the guy who was driving the sedan.” Smiling, he squeezed her shoulder. �śYou are quite a detective, Ms. Winters!” He tugged at the towel around his waist and went to grab his cell. Then he remembered she’d said she had two other images for him to see. �śWhat else did you find?” He went back to stand behind her, wanting to give Phillip the whole story. She already had another image on the screen. �śThese might not be anything, but I found him in two different pictures, on two different days, and it just sort of gave me the creeps.” She pointed to a small figure in the background at the railroad museum. �śCan you make it bigger?” �śYeah. I think this is the one where you can almost make out his face. The other one, he’s standing in the shadows, but I’m almost certain it’s the same guy.” She hit a few keys and the image expanded. Sky saw a man in jeans and a navy polo shirt. When he didn’t say anything right away, Shala glanced back. �śDo you know who he is?” �śYeah,” Sky said, and he didn’t like it. �śWho is it?” she asked. �śHis name is Charlie Rainmaker.” Grabbing his phone, Sky started dialing Phillip. �śHe’s the main guy who was against trying to bring tourism into town. He started a petition against it.” �śDo you think he might be behind this?” �śI think he’s got a lot to explain.” When Phillip answered his phone, Sky said, �śPhillip, it’s Sky. Shala went through the images and found a few things that might help.” �śI’m looking at the images now,” the ranger said. �śShe’s a damn good photographer.” �śI know. She’s good,” Sky agreed, feeling a sense of pride. Oddly, he couldn’t ever remember being proud of any of the women he’d dated. Well, there was the one who’d been a centerfold in Playboy, but that was different. �śWhat are the file numbers?” Phillip asked. �śJust a second,” Sky said and then asked Shala, �śCan you write those file numbers down?” �śAlready have.” She handed him a piece of paper, then quickly looked away as if she didn’t want to eavesdrop. Hoping to let her know she wouldn’t be intruding, he placed a hand on her shoulder while he talked. �śOkay, here’s what we got�Ś” Sky explained to Phillip what Shala had found and then gave him the file numbers. �śNo, I’ll pay a visit to Charlie,” he insisted when Phillip offered to send someone. Before he hung up, he set up a time to bring Shala in to be interviewed. Dropping the phone on the table beside the laptop, he studied her sitting there staring at the wall. �śYou’re okay with going in and talking to Phillip, aren’t you?” He moved to the edge of the desk. She turned her head. �śThat’s fine,” she said. �śHey.” He pulled her from her chair, turned her around, and leaned his forehead against hers. �śYou okay, Blue Eyes?” She nodded ever so slightly, and a slow grin pulled at her lips. �śWhat?” he asked. Her smile widened. �śYou lost your towel.” Redfoot lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The images of the dreams flashed in his head. He’d asked the spirits to tell him what to do. He had never understood the saying �śignorance is bliss” until now. If he could go back and un-ask the spirits, he would. This was not going to be easy. Unfortunately, the spirits had given him a plan. He didn’t have to like it, but the spirits would no doubt be angry if he ignored their messages. Angry spirits were not a good thing. A man would have more luck milking a bull than soothing angry spirits. Redfoot had tried as much in his younger years, when he’d been stupid from too much whiskey and his friends had set him up to be the fool. He still had the scars the bull had given him. And sometimes, when the elders of the tribe got together, they still told the story. He wished he had time to stay in bed and reminisce about the past, but he needed to help make the future right. He closed his eyes and thought of all the things he wanted to see happen in the lives of those he loved, all the things he had believed were destiny. A man never liked to be proven wrong, but accepting his mistakes and making them right were part of being a man. He got out of bed and made his way to his closet. He pushed away one shirt and then another�"trying to find one that he didn’t mind getting stained with blood. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR �śYou look good in this kitchen,” said a husky voice. Maria swung around. Jose stood in the doorway, watching her. She felt his gaze move up and down, taking in her new sundress, which clung in all the right places�"a dress she’d bought to impress Matt. The appreciation in Jose’s eyes toyed with her feminine pride. How long had she waited to see him look at her with desire? For years, before he’d finally noticed her. �śHow’s your neck this morning?” she asked, noticing how his fitted and pressed jeans and expensive button-down business shirt showcased his body and conveyed his personality. Jose had never been a faded-jeans-and-T-shirt kind of guy. Even his clothes had always set him apart from the laid-back lifestyle of their small town. He moved his head from side to side. �śAmazingly, it doesn’t hurt at all.” �śGood.” She motioned to the counter. �śThere’s coffee.” �śThanks.” He shifted, and she listened as he served himself. Closing her eyes, she wondered how she should start this conversation. Or if she should start it now. Redfoot would be out shortly. She didn’t want him to overhear. Sometimes, she got the feeling that her foster father knew about her and Jose; other times she wasn’t sure. Redfoot never pushed people to talk. He just studied them, offering little advice, but sometimes she felt as if he could see right through her. She turned around and found Jose leaning against the counter, studying her, reminding her of his father. She recalled that she needed to talk to him about Redfoot, about what he’d said about them. Last night when they had all been laughing in the hall, the tension had subsided, but she knew it would return if she couldn’t make both of them see that their differences shouldn’t stop them from loving one another. She needed to reconstruct the bridge that Estella had been for them. But how? �śLater,” Jose said, glancing toward the door, �śwhen we won’t be interrupted, I’d like for us to talk.” Surprised, she managed only to nod. Redfoot walked into the kitchen. He stood by the table, frowning, and eyed Maria and then Jose. Maria watched the two men acknowledge each other’s presence. Nodding. They were back to only nodding. �śThere’s coffee.” Redfoot sighed. �śI’ll grab some while I’m out.” �śOut? Where?” Maria asked. �śShouldn’t you take it easy today?” �śThe doc said I was fine.” �śYes, but�Śwhere are you going?” A frown formed between his eyebrows. �śTo talk to a man about a horse.” Maria recognized Redfoot’s pat answer that meant none of her business. She wanted to push, but pushing Redfoot was like training rocks to tango. The stubborn old man moved across the room, snagged his keys from the hook beside the door, and looked back at Jose. �śYou coming?” �śMe?” Jose asked. �śI�Śneed to come with you to talk to a man about a horse?” �śYup. You got a dog in this fight, too.” �śWhat dog?” Jose asked. �śWhat fight?” Maria added, but Redfoot had one foot out the back door. �śWhat’s going on?” Jose asked Maria. �śHow the hell am I supposed to know?” she said. �śBut go watch out for him.” Jose dropped his cup in the sink and hurried after his father. �śThere’s coffee,” Lucas said as Shala and Sky walked out of the bedroom. Shala hadn’t considered being embarrassed about sleeping with Sky until she faced Lucas. Now she had the overwhelming desire to belt out �śNothing happened.” But something had. Well, almost. But the �śalmost” felt like something. It had felt wonderful and it had felt wrong. But the wonderful outweighed the wrong. �śI’m going to have to pass,” Sky said. �śI need to have a little talk with Charlie Rainmaker.” �śI thought that was him when Shala showed me those pictures,” Lucas said. Shala moved away from Sky and filled one of the cups for herself. She recalled Sky’s mouth on her breasts, his hands slipping inside her panties. She recalled telling Sky that she just needed a little more time. Which basically meant she’d agreed to eventually sleep with him. Which basically meant she’d decided to toss her emotional insurance to the wind. What in God’s name had she been thinking? Wait, that was it: she hadn’t been thinking. She’d been feeling. Bringing the mug to her lips, she saw Sky studying her. He smiled and winked. She felt her cheeks grow warm. Yup, she’d been feeling all right�"sexy, wanted, alive, and a heck of a lot happier. The only question was if she could feel her way through this without getting her heart shattered. �śCream’s in the fridge, if you take it,” Lucas said, then looked back to Sky. �śDo you think your friend will be able to get you something on the sedan driver?” �śI don’t know,” Sky replied. �śI just called Phillip, and he’s looking at the images now.” �śIf you need help, let me know,” Lucas said. �śI’ll remember that,” Sky said. �śAre you a cop, too?” Shala asked Lucas. She’d asked him what he did for a living, and he’d told her he did odd jobs here and there after being mostly retired from the military. Did a former military career earn him enough to afford this place and the nice furnishings? And wasn’t he too young to be retired? �śNah,” Lucas said. �śJust know a few people.” He turned back to Sky. �śI’m going to have to make a run to the store. We ate up all my rations yesterday. What’s your schedule?” Sky looked at his watch. �śHow about you two head over to the diner? I’ll meet you there as soon as I finish up with Charlie, and I’ll buy breakfast. Then I’ll take Shala over to talk to Phillip. Depending on what Phillip and his guys are doing, I might drop her back off here after that.” �śDo I really have to be babysat twenty-four/seven?” Shala asked. Sky and Lucas looked at each other and then at her, and they said at the same time, �śYes.” She rolled her eyes. Lucas eyed Sky. �śWe’ll be at the diner, then.” Sky started to leave, but he stopped when he reached the door. He turned, walked right up to Shala, and pressed his lips to hers. His tongue swept inside her mouth, his hand moved slightly down her waist to her bottom, and the kiss rang all of her bells. �śSee you later.” His smile, sexy as sin, had Shala forgetting about inappropriateness and Lucas altogether. Emotional insurance be damned; she wanted to experience this. Wanted Sky. Sure, she might end up getting hurt, but what if she didn’t? What if Sky was her someone special, special like her father had been special to her mom? Shala could still remember them putting on music every Friday night and dancing and laughing. She could remember her granddad and Nana going through life, through sickness and health together, for sixty years. Shala wasn’t stupid. She knew true love was hard to find. But these last few years, she’d somehow forgotten it even existed. And if she could just remember that, then maybe she could believe it was worth risking her heart to try and find it. Sky drove through the reservation toward Charlie’s house, mentally tallying up all he knew about the man and trying to forget how he’d lost his head and kissed Shala in the middle of Lucas’s kitchen. Yeah, think about Charlie, he told himself. Charlie had a temper. He loved being a rebel. At any meeting, be it the town council or an open-house tribal-council meeting, Charlie arrived ready to cause havoc. His long-winded speech about not wanting strangers in town had struck a chord with a lot of the townspeople. And when, after several more meetings, the town voted in favor of bringing in Winters Tourism, Charlie hadn’t been happy and had started holding meetings to try and stop it. Temper ran in Charlie’s family�"and a bad one. Charlie’s brother was doing life for murder. Did that make Charlie capable of murder? Sky sure as hell hoped not, because his own family history made Charlie’s sound pretty good. Sky’s old man had been a mean and miserable son of a bitch. The only thing he’d loved was Sky’s mom. His mom must have loved his dad back, because she’d put up with more from him than Sky cared to remember. Of course, Sky couldn’t remember everything, because his old man had knocked him out once when he’d gotten between them. To this day Sky wondered what might have happened if he hadn’t been spending the night with his next-door neighbor, if he could have stopped his father from killing his mom. He wouldn’t have tried to stop the old man from turning the gun on himself, though. No, Sky would have loaded it for him. Sky pulled up in front of an old house with chipped paint and pushed his personal issues aside. He had other problems. Would Charlie have hired someone to steal Shala’s camera? Did Charlie even have the money to hire someone? If Charlie’s intent had been to scare her out of town, why take it so far? It didn’t make sense. Then again, he’d clearly been following Shala. Charlie’s old Chevy wasn’t parked under the carport. Getting out of the truck Lucas had loaned him, Sky knocked on the front door. Mrs. Rainmaker answered, and Sky immediately noticed her bloodshot eyes, unkempt hair, and clothes that looked slept in. Her drinking was no secret, especially to Sky, who’d arrested her twice and personally made sure her driver’s license got revoked. It was a sad condition, too common among his people. Sky had insisted to the mayor that Precious offer free counseling to anyone who needed it. He’d even told Bo and the bartenders at the Funky Chicken to call him, night or day, if anyone needed a ride. He had zero patience with anyone who would drink and drive, especially after a local drunk two years ago had taken not only his own life but also the life of an innocent teen. �śWhy do I think you’re not here just to shoot the shit, Chief?” The woman leaned against the door frame. �śWish I could I say I was,” Sky said. �śWell, it ain’t me you’re here for this time. I haven’t driven a lick.” �śAnd I appreciate that. I need to talk to Charlie. Is he around?” �śCan’t say he is. What’s he gone and done this time?” �śI just need to speak with him.” No need to alarm the woman. �śDoes he have a cell phone?” �śSure does. Not that it’ll you do any good. I tried calling him all last night and he’s not answering. I figured I got lucky and he ran off with that slut he’s been seeing at the Funky Chicken.” Good ol’ marital bliss. �śWell, if you don’t mind giving me his number, I need to talk to him.” She went back inside and brought out a scrap of paper with the number scratched on it. �śIf you get him, tell him he still has to pay the rent.” Sky started to leave. �śThis isn’t about that tourism woman, is it?” Mrs. Rainmaker asked. Sky stopped, tucked the paper in his pocket, and faced her again. �śYou know something about that?” �śI know he was following her around. Keeping an eye on her. Is that a crime?” She wore a smirk he didn’t understand. �śIt could be considered stalking,” Sky said. �śThen you might want to slap some handcuffs on yourself. Because he said he spotted you playing Peeping Tom, too.” She laughed. �śOf course, with her being your soul mate and all�Ś” Sky bit back a retort and said, �śHave a good day, ma’am.” When he got into his truck, he dialed Charlie’s number. The man didn’t answer. Damn. He’d come here for answers and all he’d gotten was another long list of questions. �śAren’t you going to tell me where we’re going?” Jose asked his father. It wasn’t like his old man to play tricks like this. �śSee for yourself.” Redfoot pulled into the diner parking lot. It was the only restaurant in Precious that was open on Sundays. Jose looked around. Why had Redfoot been so secretive about coming here? �śSo, where’s the man and the horse?” �śHe’s here.” Redfoot surveyed their surroundings. �śThey both are.” Jose followed his dad’s gaze to the end of the parking lot. �śOh hell, no!” he snapped, and looked back at his old man. Too late. Redfoot had one foot out of the truck. Reaching across the seat, Jose grabbed his arm. �śAre you looking for trouble?” His dad sighed. �śSometimes you just have to stare trouble right in the face and spit in its eye.” He slid the rest of the way out of the truck. �śDad, get back in!” Redfoot slammed the door and started for the diner. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The smell of bacon grease greeted Redfoot at the door. He saw Ramon and a couple of friends in a booth in the back, while Matt sat alone at a table. The boy looked miserable, and it was about to get worse. �śHey, Poncha,” Redfoot called out to the waitress. �śBring me some coffee.” His voice carried, causing Ramon to look up and frown. Redfoot dropped into the booth beside Matt’s table. The bell over the diner door jingled. Redfoot knew without checking that it was Jose, because Matt looked up and fury splashed the white boy’s face. �śJose?” Poncha squealed, and Redfoot remembered that Jose had dated her in his senior year of high school. She threw herself into his son’s arms. Obviously, she hadn’t quite gotten over him. �śYou look fabulous,” the waitress was saying as Jose set her back on her feet. �śWell, most of you looks fabulous. What happened to your face?” �śA�Śan accident.” Jose didn’t pay Poncha the attention she’d clearly have liked. Instead, his gaze shot around the room. Eyes fixing on Ramon he said, �śExcuse me.” He moved to the booth where Redfoot sat. �śLet’s get out of here,” he said. Redfoot shook his head. �śSit down.” �śDad.” �śSit down!” Redfoot commanded. His son was grown, but he plopped his ass down like a five-year-old. Poncha reappeared, carrying two cups of coffee. �śDid you want a cup, too, Jose? I brought one.” She smiled sweetly. �śThat’s fine.” Jose, apparently remembering his manners, met the woman’s eyes. �śHow’re you doing, Poncha?” Her smile widened. �śI’m fine. Finally going back to college. How is life in New York?” �śCrowded,” he said. �śYour dad showed me the article about the building you helped design in Vegas.” �śHe did?” Jose looked surprised. �śCan you bring us two breakfast specials?” Redfoot asked, ignoring the unspoken question in his son’s eyes. Poncha nodded and moved away. Right then, Redfoot heard a cell phone ring and watched Matt pull out his cell. �śDid you see him?” Redfoot asked Jose, keeping his voice low. �śYes, I saw him. Which is why I think�"” �śNot Ramon. Him.” Redfoot nodded toward Matt. Jose turned, and a frown appeared on his face. He picked up his coffee and eyed Redfoot over the rim. �śThey broke up.” �śI don’t think so,” Redfoot said. �śIt’s pretty serious. I’m pretty worried about her.” �śShe told me they broke up.” Jose glanced again at Matt. �śI’d bet you’re wrong,” Redfoot said. �śShe’s got it bad for him.” He paused. �śListen to him. I’ll bet he’s talking to her now. He’s got something going on in Dallas. Poor Maria, she’s suspicious and it’s breaking her heart.” �śHe’s cheating on Maria?” The fury in his son’s voice saddened Redfoot. His son unquestionably cared. �śListen,” he told Jose. �śI love you, too, babe.” Matt’s words were barely audible, but from the muscle popping out in his son’s cheek, Redfoot knew Jose had heard. Jose set down his coffee, got up, and dropped into the chair next to Matt. �śWho the fuck do you think you are?” he growled. �śOne down and one to go,” Redfoot muttered. Looking at the booth where Ramon sat, he rubbed his chin and went to spit trouble in the eye. Sky pulled up at the diner. Lucas and Shala were on their way, and he was meeting them here. Getting out of his truck, he spotted Redfoot’s truck. Strange. Redfoot generally only visited the diner on Wednesdays. Sky was about six feet from the entrance when a chair crashed through the front window and bounced against the sidewalk. Swearing, he ran inside. He was barely through the door when he spotted Jose going toe-to-toe with someone�"no, not just someone, but Maria’s Matt. Two Texas Rangers, Phillip’s men, stood to one side trying to break them up. A loud crash echoed from the back of the room. Sky’s attention shifted. His heart plummeted. Ramon Cloud had Redfoot’s shirt bunched up in his grip and had his right fist drawn back as if ready to strike. Shooting across the room, knocking down a few chairs, Sky grabbed Ramon by the arm. �śDon’t even think about it!” Ramon’s eyes widened. He ducked. Redfoot’s fist shot forward and hit Phillip, who was standing behind him. The blow took the ranger square on the nose. Phillip, caught totally off guard, lost his balance and landed in the middle of a table where three men had been eating and enjoying the fight. Scrambled eggs and coffee cups flew. �śStop this!” Sky yelled at Redfoot, then turned to help Phillip up. When he saw one of the CSI guys grab Redfoot by the arm and draw back his fist, he jumped in the way. �śNo! He’s my dad!” The man started to drop his fist, but before he relaxed all the way, Jose charged. Sky spun and grabbed his brother’s arm. Jose swung without looking, clipping him on the jaw. He staggered backward, knocking Phillip down again, this time onto a different table, right into a plate of grits. �śSorry!” Jose leaped over him to grab Ramon, who had Redfoot by the shirt again. Out of the corner of his eye, Sky saw the new diners shoving Phillip off their table. They looked none too gentle. Sky’s own jaw was stinging, and he wasn’t sure at first where he was most needed. Jose was physically removing Ramon from Redfoot, so he decided to help his friend. Turning, he saw Phillip reaching inside his shirt. Realizing his friend was going for his firearm and knowing that would only lead to disaster, Sky yelled, �śNo guns!” Then he jumped in the middle of the fight. More fists flew. Grunts and groans and the sound of shattering plates filled the room. Then a voice boomed over the loudspeaker. �śShe’s taking her clothes off, guys! And she’s hot.” After a few final bangs and clatters, Sky could have heard a pin drop. Every head in the place turned, Sky’s included. Shala Winters, fully clothed, stood on the counter. She shot the crowd a nervous smile and waved, then grimaced at Lucas standing behind her, his mouth pressed to the diner’s microphone. �śNow that I got everyone’s attention,” Lucas continued. �śI want you all to take a deep breath. We’ve got your chief of police and I’m counting at least four Texas Rangers in the room. If this goes on for much longer, it’s going to end ugly. None of you want it to end ugly, do you?” �śIs she really going to take her clothes off?” someone called out. It was the first guy Sky yanked by the arm and tossed out of the diner. �śWhat are you doing?” Phillip asked as Sky began directing people to leave. �śCleaning house,” Sky replied. �śBefore things start back up.” �śOh, hell no.” Fury radiated from Phillip as he wiped blood from his mouth and knocked egg from his hair. �śA few of these guys are getting booked and charged. We can start with that one.” He was pointing at Redfoot. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Maria shoved into the police station. Her heart raced as she chewed on the bits and pieces of information Sky had given her. Redfoot and Jose were in jail. Why in the hell would Sky put them in jail? All he’d told her was that he thought he could talk the rangers into letting them go, but for now they were incarcerated. He hadn’t enlightened her on why they were locked up, just that she should stay home and not come rushing up to the station like a mother hen. Well, good luck with that. She was a mother hen when it came to her family. And this was her family. The day Estella died, Maria had stepped willingly into the role and never looked back. And after her talk with Jose at the hospital, Maria realized that she’d failed in some ways. Her own issues with Jose had blinded her to what was happening, but she could see clearly now. God have mercy on anyone who stood in her way. The door swished shut behind her. After leaving the bright sunlight outside, the front room appeared dark. When Maria’s eyes adjusted, she saw people everywhere milling around, which was odd for a Sunday. She recognized the two highway patrolmen who sometimes assisted Sky, but the other three men standing there staring at her, two of whom looked as if they’d been in a fight, were complete strangers. Not that it mattered. The person she wanted to see was absent. He was probably in his office. As she started moving, one of the strangers stepped in front of her. �śCan I help you?” �śYes. Get out of my way. I’m here to see Sky.” The man must have spotted her determination, because he stepped back. Maria moved down the hall and shoved open Sky’s office door. Her foster brother stood in the middle of the room arguing with a new stranger. Another beat-up stranger. Sky’s own face appeared slightly swollen. She snapped a hand to her hip. �śWhat the hell happened?” Sky scowled. �śPhillip, this is my foster sister, Maria. Maria”�"he motioned to the man�"�śmeet Phillip. He’s with the Texas Rangers.” �śSo he’s the one who wants to keep dad and Jose in jail?” �śThat would be me,” Phillip replied. �śWhat did they do?” As Maria stepped closer, scowling, the ranger stepped back. �śThey started a brawl at the diner.” She notched up her chin. �śRedfoot wouldn’t start anything.” �śMy face says differently,” said the ranger. �śHe didn’t mean to hit you,” Sky inserted. �śHe was aiming for Ramon.” �śRamon?” Maria asked. �śRamon Cloud?” Sky nodded. �śWhy would he go after Ramon?” �śIt’s complicated,” Sky answered. �śWell, uncomplicate it! I swear to God, I’m not leaving without�"” �śRedfoot is seeing Ramon’s mom,” Sky blurted. Maria rolled her eyes. �śNo, he’s not.” �śHe admitted it,” Sky said. �śYou misunderstood. I want to see him.” She swung around to go upstairs to the jail cells, but Sky grabbed her. �śI can’t let you go up there.” She jerked away. �śWatch me.” Sky got between her and the door. �śIt’s locked.” �śThen, unlock it!” Sky scrubbed his palm over his face. �śYou don’t want to go in there.” Maria’s heart burst. �śOh, God, is he hurt? How bad?” Her gaze shot to the man beside Sky. �śI swear to God, if you hurt him�ŚHe’s almost seventy years old!” �śNo,” Sky said. �śIt’s not�ŚHe’s not the only one back there. Just go home.” �śIs Jose hurt?” �śNo one’s hurt!” Sky snapped. Then his shoulders collapsed and he seemed to give up. �śAww, crap. Matt is back there, too.” �śMatt Goodson? My Matt?” �śYes, your Matt.” Maria’s mind reeled. �śHow is he involved with Ramon and Redfoot?” �śHe’s not. His problem was with Jose.” That didn’t quite compute. �śJose and Matt fought? Why?” �śI don’t have a friggin’ clue. But it’s best if you just stay�"” Maria stared her brother right in the eye. �śYou open that door, Sky Gomez, and let me get to the bottom of this, or I swear to God and every spirit Redfoot believes in that I’ll spend every second of my life finding ways to make the rest of your days holy hell.” �śI’d let her go back there,” Phillip suggested. Sky turned and glared, but the ranger said, �śHey, they’re locked in the cells. What’s going to happen?” Sky shook his head, turned, and stomped up the stairs. Maria followed. �śYou don’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.” Shala looked up at Lucas. The two of them were sitting at his kitchen table. �śI’m sorry. It’s not the food. I just�ŚGuilt and turkey sandwiches don’t go well together.” �śDare I ask what you’re feeling guilty about?” �śEverything. Redfoot gets attacked. Jessie gets shot. And now that fight�"” �śWhoa. I guess I can see�"maybe�"taking some blame for the first two, but I don’t see any correlation between you and what happened at the diner. Why is it that women have the need to take on guilt?” Shala selected a potato chip from her plate, broke it in half, and fed it to Sky’s two dogs. They sat on each side of her. Lucas had been right about them; they’d become her constant companions. �śMaybe the fight isn’t my fault, but�Śa man at the diner told me that ever since I came into town crazy things have been happening.” She frowned. �śThen he asked if I needed a map to see how to leave.” Lucas frowned. �śYou should have told me that while we were there. Which one was he?” �śI don’t know. He had on a navy shirt. But he didn’t threaten me or anything.” She picked up another chip and popped it into her mouth. Glancing at Lucas she said, �śSky looked furious when he saw me on that bar.” Sky’s friend sipped his tea. �śYeah, I’ve never seen that side of him. But, don’t worry. He knows I put you up to it.” Shala grinned. �śI have to admit, I never saw a fight end so quickly. How did you know it would work?” �śIt’s a trick I picked up in the Gulf War. I know how to say those words in five different languages. Works every time�"except once, and I had no idea it was a gay bar.” He laughed. �śLive and learn.” �śYou’re an intriguing guy, Lucas,” Shala said. When he didn’t reply, after a moment she asked, �śDid you ever get to talk to Sky? I think he was hit pretty hard.” Lucas chuckled. �śIt’s going to take more than that to take Sky down. He’s tough as nails.” Shala recalled the newspaper picture of him, ten years old and standing in front of that house fire. Something told her that Sky wasn’t as numb to pain as everyone thought. She reached down to pet Sundance, who nudged her leg with his nose. �śDo you mind if I borrow Sky’s laptop?” Lucas asked. �śI’m going to shoot a couple of your pictures to someone else to run a check.” �śNot at all.” He was halfway across the room when the dogs jumped up and barked. Lucas swung around and froze. �śWhat is it?” Shala asked, staring. Lucas and the two dogs seemed primed for action. Sky’s friend pressed a finger to his lips and cocked his head to the side. A second passed, and then Shala heard it, too. She said, �śPlease tell me that was just a car back-firing.” The dogs barked again. Lucas didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over to a cabinet, touched a keypad lock, and pulled out a huge rifle that looked like something Rambo would have carried. When he glanced up at her, gone was the joyful man she’d been staying with. He looked rock hard and deadly serious. �śGo sit in the hall bathroom for a while. Now!” Before he moved aside and let Maria pass, Sky yelled through the door. �śEveryone better be decent�"a woman’s coming in!” Maria stepped through. This wasn’t the first time she’d been here. Last summer, the women’s club had decorated the jail’s top floor and held a dinner in the seventy-five-year-old cells as a fund-raiser to help support art classes. Dinner Behind Bars had brought in over five hundred dollars. This time, though, it wasn’t charity. Men she loved were imprisoned. She saw Jose and Redfoot standing in one cell. Across the way were Matt and Ramon. Ramon had blood all over his shirt from his nose. Matt lay stretched out on a cot, staring up at the ceiling. One of his eyes looked swollen shut. Maria looked back at Jose and Redfoot, unsure if their face bruises were new. �śYou shouldn’t be here,” Jose said. �śDamn it, Sky. Make her leave.” The cot squeaked in the cell across the way. Matt sat up and studied Maria with his one good eye. �śWhat the hell happened?” she asked everyone. Someone began calling Sky downstairs. He gave both jail cells a firm look and said, �śI’ll be right back. Behave.” �śSomeone please explain what happened,” Maria insisted. Sky’s footsteps tapped down the old stone stairs. �śYour old man happened,” Ramon said. �śWith my mom.” Maria looked at Redfoot, unbelieving. �śJust tell him he’s wrong. You’re not dating Veronica.” �śOh, he’s not dating my mom. He’s just screwing her!” Ramon’s voice bounced around the old stone walls. �śDo not talk about your mom like that,” Redfoot ordered. �śReally, ol’ man? I can’t say it, but you can do it?” �śRespect her, damn it!” Redfoot said. His tone had Maria second-guessing her earlier claim. �śRespect her?” Ramon bellowed. �śIs that what you were doing in the hospital�"respecting her?” �śStop it!” Maria shouted. She sensed Matt looking at her, and she wanted to yell at Sky to bring the keys to open the door so she could check on him. His eye had to be hurting like the devil. But would he welcome her concern? At the hospital he’d seemed determined to believe the worst. �śWe weren’t doing anything in that hospital bed,” Redfoot growled. �śI know what I saw.” Ramon struck the bars with his hand. �śI can’t believe you have the balls to stand there and say you haven’t slept with her.” �śI didn’t say I hadn’t slept with her,” Redfoot replied. �śSo you’re admitting it?” �śYes.” Redfoot stood straight. �śI admit it.” �śYou do?” Maria asked, stunned. �śYou arrogant son of a bitch,” Ramon snarled. �śYou’re going to do right by her. I’m going to go to the tribal council about this. You’re supposed to be one of the respected elders.” �śSit down and shut up, Dad,” Jose said. �śAnd Maria, get your ass home.” �śI don’t take orders from you!” Maria retorted. Matt let out a laugh. �śYou tell him.” Jose leaned toward the bars. �śDon’t you even start.” Maria stared at the two men. �śWhy in God’s name were you two fighting?” �śWhy don’t you tell her the truth?” Redfoot spoke up, directing his question to Matt. �śTell her the things you are hiding from her.” Maria looked from Matt to Redfoot. �śWhat’s he hiding?” �śThat he’s cheating on you,” Jose snapped. �śThe scum�"” �śThat’s bullshit,” Matt said. �śWhy don’t you tell her about that waitress you had all over you this morning?” Maria glanced from one cell to the other, confused. Then she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw it was one of the troopers. �śSky had to run out on an emergency,” the man told Maria before eyeing the occupied cells. �śBut which one of you is Matt?” �śI am,” Matt said. �śYour wife just called and said your lawyer is on his way.” Maria grabbed the trooper’s arm, shell-shocked. �śHis wife?” The cop looked concerned. �śUhh, that’s what she said.” �śYou no-good piece of shit!” Jose yelled. Everyone starting talking at once. Redfoot was saying something unintelligible, Ramon yelled something about his mother, and Matt just kept repeating Maria’s name. It all seemed to echo, bouncing to and fro across the rocks of the old building. Slapping her hands over her ears, Maria swung around and left. Sky entered Lucas’s place, gun in hand. His friend sat facing the door in his recliner, a rifle at his side. �śAnything?” Sky asked, looking around for Shala. She was at the kitchen table, setting up a game of Scrabble. Their gazes met and held, and he fought the need to grab and kiss her. He didn’t do public displays of affection. His kiss good-bye this morning had been a spontaneous act that still had him questioning his sanity. Holy hell, these last few days were mixed up. �śNothing,” Lucas replied. �śI said that you didn’t have to come. I heard two shots. Could’ve been someone shooting a rattlesnake for all I know.” �śHow close? Which direction did it come from?” �śAn educated guess, a mile, maybe a little more. There’s a wind blowing. It sounded as if it came from the northeast.” Sky nodded, his gaze on Shala again. Lucas added, �śSomeone threatened her at the diner.” �śWhat?” Sky eyed Shala. �śWho? Why didn’t you tell me?” He walked over to her. �śIt wasn’t really a threat,” she answered. �śHe wore a navy shirt, a button-down, and I remember some kind of logo. And I think you had enough on your plate right then.” She reached up and touched his jaw. �śIs it sore?” �śI’m fine.” He took her hand and held it, then looked back at Lucas. �śI’ve got Pete combing the area. I’m sure Phillip is going to want to talk to Shala, but not before things calm down at the station.” Lucas nodded. �śJust call and I’ll bring her down.” Sky was staring at Shala, fighting another urge to kiss her. He let go of her hand. �śI’ll see you,” he said at last. �śLater,” she said, and Sky took off before he cratered and did something like kiss her again in front of Lucas. After he left, he went about his business. There seemed to be a heck of a lot of business to attend to. Not that it stopped him from thinking about Shala. Still unable to reach Charlie Rainmaker, Sky put a BOLO out for the man’s truck, telling other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for him. He also asked around and learned the only person wearing a navy shirt with a logo at the diner today was Donny Chavez, Charlie’s neighbor. Sky knew Donny, and he seriously didn’t think the man was a criminal, but he went by and had a long talk with him. Donny admitted to telling Shala to go home. He’d been out of town with his wife and kids the last few days, however, so he couldn’t be Shala’s stalker. After telling the guy to mind his own business, Sky left. Next, having heard about the whole fiasco at the jail and also being in the neighborhood, he stopped by the house to check on Maria. She’d been crying. She insisted she didn’t want to talk, but when Sky hugged her good-bye she broke down and told him everything�"all about Matt being married. All Sky could do was hold her. He didn’t have any glib words to toss at bad relationships. He next visited Jessie at the hospital. As expected, Sal was at her side. �śTell him to go home and get some sleep,” Jessie commanded. Sky didn’t even try. It would have been easier to bite through a diamond than to get Sal away from her. The two of them reminded Sky of Redfoot and Estella�"which made Sky wonder about Redfoot and Veronica Cloud. It had been ten years since Estella’s passing, so Sky didn’t begrudge his foster father a need for company, but was the relationship serious? Redfoot deserved to be happy, so he supposed he would support him no matter what. Unfortunately, Jessie couldn’t tell Sky anything other than that the guy who’d shot her was big and wore a ski mask. And Pete, the trooper on duty, hadn’t turned up anything on the shots fired out by Lucas’s place. Maybe it really had been just someone shooting a snake. Dead ends. That’s all Sky was getting. He went back to the station, and it was almost seven before he finally was ready to close down. Phillip had conceded to letting everyone go home with no charges. He’d also rescheduled his talk with Shala. Right before he left, he told Sky that he’d sent an image of the man suspected of driving the sedan to his headquarters, but he warned it could take weeks to find a name to go with the face. Starting his truck, Sky thought about Shala. He wanted some time alone with her, and he almost called and asked Lucas to spend the night on his boat�"his friend normally slept there a couple of nights a week, so asking didn’t feel like too much of a favor. But while the idea of getting Shala alone and naked tempted the hell out of him, the push and pull Sky felt every time he got close to her was confusing. Probably just that soul-mate crap. His phone rang as he pulled out of the parking lot. Taking it out, he looked at the number. It was Martha on the emergency line again. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN �śWhat’s up?” Sky asked, sighing as he answered the call. �śIt’s Candy Peterson again.” Sky’s gut knotted. He hated domestic disputes with a passion, but he especially disliked getting called to the Peterson house. Candy’s drunken slob of a husband regularly beat her. What Sky couldn’t figure out was why the woman continued to let him. �śGod damn it, Martha. Tell me she didn’t let that son of a bitch come home.” �śIt sounds bad, Sky. It’s her daughter on the phone.” Sky considered calling Pete to meet him, but there wasn’t time. �śI’m just a few blocks away.” In less than a minute he was parked in front of the house. Pulling out his gun, he went to the door. He didn’t have to knock; the door was off its hinges and he could see Peterson standing over Candy, who was lying on the floor bleeding. The sight took Sky back twenty-two years. He gripped his gun. What he wouldn’t give to take the bastard out! But pulling himself back from the abyss, he stormed into the room. �śWhat happened here?” he asked, and wasn’t surprised when Peterson glared at him. He grabbed the asshole by the hair and slammed him into the wall, half-hoping the drunken bastard would come at him. Peterson didn’t disappoint. He raised his fist and swung. Missed. Sky didn’t. His blow caught the asshole on the chin, hard. Holstering his gun, Sky grabbed the barely conscious brute by his shirt, flipped him over, put his knee in his back, and handcuffed him. Then he turned to Candy. Her face was bleeding, but she didn’t look as bad as last time. �śMama?” a young voice called, low and scared. Sky looked up to see Candy’s eight-year-old daughter peering out from a bedroom, tears and raw fear in her eyes. �śIt’s okay,” he told the child, his gut turning inside out. �śGo on back to your room. Nothing else bad is going to happen.” When the child did as he requested, Sky addressed Candy, who was still on the floor. �śIs anything broken?” he forced himself to ask. She shook her head. �śNo. You got here just in time.” �śShould I call an ambulance?” He already knew what she’d say, but he always asked. �śNo. I’m fine.” She wasn’t, though. She was as messed up as her husband. And for the first time, Sky found himself hating his mother. For years he’d blamed his old man, but his mom had played a part. Just like Candy. �śYou let him come back, didn’t you?” His mom had. Let his no-good father come back time and time again. Candy wiped blood from her lip. �śHe said he’d changed.” �śHe said that last time, and the time before that. For God’s sake, woman! Go look at your daughter. Look at the terror you just put her through. You call yourself a mother, but you do this to your child?” Candy was shaking her head, crying. �śI know I was wrong.” �śI swear�"if this happens one more time, I’ll see to it that little girl is placed with someone else. I’ll personally take her away from you. Do you understand me? I swear to God, woman, I’m serious.” Taking a deep breath, he stood, grabbed Peterson by the arm, and jerked him to his feet. Then he asked one last futile question. �śYou pressing charges?” Shala lay in bed, wearing the light blue pajamas Sky had bought her, unable to sleep. Instead, she thought about Sky. He’d claimed these pajamas were similar to her others, but this tank top had lace on it; the boxers were shorter and a tighter fit. The outfit was sexier than her others. Or maybe she just felt sexier. She’d showered�"even borrowed a razor from Lucas to shave her legs. Then she’d used the few cosmetics she had in her purse to make herself feel ready. But ready for what? a voice inside her head asked. She’d argued with it all evening, telling it that wearing lipstick and blush didn’t mean she was ready to sleep with Sky. Now, facing disappointment, she recognized her lie: she’d been ready to take that leap. Only Sky wasn’t here to leap with. At least, he wasn’t in her room. Deciding she needed something to drink, she got out of bed and inched the door open. The kitchen and living room looked empty. Disappointed, she went out and poured herself some milk. Where was Sky? Was he sleeping in the other bedroom? The idea of opening that door seemed too brazen, so she took a sip of milk and moved to the front window to see if his truck was visible. Unfortunately, she could see only part of the driveway. She opened the front door. Hearing the crickets and night noises, she edged onto the porch to see the driveway. The darkness made her remember the guy in the ski mask, and she froze. �śYou shouldn’t be�"” The voice had come out of nowhere. Startled, Shala swung around. Heart thudding, she recognized Sky sitting on the porch, his back against the rough exterior cabin wall. He wiped milk from his head and face. Had she�Ś? She looked at her empty glass. Yup, she’d doused him with her glass of milk. �ś�"shouldn’t be out here.” He wiped his hand on his shirt and tried to dry off the rest of the way. A giggle almost escaped her throat. �śI’m sorry! You scared me.” �śGood thing I’m not lactose intolerant.” She laughed, and a light and airy feeling filled her chest, the feeling that always seemed to hit when she was around Sky. �śWhat are you doing out here?” He smiled, but the expression was forced. She eased closer and noted a haunted look in his eyes. �śBesides waiting for a milk shower?” he asked. �śYeah, besides that.” Her gaze flickered down to the bottle beside him. She caught a whiff of whiskey. �śJust thinking. What are you doing out here? You shouldn’t come outside alone when�"” �śI couldn’t sleep. I thought some fresh air might help.” Okay, she was lying, but admitting that she’d been looking for him seemed too bold. She stared down at Sky, and he looked away. �śLucas said you had another emergency,” she prompted. �śYeah.” �śDid it involve me or the camera?” she asked. �śNo.” �śWas it something�Śbad?” �śYes.” His voice was bleak, so she hesitated. �śDo you want to talk about it?” �śIt’s just business.” She didn’t believe it. Searching for the right thing to say, she asked, �śDo you mind company, or do you prefer to think alone?” When he failed to answer she announced, �śI’ll just leave.” Saying nothing was answer enough. She walked back into the house, the light and airy feeling he’d evoked fading with each step. But when she reached the bedroom, she recalled the look in his eyes. Then she remembered trying to push him away in the hospital, and how he hadn’t let her. Shala swung around. She wasn’t going to let him push her away, either. He might not want to talk�"men seldom did�"but she bet she knew something that might help. Sky stared at the door through which Shala had just disappeared. God Almighty, she looked good in those pajamas he’d bought her. The image of that tight little body in that light blue tank top and those short blue shorts had his libido grabbing him by the neck and trying to force him to race after her. Instead, he closed his eyes, leaned his head back on the rough wooden wall of the house, and took another sip of the whiskey. He hadn’t had near enough yet. He wasn’t drunk. He still had too much crap running through his mind. Boozing wasn’t his habit, but tonight he needed a distraction. And if Shala Winters got too close, he’d be too damn tempted to let her become just that: a distraction, something to lose himself in, something to help him forget. She deserved better, so he’d best stick with the alcohol. Plus, he hadn’t gotten around to asking Lucas to leave. The front door swung back open and Shala walked out. She stopped directly in front of where he sat, placing one bare foot on each side of his outstretched legs. His gaze shot to her painted toenails and then to those perfectly shaped legs, then up to the sweet little spot where the hem of her shorts hung just loose enough to give him a peek at the tender skin of her thigh. Sky gulped, the whiskey still stinging his throat. He fought the need to lean forward and press his lips to that spot, fought the memory of how wet she’d been that morning. Like some kind of erotic dancer, she lowered herself. Sky adjusted his legs, and she sat on his lap, her knees bent by his sides, her thighs spread. His hands itched to move along those knees, up between those thighs, and inside those shorts. Her scent�"feminine, clean, and slightly minty, like toothpaste�"filled his nose. �śShala�Ś” He wasn’t sure what he intended to say, but her weight shifted, pressing her closer to his cock, and suddenly logic didn’t exist. He dropped the whiskey bottle and his hands moved to her waist, drawing her closer, bringing her weight against his crotch. She came against him without any hesitation. She didn’t wait for him to kiss her, either. Instead, she pressed her mouth to his. Her tongue slipped between his lips and brushed his, ever so lightly. Her hands came to rest on his chest, spanning out, and one slipped up around his neck and into his hair. The kiss, wet and wanting, had things happening fast. She unbuttoned his shirt and slipped a soft palm inside. Her warm touch brushed his chest and sent pleasure whirling down his abs, tingling into his balls. His mind begged for her to slow down, but his body would have none of it. He was as hard as a rock. Thankfully, he recalled himself enough to know that he couldn’t take her on the front porch. Latching a hand under her bottom, he stood up. She weighed next to nothing in his arms, and her legs wrapped around his waist. She didn’t stop kissing him, and he didn’t want her to. Carrying her inside, he had enough brain cells left to remember to lock the door. Then he walked her right into the bedroom. He didn’t give a damn if Lucas was here. He didn’t give a damn that three minutes ago this hadn’t seemed like a good idea. He wanted Shala Winters. She wanted him, and he needed to lose himself in something sweet. He shut the bedroom door behind them. The bedside lamp was on, giving ample light to enjoy the view. Moving to the bed, he lowered Shala onto the mattress. He had to slip his hand back to get her to release her legs from around him, and with one knee on the mattress he half-stood, loosened two more buttons, and yanked his shirt over his head. He unsnapped his jeans and pushed them and his underwear down in one swift motion. His dick appreciated the freedom. Hard and ready, it sprang free and pointed toward the ceiling. Stepping out of his jeans, he stretched out beside Shala. She ran her hand over his face and then lower, to his chest. He took her hand and moved it. But the moment her soft fist wrapped around him, he realized his mistake: if she so much as stroked him, the night was over. He pulled her away from his crotch and got busy getting her naked. Her skimpy tank top slipped with ease over her head, her breasts jiggling ever so slightly as they were released from containment. Hooking his thumb into the waistband of her pajama shorts, he pulled them down her legs, loving the silky skin he brushed against. A moment later, his hand slid up from her knee to that hot little spot between her legs. Moisture met his fingers and he moaned. His body ached for release, to bury himself inside her, deep and then deeper, fast and then faster. So much better than whiskey. Remembering he needed a condom, he stood. There was one in his wallet. But before he reached for it, he looked back. The air locked in his lungs. He didn’t move. He couldn’t move. She mesmerized him. She lay stretched out on the bed, naked, his for the taking, and he couldn’t remember any woman ever being so beautiful. Her hair was a golden halo around her head. Her eyes stared up at him, her light blue gaze fraught with desire�"the desire to please him. He somehow sensed she was offering herself as a gift. That she somehow knew he needed an escape. And just like that, the need to fulfill his lust took a backseat to the desire to fulfill hers. He lay back on the bed, brushing the back of his hand down her cheek, kissing her with the patience of a man who had all night. And he did. Five minutes. Ten�ŚHe wasn’t sure how long they kissed, but long enough that she shifted closer. He felt her melt into him with no reservation, no hesitation. He lowered his mouth and took her right nipple, suckled it ever so lightly. Only when he heard her breathing increase did he slip his hand back between her thighs. She moaned, and the sound sent pleasure cascading over him. He ached to hear more�"more moans, more of those little noises that told him he was doing everything right. Slowly he traversed her body, kissing a path along her abs to her navel, easing down toward her moist center. The surrounding triangle of hair felt soft. He slid his finger inside, separating the soft nether lips of her sex, and he moved his finger back and forth, brushing across the little nub that he knew drove women wild. When he touched his lips to her, she shuddered. Positioned between her legs, he looked up and slowly brushed his palms up and down her outer thighs. �śYou okay with this?” She opened her eyes but didn’t answer, so he took a chance and lowered his mouth and passed his tongue over her again. Her hips rose to meet his mouth, giving him her answer. He listened to the sound of her breathing while he pleasured her, and he adjusted his pace to match the gentle shifting of her hips. When her orgasm neared, he knew because she started making those soft little sounds again, that mix between moans and sighs. Oddly enough, hearing them sent a swell of emotion to his gut, and he found himself smiling. When she came, her thighs tightened, she raised her feet, then pressed her heels into the mattress. Sky studied her, and all he could think about was making her come again. He rose above her, took her face in his hands, and said, �śYou’re beautiful.” She opened her eyes, and the sweetest smile twisted her lips. Right then and there, Sky felt something in the world shift. He didn’t know exactly what it was or what consequences it would bring, but he’d deal with them later. �śI was supposed to be the one seducing you,” she said. He grinned. �śYeah, what happened to that?” She ran her hands over his back and down across his butt. He felt the bandage on her palm, and he reminded himself not to forget and grab her hands. But then somehow she’d maneuvered him so that she was resting slightly to the side. She inched her fingers down his chest to his rock-solid hard-on, and for some reason he felt even more in control than before. Her palm wrapped around him and she moved it up and down, her hand tightening and releasing with just the right pressure. He closed his eyes and concentrated on not exploding with pleasure. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he drew her hand away from him. �śCondom,” he gasped. �śI wasn’t finished,” she replied, her voice innocent and yet so damn sexy. �śI had other plans.” She licked her lips, taunting him. It worked. His dick stood taller, and the thought of her sweet mouth on his cock had his balls tying themselves in knots. Then he recalled how wet and warm she was between her legs. �śRain check,” he growled. �śI want to be inside you.” He rolled to the side and found his wallet and the condom he’d placed there for this very moment. Unwrapping the package, he covered himself. Then he grabbed the pillows and stuffed one behind each bedpost. �śWhat are you�"?” She looked as if she expected him to whip out some chains. Not that he minded introducing a pair of handcuffs now and then, but that wasn’t his intent. �śSo the bedposts don’t hit the wall,” he explained. �śOh.” She actually blushed and looked at the door, as if she’d just remembered Lucas. Oh, hell, she wasn’t going to stop now, was she? CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT She wasn’t. �śGood idea,” she said. A laugh caught in Sky’s throat, a mixture of pleasure and relief. She wasn’t going to stop this. Even the possibility was a hardship beyond imagining. He stretched out beside her and pulled her closer. Shala’s blend of seductress and innocent enthralled him. Staring into her eyes, he moved his fingers over her lips. She opened her mouth and took one finger inside. She nursed the digit, as if reminding him what she might be doing to his throbbing shaft, but the warm wetness of her mouth reminded him of another place�"a place he had to be, or explode. Rolling her onto her back, he positioned himself between her legs and eased inside her. Pleasure spiraled low in his abdomen as he pushed deeper. Shala’s slick, tight opening welcomed him. Holding back the urge to slam against her, to take her all at once, he eased himself out and then slowly back in. Their gazes met. Held. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and they began to move together. He felt his world shift. Suddenly, he was on his back and she straddled him. But while she moved, it wasn’t fast enough. He needed speed. Depth. Now. But when he opened his eyes and saw her riding him�"up and down, her breasts jiggling with every motion, and lower, where her soft sex gripped him like velvet�"the visual took his pleasure to new heights. She placed her uninjured hand on his abs, bracing herself and rising up to the point that his swollen sex almost slipped out of her. There she paused, and then she lowered herself again. Somehow, in the downward swoop, she managed to take him deeper than ever before. And then she did it again. He grabbed her hips to encourage a faster pace. She didn’t seem to mind, even let him guide her. In. Out. Up. Down. It was fast and furious, and everything he wanted. She closed her eyes and her head fell back, and as he watched, he heard those soft sounds again: she stood on the cusp of another orgasm. He stood there with her. Flipping her onto her back, he pumped inside her, hard. A moment later, he felt himself take flight, and every nerve ending in his body focused on that shattering pleasure�"pure, awesome pleasure. His orgasm hung on longer and took him higher than ever before. And when he passed its peak, he fell atop her, all two hundred pounds of his dead weight. Remembering himself at the last moment, he rolled to the side, taking her with him. That’s when it hit him that he wasn’t altogether sure she’d finished. He recalled thinking she was almost there, but�ŚStill unable to catch his breath, he attuned every ounce of his being to her body. He heard her short, deep breaths, felt the spasms of her slick flesh where his sex was still buried inside her. She’d come. He hadn’t let her down. Relief and then happiness filled his chest. Drawing her closer, he held her. He felt her cheek against his shoulder, felt the air leaving her lips brush against his chest. �śWas that not�Śfu�Śfabulous?” he breathed into her hair. �śIt was,” she gasped. �śBut do you think Lucas heard?” He didn’t give a flying fuck. Of course, she probably did. He looked up at the bedpost. Both the pillows had fallen. Remembering how hard he’d pumped into her, he wouldn’t be surprised if they’d need to repair the Sheetrock. He drew back for a moment to take care of the condom; then he lay down beside her again. �śWere we loud?” She raised her head just a bit to look at him. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks. �śYou mean, the bed? I don’t remember,” he answered honestly, shifting a little closer. With a smile he added, �śI’ll try to listen next time. Of course, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hear. Not with you screaming like that.” She giggled. He rolled on top of her again, almost forgetting her bandaged hand as he grabbed her wrists and held them over her head. When he looked down, her eyes lit up and he found himself wondering about the men who’d been lucky enough to be in this place, the men lucky enough to know her body, her smiles, and the sounds she made when she orgasmed. A new feeling�"jealousy, an emotion he didn’t do�"took up residence in his chest. He recalled Shala talking about her ex during one of her jabbering sessions, and damn if he didn’t wish he’d listened. �śWhat did he do to you?” he asked before he could stop himself. �śWho?” �śYour ex.” When she didn’t answer right away, he got a terrible feeling. �śPlease tell me he never hit you.” She shook her head. �śNo. It wasn’t�ŚShould we be talking about this now?” �śNo,” he admitted, but then he couldn’t let it go. �śYes. What did he do?” He released her hands and settled beside her. She released another deep breath. �śIt’s just�Śyou love someone and then they’re gone.” The words were cryptic, but he saw the hurt in her eyes. He wondered if she meant her ex, or her parents and grandparents. �śYou left him?” he guessed. He couldn’t freaking believe he wanted to know. He’d never wanted to know a girl’s past before. Not seriously. �śHe cheated with a friend of mine. He actually thought that would make it okay. He wanted us to become this big happy family�Ś” Sky almost laughed and told her that was every guy’s dream, but her ex was an ass for hurting her as he had. He wondered if the ex regretted it�"and if he’d ever tried to get her back. �śDoes he ever contact you?” he asked. �śSome. Less now. It’s been almost two years. I don’t answer his calls.” �śYou’re better off without him,” Sky said. �śI know.” He held her close, savoring her warmth. Her sudden bout of laughter caught him by surprise, and he asked, �śWhat’s so funny?” She bit down on her lip. �śI just remembered your expression when I accused you of having erectile dysfunction the other morning.” �śA total error on your part, as now you well know. Admit it!” he teased. Her grin was shy and sweet. �śI guess I’ll have to give you that.” That wasn’t all she’d give him, Sky thought. He lowered his mouth to hers. The leg sprawled atop his thighs shifted, and Sky came awake. He didn’t have to stop and wonder whom it belonged to; memories of last night brought a smile to his lips. They’d had sex twice, but with his dick saluting the ceiling in its early morning ritual, he wasn’t above going for number three with Shala. Or even four. Did he have anything pressing this morning that would prevent them from�"? A whistling began in the next room, and Sky’s mood took a downward turn. Somehow he sensed Shala would be disinclined to get down and dirty with �śYankee Doodle Dandy” being belted out nearby. The 911 emergency he’d handled last night popped into his mind. Candy Peterson had brought back a barrel of unwanted memories. After all this time, he couldn’t understand why the memory still tore him up inside, but it did. Sex with Shala had chased those thoughts away. The idea that he might have used her just to cope tugged at his conscience, but he pushed that aside. Last night had been about more than just forgetting. It had been about pleasure and sex. Hell, it had been about more than just sex, it had been�" That’s when his mood took another nosedive. Sex had never been about anything else for him. He always kept his emotions disengaged; he always kept himself free and clear. But the memory of last night tiptoed through his mind and, son of a bitch, if he didn’t feel emotional footprints all over it. Last night hadn’t been just about sex. It had been about Shala�"about making her smile, about making her happy. It had been about making her forget her demons. He’d wanted her to forget that her parents were dead, that her husband had hurt her, that some freak was after her for God only knew what reason. Last night had been about protecting and caring for her. It had been about much more than just sex. Her hand resting against his chest suddenly felt as if it weighed ten pounds. Shala’s leg over his felt confining. Her sweet smell filled his nose and he couldn’t breathe. He wanted away, now. He forced himself not to leap out of bed. Instead, he slid slowly free, grabbed his jeans, had them on in record time, and hurried out of the bedroom. �śHey,” Lucas said. Sky didn’t answer. He went straight outside. Trying to breathe, he leaned both palms on the porch railing and fought a claustrophobic feeling that had nothing to do with small spaces and everything to do with the small blonde he’d just left in bed. He heard the front door open behind him. �śYou okay?” Lucas asked. �śFine,” Sky said without turning. �śYou two have an argument?” Lucas asked. �śNo.” Sky felt in his pockets to see if his keys were there. They were. He could run to his house for another shirt. Glancing down, he saw he needed shoes, too. He didn’t have to stay here. �śI need to�Śgo to my place. Could you bring Shala in to talk to Phillip around ten?” He’d have Phillip tell her he’d gone to revisit the crime scene. �śStay to bring her back afterward. I probably won’t be there.” Turning, he saw his friend frown and nod. Lucas started to go back inside, then said, �śOh, fuck it. Do you know what I do for a living, Sky?” Confused, Sky said, �śTrain special-ops?” Lucas nodded. �śYeah, I do that sometimes, but mostly I make sure innocent people don’t get hurt.” �śSo?” Lucas pointed at the cabin. �śShala Winters is about as innocent as they come. Don’t hurt her.” Sky took a few steps forward, reacting without thinking. �śYou hot for her yourself? Is that what this is about?” Lucas looked taken aback. �śNo, damn it. It’s nothing like that.” �śThen stay out of it,” Sky snapped. A moment later, he wished he hadn’t. Lucas’s eyes were hard. �śI normally do,” he said. �śI’m good at staying out of other people’s business. But you brought her here. You got me involved. And yes, I know you didn’t ask for advice, but I’m just saying she’s different than the gals you usually go for. Remember that.” He slammed inside, leaving Sky feeling like an ass. Jose stood in the doorway of the kitchen, still dressed in his thin pajama bottoms and T-shirt, watching Maria move from counter to counter. Her tired eyes told him she hadn’t slept well. When he and Redfoot had gotten home from jail, she’d been in her room. He’d almost knocked on her door to check on her, but Redfoot had stopped him with a question: �śDo you love pain?” Jose hadn’t understood, and he’d gone to bed worried. �śYou okay?” he asked her now. His foster sister swung around, coffeepot in hand. �śFine,” she lied. Her eyes told the truth. �śYou offering?” He nodded to the pot. When she motioned to the cabinet, he pulled himself out a cup. Looking around the room, he asked, �śWhere’s Redfoot?” Maria shrugged. �śI think he went to see the tribal council. He told me it was �Śabout another horse.’” Jose shook his head. �śYou know, they might try to force him into marrying Veronica.” Maria scoffed. �śI can’t see anyone forcing Redfoot into something he doesn’t want.” �śPerhaps.” Jose edged closer. �śIs it really over between you and Matt?” he forced himself to ask. Her chin lifted a notch. �śHe’s married. What do you think?” �śIf it makes you feel any better�Ś” Jose made a fist and gave it a swing. �śI did get in one good punch.” �śHitting people doesn’t fix things.” �śI don’t know, sometimes it feels good.” Seeing her frown, he added, �śGuess it’s a man thing.” Her eyes filled with tears. �śIt’s a stupid thing.” Jose nodded. �śWomen make us stupid.” He stepped closer and found himself looking into her eyes, longing for the look of adoration she’d always worn before. �śYou make me do stupid things. You make me crazy.” Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open as if his words perplexed her. Jose took the final step, which brought him right in front of her. He stood so close he could smell the shampoo she used. He held his cup out. She stared at it and then started pouring. Steam rose and swirled between them. �śI think I’m still in love with you, Maria.” Her eyes snapped up, confusion swirling in their cinnamon depths. �śWhat?” Unfortunately, she didn’t stop pouring. Jose yelped as hot coffee overflowed his cup and burned his fingers. He dropped the cup, which hit his abdomen, and scalding liquid soaked the front of his T-shirt and thin cotton pants, practically burning the skin off everything in its path. Groaning with pain, he yanked the elastic waistband, pulled back his pants, and started blowing. Maria swung around to the fridge. The next thing Jose knew, she stood in front of him, had his pants pulled out a good six inches or more, and she was squirting an entire bottle of mustard down them. The cool liquid was soothing, but his mind couldn’t quite wrap around what she was doing. He grabbed her hand. �śI’m not a damn hotdog!” The beginning of a smile tickled her lips. �śMustard is good for burns.” �śDon’t you dare laugh,” he hissed�"but he didn’t mean it. He’d much rather see laughter in her eyes than pain, even if he was in pain himself. She released his pants, slapped a hand over her mouth, and giggled. It became a chortle, and even with his balls burnt clean off, he forced himself to say, �śGive me another chance, Maria.” The laughter in her eyes faded. She pressed a finger over his lips. �śI can’t.” �śWhy?” Jose asked. �śBecause she loves me,” a voice stated from behind them. Jose and Maria both swung around. Matt and Redfoot crowded the kitchen doorway. Jose stood frozen, his nether bits still burnt and swimming in the yellow mustard that was now oozing down his legs. His dad shrugged as if in apology. Maria approached Matt. Jose’s gut tightened, and he prepared himself to see her embrace the white boy. Instead, she drew her fist back and coldcocked him. �śDamn,” Jose said. �śDamn!” Matt grabbed his nose. �śDamn,” Maria said, and shook her wrist. Matt caught her hand. �śDid you hurt yourself?” Scowling, Maria jumped away from him. Looking over her shoulder at Jose she said, �śMaybe it isn’t just a man thing.” Then she grabbed her purse and keys from the table and ran for it. The back door swung open, halting her, and Veronica Cloud stormed in. �śYou!” She pointed at Redfoot, her gaze filled with all kinds of lethal intent. �śDon’t you dare go before that tribal council. I’d rather be branded as a whore than forced into another godforsaken marriage.” And without another word, she swung back around and walked out with Maria. �śDamn,” Redfoot said. Jose’s balls still burned. Mustard oozed down his ankles. �śExcuse me,” he said. And fighting the temptation to throw any punches, he headed to the bathroom, leaving yellow footprints in his wake. One thought echoed in his mind: welcome to fucking Precious. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Sky didn’t budge as Lucas left; his emotions held him paralyzed. Standing frozen, he stared out into the woods at nothing. Absolutely nothing. Even when the front door opened again he stood frozen, though he was scared shitless it was Shala. At last he overcame his paralysis and turned. His friend stood in the doorway. �śThe fact that you haven’t run yet is pretty telling, friend.” Lucas brought a coffee cup to his lips and studied Sky over its rim. �śDamn. Never thought I’d see the day.” Sky wanted to deny it, but he didn’t quite know what he’d be denying. All he knew was that Shala Winters had him tied in knots. Lucas lowered his mug. �śHere’s my advice. Pour her a cup of coffee. She takes it with cream. There are some croissants on the counter. Put a slab of butter on the plate and then some preserves. She likes the peach better than the raspberry. Oh, and try to get that �ŚI’m fucked’ look off your face before you do.” He chuckled and headed back inside. Sky gave his truck one more glance. He could still run, could still get the hell out of there. Lucas would take care of Shala. But then Sky realized Lucas knew what type of preserves Shala liked, and he himself didn’t. That disturbed the hell out of him. His gaze shot back to the cabin door. He didn’t have to leave. He could take Shala a cup of coffee and a croissant, just as his friend suggested. But the claustrophobia with which he’d woken up that morning was playing scary music in his head�"something like �śHere Comes the Bride” mixed with the theme from Jaws. He took a step toward his truck. What the hell was wrong with him? Stopping, he raked a hand over his face. Shit. They’d had sex. Yes, it had been good sex, maybe even great sex. It probably had been more intimate than any he’d ever experienced�Śand yet it was still just sex. Which meant that this next step�Ś? It was just breakfast. Hell, it wouldn’t even be a full breakfast, simply a cup of coffee and a piece of bread�"good bread, like it had been good sex, but still just bread. He’d personally cooked a three-course breakfast for almost every woman he’d ever slept with, so why in the heck was he behaving like this? What made this so different? Nothing, damn it. He shot inside and got the coffee. Got the croissants. And the preserves. But the moment Sky walked into the bedroom and saw Shala sitting with the sheet wrapped around her naked body, he knew what was so different: everything. Shala was different. The sex was different. With her, he was different. She smiled up at him, and he had flashbacks of hearing her moaning little half sighs, recalled with pleasure how it had felt to enter her that first time: tight, awesome, and so damn right. And just like that, he decided the differences didn’t mean crap. They didn’t change a thing. She lived over two hundred miles away�"she couldn’t smother him with talk of relationships or commitments. What the hell was wrong with just enjoying this? Whatever �śthis” was, it would play its course and eventually be over. Long-distance relationships didn’t work. He knew that. She’s your soul mate. The wacoi confirmed it. Redfoot’s words echoed in his mind, but he tossed them into a mental blender. Not only did he not believe in that stuff, he knew himself better than any prophecy ever could. But did Shala? Did she know him enough to not expect much? Lucas had been right: Shala wasn’t his normal type. His type didn’t have that hint of innocence, that touch of vulnerability. His type wouldn’t be misconstruing what had just happened. Then again, Shala had practically told him she didn’t want to get involved because of her ex. She’d implied she didn’t want to go down that whole serious-relationship path. All he had to do was clarify that they both understood their limits, and then all these yin and yang feelings would fade. Right? She plucked at the sheet again and tugged it higher. �śCan I have the coffee?” she asked. Realizing he’d been staring like an idiot, Sky moved. He set the tray down, sat, and handed her a cup. He took his own. �śDid you sleep well, Blue Eyes?” �śWhen I was sleeping I did.” Her sexy grin pulled him closer. Damn, she was beautiful. �śI hope that’s not a complaint.” She chuckled. �śNot at all.” Her gaze shifted to her coffee, and when she looked up, her eyes held a different glint�"one that reminded him of the �śWedding March” and Jaws. �śAm I going to talk to the Texas Rangers today?” �śYeah, it’s set for ten.” He looked at the time. �śI’ll probably just hang out here and take you in.” He sipped his coffee and ached to touch her. Oh, hell, he ached to tug the sheet away and have a repeat performance of last night. The idea shot a lot of blood down south. She nodded. �śBut after that I should probably get back to Houston.” He nearly choked. �śGo? Are you freaking kidding? The idiot tried to run you down in a car and he shot Jessie. What in God’s name are you thinking, woman?” She blinked those vulnerable blue eyes at him. �śYou said it would only be a couple of days. That’s passed, and�"” �śThat’s before he tried to make roadkill out of you and nearly murdered a friend of mine.” When she dropped her head on her sheet-draped knees and groaned, he added, �śI’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m letting you walk away from here right now.” She raised her eyes. �śI know you’re right, but I have a life, my job, my house, a missing computer, and a police report to make, and it’s all in Houston. And Lucas has been great, and you’ve been great, but what am I supposed to do? Put my whole life on hold until you catch the guy?” The fact that he’d been referred to as great in the same sentence as Lucas�"and came second in the lineup�"bothered Sky more than he wanted to admit. Then another bothersome realization jumped into place: her leaving annoyed him on many levels, some of which had nothing to do with her being in danger. The whole thought process didn’t make sense, because he’d just concluded distance from her would be a good thing. Baffled, he pushed all his insane thoughts aside and tried to think like a cop. He set his cup on the bedside table and said, �śOkay, let’s look at the options. You can put your life on hold for a little longer, stay here where people are more than willing to watch out for you, or go home alone where there’s a damn good chance you’ll get killed. Now, which one seems like the better deal?” Shala didn’t get to answer, because Sky’s phone rang. He picked it up from the bedside table and saw it was Trooper Pete Dickens. Holding up a silencing finger, he took the call. �śYeah?” �śYou want the good news or the bad news?” Pete asked. �śBoth,” Sky snapped, having no patience for games. �śI think I can explain the shots your friend heard.” �śAnd?” Sky asked. �śAnd I found Charlie Rainmaker. Unfortunately, that’s how I know about the shots.” �śShit! Is he�"?” �śDead?” Pete said. �śAfraid so.” Sky moved off the bed. �śI’m on my way.” Staring at the door, Shala pinched off a bite of buttered croissant, poked it into her mouth, and swallowed without tasting. Sky had kissed her and left, saying only that he had to go and would call. Something bad had happened�"she’d gathered that. And from the way he’d looked at her, as if he had more ammunition to keep her in town, she gathered it had something to do with her neighborhood stalker. �śLovely! Just lovely!” she muttered, Nana’s favorite sarcastic saying. Then she dropped her plate on the bed and hugged her knees to her chest again. What she wouldn’t give for Nana to be alive right now, because she needed to talk to a woman. She needed someone she could talk to about the budding emotions causing hurricane-sized havoc in her heart. She could call her sister-in-law, Beth, but honestly, she’d never really bonded with her brother’s wife. Calling her now to say, �śI had awesome, multiple-orgasm, curl-your-toes-up, headboard-banging sex, and I’m afraid it’s the biggest mistake I’ve made since I had mediocre sex with my ex-husband”�Śwell, that just didn’t feel right. Then again, she wasn’t sure she’d have told Nana that, either. I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m letting you walk away from here right now. Sky’s words floated through her head. He was right about her safety, but seriously, how long could she stay? She had things to do, things to attend to�Śand more importantly, things to run from. And those didn’t include her stalker. More like awesome, multiple-orgasm, curl-your-toes-up, headboard-banging sex. �śEverything is so freaking fucked up!” Sky looked up from his desk at Maria, who charged into his office with all the subtlety of a pissed-off elephant. �śYup.” Leaning back in his office chair, he agreed totally with her assessment. His last four hours had been spent staring at Charlie Rainmaker’s corpse, combing over the crime scene with the Texas Rangers, and trying to make heads or tails of just how involved Charlie was with everything that had been going on. He knew Charlie was adamantly against bringing Shala into town, and finding several photos of her on the man’s cell phone proved he’d been following her. Phillip had interviewed a group of people who’d attended one of Charlie’s protest meetings, and they admitted that Charlie had insinuated that Shala could probably be �śeasily convinced” to up and leave town. And he knew the person willing to do it. Contributing to Sky’s bad mood was the phone call he’d just had with Candy Peterson about her reasons for not wanting to file charges against her abusive husband. Thankfully, he’d managed to talk her into it. Getting off the phone with Candy, he’d found missed messages on his cell: Jose wanting to talk to him about Maria, and Matt�"Maria’s married ex�"presumably wanting to talk about her, too. The third message was from Redfoot, asking what Sky had done with his pills. And all this had been served up while he was still dealing with his emotions regarding Shala. Yup, Maria’s assessment of �śfucked up” pretty much described it all. Maria slammed her purse on his desk and dropped down in the chair in front of him. The tears in her eyes kept Sky from handing her his cell phone and telling her to call someone who cared. Because he did care. He cared about Maria. He cared about Jose. He cared about Redfoot. He cared about Charlie Rainmaker’s wife, whom he’d left sobbing in her living room. He even cared about Candy Peterson�"well, he cared more about her little girl. And damn it to hell and back, he cared about Shala Winters. A lot. So much so that she was at the top of his list of worries. �śWhat’s wrong?” He pushed a box of tissues toward Maria. �śI punched Matt. Hit him hard on the nose.” �śOkay,” Sky said, not knowing what else to say. Matt, unlike the others, didn’t inspire even an iota of caring. �śHe hasn’t filed charges against you, so I don’t have to arrest you yet. A good thing, since I’m tired of having to lock up my own family.” It was a bad joke, but he didn’t have a lot of energy left. Seeing her tears, he wouldn’t mind giving Matt a punch himself. He didn’t know crap about relationships, but lying about being married always deserved a hammering. �śIt hurt like hell,” she sniffled. �śBut it felt fabulous.” He remembered how it had felt to hit Mr. Peterson last night. �śAs long as you don’t make it a habit, it’s fine.” �śNo, it’s not fine! He lied to me, Sky. He’s married, and now he comes into my kitchen and announces that I can’t give Jose another chance because I still love him!” �śWhat?” �śHe told Jose that I still love him,” Maria said, and the fact that she didn’t deny it said a whole lot more. �śWhat makes it worse is I think Redfoot is the one that took Matt there. Why would he do that?” Sky shook his head. �śHe wouldn’t.” �śThen Veronica comes charging in, saying that the tribal council is going to force her to marry Redfoot. Matt’s all worried about my hand, and Jose just stands there with his pants filled with mustard and doesn’t say a thing!” Sky shook his head again. �śWhat? You almost had me until you got to the mustard part.” �śIt’s not important.” Maria grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. Sky scratched his chin. �śOkay, Redfoot’s not going to be forced to do anything he doesn’t want to do. And I’m sure Ms. Cloud will�"” �śBut that’s just it. Why didn’t we know about that?” Sky shrugged. �śRedfoot obviously�"” �śYou know what I think?” she interrupted. �śI think we didn’t see it because we’re so fucking busy burying our heads in the sand. I buried my head in the sand when it came to Matt and his weekends in Dallas. I buried my head in the sand about how Jose feels about us.” Sky didn’t know whether to listen or ask. He decided to ask. �śUh, how does Jose feel about us?” �śHe’s jealous.” �śOf us?” �śMostly you.” �śOf me? Please. The guy has a couple-hundred-thousand-dollar-a-year job, probably drives a hundred-thousand-dollar car, lives in�"” �śThat has nothing to do with it. You’re more like Redfoot’s son than Jose is.” �śNo. I refuse to take that on. When Jose was living here, I purposely didn’t join in on anything those two did together. I didn’t even do science projects, because that was their thing. I didn’t go on those father-son camping trips�Ś” �śYou did the powwows,” Maria accused. �śOnly because Redfoot insisted!” Maria sighed. �śI’m not saying you did anything wrong, Sky. But remember that Redfoot insisted Jose do it, too, and he didn’t because he hated it. And you enjoyed it.” �śI didn’t enjoy it. I respected it. There’s a difference.” Even today, Sky participated in the powwows only because he respected the culture. He didn’t believe�"at least, not in everything. �śTruth is, you’ve always had more in common with Redfoot than Jose. Jose is no fool. He could see that. I can see it, looking back. Jose is like Estella.” This was more crap to care about, and Sky didn’t think he could handle it now. �śIf Jose wants to be close to his dad, he should move back here.” She shook her head. �śHe would be miserable.” �śSo it’s my fault that he hates Precious?” Maria rolled her eyes. �śYou’re not listening. It’s not your fault. It’s not about you�"it’s about them. Estella used to be the link between them, and when she died they lost touch. I should have seen it. I should have done something a long time ago.” Sky shook his head. �śIt’s not your job, or mine, to �Śdo something.’” She crossed her arms over her chest. �śI can’t fix Matt, I can’t fix Veronica and Redfoot, I can’t fix you and Shala, but I can fix Jose and Redfoot. Or I can try.” �śMe and Shala? How the hell did we get on your list?” He shook his head. �śYou can’t go around trying to fix people.” �śReally? For a guy who makes his living doing just that, that’s a pretty big statement. You don’t just run this town, you babysit it. Drunks call you to give them a ride home in the middle of the night. When you know I’m upset, you just drop by like you did yesterday. When I lost my client last year, and I was worried about money, I suddenly get a call from your friend in Austin to keep his books for him. If Redfoot’s truck so much as hiccups you’ve got Ramon fixing it, and you pay for most of the bill and don’t tell him�Ś” Sky just shrugged. �śBut I still don’t stick my nose in other people’s business.” �śYeah, right.” Maria stood and walked around the desk to smother him in one of her hugs. �śThank you.” �śFor what now?” he asked, confused. She pulled back. �śFor making me see I needed to stop thinking about me and start thinking about other people.” �śI did that?” he said. �śDoesn’t sound like me.” She smiled. �śOkay, then, thank you for listening.” She gave him another hug. �śAnd for caring.” Caring�"that might just be the death of him, Sky thought as he watched her leave. He looked at the clock on the wall. In twenty minutes, Lucas was bringing Shala here to meet with Phillip and the rangers. Due to the discovery of Charlie’s body, they’d rescheduled for the afternoon. A sudden commotion from out front, raised voices and clatters, caught his attention. What was it now? CHAPTER THIRTY Sky jumped up, but the ruckus in the front of the station ended with the slamming of the front door. Footsteps echoed down the hall, and Sky expected to see Martha poke her head in and inform him of what was going on, but instead Matt appeared. Maria’s Matt. And he had his hand over his bleeding nose. �śI need to talk to you,” he said, and sat down in the chair Maria had just vacated. �śMy sister again?” Sky asked, pushing the tissues to Matt. �śYeah. She seems to have taken a liking to hitting me. As has Jose.” Sky leaned back. �śTo be honest, I’m thinking of doing it myself. You lied to her.” Matt pulled several tissues from the box and tried to stanch the bleeding. �śI’m not guilty of what she thinks, and it’s killing me. I can’t sleep, eat. All I think about is her.” Sky crossed his arms on his chest. �śNot thinking about your wife, huh?” Matt shook his head. �śI’m divorced.” �śYou got another woman in Dallas?” �śYeah, I do.” Matt pulled a picture from his shirt pocket and pushed it over. �śShe’s my world.” Sky looked down at the little girl’s face, so much like the man standing in front of him. �śYour daughter?” Matt nodded. �śBeautiful, isn’t she?” He let go of a deep breath through his mouth. �śRedfoot came to see me this morning. He said I needed to tell Maria the truth. He assured me that whatever she had with Jose is over.” �śRedfoot knew you were divorced?” Sky asked. �śYeah, he said he dreamed it. How fucking weird is that? Anyway, I went to the house to explain, and Maria hit me then, too.” He shuddered. �śShe’s getting better at it. She hit me a lot harder this time. Next time she’ll probably knock me out.” �śI hope you’re not here to press charges, because�"” �śNo,” Matt said. �śRedfoot suggested I talk to you about Maria.” Sky laughed. �śDo I look like Dr. Phil? I’m so not the person to come to for relationship advice.” He had his own problems. Huge ones. Matt studied him. �śSo you’re not going to help me?” Sky leaned forward. �śThe only advice I can give is to tell her the truth.” �śI would, if she didn’t sock me every time I tried.” Frustration echoed in his voice. �śCan’t you talk to her?” �śMe?” �śJust tell her to hear me out.” Matt stood and walked to the door, fleeing as if he was afraid Sky would tell him no. �śI appreciate it.” He left. Sky slumped back in his chair. He hadn’t quite gotten his head around Matt’s request when another commotion exploded from the front office. Martha’s scream brought Sky to his feet, but he was only halfway around his desk before footsteps sounded down the hall. Jose shot through the office door, also with a bloody nose. Sky motioned. �śLet me guess. Matt?” �śYeah. Fucker hit me and walked off�"the cowardly piece of crap.” Somehow, Sky didn’t think it was so much cowardly as much as a territorial statement: Maria belonged to Matt and Jose had best back off. Sky went back to his desk, dropped into his chair, and pushed the tissues toward his brother. Then he looked at the clock. �śYou’ve got ten minutes, Jose. Then I’ve got a meeting.” Jose lowered himself into the other chair but didn’t talk. �śWhat is it you need?” Sky took in his brother’s beat-up face and felt sorry for him. When his mind turned to what Maria had said earlier, his gut tightened more. Shoot, there had been a time when he had been jealous of Jose. Jose was Redfoot and Estella’s real son, and while those two had never made Sky feel like a second fiddle, Sky had never felt anything but. Jose always seemed to know what he wanted out of life, while Sky had floundered, eventually joining the police force. It hadn’t helped that Jose got the prettiest girls in high school. Hell, there had even been a time Sky envied Maria’s affection for their brother. �śTime’s ticking,” he warned the still-silent Jose. �śIt’s Maria�Śand Dad.” Jose went with what was clearly the easier topic. �śI wouldn’t put it past the tribal council to tell him he has to marry Ramon’s mom.” Sky shrugged. �śSince when has Redfoot done something he didn’t want to do?” �śSince it involves his beloved culture,” Jose snapped. Sky shook his head. �śHe’s loyal to the tribe, but if I had a dollar for the times he said the council isn’t about culture, it’s about politics, I’d be rich. The only reason he’s in the council is to try and keep politics out.” Jose grabbed another tissue for his nose. Changing the subject, he asked, �śWhat are we going to do about Matt? Guy’s married and still sniffing around Maria.” Sky didn’t know how much to reveal, but he figured Jose might as well hear it all. �śHe’s not married. The reason he’s been hanging out in Dallas is because he has a daughter.” �śA daughter?” When Sky nodded, Jose let out a big whoosh of air. �śMaria loves him, doesn’t she?” Sky shrugged. �śI think so, but hell, what do I know about relationships? I’m just as screwed up as the rest of you. Probably more.” �śYou mean you and Shala?” Sky started to deny it, but then said, �śYeah.” �śShe’s hot,” Jose remarked. �śYeah, that she is.” Sky was remembering how she’d looked that morning, wrapped in only that sheet. Jose grabbed another tissue. �śI hope I didn’t ruin it for you.” �śRuin it for me?” Sky asked. �śYeah, her seeing me naked.” Jose chuckled. �śOnce she’s seen the best, and knows how a real man looks�Ś” Sky laughed. He and Jose might not have completely understood each other over the years, but they had bonded. �śI’m not worried. I saw you naked, too. The pink robe was a nice touch.” �śSorry about being an ass the other morning,” Jose said. Sky shrugged. �śFrom what I gather, you had a rough night.” �śI have had a rough three nights.” �śYou do look like hammered shit,” Sky said, studying him. Jose chuckled. �śI feel like hammered shit. Did Dad tell you that I fell through a wall? My head went right through the Sheetrock. You can see the shape of my nose and everything.” �śReally?” Sky couldn’t help laughing. �śYeah, and then this morning Maria spilled hot coffee all down the front of me. Burnt the shit out of my junk.” Sky laughed harder. �śAhh, that explains the mustard.” Jose shook his head. All humor had left him. �śI screwed up.” �śHow’s that?” �śWith Maria. I should have snapped her up when I had a chance.” He sighed. �śWhatever you do, Sky, if you care about this Shala woman, don’t let her walk away. You’ll regret it.” �śIt’s not like that,” Sky said, but the words sounded and felt like a lie. Jose stood. �śThanks for�Śhearing me out.” �śAnytime,” Sky said. As his brother started to leave, he added, �śYou know, Redfoot told me all about those buildings you designed. The one in Vegas and the one in New York. He’s proud of you.” Surprise filled Jose’s eyes. �śHe told you about it?” �śAll about it. Said you took him on a tour of the one in New York when he visited. He brought those magazines back that had the article about you, and he passed them out everywhere.” The look on Jose’s face told Sky that Maria was right: Jose and Redfoot needed to talk. �śHey.” Martha popped her head inside the office. �śI’ve set Phillip and Ms. Winters up in the interview room.” Her gaze shot to Jose. �śYou look as if you ran into Mr. Ugly and he attached himself to your face.” Jose smiled at Martha, who used to be his school nurse. For some reason, they’d always given each other a bit of hell. �śGosh, I was just about to say the same about you.” Martha snickered and gave his arm a pat. �śYou always had a smart mouth.” �śThanks, Martha.” Sky left the pair talking and went to find Shala. Redfoot knocked on Veronica’s door. He had to talk to her, damn it! Ramon had called and insisted they go meet with the tribal council, but first he needed to talk to the man’s mother. He wouldn’t put it past the old farts of the council to recommend he make the union legal between himself and Veronica. Frankly, considering his dream, he had assumed that was supposed to happen. After Veronica’s temper tantrum, he wasn’t so sure. �śGo away!” came a voice from behind the door. �śNot until you talk to me. I swear, I’ll pitch a tent and sleep here tonight if you don’t open up.” He meant it, and Veronica knew he didn’t lie. The back door swung open. She stood there, her beautiful face red and puffy from what looked like hours of crying. Guilt speared Redfoot’s heart. His goal had been to convince Veronica to marry him. He’d assumed she might waver, but if he thought she really didn’t want this�Ś He reached for her, but she jumped back. It hurt. �śWhat do you want me to do?” he asked. �śTell me what you want and I’ll do it.” Tears welled up in her brown eyes. �śWhat I wanted was to not climb into that hospital bed with you. What I wanted was to simply see you a couple of nights a week, to share a small part of myself with you. Now you’ve ruined everything.” �śNothing is ruined,” he argued. �śRamon plans to go to the council. You know what they’ll say. They’ll insist you do right by me. They could kick you out of their group.” Redfoot gritted his teeth. �śI don’t care. They can take that council position and shove it up their asses.” Veronica swiped at her tears. �śThat won’t change anything. You don’t have to look into your son’s face knowing you’re a whore.” �śDon’t you dare call yourself that!” Redfoot growled. �śWhat we shared was not ugly.” He slapped his chest. �śI care about you. I want you to share my life. I want to get older with you.” �śIs that why you did it? You set out to make me marry you, so I would belong to you. So I would have to take care of you.” He felt another wave of guilt, because he had indeed set out to make this happen. �śYou would never belong to me, Veronica. And caring is a two-way street.” Her face was stony. �śI’m no fool, Redfoot. I lived this once.” �śSo it’s true, isn’t it? That bastard hurt you. And you judge me to be the same type of man.” �śYou’re all alike.” Fury brightened her eyes. �śNo. We are not.” Redfoot took a step closer, but the pain in her eyes halted him. �śI will fix this.” She shook her head. �śIt’s too late. Ramon is going to talk to the council, and he’s going to think less of me if I don’t marry you. I won’t have my son think bad things about me. But don’t you ever think that I will forgive you for this.” �śIt’s never too late.” He wanted so badly to touch her, to hold her, to spend the last years of his life proving to her that all men weren’t bad. But if setting her free made her happy, that’s what he would do. All he had to do was figure out how. Shala twisted in her chair, frowning as the back of her thong climbed up between her butt cheeks. The door opened, and her heart made a leap of joy that bordered on pain. Sky! She had assumed he would be here, and when he hadn’t come at the beginning, her nervousness had grown by leaps and bounds. Who liked to be interrogated by a Texas Ranger? Okay, she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but the man’s direct question about her involvement in anything illegal gave her the heebie-jeebies. His mere presence demanded a confession, and she’d been about to admit cheating on her sixth-grade history test. Hey, he wanted a confession? He would get one. �śSorry, I had someone in my office.” Sky studied her. Sitting, he slipped his hand into hers and squeezed. It reminded her of how he’d held her hand at the hospital, how he’d naturally sensed her discomfort. Warmth and strength washed through her. Leaning back in his chair, Sky looked at Phillip. �śHave you already introduced yourselves?” �śYes, we’ve gotten that far,” the ranger said. �śI was just asking Miss Winters if she’s ever been connected to anything illegal.” �śSo, you’re scaring her, huh?” �śOnly if she’s hiding something,” the ranger replied. Sky scowled. He gave her hand another squeeze. Sensing his anger, Shala said, �śIt’s okay.” �śNo, it’s not,” Sky snapped. �śShe’s the victim, Phillip. I thought I made that clear.” �śAnd some victims know more than they’re letting on.” �śBullshit,” Sky interrupted. �śShe’s been nothing but cooperative. Just because you’ve got a high-ranking job with some fancy badge doesn’t mean you can go around intimidating people. And unless you can pull your head out of your ass and be a gentleman, this interview is over!” Shala stared at the two men, imagining them next throwing fists. �śIt’s really okay,” she repeated. Phillip burst out laughing. �śI’ll be damned. Protective, aren’t you?” Sky didn’t appear to appreciate the other man’s mirth. He growled, �śPlay nice or she doesn’t play at all.” The ranger leaned back in his chair and faced Shala, a smile still pulling at his lips. �śMs. Winters, if I came on too strong, I’m sorry. I’ve had a rough day. Murder does that to me, and the fact is, this case just keeps getting bigger and we don’t have a clue where to start.” He looked to Sky and then back at her. �śBut Sky’s right, I might have taken my frustration out on you. So how about let’s start over? My name’s Phillip, and I’ve known Sky Gomez here for about seven years. I play poker with him three times a year, and any friend of his is a friend of mine.” His gaze shifted back to Sky. �śBetter?” �śIt’s a start,” Sky replied. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE The chat went on for forty-five minutes. Sky felt pleased that his Texas Ranger friend hadn’t asked any questions that he himself hadn’t. �śDid you look at the images I told Sky about?” Shala asked. �śYou mean the ones of Charlie Rainmaker and the man you think was driving the black sedan?” Phillip asked. Shala nodded. �śYeah. We’re trying to get an identity on the driver.” �śDo we know when we might get that?” Sky asked. �śThese things take forever,” Phillip said. �śWhat about the other image?” Shala asked. �śThe one of the couple�Śuh, getting busy in the car? Like I told Sky, maybe one of them is married and they think I’m a PI.” Phillip shrugged. �śWith what we know about Rainmaker forming the petition, the pictures he had of you on his phone, and his talk about getting you scared out of town, we’re leaning toward the theory that he hired some muscle to scare you off, and maybe when Rainmaker didn’t pay up, or complained about the fact that you were still here, the guy turned on him.” Sky knew Phillip’s theory had merit, but he still had his doubts. �śI guess it would appear that way,” Shala admitted. They were about to call the meeting done when the door popped open and Martha leaned her head inside. �śSky,” she said frowning. �śThere’s�ŚYou�ŚI think you’d better come out here.” Sky stood up, almost scared to find out what was next. �śExcuse me,” he said. But he hadn’t gotten out the door before Candy Peterson stormed up to him. �śI’ve decided not to press charges,” she said. Taking in her face, he couldn’t remember her ever looking so bruised. Sky led her into his office and, gritting his teeth, forced calm into his voice. He shut the door. �śHave you looked at yourself in the mirror, Candy?” �śHe was drunk.” �śOh, does that make it okay? You should have told me that last night, and I’d have let him keep beating the shit out of you.” �śHe says your threat to take Amy from me is bullshit. You can’t do that.” So she was already talking to the asshole. Sky remembered the look on the little girl’s face last night. It made him want to explode. Even worse, it made him want to lie and say he’d witnessed Peterson beating her. But he hadn’t. And his lying wouldn’t stop Candy. She had to want to put a stop to this. �śYou should know, Candy, I don’t make idle threats. One more time�Śone more time, and I swear to God, I’ll have Child Protective Services on your ass so fast your head will spin.” �śI’m a good mother!” she snapped. �śHe’s never hurt her!” �śNever hurt her? Did you see her last night? Didn’t you see the pain in her eyes? You think that doesn’t hurt her? Have you ever seen your mother get the crap beat out of her? Have you? I have, Candy! So, don’t tell me it doesn’t hurt!” Realizing he’d lost his cool, he pointed to the door. �śGo! If you’re not going to press charges, get the hell out of my office. But hear me loud and clear: this was your last chance.” He opened the door and waited for her to leave. Feeling the rage boiling inside him, he stormed to his desk and ran his hand across it, knocking everything to the floor. He was still staring at the mess he’d made when he heard someone behind him. He swung around. �śI told you to leave, Candy!” It wasn’t Candy. �śSorry,” he said. Shala stepped closer. �śThat was the emergency you went to last night, wasn’t it?” �śYeah.” She must have heard him through the door. She put her hand on his chest. �śI’m sorry.” �śFor what?” �śThat you had to deal with that.” �śIt’s my job.” She glanced down for a few moments before looking back at him. �śI�ŚWhen I was looking for my camera, I found�"” He put his finger over her lips. �śI know.” �śHow?” she asked. �śYou left the closet light on.” He frowned. �śI didn’t appreciate it.” �śDidn’t appreciate me leaving the light on?” she asked, a little teasingly. When he frowned again, in no mood for humor, she continued. �śI know it was wrong, but I didn’t mean to�"” Realizing he was taking his mood out on her, afraid she was going to start jabbering, he put his finger over her lips again. �śJust shut up and kiss me,” he said. She smiled. �śOkay.” Her lips were sweet and soft. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, and her breasts pressed against his chest. Losing himself in the moment, he moved his hand down to cup her bottom. The kiss got hotter, fast. She shifted closer, and he pressed one thigh between hers. Her pelvis brushed him ever so slightly. She tugged his shirttail out of his jeans and slid her hand up under his shirt. That soft palm caressed his chest. He went instantly hard. Opening his eyes, he spotted his clean desk and decided clearing it off hadn’t been a bad thing after all. After he took one step, however, sanity broke through his lust. His gaze shot to his open office door. �śShit. Where’s Lucas?” Shala blushed as if she’d just realized how far the kiss had gone. �śWaiting to see if you want him to bring me home.” �śPhillip?” �śHe left.” She buried her head on his chest as if embarrassed. Sky released her and went to the door. �śLucas,” he called. �śI got Shala. I’ll bring her home.” �śOkay,” his friend called back. �śI’ll see you at the cabin.” �śYeah. We’ll be there�Śshortly. Did you pick up those items from the grocery store that I told you to get?” �śGot ’em,” the man replied. �śGood. I’ll cook us supper tonight. And, Martha?” Sky called. �śYou can head out.” He waited until he heard the tap of Martha’s heels leaving before he shut his office door. When he looked back, Shala still wore embarrassment on her cheeks. But he had a feeling he could make it disappear. Or at least he hoped he could. His gaze moved down her body, from her blue-jean skirt to the red button-down short-sleeved shirt that so perfectly accentuated her lush curves. He’d been so distracted at seeing her upset by Phillip that he hadn’t noticed what she was wearing. Or that she looked so damn hot. �śWhere did you get those clothes?” he asked. �śLucas took me shopping.” Sky frowned. �śI was supposed to do that.” �śYou were busy.” He moved in and wrapped his arm around her waist. When she leaned into him willingly, softly, he let his hand slide lower. �śAre you at least wearing the underwear I bought?” �śAfraid so.” �śAfraid so?” he repeated, puzzled. She shrugged guiltily. �śThey kept sliding up places they shouldn’t the whole time I was talking to Phillip. Thongs. Talk about uncomfortable.” He laughed. �śYou told me you wore them.” �śI lied. I hate the stupid things.” �śBut you wore one anyway. For me?” His glaze slid downward, and he imagined her panties�"and slipping into places he shouldn’t. His jeans felt too tight. �śI forgot to buy any at the store. So it was wear the thong, wear dirty underwear, or go pantyless.” �śWe wouldn’t want you wearing dirty underwear. But pantyless might work.” He kissed her and, reaching down, found the zipper of her skirt. She didn’t stop him as he slowly lowered it, but she did look up with a hesitant expression. �śShould we really�Ś? Here?” �śNot if you don’t want you to,” he said, prepared to call himself into check. �śNo, I’m fine.” She looked around. �śBut where are you planning to�Śhave this event take place?” He finished with her zipper. �śWell, the most logical place would be my desk.” She looked over at it. He dropped her skirt, which fluttered to the floor. Her red panties had his heart racing. That little triangle of silky material barely covered her patch of blonde hair. The adjoining thin red straps hugged her hips. Sky raised his gaze to her face and fought the need to adjust his pants. �śOr we could use the chair. The rug?” Her gaze shifted. �śI’m not sure we’d both fit in the chair.” �śWe could manage.” Still enjoying the view of her thong, he walked around her to get the whole picture. �śVery nice.” He ran his finger down the thin band, brushing her shapely ass. �śAre you wearing the red bra?” She rolled her eyes. �śIt’s a matched set. You have to wear them together. It’s a rule.” �śNice.” He pursed his lips and moved his hand. �śDo you think I could get a peek at this�Śmatched set?” �śI suppose.” She started fidgeting with the first button on her shirt. Then, grinning, she tilted her head to the side and released it. �śYou wouldn’t want to turn around, would you?” �śNot on your life.” He propped against the desk. His dick was already as hard as oak. Shala let out a nervous chuckle. �śI’m not used to being watched so closely.” �śHow about I start taking off my clothes and let you watch me while I watch you?” She smiled. �śThat might help.” He pulled the rest of his shirt from his jeans and started unbuttoning. He did it slowly for her pleasure, but he never took his eyes off her. She slipped the second button free and then the third. Her red bra and all that sweet cleavage came into view, and he forgot about creating a show. He tore off his shirt and unbuttoned his jeans. Finished, Shala slowly let her top fall away from her shoulders and to the floor. She stood before him in a red bra and red thong panties, and a pair of white sandals. His gaze lowered to her painted toenails, to the little daisies. �śNice,” he whispered. He kicked off his shoes, shucked his jeans and underwear. When her gaze lowered to his sex, that took him to another degree of hardness. One bra strap hung off her shoulder. He ran a finger down it, over the sweet orb the garment contained, but he stopped when he found her nipple pebbled against the fabric. Shala reached back to unhook her bra, but he stopped her. �śNot just yet.” He moved her to his desk, lifted her slightly, and carefully set her back down. She lay back. He withdrew an inch and stared. Her light blonde hair haloed her head on the dark stained oak, and the red underwear was a splash of hot color on her ivory skin. �śDamn,” he whispered, his gaze devouring her. �śNow, whenever I sit at this desk I’ll picture you.” She laughed and ran her hands up his forearms. �śWhat am I supposed to do?” she asked. �śI’ve never had desk sex.” He stared down at her, smiling. �śDon’t worry. You could just lie there and that’d be enough.” He brushed his palms up and down her waist. She caught one of his hands and brought it to her lips. As she slipped one of his fingers inside her mouth, sucking his finger in and then out, his gaze stayed riveted. It was almost more than he could bear. Slowly, he pulled his hand free and lowered it to trace the triangle of her panties. The sweet moisture there told him of her desire. �śI think someone likes desk sex,” he accused. She chuckled. �śI’m not complaining.” Slipping his finger inside her thong, he brushed her sex from side to side. Her hips rose. Eyes closing, she gave a first little moan. �śI love it when you do that,” he said. �śDo what?” �śMake that sound.” He used his free hand to reach back and release her bra. She arched up as he gave a tug, and he withdrew the garment from beneath her. Her breasts shifted, so he leaned down to kiss them. A moment later he had her panties off and had found the condom in his wallet, glad he’d run by his house and replenished his supply. Pulling her to the edge of the desk, he wrapped her legs around his waist and entered her. He moved slowly at first, easing his weight down upon her, but the pleasure was too intense to hold back. He placed his hand behind her head to pillow it and let his body take control. Her arms came around him. The bumping and grinding increased until at last he heard her sounds of pleasure in his ear. His own orgasm followed instantly. Not unlike last night, there was an emotional impact, too. The only awkward part came when they finished: he couldn’t curl up beside her, and he couldn’t stay bent over her. Pulling away would leave them both cold. He suddenly realized he couldn’t recall ever being worried about the moments after sex with any other woman. Forcing that thought from his mind, he picked her up and lowered her to the rug and stretched out beside her. When he realized she hadn’t opened her eyes, he ran a finger over her nose. �śYou okay?” he asked, his heart still racing. �śPerfect.” She sounded just as breathless. Curled up in his arms, she pressed her cheek to his chest. They stayed like that for several minutes. �śIs it always busy like this?’ �śWhat?” he asked. �śI mean here, being chief of police in a small town. So much seemed to be going on here today.” �śIt’s been a busy last few days.” He laughed. �śSo I did bring trouble with me, huh?” �śIt’s not you.” He paused, and after a few minutes, when the silence grew long, he elaborated. �śI have to deal with everything the way a big city would�"on a much smaller scale, thank God. We’ve had a shooting, break-ins, domestic violence�Ś” He said the last one with a certain amount of loathing. �śThere’re the traffic violations, too damn many DUIs to contend with.” His mind considered some of the oddest things his job required. �śThen on any given day I might be called out to help Miss Gordon find her dog. Once I was called to help Mr. Thompson find his teeth. He was certain his neighbor stole them.” She laughed. �śDid you find them?” �śWhat? The dog or the teeth?” �śBoth,” she said. �śYeah. I did.” He chuckled. �śThe dog was in the closet. The teeth in the microwave. And don’t ask me to explain either one.” They stayed there holding on to each other and laughed for a good three or four minutes. They didn’t talk for the next five minutes. The silence felt right this time. Then he caught her hand, the one with the large bandage covering her palm. �śDamn, I was supposed to take you to get the stitches out.” �śDoctor said three or four days. I’m sure tomorrow is fine.” When he brought her palm to his lips, she rose up on her elbow and studied him. �śCan I ask you something?” A nervous tickle hit his gut. �śI generally hate questions that start like that, but go ahead.” �śHow�Śhow old were you when your parents died?” See? He knew he’d hate it. He fought the desire to quash this line of questioning and found himself answering. �śTen.” �śAnd did you come live with Redfoot right afterward?” �śNo. I floated from foster home to foster home for about a year and a half.” She bit down on her lip and placed her hand on his chest. �śThat must have been terrible.” It had been. �śI did okay.” Sky realized this might be the best time to set the record straight about his relationship barriers. Maybe she’d understand why he couldn’t offer more. But then his foster brother’s words played in his head like an old song. Whatever you do, Sky, if you care about this Shala woman, don’t let her walk away. You’ll regret it. He shook his head and said, �śYou know, the past�"mine and probably yours�"it can make things hard.” �śHard?” �śRelationships and things,” he babbled, knowing he was making a mess of this. �śI know,” she said. She reached out and touched his chin. �śI’m scared.” A weight suddenly lifted off his chest, and relief spilled into him. �śMe, too! But I figure we can live for the day, enjoy it. Make the most of it. Right?” She nodded. �śI have to go back home sooner or later.” The weight crashed right back down. �śWhen it’s safe you can leave. Not until then.” �śBut whoever was after me or the camera hasn’t tried anything for a couple of days. I’ve seen Lucas and you both looking for him, and he obviously isn’t there. Maybe he’s given up.” Sky took her chin between his fingers. �śAre you nuts? This is the same guy who we think killed someone yesterday!” She gazed up at him. �śI know, but�ŚLucas and I were talking earlier, and it’s like Phillip said. It appears Charlie hired someone to do all this. Now that Charlie is gone, this guy doesn’t really have a reason to come after me. And Lucas thinks�Ś” He was going to have to tell Lucas to keep his friggin’ thoughts to himself. �śI’ve considered that, Shala, and yes, I admit that from what we know it appears as if this is what went down, but there’s still a couple of things that don’t make sense. Charlie lives on a fixed income. I just can’t see him using what little money he had to hire someone to do his dirty work. We’ve looked over his bank account. No money was withdrawn. And everything that’s happened still points to this guy wanting the camera.” When Shala dropped back against his chest, he ran his hand over her naked back. �śI know this is hard, Shala, but give me some time to figure it out before you go putting yourself back in danger. Please.” She rose up on her elbow, smiling. �śWow, you’re not threatening to arrest me this time.” �śNo. But I’d probably follow you if you left town.” She shook her head. �śYou have a job.” �śI know. That’s why it would be hard.” He touched her face. �śJust a little more time.” She sighed. �śOkay, but I need to start working while I’m here.” �śWorking?” �śYeah, talking to the tribal council, meeting with Maria about starting an art program, talking to the mayor about the changes he’ll need to make. If I’m here, I need to work. I can only play so many games of Scrabble before I lose my mind.” Sky laughed. �śI’ll talk to Johnson and we’ll work things out.” For the first time that day, breathing came easier. Shala looked down at her legs. �śI don’t think I’ve ever had sex with just my shoes on.” �śI’ll have to get you a pair of leather boots,” he said. When they were done laughing, Shala sighed again. She ran her hand down his chest and said, �śDon’t you think we should probably get going?” �śGoing? I thought we’d give the chair a whirl.” She slapped him playfully. �śCome on.” As Sky dressed, he watched her put on her clothes, and that chair started looking better and better. Whatever you do, Sky, if you care about this Shala woman, don’t let her walk away. You’ll regret it. �śHey.” He zipped up his jeans and then snagged her shirt from the floor. �śWhen you do leave”�"God, that was hard to say�"�śhow often will you have to come back?” She shrugged and stepped into her jean skirt. �śIt depends on how many press trips the Chamber can afford. I bring other writers with me, and Precious has to pick up the tab. Some of my clients can afford trips every few months, some every six months.” Every few months? That wasn’t nearly enough. Would she come down more often if he asked? Considering he was on call 24/7, his leaving for a whole weekend would be hard. But she’d come if what they had was worth coming down for. Was he giving her what she needed right now, making it worth her while? Hell, how could he know for sure? Hadn’t he admitted to himself that she was different from everyone he’d ever dated? More innocent, sweeter�ŚHe looked around his office. Had the whole sex-on-the-desk thing been too much? Remembering her hesitation in the beginning, a mess of emotions boiled to the surface. Was he already screwing things up? �śWhat?” he asked when she held out her hand. �śYou have my shirt.” And I’m afraid you’ve got my heart. He wasn’t sure where that thought came from, but he refused to let it set in. He handed over her shirt and grabbed his own. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Shala looked up and caught Sky staring as she buttoned her blouse. �śWhat?” He ran a hand over his face. �śYou were okay with this, right?” �śOkay with what?” He motioned to the desk. �śWhat we just did.” Shala’s insecurities surfaced like a school of hungry piranhas. She hadn’t had sex in so long, and even back when she was having sex, her hubby obviously hadn’t been satisfied. �śDid I do something wrong?” �śWrong? Why would you think�Ś? God, no! I just realized that this was a bit�"” �śWild?” She tossed the word out. He nodded. �śYeah.” Crazy as it seemed, Sky looked as if he was the insecure one. How cool was that? Real cool. People didn’t feel insecure unless something mattered to them. She obviously mattered to Sky Gomez. She tilted her head to the side. �śIt was wild.” She remembered how he’d looked down at her sprawled on his desk, how his eyes had been so filled with desire that she’d gone instantly wet. �śAnd a little crazy.” She couldn’t remember sex ever being so spontaneous. She hesitated, then added, �śI loved every moment of it. Are you going to think less of me now?” He laughed and pulled her to him. �śWe could still do the chair.” She rose up on tiptoes and kissed him. At that moment, Shala couldn’t remember ever being happier. �śRedfoot’s not here.” Maria stirred the onion in the pan while she spoke to Sky on the phone. �śHe called and said he had business to handle. I’m worried.” �śStop worrying,” Sky replied. �śBut have him call me when he gets home. Did you see Jessie today?” �śYes, I was at the hospital most of the afternoon. She’s good. Back to gossiping.” �śNot about me, I hope,” Sky said. �śNah, but you do know there are pills for that�Ś” �śGreat!” Maria laughed. �śSilly rumor. No one will believe it. Anyway, I think she’s going home tomorrow. I’ve got to get a client’s payroll done in the morning, and then I told Sal I’d come over while he got caught up on work.” �śLet me know if I can do anything. Oh, do you want to come over to Lucas’s for steaks?” �śNo. I’m cooking Spanish rice and chicken as we speak.” Maria stirred in some peppers. �śDon’t add too much garlic.” Maria grumbled good-naturedly. �śI swear�"you can’t stay out of my kitchen, even when you’re on the phone.” �śSorry, but you always add too much garlic.” �śI like garlic,” she replied. �śI know.” He chuckled, and Maria couldn’t remember him being quite so happy before. �śIs Jose there?” he asked. �śNo.” She reached for the garlic powder, smiling as she did. �śI don’t know where he is, either.” And she needed to see him, needed to do what should have been done two years ago. �śHas Matt visited again?” Maria heard hesitation in his voice, and she thought she understood. �śI’m sorry I hit him at the station.” �śYeah, about that. I think that instead of�Śhitting, maybe you should hear the guy out.” �śI have no interest in hearing how his wife doesn’t love him and�"” �śWhat if that’s not what he has to tell you?” �śWhat are you saying?” She gave the bottle of garlic powder a good shake as another thought suddenly occurred to her. �śWhy was he even at the station?” Sky didn’t answer. Instead he said, �śHey, I think my steaks are burning�Śand I think Shala’s cheating at Scrabble again. I’d better run.” �śSky�Ś? Damn!” she muttered when he hung up. �śSomething wrong?” someone asked. When Maria swung around, she saw Jose in the doorway behind her. Something? Everything is wrong. �śNo. Just Sky still trying to tell me how to cook.” She didn’t want to get into a conversation with Jose about Matt right now, especially considering the conversation she needed to have. �śWant some coffee?” �śNo! No mustard, either.” He grinned. �śSorry about that.” Adding water to her rice mixture, she put the lid on the pot. Then she turned. �śWe need to talk.” He studied her. �śWhy does your tone remind me of Mom when she found those Playboys under my bed?” Maria grinned and settled into a chair at the table. Jose sat across from her. When she met his eyes, guilt filled her chest. She should have told him, should have come clean before he left for New York. She should have told him when she lost the baby. Matt should even know. She should have told him about the baby and the possibility of her not being able to conceive when they started getting�"Wait. That didn’t matter anymore. Matt was a married bastard. But she should have called him on his weekends in Dallas. Should have. Should have. Her life was filled with too many should-haves. She tried to think how to ease into the conversation, but subtlety had never been her strong point, so she decided to dive in headfirst. �śWhen you left for New York I was pregnant.” His mouth dropped open. �śYou were�ŚI�ŚWe have a child?” A few tears slipped past her lashes. �śNo. I lost it.” It? She’d never known if she carried a girl or a boy. Maria put her fingers over her trembling lips and explained, �śI had a tubal pregnancy. They said it wasn’t my fault, but sometimes I think that if I would have dealt with things better, if I would have�"” �śWhy didn’t you tell me?” �śAt first it was pride. I thought that if you didn’t want me, you wouldn’t want the baby. Then you didn’t even call me, and I got angry. About three weeks after you left, I started hurting. They had to operate and�Ś” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. She didn’t have to tell him everything. �śI was wrong. I know that now. I’m sorry.” He buried his face in his hands. She heard the rice bubbling over and went to turn down the heat. The chair shifted behind her, and she thought he planned on leaving. She didn’t blame him. Instead, she felt him move close. �śWhy the hell are you apologizing when it’s my fault?” He touched her shoulder. �śI should have never left.” She turned. �śNo, Jose.” Biting back her tears, she tried to explain. �śYou had to go. I know that now.” He shook his head. �śI loved you. I think I’m still in love with you. If we could�"” �śDon’t say that.” She put a finger over his lips. �śLook, I love you, too. I will always love you, but it’s not the right kind of love. When I came here, I wanted so badly to be a part of this family. You were so�Śhot, and I was so young, and I thought that if we fell in love, then I would really be a part of this family. And I think when Estella died�Ś” She had to think how to say it. �śWhen she died, I was the person who understood you like she did. I think you finally opened yourself up to me because I represented everything you’d lost.” Jose blinked. �śMom told me not to let anything happen. That it would cause a ruckus.” Maria grinned. �śShe was a smart woman.” �śWhat if she was wrong?” He touched her face. �śShe wasn’t. You belong in New York. I’ll never leave Precious. And right now I hate Matt, but what I felt for him�ŚThat was what love is supposed to feel like.” He cupped her chin in his hand. �śI hate that bastard. If he doesn’t treat you right, I’ll rip out his heart.” �śIt’s over between us,” she assured him. �śHave you two talked?” She shook her head. �śNo! And I don’t plan on it.” Speak of the devil, a knock sounded at the door. Maria’s insides started shaking, and she eyed the living room. Grabbing Jose by the arm she begged, �śAnswer it, please. If it’s Matt, make him leave.” Jose walked out. Maria turned back to the stove and refused to listen, afraid that she’d be tempted by his voice if it was Matt. She was afraid she’d be tempted to tell him she didn’t care that he’d lied to her, didn’t care that he was married, because she’d loved him with all her heart and probably always would. In spite of not listening, she heard the front door close. When Jose moved back into the kitchen she asked, �śWas it Matt?” �śYes.” The voice wasn’t as deep as Jose’s, and it sounded too damn much like the man she loved. Closing her eyes, Maria sent up a prayer that she was wrong�"a prayer to God, the Virgin Mary, to every saint she could remember, and just in case, she also added all the spirits Redfoot believed in. There was no reason not to cover all her bases. �śLook,” Matt said, making her prayer futile. �śIf you’re going to hit me, let’s get it over with, because we need to talk.” Redfoot walked up to Ramon Cloud’s porch, his heart heavy and whiskey on his breath. Before he’d left the Funky Chicken, he’d doused himself with his last drink, hoping that too would help. Ramon’s zero tolerance for drunks was a little-known fact. Redfoot figured there was a reason for that, and the obvious suspect was the young man’s late father. Reaching up, he banged on the door. This felt morally wrong, but he had gotten Veronica into this quandary, and he would get her out. Ramon opened the door, and his gaze was filled with contempt�"the contempt of a son who thought no man was good enough for his mother. Redfoot respected that. �śYou said for me to come and�Śwe’d go to the council.” Redfoot drew his words out. �śAnd I’m here.” Purposely leaning close, he hoped the smell of whiskey on him was overpowering. Ramon stepped back. �śYou damn well know the council has gone home for the day!” Redfoot gaped at his watch. �śDamn. Guess I lost track of the time.” �śWe’ll go tomorrow.” �śSounds like a good plan.” When Ramon tried to shut the door, Redfoot put his hand against it. �śYou know, at first I was mad. No way was I going to marry your skinnyassed mom!” Ramon seethed. �śGo home before I do something I’ll regret.” �śBut you’re not listening,” Redfoot argued. �śI’ve changed my mind. While I was at the Funky Chicken, it occurred to me. She put up with your daddy’s ass for a quarter of a century, she can put up with mine for a while. I’m not much worse than your old man.” �śYou bastard!” Ramon stormed outside and threw him against the house. �śI’m not a bastard,” Redfoot managed to say. And that was the truth, though the truth would end there. He forced himself to continue. �śYeah, it was probably wrong, all that crap I told her about how I cared, but you know how women are. They don’t give it up until you make ’em believe it.” Ramon drew back his fist. Redfoot prepared himself for the blow, but the man dropped his arm and shoved him away instead. �śGet the hell out of here. And stay the fuck away from my mother. You got that? Because I swear to God, old man, if you come anywhere near her, I’ll beat the life out of you. She put up with one asshole; she’ll not put up with two.” �śWhat about g-g-going to the council?” Redfoot slurred. �śNot happening.” Ramon stormed back inside the house and slammed the door. As Redfoot walked away, adding a sway to his step just in case Ramon watched from the window, he muttered, �śI fixed it.” Veronica should be happy now. It didn’t matter that he himself had never been more miserable. �śI’m not married.” Matt’s words bounced around the yellow kitchen and had Maria catching her breath. She picked up the garlic powder and gave the rice mixture another good dousing before turning. �śCan I sit down?” He motioned toward the table. She nodded, and he dropped into a chair. �śI was married. We’re divorced. And before you say anything, I know I should have told you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, puzzled. �śBut you’re still seeing your ex-wife.” �śNo. Not like you think.” �śYou called her when you thought you were arrested.” �śOnly because I couldn’t get my ex-father-in-law. He’s a lawyer and a nice guy. I thought I’d need him to get me out of jail.” Maria considered. �śShe lives in Dallas?” she asked. �śYes.” �śSo all those weekends away, you weren’t seeing her.” She was feeling pretty dubious. �śI was, but�"” �śLeave!” She pointed to the door. Matt pulled something out of his shirt pocket and slid it across the table to her. �śThis is why I saw her.” Maria’s gaze shifted. Unable to stop herself, she moved closer and stared at a photograph, at the precious face of a little girl who looked to be about three. She had big green eyes and sandy hair. Without a doubt, the child was Matt’s. �śBrenda, my ex�ŚWe met in college. I was crazy about her, but she had a thing about this other guy. I became the person she cried on when the jerk did her wrong. And he did her wrong a lot. He left and ran off to Europe. One night she came over and we got drunk and she got pregnant. I convinced her to marry me, and I thought life was great.” He raked a hand through his hair. �śGreat until about six weeks after we got hitched and the asshole came back. To make a long story short, we got a divorce and she married the other guy. All this happened before Brandy was born.” Maria heard the pain in his voice. �śI’m sorry,” she said. �śAt first I thought I could just walk away, but I took one look at that girl and that’s the day I knew what real love is. There’s nothing like seeing your own child look up at you.” Maria swallowed the lump in her throat. She was seeing a new side of Matt. No, that wasn’t right. She’d seen this all along. He had goodness in him, the kind of goodness that would make him a perfect family man. He was loyal, dependable, kind. �śWhy didn’t you tell me?” she asked. �śAt first it was to protect Brandy.” �śProtect her�"from me?” �śYes�ŚI mean, no. Not just you. I didn’t want to bring people into her life and then have them walk away. Brenda and the asshole got a divorce. I saw how it hurt Brandy, and I didn’t want�Ś” He leaned across the table. �śI was going to tell you before things got serious. But it got serious so quick. Then one night you mentioned how glad you were that neither of us had been married. You said it brought a bunch of extra baggage into the relationship. I panicked. I convinced myself that if I let you fall in love with me, you’d understand.” Maria stood frozen, trying to understand her emotions. Matt hadn’t been cheating on her. He loved her. Why wasn’t her heart rejoicing? He pressed his hand down on the table. �śI was waiting until the right time, but the time never seemed right.” He stood and walked to her on the other side of the table. �śThe idea of losing you was too much. But I was going to take you to meet Brandy next weekend. Remember I asked if you’d go away with me? I had this whole speech prepared about how I wanted you to marry me and I wanted us to have kids�"to give Brandy a sister or a brother.” The lump in Maria’s throat grew larger, and everything became clear. She recalled the gynecologist’s words. You lost one of your fallopian tubes. I also found some endometriosis. This could mean that you could have a very difficult time conceiving. Matt pulled her into his arms. She inhaled his scent at the same time she accepted the truth: he wanted something she couldn’t give. In a crazy way, this was the same situation as with her and Jose�"and a mistake. Her love for Matt was real, and deep down she knew him well enough to know he would say it was okay, her being unable to conceive, but would it? His words echoed in her heart. And that’s the day I knew what real love was. She was going to miss out on that kind of love, and she would never wish that pain on Matt. He wanted more children, and a man like him should have them. Pulling away, she met his eyes. �śI’m sorry. Just go.” �śDamn it. I know I was wrong for not telling you, but�"” �śThat’s how I know this won’t work.” It wasn’t the truth, but she knew Matt would want a reason. �śYou still love Jose?” he asked. She wouldn’t lie about that. �śNo, but you obviously don’t trust me enough to be honest. And any relationship that doesn’t have trust isn’t worth pursuing.” CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE A week passed, and Shala lost herself in getting Precious whipped into shape. She’d met with just about everyone who belonged to the Chamber or who could help make the town the next big vacation spot in Texas. She’d offered recommendations, given her gotta-fix list to the mayor�"heck, even her meeting down at the Funky Chicken had gone well, although she’d agreed to dance with Bo again if he did all the things on her list. After reviewing all her images, she’d decided she didn’t need any others, with the exception of the powwow, which was still against the rules. Tomorrow, however, was the big day. Tomorrow was the tribal-council meeting. Not that she was too worried. She had no time to worry. She remained focused on the work. Well, she was focused on work when she wasn’t focused on having curl-your-toes-up, headboard-banging sex with the chief of police. Or shower sex. A smile played over her face as she recalled the steamy scene from that morning. Who knew sex could be so much fun? Maria walked into the bedroom that Shala and Sky were occupying at Lucas’s. She held a box in her hands. �śI got the pictures. Now tell me what they are for.” �śFantastic.” Shala had asked Maria to see if the wives of the men on the tribal council might loan her some vacation photos. When Maria and Shala had met about building the art community last week, and about possibly opening an art studio, they’d clicked like lost sisters. Maria had even discussed Matt, though Shala got the feeling she hadn’t revealed the whole story. Not that Shala could blame her. She hadn’t been forthcoming about Sky and herself, either. Maybe her feelings weren’t as crazy and mixed up as she felt, but they certainly seemed so. �śSo, what are they for?” Maria asked. Shala glanced at the box. �śThey’re for my presentation.” Maria looked puzzled. �śWhat would pictures of the council’s family vacations�ŚWait! I get it. This is your way of convincing them to let visitors take pictures, isn’t it? You’re good.” �śOf course, she’s good.” Sky walked in and, pressing a knee on the mattress, leaned down to kiss Shala. A real kiss, too. He’d been doing that more lately. For a while he’d seemed the type who didn’t go in for public displays of affection, but that had changed. Everything had changed. Except the sex. It was still toe-curlingly wonderful. Oh, the other thing that hadn’t changed was the investigation. So far, nothing had turned up. And the more time that passed, the more it seemed that Charlie Rainmaker was behind things. Apparently he and whomever he’d hired to do his dirty work had suffered a falling-out. With Charlie killed by him, the unidentified man had surely left town. There was no one to threaten her and no one to pay her assailant, which basically meant that Shala was no longer in danger. She could head back to Houston. When she’d mentioned it to Sky, however, he’d hit the roof. For a minute there, she’d thought he was going to threaten to arrest her again. Shala wondered if he just didn’t want her to leave. She didn’t want to leave, either, but sooner or later they had to deal with the fact that they lived hundreds of miles apart. They needed to talk about how they intended to deal with a long-distance relationship, or better yet, needed to figure out exactly what kind of relationship they had. Where her own emotions were concerned, she’d already done the figuring. If she wasn’t perfectly in love with Sky, she stood on the verge. But in a relationship, one-sided figuring didn’t work. It took two people wanting the same end for things to add up. Odd as it seemed, Sky never mentioned his feelings. Call her insecure, but she at least wanted a hint that she wasn’t alone before she declared any love. She looked at her watch. �śYou’re early.” �śPhillip and the others left, and I figured what the hell. I closed shop early. Just felt like taking another shower and calling it a day.” His eyes twinkled with implication, and Shala blushed as she saw Maria smile. Pulling away from the bed, Sky faced Maria. �śHow’s the crew at your place?” �śThe same,” his sister said. �śIt’s as if someone sucked the joy right out of the house. Redfoot just mopes around. Yesterday, he didn’t even change out of his pajamas. Jose spends all his time on his laptop. If he has to work so much, why doesn’t he just go back to New York?” �śGive them time, they’ll work it out,” Sky said. Sky and Maria had each told Shala about the situation. Little did they know, she was secretly jealous of their family, even with the drama. Yesterday she’d called her brother, hoping to find some of the warmth from him that she felt between Sky and Redfoot’s crew. Only it didn’t happen. Her brother had given her two minutes before he had to run. She hadn’t even begun to tell him about the danger she’d faced. Oh, she knew he loved her, but his life was too full for him to be concerned about her right now. �śI’m trying to give them time,” Maria continued. �śBut I can’t stand the dark cloud hanging over the house. Which is part of the reason I’m here. I thought after the council meeting tomorrow everyone could come over for dinner. Maybe company will pep things up.” Sky and Maria both eyed Shala. �śIs that okay?” they asked at the same time. Shala’s heart swelled. They planned to include her in a family get-together! �śSounds great,” she said with a smile. �śThe last time I visited Redfoot’s, it was rather exciting.” �śDon’t worry.” Maria laughed. �śI’ll make sure Jose is wearing clothes this time.” �śSo will I,” Sky growled. �śI’d like some proof, is what I’d like,” Sky practically yelled at Phillip the next morning. �śCharlie lived here all his life. Where would he have reached out to hire this guy? And how the hell was he planning on paying him?” His friend shrugged. �śLook, I know this is personal for you, but we’ve done everything we can. Until some forensic evidence comes in�"” �śWe’ve got a murder, three attempted murders, and you’re just walking away?” Worse, once Shala heard the rangers were gone, she’d be right on their coattails. �śThe case has gone cold,” Phillip said. �śWe got six people telling us Charlie practically admitted to having Shala scared out of town. Now Charlie’s dead and we have nothing else to look at, zilch to go on. If we get something back from forensics, we’ll pick it up then.” �śI got something,” boomed a voice from the doorway. Sky turned to find Lucas. Phillip did, too. Although Sky had invited his reclusive friend many times to their poker parties, Lucas had always declined. Last week, the two men had met briefly for the first time. As a matter of fact, Sky was pretty sure that Lucas had met more people in the last few weeks than in the last five years. Surprisingly, Lucas hadn’t seemed to mind. The seriousness in the man’s expression caught Sky’s attention. �śWhere’s Shala?” Had she already left town? �śShe’s here.” Lucas motioned down the hall and slapped a manila envelope against his palm. �śBut I got something.” �śWhat?” Phillip asked. �śPossibly your killer.” Lucas focused on Sky. �śI told you, I sent a few pictures to a friend. They did a facerecognition search and got a hit.” �śWe sent one in,” Phillip said, looking confused. �śBut they’re backlogged for months.” He shook his head. �śWho do you know that does that, anyway?” Phillip asked. Respecting his friend’s wishes, Sky hadn’t told Phillip about Lucas’s government ties. Lucas shrugged. �śA friend of a friend.” �śA friend of whose friend?” Phillip insisted, obviously annoyed that Lucas had come through when his own boys were still chasing their tails. �śDoesn’t matter,” Sky interrupted. �śWhat do you have?” �śIt matters,” Phillip interrupted. �śI can’t use�"” �śThen don’t use it,” Lucas said, his tone dry. �śDamn it, Phillip,” Sky said. �śThis isn’t a big-dick contest. He’s helping. Whatever information he gives us, I’ll bet my life we can back it up as soon your guys get you their results.” Lucas handed Sky the envelope. �śHis name is Bradley Conners. He’s got an arrest record longer than a PMSing woman’s complaint list. Got out of the joint six months ago. Was in for nearly killing a guy in a bar. It was thought to be a hired hit, but that couldn’t be proven. He got seven years, only served three.” Sky pulled out the papers and began looking through them while Lucas continued. �śGuess who Mr. Conners shared a cell with for a few months in Huntsville?” �śWho?” Phillip asked, now more curious than pissed. �śRainmaker’s brother,” Lucas said. �śAnd now we have our connection,” Phillip said. Sky shook his head. �śBut why the hell was this Conners guy all worked up over Shala’s camera?” �śMaybe they knew she managed to get Charlie’s picture. Maybe Conners suspected she’d caught him on film,” Lucas said. �śThat makes sense,” Phillip said. �śIt still doesn’t fit,” Sky said. �śI mean, I know Charlie didn’t want Shala here, but to hire a hit man?” �śMaybe he didn’t have to hire him,” Phillip added. �śMaybe this guy did it as a favor. Hell, maybe Rainmaker realized how far the guy was going to take it and told him to fuck off. That’s probably what got Rainmaker killed.” �śNo.” Sky pressed his hand on his desk. �śI don’t buy it.” Phillip said, �śWe’ll talk to the guy’s brother, maybe�"” �śThat’s gonna be hard,” Lucas interrupted. �śHe died about a month ago. My sources say natural causes, nothing suspicious.” �śWho the hell are you, and who are your sources?” Phillip demanded. �śI just know the right people,” Lucas replied. �śIt just keeps getting worse,” Sky seethed, ignoring them. �śWorse?” Lucas asked. �śWe know who he is. We got a connection with this guy and Charlie. With Charlie gone, Conners doesn’t have a fight with Shala. Shala’s no longer in danger. I wouldn’t call that worse. I’d say we’re a step further on.” �śDid you tell Shala?” Sky’s heart bumped around his chest. �śOf course I did. She’s ecstatic.” Which meant she’d be going back to Houston. �śYou have a talent, young lady. You owned that room,” Redfoot said as Shala and Sky walked into his house half an hour after meeting the tribal council. Shala felt his praise all the way to her toes. �śThank you. And thank you for being my ally. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She hugged him and hung on a few minutes because it felt so good. God, she missed her grandparents, missed the feel of older, wiser arms wrapped around her. �śAnother hugger,” Redfoot muttered. �śGet used to it,” Maria said, bouncing into the room and hugging her as soon as Shala released her father. �śCongrats. Redfoot said there’s no way the council wouldn’t give you everything you asked for.” �śReally?” Shala met the older man’s gaze. �śYou really think they’ll agree to everything?” Redfoot looked at Sky. �śYour woman should have been a lawyer. You should have seen her. She charmed the socks off them.” �śI would have seen, if you guys had let me come,” Sky said. Shala glanced at him. Sky had been tense all afternoon. She suspected it was about her going back to Houston. She’d told Lucas that she’d probably leave this weekend, but Sky hadn’t mentioned it yet. �śYou know the rules,” Redfoot said. �śOnly the tribal council is present when�"” �śDon’t have to like them,” Sky interrupted. �śSomething smells good,” Shala spoke up. �śPaella. Estella’s recipe.” Maria looked at Sky. �śDon’t start saying I added too much garlic.” �śI’ll make him behave.” Shala reached for his hand. �śThat’s a pretty big promise,” Lucas’s voice boomed from the doorway. Shala turned and almost laughed at what he carried in his hands. �śLucas!” Maria said and grinned. �śThank you for reconsidering.” Shala leaned in and mock-whispered, �śWhat did you do, promise we’d play Scrabble?” Maria giggled. �śJust one game.” �śCome in,” Redfoot said. As the men walked inside, Maria eyed Shala. �śRedfoot’s happier today. Thanks for agreeing to this.” �śI wouldn’t have missed it,” Shala admitted. �śCan I run to the bathroom, and then I’ll help with dinner?” �śIt’s the second door on the left. Just past the hole in the wall that looks just like Jose’s face.” Maria grinned. Shala hotfooted it down the hall, her bladder pinching. She had just grabbed the knob when the door swung open. And there was Jose, standing in front of her, naked. Well, he had a white towel wrapped around his waist. �śOh fuck! Sky’s going to kill me.” He slammed the door. Shala went back into the living room, trying not to laugh, and found Maria. �śIs there another bathroom? I think that one is occupied.” She almost told her friend the whole story, then decided Jose might prefer she didn’t. �śMy room, first door to the left.” �śThanks.” A few minutes later, bladder happy, she walked back out into the hall. At the same time, Jose exited the room next to Maria’s. At least he had clothes on this time. He shrugged guiltily and motioned. �śI’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone had arrived yet. I was just going to pop across the hall.” Shala grinned. �śIt’s okay. I think we got here early.” Jose smiled. �śWe’ve met, but I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced.” �śGeez, without the pink robe, I almost didn’t recognize you.” He laughed, and it sounded a lot like Redfoot. Shala decided she liked Jose. Thirty minutes after they arrived, Sky was seated at the dining-room table with Jose, Redfoot, and Lucas. The men were playing Scrabble while Shala helped Maria in the kitchen. �śThat’s not a word,” Lucas said. �śIs too. Wacoi.” �śWhat is it?” �śIt’s a sacred word,” Redfoot said. �śYou don’t want to know,” Sky muttered under his breath. �śYou know what sacred word comes to my mind right now? Bullshit! You can only use English. Only English,” Lucas insisted. His friend and Redfoot were arguing about using Native American words. Sky laughed. In spite of worrying himself sick about Shala leaving, being here was fun. Every few minutes he’d peer into the kitchen, and something about seeing Shala in the kitchen of the house where he’d grown up felt perfectly right. �śJose,” Lucas said, �śit’s your turn. And don’t be pretending to read the paper when I know you’re looking for words.” Jose grinned. �śThis man takes his Scrabble serious, huh?” He stared down at the wooden bar with his letters, then started setting out his word. �śI wasn’t cheating, I was reading. An article about Senator Blanton. Did you know he went to high school in Bueford? Says here he was quarterback for the Bueford Bulldogs. Heck, we might have played against each other when I was on the football team.” �śPut him down for eight points,” Lucas said, counting Jose’s points. Sky tallied up the total. �śHe’s a lot older than you, isn’t he?” Jose looked back at the newspaper as if checking the man’s picture and guessing his age. �śYeah. But damn, it would have been pretty neat to think I knocked the president on his ass a time or two.” �śWith him having ties to this community, maybe if he runs for president he’ll do something for Precious and the other small towns around here.” Redfoot eyed the board with intensity. �śI’ve read some good things about him.” �śDon’t tell Maria,” Sky replied, glancing into kitchen again to get another peek at Shala. �śShe doesn’t care for the guy.” �śMaria has good taste,” Lucas spoke up. �śYou know some dirt on him?” Sky asked. �śNot really,” his friend said. Then, �śAre we playing Scrabble or talking politics?” �śYou know who would make a good politician?” Redfoot looked at Sky. �śYour woman. She shined today.” Sky looked through the doorway again. His woman. Why was it that hearing Redfoot refer to her as that bothered him less each time he heard it? �śHas Matt called?” Shala asked, sensing there was something on Maria’s mind. �śNo,” Sky’s sister replied. �śThank goodness.” �śI know it’s not my place to say anything, but if you two really love each other, then maybe�"” �śNot happening.” Maria looked away. Again, Shala got the feeling there was something going unsaid. �śCan you get the salad dressing out?” Translated, that meant �śshut the heck up.” And Shala had to respect Maria’s wishes. Laughter echoed from the dining room, and both Maria and Shala glanced that way. �śYou have no idea how good that is to hear,” Maria said. �śI swear, no one has laughed in this house all week.” �śDoes that include you?” Shala asked. Before Maria could answer, Sky sauntered in. �śI smell garlic,” he teased. Maria waved a spoon at him. �śGet out of my kitchen.” He laughed. �śJust came for tea.” He refilled his glass and then moved behind Shala. Leaning down, he said, �śI’m proud. Redfoot just keeps praising you.” She smiled back at him. �śThanks.” He kissed her and said, �śWe need to talk tonight.” �śAbout?” She hoped he’d say that he figured it was time for them to put a name on what was happening between them. Sure, he acted crazy about her, but words made the feelings real. Shala needed real. �śIt’s not safe for you to leave yet,” he said. She didn’t argue. Later, they’d talk. But it obviously wouldn’t be about them. That hurt. When Sky walked off, Shala saw that Redfoot had stepped into the kitchen. He stood by the stove talking to Maria. A moment later, the man walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. �śYou make him happy, Blue Eyes.” Shala smiled. �śHe makes me happy, too.” And he did�"if he’d just open up a little, Shala added to herself. Soon they all sat at the dining-room table and were feasting. Dinner conversation was composed of funny stories about Jose, Maria, and Sky. There was a lot of laughter. Shala couldn’t remember ever enjoying a meal more. It wasn’t the food�"not that it wasn’t wonderful�"but the company that she enjoyed most. Afterward, Redfoot poured them all shots of dessert wine. Lucas, Shala noticed, stuck with his tea. Sitting at this table, Shala felt part of a family. Several times, tears threatened. She realized that not only was she inches away from falling for Sky, she was equally close to falling for his family and his friends. Redfoot set filled glasses in front of everyone and raised his own. �śA family toast. To more dinners where everyone is here,” he announced, his gaze on Jose. Shala noted guilt flash in the younger man’s eyes. �śTo accepting our differences,” Maria offered, almost to make a point. �śTo Scrabble,” Lucas said, and everyone laughed. �śTo food without too much garlic.” Sky grinned at Maria. It was Shala’s turn, but she didn’t have to think too hard. �śTo family.” All eyes turned to Jose, the last person. He smiled. �śTo Sky finally accepting that Shala is his soul mate, just as Redfoot’s spirits said.” CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Everyone’s arms remained raised, but no glass-tapping followed. Shala stared at Jose. �śSay, what?” That’s when she realized everyone stared at her. Sky lowered his wineglass and glared at Jose. �śWhat?” his brother seemed surprised. �śDon’t tell me she doesn’t know.” �śKnow what?” Shala set her glass down and gazed around the table. Not one person would meet her eye except Sky. �śIt’s nothing,” he growled. She chuckled nervously. �śIt doesn’t feel like nothing.” �śI made pie and coffee!” Maria said, drawing Shala’s attention. Maria didn’t look away this time but shrugged guiltily, as if admitting there was something she’d kept secret. �śI would love pie,” Lucas said. Shala studied him, wondering if he knew what they were talking about. When the man wouldn’t look at her, she figured he did. She shifted her focus to Redfoot. He looked at her, but he’d gone back into his wooden-statue mode. �śWell, why didn’t someone tell me I wasn’t supposed to say anything?” Jose hissed. �śJust shut your god damn mouth,” Sky seethed. He rose from the table and eyed Shala. �śAre you ready to go?” Bam. Just like that, guilt chased away Shala’s happy mood, though she couldn’t quite figure out how this was her fault. Regardless, she couldn’t stop herself from apologizing. �śI’m sorry.” She placed her napkin on her plate. �śMaybe I should help with the dishes first.” �śNo,” Maria said. �śI’ve got them.” �śOkay.” Shala gave up. �śDinner was great.” And as she walked out of the room, she realized that she no longer felt like a part of this family. How had it happened? Redfoot sat at the table, staring at his wine. Awkwardness still permeated the air. Lucas got up to leave next. �śYou are welcome in my home anytime,” Redfoot said to him. �śThank you,” Lucas answered, and Maria walked him to the door. Jose sat on the opposite side of the table, looking uncomfortable, as he probably should. �śI swear to God, no one told me not to say anything.” Redfoot felt bad for his son, but he also felt sorry for Sky, who no doubt now faced the hardest part of his journey with Shala Winters. The dream last night had told Redfoot that Sky and Shala’s path was not fully walked. The same went for Matt and Maria. Yet to be seen was where their roads and hearts would lead them. As for Veronica, the spirits had not answered his question. Redfoot surmised they were angry that he had lied. Not that Redfoot would change anything. He would not force Veronica into marriage, even if it meant going against them. �śAll someone had to do was tell me,” Jose continued. Redfoot sipped his last bit of wine. �śI suppose we all understood that no one likes to be told that their destiny is set.” �śReally?” Jose leaned forward, pushing his arms on the table. �śThen why is it you do that to me all the time?” Redfoot reclined. �śHow do I do this to you?” Jose held out a hand. �śIt’s not important. Forget it.” He stood up and walked out, leaving Redfoot alone at the table. �śWhat isn’t important?” Redfoot asked the empty room. Then he looked inside his heart to find the answer. Shala sat quietly in Sky’s truck for five minutes before the words and frustration just came bubbling out. �śAre you really not going to explain? How can you just sit there and not explain? How could�"?” �śStop!” Sky held up his hand. �śFor God’s sake, woman, please don’t start jabbering!” His anger, his tone, raked over her like broken glass. �śJabbering? Do I�Śjabber?” �śYes, you jabber! When you’re nervous, when you’re upset, and sometimes even when you’re happy. And it hurts my ears.” She felt herself lose it, but she didn’t care. �śWell, maybe I jabber because you just sit there and never say a freaking word while the elephant squats in the middle of the room, hikes up his tail, exposes his pink little asshole, and takes a big crap. Maybe I jabber because I’m trying to figure out what’s going on inside your head about us. Maybe�Ś” She slammed her body back against the seat. �śIs my car fixed yet?” Sky let go of a deep growl and yanked the truck over to the side of the road, coming to a sudden, tire-screeching halt. �śDo you want me to get out?” Shala faced him, adrenaline doing marathons through her bloodstream. �śNo!” He reached for her but she pulled away. �śIt’s stupid,” he said. �śWhat’s stupid?” Tears climbed up her throat. �śMy jabbering, or the fact that you and your whole family have some secret about me and are obviously laughing behind my back!” �śNo one is laughing.” �śYou said it was stupid.” He raked a hand over his face. �śIt is stupid, but we’re not laughing at you.” He leaned back and stared at the roof of his truck. �śOkay, here it is. Redfoot believes that the People’s spirits send him dreams. He believes these dreams told him you and I are soul mates.” Shala brushed her palm over her jean skirt, remembering the odd meeting she’d had with Redfoot when she first met him. �śHe dreamed that I was your soul mate?” �śYes. I told you it was stupid.” �śWhen did he have this dream?” �śIt’s not important.” �śWhen did he have this dream?” she insisted. �śAbout three weeks before you came into town.” She sat there taking everything in. Or tried to. �śIs that why you were so rude to me when I first�"” �śI wasn’t rude, I�"” �śYou followed me around and took my camera.” �śYou took a picture.” �śI did not take a picture!” �śOkay. I thought you took a picture. And I followed you around because�Ś” He fisted his hands around the steering wheel. �śOkay, maybe I followed you instead of introducing myself because I didn’t want Redfoot to start believing in his own nonsense.” �śThen why did you change your mind? Because someone was after me?” �śYes and no. Mostly because I realized how stupid it was.” �śWhat was stupid?” �śThe whole freaking thing! I don’t believe in this.” �śBelieve in what? The dreams, or that we’re soul mates?” �śBoth. Relationships play their course. They last as long as they last. I’m not a soul-mate type of person. I don’t believe in that crap.” He didn’t believe? She tried to wrap her mind around what he really meant. �śYou don’t believe in love.” He sat there staring at her. �śCome on, Shala. We talked about this.” Her mind raced. �śWe did?” �śYes.” �śWhen? Because I don’t recall us ever�"” �śThe afternoon at my office. I told you I wanted to just live for the moment, enjoy�ŚI told you this was hard.” The emotional upheaval in Shala’s chest was imploding her heart. �śYes, you said it was hard, you said we just needed to enjoy it, but somehow you left off that little part about you thinking it wouldn’t last and that you didn’t expect it to ever lead anywhere. Or that you’d never really care�"” �śI care!” �śUntil that plays its course,” she muttered. �śUntil the newness wears off the sex.” She closed her eyes and felt used. Everything they had shared now looked different. Tainted. She breathed around the huge empty hole in her chest. �śWell, it’s played its course.” �śNo, it hasn’t. Damn it! I didn’t mean�ŚI don’t�Ś” Sitting straighter, she faced him. She was done arguing. She was done, period. They were done. �śTake me to my car. Wait�"just take me back to Lucas’s house, and he can take me.” She bit down on her lip and refused to cry. �śI need to get my things.” �śIt’s late. You can’t drive back to Hous�"” �śI’m not. I’ll rent a room at the hotel.” He stared out the windshield. �śThe hotel is still closed because of Jessie.” Her mind raced. �śThen I’ll drive to the closest town and�"” �śDamn it, stay at Lucas’s tonight. I’ll get your car in the morning and�Ś” He stared at her. �śIf you don’t want me sleeping with you, I won’t.” Logic said he was right about driving tonight, and no matter how hurt she was, she needed to keep her head. Logic was the key to survival, and she would survive this gaping pain. Look what she’d survived before. Sky Gomez was nothing compared to her past losses. Besides, she didn’t even love him, not really. Not yet. So explain why it hurt so much. She looked away and felt her first tear�"one of many, she was afraid�"slip down her cheek. �śFine, I’ll leave in the morning. But you’re right, I don’t want you sleeping with me.” Jose stared at the computer screen, at the �śbuy now” button that would give him his ticket back to New York. He’d never planned to stay this long. He’d had three weeks of vacation and called after that first day and put in for it. Never mind that he’d worked these last few days. Hell, he enjoyed his work. He enjoyed living in New York, so why the heck was he hanging out here? He’d accepted that he and Maria were over. He hated admitting it, but what she’d said about their relationship was true. She’d been the one thing in Precious that he felt connected to. The thought that she had carried his child�"lost his child�"stuck to his heart like gum to a shoe on a hot day. He tried not to think about it, but it wouldn’t go away. While he couldn’t exactly name the emotion running through him, it felt a lot like grief, the same pain he’d felt when his mom died. Thinking about his mom made him realize how little time he might have left with his dad. Which brought him back to why he hadn’t left yet. Jose couldn’t see moving back to Precious, but he suspected the physical distance wasn’t truly what bothered him about their relationship. Closing the screen without buying the ticket, he walked into the living room. Redfoot wasn’t there. His dad was sitting at the dining-room table, the same place Jose had left him over an hour ago, and so Jose walked into the dining room and sat down across from him, unsure what to say but knowing they had to talk. Redfoot cleared his throat. �śYou are so much like your mom.” �śAm I?” Jose asked. �śI always thought she was prettier.” His old man ignored his attempt at humor. �śShe had big dreams. More dreams than could fill one life.” Redfoot paused, and his voice shook a little. �śI was damn lucky she decided that I was part of her dream. I sometimes wonder if she regretted it. She could have been so much more if she’d left Precious.” Jose’s heart clutched. �śMom loved you and this town.” �śI hope so,” Redfoot replied. �śBut you do not?” Jose considered. �śI don’t hate it�"not always,” he confessed. �śI love the people here. I love the memories. But I’ve never felt as if I fit.” Redfoot nodded. �śMaria reminded me last night of the story your mother used to tell. Of how our parents were totally against our getting married.” �śI remember,” Jose said. �śMom said you guys met by the creek and eloped.” �śYour mother, she was my destiny then. We were right to rebel against our parents.” Redfoot paused. �śAnd you are right to make your dreams come true. I’m sorry that I have made you feel as if they are not important. Your destiny is your own, Jose. I can only ask that you come back often and share your dreams with me as your mom did.” Emotion tightened Jose’s chest. �śI will. And you’ll visit me in New York, too.” �śYes,” his father agreed, �śI will visit often.” Both men stood. �śSon,” Redfoot said. �śYour mom would be so proud of you. As am I.” Air froze in Jose’s lungs. �śThank you,” he finally said. Turning to walk away, at the last minute he changed his mind. �śI feel as if I should hug you.” �śWe are not huggers,” Redfoot said, laughing. �śMaybe I am.” Returning, Jose embraced him. �śI love you, Dad.” Redfoot hugged him back. �śI love you, too, son. I love you, too.” CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Sky sat on Lucas’s porch�"the same spot he’d sat all night before Shala found him and doused him with milk�"hoping like hell he could find the words to stop her from leaving. To stop her from being so damn angry. After several hours, he still hadn’t found them. He stared at her car. It was parked out front; Lucas had gotten up at the crack of dawn and driven Sky to the hotel to pick it up. All Sky could think about was being forced to watch Shala leave. The door opened. Sky’s heart jumped into his throat. He shot to his feet, thinking it was her. Lucas stepped outside and handed him a cup of coffee. �śThanks,” Sky said. When Lucas didn’t look away, he shrugged. �śGo ahead and say it.” �śSay what?” Lucas asked. �śWhatever is on your mind. You’re gritting your teeth to keep it in.” Lucas nodded. �śYou’re an idiot if you let her leave.” �śFine. Now all you have to do is tell me how to stop her.” Lucas sighed. �śIf you don’t know, you’re more of an idiot than I suspected.” He walked back inside. Thirty minutes later, Shala came out. She didn’t meet his gaze, but that didn’t stop him from noticing the dark circles under her eyes. �śAre you sure you’re up to driving?” he asked. �śI’m fine.” She stepped off the porch. He followed. �śYour camera and things from the hotel are in the car.” �śThanks.” She didn’t sound very grateful. �śI’ll call you,” he said, having no other words. �śI’d appreciate it if you didn’t.” She got into her car and drove off. He held his breath, praying she’d stop, turn around, and come running back into his arms. He remembered the line of a country-western song that said, �śI’d have been happy for a slowdown.” He’d never realized how powerful that line was. When Shala left, she hadn’t slowed down. She hadn’t glanced back. She’d simply driven away as if leaving didn’t hurt at all. Three days after leaving Precious, Shala sat at her brother’s kitchen table. Beth, her sister-in-law, was pouring a round of decaf coffee. Shala had arrived that afternoon, calling from LAX to tell them she’d arrived. They’d been a little surprised. She’d spent four glorious hours playing board games and computer games with her nephew and niece, and she’d had a blast. Five minutes after the children were down for the night, she booked the six A.M. flight back to Texas. She suspected explaining her unexpected and very short trip might be difficult. Beth set the cups down and dropped into a chair. Cory said, �śOkay, sis, don’t you think it’s time you come clean?” �śClean?” she echoed. �śWhat’s up? If it’s money, I can help out some.” �śNo.” Shala shook her head. �śI don’t need�"” �śYou’re not pregnant, are you?” he asked. �śNo!” �śOh, shit, you didn’t kill your ex-husband like you threatened, did you?” Beth asked. �śNo!” And just like that, the tears started flowing. �śI just needed to see you guys, to have family around me.” She’d spent the last three days crying about Sky and his family and feeling sorry for herself because she had no one. Then it hit her that the reason she didn’t have anyone was because she’d put up barriers. Her family’s standoffishness was a status quo that Shala herself had mandated. She wiped her cheeks, and her breaths were short. �śI’m sorry.” �śWhat’s wrong, sis?” Cory leaned in, concern etching his brow. That only made her sobs come faster, harder, and deeper. �śDon’t,” she managed to say. �śDon’t look at me like that.” �śHow am I looking at you?” �śI’m sorry,” she repeated. �śIt’s been a rough few weeks.” Beth got up and passed Shala a box of tissues. �śWhat happened?” �śI went to Precious and�Śsome people didn’t want me there.” �śPrecious?” her brother asked. �śPrecious, Texas.” She hiccupped, and it all came pouring out. Even though she knew she was jabbering, just like Sky accused her of, she couldn’t stop. �śI picked up a stalker, and then Sky thought I took his picture and he stole my camera.” �śWho did what?” her brother asked, but Shala couldn’t stop to explain. �śThen I went to the Funky Chicken to find out�"” �śYou went where?” �śI had to find out where he lives, but first I had to dance disco with this other guy. I finally found where Sky lives and I went there. I called the police, but he is the police. Then a stalker showed up and I grabbed a knife and cut myself.” She held out her palm. Cory looked at it and frowned. �śThen Sky forced me to go the hospital”�"her tears were rolling faster down her face�"�śand you two know that I can’t stand hospitals. But it was almost okay because he was so nice. Then the stalker tried to run me over, and Sky saved me, but then a friend of his got shot. The Texas Rangers showed up. Then things really got crazy, and we had curl-your-toes-up sex on top of his desk and�Ś” �śYou had sex with the Texas Rangers?” Beth asked, clearly shocked. �śNo.” Shala blew her nose. �śWith Sky. And then they found the dead man and I found out that Sky’s foster father thought I was Sky’s soul mate, and Sky accused me of jabbering, but the worst part is that he doesn’t believe in love.” She dried her eyes. �śAnd I think I’m this close to being in love with him.” She looked up at the befuddled expressions on Beth’s and Cory’s faces. �śI know�"I do jabber, don’t I?” They didn’t say anything, but their heads bobbed up and down in unison. �śI’m sorry. It’s a lot to digest, isn’t it?” Their heads bobbed again. Shala’s sister-in-law held up a finger. �śSomeone tried to run you over?” Her brother followed with, �śYou had sex on a desk?” Beth elbowed him. �śPlease, someone is trying to kill your sister and you’re worried about her having sex?” He shook his head. �śIt’s the top-of-the-desk part that disturbs me.” Beth rolled her eyes. �śWe had sex on your desk.” �śYou wouldn’t have if I’d stolen your camera,” he insisted. Suddenly, Shala started laughing and Beth and Cory joined in. They laughed for a good five minutes. Afterward, she answered a few questions. Okay, a lot of questions�"she’d obviously done a terrible job explaining. They were still at the kitchen table when Shala’s phone rang. She reached for her purse, looked inside at the number, and tossed it back. �śDon’t tell me,” her brother said. �śThat was the camera-thief, sex-on-the-desk guy?” She nodded. �śYou’re not taking his calls?” Beth asked. �śNo.” Beth grinned. �śThe sex must not have been that curl-your-toes-up good.” Shala sighed. �śI can’t chance getting my heart broken again.” �śI think it’s too late for that. If this isn’t you suffering from heartbreak, I’d hate to see you when it happens.” Shala ignored that. �śI should tell you, I’m leaving in the morning.” �śYou just got here,” Cory and Beth said at the same time. �śI know, but I’m miserable.” �śI thought misery loves company,” her brother replied. She shook her head. �śI promise to come back soon. When I’m not miserable.” Her brother called her the next day as she stood in the crowd, waiting for her luggage at Bush Intercontinental Airport. She’d checked the screen to be sure it was him. �śHello.” �śYou make it to Texas?” �śLovely flight,” she muttered. �śYou still sound miserable.” �śI’ll be okay.” �śYeah. Well, I don’t know if you want to hear this but�Śwe’ve gotten two messages on the home phone this morning from a Sky Gomez.” �śSorry,” she replied. �śThat’s the camera-thief sex-on-the-desk guy, right?” �śRight.” She heaved a sigh of dejection. �śWell, I’m not going to get into your business, but he sounded worried about you.” �śHe doesn’t have a right to worry,” Shala snapped. �śI’m not his soul mate.” They talked a few more minutes and hung up. She was still holding her phone when it rang again. She checked the screen. It wasn’t Sky, but did she want to talk to Maria? No. Yes. No�" �śHello?” she answered. �śI’m so glad you picked up,” Maria said. �śSky’s so worried.” �śI’ve been in California, visiting my brother and his family.” �śSky drove to Houston yesterday, and if one of your neighbors hadn’t said she saw you leaving with your bags, I think there’d be a missing-persons report on you right now.” �śIs he still in Houston?” Shala asked, and actually looked around. �śNo, he came home last night. But�ŚI know it’s none of my business, but it’s so hard to see him hurting like this. All he does is go around growling. He’s miserable, Shala.” �śYou’re right. It’s none of your business.” Shala tempered her words with a soft tone. �śI’ve got to take care of myself right now.” �śIt’s just�"” �śMaria, I didn’t interfere with you and Matt.” �śYou’re right. I’ll shut up.” There came a pause. �śHow was your brother’s family?” �śGood, thanks.” They talked a few minutes before Maria asked, �śCan I at least tell Sky that I spoke to you and that you’re okay?” �śSure,” Shala said. �śOne more thing.” Maria paused. �śYou’re not going stop working with the Chamber because of this, are you?” Shala had spent the entire flight contemplating that very question. In the end she’d decided that she wasn’t going to let Sky stop her from doing her job. She would just have to pull up her big-girl panties�"which would not be a thong�"and avoid him at every turn, crosswalk, and stop sign. �śNo, I’m not quitting.” Saying it made it official. Mentally, she reached down and yanked up her big-girl panties. Damn it, it felt like a huge string had crawled right up into her mental crack. �śShe’ll take Maria’s calls but not mine,” Sky muttered, sitting on his front porch and staring out into the darkness. �śWhat the fuck is up with that?” When he dropped his cell phone beside his leg, Butch and Sundance looked up at him and whined. �śYou miss her, too, don’t you?” he asked them. Sky closed his eyes. Misery, his constant companion, bumped around his chest. Everywhere he looked, he saw Shala: on his desk at work, at Lucas’s place. Yesterday, when he drove by the hospital, he’d visualized Shala standing out there, teasing him about not being a Hollywood cop. Hell, right now she was standing on the porch demanding he return her camera. The visual got interrupted as Redfoot’s truck pulled into his driveway. Sky watched him and�Śwas that Matt? Each man carried a six-pack. When they got to the porch, Redfoot chose the swing and Matt dropped down on the planks beside Sky. �śDid I send out BYOB invitations and forget?” He was definitely not in the mood for company. Redfoot opened a beer and started drinking. Matt handed Sky a beer and�"oh, what the hell�"Sky took it. �śSo we’re all gonna get drunk and pout, huh?” he asked. �śNo,” Redfoot said. �śWe’re gonna get drunk and come up with a plan.” �śA plan to do what?” Sky took a sip of cold beer. �śTo get your women back,” Redfoot said. �śWhat about your woman?” Sky asked. Not since Estella passed away had his foster father been this depressed. Redfoot glanced into the night sky. �śMy case is hopeless. I think I pissed off the spirits.” CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX That night, Shala lay in bed pretending to watch television but mostly watching her phone. He’d called again this afternoon. This time, he’d left a message. She wasn’t going to listen to it, though. Why hadn’t she deleted it? �śOh, screw it.” She picked up the phone to get rid of the message, but her hand didn’t obey her command. Instead, it hit the message button. She needed a good cry anyway, since it had been a whole ten minutes since her last. She put the phone to her ear. Her heart lurched at his voice. �śHi, Blue Eyes. I know you’re not answering my calls, and I didn’t even expect you to this time. Thing is, something happened today. Something good, and I wanted to tell someone, and it occurred to me that the person I wanted to tell was you. Because�ŚI don’t know, I think you’d understand.” He paused, and Shala’s grip on the phone tightened. �śCandy Peterson�"the woman whose husband beat her�"she came in today and signed the papers to press charges. She’d just come from a divorce lawyer, too. She said that something I told her had finally sunk in, that she didn’t want her little girl to grow up and let some man hit her.” He cleared his throat. �śI know she could change her mind, but I think�ŚI think I made a difference. It felt good, you know? Anyway, I wanted to tell someone who�"” His time ran out, and the message ended. Shala dropped her phone, curled up against her pillow, and cried herself to sleep. On Friday morning, three days later, Sky was over at Redfoot’s. He’d taken the day off to help set up. The mayor had also seen fit to help with their plan. His help had included calling Shala and insisting she come down for a town meeting and the night’s spur-of-the-moment powwow. Of course, Sky’s threatening to hand the mayor his resignation had probably increased the man’s help-fulness. Sky looked at his watch. Shala was probably already on the road. His heart swelled at the thought of seeing her again, and he hoped Redfoot was right about this plan. So far, it was bringing Shala back to him. That in itself felt like a miracle. His cell phone rang. Probably it was Matt wanting to know how things were going. Sky looked around for Maria before answering, but when he glanced at the screen, it wasn’t the right number. �śHey, Lucas.” These last few weeks, his loner friend had changed. He’d even agreed to help set up the powwow. �śWhere’s Shala?” Lucas’s tone was gut-clenchingly serious. �śOn the way here. Why?” �śWe were wrong. Not you, but your buddy Phillip and I. Charlie Rainmaker wasn’t behind those attempts on Shala’s life.” �śWhat do you mean?” Sky demanded. �śShe’s not out of danger yet, Sky.” �śFuck! Who is it?” �śI’m not supposed to say, because the investigation is ongoing, but�Śah, screw the investigation. It’s Senator Blanton and his people.” �śWhat? Why? And how long have you known this, Lucas?” Fear was rioting through Sky’s heart. �śI just found out. I mean, I knew he’s being looked at for some nasty stuff. Let’s just say, when he travels, he’s not real particular as to the type of brothels he visits. He likes girls young, and he doesn’t care how they got to him. Doesn’t much care what condition they are in when he leaves them, either. The guy was going to be renouncing his run for presidency and stepping down from the senate in a few weeks. He just hadn’t gotten that memo yet.” Sky felt sick just listening. He also felt confused. �śWhat does that have to do with Shala?” �śIt appears the married senator spent a weekend in a rented cabin outside of Precious, accompanied by his play toy. It was the same week Shala was taking pictures. I’m not even sure if she got him on camera, but remember the shot she took of two people going at it in a car? I think that’s our man. They are running that image now, seeing if they can get anything for sure.” �śAw, shit,” Sky said. �śAll this because the guy couldn’t keep his dick in his pants?” �śI’m afraid it’s more than that.” �śWhat do you mean?” Sky’s grip on the phone tightened. �śYou heard about the girl’s body that was found about sixty miles west of Precious.” �śYeah, but I hadn’t heard they’d indentified her. I’m assuming you’re saying that the girl was the play toy.” �śThat’s what I’m saying. �śIt hasn’t been leaked yet, but when they checked her place, well let’s just say she wasn’t as discreet as the good senator would have liked. There’s evidence linking him and the girl in an earlier affair. But�Śno evidence putting him with the girl the week she died.” �śExcept Shala and her pictures,” Sky said, and gritted his teeth. �śRight. And while the senator is scum, it may not even be him connected with Conners. They leaned hard and heavy on some of his hired bodyguards, mostly idiots with guns, figuring someone helped him make �Śthe problem’ disappear. The FBI has been watching and waiting for one of them to screw up.” �śAnd?” Sky asked. �śThey got one of them on tape, talking to a Bradley Conners. They couldn’t say for sure, because they talked in mumbo jumbo. But the FBI said from the conversation, they surmised that the man had originally just hired Conners to steal something, but due to some new discovery, the stakes went up. Which is probably because they now have the senator connected to the girl. And while they couldn’t swear on it, it sounded like the guy on the line was ordering a hit.” �śShala?” Sky asked. �śHe called her a reporter,” Lucas said. �śBut yeah, we think it’s her.” Sky still was trying to grasp it. �śHow the hell do you know all this?” �śWhen they ran a check on Conners, it came up that my friend had just done the same thing. They called him, and he told them it had been for me, and then I got pulled in for questioning.” Sky tried to think. �śOkay, I’ll find out exactly where she is and send state troopers to find her.” �śWhich way is she coming? I can start that way,” Lucas suggested. �śI think she’d take the freeway. I’ll have to call her.” He hung up, his heart thudding against this breastbone, and started dialing Shala’s number. Then he remembered she wouldn’t answer. Instead he dialed Pete with the highway patrol, who was still at his office, and told him what he was going to need. With Pete on hold, he yelled out, �śMaria?” She called back, and he followed her voice to the kitchen, finding her sitting at the table. �śGive me your phone,” he ordered. She frowned. �śWhy?” �śI need to talk to Shala,” he growled. �śNo! I’m not tricking her like that.” �śGet me your god damn phone! She’s in danger!” Maria’s eyes grew round. Running to the counter, she snatched up her phone. She started to hand it over, then pulled it back. �śOne condition. When she gets here, you tell her you love her.” �śDeal.” He grabbed the phone and started punching in her number. �śBut for the record, I was going to do that already.” He started outside. Shala’s line rang, and he prayed she’d answer. Her voice spilled over the airways. �śHi Maria, I’m about an hour from Precious now. Do you want to meet me at the café?” �śShala? Don’t hang up. We just found out that Charlie Rainmaker wasn’t behind those attempts to take the camera or to hurt you. We know who it is, and he could be following you. Shala?” He repeated her name when she didn’t answer. Reaching his car, he dove behind the wheel. �śI’m here,” she said. �śBut I swear, if this is a trick�"” �śIt’s not.” He heard her inhale. �śWhere are you at right now? What road, and I need a mileage marker.” �śI�Śdon’t see one.” Her voice sounded tight, scared. He pulled out of Redfoot’s driveway, his own gut a pretzel of fear. �śWait, there’s one.” She called it out. �śDo you want me to pull over?” �śNo, just keep driving.” Sky headed toward the freeway, tallying in his mind where she’d be by the time he met up with her. �śAnd I need you to hang on one second�"don’t hang up, okay? I’ve got DPS on another phone and need to let them know where you are, okay?” After hearing her weak agreement, he switched phones and spat out the mileage marker to Pete. He heard Pete repeating the information into a radio. Then he told the trooper to call Lucas on another line and give him the info, too. �śSky,” Pete said a few seconds later. �śThere’s a car within a few miles of her. He’s going to catch up and escort her here.” �śGreat! I’m already on the road, too. Tell them to look out for my truck and Lucas’s.” �śWe don’t need a motorcade,” Pete grumbled. �śWell, you’re getting one.” Shala could hear Sky on the line, and just his voice sent mixed waves of pain and calm into her. Pain, because she’d given up trying to convince herself that she didn’t love him. She was undoubtedly in love with this man who wanted nothing to do with commitment or happily ever after. Calm, because somehow he helped her forget that one of the four cars behind her on the freeway could have a man with a gun in it who was thinking her head made a good target. �śShala?” �śYes?” �śWe’ve got a trooper only a few miles off. He should be pulling up any minute. And I’m on my way. Lucas is, too. It’s going to be okay.” �śSky?” Even saying his name hurt. �śYes?” �śWho is trying to kill me and why?” He explained some, but she assumed he didn’t tell her everything. Silence filled the line. All of a sudden, a car pulled up next to Shala, close. Too close. �śOh, God,” she muttered. �śWhat?” Sky asked. �śA car’s trying to pass me, coming up along the median. I think he’s trying to run me off the road.” �śIs it a DPS car?” Sky asked, sounding panicked. �śNo.” Shala saw the man reach down, and when his hand came back up, he held something out. Shala didn’t look carefully. She just punched the gas. �śWhere the fuck is your guy?” she heard Sky yelling right before she dropped her cell. �śI said, where the fuck are your guys?” Sky shouted into the phone. �śHe’s there,” Pete answered. �śShe’s running from him. Tell her slow down. The guy is trying to show her his badge.” �śIs he not in a squad car?” Sky demanded. Pete didn’t answer. Sky heard him talking into a radio. �śNo.” Pete came back. �śHe’s off duty. He’s driving a blue Saturn.” �śShala!” Sky yelled into his phone. �śListen to me, is the car trying to pull you over a blue Saturn? If it is, he’s a trooper, baby. Talk to me, Shala. Talk to me.” Seeing the WELCOME TO PRECIOUS sign should have eased the burning in Sky’s stomach, but it didn’t. This wasn’t just about saving Shala’s life; this was about convincing her to share her life with him. But Sky would still love to kick the trooper’s ass for neglecting to inform Pete that he wasn’t in a black-and-white. The idiot had put everyone through some unneeded panic. Shala’s phone was low on battery, so after the situation calmed down, and after he’d met up with her, they both hung up. Sky had since called Phillip, who was going to meet them at the station house in a few hours. Sky’s gaze kept shifting to Shala driving behind him. He’d run onto the curb twice trying to catch glimpses of her in her car. The trooper escort phoned and said he’d let Sky take it from there, which was fine. Sky called Shala back and told her to head to the police station/jailhouse. �śI’m supposed to meet Maria at the café,” she argued. �śNot until we know it’s safe,” he snapped. He heard her sigh, but she turned down Main Street the right way. All he could think about was getting her out from behind the wheel and into his arms. And into his life. Permanently. When she parked, Sky leaped out of his car to meet her. His heart lurched at the sight of her. She wore jeans that fit like an oiled glove, and the same red shirt he’d once watched her slowly strip off in his office. Awestruck at the sight of her, he didn’t even acknowledge Lucas walking up. As Shala got closer, Sky ached to touch her. Then Sky watched as Shala ran straight into his friend’s arms. He swallowed a lump of disappointment when he heard Lucas whisper, �śIt’s going to be okay. I got you.” It hurt like hell to know she’d turn to Lucas and not him, but he deserved the pain. Lucas was her friend, and Sky would bet his right arm that never once had Lucas told her that he was just a temporary fixture in her life, that as soon as the new wore off the relationship he was out the door. And that’s exactly what Sky had told her�"maybe not in those words, but after replaying their argument in his head, he begin to see how Shala would view his fucked-up excuses. �śWe should get her inside,” Sky said, hoping his jealousy didn’t show. Then he looked around again to make sure it was safe. He obviously didn’t look hard enough. The moment they turned for the door, the bullets began. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN �śDown!” Sky yelled, and threw himself on top of Shala. He rolled them behind his truck. Another shot rang out. The ping sound told Sky his truck had taken the hit. He saw Lucas duck behind his truck’s front wheel. They both pulled their weapons at the same time. Rising up, Sky peered over the bed of his truck and saw the shooter. He was across the street, leaning over the top of a Dodge Charger. The sun caught a glint of metal, and Sky saw the rifle was propped on the roof of the car. �śCover me,” he said to Lucas. �śNo!” Shala grabbed Sky’s arm. Electricity from her touch shot through him, and he forgot to breathe. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. �śI love you,” he said. �śThat’s real romantic, guys,” Lucas said, �śbut�"” Sky shot out from behind the truck. Shala yelled again, and Lucas started popping off shots, trying to give him some cover. Sky felt a bullet move past his ear. He ducked behind Martha’s Cadillac. When he heard the pings hitting her car, he was more frightened of his secretary learning about the damage than at taking any himself. Swearing like a sailor, he shot out from behind the vehicle. More pops from Lucas’s gun echoed through the hot, humid air. The shooter remained behind the Charger, which gave Sky enough time to get closer. He pelted across the paved parking lot. Close. Almost close enough. Sky only had to cross the street when he saw the killer pile into the car. �śNo!” He raised his gun. Unfortunately, the man had the car moving almost immediately. The roar of the engine rang in Sky’s ears. Aimed right at him, the vehicle burst forward. Sky jumped straight up in the air. His feet hit the hood. He fought to remain standing as he unloaded his weapon into the windshield. The car swerved, and so did Sky. Sky knew he was about to hit the pavement. Probably hit hard. He hated being right. He twisted in midair, hoping to protect his head when he went down. Air gushed out of his lungs when his elbow hit the concrete, and then his shoulder landed, followed by the rest of him. He hadn’t stopped rolling, the pain hadn’t even registered, when he heard the crash. He glanced up toward the sound, thankful he could still move his neck, and saw that the Dodge Charger had T-boned Martha’s Cadillac. Martha was going to have�" And then the pain registered. �śSon of a bitch,” he growled. He didn’t try to move again. He wasn’t even sure he could. He saw Lucas, gun drawn, moving toward the crash site. A mental flash of the guy taking a chest full of bullets filled Sky’s mind, and he felt confident about what Lucas would find. Then he saw Shala on her knees beside him. �śOh, God.” She pressed her hand to her trembling lips. �śIt’s just my arm,” he managed to say, and he hoped it was true, but honestly he wasn’t sure where all the pain was coming from. Her blue eyes, wet with tears, met his. God, he loved this woman! Right then, his pain�"with the exception of his arm�"faded. �śIs that how the Hollywood cops do it?” he asked, and tried to smile. Redfoot adjusted Matt’s headdress. It was late afternoon, and everything had gotten a little behind, with Sky being hurt, but the spirits had taken care of him. From the look on Blue Eyes’s face, maybe Sky’s injury had even helped her see past the issues keeping them apart. Redfoot hoped so, because he didn’t think Sky would be up to taking part in the plan tonight. He certainly wouldn’t be performing. Now, if he could only fix things with Matt and Maria. �śDo I really have to wear this thing?” Matt touched the cascade of feathers on his shoulder. Redfoot frowned. �śDo you want to win her back or not?” �śYes,” Matt muttered. �śThen you have to wear it. And you have to dance properly. Have you been practicing like I showed you?” �śYes, but I have two left feet.” Redfoot glanced down and grinned. �śYou are slightly bowlegged, as well.” �śOh, please,” Matt argued. �śWith your skinny legs, you shouldn’t be criticizing mine.” �śAhh, but my skinny legs are not so pale, hairy, or bowlegged.” Redfoot gave Matt a pat on the shoulder. �śYou will do fine.” This last week, Redfoot had discovered that Maria had good taste. The white boy had spirit, and a good spirit at that. �śI’m going to make an ass out of myself, aren’t I?” Matt asked despondently. Redfoot hid a grin. �śThat is yet to be seen.” And it was. In his vision, he had heard the spirits howling with laughter, but he had also seen Maria with love in her eyes. �śYou lied! Why would you lie?” Veronica’s voice rang out behind Redfoot. He turned. She stood there, arms crossed, dressed in a colorful beaded dress that hugged her body perfectly. Seeing her sent a spasm of pain to his heart. �śI did what I had to do,” he said. �śYou made yourself look bad so my son wouldn’t force me to marry you.” �śI told you I would fix it. And I did.” �śBut now my son thinks badly of you.” Redfoot met her gaze. �śWhat does it matter?” �śIt matters to me.” Anger filled her voice. �śShould I leave?” Matt asked. �śNo!” Redfoot snapped, and then looked back at Veronica. �śWoman, you are difficult. I fix it so you do not have to marry me, and now you are mad at how I fix it.” �śBut why? You never lie.” �śI did it for the reason that I didn’t care that they were going to push us into getting married. I did it because I love you.” �śYou are the most stubborn old coot I know,” she muttered. �śAnd you are the most stubborn old hag!” Someone cleared their throat at the entrance of the tent. Redfoot, Veronica, and Matt all turned. Ramon stood there. �śYou’re a stubborn old coot, she’s a stubborn old hag, and I’d say that makes you two perfect for each other.” Redfoot nodded. He’d left a message on the young man’s phone, inviting him to participate tonight, but Ramon hadn’t returned the call and Redfoot hadn’t known if he would come. �śI wish that was true,” Redfoot said. �śBut your mother does not see it that way.” �śHow do you know how I see it?” Veronica asked. �śYou told me,” Redfoot insisted. �śThat was last week. A woman has a right to change her mind.” �śShe does?” The heaviness that had taken up residence in Redfoot’s chest began to fade. Ramon said, �śWe need to get out there. You two can plan your future later.” The drums had started playing, and he motioned for Matt to follow him. Redfoot smiled at his beloved. �śYes, we can plan later.” When he moved past her, he slipped his hand into hers for a brief squeeze. A lightness filled his chest as she let him. As Veronica smiled sweetly, one thought gave him pause as he walked out: he really needed to get his pills back from Sky. �śWhere are you, damn it?” Shala muttered, using her close-up camera lens to try to find Sky in the crowd. The male dancers were gathered to the side of the arena. Sky wasn’t among them. The drums were playing, and she could see Redfoot and the other elders about to walk out. �śWho are you looking for?” Sky’s deep voice fluttered against her neck. She turned. He wore his powwow garb, minus his headdress. Her gaze swept down his hard, musclecorded body, but her gaze didn’t linger very long, because she focused on the cast on his arm. �śIs that a camera in your hands?” A teasing glint filled his eye. �śI’ve heard the rules have changed,” she replied. �śYup.” He ran his uninjured hand down her arm, and his touch sent shivers of pain into her heart. �śSome blue-eyed angel came to town and changed everything.” She motioned to his arm. �śIt was broken?” She’d gone to the hospital with Sky, but when Phillip arrived he took her back, fighting and screaming, to the police station. She suspected Sky had told him to take her because he remembered how she felt about hospitals. What Sky didn’t know was that being away from him hurt more than any memory of the past. Phillip had released her to Lucas about an hour ago, and he’d brought her here, saying Sky would show up. �śYup, broken,” he said. She leaned in a little. �śThat’s what you get for trying to act like a Hollywood cop.” �śHey, my girl asks for Hollywood, she gets Hollywood.” He took her hand in his. �śLet’s go somewhere we can talk.” �śWhat about taking pictures?” �śWhat about it?” he asked. When he led her away, she didn’t hesitate. I love you. All afternoon she’d replayed what he said to her before running out from behind his truck. She was almost afraid she’d imagined it. Jose studied his father, who was proudly holding his place amongst the elders, talking about the People’s culture and their beliefs. Amazement filled him. How many times had he stood here and watched his father address the crowd? Why had he never felt this pride and sense of belonging before? He could still remember the first day he refused to be a part of the ceremonies. His father had been angry and hurt, and he had demanded Jose get dressed and do his part. It had been his mom who had stood up for him, saying Jose had to find his own way. At this moment, Jose wasn’t so sure his path had been the right one. He didn’t regret who he was or what he did or didn’t believe, but at this moment he knew he’d missed out on something important. The tribesmen started moving away, and Jose turned to where Maria had been standing beside him. Damn it! He’d been given one lousy job tonight, and that was to ensure that Maria saw Matt dance. Now she was gone. He took off into the crowd to find her. Maria crouched near the concession stand, talking to a prospective client on her phone. Redfoot would be angry if he knew she’d brought her cell phone to the powwow, but this was important. �śThere you are!” a voice bellowed. Maria heard Jose and then felt his arm latch around her elbow. He was suddenly pulling her through the crowd of people, who were all laughing about something. She covered her phone with one hand and said, �śStop. This is an important call.” Jose held up his palms as if to comply, then snatched the phone right out of her hands and cut it off. �śCome on!” He dragged her through the crowd. Before she could even think to stop him, it struck her that something was different. It took her a few minutes to figure it out: the spectators’ laughter. Powwows were not famous for laughter. Nonetheless, her fury at Jose’s rude behavior was stronger than her curiosity. �śWhy did you do that?” she seethed. �śI guess this pretty much proves it, huh?” He waved to the arena. �śProves what?” she snapped. �śThat white men can’t dance.” He waved again to the arena. Maria looked up and�"�śWhat the hell is he doing?” Matt. It was Matt. As she stared, his headdress dropped to the ground, and when he reached to pick it up, his loincloth rode high on his backside. Another howl of laughter spilled from the audience. Maria covered her mouth to hold her giggles back. When she saw the look of embarrassment in Matt’s eyes, her laughter died. �śWhy did Redfoot do this?” she hissed. �śRedfoot didn’t. Matt wanted to do it. It seems he’d do anything to get his girl back.” Right then, Matt’s gaze found hers and Maria knew Jose was telling the truth. Matt’s headdress slipped again, this time over his face. Maria’s heart wrenched for him. �śStop this,” she told Jose. �śI can’t. But you could,” he told her. �śOf course, if I remember correctly, if a woman walks out and gets a man from the soul mate dance, she’s pretty much announcing their engagement to the tribal council.” Maria looked back up at Matt and saw his headdress slip again to the ground. If he bent over for it, he’d moon the audience again. �śOh, screw it!” She jumped over the rope, head held high, and marched right into the center of the arena. She grabbed Matt by the hand and led him away. Hoots and hollers filled the crowd, but Maria ignored it all. �śWhere are we going?” Matt asked as the noise decreased. She moved him inside the women’s tent. Then, facing him, she snapped her hands onto her hips. �śWhy did you do this?” He crossed his arms over his wide chest. In spite of being pale and somewhat ridiculous in the outfit, he looked sexy as hell to her. She fought that back. �śWhy do you think I did it?” He took a step closer. �śI love you.” She blinked back tears and tried to think of how to ease into the conversation she needed to have. There didn’t seem to be a way, and she needed to believe he truly understood what was going on. �śWhat if I told you that�Śthat there’s a chance I might not be able to give you a baby?” He stared at her, looking befuddled. �śWhy would you ask that?” he said. She sighed and then just blurted everything out. She told him it all. She told him about her and Jose, about the baby, and about what the doctor had told her after the operation. She saw the look on his face, which was shock. �śI’m sorry,” she said. Everything inside had told her that he would say it didn’t matter. Right now, the look on his face said different. It told her he cared very much. So she turned again and walked away. He caught her arm, but she flung off his hand. �śYou don’t have to do this, Matt. I know you’re a good guy, but you deserve�"” �śStop it!” He pressed a hand to his forehead. �śYou�Śyou don’t understand. Am I shocked right now? Hell, yes. But mostly I’m pissed at you for not telling me about losing a child. I’m not upset about your problem. I don’t care about your problem. But damn, Maria�"you lost a child, which had to have hurt like hell. You don’t keep something like this from someone who cares about you.” �śI guess it’s like having a child, huh?” she asked, standing up to him. Understanding filled his eyes. �śI’d say it was exactly like that.” He sighed. �śIs this why you pushed me away?” She swallowed her fear. �śNo. You said you wanted us to have kids. And it wasn’t fair�Ś” He pinched the bridge of his nose. �śDamn it, Maria. Do I want to have baby with you? Yes. But if for some reason we can’t, then so the hell what? We’ll adopt from the foster program. Look at you, look at how much you love Redfoot. We can do the same for some other kid out there. Heck, maybe we can do both.” She didn’t know she was crying until he brushed the tears from her cheeks. She looked up at him as she put her other fear into words. �śWhat if your daughter doesn’t like me?” He scoffed. �śShe’s going to love you. I’m getting her next weekend, and I’d love it if you’d agree to meet her.” He leaned down and stared into her eyes. �śSo would you please say it?” �śSay what?” �śThat you love me. I think I’ve said it three times, and you’ve yet to say it back.” She smiled and pulled her paleface close. �śI love you, Matt Goodson. I loved you from our second date, but tonight, seeing you out there�Ś” �śMaking a fool out of myself?” She grinned. �śYeah, making a fool out of yourself. I fell in love with you all over again.” �śI guess it’s true then,” he said. �śWhat?” She giggled. �śThat white men can’t dance?” He leaned his head back and laughed. �śNo, that love makes fools out of us all.” �śI don’t mind being that kind of fool,” she said, and kissed him. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT Jose stood watching the powwow continue, feeling damn proud that he’d managed to do exactly what Redfoot wanted. It seemed like a first. Then, suddenly, his father was standing beside him. �śI think we did it, son.” He dropped his hand on Jose’s shoulder. �śI think we did,” Jose agreed, his gaze on the women moving center stage of the arena. �śWhen’s the next powwow?” �śIn October. Maybe you can visit then.” �śYeah, maybe I can.” Jose wiped his brow. The temperature felt as if it had just risen ten degrees, and the drums changed to a different rhythm. He looked up. The sun hung low in the horizon and was painting the sky a bright pink and purple. His gaze slowly shifted back to the dancers, who were again standing tall and proud. The drum tempo increased, and the women now began to move to the sound. Golden sunlight spilled everywhere, making them seem to glow, but one woman stood out from the rest. He recognized her: Poncha Rivers. The girl he’d taken to his senior prom, and the waitress who’d been so glad to see him at the diner. Watching her graceful movements, the way her breasts jiggled ever so lightly, the way her hips moved in little circles, he was mesmerized. His chest grew heavy, and he tried to remember if he’d gotten further than second base with her. Damn, he had a vague memory of being extremely drunk and naked, but if anything had happened, he couldn’t recall. �śSon?” Jose tried to look away from Poncha but couldn’t. �śYeah?” �śNothing,” his dad said and chuckled. He left Jose there to watch Poncha finish her dance. Redfoot saw the Scrabble player standing a few feet away and went to join him. �śPlease tell me the bulldog has been arrested.” �śThe bulldog?” Lucas repeated. �śThe senator.” �śThey’ve brought him and his men in for questioning. Their asses are ours.” Redfoot nodded. �śThat’s good.” Lucas reared back on his heels. �śHow did you know that Sky and Shala would hit it off?” �śThe spirits told me when I sleep.” �śSeriously?” Lucas said. �śSeriously,” Redfoot answered. �śAnd the other night, I saw you in a wacoi.” �śWacoi?” Lucas laughed. �śThe sacred word?” �śRight.” Redfoot said. �śMaybe next time you’ll let me use it.” �śI doubt it. But what is a wacoi?” Lucas asked. �śOr is it still too sacred to share?” Redfoot dropped a hand on the young man’s shoulder. �śLike Sky, you too will find your way.” �śWhat way?” Lucas asked. �śWait a damn minute. If you’ve seen me with a soul mate in some weird-ass dream, then I know you are batty as shit.” Redfoot just laughed. When he saw Veronica, he left the Scrabble player to his stupidity. Like Jose, this man would know his fate soon enough. �śWhere are we going?” Shala asked Sky when he finally got off the phone with the mayor. �śTo the only air-conditioned spot around here. The ticket booth.” She saw the sweat rolling off his brow. �śAre you sure you should be out here after all you’ve been through?” �śI’m fine,” he grunted. �śI’ll bet you were told to go home and go to bed, weren’t you?” she asked. �śMaybe.” �śThat’s it, I’m taking you home! Where’s your truck?” �śI didn’t drive. Phillip dropped me off.” He opened the door to the ticket booth and motioned her inside. She frowned. �śI’ll go find Lucas.” �śShala, please step inside and let’s talk.” Seeing the determined way he looked at her, she walked inside. The booth was no bigger than a concession stand, but it was cool from the air conditioner humming in the corner. �śHere.” She pulled out a chair and motioned for him to sit. He did so, and then motioned to a chair at the side. �śYou sit down, too.” �śWhy?” she asked. �śDo you have more bad news? Is there another hit man out for me?” �śNo. It’s about us.” She sighed. �śCan’t we worry about that when you’re better?” She was beginning to get worried about Sky walking around at the powwow after just leaving the hospital. �śNo. Sit down,” he ordered. �śFine, but it’s not fair to do this right now.” �śWhy not?” he asked. �śBecause I’m feeling sorry for you and grateful that you played Hollywood cop to save my life, and it will be hard for me to be objective.” �śThen this is definitely is the right time,” he said. �śBecause I need all the ammunition I can get. Now, please sit, before I stand up.” She dropped into the chair. He met her gaze, and she saw something in Sky Gomez she’d never seen. Fear. �śI screwed up, Shala. I know that. I accused you of jabbering and said that I didn’t believe�"” �śI do jabber,” she interrupted. �śI know, but it was mean of me to say it. And here’s the thing. I didn’t think I believed in love, I didn’t think I’d find anyone who made me feel�Śwhole, right, complete. I�"” She held up her hand. �śAre you on pain medicine?” �śYes, why?” He sounded annoyed that she’d stopped him. �śThen maybe you should wait until you’re clearheaded to�"” He shook his head. �śI’m very clearheaded about what I’m about to say. So just listen.” When she nodded, and he continued. �śI was saying�Śthat I don’t know if it’s because you lost your parents the way I did, or if�Śhell, maybe there’s something to this whole soul-mate thing. The first time I saw your picture, I think I fell for you. Then, the day you arrived in Precious and I followed you, I fell harder. When I kissed you and we made love�Śwell, I just keep falling for you harder and harder. I know I told you that I didn’t think it would last, but I was lying. Lying to you, lying to myself. Hell, I was lying to Sundance and Butch�"who, by the way, miss you something terrible.” �śSky�"” �śNo, let me finish. I know you live in Houston. And I don’t like the idea of moving, but if Precious isn’t your type of town, then I’ll do it. I’ll follow you anywhere, because Precious hasn’t been so precious since you left. I love you and�"” �śSky�"” �śI’m not finished,” he growled. �śI need�"” She leaned in and put a finger over his lips. �śSky, I love Precious. I love you. Now would you please�Śjust shut up and kiss me?” ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I tip my hat to the best critique group in the world; honest, kind, supportive, and pushy broads whose attempts to keep me sane are to be commended, even if they fail: Faye Hughes, Jody Payne, Teri Thackston, and Suzan Harden. To my editor Chris Keeslar, who is probably sweating bullets but doesn’t show it when I tell him things like, �śOh, yeah, there’s a skunk and a naked man in a bathtub filled with tomato juice and women’s douche in this book.” To my agent Kim Lionetti, who gives me just enough rope to hang myself, but also keeps a pair of scissors within reach. And finally, to my sister-in-law and fan, Jackie Mathews, who tells me, �śYour book made me laugh so hard, even the cows were looking at me funny.” RAVE REVIEWS FOR CHRISTIE CRAIG! DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DECEIVED �śThe fun�"and action�"never stops in the enchanting Divorced, Desperate and Deceived. Christie Craig’s prose practically sparkles with liveliness and charm in the exciting conclusion to her stunning Divorced, Desperate and Delicious Club trilogy.” �"Joyfully Reviewed GOTCHA! �śThe mystery and romance plots fit seamlessly into a witty and fast-paced novel that’s easy to read and satisfying to the heart.” �"Publishers Weekly DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DATING �śI was simply delighted by this breezy, snappy, good-time story�Ś This book is sure to brighten your day.” �"Beyond Her Book Blog, Publishers Weekly WEDDINGS CAN BE MURDER �śA story that twines emotions and feelings with sizzle and steam, all wrapped around bits of humor�ŚWeddings Can Be Murder combines passionate and intense characters with a plot that’s well-balanced and fast-moving. It’s edgy and fun.” �"Once Upon a Romance DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DELICIOUS �śThis is an entertaining, fast-moving mystery and romance with interesting, likable characters�Ś The main romance, as well as the secondary ones, are delightful, and the suspense is well done. This is an allaround enticing and fun story�Ś” �"RT Book Reviews Other Love Spell books by Christie Craig: DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DECEIVED GOTCHA! DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DATING WEDDINGS CAN BE MURDER DIVORCED, DESPERATE AND DELICIOUS Copyright LOVE SPELL® June 2010 Published by Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc. 200 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Copyright © 2010 by Christie Craig All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher. E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0884-2 All characters, events, places, and Native American tribes in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to people living or dead is purely coincidental. The name �śLove Spell” and its logo are trademarks of Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc. Visit us online at www.dorchesterpub.com .

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