Stud in Texas (Rugged and Risque 4)

Sam’s free hand raked through his hair and he let out a low groan. “Goddammit.”

“My stuff…?” she muttered.

“Oh, sweetie,” Lucy said. “There ain’t nothing left of your stuff. I’m telling you, that trailer burned clean to the ground. Who would do such a thing?”

She knew exactly who. “I feel sick.”

“I think you ought to stay where you are,” Lucy told her. “’Til the sheriff from Fredericksburg or Wilder figures out what really happened.” She sighed. “I’m real sorry to be telling you this, Sky. But I am damn glad you weren’t in that trailer. Why, I just can’t even begin to imagine…” Her voice tapered off.

Sky swallowed hard. “Thanks for letting me know, Lucy. And for being concerned about me. I’ll give you a call in a day or so, okay?”

“Sky, are you gonna be all right?”

She stared up at the hunky cowboy whose expression was a cross between consternation and fury. As though he weren’t sure whether to pull her into his arms or spit nails—at Mac Willet.

“Yeah, Lucy. I’ll be just fine. I’ll talk to you later.”

She disconnected the call and barely managed to set the phone on the counter without dropping it, her hand shook so bad.

Staring up at Sam, she told him, “There’s nothing left of my trailer. The firemen suspect arson. Said if I’d been inside when the fire started, I—” She sucked in a sharp breath, unable to repeat what Lucy had mentioned about her not escaping.

“Son of a bitch.” Sam hissed under his breath. His fingers grazed her cheek, brushing away a few tears. “It’s time to talk to the sheriff, sweetheart.”

“I know,” she whispered, fear and anxiety gripping her. “But, Sam.” She continued to gaze up at him, her heart twisting. “If I tell the sheriff—either here or in Fredericksburg—then I have to tell Reese. Like you said, she can’t hear about this from someone else. And word gets around quick in these parts.”

He pulled her from the stool and wrapped his arms around her, holding her firmly as her body still trembled.

“It’ll be all right, darlin’. The sheriff will find him and we’ll put a stop to this. And Reese will be nothing but concerned about you. She won’t think any less of you, you have to know that.”

“She’ll be so disappointed in me.”

“Hey.” He pulled away slightly, cupped her face with his hands and stared deep into her eyes. “This is not your fuck up. You believed in this guy enough to agree to go into the studio to record another CD.”

“He got me the Casey James gig. I trusted him.”

“And he got himself into a bind and lied to you so you’d bail him out. Then he assaulted you. I repeat,” he said in a strong voice, “this is not your fault.”

She was quiet for several moments, drowning in his mesmerizing emerald eyes. Then she smiled softly and said, “I don’t deserve you, but I’m sure glad you’re on my side.”

He hugged her again, squeezing her tight. “Darlin’, you have got to start giving yourself more credit. Don’t let this guy rob your confidence.”

She sighed. Sam was right. She was fighting tooth and nail to keep Mac from stealing money from her, but she’d handed over her dignity pretty damn quick. Yes, it would be hell to tell Reese the full truth about Nashville. But she had to believe that Reese would still love her, anyway. That nothing would ever break their bond.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll go to the sheriff’s office.”

Chapter Nine

“I’ll take you,” Sam said as he unraveled from her.

“I want to talk to Sheriff Johnson. I’ve known him since I was a kid. It’ll be easier to speak with him than a stranger. And since there’s no local law in Luckenbach, I’d have to go to the authorities in Fredericksburg or Wilder, so I choose Wilder.”

“All right.” He trashed their uneaten breakfast, then finished dressing while Sky pulled on her jeans. She tucked in the hem of his shirt, but she was still swimming in it.

While she sat on the edge of his bed and yanked on her boots, he told her, “We’ll have to stop into a store when we’re in town so you can get some clothes.”

Her foot dropped to the floor and she pressed her palms against her knees and took several deep breaths.

Sam fought the wave of fury crashing over him. Seeing Sky in such distress—and knowing everything that had happened to her—damn near killed him. And the thought of what might have occurred if she hadn’t spent the night with him had him more than ready to slam his fist into her ex’s face.