Best of 2017

“They found my car.”

Sheriff Crow pulled into the grass as Gene passed and waved. A deputy parked my car behind the SUV and got out. I hurried over, ignoring the chill that started to set in despite the bright sun.

“Where did you find it?” I leaned inside and put my knee on the driver’s seat. Everything seemed untouched. Popping open the glove compartment, I found my gun just where it should have been.

“It was on a logging road, the L-8.” The red-headed deputy, who couldn’t have been older than I was, watched as I looked around.

Not possible. “That’s where I left it. When I went back, it wasn’t there.”

“We rode up on it this morning, found a spare key under the floor mat, and cranked it right up.” The redhead smiled and held out his hand. “I’m Deputy Fields, by the way.”

I shook his hand but stared at my car. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too. I’ve heard a lot about you from Bonnie and the sheriff. I’ve been looking forward to making your acquaintance.”

“Thanks.”

“Little Rory Fields.” Garrett walked to the passenger side and leaned over the roof of the car. “Last time I saw you, you had a mouthful of braces and a real body odor problem.”

Rory narrowed his eyes. “That was a long time ago.”

“Yeah, I see the braces are gone.” Garrett sniffed the air. “Not so sure about that other issue.”

I glared at Garrett, who gave me a shit-eating grin and shrugged. “What? It’s all true.”

“Mr. Blackwood, I don’t apprecia—”

Sheriff Crow put a hand on Rory’s shoulder and pointed his hat at me. “I told you we’d find it.”

Rory bit back whatever tirade he was about to start.

Garrett opened the passenger side door. “Anything stolen?”

“No, it’s all here. But I don’t understand how.” I shook my head, trying to figure out what the hell it meant. “You found it on the L-8?”

“Yeah.” Sheriff Crow patted the hood. “About seven miles off the highway, just like you said.”

“But it wasn’t there.” I stared at the car, wondering if I was losing my mind.

Rory hitched a thumb into his belt right next to his gun. “Maybe when you walked out of the woods, you were disoriented about what part of the road you were on?”

I wanted to tell him that wasn’t possible. My compass and my memory were just fine. But then again, if they found it on the road, maybe I’d missed it somehow?

“It’s just that I walked down the road for a good quarter of a mile. I should have seen it.” I crossed my arms over my chest as goose bumps from the frigid air or the ghost car raced across my skin.

“I don’t know.” Sheriff Crow snugged his hat on his head again. “But it’s here now. I guess that’s the most important thing.”

“Yes. Sorry. I should be thanking you for finding it.” I nodded at him. “I really appreciate it.”

“Just doing my job. Sorry it took so long. I been dealing with that hunting accident for days. Anyway, how’s the leg?”

“Much better. Garrett’s taking good care of me.”

“That’s what I want to hear. Maybe Bonnie will stop chewing my ass about letting you stay out here now.” Sheriff Crow grinned. “Then again, I like it when she gets onto me in front of Ty. I think the jealousy spices up their marriage, and it certainly inflates my ego.”

“Honesty from an elected official?” I laughed. “What reality are we living in?”

“I need to work on that for the next election cycle.” His easy smile was contagious. No wonder Bonnie had a crush.

“These are nice.” Rory walked over and ran his hand along the handlebars of one of the ATVs. “You still planning on doing your surveying, Miss Vale?”

“Looks like it. Garrett was nice enough to get the ATVs, so it should cut my field time in half.”

Rory looked up and caught my eye. “You know, I’m pretty familiar with these parts. I’d be happy to help you—”

“You’re about to freeze out here.” Garrett’s voice turned gruff as he walked around the car and took my upper arm. “Come on inside.” He started walking me toward the steps but called over his shoulder to Sheriff Crow. “Glad you and Junior Mouseketeer Rory stopped by.”

“It’s Deputy Fields.” Rory snapped.

Sheriff Crow cleared his throat. “Uh, all right. We need to skedaddle. Got a report of a…a poacher on Mr. Bowry’s property. Yep.”

“We did?” Rory didn’t seem convinced.

“Yeah, come on, son.” Sheriff Crow chuckled. “Let’s go check it out and leave them to it.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Vale.” Rory’s hopeful voice only spurred Garrett to tighten his grip as he helped me up the stairs.

“I’m fine,” I hissed as Garrett walked me through the front door and slammed it behind us. “I can walk.”

He whirled to face me. “I know, and Rory Dickhead watched every step you took.”

“He was just trying to be polite. What’s your problem?”

He backed me into the door, and my body tingled with the memories of what happened the last time we were in this position. “My problem is that I don’t like him looking at you.”

The sound of the sheriff’s engine died away.

“That doesn’t give you a license to be an asshole!”

“I think it does.” His voice lowered.

I met his eyes and licked my lips. He followed the movement and bent his arms at the elbow until his body pressed against mine. My breath hitched, and I gripped his waist.

My desire for him, the fire that had burned low over the past few days, roared back. I couldn’t deny it, not anymore. Rising onto my tiptoes, I kissed him. He answered, smashing his lips against mine in a blaze of passion as he cupped my face. A low growl rumbled in his chest as his tongue swept into me. I trembled, all hint of the cold disappearing.

My nipples hardened and crushed into his chest as he ran one hand down to my ass. He squeezed hard, and I moaned into his mouth. His other hand dropped to my throat. I dug my nails into his sides as he pulled me close. My panties grew wet, and I ground against him shamelessly.

His hand tightened at my neck, and I bit his bottom lip. The sting of pain seemed to bring him back to himself in the worst way. He broke our kiss and stared down at me.

“What?” My voice barely made a sound.

“I won’t hurt you. Not like this.” He backed away and held his hands up. “I won’t.”

The stab of rejection sank deep inside me like a poisoned splinter. “Why?”

“You’re too…” His chest heaved, and his cock pressed against his jeans. “I can’t do this to you.”

His face began to blur as tears clouded my vision. “You can’t or you don’t want to?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He took another step away, then turned his back on me. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Fuck you.” I wanted to hit him, shove him, do something to show him that I wasn’t going to break. “I didn’t call black.”

His shoulders slumped. “I know, but I feel like…”

“Like what?” I demanded.

“I feel like if I do those things to you, those things that I want—” He

let out a heavy sigh. “Look, it doesn’t matter. It’s just not going to happen. Things are good the way they are. Let’s keep them that way.”

I dropped my head and two tears plopped to the floor.

“I’m going to work. You, um, you get ready to start surveying or something.” He walked toward the library.

I turned my head away from him. I didn’t want him to see me cry. A flash of red caught my eye. My pea coat hung on a hook along with other jackets in the foyer.

I blinked hard, ridding myself of the tears. He opened the French doors to the library, his back to me. In a moment of pure impulse, I snagged the red coat and pulled it on. He still hadn’t turned around.

With a deep breath, I gripped the front door handle and pulled.

He turned then, and shot me a look so fierce I almost faltered.

“What are you doing, Red?” The warning notes in his voice only strengthened my resolve.

I gave him a smirk and my middle finger before taking off across the porch, down onto the lawn, and into the cold, shadowy woods.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I RAN FAST BUT not hard enough to re-injure my leg. Sprinting across the leaf-strewn ground, I felt electric. Each stride carried me away from Garrett, but also right into his arms. I’d made my choice. I hopped a small stream and cut to the left, dashing down an easy slope.

My feet skidded on a patch of wet leaves. I slowed to keep from falling. That’s when I heard Garrett’s footfalls. A thrill coursed through me. My body kicked into a higher gear, and I sped away, endorphins telling me I could beat him, that I could get away even if that wasn’t my intent.

I passed the silent trees. They watched as I ran for my life, my mind conjuring a killer chasing me down. A killer with Garrett’s face. The fear took me higher, gave me wings as I sprinted through a clearing. Garrett’s footfalls grew louder, the earth thundering beneath him as I broke through the tree line and darted to the right.

Five more steps. That was all I got. Garrett tackled me to the ground, his strong arms wrapping around me as we fell. I hit the forest floor hard, my breath escaping my lungs with a whoosh. He grunted, and I threw an elbow back into his ribs as I tried to crawl away from him.