Fierce (Wolf Ranch 5)

I could only nod because… sheriff? Seriously? The hot guy was a lawman? I was definitely steering clear of this one.

It would be horrible if he found out what I was mixed up in. Knew I was… bad. That I was doing ridiculously illegal things. That the large quantities of ketamine I’d ordered for Dax were probably going to go into the hands of young people. That was what gutted me about this. Sure, he was destroying my life, but I was possibly destroying others by doing what he said. Fuck, my gut churned. I needed another antacid.

“I should see about Seraphina. The horse,” I added dumbly. What if Dax got in touch with me? He would. Just because I was away didn’t mean the phones didn’t work. I took a deep breath, let it out. I’d deal with him when the time came. I was used to startling and jumping at every turn at work, afraid I’d bump into him, or he’d find me alone somewhere. That thought made me inwardly freak.

Hell, what if he showed up here? No. I came to Cooper Valley to get away, to figure out how to get out of the mess I was in. To figure out how to get a guy to stop blackmailing me, all the while somehow staying out of jail.

I just had to play it cool. I had no idea how to do that. I’d been plagued by him for weeks. I hadn’t figured out a way to make it stop yet. I was sure “felon” was stamped on my forehead. And with Levi being a sheriff—

“I’m sure Clint and the others are getting her settled in the stable. I promise they’ll treat her like a princess.”

Okay, he had no idea. He had no idea. Breathe!

“Yes, but she’s in heat,” I finally said, focusing on his words. “She needs to be separated, for now. Then teased in the corral with your stallion. Her vaginal secretions indicate—”

I bit my lip. Oh my God. I did not just say vaginal secretions aloud. In front of this man.

“I’m here to breed a horse,” I said finally after taking a breath. Then another. My cheeks were hot, and it was almost impossible to keep my gaze on his, but I forced myself to.

His smile grew, and his face changed from gruff to… gentle. That seemed almost impossible for a guy whose hands were like dinner plates and clearly had DNA of Vikings and cavemen. “Take a few minutes to settle in. I’m sure your boss doesn’t expect you to get to work right away. Like you said, the mare needs to be teased first. All females like a little foreplay, right?”

Were we still talking about Seraphina?

His eyes darkened, and I felt like this was somehow foreplay for us. Pheromones must be pumping off of him in waves for me to even be all hot and bothered. Speaking of vaginal secretions… my panties were wet.

All at once, he stepped back. “Get settled. I’ll take care of Seraphina.”

When he closed the door behind him, I dropped onto the bed. What had just happened? That cowboy was interested. In me. I was inexperienced, not an idiot.

He was a sheriff!

I needed to keep my distance way more than I needed to get laid by a hot cowboy. Pulling my phone from my purse, I texted Mrs. Vasquez, the neighbor, who was keeping an eye on Pops while I was away. He had signs of early dementia, on occasion forgetting where he was, my name. So far, he was safe, but I worried that might change. I didn’t want him to go for a walk and forget where he was or go to take a bath and forget, leaving the water running and flooding the house.

Keeping my veterinarian’s license and my job was paramount. With Pops’ medical bills and prescriptions on top of the mortgage and everything else, the bigger paycheck working for Mr. Claymore versus buying into a private practice was a requirement.

Now I was stuck. I had to keep my job, so I could order the ketamine for Dax. I couldn’t do it if I worked at a regular practice. On a horse farm? Orders would go unnoticed. At least I hoped.

I was screwed. So screwed.

But at least Mrs. Vasquez offered to keep an eye on Pops, so I could be away. He was safe. He had no clue about my troubles or stress. The only perk of memory loss.

Sighing, I let my thumbs fly on the cell phone screen.

Me: How’s Pops doing?

She wrote back right away.

Tina: Good. He had dinner at the Elks Lodge. Now we’re watching his shows.

I sighed in relief.

Me: Great. Just wanted you to know I made it fine.

Tina: Don’t worry while you’re there. Have fun!

Don’t worry? I had a blackmailer probably wondering where I went.