The Sheriff Gets His Lady

“But you’re the one who called me sheriff.”

“I might have made a mistake.” A big one. She had no business baiting the one man who could ruin everything.

He surprised them both by chuckling. The deep sound rippled over her nerve endings, bringing an inadvertent smile to her lips. But when he slid his fingers deep into the front pocket at his hip, her mouth went dry. She followed his fingers, drawn to the fit of his jeans over that nicely muscled form.

Good grief, what was wrong with her? She never stared at a man like this. She was too old to be gawking at him like some virginal schoolgirl even if he was as tempting as sin itself.

He smiled with chocolatey rich brown eyes and she knew he’d noticed her watching him. Warmth bathed her cheeks and she forced herself to look away. A woman could lose all coherent thought staring into eyes like those.

He withdrew a folder and flipped it open. Sky barely glanced at the badge inside. She already knew what it said and she was busy being irked by the chemical rush feeding her hormones.

“Now that I showed you mine,” he said softly, “how about a peek at yours?”

She could actually feel her blush growing brighter. Not for the first time she cursed her porcelain skin, which made blushing an uncontrollable fact of life. That was bad enough, but for some stupid reason she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. The lines beside his mouth and eyes deepened. Another smile edged up the corners of his lips as he slipped the folder back inside his front pocket.

She should be striving to convey her annoyance. Instead, his expression made her feel vividly alive and totally female. The heady rush made it impossible to dislike the man. Still, she’d better get the upper hand fast.

“A quick peek like that hardly merits a full display on my part,” she said tartly. “I haven’t broken any laws.”

“None that I know about, anyhow.”

God, but he had a killer smile. The perfect accompaniment for that deep sexy voice and those seriously dangerous bedroom eyes. Madison Avenue would kill to have him.

“You really are the local sheriff?” she asked, stalling.

He tipped back the brim of his hat, watching her steadily. “Duly elected and everything.”

She’d bet every female in the county had voted for him just to catch a glimpse of that smile.

The abrupt sound of a car horn made them both jump. Sky’s mouth turned into a desert when she realized she was about to have her “accidental” meeting after all. Her daughter was right on schedule and Sky still wasn’t prepared.

Her knees threatened to buckle. She wanted to wipe away the sudden dampness from hands that were visibly trembling. Instead, she clutched her bag more firmly, drawing it against her like a shield. This was her daughter, a piece of her very being that no one and nothing could deny. And not a sound issued past her dry, parted lips.

The sheriff had spun to face the vehicle behind him. The functioning portion of Sky’s mind told her he was cursing under his breath as he hurried forward. He wasn’t going to want to learn why she was here. Her worst-case scenario would come true if she didn’t handle this perfectly.

But that was her daughter sitting there!

“Hey, Dad!” Lauren called through the open window on the passenger’s side of her car. “Marvin wants to know what you want done with the truck. He said you just walked off and left it there. I told him that oil leak must have gotten the best of you.”

“Lauren, I’m busy right now.”

Instantly, her eyes darkened in concern. Sky wanted to protest. She wanted to come forward. Yet she stood mute as stone, emotion obstructing the words clogging her throat.

This was her daughter. That small, precious life she’d carried inside her body for nine long months, the infant she had never seen, was now a grown woman staring back at her with eyes so like her own. Sky felt numb.

“Sorry, Dad.”

The sheriff’s shoulders relaxed, but he kept his back turned to Sky, deliberately not introducing them.

“That’s okay. I’ll talk to Marvin when I’m through here.”

“Need a lift home?”

He shook his head and his tone gentled. “No, thanks. The truck got me here, it will get me back. I’ve got chili in the slow cooker. You can do the salad, but don’t let Limpet con you into any more green pepper. It gives him gas.”

She grinned impishly. Sky’s heart turned over as she recognized the look. Her own mother had often given it to Sky many times over the years.

“I won’t, Dad.”

“I should be home in an hour.”

“Okay.” With a curious glance at Sky, she pulled away.

Sky drew in a jagged breath, breaking the stasis that had held her so silent. In that brief exchange, she had learned everything she’d wanted to know about her daughter’s relationship with her adoptive father. Their loving bond was almost a tangible thing.

The jagged pain that razored its way through her had its roots sunk deep in jealousy. She stared after Lauren with a longing that brought the sting of tears to her eyes once more.

Noah turned to find the woman watching Lauren drive away with an expression he couldn’t define, but one that instantly raised new alarms. He no longer felt indulgent, nor would he allow the chemistry between them to interfere any further.

“I’ll see your identification now,” he said briskly.

He sensed a moment of apprehension, then her hand slid quickly inside her briefcase. Belatedly, his training kicked in. He reached back toward his weapon.

“Hold it!”

She raised her face, the hair parting smoothly away from creamy smooth skin. “What?”

“Bring your hand back out real slow.”

Her mouth opened in an O of surprise. With a jerky nod, she slowly withdrew her hand. Her fingers clutched a black leather wallet.

“Set the briefcase on the hood of your car.”

She complied without a word, but she was trembling. He ignored a momentary desire to reassure her.

“Now take your driver’s license from the wallet.”

Her fingers shook just the tiniest bit as she fumbled to remove the license. A business card fell to the ground at his feet. With a darting movement, she scooped it quickly, but he glimpsed the gilt lettering on the front and made out the word investigator. His chest felt hollow as she stuffed the card back inside the wallet, looking guilty as sin.

“Here, Sheriff.”

She was careful not to touch him as she handed him her driver’s license. Noah scanned the plastic card while keeping part of his attention on her. He wished he had his radio. He had no way to run her license. And he was definitely going to run it.

“Skylar Diamond?” he asked suspiciously. The picture wasn’t flattering, but it was her. The name sounded as phony as her story about being a fashion designer.

“My mother thought it had a dramatic ring to it.”

“What did your father think?”

Her shoulders lifted and fell. “I have no idea. He didn’t stick around long enough for me to meet him.”

Chagrined, he couldn’t think of an answer to that. He wished she’d take off those glasses. You could tell a lot about a person from their eyes. Noah studied the New York address. He wasn’t familiar with the city, but he thought the location sounded uptown. The high-rent district would certainly go with her outfit, which was as out of place here in Darwin Crossing as the woman herself.

“Is this your current residence?”

“Yes.”

But he’d caught her momentary hesitation. Was she lying? Or did she simply not want to answer his questions?

“Where are you staying here in Texas?”

“A rooming house in Bitterwater.”

“Why?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Why what?”

“What are you doing in this part of Texas, Ms. Diamond?”

“I told you. I’m here to—”

“Get inspiration for a winter line of clothing? I don’t think so.”

“It’s the truth,” she insisted stubbornly.

“Then what do you want with my daughter?”

She sucked in a startled breath. “I...don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His jaw firmed. She was lying. That made it real easy for him to overlook her beauty and any attraction he felt toward her.

“According to my sources, you’ve been hanging around town for two days now, watching Lauren. I want to know why.”

Instantly, she bristled. “I don’t know who told you that....”

Her voice trailed off as her head turned. Alma stood against the nearby building watching them, hands crossed over her chest while she rocked back and forth on the heels of her boots.

“Ah. The town watchdog, I suppose.”

Noah didn’t respond. He could almost see the woman’s mind at work. He’d give a lot to be able to read the individual thoughts.

“All right, Sheriff. I was watching your daughter. But I didn’t know she was your daughter.”

Another lie? He couldn’t be sure.

“I saw her in town the other day and wondered if she’d be interested in doing some modeling.”

His gut tensed. The story was plausible given the way she dressed and acted, yet her body language was all wrong. One hand flexed nervously against her side. The other gripped her wallet tightly.

“Modeling,” he said softly, as if he’d never heard the term before.

Her fingers stilled. She drew in a breath. “Yes, modeling. You know, where a person wears designer clothing for the purpose of displaying said clothing to others.”

He’d give her points for a quick rally.

“Your daughter would be perfect for the line I have in mind.”

“I thought you designed the clothing. Don’t tell me you also hire your own models.”

“I do when I see a young woman who would do justice to them,” she argued. “She’s tall, willowy, blond, the perfect image of a young, upcoming executive. She’d make an excellent model.”

“Over my dead body.”

Noah heard a murmur of assent. He glanced around and saw that Alma had been joined by two of her cronies. Great. They were starting to draw a small crowd.

“I’m going to ask you to step over to my office, Ms. Diamond. The red brick building across the street.”

She tensed. “Am I under arrest?”

“Not yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I want to run your identification through the computer. I’m asking for your cooperation.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll have to insist.”

Her lips tightened. She tossed her head in the direction of the onlookers. Alma looked smugly satisfied.

“Very well, Sheriff.” She reached for her briefcase.

“I’ll get that,” he told her quickly. “Head for that red brick building across the street.”

“The one that says Sheriff on the window?”

Without waiting for a response, she strode across the street, head high, her spindly high heels clicking against the pavement. He picked up her briefcase and followed, refusing to be distracted by the subtle sway of her hips. Skylar Diamond moved like a queen.

Well, she should have stayed in her own little kingdom. Darwin Crossing was his town.

The slim briefcase had no betraying bulge and not enough weight for a gun. He didn’t really think she was dangerous in a physical sense—unless he counted the sensual tug she created inside him without even trying.

Noah shook his head. The briefcase was unlatched. He hesitated only a second before lifting the flap. Papers, disks, files, notebooks. A manila file with some handwritten directions sticking out. Finders Keepers was written in a bold scrawl across one of them. Now, why did that have a familiar ring to it? He didn’t have time to read more because she reached the office door and stood waiting expectantly.

His lips curved wryly. He held the door open for her and allowed her to precede him into the office. The dispatcher, Marissa Hurtado, looked up questioningly. Noah gave her an imperceptible nod.

“Go straight back to that first desk and have a seat, Ms. Diamond,” he directed.

She paused to let her glance quickly scan the room, no doubt categorizing and dismissing the badly scarred furniture and the messy papers spread everywhere. He’d decided the papers bred in secret overnight just to frustrate him. Paperwork was the bane of his life. He set his hat on top of the newest stack and walked around his desk.

“You might want to take off your sunglasses,” he suggested as she perched stiffly on the edge of the visitor’s chair.

“Why would I want to do that?”

He indicated the overhead fluorescent lights. “No sun?”

After a moment’s hesitation, her hand reached for the glasses and slipped them off. Silvery-gray eyes met and held his gaze. “Happy?”

He tried not to smile at her sarcasm. “Ecstatic.”

“I’m so glad.”

Noah thought again that she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. Thick, dark lashes framed glittering eyes that held just the faintest trace of apprehension. But if she was nervous, it wasn’t enough to stop her sassy mouth.

“So, now what?”

“Now I’ll run your license and see if there are any wants or warrants.”

She fidgeted and quickly stilled beneath his inquiring gaze.

“Is that a problem?”

“No. Of course not.”

Her fingers tapped the edge of the armchair. She bit down on her lower lip in contemplation, drawing his attention to their fullness and the soft curve of her mouth.

“I’m fairly sure I paid that overdue parking ticket,” she muttered.

Noah didn’t want to like her. Especially since he wasn’t sure what sort of a threat she presented. But Ms. Skylar Diamond had a disarming way of draining the tension right out of him.

“I’ll let you know if you did in just a minute.”

She fidgeted some more as he waited for the connection. “Nope. No parking tickets. But you aren’t much for stop signs or speed limits, are you?” he asked when her information finally came up on screen.

She settled back in the hard wooden chair and regarded him coolly. The telephone rang and he heard Marissa answer.

“It’s a matter of perception,” she told him. “The New York police department can be very rigid about some things.” She sounded mildly aggrieved. “And I know I paid all those fines.”

“So you did,” he agreed. Behind her, Marissa was dispatching his deputy clear out near Butte Point. Noah frowned before returning his attention to Skylar Diamond. “No wants or warrants came up.”

“You sound surprised.”

“You never know.”

Part of him wished something had come up so he’d have an excuse to hold her until he knew what was really behind her sudden appearance here in Darwin Crossing. Alma’s suggestion coupled with the business card in her wallet brought back his earlier fears.

“So I can go now?”

The telephone rang again. He paid no attention. “In a bit. Mind showing me that card you dropped earlier?”

Her silvery eyes darkened to gray-green while her nails bit into the wooden arm of the chair.

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

She held his gaze without flinching. “Because unless I’m under arrest, I’m going to leave now.”

“Noah,” Marissa interrupted. “I’m sorry, but Henry’s bull just took down the fence again. Jackson called it in. He says he’s going after the bull with a shotgun this time. I just sent Terry on another call out near Butte Point.”

Noah cursed. Knowing Jackson’s temper as he did, his darn fool neighbor wasn’t making idle threats. The man had no patience left when it came to Henry’s bull. If Noah didn’t want the Hatfields and McCoys reenacted in his own backyard, he was going to have to do something about that blasted animal.

“Call Jackson back. Tell him to stay put until I get there. If he fires that shotgun I’ll arrest him for disturbing the peace. I’m on my way.”

He didn’t want to let Skylar Diamond go, but he had no valid reason to hold her.

“You’re free to go, Ms. Diamond, but stay away from Lauren. My daughter is engaged to be married this summer. The last thing she needs or wants is a career in modeling.”

Her composure slipped when he mentioned the engagement. He saw an instant of shock before she rallied, blanking her expression completely. Now why should she care one way or another? The phone rang again as she came to her feet. Noah rose, as well.

“Isn’t that for her to decide, Sheriff?”

“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” But she definitely had spunk, he’d give her that.

“This isn’t the middle ages, you know. Women do have choices.”

“Noah,” Marissa called out, “that was Henry’s wife. Henry went after the bull and Jackson. She said he took his rifle with him.”

“Damn!” He didn’t have time for this, but it looked like he’d have to make time. “I’m on my way.”

He grabbed his hat, closing the distance between him and the woman. Flecks of blue and green shimmered in her eyes as excitement warred with apprehension. While she flinched slightly, she didn’t back up or lower her gaze.

“Go back to New York, Ms. Diamond. You’ve overstayed your welcome in Darwin Crossing. If I find you around town again I’ll arrest you for loitering.”

Her lips parted. For just an instant, he had the strongest impulse to taste those lips. Then sanity reasserted itself and he put his hat on and strode out the door. He heard her address Marissa before the door swung shut.

“And I thought New Yorkers had a reputation for being cold.”

Noah sprinted for the gas station and his leaky truck. So she thought he was cold, did she? Well, cold was the one way Skylar Diamond definitely didn’t leave him.

* * *

THE MAN sometimes known as Norman Smith worked the locks, cursing under his breath until he got past the last one. He had a feeling this wild-goose chase wasn’t going to be any more productive than his search of her office had been. Coming to New York had been a mistake. She’d covered her tracks well.

He’d called her office, looking for her, but her well-trained staff refused to give him any information. He’d hoped she’d left a record of her plans somewhere in her office. Unfortunately, that hadn’t proved to be the case. Getting inside the well-protected building had taken time and ingenuity, but all he’d learned for his efforts was her home address.

He’d let the rising tide of his anger get the best of him. Probably, he shouldn’t have given vent to his frustration by tearing up her office. When she found out, it would just send her deeper into whatever hole she’d found for herself. But she had to know he’d be coming after her. Surely she wasn’t so stupid she’d think he didn’t want his money back.

She had good locks, he admitted as the last one gave. And the security in her building was pretty good, as well. Not as good as he was, of course, but she was going to pay for this inconvenience. He was going to hurt her—badly. He’d already started planning all the ways he would make her pay.

He slipped silently inside her dark apartment, listening hard. There was no sound. He used his tiny pen flash to lead him to her pristine, empty bedroom. Damn it! He wanted that computer case! He needed that computer case! If she thought she was going to take his money and walk away without consequence...

He slipped the knife from its sheath and scored the fancy white bedspread viciously. Not bothering with stealth any longer, he flipped on the bedroom light and opened her closet. Too many empty hangers. Looked to him like she’d split for good. Remembering all that luggage she’d had with her, he wondered. Maybe she hadn’t taken off with his money after all. Maybe she’d been planning from the start not to come back again. If she was on the run for some reason, she could be anywhere at all by now. He needed an address, a phone number. Something that would tell him where she’d gone.

Norman Smith was nothing if not thorough. He destroyed or damaged every inch of the apartment, pausing by the telephone and the blinking answering machine.

He listened and discarded the five messages from her friends and co-workers and concentrated on the memo pad beside the telephone. She’d written several messages on the top sheet of paper, but then she’d drawn stupid doodles over half of them. He couldn’t make out all the words. The hotel name was clear enough, but he already knew she wasn’t there any longer.

Bitterwater. What the hell was Bitterwater? At least it looked like Bitter something. A place? Or had she been drinking water that tasted bitter? He cursed again. Bitterwater could be one of those small Texas towns. There was a phone number below it with a Texas area code. Unfortunately, the phone number wasn’t legible beyond the first few digits.

There was a dollar amount. A hotel fee?

He’d find out. He was very good at puzzles. Haughty Ms. Diamond was about to learn that fact. And then she’d discover some of the other things he was good at.

Especially murder.

CHAPTER FOUR

SKY FACED the morning with a heavy heart. Rain beat a sympathetic tattoo against the windows. She had barely slept all night and it showed. Even a shower and makeup didn’t help. What little sleep she’d managed to get had been haunted by conflicting emotions. And Sheriff Beaufort was at the center of the storm.

The handsome sheriff had to be the most intriguing man she’d ever met. Why did he have to be her daughter’s adoptive father? She considered it luck that he hadn’t recognized her name. Even though adoption records were supposed to be sealed, there was always the chance that someone in his position had learned the truth somehow.

She cringed when she remembered the ridiculous story she’d made up for being in Darwin Crossing and her interest in Lauren. He hadn’t believed her, obviously. She should have told him the truth.

Only she hadn’t wanted to see the condemnation in those chocolate eyes when he learned she’d given up her only child at birth.

Watching Lauren and the sheriff interact yesterday, Sky had felt a pang of envy for their easy camaraderie. It reminded Sky of her relationship with her mother. Lauren had grown up happy and loved—without the poverty. Wasn’t that why Sky had come all this way? She’d wanted to know if she’d made the right choice all those years ago. She had.

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