Lawman's Perfect Surrender

Ford rubbed her arms. “I should have been there.”

He was concerned. Really concerned. More than a police officer should be. Absurdly, this was exactly what she craved. For him to be here, making her feel safe … and more.

Seeming aware of the intimacy at the same moment, he regained his composure. “What happened?”

She reiterated what she’d already told the other officers. “He got away.” And that was what bothered her most. When she’d been racing from window to window inside Martha’s house, the night had cloaked him. Where was he? When would he show up next? Where would she be? Was he waiting outside? She’d have to watch over her shoulder constantly. And locking her house wouldn’t be enough. What was she going to do?

She looked through the darkened window. In daytime she could see her house from here. Now she only saw her porch light. She didn’t want to go home. What if he was out there now? Watching the police. Waiting …

“Don’t worry, Gemma,” Ford said, bringing her gaze up to his gorgeous blue eyes. “I’ll find him.”

Movement at the front door made her turn with Ford. Bo Fargo entered. Big and tall, walking with an air of steamrolling intensity. He was older, in his fifties, with thinning brown hair. As he drew nearer, his bleary blue eyes drilled her with what she suspected was annoyance and forced concern.

“I heard what happened.” He came to a stop next to Ford and asked Gemma, “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She was getting tired of being asked. “Fine.”

“You were lucky to get away from him.” No mincing of words there. He definitely was a man who demanded respect. But there was something darker there, too.

Averting her gaze, she spotted Hallie handing her grandmother a cup of hot tea. Then she noticed the firemen had gone, and the other officers were beginning to do the same. It left her empty and full of dread. Soon she’d have to face her house alone. The glass in her back door was broken.

“You can stay here for the night.”

Gemma turned to see Hallie.

“Right, Grandma?” Hallie asked Martha.

“Of course, dear.” Martha looked at Gemma. “We have plenty of room.”

“Thank you.” The two had no idea what that meant to her. Or maybe they did. But then the way Hallie watched Bo caught her suspicion. She all but glared at the man. The boy she’d entered the house with moved to her side, watching along with her. What was that all about?

“This is the second time Jed Johnson has gotten away, Ford,” Bo said. “I thought you were going to assign a patrol to Gemma’s house.”

Ford’s reaction was full of resentment. “I did.”

There hadn’t been enough time.

“Well, apparently it isn’t enough.”

“According to whom?”

Gemma did a double take at Ford’s retort. Clearly he wasn’t afraid of his boss.

The Chief of Police didn’t appear offended; challenged, maybe, but not offended or angry. He knew he was in charge. Or thought he was. “We can’t have this kind of crime happening here in Cold Plains. It ruins our stellar reputation. Our peace-loving culture. Something like this threatens the morale.” He turned to Gemma. “Isn’t that right?”

He was asking her? “W-well … I suppose so.” She didn’t like feeling afraid to go home. Her house was her sanctuary. Was her sanctuary. That had been stolen from her. By that worthless wife-beater of an ex-husband she so stupidly married in the first place!

Ooh … she was going to find something really frivolous to blow a sizable chunk of his money on.

Noticing Ford’s brooding presence, she wondered what made him dislike Bo.

“A patrol obviously isn’t enough,” Bo reiterated. “Samuel suggested that it might be a good idea if you stayed with Ms. Johnson until our perpetrator is captured. I happen to agree.”

Gemma covered her surprise and saw Ford doing the same.

“Samuel wants Ford to stay with me?” To protect her?

Bo smiled, cunning and sureness abounding. Indomitable cunning. “Yes, he does, Ms. Johnson. He was not at all happy to hear that you were attacked again. He cares a great deal about your well-being. He cares even more about the well-being of this town. He would care about any woman who’s been brutalized. He wants you to feel safe, and I intend to make sure that you do.”

While that sentiment eased a lot of her anxiety in a giant rush, she also hesitated. Samuel seemed to be going overboard for her. Or was Bo accurate when he said he cared about any woman who’d been brutalized? Yes. Samuel was out for the good of the town as a whole.

“Of course, it’s ultimately up to you, but I do agree with Samuel that it’s in your best interest to have an officer at your house when you’re there. You shouldn’t be alone until we capture Jed.”

“I …” She looked at Ford, whose hard eyes met hers.

“If not Ford, then someone else,” Bo looked at Ford expectantly.

“I’ll do it,” Ford snapped, and then softly to her, “But only if you agree.”

Torn, Gemma looked from Ford to Bo and then through the front window. Though her house was still well-lit, it may as well be in Amityville.

Slowly, she met Ford’s eyes again. “I would hate to impose on your time …”

“It would be no trouble.” Ford’s voice was calm and every bit as sure as Bo had been. “I’d rather not risk another attack, either.”

She smiled up at him and he looked at her mouth.

“Then it’s settled,” Bo interrupted. “You’ll stay with Gemma until Jed is caught.”

“Only if you’re sure,” Ford said, never moving his gaze from her.

“I have a guest room on the first level. You’ll be very comfortable.”

“Don’t worry about accommodating me, Ms. Johnson. I’ll just be doing my job.”

Protecting her. Making her feel safe. “Gemma.”

“Gemma,” he said in his deep voice.

A flutter of excitement warned her to be careful. So did the softening of his blue eyes. The blink that followed cleared it too soon and she felt him withdraw into the role of protector.

“You’ll be a lot more comfortable at Gemma’s house than that apartment you rent,” Bo said. “She’s fixed it up into a model of what we like to see here in town.”

“It did need a little work when I moved here.”

“It’s a beautiful place. Cold Plains wouldn’t be what it is without good people like you. Rest assured, we’ll keep Jed away from you from here on out.”

A surge of warm gratitude filled her even while she wondered why he and Samuel were being so kind to her. What was it about this town? Everyone seemed that way. It was almost too good to be true. But too good to be true was her medicine right now.

“I can’t tell you what that means to me,” she said. “I’m so happy to have found a place to live like this. It’s … it’s just … what home should be.”

Beside her, Ford eyed her askance and then turned his silent watchfulness back to Bo. The negative undercurrents couldn’t be missed, leaving Gemma wondering where they came from.

Late afternoon the next day, Gemma watched Ford close the front door after the handyman had finished replacing the window in her back patio door. Before she’d even thought to fix the window, Ford had arranged everything. Now he turned and looked at her. She’d been watching him all day, and he’d caught her many of those times. Starting with breakfast, through his many patrols of her house and yard. All afternoon while he oversaw the handyman and took calls for work. She’d tried to occupy herself with chores. Laundry. The kitchen. Reading. Always he was near, and she was drawn to him.

Staring at him from across the living room grew awkward. She turned away and headed for her back patio, loving her new window and the way it erased Jed’s presence. Outside, birds chirped and the sun lit up a clear blue sky. No wind rustled the leaves of her plum tree. Bees visited her wildflower garden. She moved over to the new fountain she’d purchased after the handyman left. It was big, elaborate and expensive, and water trickled over three tiers of beautifully carved stone. She could almost enjoy the pleasure of a simple, warm summer day.

She sat down on her one-of-a-kind, intricately and colorfully tiled patio table and put her feet up on the adjacent chair. Toying with the bracelet on her wrist, she looked down at the dangling sapphires and diamonds. Jed had bought the expensive piece for her. He’d even engraved her name in it. With love. She didn’t wear it because of that. She wore it for the constant reminder of what marrying a monster had done to her, a reminder of a mistake never to make again. She hadn’t kept anything else he’d given her, not that there was much. Falling for Ford as fast as she was couldn’t be a step in the right direction. She had to be careful. Take her time. Be decisive. Ford might seem like a good and honest man, a cop, but she needed time to heal from being with someone totally opposite. She couldn’t afford to be impulsive with men anymore.

A sound made her look over her shoulder toward the door.

Ford leaned against the doorjamb, eyes partially squinted against the sun in a western sky. He had his hands in the front pockets of his faded jeans and his ankles were crossed. The soft denim fitted him well, resting comfortably at his waist just beneath a flat stomach. And had any man looked sexier in an impeccably pressed, white long-sleeved shirt? The badge clipped over the left side of his muscular chest had to help with that.

Realizing she was really checking him out, she was about to turn away when she noticed him doing the same with her. Their eyes met. She averted hers first, too in danger of giving in to impulse.

“Fountain looks good.”

“Thanks.”

“Punishing your ex?”

She smiled, hearing his affectionate tone. “Yes.”

He chuckled. “Fourth of July is the day after tomorrow.”

Was all this small talk masking their brewing attraction? “Yeah. Town’s got a big celebration planned.” Elaborate. The streets would be lined with flowers and vendors selling food and souvenirs. A band was hired and a huge fireworks display would go off over the park. She’d heard about it all week. It would be the grandest fireworks display in the entire state of Wyoming.

Standing, she moved to the edge of the patio.

“I need you to stay close to me.”

She faced him, taking another sneak peek at him in those jeans. “Okay.” She’d have done that anyway.

Catching his gaze moving from her chest to her face, she felt as though the fireworks were starting early right here on her back patio. She checked for a wedding ring and didn’t see one. Why would a man who looked as good as him not be taken by now? Surely he had to at least have a girlfriend.

“How old are you?” she asked. He didn’t look much older than her.

A slight smile toyed with his mouth and then vanished as though he’d curtailed the enjoyment of her question and the possibility that she was interested in more than his protection. “Twenty-eight.”

Only three years older than her.

“Your girlfriend must not like you having to stay here,” she said, hoping she wasn’t being too obvious, a roundabout way of finding out if he was single. And why was she doing that anyway?

He pushed off the door frame and stepped onto the patio, walking in that macho way of his to the edge of the artfully placed stone. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Does your family live here?”

“I don’t have a family.”

The flat sound of his tone alerted her curiosity. “None?” Surely he had some kind of family.

He was standing so close to her she could smell his cologne. Nice. Subtle. Deep and just enough spice. But his short answers had her wondering. “What about your parents?”

Looking out into the yard, he didn’t respond. Whatever had happened to his parents was painful for him to talk about.

“Don’t you have anyone close?” How sad if he didn’t.

He turned back to her with much less angst. “Anna. She’s my … mother.”

Gemma didn’t know what to say. Anna was a mother figure to him and he’d obviously lost his real parents somehow.

“She won’t be able to stay away,” he said with a fond grin, surprising her. He didn’t have any trouble talking about Anna. “Knowing I’m shacked up with a woman.”

She smiled. “You’re working. Bo Fargo told you to stay with me.”

“That won’t matter. She’ll take one look at you and …” He didn’t finish.

“And what?” She had to bite back the direct questions popping up in her mind. What had happened to his parents? How had he come to be close to this woman named Anna?

His gaze fell all over her body. “Never mind.”

“Too late, Deputy McCall,” she coaxed. “What will she think?”

He grunted his amusement. “That there’s something going on between us.”

“She’d like that?” So would Gemma …

“She’s been hounding me lately to settle down again.”

Again? “You were married before?”

The tension reappeared beyond the iron wall that shielded his eyes. “What do you want to do for dinner?”

Wow. That was definitely another touchy subject. He didn’t like talking about his family or his past relationships. Except for Anna. How odd.

Sensing she’d get no more information out of him, she remembered she was supposed to meet Lacy. “Oh.” She checked the time. “I almost forgot. I have to stop by Cold Plains Coffee to pick up Lacy.”

“You have plans tonight?” The annoyance in his tone was unmistakable.

What didn’t he like? The fact that she had to go out and he’d have to go with her or that it was Lacy she was going to see? “We’re going to a seminar.”

“You just went to a seminar.”

Clearly, he didn’t approve of them. “When I called to tell her I couldn’t stop by today, she asked if I’d go with her tonight.”

After a lengthy pause, he said, “Be careful who you befriend at those.”

His warning made her search his eyes to see if he was serious. He was. “Do you mean Lacy?” She laughed a little. Lacy was the friendliest person she’d ever met.

“Haven’t you noticed anything odd about the community center?” He turned to face her full-on.

“No. It’s modern and beautiful and it serves a wonderful purpose.”

“Yeah, yeah. Samuel is a godsend. What would Cold Plains do without him?”

“Why don’t you like Samuel?”

“I don’t like what he’s doing to this town.” He sounded disgusted.

She angled her head in question. Why did he think there was something wrong about Cold Plains? “Who wouldn’t want to live here?” This was paradise compared to where she’d come from.

He leaned against a post supporting her covered patio. “It wasn’t always this way.”

“What way? Perfect? Idyllic? Safe?” At least it had been up until Jed showed up.

“This town was full of crime and cowboys before investors came and turned it into a tourist attraction.”

He didn’t like that? “What’s wrong with improving things?” Gemma asked.

“Nothing.”

She was pretty sure he thought there was something wrong with it. Why was he a cop here if he hated it so much? “You’d rather have it full of crime?”

“No.”

“Then …?”

He stared at her for a long time. “You’re new here.”

What was that supposed to mean? Old-timers knew something she didn’t? She found that so hard to comprehend. Cold Plains was a haven for her.

Straightening from the post, he walked with slow, sure strides to the patio door. “I’ll drive you and Lacy to the community center.”

Following him into her house, she wondered if the reason he didn’t like talking about his family situation had anything to do with his opinion of Cold Plains. She sensed a strong connection between the two. Was he here to right a wrong? Or did he have some kind of vendetta against certain people? Against Samuel Grayson?

Or Bo Fargo? She’d seen the way he’d looked at the man and it hadn’t been friendly. Ford didn’t respect the police chief. But why? He wouldn’t tell her if she asked. He’d already cut the conversation off.

He led her out the front door and she locked it behind her, watching him scan the neighborhood with trained eyes. She wished he didn’t attract her so much. His mysteries kept mounting. And now he’d warned her to be careful who she befriended. Was he one of those she should steer clear of? Instinct told her no. Her heart was drawn to him for some reason. Then again, her heart had been drawn to Jed, too.

She’d be careful all right. She’d be careful not to get too starry-eyed over Ford, police officer or not.

Chapter 3

Gemma entered Cold Plains Coffee as Ford held the door for her. Dismissing the gentlemanly gesture, she looked for Lacy. She couldn’t wait to go to tonight’s seminar, not for the content, rather, for the break it would give her from the constant temptation to let go of inhibitions.

Rich wood blinds with swooping maroon drapes accented the western decor of Lacy’s shop. Buffalo-plaid-patterned chairs and sofas created nooks where patrons could gather. In the center, rugged wooden tables surrounded by cushioned chairs sat beneath exposed beams. The acoustics of the architecture kept the mixture of voices in the half-full space to a muted level.

A middle-aged couple saw them and, after staring a bit, the woman leaned closer to the man and said something that made the man nod and look over again. An elderly woman with a floral sun visor sat at a table and smiled her approval. At first Gemma thought the older woman liked seeing a police officer in the shop, but then she stood in her baby-blue jogging suit and headed toward them, white tennis shoes bright and clean.

“Anna,” Ford said flatly.

“Ford,” Anna greeted, leaning toward him to plant a kiss on his cheek, Ford lowering his head to accommodate her. “I didn’t know you were coming here.”

With an affectionate frown, Ford said, “I highly doubt that. What are you doing here, Anna?”

She ignored him and turned to Gemma. “I’ve heard all about your trouble, dear. And I couldn’t be prouder of Ford for helping you.”

“I’m very grateful for his protection,” Gemma said.

“I told you, I’m working,” Ford said.

“That’s what you always say. This, however, is different. You call living with a woman working?” Anna gave Gemma a close and deliberate inspection. “A pretty one, too.”

“I’m not living with her. I’m staying with her for a while. For her protection. I’m a police officer.”

“And a good one, too.”

“Why did you come here? And tell me the truth.”

Anna smiled and gave the air in front of her body a sweep with her hands. “I went for a jog. You know I always jog in the evening.”

Ford chuckled, a deep, affectionate sound. “So, you decided to stop in for coffee? After a jog?”

“No harm in that.” Her eyes twinkled with delight.

“You never drink coffee at night. Especially when you jog, Anna.”

Anna laughed, the aged sound adorable. The love between them was obvious. She could do no wrong in Ford’s eyes. The woman had to be in her seventies and had the energy of a woman twenty years younger. Athletic and thin and nowhere near frail, she was an inspiration.

“I came here to see her for myself.”

The entire exchange touched Gemma, and also revealed a side to Ford she didn’t think emerged often. The soft light in his eyes, the soft light of love.

“Anna …?” Ford warned in a teasing way.

“Do you think I’d pass up a chance to meet your new girl? I knew you wouldn’t tell me about her and I couldn’t wait.”

“She isn’t my girl.”

“No, but you desperately need one.” She patted his muscular bicep.

His affection disappeared behind a lowered brow and intensifying eyes. Even with the one person he loved like a mother, he still kept his boundaries firmly in place. Whatever haunted him, it was significant.

“Why don’t you bring her by the house this weekend? I’ll make us something special for the Fourth of July. You can grill some ribs. Your favorite. I don’t feel like attending the fireworks this year. It’s changed so much …”

“Anna …” Ford cautioned again. “I told you, I’m working.”

“Oh, all right, then when you’re finished working, bring her by the house. When will that be? Is August enough lead time?”

Ford sighed. “Anna …?”

Lighthearted laughter answered him before she turned to Gemma. “Good to meet you, dear.”

Gemma shook her hand, feeling the strength in it. With that, Anna headed for the door. But over her shoulder she called, “When your work is finished, you bring her to see me.”

Ford gave her a salute with two fingers, and muttered to Gemma, “She doesn’t understand that when my work is finished, I won’t be staying with you anymore.”

“No?”

He turned a startled look to her. She was just as startled.

“I heard that,” Lacy said as she approached, sparing Gemma further embarrassment.

She couldn’t believe what she’d said. Of course, she didn’t want Ford to stay after his work was finished … after Jed was taken care of. It was just that Anna seemed so sure.

Hooking her arm with Gemma’s, Lacy was about to take her toward the door when all three of them saw Anna pass outside the café window. She winked.

“She may have a point,” Lacy said.

“What point?” Gemma asked.

“Are you two ready to go?” Ford stopped the banter irritably.

“When I told her you were staying with Gemma her whole face lit up and she went into this long explanation about how she thought fate had finally stepped in to guide you.”

“When did you tell her that?” Gemma asked while Ford’s mood darkened all over is face and body language.

“This morning when she came in for coffee.”

“That sounds like Anna,” Ford said, his mood boomeranging in a way that captivated Gemma.

Lacy grinned her entertainment. “I told her about the day the two of you met. Imagine how intrigued she was.”

Ford’s mood returned to annoyance. “No imagination necessary. Are you two ready to go now?”

Gemma wasn’t. “What did you tell her?”

“Exactly what I saw.” Her now mischievous grin left no doubt as to her meaning.

She and Ford had noticed each other. “Ford has orders to stay with me. There’s nothing more going on than that.”

“Orders,” Lacy cooed. “Now that’s romantic! Anna thinks so, too.”

“You’re going to be late.”

Gemma noticed Ford’s more consistently flat demeanor and Gemma, seeing that, asked, “Are you sure you want to drive us?”

“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t.” He looked right at Lacy.

Lacy breathed a single laugh and, arm still hooked with Gemma’s, headed toward the door.

Ford followed them outside, scanning the street for anything suspicious. He opened the passenger-side door for Gemma. Lacy opened the rear door herself, beaming a knowing smile.

“In all seriousness, Ford,” Lacy said from the backseat, “It’s truly impressive how well Bo Fargo runs that police department. Gemma is a lucky woman to have your protection.”

Only Ford’s eyes moved to the rearview mirror.

“You must be so relieved, Gemma. I don’t know what I’d do if a man came after me like that. It’s so rare when we have that sort of thing in this town. But so comforting to know we have policemen like you, Ford.”

Again, Ford’s eyes shifted to the rearview mirror. The compliment rolled off him as though he didn’t believe her. Didn’t he think Lacy was being sincere? Wasn’t she?

Gemma looked into the backseat. Lacy’s eyes shifted from the rearview mirror. Her smile seemed genuine but her gaze held something else. She turned to the window, leaving Gemma wondering what she was thinking as Ford pulled to a stop in front of the community center.

“I’ll be waiting for you when you get out,” he said.

Jed would be foolish to try and attack her in a crowd.

“Why don’t you come in with us?” Lacy gathered up her purse.

“I don’t attend these seminars.”

“There’s something for everyone. You really should try it,” Lacy said.