Lorie hadn’t thought it was possible to feel any more trepidation than she had when she’d walked through the door of her house to find it in shambles. Matt’s comment changed everything. By the time they pulled up to the gates at the Rob Roy Ranch, her stomach could have used a gallon or so of antacid.
She knew about Matt’s family, of course. While not on quite the same social footing as the Daingers, the Holts, or the Steeleys, they still carried a lot of weight, especially in the farming and ranching community. Under normal circumstances, she’d have been happy for the chance to meet them.
These weren’t exactly normal circumstances.
What bothered her the most, though, wasn’t the idea of an awkward introduction, but rather the reason behind it. She hoped his siblings wouldn’t be put in too much danger from their unexpected guest.
Matt drove up in front of the lodge and parked. “Wait here. I’ll go grab the keys for you.”
Lorie nodded. She was too exhausted to argue.
As she sat, waiting for Matt to return, Lorie’s stomach started to growl. She had been too keyed up to feel hungry, but the adrenaline was wearing off. She’d bought food for Colleen but nothing for herself, not even an energy bar. Stupid.
No. Not stupid. Just the shock.
Lord, thank You for taking care of me. Thank You for letting Colleen be okay. Please protect Winken, Blinken and Nod.
The door to the lodge opened and Matt emerged, followed by another man who looked about the same age, not that it was easy to tell in the moonlight. Both men carried packages of what she hoped were food. Light glinted on aluminum cans.
Matt opened Lorie’s door and handed her a zipper bag with bread in it and two cans of cola. “Meet my brother Jim. He runs the ranch.”
“A pleasure,” Jim said with a friendly smile.
“You, too.” When had she fallen into the simple California responses? About the third year she’d lived there? Lorie wished she still sounded as though she belonged in Dainger County.
Jim handed her a covered glass dish, a bag of salad and a bottle of dressing. “Hope you like barbecue, ’cause that’s what was already fixed. There’s a microwave in the cabin. Matt’ll show you how to work it.”
Lorie’s chest grew tight. She fought back more tears and managed to whisper thanks. Jim closed her door and Matt climbed into the pickup.
He clicked his seat belt, glanced over at her then started the engine. “Glad you still have your seat belt on.”
“It’s a habit.”
“A good one. You do know it’s the law in Arkansas now?”
Lorie chuckled. “Considering the hour I spent trying to calm Mom down once it passed, yes, I’d say so. I had to send her one of those emergency seat belt cutter/window-smasher combos before she was convinced she wouldn’t be trapped inside a burning car.”
“I keep one in every vehicle. You never know.”
The image of her beautiful Mustang exploding made Lorie swallow hard. If she’d gotten into her car and turned the ignition tonight... A shudder rumbled through her.
Matt drove up slowly beside an empty cabin and parked. A front-porch light glowed invitingly, as did the lights on all the cabins, occupied or not.
“Let me get that stuff before you try to get out.” Matt came around and unloaded her lap.
“I can take some of it.”
When Matt smiled, Lorie’s stomach danced. Oh, dear. This was so bad. She could think of a million reasons why it wasn’t a good idea to be attracted to Matt. Well, maybe not a million. But close.
Matt unlocked the door, and, after he switched on the light, Lorie followed him into a small living/dining/kitchen combination. A native stone fireplace graced one corner. An open Western-style armoire held a big-screen TV, stereo and combination video player.
Lorie had never been to the ranch, but she’d visited their website, so the Wild West–style furniture didn’t surprise her. Its red-and-black buffalo plaid would be equally at home in Montana.
Ancient Rob Roy Tartan, her brain whispered.
“Come on in. The microwave’s over here.”
The microwave nestled close to an almost regular-size refrigerator, a sink, a tiny dishwasher and a coffeemaker.
Matt put the covered dish into the microwave, removed the plastic lid, stuck a paper towel over the top and set it for a couple of minutes to warm. “Dishes are in the cupboards, and glasses. They’re clean. We run everything through the main dishwasher when guests leave.”
“That’s good.” Lorie remembered something. “I forgot to buy a dog dish for Colleen.”
Matt reached under the sink and pulled out a twin food/water dish. He ran tap water in the half labeled Water.
“I told you, we take pets. Some people always forget to bring the basic necessities for their animals. And given your situation, it’s really not surprising that something slipped your mind. You’re doing well to be functioning at all after the day you’ve put in.”
Matt set the dish on the floor. Lorie tried not to notice the way his muscles flexed against his uniform, but failed. He just looked too good.
Lord, please help me. I don’t want to be attracted to a deputy sheriff. The sensation of being iron filings to his magnet refused to dissipate.
While the barbecue warmed, they brought in Colleen and the purchases. Lorie carried the bags of clothes and toiletries into the bedroom. Wild horses raced across a fantasy desert landscape on the printed bedspread, but they barely registered.
Please, Lord. You know how I feel about lawmen.
Hearing the microwave beep, she laid her purchases on the bed and went back into the other room.
Matt had already poured Colleen some kibble and was putting salad into bowls when Lorie returned.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
He looked over his shoulder at the sound of her voice. “I don’t mind,” he said with a smile. “I hope you don’t mind my eating with you.”
“Not a bit.” Although that does make this seem awfully much like a date. Which it isn’t. It’s police protection. Not a date. Yeah, keep reminding yourself.
Matt shoveled barbecue onto thick slices of home-baked bread. It smelled ambrosial. A memory of San Diego County’s best barbecue places surfaced. Good ’cue was expensive out there. If the Ranch offered this on the menu, it was probably expensive here, too.
Matt poured the cola into glasses and set them on the table as Lorie sank into a chair. He sat across from her at the round oak table and held out his hand. He wanted to hold her hand?
* * *
Lorie looked surprised when Matt held out his hand to her. Didn’t she pray before meals? She had at the Burkhalters’.
“Let’s say grace.”
The puzzlement cleared from her brow, and she put her hand into his. Matt immediately realized the action was a mistake. Warmth flowed from her fingers straight to his heart.
Please, Lord, help me stay focused on why she’s here.
“Lord, we thank You that Lorie wasn’t seriously hurt this day. We ask You to continue to keep her safe in Your loving care. Please bless this food to the good of our bodies, and keep our hearts and minds stayed on You, our perfect peace. Amen.”
“Amen.”
Matt looked into Lorie’s eyes. Tears filling them made her eyes look like autumn leaves lining a creek bed. Mesmerized, Matt couldn’t look away. After a moment, Lorie tugged at her hand. He hadn’t realized he still held it. That was getting to be a habit.
“Oh. Sorry.”
Lorie shrugged. “Not a problem, except that I’m hungry.” She picked up half of the sandwich Matt had cut for her and bit into it. An expression of pure delight crossed her face as she chewed.
“Henny does make great barbecue, doesn’t she?”
Lorie nodded, unable to speak with her mouth still full.
“She makes a good breakfast, too, but I want you to sleep in tomorrow if you can.”
Lorie swallowed. “I’m used to getting up early, even on Saturday.”
“It’s late now and the cola’s decaffeinated. If you’re able to get some solid sleep, don’t worry that you’ll have to turn up early for breakfast. Henny will make you something no matter what time you need it.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea for people to know I’m here?”
Matt pondered that a moment. “You’re right. Call me when you wake up in the morning, and I’ll bring something over.”
“I don’t want to put you to any more trouble.”
“Get this straight, Lorie.” He leaned over the table and made certain she was paying attention. “When somebody tries to blow up someone on my watch, I take it personally. So don’t get upset with me if I seem a little overprotective.”
“I’m just a case, Matt.” Her voice was soft and held—what? Regret?
“Maybe in the beginning.” He hadn’t meant to verbalize the thought, but it was true. Sometime between the first call about the note and finding her house trashed, Lorie had become much more than just a case to him.
A flash of awareness in her eyes told him he wasn’t the only one feeling the attraction. This situation had the potential to go either way.
Pull back. Things are complicated enough with her already. You can’t afford to get involved emotionally.
Unfortunately, that ship had not only left the harbor, it was way over the horizon.
* * *
The air was thick with emotion. Lorie wasn’t quite certain what to do about it. The situation she was in was psychologically draining enough all on its own—she didn’t need the complication of a new relationship on top of it. And even if she was looking for someone, she’d never expect to find him in the sheriff’s department. But she couldn’t deny the way that Matt made her feel.
Just when the butterflies were threatening to break free of her innards and fill the room, Colleen came and put her head in Lorie’s lap, cone collar and all. The sigh that escaped her doggie lips fluttered the paper napkins on the table.
“It does smell good, doesn’t it, girl? And it is, but I don’t think you should have any.”
Colleen whined.
“She’s smart.” Matt’s voice was admiring.
Lorie nodded. “Too smart for her own good, sometimes.”
“The barbecue won’t hurt her, unless she’s sensitive to tomatoes.”
“I can give her some leftovers, then?”
“Yup. Although not if you’re trying to keep her from being spoiled.”
“It’s a little late for that, I’m afraid.” Lorie slipped a bite of meat to Colleen, who took it daintily as her tail thumped the floor.
“Good dog.”
“She is. It makes me sick that someone hurt her.”
“You heard Doc Travis. She’ll be fine.”
“But still...”
“I know. When I find the person responsible for all this, I’m tacking on an animal-cruelty charge with the rest of it.”
Lorie smiled. “That ought to be good for a year or two, right?”
“Right. People take animals seriously here in Arkansas, in case you don’t remember.”
“I remember.”
Matt leaned forward. “And I take the safety of you and yours very seriously. You believe that, don’t you?”
“I do,” she said, meaning every word. She might not be ready for any kind of relationship with Matt MacGregor, but she knew she could trust him—knew she’d be safe tonight, under his protection.
For now, that would have to be enough.