Chapter Four

Days later, driving the same route as usual, relieved in the knowledge Christine Harper was long gone since George had fixed up her RV, Jake nearly rammed into the back of a pickup stopped at a red light. His gaze had zeroed in on a pair of shapely legs that led to a perfect ass currently leaning over a fruit stand in front of Yancey’s Grocery. His relief brought on by her absence, fragile though it was, had been obliterated.

He pulled over to the curb, determined to find out why she was still around. She turned at the sound of his door slamming closed. A heady smile, complete with sparkle in her eyes, greeted him as he crossed the walk to stand before her.

“Why are you still here?” he asked, as flatly as he could. She didn’t need to know a familiar but uncomfortable heat was building inside him. She was just as beautiful now as she was in his dreams, dreams he’d had from the moment he first saw her. Dreams he’d hoped would fade with her absence, but for that to happen, the woman actually had to leave.

“Hello to you too,” she said, her lips tilting in a teasing grin.

He let out a frustrated sigh. “George fixed your RV, so I assumed you were gone.”

“I decided to stay longer and get a feel of the place for my article.” She turned and added a few apples to her basket, thankfully not reaching as far across the stand as she’d done before.

Standing this close to her, he’d be tempted to reach out and—“Wait a minute.” Clasping her bare arm, he turned her back around, ignoring the softness of her skin. “Where exactly are you staying? Liddy doesn’t have any guests on her register.”

“In my camper, of course,” she replied, and he released her as she moved to the vegetable stand.

After her reply registered in his weary mind, he was on her heels once again. “And where is the camper?”

She shook her head with a soft giggle. “Not to worry, Sheriff. I am not setup in a non-camping designated area.”

Ice cold dread slid over him. “You’re at the campground,” he said, his voice low and flat.

She lifted her gaze to his, her brow creased. “Yes. Liddy said that Mr. Cooper would probably appreciate a few extra dollars even though the campground isn’t really open.”

When he didn’t reply, just kept staring at her trying to figure out how much he could say to keep her safe without the whole town knowing about his suspicions, she tilted her chin up and planted one hand on her hip.

“Don’t tell me I can’t stay there because he doesn’t have a license to do business. He’s a nice old man and he has a few sites that haven’t been overrun by wildlife. It was the best option, and he can use a little money. And I don’t see what—”

“That old place is no more safe than the side of the road,” he argued, cutting her off. “Cooper doesn’t even live out there anymore. It’s too isolated.”

Her lips turned down in a fierce frown. “I think it’s fine.”

“Fine? I wouldn’t bathe in that old well water, much less drink it!”

She rose up on her tiptoes and stuck her face in his. “Well, nobody asked your opinion!”

“You’re going out to the campground and haul that rig in right now,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I most definitely am not. I’m staying right where I am.”

She shoved some money at the clerk who’d appeared beside him and stomped off to her little car.

“Oh, this isn’t over yet,” he muttered, and gave chase. He had to get her off that property before she got hurt. He was certain it was where the traffickers were meeting.

****

Chris saw him in her rearview mirror and seethed. What did he care where she stayed? She wasn’t breaking any laws, and Mr. Cooper really could use the cash.

She growled low. “Why do you have to be so stubborn, Jake Conrad?” And after she’d been so glad to see him!

She’d even convinced herself that she needed to stay in Iron Horse longer for her article, when all along it was because of him, damn the man.

Her temper settled over the miles, the closer she got to the campground. It really was isolated, but she’d hoped it would give her time to work on her personal writing as well as the magazine article. No distractions, no people, no traffic, no nothing really. It was prime for solid thinking, but she had to admit she’d not done much of that, not with Jake constantly invading her thoughts.

With a disgusted sigh, she climbed out of her car and snatched up her groceries. His patrol car pulled in right behind her as she made her way toward the camper. A silent mantra to keep her temper in check echoed through her brain.

“You are not staying out here,” he said, slamming his car door.

“And I say I am.” She climbed the steps, threw open the door and went inside to put her groceries down on the narrow counter.

He was beside her in a heartbeat. “I’m telling you it isn’t safe.”

“And I’m telling you that I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she said.

Jake rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh, thoroughly frustrated with this pint-sized female. “You’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.”

With a soft snort, she propped her hands on her hips and cut him a smirk. “You’re not exactly mister easy-going either.”

He gnashed his teeth together. “I want you back at Liddy’s before the sun sets, and that’s final.”

She tilted up her chin, her eyes full of fire. “I’ll go where I please, when I please, and no one is going to tell me what to do. Least of all you!”

He grabbed her arms and jerked her close. “You’ll do as I say or so help me…”

“You’ll what? Make up another half-assed ordinance so you can arrest me?”

His eyes caught on her lips, the smirk she wore was too delectable to resist, and he was sick and tired of resisting.

His mouth crashed into hers, and he sought what he’d been denying himself for a long time, the taste of a beautiful woman. And although this one tried his patience to the extreme, she haunted his dreams, his thoughts day and night. He swallowed her gasp of surprise as his tongue delved into the sweet recesses of her mouth. She returned his fevered kiss, and he felt a small spurt of triumph that he’d not imagined her wanting him as much as he wanted her, that they’d both been battling this insane attraction.

“This is a bad idea,” he said, his mouth brushing hers as he spoke with quickened breaths.

“A very bad idea,” she said, breathing hard and yet not pulling away.

He nipped at her lips. “We’re like fire and gasoline.”

“Why don’t we see who will survive the explosion.” Her tongue teased the edge of his lips, and on a heartfelt groan, he reclaimed her mouth and pressed her supple body against his. He knew he’d pay the price later, but he’d be damned if he could stop himself. Losing himself in her, in the taste and feel of her was all he wanted to do, all he’d dreamed of doing. His hands sought out every curve, and she moaned in sweet reply.

His radio crackled at his hip. It took a moment before the sound registered through the haze of lust clouding his brain. With a heavy breath he released her and took an unsteady step back.

Gripping the counter, she looked at him with passion-filled eyes and a hint of shock, her body visibly quivering. Neither of them really knew what was happening between them, but it was more powerful than either had expected.

Never once taking his gaze from hers, he lifted his receiver and pressed the button. “Go ahead.”

“Jake, we’ve got a scuffle at the high school. Nothing too bad, but you might want to get over here. Opening day isn’t going all that smoothly.”

“I’ll be there in ten.” Returning the radio to his belt, he said, “I have to go.”

She nodded, her hand still holding the edge of the counter for support.

“Will you go to Liddy’s?” he asked, knowing what the answer would be.

“No,” she said softly.

He let out a heavy sigh. “You know where to find me if something should happen.”

“I know how to dial 911,” she said, her voice soft, yet with an edge of determination.

With a grim twist of his lips, wanting to plant them on hers more than ever, he gave her a terse nod and left, not knowing what else to say. It seemed best to forget what had just happened.

“As if I can,” he said, climbing into his car. That kiss would haunt him the rest of his days and then some.

But he still needed to find a way to protect her, which meant he would be pulling an all-nighter. After his regular duties were done, he’d head back out here and keep an eye on her.