Holden removed his ringing phone from his pocket. He was pleasantly surprised to see Grace’s name on the caller ID.
He was in his truck heading home and put the call through to his Bluetooth. “Hey. Is everything all right?”
“S-s-snakes,” Grace said through a shuddering sob.
Was she crying? “What’s going on?” he asked, immediately making a U-turn to head to her place.
“In m-m-my house,” she said, struggling to speak. “Snakes. Please, help me.”
He pressed down on the gas pedal, racing to Old Mill Road. “Okay. Calm down.”
Sometimes snakes got in. They were usually looking to get out of the cold or were following prey inside. For a city girl like Grace, it might be startling, but she sounded on the verge of hysterics. “I’m almost there.”
Thankfully, he wasn’t that far away. He turned onto Old Mill and slowed down only enough to keep traction on the gravel.
“Oh, God,” she said, her voice low and quivering.
“Just stay away from it. Better yet, wait for me outside, on the porch.”
“I’m...I’m in my car.”
Her car?
It wasn’t like Grace to overreact, but that seemed excessive.
Pulling into her driveway, he said, “I’m here. See you in a sec.” He hung up, putting his phone back in his pocket. Passing her car, he looped around it and stopped next to her Chevy, so that his driver’s-side door was beside hers. From his seat, he spotted her, clutching the steering wheel with her forehead pressed down on it.
He cut the engine, climbed down and opened her door. She was trembling all over, completely spooked. When she didn’t acknowledge him with a look, concern tightened his gut. He bent over, putting a hand on her back.
She flinched, jerking away from him. Brushing her arms as if something was crawling over her, she stared up at him.
Her eyes were pink from crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
He’d never seen her like this. She must’ve had a phobia of snakes. “Where is it? I’ll take care of it.”
“There’s two.” Her bottom lip quivered.
They probably got in together through some hole or crack. “Where did you last see them?”
“In the toilet.” She took a deep breath. “And in my bed.”
Snakes knew how to slither into some pretty unusual places, but that was the strangest thing he’d ever heard.
“I’ll go get them.” He closed her car door, to keep the cold out. Digging in the cargo bed of his truck, he found a thick pair of work gloves. He always had a pair handy from working on the ranch.
Hurrying into the cottage, he left the door cracked. He kept his gaze trained on the floor in case they had made it out from the back of the house and grabbed the poker next to the fireplace.
No sign of either snake as he made his way through the living and dining areas. In the bedroom, the covers had been pulled back, revealing crisp white sheets.
But no snake.
Had she misspoken? Did she mean under her bed?
That would’ve made much more sense. They liked warm places low to the ground.
He got down on all fours and spotted it slithering across the floor under the frame. Red with black-and-white stripes.
A milk snake.
They looked nasty and venomous and were often confused with copperheads or coral snakes, but they were harmless. You could buy them in larger pet stores or come across them out in the woods with no need to worry.
Still, he tugged on his gloves. Just because the snake’s bite wouldn’t kill him didn’t mean it wouldn’t be painful.
Drawing closer to the snake, he distracted it away from his reaching hand with the fire poker. He kept the wrought iron tool low to the hardwood floor and near the snake’s head. As soon as the reptile hissed at the poker, striking out at it thinking the object was a potential threat, he used his other hand to gently grab it behind the head.
He held its mouth away so it was unable to snap back at him.
In the bathroom, he went up to the toilet. The lid was closed, but he knew what to expect and got into position.
He flipped the lid up.
A coiled milk snake poked its head out of the bowl. He dangled the tail of the snake in his hand over the toilet as bait. They were cannibals.
It worked like a charm. As the one in the toilet hissed and struck upward, going for the tail, he snatched the other behind the head just like he’d done with the first.
Unaccustomed to the wildlife, discovering them in her home, Grace would’ve found the situation terrifying.
Holding both snakes, he stalked out of the house. He headed off the porch, passing the stump and ax she used to chop firewood, and carted them over to the trees. He tossed the snakes, releasing them back where they belonged. Making his way to the Chevy, he removed the gloves and stuffed them in his jacket pocket.
He opened her door and peered in. “No more snakes. I got rid of them.”
She looked up at him. “Did you kill them?”
“No. I turned them loose outside.”
Her features tensed in horror. “Why?”
“They’re not venomous.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice pitching higher. “They looked dangerous. Deadly.”
“I’m positive. There are only two poisonous snakes in Wyoming. The prairie rattlesnake and the midget faded rattler. Trust me, if you come across either of those, you’ll know the difference. The ones in your house were milk snakes. They’re good to have on the property. They’ll eat rodents and other pests, keeping them from getting in the house.”
She dropped her head in her hands. “I’m not worried about mice. Those I can handle. I just don’t want those things back in the house.”
“Come on.” He held out a hand to help her out. She took it, her warm fingers curling around his, and stepped out. His gaze dropped to her feet. She was only wearing socks. Not even a coat. “Where are your boots?”
“Inside,” she said, sounding overwhelmed.
He scooped her up in his arms and braced for her to protest.
Surprisingly, she didn’t. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. She was soft and warm and light in his arms.
And part of him didn’t ever want to let her go.
He carried her inside and set her down on the sofa. “I’ll look around for any holes and cracks, any possible entry points for how they got in.” At least one of them anyway.
The snake in the toilet probably got in through the ventilation pipes on the roof. Since bathroom plumbing was connected, it could’ve slithered its way through the system and into her john. It was more likely to happen in the summer when the reptiles were looking for a cool place out of the heat. Still, so odd that they had both gotten in on the same night and in such eerie spots.
It was enough to creep anyone out.
“There’s no need to search for entry points. Rodney Owens put them in there.”
Rocking back on his heels, he put his hands on his hips. “Why would he do that?”
That question dried up her tears and lit a fire in her eyes. “Because he’s a sick jerk who’s trying to scare me into breaking my lease. He did a heck of a job tonight. Putting one in my toilet and another in my bed. The audacity of it.”
“It wasn’t on the floor?”
“No. It was in between the sheets. That SOB had the nerve to even make the bed back up.”
“Tell me what’s been going on,” he demanded.
She unloaded the whole story she’d hidden from him. How Rodney had started harassing her after she moved in, and had been crowding her space, trying to intimidate her for months. But it wasn’t until yesterday that his empty threats had taken a vicious turn. First, waiting for her in the dark. Then slashing her tires. Now this. Damn snakes.
Grace was lucky this time. It had only been harmless snakes. But what about next time?
When she was finished, Holden was shaking with anger. He took a steady breath, trying to calm down, but he was livid. “Is that everything?”
“Someone hit the rear of my car with their truck tonight. On Old Mill. It was deliberate. They had on high beams, kept bearing down on me. Trying to scare me. I couldn’t see who it was, but I think it might have been Rodney.”
His chest squeezed. His hands clenched at his sides, his temples throbbing, he wanted to rip Rodney apart. “I’m going to go put a stop to it.”
There wasn’t going to be a next time. Not on his watch.
He turned on his heel for the door.
Grace jumped up and caught his arm. “Please don’t leave me alone.” She glanced toward her bedroom. “I can’t be here by myself just yet.”
“Grab some things. You can stay with me on the ranch.”
“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I won’t let him win by running me out of here. Not even for a single night,” she said through gritted teeth.
Grace had lost the battle tonight with the snakes, but she wasn’t ready to concede the war with Rodney. That was the woman he knew and admired, and he would expect nothing less from her. Even if digging her heels in only complicated things.
Holden keyed his radio on his shoulder since he was still in uniform. “This is Chief Deputy Powell.”
“Dispatch here,” Livingston responded.
“I need someone to go to Rodney Owens’s place and question him.” Holden listed the things that Grace had experienced. “If he’s not home, find him. Rattle him a little. If he gives you any legal reason, haul him in and lock him up. Provided that fails, give him a warning.” Either way, Holden would speak with Rodney tomorrow and set him straight. This harassment was going to end.
“Roger. We’ll make it happen. Hang on a sec. Ashley’s back and wants to speak to you.”
After a brief delay, she got on the radio. “I spoke with Ruby Belle. She confirmed Jared’s story about Emma’s visit. Do you want me to cut him loose?”
“Yeah. Give him our apologies about the delay. Blame it on forensics with his bike. Good work. See you tomorrow.”
“Get some sleep,” Ashley said before disconnecting.
Holden looked at Grace. “After the holidays, do you mind if I contact a security person my family deals with to see about him putting up cameras?”
“Sure. Thank you.”
“Do you want me to stay the night? I could sleep on the sofa.” He’d be cramped on the worn-out love seat, and in the morning, his neck would be stiff and his back would ache, but he’d do it without complaint.
“I could really use the company tonight.”
“Show me where you keep your linen.”
She took him into the bedroom and opened the bottom drawer of the bureau. There were stacks of neatly folded sheets and blankets. “I appreciate you doing this. I’m sorry—”
“Nope. Remember what I told you, no apologies,” he said, cutting her off, and she nodded. “I know this will be hard, but you should take a warm shower and unwind so you can get some sleep. I’ll only be a scream away.”
“I’ll try.” She went to the doorway of the bathroom and hesitated.
He could imagine what she was feeling. Anger. Embarrassment. Fear. Naked vulnerability that had forced her to call him for help. Something she never would’ve done unless she had no other choice.
All of her emotions were justified. He would do everything possible to ensure Rodney’s terrorism stopped. In the meantime, he’d work on getting her to feel better.
Taking a deep breath, Grace stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door. After a minute or two, the shower started running.
Holden stripped the bed, put fresh linen on for her, and tossed the stuff tainted by the snake into the washing machine. Then he made up the sofa with a sheet and blanket.
Sometimes he kept a clean uniform in his truck for emergencies. Not today.
It figures.
There was no telling how long it would take Grace to fall asleep, which meant he had no idea how much shut-eye he’d get. In the morning, he wouldn’t want to waste time running home to change.
He took out his cell and texted his mom. She had to come near here on her way into town and could drop off what he needed.
“You made the bed,” Grace said.
Spinning around, he faced her. She stood in the doorway of her bedroom wearing a pale blue nightgown made of stretchy cotton that hugged her upper body and fell to a line of lace at the hem just above her knees. Her was face clean, her skin radiant, and her eyes were weary. She had warm woolen socks on her feet.
“I thought new sheets might help.” His phone dinged, and he looked at the screen to find a text from his mom.
No problem. See you around 10. Love you, sweetie.
“Is everything all right?” Grace asked. “Do you have to leave?” The worry on her beautiful face tugged at his heart.
“Everything is fine. I’m all yours tonight.”
“Good.” She gave him a small, sad smile. “Can I ask another favor?”
“Name it.”
Her gaze bounced to her bedroom and then back to him. “Would you sleep with me?”
“I, um, well...” The question had caught him so off guard it had reduced him to stammering.
“I didn’t mean sex,” she said, stumbling over the words. “The thought of getting into bed and closing my eyes has me on the verge of breaking into a cold sweat. Would you mind,” she said, lowering her head and biting her bottom lip, “getting in the bed with me? I understand if sleeping with me is too weird, but at least hold me until I fall asleep?” Her voice was tight and strained like it was the most difficult thing in the world for her to ask. She was strong and vibrant even as she was also delicate and shy.
“The only way I’ll share a bed and sleep with you is if you twist my arm and make me.”
Her smile widened, and his heart jumped.
He joined her in the bedroom. “Would you give me a minute to freshen up?” His first opportunity to get physically close to her was on the heels of a sixteen-hour workday.
Perfect.
“Sure.” She stood in the corner with her back pressed to the wall, where she had sight of the bed and both doors.
With her being so unnerved, he could understand her caution.
In the bathroom, he didn’t take too long washing his hands, cleaning his face, neck and a few other parts in the sink. He would’ve killed for a shower, but he didn’t have anything to change into. It would have to wait until tomorrow.
Stepping back in the bedroom, he had already taken off everything above the waist except for his white cotton tank top. He removed his utility belt with holstered gun and set it on her dresser. Then he unlaced his boots and pulled them off along with his socks and put it all to the side.
“Would you get in first?” she asked, and he did.
It was a full-size bed, not leaving a lot of space.
“Do you mind if I keep the lamp on?” she asked.
He had anticipated that she would want to. “I can sleep with anything on, the light, the TV, radio, through someone else snoring. You name it.” He extended his arm, waiting for her.
“Wow.” She jumped in under the covers with the urgency and determination of someone yanking off a Band-Aid.
He let her decide how close to get, and she snuggled up right on him, bringing a smile to his face. Her sweet, seductive scent tantalized and tormented him, sending his thoughts on a tangent. She always smelled the same, but this was the first time he’d gotten to inhale it up close. Something floral and familiar. It made him think of a summer’s day bright with sunshine, filled with laughter and warmth. The elusive source struck him.
Peonies.
She smelled like peonies.
“I was like that as a child, too,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and taking another deep whiff. “My mom used to call me her easy baby.”
“Really, when did she stop?”
“Uh, right after the scandal with Renee and Jim.”
She laughed, as he had hoped. Talking and laughter were sometimes the best cure.
“Are you serious?” she asked, her tone ten times lighter.
“Unfortunately, I am. All my other brothers gave Mom and Dad a hard time in some way. With five of us, I stood out for being easy.” He was the second-born son with the same pressures as the first. “She was in labor with me for only two hours. No epidural needed. Said I slid right out. I was an excellent eater. The best sleeper. Got good grades. Followed the rules. Athletic.”
Everything in his life had come easily. Everything except love. He’d never had any luck in that department.
“High school quarterback selected all-state,” she said.
“You were actually listening and not using me for free pie.” He tickled her side.
She squirmed, rubbing her warm, soft body against him, teasing his senses in every way possible. None of them good, but yet they were.
Her physique was lean, dainty, but not so much that she didn’t still have the swell at her hips, the feminine curves that made his mouth water.
“I pay close attention to everything you tell me.” Her admission was sincere and warmed him from the inside out. “I can see you’ve kept in tiptop shape.” She feathered a hand across his chest.
Long-fought yearning flooded through him. He clenched his jaw against it, straining to think of something to say that didn’t have anything to do with his body. Or hers, or how good she felt snuggled up so close. “Unlike everyone else, I think my dad was relieved when the scandal happened.”
“Why?” she asked, burrowing closer, sliding her palm over his neck into his hair, slipping her leg over his.
Every little movement from her fed that gnawing hunger inside him. Swallowing, he was so damn hard now he ached with every heartbeat.
So he kept talking. To distract her and himself. “Well, all of his sons followed after the maternal line in terms of careers. Law enforcement, the lot of us. Every time a generation of the Powell line gets only boys it’s a bit of a jinx. Because none of them want to work on the ranch. That’s how it starts. But eventually, something draws or forces one to abandon their other pursuits and take over the Shooting Star.”
“Was it like that for your dad?”
“Yep. He was one of three boys. With the scandal, he thought it was a sign.”
“That it would make you leave the sheriff’s department and take over the ranch.”
It was the first time his father had looked at him with disappointment when that didn’t happen. “Yes, but it’ll be one of my brothers. Not me.”
That wasn’t his destiny. He was a rancher and always would be. It was in his blood. But he was also a lawman and refused to give up his career as one.
“If you’d left the sheriff’s department, we would’ve never met.” She tipped her head back, meeting his eyes.
The air heated, thickening between them. The whole of her was everything he craved and worried about at the same time.
“Oh, we would’ve met.” Somehow. Someway. And he would have been struck by her beauty and her smile. Turned inside out by the hot desire he felt whenever he looked at her. Only he wouldn’t have had to worry about upsetting his boss by getting involved with her. “What’s meant to be, will be.”
He ran his hand down her spine to her lower back. She shivered in his arms, keeping her gaze locked to his. Her thigh slid closer to his crotch. So close that it erased any doubt in his mind that she could feel how much he wanted her.
Desire crackled like invisible lightning. He tried to ignore it and failed. Catching her chin and lifting her head, he crushed his mouth to hers. It wasn’t hesitant or slow, but insistent and demanding.
She pressed flush against him, deepening the kiss.
Tangling his hand in her hair, he lost himself in the taste of her, the feel of her slender body. Holding her close, kissing her, thinking about making love to her, woke something inside him, bringing him back to life.
She brightened his world. Gave him hope.
But she had reached out to him at a vulnerable time. He wouldn’t take advantage of that.
Reluctantly, he pulled his mouth from hers.
“Holden,” she whispered, putting a hand between them, her palm to his chest. “We can’t—”
“I know.” This feeling of falling for someone was the worst.
The adrenaline and electricity that flared whenever she was near was turning into a form of torture. There was nothing more that he would like to do than kiss Grace again, strip her naked and make love to her. But he had a laundry list of reasons as to why that would be a bad idea.
Apparently, she had reasons of her own as well.
“Was that supposed to be just friendly, like earlier?” she asked.
He didn’t want to lie or hide the truth. “No.”
“I didn’t know,” she said. “I mean, I wasn’t sure.”
“Of what?”
“If you had feelings for me.” She searched his eyes. “Romantic feelings.”
How could she have not known. Sure, he had downplayed the meaning of their first kiss, but he would’ve sworn his overtures had been obvious. All the time he’d spent hanging around her. Making any excuse to touch her, even in a casual way, like taking a dish from her hand in the restaurant before she could set it down in front of him so that their fingers grazed. He took every opportunity to brush crumbs from her face, even when there were none. In the last few months, he’d eaten so much pie at Delgado’s that his uniform had gotten tight.
“I thought you were always so nice to me because I’m Daniel’s sister and you wanted to get in good with him.”
She thought he’d been brownnosing instead of flirting. Wow. He was really off his game.
“And then,” she added, “you told me that the kiss on the side of the road was platonic.”
“I never used that word.” Not once had he ever looked at or thought about Grace in a platonic way. And he never would. “But I shouldn’t have crossed the line.”
“We crossed it together. I kissed you back. Because I have feelings for you, too,” she said, and his heart swelled. “Which is the problem.”
Just like that it deflated. “I’m not following.”
“Part of the reason I moved out here was to focus. On my master’s degree. On finding my center. On remembering what makes me happy. I got distracted once, by a guy, who turned out to be wrong for me. I don’t want to get sidetracked again.”
He didn’t want to derail her from her goals or hold her back.
Maybe in time, once she’d gotten her degree and he’d proven himself to Daniel, repaired his reputation, they might be able to explore the possibility of something more.
Falling in love was more than the urgency of desire. A relationship with her would be worth the wait.
“I should go to the sofa,” he said, sitting up.
But she stopped him from leaving. “I hate to do this to you, but can you wait until I fall asleep? Unless it’s too much to ask.”
If it was something Grace needed, it would never be too much.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and brought her back into his arms. “It’s no problem.”