“What the fuck?” snarled Cole as he came up off the bed and joined her at the window. “I swear to God if he started it to call her to him, I’ll kick his ass. I need to get dressed. God damn it. They’re like two horny teenagers.”
“Said the man who just got laid,” quipped Kennedy.
“Not the same. As you like to point out, nobody’s trying to arrest me for murder. He’s such an irresponsible, inconsiderate ass.”
He continued to mutter as he stomped around the room, trying to locate his clothes. If Clay had set a signal fire to get Serena to come to him, Cole was going to do some serious damage to his face.
“I’m coming with you,” Kennedy said.
“The hell you are. You get your cute little butt back in that bed and wait for me.”
“Cole, if Clay is up there, I need to talk to him. I’ll be with you. There’s no place safer.”
“Fine, but make it quick, Grey, we need to get a move on.”
He was impressed. When he pulled his second boot on, Kennedy was ready to go. She’d even managed to pull her hair back so that it wasn’t a tangled mane of just-got-fucked. They grabbed one of the ranch’s four-wheel drive pick-ups and headed out to the mesa.
“This is nice,” she said, stroking the leather. “But why aren’t we taking your Jag? Didn’t you say the seat reclines all the way back?”
He chuckled. “Yes, and the cargo area is padded and plenty big, but it wasn’t at the compound. We’re hiding our relationship, remember?”
They parked at the foot of Himeen. There were two county vehicles, Shep’s and the sheriff’s. Quickly they made their way up the footpath and overheard Serena dressing down the sheriff and telling him his search warrant was no good as it was dated for the next day.
“Without a proper warrant,” Serena said. “Whatever you seized or learned is fruit of the poisonous tree and can’t be used in a court of law. So, like I said, Sheriff, you’re trespassing. Get off Koyama' and don’t come back until after your warrant goes into effect.”
“Why you little tramp,” the sheriff sneered.
Cole and Kennedy rounded the rock outcropping just in time to see the sheriff grab her arm. “I suggest, Sheriff, that you take your hands off my soon-to-be sister-in-law.”
“Damn you, Cole,” growled the Sheriff.
“I’d listen to him, Sheriff,” said Kennedy in a voice that gave him goosebumps. God she’s sexy when she uses that defense lawyer voice. The voice that was filled with venom and ice. “My paralegal has done nothing but commune with nature in the nude. Not overly practical, but as she was on private property and the landowner doesn’t mind, she’s done nothing for which you can arrest her. I believe you’ve been asked to leave. Do so now or I wake the judge to file sanctions against you and the prosecution.” Kennedy waited while the Sheriff looked between her, Cole, and Serena. “Now, Sheriff.”
“Fine, but we’ll be back come sunrise and we’ll find that sonofabitch. Come on, Shep.”
Shep tipped his hat to both Serena and Kennedy before following his boss. Cole walked behind them both to make sure they left.
“I do believe we have an ally at the Sheriff’s Department,” said Serena as she pulled on her clothes.
Kennedy had been so absorbed in watching Cole’s incredibly sexy ass as he escorted the sheriff to his car that she’d almost forgotten why she was here. She whirled around to confront Serena. “Are you crazy? What did you think you were doing coming up here by yourself?”
“Meeting with our client,” said Serena. “How did you get here so fast?”
“I saw the light from the fire and asked Cole about it. After swearing and calling you and your fiancé all kinds of rude names, he headed up here and I insisted on coming with him. Did you see Clay?”
Serena nodded and told Kennedy that she’d relayed her message about turning himself in.
“You were right about the illegal search and fruit of the poisonous tree not being admissible in court,” said Kennedy. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean that the judge won’t take his actions tonight into consideration and consider Clay too much of a flight risk to allow him to be released to house arrest.”
“All the Sheriff can swear to is that he saw me nude. Clay was long-gone by the time they got here. And honestly, it’s a good thing for me they showed up when they did.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Kennedy, suspiciously.
“There was an enormous mountain lion. They scared him away. Shep shot at him but missed,” answered Serena.
“Did he now?” said Cole. “That’s interesting considering he’s the best shot in the county next to Trey.”
Serena and Cole grinned at each other while Kennedy observed them closely. “Why is it,” she said, “ that I have the distinct impression that you two are having an entirely different conversation than the one I think you’re having?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Serena with a grin as she walked back toward her horse.
“He’s not there,” called Cole. “I unsaddled him and threw the tack in the pick-up. He’ll head for the ranch or the homestead. If he’s not at the ranch when we get back, I’ll go fetch him with the trailer. Come along, ladies.”
Cole escorted them both back to the truck. “Do you think Serena is in any danger of being arrested?” asked Cole as he started the engine.
“If the Sheriff can make a compelling case to the prosecutor or the judge, he may be able to arrest her for aiding and abetting.” Kennedy turned in her seat. “Were you and Clay involved at the time of Cyrus’s murder?”
“Yes, but we had a fight the night before and I ended up leaving town for a couple of days.”
“So, you weren’t with him at the time of the murder?”
“No, I was literally on the road.”
“What was the fight about?” asked Kennedy.
Serena caught Cole’s eyes looking at her in the rearview mirror.
“What is that about?” demanded Kennedy. “That’s the second time tonight I’ve caught the two of you exchanging pointed looks.”
“Maybe I just have a thing for my brother’s fiancé.” Cole waggled his eyebrows.
“Not a chance. You may be an asshole, but your sense of nobility and right versus wrong would never allow you to make a play for Serena. Besides, your Jedi mind trick games don’t work on me, remember?”
“I’ve never forgotten anything about you,” said Cole softly.
“Cole is just trying to protect me. Clay asked me to marry him and I kind of freaked out. Why, I’m not sure because I love him, but it just took me off guard so I left his brother stranded up by their mother’s grave so I could run away.”
“Don’t,” cautioned Cole.
“Don’t what?” Serena asked.
“Don’t take the guilt trip you’re thinking about,” replied Cole.
“You know it’s true. If I hadn’t freaked out, I would have been with Clay at the time of Cyrus’s murder. He would have had an alibi, and none of this would be happening.” Serena closed her eyes to ward off the tears threatening to fall.
“You’re not omnipotent. There is no way for either of you to have known what would happen. Besides, proposing to you at a grave is a bit weird.”
“It wasn’t weird,” protested Serena to Cole. To Kennedy, she added, “It was their mother’s grave, and it was romantic.”
“And if you start feeling guilty about what happened after he botched the proposal, I’m going to let him know and he’ll rewarm your backside for you, something Kennedy can empathize with.”
That seemed to shut both of them up and the ride back to the ranch continued in silence. When Cole parked, Kennedy didn’t wait for him to open the door; they were going to have to work on that. She headed to the guesthouse without him. He would have to put an end to that as well.
Flashing lights coming up the long, winding drive from the highway to the ranch house caught his attention. “What the fuck...” started Cole.
“Cole, don’t. Go get Kennedy,” Serena said calmly.
“He doesn’t have to,” said Kennedy as she joined them. She’d changed into boxer shorts and a tank top. The outline of her tits was clearly visible, and her nipples poked at the thin material. “I saw them from the guesthouse.”
“I’m going to kill that sonofabitch,” muttered Cole.
“I’d prefer you didn’t,” quipped Kennedy. “I’m going to have my hands full with keeping your brother’s fiancé out of jail and finding a way to clear his name.”
Coming down the outside steps, Cade, Trey, and Doc, none of whom were completely dressed, joined them as did many of their people who lived at Koyama'.
“What the fuck?” growled Cade.
Kennedy turned to address the entire group. God she was sexy when she took control. “Listen up. I need all of you to cooperate. This is a show of force by the Sheriff. He suspects, but can’t prove, that Serena was with Clay tonight. He’s managed, I’m guessing, to get a warrant for her arrest. I need everyone, especially those with the last name of Waverly…” she said pointedly, looking at him and Cade, “to check their testosterone and remain calm. Let me do my job and deal with the Sheriff. Even if he insists on taking Serena in, I’ll go with her as her lawyer and stay with her.”
“I’ll go,” growled Cole.
“No, you won’t. He doesn’t have to let you be with her. I’m her attorney. If I say I have to meet with my client, he can’t do much about it.”
When all three vehicles had parked, the sheriff got out and headed straight for Serena, but Kennedy stepped forward. “Really? Kind of over-the-top don’t you think?” she challenged.
“Out of my way, counselor,” he said, thrusting a folded piece of paper at her. “I have an arrest warrant for Ms. Clarke.”
“Ms. Clarke?” said Serena, stepping up to Kennedy’s side. “Since when? You’re an asshole, Langley.”
“I’d watch my mouth if I were you,” the Sheriff snarled.
“I don’t suppose you’d let me go get dressed so I can accompany my client, would you Sheriff?”
“You’d suppose correctly. You can see her in the morning.”
“Not acceptable. If you won’t let me ride with her in your SUV, I’ll have Cole drive me in behind you. Trey, can you go down to my office and grab me some clothes? I can change at the Sheriff’s Department.”
“Do you want Seattle hot shot lawyer clothes or something you can kick his ass in?” asked Trey, sweetly. Kennedy turned and grinned at her. “Kick his ass, it is,” Trey responded.
“Turn around, Ms. Clarke, and put your hands behind your back.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Russ,” snarled Cole, who was restrained only by Kennedy putting her hand on his arm.
“That’s enough,” an all-too-familiar voice called from the darkness that lay beyond the large yard lights.
Clay Waverly entered the pool of light like some kind of messiah.
“You leave Serena out of this. She isn’t the one you want,” Clay said.
“Clay, no,” cried Serena. Cole restrained her.
Clay stopped in front of her and kissed her, pulling her into his body. Serena melted into him.
The sheriff pulled them apart, provoking a growl from Clay.
“That’s enough, lover boy. Clay Waverly, you’re under arrest on suspicion of the murder of your father, Cyrus Waverly,” the sheriff said as he placed Clay in handcuffs, mirandized him and put him in the SUV.
“I’ve got you,” Kennedy said to Serena. “We’ve all got you. Cole, can you get a vehicle? Sheriff, we’ll be right behind you, and I expect to be able to meet with my client.”
“You can do so in the morning when the jail is open for visiting hours.”
“In that case, Cole, do you know where the judge lives? I’m afraid we’re going to have to wake him up so that he can remind this buffoon that he can’t prevent me from seeing my client. Serena, they can keep you from seeing Clay, so I need you to stay here and draft a motion with sanctions against this asshole.”
His dick really responded in the most visceral way to watching her work. It was going to be a long night because there would be no fucking Kennedy until she’d been able to work her magic and get Clay put on house arrest.
Cole grinned. “Don’t look now, Russ, but I think the lady plays the game at a level you’ve never experienced before.”
“There’s no need to wake the judge,” said Shep, stepping in, trying to diffuse the situation. He turned to the Sheriff. “You know Ms. Greyson is right.” He turned back to Kennedy. “If you like, I can drive you in.”
Before she could answer, Cole stepped between the deputy and Kennedy. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll stay with Kennedy. Serena and the rest of you get some sleep.”
Trey had returned with a bag of clothing for Kennedy saying, “I ran and got your clothes. We wear the same size boots, so I brought you a pair of mine. Cowboy boots are much better for kicking ass than those pretty English riding boots of yours.”
Kennedy grinned at her before wrapping her arm around Serena and giving her a gentle squeeze. “Hang in there. We’ll keep him safe. Cole may be a sarcastic Neanderthal, but he can be an intimidating sonofabitch when he tries.”
Kennedy and Cole headed for his truck and followed the sheriff into town.